1. Gozzi M, Nielson DM, Lenroot RK, Ostuni JL, Luckenbaugh DA, Thurm AE, Giedd JN, Swedo SE. {{A Magnetization Transfer Imaging Study of Corpus Callosum Myelination in Young Children with Autism}}. {Biol Psychiatry};2012 (Mar 1)
BACKGROUND: Several lines of evidence suggest that autism may be associated with abnormalities in white matter development. However, inconsistencies remain in the literature regarding the nature and extent of these abnormalities, partly because of the limited types of measurements that have been used. Here, we used magnetization transfer imaging to provide insight into the myelination of the corpus callosum in children with autism. METHODS: Magnetization transfer imaging scans were obtained in 101 children with autism and 35 typically developing children who did not significantly differ with regard to gender or age. The midsagittal area of the corpus callosum was manually traced and the magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) was calculated for each voxel within the corpus callosum. Mean MTR and height and location of the MTR histogram peak were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean MTR and MTR histogram peak height and location were significantly higher in children with autism than in typically developing children, suggesting abnormal myelination of the corpus callosum in autism. CONCLUSIONS: The differences in callosal myelination suggested by these results may reflect an alteration in the normally well-regulated process of myelination of the brain, with broad implications for neuropathology, diagnosis, and treatment of autism.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
2. Hasanzadeh E, Mohammadi MR, Ghanizadeh A, Rezazadeh SA, Tabrizi M, Rezaei F, Akhondzadeh S. {{A Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Trial of Ginkgo biloba Added to Risperidone in Patients with Autistic Disorders}}. {Child Psychiatry Hum Dev};2012 (Mar 6)
Ginkgo biloba has been reported to affect the neurotransmitter system and to have antioxidant properties that could impact the pathogenesis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Based on these studies, we decided to assess the effectiveness of Ginkgo biloba extract (Ginko T.D., Tolidaru, Iran) as an adjunctive agent to risperidone in the treatment of autism. Forty-seven outpatients with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of autism ages between 4 and 12 years were assigned to this double blinded clinical trial and were randomly divided into two groups. One group received risperidone plus Ginko T.D and the other received risperidone plus placebo. The dose of risperidone was 1-3 mg/day and the dose of Ginko T.D. was 80 mg/day for patients under 30 kg and 120 mg/day for patients above 30 kg. Patients were assessed using Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community (ABC-C) rating scale and the side effect check list every 2 weeks until the endpoint. None of the 5 subscales of ABC-C rating scale showed significant differences between the two groups. Incidents of side effects were not significantly different between the two groups. Adding Ginkgo biloba to risperidone did not affect the treatment outcome of ADs. Nevertheless, further observations are needed to confirm this result.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
3. Hayward DA, Shore DI, Ristic J, Kovshoff H, Iarocci G, Mottron L, Burack JA. {{Flexible Visual Processing in Young Adults with Autism: The Effects of Implicit Learning on a Global-Local Task}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2012 (Mar 6)
We utilized a hierarchical figures task to determine the default level of perceptual processing and the flexibility of visual processing in a group of high-functioning young adults with autism (n = 12) and a typically developing young adults, matched by chronological age and IQ (n = 12). In one task, participants attended to one level of the figure and ignored the other in order to determine the default level of processing. In the other task, participants attended to both levels and the proportion of trials in which a target would occur at either level was manipulated. Both groups exhibited a global processing bias and showed similar flexibility in performance, suggesting that persons with autism may not be impaired in flexible shifting between task levels.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
4. Kobayashi T, Inagaki M, Kaga M. {{Professional Caregiver’s View on Mental Health in Parents of Children with Developmental Disabilities: A Nationwide Study of Institutions and Consultation Centers in Japan}}. {ISRN Pediatr};2012;2012:121898.
Parents of children with intellectual disabilities and/or physical disabilities are supposed to have an increased risk for parenting stress and psychological distress. We as professional caregivers sometimes experience difficulties in keeping good relations or communicating with the parents. Professional workers in 460 institutions and consultation centers throughout Japan answered a questionnaire on their clinical experiences. About 90% of the facilities experienced « distressed parents, » and the parents’ condition such as mental health seemed to influence this. Signs of a depressive state were the most common psychiatric disturbances detected, and it was notable in the pervasive developmental disorder group. More welfare support, presence of support groups, support from other family members, and medical treatment of the parents’ problems were considered to be helpful and thus requested to be improved. Training more professionals who can properly deal with the parents’ mental health needs is an urgent matter that must be tackled.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
5. Morsanyi K, Handley SJ. {{Reasoning on the Basis of Fantasy Content: Two Studies with High-Functioning Autistic Adolescents}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2012 (Mar 6)
Reasoning about problems with empirically false content can be hard, as the inferences that people draw are heavily influenced by their background knowledge. However, presenting empirically false premises in a fantasy context helps children and adolescents to disregard their beliefs, and to reason on the basis of the premises. The aim of the present experiments was to see if high-functioning adolescents with autism are able to utilize fantasy context to the same extent as typically developing adolescents when they reason about empirically false premises. The results indicate that problems with engaging in pretence in autism persist into adolescence, and this hinders the ability of autistic individuals to disregard their beliefs when empirical knowledge is irrelevant.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
6. Rosenberg RE, Law JK, Anderson C, Samango-Sprouse C, Law PA. {{Survey of Vaccine Beliefs and Practices Among Families Affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders}}. {Clin Pediatr (Phila)};2012 (Mar 2)
