BECN1 and persistent truncus arteriosus: Our results showed that compared to TAC mice, Beclin1 knockdown decreased the thickness of the left ventricular anterior wall (LVAWs) and left ventricular posterior wall (LVPWs) and improved cardiac dysfunction, as evidenced by increased LVEF, LVFS, and e'/a', as well as shortened IVRT and IVCT 8 weeks after TAC (Figure 2).