Aparna Kulkarni^1,*, Richard Neugebauer², Shelby Kutty³

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.16, No.3, pp. 299-307, 2021, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2021.014495

Abstract Objective: The objective of this analysis is to describe the characteristics and morbidity during hospitalizations among adolescents with congenital heart disease (AdoCHD) from the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database. Methods: The PHIS database was queried for all AdoCHD admissions aged 12–18 years (1/1/2004–12/31/2013). Major forms of CHD were identified by their International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision codes, further verified based on their secondary diagnosis and/or procedure codes. Patient characteristics, diagnoses, procedures and vital status were assessed. Results: In total, there were 4,267 adolescents admitted to 42 Children’s Hospitals, 58.3% were males, 24.6% single ventricle (SV) patients, 64.1% bi-ventricle… More >

Sotiria C. Apostolopoulou^1,*, Stella Brili², Eftihia Sbarouni³, Dimitris Tousoulis², Konstantinos Toutouzas²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.15, No.5, pp. 369-375, 2020, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2020.012092

Abstract Objective: Acquired coronary artery disease, initially thought to rarely affect survivors of congenital heart disease, is increasingly recognized in this population, as these patients grow in age and numbers in the recent era. This study reports our experience with coronary artery disease in adults with congenital heart disease and discusses treatment issues and the existing literature. Methods: Retrospective review of all charts of adults with congenital heart disease and acquired coronary artery disease was performed. Patients’ clinical characteristics, diagnosis, risk factors, noninvasive and invasive imaging and management data were recorded. Results: Coronary artery disease was diagnosed at 35–70 of age… More >

Biagio Castaldi^1,*, Giulio Cabrelle¹, Massimo Padalino², Vladimiro Vida², Ornella Milanesi¹, Giovanni Di Salvo¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.15, No.5, pp. 347-360, 2020, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2020.012750

Abstract Background: Trans-catheter closure has become the treatment of choice for patent foramen ovale (PFO) and ostium secundum atrial septal defects (ASD). A wide variety of devices are commercially available, however, concerns have been raised about the risk of cardiac erosion associated with stiff/rigid devices. The GORE® CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder (GSO) is a double-disc, soft and conformable device with no reported incidence of cardiac erosions. However, wire frame fracture (WFF) have been reported. Aim: To assess the incidence and clinical significance of WFF after GSO implantation in paediatric patients. Methods: Seventy-seven consecutive patients were enrolled. Periprocedural and follow-up assessments included clinical,… More >

Gustaf Tanghöj^1,*, Anna Lindam², Petru Liuba^3,4, Gunnar Sjöberg⁵, Estelle Naumburg¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.15, No.5, pp. 287-299, 2020, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2020.011977

Abstract Objective: Secundum atrial septal defect (ASD II) is a common congenital heart defect, and interatrial communications among preterm children is even more common. The objective of this study was to calculate the incidence of ASD II in children, with assessment to gestational age at birth. Further, to assess maternal, prenatal and postnatal risk factors associated with ASD II among children of different gestational age at birth. Design: This national registry based retrospective incidence study was supplemented with a national case-control study, using the Swedish Register of Congenial Heart Disease, Swedish Medical Birth Register and Statistics Sweden. All children, 0–18 years… More >

Hua Yan^1,2,3,*, Bo Song^1,3, Mansheng Wang⁴

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 265-282, 2020, DOI:10.32604/sdhm.2020.06403

Abstract Analyze and compare the basic principles of ultrasonic detection of voids in concrete, choose ZBL-U520/510 non-metallic ultrasonic detector, and use the opposite detection method to test the void size in the joints of prefabricated concrete structures. The results show that: ultrasonic method by testing the waveform, sound, and speed of sound analysis can effectively determine the position of the defect, and through the conversion formula can estimate the void size. Ultrasonic parameters are used to distinguish the internal defects of Assembly concrete. Sometimes there are different results with different parameters. It is difficult for engineers to directly determine the internal… More >

Or Bercovich¹, Tal Tirosh-Wagner², Lior Goldberg¹, Amir Vardi³, David Mishali⁴, Gideon Paret^1,#, Yael Nevo-Caspi^1,*,#

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.15, No.4, pp. 239-249, 2020, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2020.011576

Abstract Objective: To test the hypothesis that circulating miRNAs-146a, -146b, -155, and -21 reflect the inflammatory state of children following heart surgery, and that they may, therefore, correlate with postoperative parameters. We aimed to quantify miRNAs in blood samples from pediatric patients before and 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery and to evaluate correlations between the miRNA levels and the postoperative course. Setting: PICU. Patients: Forty-two pediatric patients with CHD who underwent cardiac surgery at Safra Children’s Hospital between 2012–2016. Interventions: none. Outcome Measures: The primary outcomes were the postoperative cardiac complications and the secondary outcomes were the length of… More >

Gongde Guo¹, Kai Yu¹, Hui Wang², Song Lin^{1, *}, Yongzhen Xu¹, Xiaofeng Chen³

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.65, No.2, pp. 1397-1409, 2020, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2020.011399

Abstract As an important branch of machine learning, clustering analysis is widely used in some fields, e.g., image pattern recognition, social network analysis, information security, and so on. In this paper, we consider the designing of clustering algorithm in quantum scenario, and propose a quantum hierarchical agglomerative clustering algorithm, which is based on one dimension discrete quantum walk with single-point phase defects. In the proposed algorithm, two nonclassical characters of this kind of quantum walk, localization and ballistic effects, are exploited. At first, each data point is viewed as a particle and performed this kind of quantum walk with a parameter,… More >

Feng-Nong Chen^a,b#, Pu-Lan Chen^c#, Kai Fan^a, Fang Cheng^d

Intelligent Automation & Soft Computing, Vol.24, No.2, pp. 351-358, 2018, DOI:10.1080/10798587.2017.1293927

Abstract In recent years, foodstuff quality has triggered tremendous interest and attention in our society as a series of food safety problems. The hyperspectral imaging techniques have been widely applied for foodstuff quality. In this study, we were undertaken to explore the possibility of unsound kernel detecting (Triticum durum Desf), which were defined as black germ kernels, moldy kernels and broken kernels, by selecting the best band in hyperspectral imaging system. The system possessed a wavelength in the range of 400 to 1,000  nm with neighboring bands 2.73  nm apart, acquiring images of bulk wheat samples from different wheat varieties. A… More >

Coralie Katharina Dicks¹, Gerhard-Paul Diller¹, Kristina Wasmer², Paul C. Helm^3,4, Ulrike M. M. Bauer^3,4, Helmut Baumgartner¹, Stefan Orwat^1,#, Alicia Jeanette Fischer^1,#,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 117-125, 2020, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2020.011520

Abstract Background: Sudden cardiac death is a leading cause of death in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Risk stratification for implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) remains difficult due to limited data about use and outcome of device therapy in CHD patients in larger community-based cohorts. Methods and results: Out of a dataset with more than 50,000 patients registered at the German National Register for Congenital Heart Defects, 109 patients (median age 35.5; IQR 23.75–46.00), 68 (62%) male) with an ICD were identified and were retrospectively analyzed. Although the number of implantations increased steadily throughout the investigated time interval from 2001 to… More >

Amira Nour^1,*, Heba Kamel¹, Yasmeen Abdelrazik¹, Khaled Shams², Noha Gamal³, Safaa Huessin⁴, Alaa Roushdy¹, Maiy El Sayed¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 79-87, 2020, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2020.011249

Abstract Background: Transcatheter closure of secudum atrial septal defect (ASD) has gained wide acceptance since its introduction more than 3 decades ago. Safety and efficacy of the procedure in everyday practice needs continuous update. Objective: The aim of the study is to determine the incidence of complications and identify everyday management protocols. Methods: This is a prospective nonrandomized study including all the patients with Secundum ASD or fenestrated IAS referred to two different congenital heart diseases centers in Ain Shams university and sohag university in Egypt over 2 years with an indication for closure according to American and European guidelines. A… More >