Autism spectrum disorder (ASD): A current review of assessment, risk factors and prevention

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are extremely heritable neurodevelopmental disorders observed in 1-2% of children, usually seen before they reach 3 years of age. ASD is characterized by impaired social behavior, poor communication, stereotypic behavior, abnormal sensitivity to sensory stimuli and self-injurious behavior. The exact causes of ASD are unclear but increased oxidative stress; hyperserotonemia and loss of purkinje cell integrity in the cerebellum are some pathological findings in ASD. This article reviews trends in assessment of this neurodevelopmental disorder, autism risk factors, and preventions for autism. Screening tools for ASD, such as checklist for autism in toddlers (CHAT), modified checklist for autism in toddlers (M-CHAT), autism behavior checklist (ABC) and the autism spectrum screening questionnaire (ASSQ), social communication questionnaire (SCQ), australian scale for asperger syndrome (ASAS), are available for use by general pediatricians. Pregnant ladies exposure to some toxic chemicals and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may increase the risk of ASDs. Mother and child cohort study (MoBa) found prenatal folic acid supplements reduce the risk of autism spectrum disorders in children, but these findings cannot determine whether they protect against other neurodevelopmental disorders.

New mathematical derivations for calculation of ATP yield due to the complete oxidation of different types of fatty acids.

During the complete oxidation of fatty acids, the electrons removed from fatty acids in different forms (FADH2 and NADH2) pass through the respiratory chain, driving the ATP synthesis. Generally, the ATP yield due to the complete oxidation of fatty acids is calculated by sum total the ATPs obtained due to the oxidation of FADH2 and NADH2 due to lack of any particular method. This calculation is simple for saturated even numbered fatty acids, but in the case of saturated and unsaturated odd numbered fatty acids the calculation of ATP yield is difficult and needs mathematical calculations due to some changes in their β-oxidation pathway when compared to the pathway of saturated even numbered fatty acids. These calculations are made simple by our derivations and following formulae where we require only number of carbon atoms and double bonds present in a fatty acid. Our method is superior and easier in comparison to long mathematical calculations that are in the practice.

Environmental monitoring of adulterated gasoline with kerosene and their assessment at exhaust level.

Fuel adulteration increases the emission of total hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and respirable particulate matter , and thus adds to air pollution. The study examined the effects of mixing of different percentage of kerosene with petrol on the motorized rickshaw exhausts in terms of volatile organic compounds (benzene, toluene, xylene and ethyl benzene) and total suspended particulate matter (SPM). The personal sampler was used for sampling, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for quantification of compounds. Concentration of volatile organic compounds significantly decreased (p<0.001) along with the increase in fraction of kerosene in petrol. The level of benzene in exhausts while, using petrol (100 %) was significantly higher (p<0.001) than that of three combinations used in this study (75% petrol + 25% kerosene, 50% petrol + 50% kerosene and 25% petrol + 75% kerosene). Similar trend was observed for toluene, xylene and ethyl benzene also. The mean concentration of benzene, toluene, xylene and ethyl benzene were 31.34, 160.93, 10.07 and 5.58 mg m-3 in pure petrol, while 12.30, 51.41,4.89 and 3.16 mg m-3 for fuel combination 75% petrol + 25% kerosene. The observed levels of benzene, toluene, xylene and ethyl benzene were 9.12, 41.04, 4.33 and 2.91 mg m-3 for fuel mixture having 50% petrol with 50% kerosene and levels were 8.36, 20.05, 3.82 and 2.95 mg m-3 were for 25% petrol with 75% kerosene fuel combination. The levels of suspended particulate matter (SPM) increased along with the increase in fraction of kerosene in petrol. The data generated is useful to understand the common volatile organic compounds trend with the increasing fraction of kerosene in petrol.

Concentration of nitrite in respirable particulate matter of ambient air in Vadodara, Gujarat, India.

Water extract of respirable particulate matter (RPM) was analyzed by Ion chromatography technique to investigate the presence of nitrite (NO2) as secondary aerosol in ambient environment. The nitrite particulates undergo photo hydroxyl radical reaction in environment produce nitrous acid, which reacts with metal and absorbs on RPM as water-soluble metal salt. The mean concentration of nitrite was 20.86 .g m-3 in ambient environment. Regression analysis showed that the relationship for respirable particulate matter and nitrite (RPM-NO2, R2=0.742) was positively significant. We are reporting the presence of nitrite as an aerosol in ambient environment.