Testing nonverbal IQ in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

15 high-functioning school aged children with ASD and 15 neurotypically developing age matched controls were assessed using the WISC-IV and the KABC-II in order to assess whether the WISC-IV has rectified problems associated with the WISC-III's undue emphasis on timing measures. No significant group differences were found for the PRI sub-scale of the WISC-IV nor for the nonverbal scale of the KABC-II, but the ASD group scored significantly lower than controls on the Processing Speed Index of the WISC-IV. This supports the need to isolate of timing criteria when IQ testing in populations with ASD, as is now the case with the WISC-IV. However significantly higher scores were obtained for the KABC-II versus the PRI for children with ASD only. The reasons for this are discussed with regard to a possible cultural bias in the Picture Concepts subtest of the WISC-IV.     

Characterizing the ERP Old-New effect in a short-term memory task

The early and late components of the event-related potential (ERP) Old–New effect are well characterized with respect to long-term memory, and have been associated with processes of familiarity and recollection, respectively. Now, using a short-term memory paradigm with verbal and nonverbal stimuli, we explored the way that these two components respond to variation in recency and stimulus type. We found that the amplitude of the early component (or frontal N400, FN400) showed Old–New effects only for verbal stimuli and increased with recency. In contrast, the later component (or late positive component, LPC) showed Old–New effects across a range of stimulus types and did not scale with recency. These results are consistent with the way that these same ERP components have been characterized in long-term memory, supporting the idea that some of the same processes underlie long- and short-term item recognition.     

护生与老年住院患者非语言沟通能力调查分析

目的了解护生与老年住院患者进行非语言沟通的应用状况,为护生与老年住院患者的有效沟通提供依据。方法采用自制问卷与艾森克个性问卷相结合,对在福州某3家医院已实习8个月的100名护生进行调查。结果护生对与老年患者进行非语言沟通的重视度较高;但对与老年住院患者进行非语言沟通所应采取的形式认知较低。个人因素是影响有效沟通的最主要因素。体语是护生与老年住院患者进行非语言沟通最主要的形式。结论学校和医院应加强非语言沟通的教育,开设相关的课程,提供相应的培训,护生要重视个人素质的加强,以提高自身与老年住院患者进行非语言沟通的能力。     

Comparison of the Zurich Observation Pain Assessment with the Behavioural Pain Scale and the Critical Care Pain Observation Tool in nonverbal patients in the intensive care unit: A prospective observational study

ObjectivesTo determine the concordance of Zurich Observation Pain Assessment (ZOPA) with the behavioural Pain Scale (BPS) and the Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) to detect pain in nonverbal ICU patients.DesignProspective observational study [BASEC-Nr. PB_2016-02324].SettingA total of 49 ICU patients from cardiovascular, visceral and thoracic surgery and neurology and neurosurgery were recruited. Data from 24 patients were analyzed.Main Outcome MeasurementsThree independent observers assessed pain with the BPS, the CPOT or ZOPA prior, during and after a potential painful nursing intervention. Tools were randomized concerning the pain management after each pain assessment. Frequency of nine additional pain indicating items from a previous qualitative, explorative study was calculated.ResultsZOPA was positive in 32 of 33 measuring cycles (97.0%; 95%CI: 84.2-99.9%), followed by the CPOT (28/33 cycles, 84.8%; 95%CI: 68.1–94.9%) and the BPS (23/33 cycles, 67.0%; 95%CI: 51.3–84.4%). In 22/33 cycles all tools were concordant (66.7%; 95%CI: 48.2-82.0%). Analgesics were provided in 29 out of 33 cycles (87.9%; 95%CI: 71.8–96.6%). Additional pain indicating items were inconsistently reported.ConclusionZOPA is concordant with the BPS and the CPOT to indicate pain but detects pain earlier due to the low threshold value. Inclusion of further items does not improve pain assessment.     

龚氏非文字智力测验在汉族儿童中使用的实证效度

目的 :评估龚氏非文字智力测验 (GTNI)在一般汉族儿童中使用的实证效度。方法 :对 1-5年级 6-12岁男女各 60名小学生施测GTNI和中国修订韦氏儿童智力量表 (C -WISC)。结果 :GTNI的离差标准分 (DSS)与C -WISC言语智商 (VIQ)、操作智商 (PIQ)和全量表智商 (FIQ)相关系数依次是 0 61、0 64、 0 74,等级一致率分别为 46 7%、 3 8 3 %、 46 7%。约有 10 %DSS等级高于或低于智商两个或两个以上等级。智商中等以下 /以上水平时 ,半数以上DSS等级高于 /低于对智商等级。以区间DSS± 10估计VIQ、PIQ和FIQ准确率分别达 66 7%、 5 8 7%、 64 2 %。结论 :GTNI有较好的同时效度 ,可替代C -WISC用于一般汉族儿童的团体比较 ,但用做智力障碍的临床诊断时需慎重 ,用于筛查时亦应警惕假阴性     

Patterns of change in nonverbal cognition in adolescents with Down syndrome

This study was designed to examine longitudinal change in nonverbal cognitive abilities across adolescence for 20 males with Down syndrome (DS). We used hierarchical linear modeling to examine the rate of change in performance on the subtests of the Leiter-R Brief IQ across four annual time points and to determine the relation between maternal IQ and level and rate of change in performance. Results indicated no significant change in IQ (standard scores) with age in the sample, suggesting IQ stability during adolescence for individuals with DS, although several participants performed at floor level on the standard scores for the Leiter-R, limiting interpretation. Growth scores, however, provide a metric of absolute ability level, allow for the examination of change in Leiter-R performance in all participants, and minimize floor effects. Results from the analysis of growth scores indicated significant gain in absolute nonverbal cognitive ability levels (growth score values) over time for the adolescents with DS, although the growth varied by subdomain. Maternal IQ did not explain variability in cognitive performance or change in that performance over time in our sample of adolescents with DS.     

Subgrouping school-aged children on the autism spectrum based on co-occurring psychiatric symptoms

BackgroundPhenotypic heterogeneity along the autism spectrum is compounded by co-occurring psychiatric conditions. Deriving subgroups of autistic individuals based on symptoms of these conditions could better our understanding of psychiatric symptom patterns existing within this population. This study’s goals were to derive subgroups of school-aged autistic children based on co-occurring psychiatric symptoms while controlling for age and sex and to examine correlates of subgroup membership while controlling for the degree of ASD-related diagnostic features.MethodLatent class models were estimated in a sample from the Simons Simplex Collection (n = 2087) using “borderline/clinical” versus “normative” range data from five of the DSM-Oriented Scales from the CBCL/6–18 as indicator variables. We evaluated the predictive value of NVIQ < 70, atypical sleep duration, allergies/autoimmune conditions, gastrointestinal conditions, and neurological conditions on subgroup membership using multinomial logistic regression.ResultsFour subgroups emerged: Low Psychiatric Symptoms (41.02%), Externalizing Symptoms (12.36%), Internalizing Symptoms (31.58%), and High Psychiatric Symptoms (15.05%). Key findings were that NVIQ < 70 was associated with decreased odds of belonging to the Internalizing Symptoms and High Psychiatric Symptoms subgroups over the Low Psychiatric Symptoms subgroup, while atypical sleep duration and gastrointestinal conditions were associated with increased odds of belonging to the Externalizing Symptoms and High Psychiatric Symptoms subgroups. Neurological conditions were also associated with increased odds of belonging to the Externalizing Symptoms subgroup.ConclusionDistinct patterns of psychiatric symptoms exist within school-aged autistic children and are correlated with NVIQ < 70, atypical sleep duration, and medical conditions, providing insights for clinical practice and etiology-driven research.     

两种非语言疼痛评估工具的应用现状分析

目的：通过对两种非语言疼痛评估工具相关研究进行文献分析,为我国非语言疼痛评估工具的选择提供参考。方法运用疼痛评估工具性能评分系统对计算机检索获取的相关文献进行分析。结果共纳入29篇文献,疼痛行为量表( BPS)与重症监护疼痛观察工具( CPOT)平均得分分别为9.20分、9.32分。结论疼痛行为量表( BPS)与重症监护疼痛观察工具( CPOT)逐渐被广泛应用于非语言疼痛患者的疼痛评估,但在不同人群中两者的信效度都存在差异,仍需进一步被验证。     

A novel DPH5-related diphthamide-deficiency syndrome causing embryonic lethality or profound neurodevelopmental disorder

PurposeDiphthamide is a post-translationally modified histidine essential for messenger RNA translation and ribosomal protein synthesis. We present evidence for DPH5 as a novel cause of embryonic lethality and profound neurodevelopmental delays (NDDs).MethodsMolecular testing was performed using exome or genome sequencing. A targeted Dph5 knockin mouse (C57BL/6Ncrl-Dph5^em1Mbp/Mmucd) was created for a DPH5 p.His260Arg homozygous variant identified in 1 family. Adenosine diphosphate–ribosylation assays in DPH5-knockout human and yeast cells and in silico modeling were performed for the identified DPH5 potential pathogenic variants.ResultsDPH5 variants p.His260Arg (homozygous), p.Asn110Ser and p.Arg207Ter (heterozygous), and p.Asn174LysfsTer10 (homozygous) were identified in 3 unrelated families with distinct overlapping craniofacial features, profound NDDs, multisystem abnormalities, and miscarriages. Dph5 p.His260Arg homozygous knockin was embryonically lethal with only 1 subviable mouse exhibiting impaired growth, craniofacial dysmorphology, and multisystem dysfunction recapitulating the human phenotype. Adenosine diphosphate–ribosylation assays showed absent to decreased function in DPH5-knockout human and yeast cells. In silico modeling of the variants showed altered DPH5 structure and disruption of its interaction with eEF2.ConclusionWe provide strong clinical, biochemical, and functional evidence for DPH5 as a novel cause of embryonic lethality or profound NDDs with multisystem involvement and expand diphthamide-deficiency syndromes and ribosomopathies.