The Long-term Outcomes and Risk Factors of Complications After Fontan Surgery: From the Korean Fontan Registry (KFR).

Background And Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the outcomes of Fontan surgery in the Republic of Korea, as there were only a few studies from Asian countries.

Methods: The medical records of 1,732 patients who underwent Fontan surgery in 10 cardiac centers were reviewed.

Results: Among them, 1,040 (58.

The long-term effects of the fenestration in patients with extracardiac Fontan circulation-a multicenter Korean cohort study based on national Fontan registry.

Introduction: The long-term effects of fenestration in patients with Fontan circulation remain unclear. We aim to evaluate the fenestration impact on early and late outcomes in patients with extracardiac Fontan (ECF) using a propensity score matching analysis.

Methods: We performed an extensive retrospective multicenter clinical data review of the Korean Fontan registry and included 1,233 patients with surgical ECF (779 fenestrated, 454 non-fenestrated).

Whitening Efficacy of Toothpastes on Coffee-Stained Teeth: An Enamel Surface Analysis.

Aim: This study aimed to identify the optimal toothpaste for removing coffee-induced stains while also evaluating its impact on tooth enamel through roughness and abraded depth parameters, providing a comprehensive understanding of their effects.

Materials And Methods: Three whitening toothpastes and 2 conventional toothpastes were prepared for a simulated brushing procedure on coffee-stained bovine enamel tooth specimens. Using a toothbrushing machine, up to 10,000 brushstrokes were completed, while spectrophotometric readings were taken at designated intervals.

Three methods to measure the photopolymerization kinetics for different radiant emittance and composite type.

Photopolymerization kinetics affects the curing time, degree of conversion, polymerization shrinkage, and mechanical properties of composites. The aim of this study was to compare three methods (temperature, heat flow, and polymerization shrinkage) for photopolymerization kinetics measurement of composites. The photopolymerization kinetics of four composites (2 packable and 2 flowable) were measured with an LED light for 20 s (radiant emittance: 2,100 mW/cm).

Mg-incorporated sorbent for efficient removal of trace CO from H gas.

Removal of trace CO impurities is an essential step in the utilization of Hydrogen as a clean energy source. While various solutions are currently employed to address this challenge, there is an urgent need to improve their efficiency. Here, we show that a bead-structured Mg, Cu, and Ce-based sorbent, MgCuCeO, demonstrates superior removal capacity of trace CO from H with high stability.

Effect of translucency and absorbance of composite on temperature change during photopolymerization.

This study investigated the effect of translucency and absorbance of conventional (Filtek-Z350-XT) and bulk-fill (Tetric-N-Ceram) composites on temperature change during photopolymerization, using a non-contact infrared sensor. Three shades from each composite were selected to prepare disk-shaped specimens (n=3), which then photopolymerized with LED-light for 20 s. A second light exposure was performed on the photopolymerized specimens.

Long-term Outcomes of Polytetrafluoroethylene Bicuspid Pulmonary Valve Replacement.

Background: In 2016 we reported promising midterm outcomes of bicuspid pulmonary valve replacement using 0.1-mm polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane. This follow-up study analyzes long-term outcomes and risk factors for reintervention and structural valve deterioration (SVD).

Impact of Pulmonary Arterial Elastance on Right Ventricular Mechanics and Exercise Capacity in Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot.

Background And Objectives: Pathophysiological changes of right ventricle (RV) after repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) are coupled with a highly compliant low-pressure pulmonary artery (PA) system. This study aimed to determine whether pulmonary vascular function was associated with RV parameters and exercise capacity, and its impact on RV remodeling after pulmonary valve replacement.

Methods: In a total of 48 patients over 18 years of age with repaired TOF, pulmonary arterial elastance (Ea), RV volume data, and RV-PA coupling ratio were calculated and analyzed in relation to exercise capacity.

Historical Review and Future of Cardiac Xenotransplantation.

Along with the development of immunosuppressive drugs, major advances on xenotransplantation were achieved by understanding the immunobiology of xenograft rejection. Most importantly, three predominant carbohydrate antigens on porcine endothelial cells were key elements provoking hyperacute rejection: α1,3-galactose, SDa blood group antigen, and N-glycolylneuraminic acid. Preformed antibodies binding to the porcine major xenoantigen causes complement activation and endothelial cell activation, leading to xenograft injury and intravascular thrombosis.

Effect of radiant emittance of an LED curing light on the cuspal deflection of a simulated tooth cavity in bulk-fill composite restoration: A novel simulation method.

In this study, a novel method for simulating human teeth was developed, with which the effect of radiant emittance of an LED curing light on the cuspal deflection was investigated. A mesio-occluso-distal (MOD) cavity was replicated using a heat-pressed ceramic and lost wax technique, and the cuspal compliance and cuspal deflection of the replicated ceramic teeth and extracted human teeth were evaluated. The replicated ceramic teeth were restored using a nano bulk-fill composite and photopolymerized using three different protocols.

Real-time measurement of transmittance changes during photo-polymerization of conventional and bulk-fill composites.

This study investigated transmittance changes during photo-polymerization of composites in real-time. The transmittance changes of one conventional micro-hybrid, three conventional nano-hybrid, and four bulk-fill composites were measured before, during, and after photo-polymerization, and the maximum rate of transmittance change was compared with that of polymerization shrinkage. A significant difference in transmittance of composite between before and after photo-polymerization was observed.

Surgical and Electrical Anatomy of the Inter-Nodal and Intra-Atrial Conduction System in the Heart.

An anatomical understanding of the atrial myocardium is crucial for surgeons and interventionists who treat atrial arrhythmias. We reviewed the anatomy of the inter-nodal and intra-atrial conduction systems. The anterior inter-nodal route (#1) arises from the sinus node and runs through the ventral wall of the atrial chambers.

Long-term Outcome of Fontan-Associated Protein-Losing Enteropathy: Treatment Modality and Predictive Factor of Mortality.

Background And Objectives: Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is a devastating complication after the Fontan operation. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics, treatment response, and outcomes of Fontan-associated PLE.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 38 patients with Fontan-associated PLE from 1992 to 2018 in 2 institutions in Korea.

Exploring the synergistic role of crystal facet and phase at hetero-interface towards light-switchable chemoselective oxidation over bismuth-based catalysts.

The surface or interface facets design is a versatile strategy to improve essential catalytic features to enhance efficiency. Herein, a systematic study was conducted to explore the roles of exposed facets at the surface of a bare catalyst or interfaces of hybrid Bi-based catalysts. The facet- and phase-controlled catalysts were synthesized via hydrolysis.

Long-Term Outcomes of Surgical Repair for Ventricular Septal Defect in Adults.

Data of the outcomes of ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure in adults are limited to establish recommendations. Therefore, we reviewed our experience with surgical VSD closure in adult patients. We retrospectively reviewed 152 patients who underwent surgical VSD closure between January 1996 and April 2020.

Effects of wall compliance and light-curing protocol on wall deflection of simulated cavities in bulk-fill composite restoration.

Background/purpose: Cuspal deflections in composite restoration have been investigated with considering wall compliance of human tooth cavity and light-curing protocol. The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of mold wall compliance and radiant emittance of LED light on the wall deflection of simulated aluminum mold cavities restored with a bulk-fill composite.

Materials And Methods: Sixty aluminum molds simulating a class II mesio-occluso-distal (MOD) cavity (6 W × 8 L × 4 D mm; W, width; L, length; D, Depth) were prepared and allocated to three groups with varying mold wall thicknesses of 1, 2, and 3 mm.

Performance and Cost Analysis of Natural Gas Combined Cycle Plants with Chemical Looping Combustion.

The natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) is the most popular and efficient fossil fuel power plant; however, integrating a carbon capture system reduces its performance efficiency. The demand to reduce the carbon capture cost and improve eco-friendliness drives the development of alternatives. In this study, four alternative NGCC-based process schemes were designed: NGCC with amine carbon capture as a base configuration and NGCCs with three different chemical looping combustion (CLC) configurations.

Tricuspid Valve Repair at Pulmonary Valve Replacement in Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot.

Background: Pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) is often performed in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Concomitant tricuspid valvuloplasty (TVP) in those with tricuspid regurgitation (TR) at the time of PVR is still controversial.

Method: We retrospectively reviewed clinical records of patients who underwent PVR between 2001 and 2012.

Efficient solar light facilitated photo-oxidative detoxification of gaseous 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide on ZrO-doped g-CN under dry and humid air.

Photo-oxidation of chemical warfare agents is considered a promising strategy to cope with threats from accidental or intentional release. In this study, heterostructure photocatalysts comprising different amounts of zirconium oxide (ZrO) over carbon nitride (CN) were synthesized via simple thermal exfoliation, followed by a precipitation method. The successful photocatalytic detoxification activity of the as-prepared photocatalyst was analyzed against 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) under simulated solar light and natural sunlight irradiation in dry and humid air.

Effects of cuspal compliance and radiant emittance of LED light on the cuspal deflection of replicated tooth cavity.

The aim was to investigate effects of compliance and radiant emittance on cuspal deflection. A mesio-occluso-distal cavity was replicated using a flowable composite and steel rods with different diameters. To investigate the effect of cuspal compliance on deflection, the replicated tooth and extracted human tooth cavities were bulk-filled with a micro-hybrid composite.

Shockwave application enhances the effect of dentin desensitizer.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop a new device that can improve the effect of desensitizer using shockwaves and to verify its efficacy.

Methods: A micro-shockwave generator was developed using a piezoelectric actuator (PIA-1000, piezosystem jena GmbH, Jena, Germany), an Arduino Uno microcontroller (Arduino, Torino, Italy), and a high voltage pulser (HVP-1000, piezosystem jena GmbH) at 700 V (400 A) and 100 μs. The occlusal surfaces of 20 extracted human upper and lower third molars without caries or restoration were reduced to expose the occlusal dentin, and the prepared occlusal surfaces were acid-etched with 32% phosphoric acid to remove the smear layer.

Cone Repair in Adult Patients with Ebstein Anomaly.

Ebstein anomaly is a rare congenital heart malformation typically involving the tricuspid valve and the right ventricle that has a wide range of anatomical and pathophysiological presentations. Various surgical repair techniques for Ebstein anomaly have been reported because of its near-infinite anatomical variability. Cone repair for Ebstein anomaly can achieve nearly anatomical reconstruction of the tricuspid valve with promising outcomes.