Interestingly, neither the quantity nor the quality of HIV-specific CD8 T-cell responses has previously been found to be predictive for the ability to control HIV replication after STI [23, 29]. In conclusion, we show that the presence of HLA-Bw4 significantly impacts on the control of viral load after STI during chronic HIV infection. Whether the increased capacity to suppress HIV-1 replication associated with HLA-Bw4 warrants reappraisal of STI as a treatment option in selected patient populations depends on the findings of future studies. We thank Etoposide in vitro the patients for participating in the SHCS and in these treatment interruption

trials, the nurses and physicians at the various SHCS centres BAY 73-4506 for excellent patient care, the SHCS data centre in Lausanne for data management and Marie Christine Francioli

for administrative assistance. This study was financed in the framework of the Swiss HIV Cohort Study, supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF grant #33CS30-134277). M.S and C.H. were supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (grants # PP00P3_128461/1 and 31003A_135677, respectively). “
“Late entry of HIV-positive persons into specialized care is a significant challenge to limiting the spread of the HIV epidemic. In 2008–2010, only 54% of 108 116 persons who tested HIV positive enrolled in care at AIDS Centers in Ukraine, and almost half of new AIDS cases are found in patients with first-time HIV diagnoses. We aimed to identify factors associated with delayed enrolment in HIV care in Odessa Region, Ukraine. We conducted a retrospective data analysis of patients who enrolled in HIV care in ID-8 1995–2010, comparing patients on the basis of the reported route of HIV transmission (injecting drug use or sexual transmission). The nonparametric Mann−Whitney U-test was used to compare the groups. During the period analysed, the delay in enrolment in HIV care among people who inject drugs (PWID) in

Odessa Region was longer than that among people infected via sexual transmission. The mean delay in enrolment in care among PWID increased over time for men and women; their mean age at the time of enrolment also gradually increased. Urban residents accounted for the majority of HIV cases, with some growth in the proportion of rural residents. People who acquired HIV via injecting drug use showed later enrolment in HIV care compared with people infected via sexual transmission. There is an urgent need to improve HIV counselling and referral services, taking into account differences in the behaviour of drug-using and non-drug-using populations. Ukraine has the highest HIV epidemic burden in Europe, with 120 148 (264.