1. Amal H. Sex and the Brain: Novel ADNP Syndrome Mice Are Protected by NAP. Biol Psychiatry;2022 (Jul 1);92(1):8-9.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

2. Błeszyński J, Rumińska A, Hamerlińska A, Stefańska-Klar R, Warszawa A. The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic by persons with ASD: Social aspects. PLoS One;2022;17(6):e0267123.

While causing a variety of social restrictions, the COVID-19 pandemic has also precipitated the digitalisation of public services and official procedures, reducing many, until recently necessary, immediate social interactions. This study has been conducted to investigate their perception of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on their current and future social interactions. To this end, semi-structured narrative interviews were conducted. Ten adults on the autism spectrum participated in the study. The phenomenological analysis of the narratives focused on categories related to the social functioning of the study participants. The interpretation of the narratives has shown that autistic people can experience a sense of loss due to the lack of direct contact. On the other hand, we also talked to the participants who expressed their satisfaction with the situation of obligatory social distance. The respondents also discussed the subject of changing the form of interaction in some areas of public life to one that is more adjusted to the needs of people with their condition. The study concludes with a suggestion that autistic people might benefit from technological progress in institutions and the availability of the option to prefer online contact for interactions that are not strictly necessary.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

3. Gao Y, Sun J, Cheng L, Yang Q, Li J, Hao Z, Zhan L, Shi Y, Li M, Jia X, Li H. Altered resting state dynamic functional connectivity of amygdala subregions in patients with autism spectrum disorder: A multi-site fMRI study. J Affect Disord;2022 (Jun 13)

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with altered brain connectivity. Previous studies have focused on the static functional connectivity pattern from amygdala subregions in ASD while ignoring its dynamics. Considering that dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) can provide different perspectives, the present study aims to investigate the dFC pattern of the amygdala subregions in ASD patients. METHODS: Data of 618 ASD patients and 836 typical controls (TCs) of 30 sites were obtained from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) database. The sliding window approach was applied to conduct seed-based dFC analysis. The seed regions were bilateral basolateral (BLA) and centromedial-superfical amygdala (CSA). Two-sample t-test was done at each site. Image-based meta-analysis (IBMA) based on the results from all sites was performed. Correlation analysis was conducted between the dFC values and the clinical scores. RESULTS: The ASD patients showed lower dFC between the left BLA and the bilateral inferior temporal (ITG)/left superior frontal gyrus and between the right BLA and right ITG/right thalamus/left superior temporal gyrus. The ASD patients showed higher dFC between the left BLA and temporal lobe/right supramarginal gyrus, between the right BLA and left calcarine gyrus, between the left CSA and left calcarine gyrus, and between the right CSA and middle temporal gyrus. Correlation analysis revealed that the symptom severity was positively correlated with the dFC between the bilateral BLA and ITG in ASD. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal dFC of the specific amygdala subregions may provide new insights into the pathological mechanisms of ASD.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

4. Holtman SJ, Winans KS, Hoch JD. Utility of Diagnostic Classification for Children 0-5 to Assess Features of Autism: Comparing In-person and COVID-19 Telehealth Evaluations. J Autism Dev Disord;2022 (Jun 16)

Logistic regression was used to examine the use of Autism Spectrum diagnostic categories from pre-COVID-19 in-person evaluations and COVID-19 telehealth evaluations at a specialist community mental health clinic. The diagnostic classification for children 0-5 (DC: 0-5) affords a wider range of diagnoses that allowed for inferences of clinician certainty of diagnosis. Use of full criteria diagnoses was significantly lower from telehealth evaluations during the pandemic, and was less certain for younger children, some non-English speakers, and children reporting Native American/Alaska Native race. Higher Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) ASD subscale scores, lower CBCL total scores, and global developmental delay diagnoses predicted greater use of full ASD diagnoses. Findings suggest factors that could identify children appropriate for telehealth evaluations.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

5. Hu Z, Xu P, Ashour EA, Repka MA. Prediction and Construction of Drug-Polymer Binary System Thermodynamic Phase Diagram in Amorphous Solid Dispersions (ASDs). AAPS PharmSciTech;2022 (Jun 17);23(6):169.

Amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) has been well known as a potential strategy to improve the bioavailability and dissolution performance of poorly water-soluble drugs. The primary concern of this approach is the long-term stability of the amorphous drug in the solid dispersion. Accurate prediction and detection of the solubility and miscibility of drug in polymeric binary system will be a milestone to the development of ASDs. In this investigation, a method based on Flory-Huggins (F-H) theory was proposed to predict and calculate the solubility and miscibility of the drug in polymeric matrix and construct the phase diagram to identify the relevance between drug loading and temperature for ASDs development. Indomethacin (Indo) was chosen as the model drug, and polyvinyl pyrrolidone vinyl acetate (Kollidon® VA 64) was used as a polymeric carrier for the ASD systems. Physical mixtures were prepared with different drug loadings (10 to 90%) and analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The interaction parameter χ was calculated for physical mixtures by the melting point depression and solubility parameter contribution methods. The phase diagram was constructed to investigate the impact of other parameters like drug loading, processing temperature, and Gibbs free energy of mixing (ΔG(mix)). For further validation, formulations were developed using HME to verify the accuracy of the phase diagram and to guide in the hot-melt extrusion (HME) process design space and optimization.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

6. Jackson SZ, Pinto-Martin JA, Deatrick JA, Boyd R, Souders MC. High Depressive Symptoms, Low Family Functioning, and Low Self-Efficacy in Mothers of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Compared to Two Control Groups. J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc;2022 (Jun 16):10783903221104147.

BACKGROUND: Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face unique challenges in raising their children, and they are at higher risk for depression compared to parents of children with typical development (TD) and other disabilities. AIMS: (1) To compare prevalence of depressive symptoms among mothers of children with ASD (n = 101), Down syndrome (DS, n = 101), and TD (n = 43) and (2) to describe the relationships among depression, self-efficacy, and family functioning, and describe the mediating role of maternal child care self-efficacy between depressive symptoms and child behavior. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, mothers completed the Social Communication Questionnaire, Aberrant Behavior Checklist, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Family Assessment Device General Functioning Scale, and Maternal Self-Efficacy Scale. RESULTS: Mothers of children with ASD had significantly higher mean PHQ-9 scores (p < .001), higher proportion of positive depression screening (p < .001), and lower family functioning (p < .001). Better family functioning is associated with less depression, better self-efficacy, and less severe ASD symptoms and behaviors. Self-efficacy mediated the relationship between depression and child ASD symptoms, and problematic behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The rates of reported history of depression and low family functioning in mothers of children with ASD are twice the rate in mothers of children with DS and TD. Maternal child care self-efficacy is protective against maternal depression, even in the presence of severe child problematic behaviors and ASD symptoms. Interventions that increase child care self-efficacy and family functioning may be helpful in addressing depression in mothers of children with ASD.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

7. Kim A, Zisman CR, Holingue C. Influences of the Immune System and Microbiome on the Etiology of ASD and GI Symptomology of Autistic Individuals. Curr Top Behav Neurosci;2022 (Jun 17)

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental condition associated with impairments in communication and social interactions, and repetitive and restricted behavior or interests. Autistic individuals are more likely to experience gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms than neurotypical individuals. This may be partially due to dysbiosis of the gut microbiome. In this article, we describe the interaction of the microbiome and immune system on autism etiology. We also summarize the links between the microbiome and gastrointestinal and related symptoms among autistic individuals. We report that microbial interventions, including diet, probiotics, antibiotics, and fecal transplants, and immune-modulating therapies such as cytokine blockade during the preconception, pregnancy, and postnatal period may impact the neurodevelopment, behavior, and gastrointestinal health of autistic individuals.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

8. Leno VC, Hollocks MJ, Chandler S, White P, Yorke I, Charman T, Pickles A, Baird G, Simonoff E. Homotypic and Heterotypic Continuity in Psychiatric Symptoms From Childhood to Adolescence in Autistic Youth. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry;2022 (Jun 9)

OBJECTIVE: Despite the high prevalence of mental health difficulties in autistic youth, little is known about the patterns of developmental continuity and change in psychiatric symptoms between childhood and adolescence. Using a stratified community-derived sample of autistic youth (N=101; 57 male, 44 female), we test within (homotypic) and between (heterotypic) domain associations between psychiatric symptoms in childhood to adolescence, and whether any continuities are moderated by sex, IQ, autism symptom severity, social economic status or parental mental health. METHOD: Autistic youth were assessed for emotional, behavioral and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in childhood (age 4-9 years) and adolescence (age 13-17 years) using parental diagnostic interview. Unadjusted and adjusted (accounting for the co-occurrence of psychiatric symptoms in childhood) weighted models tested homotypic and heterotypic associations between symptoms in childhood and adolescence. Moderation of significant pathways was tested using multi-group analysis. RESULTS: Adolescent psychiatric symptoms were all predicted by symptoms of their childhood counterparts (emotional symptoms incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.06, 95% CIs = 1.02 – 1.10, p < .01, behavioral symptoms IRR = 1.38, 95% CIs = 1.21 - 1.59, p < .01, ADHD symptoms IRR = 1.11, 95% CIs = 1.05 - 1.19, p < .01), the only heterotypic pathway that remained significant in adjusted analyses was from childhood emotional symptoms to adolescent ADHD symptoms (IRR = 1.04, 95% CIs = 1.01 - 1.07, p = .02). Sex moderated the homotypic ADHD symptoms pathway; associations were significant in female participants only. Child IQ moderated the homotypic behavioral symptoms pathway; the association was stronger in youth with IQ<70. CONCLUSION: Results from this community-based sample suggest that psychiatric symptoms in autistic youth exhibit substantial developmental continuity and thus highlight the importance of early screening and intervention. Sex and IQ may be important factors to consider when predicting likelihood of stability of ADHD and behavioral symptoms.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

9. Maurice V, Russet F, Scocco P, McNicholas F, Santosh P, Singh SP, Street C, Purper-Ouakil D. Transition from child and adolescent mental health care to adult services for young people with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Europe: Barriers and recommendations. Encephale;2022 (Jun 17)

Transition in mental health care is the process ensuring continuity of care of a young patient arriving at the CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) age boundary within mental health services. Transition refers to a transfer to an adult mental health service (AMHS), to private care or other mental health community services. A transition plan can also lead to a managed end of specialized care with involvement of a general practitioner or social services. For young people with a diagnosis of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) or ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), two disorders that persist into adulthood, an optimal transition would ensure continuity of care or facilitate access to specialized care in the case of a discharge. Transition typically occurs during adolescence, a known sensitive period when young people may experience major changes at several levels: physiological, psychological and social. Any barrier in the transition process resulting in discontinuity of care may worsen the symptoms of ADHD or ASD and can ultimately adversely affect the global mental health of young people with such neurodevelopmental disorders. The objectives of this narrative review are: 1/to identify the barriers in the transition process in mental health services often faced by young people with these two disorders; 2/to highlight specific recommendations for strengthening the CAMHS-AMHS interface that have been proposed by various countries in Europe.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

10. Mohammad F, Sani N, Oshvandi K, Masoumi SZ, Khazaei S, Bashirian S, Jenabi E, Barati M, Rezaei M, Borzou SR. Care burden, coping styles and involvement in care in mothers of autistic children in pandemic of COVID-19. Nurs Open;2022 (Jun 17)

AIM: The aim of the present study was to investigate the burden of care, coping styles and involvement in the care of mothers of autistic children in the pandemic of COVID-19 in Iranian society. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 134 mothers completed questionnaires online. Data were analysed by descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation) and independent t-test, ANOVA and multiple linear regressions. The significance level was considered p < .05. RESULT: Findings of the study found that burden of care has a strong and direct correlation with involvement in care (p < .001, r = .78) and strongly and indirectly correlated with coping styles (p < .001, r = -.82). Variables of coping styles, involvement in care, mothers' occupation and number of children, age and functional level of autism can predict 81.27% of the variance in care burden in these mothers.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

11. Peiris H, Wickramarachchi DC, Samarasinghe P, Vance P, Dahanayake D, Kulasekara V, Nadeeshani M. Diagnosing autism in low-income countries: Clinical record-based analysis in Sri Lanka. Autism Res;2022 (Jun 16)

Use of autism diagnosing standards in low-income countries (LICs) are restricted due to the high price and unavailability of trained health professionals. Furthermore, these standards are heavily skewed towards developed countries and LICs are underrepresented. Due to such constraints, many LICs use their own ways of assessing autism. This is the first retrospective study to analyze such local practices in Sri Lanka. The study was conducted at Ward 19B of Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) using the clinical forms filled for diagnosing ASD. In this study, 356 records were analyzed, from which 79.5% were boys and the median age was 33 months. For each child, the clinical form together with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) value were recorded. In this study, a Clinically Derived Autism Score (CDAS) is obtained from the clinical forms. Scatter plot and Pearson product moment correlation coefficient were used to benchmark CDAS with CARS, and it was found CDAS to be positively and moderately correlated with CARS. In identifying the significant variables, a logistic regression model was built based on clinically observed data and it evidenced that « Eye Contact, » « Interaction with Others, » « Pointing, » « Flapping of Hands, » « Request for Needs, » « Rotate Wheels, » and « Line up Things » variables as the most significant variables in diagnosing autism. Based on these significant predictors, the classification tree was built. The pruned tree depicts a set of rules, which could be used in similar clinical environments to screen for autism. LAY SUMMARY: Screening and diagnosing autism in low-income countries such as Sri Lanka has always been a challenge due to limited resources and not being able to afford global standards. Due to these challenges, locally developed clinical forms have been used. This study is the first to analyze a clinical record set for autism in Sri Lanka to benchmark the local clinic form with a global standard. Furthermore, this study identifies the most significant diagnostic symptoms for children and based on these significant features, a simple set of IF-THEN rules are derived which could be used for screening autism in a similar clinical environment by health officials in the absence of consultants.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

12. Ramos MM, Nabeiro M. The influence of equine-assisted services on the balance of a participant with visual impairment and autism characteristics. J Bodyw Mov Ther;2022 (Jul);31:57-61.

INTRODUCTION: Balance is the basis for all body movements, and is influenced by sensory systems: visual, vestibular and proprioceptive. Therefore, the loss of any of these systems, as in the case of visual impairment (VI), may carry important consequences for body balance and, thus, motor development. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in the static and dynamic balance of a participant with VI and autism characteristics. METHODS: application of the Berg and Tinetti’s Balance Scale, pre- and post-equine assisted services interventions. The study is a qualitative and descriptive case study. RESULTS: The data found showed improvement in the participant’s static and dynamic balance, with performance enhancement on the two scales assessed after the equine assisted services program. CONCLUSION: The results proved that equine assisted services is an alternative and effective tool for balance stimulation and improvement of a visually impaired participant with autism characteristics.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

13. Singh MK. Editorial: Weighing Benefits and Risks While Treating Irritability and Emotional Dysregulation in Autism. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry;2022 (Jun 9)

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

14. Sterman J, Gustafson E, Eisenmenger L, Hamm L, Edwards J. Autistic Adult Perspectives on Occupational Therapy for Autistic Children and Youth. OTJR (Thorofare N J);2022 (Jun 17):15394492221103850.

The Autistic community values neurodiversity-positive approaches rather than behavioral interventions for Autistic children; however, little is known about what that would look like in occupational therapy. Frequently, researchers seek parent perspectives for understanding Autistic children’s preferences, while to date insufficient attention has been paid to Autistic adults as valuable informants on the Autistic experience of Autistic children. The objective of the study was to understand Autistic adult perspectives on pediatric occupational therapy for Autistic children. We sought and thematically analyzed data from a large Facebook group and an occupational therapy podcast on Autistic values, needs, and experiences in pediatric occupational therapy. Participants described wanting therapy that supported Autistic identities rather than trying to « fix » children, changing environments or tasks to promote participation, and setting goals that address self-advocacy and autonomy. Occupational therapy practitioners should critically reflect on their practice’s alignment with Autistic values and start to shift their practice as needed.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

15. Toczylowska B, Zieminska E, Polowy R, Olszynski KH, Lazarewicz JW. NMR-Based Metabolomics of Rat Hippocampus, Serum, and Urine in Two Models of Autism. Mol Neurobiol;2022 (Jun 17)

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are increasingly diagnosed as developmental disabilities of unclear etiology related to genetic, epigenetic, or environmental factors. The diagnosis of ASD in children is based on the recognition of typical behavioral symptoms, while no reliable biomarkers are available. Rats in whom ASD-like symptoms are due to maternal administration of the teratogenic drugs valproate or thalidomide on critical day 11 of pregnancy are widely used models in autism research. The present studies, aimed at detecting changes in the levels of hydrophilic and hydrophobic metabolites, were carried out on 1-month-old rats belonging to the abovementioned two ASD models and on a control group. Analysis of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic metabolite levels gives a broader view of possible mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of autism. Hippocampal proton magnetic resonance (MRS) spectroscopy and ex vivo nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis of serum and urine samples were used. The results were analyzed using advanced statistical tests. Both the results of our present MRS studies of the hippocampus and of the NMR studies of body fluids in both ASD models, particularly from the THAL model, appeared to be consistent with previously published NMR results of hippocampal homogenates and data from the literature on autistic children. We detected symptoms of disturbances in neurotransmitter metabolism, energy deficit, and oxidative stress, as well as intestinal malfunction, which shed light on the pathogenesis of ASD and could be used for diagnostic purposes. These results confirm the usefulness of the noninvasive techniques used in ASD studies.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)