1. Akgul GY, Ayaz AB, Yildirim B, Perdahli Fis N. {{Autistic Traits and Executive Functions in Children and Adolescents with Gender Dysphoria}}. {Journal of sex & marital therapy}. 2018: 0.
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the autistic traits and executive functions that may require clinical attention in children and adolescents with gender dysphoria (GD). METHOD: The study sample consisted of 25 patients with GD, and 50 controls (aged 5-17 years). The instruments were Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). RESULTS: The GD (mean age: 11.56+/-4.15 years) and control (mean age: 11.42+/-3.91 years) groups were similar with respect to age and sex; around 50% of the GD group (n=13) and control groups were male (n=26). The BRIEF metacognitive index (t= 7.023, p<0.001), behavioral regulation index (t= 6.340, p<0.001), and global executive composite (t= 7.268, p<0.001) scores were significantly higher in the GD group when compared with the controls. Similarly, mean SRS scores were significantly higher in the GD group (t= 4.978, p<0.001). The GD group had statistically significant higher BRIEF global scores even after controlling for SRS-key autism scores (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Young people with GD had relatively more disturbed behavior related to executive functions and social impairment associated with autistic traits when compared with their control counterparts. Although preliminary, our results may indicate a possible neurodevelopmental background for individuals with GD. Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
2. Becker KG. {{Autism and Socioeconomic Status-An Immune Link?}}. {Am J Public Health}. 2018; 108(3): e16.
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3. Benke PJ, Duchowny M, McKnight D. {{Biotin and Acetazolamide for Treatment of an Unusual Child With Autism Plus Lack of Nail and Hair Growth}}. {Pediatric neurology}. 2018; 79: 61-4.
BACKGROUND: Patients with autism spectrum disorder and developmental delay or encephalopathy rarely demonstrate no or negligible hair and nail growth, suggesting a biotin-responsive clinical disorder. METHODS: A ten-year-old girl presented with features of autism spectrum disorder, isolated headaches, and episodes of headaches and limb shaking. Her medical history revealed that her hair and nails did not grow. Administration of biotin restored her nail and hair growth and improved intellectual ability and school performance. Her episodes of headaches, single limb shaking, and loss of consciousness responded to administration of acetazolamide, and her school performance and social skills further improved. RESULTS: A de novo c.1091 C > T, p.T364M pathogenic variant was found in the ATP1A2 gene by whole-exome sequencing, but a genetic etiology in the biotin-responsive metabolic pathways was not identified. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of biotin and acetazolamide treatment was successful in restoring normal mental function and school performance. Poor or no clinical nail and hair growth in any child with a developmental delay-autism spectrum disorder presentation should be considered as evidence for a biotin-responsive genetic disorder even when exome testing is negative.
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4. Bitar T, Mavel S, Emond P, Nadal-Desbarats L, Lefevre A, Mattar H, Soufia M, Blasco H, Vourc’h P, Hleihel W, Andres CR. {{Identification of metabolic pathway disturbances using multimodal metabolomics in autistic disorders in a Middle Eastern population}}. {Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis}. 2018; 152: 57-65.
We analyzed for the first time the metabolic profile of Lebanese children affected by autistic disorders to compare this profile to other metabolomics studies and to identify the associated metabolic disturbances. Urine samples of 40 patients with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 40 healthy matched controls were analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Multivariate analysis on analytical data fusion was conducted on the training set of 50 urine samples, and then validated with a test set of 30 samples, this repeated 10 times. The model was also evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve showing a specificity and a sensitivity of 86% and 80%, respectively. Among the most significant metabolites that contributed to the discrimination between ASD and controls, we confirmed the perturbations of tyrosine, 2-hydroxybutyrate, creatine and glutamate. We found new metabolites such as trigonelline, cysteic acid and guanine. We found metabolic perturbations including amino acids, carbohydrates and oxidative stress pathways which added value for the contribution of known metabolic disturbances in ASD observed in populations of other ethnic and geographic origins.
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5. Boets B, Van Eylen L, Sitek K, Moors P, Noens I, Steyaert J, Sunaert S, Wagemans J. {{Alterations in the inferior longitudinal fasciculus in autism and associations with visual processing: a diffusion-weighted MRI study}}. {Mol Autism}. 2018; 9: 10.
Background: One of the most reported neural features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the alteration of multiple long-range white matter fiber tracts, as assessed by diffusion-weighted imaging and indexed by reduced fractional anisotropy (FA). Recent methodological advances, however, have shown that this same pattern of reduced FA may be an artifact resulting from excessive head motion and poorer data quality and that aberrant structural connectivity in children with ASD is confined to the right inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF). This study aimed at replicating the observation of reduced FA along the right ILF in ASD, while controlling for group differences in head motion and data quality. In addition, we explored associations between reduced FA in the right ILF and quantitative ASD characteristics, and the involvement of the right ILF in visual processing, which is known to be altered in ASD. Method: Global probabilistic tractography was performed on diffusion-weighted imaging data of 17 adolescent boys with ASD and 17 typically developing boys, matched for age, performance IQ, handedness, and data quality. Four tasks were administered to measure various aspects of visual information processing, together with questionnaires assessing ASD characteristics. Group differences were examined and the neural data were integrated with previously published findings using Bayesian statistics to quantify evidence for replication and to pool data and thus increase statistical power. (Partial) correlations were calculated to investigate associations between measures. Results: The ASD group showed consistently reduced FA only in the right ILF and slower performance on the visual search task. Bayesian statistics pooling data across studies confirmed that group differences in FA were confined to the right ILF only, with the evidence for altered FA in the left ILF being indecisive. Lower FA in the right ILF tended to covary with slower visual search and a more fragmented part-oriented processing style. Individual differences in FA of the right ILF were not reliably associated with the severity of ASD traits after controlling for clinical status. Conclusion: Our findings support the growing evidence for reduced FA along a specific fiber tract in ASD, the right ILF.
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6. Brondino N, Fusar-Poli L, Rocchetti M, Bertoglio F, Bloise N, Visai L, Politi P. {{BDNF levels are associated with autistic traits in the general population}}. {Psychoneuroendocrinology}. 2018; 89: 131-3.
Evidence supports the notion that autistic symptoms and behaviors should be regarded as dimensional traits. The present study aimed to investigate the role of vasopressin (AVP), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and oxytocin (OXT) as potential biochemical correlates of subclinical autistic traits in a cohort of healthy young adults. One hundred and fifty-three subjects (80 males, 73 females) were recruited. Participants completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), a widely used measure for the identification of autistic traits in the general population. Additionally, blood samples were obtained from all participants at the same time of the day to control for circadian variation. We conducted a multiple regression analysis using the AQ score as the dependent variable and age, sex, AVP, BDNF and OXT levels as the independent variables. The model explained approximately the 22% of the variance of the AQ score. Among the parameters included in the analysis, only BDNF levels were independent predictors of AQ score.
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7. Broring T, Oostrom KJ, van Dijk-Lokkart EM, Lafeber HN, Brugman A, Oosterlaan J. {{Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder symptoms in school-age children born very preterm}}. {Res Dev Disabil}. 2018; 74: 103-12.
BACKGROUND: Very preterm (VP) children face a broad range of neurodevelopmental sequelae, including behavioral problems. AIM: To investigate prevalence, pervasiveness and co-occurrence of symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in school-age children born very preterm. METHODS: Using questionnaire and diagnostic interview data, parent and teacher reported symptoms of ADHD and ASD of 57 VP-children (mean age=9.2years) were compared with 57 gender and age matched full-term children using t-tests. Intra-class correlation coefficients quantified parent-teacher agreement. Correlation analysis investigated co-occurrence of ADHD/ASD symptoms. ADHD/ASD measures were aggregated using principal component analysis. Regression analyses investigated the contribution of perinatal risk factors, sex and SES to ADHD/ASD symptoms. RESULTS: VP-children showed higher levels of parent and teacher reported attention problems, social impairment and compromised communication skills. Fair to strong agreement was found between parent and teacher reported ADHD and ASD symptoms, indicating pervasiveness of observed difficulties. Co-occurrence of ADHD and ASD symptoms in VP-children was found. Lower gestational age was associated with higher ADHD and ASD symptom levels, male sex with higher ADHD symptom levels and lower SES with higher ASD symptom levels. CONCLUSION: School-age VP-children show higher levels of ADHD and ASD symptoms, and attention, socialization and communication difficulties in particular. Routinely screening for these problems is recommended in follow-up care.
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8. Burgio E, Leo I, Lucangeli D. {{The Little Prince: is not a glimpse into the world of autism}}. {Arch Dis Child}. 2018.
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9. Chang JP, Lai MC, Chou MC, Shang CY, Chiu YN, Tsai WC, Wu YY, Gau SS. {{Maternal and Family Processes in Different Subgroups of Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {Journal of abnormal child psychology}. 2018.
We compared the maternal reports on mothering and family processes between 160 youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 160 age and gender-matched typically developing (TD) youth stratified by personal characteristics from Taiwan. The ASD groups consisted of 51 ‘typical autism’ (TA), 52 ‘high-functioning autism’ (HFA), and 57 ‘Asperger syndrome (AS).’ Maternal reports showed that youth with ASD obtained less affection and more protection from the mother, and had less active mother-child interactions and more behavioral problems at home. Their mothers perceived less family support when compared to mothers of TD youth. Moreover, both TA and AS groups had more maternal protection and less maternal perceived family support, whereas HFA and co-occurring ADHD were only associated with more behavioral problems at home. The maternal and family process may vary across different ASD subgroups.
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10. D’Annessa I, Gandaglia A, Brivio E, Stefanelli G, Frasca A, Landsberger N, Di Marino D. {{Tyr120Asp mutation alters domain flexibility and dynamics of MeCP2 DNA binding domain leading to impaired DNA interaction: Atomistic characterization of a Rett syndrome causing mutation}}. {Biochimica et biophysica acta}. 2018; 1862(5): 1180-9.
Mutations in the X-linked MECP2 gene represent the main origin of Rett syndrome, causing a profound intellectual disability in females. MeCP2 is an epigenetic transcriptional regulator containing two main functional domains: a methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) and a transcription repression domain (TRD). Over 600 pathogenic mutations were reported to affect the whole protein; almost half of missense mutations affect the MBD. Understanding the impact of these mutations on the MBD structure and interaction with DNA will foster the comprehension of their pathogenicity and possibly genotype/phenotype correlation studies. Herein, we use molecular dynamics simulations to obtain a detailed view of the dynamics of WT and mutated MBD in the presence and absence of DNA. The pathogenic mutation Y120D is used as paradigm for our studies. Further, since the Y120 residue was previously found to be a phosphorylation site, we characterize the dynamic profile of the MBD also in the presence of Y120 phosphorylation (pY120). We found that addition of a phosphate group to Y120 or mutation in aspartic acid affect domain mobility that samples an alternative conformational space with respect to the WT, leading to impaired ability to interact with DNA. Experimental assays showing a significant reduction in the binding affinity between the mutated MBD and the DNA confirmed our predictions.
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11. Doenyas C. {{Gut Microbiota, Inflammation, and Probiotics on Neural Development in Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {Neuroscience}. 2018; 374: 271-86.
Recent evidence implicates immune alterations and gut microbiota dysbiosis in at least some subpopulations of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Immune and gut alterations in ASD have mostly been studied separately, and the reviews and theoretical models up to now have mainly considered the immune system as one of the routes for gut-brain communication. We take a different perspective and consider possible common mechanisms of action for the gut microbiota and inflammation on the neural basis of ASD. We propose these to be their effects on ASD-susceptibility genes, neurodevelopment, and intestinal and blood-brain barrier integrity. We then use these common mechanisms to offer pathways for potentially beneficial effects of early-life probiotics on the neural development in ASD. This new perspective yields a conceptual framework for creating effective preventions for mothers at risk of giving birth to children with ASD. Such a framework may also inform effective interventions targeting these common mechanisms of action, which may be shared in many ASD cases regardless of their different etiological profiles. Probiotics may be one example of such preventions and interventions. Finally, the common mechanisms offered by this perspective can be useful in the search of comprehensive theories that can account for the complete neurobiological and behavioral symptoms of ASD.
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12. Eijk S, Mous SE, Dieleman GC, Dierckx B, Rietman AB, de Nijs PFA, Ten Hoopen LW, van Minkelen R, Elgersma Y, Catsman-Berrevoets CE, Oostenbrink R, Legerstee JS. {{Autism Spectrum Disorder in an Unselected Cohort of Children with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1)}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
In a non-selected sample of children with Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) the prevalence rate of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and predictive value of an observational (ADOS)-and questionnaire-based screening instrument were assessed. Complete data was available for 128 children. The prevalence rate for clinical ASD was 10.9%, which is clearly higher than in the general population. This prevalence rate is presumably more accurate than in previous studies that examined children with NF1 with an ASD presumption or solely based on screening instruments. The combined observational- and screening based classifications demonstrated the highest positive predictive value for DSM-IV diagnosis, highlighting the importance of using both instruments in children with NF1.
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13. Kennedy-Hendricks A, Epstein AJ, Mandell DS, Candon MK, Marcus SC, Xie M, Barry CL. {{Effects of State Autism Mandate Age Caps on Health Service Use and Spending Among Adolescents}}. {J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry}. 2018; 57(2): 125-31.
OBJECTIVE: Many states with mandates requiring commercial insurers to cover autism spectrum disorder (ASD) health services specify upper age limits above which coverage is no longer mandated. It is unknown what effects these age caps have on health service use and spending among adolescents who have exceeded the age cap. METHOD: Using administrative claims data from 3 national commercial insurers, a difference-in-differences approach was used to estimate effects of age caps on health service use and spending among adolescents with ASD. Statistical models compared changes in use and spending between those above versus below the age cap among individuals eligible versus ineligible for mandated coverage. The analytic sample included data from 2008 through 2012 on 7,845 individuals (151,976 person-months) ages 10 to 21 years in 11 states imposing mandate age caps going into effect during adolescence. RESULTS: Age caps were associated with 4.2 percentage point (95% CI = -7.0, -1.5) lower probability of any ASD-specific service use in a month and $69 less (95% CI = -112, -$26) in average monthly spending on ASD-specific services than would have been expected given concomitant pre-post age cap differences among individuals in the same states who were never eligible for mandate-covered services. In addition, age caps were associated with $99 (95% CI = -$168, -$30) lower average monthly spending on all health care services. CONCLUSION: Insurance mandates that include age caps going into effect during adolescence reduce health service use and spending among individuals with ASD during a critical phase of the life course.
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14. Knuppel A, Jakobsen H, Lauritsen MB, Telleus GK. {{Psychometric properties of the INICO-FEAPS scale in a Danish sample with autism spectrum disorders}}. {Res Dev Disabil}. 2018; 75: 11-21.
BACKGROUND: There is a need to evaluate subjective perspectives of outcomes, such as quality of life (QoL), in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), but to date, there is no specific instrument available to assess this population. While the INICO-FEAPS scale is customized for studying QoL in adolescents and adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, this scale has not been previously evaluated in an ASD population. AIMS: To examine the usability of the INICO-FEAPS scale in a Danish population of adolescents and adults with ASD. METHODS: In a nationwide survey, 875 adolescents and adults with ASD and 1573 parents completed the INICO-FEAPS scale. Internal consistency was evaluated through several indices. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to investigate the fit of the model with eight correlated first-order factors, and convergent validity was explored comparing the results of different QoL measures through correlation analysis. RESULTS: Internal consistency was adequate for the indices applied, and the CFA model tested indicated an acceptable fit to the data. Generally, comparisons of results of different QoL measures resulted in moderate to high correlations. CONCLUSION: Overall, it was concluded that due to the psychometric properties found, the INICO-FEAPS scale is applicable for use in ASD populations.
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15. Larsen K, Aasland A, Diseth TH. {{Identification of Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Second Year of Life at Day-Care Centres by Day-Care Staff: Step One in the Development of a Short Observation List}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
Early symptoms of ASD develop through the second year of life, making a stable ASD diagnosis possible at 24 months of age. However, in general, children with ASD have their diagnosis at an older age. This retrospective study, including 30 children with ASD and 30 control children aged 3-6 years, explored the possibility of developing a short observation list to be used in day care settings for children 12-24 months of age. From 73 symptoms selected from published screeners and observation tools, we were able to construct a list of six symptoms that retrospectively differentiated children with ASD from typically developing children at 12-24 months of age when recalled by day-care personnel.
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16. Leser KA, Pirie PL, Ferketich AK, Havercamp SM, Wewers ME. {{Smoking behaviors of adults with developmental disabilities and their direct support professional providers}}. {Disability and health journal}. 2018.
BACKGROUND: People with developmental disabilities are not immune from the addictive effects and poor health outcomes associated with cigarette use. Direct support professionals often play a large role in the social environments of people with developmental disabilities and the literature suggests that one’s environment can influence behavior. OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between the smoking behaviors of people with developmental disabilities and their direct support professional providers. Two exploratory aims of the study were to assess how direct support professionals facilitate smoking behaviors and to describe the use of home smoking policies. METHODS: The Ohio Department of Disabilities’ online provider search database was used to randomly select participants. A total of 398 direct support professionals completed an online survey about smoking. Direct support professionals served as proxy reporters for the smoking behaviors of those with developmental disabilities. Descriptive statistics were calculated and Chi-Square tests were used. RESULTS: Findings suggest that there was no significant relationship (chi1(2)=0.300, p=0.584) between the current smoking behaviors of people with developmental disabilities and their direct support providers. Direct support professionals were most likely to facilitate smoking behaviors by allowing people with developmental disabilities to smoke in front of them and waiting for them to finish smoking before moving on to a new activity. Approximately 46% of people with developmental disabilities were reported to have some type of home smoking policy. CONCLUSIONS: Future research is needed to better understand the reasons why people with developmental disabilities initially start smoking and continue to smoke.
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17. Lung FW, Chiang TL, Lin SJ, Lee MC, Shu BC. {{Advanced Maternal Age and Maternal Education Disparity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {Maternal and child health journal}. 2018.
Objective Previous studies have shown inconsistent results with regard to the association between advanced parental age and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The sociodemographic status of parents has been found to be associated with children with ASD, however. Therefore, a pathway analysis was undertaken of the roles of maternal age and education in ASD diagnosis and community screening, in a national birth cohort database, using a propensity score matching (PSM) method. Method The 6- and 66-month Taiwan Birth Cohort Study dataset was used (N = 20,095). The PSM exact matching method was used to select 1700 families (ratio of 1:4 between ASD diagnosis and control) from the Taiwan Birth Cohort Study dataset. Results (1) The results from the complete dataset and the PSM exact matching dataset both show that the risk of a child being diagnosed with ASD was increased by the mother being over 40 years old. (2) Although more children of mothers with lower-than-average education were positive on screening, more children of mothers with higher-than-average education were also diagnosed with ASD. Conclusions for Practice Advanced maternal age had a higher association with the diagnosis of ASD, and maternal educational disparity was found between ASD clinical diagnosis and community screening. Community and primary medical care services should pay more attention to children of parents with lower education during ASD screening to prevent delayed diagnosis.
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18. Mahdi S, Albertowski K, Almodayfer O, Arsenopoulou V, Carucci S, Dias JC, Khalil M, Knuppel A, Langmann A, Lauritsen MB, da Cunha GR, Uchiyama T, Wolff N, Selb M, Granlund M, de Vries PJ, Zwaigenbaum L, Bolte S. {{An International Clinical Study of Ability and Disability in Autism Spectrum Disorder Using the WHO-ICF Framework}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
This is the fourth international preparatory study designed to develop International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF, and Children and Youth version, ICF-CY) Core Sets for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Examine functioning of individuals diagnosed with ASD as documented by the ICF-CY in a variety of clinical settings. A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 11 units from 10 countries. Clinical investigators assessed functioning of 122 individuals with ASD using the ICF-CY checklist. In total, 139 ICF-CY categories were identified: 64 activities and participation, 40 body functions and 35 environmental factors. The study results reinforce the heterogeneity of ASD, as evidenced by the many functional and contextual domains impacting on ASD from a clinical perspective.
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19. Matheson BE, Eichen DM. {{A Review of Childhood Behavioral Problems and Disorders in the Development of Obesity: Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Beyond}}. {Current obesity reports}. 2018; 7(1): 19-26.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Given the high rates of pediatric and adult obesity, it is imperative to identify early risk factors that might contribute to excess weight gain. This review aims to investigate the relationship between childhood behavioral problems with the development and persistence of obesity. Specifically, this review highlights the association of obesity with (1) neurocognitive constructs, such as executive functioning and inhibition/impulsivity, and (2) disorders commonly diagnosed in childhood, including attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). RECENT FINDINGS: Consistent evidence supports a relationship between childhood behavioral problems, executive functioning, inhibition/impulsivity, ADHD, and ASD with obesity across the lifespan. Longitudinal studies suggest behavior problems, neurocognitive functioning deficits, and ADHD symptoms in childhood predict weight gain over time. Identifying risk factors in childhood that promote obesity may help develop targeted intervention and prevention programs. Additional research should elucidate mechanisms that account for these relationships.
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20. Mold M, Umar D, King A, Exley C. {{Aluminium in brain tissue in autism}}. {Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS)}. 2018; 46: 76-82.
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder of unknown aetiology. It is suggested to involve both genetic susceptibility and environmental factors including in the latter environmental toxins. Human exposure to the environmental toxin aluminium has been linked, if tentatively, to autism spectrum disorder. Herein we have used transversely heated graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry to measure, for the first time, the aluminium content of brain tissue from donors with a diagnosis of autism. We have also used an aluminium-selective fluor to identify aluminium in brain tissue using fluorescence microscopy. The aluminium content of brain tissue in autism was consistently high. The mean (standard deviation) aluminium content across all 5 individuals for each lobe were 3.82(5.42), 2.30(2.00), 2.79(4.05) and 3.82(5.17) mug/g dry wt. for the occipital, frontal, temporal and parietal lobes respectively. These are some of the highest values for aluminium in human brain tissue yet recorded and one has to question why, for example, the aluminium content of the occipital lobe of a 15year old boy would be 8.74 (11.59) mug/g dry wt.? Aluminium-selective fluorescence microscopy was used to identify aluminium in brain tissue in 10 donors. While aluminium was imaged associated with neurones it appeared to be present intracellularly in microglia-like cells and other inflammatory non-neuronal cells in the meninges, vasculature, grey and white matter. The pre-eminence of intracellular aluminium associated with non-neuronal cells was a standout observation in autism brain tissue and may offer clues as to both the origin of the brain aluminium as well as a putative role in autism spectrum disorder.
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21. Needham BD, Tang W, Wu WL. {{Searching for the gut microbial contributing factors to social behavior in rodent models of autism spectrum disorder}}. {Dev Neurobiol}. 2018.
Social impairment is one of the major symptoms in multiple psychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Accumulated studies indicate a crucial role for the gut microbiota in social development, but these mechanisms remain unclear. This review focuses on two strategies adopted to elucidate the complicated relationship between gut bacteria and host social behavior. In a top-down approach, researchers have attempted to correlate behavioral abnormalities with altered gut microbial profiles in rodent models of ASD, including BTBR mice, maternal immune activation (MIA), maternal valproic acid (VPA) and maternal high-fat diet (MHFD) offspring. In a bottom-up approach, researchers use germ-free (GF) animals, antibiotics, probiotics or pathogens to manipulate the intestinal environment and ascertain effects on social behavior. The combination of both approaches will hopefully pinpoint specific bacterial communities that control host social behavior. Further discussion of how brain development and circuitry is impacted by depletion of gut microbiota is also included. The converging evidence strongly suggests that gut microbes affect host social behavior through the alteration of brain neural circuits. Investigation of intestinal microbiota and host social behavior will unveil any bidirectional communication between the gut and brain and provide alternative therapeutic targets for ASD. (c) 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2018.
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22. Neumeyer AM, Cano Sokoloff N, McDonnell EI, Macklin EA, McDougle CJ, Holmes TM, Hubbard JL, Misra M. {{Nutrition and Bone Density in Boys with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics}. 2018.
BACKGROUND: Boys with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have lower bone mineral density (BMD) than typically developing controls. Differences in diet and exercise may contribute to low BMD. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to examine macro- and micronutrient intakes and self-reported physical activity in boys with ASD compared to TDC and the relationship of these variables with BMD. DESIGN/METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 49 boys (25 ASD, 24 typically developing controls) assessed for 3-day food records and physical activity records, and BMD of the whole body less head, hip, and spine using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Fasting levels of 25(OH) vitamin D and calcium were obtained. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were adolescent boys, aged 8 to 17 years, recruited from a clinic population (ASD) or community advertisements (ASD and typically developing controls) matched for age. RESULTS: ASD participants were approximately 9 months younger than typically developing control participants on average. Body mass index and serum vitamin D and calcium levels were similar. Boys with ASD consumed 16% fewer calories, with a larger percentage obtained from carbohydrates, and 37% less animal protein and 20% less fat than typically developing controls. A lower proportion of ASD participants were categorized as « very physically active » (27% vs 79%; P<0.001). BMD z scores were 0.7 to 1.2 standard deviations lower in ASD than typically developing controls at all locations. Higher animal protein, calcium, and phosphorus intakes were associated positively with bone density measures in boys with ASD. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to typically developing controls, boys with ASD had lower protein, calcium, and phosphorus intakes, activity levels, and BMD z scores at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, total hip, and whole body less head. Protein, calcium, and phosphorus intakes were associated positively with BMD. Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
23. Nilsson Jobs E, Falck-Ytter T, Bolte S. {{Local and Global Visual Processing in 3-Year-Olds With and Without Autism}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
Research on visual local and global perception in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is incomplete in young children. We investigated 35 three-year-old siblings of children with ASD, either diagnosed (n = 12) or not diagnosed (n = 23) with ASD as well as 14 controls with typical development and with no family history of ASD. Data from the local tasks Children’s Embedded Figures Test, Hidden Pictures, Figure-Ground and the global tasks Closure and Fragmented Picture Test were collected. Enhanced performance on the local task Hidden Pictures differentiated children with ASD from the other groups. Implications of these results are discussed.
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24. Oien RA, Vambheim SM, Hart L, Nordahl-Hansen A, Erickson C, Wink L, Eisemann MR, Shic F, Volkmar FR, Grodberg D. {{Sex-Differences in Children Referred for Assessment: An Exploratory Analysis of the Autism Mental Status Exam (AMSE)}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
The autism mental status exam is an eight-item observational assessment that structures the way we observe and document signs and symptoms of ASD. Investigations of test performance indicate strong sensitivity and specificity using gold-standard assessment as reference standard. This study aims to explore potential sex differences in AMSE test performance and observations of 123 children referred for autism assessment. Results indicates more language deficits in females with ASD than in males with ASD and less sensory symptoms in females compared to males with ASD. The AMSE performance is similar in identifying ASD and non-ASD in females compared to males. Less disruptive behaviors in females, might cause a need for a bigger hit to other areas of development to raise concern.
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25. Reiersen AM. {{New Evidence of Genetic Overlap Between Atypical Sensory Reactivity and Autistic Traits: Implications for Future Research}}. {J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry}. 2018; 57(2): 84-5.
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26. Shea N, Payne E, Russo N. {{Brief Report: Social Functioning Predicts Externalizing Problem Behaviors in Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
Individuals with ASD often display externalizing behaviors, which have been associated with lower quality of life in adulthood. Social difficulties have been hypothesized to underlie externalizing problems among individuals with ASD (Klin and Volkmar in Asperger Syndrome, 340-366, 2000), but this has never been tested empirically. We examined whether socialization abilities predicted externalizing problems assessed by parent report in a group of 29 individuals with ASD (age range 7-16 years) and 29 TD individuals matched for IQ, age, and gender. Socialization scores accounted for 50% of the variance in externalizing behaviors among individuals with ASD, but not in TD children. These findings have implications for intervention, and suggest that targeting social difficulties might provide a better means to addressing externalizing problems.
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27. Taylor MJ, Gustafsson P, Larsson H, Gillberg C, Lundstrom S, Lichstenstein P. {{Examining the Association Between Autistic Traits and Atypical Sensory Reactivity: A Twin Study}}. {J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry}. 2018; 57(2): 96-102.
OBJECTIVE: Atypical responses to sensory stimuli are common features of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Consequently, atypical sensory reactivity (SR) is now a diagnostic feature of ASD. Quantitative genetic research on ASD has overlooked these symptoms, however. We therefore investigated the association between autistic traits and SR using twin methods. METHOD: Autistic traits and SR were assessed by 2 separate scales in 12,419 Swedish twin pairs (n = 3,586 monozygotic [MZ], n = 8,833 dizygotic [DZ]) when the twins were 9 or 12 years of age. The classic twin design estimated the degree to which etiological factors associated with autistic traits were also associated with SR, and the degree to which such shared factors explained the covariance between these phenotypes. DeFries-Fulker analysis estimated the genetic correlation between screening diagnoses of ASD, defined broadly and strictly, and SR. RESULTS: Autistic traits and SR were both highly heritable (62%-75% and 66%-71%, respectively). There was a moderate phenotypic correlation between autistic traits and SR (r = 0.47). Genetic influences on these phenotypes correlated moderately (genetic correlation = 0.60). These overlapping genetic factors explained most of the correlation between autistic traits and SR. Genetic correlations with SR increased for broad ASD (genetic correlation = 0.72) and strict ASD (genetic correlation = 0.80). CONCLUSION: The genetic overlap observed between autistic traits and SR lends quantitative genetic support to the notion that ASD and SR are strongly linked. Such symptoms may thus comprise part of the ASD genotype, as well as phenotype. Associations persisted across all definitions of ASD, indicating a genetic link between the broader ASD phenotype and SR.
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28. Toseeb U, McChesney G, Wolke D. {{The Prevalence and Psychopathological Correlates of Sibling Bullying in Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
Using data from a prospective population based study, the prevalence and psychopathological correlates of sibling bullying in children with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were estimated. There were 475 children with ASD and 13,702 children without ASD aged 11 years. Children with ASD were more likely to be bullied by their siblings compared to those without ASD. They were also more likely than those without ASD to both bully and be bullied by their siblings, which was associated with lower prosocial skills as well as more internalizing and externalizing problems compared to those not involved in any sibling bullying. Interventions to improve social and emotional outcomes in children with ASD should focus on both the affected and the unaffected sibling.
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29. Wolstencroft J, Robinson L, Srinivasan R, Kerry E, Mandy W, Skuse D. {{A Systematic Review of Group Social Skills Interventions, and Meta-analysis of Outcomes, for Children with High Functioning ASD}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
Group social skills interventions (GSSIs) are a commonly offered treatment for children with high functioning ASD. We critically evaluated GSSI randomised controlled trials for those aged 6-25 years. Our meta-analysis of outcomes emphasised internal validity, thus was restricted to trials that used the parent-report social responsiveness scale (SRS) or the social skills rating system (SSRS). Large positive effect sizes were found for the SRS total score, plus the social communication and restricted interests and repetitive behaviours subscales. The SSRS social skills subscale improved with moderate effect size. Moderator analysis of the SRS showed that GSSIs that include parent-groups, and are of greater duration or intensity, obtained larger effect sizes. We recommend future trials distinguish gains in children’s social knowledge from social performance.
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30. Zapata-Fonseca L, Froese T, Schilbach L, Vogeley K, Timmermans B. {{Sensitivity to Social Contingency in Adults with High-Functioning Autism during Computer-Mediated Embodied Interaction}}. {Behav Sci (Basel)}. 2018; 8(2).
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be understood as a social interaction disorder. This makes the emerging « second-person approach » to social cognition a more promising framework for studying ASD than classical approaches focusing on mindreading capacities in detached, observer-based arrangements. According to the second-person approach, embodied, perceptual, and embedded or interactive capabilities are also required for understanding others, and these are hypothesized to be compromised in ASD. We therefore recorded the dynamics of real-time sensorimotor interaction in pairs of control participants and participants with High-Functioning Autism (HFA), using the minimalistic human-computer interface paradigm known as « perceptual crossing » (PC). We investigated whether HFA is associated with impaired detection of social contingency, i.e., a reduced sensitivity to the other’s responsiveness to one’s own behavior. Surprisingly, our analysis reveals that, at least under the conditions of this highly simplified, computer-mediated, embodied form of social interaction, people with HFA perform equally well as controls. This finding supports the increasing use of virtual reality interfaces for helping people with ASD to better compensate for their social disabilities. Further dynamical analyses are necessary for a better understanding of the mechanisms that are leading to the somewhat surprising results here obtained.
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31. Zhou B, Xu Q, Li H, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Rogers SJ, Xu X. {{Effects of Parent-Implemented Early Start Denver Model Intervention on Chinese Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial}}. {Autism Res}. 2018.
To evaluate the effects of a 26-week, high-intensity, parent-implemented Early Start Denver Model (P-ESDM) intervention on developmental outcomes, severity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and parental stress of ASD toddlers in China. Subjects in P-ESDM group (n = 23) were recruited from 1.5- to 2.5-year-old toddlers who were screened positive in Xuhui and Minhang Districts and were diagnosed with ASD. A community (comparison) group of age-matched toddlers with ASD (n = 20) was recruited from other areas. Subjects of the P-ESDM group attended 1.5-hr parent coaching per week for 26 weeks, and those in the community group received interventions available from communities. Assessments were conducted at baseline (T1) and 26 weeks later (T2). After adjusting for baseline differences between the two groups, P-ESDM group demonstrated greater improvement than the community group in general development, especially in Language domain. Neither group demonstrated significant change in ASD severity, but the P-ESDM group showed greater improvement in social affect, parent-reported social communication and symbolic play than community group did. Finally, parents in P-ESDM group experienced decreased parenting stress while those in community group showed an opposite trend, though the differences did not reach significant association with the P-ESDM intervention. Chinese toddlers with ASD receiving 26 weeks of P-ESDM via regular coaching sessions showed significant greater improvement than those receiving community interventions in multiple aspects of development including social communications. These findings add support to the importance of providing early screening, diagnosis, and immediate referral for evidence-based interventions to improve outcome of young children with ASD. Autism Res 2017. (c) 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: The development of early screening and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in China has highlighted the importance of early intervention for young children with ASD. Our current study demonstrated that parent-implemented Early Start Denver Model (P-ESDM) via coaching from professionals improved developmental outcomes, especially in the language domain, and social communicational behaviors of Chinese toddlers with ASD. P-ESDM may help parents in China provide effective early intervention to their children with ASD via improving their skills when they are still at a waiting list for services or lack access to intervention, and has the potential to alleviate their parenting stress.
