An uneven neurocognitive profile is a hallmark of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Studies focusing on the visual memory performance in ASD have shown controversial results. We investigated visual ...memory and sustained attention in youths with ASD and typically developing (TD) youths.
We recruited 143 pairs of youths with ASD (males 93.7%; mean age 13.1, s.d. 3.5 years) and age- and sex-matched TD youths. The ASD group consisted of 67 youths with autistic disorder (autism) and 76 with Asperger's disorder (AS) based on the DSM-IV criteria. They were assessed using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery involving the visual memory spatial recognition memory (SRM), delayed matching to sample (DMS), paired associates learning (PAL) and sustained attention (rapid visual information processing; RVP).
Youths with ASD performed significantly worse than TD youths on most of the tasks; the significance disappeared in the superior intelligence quotient (IQ) subgroup. The response latency on the tasks did not differ between the ASD and TD groups. Age had significant main effects on SRM, DMS, RVP and part of PAL tasks and had an interaction with diagnosis in DMS and RVP performance. There was no significant difference between autism and AS on visual tasks.
Our findings implied that youths with ASD had a wide range of visual memory and sustained attention impairment that was moderated by age and IQ, which supports temporal and frontal lobe dysfunction in ASD. The lack of difference between autism and AS implies that visual memory and sustained attention cannot distinguish these two ASD subtypes, which supports DSM-5 ASD criteria.
As the largest energy consumer in the world, China is facing huge challenges. Although there is a wide range of literature on the efficiency of its carbon emissions, most studies have focused on ...industrial or agricultural fields, ignoring the important component of carbon emissions from the lives of its residents. This research uses the undesirable slack-based measure dynamic exogenous data envelopment analysis model to calculate the effect of education level on residents’ carbon emission in their daily life. This study explores the efficiencies of economy, education, and environment in 30 provinces of China, offering the following empirical results. Firstly, in most provinces the average annual efficiency and the average efficiency of each indicator have increased after considering the impact of education level. Secondly, before and after considering exogenous variables, the efficiency of carbon emission indicators in both urban and rural areas is the highest in the east region, followed by the west, and the lowest in the central. Thirdly, in the east region the efficiency of carbon emission indicators in cities is higher than that in rural areas, whereas in the central and west regions the efficiency of carbon emission indicators in cities is lower than that in rural areas. Finally, in the east and central regions the increase in the efficiency of rural carbon emission indicators is larger, but the increase in the efficiency of rural carbon emission indicators in the west region is small.
We studied paediatric patients with human adenovirus (HAdV) infection during the 2011 outbreak in northern Taiwan to define the clinical features of different HAdV genotypes in children.
Between ...January and December 2011, 637 patients <19 years of age exhibited culture-confirmed adenoviral infection in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and provided specimens available for genotyping by multiplex real-time PCR. Clinical data were collected retrospectively.
Excluding five cases with multiple genotypes, 632 cases were included for analysis. Three genotypes were identified, including HAdV-3 (429/632; 67.6%), HAdV-7 (144/632; 22.6%) and HAdV-2 (59/632; 9.8%). Median age was 4.58 years (range 2 months to 18 years), with children infected with HAdV-3 significantly older (82.9% >3 years; p <0.001). Of the 621 inpatients, 98.2% had fevers and all exhibited respiratory symptoms, 75 patients (12.1%) had lower respiratory tract infections, 20 (3.2%) required intensive care (HAdV-2: 1; HAdV-3: 8; and HAdV-7: 11), and three died (all HAdV-7-infected). HAdV-3-infected patients were significantly more likely to have upper respiratory symptoms and a high serum C-reactive protein level >100 mg/L, whereas leucocytosis (white blood cell count >15 000/mm3) was more common in HAdV-2-infected patients (p 0.007). HAdV-7 infections were significantly associated with a longer duration of fever, leucopenia (white blood cell count <5000/mm3), thrombocytopenia (platelet count <150 000/mm3), lower respiratory tract infections, a longer length of hospital stay, and requiring intensive care (all p <0.001).
Childhood HAdV-2, HAdV-3 and HAdV-7 infections may exhibit different clinical manifestations. Although HAdV-3 was the most prevalent genotype observed during the 2011 Taiwan outbreak, HAdV-7 caused more severe disease characteristics and outcomes.
Sensory neurons in the gastrointestinal tract have multifaceted roles in maintaining homeostasis, detecting danger and initiating protective responses. The gastrointestinal tract is innervated by ...three types of sensory neurons: dorsal root ganglia, nodose/jugular ganglia and intrinsic primary afferent neurons. Here, we examine how these distinct sensory neurons and their signal transducers participate in regulating gastrointestinal inflammation and host defence. Sensory neurons are equipped with molecular sensors that enable neuronal detection of diverse environmental signals including thermal and mechanical stimuli, inflammatory mediators and tissue damage. Emerging evidence shows that sensory neurons participate in host–microbe interactions. Sensory neurons are able to detect pathogenic and commensal bacteria through specific metabolites, cell‐wall components, and toxins. Here, we review recent work on the mechanisms of bacterial detection by distinct subtypes of gut‐innervating sensory neurons. Upon activation, sensory neurons communicate to the immune system to modulate tissue inflammation through antidromic signalling and efferent neural circuits. We discuss how this neuro‐immune regulation is orchestrated through transient receptor potential ion channels and sensory neuropeptides including substance P, calcitonin gene‐related peptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide and pituitary adenylate cyclase‐activating polypeptide. Recent studies also highlight a role for sensory neurons in regulating host defence against enteric bacterial pathogens including Salmonella typhimurium, Citrobacter rodentium and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. Understanding how sensory neurons respond to gastrointestinal flora and communicate with immune cells to regulate host defence enhances our knowledge of host physiology and may form the basis for new approaches to treat gastrointestinal diseases.
Content List – Read more articles from the symposium: 13th Key Symposium – Bioelectronic Medicine: Technology Targeting Molecular Mechanisms.
Despite current interest in the biology and diagnostic applications of cell-free DNA in plasma and serum, the cellular origin of this DNA is poorly understood. We used a sex-mismatched bone marrow ...transplantation model to study the relative contribution of hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells to circulating DNA.
We studied 22 sex-mismatched bone marrow transplantation patients. Paired buffy coat and plasma samples were obtained from all 22 patients. Matching serum samples were also obtained from seven of them. Plasma DNA, serum DNA, and buffy coat were quantified by real-time PCR of the SRY and beta-globin gene DNA. To investigate the effects of blood drawing and other preanalytical variables on plasma DNA concentrations, blood samples were also collected from 14 individuals who had not received transplants. The effects of blood sampling by syringe and needle, centrifugation, and time delay in blood processing were studied.
The median percentage of Y-chromosome DNA in the plasma in female patients receiving bone marrow from male donors (59.5%) differed significantly (P <0.001) from that in the male patients receiving bone marrow from female donors (6.9%). This indicated that plasma DNA in the bone marrow transplantation recipients was predominantly of donor origin. Compared with paired plasma samples, serum samples had a median 14-fold higher DNA concentration, with the additional DNA being of donor origin. Control experiments indicated that none of the three tested preanalytical variables contributed to a significant change in cell-free DNA concentration.
After bone marrow transplantation, the DNA in plasma and serum is predominantly hematopoietic in origin. Apart from the biological implications of this observation, this finding suggests that plasma and serum can be used as alternative materials for the study of postbone marrow transplantation chimerism.
A rapid, direct, and low-cost method for detecting bacterial toxins associated with common gastrointestinal diseases remains a great challenge despite numerous studies and clinical assays. ...Motion-based detection through tracking the emerging micro- and nanorobots has shown great potential in chemo- and biosensing due to accelerated "chemistry on the move". Here, we described the use of fluorescent magnetic spore-based microrobots (FMSMs) as a highly efficient mobile sensing platform for the detection of toxins secreted by
(
) that were present in patients' stool. These microrobots were synthesized rapidly and inexpensively by the direct deposition of magnetic nanoparticles and the subsequent encapsulation of sensing probes on the porous natural spores. Because of the cooperation effect of natural spore, magnetic Fe
O
nanoparticles, and functionalized carbon nanodots, selective fluorescence detection of the prepared FMSMs is demonstrated in
bacterial supernatant and even in actual clinical stool samples from infectious patients within tens of minutes, suggesting rapid response and good selectivity and sensitivity of FMSMs toward
toxins.
Abstract Background The associations of vegetarian diets with risks for site-specific cancers have not been estimated reliably due to the low number of vegetarians in previous studies. Therefore, the ...Cancer Risk in Vegetarians Consortium was established. The aim is to describe and compare the baseline characteristics between non-vegetarian and vegetarian diet groups and between the collaborating studies. Methods We harmonised individual-level data from 11 prospective cohort studies from Western Europe, North America, South Asia and East Asia. Comparisons of food intakes, sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were made between diet groups and between cohorts using descriptive statistics. Results 2.3 million participants were included; 66% women and 34% men, with mean ages at recruitment of 57 (SD: 7.8) and 57 (8.6) years, respectively. There were 2.1 million meat eaters, 60,903 poultry eaters, 44,780 pescatarians, 81,165 vegetarians, and 14,167 vegans. Food intake differences between the diet groups varied across the cohorts; for example, fruit and vegetable intakes were generally higher in vegetarians than in meat eaters in all the cohorts except in China. BMI was generally lower in vegetarians, particularly vegans, except for the cohorts in India and China. In general, but with some exceptions, vegetarians were also more likely to be highly educated and physically active and less likely to smoke. In the available resurveys, stability of diet groups was high in all the cohorts except in China. Conclusions Food intakes and lifestyle factors of both non-vegetarians and vegetarians varied markedly across the individual cohorts, which may be due to differences in both culture and socioeconomic status, as well as differences in questionnaire design. Therefore, care is needed in the interpretation of the impacts of vegetarian diets on cancer risk.
Summary
Aims: Reports from non‐Asian populations indicate that painful physical symptoms (PPS) are associated with poorer clinical and functional outcomes in major depressive disorder (MDD). The ...purpose of this study is to report comparative changes in disease severity, treatment patterns and quality of life observed in East Asian patients with MDD, with and without PPS, as assessed prospectively over a 3‐month observation period.
Methods: This observational study enrolled 909 patients with MDD in psychiatric care settings in China, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. Patients were classified as PPS positive (PPS+) or negative (PPS−) based on mean modified Somatic Symptom Inventory scores of ≥ 2 or < 2 respectively. The Clinical Global Impression of Severity (CGI‐S) and 17‐item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD17) determined depression severity; a visual analogue scale (VAS) determined pain severity; and the EuroQoL (EQ‐5D) assessed well‐being after 3 months observation.
Results: Of the 909 enrolees, 355/471 (75.4%) of PPS+ patients and 363/438 (82.9%) of PPS− patients completed the study (p = 0.006). PPS+ patients improved less than PPS− patients on depression, pain and quality of life measures during the study (HAMD17 p < 0.001, CGI‐S p < 0.001, VAS p = 0.008 and EQ‐5D p = 0.004). Fewer PPS+ patients (46.5%) achieved remission compared with PPS− patients (69.4%, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: As the presence of PPS is associated with poorer outcomes in East Asian MDD patients, clinical management should aim to address both the mental and PPS associated with MDD.
Chien W‐H, Gau SS‐F, Wu Y‐Y, Huang Y‐S, Fang J‐S, Chen Y‐J, Soong W‐T, Chiu Y‐N, Chen C‐H. Identification and molecular characterization of two novel chromosomal deletions associated with autism.
...Autism is a childhood‐onset neurodevelopmental disorder with a strong genetic basis in its etiology. Conventional karyotype analysis has revealed that chromosomal structural aberrations such as translocation, inversion, deletion, and duplication play a role in causing autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In addition, recent array‐based comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) studies discovered that submicroscopic deletion and duplication of DNA segments also contributed significantly to the genetic etiology of ASD. Together, these studies indicate that genomic rearrangement is an important genetic mechanism of ASD. Using karyotyping analysis and array CGH technology, we identified a subtelomeric deletion of approximately 6.8 Mb at 4q35.1‐35.2 and a terminal deletion of approximately 2.4 Mb at 8p23.2‐pter in two autistic boys, respectively. These two deletions were further validated using fluorescent in situ hybridization and real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and their breakpoints were delineated using high‐resolution array CGH. The 4q deletion is a rare de novo mutation, while the transmission of 8p deletion is unknown, because the father of the patient was unavailable for study. These two deletions are rare mutations and were not found in the additional 282 patients with ASD and in the 300 control subjects in our population. The identification of these two chromosomal deletions contribute to our understanding of the genetic basis of ASD, and the haploinsufficiency of several genes located at the deleted regions of chromosome 8p and 4q may contribute to the clinical phenotypes of autism.
Background
Androgens function through DNA and non‐DNA binding‐dependent signalling of the androgen receptor (AR). How androgens promote erythropoiesis is not fully understood.
Design and methods
To ...identify the androgen signalling pathway, we treated male mice lacking the second zinc finger of the DNA‐binding domain of the AR (ARΔZF2) with non‐aromatizable 5α‐dihydrotestosterone (5α‐DHT) or aromatizable testosterone. To distinguish direct hematopoietic and non‐hematopoietic mechanisms, we performed bone marrow reconstitution experiments.
Results
In wild‐type mice, 5α‐DHT had greater erythroid activity than testosterone, which can be aromatized to estradiol. The erythroid response in wild‐type mice following 5α‐DHT treatment was associated with increased serum erythropoietin (EPO) and its downstream target erythroferrone, and hepcidin suppression. 5α‐DHT had no erythroid activity in ARΔZF2 mice, proving the importance of DNA binding by the AR. Paradoxically, testosterone, but not 5α‐DHT, suppressed EPO levels in ARΔZF2 mice, suggesting testosterone following aromatization may oppose the erythroid‐stimulating effects of androgens. Female wild‐type mice reconstituted with ARΔZF2 bone marrow cells remained responsive to 5α‐DHT. In contrast, ARΔZF2 mice reconstituted with female wild‐type bone marrow cells showed no response to 5α‐DHT.
Conclusion
Erythroid promoting effects of androgens are mediated through DNA binding‐dependent actions of the AR in non‐hematopoietic cells, including stimulating EPO expression.
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