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BackgroundEarly detection and intervention for neurodevelopmental disorders are effective. Several types of paper questionnaires have been developed to assess these conditions in early childhood; however, the psychometric equivalence between the web-based and the paper versions of these questionnaires is unknown. ObjectiveThis study examined the interformat reliability of the web-based parent-rated version of the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale (ADHD-RS), Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire 2007 (DCDQ), and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) among Japanese preschoolers in a community developmental health check-up setting. MethodsA set of paper-based questionnaires were distributed for voluntary completion to parents of children aged 5 years. The package of the paper format questionnaires included the ASSQ, ADHD-RS, DCDQ, parent-reported SDQ (P-SDQ), and several additional demographic questions. Responses were received from 508 parents of children who agreed to participate in the study. After 3 months, 300 parents, who were among the initial responders, were randomly selected and asked to complete the web-based versions of these questionnaires. A total of 140 parents replied to the web-based format and were included as a final sample in this study. ResultsWe obtained the McDonald ω coefficients for both the web-based and paper formats of the ASSQ (web-based: ω=.90; paper: ω=.86), ADHD-RS total and subscales (web-based: ω=.88-.94; paper: ω=.87-.93), DCDQ total and subscales (web-based: ω=.82-.94; paper: ω=.74-.92), and P-SDQ total and subscales (web-based: ω=.55-.81; paper: ω=.52-.80). The intraclass correlation coefficients between the web-based and paper formats were all significant at the 99.9% confidence level: ASSQ (r=0.66, P

Though autism spectrum disorder (ASD) traits are associated with depression, it is unclear if school social capital mediates their association. We examined whether school social capital mediates the association between ASD traits and depression, and moderation effect of sex on the mediation effect among adolescents in a general population sample (1750 males, 1779 females; equivalent 12-15 years old). The results of this study indicate that ASD traits are associated with depression among adolescents, and that this association is partly mediated by school social capital. Furthermore, the results of the moderated mediation analysis suggest that lower level of school social capital can lead to more increase level of depression for females than for males.

BackgroundsWhether there is a true increase in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequency or not remains unclear. Additionally, the rates of co-existing neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) in a total population sample has not been fully examined before. Therefore, using a total population sample in Japan, we aimed to estimate the prevalence and cumulative incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) annually, to determine whether there is a true increase in ASD prevalence by estimating the cumulative incidence of ASD annually, and to examine the rates of co-existing neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD).MethodIn this cross-sectional sequential design study, all 5-year-old children in the catchment area underwent the screening annually from the year 2013-2016. Screen-positive children were invited to participate in a comprehensive assessment, including child and parent interview, behavioral observation, and cognitive and motor function testing. All cases were reviewed by a multidisciplinary research team.ResultsCaregivers of 3954 children returned the screening, among which 559 children underwent the assessment with 87 children receiving an ASD diagnosis. Adjusted ASD prevalence was 3.22% (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.66-3.76%). The male to female ratio of the crude prevalence was 2.2:1. The cumulative incidence of ASD up to 5 years of age for the total study years was 1.31% (95% CI 1.00-1.62%). A generalized linear model revealed no significant linear trends in 5-year cumulative incidence over the study years. Only 11.5% of children had ASD alone; the remaining 88.5% were found to have at least one co-existing NDD.LimitationsModest sample size for a total population study.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate the stability of the 5-year cumulative incidence of ASD, implying no true rise in ASD incident cases over the 4-year study period in the study catchment area. High rates of co-existing NDDs reflect the importance of investigating broad developmental challenges in children with ASD.

Through this meta-analysis, we sought to examine the prevalence of, risks for, and factors associated with bullying involvement (victimization, perpetration, perpetration-victimization) among students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Additionally, we attempted to examine sources of variance in the prevalence and effect sizes of bullying in students with ASD across studies. Systematic database and literature review identified 34 relevant studies (31 for Western countries, three for Eastern countries). Pooled prevalence estimates for victimization, perpetration, and perpetration-victimization in general were 67%, 29%, and 14%, respectively. The risk of victimization in students with ASD was significantly higher than that in typically developing students and students with other disabilities. Further, deficits in social interaction and communication, externalizing symptoms, internalizing symptoms, and integrated inclusive school settings were related to higher victimization, and externalizing symptoms were related to higher perpetration. Finally, moderation analyses revealed significant variations in the pooled prevalences thereof depending on culture, age, school settings, and methodological quality and in the pooled effect sizes according to publication year and methodological quality. Our results highlight needs for bullying intervention for students with ASD, especially those who are younger, are in an inclusive school setting, and have higher social difficulties and externalizing/internalizing symptoms; for intensive research of bullying experiences among students with ASD in Eastern countries; and for efforts to improve the methodological quality of such research.

Despite increasing attention to internet addiction (IA) in both clinical practice and research, our understanding of longitudinal changes of IA status is limited. In the present study, we employed latent transition analysis to investigate patterns of transitions and the stability of IA status among 5483 students (aged 9-12 years) over the two-year study periods. Additionally, we examined whether neurodevelopmental traits predicted certain transition patterns. The stability rate of IA class membership and the conversion rate from non-IA to IA status across the 2 years were 47% and 11%, respectively. The regression model revealed that autistic traits predicted the persisting IA pattern and that inattention traits predicted both the persisting and converting (from non-IA to IA status) patterns.

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD), defined as inadequate results after treatment with at least two antidepressants for 8 weeks, may be attributed to multiple factors, including the patient's personality. In this research, we explored personality profiles based on egograms among 28 outpatients (22 men, 6 women) with TRD. Participants completed two self-questionnaires: the Tokyo University Egogram (TEG) and the Self Grow-up Egogram (SGE). Personality profiles showed the mean energy distribution among five ego states: Controlling Parent (CP), Nurturing Parent (NP), Adult (A), Free Child (FC), and Adapted Child (AC). In all 28 patients, the TEG and the SGE revealed a trough of FC and a peak of AC. SGE results showed a negative correlation between the Hamilton Rating Scale for depression score and FC energy. When patients were separated according to CP, egograms revealed low Adult energy in the low CP group and high Adult energy in the high CP group. Overall, this study indicated low FC energy and high AC energy in TRD and revealed two types of personalities with either low CP/low Adult energy or high CP/high Adult energy. These results should be considered in TRD therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social support in children and adolescents is fundamental for preventing mental health problems. Differences in sources and types of social support may lead to differential effects on psychosocial outcomes; however, tools to assess these differences are lacking in Japan. The present study investigated the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale (CASSS) in 1,068 students aged 9–15 years. A confirmatory factor analysis showed robustness for the five‐factor model, while the third‐order factor model, which integrated the overall scale and four subdomains (types: emotional, informational, appraisal, and instrumental) within the five domains (sources: parent, teacher, classmate, close friend, and school) above, also met criteria for good model fit. The overall scale and all domains and subdomains demonstrated sufficient internal consistency (α =.76–.98). For construct validity, there were significant correlations between CASSS scores and prosocial behavior, internalizing or externalizing problems as assessed by the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and depressive symptoms assessed by the Depression Self‐Rating Scale for Children (DSRS‐C). The agreement rate between these correlation coefficients and the prespecified hypothesis was 89.6%. These results suggest that the Japanese version of the CASSS has adequate reliability and validity and can be used to assess perceived social support among Japanese early adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social support in children and adolescents is fundamental for preventing mental health problems. Differences in sources and types of social support may lead to differential effects on psychosocial outcomes; however, tools to assess these differences are lacking in Japan. The present study investigated the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale (CASSS) in 1,068 students aged 9–15 years. A confirmatory factor analysis showed robustness for the five‐factor model, while the third‐order factor model, which integrated the overall scale and four subdomains (types: emotional, informational, appraisal, and instrumental) within the five domains (sources: parent, teacher, classmate, close friend, and school) above, also met criteria for good model fit. The overall scale and all domains and subdomains demonstrated sufficient internal consistency (α =.76–.98). For construct validity, there were significant correlations between CASSS scores and prosocial behavior, internalizing or externalizing problems as assessed by the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and depressive symptoms assessed by the Depression Self‐Rating Scale for Children (DSRS‐C). The agreement rate between these correlation coefficients and the prespecified hypothesis was 89.6%. These results suggest that the Japanese version of the CASSS has adequate reliability and validity and can be used to assess perceived social support among Japanese early adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rats voluntarily run up to a dozen kilometers per night when their cages are equipped with a running wheel. Daily voluntary running is generally thought to enhance protein turnover. Thus, we sought to determine whether running worsens or improves protein degradation caused by a lysine-deficient diet and whether it changes the utilization of free amino acids released by proteolysis. Rats were fed a lysine-deficient diet and were given free access to a running wheel or remained sedentary (control) for 4 wk. Amino acid levels in plasma, muscle, and liver were measured together with plasma insulin levels and tissue weight. The lysine-deficient diet induced anorexia, skeletal muscle loss, and serine and threonine aminoacidemia, and it depleted plasma insulin and essential amino acids in skeletal muscle. Allowing rats to run voluntarily improved these symptoms; thus, voluntary wheel running made the rats less susceptible to dietary lysine deficiency. Amelioration of the declines in muscular leucine and plasma insulin observed in running rats could contribute to protein synthesis together with the enhanced availability of lysine and other essential amino acids in skeletal muscle. These results indicate that voluntary wheel running under lysine-deficient conditions does not enhance protein catabolism; on the contrary, it accelerates protein synthesis and contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass. The intense nocturnal voluntary running that characterizes rodents might be an adaptation of lysine-deficient grain eaters that allows them to maximize opportunities for food acquisition. serine; threonine; 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase; exercise; amino acid-deficient diet doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00763.2009.

Research has established that epidermal growth factor receptors undergo tyrosine phosphorylation in the presence of growth hormone. The protein Grb2 is involved in the reaction, which also results in the activation of liver mitogen-activated protein kinase. Evidence suggests that Janus kinase Jak2 simulates phosphorylation by gene express and MAP kinase activation.