Although previous studies have demonstrated that implant-supported prostheses are more satisfactory and efficient for edentulous patients than are conventional prostheses, until now no investigation has directly compared different types of implant-supported prostheses. We carried out a within-subject cross-over clinical trial with fixed and long-bar removable implant-supported mandibular prostheses. Fifteen subjects were randomly divided into two groups. One group received the fixed prosthesis first, while the other first received the removable. After a two-month adaptation period, psychometric measurements of various aspects of the prostheses and physiological tests of masticatory efficiency were carried out. The prostheses were then changed, and the procedures repeated. At the end of the study, subjects chose the prosthesis they wished to keep. In this paper, we report on the data gathered at this last appointment. Eight subjects chose the fixed (F group), and seven chose the removable (R group). Both groups rated stability and ability to chew with the fixed as significantly better than with the removable. However, the R group rated ease of cleaning as the most important factor governing their decision, followed by esthetics and stability. The F group considered stability to be the most important factor in their decision, followed by chewing ability and ability to clean. There was a tendency for the removable to be chosen by older subjects (+50 years). These results suggest that patients choose fixed or removable implant-supported prostheses for specific reasons, and that patient attitudes should be considered when the design of a prosthesis is being planned for an individual patient.

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Cell therapy with autologous donor-specific regulatory T cells (Tregs) is a promising strategy to minimize immunosuppression in transplant recipients. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology has recently been used successfully to generate donor-specific Tregs and overcome the limitations of enrichment protocols based on repetitive stimulations with alloantigens. However, the ability of CAR-Treg therapy to control alloreactivity in immunocompetent recipients is unknown. We first analyzed the effect of donor-specific CAR Tregs on alloreactivity in naive, immunocompetent mice receiving skin allografts. Tregs expressing an irrelevant or anti-HLA-A2-specific CAR were administered to Bl/6 mice at the time of transplanting an HLA-A2 + Bl/6 skin graft.Donor-specific CAR-Tregs, but not irrelevant-CAR Tregs, significantly delayed skin rejection and diminished donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) and frequencies of DSAsecreting B cells. Donor-specific CAR-Treg-treated mice also had a weaker recall DSA response, but normal responses to an irrelevant antigen, demonstrating antigen-specific suppression. When donor-specific CAR Tregs were tested in HLA-A2-sensitized mice, they were unable to delay allograft rejection or diminish DSAs. The finding that donor-specific CAR-Tregs restrain de novo but not memory alloreactivity has important implications for their use as an adoptive cell therapy in transplantation. K E Y W O R D S alloantigen, B cell biology, basic (laboratory) research/science, cellular biology, cellular transplantation (non-islet), immunosuppression/immune modulation, T cell biology, tolerance, translational research/science | 1563 SICARD et Al.

BACKGROUND: Patients receiving in-R E S U L T S : O u r s t u d y i n c l u d e d after vaccination.Among those with centre hemodialysis are at high risk of 154 patients receiving hemodialysis previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, median exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and death if (135 without and 19 with previous SARS-anti-RBD IgG levels at 8 weeks in infected. One dose of the BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 infection), 40 controls (20 without patients receiving hemodialysis were CoV-2 vaccine is eficacious in the general and 20 with previous SARS-CoV-2 infec-similar to controls at 3 weeks (p = 0.3) population, but responses in patients tion) and convalescent plasma from and to convalescent plasma (p = 0.8). receiving hemodialysis are uncertain. 16 patients. Among those without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, anti-RBD IgG INTERPRETATION: A single dose of METHODS: We obtained serial plasma was undetectable at 4 weeks in 75 of BNT162b2 vaccine failed to elicit a from patients receiving hemodialysis and 131 (57%, 95% confidence interval [CI] humoral immune response in most health care worker controls before and 47% to 65%) patients receiving hemodipatients receiving hemodialysis without after vaccination with 1 dose of the alysis, compared with 1 of 20 (5%, 95% previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, even BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine, as well as con-CI 1% to 23%) controls (p < 0.001). No after prolonged observation. In those valescent plasma from patients receiving patient with nondetectable levels at with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, the hemodialysis who survived COVID-19. We 4 weeks developed anti-RBD IgG by antibody response was delayed. We measured anti-receptor binding domain 8 weeks. Results were similar in nonadvise that patients receiving hemodi-(RBD) immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels and immunosuppressed and younger indialysis be prioritized for a second stratified groups by evidence of previous viduals. Three patients receiving hemo-BNT162b2 dose at the recommended SARS-CoV-2 infection. dialysis developed severe COVID-19 3-week interval. Patients with end-stage kidney disease receiving in-this population. Some hemodialysis centres have thus prioricentre hemodialysis have been uniquely vulnerable dur-tized these patients for vaccination. ing the COVID-19 pandemic. For these patients, unlikeTo facilitate wider vaccine distribution during current shortfor most other people, self-isolation to avoid exposure to SARS-ages, 3 the National Advisory Committee on Immunization of Can-CoV-2 is impossible. Most patients receiving hemodialysis must ada has recommended delaying the second dose of the leave their homes 3 times weekly to receive their life-saving BNT162b2 vaccine from 3 to 16 weeks. 4 In a randomized contreatments, ofen in shared spaces for hours at a time. COVID-19 trolled trial (RCT), the clinical efficacy of the BNT162b2 was case fatality rates are 20%-30% for patients receiving hemodireported to be greater than 80% at 3 weeks afer the first dose. 5 alysis -10 times higher than in the general population. 1,2 However, no patients receiving hemodial...