1. Correction: Effects of service dogs on children with ASD’s symptoms and parents’ well-being: On the importance of considering those effects with a more systemic perspective. PLoS One;2024;19(12):e0315651.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295702.].

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2. EXPRESSION OF CONCERN: Beneficial Effects of Co-Ultramicronized Palmitoylethanolamide/Luteolin in a Mouse Model of Autism and in a Case Report of Autism. CNS Neurosci Ther;2024 (Dec);30(12):e70169.

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3. Afsharnejad B, Lee EAL, Hayden-Evans M, Black MH, Alach T, Fridell A, Coco C, Johnson M, Bölte S, Girdler S. Adaptation and Feasibility of KONTAKT™ Social Skills Toolbox Group Program for Australian Autistic Children. Scand J Child Adolesc Psychiatr Psychol;2024 (Jan);12(1):20240011.

BACKGROUND: Although autistic individuals are interested in interacting with peers, they express a need for social skills programs that could support them in navigating their daily social world, which is governed by neurotypical social norms. AIM: This study investigated the feasibility and adaptability of the manualised and evidence-based program KONTAKT™ Social Skills Toolbox Group Program in supporting autistic children aged 8 to 12 years in navigating their everyday social worlds. MATERIAL AND METHODS: KONTAKT™ was delivered to 15 autistic children (Mage=10.87, SDage=1.04; 67% male) over 16, 60-minute sessions. A pre-test and post-test design was employed evaluating changes in personally meaningful social goals, social skills, quality of friendship and autistic traits. Focus groups were also conducted and analysed using thematic analysis post completion of the program, exploring participants, their parents and the KONTAKT™ trainer’s perceptions of the program. RESULTS: Findings suggest stakeholders’ satisfaction with the program’s content and structure, indicating the potential cross-age feasibility of KONTAKT™ in supporting autistic children to achieve their personally meaningful social goals and in improving their social performance navigating their daily social lives. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: This feasibility study supported the finalisation of KONTAKT™ children’s manual and workbooks, preparing it for further evaluation of its efficacy in a randomised controlled trial. (Australian New Zealand Clinical Registry: 12619000994189; ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04024111).

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4. Al-Beltagi M. Nutritional management and autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review. World J Clin Pediatr;2024 (Dec 9);13(4):99649.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents unique challenges related to feeding and nutritional management. Children with ASD often experience feeding difficulties, including food selectivity, refusal, and gastrointestinal issues. Various interventions have been explored to address these challenges, including dietary modifications, vitamin supplementation, feeding therapy, and behavioral interventions. AIM: To provide a comprehensive overview of the current evidence on nutritional management in ASD. We examine the effectiveness of dietary interventions, vitamin supplements, feeding therapy, behavioral interventions, and mealtime practices in addressing the feeding challenges and nutritional needs of children with ASD. METHODS: We systematically searched relevant literature up to June 2024, using databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus. Studies were included if they investigated dietary interventions, nutritional supplements, or behavioral strategies to improve feeding behaviors in children with ASD. We assessed the quality of the studies and synthesized findings on the impact of various interventions on feeding difficulties and nutritional outcomes. Data extraction focused on intervention types, study designs, participant characteristics, outcomes measured, and intervention effectiveness. RESULTS: The review identified 316 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The evidence indicates that while dietary interventions and nutritional supplements may offer benefits in managing specific symptoms or deficiencies, the effectiveness of these approaches varies. Feeding therapy and behavioral interventions, including gradual exposure and positive reinforcement, promise to improve food acceptance and mealtime behaviors. The findings also highlight the importance of creating supportive mealtime environments tailored to the sensory and behavioral needs of children with ASD. CONCLUSION: Nutritional management for children with ASD requires a multifaceted approach that includes dietary modifications, supplementation, feeding therapy, and behavioral strategies. The review underscores the need for personalized interventions and further research to refine treatment protocols and improve outcomes. Collaborative efforts among healthcare providers, educators, and families are essential to optimize this population’s nutritional health and feeding practices. Enhancing our understanding of intervention sustainability and long-term outcomes is essential for optimizing care and improving the quality of life for children with ASD and their families.

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5. Al-Beltagi M. Pre-autism: Advancing early identification and intervention in autism. World J Clin Cases;2024 (Dec 6);12(34):6748-6753.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often diagnosed long after symptoms have become noticeable. This delay can make it difficult to provide early intervention, which can impact long-term outcomes. The concept of « pre-autism » highlights the phase before a formal diagnosis of ASD, providing an opportunity for earlier identification and intervention, which could be a turning point in ASD management. In a previous article, we explored different ways of diagnosing pre-autism, including historical records, physical markers, laboratory tests, and radiological evidence. This manuscript builds on that foundation by emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and intervention in ASD. Recent research advancements have clarified that ASD presentations can be complex, and individualized support strategies are necessary. The significance of pre-autism lies in its potential to alter the trajectory of ASD through early detection and intervention despite challenges such as limited awareness and variability in symptom presentation. Biomarkers and diagnostic tools have shown promise as avenues for early detection, but it is essential to exercise caution and not rely too heavily on yet-to-be-established markers. Addressing these challenges requires a collaborative effort to increase awareness, improve access to diagnostic tools, and foster inclusive environments. Ultimately, this manuscript calls for ongoing research, advocacy, and resource allocation to enhance early detection and intervention efforts, ensuring optimal outcomes for individuals on the autism spectrum.

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6. Baby B, Pushpagiri S, Varma PR, Saritha LS, Dhiya SJ, Meera SS, Rekha M, Mohan M, Sundaram S. Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire – Translation and Validation in a South Indian Language. Ann Indian Acad Neurol;2024 (Dec 6)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Broad Autism Phenotype (BAP) refers to specific behaviors or minor deficits in social/communication skills not meeting the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The BAP Questionnaire (BAPQ) measures aloof personality (AP), rigid personality (RP), and pragmatic language (PL) deficits of BAP. The study objective is to translate and validate BAPQ into Malayalam, a South Indian language, and to establish new cut-off scores for detecting BAP in the Indian population. METHODS: BAPQ was translated into Malayalam (BAPQ-M), following which it was tested for reliability and internal consistency and factor analysis was conducted in 40 parents of ASD and neurotypical children. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis generated new cut-off scores. RESULTS: The content validity index was ≥ 0.8 for each item. For the self and informant versions, Cronbach’s α was 0.753 and 0.807, respectively, while Spearman’s correlation coefficient was 0.953 (P < 0.001) and 0.918 (P < 0.001). The items demonstrated good communality (0.532-0.870), and on factor rotation, 12 components had eigenvalues > 1, which explained 72.3% of the total variance. The new cut-off scores for total estimate, AP, RP, and PL subscales were 2.60 (sensitivity 0.825; specificity 0.575; odds ratio [OR] 6.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.28-17.84; P < 0.001), 2.60 (sensitivity 0.60; specificity 0.75; OR 4.50, 95% CI 1.73-11.70; P 0.002), 2.90 (sensitivity 0.8; specificity 0.475; OR 3.62, 95% CI 1.342-9.77; P 0.011), and 2.70 (sensitivity 0.5; specificity 0.825; OR 4.71, 95% CI 1.69-13.13; P 0.003), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: BAPQ-M has good psychometric properties for determining the presence of BAP among the people of Kerala, a South Indian state.

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7. Bacova Z, Havranek T, Mihalj D, Borbelyova V, Kostrubanicova K, Kramarova M, Ostatnikova D, Bakos J. Reduced Neurite Arborization in Primary Dopaminergic Neurons in Autism-Like Shank3B-Deficient Mice. Mol Neurobiol;2024 (Dec 9)

Despite many studies on dopamine changes in autism, specific alterations in midbrain dopamine neurons projecting to the striatum and cortex remain unclear. Mouse models with diverse SH3 domain and ankyrin repeat containing protein 3 (Shank3) deficiencies are used for investigating autistic symptoms and underlying neurobiological mechanisms. SHANK3 belongs to postsynaptic proteins crucial for synapse formation during development, and disruptions in SHANK3 structure could lead to impaired neurite outgrowth and altered dendritic arborization and morphology. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether Shank3 deficiency (Shank3B) leads to changes in the morphology of primary neuronal cell cultures from dopaminergic brain regions of neonatal mouse pups and whether it results in alterations in synaptic proteins in dopaminergic nerve pathway projection areas (striatum, frontal cortex). Significantly reduced neurite outgrowth was observed in primary dopaminergic neurons from the midbrain and striatum of Shank3-deficient compared to WT mice. A decrease in Synapsin I immunofluorescence signal in the cortical neurons isolated from Shank3-deficient mice was found, although neurite arborization changes were less severe. Importantly, the deficit in the length of the longest neurite was confirmed in primary cortical neurons isolated from Shank3-deficient mice. No changes in the gene expression of synaptic proteins were observed in the striatum and frontal cortex of Shank3-deficient mice, but an altered gene expression profile of dopaminergic receptors was found. These results show structural changes of dopaminergic neurons, which may explain autistic symptomatology in the used model and provide a basis for understanding the long-term development of autistic symptoms.

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8. Barlattani T, Mantenuto S, D’Amelio C, Di Berardo A, Capelli F, Leonardi V, Socci V, Rossi R, Rossi A, Pacitti F. Social Cognition and Covid-19: a rapid scoping review. Riv Psichiatr;2024 (Nov-Dec);59(6):279-289.

The Covid-19 pandemic has enormously impacted health, the economy, and social organisations worldwide. Public health interventions such as vaccines, protective equipment and social distancing have brought profound changes in the general and clinical population’s behaviour, with different levels of adherence to social and health standards. To understand these phenomena, it is essential to know how models and theories of social behaviour influence patterns of adherence to preventive measures in the context of the pandemic. Research on social cognition can explain behavioural variables and their impact on mental well-being, creating the basis for interventions that promote adherence to prevention rules. This PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) rapid review aims to identify and analyse current evidence on the pandemic’s impact on social cognition components. First, we conducted a comprehensive literature review and discussed the findings narratively. Tables were constructed, and articles were sorted based on study characteristics. Finally, 14 eligible articles were identified. Our findings suggest that restrictions aimed at stemming infections and social isolation led to changes in patterns of social cognition in clinical and general populations. Among the clinical population, subjects with autism spectrum disorders and Parkinson’s disease reported changes in social cognition. Among the general population, older adults and front-line workers also reported variations. Our results suggest that planning-oriented social cognition models could effectively promote adherence to preventive norms. These findings can help develop behavioural intervention models by identifying appropriate approaches for the general population and specific subgroups.

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9. de Sena Barbosa MG, Vilela de Souza RL, Gonçalves Cherain LG, Santos Ferreira LH, Santos Affi Peixoto ME, Lemos Passos M, Matias Piza L, Almeida Carneiro R, Nunes Rabelo N, Chaurasia B. Biomarkers for autism spectrum disorder: a short review. Ann Med Surg (Lond);2024 (Dec);86(12):7227-7231.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by social disabilities and stereotyped behaviors. There is a relevant social impact on autistic people’s lives and, therefore, biomarkers have become relevant for understanding neurobiological mechanisms. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to review current knowledge about the role of biomarkers and their main scientific evidence in autism. METHODS: The authors performed a non-systematic literature review through the PubMed database, using the keywords « biomarkers », « autism » and « autism spectrum disorder ». The search was restricted to articles written in English, in the last 10 years. RESULTS: Analyzing the articles found, it is possible to delimit the biomarkers according to the development of ASD, from the prenatal period with exposure to diseases or association of autism with other genetic diseases, through the immune and nutritional factors exposed during pregnancy, and for end those associated with diagnoses phase in which there is the presence of symptoms in which these markers can be used to aid in the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Although preliminary, biomarkers may hold promise for prenatal and presymptomatic screening. It may also be used as predictors of treatment for autism spectrum disorder.

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10. Dionne O, Sabatié S, Fortin F, Corbin F, Laurent B. Efficient generation of human induced pluripotent stem cells from urine samples of patients with Fragile X syndrome. Front Cell Dev Biol;2024;12:1489190.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a valuable tool for studying human development and diseases. iPSCs can be generated by reprogramming from any somatic cells, however establishing primary cell cultures can involve invasive procedures (e.g., skin biopsy) and be labor-intensive. In this paper, we describe an efficient, reliable, and non-invasive method for cultivating primary urine-derived cells (UDCs) and efficiently reprogram them into iPSCs using a feeder-free and non-integrative system. This approach has several advantages: (i) UDCs collection and culture are non-invasive, straightforward, and do not require medical personnel; (ii) reprogramming UDCs using commercially available Sendai viruses is highly efficient and reliable; and (iii) iPSCs generated from UDCs demonstrate strong differentiation potential. To showcase the effectiveness of this method, we generated iPSC lines from UDCs of three control individuals and three patients with Fragile X syndrome.

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11. Feiner H, Sone B, Lee J, Kaat AJ, Roberts MY. Balancing Standardization and Ecological Validity in the Measurement of Social Communication Intervention Outcomes. J Speech Lang Hear Res;2024 (Dec 9);67(12):4799-4810.

PURPOSE: Caregiver-mediated communication intervention outcomes are inconsistently measured, varying by assessment settings, materials, and activities. Standardized materials are often used for measuring outcomes, yet it remains unknown whether such standardized contexts equitably capture caregiver and child intervention outcomes representative of dyads’ typical interactions. This within-subject study investigates how intervention outcomes differ between family-selected and standardized interactional contexts for autistic toddlers and their caregivers. METHOD: Following an 8-week caregiver-mediated telehealth intervention delivered to 22 dyads, caregiver outcomes (fidelity of using responsive communication facilitation strategies) and child outcomes (total spontaneous directed communicative acts) were measured during two interactional contexts using (a) family-selected activities and (b) a standardized toy set. A routines checklist surveyed the activities dyads value, enjoy, complete frequently, and/or find difficult with their child. RESULTS: Caregiver outcomes and child outcomes did not significantly differ between the family-selected and standardized interactional contexts. Descriptive results suggest that the types of toys commonly included in standardized toy sets are representative of the materials many families choose when playing with their child at home. However, during the family-selected interactional context, the majority of dyads also chose materials or activities that were not available to them during the standardized context. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to carefully consider a more expansive approach to standardization in which intervention outcomes are measured in ecologically valid contexts, which meaningfully, accurately, and equitably capture caregiver and child functional outcomes, and the translation of interventions to families’ everyday routines.

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12. Kim LY, Zehner KM, Halperin SJ, Grauer JN. Outcomes After Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients With Autism: A Retrospective Database Study. J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev;2024 (Dec 1);8(12)

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with osteoarthritis for which total knee arthroplasty (TKA) may be considered. The safety and efficacy of TKA in patients with ASD had been poorly characterized. METHODS: Total knee arthroplasty patients were identified using the M157 PearlDiver database. Patients with autism spectrum disorder were matched 1:4 with control TKA patients based on age, sex, and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI). 90-day adverse events were compared by multivariable regression, controlling for age, sex, and ECI. 5-year rates of revision were compared using Kaplan-Meier survival analyses. RESULTS: Of 1,194,063 TKA patients, ASD was identified in 352 (0.02%). Patients with autism spectrum disorder were younger (60.0 vs. 65.8 years, P < 0.001) with higher ECIs (7.8 vs. 4.2, P < 0.001) than control patients. Patients with autism spectrum disorder had higher odds of aggregated adverse events driven by sepsis (odds ratio [OR] 3.11), pneumonia (OR 3.55), and urinary tract infection (OR 3.02) (P < 0.0036 for each). 5-year revision rates were not significantly different for the matched cohorts (P = 0.8000). CONCLUSION: Total knee arthroplasty patients with ASD had elevated odds of several infectious adverse events and may warrant additional perioperative precautions. No notable differences were observed in most adverse outcomes investigated, nor in 5-year implant survival, suggesting that patients with ASD can safely be considered for TKA.

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13. Kopcikova M, Raskova B, Belica I, Bakos J, Celusakova H, Chladna Z, Zibolenova J, Ostatnikova D. The relationship between serum thyroid hormone levels and symptoms severity in young children with autism. Endocr Regul;2024 (Jan 1);58(1)

Objective. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, restrictive and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests and activities. The aim of this study was to determine the postnatal levels of thyroid hor-mones and investigate their association with the severity of ASD symptoms. Methods. The study included 56 children (46 boys and 10 girls) with ASD aged 24-42 months. For ASD diagnostics the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – second version (ADOS-2) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) – interview with the child’s parents or guard-ians were used. Venous blood was drawn right after the diagnostic procedures to analyze serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (s-TSH), free triiodothyronine (s-fT3), and free thyroxine (s-fT4) levels. Linear regression analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between the concentra-tions of thyroid hormones and ASD symptoms severity. Results. Serum concentrations of measured hormones were within normal reference ranges in almost all children. Decline of s-TSH was significantly associated with an increase in the severity of impaired social interaction and impaired communication as rated by parents (ADI-R) and with a higher prevalence of stereotyped behavior as observed in the diagnostic examination (ADOS-2). A decrease in s-fT3 was associated with higher frequency of stereotyped behavior as assessed by parents (ADI-R). Neither sex nor age were significant predictors. Conclusion. Although thyroid hormone levels were normal, we demonstrated an association of thyroid hormones with ASD symptoms.

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14. Lian B, He Y, Dong D, Quan L, Feng T, Li M. Developmental Trajectory of Autistic-Like Behaviors in a Prenatal Valproic Acid Rat Model of Autism. Dev Psychobiol;2025 (Jan);67(1):e70008.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are characterized by deficits in social functioning, stereotyped patterns of behaviors, narrowed interests, and elevated anxiety. Certain ASD symptoms can persist, whereas others may improve throughout the lifespan, but the specific patterns of changes have not been clearly delineated. Using a valproic acid (VPA) rat model of ASD, the present study took a developmental approach and examined how autistic-like behaviors, including anxiety-like behavior, object obsession, and social functioning deficits, manifested differently in three critical periods representing preadolescent (postnatal day [PND] 25), adolescent (PND 45), and adulthood life stage (PND 75) in a sex-dependent manner. Starting on PNDs 25, 45, and 75, VPA- or saline-exposed male and female offspring were tested in an elevated plus maze (EPM) and a newly validated composite social and object interaction and a triple recognition test (object, spatial, and social recognition). Across the three age groups, VPA-exposed offspring did not exhibit enhanced anxiety-like behavior in the EPM nor enhanced object interaction (« object obsession ») in the triple recognition test. However, both male and female preadolescent (PND 25) VPA-exposed offspring showed a significantly increased latency to initiate social contact than the saline-exposed controls, although their latencies to contact novel objects were comparable to those of the controls. Male preadolescent and adolescent VPA-exposed offspring, to a lesser extent the female preadolescent offspring, exhibited significantly lower levels of social interaction. These social functioning deficits were absent in adult VPA offspring. Additionally, prenatal VPA exposure did not cause an impairment of object recognition, spatial recognition, or social recognition of a familiar conspecific. Unexpectedly, it enhanced social recognition of a novel conspecific, but only in adolescent female offspring. These findings suggest that this rat model based on prenatal VPA exposure is valid in capturing early social motivational and functioning deficits but is limited in its capacity to model increased object obsession and enhanced anxiety as seen in ASD, as well as the developmental trajectory of non-social ASD symptoms. Recognizing these limitations is important as it informs us how to properly use this model to investigate the neurobiology of ASD and incentivizes us to develop better rodent models.

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15. McKinney WS, Schmitt LM, De Stefano LA, Ethridge L, Norris JE, Horn PS, Dauterman S, Rosselot H, Pedapati EV, Reisinger DL, Dominick KC, Shaffer RC, Chin D, Friedman NR, Hong M, Sweeney JA, Erickson C. Results from a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Single-Dose, Crossover Trial of Lovastatin or Minocycline in Fragile X Syndrome. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol;2024 (Dec 9)

Introduction: Treatment studies in FMR1 knockout rodent models have found that minocycline and lovastatin each improve synaptic, neurological, and behavioral functioning, and open-label chronic dosing studies in human patients with fragile X syndrome (FXS) have demonstrated modest clinical improvements. Findings from blinded studies are mixed, and there is a limited understanding of electrophysiological target engagement that would facilitate cross-species translational studies. Smaller-scale, acute (e.g., single-dose) drug studies may speed treatment identification by detecting subtle electrophysiological and behavioral changes. Materials and Methods: Twenty-nine participants with FXS (31% female) ages 15-45 years completed a randomized, double-blind, crossover study in which they received a single oral dose of 40 mg of lovastatin, 270 mg of minocycline, or placebo, with a 2-week washout period between dosing visits. Participants completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery and three EEG paradigms (resting state; auditory chirp; auditory habituation) before and 4 hours after dosing. Results: No serious adverse events were reported, and both drugs were well-tolerated. Compared with placebo, there were no overall treatment effects for any outcomes, including EEG, but several modest drug responses varied as a function of sex and age. Lovastatin treatment was associated with improved spatial awareness in older participants and females compared with minocycline and placebo. Discussion: We show that single-dose drug studies are highly feasible in FXS and that patients with FXS can complete a range of EEG and behavioral tasks, many of which have been shown to be reliable and may therefore be sensitive to subtle drug target engagement. Conclusions: Acute single doses of lovastatin or minocycline did not lead to changes in electrophysiological or performance-based measures. This may be due to the limited effects of these drugs in human patients or limited acute effects relative to chronic dosing. However, the study design was further validated for use in neurodevelopmental populations.

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16. Mokhtar Tawfeek ES, Aly Abou Elez Gawish S, Hamed WS, Asker SA. Construction of an animal model of autism based on interaction between cerebellar histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical changes in adult male albino rat. Ultrastruct Pathol;2024 (Dec 9):1-19.

METHODS: Twelve pregnant female rats were divided into a control group and a valproic acid (VPA) treated group (injected intraperitoneally on embryonic day 12 with 600 mg/kg body weight of VPA). Neurobehavioral tests were conducted on the offspring of both groups. The cerebellum was studied by light and electron microscopy as well as GFAP and caspase-3 immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The VPA-treated group showed signs of neuronal degeneration, such as congested blood vessels, vacuolations, irregularly shrunken with dark small heterochromatic nuclei and numerous apoptotic blebs in the Purkinje and granule cells with vacuolated cerebellar glomeruli. The myelinated nerve fibers showed rarefaction and loss of their neurofilaments. GFAP and caspase-3 immune expression were significantly altered in the VPA-treated group. CONCLUSION: The VPA rat model can serve as an excellent model of autism at the structural level, which may be used as a validated model in preclinical studies to evaluate novel drugs.

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17. Mosa S, Armishty F, Haji M, Ali M, Ahmed P, Husain S, Suleiman K. The Correlation Between Screen Time and the Probability of Developing Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cureus;2024 (Nov);16(11):e73231.

Background Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a collection of neurological, psychological, and developmental anomalies that manifest in early life, affecting individuals across all racial, cultural, and socioeconomic groups. Its prevalence has grown significantly over the past 20 years. Exposure to digital devices has increased alongside the rise in ASD prevalence. Research suggests that prolonged screen time can negatively impact a child’s brain development, language, literacy, and cognitive function. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between screen time and the probability of developing autism spectrum disorder. Methodology This study employed a case-control design to examine 231 children in Zakho City diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. The study was conducted from October 1, 2023, to March 1, 2024. The participants included neurotypical individuals and individuals with autism. Data were gathered through standardized questionnaires and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26 (Released 2019; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York). The study was approved by the College of Medicine/University of Zakho, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and ethical permission was obtained. Results The study revealed a uniform age distribution between cases and controls, with a majority of male participants and a smaller percentage of female participants. ASD patients had a significantly longer duration of exposure to electronic devices compared to controls, with cases averaging 3.61 hours of screen time daily (t-test: t = 0.0001). Conclusion In summary, screens have a major impact on children’s neurodevelopment and may increase their risk of developing ASD. However, no appreciable distinction was observed between children diagnosed with ASD and those without regarding early exposure to screens. Our findings can be used to create guidelines for children’s media consumption and to raise awareness of this issue. Further research is needed to evaluate the association.

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18. Phillips SF, Galdieri J, Haines C, Palmer J. Preparticipation and Sideline Evaluation of Athletes with Intellectual and Developmental Disability. Curr Sports Med Rep;2024 (Dec 1);23(12):410-415.

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disability face several barriers to participation in sports and physical activity. Fortunately, there are opportunities for athletes with intellectual and developmental disability to participate in sport. Special Olympics continues to be the most prominent opportunity. Unfortunately, many physicians and other health care providers may feel underprepared to evaluate and treat athletes with intellectual and developmental disability. While national and international events often have a large number of resources available, access to medical care for athletes at local, regional, and state events can be variable. This paper will review medical coverage for state and regional Special Olympics events, including preevent preparation, preparticipation examination, common medical conditions among athletes with intellectual and developmental disability, and common injuries evaluated at local and state events.

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19. Roberts C, Symons F. The critical insight of family caregivers of individuals with intellectual and developmental disability and severe self-injurious behavior. Dev Med Child Neurol;2024 (Dec 9)

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20. Saferin N, Haseeb I, Taha AM, Beecroft SE, Pillai S, Neifer AE, Lakkuru R, Kistler BP, Nawor CN, Malik I, Hasan D, Carlson JA, Zade KK, Dressel SP, Carney EM, Shah R, Gautam S, Vergis J, Neifer KL, Johnson ZV, Gustison ML, Hall FS, Burkett JP. Folate prevents the autism-related phenotype caused by developmental pyrethroid exposure in prairie voles. bioRxiv;2024 (Dec 4)

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) have dramatically increased in prevalence to an alarming one in six children, and yet both causes and preventions remain elusive. Recent human epidemiology and animal studies have implicated developmental exposure to pyrethroid pesticides, one of the most common classes of pesticides in the US, as an environmental risk factor for autism and neurodevelopmental disorders. Our previous research has shown that low-dose chronic developmental pyrethroid exposure (DPE) changes folate metabolites in the adult mouse brain. We hypothesize that DPE acts directly on molecular targets in the folate metabolism pathway, and that high-dose maternal folate supplementation can prevent or reduce the biobehavioral effects of DPE. We exposed pregnant prairie vole dams chronically to vehicle or low-dose deltamethrin (3 mg/kg/3 days) with or without high-dose folate supplementation (methylfolate, 5 mg/kg/3 days). The resulting DPE offspring showed broad deficits in five behavioral domains relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders (including the social domain); increased plasma folate concentrations; and increased neural expression of SHMT1, a folate cycle enzyme. Maternal folate supplementation prevented most of the behavioral phenotypes (except for repetitive behaviors) and caused potentially compensatory changes in neural expression of FOLR1 and MTHFR, two folate-related proteins. We conclude that DPE causes neurodevelopmental disorder-relevant behavioral deficits; DPE directly alters aspects of folate metabolism; and preventative interventions targeting folate metabolism are effective in reducing, but not eliminating, the behavioral effects of DPE.

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21. Şahin CH, Kaya A. The experience of parents of children with intellectual disabilities/autism who experienced the Kahramanmaraş earthquake in Türkiye. J Intellect Disabil;2024 (Dec 9):17446295241307409.

In the Kahramanmaraş earthquake on February 6, 2023, which was described as the most severe earthquake on land worldwide and the disaster of century, the loss of life and material losses reached serious levels. In this study, it was aimed to examine the experiences of 21 individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disabilities affected by the Kahramanmaraş earthquake by interviewing their families regarding this process. Fifteen parents of one/more children diagnosed with intellectual disability/autism spectrum disorder participated in this study, which was conducted with a phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research designs. These themes are (a) the impact of the earthquake on the child with autism spectrum disorder/intellectual disability, (b) the impact of the earthquake on the parents, (c) difficulties experienced and (d) requirements. When the themes are examined, parents state that their children face serious physical, psychological and educational harm, their behavioral problems increase due to trauma they experience.

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22. Tromans S, Summers I, Abdullah S, Ledger J, Lennard S, Bassett P, Colledge R, Bilkey D, Staples C, Edwards S, Carr G, Laugharne R, Shankar R. Understanding the current provisions of support for people with an intellectual disabilities and/or autism in crisis: A mixed methods study. Int J Soc Psychiatry;2024 (Dec 9):207640241303831.

BACKGROUND: There has been significant reduction in inpatient beds for people with intellectual disability and/or autism (PwID/A) in the UK in the last decade following high profile national scandals in specialist psychiatric hospitals. To reduce inappropriate admissions a new strategy (Blue-Light, an emergency multi-disciplinary meeting to prevent admission to hospital) was introduced. However, there is no research on the influence of Blue-Light on crisis management for PwID/A. AIM: To assess Blue-Light’s impact on PwID/A’s crisis presentations. METHODS: Co-produced with experts-by-experience, a mixed methods approach using a 13 question Likert based survey of health and social-care professionals along with semi-structured interviews of carers involved with consecutive Blue-Light patient reviews was undertaken in Cornwall UK (population: 538,000). Patient data was accessed to understand the patient journey. All data analysis was descriptive in nature. Semi-structured interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step process. RESULTS: Ten patient journeys were examined. Staff interviewed had a good understanding of the Blue-Light process, Blue-Light activation practical challenges and considered Blue-Light reactive. Nearly half wanted ID/A specialist beds recommissioned. A majority wanted improved supervision and standards for third sector providers. Semi-structured interviews of 10 patient-carers identified a lack of consistency from professionals, limited infrastructure provision, the prolongation of crises and a lack of definition of crisis as carers did not feel supported by services. CONCLUSIONS: Current crisis support systems are not standardised and often leave carers feeling unsupported in crises. An evidence-based debate of crisis support and the inpatient role for PwID/A is required.

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23. Wang H, Yan JJ, Curtis S, Zhao P, Ma X, Han ZR, Hu X. The Impact of Emotion Network Density on Psychological Distress in Chinese Parents of Children with Autism: A Daily Diary Study. J Autism Dev Disord;2024 (Dec 9)

Parents of children with autism often experience a wide range of emotions in their daily lives. However, previous research has primarily focused on average levels of emotional challenges, neglecting the significance of daily emotion dynamics that may underlie parental psychological functioning. This study adopted a dynamic network approach to examine the strength of temporal connections within and between various emotions-referred to as emotion network density-and further explore its impacts on parental psychological distress. Participants included 76 Chinese parents (M = 36.36 years, SD = 3.95 years; 58 mothers) of children with autism. Parents reported their psychological distress at baseline and then completed measures of daily emotions over a 14-day period. The densities of overall, positive, and negative emotion networks were estimated using the Multilevel Vector Auto-Regression model. The results indicated that higher densities of the overall and negative emotion networks were associated with increased stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in parents. Further analysis of network components showed that the in-strength of fear and guilt (i.e., their likelihood of being affected by other emotions) and the out-strength of anger and guilt (i.e., their capacity to influence other emotions) were positively related to parental psychological distress. However, neither the overall density of the positive emotion network nor its specific components showed a significant relationship with parental psychological distress. These findings highlight the importance of considering the daily dynamics of emotions, particularly negative emotions, from a network perspective to better understand the development of psychological distress in parents of children with autism.

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24. Yi T, Li W, Wei W, Wu G, Jiang G, Gao X, Jin K. Limbic/paralimbic connection weakening in preschool autism-spectrum disorder based on diffusion basis spectrum imaging. Eur J Neurosci;2024 (Dec 9)

This study aims to investigate the value of basal ganglia and limbic/paralimbic networks alteration in identifying preschool children with ASD and normal controls using diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI). DBSI data from 31 patients with ASD and 30 NC were collected in Hunan Children’s Hospital. All data were imported into the post-processing server. The most discriminative features were extracted from the connection, global and nodal metrics separately using the two-sample t-test. To effectively integrate the multimodal information, we employed the multi-kernel learning support vector machine (MKL-SVM). In ASD group, the value of global efficiency, local efficiency, clustering coefficient and synchronization were lower than NC group, while modularity score, hierarchy, normalized clustering coefficient, normalized characteristic path length, small-world, characteristic path length and assortativity were higher. Significant weaker connections are mainly distributed in the limbic/paralimbic networks. The model combining consensus connection, global and nodal graph metrics features can achieve the best performance in identifying ASD patients, with an accuracy of 96.72%.The most specific brain regions connection weakening associated with preschool ASD are predominantly located in limbic/paralimbic networks, suggesting their involvement in abnormal brain development processes. The effective combination of connection, global and nodal metrics information by MKL-SVM can effectively distinguish patients with ASD.

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