Exploring Polygenic Contributors To Subgroups of Comorbid Conditions In Autism Spectrum Disorder

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have heterogeneous comorbid conditions. This study examined whether comorbid conditions in ASD are associated with polygenic risk scores (PRS) of ASD or PRS of comorbid conditions in non-ASD specific populations. Genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data were obtained from 1,386 patients with ASD from the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE) study. After excluding individuals with missing clinical information concerning comorbid conditions, a total of 707 patients were included in the study. A total of 18 subgroups of comorbid conditions (’topics’) were identified using a machine learning algorithm, topic modeling. PRS for ASD were computed using a genome-wide association meta-analysis of 18,381 cases and 27,969 controls. From these 18 topics, Topic 6 (over-represented by allergies) (p = 1.72 x 10−3) and Topic 17 (over-represented by sensory processing issues such as low pain tolerance) (p = .037) were associated with PRS of ASD. For associated topics, we further assessed their associations with PRS of their corresponding comorbid conditions based on non-ASD specific populations. However, these two topics were not associated with the PRS of allergies and chronic pain disorder, respectively. Characteristics of the present AGRE sample and those samples used in the original GWAS for ASD, allergies, and chronic pain disorder, may differ due to significant clinical heterogeneity that exists in the ASD population. Additionally, the AGRE sample may be underpowered and therefore insensitive to weak PRS associations due to a relatively small sample size. Findings imply that susceptibility genes of ASD may contribute more to the occurrence of allergies and sensory processing issues in individuals with ASD, compared with the susceptibility genes for their corresponding phenotypes. Since these comorbid conditions (i.e., allergies and pain sensation issues) cannot be attributable to the corresponding comorbidity-specific biological factors in non-ASD individuals, clinical management for these comorbid conditions may still depend on treatments for core symptoms of ASD.

Exploring Polygenic Contributors to Subgroups of Comorbid Conditions in Atism Spectrum Disorder

Background: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have heterogeneous comorbid conditions. This study examined whether comorbid conditions in ASD are associated with polygenic risk scores (PRS) of ASD or PRS of comorbid conditions in non-ASD specific populations. Genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data were obtained from 1,386 patients with ASD from the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE) study. After excluding individuals with missing clinical information concerning comorbid conditions, a total of 707 patients were included in the study. Methods: A total of 18 subgroups of comorbid conditions (’topics’) were identified using a machine learning algorithm, topic modeling. PRS for ASD were computed using a genome-wide association meta-analysis of 18,381 cases and 27,969 controls. Results: From these 18 topics, Topic 6 (over-represented by allergies) ( p = 1.72x10 − 3 ) and Topic 17 (over-represented by sensory processing issues such as low pain tolerance) ( p = .037) were associated with PRS of ASD. For associated topics, we further assessed their associations with PRS of their corresponding comorbid conditions based on non-ASD specific populations. However, these two topics were not associated with the PRS of allergies and chronic pain disorder, respectively. Limitations: Characteristics of the present AGRE sample and those samples used in the original GWAS for ASD, allergies, and chronic pain disorder, may differ due to significant clinical heterogeneity that exists in the ASD population. Additionally, the AGRE sample may be underpowered and therefore insensitive to weak PRS associations due to low relatively small sample size. Conclusions: Findings imply that susceptibility genes of ASD may contribute more to the occurrence of allergies and sensory processing issues in individuals with ASD, compared with the susceptibility genes for their corresponding phenotypes. Since these comorbid conditions (i.e., allergies and pain sensation issues) cannot be attributable to the corresponding comorbidity-specific biological factors in non-ASD individuals, clinical management for these comorbid conditions may still depend on treatments for core symptoms of ASD.

Magnesium and Fibromyalgia: A Literature Review

Fibromyalgia, a widespread chronic pain disorder, imposes a multitude of hardships on patients and their communities. Supplements, specifically magnesium supplements, have been widely used by fibromyalgia patients in an attempt to control their symptoms. The aim of this work is to investigate if the widespread use of magnesium in fibromyalgia is supported by evidence in the literature. This review provides a layout of the studies examining the correlation between body magnesium levels and fibromyalgia. Furthermore, it elaborates on the trials testing the effectiveness of magnesium in treating different clinical parameters of fibromyalgia.

Toward a Transdisciplinary Integration of the Health Disciplines: The Case of the Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder with a multifaceted nature and its biological, psychological and social aspects are strongly interconnected. Therefore, the integration of the different health disciplines is strongly recommended for its care. There is a growing number of interventions based on this principle but each of them is heterogeneous with regards to how the included disciplines are integrated with each other. With this regards, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary programs are distinguished. The former are organized in order to treat the various aspects of the syndrome using different perspectives and their various treatment components are usually provided separately by the different care providers. Conversely, interdisciplinary treatments are planned in order to foster a dialogue between the operators by providing a joint conduction of the treatment or scheduling plenary discussions about the cases. In the field of chronic pain, some authors are suggesting to move beyond these approaches and to plan transdisciplinary treatments, which would allow the professionals to move across their disciplinary boundaries. Although no examples of these interventions have been proposed for the treatment of fibromyalgia, there is a visible trend in the literature toward more holistic forms of care.