Lived Experiences and Perceptions of Autistic Young Adults Participating in Employment Readiness Skills Training.

This study aimed to examine the experiences and perceptions of participants engaged in an employment readiness program, Employment Preparation And Skills Support (EPASS), which is a manualized group-based training program designed to improve employment readiness among autistic young adults. A qualitative descriptive design was utilized to generate thick descriptions through semi-structured interviews with 22 transition-age autistic individuals (Mage = 20; 6 females; 16 males). Thematic analysis was employed to understand the experiences and career outcomes of transition-age autistic individuals pre- and post-participation in the EPASS program.

Anticoagulant Prescribing Patterns in New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is a common complication after cardiac surgery and is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolic stroke. Recommendations regarding the optimal anticoagulant, timing of initiation, and duration of therapy remain uncertain.

Methods: Administrative databases were used to include adult patients who presented with POAF after cardiac surgery between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2020.

Anticoagulation of HeartMate 3 Left Ventricular Assist Device With Apixaban.

We report a case of a 56-year-old man requiring a HeartMate 3 after a myocardial infarction and limited recovery on a temporary ventricular assist device. Because of several gastrointestinal bleeding complications and nonadherence, his antithrombotic therapy was switched from warfarin and aspirin to apixaban 5 mg twice daily. We also determined several peak anti-factor Xa levels for ongoing monitoring.

Adaptation of Parents Raising a Child with ASD: The Role of Positive Perceptions, Coping, Self-efficacy, and Social Support.

This study explored the adaptation of parents raising a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) specifically the contributory role of positive perceptions, coping, self-efficacy, and social support. One hundred and thirty-six parents of children with a diagnosis of ASD completed a battery of self-report questionnaires via an online survey. Using multiple regression analyses positive perceptions, adaptive coping, self-efficacy, and social support were each a significant contributor to one or more positive adaptation outcomes.

The Co-Occurrence of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Cerebral Palsy and Associated Comorbid Conditions in Children and Adolescents.

Background: Comorbidity is the co-occurrence of two or more disorders in the same person.

Aim: This study investigated the frequency of comorbid conditions, in children and adolescents, with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), cerebral palsy (CP), and a comorbid diagnosis of ASD and CP.

Method: Ninety-six children and adolescents with ASD, CP, and both ASD and CP aged between 4 and 18 years participated in this study.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms, Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Sleep Problems, Challenging Behavior, Adaptive Behavior, and Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This study investigated the relationship between sleep, gastrointestinal symptoms, challenging behavior, adaptive behavior, and quality of life between children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) symptoms. Parents of 118 children and adolescents with ASD completed the Conners Early Childhood Rating Scale-Parent Short Form or the Conners 3-Parent Short Form, Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, Gastrointestinal Symptom Inventory, Behavior Problems Inventory-Short Form, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition. The ASD group and the ASD with AD/HD groups differed significantly in sleep problems, gastrointestinal symptoms, and quality of life.

Gaming Disorder in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Gaming disorder (GD) is a clinical addiction to video or internet games. This study investigated whether GD symptoms are heightened in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in comparison to a control group, and explored predictors of GD in 230 adults with ASD and 272 controls. The relationship between GD and gelotophobia was examined.

Relationship between Comorbid Psychopathology in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Parental Well-being.

Aim: Frequency and relationship between child comorbid psychopathology and parental stress, quality of life (QoL), anxiety, depression, and social support were examined in parents of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Method: Parents of 152 children and adolescents with ASD completed the Autism Spectrum Disorder-Comorbid for Children, Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, World Health Organization Quality of Life Abbreviated Version, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support.

Results: A series of one-way multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to examine the relationship between child comorbid psychopathology and parental well-being.

Familial sleep and autism spectrum disorder: a pilot actigraphy study of sleep quality, quality of life and psychological distress.

Objectives: Sleep problems are common among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and can have a negative impact on the child's behaviour and daytime functioning. The current pilot study examined objective measurements of child and parent sleep as factors associated with the stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, social support and quality of life of parents of children with ASD.

Methods: Participants were nine children with ASD and their parents (nine mothers and three fathers).

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, comorbid psychopathology, behaviour problems and gastrointestinal symptoms in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

Objectives: The study aims to investigate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, comorbid psychopathology and behaviour problems in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Methods: Parents of 147 children and adolescents with ASD aged 6-18 years completed the Conners 3 Parent-Short Form, Gastrointestinal Symptom Inventory, Behavior Problems Inventory-Short Form and Autism Spectrum Disorder-Comorbid for Children.

Results: Fifty-six per cent of children and adolescents had a comorbid diagnosis of ADHD, yet over 70% presented with clinically significant ADHD symptoms.

Age of Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis and Comorbidity in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Aim: Research is required to study the relationship between age of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis and the presence of comorbidities.

Method: The Gastrointestinal Symptom Inventory, Autism Spectrum Disorder-Comorbid for Children, Behavior Problem Inventory-Short Form and Social Communication Questionnaire were completed by parents of 129 children and adolescents with a diagnosis of ASD.

Results: Results revealed significant relationships between the age of ASD diagnosis, the presence of comorbidities and intellectual disability.

Plasma Exchange for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Myocarditis.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy has been shown to improve outcomes across many types of malignancies. However, immune checkpoint inhibitor has been associated with several immune-related adverse events including myocarditis. We describe the case of a 69-year-old man with fulminant myocarditis likely due to pembrolizumab therapy, complicated by biventricular failure with cardiogenic shock.

Comorbid Feeding and Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Challenging Behavior, Sensory Issues, Adaptive Functioning and Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Children and adolescents diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often demonstrate difficulties with feeding. The goal of the current study was to investigate co-occurring issues that often accompany feeding problems in 120 children and adolescents with ASD. : This study investigated the relationship between feeding problems and gastrointestinal symptoms, challenging behavior and sensory issues, quality of life, adaptive functioning and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

Feeding Problems, Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Challenging Behavior and Sensory Issues in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Frequency of feeding problems, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, challenging behavior, sensory problems and comorbid psychopathology were assessed using the following questionnaires: Screening Tool for Feeding Problems for Children, GI Symptoms Inventory, Behavior Problems Inventory Short Form, Short Sensory Profile, and Autism Spectrum Disorder-Comorbidity Child (ASD-CC) in 136 children and adolescents with ASD. Eighty-four percent had food selectivity, followed by food refusal (78.7%), rapid eating (76.

Development, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of an employment-related social skills intervention for young adults with high-functioning autism.

This article details the iterative development, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of an 8-week work-related social skills intervention, Assistive Soft Skills and Employment Training, for young adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. In this mixed-methods study, pre- and post-intervention surveys, interviews, and functional measures were used to gather information on the program's feasibility, user acceptability, practicality, and preliminary efficacy. Results indicate that Assistive Soft Skills and Employment Training graduates showed significant improvements in work-related social skills knowledge, social functioning, and social/empathy self-efficacy.

The Role of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease.

Despite contemporary management, patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) remain at high risk for thrombotic events. Several randomized controlled trials have evaluated the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with CAD, including in the setting of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and stable CAD, and in patients with concomitant atrial fibrillation. Trials of apixaban and dabigatran in patients with ACS demonstrate no benefit with an increased risk of bleeding.

An Investigation of Gelotophobia in Individuals with a Diagnosis of High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Samson et al. (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 41:475-483, 2011) conducted the first empirical investigation examining the fear of being laughed at (gelotophobia) and its prevalence in individuals with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (hfASD). The present research examined gelotophobia in relation to social functioning, perceived social support, life satisfaction and quality of life (QoL) in individuals with hfASD, including past experiences of bullying and the presence of comorbid psychopathology.

Bio-collections in autism research.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of complex neurodevelopmental disorders with diverse clinical manifestations and symptoms. In the last 10 years, there have been significant advances in understanding the genetic basis for ASD, critically supported through the establishment of ASD bio-collections and application in research. Here, we summarise a selection of major ASD bio-collections and their associated findings.

"With a Touch of a Button": Staff perceptions on integrating technology in an Irish service provider for people with intellectual disabilities.

Background: People with intellectual disabilities continue to underutilize technology, in part due to insufficient training. Because support staff professionals provide instructional support, how they perceive integrating new technologies is important for people with intellectual disabilities.

Method: The authors conducted a sequential mixed-methods exploratory study (quan→QUAL) including quantitative data from online surveys completed by 46 staff members and qualitative data from five focus groups attended by 39 staff members.

Activity of the enantiomers of erythro-3-hydroxyaspartate at glutamate transporters and NMDA receptors.

The enantiomers of erythro-3-hydroxyaspartate were tested for activity at glutamate transporters and NMDA receptors. Both enantiomers inhibited glutamate transporters in rat hippocampal crude synaptosomes and elicited substrate-like activity at excitatory amino acid transporter 1, 2, and 3 as measured by voltage clamp in the Xenopus oocyte expression system. The enantiomers had similar affinities, but the D-enantiomer showed a lower maximal effect at excitatory amino acid transporter 1, 2, and 3 than the L-enantiomer.

3-Aminoglutarate is a "silent" false transmitter for glutamate neurons.

Understanding the storage and release of the excitatory neurotransmitter, L-glutamate by synaptic vesicles has lagged behind receptor characterizations due to a lack of pharmacological agents. We report that the glutamate analog, 3-aminoglutarate (3-AG) is a "silent" false transmitter for glutamate neurons that may be a useful tool to study storage and release mechanisms. Like L-glutamate itself, 3-AG is a high-affinity substrate for both the plasma membrane (EAATs) and vesicular (vGLUT) glutamate transporters.