Motor coordination difficulties could contribute to social communication deficits in autistic children. However, the exploration of the mechanism implicated in these claims has been limited by the ...lack of potential confounders such as executive function (EF).
We investigated the role that EF plays in the relationship between motor coordination and social communication in a school-aged autistic population via a structural model in a statistically robust manner. The results of questionnaires, including the Developmental Coordination Disorder questionnaire, the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, and the Social Responsiveness Scale, were collected to measure motor coordination, social communication deficits, and EF.
A total of 182 autistic children (7.61±1.31 years, 87.9% boys) were included in the final analysis. In the model with EF as a mediator, the total effect (
=-0.599,
<0.001) and the direct effect (
=-0.331,
=0.003) of motor coordination function on social communication were both significant among autistic children without intellectual disability (ID), as were indirect effects through EF (
=-0.268,
<0.001).
EF partially mediates the motor coordination and social communication correlation among autistic children. We suggest that motor coordination should be included in the routine evaluation of autistic surveillance and rehabilitation procedures.
Dietary and gastrointestinal (GI) problems have been frequently reported in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the relative contributions of autism-linked traits to dietary and GI problems in ...children with ASD are poorly understood. This study firstly compared the dietary intake and GI symptoms between children with ASD and typically developing children (TDC), and then quantified the relative contributions of autism-linked traits to dietary intake, and relative contributions of autism-linked traits and dietary intake to GI symptoms within the ASD group.
A sample of 121 children with ASD and 121 age-matched TDC were eligible for this study. The dietary intake indicators included food groups intakes, food variety, and diet quality. The autism-linked traits included ASD symptom severity, restricted repetitive behaviors (RRBs), sensory profiles, mealtime behaviors, and their subtypes. Linear mixed-effects models and mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to estimate the relative contributions.
Children with ASD had poorer diets with fewer vegetables/fruits, less variety of food, a higher degree of inadequate/unbalanced dietary intake, and more severe constipation/total GI symptoms than age-matched TDC. Within the ASD group, compulsive behavior (a subtype of RRBs) and taste/smell sensitivity were the only traits associated with lower vegetables and fruit consumption, respectively. Self-injurious behavior (a subtype of RRBs) was the only contributing trait to less variety of food. Limited variety (a subtype of mealtime behavior problems) and ASD symptom severity were the primary and secondary contributors to inadequate dietary intake, respectively. ASD symptom severity and limited variety were the primary and secondary contributors to unbalanced dietary intake, respectively. Notably, unbalanced dietary intake was a significant independent factor associated with constipation/total GI symptoms, and autism-linked traits manifested no contributions.
ASD symptom severity and unbalanced diets were the most important contributors to unbalanced dietary intake and GI symptoms, respectively. Our findings highlight that ASD symptom severity and unbalanced diets could provide the largest benefits for the dietary and GI problems of ASD if they were targeted for early detection and optimal treatment.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Our previous work revealed that unbalanced dietary intake was an important independent factor associated with constipation and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder ...(ASD). Growing evidence has shown the alterations in the gut microbiota and gut microbiota-derived metabolites in ASD. However, how the altered microbiota might affect the associations between unbalanced diets and GI symptoms in ASD remains unknown. We analyzed microbiome and metabolomics data in 90 ASD and 90 typically developing (TD) children based on 16S rRNA and untargeted metabolomics, together with dietary intake and GI symptoms assessment. We found that there existed 11 altered gut microbiota (FDR-corrected P-value <0.05) and 397 altered metabolites (P-value <0.05) in children with ASD compared with TD children. Among the 11 altered microbiota, the Turicibacter, Coprococcus 1, and Lachnospiraceae FCS020 group were positively correlated with constipation (FDR-corrected P-value <0.25). The Eggerthellaceae was positively correlated with total GI symptoms (FDR-corrected P-value <0.25). More importantly, three increased microbiota including Turicibacter, Coprococcus 1, and Eggerthellaceae positively modulated the associations of unbalanced dietary intake with constipation and total GI symptoms, and the decreased Clostridium sp. BR31 negatively modulated their associations in ASD children (P-value <0.05). Together, the altered microbiota strengthens the relationship between unbalanced dietary intake and GI symptoms. Among the altered metabolites, ten metabolites derived from microbiota (Turicibacter, Coprococcus 1, Eggerthellaceae, and Clostridium sp. BR31) were screened out, enriched in eight metabolic pathways, and were identified to correlate with constipation and total GI symptoms in ASD children (FDR-corrected P-value <0.25). These metabolomics findings further support the modulating role of gut microbiota on the associations of unbalanced dietary intake with GI symptoms. Collectively, our research provides insights into the relationship between diet, the gut microbiota, and GI symptoms in children with ASD.
Background and Objectives
The relationship between brain function and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is widely explored, but the motor function was not included. We aim to explore the relationship ...between SSBs and motor function among children with or without autism.
Methods
Participants were a representative autism sample (ASD,
n
= 106) comprising ages ranging 6–9 years and their age-matched typical counterparts (TD,
n
= 207), recruited in the research center of Guangzhou, China. Valid questionnaires of parent-reported including weekly SSBs intake, physical activity (PA), sedentary time (ST), and motor coordination function was used to collect relevant information. SSBs intake was further classified as no intake (no habit of taking SSBs), small to medium intake (<375 ml/week), and large intake (375 ml/week or more). Physical activity, sedentary time, and motor coordination function among the mentioned three groups as well as ASD
vs
. TD was compared
via
general linear models.
Results
Compared with TD children, ASD children showed less vigorous PA (4.23 ± 0.34 h
vs
. 2.77 ± 0.49 h,
p
= 0.015) as well as overall sedentary time (5.52 ± 1.89 h
vs
. 3.67 ± 0.28 h, 3.49 ± 0.16 h
vs
. 2.68 ± 0.24 h, and 34.59 ± 1.15 h
vs
. 23.69 ± 1.69 h, TD
vs
. ASD, sedentary time at weekdays, weekends and total ST in a week, respectively, all
p
< 0.05), lower scores in the developmental coordination disorder questionnaire (fine motor and handwriting: 14.21 ± 0.26
vs
. 12.30 ± 0.38, general coordination: 28.90 ± 0.36
vs
. 25.17 ± 0.53, control during movement: 24.56 ± 0.36
vs
. 18.86 ± 0.53, and total score: 67.67 ± 0.75
vs
. 56.33 ± 1.10, TD
vs
. ASD, all
p
< 0.05). Stratified by SSBs intake, TD children with small to medium SSBs intake showed the lowest sedentary time both on weekdays and weekends (all
p
< 0.05), they also performed worst in fine motor and handwriting skills (
p
< 0.05).
Conclusion
The association between SSBs and motor function was observed in typical development children, but not autistic children. A larger sample size study with a longitudinal design is warranted to confirm the association between SSBs and sedentary time among typically developed children and the potential causation direction.
The association between sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) consumption and executive function (EF) among typically developing (TD) children has been investigated in previous studies but with ...inconsistent results. Furthermore, this relationship has been less investigated among autistic children who perform worse in EF compared with TD children. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between SSB consumption and EF in autistic children, and whether the association between SSB and EF in autistic children is different from that in TD children. We recruited 106 autistic children and 207 TD children aged 6–12 years in Guangzhou, China. Children’s EF was assessed by using the Chinese version of parent-reported Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Stroop Color–Word Test, and working memory subscales of the Chinese version of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for children, Fourth edition. Meanwhile, we assessed children’s dietary intake and SSB consumption with a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire. In this study, 70 (66.0%) autistic children consumed SSB and 20 (18.9%) of them consumed more than two servings SSB a week. Among autistic children, over two servings per week SSB consumption was associated with poorer performance in emotional control β = 7.20, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.94–13.46 and plan/Organize (β = 6.45, 95% CI: 0.27–12.63). The association between over two servings/week SSB consumption and emotional control among autistic children was significantly different from that among TD children (β
ASD
= 7.20; β
TD
= −3.09,
Z
= 2.72,
p
= 0.006). Results of this study show that SSB consumption was associated with an impairment in some subscales of EF in autistic children. Furthermore, the association between SSB and EF in autistic children might be different from that in TD children.
Background
It is well known that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) had executive functions deficit. However, it is still unclear whether the poor dietary quality is related to the ...impairment of executive functions. The current study aimed to explore the association between dietary quality and executive functions in children with ASD.
Methods
A total of 106 children with ASD (7.7 ± 1.3 years) and 207 typically developing (TD) children (7.8 ± 1.3 years) were enrolled from Guangzhou, China. The Chinese version of Behavior Rating Scale of Executive function (BRIEF), the working memory subscales of the Chinese version of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV), and the Stroop Color-Word Test (SCWT) were used to measure the participant's executive functions. The food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to collect the dietary intake information, and the Chinese Diet Balance Index (DBI_16) was used to evaluate the dietary quality. Generalized linear models were used to estimate the association between dietary quality and executive functions.
Results
In children with ASD, Low Bound Score (LBS) was positively correlated with the working memory subscale score of BRIEF (β = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.02–0.44,
P
< 0.05), while High Bound Score (HBS) and LBS were positively correlated with the organizable subscale score of BRIEF (β = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.11–0.77,
P
< 0.01; β = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.01–0.37,
P
< 0.05). Compared to TD children, children with ASD had a higher proportion of moderate and high levels of insufficient dietary intake (moderate level, 37.7% vs. 23.2%, high level, 4.7% vs. 1.4%) and moderate level of unbalanced dietary intake (36.8% vs.21.3%), higher scores on all subscales of BRIEF (
P
< 0.01), and lower score on the working memory (81.3 ± 32.3 vs. 104.6 ± 12.5,
P
< 0.01), while there was no difference on the SCWT.
Conclusion
Poor dietary quality was associated with the impairment of working memory and organizational capacity in children with ASD. This study emphasized the importance of dietary quality in executive functions among children with ASD, and attention should be paid to improving their dietary quality.
It has been strongly argued that impaired motor function contributes to the restricted/repetitive behaviors (RRBs) of autistic children, but the mechanism exploration of these claims has been limited ...by the absence of potential confounders such as executive function.
We investigated the role that executive function (EF) plays in the relationship between motor coordination, EF, and RRBs in a school-aged autism population (n = 188, age = 7.42 ± 1.46 years, 86.7% males) via a structural equation model in a statistically robust way. The Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire, Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, and Restrictive Behavior Scale-Revised were collected to measure motor coordination, EF, and RRBs, respectively.
Among the participants, 33.5% (n = 63) were classified as intellectual disability, 46.8% (n = 88) had EF dysfunction and 35.1% (n = 66) had motor coordination impairment. We found a direct effect of motor coordination impairment on RRBs among children with ASD and without intellectual disability (β = -0.334, p<0.001), as well as an indirect effect through EF, which was a partial mediator of the relationship (β = −0.140, p = 0.001).
Motor coordination impairment should be included in the routine evaluation of autism surveillance and rehabilitation procedure, to address the ASD children who need additional support. It is important to add motor skills and motor coordination training in the daily intervention of autism, which could also improve EF and decrease RRBs in these children.
•Motor function links to the restricted/repetitive behaviors (RRBs) of autism.•A structural equation model of the motor, executive function (EF), RRBs of autism.•EF partially mediated the linkage between motor and RRBs among autism.•Motor evaluation should be included in autism diagnosis and management.•Motor, EF-related intervention should be promoted in the rehabilitation of autism.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 are an option for ...drug development for treating COVID-19. Here, we report the identification and characterization of two groups of mouse neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) targeting the receptor-binding domain (RBD) on the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein. MAbs 2H2 and 3C1, representing the two antibody groups, respectively, bind distinct epitopes and are compatible in formulating a noncompeting antibody cocktail. A humanized version of the 2H2/3C1 cocktail is found to potently neutralize authentic SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro with half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 12 ng/mL and effectively treat SARS-CoV-2-infected mice even when administered at as late as 24 h post-infection. We determine an ensemble of cryo-EM structures of 2H2 or 3C1 Fab in complex with the S trimer up to 3.8 Å resolution, revealing the conformational space of the antigen-antibody complexes and MAb-triggered stepwise allosteric rearrangements of the S trimer, delineating a previously uncharacterized dynamic process of coordinated binding of neutralizing antibodies to the trimeric S protein. Our findings provide important information for the development of MAb-based drugs for preventing and treating SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Despite the known influence of continuous cropping on soil microorganisms, little is known about the associated difference in the effects of continuous cropping on the community compositions of soil ...bacteria and fungi. Here, we assessed soil physicochemical property, as well as bacterial and fungal compositions across different years (Uncropped control, 1, 6, 11, 16, and 21 years) and in the watermelon system of a gravel mulch field in the Loess Plateau of China. Our results showed that long-term continuous cropping led to substantial shifts in soil bacterial and fungal compositions. The relative abundances of dominant bacterial and fungal genera (average relative abundance > 1.0%) significantly varied among different continuous cropping years (P < 0.05). Structural equation models demonstrated that continuous cropping alter soil bacterial and fungal compositions mainly by causing substantial variations in soil attributes. Variations in soil pH, nutrient, salinity, and moisture content jointly explained 73% and 64% of the variation in soil bacterial and fungal compositions, respectively. Variations in soil moisture content and pH caused by continuous cropping drove the shifts in soil bacterial and fungal compositions, respectively (Mantel R = 0.74 and 0.54, P < 0.01). Furthermore, the variation in soil bacterial and fungal composition showed significant correlation with watermelon yield reduction (P < 0.01). Together, long-term continuous cropping can alter soil microbial composition, and thereby influencing watermelon yield. Our findings are useful for alleviating continuous cropping obstacles and guiding agricultural production.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
PDF
