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Kipkemoi P, Savage JE, Gona J, Rimba K, Kombe M, Mwangi P, Kipkoech C, Posthuma D, Newton CRJC, Abubakar A. Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of the Social Communication Questionnaire in Rural Kenya. J Autism Dev Disord 2024:10.1007/s10803-024-06380-9. [PMID: 38816602 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06380-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Children can be reliably diagnosed with autism as early as 3 years of age, and early interventions are initiated. There is often a significant gap between the age of onset of symptoms (2-3 years) and diagnosis (8-10 years) in Africa. We conducted a study to validate the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) as a screening instrument in a rural setting in Kenya. The study was conducted along the Kenyan Coast. Study participants included 172 children with a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) diagnosis (84 of which were autism) and 112 controls. Internal consistency was evaluated through the use of Cronbach's alpha, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with maximum likelihood procedure to assess the conceptual model for the SCQ. Additionally, the sensitivity and specificity of cut-off scores using ROC analysis and item difficulties and discrimination quality using an IRT framework were also assessed. Factor analysis revealed an adequate fitting model for the three-factor DSM-IV-TR (root mean squared error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.050; Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 0.974; Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) = 0.973) and two-factor DSM-5 factor structure (RMSEA = 0.050; CFI = 0.972; TLI = 0.974). The reliability coefficient alphas for the whole group for all items (Cronbach's α = 0.90) and all three domains (Cronbach's α = 0.68-0.84) were acceptable to excellent. The recommended cut-off score of 15 yielded 72% sensitivity and 100% specificity in the ASD group compared to the typically developing group. We provide early evidence of the adequate factor structure and good internal consistency of the SCQ. We also note that the recommended cut-off yielded sufficient predictive validity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Kipkemoi
- Neuroscience Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O Box 230-80108, Kilifi, Kenya.
- Complex Trait Genetics Department, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
| | - Jeanne E Savage
- Complex Trait Genetics Department, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Joseph Gona
- Neuroscience Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O Box 230-80108, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Kenneth Rimba
- Neuroscience Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O Box 230-80108, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Martha Kombe
- Neuroscience Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O Box 230-80108, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Paul Mwangi
- Neuroscience Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O Box 230-80108, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Collins Kipkoech
- Neuroscience Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O Box 230-80108, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Danielle Posthuma
- Complex Trait Genetics Department, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychology and Psychiatry, Complex Trait Genetics, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Charles R J C Newton
- Neuroscience Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O Box 230-80108, Kilifi, Kenya
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Warneford Ln, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK
- Department of Public Health, Pwani University, P.O. BOX, Kilifi, 195-80108, Kenya
- Institute for Human Development, Aga Khan University, P.O. BOX, Nairobi, 30270-00100, Kenya
| | - Amina Abubakar
- Neuroscience Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O Box 230-80108, Kilifi, Kenya
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Warneford Ln, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK
- Department of Public Health, Pwani University, P.O. BOX, Kilifi, 195-80108, Kenya
- Institute for Human Development, Aga Khan University, P.O. BOX, Nairobi, 30270-00100, Kenya
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Zaman SF, Samms-Vaughan M, Saroukhani S, Bressler J, Hessabi M, Grove ML, Pellington SS, Loveland KA, Rahbar MH. Factors associated with blood mercury concentrations and their interactions with three glutathione S-transferase genes (GSTT1, GSTM1, and GSTP1): an exposure assessment study of typically developing Jamaican children. BMC Pediatr 2024; 24:14. [PMID: 38178055 PMCID: PMC10765857 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-023-04452-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Jamaican soil is abundant in heavy metals including mercury (Hg). Due to availability and ease of access, fish is a traditional dietary component in Jamaica and a significant source of Hg exposure. Mercury is a xenobiotic and known neuro-toxicant that affects children's neurodevelopment. Human glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes, including GSTT1, GSTM1, and GSTP1, affect Hg conjugation and elimination mechanisms. METHODS In this exposure assessment study we used data from 375 typically developing (TD) 2-8-year-old Jamaican children to explore the association between environmental Hg exposure, GST genes, and their interaction effects on blood Hg concentrations (BHgCs). We used multivariable general linear models (GLMs). RESULTS We identified the child's age, consumption of saltwater fish, canned fish (sardine, mackerel), string beans, grain, and starches (pasta, macaroni, noodles) as the environmental factors significantly associated with BHgCs (all P < 0.05). A significant interaction between consumption of canned fish (sardine, mackerel) and GSTP1 in relation to BHgC using either a co-dominant or recessive genetic model (overall interaction P = 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively) indicated that consumption of canned fish (sardine, mackerel) was significantly associated with higher mean BHgC only among children with the GSTP1 Ile105Val, Ile/Ile [Ratio of mean Hg (95% CI) = 1.59 (1.09, 2.32), P = 0.02] and Ile/Val [Ratio of mean Hg (95% CI) = 1.46 (1.12, 1.91), P = 0.01] genotypes. CONCLUSIONS Since this is the first study from Jamaica to report these findings, replication in other populations is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheikh Farzana Zaman
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences (EHGES), School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Component, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Maureen Samms-Vaughan
- Department of Child & Adolescent Health, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Kingston 7, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Sepideh Saroukhani
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Component, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jan Bressler
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences (EHGES), School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Manouchehr Hessabi
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Component, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Megan L Grove
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences (EHGES), School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Sydonnie Shakespeare Pellington
- Department of Child & Adolescent Health, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Kingston 7, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Katherine A Loveland
- Louis A Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77054, USA
| | - Mohammad H Rahbar
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences (EHGES), School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Component, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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Hegemann L, Bugge Askeland R, Barbo Valand S, Øyen AS, Schjølberg S, Bal VH, Bishop SL, Stoltenberg C, von Soest T, Hannigan LJ, Havdahl A. Measuring autism-associated traits in the general population: Factor structure and measurement invariance across sex and diagnosis status of the Social Communication Questionnaire. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2023:13623613231219306. [PMID: 38159069 DOI: 10.1177/13623613231219306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Using questionnaires in research relies on the expectation that they measure the same things across different groups of individuals. If this is not true, then interpretations of results can be misleading when researchers compare responses across different groups of individuals or use in it a group that differs from that in which the questionnaire was developed. For the questionnaire we investigated, the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), we found that parents of boys and girls responded to questionnaire items in largely the same way but that the SCQ measured traits and behaviors slightly differently depending on whether the children had autism. Based on these results, we concluded that researchers using this questionnaire should carefully consider these differences when deciding how to interpret findings. SCQ scores as a reflection of "autism-associated traits" in samples that are mostly or entirely made up of individuals without an autism diagnosis may be misleading and we encourage a more precise interpretation of scores as a broader indication of social-communicative and behavioral traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Hegemann
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
- Nic Waals Institute, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Norway
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
| | | | - Stian Barbo Valand
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
- Nic Waals Institute, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Norway
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
| | - Anne-Siri Øyen
- Nic Waals Institute, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Norway
| | | | - Vanessa H Bal
- Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers University, USA
| | - Somer L Bishop
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, USA
| | - Camilla Stoltenberg
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
- Department of Global Public health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Norway
| | | | - Laurie J Hannigan
- Nic Waals Institute, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Norway
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU), University of Bristol, UK
| | - Alexandra Havdahl
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway
- Nic Waals Institute, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Norway
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
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Scattoni ML, Fatta LM, Micai M, Sali ME, Bellomo M, Salvitti T, Fulceri F, Castellano A, Molteni M, Gambino G, Posada M, Romano G, Puopolo M. Autism spectrum disorder prevalence in Italy: a nationwide study promoted by the Ministry of Health. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2023; 17:125. [PMID: 37898807 PMCID: PMC10613370 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-023-00673-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This nationwide study aimed to estimate Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) prevalence in 7-9-year-old Italian children. Promoted by Italy's Ministry of Health and coordinated by the National Observatory for Autism at the National Institute of Health, it covered schools in northern (Lecco and Monza-Brianza), central (Rome and its province), and southern (Palermo and its province) regions from February 24, 2016, to February 23, 2018, using a multi-stage approach defined by the European Union's ASD network. METHODS Phase one identified ASD-diagnosed children in mainstream schools through local Ministry of Education (MoE) disability registries. Phase two had a subset of schools screen 7-9-year-olds using the Social Communication Questionnaire-Life version (SCQ-L). Those with SCQ-L scores of 15 + underwent clinical consultation for ASD symptoms, cognitive abilities, and life skills. To counter potential false negatives, 20% scoring 11-14 were randomly assessed via Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). RESULTS MoE data revealed 9.8 per 1000 certified ASD children in the north, 12.2 in the central, and 10.3 in the south. In phase two, 35,823 SCQ-L questionnaires were distributed across 198 schools (northern: 11,190 in 49 schools, central: 13,628 in 87 schools, southern: 11,005 in 62 schools). Of SCQ-L respondents, 2.4% (n = 390) scored above the 15 cutoff. Among these, 100 had ASD diagnoses, and 50 had other diagnoses. Among 115 families assessed, 16.5% (n = 19) received ASD diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS The estimated prevalence of ASD in Italy was 13.4 (11.3-16.0) per 1,000 children aged 7-9 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 4.4:1. It will guide national policies in enhancing services tailored to the specific needs of autistic children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luisa Scattoni
- Research Coordination and Support Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
| | - Laura Maria Fatta
- Research Coordination and Support Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Micai
- Research Coordination and Support Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Tommaso Salvitti
- Research Coordination and Support Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Fulceri
- Research Coordination and Support Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Maria Puopolo
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Tseng A, Camchong J, Francis SM, Mueller BA, Lim KO, Conelea CA, Jacob S. Differential extrinsic brain network connectivity and social cognitive task-specific demands in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). J Psychiatr Res 2022; 148:230-239. [PMID: 35149435 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.01.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Few studies have used task-based functional connectivity (FC) magnetic resonance imaging to examine emotion-processing during the critical neurodevelopmental period of adolescence in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). Moreover, task designs with pervasive confounds (e.g., lack of appropriate controls) persist because they activate neural circuits of interest reliably. As an alternative approach to "subtracting" activity from putative control conditions, we propose examining FC across an entire task run. By pivoting our analysis and interpretation of existing paradigms, we may better understand neural response to non-focal instances of socially-relevant stimuli that approximate real-world experiences more closely. Hence, using two well-established affective tasks (face-viewing, face-matching) with diverging social-cognitive demands, we investigated extrinsic FC from amygdala (AMG) and fusiform gyrus (FG) seeds in typically-developing (TD; N = 17) and ASD (N = 17) male adolescents (10-18 yo) and clinical correlations (Social Communication Questionnaire; SCQ) of group FC differences. Participant data (4TD, 6ASD) with excessive head-motion were excluded from final analysis. Direct between-group comparisons revealed significant differences between groups for neural response but not task performance (accuracy, reaction time). During face-viewing, we found greater FC from AMG and FG seeds for ASD participants (ASD > TD) in regions involved in the Default Mode and Fronto-Parietal Task Control Networks. During face-matching, we found greater FC from AMG and FG seeds for TD participants (TD > ASD), in regions associated with the Salience, Dorsal Attention, and Somatosensory Networks. SCQ scores correlated positively with regions with group differences on the face-viewing task and negatively with regions identified for the face-matching task. Task-dependent group differences in FC despite comparable behavioral performance suggest that high-functioning ASD may wield compensatory strategies; clinically-correlated FC patterns may associate with differential task-demands, ecological validity, and context-dependent processing. Employing this novel approach may further the development of targeted therapeutic interventions informed by individual differences in the highly heterogeneous ASD population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Tseng
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Jazmin Camchong
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Sunday M Francis
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Bryon A Mueller
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Kelvin O Lim
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Christine A Conelea
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Suma Jacob
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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Yacou MA, Chowdury A, Easter P, Hanna GL, Rosenberg DR, Diwadkar VA. Sustained attention induces altered effective connectivity of the ascending thalamo-cortical relay in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:869106. [PMID: 36032258 PMCID: PMC9402224 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.869106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal function of the thalamo-cortical relay is considered a hallmark of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and aberrant network interactions may underpin many of the clinical and cognitive symptoms that characterize the disorder. Several statistical approaches have been applied to in vivo fMRI data to support the general loss of thalamo-cortical connectivity in OCD. However, (a) few studies have assessed the contextual constraints under which abnormal network interactions arise or (b) have used methods of effective connectivity to understand abnormal network interactions. Effective connectivity is a particularly valuable method as it describes the putative causal influences that brain regions exert over each other, as opposed to the largely statistical consistencies captured in functional connectivity techniques. Here, using dynamic causal modeling (DCM), we evaluated how attention demand induced inter-group differences (HC ≠ OCD) in effective connectivity within a motivated thalamo-cortical network. Of interest was whether these effects were observed on the ascending thalamo-cortical relay, essential for the sensory innervation of the cortex. fMRI time series data from sixty-two participants (OCD, 30; HC, 32) collected using an established sustained attention task were submitted to a space of 162 competing models. Across the space, models distinguished between competing hypotheses of thalamo-cortical interactions. Bayesian model selection (BMS) identified marginally differing likely generative model architectures in OCD and HC groups. Bayesian model averaging (BMA), was used to weight connectivity parameter estimates across all models, with each parameter weighted by each model's posterior probability, thus providing more stable estimates of effective connectivity. Inferential statistical analyses of estimated parameters revealed two principal results: (1) Significantly reduced intrinsic connectivity of the V1 → SPC pathway in OCD, suggested connective weakness in the early constituents of the dorsal visual pathway; (2) More pertinent with the discovery possibilities afforded by DCM, sustained attention in OCD patients induced significantly reduced contextual modulation of the ascending relay from the thalamus to the prefrontal cortex. These results form an important complement to our understanding of the contextual bases of thalamo-cortical network deficits in OCD, emphasizing vulnerability of the ascending relay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario A Yacou
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Asadur Chowdury
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Philip Easter
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Gregory L Hanna
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - David R Rosenberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Vaibhav A Diwadkar
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
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Reyes NM, Moody E, Hightshoe K, Davidon S, Rosenberg S, Dahl E, Kubicek LF. Factors That May Influence Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) Scores: An Examination of the Spanish and English SCQ in School-Aged Students. SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY REVIEW 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/2372966x.2021.1927830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Kennedy-Williams P, Care H, Dalton L, Horton J, Kearney A, Rooney N, Hotton M, Pinckston M, Huggons E, Culshaw L, Kilcoyne S, Johnson D, Wilkie AOM, Wall S. Neurodevelopmental, Cognitive, and Psychosocial Outcomes for Individuals With Pathogenic Variants in the TCF12 Gene and Associated Craniosynostosis. J Craniofac Surg 2021; 32:1263-1268. [PMID: 33904513 DOI: 10.1097/scs.0000000000007535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Heterozygous mutations in the TCF12 gene were discovered in 2013 as a cause of craniosynostosis (CS). However, limited information regarding the behavioral phenotypic profile is available. Here the authors provide the first detailed study of the neurodevelopmental, cognitive, and psychosocial outcomes for patients with a pathogenic TCF12 variant and associated CS.A clinical casenote audit was conducted at the 4 UK highly specialized craniofacial centers. A total of 35 patients aged 18 months to 10 years with an identified TCF12 pathogenic variant and CS (bicoronal CS = 45.7%, unicoronal CS = 40.0%, multisuture = 14.3%) were included. Standardized screening and/or assessment of full-scale intelligence quotient, social communication, development, behavior, and self-concept were conducted.In the majority of cases, outcomes were consistent with age-related expectations. About 75% of patients demonstrated no delay across any early developmental domain, while 84.6% demonstrated full-scale intelligence quotient scores within 1 standard deviation of the population mean. Significant behavioral difficulties were demonstrated by parent reporters in 26.3% to 42.1% of cases (dependent upon domain). Clinically elevated social communication profiles were present in (41.7%) of parent-reported cases. Levels of self-concept (at age 10) were consistent with age-related normative data.Most patients with a TCF12 pathogenic variant had a mild behavioral and cognitive phenotype, although they may be at a slightly increased risk of social communication difficulties and psychosocial issues. Although not measured statistically, there were no clear associations between surgical history and cognitive, behavioral, or psychosocial outcomes. This paper highlights the need for robust integrated developmental assessment of all CS patients, particularly those with an identified syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Helen Care
- Oxford Craniofacial Unit, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
| | - Louise Dalton
- Oxford Craniofacial Unit, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
| | - Jo Horton
- Birmingham Children's Hospital Craniofacial Unit, Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital, Birmingham
| | - Anna Kearney
- Alder Hey Craniofacial Unit, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool
| | - Natasha Rooney
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children Craniofacial Unit, Great Ormond Street NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Hotton
- Oxford Craniofacial Unit, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
| | - Molly Pinckston
- Oxford Craniofacial Unit, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
| | - Esme Huggons
- Oxford Craniofacial Unit, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
| | - Laura Culshaw
- Alder Hey Craniofacial Unit, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool
| | - Sarah Kilcoyne
- Oxford Craniofacial Unit, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
| | - David Johnson
- Oxford Craniofacial Unit, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
| | - Andrew O M Wilkie
- Oxford Craniofacial Unit, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford
| | - Steven Wall
- Oxford Craniofacial Unit, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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9
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Meram TD, Chowdury A, Easter P, Attisha T, Kallabat E, Hanna GL, Arnold P, Rosenberg DR, Diwadkar VA. Evoking network profiles of the dorsal anterior cingulate in youth with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder during motor control and working memory. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 132:72-83. [PMID: 33068817 PMCID: PMC9351617 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Interest in the pathology of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder\has focused on brain network profiles of the dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex (dACC), given its role as a principal control region. Both motor control and working memory tasks induce dysfunctional dACC profiles in OCD. H H We contrasted dACC network profiles in OCD and age-comparable controls during both tasks (from data collected in the same participants). The motor task required participants to tap their right forefinger in response to a flashing white probe; the memory task was a standard n-back (2-Back) requiring participants to identify if a current stimulus was identical to the one presented two items before it in the sequence. Network interactions were modeled using Psychophysiological Interactions (PPI), a model of directional functional connectivity. Inter-group analyses indicated a) that the motor control task evoked greater dACC modulation than the working memory task, and b) that the modulatory effect was significantly greater in the OCD group. We also investigated the relationship between OCD symptom dimensions (lifetime obsession and lifetime compulsion measured using the CY-BOCS) and dACC network profiles in OCD. This analysis revealed a dichotomy between Obsessive-Compulsive symptom dimensions and the degree of dACC modulation: primarily increased obsessions predicted increased modulation during the motor control task, but primarily increased compulsions predicted increased modulation during the working memory task. These results re-emphasize the salience of the dACC in OCD, and the primacy of tasks of motor control in evoking dACC pathology in the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D. Meram
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Brain Imaging Research Division, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr Suite 5B, Tolan Park Medical Bldg, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Asadur Chowdury
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Brain Imaging Research Division, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr Suite 5B, Tolan Park Medical Bldg, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Philip Easter
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Brain Imaging Research Division, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr Suite 5B, Tolan Park Medical Bldg, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Tyler Attisha
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Brain Imaging Research Division, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr Suite 5B, Tolan Park Medical Bldg, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Ellanya Kallabat
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Brain Imaging Research Division, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr Suite 5B, Tolan Park Medical Bldg, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Gregory L. Hanna
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Paul Arnold
- Department of Psychiatry & Medical Genetics, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - David R. Rosenberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Brain Imaging Research Division, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr Suite 5B, Tolan Park Medical Bldg, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Vaibhav A. Diwadkar
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Brain Imaging Research Division, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr Suite 5B, Tolan Park Medical Bldg, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
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10
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Saroukhani S, Samms-Vaughan M, Lee M, Bach MA, Bressler J, Hessabi M, Grove ML, Shakespeare-Pellington S, Loveland KA, Rahbar MH. Perinatal Factors Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Jamaican Children. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 50:3341-3357. [PMID: 31538260 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04229-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Mode of delivery, preterm birth, and low birth weight (LBW) are hypothesized to be associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the offspring. Using data from 343 ASD cases (2-8 years) and their age- and sex-matched typically developing controls in Jamaica we investigated these hypotheses. Our statistical analyses revealed that the parish of residence could modify the association between cesarean delivery and ASD, with a difference found in this relationship in Kingston parish [matched odds ratio (MOR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) 2.30 (1.17-4.53)] and other parishes [MOR (95% CI) 0.87 (0.48-1.59)]. Although the associations of LBW and preterm birth with ASD were not significant, we observed a significant interaction between LBW and the household socioeconomic status. These findings require replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepideh Saroukhani
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Maureen Samms-Vaughan
- Department of Child & Adolescent Health, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - MinJae Lee
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6410 Fannin Street, UT Professional Building Suite 1100.05, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - MacKinsey A Bach
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jan Bressler
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Manouchehr Hessabi
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Megan L Grove
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | | | - Katherine A Loveland
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77054, USA
| | - Mohammad H Rahbar
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6410 Fannin Street, UT Professional Building Suite 1100.05, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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11
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Early childhood social communication deficits in youth at clinical high-risk for psychosis: Associations with functioning and risk. Dev Psychopathol 2020; 32:559-572. [PMID: 31064575 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579419000385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Effective social functioning requires a broad range of social communication skills that are impaired in psychosis populations. However, little is known about early childhood (4- to 5-year period) social communication during the premorbid (pre-illness) stage of psychosis. The present study utilized retrospective parent reports to examine total early childhood social communication deficits, as well as deficits in two distinct domains, reciprocal social interaction (social smiling/eye gaze) and communication (social chat/gesture), in youth at clinical high-risk (CHR) for psychosis (ages 13-21; 37.2% female). Furthermore, associations between early childhood social communication and CHR youth's current functioning (social, academic/work), symptoms (positive/negative), and risk for conversion to psychosis were examined. Compared to healthy controls, CHR individuals had greater deficits in total and communication-specific early childhood social communication. Early childhood total, communication, and reciprocal social interaction deficits were associated with worse current functioning and greater current negative symptom severity (amotivation/anhedonia) in CHR youth. Early childhood total and reciprocal social interaction deficits were also associated with increased risk for conversion. These findings inform the field's understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of psychosis by extending the current developmental literature on premorbid deficits in psychosis populations to specific domains of social behavior in a critical developmental period.
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12
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Rahbar MH, Samms-Vaughan M, Lee M, Zhang J, Hessabi M, Bressler J, Bach MA, Grove ML, Shakespeare-Pellington S, Beecher C, McLaughlin W, Loveland KA. Interaction between a Mixture of Heavy Metals (Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, Cadmium, Manganese, Aluminum) and GSTP1, GSTT1, and GSTM1 in Relation to Autism Spectrum Disorder. RESEARCH IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 2020; 79:101681. [PMID: 33193808 PMCID: PMC7664834 DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2020.101681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to many environmental chemicals, including metals, often does not occur in isolation, hence requires assessment of the associations between exposure to mixtures of chemicals and human health. OBJECTIVES To investigate associations of a metal mixture of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), and aluminum (Al) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), additively or interactively with each of three glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes (GSTP1, GSTT1, and GSTM1). METHOD Using data from 266 case-control pairs of Jamaican children (2-8 years old), we fitted negative and positive generalized weighted quantile sum (gWQS) regression models to assess the aforementioned associations. RESULTS Based on additive and interactive negative gWQS models adjusted for maternal age, parental education, child's parish, and seafood consumption, we found inverse associations of the overall mixture score with ASD [MOR (95% CI): 0.70 (0.49, 0.99); P < 0.05) and [MOR (95%CI): 0.46 (0.25, 0.84); P = 0.01], respectively. In an unadjusted negative gWQS model, we found a marginally significant interaction between GSTP1 and a mixture of three metals (Pb, Hg, and Mn) (P = 0.07) while the association was no longer significant after adjustment for the same covariates (P = 0.24). CONCLUSIONS Differences in diet between ASD and control groups may play a role in the inverse associations we found. The possible interactive association between Mn and GSTP1 in ASD based on gWQS is consistent with our previous reports. However, possible interaction of GSTP1 with Pb and Hg in ASD requires further investigation and replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad H. Rahbar
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Maureen Samms-Vaughan
- Department of Child & Adolescent Health, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - MinJae Lee
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Population & Data Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Jing Zhang
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Biostatistics & Data Science, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Manouchehr Hessabi
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jan Bressler
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - MacKinsey A. Bach
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Megan L. Grove
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Compton Beecher
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Wayne McLaughlin
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
- Caribbean Genetics (CARIGEN), The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Katherine A. Loveland
- Louis A Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA
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13
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Digitally-Mediated Social Stories Support Children on the Autism Spectrum Adapting to a Change in a 'Real-World' Context. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 51:514-526. [PMID: 32519189 PMCID: PMC7835189 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04558-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Social Stories™ (SS) is a widely used intervention for children on the autism spectrum. A preliminary survey of 103 practitioners highlighted that SS are often used to support adapting to a change. This study investigated the use of digitally-mediated SS to support ten children on the autism spectrum attending a school summer camp. Teacher perceptions of anxiety, understanding and closeness to the goal of the SS were assessed before and after the intervention (prior to the event). The pre- post-intervention comparisons highlighted significant improvements in child understanding, anxiety, and closeness to goal with medium-large effect sizes. The child’s understanding and closeness to SS goal post-intervention related to their difficulties with the SS goal and their anxiety during the event.
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14
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Eapen V, McPherson S, Karlov L, Nicholls L, Črnčec R, Mulligan A. Social communication deficits and restricted repetitive behavior symptoms in Tourette syndrome. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2019; 15:2151-2160. [PMID: 31440054 PMCID: PMC6666375 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s210227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have been found to occur more frequently in individuals with Tourette syndrome (TS) than in the general population. Similarities exist between ASD and TS clinically, which suggests a potential relationship between the two conditions. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the occurrence of autism-related features in ASD and TS, focusing on areas of overlap and difference. Patients and methods: This study examined the nature and extent of autistic traits as measured by the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) in a sample with a diagnosis of TS, a sample diagnosed to have ASD, and a normative general population sample. Results: The TS sample had significantly higher mean SCQ scores than the general population, but generally lower scores than the ASD sample. The group differences in mean SCQ scores between the TS and ASD sample were significant except in the domain of restricted repetitive behaviours (RRB). Conclusion: This suggests that ASD traits occur commonly in the TS population, with a significant overlap in certain clinical features. This was especially the case for complex movements or repetitive behaviours, which may represent either: i) a shared phenotype which is subclinical, ii) a phenocopy where some clinical symptoms mimic each other, or iii) a co-morbidity. Awareness of this association can be useful in identifying these symptoms as part of the comprehensive assessment of TS and addressing these to improve the overall clinical outcomes in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valsamma Eapen
- School of Psychiatry , University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sarah McPherson
- Medical Oncology, The Canberra Hospital, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Lisa Karlov
- School of Psychiatry , University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Laura Nicholls
- School of Psychiatry , University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Rudi Črnčec
- Penrith Therapy Centre, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Aisling Mulligan
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Dublin North City and County Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Health Services Executive, Dublin, Ireland
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15
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Christian MA, Samms-Vaughan M, Lee M, Bressler J, Hessabi M, Grove ML, Shakespeare-Pellington S, Coore Desai C, Reece JA, Loveland KA, Boerwinkle E, Rahbar MH. Maternal Exposures Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Jamaican Children. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 48:2766-2778. [PMID: 29549549 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-018-3537-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with poorly understood etiology. Many maternal exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding potentially interfere with neurodevelopment. Using data from two age- and sex-matched case-control studies in Jamaica (n = 298 pairs), results of conditional logistic regression analyses suggest that maternal exposures to fever or infection (matched odds ratio (MOR) = 3.12, 95% CI 1.74-5.60), physical trauma (MOR 2.02, 95% CI 1.01-4.05), and oil-based paints (MOR 1.99, 95% CI 1.14-3.46) may be associated with ASD. Additionally, maternal exposure to oil-based paints may modify the relationship between maternal exposure to pesticides and ASD, which deepens our understanding of the association between pesticides and ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- MacKinsey A Christian
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.,Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maureen Samms-Vaughan
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - MinJae Lee
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.,Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jan Bressler
- Human Genetics Center, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Manouchehr Hessabi
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Megan L Grove
- Human Genetics Center, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Charlene Coore Desai
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Jody-Ann Reece
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Katherine A Loveland
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Eric Boerwinkle
- Human Genetics Center, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.,Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mohammad H Rahbar
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA. .,Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA. .,Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA.
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16
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Prevalence of DSM-5 Autism Spectrum Disorder Among School-Based Children Aged 3-12 Years in Shanghai, China. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 48:2434-2443. [PMID: 29453711 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-018-3507-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
We estimated the prevalence of ASD in a population-based sample comprising children aged 3-12 years (N = 74,252) in Shanghai. This included a high-risk group sampled from special education schools and a low-risk group randomly sampled from general schools. First, we asked parents and then teachers to complete the Social Communication Questionnaire for participating children. Children who screened positive based on both parental and teachers' reports were comprehensively assessed. ASD was identified based on DSM-5 criteria. We identified 711 children as being at-risk for ASD, of which 203 were identified as ASD cases. The prevalence of ASD was 8.3 per 10,000, which is likely an underestimate, given that 81.6% of the children diagnosed with ASD had IQs below 40. This is the first report on the prevalence of ASD according to DSM-5 in China.
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17
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Chawner SJRA, Owen MJ, Holmans P, Raymond FL, Skuse D, Hall J, van den Bree MBM. Genotype-phenotype associations in children with copy number variants associated with high neuropsychiatric risk in the UK (IMAGINE-ID): a case-control cohort study. Lancet Psychiatry 2019; 6:493-505. [PMID: 31056457 DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(19)30123-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several copy number variants (CNVs) are associated with a high risk of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders (referred to as ND-CNVs). We aimed to characterise the effect of ND-CNVs on childhood development and investigate whether different ND-CNVs lead to distinct and specific patterns of cognitive and behavioural outcomes. METHODS In this case-control study, we used data from the Intellectual Disability and Mental Health: Assessing the Genomic Impact on Neurodevelopment (IMAGINE-ID) study. Children aged 4 years and older with pathogenic CNV or single nucleotide variants were recruited via the UK National Health Service (NHS) medical genetic clinic network and via patient support groups to complete broad online phenotyping, from whom children aged 6-19 years with at least one of a specific group of ND-CNVs (1q21.1 [proximal duplication, and distal deletion and duplication], 2p16.3 deletion, 9q34.3 deletion, 15q11.2 deletion, 15q13.3 deletion and duplication, 16p11.2 [proximal deletion and duplication, and distal deletion], and 22q11.2 deletion and duplication) and their families were approached for a deep phenotyping, home-based assessment, and we report on this sample here. We invited siblings of index children to participate as controls, for whom the presence of ND-CNVs was excluded by use of microarray results and also medical records where possible. We systematically assessed the children for psychiatric disorders and broader traits of neurodevelopmental, cognitive, and psychopathological origin and compared results of ND-CNV carriers with control siblings to test the hypothesis that phenotypes would differ by genotype, both quantitatively in terms of severity and qualitatively in the pattern of associated impairments. FINDINGS Between Oct 1, 2014, and Dec 31, 2018, of 2819 children recruited, 258 (9%) had one ND-CNV of interest, with 13 CNVs across nine loci, and underwent a home-based assessment. 106 control siblings were enrolled. 186 (80%) of ND-CNV carriers met criteria for one or more psychiatric disorder (odds ratio [OR] 13·8, 95% CI 7·2-26·3, compared with controls). The risk of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (OR 6·9, 3·2-15·1), oppositional defiant disorder (OR 3·6, 1·4-9·4), any anxiety disorder (OR 2·9, 1·2-6·7), and autism spectrum disorder traits (OR 44·1, 15·3-127·5) was particularly high compared with controls. ND-CNV carriers were impaired across all neurodevelopmental, cognitive, and psychopathological traits compared with controls. Only moderate quantitative and qualitative differences in phenotypic profile were found between genotypes. Overall, the range of phenotypes was broadly similar for all ND-CNV genotypes. Traits did show some evidence of genotypic specificity, with rank-based analyses showing moderate qualitative and quantitative profile differences between ND-CNVs; however, the specific genotype accounted for a low proportion of variance in cognitive and behavioural outcomes (approximately 5-20% depending on the trait). INTERPRETATION The 13 ND-CNVs studied have a similar range of adverse effects on childhood neurodevelopment, despite subtle quantitative and qualitative differences. Genomic risk for neuropsychiatric disorder has pleiotropic effects on multiple processes and neural circuits and indicates that future research should avoid being narrowly focused on single phenotypes. FUNDING UK Medical Research Council and Medical Research Foundation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J R A Chawner
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, and Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Michael J Owen
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, and Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Peter Holmans
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, and Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - F Lucy Raymond
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK; Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - David Skuse
- Great Ormond Street Hospital, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jeremy Hall
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, and Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Marianne B M van den Bree
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, and Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
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18
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Francis SM, Camchong J, Brickman L, Goelkel-Garcia L, Mueller BA, Tseng A, Lim KO, Jacob S. Hypoconnectivity of insular resting-state networks in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2019; 283:104-112. [PMID: 30594068 PMCID: PMC6901290 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2018.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication. The anterior insula (AI) participates in emotional salience detection; and the posterior insula (PI) participates in sensorimotor integration and response selection. Meta-analyses have noted insula-based aberrant connectivity within ASD. Given the observed social impairments in ASD and the role of the insula in social information processing (SIP), investigating functional organization of this structure in ASD is important. We investigated differences in resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) using fMRI in male youths with (N=13; mean=14.6 years; range: 10.2-18.0 years) and without ASD (N=17; mean=14.5 years; range: 10.0-17.5 years). With seed-based FC measures, we compared RSFC in insular networks. Hypoconnectivity was observed in ASD (AI-superior frontal gyrus (SFG); AI-thalamus; PI-inferior parietal lobule (IPL); PI-fusiform gyrus (FG); PI-lentiform nucleus/putamen). Using the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) to assess social functioning, regression analyses yielded negative correlations between SCQ scores and RSFC (AI-SFG; AI-thalamus; PI-FG; PI-IPL). Given the insula's connections to limbic regions, and its role in integrating external sensory stimuli with internal states, atypical activity in this structure may be associated with social deficits characterizing ASD. Our results suggest further investigation of the insula's role in SIP across a continuum of social abilities is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunday M Francis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jazmin Camchong
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Laura Brickman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | - Bryon A Mueller
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Angela Tseng
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Kelvin O Lim
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Suma Jacob
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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19
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Ram S, Howland MA, Sandman CA, Davis EP, Glynn LM. Prenatal Risk for ASD: Fetal Cortisol Exposure Predicts Child Autism-Spectrum Disorder Symptoms. Clin Psychol Sci 2018; 7:349-361. [PMID: 33758678 DOI: 10.1177/2167702618811079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is multifactorial and complex and likely involves interactions among genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. With respect to environmental influences, a growing literature implicates intrauterine experiences in the origin of this pervasive developmental disorder. In this prospective longitudinal design, we examine the hypothesis that fetal exposure to maternal cortisol may confer ASD risk. In addition, because ASD is four times more prevalent in males than females and because sexually dimorphic responses to intrauterine experiences are commonly observed, we examine whether or not any associations differ by fetal sex. Maternal plasma cortisol was measured at 15, 19, 25, 31, and 37 weeks' gestation in a sample of 84 pregnant women. ASD symptoms were assessed in their 5-year old children with the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ). Fetal exposure to lower levels of maternal cortisol was associated with higher levels of ASD symptoms among boys only. The observed hypocortisolemic profile exhibited by these mothers may indicate a risk factor that precedes the stress of caregiving for a child with ASD and may not be solely a consequence of the stress of caregiving as previously thought. Further, these findings confirm the value of examining prenatal hormone exposures as predictors of ASD risk and support the premise that altered prenatal steroid exposures may play a role in the etiology of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheena Ram
- Graduate School of Education and Psychology, Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mariann A Howland
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Curt A Sandman
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Elysia Poggi Davis
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Laura M Glynn
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Psychology, Chapman University, Orange, CA USA
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20
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Rahbar MH, Samms-Vaughan M, Lee M, Christian MA, Bressler J, Hessabi M, Grove ML, Shakespeare-Pellington S, Desai CC, Reece JA, Loveland KA, Beecher C, McLaughlin W, Boerwinkle E. Interaction between manganese and GSTP1 in relation to autism spectrum disorder while controlling for exposure to mixture of lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium. RESEARCH IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 2018; 55:50-63. [PMID: 30930959 PMCID: PMC6434704 DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2018.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We previously reported a significant interactive association between polymorphisms of GSTP1 and blood manganese concentrations (BMC) with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Jamaican children. In this paper, we investigate the same interactive association with ASD while adjusting for the mixture of four metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic). METHOD We used data from 163 case-control pairs of children 2-8 years of age from our autism project in Jamaica, in which we collected blood for heavy metals analysis at enrollment. To minimize potential multicollinearity between concentrations of the four metals, we generated a mixture index using generalized weighted quantile sum regression, which was used in conditional logistic regression models to control for the four metals while assessing the interactive association between GSTP1 and BMC with ASD. RESULTS Similar to the findings we reported previously, we found that in co-dominant and dominant models for GSTP1, among children with the Ile/Ile genotype, those with BMC > 12μg/L had 4.6 and 4.27 times higher odds of ASD compared to those with BMC < 12μg/L (adjusted Matched Odds Ratio (MOR) = 4.6, 95% CI: 1.21 - 17.42 and adjusted MOR = 4.27, 95% CI: 1.15 - 15.85, respectively). In the co-dominant model, for children with the Ile/Val and Val/Val genotypes, the adjusted MORs were 1.26 (95% CI: 0.32, 5.01) and 0.26 (95% CI: 0.05, 1.42), respectively. CONCLUSIONS After adjusting for the mixture of four metals, the interactive association of BMC and GSTP1 with ASD remained significant with similar magnitude of associations. Results should be interpreted cautiously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad H. Rahbar
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School,
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences
(CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Maureen Samms-Vaughan
- Department of Child & Adolescent Health, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Kingston,
Jamaica
| | - MinJae Lee
- Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School,
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences
(CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - MacKinsey A. Christian
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences
(CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Jan Bressler
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Human Genetics Center, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of
Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Manouchehr Hessabi
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences
(CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Megan L. Grove
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Human Genetics Center, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of
Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | | | - Charlene Coore Desai
- Department of Child & Adolescent Health, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Kingston,
Jamaica
| | - Jody-Ann Reece
- Department of Child & Adolescent Health, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Kingston,
Jamaica
| | - Katherine A. Loveland
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health
Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Compton Beecher
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Wayne McLaughlin
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
- Caribbean Genetics (CARIGEN),The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Eric Boerwinkle
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Human Genetics Center, Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of
Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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21
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Rahbar MH, Swingle HM, Christian MA, Hessabi M, Lee M, Pitcher MR, Campbell S, Mitchell A, Krone R, Loveland KA, Patterson DG. Environmental Exposure to Dioxins, Dibenzofurans, Bisphenol A, and Phthalates in Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder Living near the Gulf of Mexico. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:E1425. [PMID: 29160842 PMCID: PMC5708064 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14111425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Environmental exposure to organic endocrine disrupting chemicals, including dioxins, dibenzofurans, bisphenol A (BPA), and phthalates has been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We conducted a pilot monitoring study of 30 ASD cases and 10 typically developing (TD) controls ages 2-8 years from communities along the Gulf of Mexico near Alabama, which houses 14 Superfund sites, to assess the concentrations of dioxins and dibenzofurans in serum, and BPA and phthalate ester metabolites in urine. Based on General Linear Models, the lipid- or creatinine-adjusted geometric mean concentrations of the aforementioned chemicals did not differ between the ASD case and TD control groups (all p ≥ 0.27). We compared our findings to the adjusted means as reported by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, survey years 2011-2012, and found that TD controls in our study had lower BPA (59%) and MEHHP (26%) concentrations, higher MBP (50%) concentration, and comparable (<20% difference) MEP, MBZP, MEOHP, and MCPP concentrations. We also conducted a preliminary investigation of dietary exposures and found that the consumption of certain types of fish may be associated with higher OCDD concentrations, and the consumption of soft drinks and juices may be associated with lower BPA and MEOHP concentrations, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad H Rahbar
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences (EHGES), University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
- Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas McGovern Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Component, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Hanes M Swingle
- Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36604, USA.
| | - MacKinsey A Christian
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Component, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Manouchehr Hessabi
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Component, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - MinJae Lee
- Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas McGovern Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Component, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Meagan R Pitcher
- Baylor Licensing Group, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Sean Campbell
- AXYS Analytical Services Ltd., Sidney, BC V8L5X2, Canada.
| | - Amy Mitchell
- Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36604, USA.
| | - Ryan Krone
- Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36604, USA.
| | - Katherine A Loveland
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas McGovern Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA.
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22
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Baribeau DA, Dupuis A, Paton TA, Scherer SW, Schachar RJ, Arnold PD, Szatmari P, Nicolson R, Georgiades S, Crosbie J, Brian J, Iaboni A, Lerch J, Anagnostou E. Oxytocin Receptor Polymorphisms are Differentially Associated with Social Abilities across Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11618. [PMID: 28912494 PMCID: PMC5599599 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10821-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is a pituitary neuropeptide that affects social behaviour. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) have been shown to explain some variability in social abilities in control populations. Whether these variants similarly contribute to the severity of social deficits experienced by children with neurodevelopmental disorders is unclear. Social abilities were assessed in a group of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD, n = 341) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD, n = 276) using two established social measures. Scores were compared by OXTR genotype (rs53576, rs237887, rs13316193, rs2254298). Unexpectedly, the two most frequently studied OXTR SNPs in the general population (rs53576 and rs2254298) were associated with an increased severity of social deficits in ASD (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0005), yet fewer social deficits in ADHD (p = 0.007 and p < 0.0001). We conclude that these genetic modifier alleles are not inherently risk-conferring with respect to their impact on social abilities; molecular investigations are greatly needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Annie Dupuis
- Department of Biostatistics Design and Analysis, The Hospital for Sick Children, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tara A Paton
- The Centre for Applied Genomics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephen W Scherer
- The Centre for Applied Genomics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,The McLaughlin Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Russell J Schachar
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paul D Arnold
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Departments of Psychiatry & Medical Genetics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Peter Szatmari
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rob Nicolson
- The Children's Health Research Institute and Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stelios Georgiades
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Chedoke Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jennifer Crosbie
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jessica Brian
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Autism Research Centre, Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alana Iaboni
- Autism Research Centre, Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jason Lerch
- Program in Neuroscience and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Evdokia Anagnostou
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. .,Autism Research Centre, Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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23
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Tsai PC, Harrington RA, Lung FW, Lee LC. Disparity in report of autism-related behaviors by social demographic characteristics: Findings from a community-based study in Taiwan. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2016; 21:540-551. [PMID: 27899712 DOI: 10.1177/1362361316677024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The Social Communication Questionnaire is one of the most commonly used screening tools for autism spectrum disorder. The Social Communication Questionnaire is a caregiver-reported questionnaire with 40 items based on questions from the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised. This study collected Social Communication Questionnaire data from a community-based, multi-stage case identification design epidemiologic study in one socioeconomically disadvantaged county in Taiwan. The Social Communication Questionnaire was distributed to 3034 school children, aged 6-8 years. Item prevalence results indicate males were reported to have more autism-related behaviors than females (higher prevalence on most items), in the whole study sample as well as in children meeting Social Communication Questionnaire clinical cut-offs (⩾15). Children whose biological fathers completed the Social Communication Questionnaire were reported to have more behavioral issues than children whose biological mothers were the respondent. Lower respondent education levels were associated with reports of clinically concerning autism-related behaviors. However, males were not at higher risk of meeting Social Communication Questionnaire clinical cut-offs than females in this study population. Findings from this study help to better understand reporting patterns on children's autism-related behaviors potentially due to social demographic characteristics and child sex, which may lead to improved identification of these behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Li-Ching Lee
- 1 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA
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24
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Role of Metabolic Genes in Blood Aluminum Concentrations of Jamaican Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2016; 13:ijerph13111095. [PMID: 27834815 PMCID: PMC5129305 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13111095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Revised: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Aluminum is a neurotoxic metal with known health effects in animals and humans. Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) genes and enzymes play a major role in detoxification of several heavy metals. Besides a direct relationship with oxidative stress; aluminum decreases GST enzyme activities. Using data from 116 Jamaican children; age 2–8 years; with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and 116 sex- and age-matched typically developing (TD) children; we investigated the association of polymorphisms in three GST genes (GSTP1; GSTM1; and GSTT1) with mean blood aluminum concentrations in children with and without ASD. Using log-transformed blood aluminum concentration as the dependent variable in a linear regression model; we assessed the additive and interactive effects of ASD status and polymorphisms in the three aforementioned GST genes in relation to blood aluminum concentrations. Although none of the additive effects were statistically significant (all p > 0.16); we observed a marginally significant interaction between GSTP1 Ile105Val (rs1695) and ASD status (p = 0.07); even after controlling for parental education level and consumption of avocado; root vegetables; and tuna (canned fish). Our findings indicate a significantly lower (p < 0.03) adjusted geometric mean blood aluminum concentration for TD children who had the Val/Val genotype (14.57 µg/L); compared with those with Ile/Ile or Ile/Val genotypes who had an adjusted geometric mean of 23.75 µg/L. However; this difference was not statistically significant among the ASD cases (p = 0.76). Our findings indicate that ASD status may be a potential effect modifier when assessing the association between GSTP1 rs1695 and blood aluminum concentrations among Jamaican children. These findings require replication in other populations.
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25
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Kovac M, Mosner M, Miller S, Hanna EK, Dichter GS. Experience Sampling of Positive Affect in Adolescents with Autism: Feasibility and Preliminary Findings. RESEARCH IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 2016; 29-30:57-65. [PMID: 28083073 PMCID: PMC5222541 DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2016.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Experience sampling is a powerful method for obtaining ecologically valid data from research participants in real-world contexts. Given the urgent need for innovative and sensitive outcome measures in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research, the present study sought to examine the feasibility of using experience sampling of positive affect and behavior in adolescents with ASD. METHOD Nineteen high functioning adolescents with ASD and 20 sex and age matched controls completed smartphone- and Qualtrics® -based experience sampling of positive affect and behavior six times over four days. RESULTS Adherence was excellent: adolescents with ASD completed 85% of the assessments, compared to 93% in controls, and response rates were not impacted by age or IQ. Groups did not differ in positive affect overall or as a function of activities, nor did groups differ in the proportion of assessments completed during social or nonsocial activities. However, groups did differ in the proportion of assessments completed during preferred activities. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that smartphone- and Qualtrics® -based experience sampling with high functioning adolescents with ASD is feasible and captures real-world behaviors that would not be possible using laboratory-based measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Kovac
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School Psychology Program, School of Education, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Maya Mosner
- UNC Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Stephanie Miller
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Eleanor K. Hanna
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Gabriel S. Dichter
- UNC Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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26
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Benning SD, Kovac M, Campbell A, Miller S, Hanna EK, Damiano CR, Sabatino-DiCriscio A, Turner-Brown L, Sasson NJ, Aaron RV, Kinard J, Dichter GS. Late Positive Potential ERP Responses to Social and Nonsocial Stimuli in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2016; 46:3068-77. [PMID: 27344337 PMCID: PMC4988236 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-016-2845-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
We examined the late positive potential (LPP) event related potential in response to social and nonsocial stimuli from youths 9 to 19 years old with (n = 35) and without (n = 34) ASD. Social stimuli were faces with positive expressions and nonsocial stimuli were related to common restricted interests in ASD (e.g., electronics, vehicles, etc.). The ASD group demonstrated relatively smaller LPP amplitude to social stimuli and relatively larger LPP amplitude to nonsocial stimuli. There were no group differences in subjective ratings of images, and there were no significant correlations between LPP amplitude and ASD symptom severity within the ASD group. LPP results suggest blunted motivational responses to social stimuli and heightened motivational responses to nonsocial stimuli in youth with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen D Benning
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada at Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, USA.
| | - Megan Kovac
- New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alana Campbell
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Stephanie Miller
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Eleanor K Hanna
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Cara R Damiano
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Antoinette Sabatino-DiCriscio
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Geisinger Autism Center, 120 Hamm Drive, Lewisburg, PA, USA
| | | | - Noah J Sasson
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
| | - Rachel V Aaron
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jessica Kinard
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Gabriel S Dichter
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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27
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Zhou H, Zhang L, Wu L, Zou X, Luo X, Xia K, Wang Y, Xu X, Ge X, Sun C, Deng H, Fombonne E, Jiang YH, Yan W, Wang Y. Validity and reliability analysis of the Chinese parent version of the Autism Spectrum Rating Scale (6-18 years). Psychiatry Res 2015; 230:255-61. [PMID: 26384573 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2015.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2015] [Revised: 08/31/2015] [Accepted: 09/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of the Chinese parent version of the Autism Spectrum Rating Scale (ASRS, 6-18 years) for a general sample of Chinese children. The study involved assessing 1625 community-based subjects aged 6-12 years from four sites (Shanghai, Guangzhou, Changsha, and Harbin city) in China and 211 clinic-based participants aged 6-18 with a confirmed diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) ranged from 0.585 to 0.929, and the test-retest reliability (interclass correlations) ranged from 0.542 to 0.749, indicating no significant difference between the two tests at an interval of 2-4 weeks. The construct validity was relatively excellent, and the concurrent validity with the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) (Pearson correlations) was 0.732 between the two total scores. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analyses showed excellent and comparable discriminant validity of the ASRS with respect to the SRS, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9507 (95% CI: 0.93-0.97) versus 0.9703 (95% CI: 0.96-0.98), respectively. Our data suggested a cutoff ≥60 for the Chinese version of the ASRS, with good accuracy in screening autism symptoms (sensitivity=94.2%, specificity=77%). The Chinese parent version of the ASRS is therefore a reliable and valid tool for screening autistic symptoms in Chinese children in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhou
- No. 399, Wanyuan Road, Minhang District, Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lili Zhang
- No. 399, Wanyuan Road, Minhang District, Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lijie Wu
- School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xiaobing Zou
- Child Development Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuerong Luo
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Kun Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Changsha, China
| | - Yimin Wang
- No. 399, Wanyuan Road, Minhang District, Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiu Xu
- Department of Child Healthcare, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoling Ge
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Caihong Sun
- School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Hongzhu Deng
- Child Development Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Eric Fombonne
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Yong-Hui Jiang
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics and Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Weili Yan
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yi Wang
- No. 399, Wanyuan Road, Minhang District, Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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28
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Vignoli A, La Briola F, Peron A, Turner K, Vannicola C, Saccani M, Magnaghi E, Scornavacca GF, Canevini MP. Autism spectrum disorder in tuberous sclerosis complex: searching for risk markers. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2015; 10:154. [PMID: 26631248 PMCID: PMC4668631 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-015-0371-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neuropsychiatric disorders are present in up to 90 % of patients with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), and represent an important issue for families. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the most common neurobehavioral disease, affecting up to 61 % of patients. The aims of this study were: 1) to assess the prevalence of ASD in a TSC population; 2) to describe the severity of ASD; 3) to identify potential risk factors associated with the development of ASD in TSC patients. Methods We selected 42 individuals over age 4 years with a definite diagnosis of TSC and followed at a TSC clinic in Northern Italy. We collected and reported clinical and genetic data, as well as cognitive level, for each of them. We administered the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) as a reliable screening tool for ASD, and performed comparisons between the average scores and each clinical and genetic feature. Results Seventeen out of 42 patients (40.5 %) had a score at the SCQ suggestive of ASD (≥15 points). When calculated for each cognitive level category, the average SCQ score tended to be progressively higher in patients with a worse cognitive level, and the number of pathological SCQ scores increased with worsening of intellectual disability. With respect to ASD severity, the scores were equally distributed, indicating that the degree of ASD in TSC patients may have a large variability. By comparing the average SCQ scores with the clinical features, we found statistically significant correlations with epilepsy, seizure onset before age one year, spasms, mutations in TSC2, cognitive level, sleep disorders, and other psychiatric problems, but not with seizure frequency, tubers localization and gender. Conclusions Our study showed a prevalence of ASD of 40.5 %, confirming the higher risk for this disorder in patients with TSC. However, the severity seems to have a notable variability in TSC patients. Risk factors for ASD are epilepsy, infantile spams, and mutations in TSC2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aglaia Vignoli
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit - Epilepsy Center, AO San Paolo, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Francesca La Briola
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit - Epilepsy Center, AO San Paolo, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Angela Peron
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit - Epilepsy Center, AO San Paolo, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Katherine Turner
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit - Epilepsy Center, AO San Paolo, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Chiara Vannicola
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit - Epilepsy Center, AO San Paolo, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | | | | | - Giulia Federica Scornavacca
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit - Epilepsy Center, AO San Paolo, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Maria Paola Canevini
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit - Epilepsy Center, AO San Paolo, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
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Rahbar MH, Samms-Vaughan M, Ma J, Bressler J, Dickerson AS, Hessabi M, Loveland KA, Grove ML, Shakespeare-Pellington S, Beecher C, McLaughlin W, Boerwinkle E. Synergic effect of GSTP1 and blood manganese concentrations in Autism Spectrum Disorder. RESEARCH IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 2015; 18:73-82. [PMID: 26309447 PMCID: PMC4542005 DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2015.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
We used data from 100 age- and sex-matched case-control pairs (age 2-8 years) from Jamaica to investigate whether there is an interaction between glutathione-S-transferase (GST) genes and blood manganese concentrations (BMC) in relation to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Our findings, indicate that among children who had the Ile/Ile genotype for GST pi 1 (GSTP1), those with BMC ≥ 12µg/L had about 4 times higher odds of ASD than those with BMC < 12µg/L, (P=0.03) under a co-dominant genetic model. After adjusting for potential confounders, among the subgroup of children with genotype Ile/Ile, those with BMC ≥ 12µg/L had about six times higher odds of ASD than those with BMC < 12µg/L, (P=0.04). The results were similar when a recessive genetic model was used. These findings suggest a possible synergic effect of BMC and GSTP1 in ASD. Since our analysis included a variety of genetic models and was not adjusted for multiple testing, replication in other populations is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad H. Rahbar
- Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences (EHGES), University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030,USA
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Component, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Maureen Samms-Vaughan
- Department of Child & Adolescent Health, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Jianzhong Ma
- Human Genetics Center, University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jan Bressler
- Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences (EHGES), University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Human Genetics Center, University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Aisha S. Dickerson
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Component, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Manouchehr Hessabi
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Component, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Katherine A. Loveland
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Megan L. Grove
- Human Genetics Center, University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Compton Beecher
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Wayne McLaughlin
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
- Caribbean Genetics (CARIGEN), The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Eric Boerwinkle
- Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences (EHGES), University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Human Genetics Center, University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Watson KK, Miller S, Hannah E, Kovac M, Damiano CR, Sabatino-DiCrisco A, Turner-Brown L, Sasson NJ, Platt ML, Dichter GS. Increased reward value of non-social stimuli in children and adolescents with autism. Front Psychol 2015; 6:1026. [PMID: 26257684 PMCID: PMC4510834 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
An econometric choice task was used to estimate the implicit reward value of social and non-social stimuli related to restricted interests in children and adolescents with (n = 12) and without (n = 22) autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Mixed effects logistic regression analyses revealed that groups differed in valuation of images related to restricted interests: control children were indifferent to cash payouts to view these images, but children with ASD were willing to receive less cash payout to view these images. Groups did not differ in valuation of social images or non-social images not related to restricted interests. Results highlight that motivational accounts of ASD should also consider the reward value of non-social stimuli related to restricted interests in ASD (Dichter and Adolphs, 2012).
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Affiliation(s)
- Karli K Watson
- Institute for Cognitive Science, University of Colorado at Boulder , Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Stephanie Miller
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities , Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Eleanor Hannah
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities , Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Megan Kovac
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities , Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Cara R Damiano
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities , Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Lauren Turner-Brown
- TEACCH Autism Program, UNC School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Carrboro, NC, USA
| | - Noah J Sasson
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas , Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Michael L Platt
- Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gabriel S Dichter
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities , Chapel Hill, NC, USA ; Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine , Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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31
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Rahbar MH, Samms-Vaughan M, Ma J, Bressler J, Loveland KA, Hessabi M, Dickerson AS, Grove ML, Shakespeare-Pellington S, Beecher C, McLaughlin W, Boerwinkle E. Interaction between GSTT1 and GSTP1 allele variants as a risk modulating-factor for autism spectrum disorders. RESEARCH IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 2015; 12:1-9. [PMID: 25685181 PMCID: PMC4322427 DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2014.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the role of glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We used data from 111 pairs of age- and sex-matched ASD cases and typically developing (TD) controls between 2-8 years of age from Jamaica to investigate the role of GST pi 1 (GSTP1), GST theta 1 (GSTT1), and GST mu 1 (GSTM1) polymorphisms in susceptibility to ASD. In univariable conditional logistic regression models we did not observe significant associations between ASD status and GSTT1, GSTM1, or GSTP1 genotype (all P > 0.15). However, in multivariable conditional logistic regression models, we identified a significant interaction between GSTP1 and GSTT1 in relation to ASD. Specifically, in children heterozygous for the GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphism, the odds of ASD was significantly higher in those with the null GSTT1 genotype than those with the other genotypes [Matched Odds Ratio (MOR) = 2.97, 95% CI (1.09, 8.01), P = 0.03]. Replication in other populations is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad H. Rahbar
- Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences (EHGES), University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, and Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, and Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) component, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Maureen Samms-Vaughan
- Department of Child & Adolescent Health, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Jianzhong Ma
- Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, and Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) component, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Jan Bressler
- Human Genetics Center, University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Katherine A. Loveland
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Manouchehr Hessabi
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design component, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Aisha S. Dickerson
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design component, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Megan L. Grove
- Human Genetics Center, University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | | | - Compton Beecher
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Wayne McLaughlin
- Caribbean Genetics (CARIGEN), The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Eric Boerwinkle
- Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences (EHGES), University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, and Human Genetics Center, University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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Neuhaus E, Bernier RA, Beauchaine TP. Electrodermal Response to Reward and Non-Reward Among Children With Autism. Autism Res 2015; 8:357-70. [DOI: 10.1002/aur.1451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2014] [Revised: 10/16/2014] [Accepted: 11/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily Neuhaus
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development; M/S CW8-6. PO Box 5371 Seattle Washington 98121
| | - Raphael A. Bernier
- Dept of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; University of Washington; Box 357920 Seattle Washington 98195
| | - Theodore P. Beauchaine
- Department of Psychology; The Ohio State University; 1835 Neil Avenue Columbus Ohio 43210
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Rahbar MH, Samms-Vaughan M, Dickerson AS, Loveland KA, Ardjomand-Hessabi M, Bressler J, Shakespeare-Pellington S, Grove ML, Pearson DA, Boerwinkle E. Blood lead concentrations in Jamaican children with and without autism spectrum disorder. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2014; 12:83-105. [PMID: 25546274 PMCID: PMC4306851 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph120100083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder manifesting by early childhood. Lead is a toxic metal shown to cause neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Several studies have investigated the possible association between exposure to lead and ASD, but their findings are conflicting. Using data from 100 ASD cases (2–8 years of age) and their age- and sex-matched typically developing controls, we investigated the association between blood lead concentrations (BLC) and ASD in Jamaican children. We administered a questionnaire to assess demographic and socioeconomic information as well as exposure to potential lead sources. We used General Linear Models (GLM) to assess the association of BLC with ASD status as well as with sources of exposure to lead. In univariable GLM, we found a significant difference between geometric mean blood lead concentrations of ASD cases and controls (2.25 μg/dL cases vs. 2.73 μg/dL controls, p < 0.05). However, after controlling for potential confounders, there were no significant differences between adjusted geometric mean blood lead concentrations of ASD cases and controls (2.55 μg/dL vs. 2.72 μg/dL, p = 0.64). Our results do not support an association between BLC and ASD in Jamaican children. We have identified significant confounders when assessing an association between ASD and BLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad H Rahbar
- Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences (EHGES), University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Maureen Samms-Vaughan
- Department of Child & Adolescent Health, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
| | - Aisha S Dickerson
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Component, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Katherine A Loveland
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA.
| | - Manouchehr Ardjomand-Hessabi
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Component, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Jan Bressler
- Human Genetics Center, University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | | | - Megan L Grove
- Human Genetics Center, University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Deborah A Pearson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA.
| | - Eric Boerwinkle
- Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences (EHGES), University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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Abstract
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often co-occur. Factor analyses of ASD traits in children with and without ASD indicate the presence of social and restrictive–repetitive behaviour (RRB) factors. This study used exploratory factor analyses to determine the structure of ASD traits (assessed using the Social Communication Questionnaire) in children with ADHD. Distinct factors were observed for ‘social’ and ‘rigidity’ traits, corresponding to previous factor analyses in clinical ASD and population samples. This indicates that the split between social-communicative and RRB dimensions is unaffected by ADHD in children. Moreover, the study also finds that there is some overlap across hyperactive-impulsive symptoms and RRB traits in children with ADHD, which merits further investigation.
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Rahbar MH, Samms-Vaughan M, Dickerson AS, Loveland KA, Ardjomand-Hessabi M, Bressler J, Lee M, Shakespeare-Pellington S, Grove ML, Pearson DA, Boerwinkle E. Role of fruits, grains, and seafood consumption in blood cadmium concentrations of Jamaican children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder. RESEARCH IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 2014; 8:1134-1145. [PMID: 25089152 PMCID: PMC4114722 DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2014.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Human exposure to cadmium has adverse effects on the nervous system. Utilizing data from 110 age- and sex-matched case-control pairs (220 children) ages 2-8 years in Kingston, Jamaica, we compared the 75th percentile of blood cadmium concentrations in children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In both univariable and multivariable Quantile Regression Models that controlled for potential confounding factors, we did not find any significant differences between ASD cases and typically developing (TD) controls with respect to the 75th percentile of blood cadmium concentrations, (P > 0.22). However, we found a significantly higher 75th percentile of blood cadmium concentrations in TD Jamaican children who consumed shellfish (lobsters, crabs) (P <0.05), fried plantain (P <0.01), and boiled dumpling (P <0.01). We also observed that children living in Jamaica have an arithmetic mean blood cadmium concentration of 0.16μg/L which is similar to that of the children in developed countries and much lower than that of children in developing countries. Although our results do not support an association between blood cadmium concentrations and ASD, to our knowledge, this study is the first to report levels of blood cadmium in TD children as well as those with ASD in Jamaica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad H. Rahbar
- Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences (EHGES), University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, and Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, and Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Maureen Samms-Vaughan
- Department of Child & Adolescent Health, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Aisha S. Dickerson
- Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences (EHGES), University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Katherine A. Loveland
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Manouchehr Ardjomand-Hessabi
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Jan Bressler
- Human Genetics Center, University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - MinJae Lee
- Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | | | - Megan L. Grove
- Human Genetics Center, University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Deborah A. Pearson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Eric Boerwinkle
- Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences (EHGES), Human Genetics Center, University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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Rahbar MH, Samms-Vaughan M, Dickerson AS, Loveland KA, Ardjomand-Hessabi M, Bressler J, Shakespeare-Pellington S, Grove ML, Pearson DA, Boerwinkle E. Blood manganese concentrations in Jamaican children with and without autism spectrum disorders. Environ Health 2014; 13:69. [PMID: 25149876 PMCID: PMC4237806 DOI: 10.1186/1476-069x-13-69] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 08/07/2014] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Manganese is an essential element for human health and development. Previous studies have shown neurotoxic effects in children exposed to higher levels of manganese. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs social interaction and communication. Several studies have hypothesized that ASD is caused through environmental exposures during crucial stages in brain development. We investigated the possible association between blood manganese concentrations (BMC) and ASD. We also identified factors associated with BMC in typically developing (TD) Jamaican children. METHODS We used data from 109 ASD cases with their 1:1 age- and sex-matched TD controls to compare mean BMC in Jamaican children (2-8 years of age) with and without ASD. We administered a pre-tested questionnaire to assess demographic and socioeconomic information, medical history, and potential exposure to manganese. Finally, we collected 2 mL of whole blood from each child for analysis of manganese levels. Using General Linear Models (GLM), we assessed the association between BMC and ASD status. Furthermore, we used two independent sample t-tests to identify factors associated with BMC in TD children. RESULTS In univariable GLM analysis, we found no significant association between BMC and ASD, (10.9 μg/L for cases vs. 10.5 μg/L for controls; P = 0.29). In a multivariable GLM adjusting for paternal age, parental education, place of child's birth (Kingston parish), consumption of root vegetables, cabbage, saltwater fish, and cakes/buns, there was still no significant association between BMC and ASD status, (11.5 μg/L for cases vs. 11.9 μg/L for controls; P = 0.48). Our findings also indicated TD children who ate fresh water fish had a higher BMC than children who did not (11.0 μg/L vs. 9.9 μg/L; P = 0.03) as younger TD children (i.e., 2 ≤ age ≤4), (12.0 μg/L vs. 10.2 μg/L; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS While these results cannot be used to assess early exposure at potentially more susceptible time period, our findings suggest that there is no significant association between manganese exposures and ASD case status in Jamaica. Our findings also indicate that BMC in Jamaican children resemble those of children in the developed world and are much lower than those in the developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad H Rahbar
- Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences (EHGES), University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
- Division of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) component, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, UT Professional Building Suite 1100.05, 6410 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Maureen Samms-Vaughan
- Department of Child & Adolescent Health, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Aisha S Dickerson
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) component, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, UT Professional Building Suite 1100.05, 6410 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Katherine A Loveland
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Manouchehr Ardjomand-Hessabi
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) component, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, UT Professional Building Suite 1100.05, 6410 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jan Bressler
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | | | - Megan L Grove
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Deborah A Pearson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Eric Boerwinkle
- Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences (EHGES), University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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Nordenbæk C, Jørgensen M, Kyvik KO, Bilenberg N. A Danish population-based twin study on autism spectrum disorders. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2014; 23:35-43. [PMID: 23661220 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-013-0419-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2012] [Accepted: 04/24/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Genetic epidemiological studies of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) based on twin pairs ascertained from the population and thoroughly assessed to obtain a high degree of diagnostic validity are few. All twin pairs aged 3-14 years in the nationwide Danish Twin Registry were approached. A three-step procedure was used. Five items from the "Child Behaviour Checklist" (CBCL) were used in the first screening phase, while screening in the second phase included the "Social and Communication Questionnaire" and the "Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire". The final clinical assessment was based on "gold standard" diagnostic research procedures including diagnostic interview, observation and cognitive examination. Classification was based on DSM-IV-TR criteria. The initial sample included 7,296 same-sexed twin pairs and, after two phases of screening and clinical assessment, the final calculations were based on 36 pairs. The probandwise concordance rate for ASD was 95.2% in monozygotic (MZ) twins (n=13 pairs) and 4.3% in dizygotic (DZ) twins (n=23 pairs). The high MZ and low DZ concordance rate support a genetic aetiology to ASDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Nordenbæk
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Odense, University of Southern Denmark, Sdr. Boulevard 29, 5000, Odense C, Denmark,
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Rahbar MH, Samms-Vaughan M, Loveland KA, Pearson DA, Bressler J, Chen Z, Ardjomand-Hessabi M, Shakespeare-Pellington S, Grove ML, Beecher C, Bloom K, Boerwinkle E. Maternal and paternal age are jointly associated with childhood autism in Jamaica. J Autism Dev Disord 2012; 42:1928-38. [PMID: 22230961 PMCID: PMC3858006 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-011-1438-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Several studies have reported maternal and paternal age as risk factors for having a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), yet the results remain inconsistent. We used data for 68 age- and sex-matched case-control pairs collected from Jamaica. Using Multivariate General Linear Models (MGLM) and controlling for parity, gestational age, and parental education, we found a significant (p < 0.0001) joint effect of parental ages on having children with ASD indicating an adjusted mean paternal age difference between cases and controls of [5.9 years; 95% CI (2.6, 9.1)] and a difference for maternal age of [6.5 years; 95% CI (4.0, 8.9)]. To avoid multicollinearity in logistic regression, we recommend joint modeling of parental ages as a vector of outcome variables using MGLM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad H. Rahbar
- Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences (EHGES), School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA. Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), 6410 Fannin Street, UT Professional Building, Suite 1100.05, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Maureen Samms-Vaughan
- Department of Child Health, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Katherine A. Loveland
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UTHealth Medical School, UTHealth, 1941 East Road, Houston, TX 77054, USA. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Changing Lives through Autism Spectrum Services (C.L.A.S.S.) Clinic, UTHealth, 1941 East Road, Houston, TX 77054, USA. Center of Excellence on Development and Psychopathology, UTHealth, 1941 East Road, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Deborah A. Pearson
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UTHealth Medical School, UTHealth, 1941 East Road, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Jan Bressler
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, UTHealth, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Zhongxue Chen
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, UTHealth, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Manouchehr Ardjomand-Hessabi
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, UTHealth, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Megan L. Grove
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, UTHealth, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Compton Beecher
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Caribbean Genetics, The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Kari Bloom
- Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, UTHealth, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Eric Boerwinkle
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, UTHealth, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, UTHealth, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Rahbar MH, Samms-Vaughan M, Ardjomand-Hessabi M, Loveland KA, Dickerson AS, Chen Z, Bressler J, Shakespeare-Pellington S, Grove ML, Bloom K, Wirth J, Pearson DA, Boerwinkle E. The role of drinking water sources, consumption of vegetables and seafood in relation to blood arsenic concentrations of Jamaican children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorders. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2012; 433:362-70. [PMID: 22819887 PMCID: PMC3418487 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.06.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2012] [Revised: 06/25/2012] [Accepted: 06/25/2012] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic is a toxic metal with harmful effects on human health, particularly on cognitive function. Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are lifelong neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders manifesting in infancy or early childhood. We used data from 130 children between 2 and 8 years (65 pairs of ASD cases with age- and sex-matched control), to compare the mean total blood arsenic concentrations in children with and without ASDs in Kingston, Jamaica. Based on univariable analysis, we observed a significant difference between ASD cases and controls (4.03 μg/L for cases vs. 4.48 μg/L for controls, P<0.01). In the final multivariable General Linear Model (GLM), after controlling for car ownership, maternal age, parental education levels, source of drinking water, consumption of "yam, sweet potato, or dasheen", "carrot or pumpkin", "callaloo, broccoli, or pak choi", cabbage, avocado, and the frequency of seafood consumption per week, we did not find a significant association between blood arsenic concentrations and ASD status (4.36 μg/L for cases vs. 4.65 μg/L for controls, P=0.23). Likewise, in a separate final multivariable GLM, we found that source of drinking water, eating avocado, and eating "callaloo, broccoli, or pak choi" was significantly associated with higher blood arsenic concentrations (all three P<0.05). Based on our findings, we recommend assessment of arsenic levels in water, fruits, and vegetables, as well as increased awareness among the Jamaican population regarding potential risks for various exposures to arsenic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad H Rahbar
- Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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40
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Exploring the relationship between autistic-like traits and ADHD behaviors in early childhood: findings from a community twin study of 2-year-olds. JOURNAL OF ABNORMAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGY 2010; 38:185-96. [PMID: 19908138 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-009-9366-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Behaviors characteristic of autism and ADHD emerge in early childhood, yet research investigating their comorbidity has focused on older children. This study aimed to explore the nature of the relationship between autistic-like traits and ADHD behaviors in a community sample of 2-year-olds. Twins from the Boston University Twin Project (N = 312 pairs) were assessed by their parents on autistic-like traits and ADHD behaviors using the Childhood Behavior Checklist. Phenotypic analyses showed that after controlling for general cognitive ability and socioeconomic status, autistic-like traits (total scale as well as social and nonsocial subscales) correlated positively with ADHD behaviors (r = 0.23-0.26). Structural equation model-fitting analyses revealed that there were modest shared genetic influences between ADHD- and autistic traits (genetic correlation = 0.27) as well as some common environmental influences explaining their covariation. Implications for identifying shared biological pathways underlying autistic-like traits and ADHD behaviors are discussed.
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Mulligan A, Anney RJL, O'Regan M, Chen W, Butler L, Fitzgerald M, Buitelaar J, Steinhausen HC, Rothenberger A, Minderaa R, Nijmeijer J, Hoekstra PJ, Oades RD, Roeyers H, Buschgens C, Christiansen H, Franke B, Gabriels I, Hartman C, Kuntsi J, Marco R, Meidad S, Mueller U, Psychogiou L, Rommelse N, Thompson M, Uebel H, Banaschewski T, Ebstein R, Eisenberg J, Manor I, Miranda A, Mulas F, Sergeant J, Sonuga-Barke E, Asherson P, Faraone SV, Gill M. Autism symptoms in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: a familial trait which correlates with conduct, oppositional defiant, language and motor disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 2009; 39:197-209. [PMID: 18642069 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-008-0621-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2008] [Accepted: 07/02/2008] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
It is hypothesised that autism symptoms are present in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), are familial and index subtypes of ADHD. Autism symptoms were compared in 821 ADHD probands, 1050 siblings and 149 controls. Shared familiality of autism symptoms and ADHD was calculated using DeFries-Fulker analysis. Autism symptoms were higher in probands than siblings or controls, and higher in male siblings than male controls. Autism symptoms were familial, partly shared with familiality of ADHD in males. Latent class analysis using SCQ-score yielded five classes; Class 1(31%) had few autism symptoms and low comorbidity; Classes 2-4 were intermediate; Class 5(7%) had high autism symptoms and comorbidity. Thus autism symptoms in ADHD represent a familial trait associated with increased neurodevelopmental and oppositional/conduct disorders.
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