Social Networks and Friendships at School: Comparing Children With and Without ASD

Self, peer and teacher reports of social relationships were examined for 60 high-functioning children with ASD. Compared to a matched sample of typical children in the same classroom, children with ASD were more often on the periphery of their social networks, reported poorer quality friendships and had fewer reciprocal friendships. On the playground, children with ASD were mostly unengaged but playground engagement was not associated with peer, self, or teacher reports of social behavior. Twenty percent of children with ASD had a reciprocated friendship and also high social network status. Thus, while the majority of high functioning children with ASD struggle with peer relationships in general education classrooms, a small percentage of them appear to have social success

Palliation of patients with malignant gastric outlet obstruction with the enteral Wallstent: outcomes from a multicenter study

Il lavoro descrive i risultati del trattamento palliativo di stenosi duodenali maligne con protesi metallica tipo wallsten

Virtual colonoscopy for the detection of colorectal polyps and cancers in a Chinese population

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the sensitivity of virtual colonoscopy in detecting colorectal polyps and cancers in a Chinese population. Methods: Seventy-one consecutive Chinese patients (38 men and 33 women) referred for diagnostic colonoscopy were recruited. Patients received a routine bowel preparation in the morning followed by a helical abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan with air insufflation of the colon. The CT images were then processed by using surface-rendered software and interpreted by a single radiologist who was blinded to the clinical information. Colonoscopy was performed in the same afternoon without knowledge of the radiology results. All polyps and cancers were proven histologically. Results: Five colorectal cancers were diagnosed and all were detected by virtual colonoscopy. The sensitivity and specificity of virtual colonoscopy for the detection of patients with polyps of all sizes, and patients with polyps ≥ 10 mm were 59, 92, 88 and 100%, respectively. The procedure was well tolerated by all patients. Conclusions: This study was carried out in a real clinical setting without a preselection of cases. Virtual colonoscopy was satisfactory for the detection of polyps greater than 10 mm, and for the diagnosis of cancer, and it is also a promising imaging modality for colorectal neoplasm detection in a Chinese population. © 2002 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.link_to_subscribed_fulltex