Participatory Art Activities Increase Salivary Oxytocin Secretion of ASD Children

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) occurs in 1 in 160 children worldwide. Individuals with ASD tend to be unique in the way that they comprehend themselves and others, as well as in the way that they interact and socialize, which can lead to challenges with social adaptation. There is currently no medication to improve the social deficit of children with ASD, and consequently, behavioral and complementary/alternative intervention plays an important role. In the present pilot study, we focused on the neuroendocrinological response to participatory art activities, which are known to have a positive effect on emotion, self-expression, sociability, and physical wellbeing. We collected saliva from 12 children with ASD and eight typically developed (TD) children before and after a visual art-based participatory art workshop to measure the levels of oxytocin, a neuropeptide involved in a wide range of social behaviors. We demonstrated that the rate of increase in salivary oxytocin following art activities in ASD children was significantly higher than that in TD children. In contrast, the change rate of salivary cortisol after participatory art activities was similar between the two groups. These results suggest that the beneficial effects of participatory art activities may be partially mediated by oxytocin release, and may have therapeutic potential for disorders involving social dysfunction.

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Reducing facial dynamics’ speed during speech enhances attention to mouth in children with autism spectrum disorder: An eye-tracking study

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579420000292 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Bruno Gepner ◽

Anaïs Godde ◽

Aurore Charrier ◽

Nicolas Carvalho ◽

Carole Tardif

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Eye Tracking ◽

Real Time ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Visual Exploration ◽

Children With Asd ◽

The Face ◽

Visual Fixations

Abstract Facial movements of others during verbal and social interaction are often too rapid to be faced and/or processed in time by numerous children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which could contribute to their face-to-face interaction peculiarities. We wish here to measure the effect of reducing the speed of one's facial dynamics on the visual exploration of the face by children with ASD. Twenty-three children with ASD and 29 typically-developing control children matched for chronological age passively viewed a video of a speaker telling a story at various velocities, i.e., a real-time speed and two slowed-down speeds. The visual scene was divided into four areas of interest (AOI): face, mouth, eyes, and outside the face. With an eye-tracking system, we measured the percentage of total fixation duration per AOI and the number and mean duration of the visual fixations made on each AOI. In children with ASD, the mean duration of visual fixations on the mouth region, which correlated with their verbal level, increased at slowed-down velocity compared with the real-time one, a finding which parallels a result also found in the control children. These findings strengthen the therapeutic potential of slowness for enhancing verbal and language abilities in children with ASD.

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Context counts

Gesture ◽

10.1075/gest.14.3.05mar ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 375-393 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ashley B. de Marchena ◽

Inge-Marie Eigsti

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Executive Function ◽

Young Children ◽

Cognitive Functions ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Empirical Literature ◽

Children With Asd ◽

Wide Range ◽

Communicative Gestures ◽

Social Communicative

Co-speech gestures in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are poorly understood. Historically, all gestures were thought to be reduced in this social-communicative disorder; however, reduced gestures have not been consistently demonstrated in the empirical literature. Just as protodeclarative pointing is reduced in young children with ASD, while protoimperative pointing is not, the varied functions of co-speech gesture may explain these mixed findings. Verbally fluent adolescents with ASD (n = 18) and controls (n = 18) completed a narrative task and a standardized executive function task. Gestures on the narrative task, which serve a wide range of social and cognitive functions, were reduced in ASD. Gestures on the executive function task, which serve primarily cognitive functions, were increased in ASD. Gesture function may be the best predictor of the presence or absence of gesture in ASD. Despite reduced social-communicative gestures, individuals with ASD may benefit from gesture’s internal, cognitive functions.

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Potential Implications of Quercetin and its Derivatives in Cardioprotection

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms21051585 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (5) ◽

pp. 1585 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Kristina Ferenczyova ◽

Barbora Kalocayova ◽

Monika Bartekova

Keyword(s):

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Ischemia Reperfusion ◽

Cardiac Injury ◽

Experimental Models ◽

Cardiac Effects ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Wide Range

Quercetin (QCT) is a natural polyphenolic compound enriched in human food, mainly in vegetables, fruits and berries. QCT and its main derivatives, such as rhamnetin, rutin, hyperoside, etc., have been documented to possess many beneficial effects in the human body including their positive effects in the cardiovascular system. However, clinical implications of QCT and its derivatives are still rare. In the current paper we provide a complex picture of the most recent knowledge on the effects of QCT and its derivatives in different types of cardiac injury, mainly in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury of the heart, but also in other pathologies such as anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity or oxidative stress-induced cardiac injury, documented in in vitro and ex vivo, as well as in in vivo experimental models of cardiac injury. Moreover, we focus on cardiac effects of QCT in presence of metabolic comorbidities in addition to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Finally, we provide a short summary of clinical studies focused on cardiac effects of QCT. In general, it seems that QCT and its metabolites exert strong cardioprotective effects in a wide range of experimental models of cardiac injury, likely via their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and molecular pathways-modulating properties; however, ageing and presence of lifestyle-related comorbidities may confound their beneficial effects in heart disease. On the other hand, due to very limited number of clinical trials focused on cardiac effects of QCT and its derivatives, clinical data are inconclusive. Thus, additional well-designed human studies including a high enough number of patients testing different concentrations of QCT are needed to reveal real therapeutic potential of QCT in CVD. Finally, several negative or controversial effects of QCT in the heart have been reported, and this should be also taken into consideration in QCT-based approaches aimed to treat CVD in humans.

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Rutin as a Potent Antioxidant: Implications for Neurodegenerative Disorders

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity ◽

10.1155/2018/6241017 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-17 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Adaze Bijou Enogieru ◽

William Haylett ◽

Donavon Charles Hiss ◽

Soraya Bardien ◽

Okobi Eko Ekpo

Keyword(s):

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Prion Diseases ◽

Neuronal Loss ◽

Experimental Models ◽

Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽

Antioxidant Enzyme Activities ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Wide Range ◽

Mitogen Activated Protein

A wide range of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and prion diseases, share common mechanisms such as neuronal loss, apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Intervention strategies using plant-derived bioactive compounds have been offered as a form of treatment for these debilitating conditions, as there are currently no remedies to prevent, reverse, or halt the progression of neuronal loss. Rutin, a glycoside of the flavonoid quercetin, is found in many plants and fruits, especially buckwheat, apricots, cherries, grapes, grapefruit, plums, and oranges. Pharmacological studies have reported the beneficial effects of rutin in many disease conditions, and its therapeutic potential in several models of NDs has created considerable excitement. Here, we have summarized the current knowledge on the neuroprotective mechanisms of rutin in various experimental models of NDs. The mechanisms of action reviewed in this article include reduction of proinflammatory cytokines, improved antioxidant enzyme activities, activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade, downregulation of mRNA expression of PD-linked and proapoptotic genes, upregulation of the ion transport and antiapoptotic genes, and restoration of the activities of mitochondrial complex enzymes. Taken together, these findings suggest that rutin may be a promising neuroprotective compound for the treatment of NDs.

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Bone Marrow Stem Cell Derived Paracrine Factors for Regenerative Medicine: Current Perspectives and Therapeutic Potential

Bone Marrow Research ◽

10.1155/2011/207326 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 88

Author(s):

Tom J. Burdon ◽

Arghya Paul ◽

Nicolas Noiseux ◽

Satya Prakash ◽

Dominique Shum-Tim

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Cell Therapy ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Paracrine Factors ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Cytokines And Chemokines ◽

Survival Pathways ◽

Wide Range ◽

Technical Issues

During the past several years, there has been intense research in the field of bone marrow-derived stem cell (BMSC) therapy to facilitate its translation into clinical setting. Although a lot has been accomplished, plenty of challenges lie ahead. Furthermore, there is a growing body of evidence showing that administration of BMSC-derived conditioned media (BMSC-CM) can recapitulate the beneficial effects observed after stem cell therapy. BMSCs produce a wide range of cytokines and chemokines that have, until now, shown extensive therapeutic potential. These paracrine mechanisms could be as diverse as stimulating receptor-mediated survival pathways, inducing stem cell homing and differentiation or regulating the anti-inflammatory effects in wounded areas. The current review reflects the rapid shift of interest from BMSC to BMSC-CM to alleviate many logistical and technical issues regarding cell therapy and evaluates its future potential as an effective regenerative therapy.

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Evaluation of Anti-inflammatory Nutraceuticals in LPS-induced Mouse Neuroinflammation Model: An Update

Current Neuropharmacology ◽

10.2174/1570159x18666200114125628 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (7) ◽

pp. 636-654

Author(s):

Miryam Nava Catorce ◽

Goar Gevorkian

Keyword(s):

Natural Products ◽

Brain Aging ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Normal Brain ◽

Organosulfur Compounds ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Wide Range ◽

Anti Inflammatory ◽

Basic Features

It is known that peripheral infections, accompanied by inflammation, represent significant risk factors for the development of neurological disorders by modifying brain development or affecting normal brain aging. The acute effects of systemic inflammation on progressive and persistent brain damage and cognitive impairment are well documented. Anti-inflammatory therapies may have beneficial effects on the brain, and the protective properties of a wide range of synthetic and natural compounds have been extensively explored in recent years. In our previous review, we provided an extensive analysis of one of the most important and widely-used animal models of peripherally induced neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration - lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mice. We addressed the data reproducibility in published research and summarized basic features and data on the therapeutic potential of various natural products, nutraceuticals, with known antiinflammatory effects, for reducing neuroinflammation in this model. Here, recent data on the suitability of the LPS-induced murine neuroinflammation model for preclinical assessment of a large number of nutraceuticals belonging to different groups of natural products such as flavonoids, terpenes, non-flavonoid polyphenols, glycosides, heterocyclic compounds, organic acids, organosulfur compounds and xanthophylls, are summarized. Also, the proposed mechanisms of action of these molecules are discussed.

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Awareness of russian doctors about autism spectrum disorders (results of sociological research)

Neurology Bulletin ◽

10.17816/nb26313 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol LII (2) ◽

pp. 46-51

Author(s):

Laisan M. Мukharyamova ◽

Janna V. Saveljeva ◽

Vladimir D. Mendelevich

Keyword(s):

Diagnostic Procedures ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Sociological Research ◽

Number Of Children ◽

Children With Asd ◽

Wide Range ◽

Federal Districts ◽

State Of Research ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Impact

Aim.Identification of awareness in doctors of different specialties (pediatricians, child psychiatrists, neurologists) on a wide range of issues of diagnosis, etiology, therapy of children with ASD. Methods.There was a survey conducted on the authors questionnaire. It was answered by 400doctors working in the large, medium, and small cities and towns in 35subjects of the Russian Federation, representing all Federal districts. In the sample there were pediatricians (53%), psychiatrists (24.2%), neurologists (14.7%), 8.2% did not specify a specialty. 89.2% of respondents are women and 10.2% are men. Results.70% of doctors believe that the number of children with ASD has increased dramatically in recent years. A fifth of respondents found it difficult to answer, 10% said that the number remained the same. The distribution of responses to the question by the profile of specialists indicates the relationship of variables. Neuropathologists and psychiatrists more often chose the answer option increased sharply (2=32.528, p0.01). The distribution of different specialists opinions on the factors that cause changes in the number of children with ASD in society did not have statistically significant differences. About 40% of pediatricians, neurologists, psychiatrists, and other doctors chose the factors improvement of quality in diagnostic procedures and increasing availability of medical care; about a third noted reducing child mortality and, as a result, increasing diversity, about a quarter chose an environmental impact, changing the rules of medical statistics. It is alarming that when asked about the impact of vaccinations on the occurrence of autism, only 46.9% indicated that this is a myth, about 2.8% indicated that autism is a reaction to vaccination, the majority of respondents (50.3%) chose the option that there is not enough data in medicine to confirm or disprove this position. Conclusions.The results of the study allow us to conclude that it is necessary to increase the awareness of doctors about the current state of research on the problem of ASD. Educational programs are needed taking into account not only medical data but also approaches developed in the social Sciences.

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Is the Progress of Children with ASD in a Behavioural Therapy Programme Influenced by Parents’ Hyper-Systemizing?

Journal of Evidence-Based Psychotherapies ◽

10.24193/jebp.2020.2.12 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 67-78

Author(s):

Florina RAD ◽

Ilinca MIHAILESCU ◽

Alexandra BUICĂ ◽

Mihaela STANCU ◽

Emanuela ANDREI ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Behavioural Therapy ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Broad Autism Phenotype ◽

Self Report ◽

Behavioural Intervention ◽

Children With Asd ◽

One Year ◽

Therapy Programme ◽

Autism Phenotype ◽

The Way

"Background. In an attempt to find genetic explanations for the heterogeneous characteristics of autistic patients, research has shown that parents of autistic children are more likely than parents of neurotypical children to exhibit autistic-like characteristics, meeting the criteria for the so-called “broad autism phenotype” . Subclinical autistic traits have been identified in the families of children with ASD, in both fathers and mothers, but the way in which specific parental phenotypes influence the child’s pathology remains unclear. Methods. This study aimed to analyse the progress that a group of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have made during a behavioural therapy programme and the way their evolution has been influenced by the parents’ systemizing level. 52 participants (aged 2 to 5 years old) diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and both of their parents were included in the study. The severity of ASD symptomatology was assessed using the ADOS-G instrument, at the beginning of the study (T0) and after one year of behavioural therapy as well (T1), while the parents’ systemizing level was evaluated using the self-report Systemizing Quotient (SQ). Results. The ADOS-G scores showed a significant improvement after one year of therapy in both Communication and Social Interaction domains. Only the fathers` systemizing level (SQF) had a significant effect on the ADOS-G scores after one year of therapy, with greater improvements reported for children having fathers with higher SQF scores. Conclusion. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the empathizing-systemizing (E-S) theory. We consider that it’s particularly important to continue investigating the way that specific parents’ traits, including their systemizing level or their possible broad autism phenotype, can influence the severity of their children’s ASD or the outcome of the behavioural intervention."

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School Attendance Prediction among Students with Autism: A Deep Learning-based Framework

10.21203/rs.3.rs-691760/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mohammed Jarbou ◽

Daehan Won ◽

Jennifer Gillis ◽

Raymond Romanczyk

Keyword(s):

Deep Learning ◽

Short Term Memory ◽

School Attendance ◽

Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽

The United States ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Short Term ◽

Children With Asd ◽

Wide Range

Abstract Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the areas of social communication and behavior. The term “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms observed across individuals with ASD. Many children with ASD experience difficulty with daily functioning at school andhome. ASD prevalenceincreases in the United States, with the most recent prevalence of 1.9%. Given the wide range of social and learning, difficulties experienced by children with ASD, it is paramount that they are able to attend school to receive the appropriate range of interventions. School absenteeism (SA) is a significant concern given its association with many negativeconsequences such as school drop-out.Early prediction of SA would help school districtto implement effective interventions to ameliorate this issue. Due to its heterogeneity, students with ASD show within-group differences concerning their SA. This research introduces a deep learning-based framework for predicting short-and long-term SA of students with ASD. The Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) algorithm is used to predict short-term SA. Similarly, Multilayer Perceptron(MLP) and Random Forest (RF) algorithms are used to predict long-term SA. The proposed framework achieves a high accuracy of 89% and 90% to predict short-term and long-term SA, respectively.

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A randomised controlled feasibility trial of music-assisted language telehealth intervention for minimally verbal autistic children—the MAP study protocol

Pilot and Feasibility Studies ◽

10.1186/s40814-021-00918-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Tim I. Williams ◽

Tom Loucas ◽

Jacqueline Sin ◽

Mirjana Jeremic ◽

Georgia Aslett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Controlled Trial ◽

Educational Interventions ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Retention Rates ◽

Feasibility Trial ◽

Language Therapy ◽

Minimally Verbal ◽

Children With Asd ◽

Wide Range ◽

Randomised Controlled

Abstract Background About 30% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) do not develop functional speech and remain non-verbal or minimally verbal even after years of speech, language and educational interventions. A wide range of interventions have been developed for improving communication in ASD, but none have proved effective in eliciting functional language in ASD children. Research has found that people with ASD are more likely to have perfect pitch and prefer music to language. Further, it seems that language delay tends to co-occur with better musical skills. Brain imaging research has found that music alongside words increases the attention that people with ASD pay to spoken words. Methods In this protocol, we describe our music-assisted programmes (MAP) that will use music to attract the attention of people with ASD to speech. MAP may open the brain pathways to language and therefore help improve communication skills for people with ASD more than standard communication protocols. In particular, we aim to develop and test whether individualised, easily used MAP would increase spoken language in 24–60-month-old, nonverbal or minimally verbal children with ASD. We will develop a structured training method, delivered through naturalistic, interactive activities (e.g. songs) to teach language to ASD children. We will test this by comparing two groups: one undertaking music-assisted programmes, and the other receiving speech and language therapy in the way that is recommended in NHS clinics. Participants will be allocated to groups randomly. The feasibility of MAP will be assessed through estimations of recruitment and retention rates, the sensitivity and reliability of the outcome measures, the intensity and frequency of the trial, the usability of the MAP app (beta version), and the burden of the assessments for the children and parents. Discussion This feasibility randomised controlled trial will establish the acceptability and estimate the power of the MAP intervention to improve early word learning in children with ASD. In the longer term, this research will help us develop an app for parents or carers of children with ASD to design their own songs and implement their own individualised MAP. Trial registration ISRCTN, ISRCTN12536062. Registered on 26 June 2019.

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