Review
Pediatrics
Huynh-Truc Tran, Yao-Chuen Li, Hung-Yu Lin, Shin-Da Lee, Pei-Jung Wang
Summary: This systematic review examines the differences in sensory processing areas between children with and without developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and the relationship between sensory processing and motor coordination in DCD. The results show significant impairments in visual, tactile, proprioceptive, auditory, vestibular, and oral integration processes in children with DCD compared to typically developing children. They also suggest that sensory processing impairments are associated with poor motor coordination in DCD. Therefore, applying sensory integration therapy in rehabilitation programs for DCD is important for facilitating participation in daily activities.
Review
Pediatrics
Agostino Carbone, Asia Dell'Aquila
Summary: This review focuses on the diagnosis of PDD-NOS, a subthreshold diagnosis that was introduced in DSM-IV and later absorbed into the broader autism spectrum disorder in DSM 5. The review uses the Prisma method to select 23 scientific papers and identifies four categories related to diagnosis, differential diagnosis, prognosis, and comorbidity. The review concludes that there are limitations in the consistency, sensitivity, and stability of PDD-NOS and supports its inclusion within the broader autism spectrum disorder category in DSM-5.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Andrea Efremova, Jiri Lisy, Michal Hrdlicka
Summary: The study did not find a significant correlation between brain abnormalities on MRI and autistic psychopathology.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED BIOMEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Emad Al-Yahya, Patrick Esser, Benjamin D. Weedon, Shawn Joshi, Yan-Ci Liu, Daniella N. Springett, Piergiorgio Salvan, Andy Meaney, Johnny Collett, Mario Inacio, Anne Delextrat, Steve Kemp, Tomas Ward, Hooshang Izadi, Heidi Johansen-Berg, Hasan Ayaz, Helen Dawes
Summary: This study investigates motor skill acquisition and its underlying mechanisms in adolescents with and without Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) through brain imaging and motion capture techniques. The results show that adolescents with DCD have similar ability to learn and improve motor performance compared to their peers. Differences in prefrontal activation patterns were observed between the two groups, and there is a relationship between MRI brain structure and function measures and initial performance.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Sofronia M. Ringold, Riley W. McGuire, Aditya Jayashankar, Emily Kilroy, Christiana D. Butera, Laura Harrison, Sharon A. Cermak, Lisa Aziz-Zadeh
Summary: This study explores sensory modulation differences in Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and compares them with social emotional measures, behavior, and motor skills in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and typically developing (TD) peers. The results show that 31% of the DCD group had sensory modulation difficulties, and sensory modulation was significantly associated with anxiety, empathic concern, repetitive behaviors, and motor skills in the DCD group.
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Misaki Mikami, Tomoya Hirota, Michio Takahashi, Masaki Adachi, Manabu Saito, Shuhei Koeda, Kazutaka Yoshida, Yui Sakamoto, Sumi Kato, Kazuhiko Nakamura, Junko Yamada
Summary: This study identified sensory processing problems in preschoolers with DCD, particularly in low registration, sensitivity and avoiding, and found a relationship between these problems and motor coordination difficulties. Evaluating sensory processing functions is crucial in children with DCD.
CHILD PSYCHIATRY & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Deanne Cummins, Michael S. Johnson, Joseph L. Tomkins, W. Jason Kennington
Summary: Assisted colonisation, which involves moving species beyond their historical range, is important for species conservation. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence on the long-term genetic outcomes of assisted colonisation. This study provides evidence of natural hybridisation between marine invertebrates with different modes of development. The findings highlight the potential risks of interspecific hybridisation and the importance of genetic monitoring in conservation translocations.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Bengi Baran, Quynh Trang Huong Nguyen, Dimitrios Mylonas, Susan L. Santangelo, Dara S. Manoach
Summary: There is evidence that abnormal interactions between the thalamus and cortex contribute to attention deficits and sensory sensitivities in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, previous functional MRI studies have produced inconsistent findings regarding the direction and location of group differences. The present study used rigorous protocols to minimize the effects of head motion and found that individuals with ASD showed increased connectivity between the thalamus and temporal cortex. Both groups showed age-related decreases in thalamic connectivity with the occipital cortex. These findings suggest that thalamocortical hyperconnectivity in ASD may disrupt attention and contribute to sensory sensitivities.
Review
Cell Biology
Bor L. Tang
Summary: Members of the SNARE family play critical roles in membrane fusion processes in cells, and mutations or variants of these genes can lead to developmental disorders affecting the nervous and immune systems, as well as conditions like autism and movement disorders. Understanding the underlying cellular and molecular pathological basis of these mutations is essential in deciphering the pathogenic potentials of other SNARE variants that may predispose individuals to disease.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Amy G. Hartman, Sarah McKendry, Adriane Soehner, Stefanie Bodison, Murat Akcakaya, Dilhari DeAlmeida, Roxanna Bendixen
Summary: Individuals respond differently to daily sensory stimuli, which can affect their participation in activities. Sleep is a crucial nightly occupation that can impact children's overall health and development. Research suggests that sensory processing patterns, specifically sensitivities, may negatively impact children's sleep health. This study aimed to characterize sleep in children with and without sensory sensitivities and examine the relationship between sensory processing patterns and sleep. The results showed that children with sensory sensitivities had more sleep problems compared to those without, and addressing sleep concerns should be a part of routine care for children with sensory sensitivities. Further studies will focus on specific sleep intervention targets for children with different sensory processing patterns.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Krystian Mross, Marta Jankowska, Agnieszka Meller, Karolina Machowska-Sempruch, Przemyslaw Nowacki, Marta Masztalewicz, Wioletta Pawlukowska
Summary: This study investigated sensory integration disorder in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and found that these disorders are more severe in MS patients. Additionally, MS patients have more specific sensorimotor abilities.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Noelle Abbott, Tracy Love
Summary: Developmental language disorder is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the language comprehension and production of children. The cause of DLD is believed to involve genetic, biological, and environmental factors, but the relationship between theoretical explanations and neuroimaging findings has been challenging due to individual variability and inconsistent results.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Yurika Tsuji, Shu Imaizumi, Masumi Sugawara, Arata Oiji
Summary: Sensory symptoms are common in individuals with ASD, and the suffering due to these symptoms mediates the relationship between sensory symptoms and internalizing problems. Therefore, a support system specifically targeting the reduction of suffering caused by sensory symptoms is necessary, especially for students in regular classes.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Lauren M. Little, Karla Ausderau, Ashley Freuler, John Sideris, Grace T. Baranek
Summary: This study examined the relationship between children's sensory response patterns, child characteristics, and caregiver strategies in ASD and DD children. The findings showed that caregiver strategies were specifically associated with children's sensory response patterns, regardless of age or diagnosis. Qualitative analysis also revealed distinct caregiver strategies within different sensory patterns.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jing Zheng, Fei Long, Xu Cao, Bo Xiong, Yu Li
Summary: KATNAL2 mutations are associated with ASD and other related NDDs. In this study, katnal2 null allele was generated in zebrafish using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, and the resulting zebrafish showed developmental and behavioral defects, providing an in vivo model for studying the mechanisms underlying ASD related to KATNAL2 mutations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Elie G. Aoun, Giovanna Porta, Nadine M. Melhem, David A. Brent
Summary: The study identified three distinct trajectories of grief reactions in bereaved adults, with one trajectory showing high and sustained grief reactions persisting for almost 7.5 years. Participants with prolonged grief exhibited greater functional impairment and self-reported depression compared to those whose grief reactions subsided over time. The study also recommended revisions to the PCBD criteria to avoid excluding cases with clinically significant grief-related distress and impairment.
PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Yongqi Zhong, Steven Pham, Giovanna Porta, Antoine Douaihy, Anna Marsland, David Brent, Nadine M. Melhem
Summary: Young suicide attempters have a higher burden of cardiovascular risk compared to other high-risk individuals. Clinicians should pay attention to cardiovascular risk factors among suicide attempters to reduce their risk for cardiovascular events.
PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Stephen Murata, Taylor Rezeppa, Brian Thoma, Laura Marengo, Katie Krancevich, Elizabeth Chiyka, Benjamin Hayes, Eli Goodfriend, Meredith Deal, Yongqi Zhong, Bradley Brummit, Tiffany Coury, Sarah Riston, David A. Brent, Nadine M. Melhem
Summary: The study found that the COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on mental health, with adolescents being more affected compared to adults. Loneliness is highlighted as a major predictor of psychiatric symptoms, indicating the importance of social support during this crisis.
DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Irene Tung, Robert T. Krafty, Meaghan L. Delcourt, Nadine M. Melhem, J. Richard Jennings, Kate Keenan, Alison E. Hipwell
Summary: This study investigated the impact of life stress and emotional support on cardiac vagal control in pregnant women. The results suggest that life stress predicted stronger physiological responses, while emotional support enhanced these responses. Further research is needed to explore the long-term health outcomes associated with this stress response pattern.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Benjamin Hayes, Jacob Brent, Yongqi Zhong, Shervin Bazmi, Giovanna Porta, Dana H. Bovbjerg, Ahmad Tarhini, John M. Kirkwood, David A. Brent, Anna Marsland, Nadine M. Melhem
Summary: Parental cancer is associated with early increase in cortisol levels in offspring, leading to increased functional impairment. Over time, HCC decreased in the stress group, but higher total cortisol output was associated with increased functional impairment.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Nadine M. Melhem, Yongqi Zhong, Jeffrey M. Miller, Francesca Zanderigo, R. Todd Ogden, M. Elizabeth Sublette, Madison Newell, Ainsley Burke, John G. Keilp, Mohammad Lesanpezeshki, Elizabeth Bartlett, David A. Brent, J. John Mann
Summary: This study found that 5-HT1A receptor binding is not associated with familial risk or resilience against suicidal behavior or mood disorders, but may be related to the lethality of suicide attempts. Future research is needed to better understand the biological mechanisms involved in familial risk for suicidal behavior.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jamie Zelazny, Barbara Stanley, Giovanna Porta, J. John Mann, Maria Oquendo, Boris Birmaher, Nadine Melhem, David A. Brent
Summary: The study found that youth with preadolescent onset suicidal behavior are more likely to have diagnoses of depressive disorder and ADHD, while adolescent onset youth are more likely to be female, have self-reported suicidal ideation, and have a diagnosis of depressive disorder.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2021)
Editorial Material
Psychology, Clinical
Nadine M. Melhem, David A. Brent
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Molly Davis, Jason D. Jones, Amy So, Tami D. Benton, Rhonda C. Boyd, Nadine Melhem, Neal D. Ryan, David A. Brent, Jami F. Young
Summary: The study examined screening and risk rates in a large pediatric primary care network in the United States after expanding universal depression screening guidelines to cover all well-visits for adolescents. Findings showed variations in screening likelihood based on sociodemographic factors, with certain groups more likely to endorse depression symptoms and suicidality. Addressing these misalignments is crucial for ensuring more equitable screening implementation and health outcomes.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Lambertus Klei, Lora Lee McClain, Behrang Mahjani, Klea Panayidou, Silvia De Rubeis, Anna-Carin Sall Grahnat, Gun Karlsson, Yangyi Lu, Nadine Melhem, Xinyi Xu, Abraham Reichenberg, Sven Sandin, Christina M. Hultman, Joseph D. Buxbaum, Kathryn Roeder, Bernie Devlin
Summary: The study explored how rare and common genetic variations jointly affect liability for individuals with ASD. ASD subjects have a greater burden of genetic risk variants compared to control subjects, and carriers of potentially damaging variants fall between non-carrier ASD subjects and control subjects. The effects of common and rare variants likely combine additively to determine individual-level liability.
Article
Psychiatry
Laura Marengo, Antoine Douaihy, Yongqi Zhong, Katie Krancevich, Bradley Brummit, Dara Sakolsky, Meredith Deal, Jamie Zelazny, Eli Goodfriend, Melissa Saul, Stephen Murata, Brian Thoma, Hader Mansour, Jamie Tew, Nadeem Ahmed, Anna Marsland, David Brent, Nadine M. Melhem
Summary: The study found a significant association between opioid use and suicidal behavior in adolescents, with opioid use predicting suicide attempts in the month prior to hospitalization. Opioid use was also associated with anxiety symptoms, PTSD symptoms, and aggression.
SUICIDE AND LIFE-THREATENING BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Spiro P. Pantazatos, Nadine M. Melhem, David A. Brent, Francesca Zanderigo, Elizabeth A. Bartlett, Mohammad Lesanpezeshki, Ainsley Burke, Jeffrey M. Miller, J. John Mann
Summary: The study found that low ventral prefrontal 5-HT1A BPND was associated with lifetime mood disorder diagnosis and suicide attempt, but only in subjects with a family history of mood disorder and suicide attempt. Brain-wide 5-HT1A BPND patterns can distinguish individuals with family history of suicide attempt from healthy volunteers.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Jessica M. Rabbany, Steven Ellis, Allison Metts, Ainsley Burke, David A. Brent, Nadine Melhem, Stephen Marcott, J. John Mann
Summary: Childhood adversity is associated with suicidal behavior, mood disorders, and aggressive traits. Depression and aggression mediate the relationship between childhood adversity and suicide risk. Treating mood disorders and improving aggressive traits can prevent future suicide attempts.
ARCHIVES OF SUICIDE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Rachel Hendricks, John G. Keilp, Mohammad Lesanpezeshki, Rina Muqkurtaj, Steven P. Ellis, Hanga Galfalvy, Ainsley K. Burke, Nadine Melhem, J. John Mann
Summary: This study examined the performance on the CD-RISC in individuals with familial risk for mood disorder and suicidal behavior. The study found that individuals with a history of suicide attempt had the lowest CD-RISC scores. However, CD-RISC scores were strongly correlated with other common risk factors for suicide attempt, such as hopelessness and subjective depression. Group differences in CD-RISC scores were eliminated when these risk factors were accounted for. Rating: 7 out of 10.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Blake Gibson, Eli Goodfriend, Yongqi Zhong, Nadine M. Melhem
Summary: Inflammation is associated with various neuropsychiatric disorders, especially those appearing in childhood. The maternal intrauterine environment, including the placenta, plays a role in the development and risk of neuropsychiatric disorders. This study explores the relationship between fetal inflammatory syndrome (FIRS), which is placental inflammation during the peripartum period, and neuropsychiatric disorders in childhood. The study finds that children born with placentas meeting criteria for FIRS are more likely to be diagnosed with neuropsychiatric disorders.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
