1. Askie LM, Darlow BA, Finer N, Schmidt B, Stenson B, Tarnow-Mordi W, Davis PG, Carlo WA, Brocklehurst P, Davies LC, Das A, Rich W, Gantz MG, Roberts RS, Whyte RK, Costantini L, Poets C, Asztalos E, Battin M, Halliday HL, Marlow N, Tin W, King A, Juszczak E, Morley CJ, Doyle LW, Gebski V, Hunter KE, Simes RJ. {{Association Between Oxygen Saturation Targeting and Death or Disability in Extremely Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Oxygenation Prospective Meta-analysis Collaboration}}. {Jama}. 2018; 319(21): 2190-201.
Importance: There are potential benefits and harms of hyperoxemia and hypoxemia for extremely preterm infants receiving more vs less supplemental oxygen. Objective: To compare the effects of different target ranges for oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry (Spo2) on death or major morbidity. Design, Setting, and Participants: Prospectively planned meta-analysis of individual participant data from 5 randomized clinical trials (conducted from 2005-2014) enrolling infants born before 28 weeks’ gestation. Exposures: Spo2 target range that was lower (85%-89%) vs higher (91%-95%). Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was a composite of death or major disability (bilateral blindness, deafness, cerebral palsy diagnosed as >/=2 level on the Gross Motor Function Classification System, or Bayley-III cognitive or language score <85) at a corrected age of 18 to 24 months. There were 16 secondary outcomes including the components of the primary outcome and other major morbidities. Results: A total of 4965 infants were randomized (2480 to the lower Spo2 target range and 2485 to the higher Spo2 range) and had a median gestational age of 26 weeks (interquartile range, 25-27 weeks) and a mean birth weight of 832 g (SD, 190 g). The primary outcome occurred in 1191 of 2228 infants (53.5%) in the lower Spo2 target group and 1150 of 2229 infants (51.6%) in the higher Spo2 target group (risk difference, 1.7% [95% CI, -1.3% to 4.6%]; relative risk [RR], 1.04 [95% CI, 0.98 to 1.09], P = .21). Of the 16 secondary outcomes, 11 were null, 2 significantly favored the lower Spo2 target group, and 3 significantly favored the higher Spo2 target group. Death occurred in 484 of 2433 infants (19.9%) in the lower Spo2 target group and 418 of 2440 infants (17.1%) in the higher Spo2 target group (risk difference, 2.8% [95% CI, 0.6% to 5.0%]; RR, 1.17 [95% CI, 1.04 to 1.31], P = .01). Treatment for retinopathy of prematurity was administered to 220 of 2020 infants (10.9%) in the lower Spo2 target group and 308 of 2065 infants (14.9%) in the higher Spo2 target group (risk difference, -4.0% [95% CI, -6.1% to -2.0%]; RR, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.63 to 0.86], P < .001). Severe necrotizing enterocolitis occurred in 227 of 2464 infants (9.2%) in the lower Spo2 target group and 170 of 2465 infants (6.9%) in the higher Spo2 target group (risk difference, 2.3% [95% CI, 0.8% to 3.8%]; RR, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.10 to 1.61], P = .003). Conclusions and Relevance: In this prospectively planned meta-analysis of individual participant data from extremely preterm infants, there was no significant difference between a lower Spo2 target range compared with a higher Spo2 target range on the primary composite outcome of death or major disability at a corrected age of 18 to 24 months. The lower Spo2 target range was associated with a higher risk of death and necrotizing enterocolitis, but a lower risk of retinopathy of prematurity treatment. Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
2. Bond EC, Oliphant RYK. {{Pervasive Refusal Syndrome in Autistic Spectrum Disorder}}. {Case reports in psychiatry}. 2018; 2018: 5049818.
Pervasive Refusal Syndrome (PRS) is a rare child psychiatric condition. We describe a case of PRS in a 9-year-old boy with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presenting with severe weight loss due to extreme restriction of food and fluids. Other prominent symptoms included total mutism, school refusal, and self-neglect. He was admitted to a specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit. We discuss the symptoms present in this case and the differential diagnosis of ASD in PRS. Although this differential has briefly been considered one in previous case, there have been no reported cases of PRS with a prior diagnosis of ASD. We explore comorbidity and interaction of the two diagnoses. We discuss the possible impact of ASD as a predisposing factor upon the progression and prognosis of PRS.
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3. Cardillo R, Menazza C, Mammarella IC. {{Visuoconstructive abilities and visuospatial memory in autism spectrum disorder without intellectual disability: Is the role of local bias specific to the cognitive domain tested?}}. {Neuropsychology}. 2018.
OBJECTIVE: Visuospatial processing in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without intellectual disability remains only partly understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate global versus local visuospatial processing in individuals with ASD, comparing them with typically developing (TD) controls in visuoconstructive and visuospatial memory tasks. METHOD: There were 21 participants with ASD without intellectual disability, and 21 TD controls matched for chronological age (M = 161.37 months, SD = 38.19), gender, and perceptual reasoning index who were tested. Participants were administered tasks assessing the visuoconstructive domain and involving fine motor skills, and visuospatial memory tasks in which visuospatial information had to be manipulated mentally. RESULTS: Using a mixed-effects model approach, our results showed different effects of local bias in the ASD group, depending on the domain considered: the use of a local approach only emerged for the visuoconstructive domain-in which fine motor skills were involved. CONCLUSIONS: These results seem to suggest that the local bias typical of the cognitive profile of ASD without intellectual disability could be a property of specific cognitive domains rather than a central mechanism. (PsycINFO Database Record
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4. Faundez V, De Toma I, Bardoni B, Bartesaghi R, Nizetic D, de la Torre R, Cohen Kadosh R, Herault Y, Dierssen M, Potier MC. {{Translating molecular advances in Down syndrome and Fragile X syndrome into therapies}}. {Eur Neuropsychopharmacol}. 2018; 28(6): 675-90.
Ongoing treatments for genetic developmental disorders of the central nervous system are mostly symptomatic and do not correct the genetic cause. Recent identification of common mechanisms between diseases has suggested that new therapeutic targets could be applied across intellectual disabilities with potential disease-modifying properties. The European Down syndrome and other genetic developmental disorders (DSG2D) network joined basic and clinical scientists to foster this research and carry out clinical trials. Here we discuss common mechanisms between several intellectual disabilities from genetic origin including Down’s and Fragile X syndromes: i) how to model these complex diseases using neuronal cells and brain organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells; ii) how to integrate genomic, proteomic and interactome data to help defining common mechanisms and boundaries between diseases; iii) how to target common pathways for designing clinical trials and assessing their efficacy; iv) how to bring new neuro-therapies, such as noninvasive brain stimulations and cognitive training to clinical research. The basic and translational research efforts of the last years have utterly transformed our understanding of the molecular pathology of these diseases but much is left to be done to bring them to newborn babies and children to improve their quality of life.
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5. Fisher MH, Shivers CM, Josol CK. {{Psychometric Properties and Utility of the Social Vulnerability Questionnaire for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
Although it is well-known that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are socially vulnerable, the field lacks valid assessments to identify risk factors for victimization. Parents/caregivers of 428 individuals with IDD (ages 12-53) completed the social vulnerability questionnaire (SVQ), a measure developed to assess specific aspects of social vulnerability among individuals with various forms of IDD. This study examined the psychometric structure of the SVQ (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis), and the utility of the factors of the SVQ as predictors of diagnostic category (through discriminate function analysis). Results provide psychometric support for use of the SVQ and its factors for further research and as part of a clinical assessment battery to assess social vulnerability and to develop interventions.
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6. Fleury VP, Hugh ML. {{Exploring Engagement in Shared Reading Activities Between Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Caregivers}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
Reading aloud to children is a valued practice to promote emergent literacy and language skills that form the foundation for future reading success. We conducted a descriptive study of shared book reading practices between caregivers and their children with autism spectrum disorder (n = 17) and caregivers and their typically developing children (n = 20) to identify factors that can promote or inhibit children’s engagement in reading. Caregivers and their children read nine books (familiar, non-fiction, fiction). Children with ASD demonstrated lower levels of passive engagement (looking at the book) and higher levels of non-engaged behavior compared to typically developing children. Caregiver reading quality and book type contributed to joint engagement during reading. Implications of these findings for intervention development are discussed.
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7. Fontes-Dutra M, Santos-Terra J, Deckmann I, Brum Schwingel G, Della-Flora Nunes G, Hirsch MM, Bauer-Negrini G, Riesgo RS, Bambini-Junior V, Hedin-Pereira C, Gottfried C. {{Resveratrol Prevents Cellular and Behavioral Sensory Alterations in the Animal Model of Autism Induced by Valproic Acid}}. {Front Synaptic Neurosci}. 2018; 10: 9.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in both social communication and interaction and repetitive or stereotyped behaviors. Although its etiology remains unknown, genetic and environmental risk factors have been associated with this disorder, including the exposure to valproic acid (VPA) during pregnancy. Resveratrol (RSV) is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant molecule known to prevent social impairments in the VPA animal model of autism. This study aimed to analyze the effects of prenatal exposure to VPA, as well as possible preventive effects of RSV, on sensory behavior, the localization of GABAergic parvalbumin (PV(+)) neurons in sensory brain regions and the expression of proteins of excitatory and inhibitory synapses. Pregnant rats were treated daily with RSV (3.6 mg/kg) from E6.5 to E18.5 and injected with VPA (600 mg/kg) in the E12.5. Male pups were analyzed in Nest Seeking (NS) behavior and in whisker nuisance task (WNT). At P30, the tissues were removed and analyzed by immunofluorescence and western blotting. Our data showed for the first time an altered localization of PV(+)-neurons in primary sensory cortex and amygdala. We also showed a reduced level of gephyrin in the primary somatosensory area (PSSA) of VPA animals. The treatment with RSV prevented all the aforementioned alterations triggered by VPA. Our data shed light on the relevance of sensory component in ASD and highlights the interplay between RSV and VPA animal model as an important tool to investigate the pathophysiology of ASD.
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8. Giacardy P, Viellard M, Chatel C, Jourdan E, Avenel E, Elissalde S, Grandgeorge P, Murdymootoo V, Guivarch J, Boyer L, Poinso F. {{[Sensory modulation disorders and impairments in adaptative skills in autism spectrum disorders]}}. {Archives de pediatrie : organe officiel de la Societe francaise de pediatrie}. 2018.
INTRODUCTION: People suffering from autism spectrum disorders (ASD) provide atypical responses to sensorial stimulations, indicating specific sensory processing. These responses vary from one another and within the same individual with ASD, resulting in maladaptive functional capacities in everyday life. Factors explaining those specificities are poorly defined and need to be better identified. OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between sensory modulation symptoms (SMSs) and maladaptive behaviors in a group of children with ASD. To study how the sensory processing patterns in ASD are related to chronological age, intensity of autistic symptoms, and associated intellectual disability. METHOD: A transversal observational study of a group of children with ASD was conducted for 1 year in an Autism Resource Centre in Marseille, France. The SMSs were assessed using the Dunn short sensory profile. The adaptive behaviors and social quotient were assessed using the Vineland adaptive behavior scale. RESULTS: Forty-five children with ASD completed both scales. Significant correlations were found between SMS intensity and the children’s adaptive behaviors. Furthermore, chronological age and intellectual disability showed a significant relationship with SMS intensity; chronological age and intellectual disability were also found to be significantly related. However, the severity of autistic symptoms was not associated with the intensity of SMSs. CONCLUSION: These outcomes give a better understanding of sensory processing in ASD. The analysis of sensory processing is valuable during the diagnostic phase and for the development of individualized/custom-tailored interventions.
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9. Gottfried T, Thompson G, Elefant C, Gold C. {{Reliability of the Music in Everyday Life (MEL) Scale: A Parent-Report Assessment for Children on the Autism Spectrum}}. {Journal of music therapy}. 2018; 55(2): 133-55.
Background: For young children on the autism spectrum, the inclusion of shared parent-child music activities in everyday life may provide additional opportunities for social interactions in the home. However, no psychometrically validated assessment exists to measure the extent of shared music activity within family or community contexts. Objective: This study aimed to develop and test the reliability of a self-report assessment to measure the use of Music in Everyday Life (MEL) by parents with young children on the autism spectrum. Methods: A total of 45 mothers of children with autism aged between 4 and 7 years completed the MEL questionnaire. Internal consistency and item-total correlation were examined. Results: Analysis confirmed the reliability of two predetermined subscales: Music in Everyday Life-Joint Activities using Music (MEL-JAM) and Music in Everyday Life-Routine Activities using Music (MEL-RAM). Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha 0.63 and 0.75) and positive item-total correlation (Pearson’s r between .23 to .62 for MEL-JAM and between .30 to .67 for MEL-RAM) were demonstrated. Conclusions: The reliability of the MEL assessment to measure the use of music in everyday life by parents with their children with autism was confirmed, filling an important gap in the availability of assessment tools.
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10. Gunby KV, Rapp JT, Bottoni MM. {{A progressive model for teaching children with autism to follow gaze shift}}. {Journal of applied behavior analysis}. 2018; 51(3): 694-701.
Gunby, Rapp, Bottoni, Marchese and Wu (2017) taught three children with autism spectrum disorder to follow an instructor’s gaze shift to select a specific item; however, Gunby et al. used different types of prompts with each participant. To address this limitation, we used a progressive training model for increasing gaze shift for three children with autism spectrum disorder. Results show that each participant learned to follow an adult’s shift in gaze to make a correct selection. In addition, two participants displayed the skill in response to a parent’s gaze shift and with only social consequences; however, the third participant required verbal instruction and tangible reinforcement to demonstrate the skill outside of training sessions.
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11. Hall DA, Hagerman RJ. {{Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome: Unmet Needs and a Path for the Future}}. {Front Genet}. 2018; 9: 100.
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12. Houeijeh A, Hascoet S, Bouvaist H, Hadeed K, Petit J, Godart F, Fraisse A. {{Transcatheter closure of large atrial septal defects (ASDs) in symptomatic children with device/weight ratio >/=1.5}}. {International journal of cardiology}. 2018; 267: 84-7.
BACKGROUND: Atrial septal defects (ASDs) can be symptomatic in small children in cases of co-morbidities. Transcatheter closure remains controversial for large defects in small children. OBJECTIVE: To describe transcatheter closure of ASDs in children with device/weight ratio >/=1.5. METHODS: We retrospectively studied between January 2000 and January 2016 all cases of percutaneous ASD closure with device/weight ratio >/=1.5 in 6 European centres. RESULTS: Forty patients were included with female/male ratio of 1.2. Median age and weight were 30.9months (4.1-102.0) and 11.0kg respectively (3.8-19.0). Median device size/weight ratio was 1.7 (1.5-2.3). All patients were symptomatic, with pulmonary hypertension in 13 (33%). Procedures were performed under general anesthesia or light sedation (n=4), with transthoracic (n=25) or transesophageal echocardiography (n=15) guidance. Balloon stretched diameter (n=32) was larger than the echocardiographic diameter (19 versus 15mm, R=0.6; p<0.001). Deficient rims other than the anterior-superior one were found in 33% of cases. Device implantation was successful in 39 patients (97.5%). Minor complications occurred in 10% of cases, whereas severe complications rate was 5%: Complete atrioventricular block in one patient that resolved after surgical extraction of the device and thrombosis in the inferior vena cava in one patient. During a median follow-up of 52months, there was no residual shunt. No case of erosion or embolization was reported and pulmonary hypertension resolved in all patients. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous closure of large ASD in small and symptomatic children is feasible and allows clinical improvement with acceptable rate of complications in high risk population. Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
13. Karahanoglu FI, Baran B, Nguyen QTH, Meskaldji DE, Yendiki A, Vangel M, Santangelo SL, Manoach DS. {{Diffusion-weighted imaging evidence of altered white matter development from late childhood to early adulthood in Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {Neuroimage Clin}. 2018; 19: 840-7.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is thought to reflect disrupted development of brain connectivity characterized by white matter abnormalities and dyscoordination of activity across brain regions that give rise to core features. But there is little consensus about the nature, timing and location of white matter abnormalities as quantified with diffusion-weighted MRI. Inconsistent findings likely reflect small sample sizes, motion confounds and sample heterogeneity, particularly different age ranges across studies. We examined the microstructural integrity of major white matter tracts in relation to age in 38 high functioning ASD and 35 typically developing (TD) participants, aged 8-25, whose diffusion-weighted scans met strict data-quality criteria and survived group matching for motion. While there were no overall group differences in diffusion measures, the groups showed different relations with age. Only the TD group showed the expected positive correlations of fractional anisotropy with age. In parallel, axial diffusivity was unrelated to age in TD, but showed inverse correlations with age in ASD. Younger participants with ASD tended to have higher fractional anisotropy and axial diffusivity than their TD peers, while the opposite was true for older participants. Most of the affected tracts – cingulum bundle, inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculi – are association bundles related to cognitive, social and emotional functions that are abnormal in ASD. The manifestations of abnormal white matter development in ASD as measured by diffusion-weighted MRI depend on age and this may contribute to inconsistent findings across studies. We conclude that ASD is characterized by altered white matter development from childhood to early adulthood that may underlie abnormal brain function and contribute to core features.
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14. Kim SY, Rispoli M, Lory C, Gregori E, Brodhead MT. {{The Effects of a Shared Reading Intervention on Narrative Story Comprehension and Task Engagement of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a shared reading intervention on narrative story comprehension and task engagement of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A single-case multiple baseline design was used, and three elementary-aged students with ASD participated in this study. The shared reading intervention included before, during, and after reading strategies (i.e., topic anticipation, dynamic reading, story retelling). Results of this study indicated that all participants demonstrated noticeable improvements in reading comprehension. Despite the longer duration of intervention sessions as compared to baseline sessions, participants showed similar or better task engagement with intervention. Improved reading outcomes were maintained at follow up for all participants. Implications for practical implementation and future research were discussed.
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15. LaBianca S, Pagsberg AK, Jakobsen KD, Demur AB, Bartalan M, LaBianca J, Werge T. {{Brief Report: Clusters and Trajectories Across the Autism and/or ADHD Spectrum}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) frequently co-occur and show high genetic correlation. With the introduction of DSM-5, there is a new concept of an ASD and/or ADHD spectrum (ASD/ADHD). This study aimed to identify predictors of severity and need of healthcare within this spectrum. 39 families with multiple individuals affected by ASD/ADHD were recruited from a psychiatric clinic. Diagnoses, functional and demographic characteristics were retrieved from journals while hospital admissions were identified in the Danish health register. An estimated fraction of 31% ASD/ADHD patients had never been hospitalized and 35% remained undiagnosed despite hospitalization. Cluster analysis identified trajectories that discriminate age of diagnosis, educational attainment to degree of severity, need of hospitalization and genetic risk.
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16. Lim YH, Lee HC, Falkmer T, Allison GT, Tan T, Lee WL, Morris SL. {{Effect of Visual Information on Postural Control in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
Sensory processing difficulties affect the development of sensorimotor skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the effect of sensory information on postural control is unclear in the ASD adult population. The present study examined the effect of visual information on postural control as well as the attentional demands associated with postural control in fourteen adults with ASD and seventeen typically developed adults. The results showed that postural sway and attention demands of postural control were larger in adults with ASD than in typically developed adults. These findings indicate that visual processing used for postural control may be different in adults with ASD. Further research in visual field processing and visual motion processing may elucidate these sensorimotor differences.
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17. Prawer Y, Hunter M, Cronin S, Ling L, Aliaga Vera S, Fahey M, Gelfand N, Oertel R, Bartlett E, Francis D, Godler D. {{Prenatal Diagnosis of Fragile X Syndrome in a Twin Pregnancy Complicated by a Complete Retraction}}. {Genes}. 2018; 9(6).
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is usually associated with a CGG repeat expansion >200 repeats within the FMR1 gene, known as a full mutation (FM). FM alleles produce abnormal methylation of the FMR1 promoter with reduction or silencing of FMR1 gene expression. Furthermore, premutation (PM: 55(-)199 CGGs) and full mutation alleles usually expand in size when maternally transmitted to progeny. This study describes a PM allele carried by the mother decreasing to a normal sized allele in a male from a dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) twin pregnancy, with the female twin inheriting FM (200(-)790 CGGs), PM (130 CGGs) and normal-sized (39 CGGs) alleles. Further evidence of instability of the maternal PM allele was shown by a male proband (older brother) mosaic for PM (CGG 78 and 150 CGGs) and FM (200(-)813 CGGs), and a high level of FMR1 promoter methylation, between 50 and 70%, in multiple tissues. The fully-retracted, normal-sized allele was identified by PCR CGG sizing in the male twin, with no evidence of a FM allele identified using Southern blot analysis in multiple tissues collected postnatally and prenatally. Consistent with this, prenatal PCR sizing (35 CGGs) showed inconsistent inheritance of the maternal normal allele (30 CGGs), with single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) linkage analysis confirming that the abnormal FMR1 chromosome had been inherited from the mother’s PM chromosome. Importantly, the male twin showed no significant hypermethylation of the FMR1 promoter in all pre and postnatal tissues tested, as well as normal levels of FMR1 mRNA in blood. In summary, this report demonstrates the first postnatal follow up of a prenatal case in which FMR1 mRNA levels were approaching normal, with normal levels of FMR1 promoter methylation and normal CGG size in multiple pre and postnatally collected tissues.
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18. Qin L, Ma K, Wang ZJ, Hu Z, Matas E, Wei J, Yan Z. {{Publisher Correction: Social deficits in Shank3-deficient mouse models of autism are rescued by histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition}}. {Nat Neurosci}. 2018.
In the version of this article initially published, the blue diamonds in Fig. 2a-d were defined as Shank3(+/Deltac) + saline; the correct definition is Shank3(+/Deltac) + RMD. The error has been corrected in the HTML and PDF versions of the article.
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19. Rai-Bhogal R, Wong C, Kissoondoyal A, Davidson J, Li H, Crawford DA. {{Maternal exposure to prostaglandin E2 modifies expression of Wnt genes in mouse brain – An autism connection}}. {Biochemistry and biophysics reports}. 2018; 14: 43-53.
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a lipid signaling molecule important for brain development and function. Various genetic and environmental factors can influence the level of PGE2 and increase the risk of developing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We have previously shown that in neuronal cell lines and mouse brain, PGE2 can interfere with the Wnt canonical pathway, which is essential during early brain development. Higher levels of PGE2 increased Wnt-dependent motility and proliferation of neuroectodermal stem cells, and modified the expression of Wnt genes previously linked to autism disorders. We also recently established a cross-talk between these two pathways in the prenatal mouse brain lacking PGE2 producing enzyme (COX(-/-)). The current study complements the published data and reveals that PGE2 signaling also converges with the Wnt canonical pathway in the developing mouse brain after maternal exposure to PGE2 at the onset of neurogenesis. We found significant changes in the expression level of Wnt-target genes, Mmp7, Wnt2, and Wnt3a, during prenatal and early postnatal stages. Interestingly, we observed variability in the expression level of these genes between genetically-identical pups within the same pregnancy. Furthermore, we found that all the affected genes have been previously associated with disorders of the central nervous system, including autism. We determined that prenatal exposure to PGE2 affects the Wnt pathway at the level of beta-catenin, the major downstream regulator of Wnt-dependent gene transcription. We discuss how these results add new knowledge into the molecular mechanisms by which PGE2 may interfere with neuronal development during critical periods.
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20. Unruh KE, Bodfish JW, Gotham KO. {{Adults with Autism and Adults with Depression Show Similar Attentional Biases to Social-Affective Images}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
Individuals with ASD have increased rates of depression compared to the general population. Repetitive cognition is a core feature of ASD; in typically developing adults, repetitive cognition has been associated with attentional biases to negative emotional material and increased prospective depression risk. We compared adults with ASD to typically developing adults with depression and never-depressed controls, using a paired preference paradigm sensitive to affective biases in the context of repetitive cognition. Both clinical cohorts oriented faster to negative social-emotional material and spent less time overall on positive material, compared to healthy controls. Exploratory analyses within ASD revealed specific influences of repetitive behavior on patterns of affective bias. Findings help pinpoint susceptibilities in ASD that may confer increased risk for depression.