Biomedical subjects

Andrei P Kozlov

Publications and source records attributed to Andrei P Kozlov.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Evolutionarily new sequences expressed in tumors.

BACKGROUND: Earlier we suggested the concept of the positive evolutionary role of tumors. According to this concept, tumors provide conditions for the expression of evolutionarily new and/or sleeping genes in their cells. Thus, tumors are considered as evolutionary proving ground or reservoir of expression. To support this concept we have previously characterized in silico and experimentally a new class of human tumor-related transcribed sequences. RESULTS: In this article we describe results of further studies of previously described tumor-related sequences. The results of molecular phylogeny studies, Southern hybridization experiments and computational comparison with genomes of other species are presented. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that these previously described tumor-related human transcripts are also relatively evolutionarily new.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

HIV prevalence, sociodemographic, and behavioral correlates and recruitment methods among injection drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia.

OBJECTIVE: In St. Petersburg, Russia, we sought to describe the characteristics of active high-risk injection drug users (IDUs) to evaluate the associations between behavioral and demographic characteristics and HIV-1 infection and to describe 3 discrete recruitment methods. METHODS: Active high-risk IDUs were recruited in 3 ways: through street outreach, at facilities serving IDUs, and by network-based chain referral. Recruits were screened, counseled, and tested for HIV-1. Sociodemographic and behavioral data were collected. HIV-1 prevalence was analyzed as a function of sociodemographic and behavioral variables. RESULTS: During the 10-month recruitment period, data from 900 participants were collected: median age was 24 years, and in the previous month, 96% used heroin and 75% shared needles with others. The baseline HIV prevalence was 30% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 27 to 33). Recruitment through social networks was the most productive strategy. HIV-positive individuals were younger, but none of the other sociodemographic or behavioral characteristics differed significantly by HIV status. CONCLUSIONS: The estimated HIV prevalence of 30% places St. Petersburg among the worst IDU-concentrated epidemics in Europe. Recruitment through network-based chain referral is a useful method for recruiting active IDUs. Sociodemographic and behavioral links to prevalent HIV infection remain to be elucidated.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

HIV incidence and factors associated with HIV acquisition among injection drug users in St Petersburg, Russia.

BACKGROUND: The Russian HIV-1 epidemic has been driven by injection drug use. OBJECTIVE: To determine HIV incidence and identify demographic and behavioral correlates of infection to facilitate the development of longitudinal HIV prevention programs. METHODS: In 2002, a cohort of 520 injection drug users (IDU) in St Petersburg, Russia were recruited and tested and counseled for HIV-1. HIV-seronegative IDU were enrolled and reevaluated at 6 and 12 months. HIV testing was performed and sociodemographic and behavioral data were collected during each study visit. The relationship of sociodemographic and behavioral factors to HIV-1 incidence was assessed. RESULTS: Most enrolled subjects were young, male, living at home, educated, heroin users, and frequently shared needles and other injection paraphernalia. The retention rate at the 12 month follow-up was 80%. The HIV-1 incidence rate was 4.5/100 person-years. In univariate analysis, psychostimulant use, especially frequent use, three or more sex partners in the past 6 months, and females selling sex were associated with HIV seroconversion. In the multivariate analysis, psychostimulant use three or more times per week was the only factor still associated with HIV seroconversion. CONCLUSIONS: The high incidence of HIV infection places St Petersburg among the worst IDU-concentrated epidemics in Europe. Interventions targeting psychostimulant and heroin users and their accompanying behaviors such as frequent injections and increased sexual activity are needed immediately.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Uncertainty in descriptions of biosocial phenomena and the schism between preventionists and moralists.

Biosocial systems are dual-natured phenomena. A relationship between social and biological parameters of any biosocial system may be described by an uncertainty principle: it is not possible to measure both types of parameters exactly and simultaneously. A full description of dual-natured phenomenon requires two mutually exclusive (complementary) concepts. Preventionists and moralists use complementary descriptions of HIV/AIDS epidemic, sexual behavior and drug addiction. That is why they do not understand each other. The "compromise" may be defined as taking into consideration both types of descriptions. The compromise determines approximate values of complementary sets of parameters somewhere between their extreme alternative or complementary descriptions. A compromise is reached within the framework of the complex interplay of complementary descriptions and currently existing norms and generates new social norms and new intersectoral partnerships. The existing schism between preventionists and moralists concerning HIV/AIDS and similar issues is a result of uncertainty of complementary descriptions of complex biosocial systems and should be resolved through compromises which may vary in different countries.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed2006

Can home-made injectable opiates contribute to the HIV epidemic among injection drug users in the countries of the former Soviet Union?

AIMS: Home-made preparation of heroin is common in countries of the former Soviet Union (FSU), and the addition of blood during its preparation and the use of contaminated syringes to distribute it may play a role in the rapid spread of HIV-1 among injecting drug users (IDUs). This study was designed to determine the viability of HIV-1 during these procedures. SETTING: Field observations of home-made opiate manufacture in four FSU countries were used to develop a consensus protocol to replicate manufacture in the laboratory that included the addition of human blood contaminated with HIV-1. DESIGN AND MEASUREMENT: Following the addition of HIV-1-contaminated blood during manufacture or storage, we attempted to recover viable HIV-1. The recovery was measured by propagation of the virus in stimulated white blood cells from uninfected donors. FINDINGS: In experiments in which HIV-1 contaminated blood was added during manufacture, no viable HIV-1 was recovered. In experiments in which chornaya was introduced into HIV-contaminated syringes, the percentage of syringes containing viable HIV-1 was reduced. The reduction appeared to be related to the interaction of HIV-1 contaminated blood with a component of the poppies. While HIV-contaminated syringes used to dispense or inject home-made opiates might transmit HIV, the ability of chornaya to reduce HIV viability seems to make this route of transmission less efficient. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemic of HIV-1 among IDUs in the FSU resulted more probably from recognized injection risk behaviors-including sharing syringes and drug solutions--than from opiate solutions harboring viable HIV-1.

Disease Outbreaks↗

PubMed2005

Demographic characteristics, treatment history, drug risk behaviors, and condom use attitudes for U.S. and Russian injection drug users: the need for targeted sexual risk behavior interventions.

Two separate databases, one on Russian (n = 444) injection drug users (IDUs), and the other on U.S. IDUs (n = 241), were merged, and responses were compared. Results indicated that Russian IDUs perceived themselves to be at greater risk for HIV/AIDS based upon behaviors over the past 90 days. U.S. IDUs were more likely to be tested for HIV, report a negative HIV result, and know more people with HIV. U.S. IDUs consumed greater amounts of alcohol and marijuana, and made more alcohol/drug treatment attempts than Russian IDUs. Russian IDUs injected more frequently, although were more likely to recently use clean needles. Russian and U.S. IDUs responded significantly differently to eight AIDS knowledge questions. Eight condom attitude questions were asked of each group, and each revealed significantly different responses. Gender differences for Russian IDUs were also observed. There is a clear need to create culturally targeted sexual risk reduction interventions.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗

PubMed2004

A comparison of HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes of STD clinic clients in St. Petersburg, Russia and Milwaukee, Wi, USA.

Over the last decade, Russia has experienced alarming increases in rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Most empirically validated HIV-prevention studies have been conducted in the United States or other developed nations and it is unclear the extent to which these techniques may be useful in the different conditions found in Eastern Europe. The present study compared HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes toward condoms, perceived vulnerability to HIV, and attitudes towards HIV testing in samples of 400 Russian and 401 American STD clinic patients. Participants in both samples exhibited knowledge deficits. Overall, Russians had less accurate HIV transmission knowledge, fewer sources of HIV-relevant information, and lower perceived vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. In both countries, a desire to be tested for HIV was related to perceived vulnerability to the disease. American participants were more likely to indicate that they planned to be tested (or re-tested) for HIV in the future (88%) relative to Russian participants (40%). Americans also were more likely to have been tested in the past. Results suggest that interventions designed to work with STD clinic patients are urgently needed but that appropriate intervention strategies may differ from one country to the other, reflecting the more advanced state of the HIV epidemic in the United States vs. the emerging epidemic in Russia.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed2003

Molecular cloning and analysis of full-length genome of HIV type 1 strains prevalent in countries of the former Soviet Union.

The HIV-1 epidemic among injecting drug users (IDUs) in countries of the former Soviet Union (FSU) was caused mainly by two HIV-1 variants: subtype A and CRF03-AB. To date only three full-length HIV-I genomes from the FSU have been sequenced: one subtype A from Byelorussia and two CRF03-AB from Russia. We report the full-length genome cloning and analysis of two more HIV-1 strains from the FSU countries (98UA0116 of subtype A and 98BY10443 of CRF03-AB). Isolate 98UA0116 is the second cloned and sequenced full-length HIV-1 genome of subtype A lineage from the FSU, which may be a novel subsubtype within sub-type A. Isolate 98BY10443 is the third full-length HIV-1 genome of CRF03-AB in the world to be cloned and sequenced. Additionally, it is the first CRF03-AB strain discovered in Byelorussia. Cloned genomic sequences of the FSU HIV-1 isolates are being used for the development of a region-specific HIV-1 vaccine.

Cloning, Molecular↗

PubMed2002

Characteristics and predictors of HIV risk behaviors among injection-drug-using men and women in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The purpose of this study was to establish the prevalence of high-risk sexual behaviors and drug-using behaviors in a large community sample of male and female injection drug users (IDUs) in St. Petersburg, Russia. This investigation used a data collection plan that systematically recruited a drug user sample from venues where IDUs were known to congregate and could be accessed. Surveys were completed by 239 IDUs (males = 139, females = 100), aged 13-25. Participants averaged 44 injections (range = 0-240) in the past 30 days, with heroin (70%) and heroin plus other drugs (20%) the most frequently used. Participants' mean age of first drug injecting was 17.6 years, 41% of participants regularly shared needles, most had multiple sexual partners (mean = 9.3 partners in the past 3 months), and 70% reported engaging in vaginal intercourse without condoms. Stepwise logistic regression showed that high-risk sexual behavior was predicted by being female, young, using heroin several times a month, and less negative attitudes toward using condoms. Effective HIV prevention efforts for IDUs in Russia must be tailored to their age, gender, drug use, and condom attitudes. These programs will also have to address the dual risk factors, unique to IDUs, of risky sexual behaviors and needle sharing. Without a rapid intervention response, Russia's HIV/AIDS crisis will soon turn catastrophic.

Adolescent↗