Mental Health and Physical Activity among Children and Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is causing disruptions in the global social system. Japanese children and adolescents have had their schools closed, government-mandated activity restrictions imposed, and interactions outside the home reduced. These restrictions can have a considerable psychological impact on children and adolescents.

Ethanol lock therapy in pediatric patients: A multicenter prospective study.

Background: Ethanol lock therapy (ELT) has been performed for the purpose of preserving central venous catheters (CVC) in central venous catheter-related blood stream infection (CRBSI), but evidence for its effectiveness is not established. We conducted a multicenter, prospective study on the ELT protocol to ascertain its safety and effectiveness against CRBSI.

Methods: The subjects were patients aged over 1 year with potential for developing CRBSI who had long-term indwelling silicone CVCs.

Treatment guidelines for persistent cloaca, cloacal exstrophy, and Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Häuser syndrome for the appropriate transitional care of patients.

We developed treatment guidelines (TGs) for appropriate transitional care of the genitourinary system in patients with persistent cloaca (PC), cloacal exstrophy (CE), or Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Häuser syndrome (MRKH). These TGs are in accordance with the Medical Information Network Distribution Service (Minds), published in 2014 in Japan. Clinical questions (CQs) concerning treatment outcomes of the genitourinary system, pregnancy and delivery, and quality of life in adulthood were prepared as six themes for PC and CE and five themes for MRKH.

Timing and outcome of stoma closure in very low birth weight infants with surgical intestinal disorders.

Purpose: Very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) are at risk of surgical intestinal disorders including necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), focal intestinal perforation (FIP), and meconium-related ileus (MRI). We conducted this study to verify whether the timing of stoma closure and that of enteral nutrition establishment after stoma closure in VLBWIs differ among the most common disorders.

Methods: A retrospective multicenter study was conducted at 11 institutes.

Life-threatening risk factors and the role of intestinal transplantation in patients with intestinal failure.

Purpose: We elucidated the life-threatening risk factors for intestinal failure (IF) and characterized the role of intestinal transplantation (ITx) in affected patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 38 patients with short bowel (SB) and 19 with motility disorders (MD). The SB patients were divided into three categories according to the length of their residual small bowel and the presence of the ileocecal valve.

Posttraumatic stress disorder in mothers of children who have undergone surgery for congenital disease at a pediatric surgery department.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in mothers of children who have undergone surgery for congenital disease at a pediatric surgery department.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was carried out in 145 mothers of children who had undergone surgery and were still alive. For comparison, the mothers were categorized into 3 groups according to the severity of their child's disease.

Postoperative psychological status of children with anorectal malformations.

Our purpose was to clarify factors that influence the level of depression of Japanese children with anorectal malformations (ARM). The subjects comprised 66 children with ARM, aged 0-16 years, and their mothers. Patients were divided into three groups (Group 1: aged 0-5 years, Group 2: 6-11 years, and Group 3: 12-16 years).

Preclinical development of SMA artificial anal sphincters.

This article presents some progress in the development for preclinical trials of an artificial anal sphincter using shape memory alloys. The novel device has been proposed and developed by the author's group at Tohoku University. It has two dominant features different from other systems, which are either clinically available or still under development.

Living-related intestinal transplantation for a patient with hypoganglionosis.

A 14-yr-old boy with total parenteral nutrition-dependent short-bowel syndrome associated with hypoganglionosis underwent the LR-IT by using a 150 cm segment of distal ileum taken from a healthy donor. The graft vessels were connected to infrarenal aorta and inferior vena cava. The immunosuppressive regimen consisted of daclizumab, tacrolimus, and steroid.

Psychosocial liaison-consultation for the children who have undergone repair of imperforate anus and Hirschsprung disease.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the psychological status of Japanese children with congenital anorectal malformation and their mothers to develop appropriate psychiatric interventions.

Method: The subjects comprised 50 children with congenital anorectal malformation aged 0 to 16 years and their mothers. The psychology of children aged 7 to 16 years was investigated by Kovacs' Children's Depression Inventory (CDI).

Thoracoscopic removal of neurogenic mediastinal tumors in children.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and advantages of thoracoscopic removal of neurogenic mediastinal tumors (NMTs) in children.

Methods: From January 1998 to December 2001, 6 patients, ages 1.1 to 6.

The possibility of muscle tissue reconstruction using shape memory alloys.

Severe dysfunction of muscle tissues can be treated by transplantation but the success rate is still not high enough. One possibility instead is to replace the dysfunctional muscle with artificial muscles. This article introduces a unique approach using shape memory alloys (SMAs) to replace the anal sphincter muscle for solving the problem of fecal incontinence.

An experimental study on the utility of a 3-mm ultrasonically activated trocar system.

Background/purpose: A prototype of a 3-mm ultrasonically activated trocar system supplied by Olympus Corporation was evaluated experimentally in terms of its utility and safety.

Methods: Three piglets with an average weight of 12 kg were used. A pneumoperitoneum was created by Hasson's technique.

[Congenital esophageal atresia].

Current management of congenital esophageal atresia (CEA) is described on the basis of our experience and recent literatures. Primary repair for Gross C type CEA is performed as modern standard treatment in infants without high-risk factors such as associated severe cardiac anomaly and respiratory insufficiency. Surgical strategy depends on preoperative condition of the infant therefore preoperative full assessment of the infant is very important.

Functional evaluation of an artificial anal sphincter using shape memory alloys.

This article describes an implantable artificial anal sphincter using shape memory alloys and its in vivo assessment in porcine models. The new design was developed as a low invasive prosthesis with a simple structure to solve the problem of severe fecal incontinence in patients with hypoplastic sphincters or without anal sphincters and especially for ostomates. The artificial anal sphincter consists of two shape memory alloy (SMA) plates as the main functional parts to perform two basic functions when the SMA artificial sphincter is fitted around intestines (i.

Biliary atresia with associated complicated anorectal and urogenital malformations.

We report on a girl with biliary atresia (BA) who also suffered with anorectal agenesis without fistula and complicated urogenital malformation. The outcome of patients with these severe anomalies is poor, but she has survived without liver and/or renal transplantation for more than 3 years. A careful treatment plan for each anomaly in addition to prevention of cholangitis and urinary tract infection is indispensable for managing these complicated anomalies.

Development of an implantable artificial anal sphincter using a shape memory alloy.

Background/purpose: The authors created a new artificial anal sphincter using a shape memory alloy (AS-SMA) to treat fecal incontinence and evaluated its validity.

Methods: AS-SMA consists of 2 Ti-Ni plates to sandwich the intestine and generates a pressure of 55 mm Hg at its resting position. With the electric power supply, the 2 metals bend to form an almondlike shape making a maximum gap of 33 mm between each other at the temperature of 55 degrees C.

The functional roles of porcine CD80 molecule and its ability to stimulate and regulate human anti-pig cellular response.

Background: The pig is currently considered to be the most likely candidate for a xenogenic-organ source. Anti-pig human T-cell response via co-stimulatory molecules has been studied with great interest. The soluble form of porcine CD80 has recently been cloned and characterized, but the sequence of the transmembrane form has not been determined.

Clinical characteristics and management of congenital esophageal stenosis: a report on 14 cases.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to review 14 patients with congenital esophageal stenosis (CES) from diagnostic and therapeutic points of view.

Methods: From 1976 to 1999, 14 patients with CES were treated at the authors' hospital. In each diagnostic examination, an esophagogram, 24-hour pH monitoring, a manometric study, and an endoscopy were performed.