Characteristics and outcomes of socioeconomically disadvantaged pregnant individuals with adult congenital heart disease presenting to a Cardio-Obstetrics Program.

Background: Outcomes of individuals with adult congenital heart disease who are socioeconomically disadvantaged and cared for in cardio-obstetrical programs, are lacking.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics, maternal pregnancy outcomes, and contraceptive uptake in individuals with adult congenital heart disease in an urban cardio-obstetrical program.

Study Design: Retrospective data were collected for individuals with adult congenital heart disease seen in the Maternal Fetal Medicine-Cardiology Joint Program at Montefiore Health System between 2015 and 2021 and compared using modified World Health Organization class I, II vs the modified World Health Organization class ≥II/III.

Accuracy of Fetal Echocardiography in Defining Anatomic Details: A Single-Institution Experience over a 12-Year Period.

Background: Fetal echocardiography has evolved over four decades, now permitting the prenatal diagnoses of most major congenital heart disease (CHD). To identify areas for targeted improvement, the authors explored the diagnostic accuracy of fetal echocardiography in defining major fetal CHD.

Methods: All fetuses with major fetal CHD (11 subtypes) at a single institution between 2007 and 2018 were identified (n = 827).

Fetal double outlet right ventricle without heterotaxy syndrome: Diagnostic spectrum, associated extracardiac pathology and clinical outcomes.

Objectives: To document the clinical spectrum and outcomes of fetal double outlet right ventricle (DORV) without heterotaxy in a recent diagnostic era.

Methods: Prenatal cases of DORV consecutively diagnosed from 2007 to 2018 were retrospectively identified. Clinical records, including details regarding genetic testing and pre and postnatal imaging were reviewed.

Impact of Obesity on Outcomes of Pregnancy in Women With Heart Disease.

Background: Women with heart disease are at risk for complications during pregnancy. This study sought to examine the effect of maternal obesity on pregnancy complications in women with heart disease.

Objectives: The objective was to determine the incidence of adverse cardiac events (CE) in pregnant women with heart disease and obesity.

Fetal echocardiographic predictors of biventricular circulation in hypoplastic left heart complex.

Objectives: To determine which echocardiographic features of hypoplastic left heart complex (HLHC) in the fetal period are predictive of biventricular (BV) circulation and to evaluate the long-term outcome of patients with HLHC, including rates of mortality, reintervention and development of further cardiac disease.

Methods: Echocardiograms of fetuses with HLHC obtained at 18-26 weeks and 27-36 weeks' gestation between 2004 and 2017 were included in the analysis. The primary outcome was successful BV circulation (Group 1).

Congenital Heart Disease and Women's Health Across the Life Span: Focus on Reproductive Issues.

From adolescence to older age, women with congenital heart disease (CHD) face unique challenges. In this review we explore the ways in which CHD affects women's sexual and reproductive health and, in turn, how their sexual and reproductive history affects the course of their CHD. In adolescence, special attention must be paid to menstrual irregularities and concerns of developing sexuality and self-image.

Prenatal Detection, Comorbidities, and Management of Vascular Rings.

The 3-vessel and trachea view is now integrated into obstetrical screening and facilitates prenatal detection of vascular rings. We examined trends in prenatal detection, associated cardiac and extracardiac anomalies, and surgical management in this population. We reviewed a population-based cohort of pediatric vascular ring patients diagnosed prenatally and postnatally between 2002 and 2017 in Alberta, Canada.

Revisiting the utility of technical performance scores following tetralogy of Fallot repair.

Objective: Although an important quality metric, current technical performance scores may not be generalizable and may omit operative factors that influence outcomes. We examined factors not included in current technical performance scores that may contribute to increased postoperative length of stay, major complications, and cost after primary repair of tetralogy of Fallot.

Methods: This is a retrospective single site study of patients younger than age 2 years with tetralogy of Fallot undergoing complete repair between 2007 and 2015.

High-resolution isotope measurements resolve rapid ecohydrological dynamics at the soil-plant interface.

Plants rely primarily on rainfall infiltrating their root zones - a supply that is inherently variable, and fluctuations are predicted to increase on most of the Earth's surface. Yet, interrelationships between water availability and plant use on short timescales are difficult to quantify and remain poorly understood. To overcome previous methodological limitations, we coupled high-resolution in situ observations of stable isotopes in soil and transpiration water.

Design Study of an Atmospheric Pressure Photoionization Interface for GC-MS.

This contribution reports on the development of an atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) source interfacing a gas chromatograph (GC) with a bench-top Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometer (MS). We present efforts on method development aiming at high temperature stability (325°C), constant low impurity levels upon prolonged source operation, and efficient reaction volume irradiation combined with minimum peak broadening. The performance throughout each iterative development step was carefully assessed.

A case of an infant with compound heterozygous mutations for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy producing a phenotype of left ventricular noncompaction.

A male infant was born to a 38-year-old G1P0 mother with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Fetal echocardiography was suspicious for HCM; however, postnatal echocardiography demonstrated features consistent with left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC). The infant was initially stable but presented at 2 months of age in cardiogenic shock.

Quantification of encapsulated bioburden in spacecraft polymer materials by cultivation-dependent and molecular methods.

Bioburden encapsulated in spacecraft polymers (such as adhesives and coatings) poses a potential risk to jeopardize scientific exploration of other celestial bodies. This is particularly critical for spacecraft components intended for hard landing. So far, it remained unclear if polymers are indeed a source of microbial contamination.

Multivariate analysis of physiological parameters reveals a consistent O3 response pattern in leaves of adult European beech (Fagus sylvatica).

• Increasing atmospheric concentrations of phytotoxic ozone (O(3) ) can constrain growth and carbon sink strength of forest trees, potentially exacerbating global radiative forcing. Despite progress in the conceptual understanding of the impact of O(3) on plants, it is still difficult to detect response patterns at the leaf level. • Here, we employed principal component analysis (PCA) to analyse a database containing physiological leaf-level parameters of 60-yr-old Fagus sylvatica (European beech) trees.

Biological indicators, tools to verify the effect of sterilisation processes - position paper prepared on behalf of group 1 (biological methods and statistical analysis).

Biological indicators (BIs) are test systems containing viable microorganisms (usually spores of bacteria) providing a defined challenge to a specified sterilisation process. General chapter 5.1.

Enhanced ozone strongly reduces carbon sink strength of adult beech (Fagus sylvatica)--resume from the free-air fumigation study at Kranzberg Forest.

Ground-level ozone (O(3)) has gained awareness as an agent of climate change. In this respect, key results are comprehended from a unique 8-year free-air O(3)-fumigation experiment, conducted on adult beech (Fagus sylvatica) at Kranzberg Forest (Germany). A novel canopy O(3) exposure methodology was employed that allowed whole-tree assessment in situ under twice-ambient O(3) levels.

Within-canopy and ozone fumigation effects on delta13C and Delta18O in adult beech (Fagus sylvatica) trees: relation to meteorological and gas exchange parameters.

In this study, the effects of different light intensities either in direct sunlight or in the shade crown of adult beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) trees on delta13C and Delta18O were determined under ambient (1 x O3) and twice-ambient (2 x O3) atmospheric ozone concentrations during two consecutive years (2003 and 2004). We analysed the isotopic composition in leaf bulk, leaf cellulose, phloem and xylem material and related the results to (a) meteorological data (air temperature, T and relative humidity, RH), (b) leaf gas exchange measurements (stomatal conductance, g(s); transpiration rate, E; and maximum photosynthetic activity, A(max)) and (c) the outcome of a steady-state evaporative enrichment model.

Pulmonary valve replacement in repaired tetralogy of Fallot: determinants of early postoperative adverse outcomes.

Objective: We sought to examine the frequency of early postoperative complications and preoperative predictors of prolonged hospitalization in adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot undergoing pulmonary valve replacement.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of consecutive adult patients undergoing surgical intervention between 1995 and 2006. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify determinants of prolonged hospitalization.

Transcatheter closure of atrial septal defects with multiple devices in adults: procedural and clinical outcomes.

Objective: This study reports the procedural, short and medium term outcomes in patients receiving multiple implants for device closure of secundum atrial septal defects (ASD).

Design And Setting: From the database of the Toronto Congenital Cardiac Centre, 36 consecutive patients (mean age 46+/-15 years; 23 females) received >1 implant for closure of an interatrial communication. Short term (mean 97+/-77 days) and medium term (mean 2.

Effects of drought and canopy ozone exposure on antioxidants in fine roots of mature European beech (Fagus sylvatica).

We quantified ascorbate, glutathione and alpha-tocopherol in fine roots of mature Fagus sylvatica L. under free-air canopy ozone (O(3)) exposure (twice ambient O(3) concentration, 2x[O(3)]) during two growing seasons that differed in the extent of summer drought (exceptional drought year 2003, average year 2004). This design allowed us to test whether O(3) exposure or drought, or both, affected root antioxidants during the growing season.

Predictors of atrial arrhythmias after device closure of secundum type atrial septal defects in adults.

Atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATs) contribute substantially to morbidity in adult patients with secundum atrial septal defects (ASDs). The purpose of this study was to prospectively determine the incidence of AT in adults with an ASD and identify predictors of AT occurrence after closure. This was a prospective study of 200 adult patients undergoing closure of a secundum ASD.

Seasonal differences and within-canopy variations of antioxidants in mature spruce (Picea abies) trees under elevated ozone in a free-air exposure system.

The effect of free-air ozone fumigation and crown position on antioxidants were determined in old-growth spruce (Picea abies) trees in the seasonal course of two consecutive years (2003 and 2004). Levels of total ascorbate and its redox state in the apoplastic washing fluid (AWF) were increased under double ambient ozone concentrations (2xO3), whilst ascorbate concentrations in needle extracts were unchanged. Concentrations of apoplastic and symplastic ascorbate were significantly higher in 2003 compared to 2004 indicating a combined effect of the drought conditions in 2003 with enhanced ozone exposure.