Scoping review of initiation criteria for inhaled nitric oxide in preterm infants (born <34 weeks) after 7 days of age.

Objectives: Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is a known treatment for pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants after 7 days of age (postacute phase). However, a consensus regarding the optimal criteria for initiating iNO therapy in this population in the postacute phase is currently lacking. This study, therefore, aimed to identify the criteria for initiating iNO therapy, alongside the associated clinical and echocardiographic findings, in this population.

Genome Analysis of Japanese Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Strains Isolated From Kawasaki Disease Patients and Other Sources and Their Phylogenetic Positions in the Global Y. pseudotuberculosis Population.

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (Ypt) is a gram-negative bacterium that infects both humans and animals primarily through fecal‒oral transmission. While Ypt causes acute gastroenteritis in humans, an association with Kawasaki disease (KD), a disease that primarily affects infants and young children and causes multisystemic vasculitis, has also been suspected. Although KD represents a significant health concern worldwide, the highest annual incidence rate is reported in Japan.

Epidemiology and treatment trends for acute encephalopathy under the impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic based on a prospective multicenter consecutive case registry.

Background: Acute encephalopathy is a severe condition predominantly affecting children with viral infections. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the epidemiology, treatment, and management of acute encephalopathy. The study also aimed to understand how the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has affected epidemiological trends.

Impact of high maternal body mass index on fetal cerebral cortical and cerebellar volumes.

Objectives: Maternal obesity increases a child's risk of neurodevelopmental impairment. However, little is known about the impact of maternal obesity on fetal brain development.

Methods: We prospectively recruited 20 healthy pregnant women across the range of pre-pregnancy or first-trimester body mass index (BMI) and performed fetal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of their healthy singleton fetuses.

Day surgery in children: 15-year analysis of unplanned admissions at a Japanese tertiary children's hospital.

Purpose: Unplanned hospital admission following pediatric day surgery is a crucial quality indicator. This study examined the incidence, related risks, interventions, and outcomes of unplanned hospital admission following pediatric day surgery among children in Japan.

Methods: This single-center, retrospective study analyzed data of 14,529 pediatric patients under the age of 18 years who underwent day surgery between August 2007 and December 2022.

Evaluating post-cardiac arrest blood pressure thresholds associated with neurologic outcome in children: Insights from the pediRES-Q database.

Background: Current Pediatric Advanced Life Support Guidelines recommend maintaining blood pressure (BP) above the 5th percentile for age following return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after cardiac arrest (CA). Emerging evidence suggests that targeting higher thresholds, such as the 10th or 25th percentiles, may improve neurologic outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the association between post-ROSC BP thresholds and neurologic outcome, hypothesizing that maintaining mean arterial pressure (MAP) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) above these thresholds would be associated with improved outcomes at hospital discharge.

Sarcomere gene variants did not improve cardiac function in pediatric patients with dilated cardiomyopathy from Japanese cohorts.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a progressive myocardial disorder characterized by impaired cardiac contraction and ventricular dilation. However, some patients with DCM improve when experiencing left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR). Currently, the detailed association between genotypes and clinical outcomes, including LVRR, particularly among children, remains uncertain.

Cord Blood Transplantation Using Myeloablative Conditioning for Pediatric Advanced Myelodysplastic Syndrome in AMeD Syndrome With a Novel ADH5 Variant.

Aplastic anemia, mental retardation, and dwarfism syndrome (AMeDS) is a rare inherited bone marrow failure syndrome. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is the only possible treatment option for hematological complications in AMeDS; however, there are no reports addressing allo-HSCT for AMeDS. A 6-year-old female diagnosed with AMeDS accompanying myelodysplastic syndrome with increased blast was successfully treated with cord blood transplantation followed by myeloablative conditioning (MAC).

Nationwide Survey of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Japan.

Background: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) presents some clinical overlap with Kawasaki disease (KD). Although KD is common in Japan, the clinical characteristics of MIS-C in Japan remain unknown. Therefore, we aimed to determine the epidemiological and clinical features of MIS-C in Japan.

Simultaneous surgery for gastrostomy and laryngotracheal separation in a patient with Tay‒Sachs disease.

Genetic testing identified novel compound heterozygous missense variants in the HEXA gene (NM_00520.6: c.775A>C and NM_000520.

Adult Height in Girls with Central Precocious Puberty with Onset after 6 Years: Effects of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Analog Therapy.

Introduction: Precocious puberty (PP), which is sometimes divided into gonadotropin-dependent or gonadotropin-independent PP, is a pathological condition characterized by premature secretion of gonadal steroids resulting in the early development of secondary sexual characteristics. Girls younger than 6 years with idiopathic gonadotropin-dependent PP (referred to as central PP or CPP) who receive gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (GnRHa) therapy experience an increase in their adult height (AH) in contrast to girls who are aged 6 years or more, who show no consistent pattern of increase even with GnRHa therapy.

Methods: In total, 133 girls aged 6 years or more who visited any one of the seven study centers between April 2000 and March 2020 and who met the diagnostic criteria for PP in Japan were retrospectively examined.

Clinical and microbiological characterization of invasive group a Streptococcus infection in children in Japan: A single-center experience.

Background: Invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) infections are rare but potentially fatal. Although the number of invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) infections decreased during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, it sharply increased worldwide following the pandemic due to the emergence of M1 strains. In Japan, non-fluminant iGAS infections have not been included in the national survey notification system.

First report of retroperitoneal rhabdomyosarcoma treated with space-making particle therapy for preservation of renal function.

Space-making particle therapy, which consists of surgical placement of a spacer followed by particle therapy, has become a solution to the problem of normal organs being exposed to a high radiation dose. A bioabsorbable spacer is particularly suitable for this purpose, but is not widely used. Surgical placement of a spacer is performed mostly to protect the digestive tract, but can also be used to protect the kidneys.

Children With Airway Compressions Caused by Mediastinal Tumors: A Single-Center Case Series.

Background: Mediastinal tumors in children may be misdiagnosed as bronchial asthma, resulting in delayed diagnosis and airway obstruction leading to cardiac arrest.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify factors for early diagnosis of mediastinal tumors in children to avoid a life-threatening situation.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 14 children with airway compressions caused by mediastinal tumors who visited the Hyogo Prefectural Kobe Children's Hospital between April 2016 and September 2023.

Treatment of relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children: an observational study of the Japan Children's Cancer Group.

The Japan Children's Cancer Group Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Committee conducted a prospective observational study (ALL-R14) to explore promising reinduction therapy regimens for relapsed ALL to investigate in future trials. In Japan, clofarabine- and bortezomib-based regimens were of interest since they were newly introduced for ALL in the study period (2015-2018). Seventy-five pediatric patients were enrolled in total.

Postoperative Symptomatic Cerebral Vasospasm: Requiring Attention Following an Uneventful Resection of an Epidermoid Cyst - A Case Report and Literature Review.

Cerebral vasospasm associated with epidermoid cyst can be caused by tumor content spillage, such as spontaneous rupture and postsurgical resection. Symptomatic cerebral vasospasm following the resection of an intracranial epidermoid cyst is a rare but serious complication that lacks a consensus on treatment. Case presentation: A 10-year-old girl underwent an uneventful complete resection of a left cerebellopontine angle epidermoid cyst.

Resurgence of Kawasaki Disease Following Relaxation of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Restrictions in Japan.

Objective: To compare the number and incidence of Kawasaki disease (KD) patients in years 2 through 4 of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, and determine the impact of 3 years of implementation of infection control measures and their subsequent relaxation on the epidemiology of KD in Japan.

Study Design: We conducted a population-based, cohort study including consecutive KD patients in Kobe City between 2021 and 2023. We compared the incidence of KD cases, in relation to timing of infection control measures, as well as infectious disease cases based on a regional surveillance system.