scholarly journals Impact of MicroRNAs in Interaction With Environmental Factors on Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
LiHua Cui ◽  
WenRan Du ◽  
Ning Xu ◽  
JingYi Dong ◽  
BingJie Xia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Neonatal Jaundice ◽  
Maternal Stress ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Psychiatric History ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Threatened Abortion

Background: This study aimed to explore the main effects of environmental risk factors as well as their interaction effects with miRNA on the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Methods: One hundred fifty-nine ASD children (ASD group) and 159 healthy children (control group), aged 2–6 years, were included in this study. ASD diagnoses were based on DSM-5 criteria. The extensive medical and demographic characterization of the two groups were recorded. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in serum were detected by qRT-PCR.Results: Compared with the control group, the ASD group had significantly higher rates of maternal stress during pregnancy (p < 0.001), maternal drinking during pregnancy (p = 0.006), threatened abortion (p = 0.011), pregnancy-induced hypertension (p = 0.032), gestational diabetes (p = 0.039), maternal anemia during pregnancy (p < 0.001), umbilical cord knot (p < 0.001), neonatal jaundice (p < 0.001), family psychiatric history (p = 0.001), and much lower birth weight (p = 0.012). Furthermore, the ASD group had much lower expression levels of hsa-miR-181b-5p (p < 0.001) and hsa-miR-320a (p < 0.001) and significantly higher levels of hsa-miR-19b-3p (p < 0.001). The interactions of hsa-miR-320a and maternal stress during pregnancy (OR = 39.42, p < 0.001), hsa-miR-19b-3p and neonatal jaundice (OR = 2.44, p < 0.001), and hsa-miR-181b-5p and family psychiatric history (OR = 8.65, p = 0.001) could increase ASD risk.Conclusions: The dysregulation of hsa-miR-181b-5p, hsa-miR-320a, and hsa-miR-19b-3p could interact with environmental factors, such as maternal stress during pregnancy, neonatal jaundice, and family psychiatric history, to impact the risk of ASD.

Impact of microRNAs in Interaction with Environmental Factors on Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
LiHua Cui ◽  
WenRan Du ◽  
Ning Xu ◽  
JingYi Dong ◽  
BingJie Xia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Neonatal Jaundice ◽  
Maternal Stress ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Psychiatric History ◽  
Healthy Children

Abstract Background: The aim of this study was to explore the main effects of miRNAs as well as their interaction effects with well-replicated autism spectrum disorder (ASD) environmental risk factors on the risk of ASD.Methods: 159 ASD children (ASD group) and 159 healthy children (control group), aged 2-6 years, were included in this study. ASD diagnoses were based on DSM-5 criteria. The extensive medical and demographic characterization of the two groups were recorded. And microRNAs (miRNAs) in serum were detected by qRT-PCR. Results: Comparing to control group, ASD group had significant higher rates of maternal stress during pregnancy (p<0.001), maternal drinking during pregnancy (p=0.006), threatened abortion (p=0.011), pregnancy-induced hypertension (p=0.032), gestational diabetes (p=0.039), maternal anemia during pregnancy (p<0.001), umbilical cord knot (p<0.001), neonatal jaundice (p<0.001), family psychiatric history (p=0.001), and much lower birth weight (p=0.012). Furthermore, ASD group had much lower expression levels of has-miR-181b-5p (p<0.001) and has-miR-320a (p<0.001), and significant higher levels of has-miR-19b-3p (p<0.001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the interactions of has-miR-320a and maternal stress during pregnancy (OR=39.42, p<0.001), has-miR-19b-3p and neonatal jaundice (OR=2.44, p<0.001), has-miR-181b-5p and family psychiatric history (OR=8.65, p=0.001) could increase ASD risk. Conclusions:The dysregulation of has-miR-181b-5p,has-miR-320a and has-miR-19b-3p could interact with environmental factors, such as maternal stress during pregnancy, neonatal jaundice and family psychiatric history, to impact the risk of ASD.

scholarly journals Autism spectrum disorder is associated with gut microbiota disorder in children

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hairong Sun ◽  
Zhong You ◽  
Libo Jia ◽  
Fang Wang
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Stable State ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
16S Sequencing ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
The Difference

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence and clinical characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) associated to the stable state of the gut microbiota. Methods A total of 9 children with ASD and 6 healthy children used as control were selected and feces samples were collected from all of them. The 16S gene ribosomal RNA sequencing was used to analyze the difference in gut microbiota between healthy control children and ASD patients. Results The results of 16S sequencing based on operational taxonomic units (OTUs) analysis showed that the ASD group and the healthy control (HC) group had a large difference in the abundance of microbiota at the level of family, genus and species. The abundance of Bacteroidales and Selenomonadales was significantly lower in the ASD group than in the HC group (p = 0.0110 and p = 0.0076, respectively). The abundance of Ruminococcaceae in the ASD group was higher than that in the HC group (p = 0.0285), while the amount of Prevotellaceae was significantly lower in the ASD group than in the HC group (p = 0.0111). The Tax4Fun analysis based on Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) data indicated differentially expressed functional pathway between the ASD group and healthy control group associated to the nervous system, environmental information processing and cellular processing. Conclusions The abundance of gut microbiota in the ASD group is different from that in the healthy control children. These differences affect the biological function of the host. These results suggest that a disorder in the gut microbiota may be associated, at least in part, with ASD in children.

Participation patterns of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder compared to their peers: Parents’ perspectives

2019 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 78-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liron Lamash ◽  
Gary Bedell ◽  
Naomi Josman
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Adolescents With Autism ◽  
Home And School

Introduction Although participation is an important outcome of rehabilitation interventions and a critical indicator of quality of life, few studies have focused on the participation patterns of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder in their daily activities or the environmental factors that influence such participation. This study aims to describe the participation characteristics of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder compared with typically developing peers in home, school and community and to identify supporting or hindering environmental features. Method The Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth was administered to 59 parents of adolescents ( M = 14.51 years) with autism spectrum disorder and a control group of 188 parents of typically developing adolescents in Israel, and the results were compared. Results Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder showed lower participation levels at home and school, and much lower levels in the community, preferring solitary activities that involve technology. Their typically developing peers participated in more activities that involved social interaction skill. In addition, parents of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder rated more environmental factors as barriers in all environments. Conclusion Participation gaps between adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and their typically developing peers should be considered when developing interventions, allocating services and creating policies to meet the unique needs of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

scholarly journals The urinary biopterin in autism spectrum disorder

Pteridines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-22
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Waligóra ◽  
Aleksandra Damasiewicz-Bodzek ◽  
Piotr Gorczyca ◽  
Sławomir Waligóra ◽  
Krystyna Tyrpień-Golder
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
The Other ◽  
Urine Samples ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Objective The aim of the study was to determine whether biopterin is present in significantly lower quantities in urine samples of patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to healthy individuals. Methods The concentration of biopterin in urine samples was measured by ELISA using commercially available kit. The study involved 53 children aged 3–16 years with ASD and 60 healthy children aged 2–14 years. Results Significantly lower biopterin concentration was observed in autistic patients compared to the control group. However, no significant difference was observed between mild, moderate, and severe ASD. Conclusion One of the potential causes of decrease in urinary biopterin levels may be tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) deficiency, which has extensive and serious health consequences for the nervous system. The results of measuring biopterin as a fully oxidized form of BH4 may suggest that biosynthesis or regeneration of BH4 may be decreased in children with ASD. On the other hand, decreased urinary biopterin levels in children with ASD may be due to BH4 overuse, a good regeneration process, and decreased urinary excretion; and abnormalities in BH4 metabolism appear to be related to the aetiology of ASD or may be due to ASD.

scholarly journals Serum vitamin B12 and folic acid status in Autism spectrum disorder children

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-47
Author(s):  
Syeda Nusrat Mahruba ◽  
Shelina Begum ◽  
Shorifa Shahjadi ◽  
Sharmin Afroz ◽  
Umme Raihan Siddiqi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Folic Acid ◽  
Vitamin B12 ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽  
Serum Vitamin ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Control Group ◽  
P Value ◽  
Healthy Children

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder. The etiology of ASD involves gene-environmental interaction. Vitamin B12 and folic acid have important roles as methyl donor in many biosynthetic pathways, protein synthesis and formation of myelin sheath throughout the central nervous system. Therefore, deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid may act as environmental risk factor for ASD. Objective: To evaluate serum vitamin B12 and folic acid levels in ASD children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Shahbag, Dhaka, from 2018 to 2019. Total 100 children 3-10 years of age were enrolled for this study.Among them fifty (50) diagnosed children with ASD were included in the study group. Fifty (50) healthy children constituted the control group. ASD children were selected from the Parent’s Forum for autistic children. No children were included receiving any vitamin supplementation or had acute illness. For this study, serum level of vitamin B12 and folic acid were measured by automated analyzer.For statistical analysis unpaired “t” test and chi square test were done. Result: The mean values of vitamin B12 and folic acid were significantly lower in ASD children than those of control group (p value <0.05). In addition 4% ASD children had vitamin B12 deficiency. Conclusion: Low serum vitamin B12 and folic acid was associated with ASD. J Bangladesh Soc Physiol. 2019, December; 14(2): 43-47

scholarly journals Children with Autism spectrum disorder are associated with gut microbiota disorder

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hairong Sun ◽  
Zhong You ◽  
Libo Jia ◽  
Fang Wang
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Stable State ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
16S Sequencing ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
The Difference

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence and clinical characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) associated to the stable state of the gut microbiota. Methods A total of 9 children with ASD and 6 healthy children used as control were selected and feces samples were collected from all of them. The 16S gene ribosomal RNA sequencing was used to analyze the difference in gut microbiota between healthy control children and ASD patients. Results The results of 16S sequencing based on operational taxonomic units (OTUs) analysis showed that the ASD group and the healthy control (HC) group had a large difference in the abundance of microbiota at the level of family, genus and species. The abundance of Bacteroidales and Selenomonadales was significantly lower in the ASD group than in the HC group (p=0.0110 and p=0.0076, respectively). The abundance of Ruminococcaceae in the ASD group was higher than that in the HC group (p=0.0265), while the amount of Prevotellaceae was significantly lower in the ASD group than in the HC group (p=0.0265). The Tax4Fun analysis based on Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) data indicated differentially expressed functional pathway between the ASD group and healthy control group associated to the nervous system, environmental information processing and cellular processing. Conclusions The abundance of gut microbiota in the ASD group is different from that in the healthy control children. These differences affect the biological function of the host. These results suggest that a disorder in the gut microbiota may be associated, at least in part, with ASD in children.

scholarly journals Children with Autism spectrum disorder are associated with gut microbiota disorder

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hairong Sun ◽  
Zhong You ◽  
Libo Jia ◽  
Fang Wang
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Stable State ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
16S Sequencing ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
The Difference

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence and clinical characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) associated to the stable state of the gut microbiota. Methods A total of 9 children with ASD and 6 healthy children used as control were selected and feces samples were collected from all of them. The 16S gene ribosomal RNA sequencing was used to analyze the difference in gut microbiota between healthy control children and ASD patients. Results The results of 16S sequencing based on operational taxonomic units (OTUs) analysis showed that the ASD group and the healthy control (HC) group had a large difference in the abundance of microbiota at the level of family, genus and species. The abundance of Bacteroidales and Selenomonadales was significantly lower in the ASD group than in the HC group (p=0.0110 and p=0.0076, respectively). The abundance of Ruminococcaceae in the ASD group was higher than that in the HC group (p=0.0265), while the amount of Prevotellaceae was significantly lower in the ASD group than in the HC group (p=0.0265). The Tax4Fun analysis based on Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) data indicated differentially expressed functional pathway between the ASD group and healthy control group associated to the nervous system, environmental information processing and cellular processing. Conclusions The abundance of gut microbiota in the ASD group is different from that in the healthy control children. These differences affect the biological function of the host. These results suggest that a disorder in the gut microbiota may be associated, at least in part, with ASD in children.

scholarly journals Eating Behaviors of Children with Autism—Pilot Study

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2687
Author(s):  
Anna Brzóska ◽  
Beata Kazek ◽  
Karolina Kozioł ◽  
Agnieszka Kapinos-Gorczyca ◽  
Małgorzata Ferlewicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Bottle Feeding ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Control Group ◽  
First Year ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Autistic Children ◽  
First Year Of Life

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the most recognized neuropsychiatric disorder of childhood. Comorbid conditions (such as feeding disorders) are more common among people with autism than among the general population. The most frequent somatic disorders in autistic children include the gastrointestinal disorders observed in 46–91% of patients. The purpose of this study was the evaluation of the nutrition of children with autism, with particular emphasis placed on feeding in the first year of life, in comparison to the group of healthy peers. Participants included 75 Caucasian children (41 children diagnosed with pure autism, and the control group consisting of 34 children without autistic traits). The analysis was performed based on a questionnaire of own design with the first part devoted to the eating practices of the early infancy. Results: Autistic children, as compared to the healthy peers, presented a shortened time of breastfeeding (the children fell asleep at the breast) (p = 0.04), a delayed introduction of dairy products (p = 0.001), the need of more trials to introduce new foods (p = 0.006), a delayed introduction of foods with solid and lumpy structure (p = 0.004), a longer duration of bottle feeding (p = 0.005), delayed attempts to eating using own hands (p = 0.006) and needed a greater support of parents to divert their attention from food during eating (p = 0.05). Conclusions: 1. The dietary problems are more common among children with the autism spectrum disorder than among the population of healthy children, during the first year of life from the time of introducing the complementary foods. 2. The autistic children experience difficulties with eating and require their parents’ additional involvement significantly more often than their healthy peers.

scholarly journals Autism spectrum disorder is associated with gut microbiota disorder in children

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hairong Sun ◽  
Zhong You ◽  
Libo Jia ◽  
Fang Wang
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Stable State ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
16S Sequencing ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
The Difference

Abstract Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence and clinical characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) associated to the stable state of the gut microbiota. Methods: A total of 9 children with ASD and 6 healthy children used as control were selected and feces samples were collected from all of them. The 16S gene ribosomal RNA sequencing was used to analyze the difference in gut microbiota between healthy control children and ASD patients. Results: The results of 16S sequencing based on operational taxonomic units (OTUs) analysis showed that the ASD group and the healthy control (HC) group had a large difference in the abundance of microbiota at the level of family, genus and species. The abundance of Bacteroidales and Selenomonadales was significantly lower in the ASD group than in the HC group (p=0.0110 and p=0.0076, respectively). The abundance of Ruminococcaceae in the ASD group was higher than that in the HC group (p=0.0285), while the amount of Prevotellaceae was significantly lower in the ASD group than in the HC group (p=0.0111). The Tax4Fun analysis based on Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) data indicated differentially expressed functional pathway between the ASD group and healthy control group associated to the nervous system, environmental information processing and cellular processing. Conclusions: The abundance of gut microbiota in the ASD group is different from that in the healthy control children. These differences affect the biological function of the host. These results suggest that a disorder in the gut microbiota may be associated, at least in part, with ASD in children.

scholarly journals Analysis of Global and Local DNA Methylation Patterns in Blood Samples of Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Victoria García-Ortiz ◽  
María José de la Torre-Aguilar ◽  
Teresa Morales-Ruiz ◽  
Antonio Gómez-Fernández ◽  
Katherine Flores-Rojas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Epigenetic Biomarkers ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Methylation Patterns

The goal of this investigation was to determine whether there are alterations in DNA methylation patterns in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Material and Methods: Controlled prospective observational case-control study. Within the ASD group, children were sub-classified based on the presence (AMR subgroup) or absence (ANMR subgroup) of neurodevelopmental regression during the first 2 years of life. We analyzed the global levels of DNA methylation, reflected in LINE-1, and the local DNA methylation pattern in two candidate genes, Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule (NCAM1) and Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) that, according to our previous studies, might be associated to an increased risk for ASD. For this purpose, we utilized blood samples from pediatric patients with ASD (n = 53) and their corresponding controls (n = 45).Results: We observed a slight decrease in methylation levels of LINE-1 in the ASD group, compared to the control group. One of the CpG in LINE-1 (GenBank accession no.X58075, nucleotide position 329) was the main responsible for such reduction, highly significant in the ASD subgroup of children with AMR (p &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, we detected higher NCAM1 methylation levels in ASD children, compared to healthy children (p &lt; 0.001). The data, moreover, showed higher NGF methylation levels in the AMR subgroup, compared to the control group and the ANMR subgroup. These results are consistent with our prior study, in which lower plasma levels of NCAM1 and higher levels of NGF were found in the ANMR subgroup, compared to the subgroup that comprised neurotypically developing children.Conclusions: We have provided new clues about the epigenetic changes that occur in ASD, and suggest two potential epigenetic biomarkers that would facilitate the diagnosis of the disorder. We similarly present with evidence of a clear differentiation in DNA methylation between the ASD subgroups, with or without mental regression.

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