PURPOSE:The comorbidity of epilepsy varies from 8% to 42% in autism spectrum disorders(ASD), and currently its estimate is approximately one-third of the whole spectrum. Additionally, it is reported that certain ASD patients have EEG abnormalities without epileptic history. This study was conducted to analyze the prevalence of epilepsy and EEG abnormalities in ASD patients, as well as discover the risk factors for such conditions. METHODS:329 cases with ASD were identified from the 1252 patients who visited the Developmental Disorder Clinic at Ilsan Hospital, National Health Insurance Corporation, from April 2001 to June 2008. Among the total ASD cases, the 186 patients who have had EEG test were selected, from which 54 patients with abnormal EEG were classified as a test group and 132 patients with normal EEG as a control group. The results were analyzed and compared between the test and control groups retrospectively. RESULTS:1) A total 186 patients of 143 males and 43 females participated in the study. Subjects were subdivided into 5 groups as follows: 14 Asperger syndrome, 70 pervasive developmental disorder, NOS, 95 autistic disorder, 7 Rett's syndrome, and no childhood disintegrative disorder. The test group was a total of 54 cases with 36 males and 18 females and average age of 56.44+/-27.51. The control group was a total of 132 cases with 107 males and 25 and its average age was 48.86+/-27.44. 2) EEG abnormalities were seen in 54 out of 186 patients(29%) and epileptic symptoms were found in 26 out of 186 patients(14%). 3) Among 186 cases of ASD patients, a total of 217 EEG were conducted and 71(32.7%) of them showed EEG abnormalities. Furthermore, it was noticed that the prevalence of abnormal EEG findings increased with the severity of the disease(P<0.05). 4) Epilepsy is directly related to the severity of ASD(P<0.05) and even higher prevalence was seen in patients with positive family history of epilepsy(P<0.05). 5) On the other hand, abnormal EEG was seen in 31 out of 160 non-epileptic patients. 6) 179 out of 186 ASD patients had taken cognitive function tests and those 156 patients with cognitive impairment were more likely to show abnormalities in EEG. Severe ASD patients were more likely show abnormal EEG and the degree of cognitive impairment was closely related to the severity of ASD(P<0.05). CONCLUSION:Our study showed that risk factors for epilepsy comorbidity and EEG abnormalities in ASD were directly related to family history of epilepsy,the severity of ASD, the presence of cognitive impairment, and the severity of cognitive impairment. It is thought that epilepsy and EEG abnormalities are thought to be markers for underlying brain pathology that resulted in ASD. Furthermore ASD patients showed higher prevalence of EEG abnormalities than the general population, from which it can be speculated that the cause of ASD lies more closely in underlying neurobiological dysfunctions in individual patients, rather than inadequate nurturing environment.
Asperger Syndrome ; Autistic Disorder ; Brain Diseases ; Child ; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive ; Comorbidity ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; National Health Programs ; Prevalence ; Rett Syndrome ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted in order to evaluate the effectiveness of a day-center treatment program to promote development of children with pervasive development disorder (PDD) and pervasive development disorder/mental retardation (PDD/MR). METHODS: Twenty five children (14 in the PDD group and 11 in the PDD/MR group) participated in a day-center treatment program. They had been enrolled in the whole program for 2-3 years. Their performance was evaluated according to the Preschool Language Scale (PRES), Social Maturity Scale (SMS), and Korean version of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). They were grouped by diagnosis at the beginning of the program and the treatment effect was compared. RESULTS: Children who participated in the day-center treatment program showed a significant increase in their PRES and SMS scores and a decrease in their CARS scores. CONCLUSIONS: A day-center treatment program is effective for development of children with PDD and PDD/MR.
Autistic Disorder ; Child ; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: Oxytocin (OT) has been implicated to play an important role in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) etiology. We aimed to find out the differences in plasma OT levels between children with autism and healthy children, the associations of OT levels with particular autism symptoms and the associations of particular parental autistic traits with their ASD children OT levels. METHODS: We included 19 boys with autism and 44 healthy age-matched boys. OT levels were analyzed by ELISA method. Children with autism were scored by Childhood Autism Rating Scale and Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI), adjusted research version. Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), Systemizing Quotient (SQ) and Empathizing Quotient were completed by parents of children with autism. RESULTS: Children with autism had significantly lower plasma OT levels than controls. OT levels positively correlated with ADI Reciprocal Interaction and Communication scores. AQ and SQ of fathers positively correlated with children plasma OT level. CONCLUSION: Our results support the hypothesis of OT deficiency in autism. The "paradoxical" associations of OT levels and social skills in children with autism indicate disturbances at various levels of OT system. We first reported associations of OT levels in children with autism and behavioral measures in fathers indicating that OT abnormalities stay between parental autistic traits and autism symptoms in their children.
Autistic Disorder* ; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive ; Child* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fathers ; Humans ; Oxytocin* ; Parents* ; Plasma*

OBJECTIVES: In children and adolescents, the prevalence of overweight has increased in the last 20 years. little research is available on the prevalence of obesity in children with autism spectrum disorders(ASD). The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of overweight among a clinical population of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders(ASD). METHODS: Retrospective chart review of children ages 3-18 years seen between 2012 and 2015 at a Konyang University hospital psychiatric clinic. Diagnostic, medical, and demographic information was extracted from the charts. Body mass index(BMI) was calculated from measures of height and weight recorded in the child's chart. The Center for Disease Control's BMI growth reference was used to determine an age and gender-specific BMI z-score for the children. RESULTS: In our study, children with ASD compared to non ASD group had significantly higher BMI percentiles (p=0.032). The prevalence of overweight(BMI≥85th to 95th percentiles) and obesity(BMI≥95th percentiles) was 35% and 19% respectively in children with ASD and without ASD. CONCLUSION: Despite noted limitations, our data suggest that overweight and obesity in children with ASD are more prevalent than without ASD. Longitudinal and further study is needed to examine the factors associated with obesity in this population.
Adolescent* ; Autistic Disorder* ; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive* ; Child* ; Humans ; Obesity* ; Overweight* ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies*

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a phenotypically heterogenous group of neurodevelopmental syndromes characterized by a wide range of impairments in socialcommunication and restricted and repetitive behaviors. (1) The majority of individualswith ASD go through puberty and experience the same physical and psychosexual aspectsof sexual development as their peers. However, there are notable problems with regardsto sexuality especially at the start of puberty when the development of social skillscannot keep up with the increasing social demands, and the difficulties of formingromantic and sexual relationships become evident. (2)The case presented here is a 26-year-old male with a history of engaging in paraphilicactivities that showed the complexities of ASD (Asperger Syndrome) in their sexualbehavior.PJPCASE REPORTTYING IT ALL TOGETHER:CASE OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER WITH PARAPHILIC ACTIVITIESMELANIE TONGOL, MDTHE MEDICAL CITYDEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY34 · PJP 2023 · Volume 4 (1-2) · ISSN 2980-4884CASE PRESENTATIONChief ComplaintJay was a 26-year-old Filipino male, Christian,single, seeking consult for intrusive thoughts withthemes of bondage & discipline, dominance& submission and sadism &masochism (BDSM).History of Present IllnessJay described himself as curious, ambitious, andpeculiar. Despite trying to be sociable andextroverted, he had difficulty connecting withfriends and he often ended up alone. This hasbeen a recurring experience since childhood.Five years prior to consult, Jay’s excitement washyped, as a female chatmate opened up thetopic of BDSM.He shared his long-term fantasies of tying up agirl and subjecting her to pain, humiliation andsexual stimulation, which was never realizedgiven his Christian belief that it was wrong.After meeting someone who shared his hiddendesires, he was able to muster the strength to liveout his fantasies and met with the said chatmate.They planned their BDSM roles and restrictions,with Jay as the dominant and the chatmate assubmissive. On the day of their meeting, Jaypacked ropes in his bag, as he remembered hispast fascination with them when he was still aboy scout. he met his chatmate at the deliveryarea of a mall and there began his string of novel sexual pursuits. He started binding herhands and legs behind her. Both lying on thefloor, fully clothed, he kept on tying her as if hewas in a trance. Merely having his partner
Autism Spectrum Disorder ; Asperger Syndrome

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neuro-developmental disorders in early childhood which are defined by social difficulties, communication deficits and repetitive or restrictive interests and behaviours. The etiology of ASD remains poorly understood. Much research has shown that children with ASD suffer from immunological dysfunction. This article reviews the current research progress on immunological dysfunction in children with ASD, including abnormalities in immune cells, antibodies, complements, cytokines, major histocompatibility complex and their potential association with ASD, and explores the impacts of maternal immunological activation on the immune dysfunction of children with ASD.
Autoantibodies ; blood ; Child ; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive ; etiology ; immunology ; Cytokines ; physiology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Lymphocytes ; immunology

Autistic traits including social reciprocal deficits, communication deficits and stereotyped behaviors, are manifested not only in patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their families, but also in general population. In recent years, there has much research related to autistic traits. This article summarizes research advance of autistic traits in ASD relations and general population.
Child Development Disorders, Pervasive ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Phenotype ; Severity of Illness Index ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among 18-36 month old children in the Tianjin Municipality of China, and to identify early signs of autistic children and the predictability of each individual symptom.

METHODSA total of 8 000 children were screened to do a questionnaire based on CHAT modified to include more early signs of autism at the age of 18-36 months. Then the at-risk children were reexamined 1.5 years later and ASD children were identified based on DSM-IV. Early signs of autism were analyzed retrospectively by using discriminant function analysis performed among ASD children, children not followed up and children followed up but failing to meet ASD criteria.

RESULTSThree hundred and sixty seven children were screened as being at-risk to ASD, and 22 of them were identified as having ASD in the subsequent diagnosis. The prevalence of ASD was 27.5 per 10 000 in Tianjin of China with a male to female ratio of 4:1. Items addressing social interactions and communications had higher predictability than other items to distinguish autistic children from non-autistic ones. Pretend play, functional play, showing and reading parents' facial expressions distinguished autistic children from those not followed up, nevertheless those followed up but failing to meet ASD criteria were not included.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of ASD found in our study was lower than that reported in some studies by western researchers. Autism has its specific symptoms, such as deficits in social awareness, social relatedness, and social referencing.

Child Development ; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; Child ; Child Behavior Disorders ; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive ; Developmental Disabilities ; Humans ; Pediatrics ; education ; methods ; Societies, Medical

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder, with multiple genetic and environmental risk factors. The interplay between genetic and environmental factors has become the subject of intensified research in the last several years. Vitamin D deficiency has recently been proposed as a possible environmental risk factor for ASD. Vitamin D has a unique role in brain homeostasis, embryogenesis and neurodevelopment, immunological modulation (including the brain's immune system), antioxidation, antiapoptosis, neural differentiation and gene regulation. Children with ASD had significantly lower serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D than healthy children.Therefore vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and early childhood may be an environmental trigger for ASD.
Child Development Disorders, Pervasive ; etiology ; genetics ; Embryonic Development ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Vitamin D ; physiology ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; complications