Subcortical volumes across the lifespan: data from 18,605 healthy individuals aged 3-90 years

Age has a major effect on brain volume. However, the normative studies available are constrained by small sample sizes, restricted age coverage and significant methodological variability. These limitations introduce inconsistencies and may obscure or distort the lifespan trajectories of brain morphometry. In response, we capitalized on the resources of the Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) Consortium to examine age-related trajectories inferred from cross-sectional measures of the ventricles, the basal ganglia (caudate, putamen, pallidum, and nucleus accumbens), the thalamus, hippocampus and amygdala using magnetic resonance imaging data obtained from 18,605 individuals aged 3-90 years. All subcortical structure volumes were at their maximum value early in life. The volume of the basal ganglia showed a monotonic negative association with age thereafter; there was no significant association between age and the volumes of the thalamus, amygdala and the hippocampus (with some degree of decline in thalamus) until the sixth decade of life after which they also showed a steep negative association with age. The lateral ventricles showed continuous enlargement throughout the lifespan. Age was positively associated with inter-individual variability in the hippocampus and amygdala and the lateral ventricles. These results were robust to potential confounders and could be used to examine the functional significance of deviations from typical age-related morphometric patterns.Education and Child Studie

Specific disturbances of psychomotor development in children with thymomegaly

Ninety children, aged from 2 month to 3 years, with thymomegaly and 25 aged-matched controls were studied. Most children with thymomegaly had disturbances of psychomotor development. Depending on their types, the cohort of children was stratified into 4 subgroups: 1(st) - 36 patients (40%) with schizotypal signs; 2(nd) - 30 hyperactive children (33%); 3(rd) - 19 children with hyperthymia signs (21%); 4(th) - 5 normal children (6%). The deviations of locomotion and psychiatric development were correlated with the extent of thymus enlargement and activation of innate and adaptive immunity

Specific disturbances of psychomotor development in children with thymomegaly

Ninety children, aged from 2 month to 3 years, with thymomegaly and 25 aged-matched controls were studied. Most children with thymomegaly had disturbances of psychomotor development. Depending on their types, the cohort of children was stratified into 4 subgroups: 1(st) - 36 patients (40%) with schizotypal signs; 2(nd) - 30 hyperactive children (33%); 3(rd) - 19 children with hyperthymia signs (21%); 4(th) - 5 normal children (6%). The deviations of locomotion and psychiatric development were correlated with the extent of thymus enlargement and activation of innate and adaptive immunity

Multidisciplinary clinical and psychological aspects of diagnosis

The article discusses the current state of the problem a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis of infantile autism and early-onset schizophrenia, differentiation of these diseases. The purpose of this study, which has been conducted at the Mental Health Research Center, is to determine the biological (immunological and physiological), pathopsychological markers of infantile autism and early-onset schizophrenia for potential use as an additional differential diagnostic tool in the clinical evaluation of patients. Allocated to types of cognitive dizontogenezis, which are different and specific for infantile autism and early-onset schizophrenia. Timely early diagnosis of autism in childhood is important for follow-up habilitation. Habilitation of children can be built on the basis of the identification of the zone of proximal development, allowing adequately and correctly pick the individual correction programs for each sick child. In turn, the identification of the zone of proximal development can be performed using multidisciplinario approach

Mercury and autism spectrum disorders

The authors present a review of literature on the involvement of perinatal and postnatal mercury exposure in the pathogenesis of autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). A number of studies have shown a reliable association between perinatal and postnatal exposure to mercury and ASD development aa well as clinical and laboratory markers of the severity of these disorders. However the association was not confirmed in other studies. Such contradictions may be explained by differences in the composition of study groups, including geographical characteristics, and the influence of the factors related to mercury neurotoxicity. © 2018, Media Sphera Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

SOME IMMUNOLOGICAL INDICATORS IN INFANTS WITH PSYCHOMOTOR DEVELOPMENT RETARDATION IN CONSEQUENCE OF CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM HYPOXIC-ISCHEMIC PERINATAL DAMAGE

Despite the fact that there are the researches testifying to activation of congenital (nonspecific) and got (adaptive, specific) immunity in Central Nervous System Perinatal Damages, interrelations between blood sera immunological indicators and clinical lines of Central Nervous System Perinatal Damages are studied now insufficiently. In our work the analysis of interrelations between a number of immunological indicators (the activity of leucocyte elastase (LE) and 1-proteinase inhibitor (α1-PI), the rates of autoantibodies (aAB) to nerve tissue proteins) and psychomotor development of children with consequences of Central Nervous System hypoxic-ischemic Perinatal Damages has been carried out. It is revealed that in this pathology activation of the congenital and got immunity takes place; the congenital immunity activation degree (on LE activity) back correlates with severity of psychomotor development disorders, activity α1-PI directly correlates with a psychomotor development point of children, i.e. its lowered activity is the adverse diagnostic factor; joining of autoimmune reactions (increased rates of aAB to nerve tissue proteins) characterizes the heaviest variants of psychomotor development retardations. It is shown also that pre-term infants have lower point of psychomotor development, and also more patients of this group have low α1-PI activity and the raised levels of aAB in comparison to full-term infants.Key words: children, perinatal damages of central nervous system, psychomotor development, congenital immunity, leucocyte elastase, α1-proteinase inhibitor, autoimmune reactions

Mercury and autism spectrum disorders

The authors present a review of literature on the involvement of perinatal and postnatal mercury exposure in the pathogenesis of autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). A number of studies have shown a reliable association between perinatal and postnatal exposure to mercury and ASD development aa well as clinical and laboratory markers of the severity of these disorders. However the association was not confirmed in other studies. Such contradictions may be explained by differences in the composition of study groups, including geographical characteristics, and the influence of the factors related to mercury neurotoxicity. © 2018, Media Sphera Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Assessment of gender and age effects on serum and hair trace element levels in children with autism spectrum disorder

The primary objective of the present study was to investigate the levels of essential trace elements in hair and serum in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and investigate the age and gender effects. Children with ASD were characterized by significantly higher levels of copper (Cu) (+8%), iron (Fe) (+5%), and selenium (Se) (+13%) levels in hair and only 8% higher serum Cu levels. After stratification for gender, ASD boys were characterized by significantly increased hair Cu (+ 25%), Fe (+ 25%), and Se (+ 9%) levels, whereas in girls only Se content was elevated (+ 15%). Boys and girls suffering from ASD were characterized by significantly higher serum manganese (Mn) (+20%) and Cu (+18%) as compared to the control values, respectively. In the group of younger children (2–5 years), no significant group difference in hair trace element levels was detected, whereas serum Cu levels were significantly higher (+7%). In turn, the serum concentration of Se in ASD children was 11% lower than that in neurotypical children. In the group of older children with ASD (6–10 years), hair Fe and Se levels were 21% and 16% higher, whereas in serum only Cu levels were increased (+12%) as compared to the controls. Correlation analysis also revealed a different relationship between serum and hair trace element levels with respect to gender and age. Therefore, it is highly recommended to assess several bioindicative matrices for critical evaluation of trace element status in patients with ASD in order to develop adequate personalized nutritional correction. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

Analysis of Hair Trace Elements in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Communication Disorders

The primary objective of the present study is analysis of hair trace elements content in children with communication disorder (CD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A total of 99 children from control, CD, and ASD groups (n = 33) were examined. All children were additionally divided into two subgroups according to age. Hair levels of trace elements were assessed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The difference was considered significant at p < 0.01. The obtained data demonstrate that children with CD are characterized by significantly increased hair lithium (Li) (96 %; p = 0.008), selenium (Se) (66 %; p < 0.001), arsenic (As) (96 %; p = 0.005), beryllium (Be) (150 %; p < 0.001), and cadmium (Cd) (72 %; p = 0.007) content, being higher than the respective control values. In the ASD group, hair copper (Cu), iodine (I), and Be levels tended to be lower than the control values. In turn, the scalp hair content of Se significantly exceeded the control values (33 %; p = 0.004), whereas the level of iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al) tended to increase. After gradation for age, the most prominent differences in children with CD were detected in the elder group (5–8 years), whereas in the case of ASD—in the younger group (3–4 years old). Taking into account the role of hair as excretory mechanism for certain elements including the toxic ones, it can be proposed that children suffering from ASD are characterized by more profound alteration of metal handling and excretion in comparison to CD. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York

Assessment of gender and age effects on serum and hair trace element levels in children with autism spectrum disorder

The primary objective of the present study was to investigate the levels of essential trace elements in hair and serum in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and investigate the age and gender effects. Children with ASD were characterized by significantly higher levels of copper (Cu) (+8%), iron (Fe) (+5%), and selenium (Se) (+13%) levels in hair and only 8% higher serum Cu levels. After stratification for gender, ASD boys were characterized by significantly increased hair Cu (+ 25%), Fe (+ 25%), and Se (+ 9%) levels, whereas in girls only Se content was elevated (+ 15%). Boys and girls suffering from ASD were characterized by significantly higher serum manganese (Mn) (+20%) and Cu (+18%) as compared to the control values, respectively. In the group of younger children (2–5 years), no significant group difference in hair trace element levels was detected, whereas serum Cu levels were significantly higher (+7%). In turn, the serum concentration of Se in ASD children was 11% lower than that in neurotypical children. In the group of older children with ASD (6–10 years), hair Fe and Se levels were 21% and 16% higher, whereas in serum only Cu levels were increased (+12%) as compared to the controls. Correlation analysis also revealed a different relationship between serum and hair trace element levels with respect to gender and age. Therefore, it is highly recommended to assess several bioindicative matrices for critical evaluation of trace element status in patients with ASD in order to develop adequate personalized nutritional correction. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC