Children with ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are considered to have no difference in cardiopulmonary functional capacity with healthy children of the same age; however, studies have shown contradictory findings. The aim of this study was to assess whether Taiwanese children with VSDs exhibited cardiopulmonary deficits. This is a retrospective cohort study with the data collected from January 2010 to December 2021. All patients and controls (age-, sex-, and body mass index -matched) underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and pulmonary function test. In total, 157 VSD patients (80 patients with surgically closed VSDs, 77 patients with unrepaired VSDs) and 157 healthy controls were recruited. Pulmonary function test showed significant among-group differences in maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) (p = 0.015). The surgically closed group had lower MVV compared to the control group. Regarding CPET, we found VSD patients had lower peak oxygen uptake than the controls (surgically closed group: 30.84 ± 6.27 ml/kg/min; unrepaired group: 32.00 ± 5.95 ml/kg/min; control group: 36.76 ± 6.50 ml/kg/min, p < 0.001). There was also significant among-group differences in aerobic capacity (surgically closed group: 21.20 ± 4.39 ml/kg/min; unrepaired group: 21.68 ± 4.47 ml/kg/min; control group: 26.25 ± 4.33 ml/kg/min, p < 0.001). In addition, the surgically closed group had lower heart rate average at anaerobic threshold than the control group (surgically closed group: 138.11 ± 16.42 bpm; control group: 145.78 ± 15.53 bpm, p = 0.002). Taiwanese children with VSD, whether surgically closed or not, have poorer cardiopulmonary performance than age-matched healthy children, and the results of the surgically closed group were even worse.

Early intervention is pivotal for optimizing neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with language delay, where increased language stimulation can optimize therapeutic outcomes. Extending speech–language therapy from clinical settings to the home is a promising strategy; however, practical barriers and a lack of scalable, customizable home-based models limit the implementation of this approach. The integration of AI-powered digital interactive tools could bridge this gap. This pilot feasibility study adopted a single-arm pre–post (before–after) design within a two-phase, mixed-methods framework to evaluate a generative AI-powered interactive platform supporting home-based language therapy in children with either idiopathic language delay or autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-related language impairment: two conditions known to involve heterogeneous developmental profiles. The participants received clinical language assessments and engaged in home-based training using AI-enhanced tablet software, and 2000 audio recordings were collected and analyzed to assess pre- and postintervention language abilities. A total of 22 children aged 2–12 years were recruited, with 19 completing both phases. Based on 6-week cumulative usage, participants were stratified with respect to hours of AI usage into Groups A (≤5 h, n = 5), B (5 < h ≤ 10, n = 5), C (10 < h ≤ 15, n = 4), and D (>15 h, n = 5). A threshold effect was observed: only Group D showed significant gains between baseline and postintervention, with total words (58→110, p = 0.043), characters (98→192, p = 0.043), type–token ratio (0.59→0.78, p = 0.043), nouns (34→56, p = 0.043), verbs (12→34, p = 0.043), and mean length of utterance (1.83→3.24, p = 0.043) all improving. No significant changes were found in Groups A to C. These findings indicate the positive impact of extended use on the development of language. Generative AI-powered digital interactive tools, when they are integrated into home-based language therapy programs, can significantly improve language outcomes in children who have language delay and ASD. This approach offers a scalable, cost-effective extension of clinical care to the home, demonstrating the potential to enhance therapy accessibility and long-term outcomes.

This study investigated the cardiopulmonary function of prepubertal patients with Kawasaki Disease (KD) and compared it with that of healthy controls. Retrospective cohort study METHODS: Data were collected from two medical centers in Taiwan from January 2014 to December 2023. Patients aged 8 to 12 years with a KD history were recruited. All patients and controls (age-, sex-, and body mass index -matched) underwent Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPET) and pulmonary function test. A total of 117 KD patients (mean age 9.64 ± 1.66 years; 68 males (58.1 %); (Body Mass Index [BMI] 19.21 ± 4.20 kg/m²) and 121 controls (mean age 9.72 ± 1.66 years; 71 males (58.7 %); BMI 18.47 ± 3.30 kg/m²) were analyzed. The average time from illness onset to enrollment was 7.94 ± 2.84 years. No significant differences in demographic characteristics or pulmonary function were observed. However, the KD group exhibited lower aerobic capacity (24.32 ± 5.02 vs. 26.08 ± 4.89 mL/min/kg, p < 0.001) and peak exercise tolerance (35.43 ± 7.31 vs. 38.48 ± 6.24 mL/min/kg, p < 0.001) compared to controls. Furthermore, the KD group had lower cardiopulmonary function than the control group among males, whereas the difference in females did not reach statistical significance. Prepubertal individuals with a KD history demonstrated lower aerobic capacity and peak exercise tolerance than healthy peers, particularly among males. Despite this, they can safely engage in moderate-to-vigorous physical activities, which are essential for maintaining cardiopulmonary health in later life. Encouraging regular exercise among these patients is crucial.

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