1. Bednarz HM, Kana RK, Svancara AM, Sherrod GM, Stavrinos D. Neuropsychological predictors of driving hazard detection in autism spectrum disorder and ADHD. Child neuropsychology : a journal on normal and abnormal development in childhood and adolescence. 2021; 27(7): 857-87.

Driving is a neuropsychologically complex task; this can present challenges for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such asautism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Deficits in theory of mind (ToM) and executive function (EF) are common features of ASD and ADHD, respectively, and may influence driving processes such as hazard perception. No studies have directly examined the neuropsychological contributions to hazard detection among drivers with ASD compared to ADHD.In the current study, 48 participants ages 16-30 years (13 ASD, 17 ADHD, 18 typically developing (TD)) completed a driving simulator task in which they encountered hazards in the driving environment. Hazards varied in whether they were social (contained a human component) or nonsocial (were physical objects) to examine the contribution of ToM and social processing to hazard response. Additionally, participants completed a neuropsychological battery targeting ToM and EF/attention skills (cognitive tasks and self-report measures).Within the ASD group, participants responded relatively slower to social compared to nonsocial hazards; no effect of hazard type was observed in the ADHD or TD groups. Additionally, measures of ToM and EF were correlated with driving performanceamong ASD participants; within the ADHD group, only self-reported behavior regulation was associated with driving performance. Broadly, this suggests that cognitive factors such as ToM and EF impact driving hazard performance in ASD and ADHD. The results of the study have implications for developing driving intervention programs for individuals with NDDs.

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2. Daulay N. Home education for children with autism spectrum disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic: Indonesian mothers experience. Research in developmental disabilities. 2021; 114: 103954.

This study aimed to explore the experiences of mothers and efforts in implementing home education for children with autism, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. Five mothers were recruited as participants and interviewed online, as the data obtained were examined through the use of thematic analysis. Also, three main themes were shown, (1) Mothers’ experience in implementing home education, as regards adaptability and burden of caregiving, (2) The constraints in home education implementation, as regards maladaptive behaviours of ASD and emerging negative emotions, (3) The efforts to alleviate barriers, as regards problem-focused and religious copings. Also, the implementation of home education during the pandemic was less than optimal, due to the increase in maladaptive behaviours of the autistic children, low adaptability, the burden of caregiving, and emerging negative emotions. Appropriate coping strategies were also observed to help mothers in alleviating the constraints to implementing home education and parenting stress.

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3. Hus Y, Petinou K, Segal O. The Many Facets of ASD in Children, Youth, and Young Adults. Folia phoniatrica et logopaedica : official organ of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP). 2021; 73(3): 161-3.

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4. Kim B, Ha M, Kim YS, Koh YJ, Dong S, Kwon HJ, Kim YS, Lim MH, Paik KC, Yoo SJ, Kim H, Hong PS, Sanders SJ, Leventhal BL. Prenatal exposure to paternal smoking and likelihood for autism spectrum disorder. Autism : the international journal of research and practice. 2021; 25(7): 1946-59.

What is Already Known about This Subject: Genetics, (including de novo mutations), environmental factors (including toxic exposures), and their interactions impact autism spectrum disorder etiology. Paternal smoking is a candidate risk for autism spectrum disorder due to biological plausibility, high prevalence, and potential intervention.What This Study Adds: This original study and its replication confirms that paternal factors can substantially contribute to autism spectrum disorder risk for their offspring. It specifically indicates that paternal smoking both before and during pregnancy contributes significantly to autism spectrum disorder risk.Implications for practice, research, or policy: Smoking prevention, especially in pregnancy planning, may decrease autism spectrum disorder risk in offspring.

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5. Lin J, Fu X, Dai S, Zeng Y, Yang R, Liu R, Yang J, Shen Y, Ou J. The Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ): Strengths, weaknesses and future improvements in Chinese version. Asian journal of psychiatry. 2021; 60: 102655.

Broad Autism Phenotype (BAP) refers to a set of symptoms or personality traits which similar but not meet the diagnostic criteria for autism in relatives of individuals with Autism Spetrum Disorders (ASD).The Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ) is one of the new and widely used assessment tools to measure BAP.It has been translated into 8 different languages and some versions were investigated the psychometric properties but not including Chinese version (BAPQ-C).This study aimed to analyze the reliability and validity of the BAPQ-C and explore its applicability in the Chinese population. 1,618 families were included in the study consisting of 890 ASD children and 728 typically developed(TD)children. Our results did not find a well-fitting three-factor(Aloof,Rigid,Pragmatic language) structure which is consistent with previous studies.But we formed a model that only included Aloof and Pragmatic language dimensions.The parameter after removing the rigid dimension was significantly better.This study indicated that the short version of Aloof and Pragmatic language sub-scales has good reliability and validity and can be used to study BAP in the Chinese population. Nevertheless, more studies are still needed to improve the psychometric properties of the BAPQ-C.

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6. Manco M, Guerrera S, Ravà L, Ciofi Degli Atti M, Di Vara S, Valeri G, Vicari S. Cross-sectional investigation of insulin resistance in youths with autism spectrum disorder. Any role for reduced brain glucose metabolism?. Translational psychiatry. 2021; 11(1): 229.

The autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an etiologically heterogeneous disorder. Dysfunctions of the intermediate metabolism have been described in some patients. We speculate these metabolic abnormalities are associated with brain insulin resistance (IR), i.e., the reduced glucose metabolism at the level of the nervous central system. The Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) is very often used in population studies as estimate of peripheral IR and it has been recently recognized as proxy of brain IR. We investigated HOMA-IR in 60 ASD patients aged 4-18 years and 240 healthy controls, also aged 4-18 years, but unmatched for age, sex, body weight, or body mass index (BMI). At multivariable linear regression model, the HOMA-IR was 0.31 unit higher in ASD individuals than in controls, after having adjusted for sex, age, BMI z-score category, and lipids that are factors known to influence HOMA-IR. Findings of this preliminary study suggest it is worth investigating brain glucose metabolism in larger population of patients with ASD by using gold standard technique. The recognition of a reduced glucose metabolism in some areas of the brain as marker of autism might have tremendous impact on our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of the disease and in terms of public health.

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7. Park HY, Go J, Ryu YK, Choi DH, Noh JR, An JP, Oh WK, Han PL, Lee CH, Kim KS. Humulus japonicus rescues autistic‑like behaviours in the BTBR T(+) Itpr3(tf)/J mouse model of autism. Molecular medicine reports. 2021; 23(6).

Humulus japonicus (HJ) is a traditional herbal medicine that exhibits anti‑inflammatory, antimicrobial and anti‑tumor effects that is used for the treatment of hypertension, pulmonary disease and leprosy. Recently, it has also been reported that HJ demonstrates neuroprotective properties in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. The current study hypothesised that the administration of HJ would exhibit therapeutic effects in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder with lifelong consequences. The BTBR T(+) Itpr3tf/J mouse model of ASD was used to investigate the anti‑autistic like behavioural effects of HJ. Chronic oral administration of the ethanolic extract of HJ significantly increased social interaction, attenuated repetitive grooming behaviour and improved novel‑object recognition in BTBR mice. Anti‑inflammatory effects of HJ in the brain were analysed using immunohistochemistry and reverse‑transcription quantitative PCR analysis. Microglia activation was markedly decreased in the striatum and hippocampus, and pro‑inflammatory cytokines, including C‑C Motif Chemokine Ligand 2, interleukin (IL)‑1β and IL‑6, were significantly reduced in the hippocampus following HJ treatment. Moreover, HJ treatment normalised the phosphorylation levels of: N‑methyl‑D‑aspartate receptor subtype 2B and calcium/calmodulin‑dependent protein kinase type II subunit α in the hippocampus of BTBR mice. The results of the present study demonstrated that the administration of HJ may have beneficial potential for ameliorating behavioural deficits and neuroinflammation in ASD.

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8. Valencia F, Urbiola E, Romero-González M, Navas I, Elías M, Garriz A, Ramírez A, Villalta L. Protocol for a randomized pilot study (FIRST STEPS): implementation of the Incredible Years-ASLD® program in Spanish children with autism and preterm children with communication and/or socialization difficulties. Trials. 2021; 22(1): 291.

Having access to parenting interventions in the early years is key to improve the developmental outcomes of children with neurodevelopmental problems. The Incredible Years® (IY) Parent Program is a group intervention that has demonstrated efficacy in terms of reducing stress in parents, as well as improving behavioral, emotional, and social outcomes in children. The program has been recently adapted for families of children with autism or language delays (IY-ASLD®). This intervention has not yet been implemented in the Spanish Public Health System, where there is a scarcity of evidence-based interventions being offered to families with young children presenting neurodevelopmental problems. The main aims of this study are to determine the feasibility of implementing the IY-ASLD® program within Spanish Child Mental Health Services and to examine parents’ acceptability and satisfaction with the intervention. As a secondary objective, we aim to evaluate its preliminary effectiveness in terms of reducing parental stress and behavioral difficulties in their children. The FIRST STEPS study is a multicenter, pilot randomized controlled trial comparing the IY-ASLD® program with a treatment-as-usual (TAU) condition. Approximately 70 families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and preterm children with communication and/or socialization difficulties (aged 2-5 years) will be recruited. Families will be assessed prior to randomization and after the intervention. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the intervention will consist of 22 weekly online sessions (approximately 6 months). The FIRST STEPS pilot trial will demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of reliably implementing the IY-ASLD® program within the Spanish Public Health System. The results of this study could represent the first step to inform policymakers in Spain when designing evidence-based healthcare pathways for families of children presenting ASD symptoms or neurodevelopmental difficulties at early stages. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04358484 . Registered on 04 April 2020.

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9. Watanabe T. Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder with Autism Spectrum Disorder by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Matrix. Case reports in psychiatry. 2021; 2021: 5511232.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is known to increase a variety of psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD). Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has been reported to be an effective psychotherapy for MDD. However, this is not the case with ASD. In this case study, based on the hypothesis that it is effective in treating MDD with ASD, we adapted the ACT Matrix, a tool for visualizing an individual’s experiences in the context of ACT, and administered 15 sessions to a woman with MDD with ASD following the onset of photo dermatosis. By the end of the final session, there was an increase in value-based behaviors and significant changes in depressive symptoms as well as significant changes in process measures such as experience avoidance, mindfulness, and progress toward a valued life. Six months after the end of the session, the improvement in symptoms was even stronger and the process measure of obstruction to a valued life was significantly improved. The ACT Matrix may thus ameliorate MDD in patients with ASD.

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10. Yong Z, Dou Y, Gao Y, Xu X, Xiao Y, Zhu H, Li S, Yuan B. Prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal factors associated with autism spectrum disorder cases in Xuzhou, China. Translational pediatrics. 2021; 10(3): 635-46.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to explore the prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal risk factors in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from Xuzhou, China by comparing them with healthy children. METHODS: Children with ASD who received rehabilitation training at special education schools and rehabilitation institutions in Xuzhou were selected as the ASD group, and healthy children during the same period were selected as the healthy non-ASD group. A questionnaire based on the possible causes and susceptibility factors of ASD in children was issued and given to all children in this study. RESULTS: The findings of the present study revealed a higher prevalence of prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal factors in children with ASD compared with healthy children. There were significantly more males than females in the ASD group, and the proportion of boys to girls was 5.81:1 (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis suggested that the risk factors of male children developing ASD were feeding difficulties, poor living environment during pregnancy, maternal exposure to cigarette smoking during pregnancy, and perinatal hypoxia. Factors associated with ASD risk among were identified, such as living environment during pregnancy, delivery method, feeding difficulties, and epilepsy (P<0.05). Feeding difficulties and living in the countryside during pregnancy might be risk factors for ASD in girls according to the logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This survey confirmed the high prevalence of prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal factors in children with ASD. Some of these factors may be effective entry points for the prevention and treatment of ASD.

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