Antibody titer trends after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients aged 12 to 25 years with underlying diseases.

Background: Whereas declines in antibody titers after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination have been reported, most reports are predominantly from adults. Long-term trends in SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers after the first BNT162b2 vaccination series in children and young adults with underlying diseases remain less studied.

Methods: This prospective single-center observational cohort study enrolled patients aged 12-25 years with underlying diseases who received the first BNT162b2 vaccination series.

Safety and antibody response of the BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in children aged 5-11 years with underlying diseases: A prospective observational study.

Background: Data on the safety and antibody response of the BNT162b2 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mRNA vaccine in children aged 5-11 years with underlying diseases are limited. Thus, our study aimed to address this gap.

Methods: This prospective observational study investigated the antibody titers for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain (S-IgG) and nucleocapsid protein (N-IgG) in patients aged 5-11 years with chronic underlying diseases following two doses of BNT162b2.

Safety of and antibody response to the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine in adolescents and young adults with underlying disease.

Background: Data are limited regarding the safety of and antibody response to the BNT162b2 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) messenger ribonucleic acid vaccine in adolescents and young adults with underlying disease.

Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled patients age 12-25 years with chronic underlying disease who received 2 doses of BNT162b2. A 18-item questionnaire was used to assess adverse events within 7 days post-vaccination, and data regarding severe adverse events were collected from electronic medical records.

Outcomes of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Japanese children: a retrospective cohort study.

There has been no multicenter study on the prognosis of pediatric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in Japan. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective multicenter observational study on the long-term survival rate in patients diagnosed with HCM under the age of 18 between 1990 and 2014. Twenty institutions participated.

Outcomes of Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Japanese Children - A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: There has been no nationwide survey on the prognosis of pediatric dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in Japan. Therefore, we designed this retrospective multicenter study to investigate the long-term survival rate in pediatric patients with DCM in Japan.

Methods and results: In this multicenter retrospective observational study, data were reviewed for 106 patients aged <18 years who had been diagnosed with DCM at any 1 of 18 Japanese institutions between 1990 and 2014.

Metaform optics: Bridging nanophotonics and freeform optics.

The demand for high-resolution optical systems with a compact form factor, such as augmented reality displays, sensors, and mobile cameras, requires creating new optical component architectures. Advances in the design and fabrication of freeform optics and metasurfaces make them potential solutions to address the previous needs. Here, we introduce the concept of a metaform-an optical surface that integrates the combined benefits of a freeform optic and a metasurface into a single optical component.

Pregnancy and Delivery in Patients With Repaired Congenital Heart Disease - A Retrospective Japanese Multicenter Study.

Background: Although advances in cardiac surgery have led to an increased number of survivors with congenital heart disease (CHD), epidemiological data regarding the pregnancies and deliveries of patients with repaired CHD are scarce.

Methods and results: In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the clinical outcomes of pregnancies and deliveries of women with repaired CHD. Overall, 131 women with repaired CHD were enrolled and there were 269 gestations.

Clinical trial of the CP stent for pulmonary artery stenosis: the first investigator-initiated clinical trial for pediatric interventional cardiology in Japan.

Stenting is an important treatment option for pulmonary artery stenosis (PS) associated with congenital heart disease (CHD). However, no stent has been approved for this indication in Japan, despite negotiation between academia and the regulatory bodies for longer than 20 years. To evaluate efficacy and safety of the CP stent, we performed the first investigator-initiated clinical trial for pediatric interventional cardiology in Japan.

Paclitaxel-coated drug-eluting balloon for pulmonary vein stenosis after repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous return with asplenia.

We used a paclitaxel-coated drug-eluting balloon (DEB) for pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) after repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous return with asplenia. No adverse effect of paclitaxel was revealed and plasma concentration of paclitaxel was not elevated after intervention. Although progression of PVS slowed after dilatation with the DEB, stenosis recurred relentlessly, resulting in patient demise.

Using the upper buttocks as a subcutaneous site for treprostinil infusion in children with pulmonary artery hypertension.

A 14-year-old boy was receiving subcutaneous infusions of treprostinil for pulmonary artery hypertension. Because he had severe infusion site pain in the lower abdomen, we changed his infusion site to the upper buttocks, adding some analgesics. His pain improved gradually.

Antenatal Therapy for Fetal Supraventricular Tachyarrhythmias: Multicenter Trial.

Background: Standardized treatment of fetal tachyarrhythmia has not been established.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of protocol-defined transplacental treatment for fetal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and atrial flutter (AFL).

Methods: In this multicenter, single-arm trial, protocol-defined transplacental treatment using digoxin, sotalol, and flecainide was performed for singleton pregnancies from 22 to <37 weeks of gestation with sustained fetal SVT or AFL ≥180 beats/min.

Preferences Regarding Transfer of Patients With Congenital Heart Disease Who Attend Children's Hospital.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine preferences regarding transfer of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) attending a children's hospital in Japan and related factors.

Methods and results: We conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey with CHD patients >15 years of age treated at the pediatric cardiology outpatient clinic of a children's hospital. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors related to patient preferences regarding the transfer.

Present State and Future Prospects of Pediatric Liver Transplantations.

Regarding liver transplantations in Japan, with no progress having been made in deceased donor liver transplantations, a living donor liver transplantation performed on a boy with end-stage liver cirrhosis caused by biliary atresia by Nagasue et al. at Shimane University in November 1989 was the first case of its kind. Unlike deceased donor liver transplantations, living donor liver transplantations have two major advantages.

Association of Severity of Coronary Artery Aneurysms in Patients With Kawasaki Disease and Risk of Later Coronary Events.

Importance: Few studies with sufficient statistical power have shown the association of the z score of the coronary arterial internal diameter with coronary events (CE) in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) with coronary artery aneurysms (CAA).

Objective: To clarify the association of the z score with time-dependent CE occurrence in patients with KD with CAA.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This multicenter, collaborative retrospective cohort study of 44 participating institutions included 1006 patients with KD younger than 19 years who received a coronary angiography between 1992 and 2011.

[Prolonged optic disc swelling in Kawasaki disease - A case report and literature review].

  Kawasaki disease (KD), an acute childhood panvasculitis, presents a variety of ocular complications as well as conjunctival injection among the principal symptoms. However, most pediatricians are unfamiliar with the ophthalmological complications of KD. A 2-year-old girl was referred to us from the ophthalmology department due to injected bulbar conjunctivae and optic disc swelling.

Recurrence of Fever After Initial Intravenous Immunoglobulin Treatment in Children With Kawasaki Disease.

The standard treatment for Kawasaki disease (KD) is high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Some patients experienced recurrent fever after IVIG following defervescence. However, little is known about the frequency of such episodes and the clinical outcome for such patients.

Nationwide Survey of Patients With Giant Coronary Aneurysm Secondary to Kawasaki Disease 1999-2010 in Japan.

Background: Giant coronary aneurysm is the most severe sequela in Kawasaki disease, occurring in approximately 0.2% of patients in Japan. Regression is rare, while myocardial infarction (MI) and sudden death are relatively common.