Analysis of Cell Immunity for Children Infected with SARS-CoV-2 and Those Vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 Using T-SPOT.COVID.

Cellular immunity is critical for the regulation of viral diseases, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and is generally considered immature in childhood. However, the details of cellular immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among children are unclear. We assessed cellular immunity in eight children post-vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 and 11 children after SARS-CoV-2 infection using the T-SPOT.

Roles of Oxidative Injury and Nitric Oxide System Derangements in Kawasaki Disease Pathogenesis: A Systematic Review.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute febrile vasculitis that occurs mostly in children younger than five years. KD involves multiple intricately connected inflammatory reactions activated by a cytokine cascade. Despite therapeutic advances, coronary artery damage may develop in some patients, who will be at risk of clinical cardiovascular events and even sudden death.

Vascular occlusion with 0.035-inch hydrogel expandable coils in congenital heart diseases and vascular anomalies.

Background: We present our experience with transcatheter vascular occlusion using 0.035-inch hydrogel expandable coils, which has been reported only in a few cases in the pediatric cardiology fields.

Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent transcatheter embolization with 0.

Stepwise Treatment for Heterotaxy Syndrome and Functional Single Ventricle Complicated by Infra-Cardiac Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection with Ductus Venosus Stent Placement and Subsequent Occlusion.

Even today, when the surgical outcome of congenital heart disease in the neonatal period has improved, the prognosis for heterotaxy syndrome and functional single ventricle complicated with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC), especially the infra-cardiac type, is catastrophic. We describe a strategy that combines percutaneous ductus venosus (DV) stent placement and occlusion after TAPVC repair to ensure survival from initial surgery to bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt (BCPS) procedure and facilitate subsequent treatment. Three consecutive patients with heterotaxy syndrome and functional single ventricle complicated by infra-cardiac TAPVC treated with our own strategy were retrospectively studied.

Outcomes of Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Reconstruction in Children: Retrospective Comparison Between Bovine Jugular Vein and Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Conduits.

Bovine jugular vein (BJV) and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) conduits have been described as alternatives to the homograft for right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction. This study compared RVOT reconstructions using BJV and ePTFE conduits performed in a single institution. The valve functions and outcomes of patients aged < 18 years who underwent primary RVOT reconstruction with a BJV or ePTFE conduit between 2013 and 2017 were retrospectively investigated.

Clinical outcomes after the endovascular treatments of pulmonary vein stenosis in patients with congenital heart disease.

Background: Pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) is a condition with challenging treatment and leads to severe cardiac failure and pulmonary hypertension. Despite aggressive surgical or catheter-based intervention, the prognosis of PVS is unsatisfactory. This study aimed to assess the prognosis and to establish appropriate treatment strategies.

Balloon atrial septostomy in hypoplastic left heart syndrome with restrictive atrial septum.

Background: Rashkind balloon atrial septostomy (BAS) can be challenging in infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and small atrial septal defect (ASD).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all infants with HLHS who underwent surgery and BAS between January 2006 and December 2015. The infants were divided into three groups: no BAS; catheter BAS; and open AS.

Transcoronary cell infusion with the stop-flow technique in children with single-ventricle physiology.

Background: Almost all reports on cardiac regeneration therapy have referred to adults, and only a few have focused on transcoronary infusion of cardiac progenitor cells using the stop-flow technique in children.

Methods: Intracoronary autologous cardiosphere-derived cell (CDC) transfer was conducted at Okayama University as a phase 1 clinical trial for seven patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome between January 2011 and December 2012, and as a phase 2 clinical trial for 34 patients with single-ventricle physiology between July 2013 and March 2015.

Results: A total of 41 patients with single-ventricle physiology underwent transcoronary infusion of CDC with the stop-flow technique.

Intracoronary Cardiac Progenitor Cells in Single Ventricle Physiology: The PERSEUS (Cardiac Progenitor Cell Infusion to Treat Univentricular Heart Disease) Randomized Phase 2 Trial.

Rationale: Patients with single ventricle physiology are at high risk of mortality resulting from ventricular dysfunction. The preliminary results of the phase 1 trial showed that cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) may be effective against congenital heart failure.

Objective: To determine whether intracoronary delivery of autologous CDCs improves cardiac function in patients with single ventricle physiology.

A staged decompression of right ventricle allows growth of right ventricle and subsequent biventricular repair in patients with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum.

Objectives: To achieve the growth of right-sided heart structures, our choice of the first palliation for patients with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum (PA-IVS) includes a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (BTS) with pulmonary valvotomy. We sought to analyse the impact of the first palliation on the growth of right-sided heart structures and factors associated with a choice of definitive surgical procedure.

Methods: Fifty patients with PA-IVS who underwent a staged surgical approach from 1991 to 2012 were retrospectively reviewed.

Mutations of NOTCH3 in childhood pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Mutations of BMPR2 and other TGF-β superfamily genes have been reported in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, 60-90% of idiopathic PAH cases have no mutations in these genes. Recently, the expression of NOTCH3 was shown to be increased in the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells of PAH patients.

Fluctuating liver functions in siblings with MPV17 mutations and possible improvement associated with dietary and pharmaceutical treatments targeting respiratory chain complex II.

Background/aims: To describe the clinical and biological findings of two Japanese siblings with novel MPV17 gene mutations (c.451insC/c.509C > T) manifesting hepatic mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome.