1. Ahsan A, Kar O, Akter K, Ta HDK, Shen CJ, Datta K, Chatterjee B, Huang CC, Majumder P. Regulatory Functions of TDP-43 and FMRP in Non-Neuronal Diseases: Are Co-Targeted mRNAs the Keys?. Faseb j. 2025; 39(23): e71292.

RNA binding proteins (RBPs) act as the central nodal point in shaping the cellular transcriptome through their involvement in various aspects of RNA metabolism including stability, splicing, polyadenylation, modifications, translation and transport. Dysregulation in the function of various RBPs can be associated with different human pathophysiological conditions. Owing to their ability to regulate various RNA metabolism-associated processes, the same RBPs can functionally be involved in human pathologies with distinct underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Two such important RBPs, namely TDP-43 and FMRP, have long been implicated respectively, in neurodegenerative diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD) etc. and in neurodevelopmental diseases like fragile-X syndrome (FXS). However, numerous recent reports indicate that these ubiquitously expressed proteins can regulate important cellular functions and signaling cascades, misregulation which results in different disease phenotypes. In this review, the association of TDP-43 and FMRP with different non-neuronal disease mechanisms has been discussed. Furthermore, to anticipate yet-to-be-explored non-neuronal disease mechanisms involving mismanagement in co-regulation of spatial and temporal transport/translation processes of TDP-43 and FMRP targeted RNAs, as observed in neuronal diseases for example, autism, RNA target databases of these two proteins are compared followed by GO and KEGG analysis. The lists of RNAs co-targeted by TDP-43 and FMRP are presumably involved in different non-neuronal diseases and disease-associated mechanistic pathways and will open up new phases of research to establish new disease mechanism(s). Different disease mechanisms and their interconnections expectantly will also lead to the discovery of new drug targets.

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2. Bassiony H, Baiomy A, Ahmed D, Elaraby NM, Ammar THA, Ashaat EA. Association between GRIK1 rs363598 and intergenic rs360932 variants and susceptibility to autism spectrum disorders in Egyptian children. BMC Pediatr. 2025.

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3. Cai RY, Dueber DM, Toland MD, Gibbs V, Edwards C, Love AMA. Understanding Self-Compassion in Autistic Adults: Validity Evidence and Its Links to Loneliness and Depression Across Autistic and Non-Autistic Individuals. Autism Res. 2025.

Autistic adults face higher rates of loneliness and depression than non-autistic adults. Self-compassion may offer a protective buffer against mental health difficulties, but its measurement validity and interaction with loneliness have not been studied in autistic populations. This two-part study examined (1) the dimensional structure of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) in a global sample of autistic (n = 377) and non-autistic (n = 196) adults, and (2) whether self-compassion moderates the relationship between loneliness and depression in both groups. Confirmatory factor analyses tested multiple models of the SCS, and multigroup regression models tested moderation effects using loneliness and depression scores. The SCS was best represented by two factors-compassionate and uncompassionate self-responding-in both autistic and non-autistic groups. Measurement invariance was supported. In moderation analyses, uncompassionate self-responding significantly moderated the relationship between loneliness and depressive symptoms among non-autistic adults, but not autistic adults. Uncompassionate self-responding was significantly associated with greater depression symptoms in both groups. These findings support using a two-factor structure of the SCS in autistic samples and suggest that reducing uncompassionate self-responding may benefit mental health broadly. However, self-compassion did not buffer the loneliness-depression link for autistic adults, highlighting the need for alternative protective factors tailored to this population. This study found that self‐compassion has two key parts—being kind to yourself and avoiding harsh self‐criticism—which are important for understanding mental health. While less self‐criticism helped reduce the link between loneliness and depression in non‐autistic adults, it did not do so for autistic adults. This suggests that other supports may be needed to protect the mental health of autistic people who feel lonely. eng.

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4. de Wit MM, Sant’Anna Barbosa Ferriera P, Begeer S, Abdellaoui A, Wagtendonk AJ, Bartels M, van de Weijer MP, Polderman TJC. A Data-Driven Investigation of Environmental Correlates Associated With the Lived Experience of Autistic People. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025.

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5. Fathmawati F, Damayanti DF, Chitra F, Rafiony A, Ardhini I. Determinants of autism spectrum disorder in children: A case-control study in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Med J Malaysia. 2025; 80(6): 653-9.

INTRODUCTION: Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who use the government’s service facilities for children with special needs in Pontianak are increasing. This study aims to find out the determinants of ASD in Pontianak. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study investigates the determinants of ASD in children in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, using a case-control design. The study included 49 children diagnosed with ASD and 100 age-matched controls, with data collected through maternal questionnaires. The risk factors examined included gender, genetic factors, parental age, maternal health during pregnancy, perinatal risk factors, environmental exposures, and maternal habits. Data analysis using logistic regression. RESULTS: The results indicate a significantly higher likelihood of ASD in boys. Higher maternal education levels were also associated with increased ASD risk. Family history, particularly having siblings or relatives with ASD, emerged as a significant risk factor. Maternal anxiety during pregnancy doubled the risk of ASD, while frequent fruit consumption during pregnancy and exclusive breastfeeding were identified as protective factors. Exposure to vehicle fumes during pregnancy increased ASD risk. Turning off cell phones during sleep was also protective. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the need to address both genetic and environmental factors in ASD aetiology. Promoting healthy maternal habits and reducing harmful environmental exposures could potentially reduce ASD risk. Future research should focus on larger sample sizes and longitudinal studies to validate these findings and develop targeted interventions.

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6. Gürbüz Özgür B, Aksu H, Eser E. Effectiveness of an autism spectrum disorder screening and follow-up training program for primary health care professionals in Türkiye. Turk J Pediatr. 2025; 67(5): 623-33.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) screening and follow-up programs are implemented in all provinces in Türkiye as part of the National Action Plan for Individuals with ASD. Primary health care professionals are trained regarding ASD by child and adolescent psychiatrists, aiming to ensure that risky children are diagnosed and referred earlier and diagnosed in early childhood. The aim of this study is to objectively evaluate the effectiveness of an ASD training program provided to primary healthcare professionals. METHODS: Three hundred and three individuals consisting of family physicians and family healthcare workers (FHW) who participated in the ASD training program were recruited in the study in the Muğla province of Türkiye. The Knowledge About Childhood Autism Among Health Workers Questionnaire (KCAHW) was completed by all participants before and after the training. RESULTS: The mean total KCAHW scores pre- and post-training were 13.12±3.14 and 16.48±2.02, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in Domains 1, 2, 3, and 4 and the total scores pre- and post-training (p.

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7. Hodge MA, Boulton KA, Sutherland R, Baracz S, Ong N, Bennett B, Brooks G, Guastella AJ, Silove N. Clinical Features of Children at Risk of Profound Autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025.

PURPOSE: The concept of profound autism was coined in 2021 to better describe and understand the needs of autistic people with low cognitive and adaptive functioning skills and limited verbal communication. We sought to examine the clinical and demographic features of children referred to a multidisciplinary diagnosis and assessment clinic who were at risk of profound autism and those that did meet the definition of profound autism. METHODS: Participants were 513 autistic children aged 1-16 years seen in a large diagnosis and assessment clinic for a multidisciplinary assessment of social, communication, adaptive, cognitive/developmental skills and behaviour. RESULTS: A quarter of children presenting to the assessment service with autism also met the ‘at risk’ profound criteria. These children were of younger age (Age = 1.79 years) at first concern and at diagnosis (Age = 3.93 years) than children in the not profound group. They also had more concerns pertaining to elopement (escape from the caregiver’s care). CONCLUSION: These findings add to our understanding of the characteristics of children who are at risk of profound autism. These findings have implications for clinical practice, including informing assessment processes, need for longitudinal follow up assessment, support planning and helping diagnosticians determine the appropriate level of support needed. Furthermore, these findings support calls for consideration of this group in policy planning, funding and earlier service access and ongoing follow up.

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8. Huang TN, Lin MH, Hsu TT, Yu CH, Hsueh YP. Low-dose mixtures of dietary nutrients ameliorate behavioral deficits in multiple mouse models of autism. PLoS Biol. 2025; 23(12): e3003231.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of heterogeneous, behaviorally defined neurodevelopmental conditions influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Here, we show that supplementation of multiple low-dose nutrients-an important environmental factor contributing to ASD-can modulate synaptic proteomes, reconfigure neural ensembles, and improve social behaviors in mice. First, we used Tbr1+/- mice, a well-established model of ASD, to investigate the effect of nutrient cocktails containing zinc, branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), and serine, all of which are known to regulate synapse formation and activity. Supplementation of nutrient cocktails for 7 days altered total proteomes by increasing synapse-related proteins. Our results further reveal that Tbr1 haploinsufficiency promotes hyperactivation and hyperconnectivity of basolateral amygdala (BLA) neurons, enhancing the activity correlation between individual neurons and their corresponding ensembles. Nutrient supplementation normalized the activity and connectivity of the BLA neurons in Tbr1+/- mice during social interactions. We further show that although a low dose of individual nutrients did not alter social behaviors, treatment with supplement mixtures containing low-dose individual nutrients improved social behaviors and associative memory of Tbr1+/- mice, implying a synergistic effect of combining low-dose zinc, BCAA, and serine. Moreover, the supplement cocktails also improved social behaviors in Nf1+/- and Cttnbp2+/M120I mice, two additional ASD mouse models. Thus, our findings reveal aberrant neural connectivity in the BLA of Tbr1+/- mice and indicate that dietary supplementation with zinc, BCAA, and/or serine offers a safe and accessible approach to mitigate neural connectivity and social behaviors across multiple ASD models.

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9. Jang H, Bennett DH, Hoofnagle AN, Pearce EN, Tancredi DJ, Schmidt RJ, Shin HM. Prenatal Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Maternal Thyroid Function during Pregnancy in a Cohort with High Familial Likelihood of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Environ Sci Technol. 2025.

Thyroid hormones supplied by the mother are essential for fetal brain development but could be disrupted by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). We explored how prenatal PFAS exposures relate to maternal thyroid function in pregnant participants from the MARBLES cohort. We analyzed 212 serum samples from 151 pregnant women who later had a child with diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), nontypical development (non-TD), or typical development (TD) by age 3. We quantified nine PFAS, total triiodothyronine (TT3), total thyroxine (TT4), free thyroxine (FT4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone. We used a linear mixed effect model for individual and coexposure effects and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) for mixture effects. We conducted a mixed graphical model with a child neurodevelopmental classification as an exploratory analysis. Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) were associated with TT4 (per 1-unit increase in ln-transformed concentrations β [95% confidence interval, CI]: 1.005 [0.108, 1.903] for PFOS; -0.581 [-1.160, -0.002] for PFHxS) and FT4-to-TT4 ratio (-0.153 [-0.270, -0.036] for PFOS; 0.090 [0.013, 0.166] for PFHxS). In the network map, PFAS were directly and indirectly associated with non-TD diagnosis, while TT3 was conditionally associated with non-TD. These findings indicate that prenatal PFAS exposure could interfere with maternal thyroid function, potentially impacting fetal neurodevelopment.

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10. Kish N, Hoff P, Kish A, Hurwitz R, Garg P. Development and evaluation of an autism information pack for culturally and linguistically diverse families: a quality improvement initiative. BMJ Paediatr Open. 2025; 9(1).

BACKGROUND: Parents of children newly diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often feel overwhelmed by the volume and complexity of information provided at diagnosis. For the culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) families in our district, these challenges are compounded by language barriers and limited health literacy. This quality improvement initiative aimed to develop and evaluate an Autism Information Pack to support families during the postdiagnostic period, assessing its feasibility, acceptability and appropriateness, with parent feedback incorporated into future resource development. METHODS: A mixed methods convergent design was used. The pack was developed as part of the first cycle of a quality improvement project by a multidisciplinary clinician stakeholder team, incorporating high-quality existing resources and new content aligned with health literacy principles. Evaluation was conducted across Child Development Assessment Service clinics in South Western Sydney. 19 parents from culturally diverse backgrounds received the pack and completed a baseline questionnaire, followed by a phone interview 3 weeks later. Measures assessed ASD understanding, service navigation confidence, pack engagement and suggestions for improvement. RESULTS: 14 parents completed follow-up. Of these, six read the full pack, four read part of it and four did not engage. Among readers, most reported that it improved their understanding of ASD and confidence in finding supports. All found the content clear, though six noted it was not in their preferred language. Qualitative feedback emphasised the pack’s cultural relevance, value in clarifying ASD and role in supporting navigation. Parents recommended more practical strategies, emotional support and diverse delivery formats. CONCLUSION: This initiative addressed a key service gap for CALD families. The resource is now in routine use and will be translated into Arabic and Vietnamese. Parent feedback will directly inform the next codesigned iteration, which will improve content and multimodal delivery to meet the needs of diverse communities.

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11. Koizumi M, Kobayashi W, Ogawa S, Kojima M. Vocabulary and Syntactic Development in Japanese Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Down Syndrome Accompanied by Intellectual Disability. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2025.

BACKGROUND: Children with intellectual disability (ID) have significantly delayed morphological and syntactic development. This study aimed to establish the link between vocabulary and syntactic development in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Down syndrome (DS) compared with children with typical development (TD), controlling for mental age (MA) as defined by the Tanaka-Binet Intelligence Scale V. METHODS: Participants comprised children with ID (N = 33), including 14 with ASD and 19 with DS; chronological age (CA) ranged from 9 to 17 years, with an MA of over 4 years. Children with TD (N = 28) had a CA of 5 years. Participants were assessed on vocabulary comprehension, vocabulary expression, syntactic comprehension and syntactic expression. We examined both group differences and within-group associations between vocabulary and syntax. RESULTS: Although we witnessed no significant differences in vocabulary comprehension or expression, children with ASD and DS performed significantly lower on syntactic comprehension and expression tasks than MA-matched children with TD. Both groups demonstrated difficulty with grammatical items requiring understanding of grammatical morphemes and grammatical knowledge. CONCLUSION: Both groups exhibited vocabulary development similar to that of children with TD; however, their syntactic development was lower than expected considering their MA and vocabulary development. Building and examining approaches focusing on syntax, particularly grammatical morphology, is important in educational and clinical practice for Japanese children with ASD and DS.

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12. Lu M, Duan T, Zou Q, Xu J, Pang F. Parental Beliefs, Parental Support, and Physical Activity in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Network Analysis. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025.

PURPOSE: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) tend to be physically less active than their peers. Parents play an important role in their children’s engagement in physical activities. This study adopted network analysis to examine the association between parental beliefs, support, and physical activity in children with ASD and compared the differences in the association patterns between two age groups (6-11 vs. 12-18 years). METHODS: We surveyed 269 Chinese parents of children with ASD regarding their beliefs, support, and their children’s physical activity. The networks were constructed using the Extended Bayesian Information Criterion Graphical Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (EBICglasso) model, and differences between age groups were examined using a Network Comparison Test. RESULTS: Supportive parental behaviors of encouragement and perceived ease of participation were identified as key bridge nodes connecting parental beliefs and support with physical activity engagement in children with ASD. The unique bridge node was parent-perceived benefits related to friendships for younger children, whereas parental support was used to explain the benefits of physical activity for older children. CONCLUSION: The research findings indicate that parental encouragement and perceived ease of participation are key factors associated with physical activity in children with ASD.

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13. McFayden TC, Harrop C, Roell KR, Joseph RM, Frazier JA, Fry RC, O’Shea TM. Developmental Trajectories of Autistic Social Traits in Youth Born Extremely Preterm. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2025.

OBJECTIVE: Autistic social traits (ASTs), evident in the general population, are associated with mental health challenges. ASTs have not been evaluated in youth born extremely preterm (EP), despite their increased prevalence of autism. The current research evaluates AST change from 10-17 years in a well-characterized sample of EP youth, including sex differences and associations with health and quality of life. METHOD: Participants included 527 EP youth (n=275 females, 67.8% White), assessed at 10- and 17-years, from the ELGAN study. Adolescents were born at an average of 26 weeks gestation. ASTs were parent-reported via the Social Responsiveness Scale at 10- and 17-years. Adolescents self-reported quality of life, health, and psychopathology at 17-years. AST change scores were calculated to evaluate change over time. AST change scores and increasing, decreasing, and stable trajectories were analyzed in relation to sex and quality-of-life scores. RESULTS: ASTs in EP youth increased an average of 19 raw points from ages 10-17 years, reflecting a change of eight standardized points and a change in qualitative description from the « normal » to « mild concern » range. Most youth (70%) exhibited an « Increasing » trajectory, reflecting increasing AST as a preterm phenotype. No sex differences emerged in AST change score or trajectory group. Higher AST change scores were associated with worse adolescent-reported health, self-esteem, and externalizing psychopathology. CONCLUSION: Increasing ASTs were consistent in this sample of EP youth. Increases in ASTs were not associated with child’s sex or demographics, suggesting a unique preterm phenotype of social trajectories. These findings have implications for quality of life as adolescents enter young adulthood.

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14. Minami T, Ikegame T, Tanaka M, Kumagai E, Kanehara A, Morishima R, Kumakura Y, Okochi N, Hamada J, Ogawa T, Tamune H, Kano Y, Jinde S, Kasai K. Urinary metabolomic profiling in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome reveals microbial and mitochondrial signatures related to autism and psychosis risk. PCN Rep. 2025; 4(4): e70261.

AIM: 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22qDS) is the most common copy-number-variation disorder, associated with multi-organ anomalies and elevated risk for schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric conditions. Previous metabolomic studies have used blood samples, implicating mitochondrial dysfunction and amino acid imbalance, but no urinary metabolomic analysis has been reported. We aimed to characterize the urinary metabolomic profile of 22qDS. METHODS: We conducted an exploratory study comparing urine from 10 individuals with 22qDS and 10 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Metabolites were quantified using capillary electrophoresis time-of-flight mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Data were analyzed using principal component analysis and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests with false-discovery-rate adjustment. RESULTS: Principal component analysis indicated separation between groups. Several metabolites differed significantly, defined by a false discovery rate q < 0.20 and fold change > 1.5 or <0.67. Elevated metabolites in 22qDS included 2-hydroxyglutaric acid, p-cresol sulfate, p-cresol glucuronide, trimethylamine-N-oxide, and 3-indoxylsulfuric acid, whereas citrulline and lysine were reduced. These metabolites are implicated in mitochondrial dysfunction, amino acid imbalance, and gut microbial dysbiosis. A substantial proportion of altered metabolites corresponded to those previously reported in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), predominantly microbiota-related. CONCLUSION: This first urinary metabolomic study of 22qDS demonstrates systemic metabolic alterations, including mitochondrial and microbiota-associated changes. The overlap with ASD is suggestive of a possible shared metabolic signature. Our findings provide initial insights into systemic and microbial contributions to neuropsychiatric vulnerability in this genetically defined high-risk population.

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15. Nimbley E, Bradley S, Pickard A, Sader M, Maloney E, Moore F, Suratwala T, Sharpe H, Duffy F, Gillespie-Smith K. Towards Identifying Autistic Adults at Risk for Eating Disorders: A Brief Report Into Clustering of Social Camouflaging and Sensory Processing Differences. Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2025.

BACKGROUND: Autistic people with an eating disorder (ED) are at higher risk of poorer treatment outcomes and experiences, perhaps due to a lack of understanding surrounding underlying mechanisms. Several factors have been implicated, such as sensory processing and social camouflaging; however, there has been little empirical investigation into how such mechanisms group or cluster together, and if certain clusters place the individual at greater risk of ED severity. METHOD: A secondary data analysis was conducted on an online survey of n = 180 Autistic adults (mean age = 38 years). Participants completed self-reported measures of sensory processing, social camouflaging and ED symptoms. Hierarchal clustering analyses (HCA) was conducted to explore clustering on sensory and social camouflaging behaviours, and a one-way ANOVA was conducted to explore between-cluster differences on ED symptoms. RESULTS: Three distinct clusters were identified: Cluster 1 (high camouflaging, low sensory); Cluster 2 (high camouflaging, high sensory); and Cluster 3 (low camouflaging, average sensory). Participants in Cluster 2 reported significantly higher ED symptoms that those in Cluster 3. There were no significant differences between remaining clusters. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest the combination of these factors may place Autistic individuals at higher ED risk, although future longitudinal, mixed-method and more representative research, which considers a wider range of risk mechanisms, is urgently needed before conclusions can be drawn.

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16. Özcan GH, Kaya GO. Effectiveness of Motor Support Program in Multidimensional Development of Autistic Children. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025.

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17. Pan Y, Xu C, Sun B, Chen J, Guo X, Wei Z, Peng Z. Aberrant Cognitive-Affective Empathy in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Electrophysiological Evidence of Viewing Social Animation. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025.

PURPOSE: Empathy has become a key area of research in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in recent years. However, the neural characteristics of empathy in children with ASD remain controversial. To advance the understanding of the neural mechanism of ASD’s empathy and test the classic empathy imbalance hypothesis, it is necessary to explore the cognitive-affective empathy in young children with ASD from another electrophysiological perspective in detail. METHODS: The present study explored the specific neural characteristics of children with ASD and typically developing children under cognitive empathy and affective empathy via simultaneous EEG recording of social animation, which would be able to capture reliable and effective evidence in children with ASD. RESULTS: The present study mainly revealed that the ASD group had abnormal electrophysiological characteristics under cognitive empathy, including increased functional connectivity in the θ band and abnormalities in the microstate classes C and D. Incidentally, this study also roughly found that the severity of autism symptoms was significantly correlated with the β-band amplitude of certain brain regions when viewing cognitive empathy clips, whereas the severity of autism symptoms was significantly correlated with the θ-band amplitude when viewing affective empathy clips. CONCLUSION: The present study supported the empathy imbalance hypothesis in young children with ASD and might indicate that children with ASD have distinct neural characteristics related to cognitive empathy and affective empathy processing. Future studies can combine eye movement measurements while watching animations, and further longitudinal studies on the electrophysiological characteristics of empathy in children with ASD.

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18. Shan S, Vivek K, Haridoss S, Swaminathan K. Assessment of Sleep Habit and Oral Habits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Cross-sectional Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2025; 18(11): 1327-32.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: A healthy metabolic, cognitive, and physical wellness requires sleep. Children with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), are prone to sleep disturbances, which exacerbates the behavioral and cognitive issues. Likewise, the sleep problems co-occur with oral habits. This study aims to assess and compare the sleep habit and oral habits of children with ASD and ADHD with those of neurotypical children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 96 children between the ages 4 and 10 were included. They were divided into two group: the case group, which included children with ASD and ADHD, and the control group, which included neurotypical children. Children’s Sleep Habit Questionnaire- Abbreviated (CSHQ-A) was administered to parents to evaluate bedtime routine, sleep behavior, and morning habits. Demographic data, body mass index (BMI), and presence of oral habits were also recorded. A CSHQ-A total score greater than 41 was regarded as abnormal and suggestive of sleep problem. Statistical analysis includes unpaired t-test for continuous variables, Chi-square test for categorical data, and Pearson correlation was employed to correlate CSHQ-A total score and BMI. RESULTS: The CSHQ-A total score was significantly higher in cases (71.41 ± 9.3) than the controls (43.1 ± 16.9, p < 0.001). The mean difference in the CSHQ-A total score was 28.31 with a large effect size and 95% confidence interval. Children with ASD and ADHD were dependent on parents to fall asleep, needed special objects, and experienced frequent night awakenings. A higher CSHQ-A total score was related to oral habits particularly, bruxism. There was a negative correlation found between the CSHQ-A total score and BMI (r = -0.30, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Children with ASD and ADHD showed significant sleep disturbance than children in control group. This study highlights the relationship between the impact of sleep disturbance and the problems associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. These findings emphasize the importance of assessment of sleep habit along with routine oral examination into the pediatric dental practice. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study highlights the clinical importance of integrating sleep assessment into pediatric dentistry, especially for children with health needs. Early detection and intervention will help in cognitive development and promotes the overall health. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Shan S, Vivek K, Haridoss S, et al. Assessment of Sleep Habit and Oral Habits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Cross-sectional Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2025;18(11):1327-1332.

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19. Takahashi Y, Takamatsu N, Okada N, Yagishita S, Kasai K. Meta-analysis of (1)H-MRS glutamate profiles in adult schizophrenia spectrum disorders and autism spectrum disorder: Study protocol. PCN Rep. 2025; 4(4): e70260.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) share social-cognitive deficits, genetic architecture, and overlapping animal models, yet the neurochemical signatures that differentiate them remain unclear. This protocol describes a systematic review and meta-analysis of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) studies examining glutamate, glutamine, and their combined signals. The primary aim is to establish a human neurochemical benchmark to guide translational research. METHODS: Eligible studies will be those measuring (1)H-MRS glutamatergic metabolites at ≥3 T field strength in at least one of five brain regions: anterior cingulate cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, striatum, or thalamus. Adults (≥18 years) with SSD (stratified as ultra-high risk, first-episode psychosis, and treatment-resistant schizophrenia) and ASD diagnosed using standardized criteria will be compared to healthy controls. Systematic searches will be conducted in databases. Two independent reviewers will assess the risk of bias using the AXIS (Appraisal Tool for Cross-Sectional Studies) and MRS-Q (Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Quality Assessment Tool). Primary outcomes will be regional differences in metabolite concentrations. We will conduct random-effects meta-analyses integrating direct and indirect comparisons, with subgroup analyses by illness stage and medication status. RESULTS: We expect to identify both shared and distinct glutamatergic alterations across SSD subgroups and ASD, with potential stage-specific patterns in cortical and subcortical regions. CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive analysis aims to identify regional brain glutamatergic biomarkers differentiating SSD and ASD. These neurochemical signatures will provide an essential reference framework for validating and guiding reverse-translational research. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD420251003550.

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20. Tiawongsuwan L, Klomchitcharoen S, Chumanee W, Tangwattanasirikun T, Saksittikorn S, Chawaruechai S, Jatupornpoonsub T, Wongsawat Y. Autism spectrum disorder disrupts brain network connectivity maturation during childhood development. Sci Rep. 2025.

Understanding the developmental trajectory of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains a critical barrier for timely intervention in children. Here, we investigated the deficit brain maturation trajectory during childhood development in 35 ASD level 1 and 35 neurotypical children through an electroencephalography (EEG) approach. An empirical study of the potential EEG biomarkers was demonstrated in a comprehensive view of group difference and age-related group comparison using alpha power, peak alpha frequency and transfer entropy during resting. We found a significant disruption of directional brain network communication between regions in children with ASD compared to neurotypical children. Our results also suggested that the children with ASD had altered occipital alpha power and peak alpha frequency development. The present study revealed promising findings that underpinned the developmental disruption of autism spectrum disorder, which may provide a prevailing insight into the disease pathology mechanisms, paving the way for future intervention advancement.

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21. Umamaheswara Reddy D, Phani Kumar KV, Ramakrishna B, Umaiorubagam GS. Design, Development and Functionality Evaluation of IoT-enabled User Adaptive Sensory Integration Room for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Assist Technol. 2025: 1-14.

An increase in the usage of advanced digital Sensory Integration Rooms (SIRs) is being witnessed to address specific sensory needs of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and to improve their behavior and cognitive skills. The addition of Internet of Things (IoT) and RFID-based technologies improves the efficiency of such SIRs, which has been discussed in this paper. A User Adaptive Sensory Integration Room (UASIR) is designed and developed with a pool of Sensory Stimulating Devices (SSDs) to provide appropriate visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli. Interactive control panels followed by web interfaces and an RFID-based child identification system are introduced to elicit the capacities of stimuli management, efficient tracking of individual child interactions, and data acquisition. Four operational modes are emphasized in UASIR, including (i) relaxing (ii) exciting (iii) customized, and (iv) active, allowing for tailored sensory experiences based on individual preferences and therapeutic goals. Functionality evaluations reveal an overall satisfaction rate of 88% by 35 practitioners who utilized UASIR, indicating that it is highly effective in achieving its objectives. Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed that practitioners’ ratings for the use of added technologies are significantly higher compared to traditional fixed and manual methods, confirming the usefulness of integrated advanced features.

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22. Wang M, Liang Z, Zhuang H, Cao X, Ma G, Sun Y, Yan X, Ran X, Guan H, Shen L. Cntn4 Gene Deficiency Promotes Autism-Like Phenotypes Associated with Gut Microbiota Perturbations and Gut-Brain Axis Metabolomic Alterations in Mice. Mol Neurobiol. 2025; 63(1): 235.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) involves complex genetic-environmental interactions, with the gut microbiota (GM)-brain axis playing a key role. To explore whether the ASD risk gene Cntn4 contributes to disease development via gut-brain connectivity, our study employed a Cntn4 knockout mouse model. The microbial diversity and abundance in the gut contents of these mice were assessed using 16S rDNA sequencing, while metabolite changes in the gut contents, serum, and cerebral cortex were detected via metabolomics methods. The results showed that Cntn4 gene knockdown induced autism-like behavioral changes and accelerated gut transit in mice. Compared with the control group, significant differences were observed in the composition of the GM and metabolomics profiles. Notably, alterations in GM (e.g., Adlercreutzia, Desulfovibrionaceae_unclassified) and disruptions in several metabolic pathways, including arginine-proline, histidine, sphingoid, tyrosine, and purine metabolism, were identified. Multi-omics analyses linked microbial shifts to metabolite changes in the gut contents, serum and cerebral cortex, particularly organic acids. These findings suggest that knockout of the Cntn4 gene may lead to autism-like changes in mice through mechanisms associated with alterations in GM and gut-brain axis metabolites. This study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying ASD development and offers potential directions for the prevention and treatment of ASD.

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23. West S, Jackson D, Cleary M. Holding up a Mirror: Intergenerational Interactions and Late Life Autism Diagnosis. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2025: 1-3.

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24. Yan T, Hou Y, Deng Y. Parental Burnout in Chinese Parents of Children With Developmental Disabilities: A Generalized Additive Model Perspective. J Autism Dev Disord. 2025.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the predictors of parental burnout among Chinese parents of children with developmental disabilities (DD), focusing on the potential nonlinear and interactive effects of socio-demographic characteristics, Big Five personality traits, and parenting perfectionism. METHODS: A total of 528 parents of children with DD were recruited from various regions in China. Participants completed standardized questionnaires assessing parental burnout, Big Five personality traits, parenting perfectionism, and socio-demographic characteristics. To examine both linear and nonlinear associations between these predictors and parental burnout, we employed generalized linear model (GLM)-the extension of linear regression that accommodates non-normal outcome distributions-and generalized additive model (GAM), which allow for the flexible modeling of nonlinear effects. Interaction effects between personality traits and parenting perfectionism were also tested using GAM. RESULTS: Results indicated that GAM outperformed GLM in capturing complex relationships, revealing significant nonlinear associations between parental burnout and several predictors, including parental age, education, income, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism, and both dimensions of parenting perfectionism. Notably, personality traits and parenting perfectionism interacted in predicting burnout. For example, high neuroticism combined with high perfectionistic concerns significantly increased the risk of burnout. CONCLUSION: The study underscores the need to consider nonlinear and interactive effects in understanding parental burnout. GAM offers a useful approach for revealing complex patterns, especially in non-Western contexts.

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25. Zhang Y, Zheng W, Yan X, Zhang Y, Peng B, Wu D, Zhang L, Pang H, Yang R, Wang Y, Li G, Ma X. Influence from the intestinal microbiota of neonate on early child development. BMC Pediatr. 2025; 25(1): 976.

OBJECTIVE: The early-life microbiome is gaining appreciation as a major influencer in human development and long-term health. The present study explored the influence from the intestinal microbiota of neonate on early child development. METHODS: The first internal discharge was collected from the Beijing Birth Cohort Study (BBCS) located in Beijing, China. Then these children were followed up using the Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ). 77 children were found with at least one domain of developmental delay, and 259 children with no delays were randomly selected as control group, as a nested case-control study. Their meconium microbiome were profiled using multi-barcode 16 S rRNA sequencing at V1-V9 hypervariable region. RESULTS: There were significant difference in alpha-diversity and beta-diversity measures of intestinal microbiota between groups of children with or without developmental delays(P<0.05), as group of children with developmental delays had less diversity in intestinal microbiota. And there were significant differences on the species composition as well. On genus level, linear discriminant analysis effect size (LefSe) showed higher abundances of Serratia, Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, and Enterococcus in the group with developmental delays. It indicated that the lower diversity of intestinal microbiota, and higher abundances of certain intestinal microbiota might be related to developmental delays. CONCLUSION: There were significant differences in the intestinal microbiota of neonate between children with or without developmental delays. Lower diversity of intestinal microbiota, and higher abundances of certain intestinal microbiota might be related to developmental delays.

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