|
The role of
opioid substitution treatment in reducing HIV transmission
PEOPLE who inject drugs (PWID)
can significantly reduce their risk of HIV infection with the use of
opiate substitution treatments such as methadone, as suggested by an
international team of researchers in a paper published on:-
bmj.com.
Injection drug use (IDU) is a major risk factor for the transmission
of HIV and AIDS and HIV / AIDS accounts for nearly one fifth of the
burden of disease among people who inject drugs. It is estimated
that around 5% to 10% of HIV infections worldwide are due to IDU.
Methadone and buprenorphine are the main forms of drug prescribed
for addicts and are frequently prescribed as opiate substitution
therapies (OST). There is good evidence to suggest that OST reduces
drug-related mortality, and some of the behaviours associated with
injecting risk, but to date there has been no quantitative estimate
of the effect of OST in relation to HIV transmission.
Authors from around the world (US, Canada, Europe and Australia)
therefore carried out a review and pooled analysis of several
published and unpublished studies from multiple countries (including
USA, Canada, UK, the Netherlands, Austria, Italy, Thailand, Puerto
Rico and China) to determine the association between OST and HIV
transmission amongst people who inject drugs. The 9 studies looked
predominantly at males between 26 and 39 years old and totalled 819
incidences of HIV infection with 23,608 person years of follow-up.
After analysing these studies, authors found that OST was associated
with a 54% reduction in risk of HIV infection among PWID. There were
differences between the studies, including different background
rates of HIV infection: this made it impossible to calculate an
"absolute risk reduction" for HIV infection that would
translate to all settings. And not all studies reported adjustments
to the intervention to take account of other factors that might
influence the association between OST and HIV infection. But the
impact of OST on HIV was strong and consistent in further analyses
in the paper. There was weak evidence to suggest that longer
duration of OST exposure may be associated with greater benefit.
Matthew Hickman, the study's Principal Investigator and Professor in
Public Health and Epidemiology at the University of
Bristol said:- "Increases in HIV incidence have been reported
among people who inject drugs in a number of different countries in
recent years and there is now strong evidence demonstrating the
association between OST and the reduced risk of HIV transmission."
There are several countries where OST remains illegal or severely
restricted. The authors say that this study calls for a global scale
up of harm reduction interventions in order to reduce the
transmission of HIV among people who inject drugs; especially in
countries with high rates of HIV.
An accompanying editorial praises MacArthur and colleagues for
showing the extent to which OST reduces the transmission of HIV.
Linda Gowing from the Discipline of Pharmacology at the University
of Adelaide argues however that questions do still remain as further
evidence is needed regarding other forms of OST such as
buprenorphine. She argues also that as the benefits of OST may be
lost when treatment stops, especially if this is not voluntary or
relapse to injecting drug use occurs, then policy makers should
focus on maximising retention and uptake of people onto OST.
Go-ahead on the
new Royal takes a step closer
APPROVAL of the new Royal
Liverpool University Hospital moved a step closer after the Trust's
plans received the full backing of the regional health authority;
NHS North of England. Work on the new £425m hospital
development is expected to start in summer 2013. The next stage of
the approval process is for the Department of Health and the
Treasury to give the final go ahead to the plans. The Trust will
then announce the chosen bidder and final design for the new Royal.
Helen Jackson, director of strategy and redevelopment said:-
"Along with the overwhelming support of the people of Liverpool, our
plans have received strong support from commissioners of local
health services NHS Merseyside and now NHS North of England. We
expect to hear from the Department of Health and Treasury within the
coming weeks and we can then decide which of our final bidders,
Carillion or Horizon, will be successful and launch the design of
the new hospital."
The hospital will take four years to build and around 750 full time
jobs will be created for each year of construction, along with
guaranteed apprenticeships. 60% of these jobs will be for local
people and the plans are to use as many local materials and services
as possible. It is estimated that construction of the new hospital
will generate £240m into the local economy. Inpatients in the
new hospital will be cared for in single bedrooms with ensuite
facilities and the hospital will provide access to the very latest
equipment and technology to diagnose and treat patients. On the site
of the existing hospital will be a state of the art health and life
sciences campus that will put Liverpool on the world stage for Life
Sciences.
This exciting development will create up to 5,000 new high
tech and high earning jobs and could potentially redefine
Liverpool's future economy into a 'Science City' on a
par with 'Media City' in Manchester.
|
 |
BIKE RECOVERED
IN BURGLARY
MERSEYSIDE Police have
released pictures of a recently recovered bike in the hope of
tracing the original owners. The bike was recovered in South
Liverpool but it is believed that it was stolen from Sefton sometime
before 10 September 2012. Neighbourhood Inspector Jim Atherton
said:- "I would urge anyone who has had their bike stolen
recently and recognises the bike in the pictures to call Constable
Mavrakakis on:- 0151 777 5340 to arrange a meeting. Officers will
then conduct checks and ask for proof of ownership before it is
released. This is a necessary measure to ensure the bike is reunited
with its rightful owner. I would also like to take this opportunity
to remind people about the basic steps that you can take to keep
your property safe. In particular, officers in Formby currently run
an initiative called Operation Dragonfly, that encourages people to
register and records details of their valuables for free at
Immobilise.com. Immobilise is a
database of bikes, mobile phone, lap tops and computers. The Police
can access this database and, when stolen goods are recovered, can
identify who they belong to and return them. Additionally,
electronic chips called 'immobitags' can be bought through the local
Homewatch scheme in Formby for a discounted rate. They fit inside
the bike frame and are an extra way to protect your bike."
For more information on Operation Dragonfly visit:-
merseyside.police.uk or call
101 and ask to speak to your local dedicated policing team.
Alternatively come along to a crime prevention surgery. Please
call:- 101 for more information.
New signs mark park's rail
heritage
A Liverpool park, which was
the site of an important part of railway history, has been given new
signs to mark its heritage.
Crown Street Park was created on the site of the terminus for the
world's first passenger railway service.
The Crown Street station opened in September 1830 and was the
western terminus for the service to Manchester, which could be
regarded as the first Inter City Service; with trains being pulled
by Stephenson's Rocket, made famous at the Rainhill Trials the
previous year.
However, the growth of the railway traffic was so rapid that it was
too small and far from the city centre to cope with demand.
Furthermore, steam locomotives could only get as far as Edge Hill,
as they could not cope with the gradients out of Liverpool, so a
cable pulled the carriages the last part of their journey to the
station and also goods up from the docks.
Crown Street closed to passenger trains in August 1836 to be
replaced by Lime Street Station. It remained as a goods and coal
depot until 1972.
The recreation ground which replaced the former coal depot provides
valued outdoor space in the inner-city, with the green space being
enhanced with a playground and outdoor gym equipment.
Its proximity to Liverpool Women's Hospital and Liverpool University
means it also provides a commuting route for pedestrians and
cyclists and is popular with students as well as the coal community.
Although the brick ventilation shaft for the Wapping Tunnel, which
runs under the park, still remains as a local landmark, there has
been nothing until now to let park users and passers by know about
the part this site played in railway history and the industrial
revolution.
New signs, however, have been installed around the park which says
that it was the site of the worlds first passenger rail service
terminus.
Local Councillor Tim Beaumont said:- "This is a small way to
recognise that this park is on the site of the birthplace of
passenger railway transport and it is something that I think the
local community should be very proud of. It is an important part of
the city's heritage." |
