1. Calderoni S, Santocchi E, Del Bianco T, Brunori E, Caponi L, Paolicchi A, Fulceri F, Prosperi M, Narzisi A, Cosenza A, Tancredi R, Muratori F. {{Serological screening for Celiac Disease in 382 pre-schoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {Ital J Pediatr};2016 (Nov 16);42(1):98.
BACKGROUND: Recent investigations suggest a possible common genetic background between Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Celiac Disease (CD). However, studies regarding this association are scarce and often limited by the small sample sizes and/or large heterogeneity among ASD groups in terms of demographic and clinical features. The present study aims to investigate the overall CD prevalence (biopsy proven-CD patients plus screening detected tTG and EMA positive cases) in a large population of pre-schoolers with ASD referred to a tertiary care University Hospital. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data about 382 children (mean age: 46.97 +/- 13.55 months; age-range: 18-72 months) consecutively diagnosed as ASD (according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition criteria) over the period 2010-2013, and who performed a serological CD screening. RESULTS: The overall CD prevalence was 2.62%, which is statistically significant higher to that reported in the Italian paediatric population (p = 0.0246). Half of these children had no symptoms or risk factors related to CD when they performed the serological screening. CONCLUSIONS: If replicated, these data suggest the importance of regular screening for CD in young patients with ASD, and are of relevance for clinical and public health.
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2. Lever AG, Ridderinkhof KR, Marsman M, Geurts HM. {{Reactive and Proactive Interference Control in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder Across the Lifespan}}. {Dev Psychol};2016 (Nov 17)
As a large heterogeneity is observed across studies on interference control in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), research may benefit from the use of a cognitive framework that models specific processes underlying reactive and proactive control of interference. Reactive control refers to the expression and suppression of responses and proactive control refers to the adjustment of response to previous situations. We administered a Simon conflict task in 2 independent adult samples (IQ >80) and applied distributional analyses to examine temporal dynamics of interference control in ASD. Along comparable interference effects in both reactive and proactive control, young men (n = 23, 18-36 years) diagnosed with ASD made as many fast errors on conflict trials as neurotypical controls (n = 19) and showed similar suppression on slow responses (Study 1). However, over the adult life span (19-79 years), individuals with ASD (n = 118) made fewer fast errors on conflict trials, and had overall slower and more accurate responses than controls (n = 160; Study 2). These results converge to the idea that individuals with ASD adopt a more cautious response bias over the adult life span, which is not yet observed among young adults. Our findings suggest that it is fruitful to distinguish different processes involved in interference control and contribute to an increased understanding of interference control mechanisms in adults with ASD. (PsycINFO Database Record
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3. Torres A, Westover J, Benson M, Johnson R, Dykes A. {{A Killer Immunoglobulin – Like Receptor Gene – Content Haplotype and A Cognate Human Leukocyte Antigen Ligand are Associated with Autism}}. {Autism Open Access};2016 (Apr);6(2)
The killing activity of natural killer cells is largely regulated by the binding of class I human leukocyte antigen cognate ligands to killer cell immunoglobulin – like receptor proteins. The killer cell immunoglobulin – like receptor gene – complex contains genes that activate and others that inhibit the killing state of natural killer cells depending on the binding of specific human leukocyte antigen cognate ligands. It has been suggested in previous publications that activating human leukocyte antigen/killer – cell immunoglobulin – like receptor complexes are increased in people with autism. We present data, which suggests that an activating cB01/tA01 killer cell immunoglobulin – like receptor gene – content haplotype and the cognate ligand human leukocyte antigen – C1k that activates this haplotype is significantly increased in autism. This is an important observation suggesting that the interaction between two proteins encoded on different chromosomes increases natural killer cell killing in autism.
