Deep learning reconstruction in pediatric brain MRI: comparison of image quality with conventional T2-weighted MRI.

INTRODUCTION: Deep learning-based MRI reconstruction has recently been introduced to improve image quality. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of deep learning reconstruction in pediatric brain MRI. METHODS: A total of 107 consecutive children who underwent 3.0 T brain MRI were included in this study. T2-weighted brain MRI was reconstructed using the three different reconstruction modes: deep learning reconstruction, conventional reconstruction with an intensity filter, and original T2 image without a filter. Two pediatric radiologists independently evaluated the following image quality parameters of three reconstructed images on a 5-point scale: overall image quality, image noisiness, sharpness of gray-white matter differentiation, truncation artifact, motion artifact, cerebrospinal fluid and vascular pulsation artifacts, and lesion conspicuity. The subjective image quality parameters were compared among the three reconstruction modes. Quantitative analysis of the signal uniformity using the coefficient of variation was performed for each reconstruction. RESULTS: The overall image quality, noisiness, and gray-white matter sharpness were significantly better with deep learning reconstruction than with conventional or original reconstruction (all P < 0.001). Deep learning reconstruction had significantly fewer truncation artifacts than the other two reconstructions (all P < 0.001). Motion and pulsation artifacts showed no significant differences among the three reconstruction modes. For 36 lesions in 107 patients, lesion conspicuity was better with deep learning reconstruction than original reconstruction. Deep learning reconstruction showed lower signal variation compared to conventional and original reconstructions. CONCLUSION: Deep learning reconstruction can reduce noise and truncation artifacts and improve lesion conspicuity and overall image quality in pediatric T2-weighted brain MRI.

Results From South Korean 2022 Para Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents With Disabilities.

South Korea has developed its first Para Report Card on physical activity (PA) for children and adolescents with disabilities. Five national surveillance databases were used to evaluate PA indicators based on the benchmarks and grading rubric provided by Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance. Report card evaluation committees were invited to grade and assess the results using strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis. Five indicators (overall PA, D+; organized sports and PA, D-; active transportation, D-; physical fitness, D+; and government, A+) and one additional indicator (sleep, C-) were assigned a letter grade. The other five indicators were graded as incomplete. The Para Report Card revealed a significant gap between the behavioral-indicator grades (D- to D+) and the policy-indicator grade (A+), suggesting that government strategies and investment have not yet been translated into behavioral PA among children and adolescents with disabilities.

Application of the theory of planned behavior to understand physical activity intentions and behavior among Korean breast cancer survivors.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to apply the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to understand physical activity intentions and behaviors among Korean breast cancer survivors. METHODS: A total of 286 Korean breast cancer survivors (Mage52.3 ± 8.3) completed a self-reported survey administered face to face by a trained interviewer. The survey assessed the physical activity frequency and intensity in a typical week after breast cancer diagnosis, demographic factors, and theory of planned behavior variables including attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control (PBC), planning, and intentions to participate in physical activity. We used structural equation modeling to examine the direct and indirect effects of the TPB variables on physical activity intentions and behavior. Covariates included age, cancer stage, and clinical treatment. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analyses indicated a satisfactory model fit. We observed direct effects for instrumental attitude (ß = 0.34, p < 0.001), subjective norm (ß = 0.12, p < 0.05), and PBC (ß = 0.57, p < 0.001) on physical activity intentions. PBC (ß = .17, p < 0.01) and physical activity intentions (ß = 0.46, p < 0.01) had direct effects on planning. PBC (ß = 0.28, p < 0.01) and planning (ß = 0.22, p < 0.01) had direct effects on physical activity behavior. CONCLUSION: The TPB was a useful model for understanding Korean breast cancer survivors' physical activity intentions and behavior. Interventions that can enhance attitudes, subjective norm, PBC, intention, and planning may facilitate physical activity intentions and behaviors in this population.

Respiratory motion-resolved four-dimensional zero echo time (4D ZTE) lung MRI using retrospective soft gating: feasibility and image quality compared with 3D ZTE.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the feasibility and image quality of respiratory motion-resolved 4D zero echo time (ZTE) lung MRI compared with that of 3D ZTE. METHODS: Our institutional review board approved this study. Twenty-one patients underwent lung scans using 3D ZTE and 4D ZTE sequences via prospective and retrospective soft gating techniques, respectively. Image qualities of 3D ZTE and 4D ZTE at end-expiration were compared through objective and subjective assessments. The quality of end-expiratory images of 3D ZTE and 4D ZTE of the two groups with different lung functions was also compared. RESULTS: Images were successfully acquired in all patients without any adverse events. Signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of lung parenchyma and thoracic structures were significantly (all p < 0.001) higher in 4D ZTE. Contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) of peripheral bronchi, peripheral pulmonary vessels, and nodules or masses were significantly (all p < 0.001) higher in 4D ZTE. The subjective image quality assessed by two independent radiologists showed that intrapulmonary structures, noise and artifacts, and overall acceptability were superior in 4D ZTE (all p < 0.001). Image qualities of groups with normal and low lung functions differed significantly (all p < 0.05) in 3D ZTE, but not in 4D ZTE. The mean acquisition time was 136 s (127-143 s) in 3D ZTE and 325 s (308-352 s) in 4D ZTE. CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory motion-resolved 4D ZTE lung imaging was feasible as part of routine chest MRI. The 4D ZTE provides motion-robust lung parenchymal images with better SNR and CNR than the 3D ZTE, regardless of patients' lung function. KEY POINTS: • ZTE MRI captures rapidly decaying transverse magnetization in the lung parenchyma. • 4D ZTE provides motion-robust lung parenchymal images with better SNR and CNR compared with 3D ZTE. • Compared with 3D ZTE, the image quality of 4D ZTE lung MRI was affected less by patients' lung function and respiratory performance.

Comparison of lung imaging using three-dimensional ultrashort echo time and zero echo time sequences: preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of using high-resolution volumetric zero echo time (ZTE) sequence in routine lung magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and compare free breathing 3D ultrashort echo time (UTE) and ZTE lung MRI in terms of image quality and small-nodule detection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our Institutional Review Board approved this study. Twenty patients underwent both UTE and ZTE sequences during routine lung MR. UTE and ZTE images were compared in terms of subjective image quality and detection of lung parenchymal signal, intrapulmonary structures, and sub-centimeter nodules. Differences between the two sequences were compared through statistical analysis. RESULTS: Lung parenchyma showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in ZTE than in UTE. The SNR and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of peripheral bronchus and small pulmonary arteries were significantly (all p < 0.05) higher in ZTE. Subjective image quality evaluated by two independent radiologists in terms of depicting normal structures and overall acceptability was superior in ZTE (p < 0.05). The diagnostic accuracy for sub-centimeter nodules was significantly higher for ZTE (reader 1: AUC, 0.972; p = 0.044; reader 2: AUC, 0.946; p = 0.045) than that for UTE (reader 1: AUC, 0.885; reader 2: AUC, 0.855). Mean scan time was 131 s (125-141 s) in ZTE and 467 s (453-508 s) in UTE. ZTE images were obtained with less acoustic noise. CONCLUSION: Implementing ZTE as an additional sequence in routine lung MR is feasible. ZTE can provide high-resolution pulmonary structural information with better SNR and CNR using shorter time than UTE. KEY POINTS: • Both UTE and ZTE techniques use very short TEs to capture signals from very short T2/T2* tissues. • ZTE is superior in capturing lung parenchymal signal than UTE. • ZTE provides high-resolution structural information with better SNR and CNR for normal intrapulmonary structures and small nodules using shorter scan time than UTE.

Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin as a biomarker for disease severity and relapse in recalcitrant atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Eosinophils are encountered in many skin diseases, but the role of eosinophils in atopic dermatitis (AD) remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To examine the role of serum eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and total IgE as a biomarker of disease severity and relapse in severe recalcitrant AD. METHODS: We enrolled 99 patients with AD: 37 with severe recalcitrant AD, 20 with severe AD, and 42 with mild to moderate AD. We examined the difference in serum level of total IgE, ECP, and EDN between the groups and whether any correlation existed between disease severity and ECP or EDN. Lastly, difference in levels of ECP or EDN between those who experienced relapse was examined in the severe recalcitrant group. RESULTS: Serum levels of total IgE, ECP, and EDN were significantly higher in the severe recalcitrant AD group and severe AD group compared with the mild to moderate AD group. No significant difference was found in serum levels of total IgE, ECP, and EDN between the severe recalcitrant group and severe group. EDN had a significant positive correlation with the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis. No significant correlation was found between EDN and ECP. In the severe recalcitrant group, 29.7% of patients experienced relapse, and EDN was significantly higher in those who experienced relapse. The cutoff value of EDN for predicting relapse was 64.5. CONCLUSION: EDN correlated with the disease severity of AD. EDN may predict relapse in severe recalcitrant AD. The EDN serum level could be considered a candidate molecule as a clinical biomarker for evaluating AD disease activity and a predictor of relapse.

Asymmetric magnetoconductance and magneto-Coulomb effect in a carbon nanotube single electron transistor.

We report single step-like asymmetric magnetoconductance from a double-walled carbon nanotube single electron transistor contacted by ferromagnetic cobalt electrodes. The device conductance changed significantly when the direction of the applied magnetic field was reversed, but did not show the spin-valve-type double extrema feature near the coercive field of the electrodes. The magnetoconductance also showed quasi-periodic sign-reversing oscillations with respect to the applied bias. The bias-dependent oscillation of the magnetoconductance was compared with the quantum dot stability diagram for the device. As a result, it was confirmed that the asymmetric magnetoconductance was caused by the magneto-Coulomb effect.

Local scanning probe polymerization of an organic monolayer covalently grafted on silicon.

The possibility of lateral extension of conjugation within a covalently grafted molecular layer by a scanning probe-based method was tested. A molecular layer derived from ω-(N-pyrrolyl)propanol was formed on n-type Si(111) surface. Application of large sample biases greater than ±4 V during conductive atomic force microscope (AFM) scans under vacuum resulted in changes of mechanical and electrical characteristics of the molecular layer: the tip-sample conductance was increased greatly, the friction was reduced significantly, and the surface potential of the scanned area was increased. The reduction in friction could be attributed to molecular linking formed within the layer. The increased conductance suggested extended conjugation among the pyrrolyl end groups. Therefore, it was inferred that the biased AFM scan successfully induced local polymerization/oligomerization within the covalently grafted molecular layer.

Prevalence of primary immunodeficiency in Korea.

This study represents the first epidemiological study based on the national registry of primary immunodeficiencies (PID) in Korea. Patient data were collected from 23 major hospitals. A total of 152 patients with PID (under 19 yr of age), who were observed from 2001 to 2005, have been entered in this registry. The period prevalence of PID in Korea in 2005 is 11.25 per million children. The following frequencies were found: antibody deficiencies, 53.3% (n = 81), phagocytic disorders, 28.9% (n = 44); combined immunodeficiencies, 13.2% (n = 20); and T cell deficiencies, 4.6% (n = 7). Congenital agammaglobulinemia (n = 21) and selective IgA deficiency (n = 21) were the most frequently reported antibody deficiency. Other reported deficiencies were common variable immunodeficiencies (n = 16), X-linked agammaglobulinemia (n = 15), IgG subclass deficiency (n = 4). Phagocytic disorder was mostly chronic granulomatous disease. A small number of patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, hyper-IgE syndrome, and severe combined immunodeficiency were also registered. Overall, the most common first manifestation was pneumonia. This study provides data that permit a more accurate estimation PID patients in Korea.

Sodium sulfite enhances rhinovirus-induced chemokine production in airway epithelial cells.

We investigated the effects of sodium sulfite (Na(2)SO(3)) on rhinovirus (RV)-induced chemokine production in A549 airway epithelial cells. Our results demonstrated that the treatment of A549 cells with 2,500 µM Na(2)SO(3) enhanced the mRNA expression of RV-induced interleukin (IL)-8 1.8 fold (p = 0.025); and regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), 2.9 fold (p = 0.025). Moreover, the secretion of IL-8, RANTES, and interferon-γ-inducible protein (IP)-10 was increased in a statistically significant manner without affecting cell viability and RV replication. Our results suggest that Na(2)SO(3) may potentiate RV infection by enhancing chemokine production.

Hysteretic temperature dependence of resistance controlled by gate voltage in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterointerface electron system.

For two-dimensional electron gas device applications, it is important to understand how electrical-transport properties are controlled by gate voltage. Here, we report gate voltage-controllable hysteresis in the resistance-temperature characteristics of two-dimensional electron gas at LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterointerface. Electron channels made of the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterointerface showed hysteretic resistance-temperature behavior: the measured resistance was significantly higher during upward temperature sweeps in thermal cycling tests. Such hysteretic behavior was observed only after application of positive back-gate voltages below 50 K in the thermal cycle, and the magnitude of hysteresis increased with the applied back-gate voltage. To explain this gate-controlled resistance hysteresis, we propose a mechanism based on electron trapping at impurity sites, in conjunction with the strong temperature-dependent dielectric constant of the SrTiO3 substrate. Our model explains well the observed gate-controlled hysteresis of the resistance-temperature characteristics, and the mechanism should be also applicable to other SrTiO3-based oxide systems, paving the way to applications of oxide heterostructures to electronic devices.

Atomic imaging of nucleation of trimethylaluminum on clean and H2O functionalized Ge(100) surfaces.

The direct reaction of trimethylaluminum (TMA) on a Ge(100) surface and the effects of monolayer H(2)O pre-dosing were investigated using ultrahigh vacuum techniques, such as scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and density functional theory (DFT). At room temperature (RT), a saturation TMA dose produced 0.8 monolayers (ML) of semi-ordered species on a Ge(100) surface due to the dissociative chemisorption of TMA. STS confirmed the chemisorption of TMA passivated the bandgap states due to dangling bonds. By annealing the TMA-dosed Ge surface, the STM observed coverage of TMA sites decreased to 0.4 ML at 250 °C, and to 0.15 ML at 450 °C. XPS analysis showed that only carbon content was reduced during annealing, while the Al coverage was maintained at 0.15 ML, consistent with the desorption of methyl (-CH(3)) groups from the TMA adsorbates. Conversely, saturation TMA dosing at RT on the monolayer H(2)O pre-dosed Ge(100) surface followed by annealing at 200 °C formed a layer of Ge-O-Al bonds with an Al coverage a factor of two greater than the TMA only dosed Ge(100), consistent with Ge-OH activation of TMA chemisorption and Ge-H blocking of CH(3) chemisorption. The DFT shows that the reaction of TMA has lower activation energy and is more exothermic on Ge-OH than Ge-H sites. It is proposed that the H(2)O pre-dosing enhances the concentration of adsorbed Al and forms thermally stable Ge-O-Al bonds along the Ge dimer row which could serve as a nearly ideal atomic layer deposition nucleation layer on Ge(100) surface.

Epidemiological features of Kawasaki disease in Korea, 2006-2008.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence and describe the epidemiological characteristics of Kawasaki disease among children in Korea. METHODS: Questionnaires for surveying the epidemiology of Kawasaki disease were distributed to a total of 101 hospitals that conduct pediatric residency programs. Then, we retrospectively obtained the data, which covered a three-year period (2006-2008) and analyzed them. RESULTS: During the three-year study period, a total of 9039 cases of Kawasaki disease were reported from 84 hospitals (response rate, 83.2%), comprising 5375 boys and 3664 girls (male:female ratio, 1.47:1). The outbreak rate per 100,000 children <5 years old was 108.7 in 2006, 118.3 in 2007 and 112.5 in 2008 (average rate, 113.1). The seasonal distribution showed a slightly higher incidence rate in winter and summer. The patients' mean age of onset was 32.6 months, while the proportions of sibling cases and recurrent cases were 0.17% and 2.2%, respectively. Coronary arterial abnormalities were detected during follow up by echocardiogram in 17.5% of all cases including dilatations (16.4%) and aneurysms (2.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The average annual incidence rate of Kawasaki disease in Korea has been continuously increasing, and reached 113.1/100,000 children <5 years old, which is the second highest rate in the world.

Initiation of a passivated interface between hafnium oxide and In(Ga)As(0 0 1)-(4x2).

Hafnium oxide interfaces were studied on two related group III rich semiconductor surfaces, InAs(0 0 1)-(4x2) and In(0.53)Ga(0.47)As(0 0 1)-(4x2), via two different methods: reactive oxidation of deposited Hf metal and electron beam deposition of HfO(2). The interfaces were investigated with scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STS). Single Hf atom chemisorption sites were identified that are resistant to oxidation by O(2), but Hf islands are reactive to O(2). After e(-) beam deposition of <<1 ML of HfO(2), single chemisorption sites were identified. At low coverage (<1 ML), the n-type and p-type HfO(2)/InGaAs(0 0 1)-(4x2) interfaces show p-type character in STS, which is typical of clean InGaAs(0 0 1)-(4x2). After annealing below 200 degrees C, full coverage HfO(2)/InGaAs(0 0 1)-(4x2) (1-3 ML) has the surface Fermi level shifted toward the conduction band minimum for n-type InGaAs, but near the valence band maximum for p-type InGaAs. This is consistent with the HfO(2)/InGaAs(0 0 1)-(4x2) interface being at least partially unpinned, i.e., a low density of states in the band gap. The partially unpinned interface results from the modest strength of the bonding between HfO(2) and InGaAs(0 0 1)-(4x2) that prevents substrate atom disruption. The fortuitous structure of HfO(2) on InAs(0 0 1)-(4x2) and InGaAs(0 0 1)-(4x2) allows for the elimination of the partially filled dangling bonds on the surface, which are usually responsible for Fermi level pinning.

Difference of clinical features in childhood Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: M. pneumoniae pneumonia (MP) has been reported in 10-40% of community-acquired pneumonia cases. We aimed to evaluate the difference of clinical features in children with MP, according to their age and chest radiographic patterns. METHODS: The diagnosis of MP was made by examinations at both admission and discharge and by two serologic tests: the indirect microparticle agglutinin assay (>or=1:40) and the cold agglutinins titer (>or=1:32). A total of 191 children with MP were grouped by age: or=6 years of age (81 patients). They were also grouped by pneumonia pattern: bronchopneumonia group (96 patients) and segmental/lobar pneumonia group (95 patients). RESULTS: Eighty-six patients (45%) were seroconverters, and the others showed increased antibody titers during hospitalization. Among the three age groups, the oldest children showed the longest duration of fever, highest C-reactive protein (CRP) values, and the most severe pneumonia pattern. The patients with segmental/lobar pneumonia were older and had longer fever duration and lower white blood cell (WBC) and lymphocyte counts, compared with those with bronchopneumonia. The patient group with the most severe pulmonary lesions had the most prolonged fever, highest CRP, highest rate of seroconverters, and lowest lymphocyte counts. Thrombocytosis was observed in 8% of patients at admission, but in 33% of patients at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: In MP, older children had more prolonged fever and more severe pulmonary lesions. The severity of pulmonary lesions was associated with the absence of diagnostic IgM antibodies at presentation and lymphocyte count. Short-term paired IgM serologic test may be mandatory for early and definitive diagnosis of MP.

Validation of Deep Learning-Based Artifact Correction on Synthetic FLAIR Images in a Different Scanning Environment.

We investigated the capability of a trained deep learning (DL) model with a convolutional neural network (CNN) in a different scanning environment in terms of ameliorating the quality of synthetic fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images. The acquired data of 319 patients obtained from the retrospective review were used as test sets for the already trained DL model to correct the synthetic FLAIR images. Quantitative analyses were performed for native synthetic FLAIR and DL-FLAIR images against conventional FLAIR images. Two neuroradiologists assessed the quality and artifact degree of the native synthetic FLAIR and DL-FLAIR images. The quantitative parameters showed significant improvement on DL-FLAIR in all individual tissue segments and total intracranial tissues than on the native synthetic FLAIR (p < 0.0001). DL-FLAIR images showed improved image quality with fewer artifacts than the native synthetic FLAIR images (p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in the preservation of the periventricular white matter hyperintensities and lesion conspicuity between the two FLAIR image sets (p = 0.217). The quality of synthetic FLAIR images was improved through artifact correction using the trained DL model on a different scan environment. DL-based correction can be a promising solution for ameliorating the quality of synthetic FLAIR images to broaden the clinical use of synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Massive empyema associated with transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy and IgA deficiency.

Transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy (THI) is originally defined as a physiological maturation defect of immunoglobulin G (IgG) production that occurs at 3-6 months of age and lasts until 18 to 36 months of age. We report here on a 22-month-old child with THI and IgA deficiency, who had massive pneumococcal empyema. Her depressed IgG level returned to normal within 6 months, but IgA level was still low at 6 yr of age. Although THI is an age-dependent and self-limiting disorder, severe infection that includes an atypical presentation of an infection may occur in some patients and this requires evaluation with immunologic study.

The effects and safety of dexibuprofen compared with ibuprofen in febrile children caused by upper respiratory tract infection.

AIM: To evaluate the antipyretic efficacy and tolerability of dexibuprofen compared with ibuprofen in children with fever caused by upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). METHODS: The study population consisted of children aged 6 months to 14 years. At the time of visit to the hospital, the children had fever; the cause of fever was determined to be URTI by a paediatrician based on history taking and physical examination. The study was a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, controlled parallel group, comparative, Phase 3 clinical trial, conducted at three hospitals. By using a computer-based random assignment program, the subjects were allocated to the following three groups: 5 mg kg(-1) dexibuprofen group, 7 mg kg(-1) dexibuprofen group, and 10 mg kg(-1) ibuprofen group. RESULTS: In the clinical trial of the antipyretic action of dexibuprofen in patients with fever caused by URTI, there was no statistically significant difference in maximal decrease of temperature and mean time to become apyrexial among the 5 mg kg(-1) dexibuprofen, 7 mg kg(-1) dexibuprofen and 10 mg kg(-1) ibuprofen groups (P > 0.05). There also was no significant difference in adverse drug reaction (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Dexibuprofen is as effective and tolerable as ibuprofen. A dose of 5 mg kg(-1) and 7 mg kg(-1) dexibuprofen in place of 10 mg kg(-1) ibuprofen would be sufficient to control fever caused by URTI in children.

Local inhomogeneity in gate hysteresis of carbon nanotube field-effect transistors investigated by scanning gate microscopy.

Local nature of gate hysteresis in a carbon nanotube field-effect transistor (CNFET) was studied using scanning gate microscopy (SGM). A sequential set of SGM images of the CNFET fabricated on a SiO(2)/Si substrate was obtained at a low temperature under an ultra-high vacuum. Comparisons of the SGM images obtained at decreasing and increasing gate voltage steps revealed that the order of appearance of SGM defects could not be accounted for by a uniform distribution of hysteretic gate screening along the carbon nanotube (CNT) channel. It was concluded that the gate hysteresis in the CNFET had substantial local variations along the CNT. The local inhomogeneity in gate hysteresis was attributed to inhomogeneous distribution of screening charge traps or sources on the SiO(2) surface.

Kawasaki disease in Korea, 2003-2005.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence rate and epidemiologic patterns of Kawasaki disease in Korea for the 3-year-period, 2003-2005. METHODS: The questionnaire for an epidemiologic survey on Kawasaki disease was distributed to all 102 Korean hospitals that conduct pediatric residency programs, and obtained data were analyzed upon receipt. RESULTS: The 9662 patients of Kawasaki disease from 85 hospitals that responded (response rate, 83.3%) consisted of 5877 males and 3785 females (male:female ratio, 1.55:1). The incidence rate per 100,000 children <5-year-old was 104.2 in 2003, 106.4 in 2004, and 104.6 in 2005 (average rate, 105.0). Their mean age of onset was 33.3 months, and the proportions of sibling cases and recurrent cases were 0.29% and 2.0%, respectively. Coronary arterial abnormalities were detected at follow-up by echocardiogram in 18.8% of all such cases including dilatations of 18.0% and aneurysms of 2.5%. CONCLUSION: The average annual rate of incidence, 105.0/100,000 in children <5-year-old is the second highest reported rate in the world.