Validation and determining an optimal cut-off score of the Infant Behavior Checklist for autism spectrum disorder.

Aim: Given the escalating prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the persistent paucity of child psychiatrists in Japan, and the need to prepare for unforeseen situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential to establish a reliable screening tool. This study aims to validate the Infant Behavior Checklist (IBC) developed by Japanese experts and determine its appropriate cut-off score. Methods: A total of 354 clinic-referred children, along with their caregivers, participated in this research. Clinical records, including diagnoses established through the sub-structured diagnostic interviews, and the IBC assessments, were subjected to rigorous statistical analysis. Results: Among the 24 items, six failed to reach significance to differentiate ASD from non-ASD cases. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the IBC was calculated at 0.77. The IBC total score for ASD cases was significantly higher than that of non-ASD cases. With the chosen cut-off score, the IBC demonstrated an area under the ROC curve of 0.803, along with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 8.03, 0.79, 0.69, 0.34, and 0.94, respectively. Conclusion: The IBC exhibits satisfactory internal consistency and content and discriminant validity. The high sensitivity and other associated indices for the optimal cut-off score of the IBC affirm its validity as a screening instrument for ASD. Nevertheless, further investigations are warranted to ascertain the clinical utility of the IBC.

Replicating shear-mediated self-assembly of spider silk through microfluidics.

The development of artificial spider silk with properties similar to native silk has been a challenging task in materials science. In this study, we use a microfluidic device to create continuous fibers based on recombinant MaSp2 spidroin. The strategy incorporates ion-induced liquid-liquid phase separation, pH-driven fibrillation, and shear-dependent induction of ß-sheet formation. We find that a threshold shear stress of approximately 72 Pa is required for fiber formation, and that ß-sheet formation is dependent on the presence of polyalanine blocks in the repetitive sequence. The MaSp2 fiber formed has a ß-sheet content (29.2%) comparable to that of native dragline with a shear stress requirement of 111 Pa. Interestingly, the polyalanine blocks have limited influence on the occurrence of liquid-liquid phase separation and hierarchical structure. These results offer insights into the shear-induced crystallization and sequence-structure relationship of spider silk and have significant implications for the rational design of artificially spun fibers.

Initial Impact of the COVID-19 Outbreak on ADHD Symptoms Among University Students in Japan.

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and its associated societal responses are anticipated to have wide-ranging effects on youth development and mental health. Depression, anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are the three most common mental health problems among university students. Many factors that can threaten mental health during the outbreak affect these three conditions, as well as sleep conditions, in undergraduate students. Thus, determining how these abrupt changes in students' circumstances impact their mental health is very important from a public health perspective. Methods: We investigated the usual conditions and changes in ADHD symptoms during the outbreak, in relation to depressive and sleep-related symptoms among undergraduate students. A total of 252 students, primarily juniors, completed the online survey. Results: The results showed that 12% of the students exceeded the cut-off score of the ADHD questionnaire before the pandemic. Approximately 6%-21% of the university students, especially those with ADHD traits, rated their ADHD behaviors as worse during the outbreak than that before the outbreak. Conclusion: Female students and undergraduates with ADHD traits are more susceptible to experiencing further deterioration of ADHD (inattention) symptoms during the pandemic. In cases where it is difficult to intervene with ADHD symptoms, approaching circadian rhythm or depression will be of considerable clinical use.

Neutralization and Salt Effect on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Polyacrylic Acid Gels under Equivolume Conditions.

The effects of neutralization and salt on the structure and mechanical properties of polyacrylic acid (PAA) gels under equivolume conditions were investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements and tensile tests. We attained the equivolume condition by immersing a piece of PAA gel sample in an ion reservoir containing linear PAA, NaOH, and NaCl at prescribed concentrations (post-ion-tuning). The volume fraction of the linear polymer was set to be the same as that of the gel so as to satisfy the iso-osmotic pressure at the reference state. Various types of reservoirs were prepared by adding NaOH and/or NaCl with different concentrations to the reference reservoir, followed by immersing a PAA gel piece. In the SAXS measurements, a scattering peak appeared, and the scattering intensity at q = 0 decreased by neutralization, while the addition of salt increased the scattering intensity. On the other hand, Young's modulus measured with the tensile test decreased with neutralization; however, it scarcely changed with the addition of salt. The newly developed equivolume post-ion-tuning technique may serve as a new standard scheme to study polyelectrolyte gels.

Discrepancies in Wechsler Adult Intelligent Scale III profile in adult with and without attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

AIM: The Wechsler Adult Intelligent Scale (WAIS) is the most frequently administered cognitive assessment for adult Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); therefore, identifying discrepancies in WAIS profile in patients and comparing with matched controls would be clinically and diagnostically beneficial. METHODS: The WAIS-III profiles of 50 adults with ADHD were compared to an age-matched typical development (TD) group. RESULTS: The adult ADHD group exhibited significantly lower WAIS-III working memory (WM) and processing speed (PS) indices. However, these differences disappeared when intelligence quotient (IQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score, or Autism Quotient (AQ) score was included as a covariate. The adult ADHD group also demonstrated significantly lower scores in several WM- and PS-domain subscales, while crystallized abilities were comparatively preserved. Additionally, only a small portion of participants in both groups lacked any significant gaps between WAIS-III verbal and performance IQ scores (VIQ-PIQ) or associated indices. DISCUSSION: This study confirms previous findings that adult ADHD patients have deficits in WM and PS. However, it is highly likely that comorbidities such as depression and autism spectrum disorder contribute to lower WM and PS scores in adult ADHD. Unexpectedly, a "flat profile" is uncommon even in TD adults. Therefore, clinician should assess how WAIS deficits affect daily life rather than merely considering an uneven WAIS profile when diagnosing and treating adult ADHD.

Evaluation of Mesh Size in Model Polymer Networks Consisting of Tetra-Arm and Linear Poly(ethylene glycol)s.

The structure and mechanical properties of model polymer networks consisting of alternating tetra-functional poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) and bis-functional linear PEGs were investigated by dynamic light scattering and rheological measurements. The sizes of the correlation blob ( ξ c ) and the elastic blob ( ξ e l ) were obtained from these measurements and compared to the theoretical mesh size, the geometric blob ( ξ g ), calculated by using the tree-like approximation. By fixing the concentration of tetra-PEGs and tuning the molecular weight of linear-PEGs, we systematically compared these blob sizes in two cases: complete network (Case A) and incomplete network (Case B). The correlation blob, ξ c , obtained by dynamic light scattering (DLS) was found to obey the well-known concentration dependence for polymer solutions in semidilute regime ( ξ c ~ ϕ - 3 / 4 ) irrespective of the Cases. On the other hand, the G ' was strongly dependent on the Cases: For Case A, G ' was weakly dependent on the molecular weight of linear-PEGs ( G ' ~ M c 0.69 ) while G ' for Case B was a strong increasing function of M c   ( G ' ~ M c 1.2 ). However, both of them are different from the geometric blob (theoretical mesh) of the gel networks. In addition, interesting relationships between G ' and ξ c , G ' ~ ξ c , G ' ~ ξ C - 2 , were obtained for Cases A and B, respectively.

Psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the Adult Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Self-Report Scale (ASRS-J) and its short scale in accordance with DSM-5 diagnostic criteria.

We developed the Japanese version of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-J) and report its psychometric properties. The ASRS-J and other questionnaires were administered to 48 adults with ADHD, 46 adults with non-ADHD psychiatric disorders, 96 non-clinical adults, and 894 university students. ADHD diagnoses were made using the Japanese semi-structured diagnostic interview for adult ADHD, which is compatible with the DSM-5. The ASRS-J, its subscales, and the short form, all had Cronbach's α values of around 0.80. Total scores on the ASRS-J and the ASRS-J-6 were highly correlated with readministration after a two-week interval. The total and 18 individual item scores in the ASRS-J were significantly higher in the ADHD group than the other three groups. ASRS-J scores were correlated with scores on the Japanese version of Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scales-Self Report subscales (0.59≤r≤0.77), with one exception. ASRS-J scores were also correlated (albeit more weakly; r=0.38) with Beck Depression Inventory-II total scores. Employing optimal cut-offs, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the ASRS-J and ASRS-J-6 are all above 0.69. The ASRS-J and ASRS-J-6 showed acceptable psychometric properties, although further study is necessary.

Psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale: Self-Report.

The Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale Self-Report has been translated into nine languages and has been widely used in assessing functional impairment of adults with ADHD. This study is a psychometric validation of the WFIRS-S in Japanese. The WFIRS-S-J and other questionnaires were administered to 46 adults with attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), 104 control adults, and 889 university students. ADHD diagnoses were made using the Japanese semi-structured diagnostic interview for adult ADHD, which is compatible with the DSM-5. All subscales of the WFIRS-S-J had Cronbach's α values of around 0.80. Total scores on the WFIRS-S-J had high test-retest reliability after a 2-week interval. The total score, subscale scores, and 59 of the individual item scores of the 70 items in the WFIRS-S-J were significantly higher in the ADHD group than in the other two groups, although more than half of the items in subdomain G (risk) showed floor effects and did not reach significance. Generally WFIRS-S-J subdomain scores were moderately correlated with scores on the Japanese version of Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scales Self-Report subscales. WFIRS-S-J scores were also correlated (albeit more weakly; 0.31 ≤ r ≤ 0.55) with Beck Depression Inventory II total scores. The WFIRS-S-J showed acceptable psychometric properties, although further study is necessary.

Psychometric properties of the self-rating organization scale with adult samples.

Organization skills are defined broadly to include both materials and temporal features. Given its symptoms and neurobiological features, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) should be susceptible to impairment in organization. A valid organization scale is imperative to assess and intervene individuals with ADHD. However, there is no validated organization scale in Japan. Referring to existing scales and clinical experience, the self-rating organization scale (SOS) was developed and tested in terms of its psychometric properties with 1,017 adults and students including 47 adults with ADHD. Additionally, cutoffs for disorganization were set for clinical utility. Three factors (materials disorganization, temporal disorganization, and mess) were extracted by factor analyses. The index for reliability and validity of the SOS was acceptable. The factor "mess" could reflect the unique aspect of the Japanese environment. Further study is needed to enhance the clinical utility of the SOS.

Reliability and validity of ADHD diagnostic criteria in the Assessment System for Individuals with ADHD (ASIA): a Japanese semi-structured diagnostic interview.

BACKGROUND: With reports of a high prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults, publication of ADHD diagnostic criteria in DSM-5, and the urgent need for a relevant diagnostic instrument conforming to DSM-5, we developed the Assessment System for Individuals with ADHD (ASIA), a Japanese semi-structured diagnostic interview. We report here the reliability and validity of ASIA ADHD diagnostic criteria. METHODS: ASIA ADHD criterion A corresponds to DSM-5 ADHD criterion A and has 144 original questions assessing nine inattention symptoms and nine hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms, each having four childhood and four adulthood questions. The 144 questions are evaluated on a 3-point frequency scale. ASIA ADHD criteria B to E correspond to DSM-5 ADHD criteria B to E and are evaluated on a 2-point scale. ASIA was administered to 60 adults (mean age, 29.9 ± 9.0 years; 28 males; 36 ADHD and 24 non-ADHD participants diagnosed by consensus of two experts). RESULTS: For ASIA ADHD criterion A, values of Cronbach's α for the adulthood and childhood inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms ranged from 0.64 to 0.90. Values of κ for two independent raters ranged from 0.98 to 1.00 for the 144 questions and raw agreement rates ranged from 0.97 to 1.00 for criteria B, C, D, and E. The consensus DSM-5 diagnoses endorsed 59 of the 60 ASIA diagnoses (ADHD and non-ADHD). The ADHD group scored significantly higher on 125 of the 144 questions for criterion A than the non-ADHD group. Correlations between ASIA total and subscale scores in adulthood and corresponding scores on the Japanese version of the Conners' Adult ADHD Scales-Self Report were high. CONCLUSIONS: ASIA ADHD criteria showed acceptable psychometric properties, although further investigation is necessary. The use of ASIA ADHD criteria could facilitate clinical practice and research into adult ADHD in Japan.