Publications by authors named "Yukiyo Nagai"
Objective: In preterm and very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, attention-related problems have been found to be more pronounced and emerge later as academic difficulties that may persist into school age. In response, based on three attention networks: alerting, orienting, and executive attention, we examined the development of attention functions at 42 months (not corrected for prematurity) as a follow-up study of VLBW ( = 23) and normal birth weight (NBW: = 48) infants.
Method: The alerting and orienting attention networks were examined through an overlap task with or without warning signal.
Aim: To investigate whether rightward attention to the mouth during audiovisual speech perception may be a behavioural marker for early brain development, we studied very preterm and low birthweight (VLBW) and typically developing (TD) toddlers.
Methods: We tested the distribution of gaze points in Japanese-learning TD and VLBW toddlers when exposed to talking, silent and mouth moving faces at 12, 18 and 24 months (corrected age). Each participant was categorised based upon the area they gazed at most (Eye-Right, Eye-Left, Mouth-Right, Mouth-Left) per stimulus per age.
Article Synopsis
- Preterm birth is associated with a higher risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but studies show no significant difference in autistic traits between children born preterm and those born at term.
- A comparison using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) indicated no notable differences in severity scores or social responsiveness between both groups of ASD children.
- The findings align with previous research, suggesting the need for further studies to better understand the relationship between preterm birth and autistic traits in a larger population.
Article Synopsis
- A study assessed the rate of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a group of 77 very preterm children born before 32 weeks of gestation when they reached ages 4 to 6.
- Out of the children evaluated, 16 (20.8%) were found to have confirmed ASD according to both the DSM-5 and ADOS-2 criteria.
- The findings indicate that the prevalence of ASD in very preterm children could be significantly higher than previously reported, highlighting the need for further research with larger sample sizes.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how prematurity, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and neonatal stress impact intellectual impairment in children with very low birth weight (VLBW).
- It involved a national cohort of 248 VLBW children in Japan, assessing their IQ/DQ at age 3 or older and using structural equation modeling to analyze influential factors.
- Findings revealed that neonatal stress had the strongest negative impact on IQ/DQ, more so than IUGR and prematurity, highlighting the need for strategies to reduce neonatal stress and monitor fetal growth during pregnancy.
Primitive reflexes in very low birth weight infants later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
Minerva Pediatr (Torino)
February 2024
Background: As early screening and diagnosis is very important in treatment and intervention of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we investigated the relationship between primitive reflexes and ASD.
Methods: Of 88 very low birth weight infants (<1500 g) born from April 2010 to March 2012, subjects comprised 38 examined for 18 primitive reflexes between age 38 and 45 weeks corrected age and followed-up over 6 years. ASD was diagnosed using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fifth edition (DSM-5) and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule Second Edition (ADOS-2).
Children's Perceived Competence Scale: reevaluation in a population of Japanese elementary and junior high school students.
Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health
July 2018
Background: It is important for children to maintain high self-perceived competence and self-esteem, and there are few measures to evaluate them through elementary to junior high school days in Japan. To evaluate psychometric properties of the Children's Perceived Competence Scale (CPCS).
Methods: Data were collected from 697 elementary school and 956 junior high school students.
Background: We aimed to evaluate self-perceived competence and self-esteem of primary school children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Japan and compare to those of children with other chronic physical diseases and healthy controls.
Methods: Data were collected from 227 children: ASD (N.=91), nephrotic syndrome (NS) (N.
Article Synopsis
- A study involving 694 Japanese elementary school children aimed to create reference values for measuring self-perceived competence and self-esteem, focusing on their cognitive, social, and physical abilities.
- Results indicated that self-esteem and cognitive scores tended to decrease as children advanced in grade levels, with grade 5 students scoring significantly lower than grade 4 students in social and physical domains.
- The CPCS revealed gender differences in scores, with boys outperforming girls in physical and general self-worth categories, highlighting the need for these reference values to assist practitioners helping children with psychological issues or chronic diseases.
Although evidence exists pointing to the impact of maternal depression in puerperium upon mother-child interaction, longitudinal studies on this perspective are rare. Hence, this study was designed to examine the association between maternity blues and maternal attachment in the puerperium with depression in the mother and attachment after 1 year together with the factors involved. A questionnaire survey consisting of Zung's Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS) and a 'maternal attachment' scale, comprised of subscales on 'core maternal attachment' and 'anxiety regarding children', was conducted on mothers who had participated in a previous puerperium survey.
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