1. Accardo JA, Malow BA. {{Sleep, epilepsy, and autism}}. {Epilepsy Behav}. 2014.
The purpose of this review article is to explore the links between sleep and epilepsy and the treatment of sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Epilepsy and sleep have bidirectional relationships, and problems with both are highly prevalent in children with ASD. Literature is reviewed to support the view that sleep is particularly important to address in the context of ASD. Identification and management of sleep disorders may improve seizure control and challenging behaviors. In closing, special considerations for evaluating and treating sleep disorders in children with ASD and epilepsy are reviewed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled « Autism and Epilepsy ».
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
2. Anzures G, Goyet L, Ganea N, Johnson MH. {{Enhanced ERPs to visual stimuli in unaffected male siblings of ASD children}}. {Child Neuropsychol}. 2014: 1-18.
Autism spectrum disorders are characterized by deficits in social and communication abilities. While unaffected relatives lack severe deficits, milder impairments have been reported in some first-degree relatives. The present study sought to verify whether mild deficits in face perception are evident among the unaffected younger siblings of children with ASD. Children between 6-9 years of age completed a face-recognition task and a passive viewing ERP task with face and house stimuli. Sixteen children were typically developing with no family history of ASD, and 17 were unaffected children with an older sibling with ASD. Findings indicate that, while unaffected siblings are comparable to controls in their face-recognition abilities, unaffected male siblings in particular show relatively enhanced P100 and P100-N170 peak-to-peak amplitude responses to faces and houses. Enhanced ERPs among unaffected male siblings is discussed in relation to potential differences in neural network recruitment during visual and face processing.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
3. Ariza J, Steward C, Rueckert F, Widdison M, Coffman R, Afjei A, Noctor S, Hagerman R, Hagerman P, Martinez-Cerdeno V. {{Dysregulated iron metabolism in the choroid plexus in fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome}}. {Brain Res}. 2014.
Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a late-onset neurodegenerative disorder associated with premutation alleles of the FMR1 gene that is characterized by progressive action tremor, gait ataxia, and cognitive decline. Recent studies of mitochondrial dysfunction in FXTAS have suggested that iron dysregulation may be one component of disease pathogenesis. We tested the hypothesis that iron dysregulation is part of the pathogenic process in FXTAS. We analyzed postmortem choroid plexus from FXTAS and control subjects, and found that in FXTAS iron accumulated in the stroma, transferrin levels were decreased in the epithelial cells, and transferrin receptor 1 distribution was shifted from the basolateral membrane (control) to a predominantly intracellular location (FXTAS). In addition, ferroportin and ceruloplasmin were markedly decreased within the epithelial cells. These alterations have implications not only for understanding the pathophysiology of FXTAS, but also for the development of new clinical treatments that may incorporate selective iron chelation.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
4. Bitsika V, Sharpley CF. {{Variation in the Profile of Anxiety Disorders in Boys with an ASD According to Method and Source of Assessment}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2014.
To determine any variation that might occur due to the type of assessment and source used to assess them, the prevalence of 7 anxiety disorders were investigated in a sample of 140 boys with an Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 50 non-ASD (NASD) boys via the Child and Adolescent Symptom Inventory and the KIDSCID Clinical Interview. Boys with an ASD were significantly more anxious than their NASD peers. Data collected from the boys with an ASD themselves showed differences in the severity and diagnostic criterion of anxiety disorders to data collected from the boys’ parents. There were age-related variations to the pattern of anxiety disorder differences across reports from the boys with an ASD and reports from their parents.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
5. Boets B, Verhoeven J, Wouters J, Steyaert J. {{Fragile Spectral and Temporal Auditory Processing in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Early Language Delay}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2014.
We investigated low-level auditory spectral and temporal processing in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and early language delay compared to matched typically developing controls. Auditory measures were designed to target right versus left auditory cortex processing (i.e. frequency discrimination and slow amplitude modulation (AM) detection versus gap-in-noise detection and faster AM detection), and to pinpoint the task and stimulus characteristics underlying putative superior spectral processing in ASD. We observed impaired frequency discrimination in the ASD group and suggestive evidence of poorer temporal resolution as indexed by gap-in-noise detection thresholds. These findings question the evidence of enhanced spectral sensitivity in ASD and do not support the hypothesis of superior right and inferior left hemispheric auditory processing in ASD.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
6. Cheak-Zamora NC, Teti M. {{« You think it’s hard now … It gets much harder for our children »: Youth with autism and their caregiver’s perspectives of health care transition services}}. {Autism}. 2014.
Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis often have complex comorbid physical and mental health conditions. These youth rely heavily on their medical providers and struggle through the often rocky transition out of pediatric care into adulthood and adult-centered care. This study is among the first to qualitatively examine the health care transition experiences of youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their caregivers. We conducted four focus groups with youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (n = 13) and their caregivers (n = 19) and used thematic analysis strategies to identify key themes. Parents’ discussions emphasized (a) loss of relationship with provider and lack of support transitioning from pediatric to adult care, (b) providers’ lack of knowledge about Autism Spectrum Disorder, and (c) concerns about losing guardianship. Youth emphasized their confusion and anxiety around (a) medical providers’ role, especially in the transition to adulthood; and (b) managing their medical lives independently. Our findings are important because they not only improve our understanding of health care transition needs among youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their caregivers but demonstrate a sound methodological procedure to facilitate input from youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
7. Downs J, Leonard H, Jacoby P, Brisco L, Baikie G, Hill K. {{Rett syndrome: establishing a novel outcome measure for walking activity in an era of clinical trials for rare disorders}}. {Disabil Rehabil}. 2014: 1-5.
Abstract Background: Rett syndrome is a pervasive neurological disorder with impaired gait as one criterion. This study investigated the capacity of three accelerometer-type devices to measure walking activity in Rett syndrome. Methods: Twenty-six participants (mean 18 years, SD 8) wore an Actigraph, ActivPAL and StepWatch Activity Monitor (SAM) during a video-taped session of activities. Agreement was determined between step-counts derived from each accelerometer and observation. Repeatability of SAM-derived step counts was determined using pairs of one-minute epochs during which the same participant was observed to walk with the same cadence. Results: The mean difference (limit of agreement) for the Actigraph, ActivPAL and SAM were -41 (SD 33), -16 (SD 21) and -1 (SD 16) steps/min, respectively. Agreement was influenced by a device/cadence interaction (p < 0.001) with greater under-recording at higher cadences. For SAM data, repeatability of step-count pairs was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.91, 95% CI 0.79-0.96). The standard error of measurement was 6 steps/min and we would be 95% confident that a change >/=17 steps/min would be greater than within-subject measurement error. Conclusions: The capacity of the SAM to measure physical activity in Rett syndrome allows focus on participation-based activities in clinical practice and clinical trials. Implications for Rehabilitation Many girls and women with Rett syndrome are able to walk on their own or with assistance but with altered movement patterns. Validated measures of physical activity, such as step counts, have potential to monitor function during daily life. Compared with other forms of accelerometer-type devices, such as ActiGraph and ActivPAL, the StepWatch Activity Monitor (SAM) measured step counts with good accuracy and repeatability. The capacity of the SAM to measure physical activity in Rett syndrome allows focus on participation-based activities in clinical practice and clinical trials.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
8. Erviti M, Semal C, Wright BA, Amestoy A, Bouvard MP, Demany L. {{A Late-Emerging Auditory Deficit in Autism}}. {Neuropsychology}. 2014.
Objective: Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) show enhanced perceptual and memory abilities in the domain of pitch, but also perceptual deficits in other auditory domains. The present study investigated their skills with respect to « echoic memory, » a form of short-term sensory memory intimately tied to auditory perception, using a developmental perspective. Method: We tested 23 high-functioning participants with ASD and 26 typically developing (TD) participants, distributed in two age groups (children vs. young adults; mean ages: approximately 11 and approximately 21 years). By means of an adaptive psychophysical procedure, we measured the longest period for which periodic (i.e., repeated) noise could be reliably discriminated from nonperiodic (i.e., plain random) noise. On each experimental trial, a single noise sample was presented to the participant, who had to classify this sound as periodic or nonperiodic. Results: The TD adults performed, on average, much better than the other three groups, who performed similarly overall. As a function of practice, the measured thresholds improved for the TD participants, but did not change for the ASD participants. Thresholds were not correlated to performance in a test assessing verbal memory. The variance of the participants’ response biases was larger among the ASD participants than among the TD participants. Conclusion: The results mainly suggest that echoic memory takes a long time to fully develop in TD humans, and that this development stops prematurely in persons with ASD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved).
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
9. Ewing L, Caulfield F, Read A, Rhodes G. {{Appearance-based trust behaviour is reduced in children with autism spectrum disorder}}. {Autism}. 2014.
Typical individuals make rapid and reliable evaluations of trustworthiness from facial appearances, which can powerfully influence behaviour. However, the same may not be true for children with autism spectrum disorder. Using an economic trust game, the current study revealed that like typical children, children with autism spectrum disorder rationally modulate their trust behaviour based on non-face cues to partner trustworthiness (e.g. reputation information). Critically, however, they are no more likely to place their trust in partners with faces that look trustworthy to them, than those that look untrustworthy. These results cannot be accounted for by any group differences in children’s conceptualization of trustworthiness, ability to read trustworthiness from faces or understanding of the experimental paradigm. Instead, they seem to suggest that there may be a selective failure to spontaneously use facial cues to trustworthiness to guide behaviour in an ecologically valid context.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
10. Fernandez Fernandez MA, Amado Puentes A. {{[The importance of being careful with the concepts on autism spectrum disorders.]}}. {An Pediatr (Barc)}. 2014.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
11. Ferraro FR. {{No evidence of reaction time slowing in autism spectrum disorder}}. {Autism}. 2014.
A total of 32 studies comprising 238 simple reaction time and choice reaction time conditions were examined in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (n = 964) and controls (n = 1032). A Brinley plot/multiple regression analysis was performed on mean reaction times, regressing autism spectrum disorder performance onto the control performance as a way to examine any generalized simple reaction time/choice reaction time slowing exhibited by the autism spectrum disorder group. The resulting regression equation was Y (autism spectrum disorder) = 0.99 x (control) + 87.93, which accounted for 92.3% of the variance. These results suggest that there are little if any simple reaction time/choice reaction time slowing in this sample of individual with autism spectrum disorder, in comparison with controls. While many cognitive and information processing domains are compromised in autism spectrum disorder, it appears that simple reaction time/choice reaction time remain relatively unaffected in autism spectrum disorder.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
12. Fetner M, Cascio CJ, Essick G. {{Nonverbal patient with autism spectrum disorder and obstructive sleep apnea: use of desensitization to acclimatize to a dental appliance}}. {Pediatr Dent}. 2014; 36(7): 499-501.
Patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) may have difficulty tolerating conventional dental treatment due to aberrant sensory responsiveness. The purpose of this report was to describe the successful treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in a nonverbal 20-year-old male patient with ASD using a dental appliance. A series of appointments prepared the patient for the required treatment procedures and desensitized him for use of the final appliance. The final appliance improved outcomes of a post-treatment sleep study, indicating successful treatment of OSA. Understanding the specific challenges of patients with ASD and the patience and foresight of providers in approaching these challenges, in collaboration with caregivers, can contribute to improved health outcomes for these patients.
13. Gomes PT, Lima LH, Bueno MK, Araujo LA, Souza NM. {{Autism in Brazil: a systematic review of family challenges and coping strategies}}. {J Pediatr (Rio J)}. 2014.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the challenges faced by families caring for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Brazil and the coping strategies employed. SOURCE OF DATA: Systematic review of articles published until September of 2013, without language restrictions, using quality appraisal (AMSTAR and CASP/Oxford instruments). SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS: The literature shows parental emotional overload as one of the main challenges faced by families, especially mothers. The main stressors were diagnostic postponement, difficulty dealing with the diagnosis and associated symptoms, and poor access to health services and social support. The predominant coping strategies found included information exchange between affected families and integrated healthcare network for patient and family support. CONCLUSION: ASD exerts strong influence on family dynamics, resulting in caregiver overload, especially in mothers. The Brazilian Unified Health System needs to provide comprehensive, continuous, and coordinated care to strengthen the patient-family dyad and promote the full development and societal inclusion of children with ASD.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
14. Happel CM, Laser KT, Sigler M, Kececioglu D, Sandica E, Haas NA. {{Single center experience: Implantation failures, early and late complications after implantation of a partially biodegradable ASD/PFO-device (BioStar(R))}}. {Catheter Cardiovasc Interv}. 2014.
Introduction: In the search for a biodegradable device that leaves nothing but the tissue of the patient after complete endotheliazation and absorption, the BioSTAR(R) device was introduced in 2007 (CE Mark in European community and HPB in Canada) for ASD and PFO closure. It consists of a metal framework covered by a biodegradable membrane generated from a layer of porcine collagen that is broken down and absorbed over time. In a sheep model the results were promising, showing complete closure of the defect with degradation of approximately 90% of the implanted membrane material after two years. Methods: We report a retrospective analysis of implantation failures, early and late complications in a series of 34 patients with 30 implanted BioStar(R) devices in a single center with a total follow-up of more than 75 patient years. Results: We report 12% of implantation failures, 9% of early and 12% of late complications. Implantation failures include one embolized device, which was interventionally retrieved. Early complications were exclusively rhythm disturbances, one patient needed electrical and pharmacological therapy. Four relevant late complications occurred. One device required explantation after 61 days because of recurrent severe fever episodes, severe headache and malaise that subsequently subsided after device removal. One patient presented with Dressler’s syndrome with pericardial effusion 5 month after implantation requiring pericardiocentesis and steroid treatment. One device showed a central residual shunt that was not clearly seen initially. Finally one device was explanted after hemorrhagic pericardial effusion due to perforation of an arm of the frame through the right atrial roof into the pericardial fold after 19 month. Conclusion: We conclude that implantation of the Biostar(R) device is difficult in patients with deficient aortic rims and early complications are similar to those seen in other devices. Of importance the late complications seen with the Biostar(R) device might be attributable to specific material and immunological properties of the partially biodegradable device. Although a biodegradable device might theoretically be more favorable more efforts for optimization of these devices have to be taken. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
15. Hodgson NW, Waly MI, Al-Farsi YM, Al-Sharbati MM, Al-Farsi O, Ali A, Ouhtit A, Zang T, Zhou ZS, Deth RC. {{Decreased glutathione and elevated hair mercury levels are associated with nutritional deficiency-based autism in Oman}}. {Exp Biol Med (Maywood)}. 2014; 239(6): 697-706.
Genetic, nutrition, and environmental factors have each been implicated as sources of risk for autism. Oxidative stress, including low plasma levels of the antioxidant glutathione, has been reported by numerous autism studies, which can disrupt methylation-dependent epigenetic regulation of gene expression with neurodevelopmental consequences. We investigated the status of redox and methylation metabolites, as well as the level of protein homocysteinylation and hair mercury levels, in autistic and neurotypical control Omani children, who were previously shown to exhibit significant nutritional deficiencies in serum folate and vitamin B(1)(2). The serum level of glutathione in autistic subjects was significantly below control levels, while levels of homocysteine and S-adenosylhomocysteine were elevated, indicative of oxidative stress and decreased methionine synthase activity. Autistic males had lower glutathione and higher homocysteine levels than females, while homocysteinylation of serum proteins was increased in autistic males but not females. Mercury levels were markedly elevated in the hair of autistic subjects vs. control subjects, consistent with the importance of glutathione for its elimination. Thus, autism in Oman is associated with decreased antioxidant resources and decreased methylation capacity, in conjunction with elevated hair levels of mercury.
16. Ionita-Laza I, Capanu M, De Rubeis S, McCallum K, Buxbaum JD. {{Identification of Rare Causal Variants in Sequence-Based Studies: Methods and Applications to VPS13B, a Gene Involved in Cohen Syndrome and Autism}}. {PLoS Genet}. 2014; 10(12): e1004729.
Pinpointing the small number of causal variants among the abundant naturally occurring genetic variation is a difficult challenge, but a crucial one for understanding precise molecular mechanisms of disease and follow-up functional studies. We propose and investigate two complementary statistical approaches for identification of rare causal variants in sequencing studies: a backward elimination procedure based on groupwise association tests, and a hierarchical approach that can integrate sequencing data with diverse functional and evolutionary conservation annotations for individual variants. Using simulations, we show that incorporation of multiple bioinformatic predictors of deleteriousness, such as PolyPhen-2, SIFT and GERP++ scores, can improve the power to discover truly causal variants. As proof of principle, we apply the proposed methods to VPS13B, a gene mutated in the rare neurodevelopmental disorder called Cohen syndrome, and recently reported with recessive variants in autism. We identify a small set of promising candidates for causal variants, including two loss-of-function variants and a rare, homozygous probably-damaging variant that could contribute to autism risk.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
17. Jia F, Wang B, Shan L, Xu Z, Staal WG, Du L. {{Core Symptoms of Autism Improved After Vitamin D Supplementation}}. {Pediatrics}. 2014.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a complex interaction between genetic and environmental risk factors. Among the environmental factors, vitamin D3 (cholecaliferol) seems to play a significant role in the etiology of ASD because this vitamin is important for brain development. Lower concentrations of vitamin D3 may lead to increased brain size, altered brain shape, and enlarged ventricles, which have been observed in patients with ASD. Vitamin D3 is converted into 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in the liver. Higher serum concentrations of this steroid may reduce the risk of autism. Importantly, children with ASD are at an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency, possibly due to environmental factors. It has also been suggested that vitamin D3 deficiency may cause ASD symptoms. Here, we report on a 32-month-old boy with ASD and vitamin D3 deficiency. His core symptoms of autism improved significantly after vitamin D3 supplementation. This case suggests that vitamin D3 may play an important role in the etiology of ASD, stressing the importance of clinical assessment of vitamin D3 deficiency and the need for vitamin D3 supplementation in case of deficiency.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
18. Kamps D, Thiemann-Bourque K, Heitzman-Powell L, Schwartz I, Rosenberg N, Mason R, Cox S. {{A Comprehensive Peer Network Intervention to Improve Social Communication of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Randomized Trial in Kindergarten and First Grade}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2014.
The purpose of this randomized control group study was to examine the effects of a peer network intervention that included peer mediation and direct instruction for Kindergarten and First-grade children with autism spectrum disorders. Trained school staff members provided direct instruction for 56 children in the intervention group, and 39 children participated in a comparison group. Results showed children in the intervention group displayed significantly more initiations to peers than did the comparison group during non-treatment social probes and generalization probes. Treatment session data showed significant growth for total communications over baseline levels. Children in treatment also showed more growth in language and adaptive communication. Finally, teachers’ ratings of prosocial skills revealed significantly greater improvements for the intervention group.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
19. Kissin DM, Zhang Y, Boulet SL, Fountain C, Bearman P, Schieve L, Yeargin-Allsopp M, Jamieson DJ. {{Association of assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment and parental infertility diagnosis with autism in ART-conceived children}}. {Hum Reprod}. 2014.
STUDY QUESTION: Are assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment factors or infertility diagnoses associated with autism among ART-conceived children? SUMMARY ANSWER: Our study suggests that the incidence of autism diagnosis in ART-conceived children during the first 5 years of life was higher when intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was used compared with conventional IVF, and lower when parents had unexplained infertility (among singletons) or tubal factor infertility (among multiples) compared with other types of infertility. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Some studies found an increased risk of autism among ART-conceived infants compared with spontaneously-conceived infants. However, few studies, and none in the USA, have examined the associations between types of ART procedures and parental infertility diagnoses with autism among ART-conceived children. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Population-based retrospective cohort study using linkages between National ART Surveillance System (NASS) data for 1996-2006, California Birth Certificate data for 1997-2006, and California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Autism Caseload data for 1997-2011. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: All live born ART-conceived infants born in California in 1997-2006 (n = 42 383) with 5-year observation period were included in the study. We assessed the annual incidence of autism diagnosis documented in DDS, which includes information on the vast majority of persons with autism in California, and the association of autism diagnosis with ART treatment factors and infertility diagnoses. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Among ART-conceived singletons born in California between 1997 and 2006, the incidence of autism diagnosis remained at approximately 0.8% (P for trend 0.19) and was lower with parental diagnosis of unexplained infertility (adjusted hazard risk ratio [aHRR]; 95% confidence interval: 0.38; 0.15-0.94) and higher when ICSI was used (aHRR 1.65; 1.08-2.52), when compared with cases without these patient and treatment characteristics. Among ART-conceived multiples, the incidence of autism diagnosis between 1997 and 2006 remained at approximately 1.2% (P for trend 0.93) and was lower with parental diagnosis of tubal factor infertility (aHRR 0.56; 0.35-0.90) and higher when ICSI was used (aHRR 1.71; 1.10-2.66). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Study limitations include imperfect data linkages, lack of data on embryo quality and possible underestimation of autism diagnosis cases. Limitations of the observational study design could affect the analysis by the possibility of residual confounders. Since information about ICSI use was missing for most frozen/thawed embryo transfer cycles, our findings of association of ICSI use and autism diagnosis can only be generalizable to fresh embryo transfer cycles. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Our study provides additional evidence of the association between some types of ART procedures with autism diagnosis. Additional research is required to explain the increased risk of autism diagnosis with ICSI use, as well as studies on the effectiveness and safety of ICSI. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: The study was partially supported by the National Institutes of Health. The authors have no competing interests that may be relevant to the study.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
20. Lisik MZ, Gutmajster E, Sieron AL. {{Anti-Neuronal Antibodies in Patients with Fragile X Syndrome: Is there a Role of Autoimmunity in Its Pathogenesis?}}. {Neurodegener Dis}. 2014.
Background: Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a single-gene disorder with a broad spectrum of involvement, including cognitive and behavioural impairments of varying degrees with specific physical features and a strong association with autism. Objectives: In this study, the frequency of serum anti-neural antibodies was investigated in FXS patients who did and those who did not manifest autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in comparison to typically developing controls. Methods: The study involved 23 males (mean age, 19.78 +/- 6.56 years) who harboured a full mutation in the FMR1 gene. The control group comprised 19 healthy students (mean age 24.63 +/- 1.89 years). Serum anti-neuronal antibodies were analyzed using Western blotting. Results: Serum anti-neuronal antibodies were present in 10/23 (43.48%) FXS males. Conclusion: Serum anti-neuronal antibodies were found in a subgroup of FXS patients. Autistic symptoms in FXS may, in part, be caused by auto-immune factors. Further studies in larger patient and control groups are necessary to elucidate the aetiopathogenic role of anti-neuronal antibodies in FXS patients. (c) 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
21. Man KK, Tong HH, Wong LY, Chan EW, Simonoff E, Wong IC. {{Exposure to Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors during Pregnancy and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies}}. {Neurosci Biobehav Rev}. 2014.
This study is a critical analysis of the association between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) exposure during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk in children. Electronic databases were searched for observational studies published from January 1946 to June 2014 related to the association between SSRI exposure during pregnancy and ASD in children. Studies relevant to the association between SSRI exposure during pregnancy and ASD in children were extracted and compiled for meta-analysis evaluation. Ninety-five citations were identified and seven observational studies were included. Four case-control studies were eligible for the meta-analysis and two cohort studies were narratively reviewed. The pooled crude and adjusted odds ratios of the case-control studies were 2.13 (95% CI 1.66-2.73) and 1.81 (95% CI 1.47-2.24) respectively. Low heterogeneity was observed between studies. The two population-based cohort studies; utilized the same Denmark data set, have conflicting results. The findings of this meta-analysis and narrative review support an increased risk of ASD in children of mothers exposed to SSRIs during pregnancy; however, the causality remains to be confirmed.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
22. Mattison ML, Dando CJ, Ormerod TC. {{Sketching to Remember: Episodic Free Recall Task Support for Child Witnesses and Victims with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2014.
Deficits in episodic free-recall memory performance have been reported in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet best practice dictates that child witness/victim interviews commence with a free-recall account. No ‘tools’ exist to support children with ASD to freely recall episodic information. Here, the efficacy of a novel retrieval technique, Sketch reinstatement of context (Sketch-RC), is compared with mental reinstatement of context and a no support control. Ninety children (45 with ASD; 45 matched typically developing) viewed a stimulus film, and were interviewed using one of the aforementioned techniques. The Sketch-RC technique was most effective, improving ASD participants’ remembering without a concomitant increase in intrusions. This procedure offers a population-appropriate method for supporting free recall in criminal justice settings.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
23. Meguid NA, Kandeel WA, Wakeel KE, El-Nofely AA. {{Anthropometric assessment of a Middle Eastern group of autistic children}}. {World J Pediatr}. 2014; 10(4): 318-23.
BACKGROUND: Growth abnormalities are uniquely associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD); however, the extent to which growth abnormalities are present has hardly been investigated. The current study aims to compare the differences in anthropometric parameters in a group of autistic Egyptian children and the healthy normal population. METHODS: We recruited 100 children with ASD from the Outpatient Clinic for « Autistic Children » at the Medical Research Hospital of Excellence, National Research Centre in Cairo, Egypt. They were diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria of the American Psychiatric Association, Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised, and Childhood Autism Rating Scale. Of these children at age of 3-10 years, 71 were males and 29 females. Eight anthropometric parameters were assessed in view of data of the healthy Egyptians of pertinent sex and age. RESULTS: Weight and body mass index increased because of a significant increase in subcutaneous fat thickness. This tendency with a probable decrease in muscle mass was more evident in male or in older children, likely resulting from sedentary life style and food selectivity. CONCLUSIONS: The Z head circumference score and its variance significantly increased especially in males or older children, suggesting the relative overgrowth of the brain in a substantial percentage of Egyptian children with autism. We concluded that increased fat composition in Egyptian autistic children with decreased muscle mass necessitates tailoring a specially designed food supplementation program to ameliorate the severity of autism symptoms.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
24. Mitchell ES, Mrug S, Patterson CS, Bailey KJ, Bart Hodgens J. {{Summer Treatment Program Improves Behavior of Children with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2014.
This study evaluated the effects of a behavioral summer treatment program for children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD). Twenty boys (M = 9.2 years) diagnosed with HFASD participated in the 6-week program across 6 years. Detailed daily behavioral data were collected on a variety of positive and negative social behaviors. Repeated measures ANOVAs of weekly behavior frequencies indicated substantial improvements in a number of behaviors over the 6 weeks of the program, including following activity rules, contributing to a group discussion, paying attention, and less complaining/whining. Overall, results highlight the potential efficacy of treating chronic functional impairments of HFASD and associated problem behaviors in the context of an intensive behavioral summer treatment program.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
25. Rhodes G, Neumann MF, Ewing L, Palermo R. {{Reduced set averaging of face identity in children and adolescents with autism}}. {Q J Exp Psychol (Hove)}. 2014: 1-13.
Individuals with autism have difficulty abstracting and updating average representations from their diet of faces. These averages function as perceptual norms for coding faces, and poorly calibrated norms may contribute to face recognition difficulties in autism. Another kind of average, known as an ensemble representation, can be abstracted from briefly glimpsed sets of faces. Here we show for the first time that children and adolescents with autism also have difficulty abstracting ensemble representations from sets of faces. On each trial, participants saw a study set of four identities and then indicated whether a test face was present. The test face could be a set average or a set identity, from either the study set or another set. Recognition of set averages was reduced in participants with autism, relative to age- and ability-matched typically developing participants. This difference, which actually represents more accurate responding, indicates weaker set averaging and thus weaker ensemble representations of face identity in autism. Our finding adds to the growing evidence for atypical abstraction of average face representations from experience in autism. Weak ensemble representations may have negative consequences for face processing in autism, given the importance of ensemble representations in dealing with processing capacity limitations.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
26. Sato W, Kubota Y, Kochiyama T, Uono S, Yoshimura S, Sawada R, Sakihama M, Toichi M. {{Increased putamen volume in adults with autism spectrum disorder}}. {Front Hum Neurosci}. 2014; 8: 957.
Basal ganglia (BG) abnormalities are implicated in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, studies measuring the volume of the entire BG in individuals with ASD have reported discrepant findings, and no study conducted volume measurement of the entire substructures of the BG (the caudate, putamen, nucleus accumbens, and globus pallidus) in individuals with ASD. We delineated the BG substructures and measured their volumes in 29 adults with ASD without intellectual disabilities and 29 age- and gender-matched typically developed adult controls. We acquired T1-weighted anatomical images and performed semiautomated delineation and volume measurements of the above-mentioned subregions. Total cerebral volumes, sex, and ages were partialed out. Compared with controls, the putamen was significantly larger in the ASD group. The increased volume of the putamen found in high-functioning adults with ASD suggests that structural or histological abnormalities of the putamen may underlie the pathologies of ASD, such as repetitive and stereotyped behaviors and impaired social interactions.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
27. Schauder KB, Mash LE, Bryant LK, Cascio CJ. {{Interoceptive ability and body awareness in autism spectrum disorder}}. {J Exp Child Psychol}. 2014.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been associated with various sensory atypicalities across multiple domains. Interoception, the ability to detect and attend to internal bodily sensations, has been found to moderate the experience of body ownership, a known difference in ASD that may affect social function. However, interoception has not been empirically examined in ASD. In the current study, 45 children (21 with ASD and 24 controls) ages 8 to 17years completed a heartbeat perception paradigm as a measure of interoceptive ability. A subset of these children also completed the rubber hand illusion task, a multisensory paradigm probing the malleability of perceived body ownership. Although the heartbeat perception paradigm yielded comparable interoceptive awareness (IA) overall across both groups, children with ASD were superior at mentally tracking their heartbeats over longer intervals, suggesting increased sustained attention to internal cues in ASD. In addition, IA was negatively correlated with rubber hand illusion susceptibility in both groups, supporting a previously demonstrated inverse relationship between internal awareness and one’s ability to incorporate external stimuli into one’s perception of self. We propose a trade-off between attention to internal cues and attention to external cues, whereby attentional resources are disproportionately allocated to internal, rather than external, sensory cues in ASD.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
28. Simons A, Steyaert J. {{[Paroxysmal events after anxiety treatment with fluoxetine in a child with autism spectrum disorder]}}. {Tijdschr Psychiatr}. 2014; 56(12): 821-4.
Anxiety is common in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders and can cause severe dysfunction and suffering. An 11-year-old boy with an autism spectrum disorder and suffering from anxiety and mood problems responded positively to treatment with fluoxetine. After four weeks he developed clinically observable paroxysmal events accompanied by absence and confusion.
29. VanderLaan DP, Leef JH, Wood H, Hughes SK, Zucker KJ. {{Autism Spectrum Disorder Risk Factors and Autistic Traits in Gender Dysphoric Children}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2014.
Gender dysphoria (GD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are associated. In 49 GD children (40 natal males), we examined ASD risk factors (i.e., birth weight, parental age, sibling sex ratio) in relation to autistic traits. Data were gathered on autistic traits, birth weight, parents’ ages at birth, sibling sex ratio, gender nonconformity, age, maternal depression, general behavioral and emotional problems, and IQ. High birth weight was associated with both high gender nonconformity and autistic traits among GD children. Developmental processes associated with high birth weight are, therefore, likely to underlie the GD-ASD link either directly or indirectly. The present study is the first to provide quantitative data bearing on possible mechanisms that lead GD and ASD to co-occur.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
30. Warren Z, Zheng Z, Das S, Young EM, Swanson A, Weitlauf A, Sarkar N. {{Brief Report: Development of a Robotic Intervention Platform for Young Children with ASD}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2014.
Increasingly researchers are attempting to develop robotic technologies for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This pilot study investigated the development and application of a novel robotic system capable of dynamic, adaptive, and autonomous interaction during imitation tasks with embedded real-time performance evaluation and feedback. The system was designed to incorporate both a humanoid robot and a human examiner. We compared child performance within system across these conditions in a sample of preschool children with ASD (n = 8) and a control sample of typically developing children (n = 8). The system was well-tolerated in the sample, children with ASD exhibited greater attention to the robotic system than the human administrator, and for children with ASD imitation performance appeared superior during the robotic interaction.
