Melissa S.W. Yamauchi^1,2, Michael D. Puchalski^1,2, Hsin Ti Weng¹, Nelangi M. Pinto^1,2, Susan P. Etheridge^1,2, Angela P. Presson¹, Lloyd Y. Tani^1,2, L. LuAnn Minich^1,2, Richard V. Williams^1,2

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.3, pp. 432-439, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12591

Abstract Background: Disease progression of an isolated bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) in children is poorly understood and adult management guidelines may not be applicable. Thus, we sought to evaluate disease progression of pediatric isolated BAV and its relationship to current management practices.
Methods: Children with a BAV and ≤mild aortic stenosis (AS) and/or aortic regurgitation (AR) at the time of initial evaluation were included in this retrospective cohort study (1/2005-12/ 2014). Outcomes included change in z-scores for aortic root and ascending aorta diameters, cardiac interventions, adverse outcomes, recommended follow-up interval, and frequency of cardiac imaging studies at each follow up evaluation,… More >

Angeline D. Opina, Constance Cephus, Yunfei Wang, Samuel Younan, Douglas Moodie

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 327-333, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12580

Abstract Objective: Studies have shown improvement in lipid levels after institution of lifestyle changes in children enrolled in closely monitored programs. There programs are difficult to mimic in real world clinics. We aim to determine if diet and exercise result in improvement in lipid levels in patients seen in a designated lipid clinic in a real life setting.
Design: Retrospective review of patients followed for dyslipidemia at the Texas Children’s Hospital Lipid Clinic from May 1, 2012 to May 1, 2015. Patients included were seen more than once, had repeat lipid testing, and abnormal baseline lipid levels. Multivariate analysis using mixed… More >

Clotilde Kingsley¹, Saad Ahmad², John Pappachan¹, Sujata Khambekar¹, Thomas Smith¹, Diane Gardiner¹, James Shambrook¹, Shankar Baskar³, Ryan Moore³, Gruschen Veldtman³

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 288-294, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12569

Abstract Background: The right ventricular (RV) contractile reserve is a measure of the dynamic function of the RV and is a sensitive indicator of volume load. This can be measured noninvasively using the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) during exercise. We studied the RV contractile reserve of patients after tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair with varying degree of RV dilation and pulmonary regurgitation (PR), and compared them to a control group.
Methods: Twenty-six patients who had undergone TOF repair (mean age 29 ± 10 years) were identified and stratified into three group based on the presence and severity of RV… More >

Natasa Karadzov Orlic¹, Amira Egic¹, Barbara Damnjanovic‐Pazin MD2 | Relja Lukic¹, Ivana Joksic³, Zeljko Mikovic¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 1094-1101, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12852

Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze if the addition of simple cardiac scan in cases with increased nuchal translucency (NT) and/or abnormal ductus venosus (DV) blood flow, and/or tricuspid regurgitation (TCR) can improve detection of congenital heart defects (CHD) in chromosomally normal fetuses without non‐ cardiac defects at 11‐13 + 6 gestational weeks in a population of singleton pregnancies.
Methods: During the 10 years period, all singleton pregnancies at 11‐13 + 6 weeks were routinely scanned for NT, DV blood flow and TCR assessment and, if a sin‐ gle of these parameters was abnormal, simple cardiac scan… More >

Sebastian Udholm¹, Camilla Nyboe¹, Thomas Meinertz Dantoft², Torben Jørgensen^2,3,4, Charlotte U. Rask⁵, Vibeke E. Hjortdal¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 803-810, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12808

Abstract Objective: For the first time, we wish to assess the psychiatric burden in adult patients living with small, unrepaired atrial septal defects (ASD) using register‐based data, com‐ bined with self‐reported measures on levels emotional distress and educational status.
Design: A descriptive study using both the unique Danish registries and validated psychiatric questionnaires and scales, including: The Symptom Checklist, Whiteley‐7, and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire.
Patients: Adult patients with small, unrepairedASD, diagnosed between 1953 and 2011.
Outcome Measures: Number of register‐based psychiatric diagnoses. Additionally, symptoms of anxiety, depression, somatization, health anxiety, illness perception, and levels of educational attainment compared to age‐… More >

Ersin Çagrı Şimşek¹, Selcen Yakar Tülüce², Kamil Tülüce³, Sadık Volkan Emren², Serap Çuhadar⁴, Cem Nazlı²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.2, pp. 256-263, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12718

Abstract Objective: The bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital heart dis‐ ease. The process of aortic dilatation is not completely clear in patients with the BAV. Apelin is a peptide found at high levels in vascular endothelial cells which has a role in vascular regulation and cardiovascular function. The aim of this study was to de‐ termine the relationship between serum apelin levels and ascending aortic dilatation in adult patients with BAV.
Design: This cross‐sectional study included 62 patients with isolated BAV and to an age, gender, and body mass index‐matched control group of 58 healthy volunteers with… More >

Raffaele Giordano¹, Massimiliano Cantinotti², Giuseppe Comentale¹, Luigi Di Tommaso¹, Gabriele Iannelli¹¹, Emanuele Pilato¹, Gaetano Palma¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.2, pp. 162-166, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12680

Abstract Background: In this study, we compared our experience about early and midterm follow‐up outcomes for right anterolateral minithoracotomy (RAMT) vs full sternot‐ omy (FS) in surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) among adolescents with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV).
Methods: Patients were retrospectively enrolled from January 2008 to December 2017. Inclusion criteria were patients with BAV who had to undergo to AVR. They were divided in two groups: RAMT and FS. The choice of RAMT was based on indi‐ vidual surgeon’s preferences or when expressly requested by patient that was in‐ formed of nonconventional approach.
Results: We enrolled 61 patients, 23 in… More >

Benjamin H. Goot, Sonali Patel, Brian Fonseca

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.1, pp. 84-90, 2017

Abstract Objective: When imaging the lower airway by MRI, the traditional technique turbo spin echo (TSE) results in high quality 2D images, however planning and acquisition times are lengthy. An alternative, delayed volume interpolated breath-holds examination (VIBE), is a 3D gradient echo technique that produces high spatial resolution imaging of the airway in one breath-hold. The objective of this study is to retrospectively evaluate the accuracy of lower airway measurements obtained by delayed VIBE when compared to TSE.
Design: Patients with congenital heart disease who underwent a cardiac MRI (CMR) that included a delayed VIBE sequence from 5/2008 to 9/2013 were… More >

Alexander C. Egbe^*, Heidi M. Connolly^*, Joseph T. Poterucha^*,†, Carole A. Warnes^*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.1, pp. 24-31, 2017

Abstract Objectives. There is a paucity of data about mixed aortic valve disease (MAVD) in patients with bicuspid/unicuspid aortic valve (BAV). This study sought to describe the outcomes of patients with moderate/severe MAVD.
Methods. We queried our database for patients with BAV and moderate/severe MAVD seen between 1994 and 2013. We excluded patients with baseline New York Heart Association (NYHA) III/IV symptoms, left ventricular ejection fraction <50%, aortic dimension >50 mm, and significant disease of other valves. The purpose of the study was to determine the freedom from NYHA III/IV symptoms and aortic valve replacement (AVR).
Results. We identified 138 patients… More >

María Laura Molinelli^*, Rocío Tarifa, Patricia Perissé

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.89, No.2, pp. 345-360, 2020, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2020.08796

Abstract Echium plantagineum (Boraginaceae) is native of the Mediterranean regions, has been introduced and become widespread within the American continent (North to South), South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. This plant has seed dormancy, aggressively spreads to infest vast areas of predominantly agricultural land and is considered a toxic weed to livestock. The objectives of this research were: (i) to study the morpho-anatomy of the diaspores of E. plantagineum; (ii) to identify the pathway of water uptake; and (iii) to characterize the germination and the seedling. The morpho-anatomical studies were carried out analyzing semi-permanent slides of transverse and longitudinal sections of… More >