1. Bennett R, Somandapalli K, Di Martino A, Roy A. {{The neural correlates of emotional lability in children with ASD}}. {Brain Connect};2017 (May 15)
OBJECTIVE: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is exceptionally heterogeneous in both clinical and physiopathological presentations. Clinical variability applies to ASD-specific symptoms as well as frequent comorbid psychopathology such as emotional lability (EL). To date, the physiopathological underpinnings of the co-occurrence of EL and ASD are unknown. As a first step, we examined within-ASD inter-individual variability of EL and its neuronal correlates using resting-state fMRI (R-fMRI). METHODS: We analyzed R-fMRI data from 58 children diagnosed with ASD (5-12 years) in relation to the Conners’ Parent Rating Scale EL index. We performed both an a priori amygdala region-of-interest (ROI) analysis, and a multivariate unbiased whole-brain data-driven approach. RESULTS: While no significant brain-behavior relationships were identified regarding amygdala intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC), multivariate whole-brain analyses revealed an extended functional circuitry centered on two regions: middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and posterior insula (PI). Follow-up parametric and non-parametric ROI-analyses of these regions revealed relationships between EL and MFG- and PI-iFC with default, salience, and visual networks suggesting that higher-order cognitive and somatosensory processes are critical for emotion regulation in ASD. CONCLUSIONS: We did not detect evidence of amygdala iFC underpinning EL in ASD. However, exploratory whole-brain analyses identified large-scale networks that have been previously reported abnormal in ASD. Future studies should consider EL as a potential source of neuronal heterogeneity in ASD and focus on multinetwork interactions.
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2. Bralten J, van Hulzen KJ, Martens MB, Galesloot TE, Arias Vasquez A, Kiemeney LA, Buitelaar JK, Muntjewerff JW, Franke B, Poelmans G. {{Autism spectrum disorders and autistic traits share genetics and biology}}. {Mol Psychiatry};2017 (May 16)
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and autistic traits in the general population may share genetic susceptibility factors. In this study, we investigated such potential overlap based on common genetic variants. We developed and validated a self-report questionnaire of autistic traits in adults. We then conducted genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of six trait scores derived from the questionnaire through exploratory factor analysis in 1981 adults from the general population. Using the results from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium GWAS of ASDs, we observed genetic sharing between ASDs and the autistic traits ‘childhood behavior’, ‘rigidity’ and ‘attention to detail’. Gene-set analysis subsequently identified ‘rigidity’ to be significantly associated with a network of ASD gene-encoded proteins that regulates neurite outgrowth. Gene-wide association with the well-established ASD gene MET reached significance. Taken together, our findings provide evidence for an overlapping genetic and biological etiology underlying ASDs and autistic population traits, which suggests that genetic studies in the general population may yield novel ASD genes.Molecular Psychiatry advance online publication, 16 May 2017; doi:10.1038/mp.2017.98.
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3. Canitano R, Pallagrosi M. {{Autism Spectrum Disorders and Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: Excitation/Inhibition Imbalance and Developmental Trajectories}}. {Front Psychiatry};2017;8:69.
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) share clinical and genetic components that have long been recognized. The two disorders co-occur more frequently than would be predicted by their respective prevalence, suggesting that a complex, multifactor association is involved. However, DSM-5 maintains the distinction between ASD, with core social and communication impairments, and SSD, including schizophrenia (SCZ), with hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorder as essential features. ASD and SSD have common biological underpinnings that may emerge early in development and unfold over time. One of the hypotheses supporting the similarities in the social and cognitive disturbances of ASD and SSD relates to abnormalities in the ratio of excitatory to inhibitory cortical activity (E/I imbalance). E/I imbalance in neurodevelopmental disorders could be the consequence of abnormalities in genes coding for glutamatergic and GABAergic receptors or synaptic proteins followed by system derangements. SSD and ASD have been characterized as polygenic disorders in which to the onset and progression of disease is triggered by interactions among multiple genes. Mammalian target of rapamycin signaling is under intense investigation as a convergent altered pathway in the two spectrum disorders. Current understanding of shared and divergent patterns between ASD and SSD from molecular to clinical aspects is still incomplete and may be implemented by the research domain criteria approach.
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4. Casarrubea M, Faulisi F, Cudia A, Cancemi D, Cardaci M, Magnusson MS, Crescimanno G. {{Discovery of recurring behavioural sequences in Wistar rat social activity: possible support to studies on Autism Spectrum Disorders}}. {Neurosci Lett};2017 (May 17)
This study was undertaken to investigate whether, in rat interactive activities, recurring sequences of behavioural events might be identified and how and to what extent each component of the pair is involved. To this aim, the multivariate temporal-pattern (t-pattern) analysis was applied to the social interactions of 9 pairs of male Wistar rats tested in open field. Interactive activities were classified into intra- and inter-subjects. Quantitative evaluations showed that intra-subject behavioural elements represented 62.37% and inter-subject ones 37.63% of the comprehensive behaviour. T-pattern analysis revealed the presence of 221 different t-patterns organized in four different categories: containing exclusively inter-subject elements; containing both inter- and intra-subject elements; consisting of rat 1 and rat 2 intra-subject elements and, finally, consisting of intra-subject elements carried out by one of the two subjects. Results show that the activity of two interacting Wistar rats is structured on the basis of several recurring temporal sequences. Moreover, social interactions appear to be expressed also by t-patterns where the behavioural elements are carried out by animals seemingly not interacting. A support of t-pattern analysis to studies on Autism Spectrum Disorders is proposed.
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5. Duda M, Haber N, Daniels J, Wall DP. {{Crowdsourced validation of a machine-learning classification system for autism and ADHD}}. {Transl Psychiatry};2017 (May 16);7(5):e1133.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) together affect >10% of the children in the United States, but considerable behavioral overlaps between the two disorders can often complicate differential diagnosis. Currently, there is no screening test designed to differentiate between the two disorders, and with waiting times from initial suspicion to diagnosis upwards of a year, methods to quickly and accurately assess risk for these and other developmental disorders are desperately needed. In a previous study, we found that four machine-learning algorithms were able to accurately (area under the curve (AUC)>0.96) distinguish ASD from ADHD using only a small subset of items from the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). Here, we expand upon our prior work by including a novel crowdsourced data set of responses to our predefined top 15 SRS-derived questions from parents of children with ASD (n=248) or ADHD (n=174) to improve our model’s capability to generalize to new, ‘real-world’ data. By mixing these novel survey data with our initial archival sample (n=3417) and performing repeated cross-validation with subsampling, we created a classification algorithm that performs with AUC=0.89+/-0.01 using only 15 questions.
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6. Hall SS, Venema KM. {{A Screening Tool to Measure Eye Contact Avoidance in Boys with Fragile X Syndrome}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2017 (May 17)
We examined the reliability, validity and factor structure of the Eye Contact Avoidance Scale (ECAS), a new 15-item screening tool designed to measure eye contact avoidance in individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS). Internal consistency of the scale was acceptable to excellent and convergent validity with the Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2) and the Anxiety, Depression, and Mood Scale (ADAMS) was good. Boys with a comorbid ASD diagnosis obtained significantly higher scores on the ECAS compared to boys without ASD, when controlling for communication ability. A confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a two-factor model (avoidance and aversion) provided an excellent fit to the data. The ECAS appears to be a promising reliable and valid tool that could be employed as an outcome measure in future pharmacological/behavioral treatment trials for FXS.
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7. Klapwijk ET, Aghajani M, Lelieveld GJ, van Lang NDJ, Popma A, van der Wee NJA, Colins OF, Vermeiren R. {{Differential Fairness Decisions and Brain Responses After Expressed Emotions of Others in Boys with Autism Spectrum Disorders}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2017 (May 17)
Little is known about how emotions expressed by others influence social decisions and associated brain responses in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We investigated the neural mechanisms underlying fairness decisions in response to explicitly expressed emotions of others in boys with ASD and typically developing (TD) boys. Participants with ASD adjusted their allocation behavior in response to the emotions but reacted less unfair than TD controls in response to happiness. We also found reduced brain responses in the precental gyrus in the ASD versus TD group when receiving happy versus angry reactions and autistic traits were positively associated with activity in the postcentral gyrus. These results provide indications for a role of precentral and postcentral gyrus in social-affective difficulties in ASD.
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8. Lewis LF. {{A Mixed Methods Study of Barriers to Formal Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adults}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2017 (May 17)
Delayed diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) into adulthood is common, and self-diagnosis is a growing phenomenon. This mixed methods study aimed to explore barriers to formal diagnosis of ASD in adults. In a qualitative strand, secondary analysis of data on the experiences of 114 individuals who were self-diagnosed or formally diagnosed with ASD in adulthood was used to identify barriers. In a quantitative strand, 665 individuals who were self-diagnosed or formally diagnosed in adulthood were surveyed online to examine incidence and severity of barriers. Fear of not being believed by professionals was identified as the most frequently occurring and most severe barrier. Professionals must strategize to build trust with individuals with ASD, particularly when examining the accuracy of self-diagnosis.
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9. Lim YH, Partridge K, Girdler S, Morris SL. {{Standing Postural Control in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2017 (May 15)
Impairments in postural control affect the development of motor and social skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This review compared the effect of different sensory conditions on static standing postural control between ASD and neurotypical individuals. Results from 19 studies indicated a large difference in postural control between groups across all sensory conditions. This review revealed sensorimotor and multiple sensory processing deficits in ASD. The tendency for individuals with ASD to be more susceptible to postural instability with use of visual information compared with somatosensory information suggests perinatal alterations in sensory development. There is further scope for studies on the use of sensory information and postural control to provide additional evidence about sensorimotor processing in ASD.
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10. Malcolm R, Ecks S, Pickersgill M. {{‘It just opens up their world’: autism, empathy, and the therapeutic effects of equine interactions}}. {Anthropol Med};2017 (May 17):1-15.
Experiences of autism-spectrum disorder are now increasingly studied by social scientists. Human-animal relations have also become a major focus of social inquiry in recent years. Examining horse-assisted therapy for autistic spectrum disorders, this is the first paper that brings these fields together. Drawing on participant observation and interviews at a UK horse therapy Centre, this article examines how staff and the parents of riders account for the successes and limitations of equine therapy. To the respondents, horses ‘open up’ autistic children and make possible interactions that seemed impossible before. Horses were regarded as facilitating the emergence of apparently social behaviours, which included eye contact, pointing, and speech. Three key explanations emerged for therapeutic success: the sensorial, embodied experience of riding the horse; the specific movements and rhythms of the horse; and, the ‘personality’ of the horse. Equine therapy can be regarded as enabling a form of multispecies intersubjectivity, with the resonance between rider and horse seeming to make possible a new attunement between humans. Practices of equine therapy, and perceptions of its efficacy, serve in turn to attune social scientists to a version of empathy constituted through lively and sensorial interactions, as opposed to one that is restricted to particular kinds of humans.
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11. Mei SL, Zhang Z, Liu X, Gao TT, Peng XX. {{[Association between autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy in children]}}. {Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi};2017 (May);19(5):549-554.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and epilepsy in children. METHODS: A total of 190 children with ASD were enrolled. A self-designed questionnaire, Childhood Autism Rating Scale, and Autism Behavior Checklist were used to determine the association between ASD and epilepsy. RESULTS: Among the 190 children with ASD, 20 (10.5%) had epileptic seizures and 12 (6.3%) were diagnosed with epilepsy. The rates of abnormal physical development and hearing disorders before the age of one year were significantly higher in ASD children with epileptic seizures than in those without epileptic seizures (P<0.05). The ASD children diagnosed with epilepsy and those receiving epilepsy treatment had a significantly increased rate of abnormal physical development before the age of one year (P<0.05). The ASD children with epileptic seizures had poorer sensory responses and behavioral competencies than those without epileptic seizures (P<0.05). Epilepsy treatment have a positive effect on behavioral competencies in ASD children (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant association between ASD and epilepsy in children. The possibility of the comorbidity between ASD and epilepsy may be assessed according to the status of growth and development before the age of one year, sensory responses and behavioral competencies, and the presence or absence of epileptic seizures. Lien vers Pubmed
12. Milen MT, Nicholas DB. {{Examining transitions from youth to adult services for young persons with autism}}. {Soc Work Health Care};2017 (May 16):1-13.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presents pervasive challenges for individuals throughout their lifetime. Although some financial, community, and individual supports are available for children, there are fewer resources available for adults with ASD, their families, and/or caregivers. It is important to understand the multidimensional shifts associated with the transition from adolescence to adulthood for individuals with ASD. METHODS: To better understand the transitional process, a qualitative study comprised 11 semi-structured interviews with individuals with ASD and their families. Interviews elicited the experiences of individuals and families impacted by ASD as they transition to adulthood and adult systems of care. FINDINGS: This study found that individuals with ASD and their family are exposed to a « lifetime of difficult transitions » due to a limited number of service providers and resources including stringent and restrictive program and funding criteria. As a result, individuals with ASD and their families were concerned about the ability of some individuals with ASD to establish meaningful lives in adulthood. These findings challenge existing barriers and broader societal values and stigma that impede emerging adults with developmental disabilities.
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13. Nottingham CL, Vladescu JC, Kodak T, Kisamore AN. {{Incorporating multiple secondary targets into learning trials for individuals with autism spectrum disorder}}. {J Appl Behav Anal};2017 (May 17)
The current study examined the outcome of presenting multiple secondary targets in learning trials for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. We compared conditions in which (a) a secondary target was presented in the antecedent and consequence of trials, (b) two secondary targets were presented in the consequence of trials, (c) one secondary target was presented in the consequence of each trial, and (d) no additional targets were presented trials. The participants acquired the majority of secondary targets. Presenting one or multiple secondary targets per trial, regardless of the location of these secondary targets, increased the efficiency of instruction in comparison to a condition with no secondary target.
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14. Pedreno C, Pousa E, Navarro JB, Pamias M, Obiols JE. {{Exploring the Components of Advanced Theory of Mind in Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2017 (May 17)
Performance of a group of 35 youth and adults with High-Functioning Autism (HFA) was compared with a typical developing (TD) group on three Advanced Theory of Mind tests. The distinction between the social-cognitive and social-perceptual components of Theory of Mind was also explored. The HFA group had more difficulties in all tasks. Performance on the two social-cognitive tests was highly correlated in the HFA group, but these were not related with the social-perceptual component. These results suggest that the youth with HFA have difficulties on all the components of social knowledge but may be using different underlying cognitive abilities depending on the nature of the task.
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15. Perdue KL, Edwards LA, Tager-Flusberg H, Nelson CA. {{Differing Developmental Trajectories in Heart Rate Responses to Speech Stimuli in Infants at High and Low Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2017 (May 17)
We investigated heart rate (HR) in infants at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of age, at high (HRA) and low (LRC) familial risk for ASD, to identify potential endophenotypes of ASD risk related to attentional responses. HR was extracted from functional near-infrared spectroscopy recordings while infants listened to speech stimuli. Longitudinal analysis revealed that HRA infants and males generally had lower baseline HR than LRC infants and females. HRA infants showed decreased HR responses to early trials over development, while LRC infants showed increased responses. These findings suggest altered developmental trajectories in physiological responses to speech stimuli over the first year of life, with HRA infants showing less social orienting over time.
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16. Retico A, Arezzini S, Bosco P, Calderoni S, Ciampa A, Coscetti S, Cuomo S, De Santis L, Fabiani D, Fantacci ME, Giuliano A, Mazzoni E, Mercatali P, Miscali G, Pardini M, Prosperi M, Romano F, Tamburini E, Tosetti M, Muratori F. {{ARIANNA: A research environment for neuroimaging studies in autism spectrum disorders}}. {Comput Biol Med};2017 (May 17);87:1-7.
The complexity and heterogeneity of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) require the implementation of dedicated analysis techniques to obtain the maximum from the interrelationship among many variables that describe affected individuals, spanning from clinical phenotypic characterization and genetic profile to structural and functional brain images. The ARIANNA project has developed a collaborative interdisciplinary research environment that is easily accessible to the community of researchers working on ASD (https://arianna.pi.infn.it). The main goals of the project are: to analyze neuroimaging data acquired in multiple sites with multivariate approaches based on machine learning; to detect structural and functional brain characteristics that allow the distinguishing of individuals with ASD from control subjects; to identify neuroimaging-based criteria to stratify the population with ASD to support the future development of personalized treatments. Secure data handling and storage are guaranteed within the project, as well as the access to fast grid/cloud-based computational resources. This paper outlines the web-based architecture, the computing infrastructure and the collaborative analysis workflows at the basis of the ARIANNA interdisciplinary working environment. It also demonstrates the full functionality of the research platform. The availability of this innovative working environment for analyzing clinical and neuroimaging information of individuals with ASD is expected to support researchers in disentangling complex data thus facilitating their interpretation.
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17. Spain D, Sin J, Paliokosta E, Furuta M, Prunty JE, Chalder T, Murphy DG, Happe FG. {{Family therapy for autism spectrum disorders}}. {Cochrane Database Syst Rev};2017 (May 16);5:Cd011894.
BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are characterised by impairments in communication and reciprocal social interaction. These impairments can impact on relationships with family members, augment stress and frustration, and contribute to behaviours that can be described as challenging. Family members of individuals with ASD can experience high rates of carer stress and burden, and poor parental efficacy. While there is evidence to suggest that individuals with ASD and family members derive benefit from psychological interventions designed to reduce stress and mental health morbidity, and enhance coping, most studies to date have targeted the needs of either individuals with ASD, or family members. We wanted to examine whether family (systemic) therapy, aimed at enhancing communication, relationships or coping, is effective for individuals with ASD and their wider family network. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and acceptability of family therapy as a treatment to enhance communication or coping for individuals with ASD and their family members. If possible, we will also seek to establish the economic costs associated with family therapy for this clinical population. SEARCH METHODS: On 16 January 2017 we searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, 10 other databases and three trials registers. We also handsearched reference lists of existing systematic reviews and contacted study authors in the field. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs investigating the effectiveness of family therapy for young people or adults with ASD or family members, or both, delivered via any modality and for an unspecified duration, compared with either standard care, a wait-list control, or an active intervention such as an alternative type of psychological therapy. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently screened each title and abstract and all full-text reports retrieved. To enhance rigour, 25% of these were independently screened by a third author. MAIN RESULTS: The search yielded 4809 records. Of these, we retrieved 37 full-text reports for further scrutiny, which we subsequently excluded as they did not meet the review inclusion criteria, and identified one study awaiting classification. AUTHORS’ CONCLUSIONS: Few studies have examined the effectiveness of family therapy for ASD, and none of these are RCTs. Further research studies employing methodologically robust trial designs are needed to establish whether family therapy interventions are clinically beneficial for enhancing communication, strengthening relationships, augmenting coping and reducing mental health morbidity for individuals with ASD and family members.
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18. Stevenson RA, Segers M, Ncube BL, Black KR, Bebko JM, Ferber S, Barense MD. {{The cascading influence of multisensory processing on speech perception in autism}}. {Autism};2017 (May 01):1362361317704413.
It has been recently theorized that atypical sensory processing in autism relates to difficulties in social communication. Through a series of tasks concurrently assessing multisensory temporal processes, multisensory integration and speech perception in 76 children with and without autism, we provide the first behavioral evidence of such a link. Temporal processing abilities in children with autism contributed to impairments in speech perception. This relationship was significantly mediated by their abilities to integrate social information across auditory and visual modalities. These data describe the cascading impact of sensory abilities in autism, whereby temporal processing impacts multisensory information of social information, which, in turn, contributes to deficits in speech perception. These relationships were found to be specific to autism, specific to multisensory but not unisensory integration, and specific to the processing of social information.
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19. Stronach ST, Wetherby AM. {{Observed and Parent-Report Measures of Social Communication in Toddlers With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder Across Race/Ethnicity}}. {Am J Speech Lang Pathol};2017 (May 17);26(2):355-368.
Purpose: This study investigated whether measures of early social communication vary among young children of diverse racial/ethnic status with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Method: Participants were 364 toddlers between ages 18 and 36 months with a diagnosis of ASD confirmed (n = 195) or ruled out (n = 169), from 3 racial/ethnic categories: non-Hispanic White (n = 226), non-Hispanic Black (n = 74), and Hispanic (n = 64). Group differences in social communication were examined using an observational measure-the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Behavior Sample (CSBS-BS; Wetherby & Prizant, 2002)-and a parent-report measure, the Early Screening for Autism and Communication Disorders (Wetherby, Woods, & Lord, 2007). Results: Controlling for maternal education, children with ASD scored significantly lower on the CSBS-BS than children without, indicating poorer social communication skills, and higher on the Early Screening for Autism and Communication Disorders, indicating more ASD features. Racial/ethnic groups did not differ on 6 CSBS-BS clusters, but Non-Hispanic White toddlers scored significantly higher than both other groups on the Understanding cluster. There were no significant Diagnosis x Race/Ethnicity interactions. Conclusion: These findings indicate good agreement between observed and parent-report measures in this sample. Results suggest that the CSBS-BS and Early Screening for Autism and Communication Disorders could be viable tools in the detection process for toddlers with ASD in these racial/ethnic groups.
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20. Stuger J. {{Kafka and Autism : The Undisclosed Logic Behind Kafka’s Work}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2017 (May 16)
In this paper the hypothesis is presented that Franz Kafka was a person with autism. This is done by analyzing and discussing his biography, letters, diaries and major works. Kafka’s autism is an integral diagnosis which encompasses both his personal life and his work. This interpretation is contrary to other interpretations from the past which in all cases were only partially applicable to explain Kafka’s life and work. In Kafka research the big secret of Kafka was how he was able to write he did, like no one before him had done. The function and use of parables are also discussed to support this autism hypothesis concerning Franz Kafka which ultimately makes his life and work more understandable and accessible.
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21. Szoko N, McShane AJ, Natowicz MR. {{Proteomic explorations of autism spectrum disorder}}. {Autism Res};2017 (May 16)
Proteomics, the large-scale study of protein expression in cells and tissues, is a powerful tool to study the biology of clinical conditions and has provided significant insights in many experimental systems. Herein, we review the basics of proteomic methodology and discuss challenges in using proteomic approaches to study autism. Unlike other experimental approaches, such as genomic approaches, there have been few large-scale studies of proteins in tissues from persons with autism. Most of the proteomic studies on autism used blood or other peripheral tissues; few studies used brain tissue. Some studies found dysregulation of aspects of the immune system or of aspects of lipid metabolism, but no consistent findings were noted. Based on the challenges in using proteomics to study autism, we discuss considerations for future studies. Apart from the complex technical considerations implicit in any proteomic analysis, key nontechnical matters include attention to subject and specimen inclusion/exclusion criteria, having adequate sample size to ensure appropriate powering of the study, attention to the state of specimens prior to proteomic analysis, and the use of a replicate set of specimens, when possible. We conclude by discussing some potentially productive uses of proteomics, potentially coupled with other approaches, for future autism research including: (1) proteomic analysis of banked human brain specimens; (2) proteomic analysis of tissues from animal models of autism; and (3) proteomic analysis of induced pluripotent stem cells that are differentiated into various types of brain cells and neural organoids. Autism Res 2017. (c) 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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22. Thye MD, Bednarz HM, Herringshaw AJ, Sartin EB, Kana RK. {{The impact of atypical sensory processing on social impairments in autism spectrum disorder}}. {Dev Cogn Neurosci};2017 (May 17)
Altered sensory processing has been an important feature of the clinical descriptions of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There is evidence that sensory dysregulation arises early in the progression of ASD and impacts social functioning. This paper reviews behavioral and neurobiological evidence that describes how sensory deficits across multiple modalities (vision, hearing, touch, olfaction, gustation, and multisensory integration) could impact social functions in ASD. Theoretical models of ASD and their implications for the relationship between sensory and social functioning are discussed. Furthermore, neural differences in anatomy, function, and connectivity of different regions underlying sensory and social processing are also discussed. We conclude that there are multiple mechanisms through which early sensory dysregulation in ASD could cascade into social deficits across development. Future research is needed to clarify these mechanisms, and specific focus should be given to distinguish between deficits in primary sensory processing and altered top-down attentional and cognitive processes.
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23. Tumuluru RV, Corbett-Dick P, Aman MG, Smith T, Arnold LE, Pan X, Buchan-Page KA, Brown NV, Ryan MM, Hyman SL, Hellings J, Williams C, Hollway JA, Lecavalier L, Rice RR, Jr., McAuliffe-Bellin S, Handen BL. {{Adverse Events of Atomoxetine in a Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study in Children with Autism}}. {J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol};2017 (May 16)
OBJECTIVE: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, including inattention and over activity, occur in approximately one-third of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We describe the rate and duration of adverse events in a randomized controlled trial of atomoxetine (ATX) and parent training (PT) for ADHD symptoms and noncompliance in children with ASD. METHODS: We conducted a 10-week, double-blind, 2 x 2 trial of ATX and PT with 128 children (ages 5-14) randomized to ATX alone, ATX+PT, placebo+PT, or placebo alone. For 6 weeks, ATX (or placebo) doses were clinically adjusted to a maximum of 1.8 mg/(kg.day) and maintained for an additional 4 weeks. An average of seven PT sessions were conducted in the two PT arms. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed through parent ratings of common symptoms on a seven-point Likert severity scale and through direct interviews with study medical staff. RESULTS: ATX was associated with decreased appetite and fatigue, but was otherwise well tolerated. Most reported AEs lasted 4 weeks or less. Unlike reports with typically developing (TD) children, there were no concerns with QTc changes or suicidal ideation. CONCLUSIONS: This study extends the findings of previous studies of ATX in ASD by documenting that the type of AEs was similar to that of TD children, with no significant safety concerns.
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24. Vojinovic D, Brison N, Ahmad S, Noens I, Pappa I, Karssen LC, Tiemeier H, van Duijn CM, Peeters H, Amin N. {{Variants in TTC25 affect autistic trait in patients with autism spectrum disorder and general population}}. {Eur J Hum Genet};2017 (May 17)
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heritable neurodevelopmental disorder with a complex genetic architecture. To identify genetic variants underlying ASD, we performed single-variant and gene-based genome-wide association studies using a dense genotyping array containing over 2.3 million single-nucleotide variants in a discovery sample of 160 families with at least one child affected with non-syndromic ASD using a binary (ASD yes/no) phenotype and a quantitative autistic trait. Replication of the top findings was performed in Psychiatric Genomics Consortium and Erasmus Rucphen Family (ERF) cohort study. Significant association of quantitative autistic trait was observed with the TTC25 gene at 17q21.2 (effect size=10.2, P-value=3.4 x 10-7) in the gene-based analysis. The gene also showed nominally significant association in the cohort-based ERF study (effect=1.75, P-value=0.05). Meta-analysis of discovery and replication improved the association signal (P-valuemeta=1.5 x 10-8). No genome-wide significant signal was observed in the single-variant analysis of either the binary ASD phenotype or the quantitative autistic trait. Our study has identified a novel gene TTC25 to be associated with quantitative autistic trait in patients with ASD. The replication of association in a cohort-based study and the effect estimate suggest that variants in TTC25 may also be relevant for broader ASD phenotype in the general population. TTC25 is overexpressed in frontal cortex and testis and is known to be involved in cilium movement and thus an interesting candidate gene for autistic trait.European Journal of Human Genetics advance online publication, 17 May 2017; doi:10.1038/ejhg.2017.82.
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25. Wink LK, Pedapati EV, Adams R, Erickson CA, Pedersen KA, Morrow EM, Kaplan D, Siegel M. {{Characterization of Medication Use in a Multicenter Sample of Pediatric Inpatients with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2017 (May 17)
Nearly 11% of youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) undergo psychiatric hospitalization, and 65% are treated with psychotropic medication. Here we characterize psychotropic medication usage in subjects enrolled in the Autism Inpatient Collection. Participant psychotropic medication usage rates topped 90% at admission and discharge, though there was a decline at 2-month follow-up. Antipsychotics, ADHD medications, and sleep aids were the most commonly reported classes of medications. The impact of age, gender, and non-verbal IQ on medication usage rates was minimal, though age and IQ may play a role in prescribing practices. Future work is indicated to explore medication usage trends, the impact of clinical factors on medication use rates, and the safety of psychotropic medications in youth with ASD.
