Peripheral Iron Levels in Autism Spectrum Disorders vs. Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Preliminary Data.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by deficits in social skills and specific behaviors and interests. Among other environmental factors, iron may play a role in the development of ASD. The aim of this study is to compare the iron status of children with ASD with that of children affected by neurodevelopmental disorders other than ASD (OND). A total of 167 patients were enrolled, including 93 children with ASD and 74 children with OND. In the two groups, we determined ferritin, iron, transferrin, hemoglobin, HCT, and MCV in the serum. We found a significant difference in serum ferritin and MCV levels between the two groups (p < 0.05), with lower ferritin and higher MCV values in the ASD group. There was no significant association with the other variables. Our results may support the hypothesis of altered iron status in ASD, justifying more frequent examinations of blood iron parameters in these children.

Psychological impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in children with neurodevelopmental disorders and their families: evaluation before and during covid-19 outbreak among an Italian sample.

BACKGROUND: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic forced parents and children to modify their habits with a radical change in the family routine and consequent increase in psychological stress. Children with a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDDs) are particularly vulnerable to new and unexpected situations; moreover, the parents of these children generally show high levels of psychological stress due to the greater commitment that this condition imposes on them. The aim of this study is to evaluate the disease status of NDDs children before and during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and to evaluate the psychological effects related to measures of social distancing on these children and their families. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-one children with NDDs, were enrolled in this study and followed up at the Child Neuropsychiatry Unit of the University Hospital Consortium Corporation Polyclinic of Bari (Italy) along with their parents. Parents were evaluated before national lockdown (baseline) and recontacted during the SARS-CoV-2 emergency almost after a year. The changes in emotional/behavioral problems of children and parenting stress before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic were assessed with Child Behaviour CheckList (CBCL) and Parent Stress Index - short form (PSI). RESULTS: The analysis of the emotional and behavioral problems of children with NDDs did not show statistically significant differences between the before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic period. The evaluations conducted on parents highlights an increase in parental stress during the pandemic. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found in three subscales: Parenting Distress (PD) scale, Dysfunctional Interaction Parent-Child (P-CDI) scale and Defensive responding scale (DF). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the increase in parental stress and a more difficult parent-child interaction with NDDs in the period of lockdown due to the pandemic; identification of these risk targets can be useful for interventions in similar situations. Therefore, it is necessary to provide caregivers information to manage and overcome challenges experienced during a pandemic and providing psychological support for caregivers of children with NDDs.

B and T Immunoregulation: A New Insight of B Regulatory Lymphocytes in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a complex pathogenesis, by impairment social communication and interaction, and may also manifest repetitive patterns of behavior. Many studies have recognized an alteration of the immune response as a major etiological component in ASDs. Despite this, it is still unclear the variation of the function of the immune response. Aim: Our aim is to investigate the levels of immunological markers in peripheral blood of children with ASD such as: regulatory B and T cells, memory B and natural killer (NK) cells. Materials and Methods: We assessed various subsets of immune cells in peripheral blood (regulatory B and T cells, B-cell memory and natural killer cells) by multi-parametric flow cytometric analysis in 26 ASD children compared to 16 healthy controls (HCs) who matched age and gender. Results: No significant difference was observed between B-cell memory and NK cells in ASDs and HCs. Instead, regulatory B cells and T cells were decreased (p < 0.05) in ASD subjects when compared to HCs. Discussion: Regulatory B and T cells have a strategic role in maintaining the immune homeostasis. Their functions have been associated with the development of multiple pathologies especially in autoimmune diseases. According to our study, the immunological imbalance of regulatory B and T cells may play a pivotal role in the evolution of the disease, as immune deficiencies could be related to the severity of the ongoing disorder.