Sex differences in hospital mortality in adults with congenital heart disease: the impact of reproductive health.

Objectives: The study objectives were to analyze sex differences in hospital mortality of adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) and to determine the impact of health services associated with pregnancy on outcomes in women.

Background: The determinants of sex differences in the demographic distribution of CHD are poorly understood.

Methods: The Quebec CHD database and the Dutch CONCOR (CONgenital CORvitia) registry were used to identify patients with CHD aged 18 to 65 years who were hospitalized between 1996 and 2005.

Surgery in adults with congenital heart disease.

Background: A significant proportion of patients with congenital heart disease require surgery in adulthood. We aimed to give an overview of the prevalence, distribution, and outcome of cardiovascular surgery for congenital heart disease. We specifically questioned whether the effects of surgical treatment on subsequent long-term survival depend on sex.

Impact of alert specifications on clinicians' adherence.

Computerized alerts provided by health care information systems have been shown to enhance clinical practice. However, clinicians still override more than half of the alerts. This indicates that certain aspects of alerts need improvement to fulfill their purpose of supporting clinicians in decision making.

Hypertension and microalbuminuria in children with congenital solitary kidneys.

Aim: According to the hyperfiltration hypothesis, a low nephron endowment will lead to hyperfiltration in the remaining glomeruli and is associated with systemic hypertension, proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis. Being born with one functioning kidney instead of two, for instance because of unilateral renal agenesis or multicystic dysplastic kidney, is a cause of congenital renal mass reduction.

Methods: In order to study the effect of congenital renal mass reduction on renal function and blood pressure, a retrospective chart review of 66 patients at the Pediatric Renal Center of the VU University Medical Center was performed.

Mapping autism risk loci using genetic linkage and chromosomal rearrangements.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are common, heritable neurodevelopmental conditions. The genetic architecture of ASDs is complex, requiring large samples to overcome heterogeneity. Here we broaden coverage and sample size relative to other studies of ASDs by using Affymetrix 10K SNP arrays and 1,181 [corrected] families with at least two affected individuals, performing the largest linkage scan to date while also analyzing copy number variation in these families.