Z-score evaluation and inferences for management of aortopathy patients.

Echocardiographic Z-score models play a crucial role in defining cardiac pathology in paediatric patients. There are multiple models that practitioners utilize in the United States without guiding principles to standardize their use. Discrepant interpretations can occur depending on the model chosen, even if standardized Z-score cutoffs are applied.

Juvenile social play predicts adult reproductive success in male bottlenose dolphins.

For over a century, the evolution of animal play has sparked scientific curiosity. The prevalence of social play in juvenile mammals suggests that play is a beneficial behavior, potentially contributing to individual fitness. Yet evidence from wild animals supporting the long-hypothesized link between juvenile social play, adult behavior, and fitness remains limited.

Neonatal Chylothorax and Early Fluid Overload After Cardiac Surgery: Retrospective Analysis of the Neonatal and Pediatric Heart and Renal Outcomes Network Registry (2015-2018).

Objectives: To evaluate the association between postoperative cumulative fluid balance (FB) and development of chylothorax in neonates after cardiac surgery.

Design: Multicenter, retrospective cohort identified within the Neonatal and Pediatric Heart and Renal Outcomes Network (NEPHRON) Registry.

Setting: Twenty-two hospitals were involved with NEPHRON, from September 2015 to January 2018.

Competitive Sports Participation is Associated with Decreased Risk of Obesity in Children with Bicuspid Aortic Valve.

Individuals with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) have historically been advised to avoid contact sports and isometric exercise for risk of increasing aortic dilation and valve disease. There is mounting evidence that current sports participation guidelines qualify children for a high rate of sports exclusion, and that this population is at increased risk of obesity. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate relationship between sports participation and aortic dilation in children with bicuspid aortic valve and secondarily the relationship between competitive sports participation and obesity.

Emergency vascular surgical care in populations with unique physiologic characteristics: Pediatric, pregnant, and frail populations.

Vascular surgical emergencies are common in vascular surgical care and require complex decision making and multidisciplinary care. They are especially challenging when they occur in patients with unique physiological characteristics, such as pediatric, pregnant, and frail patients. Among the pediatric and pregnant population, vascular emergencies are rare.

EMILIN1 deficiency causes arterial tortuosity with osteopenia and connects impaired elastogenesis with defective collagen fibrillogenesis.

EMILIN1 (elastin-microfibril-interface-located-protein-1) is a structural component of the elastic fiber network and localizes to the interface between the fibrillin microfibril scaffold and the elastin core. How EMILIN1 contributes to connective tissue integrity is not fully understood. Here, we report bi-allelic EMILIN1 loss-of-function variants causative for an entity combining cutis laxa, arterial tortuosity, aneurysm formation, and bone fragility, resembling autosomal-recessive cutis laxa type 1B, due to EFEMP2 (FBLN4) deficiency.

Evaluation of a web-based resource to improve menstrual health literacy and self-management in young women.

Objective: Menstrual cycle-related conditions, such as dysmenorrhea and heavy bleeding, are common amongst those under 25 years. Despite having significant impact on work, education, and social activities, most do not seek medical advice, preferring to self-manage their symptoms. We aimed to determine if access to a web-based resource was a feasible and acceptable method for improving menstrual health literacy and encouraging health seeking behavior.

Development of consensus recommendations for the management of post-operative chylothorax in paediatric CHD.

Objective: A standardised multi-site approach to manage paediatric post-operative chylothorax does not exist and leads to unnecessary practice variation. The utilised the Pediatric Critical Care Consortium infrastructure to address this gap.

Methods: Over 60 multi-disciplinary providers representing 22 centres convened virtually as a quality initiative to develop an algorithm to manage paediatric post-operative chylothorax.

Cardiovascular Outcomes in Aortopathy: GenTAC Registry of Genetically Triggered Aortic Aneurysms and Related Conditions.

Background: The GenTAC (Genetically Triggered Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and Cardiovascular Conditions) Registry enrolled patients with genetic aortopathies between 2007 and 2016.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare age distribution and probability of elective surgery for proximal aortic aneurysm, any dissection surgery, and cardiovascular mortality among aortopathy etiologies.

Methods: The GenTAC study had a retrospective/prospective design.

Sports participation, activity, and obesity in children who have undergone the Fontan procedure.

Background: Children with CHD are at risk for obesity and low levels of activity. These factors are associated with an increased risk of poor outcome. Participation in organised sports is an important avenue for children to maintain physical activity, though the relationship between sports participation and obesity has not been examined in the Fontan population.

Fetal counseling for congenital heart disease: is communication effective?

Purpose: To assess the accuracy of maternal understanding of fetal cardiac defects following initial fetal counseling.

Methods: Pregnant women with a fetal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) were surveyed regarding understanding of their fetus's heart defect. The survey asked: (1) for a description of the heart condition; (2) how confident they were in the diagnosis; (3) whether their fetus would require heart surgery.

Cooperative partner choice in multi-level male dolphin alliances.

Investigations into cooperative partner choice should consider both potential and realised partners, allowing for the comparison of traits across all those available. Male bottlenose dolphins form persisting multi-level alliances. Second-order alliances of 4-14 males are the core social unit, within which 2-3 males form first-order alliances to sequester females during consortships.

Adolescent Menstrual Health Literacy in Low, Middle and High-Income Countries: A Narrative Review.

Background: Poor menstrual health literacy impacts adolescents' quality of life and health outcomes across the world. The aim of this systematic review was to identify concerns about menstrual health literacy in low/middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HICs).

Methods: Relevant social science and medical databases were searched for peer-reviewed papers published from January 2008 to January 2020, leading to the identification of 61 relevant studies.

Extending the MaqFACS to measure facial movement in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) reveals a wide repertoire potential.

Facial expressions are complex and subtle signals, central for communication and emotion in social mammals. Traditionally, facial expressions have been classified as a whole, disregarding small but relevant differences in displays. Even with the same morphological configuration different information can be conveyed depending on the species.

Menstrual Health Literacy and Management Strategies in Young Women in Australia: A National Online Survey of Young Women Aged 13-25 Years.

Study Objective: To explore key aspects of menstrual health literacy and menstrual management in young women at school or in tertiary education.

Design: Cross-sectional online survey.

Setting: Australia-wide.

The Prevalence and Educational Impact of Pelvic and Menstrual Pain in Australia: A National Online Survey of 4202 Young Women Aged 13-25 Years.

Study Objective: To explore the prevalence and impact of dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain and menstrual symptoms on young women at school or in tertiary education.

Design And Setting: Cross-sectional online survey in Australia.

Participants: A total of 4202 adolescent and young women (13-25 years of age; median age 17 years), having reached menarche, living in Australia and currently attending school (n = 2421) or tertiary education (n = 1781).

Sports Participation and Exercise Restriction in Children with Isolated Bicuspid Aortic Valve.

Our study was to apply the 2015 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Athletic Participation Guidelines to a group of otherwise healthy school age children and young adults with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and describe the potential competitive sports restriction as they age. We performed a retrospective chart review of children and young adults aged 5 to 22 years with isolated BAV with at least two echocardiograms between 2000 and 2013. Using task force guidelines, exercise restriction was recommended for any of the following: (1) any dilation of the aortic root, (2) any dilation of the ascending aorta, (3) moderate aortic stenosis, (4) severe aortic regurgitation; (5) left ventricular dilation or (6) reduced shortening fraction.

The Utility of Echocardiography in Pediatric Patients with Structurally Normal Hearts and Suspected Endocarditis.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in children with structurally normal hearts suspected of having infective endocarditis (IE). We hypothesized that the diagnostic yield of TTE is minimal in low-risk patients with normal hearts. We performed a retrospective chart review of TTEs performed for concern for endocarditis at a pediatric tertiary care referral center in Portland, Oregon.

Personality Predictors of Communication Skills Among Orthopedic Surgery Residents.

Introduction: This study examined the relationship between personality traits and interpersonal communication skills among first-year orthopedic surgery residents.

Method: This study performed a retrospective analysis on the data collected in the 2 phases among the 6 cohorts of first-year orthopedic surgery residents (n = 73) during a 6-year period at an urban academic medical hospital. Resident personality was assessed through self-report prior to entry into the program and included a total of 7 personality traits.

Determination of right ventricular function with adjusted systolic to diastolic duration ratio after transannular patch repair of tetralogy of Fallot.

Background: Early detection of right ventricular dysfunction after transannular patch for tetralogy of Fallot (TOF-TAP) is essential for management.

Objectives: To evaluate echocardiographic metrics of ventricular function correlate with functional MRI measurements, in patients with TOF-TAP.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients with TOF-TAP between 2007 and 2017 who had an echocardiogram and MRI within six months were analyzed.

Glycine 29 Is Critical for Conformational Changes of the Spike Glycoprotein of Mouse Hepatitis Virus A59 Triggered by either Receptor Binding or High pH.

Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) uses its N-terminal domain (NTD) of the viral spike (S) protein to bind the host receptor mouse carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1a (mCEACAM1a) and mediate virus entry. Our previous crystal structure study of the MHV NTD/mCEACAM1a complex (G. Peng, D.

Self-care strategies and sources of knowledge on menstruation in 12,526 young women with dysmenorrhea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Dysmenorrhea (period pain) is common and affects around three quarters of all young women under the age of 25. The majority of young women, for a variety of reasons, think of period pain as 'normal' and something to be managed or endured. This normalisation of pain often is reinforced by family and friends and results in young women using self-care strategies to manage their pain rather than seeking medical advice.