scholarly journals Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with and without Mental Regression is Associated with Changes in the Fecal Microbiota

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julio Plaza-Díaz ◽  
Antonio Gómez-Fernández ◽  
Natalia Chueca ◽  
María Torre-Aguilar ◽  
Ángel Gil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intestinal Microbiota ◽  
Present Report ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Group ◽  
Sequencing Platform ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Mental Regression

New microbiome sequencing technologies provide novel information about the potential interactions among intestinal microorganisms and the host in some neuropathologies as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The microbiota–gut–brain axis is an emerging aspect in the generation of autistic behaviors; evidence from animal models suggests that intestinal microbial shifts may produce changes fitting the clinical picture of autism. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the fecal metagenomic profiles in children with ASD and compare them with healthy participants. This comparison allows us to ascertain how mental regression (an important variable in ASD) could influence the intestinal microbiota profile. For this reason, a subclassification in children with ASD by mental regression (AMR) and no mental regression (ANMR) phenotype was performed. The present report was a descriptive observational study. Forty-eight children aged 2–6 years with ASD were included: 30 with ANMR and 18 with AMR. In addition, a control group of 57 normally developing children was selected and matched to the ASD group by sex and age. Fecal samples were analyzed with a metagenomic approach using a next-generation sequencing platform. Several differences between children with ASD, compared with the healthy group, were detected. Namely, Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria at phylum level, as well as, Actinobacteria, Bacilli, Erysipelotrichi, and Gammaproteobacteria at class level were found at higher proportions in children with ASD. Additionally, Proteobacteria levels showed to be augmented exclusively in AMR children. Preliminary results, using a principal component analysis, showed differential patterns in children with ASD, ANMR and AMR, compared to healthy group, both for intestinal microbiota and food patterns. In this study, we report, higher levels of Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Bacilli, aside from Erysipelotrichi, and Gammaproteobacteria in children with ASD compared to healthy group. Furthermore, AMR children exhibited higher levels of Proteobacteria. Further analysis using these preliminary results and mixing metagenomic and other “omic” technologies are needed in larger cohorts of children with ASD to confirm these intestinal microbiota changes.

scholarly journals Motor Capacities in Boys with High Functioning Autism: Which Evaluations to Choose?

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1521
Author(s):  
Véronique-Aurélie BRICOUT ◽  
Marion PACE ◽  
Léa DUMORTIER ◽  
Sahal MIGANEH ◽  
Yohan MAHISTRE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Hierarchical Cluster ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Ensemble Classification ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Agglomerative Hierarchical Cluster Analysis ◽  
Motor Tests

The difficulties with motor skills in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has become a major focus of interest. Our objectives were to provide an overall profile of motor capacities in children with ASD compared to neurotypically developed children through specific tests, and to identify which motor tests best discriminate children with or without ASD. Twenty-two male children with ASD (ASD—10.7 ± 1.3 years) and twenty controls (CONT—10.0 ± 1.6 years) completed an evaluation with 42 motor tests from European Physical Fitness Test Battery (EUROFIT), the Physical and Neurological Exam for Subtle Signs (PANESS) and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children ( M-ABC). However, it was challenging to design a single global classifier to integrate all these features for effective classification due to the issue of small sample size. To this end, we proposed a hierarchical ensemble classification method to combine multilevel classifiers by gradually integrating a large number of features from different motor assessments. In the ASD group, flexibility, explosive power and strength scores (p < 0.01) were significantly lower compared to the control group. Our results also showed significant difficulties in children with ASD for dexterity and ball skills (p < 0.001). The principal component analysis and agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis allowed for the classification of children based on motor tests, correctly distinguishing clusters between children with and without motor impairments.

FMS Effects of a Motor Program for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

2021 ◽  
pp. 003151252110100
Author(s):  
Liangshan Dong ◽  
Bo Shen ◽  
YanLi Pang ◽  
Mingting Zhang ◽  
Yuan Xiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Development ◽  
Group Versus ◽  
Motor Program ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Gross Motor Development ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Individualized Approach ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Ball Skills

The current study evaluated the effectiveness of a motor program that specifically targeted fundamental motor skills (FMS) in children with ASD. The experimental group (n=21) participated in a 9-week program with motor instructions for 80 minutes/day, three days/week, while the control group (n=29) did not participate in the program. We measured FMS (using the Test of Gross Motor Development-3) one-week before, one-week after, and two-months after the program. Children in the experimental group had significantly larger FMS improvements than the controls on both locomotor and ball skills immediately following the program, and these participants showed continuous improvement on locomotor, but not ball skills, at 2-months follow-up. In individual analyses, 80% of children in the experimental group versus 29% of children in the control group showed continuous locomotor skills improvement beyond their pre-test levels. These findings highlight the importance of both a long-term motor development intervention and an individualized approach for evaluating improved FMS among children with ASD.

scholarly journals Parenting Behavior in Mothers of Preschool Children with ASD: Development of a Self-Report Questionnaire

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greet Lambrechts ◽  
Jarymke Maljaars ◽  
Hannah Boonen ◽  
Lotte van Esch ◽  
Karla Van Leeuwen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Parenting Behavior ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Factor Analyses ◽  
Factor Solution ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Gender And Age

Parents of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encounter many daily challenges and often experience much stress. However, little research exists about parenting behavior among these parents. With this study, we aim to address this gap. We examined the structure and internal consistency of a questionnaire intended to measure parenting behavior among mothers of young children with ASD. Furthermore, we compared parenting behavior among mothers of young children with and without ASD between two and six years old. Factor analyses resulted in a factor solution with seven subscales of parenting behavior. Two additional subscales especially relevant for parenting preschoolers with ASD were also considered.Analyses of covariance, controlling for gender and age, showed significantly higher scores forDisciplineandStimulating the Developmentin the control group in comparison with the ASD group. These findings suggest that mothers of preschoolers with ASD are still trying to find strategies to guide and stimulate their child’s behavior and development effectively.

scholarly journals Effects of an attachment-based parent intervention on mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder: preliminary findings from a non-randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobuyo Kubo ◽  
Megumi Kitagawa ◽  
Sayaka Iwamoto ◽  
Toshifumi Kishimoto
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Children With Asd

Abstract Background Caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often experience difficulties in responding appropriately to the needs of those children, who typically express attachment in distinct and nonconventional ways. This highlights the need for an attachment-based approach targeted at caregivers of children with ASD. Circle of Security Parenting (COSP), an attachment-based parenting program, is designed to increase caregivers’ sensitivity to children’s attachment needs. The aim of this study was to provide verification of the effectiveness of COSP in mothers of children with ASD. Methods This study was a non-randomized controlled trial. Sixty mothers of children with ASD aged 4–12 were recruited. Twenty mothers received the COSP intervention, while 40 did not. The characteristics of children in the control group were matched with those of the intervention group. To evaluate the outcomes of the intervention, changes in parental self-efficacy and mental health were assessed using the Tool to Measure Parenting Self-Efficacy (TOPSE) and the General Health Questionnaire-30 (GHQ-30). The children’s improvement in emotional and behavioral problems was assessed from the mothers’ perspective using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Both groups completed the assessments in parallel. Evaluations were compared between baseline (T1) and 6-month follow-up (T2). Results Scores for self-efficacy and mental health of mothers and behavior of children were significantly improved from T1 to T2 in the intervention group, but not in the control group. Participants’ mental health was markedly worsened in the control group. Conclusion This study demonstrated that the COSP program for mothers of children with ASD improved their parental self-efficacy and mental health, and reduced their subjective sense of difficulties related to their children’s behaviors. Our findings support the effectiveness of the attachment-based program for mothers of children with ASD, providing the groundwork for further studies of the attachment-based intervention for children with ASD and their families. Future studies with larger samples and randomization are also needed for direct evaluation of the improvement of children's attachment security, and for exploration of the synergistic relationship between various family support strategies and COSP. Trial Registration This trial was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trial Registry (No. UMIN000039574)

scholarly journals Investigation of the Relation Between Epithelial Barrier Function and Autism Symptom Severity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevser Nalbant ◽  
Semih Erden ◽  
Abdullah Yazar ◽  
İbrahim Kılınç
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Epithelial Barrier ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Epithelial Barrier Function ◽  
Children With Asd

Abstract Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by limitations in mutual communication and social interaction as well as restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, or activities. A number of biological abnormalities have been reported in ASD. Therefore the possible role of biological abnormalities in etiopathogenesis arouses research interest in this area. This is a case-control design study evaluating epithelial barrier function by comparing serum concentrations of occludin and zonulin in children with ASD (n = 60) and controls (n = 30). The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) was used to evaluate autistic symptom levels of all children. Serum occludin and zonulin levels were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum occludin was significantly lower in children with ASD than in control subjects. In children with ASD, a decrease in occludin level was significantly associated with the disorder symptom levels item mean score (CARS total scores). Our findings showed that children with ASD had alterations in epithelial barrier function compared to the control group. The investigation of the mechanism underlying the different levels of occludin between ASD and controls may be of importance in clarifying the etiopathogenesis of ASD, as well as its follow-up and treatment.

scholarly journals Prevalence and Clinical Features of Celiac Disease in a Cohort of Italian Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 3046
Author(s):  
Margherita Prosperi ◽  
Elisa Santocchi ◽  
Elena Brunori ◽  
Angela Cosenza ◽  
Raffaella Tancredi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Celiac Disease ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Italian Population ◽  
Immune System Dysfunction ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

Background: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental conditions whose etiopathogenesis derives from a complex interaction between genetic liability and environmental factors. In this framework, mounting evidence suggests that immune system dysfunction could be a risk factor contributing to the development of ASD in at least a subpopulation of individuals. In particular, some studies suggest an association between celiac disease (CD)—a long-term autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the small intestine triggered by the ingestion of gluten—and ASD, while others hypothesized a random link. This investigation aimed to evaluate the prevalence of CD in a large sample of school-aged children with ASD and to characterize their clinical profile. Methods: Medical records of 405 children with ASD aged 5–11 years (mean age: 7.2 years; SD: 1.8 years) consecutively referred to a tertiary-care university hospital between January 2014 and December 2018 were reviewed; among them, 362 had carried out serological testing for CD. Results: Nine patients with positive CD serology were identified, eight of which satisfied the criteria for CD diagnosis. The estimated CD prevalence in ASD children was 2.18% (95% CI, 0.8–3.7), which was not statistically different (1.58%; p = 0.36) from that of an Italian population, matched for age range, considered as a control group (95% CI, 1.26–1.90). Three out of the eight ASD patients with CD did not have any symptoms suggestive of CD. Conclusions: Our findings did not show a higher prevalence of CD in ASD children than in the control population, but could suggest the utility of routine CD screening, given its frequent atypical clinical presentation in this population.

A Demonstration Project for the Utility of Kinect-Based Educational Games to Benefit Motor Skills of Children with ASD

2019 ◽  
Vol 126 (6) ◽  
pp. 1117-1144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanja Vukićević ◽  
Mirjana Đorđević ◽  
Nenad Glumbić ◽  
Zorica Bogdanović ◽  
Milica Đurić Jovičić
Keyword(s):  
Motor Skills ◽  
Motor Development ◽  
Standard Treatment ◽  
Educational Games ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Experimental Group

Motor disorders often accompany autism spectrum disorder (ASD), although they are not included in its diagnostic criteria. Slower motor development is evident in early childhood in this population, making early motor skills intervention advisable. As educational games and modern technology can represent new forms of treatment, this study evaluated four Kinect-based visuo-motor games called Fruits that were specially designed for this research. We sought to test whether children with ASD would show behavior changes during their game play and whether any effects would generalize to another game called Rackets. The study included 10 elementary school children with ASD, aged 9-13 years, who were divided into (a) an experimental group ( n = 5) who, in addition to standard treatment, played Fruits once a week for a 5-week period and Rackets both before and after the 5-week period and (b) a control group ( n = 5) who received only standard treatment during this period and also played Rackets before and after it. We found significant improvements in gross motor skills and successful generalization of acquired skills among children in the experimental group relative to the control group. The experimental group also showed an increase in positive emotions and a decrease in loss of attention while playing the games. These preliminary findings indicate a motor skill benefit for children with ASD who play Kinect-based educational games, but further research is needed to replicate and expand these findings with larger participant samples.

Case-control study of the low intensive autism-specific early behavioral intervention A-FFIP: Outcome after one year

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janina Kitzerow ◽  
Karoline Teufel ◽  
Katrin Jensen ◽  
Christian Wilker ◽  
Christine M. Freitag
Keyword(s):  
Early Intervention ◽  
Cognitive Development ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Autistic Symptoms ◽  
One Year ◽  
Control Study

Abstract. Abstracts: Objective: In current international research, early intervention in children with autism-spectrum disorder (ASD) focuses on naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions (NDBI). The manualized Frankfurt Early Intervention Program for preschool-aged children with ASD (A-FFIP) implements NDBI principles within a low-intensity approach of 2 h intervention/week. The present case-control study established effect sizes of change in autistic symptoms, comorbid behavioral problems as well as IQ after one year. Methodology: An intervention group (N = 20; age: 3.4–7.9 years) and a treatment-as-usual control group (N = 20; age: 3.2–7.3 years) of children with ASD were matched for developmental and chronological age. The outcome measures used were the ADOS severity score, the Child Behavior Checklist, and cognitive development. Results: After one year, the A-FFIP group showed a trend towards greater improvement in autistic symptoms (η2 = .087 [95 %-CI: .000–.159]) and significantly greater improvements in cognitive development (η2 = .206 [CI: .012–.252]) and global psychopathology (η2 = .144 [CI: .001–.205]) compared to the control group. Conclusion: The efficacy of A-FFIP should be established in a larger, sufficiently powered, randomized controlled study.

scholarly journals Characterizing Olfactory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Children with Sensory Processing Dysfunction

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia R. Sweigert ◽  
Tanya St. John ◽  
Kristin Kawena Begay ◽  
Greg E. Davis ◽  
Jeffrey Munson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Sensory Processing ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Olfactory Function ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Odor Identification ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Autism Symptoms ◽  
Odor Detection ◽  
Children With Asd

Abnormalities in olfactory function have been identified in a number of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. However, little is known about olfactory function in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present study aims to assess the olfactory profiles of children with ASD, compared to an age- and sex-matched comparison group of typically developing children and a second clinical control group consisting of non-ASD children with sensory processing dysfunction (SPD). Participants completed a battery of sensory and behavioral assessments including olfactory tasks (Sniffin’ Sticks Threshold Test and self-reported valence ratings for two target odorants (phenylethyl alcohol and vanillin) and the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test), and an autism evaluation (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2). Children with ASD showed intact odor detection with reduced odor identification ability. Poor odor identification was significantly correlated with autism symptom severity. Children with SPD demonstrated reduced odor detection and identification ability. These findings provide evidence for differential patterns of smell processing among ASD and non-ASD neurodevelopmental disorders. Future studies are needed to determine whether the association of impaired olfaction and increased autism symptoms is due to shared etiology.

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