The 2009 transition from the rotating to the permanent presidency of the European Council

This chapter, part of an ongoing and much larger research and book project, uses interviews with some of the leading protagonists of the time to recount the immediate December 2009 transition from the rotating to the permanent presidency of the European Council. It describes how Herman Van Rompuy came to be appointed the first permanent President of the European Council and how the transition from the Swedish rotating presidency was pragmatically managed. It seeks to give a first ‘taste’ of the results of our ongoing interview-based research. It gives a sense of how much of that relatively smooth transition was a result of a mixture of good luck, enlightened improvisation and collective wisdom

Usefulness of multiple electrode aggregometry as a screening tool for bleeding disorders in a pediatric hospital

Platelet function testing is a cornerstone in the diagnostic investigation of patients with a bleeding history. Multiple electrode aggregometry (MEA) has been shown to detect von Willebrand disease (VWD), platelet function disorders, and drug-induced bleeding disorders. However, there are few studies supporting its successful use in children. We have implemented and used MEA over 3 years in our hemostasis laboratory in order to study its usefulness to supplement and expedite diagnosis. This is a retrospective, single-center, cohort study of 109 hospitalized children who underwent a laboratory investigation of hemostasis and either had a reported bleeding history or an abnormal bleeding episode. Plasmatic coagulation testing, blood counts, plasmatic von Willebrand testing, platelet function analyzer (PFA-100), and impedance aggregometry (MEA) were performed in all children. Light transmission aggregometry testing was performed as needed. In 41 cases (37.6%), a working diagnosis was made; a primary hemostatic disorder was detected in 35 children (VWD (n = 16), platelet disorder (n = 15), and valproic acid therapy-induced bleeding disorder (n = 3), acetylsalicylic acid-related bleeding (n = 1). In patients diagnosed with VWD, MEA ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation test (RISTO) high test revealed abnormally low aggregation in six patients (43.8%); whereas in patients diagnosed with a platelet function disorder, abnormally low values were found by MEA in only three children (20%). Three of the four children with laboratory evidence of drug-induced platelet dysfunction had abnormalities on MEA. There were no cases in which an abnormal MEA result was used to make a previously undetermined diagnosis. Retrospectively, MEA has demonstrated limited additional diagnostic value beyond standard laboratory testing for detecting defects of primary hemostasis in children

Lutte biologique contre <i>Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici</i> et <i>Pythium sp.</i> dans une culture hors sol de tomates en circuit fermé

Dans une culture de tomates en laine de roche, plantée le 17 mars, on a examiné divers moyens de lutter contre Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici et Pythium sp. inoculés à la plantation: la filtration lente et l'inoculation d'antagonistes tels que Streptomyces griseoviridis, Mucor et Fusarium oxysporum Fo47 (apathogène). Aucune méthode ne permet de prévention complète et seule l'inoculation de Fo47 montre un effet significatif sur la propagation des symptômes de fusariose et sur les rendements