We thank M. Sudol for providing the YAP cDNA. “
“The purpose of this prospective cohort study

was to compare the serologic response between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected men who have sex DNA Damage inhibitor with men (MSM) receiving two and three doses of hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccine and HIV-uninfected MSM receiving two doses of HAV vaccine. Between June 2009 and December 2010, 582 MSM aged 18 to 40 years who were seronegative for HAV were enrolled in the study. HIV-infected MSM received either two doses of HAV vaccine (1,440 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay units) (n = 140) with the second dose given at week 24 or three doses (n = 225) with the second and third dose given at weeks 4 and 24, respectively, while HIV-uninfected MSM (n = 217) received two doses. The primary endpoint was seroconversion at week 48. The geometric mean concentration (GMC) of anti-HAV antibody was determined at weeks 48 and 72. At week 48, the seroconversion rate was IWR-1 nmr 75.7%, 77.8%, and 88.5% in intention-to-treat analysis for two-dose HIV-infected, three-dose HIV-infected, and two-dose HIV-uninfected MSM, respectively. The GMC of anti-HAV antibody at week 48 for three-dose HIV-infected MSM (2.29 ± 0.73 log10 mIU/mL) was significantly higher than

that for two-dose HIV-infected MSM (1.94 ± 0.66; P < 0.01), but was lower than HIV-uninfected MSM (2.49 ± 0.42; P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed higher CD4 counts (adjusted odds ratio

[AOR] for per 50 cells/μL increase, 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], filipin 1.05-1.21) and undetectable plasma HIV RNA load (AOR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.10-3.28) before HAV vaccination were predictive of seroconversion in HIV-infected patients. Conclusion: Serologic response rate to three and two doses of HAV vaccine was similar in HIV-infected MSM, which was lower than that in HIV-uninfected MSM receiving two doses. HAV vaccination in HIV-infected patients with a higher CD4 count and suppression of HIV replication increased the seroconversion rate. (HEPATOLOGY 2013) Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection that is transmitted via a fecal-oral route occurs worldwide, especially in countries where sanitary and hygienic conditions are not maintained appropriately. In countries with improved sanitation and access to HAV vaccination, the incidence of HAV infection has declined significantly. The annual incidence of HAV infection has decreased from 12 per 100,000 population in 1995 to 0.6 per 100,000 population in 2009 in the United State after HAV vaccine was licensed in 1995.1 In Finland, the incidence of HAV infections ranged from 0.3 to 3.6 per 100,000 between 1990 and 2007, and most of the cases seemed to be travel-related.