Publications by authors named "Germain S"

System-level decisions around the commissioning and provision of healthcare services in England have contributed to barriers in accessing the National Health Service. In this article, we ask how to better regulate resource allocation to ensure greater equity in access to healthcare services. First, we focus on the Health and Care Act 2022, which, drawing on principles of deliberative regulation to address health inequalities, initiates a shift away from previous regulatory approaches towards a collaborative decision-making model.

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Background: Influenza A/Hong Kong/125/2017 (H7N9) virus poses a pandemic risk owing to its evolving nature. This study evaluated the immunogenicity and safety of an AS03-adjuvanted H7N9 vaccine in adults (18-64 years [younger] and ≥65 years [older]).

Methods: Participants (younger, n = 418; older, n = 420) were randomized to receive one of six adjuvanted vaccines (hemagglutinin [1.

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Regeneration of orofacial tissues is hampered by the lack of adequate vascular supply. Implantation of in vitro engineered, prevascularized constructs has emerged as a strategy to allow the rapid vascularization of the entire graft. Given the angiogenic properties of dental pulp stem cells, we hereby established a preclinical model of prevascularized constructs loaded with stem cells from human exfoliating deciduous teeth (SHED) in a 3-dimensional-printed material and provided a functional analysis of their in vivo angiogenesis, vascular perfusion, and permeability.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Skin tissue engineering is advancing rapidly due to clinical demands, the need to replace animal testing, and new technologies, with a focus on creating vascularized skin substitutes that can improve graft success rates.
  • - Research emphasizes the importance of understanding the maturation and adaptability of capillary-like structures in these substitutes, particularly through a cell sheet approach that encourages angiogenesis while limiting endothelial cell density.
  • - Findings reveal that adjusting VEGF levels and timing can influence the formation and coverage of these structures, highlighting the significance of a cell-derived microenvironment for mature, dynamic skin models suitable for various pharmacological studies.
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Background: We evaluated co-administration of adjuvanted seasonal quadrivalent influenza vaccine (FLU-aQIV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prefusion F protein-based vaccine (RSVPreF3 OA) in ≥65-year-olds.

Methods: This phase 3, open-label trial randomized ≥65-year-olds to receive FLU-aQIV and RSVPreF3 OA concomitantly (Co-Ad) or sequentially, 1 month apart (Control). Primary objectives were to demonstrate the non-inferiority of FLU-aQIV and RSVPreF3 OA co-administration versus sequential administration in terms of hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers for each FLU-aQIV strain and RSV-A and RSV-B neutralization titers, 1 month post-vaccination.

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Objective: To explore how orthognathic patients seek information during decision-making.

Design: Qualitative, cross-sectional study.

Setting: A hospital in Cumbria, UK.

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Background: Co-administration of vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza can be considered given their overlapping seasonality, and may increase vaccine uptake and compliance. In this phase 3, open-label, randomized study, we evaluated the immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and safety of the AS01E-adjuvanted RSV prefusion F protein-based candidate vaccine (RSVPreF3 OA) when co-administered with a seasonal quadrivalent influenza vaccine (FLU-QIV) in older adults.

Methods: Participants aged ≥60 years (randomized 1:1) received either RSVPreF3 OA and FLU-QIV simultaneously on day 1 (Co-Ad group) or FLU-QIV on day 1 followed by RSVPreF3 OA on day 31 (sequential administration [SA] group).

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Article Synopsis
  • Diabetes significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, particularly among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D), where circulating monocytes play a crucial role in inflammation related to both diabetes and atherosclerosis.* -
  • A study involving 672 T2D patients found a positive correlation between blood monocyte counts and coronary artery calcium scores, which are indicators of cardiovascular risk, revealing distinct monocyte subtypes associated with varying cardiovascular risk levels.* -
  • The research indicates that analyzing monocyte frequency and profiles can serve as valuable predictors for cardiovascular events in T2D patients, highlighting potential mitochondrial dysfunction in these individuals' immune responses.*
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Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term success rate of combined surgical-orthodontic therapy of skeletal anterior open bite.

Materials And Methods: A total of 11 patients with an anterior open bite treated with a combined surgical-orthodontic therapy were retrospectively analysed via lateral cephalometric radiographs and models before treatment, 7-10 days after surgery (T1), one year post-operatively (T2) and two years post-operatively (T3).

Results: Ten patients continued to experience a positive overbite at T2.

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  • Vascular leakage is a key issue in ARDS, especially in COVID-19 patients, and the study aimed to test FX06, a drug meant to stabilize blood vessel junctions, for its effectiveness in reducing this leakage.
  • In a double-blinded trial with 49 adults on mechanical ventilation, participants received either FX06 or a placebo, but results showed no difference in lung-water levels or other key measures between the two groups after 7 days.
  • Although FX06 did not reduce vascular leakage, it was associated with a higher incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, indicating the need for further studies to assess its timing and dosing for better results.
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In the human body, the 10 blood endothelial cells (ECs) which cover a surface of 500-700 m (Mai et al., 2013) are key players of tissue homeostasis, remodeling and regeneration. Blood vessel ECs play a major role in the regulation of metabolic and gaz exchanges, cell trafficking, blood coagulation, vascular tone, blood flow and fluid extravasation (also referred to as blood vascular permeability).

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Papillary and reticular dermis show distinct extracellular matrix (ECM) and vascularization corresponding to their specific functions. These characteristics are associated with gene expression patterns of fibroblasts freshly isolated from their native microenvironment. In order to assess the relevance of these fibroblast subpopulations in a tissue engineering context, we investigated their contribution to matrix production and vascularization using cell sheet culture conditions.

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Article Synopsis
  • Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a serious health issue with few effective treatments available, leading to high morbidity and mortality rates.
  • In a study on pigs with HFpEF, researchers tested the impact of cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs), which have properties that reduce fibrosis and inflammation, on heart function and structure.
  • The administration of CDCs significantly improved left ventricular diastolic function and reduced interstitial fibrosis, even though it did not affect left ventricular hypertrophy or systolic function.
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La présente étude visait à documenter l'implantation de l'Accompagnement-citoyen personnalisé d'intégration communautaire (APIC), lors duquel des bénévoles soutiennent la participation sociale d'aînés, dans des organismes communautaires en identifiant les facteurs favorables et défavorables ainsi que ses conditions essentielles. Soutenu par un devis qualitatif descriptif de type recherche clinique, une rencontre et six entretiens semi-dirigés ont été réalisés afin de documenter cette implantation dans six organismes communautaires œuvrant en milieu urbain au Québec (Canada). Selon les six coordonnatrices de l'APIC, les cinq directeurs généraux et l'agente de recherche, le principal facteur favorable est la conviction des responsables de l'implantation en la valeur ajoutée de l'intervention, incluant sa concordance avec la mission et les valeurs des organismes et les besoins de la population qu'ils desservent.

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Animal models for studying human pathogens are crucially lacking. We describe the implantation in mice of engineered human mature microvasculature consisting of endothelial and perivascular cells embedded in collagen hydrogel that allows investigation of pathogen interactions with the endothelium, including functional studies. Using as a paradigm of human-restricted infection, we demonstrated the strength and opportunities associated with the use of this approach.

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Background: Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) has been increasingly employed in head and neck surgery for the assessment and treatment of malignancies over the last two decades. PuraBond® is a self-assembling viscous solution that forms a transparent hydrogel 3-D matrix to promote local haemostasis. This study aimed to assess the utility of PuraBond® in patients undergoing TORS for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).

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Current vaccination strategies against influenza focus on generating an antibody response against the viral haemagglutination surface protein, however there is increasing interest in neuraminidase (NA) as a target for vaccine development. A critical tool for development of vaccines that target NA or include an NA component is available validated serology assays for quantifying anti-NA antibodies. Additionally serology assays have a critical role in defining correlates of protection in vaccine development and licensure.

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The understanding of endothelium-extracellular matrix interactions during the initiation of new blood vessels is of great medical importance; however, the mechanobiological principles governing endothelial protrusive behaviours in 3D microtopographies remain imperfectly understood. In blood capillaries submitted to angiogenic factors (such as vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF), endothelial cells can transiently transdifferentiate in filopodia-rich cells, named tip cells, from which angiogenesis processes are locally initiated. This protrusive state based on filopodia dynamics contrasts with the lamellipodia-based endothelial cell migration on 2D substrates.

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Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) is a target of hypoxia that accumulates in the endothelial extracellular matrix. While ANGPTL4 is known to regulate angiogenesis and vascular permeability, its context-dependent role related to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been suggested in capillary morphogenesis. We here thus develop in vitro 3D models coupled to imaging and morphometric analysis of capillaries to decipher ANGPTL4 functions either alone or in the presence of VEGF.

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Mycorrhizal mutualisms are nearly ubiquitous across plant communities. Yet, it is still unknown whether facilitation among plants arises primarily from these mycorrhizal networks or from physical and ecological attributes of plants themselves. Here, we tested the relative contributions of mycorrhizae and plants to both positive and negative biotic interactions to determine whether plant-soil feedbacks with mycorrhizae neutralize competition and enemies within multitrophic forest community networks.

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When Darwin visited the Galapagos archipelago, he observed that, in spite of the islands' physical similarity, members of species that had dispersed to them recently were beginning to diverge from each other. He postulated that these divergences must have resulted primarily from interactions with sets of other species that had also diverged across these otherwise similar islands. By extrapolation, if Darwin is correct, such complex interactions must be driving species divergences across all ecosystems.

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Vascularization of reconstructed tissues is one of the remaining hurdles to be considered to improve both the functionality and viability of skin grafts and the relevance ofapplications. Our study, therefore, sought to develop a perfusable vascularized full-thickness skin equivalent that comprises a more complex blood vasculature compared to existing models. We combined molding, auto-assembly and microfluidics techniques in order to create a vascularized skin equivalent representing (a) a differentiated epidermis with a physiological organization and correctly expressing K14, K10, Involucrin, TGM1 and Filaggrin, (b) three perfusable vascular channels with angiogenic sprouts stained with VE-Caderin and Collagen IV, (c) an adjacent microvascular network created via vasculogenesis and connected to the sprouting macrovessels.

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The authors present the case of an 87-year-old woman who developed a delayed onset of subcutaneous emphysema post-operatively. We discuss the causative factors - in this case, presumed injury to her hypo-pharynx during a reportedly uneventful endotracheal intubation, the investigations and the management of this rare complication.

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Blood perfusion of grafted tissue constructs is a hindrance to the success of stem cell-based therapies by limiting cell survival and tissue regeneration. Implantation of a pre-vascularized network engineered in vitro has thus emerged as a promising strategy for promoting blood supply deep into the construct, relying on inosculation with the host vasculature. We aimed to fabricate in vitro tissue constructs with mature microvascular networks, displaying perivascular recruitment and basement membrane, taking advantage of the angiogenic properties of dental pulp stem cells and self-assembly of endothelial cells into capillaries.

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