Jing Wu¹, Li Kuang¹, Lijuan Fu²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 194-202, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12586

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients.
Design: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINHAL, and CBMdisc to collect controlled trials on the application of inspiratory muscle training in CHF patients from the establishment of these databases to November 2016. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed the quality of literature. Meta-analysis was conducted by software RevMan5.3.
Results: Eight studies involving 302 patients were identified. Meta-analysis indicated that IMT significantly improved PI_max, V_E/VCO₂ slope and More >

Camilla Sandberg^1,2, Magnus Hedström¹, Karin Wadell², Mikael Dellborg³, Anders Ahnfelt³, Anna-Klara Zetterström⁴, Amanda Öhrn⁴, Bengt Johansson¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 254-262, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12562

Abstract Objective: The beneficial effects of exercise training in acquired heart failure and coronary artery disease are well known and have been implemented in current treatment guidelines. Knowledge on appropriate exercise training regimes for adults with congenital heart disease is limited, thus further studies are needed. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of home-based interval exercise training on maximal endurance capacity and peak exercise capacity.
Design: Randomized controlled trial.
Methods: Twenty-six adults with complex congenital heart disease were recruited from specialized units for adult congenital heart disease. Patients were randomized to either an intervention group—12… More >

Philip Wackel^1,2, Bryan Cannon^1,2, Joseph Dearani³, Kristen Sessions^1,2, Kimberly Holst³, Jonathan Johnson^1,2, Frank Cetta^1,2

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 26-30, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12566

Abstract Background: The increased incidence of preoperative and postoperative arrhythmia in Ebstein anomaly (EA) prompted some clinicians to perform an electrophysiology study (EPS) in all patients prior to surgery for EA. The cone repair (CR) is the current surgical option of choice for most young patients with EA but the effect of the CR on arrhythmia is not well established.
Objectives: To assess the burden of arrhythmia in young patients after CR and to assess the utility of selective preoperative EPS.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of all patients <21 years of age with EA who had a… More >

Robert W. Loar, Cory V. Noel, Hari Tunuguntla, John L. Colquitt, Ricardo H. Pignatelli

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 5-15, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12564

Abstract Chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity in adults and children is a topic with a growing interest in the cardiology literature. The ability to detect cardiac dysfunction in a timely manner is essential in order to begin adequate treatment and prevent further deterioration. This article aims to provide a review on the myocardial injury process, chemotherapeutic agents that lead to cardiotoxicity, the definition of cardiotoxicity, and the methods of timely detection and treatment. More >

Ashley E. Neal¹, Elizabeth Lehto¹, Karen Hughes Miller², Craig Ziegler², Erin Davis²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 147-153, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12559

Abstract Objective: Although pediatrician-reported relevance of Canadian cardiology-specific objectives has been studied, similar data are not available for the 2016 American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) cardiology-specific objectives. This study asked Kentucky trainees, pediatricians, and pediatric cardiologists to identify “most important” content within these objectives.
Design, Methods, Outcome Measures: This cross-sectional study used an original, online survey instrument based on the 2016 ABP cardiology-specific objectives. We collected quantitative data (numerical indications of importance) and qualitative data (open-ended replies regarding missing content and difficulty in teaching and learning). Respondents indicated the top two choices of most important items within eight… More >

Yumi Shiina¹, Tomoaki Murakami², Noriko Matsumoto³, Daisuke Okamura⁴, Yuta Takahashi⁴, Yosuke Nishihata¹, Nobuyuki Komiyama¹, Koichiro Niwa¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 79-84, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12555

Abstract Objectives: To assess body composition and relationships among body composition, appetiterelated hormones, adipocytokines, and heart failure (HF) in adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD).
Patients: This prospective study enrolled 46 consecutive adult patients with CHD and 12 agematched healthy controls. The patients and control subjects were divided into four groups: 13 patients with Fontan circulation (group A), 16 patients with cyanosis (group B), 17 patients who previously underwent biventricular repair (group C), and 12 age-matched healthy controls.
Design: Body composition was measured using InBody730, and levels of appetite-related hormones (ghrelin and leptin) and adipocytokines (leptin, interleukin-6, and… More >

Susan F. Saleeb¹, Sarah R. McLaughlin², Dionne A. Graham², Kevin G. Friedman¹, David R. Fulton¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 46-51, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12539

Abstract Objective: Using a Standardized Clinical Assessment and Management Plan (SCAMP) for pediatric patients presenting to clinic with chest pain, we evaluated the cost impact associated with implementation of the care algorithm. Prior to introduction of the SCAMP, we analyzed charges for 406 patients with chest pain, seen in 2009, and predicted 21% reduction of overall charges had the SCAMP methodology been used. The SCAMP recommended an echocardiogram for history, examination, or ECG findings suggestive of a cardiac etiology for chest pain.
Design: Resource utilization was reviewed for 1517 patients (7-21 years) enrolled in the SCAMP from July… More >

Shi G¹, ZY Liu¹, T Baoyin¹, J Sun², JJ Duan³, XL Li³, GF Yang⁴

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.87, pp. 236-241, 2018, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2018.87.236

Abstract Plant functional traits and their effects on rangeland ecosystem function have received much attention by ecologists. However, the importance of functional traits and the interactive effects of grazing exclusion and climate are poorly understood. This study, therefore, aimed to analyse the response of Leymus chinensis functional traits in long-term grazing exclusion in different habitats (rainless typical steppe and rainy meadow steppe). This study showed that although the sensitivity and variability of different traits were similar in two steppe habitats, phenotypic plasticity of L. chinensis in meadow steppe was significantly higher than typical steppes. With the increased degree More >

Qayyum S¹, SA Majid¹, A Bibi², A Ulfat¹, K Khanum¹, A Munir¹, S Nisar¹, S Aziz¹, N Mumtaz¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.87, pp. 191-197, 2018, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2018.87.191

Abstract Maize (Zea mays L., the third most important cereal crop after wheat and rice, is the major kharif (summer) crop of rainfed areas in Pakistan. The yield per hectare and total production of maize in Pakistan is low versus an exponentially increasing population. The objective of this work was to study the interactive effects of phytohormones [Gibberellic acid (GA), Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), Abscicic acid (ABA) and kinetin (KIN)] on morphological, physiological and biochemical parameters during the germination of maize seeds. Seeds were presoaked in different hormones, separately or in combinations. Priming with GA+SNP+ABA+KIN enhanced the total More >

Calixto-Muñoz JJ¹, MD Mariezcurrena-Berasain¹, AT Gutiérrez-Ibáñez¹, A Balbuena-Melgarejo¹, S Rajaram², ED Archundia-Velarde¹, DL Martínez-Pardo³, DL Pinzón-Martínez¹

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.87, pp. 171-177, 2018, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2018.87.171

Abstract Wheat is one of the most important protein sources for human beings. Several food products are elaborated from this cereal, such as bread. Mexican wheat breeding programs are focused on to identify those genotypes with high yields and bread quality. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the environmental effects over the Physicochemical and Bromatological quality parameters of Cal Blanco F2011, Matchett F2011 and RSM-Norman F2008 wheats sown at the experimental fields at Mexicali, Baja California, Querendaro, Michoacán and Tarimoro, Guanajuato, Mexico during the autumn-winter growing cycle for two consecutive years (2014-2016) under… More >