scholarly journals CTRP3 as a novel biomarker in the plasma of Saudi children with autism

PeerJ ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. e12630
Author(s):  
Manan Alhakbany ◽  
Laila Al-Ayadhi ◽  
Afaf El-Ansary
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Regulation ◽  
Operating Characteristic ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Low Area ◽  
Anti Inflammation ◽  
Necrosis Factor

Background C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein-3 (CTRP3) has diverse functions: anti-inflammation, metabolic regulation, and protection against endothelial dysfunction. Methods The plasma level of CTRP3 in autistic patients (n = 32) was compared to that in controls (n = 37) using ELISA. Results CTRP3 was higher (24.7% with P < 0.05) in autistic patients than in controls. No association was observed between CTRP3 and the severity of the disorder using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). A positive correlation between CARs and the age of patients was reported. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated a low area under the curve (AUC) for all patients (0.636). Low AUCs were also found in the case of severe patients (0.659) compared to controls, but both values were statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05). Despite the small sample size, we are the first to find an association between CTRP3 and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

scholarly journals Herbal Medicine Treatment for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miran Bang ◽  
Sun Haeng Lee ◽  
Seung-Hun Cho ◽  
Sun-Ae Yu ◽  
Kibong Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Effective Rate ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Qualitative Synthesis

Objective. To summarize and evaluate the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines used for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. Methods. Thirteen electronic databases were searched from their inception to November 2016. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the efficacy of herbal medicines alone or in combination with other Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments for ASD in children were included. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was used and other data analyses were performed using RevMan (Version 5.3). Results. Ten RCTs involving 567 patients with ASD were included for qualitative synthesis. In conjunction with conventional therapy, herbal medicines significantly improved the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) score, but the results of effects on total effective rate (TER) were different between the included studies. The use of herbal medicines with integrative therapy improved the CARS score and TER. In the studies that documented adverse events, no serious events were associated with herbal medicines. Conclusions. The efficacy of herbal medicines for the treatment of ASD appears to be encouraging but was inconclusive owing to low methodological quality, herbal medicine diversity, and small sample size of the examined studies.

scholarly journals A Comparison of the Autistic Behavior Checklist and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale for Suspected Autism in a Large Chinese Sample

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiahui Chu ◽  
Fang Bian ◽  
Ruiying Yan ◽  
Yanlin Li ◽  
Yonghua Cui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Operating Characteristic ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Childhood Autism ◽  
Childhood Autism Rating Scale ◽  
Roc Curve Analysis ◽  
Chinese Sample ◽  
Autistic Behavior ◽  
Assessment Scales

Abstract Autism is the most common clinical developmental disorder in children. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and Autistic Behavior Checklist (ABC) are the most commonly used assessment scales for diagnosing autism. The aim of this study is to compare the diagnostic validities of CARS and ABC based on a large Chinese sample. A total of 474 children with suspected autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were screened by CARS and ABC. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed and it showed that the area-under-the-curve values of CARS is higher than ABC significantly (p < 0.05) and the suggested cutoff values of CARS and ABC were 34 and 67, respectively. It indicated that CARS is superior to ABC in the Chinese population with suspected ASD.

Risikoabschätzung einer akuten Exazerbation bei COPD-Patienten im Rahmen einer pneumologischen Anschluss-Rehabilitation anhand der Prävalenz und Schwergradausprägung von Komorbiditäten

Pneumologie ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Luu ◽  
S. Tulka ◽  
S. Knippschild ◽  
W. Windisch ◽  
M. Spielmanns
Keyword(s):  
Receiver Operating Characteristic ◽  
Charlson Comorbidity Index ◽  
Operating Characteristic ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Sensitivität Und Spezifität ◽  
Comorbidity Index ◽  
Receiver Operating

Zusammenfassung Einleitung Akute COPD-Exazerbationen (AECOPD) im Rahmen einer pneumologischen Rehabilitation (PR) sind häufige und gefährliche Komplikationen. Neben Einschränkungen der Lebensqualität führen sie zu einem Unterbrechung der PR und gefährden den PR-Erfolg. Eine Abhängigkeit zwischen dem Krankheitsstatus und einem erhöhten Risiko für eine AECOPD ist beschrieben. Dabei stellt sich die Frage, ob der Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) oder die Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS) dafür geeignet sind, besonders exazerbationsgefährdete COPD-Patienten in der PR im Vorfeld zu detektieren. Patienten und Methoden In einer retrospektiven Untersuchung wurden die Daten von COPD-Patienten, welche im Jahr 2018 eine PR erhielten, analysiert. Primärer Endpunkt der Untersuchung war die Punktzahl im CCI. Alle Daten wurden dem Klinikinformationssystem Phönix entnommen und COPD-Exazerbationen erfasst. Die laut Fallzahlplanung benötigten 44 Patienten wurden zufällig (mittels Zufallsliste für jede Gruppe) aus diesem Datenpool rekrutiert: 22 Patienten mit und 22 ohne Exazerbation während der PR. CCI und CIRS wurden für die eingeschlossenen Fälle für beide Gruppen bestimmt. Die Auswertung des primären Endpunktes (CCI) erfolgte durch den Gruppenvergleich der arithmetischen Mittel und der Signifikanzprüfung (Welch-Tests). Weitere statistische Lage- und Streuungsmaße wurden ergänzt (Median, Quartile, Standardabweichung).Zusätzlich wurde mittels Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC)-Analyse sowohl für den CCI als auch für den CIRS ein optimaler Cutpoint zur Diskriminierung in AECOPD- und Nicht-AECOPD-Patienten gesucht. Ergebnisse 244 COPD-Patienten erhielten eine stationäre PR von durchschnittlich 21 Tagen, wovon 59 (24 %) während der PR eine behandlungspflichtige AECOPD erlitten. Die ausgewählten 22 Patienten mit einer AECOPD hatten einen mittleren CCI von 6,77 (SD: 1,97) und die 22 Patienten ohne AECOPD von 4,32 (SD: 1,17). Die Differenz von –2,45 war zu einem Signifikanzniveau von 5 % statistisch signifikant (p < 0,001; 95 %-KI: [–3,45 ; –1,46]). Die ROC-Analyse zeigte einen optimalen Cutpoint für den CCI bei 6 mit einer Sensitivität zur Feststellung einer AECOPD von 81,8 % und einer Spezifität von 86.,4 % mit einem Wert der AUC (area under the curve) von 0,87. Der optimale Cutpoint für den CIRS war 19 mit einer Sensitivität von 50 %, einer Spezifität von 77,2 % und einer AUC von 0,65. Schlussfolgerung COPD-Patienten mit einer akuten Exazerbation während der pneumologischen Rehabilitation haben einen höheren CCI. Mithilfe des CCI lässt sich mit einer hohen Sensitivität und Spezifität das Risiko einer AECOPD von COPD-Patienten im Rahmen eines stationären PR-Programms einschätzen.

Abstract 3725: Simvastatin but Not Pravastatin Affects Sleep: Findings from the UCSD Statin Study

Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatrice A Golomb ◽  
Edwin K Kwon ◽  
Michael H Criqui ◽  
Joel E Dimsdale
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
T Test ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Regression Analyses

Background : Case reports have suggested possible effects of lipophilic statins on sleep in some subjects. Most randomized studies evaluating the effect of statins on sleep have had small sample size and short duration (≤ 6 weeks). Whether statins affect sleep on average, favorably or adversely, has been unclear. Goal : To assess the effects of lipophilic and hydrophilic statins on sleep. Subjects : 1016 adult men and women without diabetes or heart disease, with LDL-cholesterol 115–190mg/dL. Design : Randomized double blind placebo-controlled trial of simvastatin 20mg, pravastatin 40mg or placebo for 6 months. Sleep was a prespecified secondary outcome. It was assessed by both an adaptation of the Leeds sleep scale (a visual analog scale of sleep quality); and a rating scale of sleep problems. Both items were measured at baseline and on-treatment. Analysis : Baseline comparability of randomization groups including sleep measures was affirmed. T-test of mean on-treatment sleep scores across randomization groups was performed. This complemented regression analyses, adjusted for baseline values of the respective sleep assessment. Results : Groups were comparable at baseline on variables including both sleep measures. Simvastatin use was associated with significantly worse sleep quality, and significantly greater reported sleep problems than either pravastatin or placebo, by t-test and regression analyses. Pravastatin did not differ significantly from placebo on any sleep outcome. Conclusion : Findings were compatible with the hypothesis that statins may impair sleep in some subjects, and that this impairment may arise selectively with lipophilic statins. Table 1. Effects of Statins on Sleep: Regression Analysis

A Pilot Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial of MC5-A Scrambler Therapy in the Treatment of Chronic Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN)

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Smith ◽  
A. Rab Razzak ◽  
Amanda L. Blackford ◽  
Jennifer Ensminger ◽  
Catherine Saiki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Peripheral Neuropathy ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Brief Pain Inventory ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Sham Treatment ◽  
The Real ◽  
Average Pain ◽  
Scrambler Therapy

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) affects 30% to 40% of patients with cancer with long-lasting disability. Scrambler therapy (ST) appeared to benefit patients in uncontrolled trials, so we performed a randomized sham-controlled Phase II trial of ST. Methods: The primary end point was “average pain” after 28 days on the Numeric Rating Scale. Each received ten 30-minute sessions of ST on the dermatomes above the painful areas, or sham treatment on the back, typically at L3-5 where the nerve roots would enter the spinal cord. Outcomes included the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI)-CIPN and the EORTC CIPN-20 scale. Patients were evaluated before treatment (day 0), day 10, and days 28, 60, and 90. Results: Data regarding pain as a primary outcome were collected for 33 of the 35 patients. There were no significant differences between the sham and the “real” ST group at day 10, 28, 60, or 90, for average pain, the BPI, or EORTC CIPN-20. Individual responses were noted during the ST treatment on the real arm, but most dissipated by day 30. There was improvement in the sensory subscale of the CIPN-20 at 2 months in the “real” group ( P = .14). All “real” patients wanted to continue treatment if available. Discussion: We observed no difference between sham and real ST CIPN treatment. Potential reasons include at least the following: ST does not work; the sham treatment had some effect; small sample size with heterogeneous patients; misplaced electrodes on an area of nonpainful but damaged nerves; or a combination of these factors.

scholarly journals Behavioral and cortisol responses to feeding frequency in pregnant sows under isocaloric intake

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayford Manu ◽  
Suhyup Lee ◽  
Mike C Keyes ◽  
Jim Cairns ◽  
Samuel K Baidoo
Keyword(s):  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Feeding Activity ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Total Activity ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Experimental Unit ◽  
Feeding Frequency ◽  
Daily Feeding ◽  
Feeding Activities ◽  
Cortisol Responses

Abstract The study focused on behavioral and cortisol responses to feeding frequency in pregnant sows under isocaloric intake. Twenty-four sows [(Landrace × Yorkshire); BW 216.70 ± 3.98 kg; parity 3.04 ± 0.53] were balanced for parity and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 feeding frequency regimes. Sows were fed corn–soybean meal-based diet 1× [0730 (Control), T1], 2× [half ration at 0730 and 1530 hours, T2], or 3× [one-third portion at 0730, 1130, and 1530 hours, T3] from days 30 to 60 of gestation. Sows received 7055 kcal ME/d during gestation from 2.21 kg of diet formulated to contain SID Lys/ME of 1.71 g/Mcal. Saliva samples were collected every 2 hr from 0630 to 1830 hours on day 52 and assayed for cortisol using ELISA procedure. Behavior data were collected for 7 d from day 53 of gestation by affixing a remote insights ear tag to each sow. Each sow had 120,960 data points categorized into: “Active”, “Feed,” or “Dormant”. Because of housing constraint, all sows were housed in individual stalls in the same room presenting a potential limitation of the study. The data were analyzed using PROC MIXED and GLIMMIX procedures of SAS 9.4 for cortisol and behavior count data, respectively. Sow was the experimental unit. The area under the curve (AUC) is quantitative evaluation of response as threshold varies over all possible values. The T2 sows had reduced 12-hr cortisol AUC compared with control sows (P = 0.024) and T3 sows (P = 0.004), respectively. The T2 sows had lower 3 hr (P = 0.039) and 5 hr (P = 0.015) postfeeding cortisol AUC compared with control sows. Feed anticipatory activity (FAA), 24-hr total activity, and feeding activities (eating and/or sham chewing) were reduced for T2 sows relative to the control and T3 sows (P &lt; 0.01). Consequently, T2 sows had lower 24-hr total activity (P &lt; 0.001) and feeding activities (P &lt; 0.001) AUC compared with both the control and T3 sows, respectively. The T3 sows had greater FAA (P &lt; 0.001) and 24-hr total activity AUC (P = 0.010) compared with control sows. Our data although inconclusive due to small sample size, twice daily feeding appears to be the threshold that reduces sows’ total activity AUC, feeding activity AUC, and activation of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, reduced hunger, and exhibit potential to improve sow welfare in relation to once and thrice daily feeding regimes under isocaloric intake per kilogram live metabolic weight.

scholarly journals Population Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Analysis of Anidulafungin in Adult Patients with Fungal Infections

2012 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 466-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Liu
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Safety Data ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Disease Status ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Population Pharmacokinetic ◽  
Concentration Data

ABSTRACTTo evaluate the exposure-response relationships for efficacy and safety of intravenous anidulafungin in adult patients with fungal infections, a population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) analysis was performed with data from 262 patients in four phase 2/3 studies. The plasma concentration data were fitted with a previously developed population PK model. Anidulafungin exposures in patients with weight extremities (e.g., 40 kg and 150 kg) were simulated based on the final PK model. Since the patient population, disease status, and efficacy endpoints varied in these studies, the exposure-efficacy relationship was investigated separately for each study using logistic regression as appropriate. Safety data from three studies (n= 235) were pooled for analysis, and one study was excluded due to concomitant use of amphotericin B as a study treatment and different disease populations. The analysis showed that the same dosing regimen of anidulafungin can be administered to all patients regardless of body weight. Nonetheless, caution should be taken for patients with extremely high weight (e.g., >150 kg). There was a trend of positive association between anidulafungin exposure and efficacy in patients with esophageal candidiasis or invasive candidiasis, including candidemia (ICC); however, adequate characterization of the effect of anidulafungin exposure on response could not be established due to the relatively small sample size. No threshold value for exposure could be established, since patients with low exposure also achieved successful outcomes (e.g., area under the curve < 40 mg · h/liter in ICC patients). There was no association between anidulafungin exposure and the treatment-related adverse events or all-causality hepatic laboratory abnormalities.

scholarly journals Osteopathic Manual Treatment vs Kaltenborn-Evjenth Orthopedic Manual Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Proposal for a Protocol for Randomized Trials

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (8) ◽  
pp. 383-388
Author(s):  
Pawel Lizis ◽  
Wojciech Kobza ◽  
Grzegorz Manko ◽  
Jaroslaw Jaszczur-Nowicki ◽  
Joanna Bukowska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Manual Therapy ◽  
Randomized Trials ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Randomized Study ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Random Allocation ◽  
Low Back

Introduction: Numerous modalities of conservative therapeutic interventions are available to achieve the best health benefits in people with Low Back Pain (LBP), e.g., kinesiotherapy, physical therapy, behavior therapy. People with LBP continue to experience pain and disability despite receiving the best evidence based therapy. Osteopathic Manual Therapy (OMT) and Kaltenborn-Evjenth Ortopedic Manual Therapy (KEOMT) are the other options, although their effectiveness remains controversial. The aim of this study is a proposal for a protocol for randomized trials to compare the effectiveness of OMT vs. KEOMT on pain and disability in people suffering from LBP. Methods and analysis: It's a randomized study with two-arms parallel, designed with concealed allocation, the assessor's blinding with intention to-treat analysis. It will include 34 people a group with severe disability ranged from 41 to 60% in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). There will be two groups: a treatment group (OMT) and a comparison group (KEOMT). All the patients in both groups will receive 2 treatments a week for 5 weeks. Each session in both groups will not exceed 30 minutes. During each session OMT and KEOMT techniques will be repeated 3 times. A baseline assessment will be performed pre and post intervention, two days later. The following parameters will be assessed during the evaluations: Numeric Pain Rating Scale – NPRS, ODI. Ethics and dissemination: The trial was approved by the Scientific Research Ethics Committee of University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland. Registration approval number: 9/2018. Trial registration: The study protocol was prospectively registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on December 28, 2019 (registration ID: ChiCTR1900028580). Strengths and Limitations of this Study The participants' random allocation to the experimental and the control groups. The same experienced physiotherapist, blind to the outcome measures, provides the interventions. The same assistant, blind to the group allocation, administrates the outcomes. The same number of the interventions, the compared contact time with the physiotherapist providing the interventions. A short follow-up period and/or a rather small sample size.

scholarly journals Visual attention and inhibitory control in children, teenagers and adults with autism without intellectual disability: results of oculomotor tasks from a 2-year longitudinal follow-up study (InFoR)

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anouck Amestoy ◽  
Etienne Guillaud ◽  
Giulia Bucchioni ◽  
Tiziana Zalla ◽  
Daniel Umbricht ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Attention Switching ◽  
Follow Up Study

Abstract Background Inhibitory control and attention processing atypicalities are implicated in various diseases, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD). These cognitive functions can be tested by using visually guided saccade-based paradigms in children, adolescents and adults to determine the time course of such disorders. Methods In this study, using Gap, Step, Overlap and Antisaccade tasks, we analyzed the oculomotor behavior of 82 children, teenagers and adults with high functioning ASD and their peer typically developing (TD) controls in a two-year follow-up study under the auspices of the InFoR-Autism project. Analysis of correlations between oculomotors task measurements and diagnostic assessment of attentional (ADHD-RS and ADHD comorbidity indices) and executive functioning (BRIEF scales) were conducted in order to evaluate their relationship with the oculomotor performance of participants with ASD. Results As indicated by the presence of a Gap and Overlap effects in all age groups, the oculomotor performances of ASD participants showed a preserved capability in overt attention switching. In contrast, the difference in performances of ASD participants in the Antisaccade task, compared to their TD peers, indicated an atypical development of inhibition and executive functions. From correlation analysis between our oculomotor data and ADHD comorbidity index, and scores of attention and executive function difficulties, our findings support the hypothesis that a specific dysfunction of inhibition skills occurs in ASD participants that is independent of the presence of ADHD comorbidity. Limitations These include the relatively small sample size of the ASD group over the study’s two-year period, the absence of an ADHD-only control group and the evaluation of a TD control group solely at the study’s inception. Conclusions Children and teenagers with ASD have greater difficulty in attention switching and inhibiting prepotent stimuli. Adults with ASD can overcome these difficulties, but, similar to teenagers and children with ASD, they make more erroneous and anticipatory saccades and display a greater trial-to-trial variability in all oculomotor tasks compared to their peers. Our results are indicative of a developmental delay in the maturation of executive and attentional functioning in ASD and of a specific impairment in inhibitory control.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Equine-Based Therapy in the Treatment of Social and Behavioural Aspects of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney Wiese ◽  
Rebecca Simpson ◽  
Saravana Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Methodological Quality ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Behavioural Aspects

Introduction: Individuals with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) present with impairments in social interactions, communication, restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour, interests or activities. Equine-based therapy is used as a treatment with children with disabilities. There have been no systematic reviews conducted on the effectiveness of equine-based therapy in children with ASD. Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of equine-based therapy on behavioural and social interactions in the treatment of children with ASD. Methods: A systematic search of Cochrane, OT Seeker, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Informit health databases and Proquest central were conducted. Studies of participants, aged 4-16 years, with professional diagnosed ASDs were included if they utilised outcome measures assessing behaviours and social interactions through questionnaire or observation. A critical appraisal, using the McMaster Critical Review Form for Quantitative Studies, was performed to assess methodological quality. NHMRC body of evidence framework was used to provide the study with an overall grade of recommendation in assessing quality of evidence. Results: Eight studies of varying research designs and methodological quality met the inclusion criteria. The participants in these studies were aged between 4-16 years of age. The duration of the inventions ranged from 6-12 weeks, and each study used varied measures of outcome. Overall, studies showed some improvements in behaviours and social interactions following an equine-based therapy intervention. Conclusions: Few studies have investigated the effect of equine therapy on behaviour and social interactions of children with ASD. The current body of evidence is constrained by small sample size, lack of comparator, crude sampling methods, and the lack of standardised outcome measures. Equine-based therapy shows potential as a treatment method for behaviours and social interactions in children with ASD.

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