A factorial experiment grounded in the multiphase optimization strategy to promote viral suppression among people who inject drugs on the Texas-Mexico border: a study protocol.

BACKGROUND: People who inject drugs living with HIV (PWIDLH) suffer the lowest rates of HIV viral suppression due to episodic injection drug use and poor mental health coupled with poor retention in HIV care. Approximately 44% of PWIDLH along the US-Mexico border are retained in care and only 24% are virally suppressed. This underserved region faces a potential explosion of transmission of HIV due to highly prevalent injection drug use. This protocol describes an optimization trial to promote sustained viral suppression among Spanish-speaking Latinx PWIDLH. METHODS: The multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) is an engineering-inspired framework for designing and building optimized interventions and guides this intervention. The primary aim is to conduct a 24 factorial experiment in which participants are randomized to one of 16 intervention conditions, with each condition comprising a different combination of four behavioral intervention components. The components are peer support for methadone uptake and persistence; behavioral activation therapy for depression; Life-Steps medication adherence counseling; and patient navigation for HIV care. Participants will complete a baseline survey, undergo intervention, and then return for 3-,6-,9-, and 12-month follow-up assessments. The primary outcome is sustained viral suppression, defined as viral loads of < 40 copies per mL at 6-,9-, and 12-month follow-up assessments. Results will yield effect sizes for each component and each additive and interactive combination of components. The research team and partners will make decisions about what constitutes the optimized multi-component intervention by judging the observed effect sizes, interactions, and statistical significance against real-world implementation constraints. The secondary aims are to test mediators and moderators of the component-to-outcome relationship at the 6-month follow-up assessment. DISCUSSION: We are testing well-studied and available intervention components to support PWIDLH to reduce drug use and improve their mental health and engagement in HIV care. The intervention design will allow for a better understanding of how these components work in combination and can be optimized for the setting. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This project was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05377463) on May 17th, 2022.

Social and environmental determinants influencing injection drug use and HIV risk among two sister cities on the US-Mexico border: a comparative cross-sectional study, 2016-2018.

The economic, social, cultural and political milieus that influence injection drug-related HIV risk behaviors along the US-Mexico border in the previous decade have been studied comparing cities on an East-West axis. In an effort to inform interventions targeting factors beyond the individual level, we used a cross-sectional study design comparing people who inject drugs during 2016-2018, living on a North-South axis, in two cities-Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico and El Paso, Texas, USA-situated at the midpoint of the 2000 US-Mexico borderland stretch. We conceptualize injection drug use and its antecedents and consequences as influenced by factors operating at various levels of influence. Results of analysis comparing samples recruited from each border city indicated significant differences in demographic, socioeconomic, micro- and macro-level factors that affect risk. Similarities emerged in individual-level risk behaviors and some dynamics of risk at the drug use site most frequented to use drugs. In addition, analyses testing associations across samples indicated that different contextual factors such as characteristics of the drug use sites influenced syringe sharing. In this article, we reflect on the potential tailored interventions needed to target the context of HIV transmission risk among people who use drugs and reside in binational environment.

Comparing risk environments for HIV among people who inject drugs from three cities in Northern Mexico.

BACKGROUND: A large body of research has investigated the rise of injection drug use and HIV transmission in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez (CJ). However, little is known about the dynamics of injecting in Hermosillo. This study compares drug-related behaviors and risk environment for HIV of people who inject drugs (PWID) across Tijuana, CJ, and Hermosillo to identify factors that could explain differences in HIV prevalence. METHODS: Data from Tijuana belong to a prospective study (El Cuete IV). Data from Hermosillo and Ciudad Juarez belong to a cross-sectional study. Both studies collected data in places where PWID spend time. All participants completed quantitative behavioral and serological testing for HIV. Datasets were merged using only comparable variables. Descriptive statistics tests were used to compare sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics of people who inject drugs PWID sampled in each city. A logistic regression model was built to identify factors independently associated with the likelihood of reporting receptive syringe sharing in the past 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 1494 PWID provided data between March 2011 and May 2012. HIV prevalence differed significantly between participants in Tijuana (4.2%), CJ (7.7%), and Hermosillo (5.2%; p < 0.05). PWID from Hermosillo reported better living conditions, less frequency of drug injection, and lower prevalence of syringe sharing (p < 0.01). PWID from CJ reported a higher prevalence of syringe sharing and confiscation by police (p < 0.01). In a multivariable logistic regression model, living in Hermosillo compared to Tijuana (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.29-0.61) and being female (AOR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.45-0.83) were protective against syringe sharing. Having used crystal meth (AOR = 1.62, 95% CI 1.24-2.13, p = 0.001), having experienced syringe confiscation by police in the last 6 months (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.34-2.40), and lower perception of syringe availability (AOR = 2.15, 95% CI 1.59-2.91) were significantly associated with syringe sharing (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Differences in HIV prevalence across cities reflect mainly differences in risk environments experienced by PWID, shaped by police practices, access to injection equipment, and dynamics of drug markets. Findings highlight the importance of ensuring sterile syringe availability through harm reduction services and a human rights approach to drug harms in northern Mexico and to generate better understanding of local dynamics and contexts of drug use for designing proper harm reduction programs.

Reduced-calorie avocado paste attenuates metabolic factors associated with a hypercholesterolemic-high fructose diet in rats.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of reduced-calorie avocado paste on lipid serum profile, insulin sensitivity, and hepatic steatosis in rats fed a hypercholesterolemic-high fructose diet. Thirty five male Wistar rats were randomly separated in five groups: Control group (ground commercial diet); hypercholesterolemic diet plus 60% fructose solution (HHF group); hypercholesterolemic diet plus 60% fructose solution supplemented with avocado pulp (HHF+A group); hypercholesterolemic diet plus 60% fructose solution supplemented with reduced-calorie avocado paste (HHF+P group); and hypercholesterolemic diet plus 60% fructose solution supplemented with a reduced-calorie avocado paste plus fiber (HHF+FP group). The A, P, and FP were supplemented at 2 g/kg/d. The study was carried out for seven weeks. Rats belonging to the HHF group exhibited significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher total cholesterol, triglycerides, and insulin levels in serum as well as lower insulin sensitivity than the control group. Supplementation with reduced-calorie avocado paste showed a significant (P ≤ 0.05) decrease in total cholesterol (43.1%), low-density lipoprotein (45.4%), and triglycerides (32.8%) in plasma as well as elevated insulin sensitivity compared to the HHF group. Additionally, the liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase decreased significantly in the HHF-P group (39.8 and 35.1%, respectively). These results are likely due to biocompounds present in the reduced-calorie avocado paste, such as polyphenols, carotenoids, chlorophylls, and dietary fibre, which are capable of reducing oxidative stress. Therefore, reduced-calorie avocado paste attenuates the effects of a hypercholesterolemic-high fructose diet in rats.

A qualitative analysis of patients' experiences with an emergency department diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Optimally, cancer is diagnosed through periodic screening or detection of early symptoms in primary care settings. However, an estimated 23%-52% of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are diagnosed in the emergency department (ED). Cancer diagnosed in the ED has been associated with worse clinical and patient-reported outcomes even after adjustment for cancer stage. We sought to explore patients' accounts of patient and health care system factors related to their diagnosis in the ED and their lived experience of receiving a diagnosis in this setting. METHODS: Patients with an ED visit during or within 30 days of their GI cancer diagnosis at an urban academic hospital serving a largely disadvantaged population were recruited. Interviews were coded in NVivo 12 and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. RESULTS: Patient-reported factors associated with their experiences included denial and avoidance of symptoms, mistrust of the health system, and lack of cancer screening knowledge. Health care system factors included misdiagnosis and delayed access to specialty care or tests. Experiences receiving a cancer diagnosis in the ED were overwhelmingly negative. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the unmet needs in identifying and diagnosing patients who ultimately present to the ED for evaluation and eventual diagnosis of cancer. Our results shed light on several modifiable factors, including the need for increased public awareness of the asymptomatic nature of cancer and the importance of cancer screening. Additionally, health care systems modifications beyond the ED are needed to improve access to timely care when symptoms arise.

Institutional violence from police militarization and drug cartel wars as a 'Big Event' and its influence on drug use harms and HIV risk in people who inject drugs on the U.S.-Mexico border.

BACKGROUND: Globally, the US-Mexico Border is one of the largest drug trafficking regions, with Ciudad Juarez (CJ) and El Paso (EP) making up the second-largest border crossing in the world. Border communities are places where the risk of drug use harm and infectious diseases such as HIV are augmented due to the confluence of factors operating across the physical, social, economic and policy environment. Although the two cities are economically, culturally, and socially intertwined, each has distinct criminal justice systems and policy practices aimed at curtailing substance use. Between 2008 and 2011, the CJ/EP region experienced an unprecedented level of violence that stemmed from the intersection of police militarization and drug cartel wars, which profoundly shaped every aspect of life. Little research has documented the impact of drug cartel wars on the drug use and health harms of people who inject drugs (PWID) living in CJ and EP. The purpose of the study is to understand the effect that the drug cartel war had on the drug use harms and HIV risk of PWID. METHODS: We conducted 40 in-depth interviews with people who inject drugs who resided in CJ or EP and had used heroin or crack cocaine in the last 30 days, and asked how police militarization and drug cartel war affected their daily lives. The risk environment framework informed the analysis and interpretation of findings. RESULTS: Findings indicated that the risk environment was profoundly altered as PWID residing in CJ experienced profound changes in their daily lives that promoted engagement in behaviors that increased drug use and health harms including HIV risk, exacerbated trauma, and prevented use of substance use treatment and harm reduction services. The risk environment was also altered in EP, where PWID experienced drug supply shortages, violent policing practices, and reduced availability of harm reduction services. Findings underscore the permeability of risk environments across geographical borders. CONCLUSION: The intersection of law enforcement militarization and drug cartel wars can be conceptualized as a 'big event' because it disrupts the drug market economy, leads to drug shortages, promotes entrance into the drug market economy by people who use drugs, reshapes drug use sites, and constrains the provision of harm reduction services. The stability of the harm reduction system in CJ was negatively impacted and limited the ability of individuals to reduce harm. Our findings show that drug cartel wars render the CJ/EP region extremely susceptible to drug use and health harms, while also creating vulnerability by severely restricting its ability to respond. Traditional recommendations to intervene to limit the impact of risk environments on the drug use harms of PWID need to be reconsidered in the context of drug cartel wars.

Perspective of patients with first-episode psychosis, their relatives, and mental health professionals on the design and usability of an app in clinical practice.

AIM: Therapeutic non-compliance remains the main difficulty for people with psychotic disorders, standing around 50% in people with schizophrenia. Lack of treatment adherence, either partial or total, to medication has economic and clinical consequences. E-health technologies may be a promising therapeutic tool to improve adherence, with the subsequent reduction in clinical and economic burden. Our aims were to know the preferences on how technologies in mental health treatment should be for use in clinical practice, and to learn about the opinion and preferences on the use of technologies in mental health treatment from the perspectives of patients with FEP, their relatives, and mental health professionals. METHODS: Forty-one patients with a diagnosis of first-episode psychosis (FEP), 18 relatives and 49 mental health professionals were included in the study. They completed an online survey related to the use, availability and user-skill of online platforms and apps created by a group of experts in psychosis and in the use of technologies. Data were summarized in frequencies, percentages, and means, and Chi-square tests were used to calculate differences between-groups. RESULTS: An app directed to people with psychosis would be well received by users if it contains psychoeducational material, offers reminders for scheduled visits and treatment and allows online consultations. CONCLUSIONS: Co-creating an app with users, their families and mental health professionals allows incorporating their preferences to increase its use, improve outpatient care and creating an app that is viable in clinical practice.

Hypolipidemic effect of avocado (Persea americana Mill) seed in a hypercholesterolemic mouse model.

Avocado seed contains elevated levels of phenolic compounds and exhibits antioxidant properties. We investigated the effect of Avocado Seed Flour (ASF) on the lipid levels in mice on a hyperlipidemic diet. The concentration of phenols was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, antioxidant activity was evaluated using the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity method, and dietary fiber was measured using the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) method. The LD50 of ASF was determined using Lorke's method and hypolipidemic activity was evaluated in a hypercholesterolemic model in mice. Protocatechuic acid was the main phenolic compound found in ASF, followed by kaempferide and vanillic acid. The total phenolic content in the methanolic extract of ASF was 292.00 ± 9.81 mg gallic acid equivalents/g seed dry weight and the antioxidant activity resulted in 173.3 µmol Trolox equivalents/g DW. In addition, a high content of dietary fiber was found (34.8%). The oral LD50 for ASF was 1767 mg/kg body weight, and treatment with ASF significantly reduced the levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C, and prediction of the atherogenic index. Therefore, the antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds and dietary fiber in ASF may be responsible for the hypocholesterolemic activity of ASF in a hyperlipidemic model of mice.

Pasa la voz (spread the word): using women's social networks for HIV education and testing.

Pasa la Voz (spread the word) is a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention methodology inspired by respondent-driven sampling (RDS) that uses social networks to access hard-to-reach populations. As field testing showed the approach to be efficacious among at-risk women in West Texas and Southern New Mexico, we set out to evaluate the methodology in a Mexican context. A local community organization, Programa Compañeros, first implemented a traditional one-on-one outreach strategy using promotoras (outreach workers) in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, from September 2005 to January 2006. This was followed by implementation of Pasa la Voz from February 2006 to January 2007. The percentage of women agreeing to be tested increased from 11.9% to 49.9%, and staff time declined from 22.70 hours to 3.68 hours per HIV test, comparing the one-on-one with the Pasa la Voz methodology, respectively. Pasa la Voz was successful at imparting a cost-savings prevention education program with significant increases in the number of at-risk women being tested for HIV.

A tale of two cities: Social and environmental influences shaping risk factors and protective behaviors in two Mexico-US border cities.

The economic, social, cultural, and political milieus that influence HIV risk behaviors along the US-Mexico border are understudied. In an effort to appropriately inform interventions targeting structural influences, we compared injecting drug using populations living in two cities--Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua and Tijuana, Baja California--situated on the Mexico-US border. These populations presented with similar demographic profiles, but differed significantly in terms of social and environmental influences that can influence both risk and protective factors (e.g., family drug use, migration, drug use patterns). We observed distinct behavioral and structural influences in these two border cities that will require tailored intervention strategies to reduce HIV transmission.

Duplicación del colédoco asociado a unión biliopancreática anómala: Reporte de caso / Common bile duct duplication associated with anomalous biliopancreatic junction: A case report

Introducción. La duplicación del colédoco es una anomalía congénita poco frecuente. En la mayoría de los casos este defecto se asocia a cálculos en la vía biliar, unión pancreatobiliar anómala, pancreatitis, cáncer gástrico o colangiocarcinoma. Por esta razón, el diagnóstico y el tratamiento temprano son importantes para evitar las complicaciones descritas a futuro. Métodos. Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 30 años, con antecedente de pancreatitis aguda, con cuadro de dolor abdominal crónico, a quien se le realizaron varios estudios imagenológicos sin claro diagnóstico. Fue llevada a manejo quirúrgico en donde se documentó duplicación del colédoco tipo II con unión pancreatobiliar anómala. Resultados. Se hizo reconstrucción de las vías biliares y hepatico-yeyunostomía, con adecuada evolución postoperatoria y reporte final de patología sin evidencia de tumor. Conclusión. El diagnóstico se hace mediante ecografía endoscópica biliopancreática, colangiorresonancia o colangiopancreatografía retrógrada endoscópica. El tratamiento depende de si está asociado o no a la presencia de unión biliopancreática anómala o cáncer. Si el paciente no presenta patología neoplásica, el tratamiento quirúrgico recomendado es la resección del conducto con reconstrucción de las vías biliares.

Introduction. Double common bile duct is an extremely rare congenital anomaly. This anomaly may be associated with bile duct stones, anomalous biliopancreatic junction, pancreatitis, bile duct cancer, or gastric cancers. Thus, early diagnosis and treatment is important to avoid complications. Clinical case. We report a rare case of double common bile duct associated with an anomalous biliopancreatic junction in a 30-year-old female, with prior history of acute pancreatitis, who presented with chronic abdominal pain. She underwent several imaging studies, without clear diagnosis. She was taken to surgical management where duplication of the type II common bile duct was documented with anomalous pancreatobiliary junction. Results. Reconstruction of the bile ducts and hepatico-jejunostomy were performed, with adequate postoperative evolution and final pathology report without evidence of tumor. Conclusion. Diagnosis is usually performed by an endoscopic ultrasound, magnetic resonance cholangiopancrea-tography, or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Treatment depends on the presence of anomalus biliopancreatic junction or concomitant cancer. In cases without associated malignancy, resection of bile duct and biliary reconstruction is the recommended surgical treatment.

Predictors of HIV-related stigma among young people living with HIV.

Enacted and perceived HIV stigma was examined among substance-using young people living with HIV (YPLH) in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York City (N = 147). Almost all YPLH (89%) reported perceived stigma, and 31% reported enacted experiences in the past 3 months; 64% reported experiences during their lifetime. The HIV stigma questions were characterized by factors of avoidance, social rejection, abuse, and shame. In multivariate models, enacted stigma was associated with gay or bisexual identity, symptomatic HIV or AIDS, and bartering sex. Perceived stigma was associated with female gender, symptomatic HIV or AIDS, bartering sex, lower injection drug use, and fewer friends and family knowing serostatus. Gay or bisexual YPLH who were also HIV symptomatic or AIDS diagnosed experienced more HIV stigma than their heterosexual peers.

Timing of copper intrauterine device insertion after medical abortion: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare intrauterine device (IUD) use at 6 months in women randomized to receive an intrauterine copper contraceptive 1 week compared with 1 month after medical abortion. METHODS: We recruited women undergoing medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol and choosing the copper IUD for contraception. We randomly assigned participants to "immediate" insertion 1 week after mifepristone or "delayed" insertion 4-6 weeks later. We followed rates of IUD insertion, 6-month utilization, expulsion, removal, and pregnancy. Participants recorded bleeding in a diary for 4 weeks. RESULTS: We randomized 156 participants. We inserted an IUD in 97% of participants in the immediate group and 76% in the delayed group (P<.001). At 6 months, 69% of participants in the immediate group used the IUD compared with 60% in the delayed group (P=.24). Expulsion rates were comparable; 12% (8 of 69) in the immediate group compared with 11% (7 of 65) in the delayed group. Removals occurred in 14% (10 of 69) of immediate and 8% (5 of 65) of delayed group participants (P=.21). Four pregnancies occurred in delayed group participants who did not return for IUD insertion (P=.09). The immediate and delayed groups reported a median of 20 and 19 bleeding or spotting days, respectively (P=.15). We detected no cases of serious infection, uterine perforation, or hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Immediate insertion increased uptake of the IUD without increasing expulsions or bleeding. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov, www.clinialtrials.gov, . LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I.

Multimedia como material de apoyo para la asignatura Informática Médica I / Multimedia like material of support for the computer medical subject I

La creación de materiales didácticos en formato electrónico para la enseñanza permite el desarrollo de proyectos y experiencias innovadoras, así como un mejor aprendizaje en el proceso docente educativo. El trabajo consiste en un proyecto de multimedia de la asignatura Informática Médica I, para la misma se utilizó el software Mediator 8, el cual posee herramientas que lo hace increíblemente poderoso, usándolas, se puede ver las presentaciones más fantásticas con una programación más sencilla. La confección de esta multimedia tuvo como finalidad proporcionar un material educativo didáctico de apoyo a la docencia, útil para el desarrollo de una metodología de enseñanza más flexible, abierta y adaptada a las características individuales de los estudiantes, facilitando un proceso de aprendizaje basado en la actividad y construcción del conocimiento, apropiado para la asignatura Informática Médica I de la carrera de Medicina, estructurada sobre la base de las características del programa que se imparte. El criterio de estructuración de la asignatura se basa en la implementación del software libre, en el estudio de las aplicaciones de la suite ofimática LibreOffice, con código abierto y distribución gratuita, siendo la aplicación Writer como procesador de texto, la temática abordada en el trabajo(AU)

The creation of didactic materials in electronic format for the teaching allows the development of projects and innovative experiences, as well as a better learning in the educational process. This work consists on a multimedia project for the subject Medical Informatics I; the software Mediator 8 were used to develop it, which possesses tools that make it incredibly powerful, using it, one can do the most fantastic presentations with a simpler programming. The making of this multimedia has as purpose to provide an educational didactic material to support to the teaching process, that is useful for the development of a more flexible, open teaching and adapted methodology to the individual characteristics of the students, facilitating a learning process based on the activity and construction of the knowledge, appropriate to the Medical Informatics discipline for the career of Medicine, structured on the base of the characteristics of the program that is imparted. The structuring approach of the subject is based on the implementation of the free software, in the study of the applications of the package LibreOffice 3.5, with open code and free distribution, being the application Writer like document processor, the thematic approached in the work(AU

Estomatotoxicidad bucal inducida por quimioterapia / Chemotherapy-induced oral stomatotoxicity

El objetivo principal de este estudio fue determinar el tipo de lesiones bucales más frecuentes en las pacientes con cáncer de mama tratadas con quimioterapia en el Hospital General de México, y establecer en qué condiciones se presentan dichas manifestaciones. Se realizó una revisión de expedientes entre los años de 1994 y 1999, estableciendo los criterios de inclusión y exclusión. De un total de 405 que fueron considerados, se incluyeron en la muestra 327 expedientes. De ellos, la incidencia de estomatotoxicidad se presentó en 122 casos, 89 de los cuales presentaron una sola manifestación bucal, 19 presentaron dos, y 14 pacientes reportaron más de dos. La relación entre la estirpe histológica del tumor se refleja presentándose en el canalicular infiltrante, lobular y otros (p < .005). Los esquemas de tratamiento con quimioterapia fueron integrados con: 5-fluoracilo, adriamicina, ciclofosfamida y metotrexato (p < .005). La dosis y estomatotoxicidad se relacionaron con p < .005.

The principal aim of the present study was to determine the type of oral lesions most frequently found in breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy at the General Hospital in Mexico City and establish under which circumstances these manifestations occur. A file review was undertaken, spanning from 1994 to 1999. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were established. Out of 405 cases under consideration, 327 cases were included in the sample. In these selected cases, stomatotoxicity was present in 129 cases: 89 cases exhibited only a single oral manifestation, 19 cases showed two and 14 cases exhibited more than two (three or more). Relationship between histological lineage was reflected; it was present in the infiltrating ducts, lobular and others (p < .005). Treatment schemes with chemotherapy were integrated with 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide and methrotrexate (p < .005) dosage and stomatotoxicity were related (p < .005).

Shooting gallery attendance among IDUs in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico: correlates, prevention opportunities, and the role of the environment.

We identified factors associated with shooting gallery attendance among injection drug users (IDUs) in two Mexico-US border cities. IDUs in Tijuana (n=222) and Ciudad Juarez (n=205), Mexico, who were >or=18 years and injected illicit drugs in the last month were recruited using respondent-driven sampling (RDS). An interviewer-administered survey collected sociodemographic and behavioral data. Logistic regression was used to examine correlates of shooting gallery attendance in each of the two cities. Homelessness and being arrested for syringe possession--both structural level factors--were associated with shooting gallery use in both cities. In Ciudad Juarez, younger age and having overdosed were also associated with shooting gallery use. Our study highlights the need for structural interventions that mitigate homelessness among IDUs and facilitate changes in law enforcement practices associated with shooting gallery use. Harm reduction interventions based within shooting galleries should also be considered to prevent transmission of blood-borne pathogens among IDUs.

Injecting drug users' experiences of policing practices in two Mexican-U.S. border cities: public health perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has identified the impact of law enforcement practices on the behaviours and health of injection drug users (IDUs). We undertook a qualitative study of IDUs' experiences of policing practices in two Mexican cities on the U.S. border. METHODS: In 2004, two teams of Mexican interviewers conducted in-depth interviews with IDUs residing in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez (Cd. Juarez), Mexico, who had injected drugs at least once in the prior month. Topics included types of drug used, injection settings, access to sterile needles and experiences with police. Field notes and transcribed interviews were analysed to identify emergent themes. RESULTS: Amongst the 43 participants, most reported that it is common for IDUs to be arrested and detained for 36h for carrying sterile or used syringes. Most reported that they or someone they knew had been beaten by police. Interviews suggested five key themes relating to police influence on the risk environment: (1) impact of policing practices on accessibility of sterile syringes, (2) influence of police on choice of places to inject drugs (e.g., shooting galleries), (3) police violence, (4) police corruption and (5) perceived changes in policing practices. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that some behaviour of police officers in Tijuana and Cd. Juarez is inconsistent with legal norms and may be negatively influencing the risk of acquiring blood-borne infections amongst IDUs. Implementing a comprehensive and successful HIV prevention programme amongst IDUs requires interventions to influence the knowledge, attitudes and practices of law enforcement officers.

A qualitative exploration of gender in the context of injection drug use in two US-Mexico border cities.

Injection drug use is of increasing concern along the U.S.-Mexico border where Tijuana and Ciudad (Cd.) Juarez are located. We conducted a qualitative study to explore the context of drug use, with a focus on gender differences. In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 male and 10 female injection drug users (IDUs) in Tijuana and 15 male and 8 female IDUs in Cd. Juarez. Topics included types of drugs used, injection settings, access to sterile needles and environmental influences. Interviews were taped, transcribed and translated. Content analysis was conducted to identify themes. Several themes emerged with respect to gender: (a) how drugs were obtained; (b) where drugs were used; (c) relationship dynamics surrounding drug use; and (d) sex in exchange for money or drugs. Men reported buying and injecting in shooting galleries and other locations, whereas women tended to buy and inject drugs with people they knew and trusted. All men reported having shared syringes in shooting galleries, often with strangers. In these two cities, venue-based interventions may be more appropriate for male IDUs, whereas personal network interventions may be more appropriate among female IDUs.

Respondent-driven sampling of injection drug users in two U.S.-Mexico border cities: recruitment dynamics and impact on estimates of HIV and syphilis prevalence.

Respondent-driven sampling (RDS), a chain referral sampling approach, is increasingly used to recruit participants from hard-to-reach populations, such as injection drug users (IDUs). Using RDS, we recruited IDUs in Tijuana and Ciudad (Cd.) Juárez, two Mexican cities bordering San Diego, CA and El Paso, TX, respectively, and compared recruitment dynamics, reported network size, and estimates of HIV and syphilis prevalence. Between February and April 2005, we used RDS to recruit IDUs in Tijuana (15 seeds, 207 recruits) and Cd. Juárez (9 seeds, 197 recruits), Mexico for a cross-sectional study of behavioral and contextual factors associated with HIV, HCV and syphilis infections. All subjects provided informed consent, an anonymous interview, and a venous blood sample for serologic testing of HIV, HCV, HBV (Cd. Juárez only) and syphilis antibody. Log-linear models were used to analyze the association between the state of the recruiter and that of the recruitee in the referral chains, and population estimates of the presence of syphilis antibody were obtained, correcting for biased sampling using RDS-based estimators. Sampling of the targeted 200 recruits per city was achieved rapidly (2 months in Tijuana, 2 weeks in Cd. Juárez). After excluding seeds and missing data, the sample prevalence of HCV, HIV and syphilis were 96.6, 1.9 and 13.5% respectively in Tijuana, and 95.3, 4.1, and 2.7% respectively in Cd. Juárez (where HBV prevalence was 84.7%). Syphilis cases were clustered in recruitment trees. RDS-corrected estimates of syphilis antibody prevalence ranged from 12.8 to 26.8% in Tijuana and from 2.9 to 15.6% in Ciudad Juárez, depending on how recruitment patterns were modeled, and assumptions about how network size affected an individual's probability of being included in the sample. RDS was an effective method to rapidly recruit IDUs in these cities. Although the frequency of HIV was low, syphilis prevalence was high, particularly in Tijuana. RDS-corrected estimates of syphilis prevalence were sensitive to model assumptions, suggesting that further validation of RDS is necessary.

Leishmaniasis cutáneas: presentación de un caso / Leishmaniasis cuataneous: presentation of a case

Se conoce con el nombre de leishmaniasis cutánea, La enfermedad producida por protozoarios del género leishmania, que amerita la presencia de un insecto (flebótomo) que actúa como vector. Con un período de incubación entre 2-3 meses, aunque puede ser de pocos días a un año o más. Las lesiones iniciales están bajo la forma de pápulas eritematosas o papulovesículas eritematosas, que aumentan lenta y progresivamente de tamaño, localizándose en partes descubiertas del cuerpo, sin compromiso de mucosas. La clínica es inespecífica e indistinguible de otras patologías de piel. El presente caso trata de un escolar masculino de 5 años, quién dos semanas posteriores a la picadura de insecto en región de antebrazo izquierdo, presentó induración con signos de flogosis y úlcera de bordes mal delimitados, con signos de infección sobre agregada, de tres meses de evolución. La presentación atípica de la lesión dificultó el diagnóstico. Se realizó biopsia de la lesión, intradermoreacción de montenegro, e inmunofluoresencia para leishmaniasis que resultaron positivas, respondiendo adecuadamente a tratamiento con glucantime