Heonmoo Kim, Yosoon Choi^*

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol., , DOI:10.32604/cmes.2021.015300

Abstract In underground mine environments where various hazards exist, such as tunnel collapse, toxic gases, the application of autonomous robots can improve the stability of exploration and efficiently perform repetitive exploratory operations. In this study, we developed a small autonomous driving robot for unmanned environmental monitoring in underground mines. The developed autonomous driving robot controls the steering according to the distance to the tunnel wall measured using the light detection and ranging sensor mounted on the robot to estimate its location by simultaneously considering the measured values of the inertial measurement unit and encoder sensors. In addition, the robot autonomously drives… More >

Kelly Ferri^1,*, Maite Doñate^2,3, Mireia Parra^2,3, Guillermo R. Oviedo¹, Myriam Guerra-Balic¹, Laia Rojano-Doñate⁴, Nicole Blackburn⁵, Ricard Serra-Grima^2,3

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol., , DOI:10.32604/CHD.2021.016189

Abstract Background: Aerobic capacity (AC) in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) is often reduced, mainly due to low confidence levels towards physical activity (PA). The main objective of this study was to estimate the association between PA level and AC (measured as peak of oxygen consumption, VO_2peak) in adults with CHD. Methods: A total of 183 individuals (83 women and 100 men; mean (SD) age 36.9 (11.0) years old) from Vall d’Hebron Hospital, Barcelona-Spain in 2019, participated in this cross-sectional study. The AC was assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) using a treadmill ramp protocol. Considering values of metabolic equivalent… More >

Lukas Minder¹, Markus Schwerzmann^1,2, Thomas Radtke^1,3, Hugo Saner¹, Prisca Eser¹, Matthias Wilhelm¹, Jean-Paul Schmid^1,4,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol., , DOI:10.32604/CHD.2021.016031

Abstract Objective: To extend our knowledge on tolerance of acute high-altitude exposure and hemodynamic response to exercise in adolescents with congenital heart disease (AscCHD) without meaningful clinical or functional restriction. Methods: A symptom limited cardiopulmonary exercise stress test and a non-invasive cardiac output measurement during steady state exercise were performed at 540 m and at 3454 m a.s.l. Symptoms of acute mountain sickness were noted. Results: We recruited 21 healthy controls and 16 AscCHD (59% male, mean age 14.7 ± 1.1 years). Three subjects (2 controls, 1 AscCHD) presented light symptoms of acute mountain sickness (dizziness and headache). During the symptom… More >

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

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.,

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., , 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., , 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.,

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., , 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 >

Ju Wang, Shuo Dong, Jun Yan^*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol., , DOI:10.32604/CHD.2021.015016

Abstract Objective: Modifications of the Fontan operation, which are also known as total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC), are widely applied for patients with functionally univentricular hearts (FUH). Herein, we summed up the different surgical pathways and clinical outcomes in FUH patients with apicocaval juxtaposition (ACJ) or/and separated hepatic venous (SHV) drainage. Methods: Between January 2009 and December 2019, 123 patients who undergone TCPC in our institute were included in this retrospective study. We have included 70 patients with ACJ (Group 1) and 53 patients with SHV (Group 2). Moreover, Group 2 included 17 cases combing with ACJ (32.1%). In Group 1, three… More >

Jingjing Liao^1,2, Jinxing Li², Fuxian Yang², Yan Zhu², Hongyan Wang³, Guanben Du^1,2,*, Hisham Essawy⁴, Xiaojian Zhou^2,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol., , DOI:10.32604/jrm.2021.016335

Abstract Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based films containing Chinese bayberry tannin (BT) were prepared by cross-linking using glyoxal, glutaraldehyde and dialdehyde starch, individually. The presence of cross-linkers was evident to promote the transparency and decrease the moisture content of PVA/BT films, while the water solubility stayed almost unchanged in the cross-linked PVA/BT films. All cross-linkers provided promotion of the water vapor permeability, mechanical property and thermal stability of PVA/BT films. The best water vapor barrier capacity was found in case of glutaraldehyde cross-linked PVA/BT film, while the highest tensile strength was encountered in case of glyoxal cross-linked PVA/BT films, compared with the uncross-linked… More >