1. Albein-Urios N, Youssef G, Klas A, Enticott PG. {{Inner Speech Moderates the Relationship Between Autism Spectrum Traits and Emotion Regulation}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2020.
Inner speech processes are thought to be associated with decreases in cognitive performance in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although verbal thinking is also a key component in emotional responses, no studies have investigated whether inner speech is linked to emotion regulation in ASD. The aim of this study was to investigate whether inner speech moderates the relationship between ASD traits and emotion regulation strategies. Our results indicate that only the evaluative/motivational form of inner speech moderates the relationship between ASD traits and cognitive reappraisal; inner speech processes did not moderate the association between ASD traits and expressive suppression. These findings are a first step to further investigate the role of inner speech in affective and self-regulatory processes in ASD.
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2. Amodeo DA, Oliver B, Pahua A, Hitchcock K, Bykowski A, Tice D, Musleh A, Ryan BC. {{Serotonin 6 receptor blockade reduces repetitive behavior in the BTBR mouse model of autism spectrum disorder}}. {Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior}. 2020; 200: 173076.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by the expression of restricted repetitive behaviors (RRBs) and impairments in social recognition and communication. Previous studies have found that specific serotonin (5-HT) receptor modulation can attenuate repetitive behaviors expressed in specific mouse strains. The present study examined how 5-HT6 receptor blockade impacts the expression of repetitive behaviors in two different mouse strains that demonstrate elevated restricted, repetitive behavior and impairments in social behavior. BTBR T+ Itpr3tf /J (BTBR), C58/J (C58) and control C57BL/6J strains were behaviorally tested after acute treatment with the 5-HT6 receptor antagonist BGC 20-761 (BGC) or vehicle. BTBR mice express high levels of self-grooming behavior while C58 mice display high rates of repetitive jumping behavior. Similarly, the effect of 5-HT6 receptor blockade was also tested on social approach behaviors in both strains. BGC significantly reduced repetitive grooming in both female and male BTBR mice compared to vehicle-treated BTBR mice. BGC treatment did not attenuate social approach impairments in either female or male BTBR mice compared to vehicle-treated BTBR mice. Follow-up dose response studies were conducted on repetitive grooming and locomotor activity in BTBR mice. All doses reduced repetitive grooming in female and male BTBR mice. Acute treatment with BGC only reduced locomotor activity with the lower doses. In C58 mice, BGC treatment did not significantly attenuate flipping or general social approach behaviors. Instead, BGC significantly increased social sniff time in female C58 mice. While 5-HT6 receptor blockade did not attenuate the social impairments found in BTBR mice, this treatment did increase sniff time in female C58 mice. Although the lower doses of BGC deduced locomotion, the higher dose attenuated repetitive grooming in BTBR mice while sparing locomotor activity. Together these findings suggest the therapeutic effects of 5-HT6 receptor blockade are complex and may be specific to the types of repetitive behaviors expressed.
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3. Barkoski JM, Philippat C, Tancredi D, Schmidt RJ, Ozonoff S, Barr DB, Elms W, Bennett D, Hertz-Picciotto I. {{In utero pyrethroid pesticide exposure in relation to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental outcomes at 3 years in the MARBLES longitudinal cohort}}. {Environmental research}. 2020: 110495.
BACKGROUND: We assessed the relationships between prenatal pyrethroid pesticide exposure and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or non-typical development (non-TD) at 3 years. METHODS: Participants were mother-child pairs (n=201) in the MARBLES (Markers of Autism Risk in Babies-Learning Early Signs) cohort. Because familial recurrence risk is high, MARBLES enrolls pregnant women with a family history of ASD. Children were clinically assessed at 3 years of age and classified into 3 outcome categories: ASD, typically developing (TD), or non-TD (and not meeting criteria for ASD). Repeated maternal second and third trimester urine samples were analyzed for pyrethroid metabolite 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA). Multinomial logistic regression was used to obtain relative risk ratios (RRR) linking 3-PBA concentrations averaged across each trimester and over pregnancy with child’s outcome, either ASD or non-TD vs. TD. Models were adjusted for specific gravity, maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, prenatal vitamin use, birth year, home-ownership, and TCPy (3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol) pregnancy concentrations. RESULTS: The median specific gravity corrected 3-PBA concentration of all samples was 1.46 ng/ml. Greater second trimester 3-PBA concentrations were associated with modestly elevated relative risk ratios of ASD (RRR: 1.50 (95% CI 0.89 to 2.51), p = 0.12). There were no differences between non-TD and TD. CONCLUSIONS: This study found no evidence for differences in 3-PBA comparing non-TD with TD. A moderately elevated RRR was found comparing urinary 3-PBA concentrations for ASD versus TD; however, the confidence interval was wide and hence, these findings cannot be considered definitive.
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4. Bilaver LA, Sobotka SA, Mandell DS. {{Understanding Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Autism-Related Service Use Among Medicaid-Enrolled Children}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2020.
Racial and ethnic disparities in the use of nine common autism-related services among Medicaid-enrolled children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were examined, distinguishing between school and other community-based outpatient settings. Using 2012 Medicaid Analytic Extract data, we identified 117,848 continuously enrolled children with ASD. Several racial and ethnic disparities were found, varying by geography. Black, Asian, and Native American/Pacific Islanders received fewer outpatient services compared with white children, but there was no disparity for Latinx children. Black and Asian children received more school-based services than white children. Disparities in case management/care coordination services were largest and present in each minority group. Geographic variation in receipt of services suggests targets for policy intervention to improve access for minorities with ASD.
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5. Błażewicz A, Szymańska I, Dolliver W, Suchocki P, Turło J, Makarewicz A, Skórzyńska-Dziduszko K. {{Are Obese Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder More Likely to Be Selenium Deficient? Research Findings on Pre- and Post-Pubertal Children}}. {Nutrients}. 2020; 12(11).
Selenium is involved in many metabolic pathways that are critical for life. Information concerning the metabolic effects of selenium in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and obesity is still conflicting and incomplete. The pre- and post-pubertal selenium profiles of patients with ASD and obesity have not yet been investigated. The goal of the study was to examine selenium content before and after puberty in euthyroid children diagnosed with ASD, compared to age-matched neurotypical controls, with respect to overweight or obesity as a co-existing pathology. Serum, toenail, and 24h urine selenium levels were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in 287 prepubertal children (mean age 8.09 years), divided into groups: ASD with overweight/obesity (ASD+/Ob+); ASD without overweight/obesity (ASD+/Ob-); non-ASD with overweight/obesity (ASD-/Ob+); and non-ASD without overweight/obesity (ASD-/Ob-). The assessment was repeated in 258 of the children after puberty (mean age 14.26 years).The lowest serum (p < 0.001), urine (p < 0.001) and toenail (p < 0.001) selenium levels before and after puberty were observed in ASD+/Ob+ patients, and the highest in ASD-/Ob-. There were no differences in serum/toenail selenium levels between ASD+/Ob- and ASD-/Ob+ groups. The presence of ASD was associatedwith lower serum (p < 0.001) and toenail (p < 0.001) selenium in BMI-matched groups. In neurotypical patients, post-pubertal serum selenium levels were lower (p < 0.001) than pre-pubertal levels. In the multiple linear regression analyses, selenium levels showed inverse relationships with BMI (p < 0.001) and male gender (p < 0.001), irrespective of the sample type. The serum (p = 0.002) and toenail (p < 0.001) selenium levels were inversely associated with the presence of ASD. ASD, obesity/overweight, and male gender have independent impacts on selenium levels in children. Puberty may affect selenium content in neurotypical children of both genders, but not in ASD patients. Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
6. Chen S, Zhao S, Dalman C, Karlsson H, Gardner R. {{Association of maternal diabetes with neurodevelopmental disorders: autism spectrum disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and intellectual disability}}. {International journal of epidemiology}. 2020.
BACKGROUND: Maternal diabetes has been associated with a risk of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in offspring, though the common co-occurrence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and intellectual disability (ID) is rarely considered, nor is the potential for confounding by shared familial factors (e.g. genetics). METHODS: This population-based cohort study used data from Psychiatry Sweden, a linkage of Swedish national registers, to follow 2 369 680 individuals born from 1987 to 2010. We used population-averaged logit models to examine the association between exposure to maternal type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), pre-gestational type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and odds of NDDs in offspring. Subgroup analysis was then performed to investigate the timings of GDM diagnosis during pregnancy and its effect on the odds of NDDs in offspring. We compared these results to models considering paternal lifetime T1DM and T2DM as exposures. RESULTS: Overall, 45 678 individuals (1.93%) were diagnosed with ASD, 20 823 (0.88%) with ID and 102 018 (4.31%) with ADHD. All types of maternal diabetes were associated with odds of NDDs, with T2DM most strongly associated with any diagnosis of ASD (odds ratioadjusted 1.37, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.84), ID (2.09, 1.53-2.87) and ADHD (1.43, 1.16-1.77). Considering common co-morbid groups, the associations were strongest between maternal diabetes and diagnostic combinations that included ID. Paternal T1DM and T2DM diagnoses were also associated with offspring NDDs, but these associations were weaker than those with maternal diabetes. Diagnosis of GDM between 27 and 30 weeks of gestation was generally associated with the greatest risk of NDDs in offspring, with the strongest associations for outcomes that included ID. CONCLUSION: The association of maternal diabetes with NDDs in offspring varies depending on the co-morbid presentation of the NDDs, with the greatest odds associated with outcomes that included ID. Results of paternal-comparison studies suggest that the above associations are likely to be partly confounded by shared familial factors, such as genetic liability.
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7. Clarke EB, McCauley JB, Lord C. {{Post-High School Daily Living Skills Outcomes in Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry}. 2020.
OBJECTIVE: Daily living skills are a predictor of positive outcomes in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet little is known about trajectories of daily living skills in adults with ASD. This study investigated the impact of high school exit on participants’ trajectories of daily living skills age equivalent (DLS-AE) scores from ages 2-26 and the relationship between DLS-AE trajectories and employment and education outcomes. METHOD: 98 adults with ASD were drawn from an ongoing longitudinal study. The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales were administered 8 times from ages 2-26. Employment and education data were compiled from parent-report demographic forms. RESULTS: DLS-AE trajectories modestly increased with age prior to exiting school, at which point DLS-AE trajectories plateaued, then declined. A significant (p < .01) decrease occurred in the slope of DLS-AE trajectories following school exit. High DLS-AE scores predicted participation in post-secondary education (X(2) (5, n = 73) = 27.83, p < .001). Autism symptom severity predicted participation in employment (X(2) (5, n = 58) = 27.54, p < .001). CONCLUSION: These findings provide evidence that DLS declines in adults with ASD, specifically after school exit, and highlight the importance of DLS in normative adult outcomes. Future work should examine the trajectories of DLS in middle and later adulthood and consider intervention targets for bolstering DLS following school exit. Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
8. Corbett BA, Schwartzman JM, Libsack EJ, Muscatello RA, Lerner MD, Simmons GL, White SW. {{Camouflaging in Autism: Examining Sex-Based and Compensatory Models in Social Cognition and Communication}}. {Autism Res}. 2020.
Camouflaging refers to behavioral adaptations that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), especially females, use to mask symptoms during social situations. Compensation is a component of camouflaging in which an individual’s observed behavior is considerably better than actual ability. The study explored diagnostic, sex-based, and compensatory differences using the Contextual Assessment of Social Skills (CASS). The sample included 161 youth 10:0-to-16:11 years (115 males, 46 females). T-tests were performed based on sex (female, male) or High (good ADOS + poor Theory of Mind (TOM)) compared to Low (poor ADOS + poor TOM) Compensation groups. Comparisons were examined for Social Affect (SA), Restricted Repetitive Behavior, (RRB), IQ, social behavior (Positive Affect, Overall Involvement) and communication (Vocal Expression, Gestures). Females exhibited fewer RRB t(158) = 3.05, P = 0.003, d = 0.54. For the CASS, females evidenced more Vocal Expressiveness t(157) = -2.03, P = 0.05, d = 0.35, which corroborates sex-based differences in the literature. Compensation group differences indicated the High compared to Low group showed stronger Social and Communication behaviors on the CASS for Vocal Expression t(72) = 2.56, P = 0.01, d = 0.62, and overall rapport t(72) = 2.36, P = 0.02, d = 0.56. Several differences were observed when the groups were stratified based on level of compensation, with the High compensation participants showing stronger social engagement and communication behaviors. Findings may inform efforts to understand camouflaging, compensation, and clinical practices for male and female adolescents with ASD. A more nuanced consideration of camouflaging alongside compensation models reveals subtle differences in cognition, behavior, and affect that may reflect underlying profiles of challenge and strength in youth with ASD. LAY SUMMARY: Camouflaging refers to ways individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), especially females, mask symptoms. Compensation occurs when a person’s observed behavior appears more typical than what would be expected based on underlying ability and symptoms. The study explored camouflaging and compensation differences in 161 youth with ASD. Findings suggest sex-based differences with females showing better vocal expression. However, several compensation differences were observed with the High compensators showing stronger social communication and rapport. A more nuanced consideration of camouflaging using compensation models reveal subtle differences in underlying challenge and strength.
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9. Ekas NV, Kouros CD. {{A Pilot Study of Responses to Interparental Conflict in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2020.
Research supports that parents of children with ASD experience higher rates of marital conflict compared to parents of neurotypically developing (NT) children; however, no known research examining reactions to interparental conflict in children with ASD exists. This study compared emotional, behavioral, and physiological responses to interparental conflict in ASD (n = 21) and NT children (n = 29). Children were presented with videotaped interactions (constructive vs. destructive conflict) of actors and their reactions were measured. Children with ASD reported higher levels of negative emotions following constructive conflict compared to NT children. Parents of children with ASD rated their child’s emotional and behavioral responses to interparental conflict more negatively than parents of NT children. Comparable levels of physiological reactivity were found across both groups.
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10. Elnahas EM, Abuelezz SA, Mohamad MI, Nabil MM, Abdelraouf SM, Bahaa N, Hassan GA, Ibrahim EA, Ahmed AI, Aboul-Fotouh S. {{Validation of prenatal versus postnatal valproic acid rat models of autism: A behavioral and neurobiological study}}. {Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry}. 2020: 110185.
Despite the increasing prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there is still a deficiency in understanding its exact pathophysiology and treatment, therefore validation of translational ASD animal model is warranted. Although strong evidences support the valproic acid (VPA) model of autism, yet a controversy exists regarding the best timing of exposure whether prenatal or postnatal. Accordingly, this study was designed to compare the time dependent effects of VPA exposure as regard its ability to induce autistic like changes in male Wistar rats. In this study, two different protocols of VPA exposure (prenatal and postnatal) were compared at different levels (behavioral, neurochemical and histopathological). Results of this study revealed that both prenatal and postnatal VPA exposures induced autistic-like behaviors manifested by reduced social interaction, increased repetitive stereotyped behavior and anxiety, cognitive dysfunction, lowered sensitivity to pain, and neurodevelopmental delay. Furthermore, inflammatory cytokines and oxidative/nitrosative stress markers were elevated in prefrontal cortex and hippocampal homogenates. Likewise, histopathological and immunohistochemical assessment confirmed the neurodegenerative and the apoptotic changes in prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum exhibited by decreased viable cells number and Nissl’s granules optical density, and increased caspase-3 immunoreactivity respectively. Interestingly, ASD core symptoms and histopathological changes were significantly (P < 0.05) altered in prenatal VPA model compared to postnatal VPA model. Additionally, postnatal mortality in prenatal model (4.3%) was much lower compared to the postnatal model (22.7%). In conclusion, our study overweighs the ability of prenatal VPA model over postnatal VPA model to induce behavioral and neuropathological alterations that simulate those observed in autistic individuals with a lower postnatal animal mortality, highlighting the privilege of prenatal over postnatal VPA exposure as a translational model for understanding pathophysiology and developing novel targets for management of ASD. Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
11. Foster BA, Reynolds K, Callejo-Black A, Polensek N, Weill BC. {{Weight outcomes in children with developmental disabilities from a multidisciplinary clinic}}. {Res Dev Disabil}. 2020; 108: 103809.
BACKGROUND: Children with developmental disabilities experience disparately high rates of obesity yet there are few reports detailing clinical outcomes for this population. AIM: To describe outcomes of obesity treatment for children with developmental disabilities and a comparison group of children without developmental disabilities. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: We examined weight outcomes of children with and without developmental disabilities seen in a family-centered, multidisciplinary treatment center over a ten-year period. We stratified by age and developmental disability diagnosis. We assessed whether intake demographic or health behavior data was associated with successful reduction of adiposity over six and twelve month follow-up periods, using a ≥5% absolute reduction in percent over the 95th percentile body mass index (BMIp95) as the primary outcome. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Over a ten-year period, 148 of 556 children in the obesity clinic (27 %) had a developmental disability. In children <12 years of age, 36 % of children with developmental disabilities reduced their adiposity compared with 18 % of children without developmental disabilities at six months, p = .01. This pattern continued at twelve months. Active transport to school was associated with reduced adiposity for those without a disability. Older children with disabilities rarely had a significant reduction (2 of 26 children), and they took more medications with weight-related side effects. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Younger children with developmental disabilities experienced relative success in reducing their adiposity. Challenges to addressing obesity in this population include structural barriers to physical activity and medications for behavioral management with weight-related side effects. Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
12. Garcia-Forn M, Boitnott A, Akpinar Z, De Rubeis S. {{Linking Autism Risk Genes to Disruption of Cortical Development}}. {Cells}. 2020; 9(11).
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social communication and social interaction, and the presence of repetitive behaviors and/or restricted interests. In the past few years, large-scale whole-exome sequencing and genome-wide association studies have made enormous progress in our understanding of the genetic risk architecture of ASD. While showing a complex and heterogeneous landscape, these studies have led to the identification of genetic loci associated with ASD risk. The intersection of genetic and transcriptomic analyses have also begun to shed light on functional convergences between risk genes, with the mid-fetal development of the cerebral cortex emerging as a critical nexus for ASD. In this review, we provide a concise summary of the latest genetic discoveries on ASD. We then discuss the studies in postmortem tissues, stem cell models, and rodent models that implicate recently identified ASD risk genes in cortical development.
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13. Hall SS, Monlux KD, Rodriguez AB, Jo B, Pollard JS. {{Telehealth-enabled behavioral treatment for problem behaviors in boys with fragile X syndrome: a randomized controlled trial}}. {J Neurodev Disord}. 2020; 12(1): 31.
BACKGROUND: Children with fragile X syndrome (FXS) are at increased risk for exhibiting problem behaviors such as aggression and self-injury. However, many children with FXS have limited access to behavioral treatments that have known efficacy due to the low availability of treatment providers and the wide geographical dispersion of families with FXS across the country. Telehealth may offer a cost-effective and practical solution to overcome these significant barriers. We examined the effect of administering an established behavior analytic intervention called functional communication training (FCT) via telehealth on levels of problem behaviors exhibited by boys with FXS. We also examined treatment acceptability, as well as the effect of the treatment on levels of parenting stress. METHODS: Boys with FXS, aged 3 to 10 years, who displayed problem behaviors daily, were randomized to receive FCT via telehealth (n = 30) or treatment as usual (n = 27) over 12 weeks. Outcome measures included in-session observations of problem behavior, the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community (ABC-C), the Treatment Acceptability Rating Form-Revised (TARF-R), and the Parenting Stress Index, 4th edition (PSI-4). RESULTS: Intention-to-treat analyses indicated that scores on the irritability subscale of the ABC-C, our primary outcome measure, decreased significantly for boys who received FCT via telehealth compared to boys who received treatment as usual (p < .001, Cohen's d = 0.65). In-session observations conducted for those who received treatment showed that levels of problem behavior decreased by 91% from baseline. Levels of parenting stress related to child behavioral problems were also lower following FCT treatment, and caregivers reported that the intervention was acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support telehealth-enabled FCT as a framework for expanding access to behavioral treatments for problem behaviors in children with FXS. Expanded delivery of behavior analytic treatment via telehealth also has the potential to lower healthcare costs, improve child and family quality of life, and lead to advances in the treatment of problem behavior in the broader population of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03510156 . Registered 27 April 2018. Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
14. Hendren RL. {{Editorial: What to Do About Rigid, Repetitive Behaviors in Autism Spectrum Disorder?}}. {J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry}. 2020.
Rigid, repetitive behaviors (RRBs) as a part of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are perplexing and challenging to treat effectively. First, how is it that they associate with deficits in social communication and social interaction to create a strong symptomatic association for the DSM-5 diagnosis of ASD?(1) Deficits in social communication make sense in how they define a developmental disorder, but what is the mechanism by which social interaction and RRBs connect to define the classification of ASD? Perhaps it is that, rather than by neurotransmitters or linked structural brain regions, ASD is a neural systems condition mediated by abnormalities in regionally distributed cortical networks.(2).
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15. Jalbrzikowski M. {{Neuroimaging Phenotypes Associated With Risk and Resilience for Psychosis and Autism Spectrum Disorders in 22q11.2 Microdeletion Syndrome}}. {Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging}. 2020.
Identification of biological risk factors that contribute to the development of complex neuropsychiatric disorders such as psychosis and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is key for early intervention and detection. Furthermore, parsing the biological heterogeneity associated with these neuropsychiatric syndromes will help us understand the neural mechanisms underlying psychiatric symptom development. The 22q11.2 microdeletion syndrome (22q11DS) is caused by a recurrent genetic mutation that carries significantly increased risk for developing psychosis and/or ASD. In this review, I provide an brief introduction to 22q11DS and discuss common phenotyping strategies that are used to assess psychosis and ASD in this population. I then summarize neuroimaging phenotypes associated with psychosis and ASD in 22q11.DS. Next, I discuss challenges within the field and provide practical suggestions to overcome these obstacles. Finally, I discuss future directions for moving 22q11DS risk and resilience research forward.
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16. Noda H, Tokunaga A, Imamura A, Tanaka G, Iwanaga R. {{Visual Attention Affects Late Somatosensory Processing in Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {Int J Neurosci}. 2020: 1-10.
Purpose: Somatosensory processing problems are often reported in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), along with an abnormal multimodal integration of visual, tactile, or proprioceptive information. However, the effects of visual stimulation and attention on somatosensory processing in ASD remains unknown. This study explores the effects of visual attention on somatosensory processing in ASD. Materials and Methods: The neural activity in somatosensory areas and associated regions was investigated by measuring somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) elicited by median nerve stimulation, in 3 different conditions (closed eyes, open eyes, and focused attention to a visual task). Nine individuals with ASD and 9 typically developing (TD) individuals participated in the study. Results: There were significant interactions between groups (ASD, TD) and conditions (closed eye, open eye, visual task requiring focused attention) for P100-N140 SEP amplitudes evaluated by 2-way analysis of variance. Post-hoc analyses revealed that the P100-N140 amplitude with closed eyes recorded larger SEPs in the ASD group than in the TD group at C3′ of the international 10-20 system. In the ASD group, the P100-N140 amplitude elicited smaller responses during visual tasks than with closed or open eyes. There were no significant differences in N20-P25 SEP components. Conclusions: These findings suggest that visual attention affects the later stages of somatosensory processing in individuals with ASD.
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17. Petit-Frere P, Miltenberger RG. {{Evaluating a modified behavioral skills training procedure for teaching poison prevention skills to children with autism}}. {Journal of applied behavior analysis}. 2020.
Accidental poisonings can occur for children with disabilities as a result of ingesting household products, such as medications and cleaning chemicals, if the products are not stored safely. Behavioral approaches such as behavioral skills training (BST) have been used in previous research to teach safety skills to children with disabilities. However, research suggests that BST is not always effective for teaching safety skills to children with and without disabilities. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a modified BST package that incorporated a system of least prompts. A nonconcurrent multiple baseline design across participants was used to evaluate the effects of intervention with three 6-8-year-old children with autism. Results showed that BST with the prompt sequence increased poison prevention skills for all 3 participants and the skills maintained at follow-up.
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18. Phan L, Tariq A, Lam G, Pang EW, Alain C. {{The Neurobiology of Semantic Processing in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Activation Likelihood Estimation Analysis}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2020.
Semantic processing impairments are present in a proportion of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite the numerous imaging studies investigating this language domain in ASD, there is a lack of consensus regarding the brain structures showing abnormal pattern of activity. This meta-analysis aimed to identify neural activation patterns present during semantic processing in ASD. Findings reveal activation of areas associated with semantic processing and executive functions in ASD. However, the activation was less concise in comparison to controls and there was less activation in the right hemisphere and in areas associated with executive functions. This provides strong support for impaired semantic processing in ASD that is consistently associated with abnormal patterns of neural activity in the semantic network.
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19. Samadi SA, Bakhshalizadeh-Moradi S, Khandani F, Foladgar M, Poursaid-Mohammad M, McConkey R. {{Using Hybrid Telepractice for Supporting Parents of Children with ASD during the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Feasibility Study in Iran}}. {Brain Sci}. 2020; 10(11).
During the three-month closure of clinics and day centers in Iran due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown, parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) became solely responsible for their care and education. Although centers maintained telephone contact, it quickly became evident that parents needed more detailed advice and guidance. Staff from 30 daycare centers volunteered to take part in a two-month online support and training course for 336 caregivers of children with ASD of different ages. In addition to the provision of visual and written information, synchronous video sessions were used to coach parents on the learning goals devised for the children. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected to understand the acceptability of using telepractice and the outcomes achieved. A low dropout rate and positive feedback from parents indicated that they perceived telepractice sessions to be useful. The factors contributing to parents’ satisfaction were identified. Although the use of telepractice would be a good alternative for caregivers in any future lockdowns, it could also be used in conjunction with daycare center services to encourage greater parental participation, or with families living in areas with no day centers. Further studies are needed to compare telepractice to usual daycare face-to-face interventions, and to document its impact and cost-effectiveness for parents and children.
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20. Santoro G, Castaldi B, Cuman M, Di Candia A, Pizzuto A, Sirico D, Cantinotti M, Garibaldi S, Pak V, Di Salvo G. {{Trans-catheter atrial septal defect closure with the new GORE® Cardioform ASD occluder: First European experience}}. {International journal of cardiology}. 2020.
BACKGROUND: This perspective, observational study evaluated safety and efficacy of the GORE® Cardioform ASD Occluder (WL Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ), compliant and potentially innovative prosthesis recently approved for closure of ostium secundum atrial septal defects (ASD). METHODS: Between January and June 2020, 43 unselected patients with -significant ASD were submitted to trans-catheter closure with GORE® Cardioform ASD Occluder at two high-volume Italian Pediatric Cardiology centers. Primary endpoints were procedural success and safety. Secondary endpoints were closure rate and clinical safety at 1-month follow-up. RESULTS: Patients’ age and weight were 8.2 ± 3.9 years (range 3-21, median 9.9) and 29.6 ± 15.3 kg (range 16-57, median 33.3), respectively. ASD diameter was 16.6 ± 4.5 mm (median 10), resulting in QP/QS of 1.7 ± 0.7 (median 1.6). Seventeen pts. (39.5%) were considered « surgical » candidates due to challenging septum morphology, ASD rim deficiency or ASD diameter/patient weight ratio ≥ 1.2. Device placement was successfully achieved in all but one patient (97.7%), in whom it embolized early after deployment, resulting in rescue surgical repair. No cross-over with different devices was recorded. Median procedure and fluoroscopy times were 40 and 6.8 min, respectively. Major adverse events were recorded in 7.0% (3 pts). Complete closure rate was 78.5% at discharge, rising to 92.9% (39/42 pts) at 1 month evaluation, without cardiac or extra-cardiac adverse events. « Challenging » procedures were more time-consuming but as effective and safe as the « simple » ones. CONCLUSIONS: The GORE® Cardioform ASD Occluder device was highly effective and versatile in closure of ASDs with different anatomy and size, even in challenging settings.
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21. Santos FH, Zurek J, Janicki MP. {{Efficacy of Healthy Aging Interventions for Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review}}. {The Gerontologist}. 2020.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is a lack of information on intervention strategies employed for health promotion and disease prevention for older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), who usually experience poorer health compared to their peers without IDD. We carried out the first systematic review to scrutinize the impact of intrinsic factors (e.g., cognitive, mental, and physical health, etc.), on health status of older adults with IDD. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: To assess the efficacy of such interventions, we examined 23 articles including prospective ‘healthy aging’ interventions designed for adults with IDD. Searches were carried out in the databases Web of Science; Scielo; PsycINFO in April 2020. Articles were organized in thematic areas: (1) Physical activity and health nutrition (n=10); (2) Health education and health screening (n=6); (3) Social inclusion and community participation (n=3); and (4) Multi-components (n=4). Except for five RCT studies, the designs were mainly non-randomized, involving small sample sizes (Nrange = 8 to 379 participants), and lacking follow up. RESULTS: The studies included 2,398 men and women with IDD (ranging in age from 18 to 86 years [mean age: 44.3 yrs.]). Overall, intervention outcomes were mostly positive, however some negative outcomes were reported. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: In brief, healthy aging interventions for people with IDD remain scarce, incipient, and sporadic. We recommend that more attention needs to be given to active health promotion with people with IDD as a program practice among organizations and as a focal public policy among governments.
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22. Stanton K, DeLucia EA, Brown MFD, McDonnell CG. {{Advancing understanding of the classification of broad autism phenotype and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptom dimensions within the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology}}. {Personality and mental health}. 2020.
Research on personality and psychopathology associations has informed the classification of many symptom dimensions within the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP). However, classification of symptom dimensions defining autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) within the HiTOP framework remains unclear in many ways. To address this issue, we examined the joint factor structure of (a) measures assessing characteristics relevant to ADHD and autism and (b) normal range personality traits in a sample of 547 adults recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk, many of whom reported elevated autism-relevant and ADHD-relevant characteristics. We also examined how factors identified in these analyses correlated with measures of internalizing symptoms and select externalizing traits. Our results indicated that some measures assessing autism-relevant and ADHD-relevant characteristics (e.g. communication issues, hyperactivity/impulsivity) defined a distinct Attention and Communication Difficulties factor, with scores on this factor correlating strongly with internalizing symptom ratings. However, other relevant characteristics such as aloofness may be indicators of existing HiTOP spectra such as detachment. We discuss how these findings inform classification of autism-relevant and ADHD-relevant characteristics within the HiTOP, as well as key future directions for extending the limited research in this area.
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23. Thapa R, Pokorski I, Ambarchi Z, Thomas E, Demayo M, Boulton K, Matthews S, Patel S, Sedeli I, Hickie IB, Guastella AJ. {{Heart Rate Variability in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Associations With Medication and Symptom Severity}}. {Autism Res}. 2020.
Decreased heart rate variability (HRV) is considered a common marker of autonomic dysfunction that contributes to poor health outcomes. While some studies have suggested that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show reduced HRV, research is yet to consider whether this may be associated with medication use and symptom severity. This study examined the relationship between resting state HRV, medication use and symptom severity in children diagnosed with ASD. Children with ASD (N = 86), aged between 3 and 12 years (M = 8.09), were compared to 44 neurotypical children of similar age (M = 7.15). Laboratory assessment of HRV involved 5 min of non-invasive baseline electrocardiogram assessments while participants viewed an age-appropriate non-verbal animated video. Time-domain and frequency-domain HRV measures were analyzed. ASD symptom severity was assessed using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second Edition (ADOS-2) and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2). Results indicated that children with ASD exhibited reduced resting HRV relative to neurotypical children. Subsequent analyses within the ASD group suggested that this group difference was greater in children who were taking psychotropic medication (N = 36). Our data also provides tentative evidence of a relationship between HRV and social impairment symptoms in children with ASD, with more severe repetitive behaviors (as measured by the ADOS-2) associated with decreased resting HRV. Overall, these findings suggest that HRV may be atypical in children with ASD and suggest the importance of exploring HRV as a risk factor for cardiovascular health in this group. LAY SUMMARY: Cardiac activity, such as heart rate variability (HRV), can provide insight into the autonomic nervous system. This study reports on the association between resting-state HRV and autonomic nervous system activity in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to neurotypical children. These results may help us understand what underlies autonomic nervous system dysfunction and the potential pathophysiological mechanisms leading to increased cardiovascular risk in ASD.
