Strategic social decision making undergoes significant changes in typically developing and autistic early adolescents.

Information sampling about others' trustworthiness prior to cooperation allows humans to minimize the risk of exploitation. Here, we examined whether early adolescence or preadolescence, a stage defined as in between childhood and adolescence, is a significant developmental period for strategic social decisions. We also sought to characterize differences between autistic children and their typically developing (TD) peers.

A cross-sectional study of father-daughter/son interactions from 1 Month to 3 years of age with the feeding and play scales: Exploring the psychometric properties.

The quality of father-infant/toddler interactions has become a focal point in studies of early child development. However, studies targeting early father-infant/toddler interactions may be hampered due to the lack of specific and validated measures; indeed, most of the applied observational instruments were originally designed to evaluate mother-child interactions. In a sample of 142 fathers-infant/toddler dyads, the current study aimed to test the reliability of the Feeding and Play Scales, which were initially created to assess mother-infant/toddler interactions.

Brain phenotyping in Moebius syndrome and other congenital facial weakness disorders by diffusion MRI morphometry.

In this study, we used a novel imaging technique, DTI (diffusion tensor imaging)-driven tensor-based morphometry, to investigate brain anatomy in subjects diagnosed with Moebius syndrome ( = 21), other congenital facial weakness disorders ( = 9) and healthy controls ( = 15). First, we selected a subgroup of subjects who satisfied the minimum diagnostic criteria for Moebius syndrome with only mild additional neurological findings. Compared to controls, in this cohort, we found a small region of highly significant volumetric reduction in the paramedian pontine reticular formation and the medial longitudinal fasciculus, important structures for the initiation and coordination of conjugate horizontal gaze.

Dynamic functional connectivity in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder: Convergence, divergence and classification.

Background: Over the recent years there has been a growing debate regarding the extent and nature of the overlap in neuropathology between schizophrenia (SZ) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) is a recent analysis method that explores temporal patterns of functional connectivity (FC). We compared resting-state dFNC in SZ, ASD and healthy controls (HC), characterized the associations between temporal patterns and symptoms, and performed a three-way classification analysis based on dFNC indices.

Identifying Autism from Resting-State fMRI Using Long Short-Term Memory Networks.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has helped characterize the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and carries promise for producing objective biomarkers for ASD. Recent work has focused on deriving ASD biomarkers from resting-state functional connectivity measures. However, current efforts that have identified ASD with high accuracy were limited to homogeneous, small datasets, while classification results for heterogeneous, multi-site data have shown much lower accuracy.

Leukocyte telomere length, T cell composition and DNA methylation age.

Both leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and DNA methylation age are strongly associated with chronological age. One measure of DNA methylation age─ the extrinsic epigenetic age acceleration (EEAA)─ is highly predictive of all-cause mortality. We examined the relation between LTL and EEAA.

Leisure-time physical activity and leukocyte telomere length among older women.

Background: Shortened leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a purported marker of cellular aging, is associated with morbidity and mortality. However, the association of physical activity, a modifiable lifestyle behavior, with LTL has not been adequately studied among older adults.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we examined associations of various intensity levels of leisure-time physical activity with LTL among 1476 older white and African American women from the Women's Health Initiative Objective Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health study.

Medically Graded Honey Supplementation Formula to Preterm Infants as a Prebiotic: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of medically graded enteral honey supplementation on the intestinal microbiota, immune response, and somatic growth of preterm infants.

Methods: A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted on preterm infants with gestational age ≤34 weeks and postnatal age >3 days. After reaching 1/2 goal enteral feeds, medically graded bee honey was added to milk at a dose of 5, 10, 15, and 0 g/day for 2 weeks in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively.

Association of Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity With Leukocyte Telomere Length Among Older Women.

Background: Previous studies on physical activity and telomere length have relied largely upon self-reported physical activity data, and few studies have examined older adults. The association of objectively measured physical activity with leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is currently unknown.

Methods: In this study, we examined cross-sectional associations between accelerometer-measured total, light, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and LTL, measured using Southern blot.

Variant Discovery and Fine Mapping of Genetic Loci Associated with Blood Pressure Traits in Hispanics and African Americans.

Despite the substantial burden of hypertension in US minority populations, few genetic studies of blood pressure have been conducted in Hispanics and African Americans, and it is unclear whether many of the established loci identified in European-descent populations contribute to blood pressure variation in non-European descent populations. Using the Metabochip array, we sought to characterize the genetic architecture of previously identified blood pressure loci, and identify novel cardiometabolic variants related to systolic and diastolic blood pressure in a multi-ethnic US population including Hispanics (n = 19,706) and African Americans (n = 18,744). Several known blood pressure loci replicated in African Americans and Hispanics.

Identification of insulin gene variants in neonatal diabetes.

Objectives: Permanent neonatal diabetes (PNDM) is caused by mutations in the genes responsible for the synthesis of different proteins that are important for the normal behavior of beta cells in the pancreas. Mutations in the insulin gene (INS) are considered as one of the causes of diabetes in neonates. This study aimed to investigate the genetic variations in the INS gene in a group of Egyptian infants diagnosed with PNDM.

Evaluation of Quantified Social Perception Circuit Activity as a Neurobiological Marker of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Importance: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is marked by social disability and is associated with dysfunction in brain circuits supporting social cue perception. The degree to which neural functioning reflects individual-level behavioral phenotype is unclear, slowing the search for functional neuroimaging biomarkers of ASD.

Objective: To examine whether quantified neural function in social perception circuits may serve as an individual-level marker of ASD in children and adolescents.

Soluble receptor and gene polymorphism for AGE: relationship with obesity and cardiovascular risks.

Background: Obesity in adolescents has quadrupled in the past 30 y. Markers for cardiovascular risks are needed in this population. We hypothesized that soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) and asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) can correlate with carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), a known index of subclinical atherosclerosis.

Endurance Exercise Improves Molecular Pathways of Aerobic Metabolism in Patients With Myositis.

Objective: Endurance exercise demonstrates beneficial effects in polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM); however, the molecular effects of exercise on skeletal muscle are incompletely understood. We undertook this controlled pilot study to investigate the effects of a 12-week endurance exercise training program on the molecular profile of skeletal muscle in patients with established PM/DM compared to a nonexercised control group of patients with established PM/DM.

Methods: Fifteen patients (7 in the exercise group and 8 in the control group) with paired baseline and 12-week follow-up muscle biopsy samples were included.

The rapid enrollment design for Phase I clinical trials.

We propose a dose-finding design for Phase I oncology trials where each new patient is assigned to the dose most likely to be the target dose given observed data. The main model assumption is that the dose-toxicity curve is non-decreasing. This method is beneficial when it is desirable to assign a patient to a dose as soon as the patient is enrolled into a study.

Leukocyte Telomere Length and Risks of Incident Coronary Heart Disease and Mortality in a Racially Diverse Population of Postmenopausal Women.

Objective: Telomeres are regions at the ends of chromosomes that maintain chromosomal structural integrity and genomic stability. In studies of mainly older, white populations, shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors and increased risks of mortality and coronary heart disease (CHD). On average, African Americans (AfAm) have longer LTL than whites, but the LTL-CHD relationship in AfAm is unknown.

Retention rates of rufinamide in pediatric epilepsy patients with and without Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of rufinamide (RFM) in patients with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) compared to those with other epilepsy syndromes using time to treatment failure (retention rate) as the outcome measure.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, characteristics and outcomes of all patients receiving RFM in 2009 and 2010 were recorded. The primary outcome measure was RFM failure, defined as discontinuation of RFM or initiation of an additional antiepileptic therapy.

Birth Weight, Insulin Resistance, and Blood Pressure in Late Preterm Infants.

Objectives: This study aims to compare insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, and blood pressure in late preterm infants born at appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and small for gestational age (SGA).

Study Design: We conducted a prospective, observational study on AGA and SGA late preterm infants. Blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), insulin resistance, and lipid profile were measured on the 1st day and in the 2nd week of life.

Melatonin use for neuroprotection in perinatal asphyxia: a randomized controlled pilot study.

Objective: Melatonin has been shown to be neuroprotective in animal models. The objective of this study is to examine the effect of melatonin on clinical, biochemical, neurophysiological and radiological outcomes of neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

Study Design: We conducted a prospective trial on 45 newborns, 30 with HIE and 15 healthy controls.

Factor affecting length of stay in late preterm infants: an US national database study.

Objectives: Late preterm infants are the fastest growing segment of the premature infant population in the United States. However, it is not known if demographic and clinical factors can impact the length of hospital stay (LOS) in this population. The objectives of this study are to determine the following: (a) factors associated with a LOS > 3 d and (b) whether there is any difference in risks between infants born at 33-34 versus 35-36 weeks.

A prospective study on hyperglycemia and retinopathy of prematurity.

Objective: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) constitutes a significant morbidity in premature infants that can lead to blindness. Multiple retrospective studies have identified neonatal hyperglycemia as a risk for developing ROP. However, in the absence of any reported prospective study, it is not clear whether hyperglycemia is associated with ROP independent of the commonly associated comorbidities.

Developing a curriculum for emergency medicine residency orientation programs.

Background: New residents enter emergency medicine (EM) residency programs with varying EM experiences, which makes residency orientation programs challenging to design. There is a paucity of literature to support best practices.

Objective: We report on a curriculum development project for EM residency orientation using the Kern Model.

Baseline serum magnesium concentrations and neurodevelopmental outcomes of extremely low birth weight premature infants.

Aim: To test the hypothesis that, in ELBW infants who did not receive antenatal MgSO4, lower baseline serum Mg is associated with poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes (NDO).

Study Design: The study was conducted in two phases: phase 1-- retrospective, and phase 2--prospective.

Subjects: Extremely low birth weight infants.