Brain abnormalities in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder assessed by multi-delay arterial spin labeling perfusion and voxel-based morphometry.

PURPOSE: To obtain an understanding of the correlation between hemodynamic differences and morphological changes as well as potential sex differences in children with ADHD using multi-delay pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) imaging and voxel-based morphometry (VBM), especially given that previous findings are limited for girls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 23 children with ADHD (mean age, 8.3 years; 19 boys; 4 girls) and 24 children without ADHD (mean age, 9.1 years; 13 boys; 11 girls) as controls. All participants underwent 3D multi-delay pCASL and T1-weighted imaging. The voxel-based statistical parameter mapping (SPM) method was used for group-wise comparisons. RESULTS: Compared with controls, children with ADHD exhibited decreased regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and gray matter volume (GMV) in the left middle frontal gyrus and left postcentral gyrus. Analysis by sex revealed reduced rCBF and GMV in the left lingual gyrus and left inferior occipital gyrus in boys with ADHD versus controls and increased rCBF and GMV in the left superior frontal gyrus in girls with ADHD. CONCLUSION: Although our results are preliminary because of small sample sizes, several brain regions exhibit changes in both cerebral perfusion and GMV in the same direction in patients with ADHD, with boys with ADHD showing decreased activity and girls with ADHD displaying increased activity in the fronto-parietal cortices.

Effects of daily 1,000-IU vitamin D-fortified milk intake on skeletal muscle mass, power, physical function and nutrition status in Japanese.

An intervention study was conducted to investigate the effects of daily 1,000-IU vitamin D-fortified milk intake on skeletal muscle mass, power, physical function and nutrition status in 26 healthy people and 8 older adults living in a nursing home. The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level was 13.4 ±â€…0.8 ng / mL and it markedly increased to 29.6 ±â€…0.9 ng / mL after daily 1000-IU vitamin D-fortified milk intake for 6 months. Handgrip strength (kg) also significantly increased in the 21-50 years and total groups, and male subjects, and the timed up and go test significantly improved in the 21-50 years and total groups, and female subjects after 6-month vitamin D intake. However, there were no significant differences between baseline and post-treatment in the Barthel Index (BI), walking speed (m / sec) or skeletal muscle mass (kg, % of BW, kg / m2). Therefore, the present study suggested that vitamin D-fortified milk intake is effective at improving muscle strength and physical function in Japanese, although further studies are needed, particularly for older adults. J. Med. Invest. 68 : 249-255, August, 2021.

Cut-off values for skeletal muscle strength and physical functions in Japanese elderly with walking difficulty.

Age-related changes in muscle strength and physical functions, and the association between vitamin D status and skeletal muscle functions were investigated in 36 men (21-90 years old) and 52 women (21-104 years old). Significant ageing-related decreases in several skeletal muscle functions and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were observed in both men and women. Cut-off values for the Timed up and go (TUG) test, walking speed, handgrip strength and Barthel Index (BI) detecting walking difficulties in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were 11.1 sec, 0.60 m / sec, 17.0 kg, and 90.0 in males, and 28.6 sec, 0.43 m / sec, 13.9 kg, and 67.5 in females, respectively. By comparing personal present data of muscle strength with these cut-off values, people can easily understand their process to walking difficulty. Therefore, these results are important and useful to avoid or to delay a handicapped and dependent status by improving the vitamin D level, rehabilitation and nursing care. J. Med. Invest. 68 : 48-52, February, 2021.

Relationship between age-related decreases in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and skeletal muscle mass in Japanese women.

A clearer understanding of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in middle-aged and elderly individuals is important for maintaining functionality. In the present study, age-related changes in SMM, the threshold of SMM with walking difficulty, intestinal nutrient absorption rate, and various serum factors were examined in Japanese populations of different ages. We used 24-h creatinine excretion as a measure of total body SMM. Age-related decreases in SMM, intestinal nutrient absorption rates, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations were significantly higher in women than in men. The cut-off values for SMM (kg), its percentage of total body weight (BW), the SMM index [SMMI] (Kg / m2), and creatinine height index (CHI) (%) in elderly individuals with walking difficulty were approximately 8-10 kg, 17-20% of BW, 3.9-4.6 kg / m2, and 44%, respectively. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were closely associated with SMM (kg, % of BW, kg / m2) and CHI (%) as well as the intestinal absorption rates of nitrogen (%) and phosphorus (%) in women, but not in men. The present results demonstrate that vitamin D is an important metabolic factor in skeletal muscle, and contributes to the optimal management of skeletal muscle and the prevention of sarcopenia. J. Med. Invest. 67 : 151-157, February, 2020.