1. Ata EE, Ercan Toptaner N, Dönmez E, Aktaş E, Saritaş M. Mothers’ awareness of autism and psychosocial status of their children. J Pediatr Nurs. 2025; 85: 656-62.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the autism awareness of mothers with children aged 3-6 years and the psychosocial status of their children. DESIGN AND METHODS: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 532 mothers who presented between May and July 2022 to family health centers in Turkey. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Autism Awareness of Mothers Scale, and the Psychosocial Status Scale for Children Aged 3-6 Years-Parent Form. RESULTS: The mothers in the study had a mean age of 32 years, the most and least used sources of information about autism were the internet and scientific resources. On the Autism Awareness of Mothers Scale, the mothers’ mean scores were 66.60 total, 44.02 on the behavioral patterns’ subscale, and 22.58 on the communication and interaction with the environment subscale. The mean Psychosocial Status Scale for Children Aged 3-6 Years-Parent Form score was 26.23. Mean Autism Awareness of Mothers Scale total scores were significantly higher among mothers who were university graduates, were employed, had higher economic status, had someone with autism in their immediate social circles, and used other information sources besides television (p < 0.05). The study found no relationship between mothers' autism awareness and their children's psychosocial status (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In this study, we determined that most mothers used the internet, television, and social media as sources of information about autism, while fewer received information from healthcare professionals and scientific resources. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: We recommend training programs to raise parental awareness, especially among mothers with lower education and socioeconomic status. Primary healthcare professionals and public service announcements can help spread awareness effectively.

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2. Hall KC, Marraccini ME, Karpinsky M, Middleton T, Knotek S, Mankowski J, Evarrs S. Youth on the autism spectrum hospitalized for suicide related thoughts and behaviors: Characteristics and perspectives from the field. J Affect Disord. 2025: 120383.

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) are alarmingly prevalent in youth, with even higher rates among children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (hereafter autism) – a neurodevelopmental difference characterized by differences in social communication skills and restrictive and repetitive behaviors. Although autistic youth are hospitalized in psychiatric units at higher rates than their non-autistic peers, the limited research exploring hospital staffs’ experience with autistic patients and their families highlights a disconnect between providers and parents and a lack of knowledge about autism. The current study leveraged medical records of 86 hospitalized patients (43 autistic, 43 non-autistic) aged 6-18, extracting quantitative and qualitative data to explore differences in demographic characteristics, co-occurring diagnoses, and reasons and stressors related to hospitalization for suicide-related crises, as well as hospital staff’s perceptions of autistic patients. Results indicated that autistic patients had more co-occurring diagnoses than non-autistic, with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder being the most common in autistic patients and anxiety and depression common in both autistic and non-autistic patents. Autistic patients’ hospitalization was often related to aggression and stressors involving interpersonal skills. Behaviors related to rigidity were documented by hospital staff working with autistic psychiatric patients. Differences in factors related to hospitalization for suicide-related crises in autistic and non-autistic youth underscore the need for research on suicide risk factors unique to neurodivergent populations. Commonly documented behaviors of hospitalized autistic youth highlight the need for strength-based approaches to meet specific needs of autistic people.

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3. Liu Z, Li N, Chen C, Zhang Z, Cao Y. [Analysis of acupoint selection rules for acupuncture for autism spectrum disorder based on data mining technology]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2025; 45(10): 1496-504.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the core acupoint selection rules and syndrome-based compatibility patterns of acupuncture for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using data mining techniques. METHODS: Relevant literature of acupuncture for ASD was retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed, and Web of Science. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, a prescription database was established based on the extracted effective data. Descriptive analysis was conducted on the frequency, meridian tropism, anatomical distribution, and specific point. High-frequency acupoints were visualized using Origin software. The Apriori algorithm in IBM SPSS Modeler 18.0 was used for association rule analysis of acupoint combinations. Cluster analysis of high-frequency acupoints was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0. The relationships between high-frequency syndromes and acupoints were visualized using Cytoscape 3.10.0. RESULTS: A total of 223 studies and 452 prescriptions were included, among which 223 were based on syndrome differentiation. A total of 205 acupoints were included with a cumulative frequency of 4 067. The top five most frequently used acupoints were Baihui (GV20), Sishenzhen, Zhisanzhen, Niesanzhen, and Neiguan (PC6). Acupoints were primarily from Jin’s three-needle therapy, the governor vessel, scalp acupuncture, and the foot-taiyang bladder meridian, with a high proportion of acupoints located on the head and neck and the limbs. Among specific point, five-shu points, yuan-source points, and back-shu points were most frequently used. Association rule analysis revealed that the core acupoint group was Sishenzhen-Dingshenzhen-Zhisanzhen-Niesanzhen. Cluster analysis divided the top 20 high-frequency acupoints into four categories: governor vessel activation and brain awakening group, spleen strengthening and heart nourishing group, Jin’s three-needle spirit-regulating group, and kidney-reinforcing and marrow-filling group. Clinically, the main syndrome patterns were kidney essence deficiency, hyperactivity of heart and liver fire, phlegm obstructing the heart orifices, dual deficiency of heart and spleen, and liver qi stagnation. CONCLUSION: The core acupoint prescriptions of acupuncture for ASD are Sishenzhen, Dingshenzhen, Zhisanzhen, and Niesanzhen. The treatment emphasizes spirit regulation and mental tranquility, guided by the principles of harmonizing multiple zang-fu organs, regulating qi and blood, unblocking qi movement, and balancing yin and yang. Syndrome-based acupoint compatibility is recommended in clinical practice.

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4. Lok R, Deshpande N, Nair S, Andrillon T, Gatera G, Hill CM, Cortese S, Chellappa SL. The sleep-circadian connection: pathways to understanding and supporting autistic children and adolescents and those with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2025.

Autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are among the most common neurodivergent neurotypes worldwide. Epidemiological evidence shows that sleep and circadian disturbances, such as difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep, and delayed sleep-wake phase, are highly prevalent in autistic children, children with ADHD, and those with both neurotypes. Despite scientific advancements, a comprehensive framework integrating sleep and circadian mechanisms with targeted interventions for autism and ADHD remains underdeveloped. In this Review we examine sleep and circadian rhythm differences in autistic children and adolescents, and in those with ADHD or both neurotypes, focusing on the underlying biological mechanisms. We discuss recent advances in the genetic and molecular links between sleep, circadian rhythms, and neuroplasticity, alongside the influence of these systems on physiology and therapeutic strategies. Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions are considered, with an emphasis on the need for an integrated support model that accounts for the dynamic interplay between sleep and circadian rhythms in these populations. We identify key gaps in the current evidence base, particularly in relation to non-pharmacological interventions, and outline future research directions. Although most randomised controlled trials in children and adolescents have focused on behavioural sleep interventions, we also discuss emerging findings from trials using alternative approaches, such as targeted light therapy in adults, with implications for paediatric populations. Finally, we emphasise the importance of incorporating the perspectives of autistic children and adolescents and those with ADHD, as well as their parents and caregivers, into research designs.

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5. Qu X, Li M, Augustyn M, Pearson C, Vernon HJ, Wang G, Hong X, Wang X, Volk HE. A Prospective Birth Cohort Study on the Association Between Cord Blood Acylcarnitine Profile and Childhood Risk of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2025.

OBJECTIVE: Mitochondria have been implicated in the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but evidence for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) remains limited. Given the early onset of both ASD and ADHD and high degree of co-morbidity, this study sought to examine the prospective association of 20 acylcarnitines in cord blood-a group of metabolites involved in mitochondrial fatty acid metabolism-with childhood risk of ASD, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). METHOD: This study includes 995 children (55% male participants, 58% non-Hispanic Black) from the Boston Birth Cohort. Acylcarnitines in cord blood were profiled using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Logistic regressions examined individual acylcarnitines and their three principal components (PC) in relation to childhood ADHD (n=285), ASD (n=86), and other NDDs (n=246), compared to typically developing children (n=378), with adjustment of maternal and child characteristics. RESULTS: Children with higher levels of short-chain and long-chain acylcarnitines in cord blood (including C2, C3, C3-DC-CH3, C14, C16, C18, and C18:1) had a greater risk of childhood ADHD. The highest tertile of long-chain acylcarnitine PC scores was associated with 1.98 times odds of ADHD (adjusted OR = 1.98; 95% CI, 1.29-3.06), compared to the lowest tertile. One unit increase in medium-chain PC scores was associated with 1.38 times odds of ASD (adjusted OR = 1.38; 95% CI, 1.01-1.90). CONCLUSION: This prospective birth cohort study found that cord blood acylcarnitines were associated with childhood risk of ASD, ADHD, and other NDDs, highlighting important role of mitochondrial fatty acid metabolism in NDD and potential targets for investigation and interventions.

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6. Sayson LV, Lee HJ, Campomayor NB, Balataria S, Kim M, Cho A, Yi EC, Lee CR, Kim BN, Cheong JH, Kim HJ. Integrated cortical and plasma proteomic analysis of mice and human models of autism spectrum disorder: Potential involvement of galectin-3-binding protein. Neuroscience. 2025.

Despite decades of research, the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains largely uncomprehended, probably due to its clinical and phenotypic heterogeneity. Animal models, particularly contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Cntnap2) knockout (KO) mice, have been instrumental in elucidating ASD-related neurobiological mechanisms, as they exhibit ASD-like phenotypes, such as impaired social interactions in sociability paradigms. This provides the possibility for identifying detectable protein-based biomarkers that may assist in ASD diagnosis. Herein, we implemented an integrated approach to analyze the plasma and prefrontal cortex (PFC) proteomes exclusively from Cntnap2 KO mice (n = 3) or patients diagnosed with ASD (n = 3), along with gene ontology (GO) functional enrichment and pathway analysis. Overlapping GO terms and pathways were identified from the proteomic subsets of Cntnap2 KO mice plasma and PFC after dividing differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) into upregulated and downregulated subsets. Overlapping GO terms and pathways were further identified following the comparison of the upregulated and downregulated DEPs found in the plasma of patients with ASD. Under these GO terms and pathways, two (2) common DEPs were identified: downregulated complement C1q subcomponent subunit B (C1QB) and upregulated galectin-3-binding protein (LGALS3BP). The upregulated expression of LGALS3BP, but not C1QB downregulation, in the PFC and blood of Cntnap2 KO mice (n = 12-13) were validated through Western blotting. While future investigations will include other preclinical ASD models and clinically heterogeneous human populations, overall, these preliminary findings suggest a potential role for LGALS3BP as a biomarker for ASD and support the involvement of both central and peripheral mechanisms in its pathophysiology.

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