The association among demographic factors,health behaviors and sleep quality in youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder

BackgroundA majority of youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have disrupted sleep patterns, but there has been limited research examining factors associated with sleep in this population. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare demographic and lifestyle behaviors with sleep quality in youth with ASD. Methods: A total of 49 children (12.44 years; 78% male) with ASD wore the Actigraph GT9X accelerometer over seven days and nights to assess moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), sedentary behavior (SB), total sleep duration, and sleep efficiency. Parents reported their child’s weekly amount of screen time and demographic information. Participants were classified according to whether they met sleep criteria for duration and efficiency (8–9 h of sleep duration and ≥85% sleep efficiency). T-tests and ANOVA were used to compare demographic and lifestyle factors between the groups. Results: Participants who meet both sleep duration and efficiency criteria had greater minutes of MVPA per day (113.65 min/day) than participants who only met sleep efficiency criteria (40.27 min/day) and participants who did not meet either sleep criteria (67.5 min/day; p < 0.0001). Additionally, participants who met both sleep criteria had fewer minutes of SB compared to those who only met sleep efficiency criteria (384.79 vs 526.05 min/day; p = 0.02). Conclusions: Youth who had indicators of good sleep quality had greater amounts of MVPA and lower amounts of SB. Studies should further examine the relationship between sleep and health behaviors in youth with ASD to determine causal mechanisms, leading to more effective sleep interventions.     

Coupling online control and inhibitory systems in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: Goal-directed reaching

For children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), the real-time coupling between frontal executive function and online motor control has not been explored despite reported deficits in each domain. The aim of the present study was to investigate how children with DCD enlist online control under task constraints that compel the need for inhibitory control. A total of 129 school children were sampled from mainstream primary schools. Forty-two children who met research criteria for DCD were compared with 87 typically developing controls on a modified double-jump reaching task. Children within each skill group were divided into three age bands: younger (6–7 years), mid-aged (8–9), and older (10–12). Online control was compared between groups as a function of trial type (non-jump, jump, anti-jump). Overall, results showed that while movement times were similar between skill groups under simple task constraints (non-jump), on perturbation (or jump) trials the DCD group were significantly slower than controls and corrected trajectories later. Critically, the DCD group was further disadvantaged by anti-jump trials where inhibitory control was required; however, this effect reduced with age. While coupling online control and executive systems is not well developed in younger and mid-aged children, there is evidence of age-appropriate coupling in older children. Longitudinal data are needed to clarify this intriguing finding. The theoretical and applied implications of these results are discussed.     

Effect of 1α-hydroxyvitamin D3 on bone metabolic disorders in gastrectomized rats

The effect of 1α-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (1α(OH)D₃) on the metabolic bone disorders developed in gastrectomized rats were investigated biochemically and histomorphologically. 1α(OH)D₃ was suspended in 0.2 % Triton-X-100 aqueous solution after dissolving in a very small amount of ethanol, was given orally to the rats for 10 weeks. The sham operated animals and the gastrectomy control animals received the vehicle alone. Gastrectomy was followed by the development of the metabolic bone disorders after 10 weeks of observation. This was characterized by reduction in ash content of the femur and histologically by a disappearance of the trabecular bone in tibial metaphysis. Decrease Ca absorption from the intestines was demonstrated by a radiotracer technique. Biochemical studies showed significant decreases in serum 25(OH)D concentration in gastrectomized rats. These findings suggest that gastrectomy partially impairs intestinal absorption of calcium and results in a negative calcium balance, which may contribute to the development of bone metabolic disorders in rats. The administration of 1α(OH)D₃ increased dose-dependently serum calcium and Ca absorption from the intestine and prevented the development of bone metabolic disorders histomorphologically.     

Antisocial personality disorder, HIV risk behavior and retention in methadone maintenance therapy

In a sample of 55 consecutive methadone maintenance admissions to our clinic, 42% were diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) using the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule NIMH DIS. Individuals with ASPD exhibited greater risk for HIV infection as defined by more sexual contacts, needle use and equipment sharing. Data at 1 year follow-up were obtained on this group of patients. The objective was to compare the ASPD and non-ASPD groups with regards to demographics, drug abuse history, outcome and retention in treatment. There were no significant differences between the groups on any demographic or treatment outcome variables. Survival analysis indicated that there were no group differences in treatment retention. In conclusion, although there were no differences in treatment outcome between ASPD and non-ASPD groups it is possible that ASPD patients who drop out of treatment will be at higher risk for contracting and spreading HIV within the IV drug using population. These data also suggest that in this population the diagnosis of ASPD using primarily behavioral traits as measured in the NIMH-DIS-III, has little utility in predicting treatment outcome.     

2型糖尿病并脂肪肝与血脂紊乱的关系探讨

目的　探讨 2型糖尿病并脂肪肝患者与脂代谢紊乱之间的关系。方法　对 60例 2型糖尿病并脂肪肝和 5 2例 2型糖尿病不并有脂肪肝病例的血脂谱 ,空腹血糖 (FPG ) ,餐后 2小时血糖 ( 2hPG) ,空腹胰岛素 (FINS)进行测定 ,计算体重指数 (BMI)及胰岛素敏感指数 (ISI)。结果　 2型糖尿病并脂肪肝与不并脂肪肝相比 ,甘油三脂 (TG) ,低密度脂蛋白胆固醇 (LDL -C) ,FINS均升高 (P <0 .0 5 ,P <0 .0 1) ,而ISI明显降低 (P <0 .0 1)、脂蛋白a(Lp(a)降低(P <0 .0 5 )。结论　 2型糖尿病并脂肪肝比不并脂肪肝者存在明显脂代谢紊乱及胰岛素抵抗     

以中医神志学说辨析百合病

运用神魂魄意志五神与五藏、五官、五体的配属关系．结合文献对百合病命名、病位、症状、病机及愈期判断加以探讨。提出百合病属中医神志失和类病变，由热病伤阴，余邪未尽．心肺阴虚，神志失养，加之情怀不畅，气郁不舒，百脉失调，形神失和而发病。     

288名罪犯中人格问题的初步调查

目的 了解在押罪犯中人格异常的情况以，利于针对性地实施管理和改造。方法 使用“人格诊断问卷”等工具对某监狱在押犯进行调查，并设置对照组进行研究。结果 研究组中的偏执型、分裂型、反社会、边缘型、表演型、自恋型、回避型、被动攻击型和抑郁型人格的分值显著高于对照组。暴力型罪犯的分裂型、反社会型、表演型及被动攻击型人格分值高于财产型罪犯。而财产型罪犯的强迫型分值高于暴力型罪犯。结论 相对于一般的群体而言，由于家庭、成长背景、社会因素的影响，罪犯中的人格偏离较为显著。     

Differences between conduct disordered and normal control children in their tendencies to escalate or neutralize conflicts when interacting with normal peers

The behavior of conduct disordered (CD) children was compared with normal control (NC) children in interaction with normal peers. Dyads consisting of a) a CD child and a normal peer and b) an NC child and the same normal peer as in a) were observed. CD boys were less able than NC boys to neutralize incipient conflicts. Hitherto most behavioral studies of CD boys have concentrated on their tendency to escalate conflicts but have paid very little attention to their difficulty in neutralizing conflicts.