Autism as a disorder of neural information processing: directions for research and targets for therapy

The broad variation in phenotypes and severities within autism spectrum disorders suggests the involvement of multiple predisposing factors, interacting in complex ways with normal developmental courses and gradients. Identification of these factors, and the common developmental path into which theyfeed, is hampered bythe large degrees of convergence from causal factors to altered brain development, and divergence from abnormal brain development into altered cognition and behaviour. Genetic, neurochemical, neuroimaging and behavioural findings on autism, as well as studies of normal development and of genetic syndromes that share symptoms with autism, offer hypotheses as to the nature of causal factors and their possible effects on the structure and dynamics of neural systems. Such alterations in neural properties may in turn perturb activity-dependent development, giving rise to a complex behavioural syndrome many steps removed from the root causes. Animal models based on genetic, neurochemical, neurophysiological, and behavioural manipulations offer the possibility of exploring these developmental processes in detail, as do human studies addressing endophenotypes beyond the diagnosis itself

Two-step retrograde closed stenting: a novel method for treating canalicular lacerations in Chinese patients

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of two-step retrograde closed stenting for treating canalicular laceration. Methods Forty-eight consecutive canalicular laceration cases (48 eyes) were randomised and divided into two groups: a one-step group and a two-step group. In the two-step group (23 cases), the first step was performed in the outpatient department and included identifying the medial cut end of the canaliculus and probing under a slit-lamp microscope, followed by a retrograde canalicular stenting assisted by a memory titanium stylet. The second step was canalicular anastomosis, which was performed in the operating room. In the one-step group (25 cases), all of the surgical procedures were performed when preoperative preparations were simultaneously available. Results The time elapsed from the doctor visit to the treatment was 4.3 +/- 2.4 h in the two-step group and 18.8 +/- 6.3 h in the onestep group (P<0.01). The canalicular medial cut ends were found in all cases, but 8.6 +/- 3.5 min was needed in the two-step group, and 51.4 +/- 24.2 min was needed in the one-step group (Po0.01). The numerical rating scale for pain during surgery was 1.8 +/- 1.2 in the two-step group and 5.4 +/- 2.2 in the one-step group (P<0.01). One case (2.63%) in the two-step group and nine cases (36%) in the one-step group required other assisted methods to locate the medial cut end (P = 0.007). Twenty-one cases (91.3%) in the two-step group and 20 cases (80%) in the one-step group achieved patent lacrimal drainage systems during Conclusions The two-step canalicular anastomosis method allows an early search for the medial cut end of the canaliculus and improves the chances of finding it; it is also a quicker, less invasive method for treating canalicular lacerations

Social camouflaging in females with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with increasing prevalence, and a male-to-female ratio of 4:1. Research has been suggesting that discrepancy in prevalence may be due to the fact that females camouflage their symptoms. In this study, we aimed to systematically review evidence on the camouflage effect in females with ASD. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we reviewed empirical research published from January 2009 to September 2019 on PubMed, Web of Science, PsychInfo and Scopus databases. Thirteen empirical articles were included in this review. Overall, evidence supports that camouflaging seems to be an adaptive mechanism for females with ASD, despite the negative implications of these behaviours in their daily life.M.T.F. acknowledges Xunta de Galicia-GAIN for the Principia research grant. This work was supported by Fundación María José Jove. S.C. acknowledges Psychology for Positive Development Research Center (Grant No. PSI/04375), Universidade Lusíada – Norte, Porto, supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology through national funds (Grant No. UID/PSI/04375/2019)