Potential predictive value of myocardial strain and strain rate for late gadolinium enhancement in children with a history of Kawasaki disease.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute pediatric vasculitis with significant implications for coronary arteries and myocardium, potentially leading to long-term myocardial fibrosis. With the advancements in speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), ultrasound parameters have been shown to be reliable in the early detection of structural and functional myocardial abnormalities, thus mitigating some limitations of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Despite its gold standard status for assessing myocardial fibrosis, the application of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in pediatrics is restricted.

Inflammatory reaction in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease may better predict chronic cardiac dysfunction than coronary artery lesions.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a pediatric acute vasculitis affecting the coronary arteries and cardiac tissues. Research has been conducted on the assessment of acute cardiac function in KD; however, chronic cardiac dysfunction remains understudied, particularly in terms of coronary artery lesion (CAL) grading and acute-phase inflammatory markers. This study aimed to assess the effect of CAL grading on chronic cardiac function in KD patients, and explore the association between CAL grading and acute-phase inflammatory markers.

Predictive value of lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio for predicting initial and repeated intravenous immunoglobulin resistance in a large cohort of Kawasaki disease: a prospective cohort study.

Lmphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR) has tremendous predictive power for diseases with similar pathogenesis to Kawasaki disease (KD). The evidence on the prognostic value of LCR for IVIG resistance, especially for repeated IVIG resistance in KD, remains scarce. We conducted a prospective cohort study comprising 1607 individuals with KD to evaluate the predictive value of LCR for both the initial and repeated IVIG resistance.

The effects of glucocorticoids on cardiac function of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: benefit or not?

Unlabelled: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive, incurable X-linked neuromuscular disease caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, resulting in functional dystrophin deficiency. Currently, cardiovascular complications are the leading cause of death in patients with DMD. Glucocorticoids are considered the gold standard treatment for children with DMD.

Assessing large language models as assistive tools in medical consultations for Kawasaki disease.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) presents complex clinical challenges in diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management, requiring a comprehensive understanding by both parents and healthcare providers. With advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), large language models (LLMs) have shown promise in supporting medical practice. This study aims to evaluate and compare the appropriateness and comprehensibility of different LLMs in answering clinically relevant questions about KD and assess the impact of different prompting strategies.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate disrupts mouse placental growth by regulating the cell cycle of mouse placental trophoblasts through the Trim38-p53 signaling axis.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) is a common endocrine disruptor that causes very serious environmental pollution. Recent studies have described that DEHP exerts detrimental effects on key processes of placental development, including implantation, differentiation, invasion, and angiogenesis. However, its effects on the proliferation of placental trophoblasts and related regulatory mechanisms remain elusive.

Risk factors for predicting medium-giant coronary artery aneurysms in Kawasaki disease.

The objective of this study is to determine whether the data of blood profiles before and after therapy can be useful for predicting medium-giant coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) in patients with KD. In total, 1856 KD children from 2013 to 2022 were prospectively recruited. Serial blood samples on the day of initial IVIG infusion and 36-48 h thereafter were collected.

Infant Kawasaki disease complicated with supraventricular tachycardia: a case report and literature review.

Background: The occurrence of arrhythmias as a complication of Kawasaki disease (KD) is extremely rare. Moreover, previous literature showed a low incidence of arrhythmias during the acute phase of KD, and the majority occurred in the subacute and chronic phases. To date, we have found only 17 sporadically reported global cases in the available literature.

Maternal exposure to bisphenol A induces congenital heart disease through mitochondrial dysfunction.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) represents a major birth defect associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Although environmental factors are acknowledged as potential contributors to CHD, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Bisphenol A (BPA), a common endocrine disruptor, has attracted significant attention due to its widespread use and associated health risks.

The Predictive Value of Fibrinogen-to-Albumin Ratio for Predicting Intravenous Immunoglobulin Resistance in Kawasaki Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Predicting resistance to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in the treatment of Kawasaki disease (KD) remains a focus of research. Fibrinogen and albumin in systemic inflammation play an important role. This study aims to investigate the predictive value of fibrinogen to albumin ratio (FAR) for initial IVIG resistance in patients with KD.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate Exposure Induces Developmental Toxicity in the Mouse Fetal Heart via Mitochondrial Dysfunction.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a major cause of infant mortality and morbidity, with growing interest in the role of environmental factors in its etiology. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), an environmental endocrine disruptor, has been implicated in the development of CHD. This study aimed to investigate the effects of DEHP exposure on fetal heart development in mice.

The Vectorcardiogram Characteristic and Its Predictive Value for Reduced Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction of Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Background: The prognosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is poor once it develops to the stage of cardiac impairment. Recent studies have demonstrated that electrocardiogram (ECG), which consists of general ECG and vectorcardiogram (VCG), retains an extremely powerful role in the assessment of patients with reduced left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. However, data regarding VCG recordings in DMD and its prognostic value for reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of DMD have never been reported.

Predictive value of coagulation profiles for Kawasaki disease shock syndrome: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is characterized as an acute febrile inflammatory disorder, which may potentially escalate into a more severe condition termed Kawasaki disease shock syndrome (KDSS). The objective of this research is to understand the clinical attributes of KDSS and to explore the predictive significance of coagulation profiles in the incidence of KDSS.

Method: Patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) were prospectively enrolled and divided into the KDSS group ( = 29) and the non-KDSS group ( = 494).

Case Report: unexpected cause of cyanosis in an infant after acute exposure to high altitude-severe tricuspid regurgitation secondary to tricuspid valve prolapse.

Background: Severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) causing cyanosis with patent foramen ovale (PFO) and right-to-left atrial shunting requires a precise diagnosis for optimal therapy. Tricuspid valve prolapse (TVP) can lead to TR and is sometimes overlooked, especially in complex cases with factors like pulmonary hypertension (PH). We present an infant with cyanosis and profound TR after high-altitude exposure, initially misattributed to PH but found to be primarily due to spontaneous chordae tendineae rupture and TVP.

Evaluation of left ventricular stiffness with echocardiography.

Half of patients with heart failure are presented with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The pathophysiology of these patients is complex, but increased left ventricular (LV) stiffness has been proven to play a key role. However, the application of this parameter is limited due to the requirement for invasive catheterization for its measurement.

Coronary artery dilation in children with febrile illnesses other than Kawasaki disease: A case report and literature review.

Background: Coronary artery dilation (CAD) had rarely been described as a cardiac complication of febrile disease other than Kawasaki disease (KD). There are rare cases complicated by CAD reported in patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection.

Case Presentation: A 6-year-old boy with severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) was transferred to our hospital due to significant respiratory distress on the 11th day from disease onset.

Using nomogram scores to predict the early regression of coronary artery aneurysms of Kawasaki disease.

Background: Coronary artery aneurysms have been considered the most serious complication of Kawasaki disease. However, some coronary artery aneurysms do regress. Therefore, the ability to predict the expected time of coronary artery aneurysm regression is critical.

Development of a nomogram prediction model for early identification of persistent coronary artery aneurysms in kawasaki disease.

Background: Coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) persistence prediction is critical in evaluating Kawasaki disease (KD). This study established a nomogram prediction system based on potential risk factors for assessing the risk of CAA persistence in a contemporary cohort of patients with KD.

Methods: This cohort comprised 105 patients with KD who had been diagnosed with CAA during the acute or subacute phase by echocardiography.

Long noncoding RNA UCA1 promotes the expression and function of P-glycoprotein by sponging miR-16-5p in human placental BeWo cells.

Investigations on placental P-glycoprotein (P-gp) regulation could provide more therapeutic targets for individualized and safe pharmacotherapy during pregnancy. The role of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) on placental P-gp regulation is lacking. The present study was carried out to investigate the regulation and underlying mechanisms of lncRNA urothelial carcinoma associated 1 (UCA1) on P-gp in Bewo cells.

Electrocardiographic features of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a clinically common X-linked recessive myopathy, which is caused by mutation of the gene encoding dystrophin on chromosome Xp21. The onset of heart injury in children with DMD is inconspicuous, and the prognosis is poor once it develops to the stage of heart failure. Cardiovascular complications remain an important cause of death in this patient population.

Predictive role of sampling-time specific prognostic nutritional index cut-off values for intravenous immunoglobulin resistance and cardiovascular complications in Kawasaki disease.

Background: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) resistance and cardiovascular complications prediction are pivotal topic of interests in Kawasaki disease (KD). The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) has been proposed to be valuable in predicting the severity of inflammatory status and prognosis in clinical circumstances, with limited data in KD. Therefore, we prospectively investigated the role of sampling-time specific PNI cut-off values in predicting initial IVIG resistance as well as cardiovascular complications in patients with KD for the first time.

Sterile Pyuria in Kawasaki Disease: A Large Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis and is becoming the leading cause of acquired cardiac disease in Children. Sterile pyuria is a known complication of KD. However, its associations with the inflammatory reaction severity, IVIG resistance as well as coronary artery lesions (CALs) in KD remain elusive.

Transfemoral Occlusion of Doubly Committed Subarterial Ventricular Septal Defect Using the Amplatzer Duct Occluder-II in Children.

Backgrounds: The traditional treatment of doubly committed subarterial ventricular septal defect (dcVSD) is open-heart surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and outcome of transcatheter closure of small dcVSD using Amplatzer duct occluder-II (ADO-II) in children.

Methods: Between January 2016 and April 2021, 24 children (17 male and 7 female patients) with small dcVSD who received transfemoral closure with ADO-II were enrolled retrospectively.