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Background: Comparative data collection in transborder areas can contribute to informed decision making processes when dealing with borderless health threats such as pandemics, and thus help minimize the negative health effects for its citizens. To examine the pandemic response over time and the impact of infectious disease control in a cross-border setting, a prospective longitudinal study was conducted in the border area between Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. In the spring of 2021, a random sample of 26,925 adult citizens selected from governmental registries was invited to collect a blood sample at home for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing and to fill in an online questionnaire on attitudes and behaviour towards infection prevention measures, cross-border mobility, social network and support, COVID-19 self-reported infection(s) and symptoms, vaccination, general self-reported health and socio-demographics. In autumn 2021, participants were invited for a follow-up round. An online tool was developed to coordinate fieldwork procedures, real-time monitoring of participation and consultation of antibody test results. Furthermore, a helpdesk in all three languages for participants' support was set up. Results: In the first round, 6,006 citizens in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion participated. 15.3% of the invited citizens on the Belgian side of the border participated. In the Netherlands and Germany this was respectively 27% and 23.7%. In the follow-up round 4,286 (71.4%) citizens participated for the second time. The participation rate was highest in the age group 50–69 years and lowest in > 80 in all sub regions of the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion. More women participated than men. Overall, more blood samples were returned than completed questionnaires. In total, 3,344 citizens in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion completed all components of participation in both rounds. Conclusions: The collection of comparative data can help better assess the pandemic response and the impact of infectious disease control in a cross-border area. Recommendations for a longitudinal cross-border study include a centralized online environment, mapping out potential challenges related to national regulations in the preparation phase and organizing regional coordination centres to create more familiarity and trust towards the involved organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Peri-abutment dermatitis is thought to relate to bacterial infection of pockets around the patient's abutment. It is yet unknown how bacteria colonize the abutment surface. Molecular microbiology techniques allow for selective microbiota profiling to approximate bacterial migration patterns. Bacteria are in direct competition with the host's ability to control the abutment surface ( "race for the surface" Gristina 1987). Upon integration of the host to the abutment, competitive bacteria are hypothesized to be prevented from colonizing it. Evidence for skin integration has been shown before for hydroxyapatite(HA)-abutments, but without elucidating the attachment mechanisms behind it. Therefore the objective of two investigations was to study the relationships between the microbiota on and around the titanium abutment and to investigate skin-integration on HA-coated abutments. Study design: Observational case series featuring 3D imaging and molecular microbiology. Patients: Sixteen subjects with and without peri-abutment dermatitis were included for the microbiology case-control study. Four subjects with a HA-coated and one subject with a titanium abutment were included for an ex vivo cell investigation of skin integration. Methods: Molecular bacterial profiling was performed using IS-pro (IS-Diagnostics LtD) on the retrieved abutment of a subject, the skin surrounding it, and the contra-lateral side (control). Scanning electron microscopy was performed for biofilm assessment. Two-photon microscopy was performed on retrieved HA-coated abutments using fluorescent labeling of adhesion proteins, nuclei, and dermal collagen. Results: The microbiota on and around the titanium abutment is diverse and distinct from the contralateral control skin, in health and disease. A multitude of different microbes including yeast and bacterial (sub)species belonging to different phyla on and around the BCHI titanium abutment were found in planktonic form or biofilm, in subjects with and without inflammation. The HA-coated abutments without infection show evidence of integration by means of hemidesmosomes, basal keratinocytes, and/ or the presence of vascularization. Conclusion: The differences in the three microbiota per individual for subjects with and without inflammation suggests that the composition and complex interplay (i.e mutualism, parasitism, commensalism and/or coaggregation) of those microbiota might be a determinant for the difference between health and disease. Previously hypothesized skin integration markers were found on the HA-coated abutment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]