The mediating effect of mood spectrum on the relationship between autistic traits and catatonia spectrum

BackgroundIn the recent years, several studies have shown a correlation between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and catatonia. It is also known that both conditions are found to be associated with mood disorders. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between autistic traits and catatonic symptoms, as well as the potential mediating role of mood disorder spectrum in the relationship between them.MethodsThe total sample of 514 subjects was composed by four diagnostic groups, composed by patients affected by catatonia (CTN), borderline personality disorder (BPD), major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls (HC). Subjects were assessed with the SCID-5-RV, the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum) and the Catatonia Spectrum (CS) and the Mood Spectrum Self-Report (MOODS-SR). Statistical analyses included Pearson’s coefficient calculation, multiple linear regression, and mediation analysis.Resultsall the correlations appear to be strongly positive and significant with the strongest coefficient emerging between AdAS Spectrum total score and CS total score (r = 0.762, p < 0.001). The Mediation Analysis showed that AdAS Spectrum total score showed a significant indirect effect on CS total score through MOODS-SR total score (b = 0.168, 95% bootstrapped CI [0.127:0.207]).ConclusionThe present study highlights the presence of a mediating role of the mood disorder spectrum in the relationship between autistic traits and the catatonia spectrum

Implications of Social Anxiety Symptoms in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Is There a Predictive Role of Interpersonal Sensitivity and Substance Abuse?

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) has been frequently reported by subjects with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, interestingly, the overlap between social anxiety and autistic traits may sometimes impede ASD diagnosis in subjects without intellectual or language impairment. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the presence and correlates of social phobic features among subjects with ASD, with a specific focus on evaluating which social anxiety symptoms may be statistically predictive of an ASD diagnosis. With this purpose, 48 subjects with ASD and 48 gender- and age- matched healthy controls (HCs) were recruited and assessed with the SHY-SV and the AdAS Spectrum questionnaires. Results highlighted higher scores in all SHY-SV Spectrum domains and total scores for the ASD group. Moreover, AdAS Spectrum scores were significantly correlated with all SHY-SV domain and total scores. A logistic regression analysis highlighted the SHY-SV Interpersonal sensitivity and Substance Abuse domains scores as significant positive predictors of an ASD diagnosis. These results confirm the link between ASD and SAD. Because of this association, particular attention should be paid to subjects with high interpersonal sensitivity traits and substance abuse problems

Dengue-4 false negative results by Panbio (R) Dengue Early ELISA assay in Brazil

Background: Dengue is a serious public health problem in numerous countries. the ability to rapidly diagnosis dengue is important for patient triage and management. Detection of dengue viral protein, NS1, represents a new approach to dengue diagnosis.Objective: the present study aims to evaluate if there are false negative results using the NS1 Ag rapid assay (Panbio (R) Dengue Early ELISA) in two different epidemiological situations (epidemic and non-epidemic).Study design: 220 serum samples from patients with clinical symptoms of classical dengue fever were tested by NS1 antigen capture ELISA and Multiplex-Nested-PCR.Results: in samples collected in a non-epidemic period we found a 100% agreement of ELISA and RTPCR in dengue negative samples and 85% agreement of ELISA and RT-PCR in dengue positive samples. But when we tested samples during an epidemic period (large DENV-4 outbreak) we found 15% false negative results (p<0.05) in dengue negative samples.Conclusions: Due to false negative results for DENV-4, the sole use of the Panbio Dengue Early ELISA assay as a screening method for monitoring circulating dengue serotypes must be reevaluated. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fac Med Sao Jose do Rio Preto FAMERP, BR-15090000 Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquitta & Filho, Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, São Paulo, BrazilPrefeitura Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Dept Vigilancia Saude, Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Mato Grosso, Sinop, Mato Grosso, BrazilTufts Univ, Cummings Sch Vet Med, Dept Infect Dis & Global Hlth, North Grafton, MA USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2012/11733-6FAPESP: 2011/10458-9Web of Scienc