Protective Effects of Sesame Glycoproteins on Ultraviolet-Induced Skin Aging: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.

Background/objectives: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a primary factor in skin photoaging, leading to wrinkles, reduced elasticity, and pigmentation changes due to damage to cellular DNA, proteins, and lipids. Glycoproteins from sesame cake (SPE) have potential protective effects against UV-induced skin aging. This study investigated the anti-photoaging effects of SPE on UV-induced damage in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells and SKH-1 hairless mice.

Echocardiographic Predictors of Readiness for Double Switch Operation and Postoperative Ejection Fraction in Patients With Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries Undergoing Left Ventricular Retraining.

Background: In patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA), assessment of readiness for the double switch operation (DSO) after pulmonary arterial band (PAB) placement involves cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) to measure left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and mass and cardiac catheterization (catheterization) to assess the ratio of left ventricular to right ventricular pressure (LV:RVp). The aims of this study were to describe the relationships between echocardiographic and catheterization and cMRI measures of readiness for DSO and to develop risk factors for left ventricular (LV) dysfunction after DSO on the basis of echocardiographic measures of ventricular-arterial coupling (VAC).

Methods: Patients with ccTGA undergoing LV retraining at a DSO referral center were reviewed.

Biventricular Repair in Borderline Left Hearts: Insights From Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Background: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) may augment 2-dimensional (2D) echocardiography in decision-making for biventricular repair in borderline hypoplastic left hearts.

Objectives: This study evaluates: 1) the relationship between 2D echocardiography and CMR; 2) imaging variables affecting assignment to biventricular vs non-biventricular management; and 3) variables affecting transplant-free biventricular survival.

Methods: We reviewed clinical, echocardiographic, and CMR data in 67 infants, including CMR-determined ascending aortic (AAo) flow and comparable left ventricular end-diastolic volume indexed (LVEDVi) by 2D-echocardiography and CMR.

Current-Era Outcomes of Balloon Aortic Valvotomy in Neonates and Infants.

Background: The optimal initial treatment pathway for aortic valve stenosis remains debated.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to review current outcomes of balloon aortic valvotomy (BAV) in neonates and infants.

Methods: Neonates and infants with a biventricular circulation treated with BAV between 2004 and 2019 were reviewed.

Balloon Angioplasty for Native Aortic Coarctation in 3- to 12-Month-Old Infants.

Background: Balloon angioplasty for native coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is successful in children and adults but in neonates results in frequent restenosis. The efficacy of balloon angioplasty for native CoA during infancy beyond the neonatal period was examined in infants aged 3 to 12 months of age.

Methods: A retrospective review of 68 infants who underwent balloon angioplasty for native CoA.

Automated 3-Dimensional Single-Beat Real-Time Volume Colour Flow Doppler Echocardiography in Children: A Validation Study of Right and Left Heart Flows.

Background: Novel quantification of stroke volume according to mitral inflow and aortic outflow using automated real-time 3-dimensional volume colour flow Doppler echocardiography (3D-RT-VCFDE) is more accurate than 2-dimensional echocardiography and has excellent correlation with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging-based flows in adults. This technology is applied for the first time to the right heart and in children.

Methods: 3D-RT-VCFDE was performed in 61 image sets of flow through the aortic (AV), mitral (MV), pulmonary (PV), and tricuspid (TV) valves of 34 children.

Outcomes of Blalock-Taussig shunts in current era: A single center experience.

Objectives: Mortality associated with the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (MBTS) remains high despite advanced perioperative management. This study was formulated to provide data on (1) current indications, (2) outcomes, and (3) factors affecting mortality and morbidity.

Design: A retrospective single center chart review identified 95 children (excluding hypoplastic left heart lesions) requiring a MBTS.

Clinical Impact of Stent Implantation for Coarctation of the Aorta with Associated Hypoplasia of the Transverse Aortic Arch.

The aim of this study was to explore the clinical impact of transverse aortic arch hypoplasia (TAH) after stent implementation for isthmal coarctation of the aorta (CoA). From a retrospective chart review, 51 children (median age 11.1 years) were identified who had TAH and a CoA stent implanted between 10/1995 and 4/2015.

Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Stenting in Tetralogy of Fallot Infants With Risk Factors for Early Primary Repair.

Background: Tetralogy of Fallot with cyanosis requiring surgical repair in early infancy reflects poor anatomy and is associated with more clinical instability and longer hospitalization than those who can be electively repaired later. We bridged symptomatic infants with risk factors for early primary repair by right ventricular outflow tract stenting (stent).

Methods And Results: Four groups of tetralogy of Fallot with confluent central pulmonary arteries were studied: stent group (n=42), primary repair (aged <3 months) with pulmonary stenosis (early-PS group; n=44), primary repair (aged <3 months) with pulmonary atresia (early-PA group; n=49), and primary repair between 3 and 11 months of age (surg>3mo group; n=45).

Impacts of early cardiac catheterization for children with congenital heart disease supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Background: Cardiac catheterization is often required for patients on extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO) support, though its efficacy remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the impact of catheterization on successful ECMO weaning.

Methods: This is a single-center retrospective study from 2000 to 2014.

Maladaptive aortic properties after the Norwood procedure: An angiographic analysis of the Pediatric Heart Network Single Ventricle Reconstruction Trial.

Objectives: Aortic arch reconstruction in children with single ventricle lesions may predispose to circulatory inefficiency and maladaptive physiology leading to increased myocardial workload. We sought to describe neoaortic anatomy and physiology, risk factors for abnormalities, and impact on right ventricular function in patients with single right ventricle lesions after arch reconstruction.

Methods: Prestage II aortic angiograms from the Pediatric Heart Network Single Ventricle Reconstruction trial were analyzed to define arch geometry (Romanesque [normal], crenel [elongated], or gothic [angular]), indexed neoaortic dimensions, and distensibility.

Achievable radiation reduction during pediatric cardiac catheterization: How low can we go?

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of radiation-reduction measures implemented during pediatric catheterization, and provide data on the radiation doses for common interventional and diagnostic procedures, indexed to body weight.

Background: Ionizing radiation exposure must be minimized to "as low as reasonably achievable," by instituting radiation-limiting techniques and knowledge of expected radiation exposure.

Methods: Radiation-reduction measures included pulsed-fluoroscopy at 7.

Pharmacokinetics of sirolimus-eluting stents implanted in the neonatal arterial duct.

Background: Sirolimus-eluting stents may have clinical advantages over bare-metal stents in the extremely proliferative environment of the neonatal arterial duct. However, sirolimus has immunosuppressive actions and little is known regarding sirolimus pharmacokinetics in the newborn.

Methods And Results: This is a retrospective review of sirolimus pharmacokinetics in neonates who underwent sirolimus-eluting stent implantation in the arterial duct for pulmonary blood flow augmentation.

Three-dimensional rotational angiography in the assessment of vascular and airway compression in children after a cavopulmonary anastomosis.

The aim of the study was to examine the role of three-dimensional rotational angiography (3DRA) in assessing vascular and airway narrowing in children with a bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis (BCPA). The course of children with single ventricle physiology is often complicated by left pulmonary artery (LPA) and/or bronchial stenosis and may be related to aortic compression. 3DRA may be useful in evaluating this complex anatomy and possible mechanisms for the observed obstruction.

Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation: 5 years of follow-up: does age influence outcomes?

Background: Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) is a safe, less invasive alternative to surgical valve replacement for the congenital heart disease patient with right ventricular (RV) outflow tract dysfunction. The aim of this study was to determine whether reverse RV remodeling after PPVI was persistent in the longer term and whether timing of PPVI influenced outcomes.

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients from the pediatric and adult congenital heart disease programs were enrolled.

The First Ten of Everything: A Review of Past and Current Practice in Pediatric Cardiac Percutaneous Interventions.

Objectives: This study was designed to compare outcomes of the most common pediatric cardiac interventions from the time of implementation with the current era.

Background: Since the introduction of semilunar valve balloon dilation and device closure of the arterial duct and septal defects, development of interventional techniques and devices has been rapid. However, few studies have compared outcomes between those initial interventions and those in the current era.

Pulmonary artery stenosis in hybrid single-ventricle palliation: High incidence of left pulmonary artery intervention.

Objective: Pulmonary artery growth is an important determinant of outcome in single-ventricle strategies. Higher rates of pulmonary artery intervention have been reported with hybrid-based palliation when compared with Norwood palliation.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of pulmonary artery growth and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing hybrid-based single-ventricle palliation.

Characteristics of secundum atrial septal defects not percutaneously closed.

Objectives: We sought to review our single center experience with secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) device closure, evaluating the incidence and morphological characteristics where percutaneous closure was thought inappropriate.

Material And Methods: All children assessed as unsuitable for transcatheter device closure were reviewed. Data collected included: demographics, defect morphology by echocardiography or at cardiac catheterization and defect size focusing on the reasons for procedural deferral.

Direct measurement of aortic regurgitation with phase-contrast magnetic resonance is inaccurate: proposal of an alternative method of quantification.

Background: Phase-contrast magnetic resonance (MR) has been widely used for quantification of aortic regurgitation. However there is significant practice variability regarding where and how the blood flow data are acquired.

Objective: To compare the accuracy of flow quantification of aortic regurgitation at three levels: the ascending aorta at the level of the right pulmonary artery (level 1), the aortic valve hinge points at end-diastole (level 2) and the aortic valve hinge points at end-systole (level 3).