1. Bouck EC, Satsangi R, Doughty TT, Courtney WT. {{Virtual and Concrete Manipulatives: A Comparison of Approaches for Solving Mathematics Problems for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2013 (Jun 7)
Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are included in general education classes and expected to participate in general education content, such as mathematics. Yet, little research explores academically-based mathematics instruction for this population. This single subject alternating treatment design study explored the effectiveness of concrete (physical objects that can be manipulated) and virtual (3-D objects from the Internet that can be manipulated) manipulatives to teach single- and double-digit subtraction skills. Participants in this study included three elementary-aged students (ages ranging from 6 to 10) diagnosed with ASD. Students were selected from a clinic-based setting, where all participants received medically necessary intensive services provided via one-to-one, trained therapists. Both forms of manipulatives successfully assisted students in accurately and independently solving subtraction problem. However, all three students demonstrated greater accuracy and faster independence with the virtual manipulatives as compared to the concrete manipulatives. Beyond correctly solving the subtraction problems, students were also able to generalize their learning of subtraction through concrete and virtual manipulatives to more real-world applications.
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2. Burke JP, Jain A, Yang W, Kelly JP, Kaiser M, Becker L, Lawer L, Newschaffer CJ. {{Does a claims diagnosis of autism mean a true case?}}. {Autism};2013 (Jun 5)
The purpose of this study was to validate autism spectrum disorder cases identified through claims-based case identification algorithms against a clinical review of medical charts. Charts were reviewed for 432 children who fell into one of the three following groups: (a) more than or equal to two claims with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis code (n = 182), (b) one claim with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis code (n = 190), and (c) those who had no claims for autism spectrum disorder but had claims for other developmental or neurological conditions (n = 60). The algorithm-based diagnoses were compared with documented autism spectrum disorders in the medical charts. The algorithm requiring more than or equal to two claims for autism spectrum disorder generated a positive predictive value of 87.4%, which suggests that such an algorithm is a valid means to identify true autism spectrum disorder cases in claims data.
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3. Gay V, Leijdekkers P, Wong F. {{Using sensors and facial expression recognition to personalize emotion learning for autistic children}}. {Stud Health Technol Inform};2013;189:71-76.
This paper describes CaptureMyEmotion, an app for smartphones and tablets which uses wireless sensors to capture physiological data together with facial expression recognition to provide a very personalized way to help autistic children identify and understand their emotions. Many apps are targeting autistic children and their carer, but none of the existing apps uses the full potential offered by mobile technology and sensors to overcome one of autistic children’s main difficulty: the identification and expression of emotions. CaptureMyEmotion enables autistic children to capture photos, videos or sounds, and identify the emotion they felt while taking the picture. Simultaneously, a self-portrait of the child is taken, and the app measures the arousal and stress levels using wireless sensors. The app uses the self-portrait to provide a better estimate of the emotion felt by the child. The app has the potential to help autistic children understand their emotions and it gives the carer insight into the child’s emotions and offers a means to discuss the child’s feelings.
4. Kaluzna-Czaplinska J, Zurawicz E, Michalska M, Rynkowski J. {{A focus on homocysteine in autism}}. {Acta Biochim Pol};2013 (Jun 6)
Homocysteine is an amino acid, which plays several important roles in human physiology. A wide range of disorders, including neuropsychiatric disorders and autism, are associated with increased homocysteine levels in biological fluids. Various B vitamins: B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cobalamin), and B9 (folic acid) are required as co-factors by the enzymes involved in homocysteine metabolism. Therefore, monitoring of homocysteine levels in body fluids of autistic children can provide information on genetic and physiological diseases, improper lifestyle (including dietary habits), as well as a variety of pathological conditions. This review presents information on homocysteine metabolism, determination of homocysteine in biological fluids, and shows abnormalities in the levels of homocysteine in the body fluids of autistic children.
5. Kamio Y, Inada N, Koyama T, Inokuchi E, Tsuchiya K, Kuroda M. {{Effectiveness of Using the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers in Two-Stage Screening of Autism Spectrum Disorder at the 18-Month Health Check-Up in Japan}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2013 (Jun 6)
To determine whether the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) in conjunction with the routine 18-month health check-up identifies Japanese toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Two-stage screening using the M-CHAT was conducted with 1,851 children attending the check-up. Final ASD diagnosis was confirmed at age >/=3 years. Screening identified 20/51 children with ASD: 12/20 true positives were developmentally delayed, whereas 16/22 false negatives were high-functioning. Sensitivity was 0.476, specificity 0.986, positive predictive value 0.455, and likelihood ratio 33.4 for children with ASD. With a few modifications, M-CHAT screening successfully detected toddlers with ASD with and without developmental delay and is a promising screening tool to complement existing community surveillance.
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6. Nair A, Treiber JM, Shukla DK, Shih P, Muller RA. {{Impaired thalamocortical connectivity in autism spectrum disorder: a study of functional and anatomical connectivity}}. {Brain};2013 (Jun);136(Pt 6):1942-1955.
The thalamus plays crucial roles in the development and mature functioning of numerous sensorimotor, cognitive and attentional circuits. Currently limited evidence suggests that autism spectrum disorder may be associated with thalamic abnormalities, potentially related to sociocommunicative and other impairments in this disorder. We used functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging probabilistic tractography to study the functional and anatomical integrity of thalamo-cortical connectivity in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and matched typically developing children. For connectivity with five cortical seeds (prefontal, parieto-occipital, motor, somatosensory and temporal), we found evidence of both anatomical and functional underconnectivity. The only exception was functional connectivity with the temporal lobe, which was increased in the autism spectrum disorders group, especially in the right hemisphere. However, this effect was robust only in partial correlation analyses (partialling out time series from other cortical seeds), whereas findings from total correlation analyses suggest that temporo-thalamic overconnectivity in the autism group was only relative to the underconnectivity found for other cortical seeds. We also found evidence of microstructural compromise within the thalamic motor parcel, associated with compromise in tracts between thalamus and motor cortex, suggesting that the thalamus may play a role in motor abnormalities reported in previous autism studies. More generally, a number of correlations of diffusion tensor imaging and functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging measures with diagnostic and neuropsychological scores indicate involvement of abnormal thalamocortical connectivity in sociocommunicative and cognitive impairments in autism spectrum disorder.
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7. Pacey LK, Xuan IC, Guan S, Sussman D, Henkelman RM, Chen Y, Thomsen C, Hampson DR. {{Delayed Myelination in a Mouse Model of Fragile X Syndrome}}. {Hum Mol Genet};2013 (Jun 4)
Fragile X Syndrome is the most common inherited cause of autism. Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), which is absent in fragile X, is an mRNA binding protein that regulates the translation of hundreds of different mRNA transcripts. In the adult brain FMRP is expressed primarily in neurons; however, it is also expressed in developing glial cells, where its function is not well understood. Here, we show that fragile X (Fmr1) knockout mice display abnormalities in the myelination of cerebellar axons as early as the first postnatal week, corresponding roughly to the equivalent time in human brain development when symptoms of the syndrome first become apparent (1-3 years of age).At postnatal day (PND) 7, diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging showed reduced volume of the Fmr1 cerebellum compared to wild-type mice, concomitant with an 80-85% reduction in the expression of myelin basic protein, fewer myelinated axons, and reduced thickness of myelin sheaths, as measured by electron microscopy. Both the expression of the proteoglycan NG2, and the number of PDGFRalpha+/NG2+ oligodendrocyte precursor cells were reduced in the Fmr1 cerebellum at PND 7. Although myelin proteins were still depressed at PND 15, they regained wild-type levels by PND 30. These findings suggest that impaired maturation or function of oligodendrocyte precursor cells induces delayed myelination in the Fmr1 mouse brain. Our results bolster an emerging recognition that white matter abnormalities in early postnatal brain development represent an underlying neurological deficit in Fragile X syndrome.
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8. Pradhan T, Hardan A. {{Priapism Associated with Risperidone in a 21-Year-Old Male with Autism}}. {J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol};2013 (Jun 5)
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9. Rao PA, Landa RJ. {{Association between severity of behavioral phenotype and comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorders}}. {Autism};2013 (Jun 5)
Autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are neurodevelopmental disorders that cannot be codiagnosed under existing diagnostic guidelines (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, 4th ed., text rev.). However, reports are emerging that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is sometimes comorbid with autism spectrum disorder. In the current study, we examined rates of parent-reported clinically significant symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in school-aged children (4-8 years) with autism spectrum disorder, most of whom were first enrolled in our research protocols as toddlers. Results revealed that children with autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder had lower cognitive functioning, more severe social impairment, and greater delays in adaptive functioning than children with autism spectrum disorder only. Implications for clinical practice include the need to assess for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms at an early age in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Research is needed to determine efficacious interventions for young children with autism spectrum disorder with comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to optimize outcomes.
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10. Samadi SA, McConkey R. {{The utility of the Gilliam autism rating scale for identifying Iranian children with autism}}. {Disabil Rehabil};2013 (Jun 5)
Abstract Purpose: Screening and assessment tools for developmental disabilities such as autism may need to be adjusted to particular cultures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use in Iran of a rating scale for autism commonly used in western society. Method: A Persian translation of the GARS was completed by parents of 658 children: 442 who had been diagnosed with Autism; 112 intellectually disabled and 102 normally developing. The psychometric properties of the subscales were assessed and comparisons made across the three groups. Results: Factor analysis broadly confirmed the three subscales; each of which had high internal consistency. Individuals with autism were clearly distinguished from the other two groups and a cut-off score was identified that maximised the scale’s sensitivity and specificity. Ten items were identified that best discriminated the three groups and these could form the basis for a shorter screening tool as they had good internal reliability and predictive validity. Conclusions: Iranian parents identified items relating to impaired social interaction and repetitive behaviours as more indicative of autism rather than those relating to communication and language. Attuning screening tools to cultural contexts is an important step towards a better understanding of autism internationally. Implications for Rehabilitation Early identification of autism enables appropriate interventions to be commenced and support offered to families. Screening tools developed in western society needs to be evaluated for their suitability in other cultures internationally as well as with immigrant communities. Iranian professionals working in child development clinics could use the translated version of GARS with some confidence. In addition a shorter screening tool was developed comprising 10 autistic traits that were especially salient to an Iranian culture.
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11. Selim ME, Al-Ayadhi LY. {{Possible ameliorative effect of breastfeeding and the uptake of human colostrum against coeliac disease in autistic rats}}. {World J Gastroenterol};2013 (Jun 7);19(21):3281-3290.
AIM: To examine the possible ameliorative effect of breastfeeding and the uptake of human colostrum against coeliac disease in autistic rats. METHODS: Female rats were fed a standard diet and received a single intraperitoneal injection of 600 mg/kg sodium valproate on day 12.5 after conception. In study 1, neonatal rats were randomly subjected to blood tests to investigate autism. In study 2, the 1(st) group was fed by the mother after an injection of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and administration of gliadin. The pups in the 2(nd) group were prevented from accessing maternal milk, injected IFN-gamma, administered gliadin, and hand-fed human colostrum. The normal littermates fed by the table mothers were injected with physiological saline and served as normal controls in this study. RESULTS: The protein concentration was higher in group 2 than in group 1 in the duodenum (161.6 +/- 9 and 135.4 +/- 7 mg/g of tissue, respectively, P < 0.01). A significant increase (P < 0.001) in body weight was detected in human colostrum-treated pups on post natal day (PND) 7 and 21 vs suckling pups in group 1. A delay in eye opening was noticed in the treated rats in group 1 on PND 13 compared with the control group and group 2. Administration of a single intraperitoneal injection of 600 mg/kg sodium valproate on day 12.5 after conception resulted in significantly reduced calcium and vitamin D levels in study 1 compared with the control groups (P < 0.001). However, human colostrum uptake inhibited increases in the level of transglutaminase antibody in autistic pups with coeliac disease. CONCLUSION: The effects of early-life nutrition and human colostrum on the functional maturation of the duodenal villi in autistic rats with coeliac disease that might limit or prevent the coeliac risk with autism.
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12. Simashkova NV, Iakupova LP, Kliushnik TP, Koval’-Zaitsev AA. {{[A multidiscipline clinical and biological approach to the study of psychotic types of autistic spectrum disorders in children.]}}. {Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova};2013;113(5 Vypusk 2 Detskaia nevrologiia i psikhiatriia):35-42.
The current problem of heterogeneity of psychotic types of autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) is reviewed. The authors present results of a multidiscipline psychopathological, pathopsychological, neurophysiological and immunological examination of 87 patients, aged from 3 to 14 years, with psychotic types of ASD: childhood psychosis (CP) and atypical childhood psychosis (ACP). Significant differences in clinical presentations of CP and ACP that were correlated with pathopsychological, neurophysiological and immunological disorders were found. These findings support different nosological entities of these types of ASD.
