1. Capozza LE, Bimstein E. {{Preferences of parents of children with autism spectrum disorders concerning oral health and dental treatment}}. {Pediatric dentistry}. 2012;34(7):480-4.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the preferences of parents of children with or without autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) concerning oral health and dental treatment. METHODS: A questionnaire that queried demographics, dental needs, perceptions of dental materials and treatments, and parental concerns regarding relevant ASD issues in medicine and dentistry was distributed in the waiting rooms of a pediatric dental clinic and an autism clinic to parents or legal guardians of children undergoing treatment. The responses for the children with or without ASDs were compared. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences between the ASDs (n=23) and non-ASDs (n=33) groups existed for: parental age; frequency of dental visits per year; supervision of tooth-brushing; and use of a fluoridated toothpaste. Statistically insignificant differences were found in attitudes toward: amalgam; composite; fluoride products; or behavior guidance techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Parents or legal guardians of children with autism spectrum disorders are likely to have special beliefs and preferences regarding dental materials and dental behavior guidance.
2. Ellegood J, Babineau BA, Henkelman RM, Lerch JP, Crawley JN. {{Neuroanatomical analysis of the BTBR mouse model of autism using magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging}}. {NeuroImage}. 2012 Dec 26.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by abnormal reciprocal social interactions, communication deficits, and repetitive behaviours with restricted interests. Autism-relevant phenotypes in the inbred mouse strain BTBR T+tf/J (BTBR) offer translational tools to discover biological mechanisms underlying unusual mouse behaviours analogous to symptoms of autism. Two of the most consistent findings with BTBR are lack of sociability as measured by the three-chamber social approach task and increased amount of time engaged in self-grooming in an empty cage. Here we evaluated BTBR as compared to two typical inbred strains with high sociability and low self-grooming, C57BL/6J (B6) and FVB/AntJ (FVB), on both the automated three-chambered social approach task and repetitive self-grooming assays. Brains from the behaviourally tested mice were analyzed using magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging to investigate potential neuroanatomical abnormalities throughout the brain; specifically, to discover neuroanatomical mechanisms which could explain the autism-relevant behavioural abnormalities. Significant differences in volume and white matter microstructure were detected in multiple anatomical regions throughout the brain of BTBR compared to B6 and FVB. Further, significant correlations were found between behavioural measures and areas of the brain known to be associated with those behaviours. For example, striatal volume was strongly correlated to time spent in self-grooming across strains. Our findings suggest that neuropathology exists in BTBR beyond the previously reported white matter abnormalities in the corpus callosum and hippocampal commissure and that these brain differences may be related to the behavioural abnormalities seen in BTBR.
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3. Gayle LC, Gal DE, Kieffaber PD. {{Measuring affective reactivity in individuals with autism spectrum personality traits using the visual mismatch negativity event-related brain potential}}. {Frontiers in human neuroscience}. 2012;6:334.
The primary aim of this research was to determine how modulation of the visual mismatch negativity (vMMN) by emotionally laden faces is related to autism spectrum personality traits. Emotionally neutral faces served as the standard stimuli and happy and sad expressions served as vMMN-eliciting deviants. Consistent with prior research, it was anticipated that the amplitude of the vMMN would be increased for emotionally salient stimuli. Extending this finding, it was expected that this emotion-based amplitude sensitivity of the vMMN would be decreased in individuals with higher levels of autism spectrum personality traits as measured by the Adult Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ). Higher AQ scores were associated with smaller amplitudes of the vMMN in response to happy, but not sad emotional deviants. The fact that higher AQ scores were associated with less sensitivity only to happy emotional expressions is interpreted to be consistent with the negative experience of social interactions reported by individuals who are high on the autism spectrum. This research suggests that the vMMN elicited by deviant emotional expressions may be a useful indicator of affective reactivity and may thus be related to social competency in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
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4. Ghanizadeh A. {{Co-morbidity and factor analysis on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder DSM-IV-derived items}}. {Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences}. 2012 Apr;17(4):368-72.
BACKGROUND: There is a gap in the literature regarding the extent of possible co-occurrence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). This study aimed to investigate co-occurring of ADHD in children with PDD. METHODS: A clinical sample of 68 children with PDD was assessed according to DSM-IV criteria to make ADHD and/ or PDD diagnoses. All the different types of PDD were included. DSM-IV derived criteria for ADHD and PDD were analyzed. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted. RESULTS: the rate of autism, Asperger syndrome, Rett’s disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder and PDD-NOS (not otherwise specified) was 55.4%, 16.9%, 3.1%, 3.1%, 21.5%, respectively. 53.8% of the sample was with ADHD co-morbidity. The rate of ADHD subtypes was 37.1%, 22.9%, and 40.0% for inattentive type, hyperactivity/impulsivity type and combined type, respectively. CONCLUSION: ADHD and its symptoms highly co-occur with PDD. Meanwhile, the result of factor analysis supports the independence of ADHD and PDD diagnostic criteria.
5. Lugnegard T, Unenge Hallerback M, Hjarthag F, Gillberg C. {{Social cognition impairments in Asperger syndrome and schizophrenia}}. {Schizophrenia research}. 2012 Dec 21.
Social cognition impairments are well described in both autism spectrum disorders, including Asperger syndrome (AS), and in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. However, little is known about whether there are differences between the two groups of disorders regarding this ability. The aim of this study was to compare social cognition abilities in AS and schizophrenia. Fifty-three individuals (26 men, 27 women) with a clinical diagnosis of AS, 36 (22 men, 14 women) with a clinical diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis, and 50 non-clinical controls (19 men, 31 women) participated in the study. Clinical diagnoses were confirmed either by Structured Clinical Interview on DSM-IV diagnosis or the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders. Verbal ability was assessed using the Vocabulary subtest of the WAIS-III. Two social cognition instruments were used: Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (Eyes Test) and the Animations Task. On the Eyes Test, patients with schizophrenia showed poorer results compared to non-clinical controls; however, no other group differences were seen. Both clinical groups scored significantly lower than the comparison group on the Animations Task. The AS group performed somewhat better than the schizophrenia group. Some differences were accounted for by gender effects. Implicit social cognition impairments appear to be at least as severe in schizophrenia as they are in AS. Possible gender differences have to be taken into account in future research on this topic.
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6. Renda MM, Voigt RG, Babovic-Vuksanovic D, Highsmith WE, Vinson SS, Sadowski CM, Hagerman RJ. {{Neurodevelopmental Disabilities in Children With Intermediate and Premutation Range Fragile X Cytosine-Guanine-Guanine Expansions}}. {Journal of child neurology}. 2012 Dec 23.
To determine the range of neurodevelopmental diagnoses associated with intermediate (45-54 repeats) and premutation (55-200 repeats) range cytosine-guanine-guanine fragile X expansions, the medical records of children with intermediate or premutation range expansions were retrospectively reviewed, and all neurodevelopmental diagnoses were abstracted. Twenty-nine children (9 female, 20 male; age, 13 months to 17 years) with intermediate (n = 25) or premutation (n = 4) range expansions were identified with neurodevelopmental diagnoses, including global developmental delay/intellectual disability (n = 15), language and learning disorders (n = 9), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (n = 5), epilepsy (n = 5), and motor disorders (n = 12), including 2 boys younger than 4 years of age with tremor and ataxia. Thus, children with intermediate or premutation range fragile X cytosine-guanine-guanine expansions may be more susceptible than children without such expansions to other processes, both genetic and environmental, that contribute to neurodevelopmental disability.
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7. Swartz JR, Wiggins JL, Carrasco M, Lord C, Monk CS. {{Amygdala habituation and prefrontal functional connectivity in youth with autism spectrum disorders}}. {Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry}. 2013 Jan;52(1):84-93.
OBJECTIVE: Amygdala habituation, the rapid decrease in amygdala responsiveness to the repeated presentation of stimuli, is fundamental to the nervous system. Habituation is important for maintaining adaptive levels of arousal to predictable social stimuli and decreased habituation is associated with heightened anxiety. Input from the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) regulates amygdala activity. Although previous research has shown abnormal amygdala function in youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), no study has examined amygdala habituation in a young sample or whether habituation is related to amygdala connectivity with the vmPFC. METHOD: Data were analyzed from 32 children and adolescents with ASD and 56 typically developing controls who underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing a gender identification task for faces that were fearful, happy, sad, or neutral. Habituation was tested by comparing amygdala activation to faces during the first half versus the second half of the session. VmPFC-amygdala connectivity was examined through psychophysiologic interaction analysis. RESULTS: Youth with ASD had decreased amygdala habituation to sad and neutral faces compared with controls. Moreover, decreased amygdala habituation correlated with autism severity as measured by the Social Responsiveness Scale. There was a group difference in vmPFC-amygdala connectivity while viewing sad faces, and connectivity predicted amygdala habituation to sad faces in controls. CONCLUSIONS: Sustained amygdala activation to faces suggests that repeated face presentations are processed differently in individuals with ASD, which could contribute to social impairments. Abnormal modulation of the amygdala by the vmPFC may play a role in decreased habituation.
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8. Wang IT, Allen M, Goffin D, Zhu X, Fairless AH, Brodkin ES, Siegel SJ, Marsh ED, Blendy JA, Zhou Z. {{Loss of CDKL5 disrupts kinome profile and event-related potentials leading to autistic-like phenotypes in mice}}. {Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A}. 2012 Dec 26;109(52):21516-21.
Mutations in the X-linked cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) gene have been identified in neurodevelopmental disorders including atypical Rett syndrome (RTT), autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), and early infantile epileptic encephalopathy. The biological function of CDKL5 and its role in the etiology of these disorders, however, remain unclear. Here we report the development of a unique knockout mouse model of CDKL5-related disorders and demonstrate that mice lacking CDKL5 show autistic-like deficits in social interaction, as well as impairments in motor control and fear memory. Neurophysiological recordings reveal alterations in event-related potentials (ERPs) similar to those observed in RTT and ASDs. Moreover, kinome profiling uncovers disruption of multiple signal transduction pathways, including the AKT-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) cascade, upon Cdkl5 loss-of-function. These data demonstrate that CDKL5 regulates signal transduction pathways and mediates autistic-like phenotypes and together establish a causal role for Cdkl5 loss-of-function in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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9. Weil TN, Inglehart MR. {{Three- to 21-year-old Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Parents’ Perceptions of Severity of Symptoms, Oral Health, and Oral Health-related Behavior}}. {Pediatric dentistry}. 2012;34(7):473-9.
PURPOSE: The purpose was to explore the relationship between the level of functioning (listening/talking/reading/daily self-care/care at home/social skills) of three to 21-year-old patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and their oral health and oral health-related behavior (brushing, flossing, dental visits). METHODS: Survey data were collected from 85 parents of ASD patients. Patients’ level of functioning was determined with a short version of the Survey Interview Form of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (2nd edition). RESULTS: The patients ranged from very low to high levels of functioning. Oral health correlated with the ability to: listen (r=.53; P<.001); talk (r=.40; P<.001); read (r=.30; P<.01); engage in daily self-care (r=.36; P<.001); engage in care at home (r=.44; P<.001); and demonstrate social skills (r=.36; P<.001). The parents’ comfort levels concerning brushing and flossing their children’s teeth and taking their children to the dentist varied considerably and correlated with children’s level of functioning. Frequency of tooth-brushing correlated with listening skills (r=31; P<.01); the frequency of flossing correlated with the ability to talk (r=.31; P<.01). CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the relationships between level of functioning of children with ASDs and their oral health and oral health-related behavior could increase dentists’ ability to provide the best possible care for these patients.
