1. Brooks BA, Haynes K, Smith J, McFadden T, Robins DL. {{Implementation of Web-Based Autism Screening in an Urban Clinic}}. {Clin Pediatr (Phila)};2015 (Nov 18)
Screening toddlers for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised (M-CHAT-R) has been shown to lower age of diagnosis by 2 years. In order to streamline ASD screening, research is exploring the use of web-based screening during well-child checkups. The current study examined implementation of the web-based M-CHAT-R in an urban pediatric clinic in Atlanta, Georgia. Toddlers (N = 2557; 87% African American) were screened during well-child visits (Mage = 22.43 months, SD = 3.65). Using the web-based version resulted in a 58.5% increase in the number of cases screened per month. A similar proportion of toddlers in each modality screened positive (P = .43), but significantly fewer children were missing « Follow-up » in the web-based administration (P < .001). These results suggest that it is feasible to implement web-based screening in underserved populations. Future research is necessary to understand factors that facilitate successful implementation of web-based ASD screening.
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2. Chamak B, Bonniau B. {{Trajectories, Long-Term Outcomes and Family Experiences of 76 Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2015 (Nov 16)
The aim of this retrospective study was to retrace the trajectories and long-term outcomes of individuals with autism in France, and to explore the family experiences. Data obtained from parents enables us to follow the trajectories of 76 adults. Two-thirds of adults with severe autism had a very poor outcome. Those with moderate autism had a better outcome. In adulthood, the majority were in residential accommodation. None were living independently. The trajectories of people with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism were more positive since all of them attended school for a long time and some went to university. All of them had a good outcome but they remained dependent on aging parents who had few available supports.
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3. Conson M, Hamilton A, De Bellis F, Errico D, Improta I, Mazzarella E, Trojano L, Frolli A. {{Body Constraints on Motor Simulation in Autism Spectrum Disorders}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2015 (Nov 16)
Developmental data suggested that mental simulation skills become progressively dissociated from overt motor activity across development. Thus, efficient simulation is rather independent from current sensorimotor information. Here, we tested the impact of bodily (sensorimotor) information on simulation skills of adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Typically-developing (TD) and ASD participants judged laterality of hand images while keeping one arm flexed on chest or while holding both arms extended. Both groups were able to mentally simulate actions, but this ability was constrained by body posture more in ASD than in TD adolescents. The strong impact of actual body information on motor simulation implies that simulative skills are not fully effective in ASD individuals.
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4. Ingersoll B, Berger N. {{Table Correction: Parent Engagement With a Telehealth-Based Parent-Mediated Intervention Program for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Predictors of Program Use and Parent Outcomes}}. {J Med Internet Res};2015;17(11):e239.
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/jmir.4913.].
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5. Ingersoll B, Berger N. {{Correction: Parent Engagement With a Telehealth-Based Parent-Mediated Intervention Program for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Predictors of Program Use and Parent Outcomes}}. {J Med Internet Res};2015;17(11):e257.
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/jmir.4913.].
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6. Ito-Ishida A, Ure K, Chen H, Swann JW, Zoghbi HY. {{Loss of MeCP2 in Parvalbumin-and Somatostatin-Expressing Neurons in Mice Leads to Distinct Rett Syndrome-like Phenotypes}}. {Neuron};2015 (Nov 18);88(4):651-658.
Inhibitory neurons are critical for proper brain function, and their dysfunction is implicated in several disorders, including autism, schizophrenia, and Rett syndrome. These neurons are heterogeneous, and it is unclear which subtypes contribute to specific neurological phenotypes. We deleted Mecp2, the mouse homolog of the gene that causes Rett syndrome, from the two most populous subtypes, parvalbumin-positive (PV+) and somatostatin-positive (SOM+) neurons. Loss of MeCP2 partially impairs the affected neuron, allowing us to assess the function of each subtype without profound disruption of neuronal circuitry. We found that mice lacking MeCP2 in either PV+ or SOM+ neurons have distinct, non-overlapping neurological features: mice lacking MeCP2 in PV+ neurons developed motor, sensory, memory, and social deficits, whereas those lacking MeCP2 in SOM+ neurons exhibited seizures and stereotypies. Our findings indicate that PV+ and SOM+ neurons contribute complementary aspects of the Rett phenotype and may have modular roles in regulating specific behaviors.
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7. Izadi-Mazidi M, Riahi F, Khajeddin N. {{Effect of Cognitive Behavior Group Therapy on Parenting Stress in Mothers of Children With Autism}}. {Iran J Psychiatry Behav Sci};2015 (Sep);9(3):e1900.
BACKGROUND: Due to the various problems of children with autism, their families and especially their mothers become exposed to stress. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cognitive behavior group therapy on parenting stress of mothers of children with autism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample of this research consisted of sixteen mothers of children with autism. The measurement tools were the Abidin Parenting Stress questionnaire and a demographic questionnaire. The samples participated in seven sessions of cognitive behavior group therapy. The data were analyzed using the repeated measures test. RESULTS: The findings indicated significant differences between scores of pretest and posttest considering parenting stress (P = 0.03) and subscales of parenting distress (P = 0.01), yet there weren’t significant differences in the other subscales (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive behavior group therapy could be an important part of interventions used to decrease parenting stress of mothers of children with autism.
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8. Liu D, Zhan JY, Shao J. {{[Environmental risk factors for autism spectrum disorders in children]}}. {Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi};2015 (Nov);17(11):1147-1153.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the environmental risk factors for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children. METHODS: In this case-control study, 81 boys with ASD, 74 boys with global developmental delay (GDD), and 163 healthy boys were enrolled. A self-designed nurturing environment questionnaire was used to record general demographic data, family social-economic status, parents’ living habits and environmental exposure, maternal health status during pregnancy, birth situations, and rearing environment after birth. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify environmental risk factors for ASD and GDD. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that six environmental risk factors such as maternal occupational toxicant exposure, diseases during pregnancy and a history of passive smoking, children’s birth places, the frequency of outdoor activities in the second year after birth, and the opportunities to communicate with other age-matched children were significantly associated with the incidence of ASD (OR=20.67, 3.559, 2.422, 2.646, 23.820, and 5.081, respectively; P<0.05). Among the above six risk factors, passive smoking during pregnancy, the opportunities to communicate with their peers, and the frequency of outdoor activities in the second year after birth were also significantly associated with the incidence of GDD (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal occupational toxicant exposure, diseases during pregnancy, and low level of children's birth places may be the specific risk factors associated with ASD, and passive smoking during pregnancy, fewer opportunities to communicate with their peers, and fewer outdoor activities in the second year after birth are non-specific risk factors for ASD, indicating that the development of ASD may be influenced by both genes and environmental factors. Lien vers Pubmed
9. Scott M, Falkmer M, Girdler S, Falkmer T. {{Correction: Viewpoints on Factors for Successful Employment for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {PLoS One};2015;10(11):e0143674.
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139281.].
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10. Smith KA, Ayres KA, Alexander J, Ledford JR, Shepley C, Shepley SB. {{Initiation and Generalization of Self-Instructional Skills in Adolescents with Autism and Intellectual Disability}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2015 (Nov 16)
Self-instruction using videos or other supports on a mobile device is a pivotal skill and can increase independence for individuals with disabilities by decreasing a need for adult supports. This study evaluated the effects of progressive time delay (PTD) to teach four adolescents with autism and intellectual disability how to initiate self-instruction in the presence of a task direction for an untrained task. Participants were screened for imitating video models prior to the study and were taught to navigate to videos on an iPhone(R) in history training. A multiple probe design across settings embedded in a multiple probe design across participants was used to evaluate the effects of PTD on initiation of self-instruction. All participants learned to self-instruct. Two participants generalized self-instruction to two novel settings. Two participants required instruction in two settings before generalizing to the third. Three participants generalized self-instruction in the presence of a task direction from the researcher to a task direction from their classroom teacher in all three settings. One participant generalized to a task direction presented by the classroom teacher in one setting, but not in the other two. All participants maintained self-instruction behaviors assessed 1 week after all participants met criteria in all settings. Self-instruction using videos or other supports on a mobile device is a pivotal skill and can increase independence for individuals with disabilities by decreasing a need for adult supports.
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11. Tait K, Fung F, Hu A, Sweller N, Wang W. {{Understanding Hong Kong Chinese Families’ Experiences of an Autism/ASD Diagnosis}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2015 (Nov 16)
Little is known about the experience of Chinese parents of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) living in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Seventy-five parents of children (aged 6 months-18 years) with ASD diagnoses completed the Family Quality of Life Scale. Forty-five parents from the original surveyed cohort, also participated in semi-structured interviews. Parents’ perceptions of their child’s disability were influenced both by their cultural background and by the limited and expensive, pre- and post-diagnostic services available. Longer waiting times to diagnosis were associated with lower emotional well-being and perceived disability-related support. Clinicians are encouraged to become part of the support network for parents of children with ASD, to help parents to adjust to caring for their child.
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12. Telias M, Kuznitsov-Yanovsky L, Segal M, Ben-Yosef D. {{Functional Deficiencies in Fragile X Neurons Derived from Human Embryonic Stem Cells}}. {J Neurosci};2015 (Nov 18);35(46):15295-15306.
Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common form of inherited mental retardation, is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by silencing of the FMR1 gene, which in FXS becomes inactivated during human embryonic development. We have shown recently that this process is recapitulated by in vitro neural differentiation of FX human embryonic stem cells (FX-hESCs), derived from FXS blastocysts. In the present study, we analyzed morphological and functional properties of neurons generated from FX-hESCs. Human FX neurons can fire single action potentials (APs) to depolarizing current commands, but are unable to discharge trains of APs. Their APs are of a reduced amplitudes and longer durations than controls. These are reflected in reduced inward Na(+) and outward K(+) currents. In addition, human FX neurons contain fewer synaptic vesicles and lack spontaneous synaptic activity. Notably, synaptic activity in these neurons can be restored by coculturing them with normal rat hippocampal neurons, demonstrating a critical role for synaptic mechanisms in FXS pathology. This is the first extensive functional analysis of human FX neurons derived in vitro from hESCs that provides a convenient tool for studying molecular mechanisms underlying the impaired neuronal functions in FXS. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common form of inherited mental retardation, is caused by silencing of the FMR1 gene. In this study, we describe for the first time the properties of neurons developed from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) that carry the FMR1 mutation and are grown in culture for extended periods. These neurons are retarded compared with controls in several morphological and functional properties. In vitro neural differentiation of FX hESCs can thus serve as a most relevant system for the analysis of molecular mechanisms underlying the impaired neuronal functions in FXS.
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13. Tong XJ, Hu Z, Liu Y, Anderson D, Kaplan JM. {{A network of autism linked genes stabilizes two pools of synaptic GABAA receptors}}. {Elife};2015;4
Changing receptor abundance at synapses is an important mechanism for regulating synaptic strength. Synapses contain two pools of receptors, immobilized and diffusing receptors, both of which are confined to post-synaptic elements. Here we show that immobile and diffusing GABAA receptors are stabilized by distinct synaptic scaffolds at C. elegans neuromuscular junctions. Immobilized GABAA receptors are stabilized by binding to FRM-3/EPB4.1 and LIN-2A/CASK. Diffusing GABAA receptors are stabilized by the synaptic adhesion molecules Neurexin and Neuroligin. Inhibitory post-synaptic currents are eliminated in double mutants lacking both scaffolds. Neurexin, Neuroligin, and CASK mutations are all linked to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Our results suggest that these mutations may directly alter inhibitory transmission, which could contribute to the developmental and cognitive deficits observed in ASD.
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14. Venker CE, Kover ST, Weismer SE. {{Brief Report: Fast Mapping Predicts Differences in Concurrent and Later Language Abilities Among Children with ASD}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2015 (Nov 16)
This study investigated whether the ability to learn word-object associations following minimal exposure (i.e., fast mapping) was associated with concurrent and later language abilities in children with ASD. Children who were poor learners at age 3(1/2) had significantly lower receptive language abilities than children who successfully learned the new words, both concurrently (n = 59) and 2 years later (n = 53), lending ecological validity to experimental fast-mapping tasks. Fast mapping comprehension at age 3(1/2) was associated with better language outcomes regardless of whether children had produced the new words. These findings highlight the importance of investigating processes of language learning in children with ASD. Understanding these processes will enable the development of maximally effective strategies for supporting word learning.
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15. Wallace GL, Kenworthy L, Pugliese CE, Popal HS, White EI, Brodsky E, Martin A. {{Real-World Executive Functions in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Profiles of Impairment and Associations with Adaptive Functioning and Co-morbid Anxiety and Depression}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2015 (Nov 16)
Although executive functioning (EF) difficulties are well documented among children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), little is known about real-world measures of EF among adults with ASD. Therefore, this study examined parent-reported real-world EF problems among 35 adults with ASD without intellectual disability and their correlations with adaptive functioning and co-morbid anxiety and depression symptomatology. A variable EF profile was found with prominent deficits occurring in flexibility and metacognition. Flexibility problems were associated with anxiety-related symptoms while metacognition difficulties were associated with depression symptoms and impaired adaptive functioning (though the metacognition-adaptive functioning relationship was moderated by ADHD symptoms). These persistent EF problems are predictors of broader functioning and therefore remain an important treatment target among adults with ASD.
