Focal atrial tachycardia originating from the pulmonary vein with onset later than 3 years of age might have a better prognosis, possibly converting in adolescence.

Two cases of focal atrial tachycardia probably originating from the pulmonary vein with onset later than 3 years of age are presented. Both cases had associated variable atrioventricular conduction and showed no signs of heart failure, and they converted to sinus rhythm at the time of puberty. In cases of focal atrial tachycardia originating from the pulmonary vein with onset later than 3 years of age, drug therapy may be effective.

Cesium-137 stored on and discharged from banks of an agricultural canal in Iitate, Fukushima.

This study aimed to investigate the dynamics of Cs around banks along an agricultural canal for paddy fields in Iitate, Fukushima, Japan. Five plots (2.4-12.

The mid-term outcome of Fontan conversion compared with primary total cavopulmonary connection.

Background: The indication of Fontan conversion (FC) from atriopulmonary connection (APC) to total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) is unclear. We sought to analyze the mid-term outcome of prophylactic and therapeutic Fontan conversion compared with that of primary TCPC.

Methods: Patients with a univentricular heart who underwent cardiac catheterization at >18 years of age between July 2005 and July 2019 were included and divided into three groups: symptomatic APC patients who underwent therapeutic FC (t-FC, n = 13), asymptomatic APC patients after prophylactic FC (p-FC, n = 15), and patients who had primary TCPC procedure (pTCPC, n = 24).

Influence of Percutaneous Occlusion of Atrial Septal Defect on Left Atrial Function Evaluated Using 2D Speckle Tracking Echocardiography.

Percutaneous occlusion of atrial septal defect (ASD) has recently become a standard therapeutic strategy, but little is known about left atrial (LA) function thereafter. The present study aimed to determine LA function in 43 children with ASD and 13 controls based on LA strain measured by two-dimensional echocardiographic speckle tracking (2DE-ST). Among these children, 12 underwent surgery (ASD-S), 31 had device closure (ASD-D), and 13 were included as controls.

Catheter ablation in children and patients with congenital heart disease: Review of 1021 procedures at a high-volume single center in Japan.

Background: Although pediatric catheter ablation therapy has often been described, few reports on outcomes in a large series of patients at a single center are available.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate arrhythmia substrates, outcomes, and complications of catheter ablation in children and patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) performed at a single center.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all pediatric patients <18 years and patients of all ages with CHD who underwent ablation therapy between June 2006 and May 2018.

Atropine-induced monomorphic ventricular tachycardia in an adolescent: A rare case.

A 13-year-old girl had a history of episodic palpitations lasting for approximately 5 min since the first grade of junior high school. She was noticed to have tachycardia during auscultation at a school-based health screening program. Since non-sustained ventricular tachycardia of the left bundle branch block type was induced by a triple master exercise load at a local doctor's clinic, she was referred to our pediatric cardiology department for further management.

Elevation of Serum Acid Sphingomyelinase Activity in Children with Acute Respiratory Syncytial Virus Bronchiolitis.

Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) is a lysosomal enzyme that hydrolyzes sphingomyelin into ceramide, a bioactive lipid to regulate cellular physiological functions. Thus, ASM activation has been reported as a key event in pathophysiological reactions including inflammation, cytokine release, oxidative stress, and endothelial damage in human diseases. Since ASM activation is associated with extracellular ASM secretion through unknown mechanisms, it can be detected by recognizing the elevation of secretory ASM (S-ASM) activity.

Feasibility and safety of transseptal puncture procedures for radiofrequency catheter ablation in small children weighing below 30 kg: single-centre experience.

Aims: Transseptal puncture (TSP) has become a common approach in catheter ablation of arrhythmia originating from the left atrium. In paediatric patients, however, TSP can be a challenge due to narrower access vessels and small left atrial size, and the safety of TSP in smaller children is yet to be understood. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the feasibility and safety of TSP in children weighing below 30 kg.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of idiopathic left anterior fascicular ventricular tachycardia in children.

Background: Idiopathic ventricular tachycardia of left anterior fascicular origin (IVT-LAF) is a rare condition, and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) therapy has not been reported in children.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the procedures and outcomes of RFCA for pediatric IVT-LAF.

Methods: Pediatric IVT-LAF cases for which RFCA was performed between June 2006 and May 2012 at our hospital were reviewed.

Differentiating fasciculoventricular pathway from Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome by electrocardiography.

Background: In school-based cardiovascular screening programs in Japan, Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is diagnosed based on the presence of an electrocardiographic (ECG) delta wave without differentiation from the fasciculoventricular pathway (FVP), although the risk of sudden death is associated only with the former.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to differentiate FVP patients among children diagnosed with WPW syndrome by ECG.

Methods: Children who were diagnosed with WPW syndrome through school screening between April 2006 and March 2008 and had QRS width ≤120 ms were included.

[Association of lung volume with shunt size in Starnes' procedure in neonates with severe Ebstein's anomaly].

Our modification of Starnes' procedure reduces right ventricular volume using only "suture plication" to improve surgical outcomes. However, shunt size in the procedure varies widely between patients. As this may be related to small lung volume, we estimated lung volume in each patient using computed tomography (CT).