Sheetal R. Patel^1,2,*, David M. Kwiatkowski³, Adin-Cristian Andrei², Ankita Devareddy², Hangzhi Shi², Catherine D. Krawczeski⁴, Natalie Ebert⁵, Barbara J. Deal^1,2, Craig B. Langman^2,6, Bradley S. Marino^1,2

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol., , DOI:10.32604/CHD.2020.012097

Abstract Objectives: The Fontan operation has increased survival in patients with single-ventricle congenital heart defects. However, Fontan survivors are at risk of other organ dysfunctions, such as renal dysfunction (RD). The objectives of this study are to assess the prevalence of and potential risk factors for RD among Fontan survivors. Design, setting, and patients: We performed a two-center, cross-sectional study that included Fontan survivors evaluated in outpatient-clinics for routine follow up between 01/08-12/16. Outcome measures: The primary outcome was the presence of RD defined by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <90 ml/min/1.73 m² derived using the serum creatinine-based Full Age… More >

Angeles Fuertes-Moure¹, Michael Meyer^2,3, Anna-Luisa Häcker^2,3, Barbara Reiner^2,3, Leon Brudy³, Sonia Pértega-Diaz⁴, Renate Oberhoffer^2,3, Peter Ewert², Jan Müller^2,3,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol., , DOI:10.32604/CHD.2020.011771

Abstract Objective: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has become an important outcome measure for patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the natural course of HRQoL from longitudinal assessment in children with CHD. Patients and Methods: From July 2014 to February 2020 this longitudinal study recruited 317 children with CHD (113 girls, 35.6%) aged 6 to 18 years (11.6 ± 2.9 years). HRQoL was assessed with the generic, self-reported and age-adapted KINDL^® questionnaire. During a mean follow-up period of 2.2 ± 1.3 years, 195 patients had one HRQoL reassessment, 70 two, 40 three and… More >

Carter Biewen^1,*, Hitendra Patel², Olaf Reinhartz³, Ginny Gildengorin⁴, Natalie Cvijanovich⁵

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol., , DOI:10.32604/CHD.2020.011671

Abstract Purpose: To summarize Fontan procedure data from our institution, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, in order to better understand outcomes of our surgical and post-operative care. Basic Procedures: This is a retrospective cross-sectional chart review summarizing characteristics and outcomes of patients who underwent the Fontan procedure at our institution between 2005 and 2016. Main Findings: Sixty-five Fontan procedures were performed at our institution between 2005 and 2016, all of which were extracardiac Fontan procedures performed by the same surgical team. At the time of Fontan procedure, the mean patient age was 56.4 ± 18.7 months and mean weight was 16.6… More >

Naveed Rabbani^1,*, Sarah Hofman DeYoung², Ronald L. Gibson², Jeffrey Conwell¹, Jason F. Deen¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol., , DOI:10.32604/CHD.2020.011527

Abstract Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a relatively common congenital venous anomaly that typically drains into the coronary sinus without hemodynamic significance. Rarely a PLSVC drains directly into the left atrium, forming a right-to-left shunt that can result in hypoxemia and potential paradoxical embolism. We present the case of a 2-year-old medically complex child on chronic mechanical ventilation with eventual diagnosis of episodic hypoxemia due to a PLSVC draining into the left atrium with position-dependent venous flow. The lesion was identified with contrast echocardiography and cardiac MRI. Subsequent occlusion with a vascular plug resulted in resolution of the child’s… More >

Yuming Zhou¹, Chunxia Zhao², Fan He¹, Xiaobo Tian², Yi Zheng^1,*, Jing Sun^3,*

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, Vol., , DOI:10.32604/IJMHP.2020.013093

Abstract Objective: To investigate the prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems and related factors of left-behind children in impoverished rural China (mainly in the first grade of junior high school). Methods: A cross-sectional survey of rural households in 27 poverty-stricken counties in 12 provinces across China was conducted using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Results: The prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems in left-behind children was 11.7%, and that of non-left-behind children was 8.9%. There was statistical difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). There are no differences between the two groups in terms of the various factors of… More >

Hanna Amoanimaa-Dede, Chuntao Su, Akwasi Yeboah, Chunhua Chen, Shaoxia Yang, Hongbo Zhu^*, Miao Chen^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol., , DOI:10.32604/phyton.2020.011979

Abstract Sweet potato is a multifunctional root crop and a source of food with many essential nutrients and bioactive compounds. Variations in the flesh color of the diverse sweet potato varieties are attributed to the different phytochemicals and natural pigments they produce. Among them, carotenoids and anthocyanins are the main pigments known for their antioxidant properties which provide a host of health benefits, hence, regarded as a major component of the human diet. In this review, we provide an overview of the major pigments in sweet potato with much emphasis on their biosynthesis, functions, and regulatory control. Moreover, current findings on… More >

Huiyun Li, Ye Liu, Sumei Chen, Jiafu Jiang, Aiping Song, Weimin Fang, Fadi Chen^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol., , DOI:10.32604/phyton.2020.012361

Abstract Black spot disease, caused by the necrotrophic fungus Alternaria tenuissima (Fr.) Wiltsh (A. tenuissima), is considered a highly destructive disease of Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.). A set of 17 accessions of commercial chrysanthemum cultivars were evaluated for resistance to A. tenuissima by seedling artificial inoculation. It was found that the reaction of the accessions to artificial inoculation ranged from resistant to highly susceptible. Five varieties of chrysanthemum (‘Zhongshan Taogui’, ‘Jinba’, ‘Zhongshan Jinguan’, ‘Jinling Wanhuang’ and ‘Jinling Yangguang’) were resistant; two varieties of chrysanthemum (‘Zhongshan Xinggui’ and ‘Zhongshan Jinkui’) were moderately resistant; and others were susceptible to various degrees, four varieties… More >

Sen Wang¹, Fei Zheng¹, Meijing Zhang¹, Jun Tu², Yanping Chen^1,3, Jianhua Yuan^1,3, Qingchang Meng^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol., , DOI:10.32604/phyton.2020.011762

Abstract Endosperm mutants are critical to the studies on both starch synthesis and metabolism and genetic improvement of starch quality in maize. In the present study, a novel maize endosperm mutant A0178 of natural variation was used as the experimental material and identified and then characterized. Through phenotypic identification, genetic analysis, main ingredients measurement and embryo rescue, development of genetic mapping population from A0178, the endosperm mutant gene was located. The results showed that the mutant exhibited extremely low germination ability as attributed to the inhibited embryo development, and amounts of sugars were accumulated in the mutant seeds and more sugars… More >

Yinjie Wang, Yongxia Zhang, Qingquan Liu, Liangqin Liu, Suzhen Huang, Haiyan Yuan^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol., , DOI:10.32604/phyton.2020.011545

Abstract Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is an effective and widely used method to analyze expression patterns of target genes. Selection of stable reference genes is a prerequisite for accurate normalization of target gene expression by qRT-PCR. In Iris germanica L., no studies have yet been published regarding the evaluation of potential reference genes. In this study, nine candidate reference genes were assessed at different flower developmental stages and in different tissues by four different algorithms (GeNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder). The results revealed that ACT11 (Actin 11) and EF1α (Elongation factor 1 alpha) were the most stable reference genes in different… More >

Abdulrahman Alasmari^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol., , DOI:10.32604/phyton.2020.010952

Abstract In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), thousands of plants are considered to have therapeutic value. The ambiguous use of identification mainly morphological characteristics of many plants has resulted in the adulteration and displacement of plant products which undermine their therapeutic value and weak documentation of plant resources. The aims of this study were therefore to evaluate genetic variability and explore the phylogeographic architecture for Saudi medicinal plant samples using rbcL and matK genes as barcodes for genomic identification. The matK and rbcL sequences collected for these samples were used as key markers for examining the relationship between Saudi medicinal… More >