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Kollayan BY, Cansiz D, Beler M, Unal I, Emekli-Alturfan E, Yalcinkaya SE. Effects of low-dose ionizing radiation on the molecular pathways linking neurogenesis and autism spectrum disorders in zebrafish embryos. Drug Chem Toxicol 2024:1-14. [PMID: 38384198 DOI: 10.1080/01480545.2024.2318444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to environmental factors may play an important role in the aetiopathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We aim to investigate the potential effects of low-dose x-rays from dental diagnostic x-rays on neurodevelopment and molecular mechanisms associated with ASD in developing zebrafish embryos. Zebrafish embryos were divided into four groups and exposed using a dental x-ray unit: control, 0.08, 0.15 and 0.30 seconds, which are exemplary exposure settings for periapical imaging. These exposure times were measured as 7.17, 23.17 and 63.83 mSv using optical stimulated luminescence dosimeters. At the end of 72 hours post-fertilization, locomotor activity, oxidant-antioxidant status, and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity were analyzed. Expression of genes related to apoptosis (bax, bcl2a, p53), neurogenesis (α1-tubulin, syn2a, neurog1, elavl3) and ASD (eif4eb, adsl2a, shank3) was determined by RT-PCR. Even at reduced doses, developmental toxicity was observed in three groups as evidenced by pericardial edema, yolk sac edema and scoliosis. Deleterious effects of dental x-rays on neurogenesis through impaired locomotor activity, oxidative stress, apoptosis and alterations in genes associated with neurogenesis and ASD progression were more pronounced in the 0.30s exposure group. Based on these results we suggest that the associations between ASD and low-dose ionizing radiation need a closer look.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burcu Yeliz Kollayan
- Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Derya Cansiz
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Merih Beler
- Institute of Health Sciences, Department Biochemistry, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ismail Unal
- Institute of Health Sciences, Department Biochemistry, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ebru Emekli-Alturfan
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sebnem Ercalik Yalcinkaya
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
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Gioia R, Seri T, Diamanti T, Fimmanò S, Vitale M, Ahlenius H, Kokaia Z, Tirone F, Micheli L, Biagioni S, Lupo G, Rinaldi A, De Jaco A, Cacci E. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis and social behavioural deficits in the R451C Neuroligin3 mouse model of autism are reverted by the antidepressant fluoxetine. J Neurochem 2022; 165:318-333. [PMID: 36583243 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Neuron generation persists throughout life in the hippocampus but is altered in animal models of neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases, suggesting that disease-associated decline in cognitive and emotional hippocampal-dependent behaviours might be functionally linked with dysregulation of postnatal neurogenesis. Depletion of the adult neural stem/progenitor cell (NSPCs) pool and neurogenic decline have been recently described in mice expressing synaptic susceptibility genes associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASDs). To gain further insight into mechanisms regulating neurogenesis in mice carrying mutations in synaptic genes related to monogenic ASDs, we used the R451C Neuroligin3 knock-in (Nlgn3 KI) mouse, which is characterized by structural brain abnormalities, deficits in synaptic functions and reduced sociability. We show that the number of adult-born neurons, but not the size of the NSPC pool, was reduced in the ventral dentate gyrus in knock-in mice. Notably, this neurogenic decline was rescued by daily injecting mice with 10 mg/Kg of the antidepressant fluoxetine for 20 consecutive days. Sustained treatment also improved KI mice's sociability and increased the number of c-Fos active adult-born neurons, compared with vehicle-injected KI mice. Our study uncovers neurogenesis-mediated alterations in the brain of R451C KI mouse, showing that the R451C Nlgn3 mutation leads to lasting, albeit pharmacologically reversible, changes in the brain, affecting neuron formation in the adult hippocampus. Our results suggest that fluoxetine can ameliorate social behaviour in KI mice, at least in part, by rescuing adult hippocampal neurogenesis, which may be relevant for the pharmacological treatment of ASDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Gioia
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Tommaso Seri
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- PhD program in Behavioral Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Tamara Diamanti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Fimmanò
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marina Vitale
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Henrik Ahlenius
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Neurology, Stem Cells, Aging and Neurodegeneration, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund, Sweden
| | - Zaal Kokaia
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Felice Tirone
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Micheli
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Biagioni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lupo
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Arianna Rinaldi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Centre for Research in Neurobiology "D. Bovet", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella De Jaco
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Centre for Research in Neurobiology "D. Bovet", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuele Cacci
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Centre for Research in Neurobiology "D. Bovet", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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3
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Bahathiq RA, Banjar H, Bamaga AK, Jarraya SK. Machine learning for autism spectrum disorder diagnosis using structural magnetic resonance imaging: Promising but challenging. Front Neuroinform 2022; 16:949926. [PMID: 36246393 PMCID: PMC9554556 DOI: 10.3389/fninf.2022.949926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that affects approximately 1% of the population and causes significant burdens. ASD's pathogenesis remains elusive; hence, diagnosis is based on a constellation of behaviors. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) studies have shown several abnormalities in volumetric and geometric features of the autistic brain. However, inconsistent findings prevented most contributions from being translated into clinical practice. Establishing reliable biomarkers for ASD using sMRI is crucial for the correct diagnosis and treatment. In recent years, machine learning (ML) and specifically deep learning (DL) have quickly extended to almost every sector, notably in disease diagnosis. Thus, this has led to a shift and improvement in ASD diagnostic methods, fulfilling most clinical diagnostic requirements. However, ASD discovery remains difficult. This review examines the ML-based ASD diagnosis literature over the past 5 years. A literature-based taxonomy of the research landscape has been mapped, and the major aspects of this topic have been covered. First, we provide an overview of ML's general classification pipeline and the features of sMRI. Next, representative studies are highlighted and discussed in detail with respect to methods, and biomarkers. Finally, we highlight many common challenges and make recommendations for future directions. In short, the limited sample size was the main obstacle; Thus, comprehensive data sets and rigorous methods are necessary to check the generalizability of the results. ML technologies are expected to advance significantly in the coming years, contributing to the diagnosis of ASD and helping clinicians soon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem Ahmed Bahathiq
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haneen Banjar
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Center of Artificial Intelligence in Precision Medicines, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed K. Bamaga
- Neuromuscular Medicine Unit, Department of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine and King Abdulaziz University Hospital, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Salma Kammoun Jarraya
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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4
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Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that occurs during early childhood. The change from being normal across several contexts to displaying the behavioral phenotype of ASD occurs in infants and toddlers with autism. Findings provided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based research owing to the developmental phase, including potential pathways underlying the pathogenesis of the condition and the potential for signs and symptomatic risk prediction. The present study focuses on the characteristic features of magnetic resonance imaging autistic brain, how these changes are correlated to autism signs and symptoms and the implications of MRI as a potential tool for the early diagnosis of ASD. PRISMA style was used to conduct this review. Research articles related to the key concepts of this review, which is looking at MRI brain changes in autistic patients, were revised and incorporated with what is known with the pathophysiology of brain regions in relation to signs and symptoms of autism. Studies on brain MRI of autism were revied for major brain features and regions such as brain volume, cortex and hippocampus. This review reveals that brain changes seen in MRI are highly correlated with the signs and symptoms of autism. There are numerous distinct features noted in an autistic brain using MRI. Based on these findings, various developmental brain paths and autistic behavior culminate in a typical diagnosis, and it is possible that addressing these trajectories would improve the accuracy in which children are detected and provide the necessary treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nahla L. Faizo
- Radiological Sciences Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, KSA
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Šimić G, Krsnik Ž, Knezović V, Kelović Z, Mathiasen ML, Junaković A, Radoš M, Mulc D, Španić E, Quattrocolo G, Hall VJ, Zaborszky L, Vukšić M, Olucha Bordonau F, Kostović I, Witter MP, Hof PR. Prenatal development of the human entorhinal cortex. J Comp Neurol 2022; 530:2711-2748. [DOI: 10.1002/cne.25344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Goran Šimić
- Department of Neuroscience Croatian Institute for Brain Research University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, HR Croatia
| | - Željka Krsnik
- Department of Neuroscience Croatian Institute for Brain Research University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, HR Croatia
| | - Vinka Knezović
- Department of Neuroscience Croatian Institute for Brain Research University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, HR Croatia
| | - Zlatko Kelović
- Department of Anatomy University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, HR Croatia
| | - Mathias Lysholt Mathiasen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Faculty of Health Sciences University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, DK Denmark
| | - Alisa Junaković
- Department of Neuroscience Croatian Institute for Brain Research University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, HR Croatia
| | - Milan Radoš
- Department of Neuroscience Croatian Institute for Brain Research University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, HR Croatia
| | - Damir Mulc
- Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, HR Croatia
| | - Ena Španić
- Department of Neuroscience Croatian Institute for Brain Research University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, HR Croatia
| | - Giulia Quattrocolo
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim NO Norway
| | - Vanessa Jane Hall
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Faculty of Health Sciences University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, DK Denmark
| | - Laszlo Zaborszky
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Newark New Jersey USA
| | - Mario Vukšić
- Department of Neuroscience Croatian Institute for Brain Research University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, HR Croatia
| | - Francisco Olucha Bordonau
- Department of Medicine School of Medical Sciences Universitat Jaume I Castellón de la Plana ES Spain
| | - Ivica Kostović
- Department of Neuroscience Croatian Institute for Brain Research University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, HR Croatia
| | - Menno P. Witter
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim NO Norway
| | - Patrick R. Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York New York USA
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Therapeutic Effects of a Novel Form of Biotin on Propionic Acid-Induced Autistic Features in Rats. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14061280. [PMID: 35334937 PMCID: PMC8955994 DOI: 10.3390/nu14061280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Magnesium biotinate (MgB) is a novel biotin complex with superior absorption and anti-inflammatory effects in the brain than D-Biotin. This study aimed to investigate the impact of different doses of MgB on social behavior deficits, learning and memory alteration, and inflammatory markers in propionic acid (PPA)-exposed rats. In this case, 35 Wistar rats (3 weeks old) were distributed into five groups: 1, Control; 2, PPA treated group; 3, PPA+MgBI (10 mg, HED); 4, PPA+MgBII (100 mg, HED); 5, PPA+MgBIII (500 mg, HED). PPA was given subcutaneously at 500 mg/kg/day for five days, followed by MgB for two weeks. PPA-exposed rats showed poor sociability and a high level of anxiety-like behaviors and cognitive impairments (p < 0.001). In a dose-dependent manner, behavioral and learning-memory disorders were significantly improved by MgB supplementation (p < 0.05). PPA decreased both the numbers and the sizes of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum. However, MgB administration increased the sizes and the densities of Purkinje cells. MgB improved the brain and serum Mg, biotin, serotonin, and dopamine concentrations, as well as antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, GPx, and GSH) (p < 0.05). In addition, MgB treatment significantly regulated the neurotoxicity-related cytokines and neurotransmission-related markers. For instance, MgB significantly decreased the expression level of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17, CCL-3, CCL-5, and CXCL-16 in the brain, compared to the control group (p < 0.05). These data demonstrate that MgB may ameliorate dysfunctions in social behavior, learning and memory and reduce the oxidative stress and inflammation indexes of the brain in a rat model.
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7
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Žigman T, Petković Ramadža D, Šimić G, Barić I. Inborn Errors of Metabolism Associated With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Approaches to Intervention. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:673600. [PMID: 34121999 PMCID: PMC8193223 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.673600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be associated with inborn errors of metabolism, such as disorders of amino acid metabolism and transport [phenylketonuria, homocystinuria, S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase deficiency, branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase kinase deficiency, urea cycle disorders (UCD), Hartnup disease], organic acidurias (propionic aciduria, L-2 hydroxyglutaric aciduria), cholesterol biosynthesis defects (Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome), mitochondrial disorders (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes-MELAS syndrome), neurotransmitter disorders (succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency), disorders of purine metabolism [adenylosuccinate lyase (ADSL) deficiency, Lesch-Nyhan syndrome], cerebral creatine deficiency syndromes (CCDSs), disorders of folate transport and metabolism (cerebral folate deficiency, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency), lysosomal storage disorders [Sanfilippo syndrome, neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCL), Niemann-Pick disease type C], cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX), disorders of copper metabolism (Wilson disease), disorders of haem biosynthesis [acute intermittent porphyria (AIP)] and brain iron accumulation diseases. In this review, we briefly describe etiology, clinical presentation, and therapeutic principles, if they exist, for these conditions. Additionally, we suggest the primary and elective laboratory work-up for their successful early diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Žigman
- Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Center Zagreb and University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Danijela Petković Ramadža
- Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Center Zagreb and University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Goran Šimić
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivo Barić
- Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Center Zagreb and University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
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Babić Leko M, Hof PR, Šimić G. Alterations and interactions of subcortical modulatory systems in Alzheimer's disease. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2021; 261:379-421. [PMID: 33785136 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2020.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not fully understood. Here we summarize current knowledge on the involvement of the serotonergic, noradrenergic, dopaminergic, cholinergic, and opioid systems in AD, emphasizing the importance of interactions between the serotonergic and the other subcortical modulatory systems during the progression of AD. In physiological conditions, all neurotransmitter systems function in concert and are interdependent at both the neuroanatomical and molecular levels. Through their early involvement in AD, cognitive and behavioral abilities that rely on their interactions also become disrupted. Considering that serotonin (5HT) regulates the release of noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA) and acetylcholine (ACh), any alteration in 5HT levels leads to disturbance of NA, DA, and ACh homeostasis in the brain. One of the earliest pathological changes during the prodromal phase of AD is a decrease of serotonergic transmission throughout the brain, with serotonergic receptors being also affected. Additionally, serotonergic and noradrenergic as well as serotonergic and dopaminergic nuclei are reciprocally interconnected. As the serotonergic dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) is affected by pathological changes early in AD, and the noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) and dopaminergic ventral tegmental area (VTA) exhibit AD-related pathological changes, their connectivity also becomes altered in AD. Such disrupted interactions among neurotransmitter systems in AD can be used in the development of multi-target drugs. Some of the potential AD therapeutics (such as ASS234, RS67333, tropisetron) target multiple neurotransmitter systems to achieve the best possible improvement of cognitive and behavioral deficits observed in AD. Here, we review how serotonergic system interacts with other subcortical modulatory systems (noradrenergic, dopaminergic, cholinergic, and opioid systems) during AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirjana Babić Leko
- Department for Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Goran Šimić
- Department for Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, Croatia.
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Šimić G, Vukić V, Kopić J, Krsnik Ž, Hof PR. Molecules, Mechanisms, and Disorders of Self-Domestication: Keys for Understanding Emotional and Social Communication from an Evolutionary Perspective. Biomolecules 2020; 11:E2. [PMID: 33375093 PMCID: PMC7822183 DOI: 10.3390/biom11010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The neural crest hypothesis states that the phenotypic features of the domestication syndrome are due to a reduced number or disruption of neural crest cells (NCCs) migration, as these cells differentiate at their final destinations and proliferate into different tissues whose activity is reduced by domestication. Comparing the phenotypic characteristics of modern and prehistoric man, it is clear that during their recent evolutionary past, humans also went through a process of self-domestication with a simultaneous prolongation of the period of socialization. This has led to the development of social abilities and skills, especially language, as well as neoteny. Disorders of neural crest cell development and migration lead to many different conditions such as Waardenburg syndrome, Hirschsprung disease, fetal alcohol syndrome, DiGeorge and Treacher-Collins syndrome, for which the mechanisms are already relatively well-known. However, for others, such as Williams-Beuren syndrome and schizophrenia that have the characteristics of hyperdomestication, and autism spectrum disorders, and 7dupASD syndrome that have the characteristics of hypodomestication, much less is known. Thus, deciphering the biological determinants of disordered self-domestication has great potential for elucidating the normal and disturbed ontogenesis of humans, as well as for the understanding of evolution of mammals in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goran Šimić
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb Medical School, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (V.V.); (J.K.); (Ž.K.)
| | - Vana Vukić
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb Medical School, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (V.V.); (J.K.); (Ž.K.)
| | - Janja Kopić
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb Medical School, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (V.V.); (J.K.); (Ž.K.)
| | - Željka Krsnik
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb Medical School, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (V.V.); (J.K.); (Ž.K.)
| | - Patrick R. Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA;
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10
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Neuroligin 2 regulates absence seizures and behavioral arrests through GABAergic transmission within the thalamocortical circuitry. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3744. [PMID: 32719346 PMCID: PMC7385104 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17560-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are two distinct brain disorders but have a high rate of co-occurrence, suggesting shared pathogenic mechanisms. Neuroligins are cell adhesion molecules important in synaptic function and ASD, but their role in epilepsy remains unknown. In this study, we show that Neuroligin 2 (NLG2) knockout mice exhibit abnormal spike and wave discharges (SWDs) and behavioral arrests characteristic of absence seizures. The anti-absence seizure drug ethosuximide blocks SWDs and rescues behavioral arrests and social memory impairment in the knockout mice. Restoring GABAergic transmission either by optogenetic activation of the thalamic reticular nucleus (nRT) presynaptic terminals or postsynaptic NLG2 expression in the thalamic neurons reduces the SWDs and behavioral arrests in the knockout mice. These results indicate that NLG2-mediated GABAergic transmission at the nRT-thalamic circuit represents a common mechanism underlying both epileptic seizures and ASD. Neuroligins are postsynaptic cell adhesion molecules that are involved in synapse function and autism spectrum disorder. The authors show that NLG2-mediated GABAergic transmission at the thalamic reticular nucleus-thalamic circuit is a common mechanism underlying epileptic seizures and ASD.
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11
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Alzghoul L. Role of Vitamin D in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Curr Pharm Des 2020; 25:4357-4367. [DOI: 10.2174/1381612825666191122092215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive developmental disorder with heterogeneous etiology.
Vitamin D can function as a fat-soluble vitamin as well as a hormone, and can exert its effect through both genomic
and non-genomic mechanisms. In the last decades, several studies have examined the relationship between
vitamin D levels and ASD. These studies demonstrated that low vitamin D status in early development has been
hypothesized as an environmental risk factor for ASD. Both in vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated that
vitamin D deficiency in early life can alter brain development, dysregulates neurotransmitter balance in the brain,
decreases body and brain antioxidant ability, and alters the immune system in ways that resemble pathological
features commonly seen in ASD. In this review, we focused on the association between vitamin D and ASD. In
addition, the above-mentioned mechanisms of action that link vitamin D deficiency with ASD were also discussed.
Finally, clinical trials of vitamin D supplementation treatment of ASD have also been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loai Alzghoul
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
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12
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Poornimai Abirami GP, Radhakrishnan RK, Johnson E, Roshan SA, Yesudhas A, Parveen S, Biswas A, Ravichandran VR, Muthuswamy A, Kandasamy M. The Regulation of Reactive Neuroblastosis, Neuroplasticity, and Nutraceuticals for Effective Management of Autism Spectrum Disorder. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2020; 24:207-222. [PMID: 32006362 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-30402-7_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses a cluster of neurodevelopmental and genetic disorders that has been characterized mainly by social withdrawal, repetitive behavior, restricted interests, and deficits in language processing mainly in children. ASD has been known to severely impair behavioral patterns and cognitive functions including learning and memory due to defects in neuroplasticity. The biology of the ASD appears to be highly complex and heterogeneous, and thus, finding a therapeutic target for autism remains obscure. There has been no complete prevention or disease-modifying cure for this disorder. Recently, individuals with autism have been characterized by reactive neurogenesis, obstructions in axonal growth, heterotopia, resulting from dysplasia of neuroblasts in different brain regions. Therefore, it can be assumed that the aforementioned neuropathological correlates seen in the autistic individuals might originate from the defects mainly in the regulation of neuroblasts in the developing as well as adult brain. Nutrient deficiencies during early brain development and intake of certain allergic foods have been proposed as main reasons for the development of ASD. However, the integrated understanding of neurodevelopment and functional aspects of neuroplasticity working through neurogenesis in ASD is highly limited. Moreover, neurogenesis at the level of neuroblasts can be regulated by nutrition. Hence, defects in neuroblastosis underlying the severity of autism potentially could be rectified by appropriate implementation of nutraceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- G P Poornimai Abirami
- School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Risna Kanjirassery Radhakrishnan
- Laboratory of Stem Cells and Neuroregeneration, Department of Animal Science, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Esther Johnson
- Laboratory of Stem Cells and Neuroregeneration, Department of Animal Science, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Syed Aasish Roshan
- Molecular Gerontology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ajisha Yesudhas
- Laboratory of Stem Cells and Neuroregeneration, Department of Animal Science, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Suhadha Parveen
- Molecular Gerontology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Abir Biswas
- Molecular Gerontology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Vijaya Roobini Ravichandran
- Laboratory of Stem Cells and Neuroregeneration, Department of Animal Science, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Anusuyadevi Muthuswamy
- School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India. .,Molecular Gerontology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Mahesh Kandasamy
- School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India. .,Laboratory of Stem Cells and Neuroregeneration, Department of Animal Science, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India. .,Faculty Recharge Programme, University Grants Commission (UGC-FRP), New Delhi, India.
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13
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Brondino N, Rocchetti M, Fusar-Poli L, Damiani S, Goggi A, Chiodelli G, Corti S, Visai L, Politi P. Increased CNTF levels in adults with autism spectrum disorders. World J Biol Psychiatry 2019; 20:742-746. [PMID: 29869578 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2018.1481999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is a neurotrophin which could signal neuronal suffering and at the same time acts as a neuroprotective agent. In the present study we aimed to evaluate CNTF serum levels in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). In fact, considering the role of CNTF as a neuronal damage signal and the role of neuroinflammation, excito-inhibitory imbalance and excitotoxicity in the pathogenesis of ASDs, a possible alteration of CNTF in ASDs could be hypothesised.Methods: We recruited 23 individuals with ASDs and intellectual disability (ID), 20 ID subjects and 26 typical adults. A complete medical and psychopathological characterisation of the participants was performed. CNTF serum levels were measured with ELISA.Results: CNTF serum levels were significantly higher in the ASD + ID group compared to ID (p < .001) or typically developed subjects (p < .001).Conclusions: CNTF may be considered as a potential biomarker candidate for ASDs in the context of severe ID. Our results support the hypothesis of neurotrophic imbalance in ASDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natascia Brondino
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Matteo Rocchetti
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Laura Fusar-Poli
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefano Damiani
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Arianna Goggi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Serafino Corti
- Disability Department, Sospiro Foundation, Sospiro (CR), Italy
| | - Livia Visai
- Molecular Medicine Department, Centre for Health Technologies (CHT), UdR INSTM, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Occupational Medicine, Toxicology and Environmental Risks, Istituti Clinici Scientifici (ICS) Maugeri, Società Benefit SpA, IRCCS, Pavia, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Politi
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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14
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Martins BP, Bandarra NM, Figueiredo-Braga M. The role of marine omega-3 in human neurodevelopment, including Autism Spectrum Disorders and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder – a review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2019; 60:1431-1446. [DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2019.1573800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara P. Martins
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Narcisa M. Bandarra
- Department of Sea and Marine Resources, Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA, IP), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Margarida Figueiredo-Braga
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Research Group: Metabolism, Nutrition & Endocrinology, i3S Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Porto, Portugal
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15
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A systematic review of structural MRI biomarkers in autism spectrum disorder: A machine learning perspective. Int J Dev Neurosci 2018; 71:68-82. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2018.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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16
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Jerger KK, Lundegard L, Piepmeier A, Faurot K, Ruffino A, Jerger MA, Belger A. Neural Mechanisms of Qigong Sensory Training Massage for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Feasibility Study. Glob Adv Health Med 2018; 7:2164956118769006. [PMID: 29662721 PMCID: PMC5894902 DOI: 10.1177/2164956118769006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Despite the enormous prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), its global impact has yet to be realized. Millions of families worldwide need effective treatments to help them get through everyday challenges like eating, sleeping, digestion, and social interaction. Qigong Sensory Training (QST) is a nonverbal, parent-delivered intervention recently shown to be effective at reducing these everyday challenges in children with ASD. This study tested the feasibility of a protocol for investigating QST's neural mechanism. METHODS During a single visit, 20 children, 4- to 7-year-old, with ASD viewed images of emotional faces before and after receiving QST or watching a video (controls). Heart rate variability was recorded throughout the visit, and power in the high frequency band (0.15-0.4 Hz) was calculated to estimate parasympathetic tone in 5-s nonoverlapping windows. Cerebral oximetry of prefrontal cortex was recorded during rest and while viewing emotional faces. RESULTS 95% completion rate and 7.6% missing data met a priori standards confirming protocol feasibility for future studies. Preliminary data suggest: (1) during the intervention, parasympathetic tone increased more in children receiving massage (M = 2.9, SD = 0.3) versus controls (M = 2.5, SD = 0.5); (2) while viewing emotional faces post-intervention, parasympathetic tone was more affected (reduced) in the massage group (p = 0.036); and (3) prefrontal cortex response to emotional faces was greater after massage compared to controls. These results did not reach statistical significance in this small study powered to test feasibility. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION This study demonstrates solid protocol feasibility. If replicated in a larger sample, these findings would provide important clues to the neural mechanism of action underlying QST's efficacy for improving sensory, social, and communication difficulties in children with autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin K Jerger
- Program in Integrative Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | | | - Aaron Piepmeier
- Program in Integrative Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Keturah Faurot
- Program in Integrative Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Amanda Ruffino
- Program in Integrative Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Margaret A Jerger
- Program in Integrative Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Aysenil Belger
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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17
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Liu JJ, Grace KP, Horner RL, Cortez MA, Shao Y, Jia Z. Neuroligin 3 R451C mutation alters electroencephalography spectral activity in an animal model of autism spectrum disorders. Mol Brain 2017; 10:10. [PMID: 28385162 PMCID: PMC5384041 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-017-0290-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Human studies demonstrate that sleep impairment is a concurrent comorbidity of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), but its etiology remains largely uncertain. One of the prominent theories of ASD suggests that an imbalance in synaptic excitation/inhibition may contribute to various aspects of ASD, including sleep impairments. Following the identification of Nlgn3R451C mutation in patients with ASD, its effects on synaptic transmission and social behaviours have been examined extensively in the mouse model. However, the contributory role of this mutation to sleep impairments in ASD remains unknown. In this study, we showed that Nlgn3R451C knock-in mice, an established genetic model for ASD, exhibited normal duration and distribution of sleep/wake states but significantly altered electroencephalography (EEG) power spectral profiles for wake and sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackie J Liu
- Neurosciences & Mental Health Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, M5G 1X8, ON, Canada.,Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kevin P Grace
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Richard L Horner
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Miguel A Cortez
- Neurosciences & Mental Health Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, M5G 1X8, ON, Canada.,Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Division of Neurology, The Hospital of Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Yiwen Shao
- Neurosciences & Mental Health Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, M5G 1X8, ON, Canada
| | - Zhengping Jia
- Neurosciences & Mental Health Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave., Toronto, M5G 1X8, ON, Canada. .,Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
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18
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Goji A, Ito H, Mori K, Harada M, Hisaoka S, Toda Y, Mori T, Abe Y, Miyazaki M, Kagami S. Assessment of Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) and Left Cerebellar Metabolism in Asperger's Syndrome with Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS). PLoS One 2017; 12:e0169288. [PMID: 28060873 PMCID: PMC5218556 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) is a noninvasive neuroimaging method to quantify biochemical metabolites in vivo and it can serve as a powerful tool to monitor neurobiochemical profiles in the brain. Asperger’s syndrome (AS) is a type of autism spectrum disorder, which is characterized by impaired social skills and restrictive, repetitive patterns of interest and activities, while intellectual levels and language skills are relatively preserved. Despite clinical aspects have been well-characterized, neurometabolic profiling in the brain of AS remains to be clear. The present study used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) to investigate whether pediatric AS is associated with measurable neurometabolic abnormalities that can contribute new information on the neurobiological underpinnings of the disorder. Methods Study participants consisted of 34 children with AS (2–12 years old; mean age 5.2 (±2.0); 28 boys) and 19 typically developed children (2–11 years old; mean age 5.6 (±2.6); 12 boys) who served as the normal control group. The 1H MRS data were obtained from two regions of interest: the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and left cerebellum. Results In the ACC, levels of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), total creatine (tCr), total choline-containing compounds (tCho) and myo-Inositol (mI) were significantly decreased in children with AS compared to controls. On the other hand, no significant group differences in any of the metabolites were found in the left cerebellum. Neither age nor sex accounted for the metabolic findings in the regions. Conclusion The finding of decreased levels of NAA, tCr, tCho, and mI in the ACC but not in left cerebellar voxels in the AS, suggests a lower ACC neuronal density in the present AS cohort compared to controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aya Goji
- Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Hiromichi Ito
- Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Kenji Mori
- Department of Child Health & Nursing, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Masafumi Harada
- Department of Radiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Sonoka Hisaoka
- Department of Radiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Toda
- Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Mori
- Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Yoko Abe
- Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Masahito Miyazaki
- Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Shoji Kagami
- Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
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19
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Siekmeier PJ. Computational modeling of psychiatric illnesses via well-defined neurophysiological and neurocognitive biomarkers. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 57:365-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2015] [Revised: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 09/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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20
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Green RR, Bigler ED, Froehlich A, Prigge MBD, Travers BG, Cariello AN, Anderson JS, Zielinski BA, Alexander A, Lange N, Lainhart JE. Beery VMI performance in autism spectrum disorder. Child Neuropsychol 2015; 22:795-817. [PMID: 26292997 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2015.1056131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Few studies have examined the visuomotor integration (VMI) abilities of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). An all-male sample consisting of 56 ASD participants (ages 3-23 years) and 36 typically developing (TD) participants (ages 4-26 years) completed the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery VMI) as part of a larger neuropsychological battery. Participants were also administered standardized measures of intellectual functioning and the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), which assesses autism and autism-like traits. The ASD group performed significantly lower on the Beery VMI and on all IQ measures compared to the TD group. VMI performance was significantly correlated with full scale IQ (FSIQ), performance IQ (PIQ), and verbal IQ (VIQ) in the TD group only. However, when FSIQ was taken into account, no significant Beery VMI differences between groups were observed. Only one TD participant scored 1.5 standard deviations (SDs) below the Beery VMI normative sample mean, in comparison to 21% of the ASD sample. As expected, the ASD group was rated as having significantly higher levels of social impairment on the SRS compared to the TD group across all major domains. However, level of functioning on the SRS was not associated with Berry VMI performance. These findings demonstrate that a substantial number of individuals with ASD experience difficulties compared to TD in performing VMI-related tasks, and that VMI is likely affected by general cognitive ability. The fact that lowered Beery VMI performance occurred only within a subset of individuals with ASD and did not correlate with SRS would indicate that visuomotor deficits are not a core feature of ASD, even though they present at a higher rate of impairment than observed in TD participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan R Green
- a Department of Psychology , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA
| | - Erin D Bigler
- a Department of Psychology , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA.,b Neuroscience Center , Brigham Young University , Provo , UT , USA.,c Department of Psychiatry , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Alyson Froehlich
- c Department of Psychiatry , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Molly B D Prigge
- c Department of Psychiatry , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Brittany G Travers
- d Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior , University of Wisconsin , Madison , WI , USA
| | - Annahir N Cariello
- c Department of Psychiatry , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Jeffrey S Anderson
- e Department of Radiology , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Brandon A Zielinski
- f Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, School of Medicine , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Andrew Alexander
- d Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior , University of Wisconsin , Madison , WI , USA.,g Department of Medical Physics , University of Wisconsin , Madison , WI , USA.,h Department of Psychiatry , University of Wisconsin , Madison , WI , USA
| | - Nicholas Lange
- i Departments of Psychiatry and Biostatistics , Harvard University , Boston , MA , USA.,j Neurostatistics Laboratory , McLean Hospital , Belmont , MA , USA
| | - Janet E Lainhart
- d Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior , University of Wisconsin , Madison , WI , USA.,h Department of Psychiatry , University of Wisconsin , Madison , WI , USA
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21
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Autistic spectrum disorders: A review of clinical features, theories and diagnosis. Int J Dev Neurosci 2015; 43:70-7. [PMID: 25862937 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2015.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2015] [Revised: 04/03/2015] [Accepted: 04/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a set of neurodevelopmental disorders that is among the most severe in terms of prevalence, morbidity and impact to the society. It is characterized by complex behavioral phenotype and deficits in both social and cognitive functions. Although the exact cause of ASD is still not known, the main findings emphasize the role of genetic and environmental factors in the development of autistic behavior. Environmental factors are also likely to interact with the genetic profile and cause aberrant changes in brain growth, neuronal development, and functional connectivity. The past few years have seen an increase in the prevalence of ASD, as a result of enhanced clinical tests and diagnostic tools. Despite growing evidence for the involvement of endogenous biomarkers in the pathophysiology of ASD, early detection of this disorder remains a big challenge. This paper describes the main behavioral and cognitive features of ASD, as well as the symptoms that differentiate autism from other developmental disorders. An attempt will be made to integrate all the available evidence which point to reduced brain connectivity, mirror neurons deficits, and inhibition-excitation imbalance in individuals with ASD. Finally, this review discusses the main factors involved in the pathophysiology of ASD, and illustrates some of the most important markers used for the diagnosis of this debilitating disorder.
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22
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Kazim SF, Cardenas-Aguayo MDC, Arif M, Blanchard J, Fayyaz F, Grundke-Iqbal I, Iqbal K. Sera from children with autism induce autistic features which can be rescued with a CNTF small peptide mimetic in rats. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0118627. [PMID: 25769033 PMCID: PMC4359103 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized clinically by impairments in social interaction and verbal and non-verbal communication skills as well as restricted interests and repetitive behavior. It has been hypothesized that altered brain environment including an imbalance in neurotrophic support during early development contributes to the pathophysiology of autism. Here we report that sera from children with autism which exhibited abnormal levels of various neurotrophic factors induced cell death and oxidative stress in mouse primary cultured cortical neurons. The effects of sera from autistic children were rescued by pre-treatment with a ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) small peptide mimetic, Peptide 6 (P6), which was previously shown to exert its neuroprotective effect by modulating CNTF/JAK/STAT pathway and LIF signaling and by enhancing brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression. Similar neurotoxic effects and neuroinflammation were observed in young Wistar rats injected intracerebroventricularly with autism sera within hours after birth. The autism sera injected rats demonstrated developmental delay and deficits in social communication, interaction, and novelty. Both the neurobiological changes and the behavioral autistic phenotype were ameliorated by P6 treatment. These findings implicate the involvement of neurotrophic imbalance during early brain development in the pathophysiology of autism and a proof of principle of P6 as a potential therapeutic strategy for autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Faraz Kazim
- Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (NYSIBR), Staten Island, New York, United States of America
- Neural and Behavioral Science Graduate Program, State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
- SUNY Downstate/NYSIBR Center for Developmental Neuroscience (CDN), Staten Island, New York, United States of America
| | - Maria del Carmen Cardenas-Aguayo
- Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (NYSIBR), Staten Island, New York, United States of America
| | - Mohammad Arif
- Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (NYSIBR), Staten Island, New York, United States of America
| | - Julie Blanchard
- Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (NYSIBR), Staten Island, New York, United States of America
| | - Fatima Fayyaz
- Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (NYSIBR), Staten Island, New York, United States of America
| | - Inge Grundke-Iqbal
- Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (NYSIBR), Staten Island, New York, United States of America
| | - Khalid Iqbal
- Inge Grundke-Iqbal Research Floor, Department of Neurochemistry, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (NYSIBR), Staten Island, New York, United States of America
- SUNY Downstate/NYSIBR Center for Developmental Neuroscience (CDN), Staten Island, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects 1 in 50 children between the ages of 6 and 17 years. The etiology of ASD is not precisely known. ASD is an umbrella term, which includes both low- (IQ < 70) and high-functioning (IQ > 70) individuals. A better understanding of the disorder and how it manifests in individual subjects can lead to more effective intervention plans to fulfill the individual's treatment needs.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive investigational tool that can be used to study the ways in which the brain develops or deviates from the typical developmental trajectory. MRI offers insights into the structure, function, and metabolism of the brain. In this article, we review published studies on brain connectivity changes in ASD using either resting state functional MRI or diffusion tensor imaging.The general findings of decreases in white matter integrity and in long-range neural coherence are well known in the ASD literature. Nevertheless, the detailed localization of these findings remains uncertain, and few studies link these changes in connectivity with the behavioral phenotype of the disorder. With the help of data sharing and large-scale analytic efforts, however, the field is advancing toward several convergent themes, including the reduced functional coherence of long-range intra-hemispheric cortico-cortical default mode circuitry, impaired inter-hemispheric regulation, and an associated, perhaps compensatory, increase in local and short-range cortico-subcortical coherence.
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Abstract
Prior studies have shown that performance on standardized measures of memory in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is substantially reduced in comparison to matched typically developing controls (TDC). Given reported deficits in face processing in autism, the current study compared performance on an immediate and delayed facial memory task for individuals with ASD and TDC. In addition, we examined volumetric differences in classic facial memory regions of interest (ROI) between the two groups, including the fusiform, amygdala, and hippocampus. We then explored the relationship between ROI volume and facial memory performance. We found larger volumes in the autism group in the left amygdala and left hippocampus compared to TDC. In contrast, TDC had larger left fusiform gyrus volumes when compared with ASD. Interestingly, we also found significant negative correlations between delayed facial memory performance and volume of the left and right fusiform and the left hippocampus for the ASD group but not for TDC. The possibility of larger fusiform volume as a marker of abnormal connectivity and decreased facial memory is discussed.
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25
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Carayol J, Schellenberg GD, Dombroski B, Amiet C, Génin B, Fontaine K, Rousseau F, Vazart C, Cohen D, Frazier TW, Hardan AY, Dawson G, Rio Frio T. A scoring strategy combining statistics and functional genomics supports a possible role for common polygenic variation in autism. Front Genet 2014; 5:33. [PMID: 24600472 PMCID: PMC3927086 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2014.00033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2013] [Accepted: 01/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are highly heritable complex neurodevelopmental disorders with a 4:1 male: female ratio. Common genetic variation could explain 40-60% of the variance in liability to autism. Because of their small effect, genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have only identified a small number of individual single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). To increase the power of GWASs in complex disorders, methods like convergent functional genomics (CFG) have emerged to extract true association signals from noise and to identify and prioritize genes from SNPs using a scoring strategy combining statistics and functional genomics. We adapted and applied this approach to analyze data from a GWAS performed on families with multiple children affected with autism from Autism Speaks Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE). We identified a set of 133 candidate markers that were localized in or close to genes with functional relevance in ASD from a discovery population (545 multiplex families); a gender specific genetic score (GS) based on these common variants explained 1% (P = 0.01 in males) and 5% (P = 8.7 × 10(-7) in females) of genetic variance in an independent sample of multiplex families. Overall, our work demonstrates that prioritization of GWAS data based on functional genomics identified common variants associated with autism and provided additional support for a common polygenic background in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gerard D. Schellenberg
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA, USA
| | - Beth Dombroski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - David Cohen
- Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, AP-HP, Université Pierre et Marie CurieParis, France
| | - Thomas W. Frazier
- Center for Pediatric Behavioral Health and Center for Autism, Cleveland ClinicCleveland, OH, USA
| | - Antonio Y. Hardan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford UniversityStanford, CA, USA
| | - Geraldine Dawson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical CenterDurham, NC, USA
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Duffield T, Trontel H, Bigler ED, Froehlich A, Prigge MB, Travers B, Green RR, Cariello AN, Cooperrider J, Nielsen J, Alexander A, Anderson J, Fletcher PT, Lange N, Zielinski B, Lainhart J. Neuropsychological investigation of motor impairments in autism. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2013; 35:867-81. [PMID: 23985036 PMCID: PMC3907511 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2013.827156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
It is unclear how standardized neuropsychological measures of motor function relate to brain volumes of motor regions in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). An all-male sample composed of 59 ASD and 30 controls (ages 5-33 years) completed three measures of motor function: strength of grip (SOG), finger tapping test (FTT), and grooved pegboard test (GPT). Likewise, all participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging with region of interest (ROI) volumes obtained to include the following regions: motor cortex (precentral gyrus), somatosensory cortex (postcentral gyrus), thalamus, basal ganglia, cerebellum, and caudal middle frontal gyrus. These traditional neuropsychological measures of motor function are assumed to differ in motor complexity, with GPT requiring the most followed by FTT and SOG. Performance by ASD participants on the GPT and FTT differed significantly from that of controls, with the largest effect size differences observed on the more complex GPT task. Differences on the SOG task between the two groups were nonsignificant. Since more complex motor tasks tap more complex networks, poorer GPT performance by those with ASD may reflect less efficient motor networks. There was no gross pathology observed in classic motor areas of the brain in ASD, as ROI volumes did not differ, but FTT was negatively related to motor cortex volume in ASD. The results suggest a hierarchical motor disruption in ASD, with difficulties evident only in more complex tasks as well as a potential anomalous size-function relation in motor cortex in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Duffield
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
| | - Haley Trontel
- Department of Psychology, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana
| | - Erin D. Bigler
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
- Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
- The Brain Institute of Utah, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Alyson Froehlich
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Molly B. Prigge
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Brittany Travers
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Ryan R. Green
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
| | - Annahir N. Cariello
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Jason Cooperrider
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Jared Nielsen
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Andrew Alexander
- Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Jeffrey Anderson
- Department of Radiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - P. Thomas Fletcher
- The Brain Institute of Utah, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
- School of Computing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Nicholas Lange
- Departments of Psychiatry and Biostatistics, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
- Neurostatistics Laboratory, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts
| | - Brandon Zielinski
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Janet Lainhart
- Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
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Cauda F, Costa T, Palermo S, D'Agata F, Diano M, Bianco F, Duca S, Keller R. Concordance of white matter and gray matter abnormalities in autism spectrum disorders: a voxel-based meta-analysis study. Hum Brain Mapp 2013; 35:2073-98. [PMID: 23894001 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.22313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2012] [Revised: 03/18/2013] [Accepted: 04/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
There are at least two fundamental unanswered questions in the literature on autism spectrum disorders (ASD): Are abnormalities in white (WM) and gray matter (GM) consistent with one another? Are WM morphometric alterations consistent with alterations in the GM of regions connected by these abnormal WM bundles and vice versa? The aim of this work is to bridge this gap. After selecting voxel-based morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging studies comparing autistic and normally developing groups of subjects, we conducted an activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis to estimate consistent brain alterations in ASD. Multidimensional scaling was used to test the similarity of the results. The ALE results were then analyzed to identify the regions of concordance between GM and WM areas. We found statistically significant topological relationships between GM and WM abnormalities in ASD. The most numerous were negative concordances, found bilaterally but with a higher prevalence in the right hemisphere. Positive concordances were found in the left hemisphere. Discordances reflected the spatial distribution of negative concordances. Thus, a different hemispheric contribution emerged, possibly related to pathogenetic factors affecting the right hemisphere during early developmental stages. Besides, WM fiber tracts linking the brain structures involved in social cognition showed abnormalities, and most of them had a negative concordance with the connected GM regions. We interpreted the results in terms of altered brain networks and their role in the pervasive symptoms dramatically impairing communication and social skills in ASD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franco Cauda
- CCS fMRI, Koelliker Hospital, Turin, Italy; Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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Diaz-Stransky A, Tierney E. Cognitive and behavioral aspects of Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART C-SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2012; 160C:295-300. [DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.31342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Kelley BC, Arnold PM, Grant JA, Newell KL. Primary intracranial β-human chorionic gonadotropin-producing leiomyosarcoma in a 2-year-old immunocompetent child. J Neurosurg Pediatr 2012; 10:121-5. [PMID: 22747091 DOI: 10.3171/2012.4.peds1216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The authors present a rare case of primary intracranial leiomyosarcoma (LMS) in a young, immunocompetent boy. The patient presented with an expanding right forehead mass. Diagnostic workup revealed multiple large intracranial tumors. The largest mass was resected, and pathological analysis revealed LMS. Given the poor prognosis of this tumor, the family declined further care, and the child died 3 months later. Primary LMSs are extremely rare tumors in the pediatric population, especially in patients who are not immunocompromised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian C Kelley
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, USA
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Abramowicz JS. Ultrasound and autism: association, link, or coincidence? JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE 2012; 31:1261-1269. [PMID: 22837291 DOI: 10.7863/jum.2012.31.8.1261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) affect an estimated 1% of children in the United States. The etiology is probably multifactorial, including genetic components and exposure to infections, toxins, and other environmental factors, particularly unfavorable perinatal and neonatal conditions. There has been an increase in the frequency of diagnosis of ASDs over the last 20 years with a parallel increase in the use of obstetric diagnostic ultrasound, with prenatal ultrasound exposure mentioned as the possible main etiology for autism "epidemics." Central nervous system alterations have been described in ASDs, and certain similar changes have been described in animals after exposure to ultrasound. However, analysis of in utero exposure in humans has failed to show harmful effects in neonates or children, particularly in school performance, attention disorders, and behavioral changes. There is no independently confirmed peer-reviewed published evidence that a cause-effect relationship exists between in utero exposure to clinical ultrasound and development of ASDs in childhood. Ultrasound is a form of energy with effects in the tissues it traverses, and its use should be restricted to medical indications, by trained professionals, for as short a period and as low an intensity as compatible with accurate diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques S Abramowicz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Rush Fetal and Neonatal Medicine Center, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA.
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31
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Assessment and treatment in autism spectrum disorders: a focus on genetics and psychiatry. AUTISM RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 2012; 2012:242537. [PMID: 22934170 PMCID: PMC3420490 DOI: 10.1155/2012/242537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2012] [Accepted: 03/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurobehavioral disorders characterized by abnormalities in three behavioral domains including social interaction, impaired communication, and repetitive stereotypic behaviors. ASD affects approximately 1% of children and is on the rise with significant genetic mechanisms underlying these disorders. We review the current understanding of the role of genetic and metabolic factors contributing to ASD with the use of new genetic technology. Fifty percent is diagnosed with chromosomal abnormalities, small DNA deletions/duplications, single-gene conditions, or metabolic disturbances. Genetic evaluation is discussed along with psychiatric treatment and approaches for selection of medication to treat associated challenging behaviors or comorbidities seen in ASD. We emphasize the importance of prioritizing treatment based on target symptom clusters and in what order for individuals with ASD, as the treatment may vary from patient to patient.
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