1. Amr M, Bu Ali W, Hablas H, Raddad D, El-Mehesh F, El-Gilany AH, Al-Shamy H. {{Sociodemographic factors in Arab children with Autism Spectrum Disorders}}. {Pan Afr Med J};2012;13:65.
INTRODUCTION: There is a critical gap in Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) research with respect to manifestations of the condition in developing countries This study examined the influence of sociodemographic variables on the severity of autistic symptoms and behavioral profile in Arab children. METHODS: The total study sample comprised of 60 Arab children (38 boys and 22 girls) from three Arab countries (22 Jordanians, 19 Saudis and 19 Egyptians). The diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) was based on DSM-IV criteria supplemented by direct observation according to the Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA) and assessment of Intelligent Quotient (IQ). Finally, parents rated their child on the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). RESULTS: It was found that the housewives and Saudi parents described more autistic symptoms and externalizing behavior problems. A significant negative correlation was found between IQ and each of ISAA, CBCL Internalizing and Externalizing problems scores. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that the clinical presentation of ASD may be shaped by cultural factors that are likely to help to formulate specific diagnosis and intervention techniques in Arab children with ASD.
2. Berger KA. {{Praxis and autism: the psychomotor regulation sensory processing dimension-a report from the field}}. {Front Integr Neurosci};2012;6:129.
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3. Christakou A, Murphy CM, Chantiluke K, Cubillo AI, Smith AB, Giampietro V, Daly E, Ecker C, Robertson D, Murphy DG, Rubia K. {{Disorder-specific functional abnormalities during sustained attention in youth with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and with Autism}}. {Mol Psychiatry};2013 (Feb);18(2):264.
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4. Classen S, Monahan M. {{Evidence-based review on interventions and determinants of driving performance in teens with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or autism spectrum disorder}}. {Traffic Inj Prev};2013;14(2):188-193.
Objective: We conducted an evidence-based review of intervention studies and predictor studies related to driving outcomes in teens with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: Ten primary studies were classified using the American Academy of Neurology’s criteria (class I-IV, I = highest level of evidence). We provided recommendations including Level A: intervention/factors are effective/predictive or not; Level B: probably effective/predictive or not; Level C: possibly effective/predictive or not; Level U: no recommendations. Results: For the intervention studies we identified 1 Class II and 1 Class III study; for predictor studies, we identified 7 ADHD studies consisting of 1 Class II and 6 Class III studies. Only 1 Class III ASD study was found. In synopsizing the evidence, the following recommendations are made for the intervention studies pertaining to on-road performance in teens with ADHD: a multimodal intervention is possibly effective in improving driving performance (Level C); stimulants possibly do not affect driving negatively (Level C); no recommendations can be made for hazard perception training in ADHD or ASD (Level U). Consider the following recommendations useful for simulated driving performance: Stimulants possibly improve driving performance (Level C); ADHD diagnosis and being unmedicated possibly worsen driving performance (Level C); no recommendations for driving in low-stimulus conditions (Level U). From self-/proxy report, no recommendations can be made related to gender or ADHD subtype affecting adverse driving outcomes (Level U). Conclusion: Class I studies with Level A recommendations, currently lacking in the literature, are urgently needed to make clear the mechanism underlying driving performance outcomes in ADHD and ASD. Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher’s online edition of Traffic Injury Prevention for the following supplemental resource: Table: Evidence-based Synopsis of ADHD, ASD and Driving Performance: Variables, Sample, Findings & Rationale.
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5. Grabrucker AM. {{Environmental factors in autism}}. {Front Psychiatry};2012;3:118.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impairments in communication and social behavior, and by repetitive behaviors. Although genetic factors might be largely responsible for the occurrence of autism they cannot fully account for all cases and it is likely that in addition to a certain combination of autism-related genes, specific environmental factors might act as risk factors triggering the development of autism. Thus, the role of environmental factors in autism is an important area of research and recent data will be discussed in this review. Interestingly, the results show that many environmental risk factors are interrelated and their identification and comparison might unveil a common scheme of alterations on a contextual as well as molecular level. For example, both, disruption in the immune system and in zinc homeostasis may affect synaptic transmission in autism. Thus, here, a model is proposed that interconnects the most important and scientifically recognized environmental factors. Moreover, similarities in how these risk factors impact synapse function are discussed and a possible influence on an already well described genetic pathway leading to the development of autism via zinc homeostasis is proposed.
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6. Hahn S. {{Environments and autistic spectrum conditions}}. {Nurs Times};2012 (Dec 4-10);108(49):23-25.
Sensory differences for people with autistic spectrum conditions (ASC) have considerable impacts on their experiences and ability to function. In hospitals and other care settings, it may be difficult for this group to feel safe and comfortable. This article highlights the sensory differences and needs of people with ASC, and the impact that failure to understand these differences can have on them and those around them. It outlines nurses’ roles in assessment, planning, intervention and management of the environment.
7. Lee JY, Leonard H, Piek JP, Downs J. {{Early development and regression in Rett syndrome}}. {Clin Genet};2013 (Jan 25)
This study utilised developmental profiling to examine symptom presentation in 14 girls with genetically confirmed Rett Syndrome and whose family was participating in the Australian Rett Syndrome or InterRett database. Regression was mostly characterised by loss of hand and/or communication skills (13/14) except one girl demonstrated slowing of skill development. Social withdrawal and inconsolable crying often developed simultaneously (9/14) with social withdrawal of shorter duration than inconsolable crying. Previously acquired gross motor skills declined in just over half of the sample (8/14), mostly observed as a loss of balance. Early abnormalities such as vomiting and strabismus were also seen. Our findings provide additional insight into the early clinical profile of Rett syndrome.
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8. Napoli E, Wong S, Giulivi C. {{Evidence of reactive oxygen species-mediated damage to mitochondrial DNA in children with typical autism}}. {Mol Autism};2013 (Jan 25);4(1):2.
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) is particularly susceptible to damage mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although elevated ROS production and elevated biomarkers of oxidative stress have been found in tissues from children with autism spectrum disorders, evidence for damage to mtDNA is lacking. METHODS: mtDNA deletions were evaluated in peripheral blood monocytic cells (PBMC) isolated from 2–5 year old children with full autism (AU; n = 67), and typically developing children (TD; n = 46) and their parents enrolled in the CHildhood Autism Risk from Genes and Environment study (CHARGE) at University of California Davis. Sequence variants were evaluated in mtDNA segments from AU and TD children (n = 10; each) and their mothers representing 31.2% coverage of the entire human mitochondrial genome. RESULTS: Increased mtDNA damage in AU children was evidenced by (i) higher frequency of mtDNA deletions (2-fold), (ii) higher number of GC[rightwards arrow]AT transitions (2.4-fold), being GC preferred sites for oxidative damage, and (iii) higher frequency of G,C,T[rightwards arrow]A transitions (1.6-fold) suggesting a higher incidence of polymerase gamma incorporating mainly A at bypassed apurinic/apyrimidinic sites, probably originated from oxidative stress. The last two outcomes were identical to their mothers suggesting the inheritance of a template consistent with increased oxidative damage, whereas the frequency of mtDNA deletions in AU children was similar to that of their fathers. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a combination of genetic and epigenetic factors, taking place during perinatal periods, results in a mtDNA template in children with autism similar to that expected for older individuals.
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9. Said CP, Egan RD, Minshew NJ, Behrmann M, Heeger DJ. {{Normal binocular rivalry in autism: Implications for the excitation/inhibition imbalance hypothesis}}. {Vision Res};2013 (Jan 25);77:59-66.
Autism is characterized by disruption in multiple dimensions of perception, emotion, language and social cognition. Many hypotheses for the underlying neurophysiological basis have been proposed. Among these is the excitation/inhibition (E/I) imbalance hypothesis, which states that levels of cortical excitation and inhibition are disrupted in autism. We tested this theory in the visual system, because vision is one of the better understood systems in neuroscience, and because the E/I imbalance theory has been proposed to explain hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli in autism. We conducted two experiments on binocular rivalry, a well-studied psychophysical phenomenon that depends critically on excitation and inhibition levels in cortex. Using a computational model, we made specific predictions about how imbalances in excitation and inhibition levels would affect perception during two aspects of binocular rivalry: mixed perception (Experiment 1) and traveling waves (Experiment 2). We found no significant differences in either of these phenomena between high-functioning adults with autism and controls, and no evidence for a relationship between these measurements and the severity of autism. These results do not conclusively rule out an excitation/inhibition imbalance in the visual system of those with autism, but they suggest that such an imbalance, if it exists, is likely to be small in magnitude.
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10. Sturm V, Fricke O, Buhrle CP, Lenartz D, Maarouf M, Treuer H, Mai JK, Lehmkuhl G. {{DBS in the basolateral amygdala improves symptoms of autism and related self-injurious behavior: a case report and hypothesis on the pathogenesis of the disorder}}. {Front Hum Neurosci};2012;6:341.
We treated a 13-year-old boy for life-threatening self-injurious behavior (SIB) and severe Kanner’s autism with deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the amygdaloid complex as well as in the supra-amygdaloid projection system. Two DBS-electrodes were placed in both structures of each hemisphere. The stimulation contacts targeted the paralaminar, the basolateral (BL), the central amygdala as well as the supra-amygdaloid projection system. DBS was applied to each of these structures, but only stimulation of the BL part proved effective in improving SIB and core symptoms of the autism spectrum in the emotional, social, and even cognitive domains over a follow up of now 24 months. These results, which have been gained for the first time in a patient, support hypotheses, according to which the amygdala may be pivotal in the pathogeneses of autism and point to the special relevance of the BL part.
