1. Danesi C, Achuta VS, Corcoran P, Peteri UK, Turconi G, Matsui N, Albayrak I, Rezov V, Isaksson A, Castren ML. {{Increased Calcium Influx through L-type Calcium Channels in Human and Mouse Neural Progenitors Lacking Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein}}. {Stem cell reports}. 2018; 11(6): 1449-61.
The absence of FMR1 protein (FMRP) causes fragile X syndrome (FXS) and disturbed FMRP function is implicated in several forms of human psychopathology. We show that intracellular calcium responses to depolarization are augmented in neural progenitors derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells and mouse brain with FXS. Increased calcium influx via nifedipine-sensitive voltage-gated calcium (Cav) channels contributes to the exaggerated responses to depolarization and type 1 metabotropic glutamate receptor activation. The ratio of L-type/T-type Cav channel expression is increased in FXS progenitors and correlates with enhanced progenitor differentiation to glutamate-responsive cells. Genetic reduction of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in FXS mouse progenitors diminishes the expression of Cav channels and activity-dependent responses, which are associated with increased phosphorylation of the phospholipase C-gamma1 site within TrkB receptors and changes of differentiating progenitor subpopulations. Our results show developmental effects of increased calcium influx via L-type Cav channels in FXS neural progenitors.
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2. Huang MX, Liu XH, Zhang ZJ, Chen C, Wang D, Hou X, Chen H, Xia K. {{Functional connection between the stereotyped behavior and the motor front area in children with autism}}. {British journal of neurosurgery}. 2018: 1-4.
OBJECT: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is characterized by stereotyped behavior, attention deficit and/or impaired sensory perception to external stimuli. Its neurobiological mechanisms remain unclear. In this study we examined the resting-state functional connectivity of the premotor area and investigated its correlation with behavioral variables to determine whether connectivity alterations can distinguish ASD from healthy controls. METHODS: 39 children with ASD and 42 healthy children with matched age, sex and intelligence were recruited. All the 81 subjects had behavioral index evaluation and underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans. After MRI data preprocessing, the left and right premotor areas were selected as region of interest (ROI) seeds to perform functional connectivity. Groups were compared, and the correlation between functional connectivity and behavioral indicators was analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with healthy controls, ASD children showed significantly increased functional connectivity between the left premotor area and the posterior cingulate gyrus or anterior lobe of wedge, but functional connectivity between the left premotor area and the left insular lobe was decreased (p < 0.05, FDR correction). In addition, the connectivity between the left premotor area and the left insular lobe was negatively correlated with the behavioral scores (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Imbalanced premotor functional connectivity may be one possible mechanism of stereotyped behavior in ASD. Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
3. Kumazaki H, Muramatsu T, Yoshikawa Y, Yoshimura Y, Ikeda T, Hasegawa C, Saito DN, Shimaya J, Ishiguro H, Mimura M, Kikuchi M. {{Brief Report: A Novel System to Evaluate Autism Spectrum Disorders Using Two Humanoid Robots}}. {Journal of autism and developmental disorders}. 2018.
We investigated the feasibility of our novel evaluation system for use with children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We prepared the experimental setting with two humanoid robots in reference to the birthday party scene in the Autism Diagnostic Observational Schedule (ADOS). We assessed the relationship between social communication ability measured in the ADOS condition (i.e., with a human clinician) and in a robotic condition for children with ASD. There were significant correlations between the social communication scores in the gold-standard ADOS condition and the robotic condition for children with ASD. The current work provides support for a unique application of a robotic system (i.e., two robot-mediated interaction) to evaluate the severity of autistic traits for children with ASD.
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4. Laurie MH, Warreyn P, Uriarte BV, Boonen C, Fletcher-Watson S. {{An International Survey of Parental Attitudes to Technology Use by Their Autistic Children at Home}}. {Journal of autism and developmental disorders}. 2018.
Capturing variability in use of commercial technologies by autistic children can inform future learning and support technology design. Survey data were collected from parents (n = 388) in the UK, Spain, and Belgium, and includes information about individuals with a range of ages and ability levels. We found a comparable pattern of access and usage across age groups, though higher reading and language ability was linked to use of more devices and interfaces. Reported worries about technology correlated with longer time spent using technology. Autistic children use mainstream technologies for a broad range of recreational uses. The data suggest that technologies developed with therapeutic goals in mind may need to achieve a high standard of design to engage users.
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5. Li N, Li L, Li G, Gai Z. {{The association of auditory integration training in children with autism spectrum disorders among Chinese: a meta-analysis}}. {Bioscience reports}. 2018; 38(6).
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have reported an inconsistent relationship about the auditory integration training (AIT) in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) among Chinese. The current study was to investigate the efficacy of AIT for children with ASD compared with those in control group by using meta-analysis. Relevant trials published were identified by an electronic search of PubMed, CENTRAL, EMBASE, WanFang, CNKI, and SinoMed databases up to December 31, 2017. Outcome of interest included childhood autism rating scale (CARS), autism behavior checklist (ABC), intelligence quotient (IQ), and autism treatment evaluation checklist (ATEC). Standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was calculated using a random-effect model. Thirteen RCTs with 976 children with ASD were included for analysis. The pooled SMD showed that children with ASD had significantly lower ABC scores [summary SMD = -0.58, 95%CI = -0.79 to -0.38] and ATEC scores [summary SMD = -0.75, 95%CI = -1.05 to -0.45] in AIT group compared with that in control group. The analysis of pooled statistics put forward AIT could increase the IQ score when compared with that in control group [summary SMD = 0.59, 95%CI = 0.41-0.77]. A negative association was found about CARS scores between AIT group and control group. No publication bias was found and no single study had essential effect on the pooled results. In conclusions, AIT can reduce the score of ABC and ATEC and can increase the IQ score among children with ASD in Chinese. Therefore, it is recommended for Chinese children with ASD to receive AIT.
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6. Stack A, Lucyshyn J. {{Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Experience of Traumatic Events: Review of the Current Literature to Inform Modifications to a Treatment Model for Children with Autism}}. {Journal of autism and developmental disorders}. 2018.
Children with autism incur trauma and have increased vulnerabilities for experiencing trauma. This paper summarizes the current literature in the study of trauma in typically developing children and those with autism. A treatment model for children with autism, drawing on components from cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), trauma-focused CBT, and CBT to teach emotion regulation and treat anxiety in children with autism is suggested. Components include: (a) Functional Behavior Assessment; (b) behavior plans and behavioral skills training; (c) teaching emotion regulation; (d) exposure therapy; (e) cognitive restructuring; (f) parent and child support between sessions; (g) safety plan; and (h) programming for generalization and maintenance. Future research should establish evidence-based treatment of trauma in this population by evaluating the modified treatment package.
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7. Stuger J. {{Autism and Religious Beliefs: Clues from Kafka Research}}. {Journal of autism and developmental disorders}. 2018.
Religious beliefs and faith in high-functioning autistic persons are analyzed by discussing the work and biography of Franz Kafka. It enables researchers to differentiate between how autistic and non-autistic persons experience and express religious beliefs and spiritual issues because Kafka as an autistic person also wrote about these topics in his philosophical-religious writings. This Franz Kafka case study provides additional inner (cognitive) state input to better understand high-functioning autism. This contribution with new and different perspectives to the field of autism and religious beliefs could help to explore the varieties of religious experience and cognition, and to improve our insights in high-functioning autism.
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8. Wang S, Tan N, Zhu X, Yao M, Wang Y, Zhang X, Xu Z. {{Sh3rf2 Haploinsufficiency Leads to Unilateral Neuronal Development Deficits and Autistic-Like Behaviors in Mice}}. {Cell reports}. 2018; 25(11): 2963-71.e6.
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) include a variety of developmental brain disorders with clinical findings implicating the dysfunction of the left hemisphere. Here, we generate mice lacking one copy of Sh3rf2, which was detected in ASD patients, to determine whether Sh3rf2 is involved in brain development and whether mutation of SH3RF2 is causative for ASD and the mechanisms linking it to ASD traits. We find that mice with Sh3rf2 haploinsufficiency display significant deficits in social interaction and communication, as well as stereotyped or repetitive behaviors and hyperactivity and seizures. Disturbances in hippocampal dendritic spine development, aberrant composition of glutamatergic receptor subunits, and abnormal excitatory synaptic transmission were detected in heterozygous mutants. Remarkably, these defects are selectively unilateral. Our results support a notion that Sh3rf2 haploinsufficiency is a highly penetrant risk factor for ASD, with disease pathogenesis most likely resulting from deficits in synaptic function in the left hemisphere of the brain.
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9. Yu L, Zhu X. {{Correction to: Effectiveness of a SCERTS Model-Based Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Hong Kong: A Pilot Study}}. {Journal of autism and developmental disorders}. 2018.
The article Effectiveness of a SCERTS Model-Based Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Hong Kong: A Pilot Study, written by Lu Yu and Xiaoqin Zhu was originally published electronically on the publisher’s internet portal (currently SpringerLink) on June 15, 2018 without open access.
