scholarly journals Non-parental caregivers, low maternal education, gastrointestinal problems and high blood lead level: predictors related to the severity of autism spectrum disorder in Northeast China

2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Han-Yu Dong ◽  
Jun-Yan Feng ◽  
Hong-Hua Li ◽  
Xiao-Jing Yue ◽  
Fei-Yong Jia

Abstract Background The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has increased rapidly in recent years. Environmental factors may play an important role in the pathogenesis of ASD. These factors may include socioeconomic factors, nutritional factors, heavy metal exposure, air pollution, etc. Our aim is to analyze possible environmental factors associated with the severity of ASD. Methods All participating children were divided into two groups (mild and moderate/severe) according to the severity of their symptoms, as determined by their Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) scores. The socioeconomic, demographic factors and the nutritional factors that may affect the severity of ASD were included in the logistic regression to analyze whether they were predictors that affected the severity of ASD. Results Logistic regression showed that caregivers(P = 0.042), maternal education (P = 0.030), gastrointestinal problems (P = 0.041) and a high serum concentration of lead (P = 0.003) were statistically significantly associated with ASD severity. Conclusion Many environmental factors affect the severity of ASD. We concluded that non-parental caregivers, low maternal education, gastrointestinal problems and high blood lead level maybe predictors that affected the severity of ASD in northeast China.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanyu Dong ◽  
Junyan Feng ◽  
Honghua Li ◽  
Xiaojing Yue ◽  
Fei-Yong Jia

Abstract Background: The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has increased rapidly in recent years. Environmental factors may play an important role in the pathogenesis of ASD. These factors may include socioeconomic factors, nutritional factors, heavy metal exposure, air pollution, etc. Our aim is to analyze possible environmental risk factors associated with the severity of ASD.Methods: All participating children were divided into two groups (mild and severe) according to the severity of their symptoms, as determined by their Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) scores. The socioeconomic and demographic factors that may affect the severity of ASD and the nutritional factors that were correlated with ASD symptoms were included in the logistic regression to analyze whether they were risk factors that affected the severity of ASD.Results: Logistic regression showed that maternal education (P=0.038, OR=1.694, 95% CI: 1.029-2.789), gastrointestinal problems (P=0.045, OR=1.770, 95% CI: 1.012-3.097) and a high serum concentration of lead (P=0.001, OR=1.038, 95% CI: 1.016-1.060) were statistically significantly associated with ASD severity.Conclusion: Many environmental factors affect the severity of ASD. We concluded that maternal education, gastrointestinal problems and serum concentration of lead were risk factors that affected the severity of ASD in northeast China.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 218
Author(s):  
Richard E. Frye ◽  
Janet Cakir ◽  
Shannon Rose ◽  
Raymond F. Palmer ◽  
Christine Austin ◽  
...  

We propose that the mitochondrion, an essential cellular organelle, mediates the long-term prenatal environmental effects of disease in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Many prenatal environmental factors which increase the risk of developing ASD influence mitochondria physiology, including toxicant exposures, immune activation, and nutritional factors. Unique types of mitochondrial dysfunction have been associated with ASD and recent studies have linked prenatal environmental exposures to long-term changes in mitochondrial physiology in children with ASD. A better understanding of the role of the mitochondria in the etiology of ASD can lead to targeted therapeutics and strategies to potentially prevent the development of ASD.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-174
Author(s):  
Koichi Kawada ◽  
Nobuyuki Kuramoto ◽  
Seisuke Mimori

: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disease, and the number of patients has increased rapidly in recent years. The causes of ASD involve both genetic and environmental factors, but the details of causation have not yet been fully elucidated. Many reports have investigated genetic factors related to synapse formation, and alcohol and tobacco have been reported as environmental factors. This review focuses on endoplasmic reticulum stress and amino acid cycle abnormalities (particularly glutamine and glutamate) induced by many environmental factors. In the ASD model, since endoplasmic reticulum stress is high in the brain from before birth, it is clear that endoplasmic reticulum stress is involved in the development of ASD. On the other hand, one report states that excessive excitation of neurons is caused by the onset of ASD. The glutamine-glutamate cycle is performed between neurons and glial cells and controls the concentration of glutamate and GABA in the brain. These neurotransmitters are also known to control synapse formation and are important in constructing neural circuits. Theanine is a derivative of glutamine and a natural component of green tea. Theanine inhibits glutamine uptake in the glutamine-glutamate cycle via slc38a1 without affecting glutamate; therefore, we believe that theanine may prevent the onset of ASD by changing the balance of glutamine and glutamate in the brain.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Man Fung Tsoi ◽  
Chris Wai Hang Lo ◽  
Tommy Tsang Cheung ◽  
Bernard Man Yung Cheung

AbstractLead is a heavy metal without a biological role. High level of lead exposure is known to be associated with hypertension, but the risk at low levels of exposure is uncertain. In this study, data from US NHANES 1999–2016 were analyzed. Adults with blood lead and blood pressure measurements, or self-reported hypertension diagnosis, were included. If not already diagnosed, hypertension was defined according to the AHA/ACC 2017 hypertension guideline. Results were analyzed using R statistics version 3.5.1 with sample weight adjustment. Logistic regression was used to study the association between blood lead level and hypertension. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated. Altogether, 39,477 participants were included. Every doubling in blood lead level was associated with hypertension (OR [95%CI] 1.45 [1.40–1.50]), which remained significant after adjusting for demographics. Using quartile 1 as reference, higher blood lead levels were associated with increased adjusted odds of hypertension (Quartile 4 vs. Quartile 1: 1.22 [1.09–1.36]; Quartile 3 vs. Quartile 1: 1.15 [1.04–1.28]; Quartile 2 vs. Quartile 1: 1.14 [1.05–1.25]). In conclusion, blood lead level is associated with hypertension in the general population with blood lead levels below 5 µg/dL. Our findings suggest that reducing present levels of environmental lead exposure may bring cardiovascular benefits by reducing blood pressure.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 688
Author(s):  
Abdulkadir Yusif Maigoro ◽  
Soojin Lee

The link between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the gut microbiome has received much attention, with special focus on gut–brain-axis immunological imbalances. Gastrointestinal problems are one of the major symptoms of ASD and are thought to be related to immune dysregulation. Therefore, in silico analysis was performed on mined data from 36 individuals with ASD and 21 control subjects, with an emphasis on lipid A endotoxin-producing bacteria and their lipopolysaccharide (LPS) metabolic pathways. Analysis of enzyme distribution among the 15 most abundant genera in both groups revealed that almost all these genera utilized five early-stage enzymes responsible for catalyzing the nine conserved lipid A synthesis steps. However, Haemophilus and Escherichia, which were significantly more abundant in individuals with ASD than in the control subjects, possess a complete set of essential lipid A synthesis enzymes. Furthermore, the 10 genera with the greatest increase in individuals with ASD showed high potential for producing late-stage lipid A products. Collectively, these results suggested that the synthesis rate of immunogenic LPS end products is likely to increase in individuals with ASD, which may be related to their gastrointestinal symptoms and elevated inflammatory conditions.


1983 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 645-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.C. Elwood ◽  
K.M. Phillips ◽  
N. Lowe ◽  
J.K. Phillips ◽  
C. Toothill

1 The effect on the blood lead levels of residents in an area in which a soft plumbo-solvent water was hardened is examined. 2 Water lead levels fell after hardening was introduced whereas there was a small rise in water lead levels in a control area monitored over the same time. 3 The blood lead levels of residents fell after hardening and the fall was slightly greater than would have been predicted on the basis of the change in water lead levels. This suggests that lead is less well absorbed from hard water than from soft water. 4 Following hardening there was a significant fall in mean blood lead level of subjects living in houses which had initially had negligible amounts of lead in the water. This suggests that hard water may interfere with the absorption of lead from sources other than water.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 505-505
Author(s):  
HENRIETTA SACHS ◽  
DONALD I. MOEL

To the Editor.— In October 1991, the Centers for Disease Control decreased the blood lead level PbB) from 25 to 10 µg/dL and designated it as abnormal because of "overwhelming and compelling scientific evidence"1 that 10 µg/dL is associated with adverse neurobehavioral development. We have evidence to the contrary, obtained in a long-term follow-up of severely lead-poisoned children whom we treated before 1972 for PbBs between 80 and 470 µg/dL (mean, 150.3 ± 77.1 µg/dL); their mean age was 28 months.


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