Age-related connectivity differences between attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder patients and typically developing subjects：a resting-state functional MRI study

Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder（ADHD） is a disorder characterized by behavioral symptoms including hyperactivity/impulsivity among children,adolescents,and adults.These ADHD related symptoms are influenced by the complex interaction of brain networks which were under explored.We explored age-related brain network differences between ADHD patients and typically developing（TD） subjects using resting state f MRI（rs-f MRI） for three age groups of children,adolescents,and adults.We collected rs-f MRI data from 184 individuals（27 ADHD children and 31 TD children;32 ADHD adolescents and 32 TD adolescents;and 31 ADHD adults and 31 TD adults）.The Brainnetome Atlas was used to define nodes in the network analysis.We compared three age groups of ADHD and TD subjects to identify the distinct regions that could explain age-related brain network differences based on degree centrality,a well-known measure of nodal centrality.The left middle temporal gyrus showed significant interaction effects between disease status（i.e.,ADHD or TD） and age（i.e.,child,adolescent,or adult）（P 0.001）.Additional regions were identified at a relaxed threshold（P 0.05）.Many of the identified regions（the left inferior frontal gyrus,the left middle temporal gyrus,and the left insular gyrus） were related to cognitive function.The results of our study suggest that aberrant development in cognitive brain regions might be associated with age-related brain network changes in ADHD patients.These findings contribute to better understand how brain function influences the symptoms of ADHD.

Prefrontal cortical α_(2A)-adrenoceptors and a possible primate model of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder

Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder （ADHD）, a prevalent syndrome in children worldwide, is characterized by impulsivity, inappropriate inattention, and/or hyperactivity. It seriously afflicts cognitive development in childhood, and may lead to chronic under-achievement, academic failure, problematic peer relationships, and low self-esteem. There are at least three challenges for the treatment of ADHD. First, the neurobiological bases of its symptoms are still not clear. Second, the commonly prescribed medications, most showing short-term therapeutic efficacy but with a high risk of serious side-effects, are mainly based on a dopamine mechanism. Third, more novel and efficient animal models, especially in nonhuman primates, are required to accelerate the development of new medications. In this article, we review research progress in the related fields, focusing on our previous studies showing that blockade of prefrontal cortical a2A-adrenoceptors in monkeys produces almost all the typical behavioral symptoms of ADHD.

Ocular injuries,attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder,and maternal anxiety/depression levels:Is there a link?

Purpose:Given the increased risk of accidents in patients with attention deficit and hyperactivity dis-order(ADHD)or maternal anxiety/depression,we aimed to investigate the frequency of the two diseases in children with penetrating eye injury(PEI).Methods:Altogether 79 children,39 with PEIs and 40 healthy individuals(control group),aged 5-15 years,underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination.Afterwards,schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia for school-aged children was conducted to assess the psychiatric diagnosis of all children.Turgay diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders(DSM-Ⅳ)-based child and adolescent behavior disorders screening and rating scale(T-DSM-Ⅳ-S)was flled by parents to evaluate the severity of ADHD symptoms.The depression and anxiety levels of mothers of each group were evaluated by two self-report measures:the Beck depression scale and the state-trait anxiety inventory(STAI),respectively.Data were analyzed by IBM SPSS version 22.0.The Chi-square and Fisher's exact test were used to determine whether there is a significant difference between qualitative variables while independent sample t and Mann-Whitney U tests to compare quantitative variables.Results:The only diagnostic difference was a significantly higher frequency of ADHD among patients with PEIs(48.7%in PEI vs.17.5%in control group,χ^2=7.359,p=0.007).The total scores of the T-DSM-Ⅳ-S(attention subscale U=418.000,p=0.006;hyperactivity subscale U=472.000,p=0.022)and maternal state-trait anxiety inventory(maternal STAI-state U=243.00,p=0.003;maternal STAl-trait U=298.000,p=0.021)were significantly higher in the PEI group than in control group.In logistic regression,children with PEI had a tendency to have a 3.5-fold increased risk for ADHD(OR=3.538,CI=0.960-13.039,p=0.058).Conclusion:ADHD was detected almost 1 in 2 children with PEls.Besides,the maternal anxiety level was significantly higher in the PEI group than in the control group.This association should be further explored via a future prospective longitudinal study.Since a proper treatment of ADHD in children and anxiety treatment in mothers may prevent vision loss following PEIs in children.