Synthesis and characterization of MoSe2 nanoscrolls via pulsed laser ablation in deep eutectic solvents.

There is ongoing interest in the rapid, reproducible production of 2-dimensional (2-D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD), such as molybdenum-based TMD (MoX2), where X is a chalcogen atom such as sulphur (S), selenium (Se) or tellurium (Te), driven by their unique optical and electronic properties. Once fabricated into an atomically thin layer structure, these materials have a direct-indirect bandgap transition, strong spin-orbit coupling, and favourable electronic and mechanical strain-dependent properties which are attractive for electronics. Pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) is an economic, green alternative for synthesis of TMD. It has been shown that in the case of MoX2, the chemical processes during the plasma phase of the ablation can yield the formation of multispecies, including MoOx quantum dots when oxygen-containing solvents are used. Here, we introduce the formation of MoSe2 nanoscrolls with low oxygen content synthesized via pulsed laser ablation in deep eutectic solvents (PLADES). Our results suggest that the synthesis produces a stable colloidal solution of large 2-D structures with tuneable surface charge by replacing the deep eutectic solvent (DES) with DI water. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) results suggest that irradiating the solvent at near infrared NIR energy does not affect its chemical composition. NMR also proves that serial washing can completely remove solvent from the nanostructures. Raman shifts suggest the formation of large, thin MoSe2 nanosheets aided by the solvent confinement resulting from van der Waal forces and hydrogen bonds interactions between MoSe2 and urea. Binding energies measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirm MoSe2-DES preference to form 1T-MoSe2versus molybdenum oxides and 2H MoSe2 in DI-water. Raman and XPS findings were validated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). Results of this work validate the use of PLADES for the synthesis of stable, crystalline, low-surface-oxygen-content colloidal MoSe2 nanoscrolls in scalable quantities.

Glycolipid-Containing Nanoparticle Vaccine Engages Invariant NKT Cells to Enhance Humoral Protection against Systemic Bacterial Infection but Abrogates T-Independent Vaccine Responses.

CD4+ T cells enable the critical B cell humoral immune protection afforded by most effective vaccines. We and others have recently identified an alternative source of help for B cells in mice, invariant NK T (iNKT) cells. iNKT cells are innate glycolipid-specific T cells restricted to the nonpolymorphic Ag-presenting molecule CD1d. As such, iNKT cells respond to glycolipids equally well in all people, making them an appealing adjuvant for universal vaccines. We tested the potential for the iNKT glycolipid agonist, α-galactosylceramide (αGC), to serve as an adjuvant for a known human protective epitope by creating a nanoparticle that delivers αGC plus antigenic polysaccharides from Streptococcus pneumoniae αGC-embedded nanoparticles activate murine iNKT cells and B cells in vitro and in vivo, facilitate significant dose sparing, and avoid iNKT anergy. Nanoparticles containing αGC plus S. pneumoniae polysaccharides elicits robust IgM and IgG in vivo and protect mice against lethal systemic S. pneumoniae However, codelivery of αGC via nanoparticles actually eliminated Ab protection elicited by a T-independent S. pneumoniae vaccine. This is consistent with previous studies demonstrating iNKT cell help for B cells following acute activation, but negative regulation of B cells during chronic inflammation. αGC-containing nanoparticles represent a viable platform for broadly efficacious vaccines against deadly human pathogens, but their potential for eliminating B cells under certain conditions suggests further clarity on iNKT cell interactions with B cells is warranted.

Nanoarchitecture of TiO2 microspheres with expanded lattice interlayers and its heterojunction to the laser modified black TiO2 using pulsed laser ablation in liquid with improved photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation.

Different morphologies and crystal phases of black titanium dioxide (TiO2) were synthesized using Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquid (PLAL). The synthesized laser modified black TiO2 (LMB-TiO2) structures included hydrogenated anatase TiO2 nanoparticles, as the core shell structures, and TiO2 microspheres. TiO2 core-shell nanoparticles, which had crystalline-disordered structures, demonstrated the laser ablation pulse duration-dependence growth of amorphous shells and hence formation of disordered TiO2 nanoparticles with different thickness of hydrogen-doped amorphous shells were shown. TiO2 microspheres with the yolk-shell like structures (YSHL-TiO2 microspheres), on the other hand, showed the formation of rutile phases in the shell which encapsulate Lattice Expanded Planes (LEPs) in the core. The microspheres demonstrated phase transitions from anatase to rutile and size-dependent lattice interlayers expansion from 0.35 nm to 0.94 nm. The maximum particle size growth occurred when the samples were subjected to the laser ablation for 120 min. The crystal phase transition, consequently, led to the formation of heterostructured photocatalysts through construction of hydrogenated anatase TiO2 nanoparticles junctions with rutile TiO2 microspheres. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) using LMB-TiO2 heterostructure was tested under visible light irradiation Results showed approximately 99% of MB was degraded after 60 min. Enhanced visible light absorption and increased charge carrier lifetime due to formation of different types of heterojunctions may explain the higher photocatalytic performance of LM-TiO2 samples. Moreover, the Photoluminescence analysis indicated that hydroxyl radicals were the main active species involved in the photocatalytic degradation tests and therefore the photocatalysis mechanism was accordingly suggested.

Synergistic antifungal effect of chitosan-stabilized selenium nanoparticles synthesized by pulsed laser ablation in liquids against Candida albicans biofilms.

BACKGROUND: Candida albicans is a major opportunistic fungal pathogen. One of the most important virulence factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of candidiasis is its ability to form biofilms. A key characteristic of Candida biofilms is their resistance to antifungal agents. Due to significant morbidity and mortality rates related to biofilm-associated drug resistance, there is an urgency to develop novel nanotechnology-based approaches preventing biofilm-related infections. METHODS: In this study, we report, for the first time, the synthesis of selenium nanoparticles by irradiating selenium pellets by nanosecond pulsed laser ablation in liquid chitosan as a capping agent. Synergy of the fungicidal effect of selenium nanoparticles and chitosan was quantified by the combination index theorem of Chou-Talalay. RESULTS: This drug combination resulted in a potent fungicidal effect against a preformed C. albicans biofilm in a dose-response manner. By advanced electron microscopy techniques, we documented the adhesive and permeabilizing properties of chitosan, therefore allowing selenium nanoparticles to enter as the cell wall of the yeast became disrupted and distorted. Most importantly, we demonstrated a potent quantitative synergistic effect when compounds such as selenium and chitosan are combined. CONCLUSION: These chitosan-stabilized selenium nanoparticles could be used for ex vivo applications such as sterilizers for surfaces and biomedical devices.

Preliminary Findings that a Targeted Intervention Leads to Altered Brain Function in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) exhibit behavioral dysregulation, executive dysfunction, and atypical function in associated brain regions. Previous research shows early intervention mitigates these outcomes but corresponding brain changes were not studied. Given the Alert® Program for Self-Regulation improves behavioral regulation and executive function in children with FASD, we asked if this therapy also improves their neural functioning in associated regions. Twenty-one children with FASD aged 8-12 years were randomized to the Alert®-treatment (TXT; n = 10) or waitlist-control (WL; n = 11) conditions. They were assessed with a Go-NoGo functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm before and after training or the wait-out period. Groups initially performed equivalently and showed no fMRI differences. At post-test, TXT outperformed WL on NoGo trials while fMRI in uncorrected results with a small-volume correction showed less activation in prefrontal, temporal, and cingulate regions. Groups also demonstrated different patterns of change over time reflecting reduced signal at post-test in selective prefrontal and parietal regions in TXT and increased in WL. In light of previous evidence indicating TXT at post-test perform similar to non-exposed children on the Go-NoGo fMRI paradigm, our findings suggest Alert® does improve functional integrity in the neural circuitry for behavioral regulation in children with FASD.

[Formula: see text]Social perception in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Although the profile of social cognitive difficulties is well recognized in children with certain neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), this profile is not as well established in other clinical pediatric populations. The objective of the present study is to examine patterns of social perception in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) compared to typically-developing (TD) control children. A total of 56 children between 8 and 12 years of age-35 with FASD and 21 TD-completed the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task - Children's Version (RMET-C). The RMET-C accuracy scores were compared between groups and also by item difficulty and emotional valence. The relation between cognitive functioning, age, FASD severity, and RMET-C performance was also investigated. The children in the FASD group did not perform as well as the children in the TD group on the RMET-C Total score and Easy items, as well as the Positive, Negative, and Neutral emotional valence items. When age and IQ were investigated, there was a significant effect of age on the Positive items in the TD group, with scores increasing with age. With regard to FASD severity, children with alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder were outperformed by children with full/partial fetal alcohol syndrome on the Positive and Negative items. Overall, these results further the understanding of the social cognitive profile in children with FASD and how this profile relates to other childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorders.

Inhibition of Candida albicans biofilm by pure selenium nanoparticles synthesized by pulsed laser ablation in liquids.

Selenoproteins play an important role in the human body by accomplishing essential biological functions like oxido-reductions, antioxidant defense, thyroid hormone metabolism and immune response; therefore, the possibility to synthesize selenium nanoparticles free of any contaminants is exciting for future nano-medical applications. This paper reports the first synthesis of selenium nanoparticles by femtosecond pulsed laser ablation in de-ionized water. Those pure nanoparticles have been successfully used to inhibit the formation of Candida albicans biofilms. Advanced electron microscopy images showed that selenium nanoparticles easily adhere on the biofilm, then penetrate into the pathogen, and consequently damage the cell structure by substituting with sulfur. 50% inhibition of Candida albicans biofilm was obtained at only 25 ppm. Finally, the two physical parameters proved to affect strongly the viability of Candida albicans are the crystallinity and particle size.

Magneto-elasto-electroporation (MEEP): In-vitro visualization and numerical characteristics.

A magnetically controlled elastically driven electroporation phenomenon, or magneto-elasto-electroporation (MEEP), is discovered while studying the interactions between core-shell magnetoelectric nanoparticles (CSMEN) and biological cells in the presence of an a.c. magnetic field. In this paper we report the effect of MEEP observed via a series of in-vitro experiments using core (CoFe2O4)-shell (BaTiO3) structured magnetoelectric nanoparticles and human epithelial cells (HEP2). The cell electroporation phenomenon and its correlation with the magnetic field modulated CSMEN are described in detail. The potential application of CSMEN in electroporation is confirmed by analyzing crystallographic phases, multiferroic properties of the fabricated CSMEN, influences of d.c. and a.c. magnetic fields on the CSMEN and cytotoxicity tests. The mathematical formalism to quantitatively describe the phenomena is also reported. The reported findings provide insights into the underlying MEEP mechanism and demonstrate the utility of CSMEN as an electric pulse-generating nano-probe in electroporation experiments with a potential application toward accurate and efficient targeted cell permeation.

Ion-ion correlation, solvent excluded volume and pH effects on physicochemical properties of spherical oxide nanoparticles.

One major source of complexity in the implementation of nanoparticles in aqueous electrolytes arises from the strong influence that biological environments has on their physicochemical properties. A key parameter for understanding the molecular mechanisms governing the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles is the formation of the surface charge density. In this article, we present an efficient and accurate approach that combines a recently introduced classical solvation density functional theory for spherical electrical double layers with a surface complexation model to account for ion-ion correlation and excluded volume effects on the surface titration of spherical nanoparticles. We apply the proposed computational approach to account for the charge-regulated mechanisms on the surface chemistry of spherical silica (SiO2) nanoparticles. We analyze the effects of the nanoparticle size, as well as pH level and electrolyte concentration of the aqueous solution on the nanoparticle's surface charge density and Zeta potential. We validate our predictions for 580Å and 200Å nanoparticles immersed in acid, neutral and alkaline mono-valent aqueous electrolyte solutions against experimental data. Our results on mono-valent electrolyte show that the excluded volume and ion-ion correlations contribute significantly to the surface charge density and Zeta potential of the nanoparticle at high electrolyte concentration and pH levels, where the solvent crowding effects and electrostatic screening have shown a profound influence on the protonation/deprotonation reactions at the liquid/solute interface. The success of this approach in describing physicochemical properties of silica nanoparticles supports its broader application to study other spherical metal oxide nanoparticles.

Social Perspective Taking and Empathy in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) show sociobehavioral impairments; however, the social cognitive profile contributing to these impairments is poorly understood. This study compared social perspective taking and empathy in children with FASD versus typically developing controls (TDC). Thirty-seven children with FASD and 21 TDC participated. Measures included parent-rated CBCL and SSIS, and NEPSY-II Theory of Mind, Test of Social Cognition and Index of Empathy. Parents rated the FASD group higher than TDC on indices of behavior problems and lower on indices of social skills and empathy. Children with FASD scored significantly below TDC on tasks requiring complex social cognition. The majority of correlations between social cognition and parent-ratings were not significant in FASD and TDC, with the exception of a negative correlation between self-reported empathy and parent-rated behavior difficulties in TDC. FASD subgroup analyses revealed lower theory of mind and empathy scores among children with ARND than pFAS/FAS. With regard to sex, males with FASD were rated as having more behavior difficulties than females, whereas TDC females obtained higher empathy ratings than males. In both groups, females scored higher on theory of mind and empathy indices. On theory of mind tasks, older children with FASD performed below younger, whereas younger TDC children performed more poorly than older. Children with FASD show reduced functioning on indices of sociobehavioral and social cognition, and the effects are influenced by sex and age. These findings provide insight into the clinical and social profile of children with FASD.

Self-regulation therapy increases frontal gray matter in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: evaluation by voxel-based morphometry.

Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder show executive function (EF) deficits, particularly in self-regulation skills, and abnormalities in brain regions critical for these skills. None of the validated EF interventions for these children has been evaluated with regards to impacts on brain structure. Twenty-nine children with FASD were assigned to either an immediate-treatment (TX) or delayed-treatment control (DTC) group (DTC). Nineteen typically developing children served as healthy controls (CT). All received a structural MRI scan and baseline neuropsychological testing, following which the TX group underwent 12 weekly 1.5-h sessions of the Alert Program for Self-Regulation(®). After treatment or a period of ~14 weeks, all received a repeat scan and post-intervention testing. Whole-brain and region-of-interest analyses using voxel-based morphometry evaluated group differences and changes over time in gray matter (GM). Exploratory analyses revealed significant group changes: (1) At baseline, combined TX and DTC groups demonstrated global GM reductions compared with the CT group. (2) Region-of-interest analysis using a frontal mask, comparing post-intervention to pre-intervention results, showed significantly increased GM in the left middle frontal gyrus (BA10), right frontal pole (BA11), and right anterior cingulate (BA32) in the TX group. Similar results were not found in the DTC or CT groups. (3) At post-intervention, both TX and CT groups showed larger GM volumes than the DTC group in the left superior frontal gyrus (BA9), which was smaller in the FASD group at baseline. These results suggested that Alert led to improvements in post-intervention testing of self-regulation skills and typical brain development in treated children.

In vitro monitoring of oxidative processes with self-aggregating gold nanoparticles using all-optical photoacoustic spectroscopy.

In this work, the assembly of gold nanoparticles of (AuNPs) is used to detect the presence of the biomolecule glutathione (GSH) using a novel technique called "all-optical photoacoustic spectroscopy" (AOPAS). The AOPAS technique coupled with AuNPs forms the basis of a biosensing technique capable of probing the dynamic evolution of nano-bio interfaces within a microscopic volume. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectra were measured to describe the kinetics governing the interparticle interactions by monitoring the AuNPs assembly and evolution of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band. A comparison of the same dynamic evolution of AuNPs assembly was performed using the AOPAS technique to confirm the validity of this method. The fundamental study is complemented by a demonstration of the performance of this biosensing technique in the presence of cell culture medium containing fetal bovine serum (FBS), which forms a protein corona on the surface of the AuNPs. This work demonstrates that the in vitro monitoring capabilities of the AOPAS provides sensitive measurement at the microscopic level and low nanoparticle concentrations without the artifacts limiting the use of conventional biosensing methods, such as fluorescent indicators. The AOPAS technique not only provides a facile approach for in vitro biosensing, but also shed a light on the real-time detection of thiol containing oxidative stress biomarkers in live systems using AuNPs.

Improving executive functioning in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

An extensive body of literature has documented executive function (EF) impairments in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD); however, few studies have aimed specifically at improving EF. One treatment program that shows promise for children with FASD is the Alert Program for Self-Regulation®, which is a 12-week treatment specifically designed to target self-regulation, a component of EF. The present study sought to examine if Alert would produce improvements in self-regulation that would generalize to other aspects of EF, behavior, and social skills in children with FASD. Twenty-five children aged 8-12 years diagnosed with an FASD were assigned in alternating sequence to either an immediate treatment (TXT) or a delayed treatment control (DTC) group. Both groups received a comprehensive evaluation of EF at baseline and upon completing therapy (TXT), or after a 12- to 14-week interval from baseline (DTC). Parents also completed questionnaires assessing EF and behavior at both time points. For the TXT group only, parent questionnaires were readministered at 6-month follow-up. At the 12-week follow-up, the TXT group displayed significant improvements in inhibitory control and social cognition. Parents of children in the TXT group reported improved behavioral and emotional regulation, as well as reduced externalizing behavior problems. These behavioral improvements along with further improved parent-rated inhibitory control was maintained at the 6-month follow-up. The EF disabilities in children with FASD can be remediated through a targeted treatment approach aimed at facilitating self-regulation skills.

Evaluation of the neurobehavioral screening tool in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).

BACKGROUND: There is a growing need for validated tools to screen children at risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The Neurobehavioral Screening Tool (NST) is one of several promising screening measures for FASD, though further evidence is needed to establish the tool's psychometric utility. OBJECTIVE: To assess the predictive accuracy of the NST among children with an FASD diagnosis, with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) but no FASD diagnosis, and typically developing controls. METHOD: The NST was completed by caregivers of children ages 6 to 17, including 48 with FASD, 22 with PAE, and 32 typically developing non-exposed controls. Predictive accuracy coefficients were calculated using Nash et al. (2006) criteria, and compared against controls. An alternative scoring scheme was also investigated to determine optimum referral thresholds using item-level total scores. RESULTS: The NST yielded 62.5% sensitivity for participants with FASD and 50% for PAE. Specificity values were 100% with no typically developing control scoring positive. Within the FASD group there was a trend for higher sensitivity among adolescents aged 12 to17 (70.8%) compared with children aged 6 to 11 years (54.2%), p = 0.23. CONCLUSION: The findings support a growing body of literature evidencing psychometric promise for the clinical utility of the NST as an FASD screening tool, though further research on possible age-effects is warranted. The availability of a validated clinical screening tool for FASD, such as the NST, would aid in accurately screening a large number of children and lead to a timelier diagnostic referral.

Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder: identifying the neurobehavioural phenotype and effective interventions.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Since the first description of the foetal damage of alcohol in 1967, numerous studies have outlined different aspects of neurodevelopmental dysfunction, adversely affecting the lives of children worldwide. Although the cause of the syndrome is sorted out, the pathogenesis of brain damage is far from being clear. In contrast to children exhibiting the full facial dysmorphology, who are relatively easy to diagnose, in those presenting only with alcohol-related neurodevelopmental damage diagnosis is much more challenging due to poor specificity of the brain dysfunction. Hence, identifying the neurodevelopmental phenotype of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a major challenge. RECENT FINDINGS: Recently, a behavioural phenotype of FASD has been described and validated using items from the Child Behaviour Checklist. This tool has high sensitivity and specificity in separating children with FASD from those with ADHD and from healthy controls. In parallel, a number of intervention studies show promise in improving the abilities of children and adolescents with the syndrome to cope with daily tasks and improve their quality of life. SUMMARY: The neurobehavioural screening test can facilitate screening for FASD and is an official screening tool in the FASD toolkit of the Public Health Agency of Canada. Promising new interventions may attenuate the long-term outcome of these children.

Towards identifying a characteristic neuropsychological profile for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. 1. Analysis of the Motherisk FASD clinic.

OBJECTIVE: Children with FASD display a heterogeneous profile and may have deficits in physical, behavioural, emotional, and social functioning, as the result of prenatal alcohol exposure. The major objective of the current study was to identify if a specific pattern of neuropsychological functioning exists among children prenatally exposed to alcohol who received a diagnosis, versus exposed children who did not. We compared groups on domains of intellectual functioning, memory, attention, executive functioning, motor functioning, language/communication and achievement. METHODS: One hundred and seventy children who were seen in the clinic between 2005 and 2009 were included in this study. Out of the total 170 children seen, 109 received an FASD diagnosis. RESULTS: We identified a specific neuropsychological profile that typifies children diagnosed with an FASD versus those exposed prenatally to alcohol, who did not receive a diagnosis. Diagnosed children displayed a neuropsychological profile characterized by weaknesses in the areas of verbal reasoning, memory, overall language functioning, math reasoning and calculation. Groups did not differ on measures of attention or executive functioning. CONCLUSION: The information gained from these analyses, are essential for informing best practices for diagnosis and treatment.

Towards identifying a characteristic neuropsychological profile for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. 2. Specific caregiver-and teacher-rating.

OBJECTIVES: This study compares the behavioral profile of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) who were diagnosed using the Canadian Guidelines with children with prenatal alcohol exposure who did not meet criteria for a FASD diagnosis. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: To accomplish this, we used caregiver and teacher questionnaires evaluating different aspects of behavior. Investigated were 170 children, 109 who received a diagnosis of FASD (Diagnosed Group) and 61 who did not (Non-Diagnosed Group). On the caregiver report, children in the Diagnosed Group had more internalizing and externalizing problems on the CBCL, more executive function difficulties on the BRIEF and more attention problems on the Conner's Rating Scale, compared to the Non-Diagnosed Group. On teacher report, children in the Diagnosed Group had more internalizing and externalizing problems on the TRF and more attention problems on the Conner's Rating Scale, compared to the Non-Diagnosed Group. For both informants, more children in the Diagnosed group had scores in the clinically elevated range. CONCLUSION: Overall, the present results identify key caregiver- and teacher-rated profiles of children with FASD diagnoses. These profiles will aid in better understanding, diagnosing and providing focused treatment approaches for children with FASD.

Optical and spectroscopic properties of human whole blood and plasma with and without Y2O3 and Nd³âº:Y2O3 nanoparticles.

The optical properties of human whole blood and blood plasma with and without Y2O3 and Nd³âº:Y2O3 nanoparticles are characterized in the near infrared region at 808 nm using a double integrating sphere technique. Using experimentally measured quantities of diffuse reflectance and diffuse transmittance, a computational analysis was conducted utilizing the Kubelka-Munk, the Inverse Adding Doubling, and Magic Light Kubelka-Munk and Monte Carlo Methods to determine optical properties of the absorption and scattering coefficients. Room temperature absorption and emission spectra were also acquired of Nd³âº:Y2O3 nanoparticles elucidating their utility as biological markers. The emission spectra of Nd³âº:Y2O3 were taken by exciting the nanoparticles before and after entering the whole blood sample. The emission from the 4F(3/2) → 4I(11/2) manifold transition of Nd³âº:Y2O3 nanoparticles readily propagates through the blood sample at excitation of 808 nm and exhibits a shift in relative intensities of the peaks due to differences in scattering. At 808 nm, in both whole blood and plasma samples, a direct relationship was found with absorption coefficient and Y2O3 nanoparticle concentration. Results for the whole blood indicate a small inverse relationship with Y2O3 nanoparticle concentration and scattering coefficient and in contrast a direct relation for the plasma.

Autism characteristics in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

BACKGROUND: Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) exhibit difficulties in many cognitive and behavioral domains and also have high comorbidity with other disorders such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder as well as autism. Although the FASD profile is shown to be distinct from ADHD and conduct disorder, far less is known about the commonalities with autism. The current study used a parent-rated questionnaire containing an autism subscale to explore the autistic-like features that children with FASD exhibit. METHODS: Studied were 25 children with FASD (age: M = 10.3 years) and 17 normal controls (NCs; age: M = 10.2 years). As part of a larger study, all parents/caregivers completed the Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS; Gresham & Elliot, 2008), which in addition to evaluating social skills and behavior problems globally, includes an Autism subscale. RESULTS: Between-group comparisons showed the FASD group not only scored significantly lower in social skills and significantly higher in behavior problems than the NC group but children with FASD also scored significantly higher on the Autism subscale. Item analysis revealed they showed the most difficulty in terms of social and communicative functioning and the least in repetitive and restrictive behaviors. CONCLUSION: Current findings signify that FASD and autism share similarities with regard to social and communicative functioning. These findings, which further our knowledge of the FASD phenotype, may be useful in specifying the particular interventions these children need.

A differential approach for examining the behavioural phenotype of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

BACKGROUND: In 2006, Nash and colleagues published results suggesting that individual items from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) could be used as a screening tool that was highly sensitive in differentiating children with FASD from controls and children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Since many of the items referred to features of Oppositional Defiant/Conduct Disorder (ODD/CD), it was not clear whether the items reflected comorbidity with ODD/CD, or were unique to children with FASD. OBJECTIVES: The present study sought to replicate the results of our 2006 paper using a new and larger sample, which also includes a group of children diagnosed with ODD/CD. METHODS: Retrospective psychological chart review was conducted on 56 children with FASD, 50 with ADHD, 60 with ODD/CD, and 50 normal control (NC) children. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis of CBCL items discriminating FASD from NC was used to compare FASD to the ADHD and ODD/CD groups. RESULTS: ROC analyses showed scores of a) 3 or higher on 10 items differentiated FASD from NC with a sensitivity of 98%, specificity of 42% and b) 2 or higher on 5 items reflecting oppositional behaviors differentiated FASD from ADHD with a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 42%. CONCLUSION: Our findings partially replicate the results of our 2006 study and additionally elucidate the behavioural differences between children with FASD and those with ODD/CD. The proposed screening tool is currently the only tool available that is empirically derived and able to differentiate children with FASD from children with clinically similar profiles.