Imitation Assessment and Its Utility to the Diagnosis of Autism: Evidence from Consecutive Clinical Preschool Referrals for Suspected Autism

The present study sought to examine imitation difficulties as a risk factor for autism. Imitation aptitude was examined in 86 preschoolers suspected of autism (1.9-4.5 years) using the Preschool Imitation and Praxis Scale (PIPS). Differences between imitation, language, motor age-equivalents and nonverbal mental age were used to predict the diagnosis of autism. Multidisciplinary team diagnoses and ADOS-G classifications were used to differentiate children with autism spectrum disorders and non-spectrum developmental disorders. Two factors were found to be significantly associated with autism using simple logistic regression analyses: procedural imitation delay and receptive language delay. In a multivariable setting, only procedural imitation delay remained a significant predictor of autism. Results are new to the literature and require replications

Identification of Phenotypes in People with COPD: Influence of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, Body Composition and Skeletal Muscle Strength

Introduction: People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) present high prevalence of physical inactivity that leads to a negative effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The present study investigated COPD phenotypes according to their levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviour, as well as body composition and skeletal muscle strength. Methods: This is an observational and cross-sectional study. Anthropometric data and COPD clinical control were collected and all participants underwent assessments of lung function, HRQoL, dyspnoea, levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviour, body composition and skeletal muscle strength. Participants were classified using hierarchical cluster analysis. Age, dyspnoea and obstruction (ADO) index was used to determine prognosis and calculated for each cluster. Results: One hundred and fifty-two participants were included. Three distinct phenotypes were identified. Participants in phenotype 1 were more physically active, less sedentary and had better body composition and lower ADO index (p < 0.0001 for all variables). Overall, participants in phenotypes 2 and 3 were less physically active, more sedentary having a higher ADO index. However, participants in phenotype 2 were older, whereas participants in phenotype 3 had worse HRQoL, clinical control and body composition. Lung function did not differ across the three phenotypes. Conclusions: Our results show that physical activity, sedentary behaviour and body composition should be considered to determine phenotypes in people with COPD and are involved in the prognosis of the disease. Less sedentary patients have better prognosis while age, body composition and clinical control seems to differentiate physically inactive patients