Tuesday, November 11, 2025

AKA TYLENOL

Existing evidence does not clearly link paracetamol (acetaminophen) use during pregnancy with autism or ADHD in children

Confidence in previous study findings is low to critically low; Women should be advised to take paracetamol when needed to treat pain and fever in pregnancy, say researchers

BMJ Group

Existing evidence does not clearly link paracetamol (acetaminophen) use during pregnancy with autism or ADHD in children, finds an in-depth evidence review published by The BMJ today, in direct response to recent announcements around the safety of using paracetamol in pregnancy.

The researchers say confidence in the findings of existing evidence reviews and studies on this topic is low to critically low, and suggest that any apparent effect seen in previous studies may be driven by shared genetic and environmental factors within families.

Regulatory bodies, clinicians, pregnant women, parents, and those affected by autism and ADHD should be informed about the poor quality of the existing reviews and women should be advised to take paracetamol when needed to treat pain and fever in pregnancy, they add.

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is the recommended treatment for pain and fever in pregnancy and is considered safe by regulatory agencies worldwide.

Existing systematic reviews on this topic vary in quality, and studies that do not adjust for important factors shared by families or parents’ health and lifestyle cannot accurately estimate the effects of exposure to paracetamol before birth on neurodevelopment in babies.

To address this uncertainty, researchers carried out an umbrella review (a high-level evidence summary) of systematic reviews to assess the overall quality and validity of existing evidence and the strength of association between paracetamol use during pregnancy and the risks of autism or ADHD in offspring.

They identified nine systematic reviews that included a total of 40 observational studies reporting on paracetamol use during pregnancy and the risk of autism, ADHD, or other neurodevelopmental outcomes in exposed babies.

Four reviews included meta-analysis (a statistical method that combines data from several studies to give a single, more precise estimate of an effect).

The researchers used recognised tools to carefully assess each review for bias and rated their overall confidence in the findings as high, moderate, low, or critically low. They also recorded the degree of study overlap across reviews as very high.

All reviews reported a possible to strong association between a mother’s paracetamol intake and autism or ADHD, or both in offspring. However, seven of the nine reviews advised caution when interpreting the findings owing to the potential risk of bias and impact of unmeasured (confounding) factors in the included studies.

Overall confidence in the findings of the reviews was low (two reviews) to critically low (seven reviews).

Only one review included two studies that appropriately adjusted for possible effects of genetic and environmental factors shared by siblings, and accounted for other important factors such as parents’ mental health, background, and lifestyle.

In both these studies, the observed association between exposure to paracetamol and risk of autism and ADHD in childhood disappeared or reduced after adjustment, suggesting that these factors explain much of the observed risk, say the researchers.

They acknowledge some limitations. For example, the included reviews differed in scope and methods, they were unable to explore the effects of timing and dose, and their analyses were limited to autism and ADHD outcomes only.

However, they say this overview brings together all relevant evidence and applies established methods to assess quality, and shows “the lack of robust evidence linking paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism and ADHD in offspring.”

They conclude: “The current evidence base is insufficient to definitively link in utero exposure to paracetamol with autism and ADHD in childhood. High quality studies that control for familial and unmeasured confounders can help improve evidence on the timing and duration of paracetamol exposure, and for other child neurodevelopmental outcomes.”

Journal

The BMJ

DOI

10.1136/bmj-2025-088141

Method of Research

Systematic review

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Maternal paracetamol (acetaminophen) use during pregnancy and risk of autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in offspring: umbrella review of systematic reviews

Article Publication Date

10-Nov-2025

COI Statement

All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form at www.icmje.org/disclosure-of-interest/ and declare: no support from any organisation for the submitted work; no financial relationships with any organisations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous three years; no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Okayama University of Science and Minghsin University of Science and Technology sign MOA for double degree program

— Partnership to Foster Semiconductor Talent —

Okayama University of Science

OUS and MUST representatives at the signing ceremony for a new double degree program in semiconductor studies — image:
Participants gather for a commemorative photo following the signing ceremony between Okayama University of Science (OUS) and Minghsin University of Science and Technology (MUST) on October 23 at OUS, Japan. The agreement establishes a double degree program aimed at fostering global talent in semiconductor engineering.
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Credit: Okayama University of Science (OUS).

Aiming to strengthen collaboration in education—particularly in the field of semiconductors—Okayama University of Science (OUS) and Minghsin University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Taiwan signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on October 23 to launch a double degree program that enables students to earn bachelor’s degrees from both universities.

OUS first signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with MUST (then Ming Hsin Engineering College) in 1984. After more than 40 years, the MOU was renewed last September between Kake Educational Institution (KEI), the administrative umbrella under which OUS is affiliated, and MUST. The new MOU builds on this long-standing partnership and aims to further deepen cooperation between the two universities.

The signing ceremony was held at the KEI 50th Anniversary Memorial Building on the Okayama campus. Among those in attendance were Mamoru Kake, General President of KEI; Hiroyuki Hirano, President of OUS; Yoshiko Minami, Vice President of OUS; Ming-Feng Lu, President of MUST; and Kou-Bing Kao, CEO of the Japan Project Office at MUST.

During the ceremony, Professor Nobuyuki Kasa from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering at OUS, outlined the project:

“MUST established the world’s first Semiconductors School, offering hands-on education through training facilities equipped with state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment. Its graduates have gone on to work for major semiconductor companies in Taiwan and around the world. Under the Double Degree Program, students will first enroll at OUS, where they study semiconductor fundamentals and acquire the language skills necessary for study abroad, and then continue their studies at MUST. Upon completion, they will earn bachelor’s degrees from both universities and are expected to become highly skilled professionals contributing to the semiconductor industries in both Taiwan and Okayama Prefecture.”

OUS President Hirano then remarked:

“Our goal is to cultivate global talent equipped with world-class expertise and technology. Through this MOA, we aim to promote cross-border collaboration among industry, academia, and government in Okayama and Taiwan, ultimately positioning Okayama as an international hub for the semiconductor industry. In addition to fostering human resources, we also seek to strengthen research collaboration between our universities and establish a world-leading center for semiconductor innovation.”

MUST President Lu expressed strong expectations for the collaboration:

“Taiwan is one of the global leaders in semiconductor manufacturing. While many universities in Taiwan are facing declining enrollments due to the low birth rate, MUST continues to grow —thanks to its strength in semiconductor education. We look forward to working with OUS to nurture outstanding professionals in this field. Whether your students pursue careers in Taiwan or Japan, I’m confident they will find rewarding opportunities.”

Following the signing, General President Kake concluded:

“We hope to create a joint base for human resource development where our institutions can collaborate not only through academic exchange but also through joint lectures and practical training, involving local governments as well. We would also be delighted if this collaboration encourages semiconductor companies to establish plants or offices in Okayama, contributing to the region’s growth.”

Representatives from semiconductor companies based in the “Hsinchu Science Park,” often referred to as Taiwan’s Silicon Valley, as well as officials from the Okayama Prefectural Government, the Okayama Prefectural Industrial Promotion Foundation, and members of the Okayama Semiconductor Consortium attended the ceremony, demonstrating strong interest in the future of semiconductor talent development.

A reception followed in the lounge of Building A1 at OUS, where participants from Japanese and Taiwanese companies exchanged business cards and engaged in friendly networking.

Located adjacent to the Hsinchu Science Park, MUST established Taiwan’s first Semiconductors School in 2021. The university offers advanced education in semiconductor manufacturing processes and has produced numerous graduates who now work for leading global companies, including TSMC.

Key factors influencing success and failure of public-private partnerships in China

Shanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center

PPP investment amount in mainland China — image:
PPPs have a wide geographic coverage, with the investment intensity varying across provinces. The regions with highest investment intensity include both developed provinces like Zhejiang, and less developed provinces like Guizhou. The picture shows the geographic distribution of PPP investments by 2022 Q1.
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Credit: Zhengyi Zhou (Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, China).

Background and Motivation

As an important instrument for infrastructure financing, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) have been widely utilised by the Chinese government. China Finance Review International (CFRI) brings you an article titled “Determinants for the Desirability of Public-Private Partnership Mode in Infrastructure Development”, which examines the factors that influence the success and failure of PPP projects in China. With nearly 14,000 PPP projects proposed between 2009 and 2022, representing over 20 trillion yuan in investment, the study addresses growing concerns about local government implicit debt and the need for more sustainable partnership models.

Methodology and Scope

Using a manually collected dataset of over 12,000 PPP projects from 2019 to 2022, the author analyses project transitions and terminations to identify signals of PPP desirability. The study employs probit regression models to assess the impact of project characteristics, such as ownership structure, revenue schemes, and industrial features, on successful execution and abnormal termination. Special attention is given to the role of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and private firms within the social party of PPPs.

Key Findings and Contributions

Execution-stage projects in sectors requiring strong government support (e.g., transportation, urban development) or where quality trumps cost efficiency face higher termination risks, unless SOEs are part of the social party.
Social party structure matters: Private firm involvement increases termination likelihood, while a more decentralised social party reduces it.
Pre-execution projects with government payment or gap subsidy schemes are more likely to advance to execution.
The study provides the first large-scale empirical test of PPP theories in the Chinese context, highlighting the unique stabilising effect of SOE involvement in socially critical industries.

Why It Matters

This research comes at a critical time when Chinese policymakers are actively managing PPP-related fiscal risks, as reflected in recent regulations like State Council Policy [2023 No. 115]. The findings offer evidence-based insights into how ownership and financing structures affect project survival, especially during economic downturns or systemic shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Practical Applications

The study suggests that PPP regulations, particularly those governing SOE participation, should be tailored to industry-specific needs. For example, in sectors where government support is indispensable or quality is paramount, SOE involvement can enhance project stability. Conversely, in less policy-sensitive sectors, greater private participation may be encouraged. These insights can help policymakers design more resilient and efficient PPP frameworks.

Discover high-quality academic insights in finance from this article published in China Finance Review International. Click the DOI below to read the full-text original! Open access for a limited time!