The aim of this article is to describe the development of a dynamic French cohort of HIV-infected patients, the methodological issues and decisions made, and the characteristics of the patients currently enrolled. MethodsData are collected during medical encounters. Data quality is ensured by automated checks during data capture, by regular controls, by annual assessments, and by ad hoc processes before any scientific analysis is performed. ResultsIn September 2007, 10 458 patients representing 59 383 patient-years of follow-up were followed in our centres, including 446 with a first HIV diagnosis in the past year. Among these recently diagnosed patients, 25.6% presented with late diagnosis. Our cohort included 3017 women (28.8%). The women were less likely to be receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) than men, and when treated were less likely to be receiving nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based regimens. Our network includes medical centres in overseas territories (1105 patients living overseas). In this particular population, women represented 38.5% of the patients, and the probable route of infection was heterosexual in 75.7% of the patients. Despite epidemiological and social disparities, more patients had nondetectable viral loads when receiving HAART in overseas departments than in metropolitan France. ConclusionThe Nadis Cohort represents a collaboration of major French HIV treatment centres. In September 2007, the cohort database contained up-to-date information on more than 10 000 patients, of whom a significant proportion were women. As a consequence of the choices made when building the cohort and the efforts made to ensure the quality of the database, scientific studies are regularly performed using this cohort.

BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) is usually transmitted via the parenteral route, but there are widely discrepant findings on its possible sexual transmission. Thus there are no recommendations concerning protected sex for couples in which only one partner is HCV-infected. Whether HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases could favour HCV transmission remains unclear, but recent data suggesting an increasing incidence of acute HCV in HIV-infected men underline the major public health implications of this issue. Case reportsBetween June 2002 and July 2003, five HIV-infected homosexually active men presented with primary (n 5 4) and secondary (n 5 1) syphilis and concomitant abnormal liver function tests revealing acute asymptomatic HCV seroconversion. Other causes of acute viral hepatitis were inquired into and excluded. Highly at-risk sexual behaviour, including unprotected anal intercourse and unsafe oral sex, with concomitant syphilis, was found to be the only identifiable important risk factor for transmission of HCV. ConclusionsSexual transmission may be fuelling a significant increase in HCV seroconversions among HIVinfected men who have highly risky sexual behaviours. Given the recent data suggesting the spread of sexually transmitted infections among HIV-infected gay men, specific recommendations concerning safe sex are urgently needed.

We evaluated prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among prison inmates in France in 2010, in a cross-sectional singleday study based on a two-stage design. Sampling favoured larger establishments and included all types of prisons. Establishments were stratified by geographical region. Estimates were adjusted by poststratification of the total population of inmates in France. From 60,975 inmates in all 188 prisons on the sampling day, 2,154 were selected from 27 prisons, and 1,876 questionnaires completed. HIV prevalence was estimated at 2.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.9-4.2), 2.6% (95% CI: 0.7-8.8) in women and 2.0% (95% CI: 0.9-4.3) in men; 75% of inmates were receiving treatment for HIV. HCV prevalence was estimated at 4.8% (95% CI: 3.5-6.5) and was higher for women (11.8%; 95% CI: 8.5-16.1) than men (4.5%; 95% CI: 3.3-6.3). Almost half of HCV-infected inmates had chronic hepatitis C and 44% were receiving or had received treatment. HIV and HCV prevalence was six times higher than in the general population, and 2.5% of inmates had viraemic hepatitis C. The moment of incarceration provides an ideal opportunity for testing and treating, limiting spread of HCV and improving patients' prognosis. 6

The MONOI study establishes darunavir/ritonavir monotherapy as durable and efficacious for maintaining virological suppression in HIV-1 patients. Darunavir/ritonavir monotherapy should be considered as a (tailored) treatment option for standard triple-therapy patients who have had a substantial period of viral suppression.

Dolutegravir has the potency to be further investigated as a single ART in randomized studies, particularly in patients with no prior exposure to integrase inhibitors.

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In the cART era, HIV-related factors are not associated with a higher risk of suicide mortality. Suicide prevention measures should target PLHIV with the psychological morbidities observed in our cohort.

Due to a high prevalence, chronic renal disease and cardiovascular disease are main prognostic factors for 5-year mortality among aged PLHIV.