2024
High rates of deferring antiretroviral treatment for patients with HIV and substance use disorders: Results from a national sample of HIV physicians in Ukraine
Ottesen T, Wickersham J, Lawrence J, Antoniak S, Zezuilin O, Polonsky M, Antonyak S, Rozanova J, Dvoriak S, Pykalo I, Filippovych M, Altice F. High rates of deferring antiretroviral treatment for patients with HIV and substance use disorders: Results from a national sample of HIV physicians in Ukraine. PLOS ONE 2024, 19: e0305086. PMID: 39028735, PMCID: PMC11259278, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305086.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntiretroviral therapy prescriptionAntiretroviral therapyCD4 countSubstance use disordersIncreased levels of stigmaNational sampleLevel of stigmaIndependent of risk groupSuboptimal antiretroviral therapyInitiate antiretroviral therapyPopulation of peopleHIV expertsHIV incidenceHIV physiciansHIV treatmentKey populationsTransgender womenAntiretroviral treatmentFeeling thermometerDrinking alcoholSex workersPhysiciansSex partnersPWHRisk groups
2018
Correlates of Recent HIV Testing Among Transgender Women in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Rutledge R, Morozova O, Gibson BA, Altice FL, Kamarulzaman A, Wickersham JA. Correlates of Recent HIV Testing Among Transgender Women in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. LGBT Health 2018, 5: 484-493. PMID: 30481120, PMCID: PMC6306652, DOI: 10.1089/lgbt.2018.0021.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrimary care providersRecent HIV testingHIV testingTransgender womenLogistic regressionHIV/AIDS StrategyCorrelates of HIVPrevious depression diagnosisJoint United Nations ProgrammeHIV testing historyBehavioral risk factorsMultivariate logistic regressionYears of ageMental health functioningBivariate logistic regressionUnited Nations ProgrammeHIV statusHIV treatmentRisk factorsHIV epidemicDepression diagnosisAIDS StrategyAmphetamine useCare providersPrevention services
2016
Confronting the HIV, Tuberculosis, Addiction, and Incarceration Syndemic in Southeast Asia: Lessons Learned from Malaysia
Culbert GJ, Pillai V, Bick J, Al-Darraji HA, Wickersham JA, Wegman MP, Bazazi AR, Ferro E, Copenhaver M, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. Confronting the HIV, Tuberculosis, Addiction, and Incarceration Syndemic in Southeast Asia: Lessons Learned from Malaysia. Journal Of Neuroimmune Pharmacology 2016, 11: 446-455. PMID: 27216260, PMCID: PMC5118227, DOI: 10.1007/s11481-016-9676-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntiretroviral therapyMalaysia's largest prisonIsoniazid preventive therapyLatent tuberculosis infectionStandardized treatment protocolMandatory HIV testingDrug treatment centersEvidence-based addiction treatmentEvidence-based interventionsLargest prisonReservoir of infectionActive diseaseActive tuberculosisPreventive therapyHIV testingTuberculosis infectionOpioid dependenceHIV treatmentRapid relapseMethadone maintenanceTreatment protocolClinical careHIVTreatment centersCompulsory drug treatment centers
2015
The syndemic of HIV, HIV-related risk and multiple co-morbidities among women who use drugs in Malaysia: Important targets for intervention
Loeliger KB, Marcus R, Wickersham JA, Pillai V, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL. The syndemic of HIV, HIV-related risk and multiple co-morbidities among women who use drugs in Malaysia: Important targets for intervention. Addictive Behaviors 2015, 53: 31-39. PMID: 26436520, PMCID: PMC4679569, DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.09.013.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDrug-using womenHIV testingFuture public health interventionsSubstance useHIV risk behaviorsSyndemics of HIVThird of womenPublic health problemInfrequent condom usePoor health outcomesHarm reduction effortsSubstance use disordersPublic health interventionsCross-sectional surveyUnstable living situationsSocial supportAntiretroviral therapyHIV prevalenceHIV transmissionHIV treatmentInjection paraphernaliaDrug injectionSocial comorbiditiesPsychiatric illnessMost womenBurden of substance use disorders, mental illness, and correlates of infectious diseases among soon-to-be released prisoners in Azerbaijan
Azbel L, Wickersham JA, Wegman MP, Polonsky M, Suleymanov M, Ismayilov R, Dvoryak S, Rotberga S, Altice FL. Burden of substance use disorders, mental illness, and correlates of infectious diseases among soon-to-be released prisoners in Azerbaijan. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2015, 151: 68-75. PMID: 25861943, PMCID: PMC4447560, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.02.034.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntiretroviral therapyDrug injectionInfectious diseasesPrevalence of HCVSignificant independent correlatesLow HIV prevalenceHigh-endemic countriesHigh diagnostic rateEvidence-based addiction treatmentSubstance use disordersHealth assessment surveyHCV epidemicHepatitis BHCV diagnosisHIV statusHIV prevalenceART coverageHIV treatmentIndependent correlatesNew medicationsHIV epidemicHeterosexual riskHealth SurveyEndemic countriesHIV