2020
Physician and patient prediction of adherence to antiretroviral therapy in HIV positive people in Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Vetrova M, Aleksandrova O, Paschenko A, Toropov S, Rassokhin V, Abyshev R, Levina O, Niccolai L, Heimer R. Physician and patient prediction of adherence to antiretroviral therapy in HIV positive people in Saint-Petersburg, Russia. AIDS Care 2020, 33: 473-477. PMID: 32148065, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2020.1738005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntiretroviral therapyHIV-positive peopleART initiationPositive peopleHIV viral suppressionPatient predictionsAccuracy of providerReview of pharmacyART retentionHIV physiciansViral suppressionPhysicians' predictionsTreatment outcomesART outcomesPatientsAdherenceLaboratory dataTherapyLongitudinal analysisOutcomesProvidersInitiationPhysiciansCare
2018
Early stages of HIV treatment cascade in people living with HIV in Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Vetrova M, Aleksandrova O, Paschenko A, Toropov S, Rassokhin V, Abyshev R, Levina O, Niccolai L, Heimer R. Early stages of HIV treatment cascade in people living with HIV in Saint-Petersburg, Russia. AIDS Care 2018, 30: 857-862. PMID: 29325435, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2017.1417536.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntiretroviral therapyUndetectable VLART outcomesInitiation of ARTPilot studyProportion of PLWHMedical chart reviewHIV epidemic controlSuccessful treatment outcomeProportion of peopleChart reviewHIV treatmentDrug abuse statusDisease progressionTreatment outcomesOlder ageTreatment effectivenessART effectivenessEpidemic controlPLWHIllicit drugsHIVSignificant differencesAbuse statusOutcomes
2016
Psychiatric Distress, Drug Use, and HIV Viral Load Suppression in Russia
Ustinov A, Suvorova A, Belyakov A, Makhamatova A, Levina O, Krupitsky E, Lioznov D, Niccolai L, Heimer R. Psychiatric Distress, Drug Use, and HIV Viral Load Suppression in Russia. AIDS And Behavior 2016, 20: 1603-1608. PMID: 26809193, PMCID: PMC4945434, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-016-1297-x.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2012
Speaking the truth: an analysis of gender differences in serostatus disclosure practices among HIV-infected patients in St Petersburg, Russia
Davidson A, Zaller N, Dukhovlinova E, Toussova O, Feller E, Heimer R, Kozlov A. Speaking the truth: an analysis of gender differences in serostatus disclosure practices among HIV-infected patients in St Petersburg, Russia. International Journal Of STD & AIDS 2012, 23: 685-688. PMID: 23104740, DOI: 10.1258/ijsa.2012.011463.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInjection drug useHIV treatmentDrug useRussian HIV epidemicCross-sectional studyHIV-positive serostatusHeterosexual spreadHIV diseaseSecondary preventionAIDS CenterAIDS clinicMean ageSexual transmissionHIV epidemicSerostatus disclosureFemale genderImportant target groupMarried statusInfection routeSexual partnersHIVPatientsImportant contact pointsMedical communityMode of acquisition
2010
Comparing sexual risks and patterns of alcohol and drug use between injection drug users (IDUs) and non-IDUs who report sexual partnerships with IDUs in St. Petersburg, Russia
Abdala N, White E, Toussova OV, Krasnoselskikh TV, Verevochkin S, Kozlov AP, Heimer R. Comparing sexual risks and patterns of alcohol and drug use between injection drug users (IDUs) and non-IDUs who report sexual partnerships with IDUs in St. Petersburg, Russia. BMC Public Health 2010, 10: 676. PMID: 21054855, PMCID: PMC2988741, DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-10-676.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInjection drug usersIDU sex partnersNon-IDUsRisky alcohol useSex partnersAlcohol useIDU populationSexual riskSexual transmissionUnprotected sexAlcohol Use Disorders Identification TestHIV prevention programsMultiple sexual partnersPatterns of alcoholSexual risk behaviorsSubstance use patternsDisorders Identification TestRisky sexual practicesHIV infectionMethamphetamine injectionAssessed associationsBackgroundTo dateCasual partnersGeneral populationDrug usersDrug Network Characteristics and HIV Risk Among Injection Drug Users in Russia: The roles of Trust, Size, and Stability
Cepeda JA, Odinokova VA, Heimer R, Grau LE, Lyubimova A, Safiullina L, Levina OS, Niccolai LM. Drug Network Characteristics and HIV Risk Among Injection Drug Users in Russia: The roles of Trust, Size, and Stability. AIDS And Behavior 2010, 15: 1003-1010. PMID: 20872063, PMCID: PMC3112286, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-010-9816-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEstimates of HIV incidence among drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia: continued growth of a rapidly expanding epidemic
Niccolai LM, Verevochkin SV, Toussova OV, White E, Barbour R, Kozlov AP, Heimer R. Estimates of HIV incidence among drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia: continued growth of a rapidly expanding epidemic. European Journal Of Public Health 2010, 21: 613-619. PMID: 20798184, PMCID: PMC3180633, DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckq115.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInjection drug usersRetrospective cohort analysisHIV incidenceEnzyme immunoassayHIV epidemicCohort analysisDrug usersBED capture enzyme immunoassayHIV incident casesRecent HIV incidenceHigh HIV incidenceHIV prevention interventionsCross-sectional studyCapture enzyme immunoassayIncident infectionsIncident casesEstimate incidenceIndependent correlatesIncidence rateIncidence estimatesPrevention interventionsCurrent epidemic situationIncidenceVulnerable populationsLow specificityHIV Disclosure, Condom Use, and Awareness of HIV Infection Among HIV-Positive, Heterosexual Drug Injectors in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
Grau LE, White E, Niccolai LM, Toussova OV, Verevochkin SV, Kozlov AP, Heimer R. HIV Disclosure, Condom Use, and Awareness of HIV Infection Among HIV-Positive, Heterosexual Drug Injectors in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation. AIDS And Behavior 2010, 15: 45-57. PMID: 20700645, PMCID: PMC3023022, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-010-9775-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEstimation of the number of injection drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia
Heimer R, White E. Estimation of the number of injection drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2010, 109: 79-83. PMID: 20060238, PMCID: PMC2875272, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2009.12.010.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2009
Hepatitis C virus infection among drug injectors in St Petersburg, Russia: social and molecular epidemiology of an endemic infection
Paintsil E, Verevochkin SV, Dukhovlinova E, Niccolai L, Barbour R, White E, Toussova OV, Alexander L, Kozlov AP, Heimer R. Hepatitis C virus infection among drug injectors in St Petersburg, Russia: social and molecular epidemiology of an endemic infection. Addiction 2009, 104: 1881-1890. PMID: 19712125, PMCID: PMC2763027, DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2009.02687.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInjection drug usersHepatitis C virusRespondent-driven samplingPrevalent infectionMajority of IDUsHepatitis C virus infectionSustained virological responseC virus infectionRespondent-driven sampleAssociation of genotypesIDU communityVirological responseHCV infectionAntiviral therapyC virusGenotype 3aDrug injectionVirus infectionDrug injectorsBlood samplesHCV sequencesDrug usersEndemic infectionInfectionMolecular epidemiologyPotential Bridges of Heterosexual HIV Transmission from Drug Users to the General Population in St. Petersburg, Russia: Is it Easy to be a Young Female?
Toussova O, Shcherbakova I, Volkova G, Niccolai L, Heimer R, Kozlov A. Potential Bridges of Heterosexual HIV Transmission from Drug Users to the General Population in St. Petersburg, Russia: Is it Easy to be a Young Female? Journal Of Urban Health 2009, 86: 121-130. PMID: 19533368, PMCID: PMC2705483, DOI: 10.1007/s11524-009-9364-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIDU sex partnersInjection drug usersSex partnersNon-IDUsGeneral populationDrug usersYoung femalesHeterosexual HIV transmissionEpidemic of HIVHIV diagnosisHIV transmissionSexual transmissionHIV preventionPotential bridgeFurther transmissionYoung womenAlcohol useConvenience sampleSignificant correlatesSignificant predictorsUrgent effortsFemalesEpidemicLast yearsLow levelsThe Potential for Bridging of HIV Transmission in the Russian Federation: Sex Risk Behaviors and HIV Prevalence among Drug Users (DUs) and their Non-DU Sex Partners
Niccolai LM, Shcherbakova IS, Toussova OV, Kozlov AP, Heimer R. The Potential for Bridging of HIV Transmission in the Russian Federation: Sex Risk Behaviors and HIV Prevalence among Drug Users (DUs) and their Non-DU Sex Partners. Journal Of Urban Health 2009, 86: 131-143. PMID: 19507037, PMCID: PMC2705488, DOI: 10.1007/s11524-009-9369-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSex risk behaviorsNew sex partnerDrug usersHIV prevalenceSex partnersHIV transmissionRisk behaviorsHigh-risk sexual behaviorUnknown status partnersMale drug usersMultiple sex partnersSexual behaviorFemale drug usersHIV casesHIV epidemicHigh prevalenceGeneralized epidemicsUnprotected intercourseLast sexSexual contactFurther transmissionPrevalenceRecent evidenceMonthsFurther studiesSimultaneous Recruitment of Drug Users and Men Who Have Sex with Men in the United States and Russia Using Respondent-Driven Sampling: Sampling Methods and Implications
Iguchi MY, Ober AJ, Berry SH, Fain T, Heckathorn DD, Gorbach PM, Heimer R, Kozlov A, Ouellet LJ, Shoptaw S, Zule WA. Simultaneous Recruitment of Drug Users and Men Who Have Sex with Men in the United States and Russia Using Respondent-Driven Sampling: Sampling Methods and Implications. Journal Of Urban Health 2009, 86: 5. PMID: 19472058, PMCID: PMC2705484, DOI: 10.1007/s11524-009-9365-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman immunodeficiency virusHigh-risk groupRespondent-driven samplingSample of MSMDrug usersSex partnersTraditional high-risk groupsHIV Cooperative Agreement ProgramGeneralized HIV epidemicsRace/ethnicitySexual acquisitionImmunodeficiency virusSexual transmissionHIV epidemicRisk groupsYoung MSMBlack MSMDrug useUS sitesMSMRecruitment biasMSM sampleMenPeer recruitmentSex
2008
High HIV Prevalence, Suboptimal HIV Testing, and Low Knowledge of HIV-Positive Serostatus Among Injection Drug Users in St. Petersburg, Russia
Niccolai LM, Toussova OV, Verevochkin SV, Barbour R, Heimer R, Kozlov AP. High HIV Prevalence, Suboptimal HIV Testing, and Low Knowledge of HIV-Positive Serostatus Among Injection Drug Users in St. Petersburg, Russia. AIDS And Behavior 2008, 14: 932-941. PMID: 18843531, PMCID: PMC3116648, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-008-9469-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInjection drug usersHIV-positive serostatusHIV prevalenceHIV testingDrug usersHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalenceRecent doctor visitHigh HIV prevalenceUnsafe injectionsPositive serostatusDoctor visitsSerostatusHIVPrevalencePoor knowledgeVirus prevalenceLow knowledgeTesting patternsHistory/Adequate coverageCorrelatesInfectionVisitsMonthsSocial and structural aspects of the overdose risk environment in St. Petersburg, Russia
Green TC, Grau LE, Blinnikova KN, Torban M, Krupitsky E, Ilyuk R, Kozlov A, Heimer R. Social and structural aspects of the overdose risk environment in St. Petersburg, Russia. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2008, 20: 270-276. PMID: 18774283, PMCID: PMC2696401, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2008.07.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDrug usersRisk behaviorsIntervention feasibilityOpioid overdosesModerate-risk behaviorAbstinence-based treatmentMost drug usersOpioid injectorsSuboptimal responseOverdose response trainingTreatment modalitiesCommon causeOverdose riskNaloxone distributionOverdose mortalityModifiable aspectsAmbulance staffRisk environmentOverdosesTreatment providersMortalityStructural interventionsKey informant interviewsMore ambulancesInterventionSpatial distribution of HIV prevalence and incidence among injection drugs users in St Petersburg: implications for HIV transmission
Heimer R, Barbour R, Shaboltas AV, Hoffman IF, Kozlov AP. Spatial distribution of HIV prevalence and incidence among injection drugs users in St Petersburg: implications for HIV transmission. AIDS 2008, 22: 123-130. PMID: 18090400, PMCID: PMC2778790, DOI: 10.1097/qad.0b013e3282f244ef.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInjection drug usersDrug usersReceptive syringe sharingRisk behavior dataHIV/AIDS epidemicRisky injection behaviorsSeronegative cohortsSeronegative individualsHeroin injectionHIV prevalenceHIV transmissionIncident casesSyringe sharingHIV epidemicVaccine studiesStudy populationDrug useResidential addressesStudy participantsEpidemiological analysisHIVPrevalenceAIDS epidemicDisease prevalenceCohort