Identification of bacterial families in PIRs and INRs.

<p>Positive (%) = # patients displaying a specific bacterial family/total # of PCR positive PIRs (or INRs). Negative (%) = # patients negative for a specific bacterial family/total # of PCR positive PIRs (or INRs). PIRs and INRs presented a different profile in term of bacteria families. (<b>A</b>) PIRs displayed a similar composition of bacterial families between baseline and T12. (<b>B</b>) No major changes in bacterial families were seen in INRs after 12 months-HAART. At baseline, the significant differences between the two groups concerned <i>Lactobacillaceae</i> *(PIRs 3/6, 50% vs INRs 0/8 0%; p = .05) and <i>Pseudomonadaceae *</i>(PIRs 5/6, 83% vs INRs 1/8, 13%; p = .026). No differences between PIRs and INRs at T12.</p

Patients' characteristics.

<p><b>NOTE:</b> Data are median (IQR -Interquartile range-). FRs: Full Responders; INRs : Immunological Non Responders; IDU: intravenous drug user; HAART: highly active antiretroviral therapy; NRTI: nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor; NNRTI: non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor; PI: protease inhibitor.</p>a<p>p<.01 for FRs vs INRs;</p>b<p>p<.01 for T0 vs T12.</p

Characterization of translocating microflora in HIV+ antiretroviral naive patients.

<p>Patients' plasma samples were examined before and after 12 months of HAART for the presence and identification of DNA bacterial fragments using a broad-range 16S rRNA gene PCR amplification followed by sequencing analysis. At baseline, 14/44 (32%) HIV+ patients yielded a positive PCR amplification, whereas at T12, 7/44 (16%) HIV+ patients were PCR-positive. Sequencing analysis of HIV positive patients as a whole revealed multiple bacterial orders for each patient with no differences in the bacterial composition between baseline and T12. Positive (%) = # patients displaying a specific bacterial order/total # of PCR positive patients. Negative (%) = # patients negative for a specific bacterial order/total # of PCR positive patients.</p

Activated HLA-DR+CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells according to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and HCV genotypes.

<p><b>a</b>)<b>-b</b>) Activated HLA-DR+CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells were compared between patients with advanced fibrosis (AF) and non advanced fibrosis (N-AF). <b>c</b>)<b>-d</b>) Activated HLA-DR+CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells were compared between patients with cirrhosis and absence of cirrhosis (N-Cirrhosis). <b>e</b>)<b>-f</b>) Activated HLA-DR+CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells were compared between patients with HCV genotypes 1–4 and genotypes 2–3. Each point represents the value from one subject's plasma. Activated HLA-DR+CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells % values are presented. AF = advanced fibrosis – N-AF = non advanced fibrosis. p-values were assessed by Mann Whitney U test. p>0.05 was considered non significant (NS).</p

Higher microbial translocation is associated with HCV genotypes 1–4 and cirrhosis.

<p><b>a</b>)<b>-b</b>) sCD14 and LPS were compared between patients with advanced fibrosis (AF) and non advanced fibrosis (N-AF). <b>c</b>)<b>-d</b>) sCD14 and LPS were compared between patients with cirrhosis and absence of cirrhosis (N-Cirrhosis). <b>e</b>)<b>-f</b>) sCD14 and LPS were compared between patients with HCV genotypes 1–4 and genotypes 2–3. Each point represents the value from one subject's plasma. sCD14 and LPS were measured in plasma samples; sCD14 µg/mL, LPS pg/mL. AF = advanced fibrosis – N-AF = non advanced fibrosis. p-values were assessed by Mann Whitney U test. p>0.05 was considered non significant (NS).</p

Activated HLA-DR+CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells according to EVR and SVR.

<p><b>a</b>)<b>-b</b>) Activated HLA-DR+CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells were compared between patients with early virological response [EVR, i.e. undetectable serum HCV-RNA (<50 IU/mL) or ≥2 log₁₀ reduction from baseline after 12 weeks of therapy], and Null Responders (NR) (i.e. serum HCV-RNA ≥50 IU/mL and <2 log₁₀ reduction from baseline). <b>c</b>)<b>-d</b>) Activated HLA-DR+CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells were compared between patients with sustained virological response [SVR, i.e. undetectable serum HCV-RNA (<50 IU/mL) 24 weeks after the end of a full course of 48 or 72 weeks of anti-HCV treatment, according to genotype], and N-SVR subjects. Each point represents the value from one subject's plasma. Activated HLA-DR+CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells % values are presented. p-values were assessed by Mann Whitney U test. p>0.05 was considered non significant (NS).</p

Baseline demographic and immuno-virological characteristics of patients according SVR.

<p><b>LEGEND.</b> Data are presented as *median, (IQR) and °absolute number, (%). Differences between groups were compared by *Mann Whitney U test and °χ2 test. N-SVR, Non Sustained Virological Response: serum HCV-RNA (≥50 IU/mL) 24 weeks after the end of a full course of 48 or 72 weeks of anti-HCV treatment. SVR, Sustained Virological Response: undetectable serum HCV-RNA <50 UI/mL 24 weeks after the end of a full course of 48 or 72 weeks of anti-HCV treatment. NRTI, Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; NNRTI, Non Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; PI, Protease Inhibitors; MSM, men who have sex with men; WSM, women who have sex with men; IDUs, injection drug users; HCV, hepatitis C virus; HBV, hepatitis B virus; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen; AST, Aspartate Aminotransferase; ALT, Alanine Aminotransferase; BMI, Body Mass Index. HOMA index, Homeostatic Model Assessment index.</p

Baseline demographic and immuno-virological characteristics of study population.

<p><b>LEGEND.</b> Data are presented as *median, (IQR) and °absolute number, (%). Differences between groups were compared by *Mann Whitney U test and °χ2 test. EVR, Early Virological Response: undetectable serum HCV-RNA (<50 IU/mL) or ≥2 log₁₀ reduction from baseline after 12 weeks of therapy; NR, Null Responders: serum HCV-RNA ≥50 IU/mL and <2 log₁₀ reduction from baseline. cART, Combination Antiretroviral therapy; NRTI, Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; NNRTI, Non Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; PI, Protease Inhibitors. MSM, men who have sex with men; WSM, women who have sex with men; IDUs, injection drug users. HCV, hepatitis C virus; HBV, hepatitis B virus; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen. AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase. BMI, Body Mass Index. HOMA index, Homeostatic Model Assessment index.</p

Association between markers of microbial translocation and Early Virological Response to anti-HCV treatment.

<p><b>LEGEND.</b> LPS, soluble CD14, CD4+ T cells/µL, age, HCV-RNA log₁₀ cp/mL for each unit more. sCD14 and LPS were measured in plasma samples; sCD14 µg/mL, LPS pg/mL. Multivariate analysis was performed in 65/98 patients for whom all the clinical, epidemiological and biological parameters under study were available.</p><p>OR, odds ratio; AOR, adjusted odds ratio; CI, confidence interval. p>0.05 was considered non significant.</p

Association between markers of microbial translocation and Sustained Virological Response to anti-HCV treatment.

<p><b>LEGEND.</b> LPS, soluble CD14, CD4+ T cells/µL, age, HCV-RNA log₁₀ cp/mL for each unit more. sCD14 and LPS were measured in plasma samples; sCD14 µg/mL, LPS pg/mL. Multivariate analysis was performed in 65/98 patients for whom all the clinical, epidemiological and biological parameters under study were available.</p><p>OR, odds ratio; AOR, adjusted odds ratio; CI, confidence interval. p>0.05 was considered non significant.</p