1. Bonnet-Brilhault F. {{[Managing an autistic child]}}. {Rev Prat} (Mar 20);60(3):385-388.
General practitioners and pediatricians are on the front line to detect atypical developmental trajectories in children, They have to inform parents and to guide them toward specialized centers where further multidisciplinary evaluation will be conducted. It is admitted that early intervention is a factor of better prognosis in autism. To help starting early intervention, general practitioners may first indicate sensorymotor or language and communication evaluations. A specific project will then be defined for each child according to the results of the multidisciplinary evaluation. Each individualized project will be based on different behavioral and developpemental interventions, speech therapy, sensorymotor therapy, and psychotherapy. General practitioners and pediatricians will keep up following the child evolution as part of the child care team with parents and specialized centers.
2. Bourgeois M. {{[Dealling with and examining autistic children]}}. {Rev Prat} (Mar 20);60(3):382-383.
3. Frankel F, Myatt R, Sugar C, Whitham C, Gorospe CM, Laugeson E. {{Erratum to: A Randomized Controlled Study of Parent-assisted Children’s Friendship Training with Children having Autism Spectrum Disorders}}. {J Autism Dev Disord} (Apr 20)
4. Mirenda P, Smith IM, Vaillancourt T, Georgiades S, Duku E, Szatmari P, Bryson S, Fombonne E, Roberts W, Volden J, Waddell C, Zwaigenbaum L. {{Validating the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Autism Dev Disord} (Apr 20)
This study examined the factor structure of the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R) in a sample of 287 preschool-aged children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine six competing structural models. Spearman’s rank order correlations were calculated to examine the associations between factor scores and variables of interest. The 3- and 5-factor models were selected as preferable on the basis of fit statistics and parsimony. For both models, the strongest correlations were with problem behavior scores on the Child Behavior Checklist and repetitive behavior scores on the ADI-R. Developmental index standard scores were not correlated with factors in either model. The results confirm the utility of the RBS-R as a measure of repetitive behaviors in young children with ASD.
5. Ooi YP, Rescorla L, Ang RP, Woo B, Fung DS. {{Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorders Using the Child Behavior Checklist in Singapore}}. {J Autism Dev Disord} (Apr 20)
We tested the ability of the 2001 CBCL syndromes to discriminate among 86 children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), 117 children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-Inattentive type, 426 children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder-Hyperactive-Impulsive or Combined type, 200 clinically referred children who did not receive a diagnosis, and 436 typically-developing children in a community sample. The Withdrawn/Depressed, Social Problems, and Thought Problems syndromes significantly discriminated the ASD group from the four other groups. An ASD scale, constructed from nine CBCL items, demonstrated moderate to high sensitivity (68 to 78%) and specificity (73 to 92%). Consistent with previous research, findings from this study provide strong support for the CBCL as a screening tool for ASD.
6. Robel L. {{[Medidcal care organization for the management of autism in France]}}. {Rev Prat} (Mar 20);60(3):389-390.
7. Robel L. {{[Early recognition of autistic features]}}. {Rev Prat} (Mar 20);60(3):380-385.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosed on the basis of three behaviorally altered domains: social deficits, impaired language and communication, and stereotyped and repetitive behaviors. The early recognition of the disorder, as early as two years, is an important challenge, because early treatments are more efficient in helping children to develop their adaptation skills, allowing their better integration in the society, with less suffering and a lower level of handicap. Therefore are described the symptoms that may lead first degree practioners to suspect autistic disorders as early as possible, and how they can help the children and their parents to be directed to the appropriate services for diagnostic and treatment.
8. Robel L. {{[Life with an autistic child]}}. {Rev Prat} (Mar 20);60(3):379.
9. Robel L. {{[Evolution of the concept of autism]}}. {Rev Prat} (Mar 20);60(3):376-378.
Since it was originally described in 1943 by L. Kanner, the concept of autism has changed. Autistic disorder is now recognized as a pervasive developmental disorder diagnosed on the basis of three behaviorally altered domains: social deficits, impaired language and communication, and stereotyped and repetitive behaviors. The prevalence of the autistic disorder according to these criteria has raised to about 0.3%, and the prevalence of the pervasive developmental disorders is estimated between 0.3 and 0.6%. Autism is now considered as an heterogeneous neurodevelopmental syndrome, with genetic and environmental factors contribution.
10. Thomas RH, Foley KA, Mepham JR, Tichenoff LJ, Possmayer F, MacFabe DF. {{Altered brain phospholipid and acylcarnitine profiles in propionic acid infused rodents: further development of a potential model of autism spectrum disorders}}. {J Neurochem} (Apr 1);113(2):515-529.
Recent studies have demonstrated intraventricular infusions of propionic acid (PPA) a dietary and enteric short-chain fatty acid can produce brain and behavioral changes similar to those observed in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The effects of PPA were further evaluated to determine if there are any alterations in brain lipids associated with the ASD-like behavioral changes observed following intermittent intraventricular infusions of PPA, the related enteric metabolite butyric acid (BUT) or phosphate-buffered saline vehicle. Both PPA and BUT produced significant increases (p < 0.001) in locomotor activity (total distance travelled and stereotypy). PPA and to a lesser extent BUT infusions decreased the levels of total monounsaturates, total omega6 fatty acids, total phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogens, the ratio of omega6 : omega3 and elevated the levels of total saturates in separated phospholipid species. In addition, total acylcarnitines, total longchain (C12-C24) acylcarnitines, total short-chain (C2 to C9) acylcarnitines, and the ratio of bound to free carnitine were increased following infusions with PPA and BUT. These results provide evidence of a relationship between changes in brain lipid profiles and the occurrence of ASD-like behaviors using the autism rodent model. We propose that altered brain fatty acid metabolism may contribute to ASD.
