The relationship between the development of social competence and sleep in infants: a longitudinal study.

Background: Many reports argue that sleep is important for children's health, learning, and academic performance. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to examine the association between sleep and the development of social competence in infants.

Methods: This study was conducted as part of a Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) project.

Influence of sleep-onset time on the development of 18-month-old infants: Japan Children's cohort study.

Objective: We report here the influence of sleep patterns on the development of infants in Japan. A total of 479 infants were registered in two different Japanese cities. Direct neurological observations were performed by licensed pediatric neurologists.

Genes that characterize T3-predominant Graves' thyroid tissues.

Objective: 3,5,3'-Triiodothyronine (T(3))-predominant Graves' disease is characterized by the increasing volume of thyroid goiter resulting in poor prognosis. Although type 1 and type 2 iodothyronine deiodinases (DIO1 and DIO2 respectively) are known to be overexpressed in the thyroid tissues of T(3)-predominant Graves' disease, the pathogenesis of this disease is still unclear. The aim of our study is to identify genes that characterize T(3)-predominant Graves' disease tissue in order to clarify the molecular mechanism of this disease.

Associations between autoimmune thyroid disease prognosis and functional polymorphisms of susceptibility genes, CTLA4, PTPN22, CD40, FCRL3, and ZFAT, previously revealed in genome-wide association studies.

Purpose: Genome-wide association studies have revealed several susceptibility genes among patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), including CTLA4, PTPN22, FCRL3, and ZFAT. However, any possible association between these genes and AITD prognosis remains unknown. The objective of this study was to identify associations between polymorphisms of these genes and AITD prognosis.

Relationship between children's intelligence and their emotional/behavioral problems and social competence: gender differences in first graders.

Background: The present study examines gender differences in the correlations between intelligence and developmental problems as well as social competence in first graders.

Methods: Ninety parent-child dyads participated in this study. The children comprised 7-year-olds recruited from the first grade of an elementary school.

A longitudinal study on social competence development and sleeping habits.

Background: It is known that sleep problems impact children's health, learning, and school performance. The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between sleeping habits and social competence development.

Methods: Three hundred and nine caregiver-child dyads participated in this study, which was conducted as part of a Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) project.

Mission in Sukusuku cohort, Mie: focusing on the feasibility and validity of methods for enrolling and retaining participants.

Background: We investigated the feasibility and validity of and systematized the methods used to enroll and retain participants requiring long-term interdisciplinary collaborations. We carried out this study in the Sukusuku cohort, Mie (SCM), as one of the regional research site of Japan Children's Study (JCS).

Methods: A total of 467 families who were screened between December 1, 2004 and December 31, 2005, in the Mie-chuo Medical Center and 2 other hospitals; these families were deemed eligible for the study.

Infant responses to maternal still face at 9 months predict social abilities at 18 months.

Background: This study investigated developmental change and stability in infant responses to the still-face (SF) situation, as well as predictive validity at age 18 months, focusing on autonomy and responsiveness.

Methods: A total of 231 children (117 boys and 114 girls) and their Japanese mothers were observed in a face-to-face SF situation at two infant ages (4 and 9 months), as well as a caregiver-child teaching interaction at age 18 months. Each infant's facial expression, gaze direction, and vocalization were coded according to the SF paradigm, including the Natural Interaction (NI) and SF phases.

Mission in Sukusuku cohort, Mie: a study focusing on the characteristics of participants and the mental health of the mothers raising children.

Background: We carried out Sukusuku cohort, Mie (SCM), a long term cohort study of child development and investigated the feasibility and validity of this study. Then we focused on the characteristics of the enrolled families and verified the representativeness of the participants in SCM.

Methods: The characteristics of 185 families recruited from 3 hospitals were analyzed, and we verified the representativeness of these subjects.

The trajectory of children's social competence from 18 months to 30 months of age and their mother's attitude towards the praise.

Background: Praise from caregivers has been shown as an important influence on the development of social competence in early adolescence. However, the effects of praise in younger children have not been investigated. We examined how the trajectory of children's social competence from 18 months to 30 months of age was related to their caregiver's attitude towards the importance of praise at times when their child was 4 months and 9 months old.

Interaction Rating Scale (IRS) as an evidence-based practical index of children's social skills and parenting.

Background: The purpose of this paper is to describe the features of the Interaction Rating Scale (IRS) as an evidence-based practical index of children's social skills and parenting.

Methods: The participants in our study, which was conducted as part of a Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) project, were 370 dyads of children (aged 18, 30, and 42 month) and 81 dyads of 7-year-old children with their caregivers. The participants completed the five minute interaction session and were observed using the IRS.

The trajectory patterns of parenting and the social competence of toddlers: a longitudinal perspective.

Background: Many studies have suggested that the daily emotional interactions between a child and his/her caregiver play a significant role in his/her development. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the trajectory patterns of parenting patterns of caregivers raising toddlers affect the social competence of the toddlers.

Methods: The study participants were 246 dyads of 18-month-old children (baseline) and their caregivers, which was conducted as part of a Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) project.

Implications of social competence among thirty-month-old toddlers: a theory of mind perspective.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relations between children's social competence and initial index of theory of mind at 30 months of age.

Methods: The participants of the study were 322 toddlers and parents/caregivers who were registered with the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) project. They completed a five-minute interaction session, which was coded using the Interaction Rating Scale (IRS) as an evidence-based practical index of children's social competence.

Comparison of factors contributing to developmental attainment of children between 9 and 18 months.

Background: Little is known about how contributing factors of development change during early childhood in Japan. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that contributed to the developmental attainment of children between 9 and 18 months of age using prospective longitudinal data from a developmental cohort study.

Methods: We used data from observations at 3 time points (at infant age of 4, 9 and 18 months) in the Japan Children's Study.

Contribution of parenting factors to the developmental attainment of 9-month-old infants: results from the Japan Children's Study.

Background: Child development integrates several interdependent domains, but few studies have attempted to identify the common factors that contribute to these different domains of development in infancy. The aim of the present study was to identify the factors that contribute to several domains of developmental attainment in 9-month-old infants.

Methods: We used data from the Japan Children's Study, a prospective cohort study underway in Japan since 2005.

Combined effect of liposomalization and addition of glycerol on the transdermal delivery of isosorbide 5-nitrate in rat skin.

In this report, we investigated the combined effect of drug liposomalization and addition of glycerol on the transdermal delivery of isosorbide 5-nitrate (ISN) in rat abdominal skin in vitro. Occlusive application of both liposomal and aqueous ISN solution, with and without addition of 5% glycerol, showed that drug liposomalization and addition of glycerol has far-reaching implications for ISN permeation and accumulation in 4 and 8 weeks old rat abdominal skin. Using 8 weeks old rat abdominal skin, the optimal concentration of glycerol to be added to liposomal ISN was found to be 5%.