Connectivity differences between adult male and female patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder according to resting-state functional MRI

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder（ADHD） is a pervasive psychiatric disorder that affects both children and adults. Adult male and female patients with ADHD are differentially affected, but few studies have explored the differences. The purpose of this study was to quantify differences between adult male and female patients with ADHD based on neuroimaging and connectivity analysis. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained and preprocessed in 82 patients. Group-wise differences between male and female patients were quantified using degree centrality for different brain regions. The medial-, middle-, and inferior-frontal gyrus, superior parietal lobule, precuneus, supramarginal gyrus, superior- and middle-temporal gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, and cuneus were identified as regions with significant group-wise differences. The identified regions were correlated with clinical scores reflecting depression and anxiety and significant correlations were found. Adult ADHD patients exhibit different levels of depression and anxiety depending on sex, and our study provides insight into how changes in brain circuitry might differentially impact male and female ADHD patients.

Proof-of-Concept and Feasibility Study to Evaluate the Effect of β-Glucan on Protective Qi Deficiency in Adults

Objective:To preliminarily explore the potential effect ofβ-glucan on Chinese medicine(CM)concept protective qi deficiency(PQD),and the methodology for future definitive studies.Methods:To have a standardized assessment of PQD,a list of 13 potentially PQD-relevant parameters were firstly created,each with defined quantitative or categorial scales.Using the data from 37 participants with(21 cases)or without(16 cases)PQD,multivariate logistic modeling was conducted to create a preliminary diagnostic PQD risk score.Subsequently,21 participants diagnosed with PQD were treated withβ-glucan in a dose of 200 mg/day for 8 weeks.Data were collected for trial acceptability measures(rate of recruitment,withdrawal,and compliance),and the participants were assessed for PQD status at baseline and every 2 weeks thereafter.Results:The preliminary logistic model consisted of 3 parameters(low voice and apathy,aversion to wind and cold,and Cun pulse).The resulting risk score demonstrated a degree of PQD-predicting accuracy that,as evaluated by statistical(discrimination and classification)methods,was higher than those obtained from any of the individual candidate parameters.The 21 PQD participants treated withβ-glucan demonstrated good receptibility and a time-dependent improvement in PQD status as evidenced by the decrease of PQD participant to 9.5%at the end of study.Conclusions:This study demonstrated the effect of proof-of-concept ofβ-glucan on improving PQD and the proof-of-concept of a multivariate-model-derived diagnostic PQD risk score.It also indicated feasibility for future definitive studies.Studies like this embody an innovative approach that uses therapies derived from the mainstream biomedicine to enrich therapeutics guided by CM principle.(Trial registration No.NCT03829228).