Anshul Sharma^1,*, Pardeep Kumar¹, Hemant Kumar Vinayak², Suresh Kumar Walia³

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 139-165, 2021, DOI:10.32604/sdhm.2021.012316

Abstract This study is concerned with the diagnosis of discrepancies in a steel truss bridge by identifying dynamic properties from the vibration response signals of the bridges. The vibration response signals collected at bridges under three different vehicular speeds of 10 km/hr, 20 km/hr, and 30 km/hr are analyzed using statistical features such as kurtosis, magnitude of peak-to-peak, root mean square, crest factor as well as impulse factor in time domain, and Stockwell transform in the time-frequency domain. The considered statistical features except for kurtosis show uncertain behavior. The Stockwell transform showed low-resolution outcomes when the presence of noise in the… More >

Zele Li¹, Mohammad Noori², Wael A. Altabey^1,3,*

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 103-123, 2021, DOI:10.32604/sdhm.2021.011193

Abstract Earth buildings are common types of structures in most rural areas in all developing countries. Catastrophic failure and destruction of these structures under seismic loads always result in loss of human lives and economic losses. Wall is an important load-bearing component of raw soil buildings. In this paper, a novel approach is proposed to improve the strength and ductility of adobe walls. Three types of analyses, material properties, mechanical properties, and dynamic properties, are carried out for the seismic performance assessment of the adobe walls. These performed studies include that, material properties of the earth cylinder block, mechanical properties of… More >

Abdoullah Namdar^1,2,3,*

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 167-182, 2021, DOI:10.32604/sdhm.2021.011127

Abstract The nonlinearity of the strain energy at an interval period of applying seismic load on the geostructures makes it difficult for a seismic designer to makes appropriate engineering judgments timely. The nonlinear stress and strain analysis of an embankment is needed to evaluate by using a combination of suitable methods. In this study, a large-scale geostructure was seismically simulated and analyzed using the nonlinear finite element method (NFEM), and linear regression method which is a soft computing technique (SC) was applied for evaluating the results of NFEM, and it supports engineering judgment because the design of the geostructures is usually… More >

Hao Hong¹, Nianguo Dong^1,*, Mingxing Xie², Lin Li², Si Chen¹, Wengang Sun³, Xiaoqing Hu²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.16, No.5, pp. 513-518, 2021, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2021.015749

Abstract Pentalogy of Cantrell is a rare congenital abnormality. Even with high-quality medical care and staged corrective surgeries in professional hospitals, the mortality rate is still very high and long-term prognosis is poor. Survival is largely determined by the complexity and severity of cardiac abnormalities, the efficiency of abdominal wall closure and postoperative complications. A 24-year-old male patient with complete pentalogy of Cantrell was diagnosed. One-stage surgical repair of all abnormalities were completed. The patient recovered well and had been follow-up for 7 years. He has a good cosmetic outcome, with no signs of cardiac dysfunction. No complications were noted. More >

Jadranka Separovic Hanzevacki¹, Marija Brestovac^1,*, Vlatka Reskovic Luksic¹, Blanka Glavas Konja¹, Martina Lovric Bencic¹, Josko Bulum¹, Darko Anic²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.16, No.5, pp. 469-475, 2021, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2021.015237

Abstract Patients with complete transposition of the great arteries (TGA) treated by the Senning procedure have a higher risk of developing heart failure due to: a) additional work load of the systemic (morphologic right) ventricle (sRV), b) arrhythmias, mainly caused by surgical implications at the atria as well as c) worsening of systemic tricuspid regurgitation. We present a unique case of a female patient who developed all these complications, who was successfully treated and was able to carry out a twin pregnancy. This breakthrough approach was based on: 1. detecting reversibility potential of myocardial systolic dysfunction in a severe valvular lesion… More >

Marie Laure Yammine^#,*, Camilla Calvieri^#, Marcello Chinali, Salvatore Giannico, Giulia Cafiero, Ugo Giordano

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.16, No.5, pp. 457-467, 2021, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2021.015896

Abstract Background: In recent decades, aortic stenting has become a promising alternative to surgery for both native aortic coarctation and re-stenosis in children and adults. However, comparative long-term outcomes have poorly been investigated. Methods: We included 212 patients with previous aortic repair (19 ± 8.7 years) divided into 3 groups: 139 with single-time surgical repair (CoA-S group); 18 with single-time percutaneous stenting (CoA-PS group); and 55 hybrid patients with multiple aortic procedures because of re-coarctation occurrence (CoA-H group). All patients underwent 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and trans-thoracic echocardiography. Results: After a median follow-up of 17 years after aortic repair, antihypertensive… More >

Muyu Qi^1,#, Xiaoping Lan^2,#, Jia Li¹, Junwen Ge¹, Li Shen^1,*, Rufang Zhang^1,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.16, No.5, pp. 487-498, 2021, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2021.015887

Abstract Objective: Pulmonary atresia (PA) is a rare type of complex cyanotic congenital heart defect characterized primarily by an undeveloped pulmonary valve or pulmonary artery. Therefore, defining a disease-causing gene mutation in a pulmonary atresia family is a possible method of genetic counseling, future prenatal diagnosis, and therapeutic approaches for pulmonary atresia. Methods: Blood samples were collected from six PA family members, and genomic DNA was extracted using the QIAamp DNA Blood Mini Kit. Gene detection was performed using a second-generation sequencing gene panel. Results: Genetic testing results indicated that a heterozygous mutation originating from maternal inheritance was detected in the… More >

Liying Gong^1,2,3, Hongkun Jiang⁴, Guangrong Qiu¹, Kailai Sun^1,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.16, No.5, pp. 499-512, 2021, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2021.015831

Abstract Background: microRNAs are crucial for cardiovascular development and are associated with congenital heart disease (CHD). Recent studies have shown that microRNAs play a role in heart development and is closely related to CHD. The present study investigated the underlying mechanism of microRNA-208a (miR-208a) in “simple” CHD. Material and Methods: Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) demonstrated miR-208a expression levels in children with CHD (n = 27) compared with normal controls (n = 29), in cardiomyocytes from embryo 10 (E10) to post-birth (P7) and organs in adult rats in healthy rats. Apoptosis of H9c2 cells after transfection with miR-208a detected by TUNEL assay.… More >

Hong Liu^1,#,*, Luyao Ma^1,#, Jinghang Li^1,#, Bingqi Sun², Siqiang Zheng³, Yongfeng Shao^1,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.16, No.5, pp. 443-455, 2021, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2021.015588

Abstract Background: This study evaluated differential inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass reoxygenation in tetralogy of Fallot repair. Methods: We performed a retrospective study at a cardiovascular center from 2012 to 2018, including 500 patients aged 1 week–18 years who received complete repair of tetralogy of Fallot. Patients were grouped according to tertiles of preoperative RVOT gradient on echocardiography into mild, moderate, and severe stenosis. We measured the highest perfusate oxygenation (PpO2) during aortic occlusion as independent variable. Primary outcome was systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) within 7 days postoperatively or the time of death or discharge. Results: Overall, rate of SIRS… More >

Wenqian Zhang^1,2,#, Chaojie Wang^1,3,#, Lingmei Zhou^2,4,#, Junjie Li², Jijun Shi², Yumei Xie², Mingyang Qian², Shushui Wang², Zhiwei Zhang^1,2,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.16, No.5, pp. 519-528, 2021, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2021.015527

Abstract Objective: This study aims to evaluate the morphology and function of the aortic valve after transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defect (VSD) with aortic valve prolapse (AVP) abased on clinical and radiological outcomes. Methods: From January 2013 to November 2014, 164 consecutive patients (97 males, 59.1%) with VSD and AVP were treated by transcatheter closure. The patients were divided into the mild AVP group (n = 63), moderate AVP group (n = 89) and severe AVP group (n = 12). The clinical and radiological outcomes of these patients were analyzed retrospectively. Results: In total, 146 (89.0%) patients were successfully treated… More >