Faculty Profiles - KATO, Taichi

Balloon angioplasty for bilateral severe peripheral pulmonary artery stenoses associated with chondrodysplasia punctata: a case report. Reviewed Open Access

Go K, Yasuda K, Kato T

Cardiology in the young Vol. 34 ( 11 ) page： 2495 - 2498 2024.11

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：Cardiology in the Young

We present a 2-month-old girl with chondrodysplasia punctata in whom bilateral peripheral pulmonary artery stenoses were successfully treated by transcatheter balloon angioplasty. The minimal diameters of the right and left pulmonary arteries of 1.3 mm and 1.1 mm, respectively, which were dilated using a 4-mm balloon catheter. Balloon angioplasty is feasible and effective for relieving peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis in patients with chondrodysplasia punctata.

DOI： 10.1017/S1047951124036229

A familial case of aortic dilatation with p.Tyr470Cys in TGFBR2 in which the phenotype included only vascular lesions. Reviewed

Yamamoto H, Tanabe A, Kato T

Cardiology in the young page： 1 - 3 2024.10

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：Cardiology in the Young

Hereditary connective tissue diseases have different risks of aortic dissection depending on the causative gene. We report a family with no extravascular phenotype and a clinical diagnosis of familial thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection, but genetic testing confirmed p.Tyr470Cys in TGFBR2, which is typically the responsible gene for Loeys-Dietz syndrome. Validation of the clinical diagnosis by genetic testing is warranted.

DOI： 10.1017/S104795112402585X

Effects of General Anesthesia on the Results of Cardiac Catheterization in Pediatric Patients with Ventricular Septal Defect Reviewed Open Access

Go K, Kato T, Kito M, Morimoto Y, Kawai S, Yamamoto H, Fukasawa Y, Yasuda K

Congenital Heart Disease Vol. 18 ( 2 ) page： 235 - 243 2023.3

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：Congenital Heart Disease

Background: There is no gold standard sedation method for pediatric cardiac catheterization. In congenital heart diseases with intracardiac shunts, hemodynamic parameters are prone to change depending on the ventilation conditions and anesthetics, although few studies have examined these effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of two different sedation methods on the hemodynamic parameters. Methods: This study retrospectively evaluated consecutive patients with ventricular septal defect (VSD) below 1 year of age who underwent cardiac catheterization at Aichi Children’s Health and Medical Center, who were divided into age-and VSD diameter-matched general anesthesia (GA) and monitored anesthesia care (MAC) under the natural airway groups (n = 40 each), for comparison of hemodynamic parameters. Results: In the GA group, arterial blood pH and arterial partial pressure of oxygen were significantly higher (p < 0.01), whereas arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide was significantly lower than in the MAC group (p < 0.01). Mean pulmonary artery pressure (p < 0.05) and systemic blood pressure (p < 0.01) were lower in the GA group. Pulmonary vascular resistance index (p < 0.01) and systemic vascular resistance index (p < 0.01) were also significantly lower in the GA group than the MAC group. There were no significant differences in pulmonary blood flow index, systemic blood flow index, and pulmonary/systemic blood flow ratio between the two groups. Conclusions: Cardiac catheterization under GA in VSD patients results in different hemodynamic parameters compared to that under MAC. In par-ticular, when using pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance measured under GA for judg-ment regarding the surgical indications or perioperative management, consideration should be given to the fact that these parameters might be lower compared to those measured under MAC.

DOI： 10.32604/chd.2023.027590

Analysis of Coronary Arterial Aneurysm Regression in Patients With Kawasaki Disease by Aneurysm Severity: Factors Associated With Regression. Reviewed International journal Open Access

Taichi Kato, Masaru Miura, Tohru Kobayashi, Tetsuji Kaneko, Naoya Fukushima, Kenji Suda, Jun Maeda, Shinya Shimoyama, Junko Shiono, Keiichi Hirono, Kazuyuki Ikeda, Seiichi Sato, Fujito Numano, Yoshihide Mitani, Kenji Waki, Mamoru Ayusawa, Ryuji Fukazawa, Shigeto Fuse

Journal of the American Heart Association Vol. 12 ( 3 ) page： e022417 2023.2

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

Background Coronary arterial aneurysms (CAAs) associated with Kawasaki disease (KD) significantly affect prognosis. However, the clinical course of CAAs and factors associated with CAA regression have not been well analyzed. Methods and Results The cohort of the Z-Score 2nd Project Stage study, a multicenter, retrospective, cohort study involving 44 institutions in Japan including 1006 patients with KD, was examined. CAAs were classified by the z score of their internal diameter in the acute phase: small (z<5), medium (5≤z<10), and large (z≥10). The lower limit of small CAA was based on the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare criteria. In the right coronary artery, the CAA regression rates 10 years after diagnosis were 95.5% for small, 83.2% for medium, and 36.3% for large. In the proximal left anterior descending artery, the regression rates 10 years after diagnosis were 95.3% for small, 80.1% for medium, and 28.8% for large. Cox regression analysis showed that diagnosis under the age of 1 year and onset of KD in 2010 to 2012 for the right coronary artery and the left anterior descending artery, and female for the right coronary artery were significantly associated with a high regression rate, whereas large CAAs for the right coronary artery and the left anterior descending artery were significantly associated with a low regression rate. Conclusions The current study, the largest Japanese study of its kind, found that small aneurysm, recent onset, and diagnosis under the age of 1 year predict regression, and that even giant aneurysms could regress. These data may contribute to long-term management of coronary aneurysms. Registration URL: https://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/; Unique identifier: UMIN000010606.

DOI： 10.1161/JAHA.121.022417

Case report: High-dose epoprostenol therapy in pediatric patients with pulmonary hypertension and developmental lung disease. Reviewed Open Access

Fukasawa Y, Yamamoto H, Ito M, Saito A, Go K, Morimoto Y, Yasuda K, Sato Y, Hayakawa M, Kato T

Frontiers in pediatrics Vol. 11 page： 1116434 2023

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：Frontiers in Pediatrics

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) with developmental lung disease is a life-threatening disease and accounts for 10%–12% of pediatric PH patients. Administration of specific pulmonary vasodilators to pediatric PH patients has brought about improvement of their long-term prognosis. Intravenous epoprostenol therapy is a gold standard therapy for severe idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), but there are few reports demonstrating the efficacy of epoprostenol for pediatric PH patients with developmental lung disease, especially when treating with high doses of epoprostenol. Two cases of pediatric PH patients with alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of pulmonary veins (ACD/MPV) and congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), respectively, treated with epoprostenol above 100 ng/kg/min are presented. In these two cases, severe PH was improved significantly by an aggressive increase of the epoprostenol infusion rate with administration of oral pulmonary vasodilators and appropriate respiratory management, without any significant adverse effects. High-dose epoprostenol therapy may be one of the therapeutic options in pediatric PH patients with developmental lung disease.

DOI： 10.3389/fped.2023.1116434

Using Biomarkers to Predict Unresponsiveness to Initial Immunoglobulin for Kawasaki Disease Patients Invited

Kato Taichi

Circulation Journal Vol. 86 ( 6 ) page： 984 - 985 2022.5

Tension hemothorax 1 week after pericardiocentesis associated with thrombocytopenia. Reviewed

Yamamoto H, Go K, Morimoto Y, Fukasawa Y, Kato T

Pediatrics international : official journal of the Japan Pediatric Society Vol. 64 ( 1 ) page： e15395 2022.1

Echocardiography Monitoring of Pulmonary Hypertension after Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Pediatric Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation. Reviewed International journal Open Access

Nozomu Kawashima, Yoshie Fukasawa, Eri Nishikawa, Keiko Ohta-Ogo, Hatsue Ishibashi-Ueda, Motoharu Hamada, Daisuke Ichikawa, Atsushi Narita, Yusuke Okuno, Hideki Muramatsu, Nobuhiro Nishio, Seiji Kojima, Taichi Kato, Yoshiyuki Takahashi

Transplantation and cellular therapy Vol. 27 ( 9 ) page： 786.e1 - 786.e8 2021.9

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with high morbidity in children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, owing to the lack of sequential echocardiography, the nature of the condition is not fully understood. This study was conducted to investigate whether routine echocardiography performed after HSCT could detect patients with PH at an earlier stage and elucidate the role of intervention using tadalafil. The study population comprised 93 consecutive children age <18 years who underwent a total of 109 HSCTs. All patients underwent routine transthoracic echocardiography during HSCT. Four children (4%) with a median age of 4 years (range, 0.7 to 6 years) were found to have PH, and their median tricuspid regurgitation peak velocity (TRV) was 4.1 m/s (range, 3.5 to 4.2 m/s). PH was diagnosed at a median of 52 days (range, 21 to 118 days) after HSCT. Three of them were diagnosed with neuroblastoma, and 1 was diagnosed with infantile leukemia. One patient developed PH after autologous HSCT, and 3 received killer immunoglobulin-like receptor ligand-mismatched cord blood. Busulfan was used for conditioning in all patients, and the proportion of patients receiving this medication was significantly higher in the PH group compared with the non-PH group (100% versus 30%; P = .011). Three of the 4 patients had a durable response (TRV ≤2.8 m/s) at a median of 46 days (range, 14 to 79 days) after starting treatment with tadalafil. No patient experienced exacerbation of PH, and treatment was completed at median of 96 days (range, 46 to 212 days). Our data suggest that routine echocardiography monitoring after HSCT should be considered in children receiving busulfan, although the precise follow-up timing needs further study. In addition, safe and effective administration of tadalafil must be ensured by close monitoring.

DOI： 10.1016/j.jtct.2021.05.017

Serum tenascin-C predicts resistance to steroid combination therapy in high-risk Kawasaki disease: a multicenter prospective cohort study. Reviewed

Yoshikane Y, Okuma Y, Miyamoto T, Hashimoto J, Fukazawa R, Kato T, Takeda A, Suda K, Matsushita T, Hiroe M, Imanaka-Yoshida K

Pediatric rheumatology online journal Vol. 19 ( 1 ) page： 82 2021.6

Language：English Publisher：Pediatric Rheumatology

Background: Tenascin-C (TN-C) is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein related to tissue inflammation. Our previous retrospective study conducted in 2016 revealed that the serum tenascin-C level was higher in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) who were resistant to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and developed coronary artery lesions (CALs). The present study is a prospective cohort study to assess if the serum level of tenascin-C could be used as a novel biomarker to predict the risk of resistance to initial treatment for high-risk patients. Methods: A total of 380 KD patients were registered and provided serum samples for tenascin-C measurement before commencing their initial treatment. Patients who did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded from analysis; of the 181 remaining subjects, there were 144 low-risk patients (Kobayashi score: ≤4 points) and 37 high-risk patients (Kobayashi score: ≥5 points). The initial treatments for low-risk patients and high-risk patients were conventional therapy (IVIG with aspirin) and prednisolone combination therapy, respectively. The patient clinical and laboratory data, including the serum tenascin-C level, were compared between initial treatment responders and non-responders. Results: In the low-risk patients, there was no significant difference in the median levels of serum tenascin-C between the initial therapy responders and non-responders. However, in the high-risk patients, the median serum tenascin-C level in initial therapy non-responders was significantly higher than that in initial therapy responders (175.8 ng/ml vs 117.6 ng/ml). Conclusions: Serum tenascin-C could be a biomarker for predicting the risk of high-risk patients being non-responsive to steroid combination therapy. Trial registration: This study was a prospective cohort study. It was approved by the ethics committee of each institute and performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

DOI： 10.1186/s12969-021-00562-w

Ventricular tachycardia and chest pain due to foreign body in the pericardium caused by self-injurious behaviour Reviewed

Comprehensive pathogen detection in sera of Kawasaki disease patients by high-throughput sequencing: a retrospective exploratory study. Reviewed International journal Open Access

Yuka Torii, Kazuhiro Horiba, Satoshi Hayano, Taichi Kato, Takako Suzuki, Jun-Ichi Kawada, Yoshiyuki Takahashi, Seiji Kojima, Yusuke Okuno, Tomoo Ogi, Yoshinori Ito

BMC pediatrics Vol. 20 ( 1 ) page： 482 - 482 2020.10

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

BACKGROUND: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an idiopathic systemic vasculitis that predominantly damages coronary arteries in children. Various pathogens have been investigated as triggers for KD, but no definitive causative pathogen has been determined. As KD is diagnosed by symptoms, several days are needed for diagnosis. Therefore, at the time of diagnosis of KD, the pathogen of the trigger may already be diminished. The aim of this study was to explore comprehensive pathogens in the sera at the acute stage of KD using high-throughput sequencing (HTS). METHODS: Sera of 12 patients at an extremely early stage of KD and 12 controls were investigated. DNA and RNA sequences were read separately using HTS. Sequence data were imported into the home-brew meta-genomic analysis pipeline, PATHDET, to identify the pathogen sequences. RESULTS: No RNA virus reads were detected in any KD case except for that of equine infectious anemia, which is known as a contaminant of commercial reverse transcriptase. Concerning DNA viruses, human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B, two cases) and Anelloviridae (eight cases) were detected among KD cases as well as controls. Multiple bacterial reads were obtained from KD and controls. Bacteria of the genera Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Delfita, Roseomonas, and Rhodocyclaceae appeared to be more common in KD sera than in the controls. CONCLUSION: No single pathogen was identified in serum samples of patients at the acute phase of KD. With multiple bacteria detected in the serum samples, it is difficult to exclude the possibility of contamination; however, it is possible that these bacteria might stimulate the immune system and induce KD.

DOI： 10.1186/s12887-020-02380-7

Two-incision technique for the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator Reviewed International journal

Nomura Yoji, Kato Taichi, Nishihara Eiki, Morishima Itsuro, Kuraishi Kenji

PEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL Vol. 62 ( 6 ) page： 736 - 738 2020.6

A Diversified Approach for the Prevention of Pediatric Sudden Cardiovascular Death in Japan Invited International journal Open Access

Kato Taichi

CIRCULATION JOURNAL Vol. 84 ( 4 ) page： 544 - 545 2020.3

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

Suzuki Kazutaka, Kato Taichi, Koyama Satoshi, Shinohara Tsutomu, Inukai Sachiko, Sato Jun, Yamamoto Hidenori, Omori Daisuke, Yoshida Shuichiro, Takeda Sho, Nishikawa Hiroshi, Ohashi Naoki, Sakurai Hajime, Saitoh Shinji

International Heart Journal Vol. 61 ( 1 ) page： 83 - 88 2020.1

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：International Heart Journal Association

<p>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. LA strain was significantly decreased after ASD-D but was not significantly altered after ASD-S, indicating that percutaneous occlusion of an ASD might decrease LA function. Furthermore, the size of the ASD device negatively correlated with LA strain. These results imply that ASD occlusion devices negatively influence LA function and might be important when decided therapeutic strategies for ASD. LA strain measured by 2DE-ST should become a good indicator of LA function after ASD treatment in children.</p>

DOI： 10.1536/ihj.19-173

Severe fetal cardiomegaly caused by multiple non-giant placental chorioangiomas Reviewed International journal

Yamamoto Hidenori, Fukasawa Yoshie, Kato Taichi

CARDIOLOGY IN THE YOUNG Vol. 29 ( 12 ) page： 1559 - 1560 2019.12

Prediction of postnatal clinical course in primary congenital dilated cardiomyopathy Reviewed International journal

Yamamoto Hidenori, Fukasawa Yoshie, Ohashi Naoki, Yokoyama Takehiko, Suzuki Kazutaka, Ota Takaya, Yasuda Kazushi, Omoya Kentaro, Takahashi Yoshiyuki, Kato Taichi

PEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL Vol. 61 ( 12 ) page： 1196 - 1201 2019.12

Yamamoto Hidenori, Fukasawa Yoshie, Kato Taichi

CARDIOLOGY IN THE YOUNG Vol. 29 ( 9 ) page： 1217 - 1218 2019.9

Cardiovascular Abnormality in RASopathies

Kato Taichi

Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Vol. 35 ( 2 ) page： 132 - 134 2019.5

Successful treatment of esophageal bleeding due to rupture of major aortopulmonary collateral arteries by transcatheter arterial embolization Reviewed

Ito Takanori, Ishigami Masatoshi, Ishizu Yoji, Kuzuya Teiji, Honda Takashi, Matsushima Masaya, Kato Taichi, Hirooka Yoshiki

CLINICAL JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY Vol. 12 ( 1 ) page： 20 - 24 2019.2

Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)

Major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs) are unique vessels associated with hypoxia induced by congenital heart disease (CHD). Although MAPCAs are essential to supply blood to the lungs, their development and proliferation can induce life-threatening complications, such as rupture into the lung. Here, we describe a rare case of esophageal bleeding from MAPCAs in a CHD patient, which was successfully treated by transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE). A 16-year-old male with CHD experienced a hematemesis and melena after the Bentall procedure to treat valvular heart disease. Emergent esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed spurting bleeding from the middle esophageal vessels; accordingly, endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) was performed. However, he had a hematemesis again after 2 weeks of EVL. The arterial phase of dynamic computed tomography indicated that a MAPCA associated with CHD was the origin of bleeding. Hence, TAE of this MAPCA with a mixture of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate and ethiodized oil was performed to prevent re-bleeding. Color Doppler mode in endoscopic ultrasonography via the esophagus revealed mosaic-like signals in MAPCAs located in the esophageal wall. This finding was consistent with tortuous MAPCAs accompanied by turbulent blood flow. When clinicians encounter CHD patients with unexpected massive esophageal bleeding, bleeding related to MAPCAs should be considered.

DOI： 10.1007/s12328-018-0895-8

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