Mr. Régis Guieu's ADOSYN project, labeled by the A*Midex Foundation in the framework of the "Mediterranean 2018" call, started its activities in October 2019. This project strengthens Aix-Marseille's cooperation with the University of Florence (Italy), the University of Naples - Frederick II (Italy), and hospital institutions in Spain and Italy.
The project led by Prof. Régis Guieu was selected on 18 March 2019 by the Steering Committee of the A*Midex Foundation within the framework of the A*Midex "Mediterranean 2018" call for projects. This call aims to strengthen Euro-Mediterranean collaborations of the Aix-Marseille University site with privileged research partners.
The project "Adenosine profile characterization in neurocardiogenic syncope: an European multicentric investigation" (ADOSYN) aims to improve the diagnosis and treatment of neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS). SCNs are the most common syncopations on healthy hearts, affecting 40 per 1000 subject-years and profoundly altering the quality of life of patients due to falls and loss of autonomy. The precursor symptoms (nausea, sweating, abdominal pain, etc.) are inconsistent, and pharmacology is currently lacking in this area. The project is part of a longstanding Mediterranean collaboration in NCS research through a syncopated research network. It will provide a better understanding of these syncopes and their prodromes (precursor symptoms) in order to better guide their treatment. In particular, the project focuses on non-prodromal SCSs which are the most disabling because the patient does not have time to sit or lie down to limit falls, which can lead to serious accidents when unconsciousness occurs at the wheel or in the water, for example. This type of syncope sometimes requires the insertion of a pacemaker. The team of Prof. Régis Guieu and Prof. JC Deharo (Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille) have highlighted the involvement of a molecule, adenosine, which is responsible for a large part of the clinical manifestations, because this molecule released into the bloodstream has the power, in predisposed patients, to slow the heart rate and cause dilatation of the vessels creating a sudden drop in blood pressure. The aim of the project is to collect blood samples from different centres around the Mediterranean and to analyse adenosine concentrations, but also to analyse the phamacological profile of its receptors as well as genetic polymorphism.
The project is being implemented at the Cardiovascular and Nutrition Research Centre (C2VN) in Aix-Marseille (UMR AMU-INSERM-INRA), in conjunction with the Assistance-Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM) and in partnership with the University of Florence (Italy), the Tigullio Hospital in Lavagna (Italy), the Dexeus University Hospital in Barcelona (Spain), and the University of Naples - Frederic II (Italy).
ADOSYN started on October 1, 2019 for a period of 24 months. Over this period, the project will be subsidised by the A*Midex Foundation to the tune of 80,000 euros.
Photo credits: © Stocklib / Vitaliy Vodolazskyy