Autism spectrum disorder severity as a predictor of Battelle Developmental Inventory - second edition (BDI-2) scores in toddlers

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the severity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptomology and scores on the Battelle Developmental Inventory, Second Edition (BDI-2) in toddlers (n = 325).

METHODS

Total scores on the BDI-2 and individual domain scores were examined to explore the relationship between severity of ASD and developmental quotient, impairment in personal-social skills, adaptive functioning, cognition, and communication.

RESULTS

Regression analyses controlled for the impact of age and IQ on results, indicating that higher autism severity scores were associated with overall greater impairment and in the total scores and the individual domains of the BDI-2. The domains were found to be differentially affected by severity of ASD.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest severity of ASD may influence symptom presentation. Clinical implications of study findings are discussed.

Comparing challenging behavior in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders according to the DSM-IV-TR and the proposed DSM-5

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the current study is to investigate challenging behavior in children who may no longer meet criteria for an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis according to the proposed fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5).

METHOD

Children and adolescents (n = 459) were separated into three groups including those who met criteria for ASD according to the DSM-5 criteria (n = 219); those who will no longer qualify for an ASD diagnosis according to the DSM-5 but met criteria according to the DSM-IV-TR (n = 109); and a control group (n = 131). Scores on the Autism Spectrum Disorders - Problem Behaviors for Children (ASD-PB-C) were compared among groups.

RESULTS

The DSM-5 captured a slightly more impaired population in terms of problem behavior.

CONCLUSION

Implications regarding access to treatment for those no longer meeting criteria need to be taken into consideration in the coming months.

RETRACTED: A comparison of tantrum behavior profiles in children with ASD, ADHD and comorbid ASD and ADHD

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor in Chief, after review by an independent panel of experts, due to evidence of a compromised peer review process and the failure of one author to disclose significant conflicts of interest. An independent peer-review process is a cornerstone of scientific integrity that allows for research to be scrutinized before publication to ensure that conclusions are anchored in sound methodology and objective interpretation of the results. Equally important is that the readership of research is fully informed about any potential competing interests that may have influenced the research process. This article is being retracted because it did not include a declaration of a conflict of interest of one author in relation to diagnostic tools which the paper endorses. The same author was also the Editor in Chief of the journal at the time of publication and evidence indicates that the paper was accepted without any independent peer review by external reviewers. The article is therefore retracted in accordance with the ethical guidelines of Elsevier: https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies/publishing-ethics and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) https://publicationethics.org/files/retraction-guidelines.pdf.

RETRACTED: Rates of comorbid symptoms in children with ASD, ADHD, and comorbid ASD and ADHD

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor in Chief, after review by an independent panel of experts, due to evidence of a compromised peer review process and the failure of one author to disclose significant conflicts of interest. An independent peer-review process is a cornerstone of scientific integrity that allows for research to be scrutinized before publication to ensure that conclusions are anchored in sound methodology and objective interpretation of the results. Equally important is that the readership of research is fully informed about any potential competing interests that may have influenced the research process. This article is being retracted because it did not include a declaration of a conflict of interest of one author in relation to diagnostic tools which the paper endorses. The same author was also the Editor in Chief of the journal at the time of publication and evidence indicates that the paper was accepted without any independent peer review by external reviewers. The article is therefore retracted in accordance with the ethical guidelines of Elsevier: https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies/publishing-ethics and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) https://publicationethics.org/files/retraction-guidelines.pdf.

A Study on the Reactive Compatibilization of a PBT/LCP Blend: Catalyst Effect

The in situ compatibilization of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) with liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) via catalyzed transesterification reaction was examined through thermal, rheological, morphological and mechanical studies. The addition of catalyst, dibutyltindilaurate, was found to promote the transesterification between PBT and LCP. Maintenance of high vacuum environment was required to produce the high molecular weight copolymers in the reactor, which, acting at the interface, diminished the size of the dispersed phase (LCP) and enhanced interfacial adhesion that led to an early increase of the flexural strength. Flexural strength was reduced after long time reaction due to the chain scission. Transesterification confirmed by NMR spectroscopic analysis played a major role in the interchange process.

A Korean language translation of the Questions About Behavior Function: initial psychometric evaluation

Identifying the function of behavior is crucial in formulating functionally-based treatment programs for people with challenging behaviors. The Questions About Behavior Function (QABF) is a well-established instrument with sound psychometric properties. The present study describes the development process for a Korean version of the QABF. The factor structure was examined in a sample of 153 QABF-K assessments, which yielded a five-factor-solution identical to the original English version. In terms of reliability, internal consistency was good with Chronbach's alpha ranging from 0.80 to 0.87 and test-retest reliability was found to be good with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.73 to 0.91. Based upon the present results, the QABF-K appears to be a promising tool for use with informants whose primary language is Korean.

Disability in atypical parkinsonian syndromes is more dependent on memory dysfunction than motor symptoms

BACKGROUND

There is a gap in the systematic description and investigation of functional disability in corticobasal syndrome (CBS) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Additionally, the relations between disability, apraxia, cognitive and behavioural changes are not well understood in atypical parkinsonian syndromes.

METHODS

Fifty patients were included in this study (CBS = 18; PSP = 11), including a subgroup of primary progressive aphasia-nonfluent variant (PPA-nfv = 21) who were used as a control group given the clinic-pathological overlap. Functional disability (basic and instrumental activities of daily living), general cognition and behavioural changes were evaluated at baseline, with a subgroup of patients being reassessed after 16 months.

RESULTS

The corticobasal syndrome group had the most marked disability in basic activities in comparison to progressive supranuclear palsy and primary progressive aphasia-nonfluent variant. Longitudinal decline was marked for all three groups. In a linear regression examining factors behind functional disability in CBS and PSP, memory dysfunction emerged as the main factor (48.5%), followed by apraxia (14.9%) and atypical parkinsonian symptoms (9.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

Memory dysfunction is the most important factor in functional disability in CBS and PSP, which has to be taken into consideration in disease management, prognosis and planning of services to fully address patients' and families' needs.

Effects of Korean ginseng berry extract on sexual function in men with erectile dysfunction: a multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical study

Ginseng is beneficial for many aspects of human physiology, including sexual function. In this study, we have evaluated the efficacy and safety of an extract of ginseng berry, which has a ginsenoside profile distinct from other parts of the plant, on sexual function in men with erectile dysfunction. In all, 119 men with mild-to-moderate ED participated in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled clinical study. They were administered 4 tablets of either standardized Korean ginseng berry (SKGB, 350 mg ginseng berry extract per tablet), or placebo, daily, for 8 weeks. Efficacy was assessed with the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-15 and premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT) at the end of the 4th and 8th week. We observed that the total and each of the individual domain scores of IIEF-15 increased from 40.95 ± 7.05 to 46.19 ± 12.69 significantly in the SKGB by the 8th week (P<0.05). The erectile function domain of IIEF changed slightly from 17.17 ± 2.57 to 18.59 ± 5.99 in the SKGB group by the 8th week (P<0.05). In addition, PEDT scores significantly improved from 9.14 ± 4.57 to 7.97 ± 4.4 and 7.53 ± 4.26 in the SKGB group after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment (P<0.05). Safety markers including hormone and lipid in the blood were assessed at the end of the 4th and 8th week and they remained unchanged. Oral administration of the SKGB extract improved all domains of sexual function. It can be used as an alternative medicine to improve sexual life in men with sexual dysfunction.

Activities of daily living in progressive non-fluent aphasia, logopenic progressive aphasia and Alzheimer's disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS

This study examined functional changes in progressive non-fluent aphasia (PNFA) and logopenic progressive aphasia (LPA) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the association between function, cognition and behaviour.

METHODS

59 patients were assessed with the Disability Assessment of Dementia (DAD), Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination Revised (ACE-R) and the Cambridge Behavioural Inventory Revised (CBI-R).

RESULTS

No differences between groups in basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs), and total ACE-R scores were found; there were correlations between total DAD and ACE-R scores for PNFA and LPA. Over 12 months, PNFA showed the marked decline of basic ADLs, whereas all three groups showed marked decline of instrumental ADLs.

CONCLUSION

PNFA, LPA and AD appear functionally similar when matched for disease duration. The rate of decline of ADLs depends, however, on disease diagnosis.

Phase III study of gemcitabine/oxaliplatin (GEMOX) with or without erlotinib in unresectable, metastatic biliary tract carcinoma

LBA4032

Background: Currently, there is no standard regimen for palliative chemotherapy in metastatic, unresectable biliary tract cancer (BTC). A phase II trial of erlotinib monotherapy showed a promising anti-tumor activity in BTC with tolerable toxicity. Additionally, gemcitabine + erlotinib demonstrated superior efficacy when compared to gemcitabine alone in pancreatic cancer. Hence, we conducted a phase III trial to compare between GEMOX vs GEMOX+erlotinib (Tarceva [T]) (GEMOX/T) as first-line chemotherapy in unresectable, metastatic BTC. Methods: Eligible patients were as follows: histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of biliary tract (CCC), ampulla of vater (AOV) or gall bladder (GB); unresectable or metastatic; ECOG performance status of 0~2; adequate marrow, hepatic, renal and cardiac functions; no prior chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was progression free survival (PFS). The study regimen was gemcitabine 1,000mg/m2, oxaliplatin 100mg/m2, erlotinib 100mg qd daily q 2 weeks. Results: From February 2009 to August 2010, 268 pts were randomized, 133 patients to GEMOX arm and 135 patients to GEMOX/T arm. Patient characteristics: median age 61 yrs (range 30-82); male (63.4%); CCC (n=180, 67.2%), GB (n=82, 30.6%), and AOV (n=6, 2.2%). With a median follow-up of 13.9 months (range, 6.7 – 25.0), median PFS was 5.8 months (95% CI, 4.6 - 7.0) in GEMOX/T arm and 4.2 months (95% CI, 2.7 - 5.7) in GEMOX arm (P=0.080). In subgroup analysis (CCC, n=180), however, median PFS was significantly longer in GEMOX/T arm (5.9 months) when compared with GEMOX arm (3.0 months, P=0.049). The overall response rate was significantly higher in the GEMOX/T arm when compared with GEMOX arm. There was no significant difference in overall survival between the two arms (GEMOX/T: 9.5 months, 95% CI, 7.6 – 11.4; GEMOX: 9.5 months, 95% CI, 7.5 – 11.5; P=0.611). The EGFR mutation testing results in correlation to responsiveness to erlotinib will be presented at the meeting. Conclusions: This phase III represents the first multicenter, randomized trial to compare GEMOX vs GEMOX/T in unresectable, metastatic BTC. Although PFS was not prolonged in GEMOX/T, there was a significant benefit in terms of PFS in GEMOX/T arm for CCC patients.