Prenatal and Perinatal Factors Associated with Pediatric Autism Spectrum Disorder in East China

Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent challenges in social communication and interaction and restricted/repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities. An increasing number of studies have revealed that environmental exposure is a potential risk factor for ASD. The relationship between prenatal and perinatal risk factors and ASD has rarely been studied in large samples in China. Therefore, in this study, we compared children with ASD with typical developing (TD) children to assess the ASD-associated prenatal and perinatal risk factors and provide effective information for ASD prevention. Methods A case-control study of 709 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 709 gender-matched children with typical development was conducted to investigate the prenatal and perinatal risk factors of children with ASD compared with children with typical development ( TD). Through a self-developed general information questionnaire, the basic information (name, age, gender), prenatal factors (parents’ age at the child’s birth, parents’ education levels, use of assisted reproductive technology, history of miscarriage, gestational diabetes mellitus, gestational hypertension), and perinatal factors (delivery mode, full-term birth, parity, birth weight) of the children in the two groups were examined. Results The prenatal and perinatal factors of the groups were submitted to univariate analysis, the parent’s age at childbirth, education level, history of miscarriage, use of ART, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and GDM differed significantly between the two groups (P<0.05), and that among perinatal factors, infant parity and maturity also differed significantly between the two groups (P<0.05). These statistically significant factors were included in a binary logistic regression model. The results showed that the prenatal factors of young maternal age at the child’s birth (≤24 years vs 25-29 years, OR=2.408,95%CI:1.335~4.345), old paternal age at the childbirth(≥45years vs≤24years, OR=4.744, 95%CI:1.281~17.570 ), pregnancy induced hypertension (OR=6.178, 95%CI:2.311~16.517) and GDM(OR=0.220,95%CI:0.149~0.324), the perinatal factors of preterm birth(OR=4.434, 95%CI:2.872~6.846) and non-firstborn child(OR=1.387, 95%CI:1.029~1.869) are likely risk factors for ASD. Conclusion We show that some prenatal and perinatal factors are associated with a high prevalence of ASD in children.

An exploratory study of EEG connectivity during the first year of life in preterm and full-term infants

Aim: to evaluate EEG connectivity during the first year of age in healthy full-term infants and preterm infants with prenatal and perinatal risk factors for perinatal brain damage. Methods: Three groups of infants were studied: healthy at full-term infants (n = 71), moderate and late preterm infants (n = 54), and very preterm infants (n = 56). All preterm infants had perinatal or/and perinatal risk factors for brain damage. EEG was obtained during phase II of natural NREM sleep. EEG analysis was performed in 24 segments of 2.56 s free of artifacts. For the calculation of EEG sources, the spectral Structured Sparse Bayesian Learning (sSSBL) was used. Connectivity was computed by the phase-lag index. Results: In healthy full-term infants, EEG interhemispheric connectivity in the different frequency bands followed similar trends with age to those reported in each frequency band: delta connectivity decreases, theta increases at the end of the year, in the alpha band, different trends were observed according to the region studied, and beta interhemispheric connectivity decreases with age. EEG connectivity in preterm infants showed differences from the results of the term group. Discussion: Important structural findings may explain the differences observed in EEG connectivity between the term and preterm groups. Conclusion: The study of EEG connectivity during the first year of age gives essential information on normal and abnormal brain development.

A STUDY OF DEMOGRAPHIC AND RISK FACTORS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Background of the study: Various risk factors have been reported in the development of Autism spectrum Disorder. The aim of our study is to explore the demographic and perinatal risk factors implicated in the development of ASD. A retrospective study was conducted with data of 49 children with ASD and found that total 71.3% of children were male 73.5% were in rst birth order. Out of 49 children 53.1% had history of Lower Segment Caesarean Section (LSCS). Indication of LSCS due to various obstetric or perinatal risk factors were reported in 17 cases. Three children had history of low birth weight with history of admission into Neonatal ICU. The study also explore the various co morbidity and found that ADHD (20.4%) was most common comorbidity followed by Mental retardation(18.4%), ADHD and MR(12.2%), seizure disorder and MR (8.2 %). This study found that male gender, rst birth order and perinatal risk factors are implicated in the development of Autism spectrum Disorder and majority of them have one or more another neuro developmental disorder as a comorbidity.