LINNA TAN^1,2, YUYONG TAN^1,2, DELIANG LIU^1,2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.44, No.4, pp. 535-543, 2020, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2020.09171

Abstract ULK1 (unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1), a mammalian serine/threonine kinase, is a key component of autophagy initiation complex and helps to induce all types of autophagy. Canonical autophagy is a process in which, through the interactions of a series of autophagy-related proteins, damaged organelles or misfolded proteins are engulfed by autophagosomes and then merged with lysosomes to be degraded. Thus, canonical autophagy is an important constituent part of the cellular “quality control.” Besides, accumulating evidence indicates that ULK1 exerts autophagy-independent effects in a cell-specific manner. For example, ULK1 facilitates neurite elongation through the regulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)–Golgi trafficking… More >

Zhenxin Zhao^1,#, Tong Chen^2,#, Xudong Liu³, Shengzhang Wang^2,4,*, Haiyan Lu^5,*

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.125, No.3, pp. 1173-1184, 2020, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2020.013702

Abstract In order to improve the surgical treatment of the congenital heart disease patient with single ventricle defect, two axial flow blood pumps, one with diffuser and the other without diffuser, were designed and virtually implanted into an idealized total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) model to form two types of Pump-TCPC physiological structure. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed to analyze the variations of the hemodynamic characteristics, such as flow field, wall shear stress (WSS), oscillatory shear index (OSI), relative residence time (RRT), between the two Pump-TCPC models. Numerical results indicate that the Pump-TCPC with diffuser has better flow field stability,… More >

Shinjin Kang¹, Taiwoo Park^2,*

Intelligent Automation & Soft Computing, Vol.26, No.1, pp. 205-214, 2020, DOI:10.31209/2019.100000141

Abstract This paper describes an outlier detection system based on a multimodal physiology data clustering algorithm in a PC gaming environment. The goal of this system is to provide information on a game player’s abnormal behavior with a bio-signal analysis. Using this information, the game platform can easily identify players with abnormal behavior in specific events. To do this, we propose a mouse device that measures the wearer's skin conductivity, temperature, and motion. We also suggest a Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) based clustering algorithm. The developed system examines the biometric information of 50 players in a bullet dodge game. This paper… More >

Rachel Wong¹, Mohammed Al‐Omary², David Baker², Neil Spratt^1,2, Andrew Boyle^1,2, Natasha Baker Cert¹, Peter Howe¹, Nicholas Collins²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.4, pp. 638-644, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12763

Abstract Objectives: Improvements in the management of complex congenital heart disease, including those with single ventricle physiology, have resulted in increased survival. As this population ages, the recognition of cognitive impairment is increasingly im‐ portant. At present, little is known about the potential mechanisms of cognitive dys‐ function. In this cross‐sectional study, we aimed to characterize the nature of abnormalities in cerebral blood flow and the relationship to cognitive deficits in adults with single ventricular physiology.
Patients: Ten adults with single ventricular physiology (age 18‐40 years) and 12 age‐ and gender‐matched controls underwent transcranial Doppler ultrasound and ac‐ companying cognitive assessment.
… More >

Gruschen R. Veldtman¹, Alexander R. Opotowsky², Samuel G. Wittekind¹, Jack Rychik³, Daniel J. Penny⁴, Mark Fogel³, Bradley S. Marino⁵, Marc Gewillig⁶

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.6, pp. 699-710, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12526

Abstract Although medium-term survival following Fontan operations in the modern era has improved dramatically, late cardiovascular and extracardiac morbidity are common and are associated with impaired quality of life and premature late mortality. This serves as a reminder of the extraordinary adaptations required of the cardiovascular system when the systemic arterial, systemic venous and pulmonary circulations are placed in series coupled to a single ventricular pump. This article reviews the key features and principles that govern interactions between the ventricle, systemic arterial circulation, the systemic venous and pulmonary circulatory compartments, the microcirculation, and lymphatic circulations. The overarching aim is to provide… More >

Tarek Alsaied¹, Jouke P. Bokma², Mark E. Engel³, Joey M. Kuijpers², Samuel P. Hanke¹, Liesl Zuhlke⁴, Bin Zhang⁵, Gruschen R. Veldtman⁶

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.4, pp. 393-398, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12468

Abstract Background: Reported long-term outcome measures vary greatly between studies in Fontan patients making comprehensive appraisal of mortality hazard challenging. We sought to create a clinical risk score to assist monitoring of Fontan patients in the outpatient setting.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted to evaluate risk factors for long-term (beyond the first postoperative year) mortality in Fontan patients. Studies were eligible for inclusion if ≥90 patients were included or ≥20 long-term mortalities we reported. Risk factors for long-term mortality were determined. The pooled hazard ratios were used to create components of a clinical score for long-term mortality using meta-analysis techniques.
… More >

Martin A. Chacon‐Portillo^1,2, Rodrigo Zea‐Vera^1,2, Huirong Zhu³, Heather A. Dickerson^4,5, Iki Adachi^1,2, Jeffrey S. Heinle^1,2, Charles D. Fraser^1,2, Carlos M. Mery^1,2

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.6, pp. 927-934, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12664

Abstract Objective: There are limited studies analyzing pulsatile Glenn as a long‐term pallia‐ tion strategy for single ventricle patients. This study sought to determine their out‐ comes at a single institution.
Design: A retrospective review was performed.
Setting: Study performed at a single pediatric hospital.
Patients: All single ventricle patients who underwent pulsatile Glenn from 1995 to 2016 were included.
Outcome measures: Pulsatile Glenn failure was defined as takedown, transplant, or death. Further palliation was defined as Fontan, 1.5, or biventricular repair. Risk fac‐ tors were assessed by Cox multivariable competing risk analyses.
Results: Seventy‐eight patients underwent pulsatile Glenn at age… More >

Keri M. Shafer^1,2, Alexander R. Opotowsky^1,2, Jonathan Rhodes¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.6, pp. 903-910, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12661

Abstract Objective: Risk prediction using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in complex congenital heart disease tends to either focus on single diagnoses or complete cohorts. We aimed to evaluate patients with two distinct anatomies cared for at a single institution over the same time period to determine CPET variables associated with mortality.
Design: All Fontan and tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) subjects with CPET between November 1, 2002 and December 31, 2014 and subsequently died were identified (cases). Cases were matched 1:3 to controls with similar age, underlying anatomy and timing of exercise test.
Results: Of the 42 cases, 27 had a Fontan… More >

Jennifer P. Lundine^1,2, Robert Dempster^3,4, Kirby Carpenito⁵, Holly Miller‐Tate⁵, Wendelin Burdo‐Hartman^4,6, Elizabeth Halpin², Omar Khalid^4,5

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.5, pp. 706-712, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12636

Abstract Background: Swallowing dysfunction is a known complication for infants with complex congenital heart disease (CHD), but few studies have examined swallowing outcomes following the hybrid procedure for stage 1 palliation in children with single ventricle physiology.
Objectives: (1) Identify the incidence of aspiration in all infants with single ventricle physiology who underwent the hybrid procedure and (2) Compare results of clinical bedside and instrumental swallowing evaluations to examine the predictive value of a less invasive swallowing assessment for this population of high‐risk infants.
Methods: This was a retrospective cohort chart review study. All patients with single‐ventricle physiology who underwent the… More >

Djoeke Wolff¹, Henricus B. M. van de Wiel², Mirthe E. de Muinck Keizer¹, Joost P. van Melle³, Petronella G. Pieper³, Rolf M. F. Berger¹, Tjark Ebels⁴, Willebrord C. M. Weijmar Schultz⁵

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 319-326, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12576

Abstract Objective: To get an impression of the quality of life (QOL) and sexual well-being in the Fontan population, and to generate hypotheses for future research.
Methods: For this cross-sectional pilot study, questionnaires regarding health-related QOL, sexual function and fertility/pregnancy were completed by 21 patients with a Fontan circulation >16 years old, followed at the University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted in 8 patients.
Results: Fontan patients scored significantly lower on general health than their healthy peers (t (19)=-3.0, P = .008), whereas their scores on other QOL domains and sexual well-being were comparable to normal… More >