Optimal Heart Failure Medical Therapy and Mortality in Survivors of Cardiogenic Shock: Insights From the FRENSHOCK Registry

BACKGROUND

The effects of pharmacological therapy on cardiogenic shock (CS) survivors have not been extensively studied. Thus, this study investigated the association between guideline-directed heart failure (HF) medical therapy (GDMT) and one-year survival rate in patients who are post-CS.

METHODS AND RESULTS

FRENSHOCK (French Observatory on the Management of Cardiogenic Shock in 2016) registry was a prospective multicenter observational survey, conducted in metropolitan French intensive care units and intensive cardiac care units. Of 772 patients, 535 patients were enrolled in the present analysis following the exclusion of 217 in-hospital deaths and 20 patients with missing medical records. Patients with triple GDMT (beta-blockers, renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists) at discharge (n=112) were likely to have lower left ventricular ejection fraction on admission and at discharge compared with those without triple GDMT (n=423) (22% versus 28%, P<0.001 and 29% versus 37%, P<0.001, respectively). In the overall cohort, the one-year mortality rate was 23%. Triple GDMT prescription was significantly associated with a lower one-year all-cause mortality compared with non-triple GDMT (adjusted hazard ratio 0.44 [95% CI, 0.19-0.80]; P=0.007). Similarly, 2:1 propensity score matching and inverse probability treatment weighting based on the propensity score demonstrated a lower incidence of one-year mortality in the triple GDMT group. As the number of HF drugs increased, a stepwise decrease in mortality was observed (log rank; P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In survivors of CS, the one-year mortality rate was significantly lower in those with triple GDMT. Therefore, this study suggests that intensive HF therapy should be considered in patients following CS.

One-year outcomes in cardiogenic shock triggered by supraventricular tachycardia: an analysis of the FRENSHOCK multicenter prospective registry

Background

Cardiogenic shock (CS) is the most severe form of heart failure (HF), resulting in high early and long-term mortality. Characteristics of CS secondary to supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) are poorly reported. Based on a large registry of unselected CS, we aimed to compare 1-year outcomes between SVT-triggered and non-SVT-triggered CS.

Methods

FRENSHOCK is a French prospective registry including 772 CS patients from 49 centers. For each patient, the investigator could report 1-3 CS triggers from a pre-established list (ischemic, mechanical complications, ventricular/supraventricular arrhythmia, bradycardia, iatrogenesis, infection, non-compliance, and others). In this study, 1-year outcomes [rehospitalizations, mortality, heart transplantation (HTx), ventricular assist devices (VAD)] were analyzed and adjusted for independent predictive factors.

Results

Among 769 CS patients included, 100 were SVT-triggered (13%), of which 65 had SVT as an exclusive trigger (8.5%). SVT-triggered CS patients exhibited a higher proportion of male individuals with a more frequent history of cardiomyopathy or chronic kidney disease and more profound CS (biventricular failure and multiorgan failure). At 1 year, there was no difference in all-cause mortality (43% vs. 45.3%, adjusted HR 0.9 (95% CI 0.59-1.39), p = 0.64), need for HTx or VAD [10% vs. 10%, aOR 0.88 (0.41-1.88), p = 0.74], or rehospitalizations [49.4% vs. 44.4%, aOR 1.24 (0.78-1.98), p = 0.36]. Patients with SVT as an exclusive trigger presented more 1-year rehospitalizations [52.8% vs. 43.3%, aOR 3.74 (1.05-10.5), p = 0.01].

Conclusion

SVT is a frequent trigger of CS alone or in association in more than 10% of miscellaneous CS cases. Although SVT-triggered CS patients were more comorbid with more pre-existing cardiomyopathies and HF incidences, they presented similar rates of mortality, HTx, and VAD at 1 year, arguing for a better overall prognosis.

Clinical Trial Registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT02703038.

Comparison of standard prophylactic, intermediate prophylactic and therapeutic anticoagulation in patients with severe COVID-19: protocol for the ANTICOVID multicentre, parallel-group, open-label, randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

COVID-19 induces venous, arterial and microvascular thrombosis, involving several pathophysiological processes. In patients with severe COVID-19 without macrovascular thrombosis, escalating into high-dose prophylactic anticoagulation (HD-PA) or therapeutic anticoagulation (TA) could be beneficial in limiting the extension of microvascular thrombosis and forestalling the evolution of lung and multiorgan microcirculatory dysfunction. In the absence of data from randomised trials, clinical practice varies widely.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This is a French multicentre, parallel-group, open-label, randomised controlled superiority trial to compare the efficacy and safety of three anticoagulation strategies in patients with COVID-19. Patients with oxygen-treated COVID-19 showing no pulmonary artery thrombosis on computed tomography with pulmonary angiogram will be randomised to receive either low-dose PA, HD-PA or TA for 14 days. Patients attaining the extremes of weight and those with severe renal failure will not be included. We will recruit 353 patients. Patients will be randomised on a 1:1:1 basis, and stratified by centre, use of invasive mechanical ventilation, D-dimer levels and body mass index. The primary endpoint is a hierarchical criterion at day 28 including all-cause mortality, followed by the time to clinical improvement defined as the time from randomisation to an improvement of at least two points on the ordinal clinical scale. Secondary outcomes include thrombotic and major bleeding events at day 28, individual components of the primary endpoint, number of oxygen-free, ventilator-free and vasopressor-free days at day 28, D-dimer and sepsis-induced coagulopathy score at day 7, intensive care unit and hospital stay at day 28 and day 90, and all-cause death and quality of life at day 90.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study has been approved by an ethical committee (Ethics Committee, Ile de France VII, Paris, France; reference 2020-A03531-38). Patients will be included after obtaining their signed informed consent. The results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04808882.

Comparison of a preventive or curative strategy of fluid removal on the weaning of mechanical ventilation: a study protocol for a multicentre randomised open-label parallel-group trial

INTRODUCTION

Fluid overload is associated with a poor prognosis in the critically ill patients, especially at the time of weaning from mechanical ventilation as it may promote weaning failure from cardiac origin. Some data suggest that early administration of diuretics would shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation. However, this strategy may expose patients to a higher risk of haemodynamic and metabolic complications. Currently, there is no recommendation for the use of diuretics during weaning and there is an equipoise on the timing of their initiation in this context.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This study is a multicentre randomised controlled trial comparing two strategies of fluid removal during weaning in 13 French intensive care units (ICU). The preventive strategy is initiated systematically when the fluid balance or weight change is positive and the patients have criteria for clinical stability; the curative strategy is initiated only in case of weaning failure documented as of cardiac origin. Four hundred and ten patients will be randomised with a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome is the duration of weaning from mechanical ventilation, defined as the number of days between randomisation and successful extubation (alive without reintubation nor tracheostomy within the 7 days after extubation) at day 28. Secondary outcomes include daily and cumulated fluid balance, metabolic and haemodynamic complications, ventilator-associated pneumonia, weaning complications, number of ventilator-free days, total duration of mechanical ventilation, the length of stay in ICU and mortality in ICU, in hospital and, at day 28. A subgroup analysis for the primary outcome is planned in patients with kidney injury (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes class 2 or more) at the time of randomisation.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study has been approved by the ethics committee (Comité de Protection des Personnes Paris 1) and patients will be included after informed consent. The results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04050007.

PROTOCOL VERSION

V.1; 12 March 2019.

Effect of Hydrocortisone on Mortality and Organ Support in Patients With Severe COVID-19: The REMAP-CAP COVID-19 Corticosteroid Domain Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

Evidence regarding corticosteroid use for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is limited.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether hydrocortisone improves outcome for patients with severe COVID-19.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

An ongoing adaptive platform trial testing multiple interventions within multiple therapeutic domains, for example, antiviral agents, corticosteroids, or immunoglobulin. Between March 9 and June 17, 2020, 614 adult patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled and randomized within at least 1 domain following admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) for respiratory or cardiovascular organ support at 121 sites in 8 countries. Of these, 403 were randomized to open-label interventions within the corticosteroid domain. The domain was halted after results from another trial were released. Follow-up ended August 12, 2020.

INTERVENTIONS

The corticosteroid domain randomized participants to a fixed 7-day course of intravenous hydrocortisone (50 mg or 100 mg every 6 hours) (n = 143), a shock-dependent course (50 mg every 6 hours when shock was clinically evident) (n = 152), or no hydrocortisone (n = 108).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary end point was organ support-free days (days alive and free of ICU-based respiratory or cardiovascular support) within 21 days, where patients who died were assigned -1 day. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model that included all patients enrolled with severe COVID-19, adjusting for age, sex, site, region, time, assignment to interventions within other domains, and domain and intervention eligibility. Superiority was defined as the posterior probability of an odds ratio greater than 1 (threshold for trial conclusion of superiority >99%).

RESULTS

After excluding 19 participants who withdrew consent, there were 384 patients (mean age, 60 years; 29% female) randomized to the fixed-dose (n = 137), shock-dependent (n = 146), and no (n = 101) hydrocortisone groups; 379 (99%) completed the study and were included in the analysis. The mean age for the 3 groups ranged between 59.5 and 60.4 years; most patients were male (range, 70.6%-71.5%); mean body mass index ranged between 29.7 and 30.9; and patients receiving mechanical ventilation ranged between 50.0% and 63.5%. For the fixed-dose, shock-dependent, and no hydrocortisone groups, respectively, the median organ support-free days were 0 (IQR, -1 to 15), 0 (IQR, -1 to 13), and 0 (-1 to 11) days (composed of 30%, 26%, and 33% mortality rates and 11.5, 9.5, and 6 median organ support-free days among survivors). The median adjusted odds ratio and bayesian probability of superiority were 1.43 (95% credible interval, 0.91-2.27) and 93% for fixed-dose hydrocortisone, respectively, and were 1.22 (95% credible interval, 0.76-1.94) and 80% for shock-dependent hydrocortisone compared with no hydrocortisone. Serious adverse events were reported in 4 (3%), 5 (3%), and 1 (1%) patients in the fixed-dose, shock-dependent, and no hydrocortisone groups, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Among patients with severe COVID-19, treatment with a 7-day fixed-dose course of hydrocortisone or shock-dependent dosing of hydrocortisone, compared with no hydrocortisone, resulted in 93% and 80% probabilities of superiority with regard to the odds of improvement in organ support-free days within 21 days. However, the trial was stopped early and no treatment strategy met prespecified criteria for statistical superiority, precluding definitive conclusions.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02735707.

Effect of Hydrocortisone on Mortality and Organ Support in Patients With Severe COVID-19: The REMAP-CAP COVID-19 Corticosteroid Domain Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

Evidence regarding corticosteroid use for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is limited.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether hydrocortisone improves outcome for patients with severe COVID-19.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

An ongoing adaptive platform trial testing multiple interventions within multiple therapeutic domains, for example, antiviral agents, corticosteroids, or immunoglobulin. Between March 9 and June 17, 2020, 614 adult patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled and randomized within at least 1 domain following admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) for respiratory or cardiovascular organ support at 121 sites in 8 countries. Of these, 403 were randomized to open-label interventions within the corticosteroid domain. The domain was halted after results from another trial were released. Follow-up ended August 12, 2020.

INTERVENTIONS

The corticosteroid domain randomized participants to a fixed 7-day course of intravenous hydrocortisone (50 mg or 100 mg every 6 hours) (n = 143), a shock-dependent course (50 mg every 6 hours when shock was clinically evident) (n = 152), or no hydrocortisone (n = 108).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary end point was organ support-free days (days alive and free of ICU-based respiratory or cardiovascular support) within 21 days, where patients who died were assigned -1 day. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model that included all patients enrolled with severe COVID-19, adjusting for age, sex, site, region, time, assignment to interventions within other domains, and domain and intervention eligibility. Superiority was defined as the posterior probability of an odds ratio greater than 1 (threshold for trial conclusion of superiority >99%).

RESULTS

After excluding 19 participants who withdrew consent, there were 384 patients (mean age, 60 years; 29% female) randomized to the fixed-dose (n = 137), shock-dependent (n = 146), and no (n = 101) hydrocortisone groups; 379 (99%) completed the study and were included in the analysis. The mean age for the 3 groups ranged between 59.5 and 60.4 years; most patients were male (range, 70.6%-71.5%); mean body mass index ranged between 29.7 and 30.9; and patients receiving mechanical ventilation ranged between 50.0% and 63.5%. For the fixed-dose, shock-dependent, and no hydrocortisone groups, respectively, the median organ support-free days were 0 (IQR, -1 to 15), 0 (IQR, -1 to 13), and 0 (-1 to 11) days (composed of 30%, 26%, and 33% mortality rates and 11.5, 9.5, and 6 median organ support-free days among survivors). The median adjusted odds ratio and bayesian probability of superiority were 1.43 (95% credible interval, 0.91-2.27) and 93% for fixed-dose hydrocortisone, respectively, and were 1.22 (95% credible interval, 0.76-1.94) and 80% for shock-dependent hydrocortisone compared with no hydrocortisone. Serious adverse events were reported in 4 (3%), 5 (3%), and 1 (1%) patients in the fixed-dose, shock-dependent, and no hydrocortisone groups, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Among patients with severe COVID-19, treatment with a 7-day fixed-dose course of hydrocortisone or shock-dependent dosing of hydrocortisone, compared with no hydrocortisone, resulted in 93% and 80% probabilities of superiority with regard to the odds of improvement in organ support-free days within 21 days. However, the trial was stopped early and no treatment strategy met prespecified criteria for statistical superiority, precluding definitive conclusions.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02735707.

Morpho-functional evaluation of lung aeration as a marker of sickle-cell acute chest syndrome severity in the ICU: a prospective cohort study

Background

Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is the main cause of morbi-mortality in patients with sickle-cell disease in the intensive care unit (ICU). ACS definition encompasses many types of lung damage, making early detection of the most severe forms challenging. We aimed to describe ACS-related lung ultrasound (LU) patterns and determine LU performance to assess ACS outcome.

Results

We performed a prospective cohort study including 56 ICU patients hospitalized for ACS in a tertiary university hospital (Paris, France). LU and bedside spirometry were performed at admission (D0) and after 48 h (D2). Complicated outcome was defined by the need for transfusion of ≥ 3 red blood cell units, mechanical ventilation, ICU length-of-stay > 5 days, or death. A severe loss of lung aeration was observed in all patients, predominantly in inferior lobes, and was associated with decreased vital capacity (22 [15–33]% of predicted). The LU Score was 24 [20–28] on D0 and 20 [15–24] on D2. Twenty-five percent of patients (14/56) had a complicated outcome. Neither oxygen supply, pain score, haemoglobin, LDH and bilirubin values at D0; nor their change at D2, differed regarding patient outcome. Conversely, LU re-aeration score and spirometry change at D2 improved significantly more in patients with a favourable outcome. A negative LU re-aeration score at D2 was an independent marker of severity of ACS in ICU.

Conclusions

ACS is associated with severe loss of lung aeration, whose resolution is associated with favourable outcome. Serial bedside LU may accurately and early identify ACS patients at risk of complicated outcome.

Évaluation anonyme et continue de la satisfaction des familles des patients hospitalisés en réanimation par l’outil Opinion Family

En faisant partie intégrante du processus de soins, les familles des patients hospitalisés en réanimation sont exposées à des agressions à l’origine de troubles psychologiques. Ces situations de fragilité peuvent être, au moins en partie, prévenues par une prise en charge des familles de qualité. Au même titre que la démarche qualité implique l’évaluation de la satisfaction des patients, il paraît donc indispensable de recueillir celle des familles. L’outil OpinionFamily® (OF) a été conçu en partenariat avec une société experte afin de recueillir de façon anonyme, ergonomique, objective et continue la satisfaction des familles concernant leur perception de la qualité de leur prise en charge et de celle de leur proche sur une borne tactile sécurisée disposée dans la salle d’attente. L’analyse en temps réel des réponses permet l’évaluation des pratiques et la mise en place d’actions d’amélioration. Une étude de faisabilité au sein de la réanimation médicochirurgicale de l’hôpital Tenon de mars 2017 à août 2017 a permis le recueil de la satisfaction de 146 proches, essentiellement les référents des patients. L’identification et la disponibilité des soignants, le temps d’attente avant les visites, le confort de la salle d’attente ainsi que l’information relative à l’évolution de l’état de santé des patients demeurent les principaux items nécessitant la mise en oeuvre d’actions d’amélioration. L’implémentation systématique de l’outil OF dans les salles d’attente de réanimation offrirait aux soignants la possibilité de mieux connaître les besoins des familles en fonction de l’organisation mise en place, ainsi que d’évaluer régulièrement les améliorations effectuées.

Multicentre randomised controlled trial to investigate usefulness of the rapid diagnostic βLACTA test performed directly on bacterial cell pellets from respiratory, urinary or blood samples for the early de-escalation of carbapenems in septic intensive care unit patients: the BLUE-CarbA protocol

INTRODUCTION

The dramatic increase of the incidence of infections caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) has led to an increase of 50% of carbapenem consumption all around Europe in only 5 years. This favours the spread of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (GNB), causing life-threatening infections. In order to limit use of carbapenems for infections actually due to ESBL-PE, health authorities promote the use of rapid diagnostic tests of bacterial resistance. The objective of this work conducted in the intensive care unit (ICU) is to determine whether an early de-escalation of empirical carbapenems guided by the result of the βLACTA test is not inferior to the reference strategy of de-escalating carbapenems after the antibiogram result has been rendered.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This multicentre randomised controlled open-label non-inferiority clinical trial will include patients suffering from respiratory and/or urinary and/or bloodstream infections documented with GNB on direct examination and empirically treated with carbapenems. Empirical carbapenems will be adapted before the second dose depending on the results of the βLACTA test performed directly on the microbiological sample (intervention group) or after 48-72 hours depending on the definite antibiogram (control group). The primary outcome will combine 90-day mortality and percentage of infection recurrence during the ICU stay. The secondary outcomes will include the number of carbapenems defined daily doses and carbapenem-free days after inclusion, the proportion of new infections during ICU stay, new colonisation of patients' digestive tractus with multidrug-resistant GNB, ICU and hospital length of stay and cost-effectiveness ratio.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This protocol has been approved by the ethics committee of Paris-Ile-de-France IV, and will be carried out according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and the Good Clinical Practice guidelines. The results of this study will be disseminated through presentation at scientific conferences and publication in peer-reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03147807.

Disparity of the "screen-and-isolate" policy for multidrug-resistant organisms: A national survey in French adult ICUs

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) has dramatically increased. The aim of this survey was to describe and analyze the different screening and isolation policies regarding MDROs in French adult intensive care units (ICUs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A multicenter online survey was performed among French ICUs, including 63 questions distributed into 4 parts: characteristics of the unit, MDRO screening policy, policy regarding contact precautions, and ecology of the unit.

RESULTS

From April 2015 to June 2016, 73 of 301 ICUs (24%) participated in the survey. MDRO screening was performed on admission in 96% of ICUs, for at least 1 MDRO (78%). MDRO screening was performed weekly during ICU stay in 83% of ICUs. Preemptive isolation was initiated on admission in 82% of ICUs, mostly in a targeted way (71%). Imported and acquired MDRO rates >10% were reported in 44% and 27% of ICUs, respectively. An MDRO outbreak had occurred within the past 3 years in 48% of cases.

CONCLUSION

French ICUs have variable screening and isolation approaches for MDROs, as up to 10 combinations were met. Discrepancies with the 2009 national guidelines were observed. Very few ICUs practice without some form of screening and isolation of patients upon admission.

Procalcitonin algorithm to guide initial antibiotic therapy in acute exacerbations of COPD admitted to the ICU: a randomized multicenter study

PURPOSE

To compare the efficacy of an antibiotic protocol guided by serum procalcitonin (PCT) with that of standard antibiotic therapy in severe acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPDs) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter, randomized trial in France. Patients experiencing severe AECOPDs were assigned to groups whose antibiotic therapy was guided by (1) a 5-day PCT algorithm with predefined cutoff values for the initiation or stoppage of antibiotics (PCT group) or (2) standard guidelines (control group). The primary endpoint was 3-month mortality. The predefined noninferiority margin was 12%.

RESULTS

A total of 302 patients were randomized into the PCT (n = 151) and control (n = 151) groups. Thirty patients (20%) in the PCT group and 21 patients (14%) in the control group died within 3 months of admission (adjusted difference, 6.6%; 90% CI - 0.3 to 13.5%). Among patients without antibiotic therapy at baseline (n = 119), the use of PCT significantly increased 3-month mortality [19/61 (31%) vs. 7/58 (12%), p = 0.015]. The in-ICU and in-hospital antibiotic exposure durations, were similar between the PCT and control group (5.2 ± 6.5 days in the PCT group vs. 5.4 ± 4.4 days in the control group, p = 0.85 and 7.9 ± 8 days in the PCT group vs. 7.7 ± 5.7 days in the control group, p = 0.75, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The PCT group failed to demonstrate non-inferiority with respect to 3-month mortality and failed to reduce in-ICU and in-hospital antibiotic exposure in AECOPDs admitted to the ICU.

Video-based feedback of oral clinical presentations reduces the anxiety of ICU medical students: a multicentre, prospective, randomized study

BACKGROUND

Oral presentations of clinical cases by medical students during medical rounds in hospital wards are a source of anxiety and little is known about how this anxiety can be alleviated. The objective of this study was to investigate whether video-based feedback of public oral presentations can reduce anxiety in 4th year medical students.

METHODS

Multicentre randomized study conducted in six intensive care units (ICU) and emergency departments (ED) in France over a 9-month period in 2012. One hundred and forty two 4th year medical students were randomized to two groups: intervention and control. Students in the intervention group were recorded while making an oral presentation of a patient during morning ward rounds, followed by video-based feedback. Students in the control group conducted presented classical oral presentations without being filmed and with no formal feedback. Anxiety levels during a public oral presentation were assessed using the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S). The primary outcome was the difference in STAI-S scores between groups at the beginning and at the end of a 3-month ICU or ED internship.

RESULTS

Seventy four students were randomized to the 'video-based feedback' group and 68 were randomized to the control group. In both groups, STAI-S scores were significantly lower after 3 months of internship. However, the reduction in STAI-S scores was significantly greater in the "video-based feedback" group than in controls (-9.2 ± 9.3 vs. -4.6 ± 8.2, p = 0.024. Compared to the control group, significantly fewer students with high-level anxiety were observed in the "video-based feedback" group after 3 months of internship (68 vs. 28%, p <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to "usual practice", video-assisted oral feedback reduced anxiety and significantly decreased the proportion of students experiencing severe anxiety.

Transient severe reversible functional mitral regurgitation: a three-dimensional transoesophageal perspective

Mrs B, a 49-year-old female, was referred to our institution for severe mitral regurgitation. Transthoracic echocardiography showed only a moderate organic mitral regurgitation, but a transient severe reversible functional mitral regurgitation was observed during transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Three-dimensional TEE clearly demonstrated the functional nature of the regurgitation with a transient and sudden tenting of the mitral leaflets with a circular mitral annulus resulting in a total absence of leaflet coaptation.

Evaluation of innovative products to reduce copper applications to control potato late blight in organic production systems

The main objective of this project, VETAB project, is to determine alternatives to massive copper utilization to control potato late blight (Phytophtora infestans (Mont.) de Bary) in organic systems. To reach such a target, we first performed a screening of candidate products and additives based on their efficiency in the laboratory, under controlled conditions. We evaluated a wide range of products: formulations with a low level of copper, antagonists suspensions, aminoacid extracts, plants extracts, potassium salts, sulphur formulation, organically stabilised peroxide and rhamnolipids. The product's suspensions were applied by vaporization on potato plants. Two different protocols of application were elaborated. To test the fungicide protection action, the product was applied four days before inoculation of the pathogen. To evaluate the defence stimulating effect, the product was applied several times during the plant growth before inoculation of the pathogen. The last vaporization was performed 4 days before inoculation. We also evaluated the resistance of the product to washing risk. Pathogen suspension was applied as droplets of 5 x 10(4) spo/ml on detached leaves. The leaves were then incubated (18 degrees C, RH > 90%, 6 days) in order to record symptoms development. The best results were obtained with formulations integrating reduced doses of copper and with potassium salts. In conclusion, a wide range of products and additives are proposed on the market but very few of those have a real efficiency. The performance of the most efficient products has to be confirmed in field trials.