A5011718709- HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
- HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Sex work and related issues
- Hepatitis C virus research
- Homelessness and Social Issues
- Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Employment and Welfare Studies
- Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Health disparities and outcomes
- Electroconvulsive Therapy Studies
- Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
- HIV/AIDS Impact and Responses
- Mental Health and Psychiatry
- Chronic Disease Management Strategies
- Hepatitis B Virus Studies
- Medication Adherence and Compliance
- COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Injury Epidemiology and Prevention
- Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy
- Health, psychology, and well-being
- Misinformation and Its Impacts
- Liver Diseases and Immunity
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
2011-2024
Eginition Hospital
1994-2020
National Public Health Organization
2011-2015
Athens State University
2000-2015
Athens Medical Center
2013-2015
Hellenic Center for Disease Control & Prevention
2014
A significant increase (more than 10-fold) in the number of newly diagnosed HIV-1 infections among injecting drug users (IDUs) was observed Greece during first seven months 2011. Molecular epidemiology results revealed that a large proportion (96%) sequences from IDUs sampled 2011 fall within phylogenetic clusters suggesting high levels transmission networking. Cases originated diverse places outside supporting potential role immigrant initiation this outbreak.
Background During 2011, a dramatic increase (1600%) of reported HIV-1 infections among injecting drug users (IDUs) was noted in Athens, Greece. We herein assess the potential causal pathways associated with this outbreak. Methods Our study employed high resolution phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses. examined also longitudinal data ecological variables such as annual growth gross domestic product (GDP) Greece association HCV sentinel prevalence IDUs, unemployment homelessness rates HIV...
A cross-sectional telephone survey on a nationally representative sample of 1,000 Greek households was performed to assess the acceptability pandemic influenza A(H1N1)v vaccine, factors associated with intention decline and stated reasons for declining vaccination. The initiated last week August 2009 (week 35) is still ongoing (analysis up 44). percentage participants answering they would probably not/definitely not accept vaccine increased from 47.1% in 35 63.1% 44 (test trend: p<0.001)....
Aims To (i) describe an intervention implemented in response to the HIV-1 outbreak among people who inject drugs (PWIDs) Greece (ARISTOTLE programme), (ii) assess its success identifying and testing this population (iii) socio-demographic characteristics, risk behaviours access treatment/prevention, estimate HIV prevalence identify factors, as assessed at first participation of PWIDs. Design A 'seek, test, treat, retain' employing five rounds respondent-driven sampling. Setting Athens,...
Objectives. We examined HIV prevalence and risk factors among injection drug users (IDUs) in Athens, Greece, during an outbreak. Methods. used respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to recruit 1404 IDUs the Aristotle intervention August October 2012. interviewed participants tested for HIV. performed bivariate multivariate analyses. Results. Estimated was 19.8% (RDS-weighted = 14.8%). Odds of infection were 2.3 times as high homeless housed 2.1 who injected at least once per day less frequent...
A "seek-test-treat" intervention (ARISTOTLE) was implemented in response to an outbreak of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among persons who inject drugs (PWID) Athens. We assess trends HIV incidence, prevalence, risk behaviors and access prevention/treatment. Methods included behavioral data collection, provision injection equipment, testing, linkage opioid substitution treatment (OST) programs care during 5 rounds respondent-driven sampling (2012–2013). incidence estimated...
Greece experienced an unprecedented increase in HIV cases among drug injectors 2011 after economic crisis. Network-level factors are increasingly understood to drive transmission emerging epidemics.
To explore whether an intervention during mandatory schooling can lead to age-specific changes in water safety knowledge and attitudes.Age-specific questionnaires were distributed 202 kindergarten grade one pupils, 220 elementary school pupils 337 attending the first three high grades Greater Athens. The information was used design educational package that subsequently presented of same similar socio-demographic profiles different schools area. One month later, a post-exposure evaluation...
The Transmission Reduction Intervention Project (TRIP) is a network-based intervention that aims at decreasing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) spread. We herein explore associations between transmission links as estimated by phylogenetic analyses, and social network–based ties among persons who inject drugs (PWID) recruited in TRIP. Phylogenetic trees were inferred from HIV-1 sequences of TRIP participants. Highly supported clusters (transmission clusters) those fulfilling 3...
High numbers of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infections among people who inject drugs (PWID) have been diagnosed in Athens, Greece, since 2011. We aimed to trace the geographic origin HIV-1 infection for migrants and investigate whether transmissions occur more frequently than Greek nationals.Multiple cross-sectional studies were pooled assemble all persons with Greece between January 2011 31 October 2014. Phylogenetic analyses used maximum likelihood estimation. The...
Abstract Background and Aims The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) outbreak among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Athens, Greece 2011–13 was the largest recent epidemic Europe North America. We aimed to assess trends HIV prevalence, drug use access prevention PWID Athens estimate incidence identify risk factors explore HIV‐1 dispersal using molecular methods during 2014–20. Methods Two community‐based HIV/hepatitis C programmes on were implemented 2012–13 ( n = 3320) 2018–20 1635) through...
Country-level epidemiological data about alcohol-related problems is useful for planning prevention and treatment services. Heavy Alcohol Consumption (HAC) Use Disorder (AUD) are two syndromes of that have been recognized worldwide. Study the determinants HAC AUD in different sociocultural contexts could inform hypotheses etiology or consequences problems.
An RT-PCR assay using primers from the 5′-UTR of GBV-C/HGV genome was used to detect viremia, and a serological past exposure GBV-C/HGV, in sera 106 imprisoned Greek intravenous drug users. High seroprevalence rates indicative parenteral route transmission virus were found (32.1% for GBV-C RNA 46.2% anti-GBV-C E2). These nonetheless lower comparison corresponding HCV infection markers (64.2% 77.4% anti-HCV). Statistically significant univariate associations observed between GBV-C-RNA...
Background The aim of this study was to assess the disease burden 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) in Greece. Methodology/Principal Findings Data on influenza-like illness (ILI), collected through cross-sectional nationwide telephone surveys 1,000 households Greece repeated for 25 consecutive weeks, were combined with data from H1N1 virologic surveillance estimate incidence and clinical attack rate (CAR) A(H1N1). Alternative definitions ILI (cough or sore throat fever>38°C [ILI-38] fever...
Abstract Background Aristotle was a seek-test-treat intervention during an outbreak of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Athens, Greece that started 2011. The aims this analysis were: (1) to study changes drug injection-related and sexual behaviors over the course Aristotle; (2) compare likelihood risky PWID were aware unaware their HIV status. Methods (2012–2013) involved five successive respondent-driven sampling rounds approximately 1400...
130 patients from a methadone maintenance treatment program agreed to complete Symptoms Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90R) and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) self-report scales. Scores higher than the proposed cut-score on SCL-90R scale were observed depression, obsessions-compulsions, paranoid ideation, anxiety, anger-hostility, somatization, interpersonal sensitivity, psychoticism subscales. In sum, 42.9% of our sample exhibited depressive symptomatology, 34.9%...
Abstract The prevalence of TT virus (TTV) infection in various population groups from Athens, Greece, was assessed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using two primer sets distinct regions genome: conventional set derived open reading frame‐1 (ORF‐1) and new, highly sensitive targeting region that includes TATA signal localized upstream ORF‐2. Based on both sets, TTV DNA detected 42/50 (84.0%) healthy individuals, chronic hepatitis C patients, 31/39 (79.5%) acute non‐A–E patients (group...
Internet addiction is a matter of great interest for researchers, taking into consideration Internet's rapid spread and its ever growing use in children, adolescents adults. It has been associated with multiple psychological symptoms social difficulties, therefore raising even greater concerns adverse consequences. The present study that consists part broader research, aims to investigate the association between excessive personality traits an adult population. Specifically, research...