Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) might have a higher risk of atopic diseases. Previous evidence suggests immune dysregulation may play a role in the link between ASD and atopy. In this study, we searched for 16 million PubMed abstracts to extract lists of shared risk genes for ASD and four pediatric/onset atopic diseases: diseases: asthma, eczema, allergic rhinitis, and rhinoconjunctivitis. To explore how the shared risk genes might contribute to each disease entity, we have implemented a series of statistical approaches as follows. First, we calculated the inclusion index to show the ratio of overlapped genes between ASD and four pediatric-onset atopic diseases compared to the ASD-related gene set. The inclusion index could indicate the relative contribution of overlapped genes to the etiologies of ASD. Second, we assessed whether overlapped genes were over-represented in ASD-related gene networks by using hypergeometric tests. Further, we searched for functional ontologies of these overlapped genes by using the gene ontology enrichment analysis. The inclusion indexes for all four of the “ASD-atopic disease” pairs were 2%~32%. We found more shared networks than expected by chance alone, particularly for the overlapped genes across ASD and asthma (p-values = 4.03 x 10e-35) and the overlapped genes between ASD and eczema (p-value = 2.15 x 10e-12). Furthermore, the results reveal that the overlapped genes for ASD and asthma were statistically significantly over-represented in several pathways, in which the endogenous cannabinoid signaling pathway (p-value = 1.4 x 10e-3) may act as the major hub to connect other associated pathways. The overlapped genes for ASD and eczema were significantly over-represented in several other pathways, in which the serotonergic synapse-related pathay (4.57 x 10e-8) and IL3 (interleukin 3)-related pathway (6.38 x 10e-8) may act as the major hubs to connect other pathways. The results suggest that novel gene networks may play a role in the comorbidity between ASD and other atopic diseases - in addition to well-documented immune-related pathways. An improved understanding of these shared gene networks could provide valuable insights into the causal pleiotropic genetic effects that may contribute to comorbidity between ASD and atopy. The follow-up validation research may pave the way for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets for ASD.

Abstract

Objective: The study describes the validation of the Autism Discriminative Tool, a new level II autism screening instrument. The ADT is the first stage-2 screening device to be in line with current DSM-5 criteria for ASD. It also allows information gathering from school settings whilst remaining scored and interpreted by a child specialist.

Method: Screening items were tested in a normative sample (n= 118) and a clinical population of children with ASD (n=90) versus other developmental disorders (n=36). Both clinical groups were screened via the ADT by their teacher at the beginning of their diagnostic assessment process within an autism specialised clinic.

Results: Results suggest that the full 35-item version of the ADT constitutes an informative clinical repertoire whilst a shortened 26-item version performs well as a second level screening tool. Sensitivity rate was reported to be 0.83, with specificity of .94 and an overall correct detection rate of 86.5%.

Conclusion: The ADT appears as a good complementary device to help child’specialists decide those in need of an ASD diagnostic assessment. Its high rate of specificity should ensure a reduction in false positive cases, therefore improving adequacy of referrals to tertiary autism diagnostic services.

Introduction:
In an effort to identify characteristics of the family environment that may influence the course of co-occurring psychiatric disorders in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), researchers have explored the phenomenon of expressed emotion (EE). EE is a construct of the affective relationship between two people, with domains characterised by criticism, warmth, relationship and emotional over-involvement.
Method:
The current study explored the cross-sectional association between EE in families of adolescents with ASD and co-occurring psychiatric symptoms.
Data in the current study are drawn from a longitudinal study of children/adolescents who were first seen at age 4-8 years as part of a study of problematic behaviour in ASD. The sample was originally drawn from two London community health services and included those in whom a clinical diagnosis of ASD was made by age 4. The sample was originally divided to provide a sample for intensive investigation in which girls were over-represented by inviting all to participate and boys were randomly selected on the basis of age, IQ and autism symptoms. The current study focused on the intensive subsample, a sample of 101 adolescent seen at age 10-14 years at that time. Parental expressed emotion was measured using Autism-Specify Five Minutes Sample Speech and co-occurring disorders using Developmental Behaviour Checklist and Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire.

Results:
The participation was in a moderate rate of 63 at this time. It was found that high levels of EE and/or critical comments were both associated with both behavioural problems and hyperactivity (ADHD) symptoms. However, there was no association between EE and emotional disorders.

Conclusions:
The current study adds evidence to both the autism and expressed emotion literature, as it is the first known study focus on a community-based sample of adolescents with ASD that look at the relation between parental expressed emotion and co-occurring mental health problems. The association with behavioural problems has been reported in previous studies; however no previous studies have explored the relationship to ADHD symptoms. We concluded that subsequent longitudinal investigations are very important to identify whether there are causal implications in these associations.

Keywords: autism spectrum disorder, expressed emotion, psychopathology, hyperactivity, child behavioural problems.

Objectives.
Our study explores if sensory regulation disorders are specific and discrimant in autism spectrum disorder (Criteria B4 DSM V). We are exploring children sensory peculiarities among 4 groups: typical autism and atypical autism in ASD, psychosis spectrum, “other diagnoses”.
Method.
The Dunn’s sensory profile (175 items) is filled out with the caregivers. An analytical assessment provides different scores that are compared to a control group
Results.
1)Diagnoses and comorbidity: our population (124 children 5 -12 years old) includes 20 typical autism, 6 atypical autism; among 98 children not diagnosed ASD, 65 present the clinical symptoms of psychosis and 33 other diagnoses.
2) Comorbidity is significantly different between autism group and psychosis group. Speech delay (p<0.0001), motor developmental delay (p=0.011), mental deficiency (p=0.0018), learning disability (p=0.023) are more frequent in the autism group. In contrast, anxiety disorders (p<0.0001), mood disorders (p=0.0018) and attention disorders (p<0.0001) are more frequent in the psychosis group.
3) The scores for different factors which combine items focused on the same capacity, differ from the control group. The factor Inattention/Distraction is lower in typical autism (p=0.0047), atypical autism (p=0.0059) and psychosis (p=0.0006). The factor Emotional Reaction is lower in autism (p=0.0064) and psychosis (p<0.0001). The factor Low Recording (which represents the understanding of the nonverbal language and the carried attention to the environment) is lower in autism (p=0.015). The factor Oral Sensory Sensitivity is lower in atypical autism (p=0.0014).
4) Age effect: these differences with the control group increase in a significant way as the children grow older. So, Emotional Reaction, Low Endurance and Low Muscular Tone, Inattention/ Distraction intensify with age. On the contrary, Fine Motor Skills improve with age as well as Sensory Research in the autism group.

Conclusion. Our research confirms – as common known- the high incidence of sensory regulation disorders with the children presenting an autism spectrum disorder; but our results show that this high incidence is also observed among psychotic children. On the contrary, the sensory regulation disorders are rare in case of isolated mental retardation, simple developmental delay, cerebellar syndrome, Down's Syndrome…

Objective
The objective of this study is to find out the presence of Cumulative Allergic Disease (AD), Bronchial Asthma (BA), Allergic Rhinitis (AR), Atopic Dermatitis (ATD) and Food Allergy FA) in autistic children, to assess the presence of allergy associated with autism through allergic mediators, especially IL-25 and allergic skin sensitization, and to research the association between autism clinical severity and ADs, allergic skin sensitization and allergic mediators.
Methods
This study was conducted between September 2012 and March 2014. The sample of the study consisted of a patient group of 40 boys and girls diagnosed with ‘Autistic Disorder’ according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria who were admitted to and followed at Ondokuz Mayıs University Health Application and Research Centre Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Polyclinic and a healthy control group of 40 who were age and gender matched with the patient group. Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) was applied on autistic cases to find out the severity of autism. Sociodemographic Data Form and International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire were given to all the participants. Skin prick test was applied on all the cases with the most frequently met 10 allergens.
In all the cases, AD diagnosis was made by two independent, experienced Pediatric Allergy Specialists. Serum IgE, Total Eosinophile Count (TEC) and IL-25 were worked in all the cases. Statistical significance level was p<0.05 for all tests.
Results
While the cumulative AD rate was found to be higher in the patient group than that of the control group, the frequency of specific allergic diseases such as BA, AR, ATD and FA was not found to be different in either group. In autistic children, mite skin sensitization was found to be higher than the controls, however, total allergen skin sensitization was not found to be different. In the autistic group, TES and IL-25 values were significantly higher when compared with the control group; however, there was no difference between the groups in terms of IgE levels. Cases with severe autism clinic had higher total allergen and mite skin sensitization when compared with mild-moderate cases.
Patients with severe autism had obviously higher serum IgE, TES and IL-25 levels than those with mild-moderate autism and autism clinic severity was found to be associated with all the allergic mediators studied.
In conclusion, our results supported the association between autism and allergy.

Introduction:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is defined by persistent deficits in reciprocal social interaction, communication and language, as well as stereotyped and repetitive behavior. Children with ASD have higher rates of incontinence and gastrointestinal tract symptoms. Parents of children with ASD show more parental stress and psychological symptoms. The aim was to examine incontinence in children/adolescents with ASD as well as stress and psychopathological symptoms in their parents.

Methods:
Data of 51 children (43 boys, mean age =9.7 years), consecutively presented in an outpatient clinic for autism, as well as 53 matched continent controls (43 boys, mean age = 10.2 years) are presented. All patients and their parents underwent the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). All children received sonography (rectum, bladder), uroflowmetry, bladder diary, physical examination, IQ test, parental psychiatric interview and a questionnaire regarding incontinence and psychological symptoms (CBCL). Additionally, parents filled out the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), Adult Self Report (ASR) and a questionnaire on parental stress (ESF).

Results:
The patient group had significantly higher rates of incontinence than controls (nocturnal enuresis 16%, daytime urinary incontinence 14.3%, fecal incontinence 8.2% in children with ASD vs. 0% in controls). Children with ASD showed significantly more pathological uroflow-patterns and more urge symptoms than controls. Children with ASD had significantly higher CBCL- and SCQ-scores as well as a significantly lower IQ. Parental stress was significantly higher in parents of children with autism, but they did not show more psychopathological problems than the parents of controls.

Conclusion:
Children with ASD have higher rates of incontinence, lower urinary tract symptoms, as well as psychopathological problems. Parents of children with ASD experience more stress. Screening, assessment and treatment of incontinence in children with ASD are recommended.