Forensic interviews conducted with autistic adults in Japan: a review of the literature and directions for future research.

The interviewing of victims, witnesses and suspects is important in helping resolve criminal investigations. In Japan, developments have recently occurred in the training of the police and their public prosecutors in these key tasks. Whilst literature exists on autism in Japan, studies examining police/public prosecutor interviews with autistic adults conducted in that country (and indeed, any other) remain scant. As elsewhere in the world, identification of those who manifest characteristics prevalent on the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) scale, has been found to be problematical to criminal justice professionals. To help address this deficit in understanding, we provide an overview of the literature concerning contemporary understanding of the challenges facing autistic adults as they attempt to reveal their verbal accounts, as well as suggested techniques when interviewing adults on the ASD scale during criminal investigations, offering lessons learned from research conducted around the world that provide potentially promising solutions for Japan.

Efficacy of an immunotoxin to folate receptor beta in the intra-articular treatment of antigen-induced arthritis.

INTRODUCTION: We previously demonstrated that synovial sublining macrophages express folate receptor beta (FRß). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intra-articular administration of a recombinant immunotoxin to FRß for treating rat antigen-induced arthritis. METHODS: A monoclonal antibody (mAb) to rat FRß was produced by immunizing mice with B300-19 cells (murine pre-B cells) transfected with the rat FRß gene. Recombinant immunotoxin was prepared by conjugating the Fv portion of the anti-rat FRß mAb heavy chain with a truncated Pseudomonas exotoxin A and the Fv portion of the anti-rat FRß mAb light chain. Antigen-induced arthritis was induced through intra-articular injection of methylated bovine serum albumin (mBSA) after two subcutaneous injections of mBSA and complete Freund's adjuvant. Immunotoxin was intra-articularly injected into the arthritis joint every other day for seven days after arthritis onset. Joint swelling was measured and histological scores of inflammation, synovial thickness, cartilage, and bone destruction were determined. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect osteoclast and osteoclast precursor FRß-expressing macrophages and cathepsin K-positive cells on day 21. RESULTS: Intra-articular administration of the immunotoxin attenuated joint swelling (61% suppression; P < 0.01 compared to the control on day 21) and improved histological findings, particularly cartilage and bone destruction (scores of rats treated with control versus the immunotoxin: 2.2 versus 0.5; P < 0.01), by reducing the number of FRß-expressing macrophages and cathepsin K-positive cells. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-articular administration of an immunotoxin to FRß is effective for improving rat antigen-induced arthritis.