HIV infection among new synthetic drug abusers： a pilot study in Beijing

Background Following the increased human immunodeficiency virus （HIV） notification （infection） rates via sexual transmission and increased abuse of new synthetic drugs instead of heroin in China, a study on HIV infections and risk factors among synthetic drugs and heroin users in Beijing was conducted to provide a cue for further development of targets and strategies of HIV/AIDS control and prevention for different drug populations. Methods A total of 428 subjects including 224 heroin users and 204 new synthetic drug users was recruited from communities in Beijing by convenience sampling. A X2 test was used to compare HIV and syphilis infections between the two subpopulations. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate factors related to HIV, syphilis infections and abuse of synthetic drugs. Results Unbalanced distributions of demographics were detected between the two subpopulations. Compared with heroin users, most users of synthetic drugs were migrants, single and of younger age （age 〈30 years）. Ten HIV infections and twenty-four syphilis infections were confirmed among 428 subjects. No significant difference in HIV infection was found between the two subpopulations （crude odds ratio （OR） =0.46, 95% confidence interval （CI）： 0.07-15.80 and adjusted odds ratio （AOR） =1.26, 95% Ch 0.09-18.28） while four times as many syphilis infections were identified among users of synthetics drugs （AOR=3.92, 95% CI： 1.06-14.56）. HIV and syphilis infections appeared to work synergistically.The migrants who were of Han ethnicity, single and who had stayed in Beijing for more than six months were more likely to abuse synthetics drugs. Conclusions The new synthetic drug users and heroin users are different subpopulations. We optimistically speculate that HIV has not yet been introduced into the former in Beijing, but considering higher syphilis infections in synthetic drug users and the role of syphilis in HIV infection, synthetic drug users, as a possible and important driver of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Beijing, should be paid more attention in HIV prevention and control strategies.

Challenges and opportunities in the treatment of ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis(UC) is an inflammatory destructive disease of the large intestine occurred usually in the rectum and lower part of the colon as well as the entire colon. Drug therapy is not the only choice for UC treatment and medical management should be as a comprehensive whole. Many synthetic drugs are available for the treatment of UC like 5-aminosalicylic acid, oral or systemic corticosteroids, immunomodulator, etc. but these drugs are associated with many serious side effects after long term use or have certain disadvantage or not suitable for the use in some patients. In short synthetic drugs have many disadvantages and for this reason effective and safe alternative drug treatment for the UC is the challenge. Herbal drugs are found to be very promising results of the treatment of UC and enzymatic level. Researchers explored many herbal drugs for the treatment and even many more may found effective in the treatment of UC. At this point we feel herbal medicine is the better alternative for the treatment of UC.

Big Data Interprets US Opioid Crisis

Since 2010,there has been a new round of drug crises in the United States.The abuse of opioids has led to a sharp increase in the number of people involved in drug crimes in the United States.There is an urgent need to explore solutions to the drug crisis in the United States.In this paper,the model of in-depth analysis is established under the condition of obtaining the opioid data and the influence factor data of the large sample of five state[1].In the first part,we use the Highway Safety Research Institute model based on the differential equation model to predict the initial value,find the initial position of the drug transfer,and obtain the curve of the number of different groups over time by fitting the data,so that the curves can be predicted the changing trends of the groups in the future.It was found that in Kentucky State,the county's most likely to start using opioids were Pike and Bale.In Ohio,the county's most likely to start using opioids are Jackson and Scioto.In Pennsylvania State,Mercer and Lackawanna are the counties most likely to start using opioids.Martinsville and Galax are the counties where Virginia State is most likely to start using opioids.Logan and Mingo are the counties where West Virginia State is most likely to start using opioids.In the second part,the gray prediction model is used to further analyze the time series of each factor,the maximum likelihood estimation method is used to obtain the weight of each factor,and the weight coefficient matrix is used to simulate the multivariate regression equation,and the factors that have the greatest influence on opioid abuse are educational background and family composition.In the third part,the hypothesis test model of two groups(the data type is proportional)is used to verify the difference between the influence factors(including the predicted values)in the first two parts of the states,thus verifying the feasibility between them.At the same time,we put forward a few suggestions to combine the current situation in the United States with the CDC data.We believe that in order to address the opium crisis,the U.S.government needs to strengthen not only oversight of doctors'prescriptions,but also make joint efforts of all sectors of society to fundamentally reduce the barriers to the use of opioids.

Energy metabolism disorders and potential therapeutic drugs in heart failure

Heart failure(HF)is a global public health problem with high morbidity and mortality.A large number of studies have shown that HF is caused by severe energy metabolism disorders,which result in an insufficient heart energy supply.This deficiency causes cardiac pump dysfunction and systemic energy metabolism failure,which determine the development of HF and recovery of heart.Current HF therapy acts by reducing heart rate and cardiac preload and afterload,treating the HF symptomatically or delaying development of the disease.Drugs aimed at cardiac energy metabolism have not yet been developed.In this review,we outline the main characteristics of cardiac energy metabolism in healthy hearts,changes in metabolism during HF,and related pathways and targets of energy metabolism.Finally,we discuss drugs that improve cardiac function via energy metabolism to provide new research ideas for the development and application of drugs for treating HF.

Efficacy,safety,and cost-effectiveness of triple therapy in preventing relapse in rheumatoid arthritis:A randomized controlled trial(ESCoRT study)

Background:Biological agents,such as tumor necrosis factor inhibitors(TNFi),have been widely used in rheumatoid arthritis(RA)patients and greatly improved goal achievement.The aim of this study was to investigate whether conventional synthetic diseasemodifying anti-rheumatic drugs(csDMARDs)combination was better in reducing relapse than methotrexate(MTX)monotherapy,and more cost-effective than continuing TNFi plus MTX in RA patients who achieved low disease activity(LDA)with TNFi and MTX therapy.Methods:RA patients who failed to csDMARDs received an induction therapy of MTX plus TNFi for maximally 12 weeks.Those achieving LDA in 12 weeks were randomly assigned at a 1:1:1 ratio into three groups:(A)adding hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine for the first 12 weeks and then discontinuing TNFi for the following 48 weeks;(B)maintaining TNFi and MTX for 60 weeks;and(C)maintaining TNFi and MTX for the first 12 weeks and then discontinuing TNFi for the following 48 weeks.The primary outcome was relapse.Results:A total of 117 patients were enrolled for induction therapy and 67 patients who achieved LDA within 12 weeks were randomized,with 24,21,and 22 patients in groups A,B,and C,respectively.The relapse rates of groups A and B during the entire 60 weeks were comparable[10/22(45.5%)vs.7/20(35.0%),χ^(2)=0.475,P=0.491],however,significantly lower than that of group C[10/22(45.5%)vs.17/20(85.0%),χ^(2)=5.517,P=0.019;7/20(35.0%)vs.17/20(85.0%),χ^(2)=11.035,P=0.004,respectively].Taking RMB 100,000 Yuan as the threshold of willingness to pay,compared to MTX monotherapy(group C),both TNFi maintenance and triple csDMARDs therapies were cost-effective,but triple csDMARDs therapy was better.Conclusion:For RA patients who have achieved LDA with TNFi and MTX,csDMARDs triple therapy was a cost-effective option in favor of reducing relapse.Trial registration:ClinicalTrials.gov,NCT02320630.