Multicenter registry of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and Paired comparison with Kawasaki disease.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify clinical characteristics to differentiate multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and Kawasaki disease (KD) in Taiwan, an island with a delayed cluster of MIS-C and a high incidence of KD. Additionally, we studied risk factors for developing severe complications in patients with MIS-C.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, multicenter, cohort, and observational study that linked data on patients with MIS-C between May and December 2022 and patients with KD between 2019 and 2021 from 12 medical centers.

Risk Factors of Long-Term Sequelae After Transcatheter Closure of Perimembranous Ventricular Septal Defect in Young Children.

Background: Complications arising from transcatheter closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defects (pmVSD) in children, such as residual shunts and aortic regurgitation (AR), have been observed. However, the associated risk factors remain unclear. This study identified risk factors linked with residual shunts and AR following transcatheter closure of pmVSD in children aged 2-12 years.

Kawasaki disease in children with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin scar reactivity: Focus on coronary outcomes.

Background: /Purpose: Reactivity at the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) scar is a pathognomonic feature of Kawasaki disease (KD). However, its value in predicting KD outcomes has not been emphasized. This study explored the clinical significance of BCG scar redness with respect to coronary artery outcomes.

Normal ECG standards and percentile charts for infants, children and adolescents.

Background: Normal ECG standards in newborns, infants, children and adolescents have been collected and published by many authors. Only those by Davignon et al., Rijinbeek et al.

Association of Exclusive Breastfeeding with Asthma Risk among Preschool Children: An Analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data, 1999 to 2014.

Breastmilk contains many important nutrients, anti-inflammatory agents, and immunomodulators. It is the preferred nutrition source for infants. However, the association of the duration of exclusive breastmilk feeding (BMF) with asthma development is unclear.

Cross-protective humoral immunity to coronaviruses from SARS coronavirus 2-naïve sera of children with Kawasaki disease.

Objectives: SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-associated multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children indicates that viruses can trigger a Kawasaki disease (KD)-like hyperinflammation. A plausible hypothesis was that coronavirus-specific 'holes' in humoral immunity could cause both diseases.

Methods: To determine whether SARS-CoV-2-naïve patients with KD have inferior humoral immunity for the novel coronavirus, sera of children with KD and control children from year 2015 to 2021 were subjected to ELISA, microwestern, and neutralization assays to evaluate the capabilities in recognizing the receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2, spotting spike proteins of three respiratory syndromic coronaviruses, and blocking SARS-CoV-2 from binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors in vitro, respectively.

Long-Term Outcomes and Prognosticators of Pediatric Primary Dilated Cardiomyopathy in an Asian Cohort.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most common childhood cardiomyopathy. The epidemiological profiles and prognosticators of clinical outcomes in Asian populations are not well elucidated. Data of 104 children aged <18 years with a diagnosis of primary DCM from January 1990 to December 2019 in our institutional database were retrospectively investigated.

Concurrence of imatinib-induced massive pleural/pericardial effusion and Campylobacter bacteremia in an adolescent with chronic myeloid leukemia.

Imatinib is a crucial therapeutic strategy against chronic myeloid leukemia. Though superficial edema is a common adverse effect of imatinib, massive fluid retention is rarely reported. Here, we report the case of an adolescent who had tolerated imatinib for a long time, and then presented with massive pleural/pericardial effusion during an episode of Campylobacter jejuni bacteremia.

Changing Spectrum of Cardiac Diseases in Children: An Extended Longitudinal Observation Study of a Pediatric Cardiac Screening Program.

Background: The spectrum of cardiac diseases in children is distinct from that in adults, and changes with advances in medical care and socioeconomic conditions. Such data are important for the allocation of medical resources, but are unclear. Based on a longitudinal pediatric cardiac screening program, we sought to delineate the spectrum and the trends.

Child Growth Curves in High-Altitude Ladakh: Results from a Cohort Study.

High prevalence of child underweight and stunting in high-altitude areas has often been reported. However, most previous studies on this topic were cross-sectional. Another critical concern is that using the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards to evaluate child growth in high-altitude areas may lead to overestimations of underweight and stunting.

Reference levels for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme activity in infants 7-90 days old in Taiwan.

Background: Nationwide newborn screening for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency has been implemented in Taiwan since 1987 and the G6PD enzyme activity levels were applied for diagnosis confirmation. As the reference value of G6PD enzyme activity was not available for infants aged 7-90 days, this study was performed to determine the enzyme level in different genotypes.

Methods: Between January 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017, 410 term infants aged 7-90 days old visiting National Taiwan University Hospital Hsinchu branch were enrolled.

Study on ECG in the Adolescent.

Normal ECG values in newborns, infants, and children have been collected and published. ECG in the adolescent, however, remains, to be collected and studied. The present study was designed and carried out to establish the normal ECG standards in male and female adolescents.

The prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in Tibetan immigrants living in high altitude areas in Ladakh, India.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of obesity and related cardiovascular disease risk factors among Tibetan immigrants living in high altitude areas.

Research Methods & Procedures: A total of 149 Tibetan immigrants aged 20 years and over were recruited in 2016 in Ladakh, India. Anthropometric indices and biochemical factors were measured.

Infectious complications in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with the Taiwan Pediatric Oncology Group protocol: A 16-year tertiary single-institution experience.

Background: Infection is a major complication in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia during chemotherapy. In this study, the infection characteristics were determined and risk factors analyzed based on the Taiwan Pediatric Oncology Group (TPOG) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) protocol.

Procedure: We retrospectively reviewed fever events during chemotherapy in 252 patients treated during two consecutive clinical trials at a single institution between 1997 and 2012.

Population-based study of Kawasaki disease shock syndrome in Taiwan.

By using a National Health Insurance database, we investigated the occurrence of Kawasaki disease (KD) shock syndrome in Taiwan. KD shock syndrome occurred most frequently in winter, and the incidence was 1.45 per 100 patients with KD.

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection: 15 years' experience of a tertiary care center in Taiwan.

Background: Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a rare congenital heart disease in which the connection between the pulmonary vein (PV) and left atrium needs to be surgically created. This study investigated the spectrum and outcome of a Taiwanese cohort.

Methods: Isolated TAPVC cases were identified from our institutional database between 1995 and 2009.

Recurrent bacterial meningitis associated with Mondini dysplasia.

We reported two cases of recurrent meningitis and both of them had Mondini dysplasia, which provides a link between the brain and inner ear and is associated with cerebrospinal fluid, otorrhea/rhinorrhea, hearing impairment, and recurrent meningitis. Patients who have hearing impairment and recurrent meningitis should be evaluated for the possibility of this congenital dysplasia, and early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention may prevent further episodes.

Left pulmonary artery coarctoplasty by using the right pulmonary artery flap near the arterial duct.

Coarctation of the left pulmonary artery may coexist with tetralogy of Fallot or pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect. Various surgical methods, such as autologous pericardial patching and intraoperative pulmonary artery stenting, have been used for solving this condition. We proposed a simple and effective technique for treating patients with left pulmonary artery coarctation and pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect by using the right pulmonary artery flap for left pulmonary artery coarctoplasty, plus central shunt creation by V-Y plasty.