Volumetric alterations in the basal ganglia in autism Spectrum disorder: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Recent research indicates that some brain structures show alterations in conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Among them, are the basal ganglia that are involved in motor, cognitive and behavioral neural circuits. OBJECTIVE: Review the literature that describes possible volumetric alterations in the basal ganglia of individuals with ASD and the impacts that these changes have on the severity of the condition. METHODOLOGY: This systematic review was registered in the design and reported according to the PRISMA Items and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023394787). The study analyzed data from published clinical, case-contemplate, and cohort trials. The following databases were consulted: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, using the Medical Subject Titles (MeSH) "Autism Spectrum Disorder" and "Basal Ganglia". The last search was carried out on February 28, 2023. RESULTS: Thirty-five eligible articles were collected, analyzed, and grouped according to the levels of alterations. CONCLUSION: The present study showed important volumetric alterations in the basal ganglia in ASD. However, the examined studies have methodological weaknesses that do not allow generalization and correlation with ASD manifestations.

Polycystic ovary syndrome: aggressive or protective factor for the retina? Evaluation of macular thickness and retinal nerve fiber layers using high-definition optical coherence tomography.

Objective. To compare macular thickness (MT) and retinal nerve fiber layers (RNFL) between women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and healthy women. Materials and Methods. The study included 45 women with PCOS and 47 ovulatory women undergoing clinical-gynecological and ophthalmic evaluations, including measurement of MT, RNFL, and optic disc parameters using optical coherence tomography. Results. The superior RNFL around the optic nerve was significantly thicker in PCOS than in healthy volunteers (P = 0.036). After stratification according to insulin resistance, the temporal inner macula (TIM), the inferior inner macula (IIM), the nasal inner macula (NIM), and the nasal outer macula (NOM) were significantly thicker in PCOS group than in control group (P < 0.05). Both the presence of obesity associated with insulin resistance (P = 0.037) and glucose intolerance (P = 0.001) were associated with significant increase in the PC1 mean score, relative to MT. A significant increase in the PC2 mean score occurred when considering the presence of metabolic syndrome (P < 0.0001). There was a significant interaction between obesity and inflammation in a decreasing mean PC2 score relative to macular RNFL thickness (P = 0.034). Conclusion. Decreased macular RNFL thickness and increased total MT are associated with metabolic abnormalities, while increased RNFL thickness around the optic nerve is associated with hormonal changes inherent in PCOS.