OBJECTIVE: To compare the differences of plasma valine level between autistic and healthy children, and to explore the relationship between plasma valine level and developmental quotient in children with autism. METHODS: In this study, a total of 29 autistic children and 30 typically developing children of the same age range were recruited as the autistic group and the control group. The childhood autism rating scale (CARS) was used to assess autistic core symptoms and severity in the autistic children. Children's developmental quotient was evaluated by Gesell developmental schedules (GDS), and plasma valine level was measured by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The correlation between plasma valine level and developmental quotient scores in the autistic group was analyzed. RESULTS: The plasma level of valine in the autism group was significantly lower than in the control group (P < 0.05). Children in the autism group got significantly lower scores in the adaption, gross motor, fine motor, language function and personal/social function subscales in GDS than in the control group (P < 0.000 1). Plasma valine level in the autism group showed significant positive correlations with scores of the fine motor (r=0.441, P < 0.05) and personal/social function (r=0.437, P < 0.05) subscales in GDS, but showed no significant correlations with scores of the adaption, gross motor and language function subscales in GDS (P>0.05). According to the criteria of CARS, children in the autism group were subdivided into the mild to moderate subgroup and the severe subgroup based on the severity of the autistic symptoms. Compared with children in the mild to moderate subgroup, children in the severe subgroup got significantly lower scores in the adaption, fine motor, language function and personal/social function subscales in GDS (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the two subgroups in gross motor scores and plasma valine level (P>0.05). CONCLUSION The level of valine in plasma of autistic children is relatively lower, and there is a certain relationship between plasma valine level and the fine movement and personal/social function among children with autism.
Humans ; Autistic Disorder/physiopathology* ; Child ; Male ; Female ; Valine/blood* ; Child Development ; Child, Preschool ; Case-Control Studies

Objective:To explore the characteristics of eye tracking movement on circumscribed interests in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), providing some reference for behavior correction and rehabilitation training.Methods:Fifty ASD children and fifty-two age-matched typically developing children(TDC) were investigated by the childhood autism rating scale(CARS), the autism diagnostic observation schedule(ADOS), the autism diagnostic interview-revised (ADI-R) and Gesell Developmental Schedule, (GDS). Eye movement during the visual search task was captured by the Tobii Pro X3-120 eye tracker.All data were analyzed by the IBM SPSS Statistics 20.0.Eye movement patterns were compared between TDC and ASD children using the independent-sample t test, and the correlations were then analyzed between abnormal eye movement characteristics and their core syndrome. Results:The total scores of CARS, ADOS and ADI-R in ASD group were 34.13±4.59, 14.44±2.59 and 39.91±12.11 respectively.During passive viewing of complex non-social picture arrays, ASD and TDC group explored total number of images were 9.28±2.72 and 12.67±2.45.The fixation time per image explored in ASD and TDC group were (0.67±0.37)ms and (0.54±0.15)ms.Moreover, the number of discrete fixations per image explored in ASD and TDC group was 2.80±1.00 and 2.48±0.48.Compared with the TDC group, ASD children demonstrated circumscribed attention ( t=6.610, P<0.01) with more perseveration ( t=-2.363, P=0.021) and detail-orientation ( t=-2.360, P=0.021). Exploration was negatively correlated with the total score of ADOS ( r=-0.480, P<0.01), CARS ( r=-0.487, P<0.01), communication score of ADOS( r=-0.290, P=0.041), social score of ADOS( r=-0.491, P<0.01), game score of ADOS( r=-0.397, P=0.004)and communication score of ADI-R( r=-0.331, P=0.025)in the ASD group. Conclusion:Compared with TDC, the eye movement pattern shows the circumscribed interests of ASD children, who not only explore fewer objects but also demonstrate circumscribed attention with more perseveration and detail-orientation.Moreover, the more severe the symptoms of ASD children, the fewer objects the children explore and the more stereotyped the circumscribed interest.

Usually individualized comprehensive treatments are applied to children with cerebral palsy. Among them, Kinesio taping is a simple treatment compared to orthosis, which allows greater rang of motion (ROM) and can more easily be accepted by patients, however, its effectiveness is controversial. This article introduced the mechanism that mainly includes relieving pain, improving joint mobility, increasing strength, relieving edema and increasing proprioception. The application of it in upper limbs, lower limbs and trunk of children with cerebral palsy was discussed. Finally, the advantages and limitations of Kinesio taping, suitable types of cerebral palsy and the therapeutic evaluation were analyzed.