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Day: 13 December 2021

Monaco scientists behind international antibody standards study

by: Stephanie Horsman
13/12/2021

A joint study by scientists from Monaco and Singapore showing that more personalised vaccine schedules are possible in the fight against Covid and its variants has been published by The Lancet Microbe.
Vaccinations against the Covid virus are being pushed in every country around the planet as the best way to prevent serious illness and death. Whilst this is surely medically sound advice, it is also true that not every person has the same immune response reaction to the jabs.
As immune responses vary wildly from person to person, better vaccine targeting appears to be a crucial next step for programmes worldwide, particularly with regard to booster shots.
In response to this, Dr Thomas Althaus and Dr Eric Voiglio of Monaco’s Department of Health Action have co-authored a report with a team from the Scientific Centre of Monaco, the Health Action Department, and the Duke Global Health Institute of Singapore and its division specialising in emerging infectious diseases. It is entitled ‘WHO international standard for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies to determine markers of protection’, and it was recently published by respected medical journal The Lancet Microbe.
The study noted the crucial role of neutralising antibodies in the evaluation of vaccine protection, whilst establishing an international measurement scale the World Health Organisation (WHO) approves of.
The results were presented at the Global Virus Network and Monaco international conference, on the diagnosis of Covid-19. They demonstrate the benefit of measuring neutralising antibodies to identify individuals in need of vaccine boosting, but also of shifting the vaccine among those retaining strong immune activity. Little is known about vaccine efficacy and the protection conferred after infection with the virus causing Covid.
Such a measurement of these neutralising antibodies makes it possible to compare the levels of protection, and to inform those responsible for public health policies on the effective duration of vaccine protection.
The published article came out during the two-day Global Virus Network and Monaco Covid-19 Diagnostic Conference: Promises and Challenges event on 3rd December, which looked at the implementation of a cooperative global diagnostic programme using new technologies which detect and fight against burgeoning pandemics, primarily focusing on lower-to-middle income nations.
“The role of the various diagnostic and immunological monitoring tests to guide the vaccine policy were considered, as well as the overall strategy for the biological and genetic management of this type of epidemic,” said Prof. Patrick Rampal, President of the Scientific Center of Monaco (CSM). “The workshop represented a unique opportunity to examine different situations and responses in various countries. This will help to better understand how to deploy the global and collaborative diagnostic arsenal we urgently need.”
Omicron has thrown another curve ball at scientists in the fight against the virus, who are now looking at accurate and fast diagnostic methods as a vital way to contain transmission efficiently, thus saving lives.
President of the Mérieux Foundation, Alain Mérieux, whose aim is to strengthen local abilities in developing countries to reduce the impact of infectious diseases on vulnerable populations, said early diagnosis detection in industrialised countries is important, but more so in developing nations where epidemics often start.
“It is our duty to develop low-cost solutions accessible to all because the response can only be global for pathogens that know no borders,” said Mérieux. “Solutions that must be affordable and technically adapted to the difficult logistical constraints in the field.”
Click here to read the study.
 
 
 

Model Victoria Silvstedt collaborates on eco-friendly fashion line

by: Stephanie Horsman
13/12/2021

Sustainable luxury brand Marli Dresses has formed a partnership with former Guess model and Monaco socialite Victoria Silvstedt, creating a new line called the Wild Life Collection.

What happens when a fashion designer and a model who are both long-time animal rights activists and eco-warriors meet? A new line of environmentally friendly clothes is created, naturally.

This was exactly the case when Marli Dress co-founder Liliya Tippetts and model Victoria Silvstedt met. They found they had a tremendous amount in common and decided then and there to work together on a new collection which they have called the Wild Life Collection.

“I strongly believe in women empowering women,” says Liliya Tippetts. “Victoria has been a close colleague of mine and I highly admire everything that she has done from acting and modelling to being a businesswoman. Much of this resonates with myself as the founder of a fashion brand and I thought it was a must to work together.”

But the process didn’t happen overnight. It took months for the duo to find the right fabrics and colours that reflected their mutual desire to be flattering as well and reflective of nature.

“Collaborating with a fashion icon like Victoria, we wanted to evoke strong femininity in our new collection. Femininity is much more than being soft. It is powerful and unapologetic,” adds Tippetts. “This is what I wanted to show through our collection together. By combining sheer, flowing fabric with bold prints like cheetah, we were able to achieve this.”

The line includes delicate beach coverups with bold animal prints and high-waisted wrapped miniskirts in several eye-catching hues. The line was made to be versatile, with the ability to seamlessly go from beach to bar. They say they created the line for all body types, accentuating feminine curves, resulting in gorgeous silhouettes, whilst remaining elegant.

“A lot of my vacation time is spent going to St. Barts, it’s a breath-taking island,” says Victoria Silvstedt. “Aside from the star-studded crowd and amazing restaurants, the island is known for its stunning beaches. Going there, it is almost impossible not to reconnect with nature, and where we come from, The Wild Life Collection is inspired by just this. The colours we’ve used for our skirts are inspired by the crystal blue waters and tan sand beaches. Bold prints are inspired by the nature around us.”

 
SEE ALSO 

Interview: Victoria Silvstedt

 
 
 

Covid hospitalisations rise, incidence rate hits 545

by: Stephanie Horsman
13/12/2021

The Principality’s Covid situation is looking much like the rest of Europe, with not only steep rises in daily cases but now also a jump in hospitalisations at the CHPG.

There has been an alarming rise in Covid cases this past week, with over 100 new cases recorded since Friday alone. This puts the country’s infection rate at 545 per 100,000 people, an extremely high number.

Princess Grace Hospital has reported a total of 18 patients under their care, with 15 in hospital and four in intensive care. Eight of the 15 are Monaco residents. The Home Monitoring Centre currently has 158 people they are following. These are patients who have tested positive for the virus but are not requiring any major medical care.

As Monaco’s vaccination rate still sits at only 65%, officials are urging the public to get jabbed. With the current average of 94 doses being administered each day, it would take another 83 days for the population to hit 75% coverage.

To compare, the percentage of population who are fully vaccinated stands at 69.5% in the UK, 71% in France, 74.4% in Italy and 69.5% in Germany.

Whilst the vaccination rate in Monaco remains quite low, it is reported to be on the rise. On 4th December, the vaccination doses per 100 people sat at 126. By the 11th it had risen to 148.5.

No cases of Omicron have been reported here so far, but 59 cases have been detected in neighbouring France and 13 in Italy.

 

 

Mbappé haunts former side as PSG sweep Monaco aside

by: Luke Entwistle
13/12/2021

A Kylian Mbappé first-half double was enough to see off a dispirited AS Monaco side, as Nico Kovac’s men succumbed to their first defeat in nine matches on Sunday.
Over 1,000 AS Monaco fans made the long journey to the French capital and they almost witnessed the Principality side take an early lead against the team at the top of the league. Sofiane Diop did well to dispossess Marco Verratti in a dangerous area, he then combined with Wissam Ben Yedder, who laid the all back to the French U21 international, but his strike struck the inside of the post and came out.
Monaco, with an intense press in the early stages, controlled the match, but were undone by a sloppy piece of defending from Djibril Sidibé, who brought down Angel Di Maria in the Monaco box.
It was Mbappé, who departed Monaco for PSG in 2018, who stepped up and blasted the ball past Aleksandr Nübel in the Monaco goal. Despite falling behind, Monaco continued to dominate proceedings. Guillermo Maripán had a glaring opportunity from five yards out, but he couldn’t sort out his feet to get a shot away.
The suckerpunch, from which Monaco never recovered, came on the stroke of half-time, and it was once again an individual error which presented the opportunity. Youssouf Fofana this time played an inaccurate pass in a dangerous area, which was gratefully gathered by Lionel Messi. The Argentinian then ran at the retreating ASM defence, before laying it to Mbappé, who slotted home masterfully for his second on the night.
The ex-Monaco striker celebrated in-front of the fans that used to chant his name, something he revealed he didn’t regret doing in a post-match interview. “I had incredible moments at that club (Monaco), I grew up down there.  I have great memories, but the page has turned and I play for PSG now. I’m very happy, and I give everything for the club.”
The second goal took the wind out of Monaco’s sails, and they returned a dispirited and lacklustre side in the second half. Aleksandr Golovin tried his luck from range on multiple occasions, but the Principality side never truly threatened Gianluigi Donnarumma in the PSG goal.

The scoreline could have been more emphatic for PSG, but a slightly out of sorts Messi couldn’t convert any of his two major chances, one of which skimmed the post on its way wide.
Post-match, Kovac bemoaned Monaco’s lack of cutting-edge, telling reporters, “In the first-half we were the best team on the pitch, but when you have periods of domination against this team, you have to score.” The Croat added, “If you want to get a result here, you have to show a strong sense of willpower for 90 minutes, because you are playing against world-class players.
Kovac’s men face another trip to Paris next Sunday as they come up against minnows Red Star in the French Cup. The national league side enjoy their title as giant-killers in the competition, and Monaco will likely require a more spirited performance to avoid becoming their next victim.
 
 
Photo source: AS Monaco
 
 
 

Strasbourg condemn Roca team to consecutive defeats

by: Luke Entwistle
13/12/2021

AS Monaco basketball failed to bounce back from their Euroleague defeat to Milano, as Strasbourg inflicted a second defeat in as many days, coming out 99-90 winners on Sunday. 
Defeat for Zvezdan Mitovic’s men sees the gap between the two sides in the Betclic Elite league shrink to just one win, whilst the sides could go level if Strasbourg win their game in hand.
Both played to their strengths, as the encounter exhibited some great attacking play in what was a high scoring match. Paris Lee and Donatas Motiejunas were a frequent source of points throughout, especially in the first-half. The duo scored 16 and 15 points respectively during the match, allowing the Roca team to stay level with the high-scoring Strasbourg team.
Having gone into the half-time break level, the match turned as the side’s returned from the dressing room, or, as was the case with Mitrovic’s men, didn’t return, as his side started the third-quarter catastrophically.
Monaco had no reply to Strasbourg’s blitz, as the Principality side conceded 19 points, whilst only managing to convert two of their own. John Robertson, who was prolific for Strasbourg throughout scoring 23 points over the course of the fixture, was the architect of the Roca team’s downfall in the second-half, the Bosnian converting a flurry of three-pointers.
From there, ASM had an insurmountable mountain to climb, and although they recovered somewhat in the third-quarter, and won the fourth, it wasn’t enough to catch up.
The defeat once again laid bare the side’s defensive issues, allowed play-off rivals to close the gap and highlighted the sheer inconsistency of this Roca team.
Mitrovic has often spoken of the importance of building a run of form in this decisive, packed month of basketball, but to his disappointment, Monaco have been as inconsistent as ever. He will be hoping that his side can once again turn their form around, with a decisive week in the Euroleague coming up.
Monaco first face a trip to face Zalgiris in Lithuania on Wednesday, before returning to the Salle Gaston Médecin to face Zenit St Petersburg on Friday.

 
 
Photo source: AS Monaco basketball