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Pediatric Allergy and Immunology :... Apr 2024Neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), have been increasingly associated with eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGID). However, the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
PURPOSE
Neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), have been increasingly associated with eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGID). However, the relationship between these diseases remains unclear. We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis to address this issue.
METHODS
The search was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines using descriptors for ASD and EGIDs from the MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, LILACS, and Web of Science databases. Observational studies with the prevalence of ASD in any EGID were included. The study protocol was registered on the PROSPERO platform under the number CRD42023455177.
RESULTS
The total dataset comprised 766,082 participants. The result of the single-arm meta-analysis showed an overall prevalence of ASD in the population with EGID of 21.59% (95% CI: 10.73-38.67). There was an association between EGID and ASD (OR: 3.44; 95% CI: 1.25-2.21), also significant when restricted only to EoE (OR: 3.70; 95% CI: 2.71-5.70).
DISCUSSION
Recent studies have implicated the influence of an inadequate epithelial barrier integrity in the pathogenesis of several diseases. The role of this mechanism can be extended to situations beyond allergic reactions, including other conditions with underlying immunological mechanisms. Several diseases are potentially related to the systemic effect of bacterial translocation in tissues with defective epithelial barriers.
CONCLUSION
Our meta-analysis provides evidence that supports the consideration of EGID in patients with ASD and ASD in patients with EGID. Despite its limitations, the results should also be validated by future studies, preferably using multicenter prospective designs in populations with low referral bias.
Topics: Humans; Autistic Disorder; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Eosinophilia; Gastritis; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Enteritis
PubMed: 38581140
DOI: 10.1111/pai.14122 -
Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine Apr 2024RASopathies are associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) there is ample evidence for this increased risk,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
RASopathies are associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) there is ample evidence for this increased risk, while for other RASopathies this association has been studied less. No specific ASD profile has been delineated so far for RASopathies or a specific RASopathy individually.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review to investigate whether a specific RASopathy is associated with a specific ASD profile, or if RASopathies altogether have a distinct ASD profile compared to idiopathic ASD (iASD). We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Open Grey for data about ASD features in RASopathies and potential modifiers.
RESULTS
We included 41 articles on ASD features in NF1, Noonan syndrome (NS), Costello syndrome (CS), and cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome (CFC). Individuals with NF1, NS, CS, and CFC on average have higher ASD symptomatology than healthy controls and unaffected siblings, though less than people with iASD. There is insufficient evidence for a distinct ASD phenotype in RASopathies compared to iASD or when RASopathies are compared with each other. We identified several potentially modifying factors of ASD symptoms in RASopathies.
CONCLUSIONS
Our systematic review found no convincing evidence for a specific ASD profile in RASopathies compared to iASD, or in a specific RASopathy compared to other RASopathies. However, we identified important limitations in the research literature which may also account for this result. These limitations are discussed and recommendations for future research are formulated.
Topics: Humans; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Noonan Syndrome; Heart Defects, Congenital; Costello Syndrome; Failure to Thrive; Neurofibromatosis 1
PubMed: 38581124
DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.2428 -
JAACAP Open Dec 2023A growing body of literature has focused on the neural mechanisms of depression. Our goal was to conduct a systematic review on the white matter microstructural...
OBJECTIVE
A growing body of literature has focused on the neural mechanisms of depression. Our goal was to conduct a systematic review on the white matter microstructural differences in adolescents with depressive disorders vs adolescents without depressive disorders.
METHOD
We searched PubMed and PsycINFO for publications on August 3, 2022 (original search conducted in July 2021). The review was registered on PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42021268200), and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Eligible studies were original research papers comparing diffusion tensor/spectrum imaging findings in adolescents with vs without depression (originally ages 12-19 years, later expanded to 11-21 years). Studies were excluded if they focused on depression exclusively in the context of another condition, used only dimensional depressive symptom assessment(s), or used the same dataset as another included publication.
RESULTS
The search yielded 575 unique records, of which 14 full-text papers were included (824 adolescents with depression and 686 without depression). The following white matter regions showed significant differences in fractional anisotropy in at least 3 studies: uncinate fasciculus, cingulum, anterior corona radiata, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and corpus callosum (genu and body). Most studies reported decreased, rather than increased, fractional anisotropy in adolescents with depression. Limitations include the possibility for selective reporting bias and risk of imprecision, given the small sample sizes in some studies.
CONCLUSION
Our systematic review suggests aberrant white matter microstructure in limbic-cortical-striatal-thalamic circuits, and the corpus callosum, in adolescents with depression. Future research should focus on developmental trajectories in depression, identifying sources of heterogeneity and integrating findings across imaging modalities.
PubMed: 38576601
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaacop.2023.08.006 -
Molecular Autism Apr 2024This meta-analysis aimed to explore the most robust findings across numerous existing resting-state functional imaging and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies on the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
This meta-analysis aimed to explore the most robust findings across numerous existing resting-state functional imaging and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies on the functional and structural brain alterations in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
METHODS
A whole-brain voxel-wise meta-analysis was conducted to compare the differences in the intrinsic functional activity and gray matter volume (GMV) between individuals with ASD and typically developing individuals (TDs) using Seed-based d Mapping software.
RESULTS
A total of 23 functional imaging studies (786 ASD, 710 TDs) and 52 VBM studies (1728 ASD, 1747 TDs) were included. Compared with TDs, individuals with ASD displayed resting-state functional decreases in the left insula (extending to left superior temporal gyrus [STG]), bilateral anterior cingulate cortex/medial prefrontal cortex (ACC/mPFC), left angular gyrus and right inferior temporal gyrus, as well as increases in the right supplementary motor area and precuneus. For VBM meta-analysis, individuals with ASD displayed decreased GMV in the ACC/mPFC and left cerebellum, and increased GMV in the left middle temporal gyrus (extending to the left insula and STG), bilateral olfactory cortex, and right precentral gyrus. Further, individuals with ASD displayed decreased resting-state functional activity and increased GMV in the left insula after overlapping the functional and structural differences.
CONCLUSIONS
The present multimodal meta-analysis demonstrated that ASD exhibited similar alterations in both function and structure of the insula and ACC/mPFC, and functional or structural alterations in the default mode network (DMN), primary motor and sensory regions. These findings contribute to further understanding of the pathophysiology of ASD.
Topics: Humans; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Brain; Cerebral Cortex; Gray Matter; Gyrus Cinguli; Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PubMed: 38576034
DOI: 10.1186/s13229-024-00593-6 -
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2024Motor Imagery (MI) is a cognitive process consisting in mental simulation of body movements without executing physical actions: its clinical use has been investigated... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Motor Imagery (MI) is a cognitive process consisting in mental simulation of body movements without executing physical actions: its clinical use has been investigated prevalently in adults with neurological disorders.
OBJECTIVES
Review of the best-available evidence on the use and efficacy of MI interventions for neurorehabilitation purposes in common and rare childhood neurological disorders.
METHODS
systematic literature search conducted according to PRISMA by using the Scopus, PsycArticles, Cinahl, PUBMED, Web of Science (Clarivate), EMBASE, PsychINFO, and COCHRANE databases, with levels of evidence scored by OCEBM and PEDro Scales.
RESULTS
Twenty-two original studies were retrieved and included for the analysis; MI was the unique or complementary rehabilitative treatment in 476 individuals (aged 5 to 18 years) with 10 different neurological conditions including, cerebral palsies, stroke, coordination disorders, intellectual disabilities, brain and/or spinal cord injuries, autism, pain syndromes, and hyperactivity. The sample size ranged from single case reports to cohorts and control groups. Treatment lasted 2 days to 6 months with 1 to 24 sessions. MI tasks were conventional, graded or ad-hoc. MI measurement tools included movement assessment batteries, mental chronometry tests, scales, and questionnaires, EEG, and EMG. Overall, the use of MI was stated as effective in 19/22, and uncertain in the remnant studies.
CONCLUSION
MI could be a reliable supportive/add-on (home-based) rehabilitative tool for pediatric neurorehabilitation; its clinical use, in children, is highly dependent on the complexity of MI mechanisms, which are related to the underlying neurodevelopmental disorder.
PubMed: 38571523
DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1245707 -
International Journal of Language &... Apr 2024The ability to understand the mental state of others (social cognition), as well as language, is crucial for children to have good social adaptation. Social cognition...
BACKGROUND
The ability to understand the mental state of others (social cognition), as well as language, is crucial for children to have good social adaptation. Social cognition (SC) has been shown to be a hierarchical model of three factors (Cognitive, intermediate and affective SC) interrelated with linguistic processes. Children on the autism spectrum and children with developmental language disorder (DLD) or social communication disorder (SCD) manifest language and SC difficulties, albeit in different ways.
AIMS
This systematic review aims to find how language and SC interact with each other and identify linguistic and socio-affective profiles in the target population.
METHODS
About 1593 articles were systematically reviewed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guide in November 2022, obtaining, through inclusion/exclusion criteria, a total of 38 articles for qualitative assessment. The majority of them were on autism (26) or DLD (14) and to a lesser extent SCD (3).
MAIN CONTRIBUTION
Although SC is related to all components of language, SC is strongly related to narrative and morphosyntax and partially related to lexicon. Pragmatics shows a complex relation with SC due to greater sensitivity to other factors such as age or task, and prosody appears to be more related to emotional processes. Besides, autistic, SCD and DLD children showed differences in their language and socio-affective performance. Mainstream DLD children have lower performance in general language, where autistic and SCD children have more linguistic variation and are lower in pragmatic and SC tasks, SCD children being more associated with language production difficulties and autistic children with both receptive and productive language.
CONCLUSION
Each language component has a different interaction with SC. Likewise, different linguistic profiles are partially found for each disorder. These results are important for future lines of research focusing on specific components of interaction and socio-emotional processes, as well as for clinical and educational treatment.
WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS
What is already known on the subject The hierarchical model of Schurz et al. (2021), divide social cognition into three brain constructs: cognitive social cognition (CSC), affective social cognition (ASC) and intermediate social cognition (ISC). They observe a large relationship between language and ISC, a fact that has been corroborated with some other studies. Studies have also found lower linguistic and socio-affective abilities in children with autism and language and communication disorders compared with children with neurotypical development, and large behavioural and neurocognitive overlaps between these disorders (Durrleman et al., 2019; Löytömäki et al., 2019). What this paper adds to existing knowledge This is the first review that relates all linguistic components (narrative, lexicon, morphosyntax, pragmatic and prosody) with the three constructs of social cognition (Cognitive, intermediate and affective). Moreover, it is the first review that studies the socio-linguistic factors comparing autism, developmental language disorder and social communication disorder with each other and with neurotypical development in children aged from 4 to 9 years. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Understanding how language and social cognition interact with each other in autism spectrum disorder, developmental language disorder and social communication disorder allows us to trace socio-linguistic profiles for each of the studied disorders, understand better children with these difficulties, and, with this, find specific potential intervention points to improve and prevent these difficulties.
PubMed: 38568167
DOI: 10.1111/1460-6984.13032 -
Health Science Reports Apr 2024Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that impacts the brain, characterized by challenges in social communication and interaction, often...
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that impacts the brain, characterized by challenges in social communication and interaction, often accompanied by repetitive behaviors or focused interests. This study sheds light on the prevalence of ASD within the Southeast Asian region.
METHODS
The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (Registration No: CRD42023413915). Appropriate search terms and Boolean operators were employed to explore electronic databases for relevant articles. Data thus extracted were prepared in Excel and analyzed in Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software. The effect measure utilized in the study was represented by the proportion, and the choice between a fixed or random-effect model depended on the observed heterogeneity. Visual feedback was provided through the use of forest plots and funnel plots.
RESULTS
A total of 14 studies were included in the qualitative and quantitative synthesis after screening the imported studies. The prevalence of ASD was six per 1000 population (proportion: 0.006; CI: 0.002-0.017; : 99.263%). Among the ASD cases, 64.4% (proportion: 0.644; CI: 0.590-0.693; : 9.937%) were males and 35.6% (proportion: 0.356; CI: 0.307-0.410; : 9.937%) were females.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of ASD in Southeast Asia was estimated to be six cases per 1000 individuals, with a higher prevalence among males. This study contributes to our understanding of ASD prevalence in the region, although it is essential to note certain limitations in estimating prevalence.
PubMed: 38559412
DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.2005 -
Reproductive Toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.) Apr 2024The objective of this meta-analysis is to investigate the association between air pollution and the vulnerability of children to autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
The objective of this meta-analysis is to investigate the association between air pollution and the vulnerability of children to autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A thorough examination and analysis of data obtained from a compilation of 14 studies was undertaken, with a particular emphasis on investigating the effects of nitrogen dioxide (NO), oxide of nitrogen (NO), ozone (O), and particulate matter (PM and PM) on individuals diagnosed with ASD. The findings demonstrate a moderate association between exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO) and ASD, as indicated by a combined odds ratio (OR) of 1.13 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) spanning from 0.77 to 1.549. O shows a combined odds ratio (OR) of 0.82, along with a 95% confidence interval (CI) ranging from 0.49 to 1.14. NO shows a moderate level of heterogeneity (I² = 75.9%, p = 0.002), suggesting that the impact of NO on the risk of ASD. There is a statistically significant relationship between exposure to O and ASD, although the strength of this relationship is diminished. The findings demonstrated a noteworthy correlation between exposure to PM and PM and the occurrence of ASD. The study found a significant correlation, in relation to PM, with a combined odds ratio (OR) of 1.22 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) ranging from 1.11 to 1.34. The findings have significant implications for the formulation of programs aimed at reducing exposure to harmful chemicals, especially among vulnerable groups such as children.
Topics: Child; Humans; Nitrogen Dioxide; Air Pollutants; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Environmental Exposure; Air Pollution; Particulate Matter; Ozone
PubMed: 38556115
DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2024.108582 -
The Medical Journal of Malaysia Mar 2024Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often face significant challenges in verbal communication, social interaction, and exhibit repetitive behavioral patterns.... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often face significant challenges in verbal communication, social interaction, and exhibit repetitive behavioral patterns. These challenges persist across various developmental stages, particularly impacting their social communication abilities. This scoping review aims to explore the range of occupational therapy interventions that are employed to enhance social communication skills in children with ASD.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A literature search was conducted independently on scientific databases: Scopus, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Web of Science (WOS). The process was carried out according to the PRISMA guidelines.
RESULT
Of the 195 studies identified, 8 articles involving 185 participants, aged 17 months to 12 years old, across six countries met the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies indicate significant improvement in social communication abilities, while one study demonstrates insignificant results and another study presents mixed outcomes, utilising two different assessment tools.
CONCLUSION
Occupational therapy has showed promise in improving social communication in children with ASD. Nonetheless, this review emphasises the need for greater indepth study and long-term evaluation to better explain and sustain these benefits. More research is needed to develop OT interventions that are both effective and evidence-based.
Topics: Child; Humans; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Occupational Therapy; Communication
PubMed: 38555904
DOI: No ID Found -
Translational Psychiatry Mar 2024There is widespread overlap across major psychiatric disorders, and this is the case at different levels of observations, from genetic variants to brain structures and...
There is widespread overlap across major psychiatric disorders, and this is the case at different levels of observations, from genetic variants to brain structures and function and to symptoms. However, it remains unknown to what extent these commonalities at different levels of observation map onto each other. Here, we systematically review and compare the degree of similarity between psychiatric disorders at all available levels of observation. We searched PubMed and EMBASE between January 1, 2009 and September 8, 2022. We included original studies comparing at least four of the following five diagnostic groups: Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, with measures of similarities between all disorder pairs. Data extraction and synthesis were performed by two independent researchers, following the PRISMA guidelines. As main outcome measure, we assessed the Pearson correlation measuring the degree of similarity across disorders pairs between studies and biological levels of observation. We identified 2975 studies, of which 28 were eligible for analysis, featuring similarity measures based on single-nucleotide polymorphisms, gene-based analyses, gene expression, structural and functional connectivity neuroimaging measures. The majority of correlations (88.6%) across disorders between studies, within and between levels of observation, were positive. To identify a consensus ranking of similarities between disorders, we performed a principal component analysis. Its first dimension explained 51.4% (95% CI: 43.2, 65.4) of the variance in disorder similarities across studies and levels of observation. Based on levels of genetic correlation, we estimated the probability of another psychiatric diagnosis in first-degree relatives and showed that they were systematically lower than those observed in population studies. Our findings highlight that genetic and brain factors may underlie a large proportion, but not all of the diagnostic overlaps observed in the clinic.
Topics: Humans; Depressive Disorder, Major; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Mental Disorders; Bipolar Disorder; Schizophrenia; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
PubMed: 38555309
DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02866-3