1. Anwar A, Abruzzo PM, Pasha S, Rajpoot K, Bolotta A, Ghezzo A, Marini M, Posar A, Visconti P, Thornalley PJ, Rabbani N. {{Advanced glycation endproducts, dityrosine and arginine transporter dysfunction in autism – a source of biomarkers for clinical diagnosis}}. {Mol Autism}. 2018; 9: 3.
Background: Clinical chemistry tests for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are currently unavailable. The aim of this study was to explore the diagnostic utility of proteotoxic biomarkers in plasma and urine, plasma protein glycation, oxidation, and nitration adducts, and related glycated, oxidized, and nitrated amino acids (free adducts), for the clinical diagnosis of ASD. Methods: Thirty-eight children with ASD (29 male, 9 female; age 7.6 +/- 2.0 years) and 31 age-matched healthy controls (23 males, 8 females; 8.6 +/- 2.0 years) were recruited for this study. Plasma protein glycation, oxidation, and nitration adducts and amino acid metabolome in plasma and urine were determined by stable isotopic dilution analysis liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Machine learning methods were then employed to explore and optimize combinations of analyte data for ASD diagnosis. Results: We found that children with ASD had increased advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs), Nepsilon-carboxymethyl-lysine (CML) and Nomega-carboxymethylarginine (CMA), and increased oxidation damage marker, dityrosine (DT), in plasma protein, with respect to healthy controls. We also found that children with ASD had increased CMA free adduct in plasma ultrafiltrate and increased urinary excretion of oxidation free adducts, alpha-aminoadipic semialdehyde and glutamic semialdehyde. From study of renal handling of amino acids, we found that children with ASD had decreased renal clearance of arginine and CMA with respect to healthy controls. Algorithms to discriminate between ASD and healthy controls gave strong diagnostic performance with features: plasma protein AGEs-CML, CMA-and 3-deoxyglucosone-derived hydroimidazolone, and oxidative damage marker, DT. The sensitivity, specificity, and receiver operating characteristic area-under-the-curve were 92%, 84%, and 0.94, respectively. Conclusions: Changes in plasma AGEs were likely indicative of dysfunctional metabolism of dicarbonyl metabolite precursors of AGEs, glyoxal and 3-deoxyglucosone. DT is formed enzymatically by dual oxidase (DUOX); selective increase of DT as an oxidative damage marker implicates increased DUOX activity in ASD possibly linked to impaired gut mucosal immunity. Decreased renal clearance of arginine and CMA in ASD is indicative of increased arginine transporter activity which may be a surrogate marker of disturbance of neuronal availability of amino acids. Data driven combination of these biomarkers perturbed by proteotoxic stress, plasma protein AGEs and DT, gave diagnostic algorithms of high sensitivity and specificity for ASD.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
2. Argumedes M, Lanovaz MJ, Larivee S. {{Brief Report: Impact of Challenging Behavior on Parenting Stress in Mothers and Fathers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
Challenging behaviors are a known predictor of high parenting stress in families of children with autism spectrum disorders. However, few studies have evaluated the effect of reducing challenging behaviors on parenting stress. The purpose of our study was to (a) examine the impact of reducing the frequency and severity of challenging behaviors on parenting stress and (b) compare the effects of family-centered support and parent education on changes in parenting stress. Both high severity of autistic symptoms and of challenging behaviors were predictors of parenting stress. Furthermore, receiving family-centered support were associated with larger reductions in parenting stress. Overall, our results suggest that reducing challenging behaviors with family-centered support may be preferable to produce collateral reductions in parenting stress.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
3. Bjornsdotter M, Davidovic M, Karjalainen L, Starck G, Olausson H, Wentz E. {{Grey matter correlates of autistic traits in women with anorexia nervosa}}. {Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN}. 2018; 43(2): 79-86.
BACKGROUND: Patients with anorexia nervosa exhibit higher levels of behaviours typically associated with autism-spectrum disorder (ASD), but the neural basis is unclear. We sought to determine whether elevated autistic traits in women with anorexia nervosa may be reflected in cortical morphology. METHODS: We used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to examine regional grey matter volumes in high-resolution MRI structural brain scans in women with anorexia nervosa and matched healthy controls. The Autism-spectrum Quotient (AQ) scale was used to assess autistic traits. RESULTS: Women with anorexia nervosa (n = 25) had higher AQ scores and lower bilateral superior temporal sulcus (STS) grey matter volumes than the control group (n = 25). The AQ scores correlated negatively with average left STS grey matter volume in women with anorexia nervosa. LIMITATIONS: We did not control for cognitive ability and examined only women with ongoing anorexia nervosa. CONCLUSION: Elevated autistic traits in women with anorexia nervosa are associated with morphometric alterations of brain areas linked to social cognition. This finding provides neurobiological support for the behavioural link between anorexia nervosa and ASD and emphasizes the importance of recognizing autistic traits in preventing and treating anorexia nervosa.
4. Cezar LC, Kirsten TB, da Fonseca CCN, de Lima APN, Bernardi MM, Felicio LF. {{Zinc as a therapy in a rat model of autism prenatally induced by valproic acid}}. {Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry}. 2018; 84(Pt A): 173-80.
Autism is characterized by numerous behavioral impairments, such as in communication, socialization and cognition. Recent studies have suggested that valproic acid (VPA), an anti-epileptic drug with teratogenic activity, is related to autism. In rodents, VPA exposure during pregnancy induces autistic-like effects. Exposure to VPA may alter zinc metabolism resulting in a transient deficiency of zinc. Therefore, we selected zinc as a prenatal treatment to prevent VPA-induced impairments in a rat model of autism. Wistar female rats received either saline solution or VPA (400mg/kg, i.p) on gestational day (GD) 12.5. To test the zinc supplementation effect, after 1h of treatment with saline or VPA, a dose of zinc (2mg/kg, s.c.) was injected. The offspring were tested for abnormal communication behaviors with an ultrasound vocalization task on postnatal day (PND) 11, repetitive behaviors and cognitive ability with a T-maze task on PND 29, and social interaction with a play behavior task on PND 30. Tyrosine hydroxylase protein (TH) expression was evaluated in the striatum. Prenatal VPA decreased ultrasonic vocalization, induced repetitive/restricted behaviors and cognitive inflexibility, impaired socialization, and reduced striatal TH levels compared with control group. Zinc treatment reduced VPA-induced autistic-like behaviors. However, we found no evidence of an effect of zinc on the VPA-induced reduction in TH expression. The persistence of low TH expression in the VPA-Zn group suggests that Zn-induced behavioral improvement in autistic rats may not depend on TH activity.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
5. Filliter JH, Dodds L, MacDonald N, Shea S, Dube E, Smith IM, Campbell LA. {{The next vaccine-autism question: Are school-aged youth with autism spectrum disorder undervaccinated and, if so, why?}}. {Paediatrics & child health}. 2017; 22(5): 285-7.
Over the past two decades, the words ‘autism’ and ‘vaccination’ have often been linked and mired in controversy. In this commentary, we raise a different question about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and vaccines: Are school-aged youth with ASD undervaccinated and, if so, why? There are several reasons why youth with ASD might be undervaccinated, including: belief in a vaccine-ASD link, challenges faced by youth with ASD when seeking health care and vaccine hesitancy factors that affect the general population. Possible undervaccination in this group is concerning given the prevalence of ASD and the key role of vaccinations in preventing infectious diseases. More research is needed to establish definitively whether youth with ASD are undervaccinated and to understand facilitators and barriers to vaccination for this population. This would help public health officials to develop and implement targeted policy and practice changes to increase vaccination uptake in youth with ASD, thereby increasing immunization equity.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
6. Gettis MA, Wittling K, Palumbo-Dufur J, McClain A, Riley L. {{Identifying Best Practice for Healthcare Providers Caring for Autistic Children Perioperatively}}. {Worldviews on evidence-based nursing}. 2018.
This column shares the best evidence-based strategies and innovative ideas on how to facilitate the learning and implementation of EBP principles and processes by clinicians as well as nursing and interprofessional students. Guidelines for submission are available at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1741-6787.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
7. Hidiroglu S, Luleci NE, Karavus M, Tanriover O, Bayar ES, Karavus A. {{The awareness of childhood autism among residents of neuropsychiatric and other disciplines of a research and training hospital in Istanbul, Turkey}}. {J Pak Med Assoc}. 2018; 68(2): 247-51.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the awareness of childhood autism among physicians undergoing residency training in various disciplines. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a research and training hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, in February 2013 and comprised physicians undergoing residency training in various disciplines. Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire. Questions about « awareness on autism » were prepared in the light of « Knowledge about Childhood Autism among Health Workers questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the 128 physicians, 122(95.3%) were aware that the most known characteristic of childhood autism was « failure to build-up friendship ». All of the 29(22.66%) physicians at the neuropsychiatric disciplines were aware that « autism can be a genetic disorder », whereas, in other disciplines 69(69.7) physicians had that awareness. Besides, 15(51.7%) of the residents of the neuropsychiatric disciplines thought that « autism can be associated with childhood epilepsy », while 32(32.3%) physicians of other disciplines gave a similar answer (p=0.057). CONCLUSIONS: The awareness on childhood autism of residents belonging to the non- neuropsychiatric disciplines was moderate.
8. Kikkawa T, Casingal CR, Chun SH, Shinohara H, Hiraoka K, Osumi N. {{The role of Pax6 in brain development and its impact on pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder}}. {Brain Res}. 2018.
Pax6 transcription factor is a key player in several aspects of brain development and function. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which several loci and/or genes have been suggested as causative candidate factors. Based on data obtained from meta-analyses of the transcriptome and ChIP analyses, we hypothesized that the neurodevelopmental gene PAX6 regulates and/or binds to a large number of genes (including many ASD-related ones) that modulate the fate of neural stem/progenitor cells and functions of neuronal cells, subsequently affecting animal behavior. Network analyses of PAX6/ASD-related molecules revealed significant clusters of molecular interactions involving regulation of cell-cell adhesion, ion transport, and transcriptional regulation. We discuss a novel function of Pax6 as a chromatin modulator that alters the chromatin status of ASD genes, thereby inducing diverse phenotypes of ASD and related neurodevelopmental diseases.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
9. Knight VF, Collins B, Spriggs AD, Sartini E, MacDonald MJ. {{Scripted and Unscripted Science Lessons for Children with Autism and Intellectual Disability}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
Both scripted lessons and unscripted task analyzed lessons have been used effectively to teach science content to students with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder. This study evaluated the efficacy, efficiency, and teacher preference of scripted and unscripted task analyzed lesson plans from an elementary science curriculum designed for students with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder by evaluating both lesson formats for (a) student outcomes on a science comprehension assessment, (b) sessions to criterion, and (c) average duration of lessons. Findings propose both lesson types were equally effective, but unscripted task analyzed versions may be more efficient and were preferred by teachers to scripted lessons. Implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research are also discussed.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
10. Kumazaki H, Warren Z, Swanson A, Yoshikawa Y, Matsumoto Y, Takahashi H, Sarkar N, Ishiguro H, Mimura M, Minabe Y, Kikuchi M. {{Can Robotic Systems Promote Self-Disclosure in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder? A Pilot Study}}. {Frontiers in psychiatry}. 2018; 9: 36.
Research suggests that many individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often demonstrate challenges providing appropriate levels of information during conversational interchanges. Considering the preference of individuals with ASD, and recent rapid technological advances, robotic systems may yield promise in promoting certain aspects of conversation and interaction such as self-disclosure of appropriate personal information. In the current work, we evaluated personal disclosures of events with specific emotional content across two differing robotic systems (android and simplistic humanoid) and human interactions. Nineteen participants were enrolled in this study: 11 (2 women and 9 men) adolescents with ASD and 8 (4 women and 4 men) adolescents with TD. Each participant completed a sequence of three interactions in a random order. Results indicated differences regarding comfort level and length of disclosures between adolescents with ASD and typically developing (TD) controls in relation to system interactions. Specifically, adolescents with ASD showed a preference for interacting with the robotic systems compared to TD controls and demonstrated lengthier disclosures when interacting with the visually simple humanoid robot compared to interacting with human interviewer. The findings suggest that robotic systems may be useful in eliciting and promoting aspects of social communication such as self-disclosure for some individuals with ASD.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
11. Lemcke S, Parner ET, Bjerrum M, Thomsen PH, Lauritsen MB. {{EARLY REGULATION IN CHILDREN WHO ARE LATER DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER. A LONGITUDINAL STUDY WITHIN THE DANISH NATIONAL BIRTH COHORT}}. {Infant mental health journal}. 2018; 39(2): 170-82.
Studies have shown that children later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in their first years of life might show symptoms in main developmental areas and that these signs might be sensed by the parents. The present study investigated in a large birth cohort if children later diagnosed with ASD had deviations at 6 and 18 months in areas such as the ability to self-regulate emotions, feeding, and sleeping. The study was based on prospective information collected from 76,322 mothers who participated in the Danish National Birth Cohort. When the children reached an average age of 11 years, 973 children with ASD and a control group of 300 children with intellectual disability (IDnoASD) were identified via Danish health registries. Associations were found between short periods of breast-feeding and the children later diagnosed with ASD and IDnoASD as well as associations at 18 months to deviations in regulation of emotions and activity. The similarities in these associations emphasize how difficult it is to distinguish between diagnoses early in life.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
12. Liggett AP, Nastri R, Podlesnik CA. {{Assessing the combined effects of resurgence and reinstatement in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder}}. {Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior}. 2018.
Resurgence and reinstatement are laboratory models of relapse following treatments for problem behavior that arrange alternative sources of reinforcement, such as differential reinforcement of alternative behavior and noncontingent reinforcement. Resurgence models the elimination or reduction of reinforcers during treatment and reinstatement models the re-presentation of reinforcers previously maintaining problem behavior. The present study examined individual and combined effects of resurgence and reinstatement in a translational model of treatment relapse with three children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. We first reinforced and then extinguished an arbitrary response while providing access to a preferred toy to model a version of noncontingent reinforcement with extinction. In the following phases, we examined resurgence by removing the toy, reinstatement by presenting the training reinforcer response-independently, and a combination of resurgence and reinstatement. Overall, relapse of target responding reliably exceeded functionally similar responses never reinforced in the experimental situation. Most importantly, relapse tended to be greater when combining resurgence and reinstatement than when assessing either alone. These findings support previous studies showing that combinations of operations can increase treatment relapse. This translational model arranging simulated problem behavior with arbitrary tasks provides a platform from which to thoroughly and systematically assess methods for understanding and improving behavioral treatments.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
13. Luebbert C, Sadowski G. {{In-situ determination of crystallization kinetics in ASDs via water sorption experiments}}. {European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics : official journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik eV}. 2018.
Amorphous solid dispersions (ASD) are intended to improve the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients. However, the development of long-term stable ASDs is often limited by the unwanted crystallization of the incorporated active pharmaceutical ingredient. Robust detection and quantification of crystal formation- especially at temperatures and humidites relevant for long-term storage tests – are essential for understanding crystallization phenomena. In this work, the crystallization kinetics in spray-dried nifedipine/poly (vinyl acetate) ASDs was investigated by measuring the time-dependent water sorption behavior at constant storage conditions. By coupling these experiments with thermodynamic predictions of the water sorption in amorphous and crystallized ASDs using the Perturbed-Chain Statistical Associating Fluid Theory, the amount of crystallized nifedipine as function of time could be determined in-situ just by weighing the ASD samples and without any calibration. The experimental findings were validated by X-ray diffraction measurements. Metastable ASDs with nifedipine contents between 70wt% and 90wt% were investigated at relative humidities between 60% RH and 90% RH and in a temperature range between 30 degrees C and 40 degrees C. Storage at high temperature and at high RH, and high nifedipine contents dramatically increased the crystallization rates.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
14. Martin KB, Hammal Z, Ren G, Cohn JF, Cassell J, Ogihara M, Britton JC, Gutierrez A, Messinger DS. {{Objective measurement of head movement differences in children with and without autism spectrum disorder}}. {Mol Autism}. 2018; 9: 14.
Background: Deficits in motor movement in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have typically been characterized qualitatively by human observers. Although clinicians have noted the importance of atypical head positioning (e.g. social peering and repetitive head banging) when diagnosing children with ASD, a quantitative understanding of head movement in ASD is lacking. Here, we conduct a quantitative comparison of head movement dynamics in children with and without ASD using automated, person-independent computer-vision based head tracking (Zface). Because children with ASD often exhibit preferential attention to nonsocial versus social stimuli, we investigated whether children with and without ASD differed in their head movement dynamics depending on stimulus sociality. Methods: The current study examined differences in head movement dynamics in children with (n = 21) and without ASD (n = 21). Children were video-recorded while watching a 16-min video of social and nonsocial stimuli. Three dimensions of rigid head movement-pitch (head nods), yaw (head turns), and roll (lateral head inclinations)-were tracked using Zface. The root mean square of pitch, yaw, and roll was calculated to index the magnitude of head angular displacement (quantity of head movement) and angular velocity (speed). Results: Compared with children without ASD, children with ASD exhibited greater yaw displacement, indicating greater head turning, and greater velocity of yaw and roll, indicating faster head turning and inclination. Follow-up analyses indicated that differences in head movement dynamics were specific to the social rather than the nonsocial stimulus condition. Conclusions: Head movement dynamics (displacement and velocity) were greater in children with ASD than in children without ASD, providing a quantitative foundation for previous clinical reports. Head movement differences were evident in lateral (yaw and roll) but not vertical (pitch) movement and were specific to a social rather than nonsocial condition. When presented with social stimuli, children with ASD had higher levels of head movement and moved their heads more quickly than children without ASD. Children with ASD may use head movement to modulate their perception of social scenes.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
15. Masiran R. {{Stimming behaviour in a 4-year-old girl with autism spectrum disorder}}. {BMJ case reports}. 2018; 2018.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
16. Merbler AM, Byiers BJ, Garcia JJ, Feyma TJ, Symons FJ. {{The feasibility of using actigraphy to characterize sleep in Rett syndrome}}. {J Neurodev Disord}. 2018; 10(1): 8.
BACKGROUND: Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder primarily caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene. Sleep problems are reported by the majority of caregivers of individuals with RTT. METHODS: The present study aimed to replicate and extend previous work about the feasibility of measuring sleep with an actigraph device in a sample of girls with clinically diagnosed RTT (N = 13, mean age = 9 years, 5 months). Participants wore an actigraph device day and night for seven consecutive days. Materials also included a parent-completed sleep diary to measure bedtime, duration of nighttime sleep, and daytime sleep, and the Child Sleep Habit’s Questionnaire (CSHQ). RESULTS: The means for the sample as measured by actigraphy were 492.3 min (SD = 47.3) of total night sleep (TNS), 76.0% (SD = 6.7) sleep efficiency, 86.0 min (SD = 34.2) of wake after sleep onset, and 46.1 min (50.8) of sleep when parents reported a nap occurring. Parents reported 589.7 min (SD = 53.6) of TNS, 15.9 min (SD = 12.0) of WASO, and 93.6 min (SD = 66.8) of daytime sleep according to sleep diaries, with all parents reporting at least one nap during the week. Relations were found between sleep characteristics and seizure status and CSHQ total scores. No age-related changes were observed for any sleep characteristic, regardless of collection method. Five of nine participants above the cutoff score on the CSHQ indicate the need for further evaluation for a sleep disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, actigraphy was feasible in this community-based sample of girls with RTT. The results replicated some aspects of previous studies of sleep in RTT (e.g., no age-related changes in total nighttime sleep or efficiency). Some participants met the American Academy of Sleep Medicine guidelines for recommended total sleep time, with others showing too much or too little sleep. Each of the three methods for describing sleep presented its own advantages and challenges. Future work should be prospectively designed, validate the use of actigraphy in this population, and include a typically developing comparison sample to improve the precision of our understanding of sleep in RTT.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
17. Morrier MJ, Ziegler SMT. {{I Wanna Play Too: Factors Related to Changes in Social Behavior for Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder After Implementation of a Structured Outdoor Play Curriculum}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulties interacting with same-aged peers during unstructured play (e.g., on the playground). Thirty-five toddler and preschool children with and without ASD participated in a structured 15-min outdoor play curriculum. The intervention, the Buddy Game, used familiar songs, movement, and games to promote peer social interaction. A 2 x 3 ANOVA assessed changes in overall targeted social behaviors during baseline, the Buddy Game, and generalization to free-pay. Multiple regression analyses examined factors related to increases in social interactions. Predictors were ASD status of child and age of child. Results indicated the Buddy Game increased overall social interactions and that social interactions were influenced more by ASD status than age. Implications for practitioners are highlighted.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
18. Neubauer BA. {{Erratum: Rett Syndrome}}. {Neuropediatrics}. 2018.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
19. Philippat C, Barkoski J, Tancredi DJ, Elms B, Barr DB, Ozonoff S, Bennett DH, Hertz-Picciotto I. {{Prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides and risk of autism spectrum disorders and other non-typical development at 3 years in a high-risk cohort}}. {International journal of hygiene and environmental health}. 2018.
INTRODUCTION: Organophosphates are widely used pesticides that have been shown to affect child neurodevelopment. Previous studies that explored their potential effects on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) relied either on proxies of external exposure or on questionnaires completed by the parents to identify autism-like behaviors but did not provide a clinical diagnosis of ASD. AIMS: We studied the associations between prenatal biologic markers for exposure to organophosphate pesticides and the risk of having a child with ASD or other developmental concerns (ODC). METHOD: We analyzed 203 mother-child pairs of the ongoing MARBLES (Markers of Autism Risk in Babies – Learning Early Signs) mother-child cohort, which enrolls mothers who are either pregnant or planning a pregnancy and whose expected child has an elevated risk to develop ASD. Seven metabolites of organophosphate pesticides were assessed in repeated urine samples collected during pregnancy. At 36 months, children were assessed with intruments measuring cognitive function and adaptive behaviors, and with two gold-standard diagnostic instruments for ASD: the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised. Children were classified in one of the following groups: ASD (n=46), ODC (n=55) and typically developing (TD, n=102). RESULTS: After adjustment for potential confounders, organophosphate metabolite concentrations were not associated with an increased risk of ASD or ODC when boys and girls were studied together. After stratification by sex, dimethylthiophosphate (DMTP) pregnancy concentration tended to be associated with an increased ASD risk among girls (OR for a doubling in the DMTP concentration: 1.64 (95%CI, 0.95; 2.82)) but not among boys (OR: 0.84, 95%CI: 0.63; 1.11). DISCUSSION: This is the first study of clinically confirmed diagnoses of ASD that utilized repeated measurements of organophosphate metabolites during pregnancy to explore the associations between these pesticides and ASD risk in children. The association we observed among girls, as well as the lack of association in boys, need to be replicated in further studies with similar design and larger sample size. In light of the higher baseline risk for ASD in this cohort, generalizability to children lacking a first degree relative affected by ASD is unknown.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
20. Robinson M, Klusek J, Poe MD, Hatton DD, Roberts JE. {{The Emergence of Effortful Control in Young Boys With Fragile X Syndrome}}. {Am J Intellect Dev Disabil}. 2018; 123(2): 89-102.
Effortful control, or the ability to suppress a dominant response to perform a subdominant response, is an early-emerging temperament trait that is linked with positive social-emotional development. Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a single-gene disorder characterized by hallmark regulatory impairments, suggesting diminished effortful control. This study compared the development of effortful control in preschool boys with FXS ( n = 97) and typical development ( n = 32). Unlike their typical peers, the boys with FXS did not exhibit growth in effortful control over time, which could not be accounted for by adaptive impairments, FMR1 molecular measures, or autism symptoms. These results contribute to our understanding of the childhood phenotype of FXS that may be linked to the poor social-emotional outcomes seen in this group.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
21. Rogerson J, Falkmer M, Cuomo B, Falkmer T, Whitehouse AJO, Granich J, Vaz S. {{Parental experiences using the Therapy Outcomes by You (TOBY) application to deliver early intervention to their child with autism}}. {Dev Neurorehabil}. 2018: 1-9.
PURPOSE: As computer-based interventions become commonplace for parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders, this study sought to understand the experience of using a parent-delivered supplementary early intervention therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder grounded in a variety of behavioral, sensory, developmental, and relationship-based approaches and delivered via a tablet device. METHODS: Parental experiences using the ‘Therapy Outcomes by You’ (TOBY) application were collected through semi-structured interviews with 17 parents. RESULTS: Parents reported TOBY facilitated parent-child engagement, provided ideas for therapeutic activities, created feelings of empowerment, and positively impacted their child’s development. Barriers to use included preparation time, execution of the intervention, and individual strengths and weaknesses of their child. CONCLUSION: The overall parental experience of TOBY was positive when use of the application aligned with parental proficiency, opportunities for use, and importantly, the needs of the child.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
22. Sperdin HF, Coito A, Kojovic N, Rihs TA, Jan RK, Franchini M, Plomp G, Vulliemoz S, Eliez S, Michel CM, Schaer M. {{Early alterations of social brain networks in young children with autism}}. {eLife}. 2018; 7.
Social impairments are a hallmark of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), but empirical evidence for early brain network alterations in response to social stimuli is scant in ASD. We recorded the gaze patterns and brain activity of toddlers with ASD and their typically developing peers while they explored dynamic social scenes. Directed functional connectivity analyses based on electrical source imaging revealed frequency specific network atypicalities in the theta and alpha frequency bands, manifesting as alterations in both the driving and the connections from key nodes of the social brain associated with autism. Analyses of brain-behavioural relationships within the ASD group suggested that compensatory mechanisms from dorsomedial frontal, inferior temporal and insular cortical regions were associated with less atypical gaze patterns and lower clinical impairment. Our results provide strong evidence that directed functional connectivity alterations of social brain networks is a core component of atypical brain development at early stages of ASD.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
23. Van Laarhoven T, Carreon A, Bonneau W, Lagerhausen A. {{Comparing Mobile Technologies for Teaching Vocational Skills to Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and/or Intellectual Disabilities Using Universally-Designed Prompting Systems}}. {J Autism Dev Disord}. 2018.
The purpose of this study was to compare mobile technologies with universally-designed prompting systems to improve the independent vocational performance of four adolescents with ASD and/or ID in school-based employment settings. Specific aims were to (1) compare the effectiveness of universally-designed prompting systems presented on iPads and HP Slates that involved participant-selection and participant-fading of available on-screen media prompts; (2) compare the usability of different mobile devices; and (3) determine if built-in decision prompts could improve problem-solving behavior during task completion. Results indicated that both devices resulted in immediate and substantial increases in independent responding for three of the four participants. All participants performed better with their preferred device and all self-faded reliance on instructional prompts as skill acquisition increased.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
24. Wan H, Zhang C, Li H, Luan S, Liu C. {{Association of maternal diabetes with autism spectrum disorders in offspring: A systemic review and meta-analysis}}. {Medicine}. 2018; 97(2): e9438.
Studies on the association of maternal diabetes with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in offspring provide inconsistent findings; therefore an updated and comprehensive literature review and meta-analysis is necessary to perform in order to evaluate the available evidences.After searching databases systematically, we established the inclusion criteria and selected the eligible studies. In both overall and stratified analyses, the estimated effects were synthesized dependent on the presence or absence of heterogeneity.Twelve articles involving 16 studies were included and synthesized, demonstrating a significant association of maternal diabetes with ASDs among children (relative risk [RR] = 1.48). However, high heterogeneity was observed (I = 56.3%) and publication bias was identified. In terms of the analyses on reliable evidences from case-control studies, heterogeneity and publication bias disappeared, and the risk of ASDs was increased by 62% among diabetic mothers compared with non-diabetic mothers.Maternal diabetes, especially gestational diabetes mellitus, is associated with ASDs in offspring based on a limited number of convincing case-control studies. More large-scale population-based prospective studies are still needed to draw firm conclusions.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
25. Ward DM, Dill-Shackleford KE, Mazurek MO. {{Social Media Use and Happiness in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder}}. {Cyberpsychology, behavior and social networking}. 2018.
Social media (SM) use by adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not well understood. Co-occurring mental health concerns, such as depression, are common for adults with ASD. The current investigation explored the relationship between SM use and happiness in a population of adults with self-disclosed ASD. Of the 84 percent of the sample who used SM, those who used Facebook, the most popular site, were happier than those who did not. The same relationship did not exist for the second most popular site, Twitter. Happiness and SM use showed a quadratic relationship: Happiness and SM use increased together until they reached a point where happiness fell off. SM use by adults with ASD, specifically Facebook use in moderation, may enhance well-being and may be a protective factor against secondary mental health concerns common in this population.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
26. Yu CCW, Wong SWL, Lo FSF, So RCH, Chan DFY. {{Study protocol: a randomized controlled trial study on the effect of a game-based exercise training program on promoting physical fitness and mental health in children with autism spectrum disorder}}. {BMC Psychiatry}. 2018; 18(1): 56.
BACKGROUND: Suboptimal physical activity levels and tolerance, poor motor skills and poor physical health are demonstrated in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We speculate that social interaction and communication deficits in children with ASD are two major factors that hinder these children from actively participating in group physical activities. While previous studies have demonstrated that exercise intervention improves motor skills and behavioral outcomes in children with ASD, these programs tend to focus only on a single sport, which may not cater to the interests of different children with ASD. In this protocol, a game-based exercise training program designed by a multi-disciplinary team (pediatrics, physical education and psychology) will be implemented by front-line healthcare providers trained following the train-the-trainer (TTT) model and subjected to validation. METHOD: Using a randomized controlled trial design, the effectiveness of the game-based exercise program will be examined for 112 young children with ASD. These children were randomly assigned to two groups, which will be tested and trained in either one of the two arms of the waitlist conditions (control and intervention). The assessment of physical and psychological traits will be conducted at baseline (pre-test), at 16-weeks (post-treatment) and at 32-weeks (follow-up) of the program. DISCUSSION: Most of the interventions designed for ASD children target either their psychological traits or physical conditions, without bridging the two states. With the recognition of bidirectional relations between mental and physical health, the present game-based exercise program which includes multiple level of difficulties was developed to equip ASD children with the necessary skills for engaging in sustainable team sports or even professional sport training. The program, if effective, will provide an entertaining and engaging training for whole-person development among children with ASD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( ChiCTR-IOR-17011898 ). Registered 6(th) July 2017.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
27. Zhu P, Li J, Zhang L, Liang Z, Tang B, Liao WP, Yi YH, Su T. {{Development-related aberrations in Kv1.1 alpha-subunit exert disruptive effects on bioelectrical activities of neurons in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome}}. {Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry}. 2018; 84(Pt A): 140-51.
Kv1.1, a Shaker homologue potassium channel, plays a critical role in homeostatic regulation of neuronal excitability. Aberrations in the functional properties of Kv1.1 have been implicated in several neurological disorders featured by neuronal hyperexcitability. Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common form of inherited mental retardation, is characterized by hyperexcitability in neural network and intrinsic membrane properties. The Kv1.1 channel provides an intriguing mechanistic candidate for FXS. We investigated the development-related expression pattern of the Kv1.1 alpha-subunit by using a Fmr1 knockout (KO) mouse model of FXS. Markedly decreased protein expression of Kv1.1 was found in neonatal and adult stages when compared to age-matched wild-type (WT) mice. Immunohistochemical investigations supported the delayed development-related increases in Kv1.1 expression, especially in CA3 pyramidal neurons. By applying a Kv1.1-specific blocker, dendrotoxin-kappa (DTX-kappa), we isolated the Kv1.1-mediated currents in the CA3 pyramidal neurons. The isolated DTX-kappa-sensitive current of neurons from KO mice exhibited decreased amplitude, lower threshold of activation, and faster recovery from inactivation. The equivalent reduction in potassium current in the WT neurons following application of the appropriate amount of DTX-kappa reproduced the enhanced firing abilities of KO neurons, suggesting the Kv1.1 channel as a critical contributor to the hyperexcitability of KO neurons. The role of Kv1.1 in controlling neuronal discharges was further supported by the parallel developmental trajectories of Kv1.1 expression, current amplitude, and discharge impacts, with a significant correlation between the amplitude of Kv1.1-mediated currents and Kv1.1-blocking-induced firing enhancement. These data suggest that the expression of the Kv1.1 alpha-subunit has a profound pathological relevance to hyperexcitability in FXS, as well as implications for normal development, maintenance, and control of neuronal activities.
Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)
28. Zhu Z, Fang X, Chen H, Zhu X, Zhang L, Zhai X, Cui Z, Gao Q. {{Alterations in volumes and MRI features of amygdala in Chinese autistic preschoolers associated with social and behavioral deficits}}. {Brain Imaging Behav}. 2018.
To examine the amygdala volume in 2-5-year-old preschool children with autism and explore the relationship between amygdala volumes based on MRI findings and clinical features. A total of 39 cases with clinically diagnosed autism were collected. The oblique coronal T1 weighted image (T1WI) sequence was used to measure the volume of amygdala and the MRI signals were measured and analyzed. The data were compared to that of 24 age-matched healthy children and correlated to the clinical manifestations. The autism and the control groups were subject to brain scanning in 1 week after Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) review. The 39 cases, diagnosed with autism, were associated with social and behavioral deficits through clinical observation, physical and neurological examination, and assessments according to DSM IV, and the range of ABC scores in the autism group was 47-124, with an average score of 84.7 +/- 24.1. Abnormal MRI signals were found in 19/78 (24.4%) amygdala in the autism group, the amygdala lesions showed punctuate or flaky low signal, slightly low signal, low to iso-signal, slightly high signal, or iso to high-signal intensity on T1 weighted three-dimendional fast low angle shot(T1FL3D) images. The right amygdala volume average was 1.088 +/- 0.38 cm(3), while that of the left amygdala was 1.04 +/- 0.41 cm(3), without any statistically significant difference (t = 0.533, p = 0.596) in the autism group. Among the 24 cases in the control group, the right amygdala volume average was 0.754 +/- 0.194 cm(3), while that of the left amygdala was 0.666 +/- 0.252 cm(3); the autism group had a significantly larger right and left amygdala volumes as compared to the age-matched typically developing group with a significant positive correlation between age and right amygdala volume (r = 0.406, p = 0.01). The preschool children with autism had significantly larger bilateral amygdala volumes as compared to age-matched typically developing children, the amygdala lesions may show abnormal signal. A relationship between age and right amygdala volume in the preschool children with autism was established.
