An Exploratory Study on the Association between Atypical Behavioral Responses to Tickling and Autistic Traits in Japanese Children.

Although play is an essential occupation for children, parents of children with autistic traits tend to struggle with play-based interpersonal interaction with them. Tickling play appears to be one of the most interpersonal forms of play because nobody can tickle themselves. However, atypical tactile processing (e.g. tactile sensitivity) has been reported in children with autistic traits, who may exhibit atypical behavioral responses during tickling play. Our aim was to investigate the association between autistic traits and behavioral responses during parent-child tickling play in Japanese young children. We recorded tickling interaction between children and their parents using behavior coding with six behavioral items. Autistic traits and tactile sensitivity were measured using parent-reported questionnaires. Results showed two behavioral responses were significantly associated with autistic traits in all children: "approach with positive emotional response" and "no response" were negatively and positively correlated with autistic traits, respectively. This exploratory study suggests that behavioral responses during tickling play may be associated with autistic traits.

Development of a clinical prediction rule for mobility status at discharge in patients with total knee arthroplasty: Using a decision tree model.

BACKGROUND: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an effective treatment to improve mobility in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis. However, some patients continue to have poor mobility after surgery. The preoperative identification of patients with poor mobility after TKA allows for better treatment selection and appropriate goal setting. The purpose of this study was to develop a clinical prediction rule (CPR) to predict mobility after TKA. METHODS: This study included patients undergoing primary TKA. Predictors of outcome included patient characteristics, physical function, and psychological factors, which were measured preoperatively. The outcome measure was the Timed Up and Go test, which was measured at discharge. Patients with a score of ≥11 s were considered having a low-level of mobility. The classification and regression tree methodology of decision tree analysis was used for developing a CPR. RESULTS: Of the 101 cases (mean age, 72.2 years; 71.3 % female), 26 (25.7 %) were classified as low-mobility. Predictors were the modified Gait Efficacy Scale, age, knee pain on the operated side, knee extension range of motion on the non-operated side, and Somatic Focus, a subscale of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (short version). The model had a sensitivity of 50.0 %, a specificity of 98.7 %, a positive predictive value of 92.9 %, a positive likelihood ratio of 37.5, and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.853. CONCLUSION: We have developed a CPR that, with some accuracy, predicts the mobility outcomes of patients after TKA. This CPR may be useful for predicting postoperative mobility and clinical goal setting.

Relationship between oral frailty and locomotive syndrome in working-age individuals: a cross-sectional survey of workers in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Although the relationship between oral and physical frailty in older adults has been investigated, few studies have focused on the working-age population. This study examined the relationships of the number of remaining teeth and masticatory ability, i.e., signs of oral frailty, with locomotive syndrome (LS) in the working-age population. METHODS: The number of remaining teeth, masticatory ability, and presence of LS in 501 participants from four companies were examined. The relationships between the number of remaining teeth groups (≥ 20 teeth or ≤ 19 teeth) and LS and between the masticatory ability groups (high or low) and LS were examined. A binomial logistic regression analysis was conducted using LS from the stand-up test as the objective variable and the two subgroups based on the number of remaining teeth and potential crossover factors as covariates. RESULTS: The analysis included 495 participants (354 males and 141 females; median age, 43 years). The median number of remaining teeth among the participants was 28, and 10 participants (2.0%) had ≤ 19 teeth. The mean masticatory ability values were 39.9 for males and 37.7 for females, and 31 participants (6.3%) had low masticatory ability. In the stand-up test, those with ≤ 19 teeth had a higher LS rate than those with ≥ 20 teeth. The odds ratio for LS in the group with ≤ 19 remaining teeth was 5.99, and the confidence interval was 1.44-24.95. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirmed signs of oral frailty in the working-age population. Further, the number of remaining teeth possibly affects standing movement. Thus, oral frailty is associated with LS in the working-age population.

Taurine Deficiency in Tissues Aggravates Radiation-Induced Gastrointestinal Syndrome.

Ionizing radiation administered for cancer treatment or from nuclear plant accidents are two common causes of radiation exposure. Ionizing radiation exposure generates reactive oxygen species and free radicals, which cause oxidative stress. We previously reported that taurine contributes to the recovery from radiation-induced injuries, suggesting its potential as a radioprotector and radiation mitigator. However, the effect of taurine on radiation-induced gastrointestinal syndrome remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of taurine tissue depletion on radiation-induced gastrointestinal syndrome. Mouse models of radiation-induced gastrointestinal syndrome were established in TauT+/+ and TauT-/- mice by whole-body X-irradiation. We examined the 30-day survival rate, as well as the crypt-villus structure and proliferation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) + cells in the small intestine. The survival rate of TauT-/- mice was significantly lower than that of TauT+/+ mice. The villi in the small intestine of TauT-/- mice were significantly shorter than those in TauT+/+ mice. Additionally, there were significantly fewer PCNA+ cells in TauT-/- mice than in TauT+/+ mice. These data demonstrate that taurine is a key regulator of crypt stem cells and plays an important regulatory role in intestinal cell survival, proliferation, and fate. Therefore, taurine may reduce radiation-induced gastrointestinal syndrome.

Characterization of Bone Tissue and Bone Morphology in Taurine Transporter Knockout Mice.

Taurine, a sulfur-containing amino acid, has been shown to protect against tissue damage. It is highly accumulated in bone cells, including osteoblasts, where it enhances bone tissue formation. The quality of bone is defined by its microarchitecture, accumulated microscopic damage, collagen quality, mineral crystal size, and turnover rate. In this study, the effects of taurine depletion on bone metabolism and bone quality were investigated in taurine transporter knockout (TauT-/-) mice. The bone volume and trabecular number of 20-month-old male TauT-/- and TauT+/+ mice were measured by micro-computed tomography, and bone tissues were observed using hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining methods. In the TauT-/- mice, the bone area of the proximal region of the femur was significantly smaller than that in the TauT+/+ mice, and the bone volume and trabecular number of the femur neck were significantly lower. Although the bone mineral densities in the mid-diaphysis and proximal regions were lower in the TauT-/- mice, the difference was significant for the proximal region only. Moreover, taurine depletion decreased the mineral density and strength parameters in the cancellous bone. The results of this study suggest that taurine plays an important role in maintaining bone quality.

Is musculoskeletal pain related to locomotive syndrome even in young and middle-aged adults?

OBJECTIVES: Locomotive syndrome (LS) is the leading cause of persons needing long-term care in old age and is characterized by locomotive organ impairment including musculoskeletal pain. The aim was to examine the association between musculoskeletal pain and LS in young and middle-aged persons. METHODS: A total of 836 participants (male 667, female 169; mean age 44.4 years) were examined in this cross-sectional study. The LS was evaluated by three screening tools: the two-step test, the stand-up test, and the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale. Musculoskeletal pain, exercise habits, physical function (walkability and muscle strength), and physical activity were also assessed. RESULTS: The LS was found in 22.8% of participants. The number with musculoskeletal pain was significantly higher in those with the LS. A significant correlation was found between the degree of musculoskeletal pain and exercise habits. Less regular exercise was significantly associated with higher LS prevalence. Physical activity and function were greater in participants with more regular exercise. CONCLUSION: Musculoskeletal pain was significantly related to LS even in young and middle-aged persons. The present results suggest that control of musculoskeletal pain and improvement of exercise habits in young and middle-aged persons might help prevent the LS.

Locomotive syndrome testing in young and middle adulthood.

Background: Previous epidemiological studies on locomotive syndrome (LS) have been mainly conducted in retired elderly people. However, from the view point of its prevention, it is important to assess currently working younger people. The purpose of this study was to examine the status of the level of LS in young and middle-aged adult workers.Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed at four companies. We used the two-step test, stand-up test, and 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25) as screening tools of LS. We also questioned the subjects for knee pain and low back pain.Results: A total of 715 workers participated in this study. The percentage of females with LS increased with age. However, the percentage of males with LS was approximately 20% in each age category. Two-step and stand-up test scores worsened in an age-dependent manner, although GLFS-25 scores varied independently of age. Knee pain, low back pain and physical activity were significantly related to LS-level.Conclusion: Our results suggest that there is some degree of LS even in young and middle-aged adults. Knee pain, low back pain and physical activity levels are key factors related to LS even in young and middle-aged adults.

Integrative network analysis reveals biological pathways associated with Williams syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Williams syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that has been attributed to heterozygous deletions in chromosome 7q11.23 and exhibits a variety of physical, cognitive, and behavioral features. However, the genetic basis of this phenotypic variability is unclear. In this study, we identified genetic clues underlying these complex phenotypes. METHODS: Neurobehavioral function was assessed in WS patients and healthy controls. Total RNA was extracted from peripheral blood and subjected to microarray analysis, RNA-sequencing, and qRT-PCR. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was performed to identify specific alterations related to intermediate disease phenotypes. To functionally interpret each WS-related module, gene ontology and disease-related gene enrichment were examined. We also investigated the micro (mi)RNA expression profiles and miRNA co-expression networks to better explain the regulation of the transcriptome in WS. RESULTS: Our analysis identified four significant co-expression modules related to intermediate WS phenotypes. Notably, the three upregulated WS-related modules were composed exclusively of genes located outside the 7q11.23 region. They were significantly enriched in genes related to B-cell activation, RNA processing, and RNA transport. BCL11A, which is known for its association with speech disorders and intellectual disabilities, was identified as one of the hub genes in the top WS-related module. Finally, these key upregulated mRNA co-expression modules appear to be inversely correlated with a specific downregulated WS-related miRNA co-expression module. CONCLUSIONS: Dysregulation of the mRNA/miRNA network involving genes outside of the 7q11.23 region is likely related to the complex phenotypes observed in WS patients.

Protective Effects of Taurine on the Radiation Exposure Induced Cellular Damages in the Mouse Intestine.

There has been a growing interest in radiation effects as a result of the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in 2011. Exposure to ionizing radiation causes oxidizing events to different organs such as the bone marrow, intestine, and kidney, which can result in radiation-induced injuries. Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is a sulfur-containing amino acid possessing several important physiological functions, including membrane stabilization, anti-oxidative activity, anti-inflammatory effects and modulation of intracellular calcium levels. Taurine appears to be an attractive candidate for use as a radioprotector and as a radiation mitigator, but its protection mechanism against radiation-induced cell damage is still unclear until now. In this review we describe some of the mechanisms explaining the radioprotective/mitigating effects of taurine on radiation-induced cellular damage and our recent findings on this subject.

The Potential Effects of Taurine in Mitigation of Radiation Nephropathy.

Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is a sulfur-containing organic acid possessing several important effects, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ones. Exposure to ionizing radiation generates free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in irradiated cells, and free radical generation leads to oxidative stress. It is known that radiation nephropathy includes an inflammation-based process in which ROS and cytokines are responsible. Different doses of explored radiation can cause apoptosis, inflammation and a profound oxidative stress in kidneys. Oxidative stress is involved in renal injury after exposure to both ionizing radiation and inflammation. In this review, we describe the protective effect of taurine against several kidney diseases and the potential effects of taurine in the mitigation of radiation nephropathy. We also report that X-irradiation decreased the expression of taurine and TauT in the kidney. Taurine administration suppressed the decrease in the expression of taurine and TauT in the kidney after radiation exposure. Taurine might contribute to the mitigation of kidney injury induced by radiation.

Relationships Between the Purposes of Taurine-Contained Nutritional Drink Intake and Lifestyle Habits: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Workers in Japan.

This study surveyed that the relationship between the frequencies of intake of taurine-contained nutritional drinks (TCND), and lifestyle and the purposes of intake it. The study was conducted a cross-sectional survey using 265 people (203 male, 62 female) aged 18-64 worked in two companies in Mie Prefecture, Japan between December 2017 and February 2018. The questionnaires gathered characteristics, demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle habits and purpose of TCND intake. We divided the frequency of intake of TCND of at least a few times every month as the high-frequency TCND (HF-TCND) group, and the remaining as the low-frequency TCND (LF-TCND) group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between characteristics, demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle habits and purpose of TCND intake and HF-TCND after controlling for individual variables. Of all participants, 13.4% was evaluated as HT-CND. 16.3% for male or 4.3% for female were evaluated as HF-TCND (p < 0.05). The most reason for frequent choosing a TCND was fatigue recovery. Logistic regression analysis showed that sex, occupation, purpose of TCND intake and stressful are related to HF-TCND. Our study indicates that purpose of TCND intake, such as fatigue recovery and reducing stress, may partly affect the frequency of intake of TCND. Therefore, we must continue to show scientific evidence for taurine by enlightenment activity etc.

Changes in upper extremity function, ADL, and HRQoL in colorectal cancer patients after the first chemotherapy cycle with oxaliplatin: a prospective single-center observational study.

PURPOSE: Oxaliplatin, an important chemotherapeutic agent in colorectal cancer, causes chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), for which prophylactic or therapeutic interventions are lacking. We aimed to investigate changes in upper extremities, activities of daily living (ADL), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) parameters after the first chemotherapy cycle. METHODS: Thirty-eight colorectal cancer patients scheduled to receive the leucovorin, 5'-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) therapy or the capecitabine, oxaliplatin (CAPOX) therapy, participated. Patients underwent objective assessment of sensory function, muscular strength, and manual dexterity and answered the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand-Disability/Symptom (DASH-DS) questionnaires for subjective assessment. The CIPN was assessed at baseline and prior to the second drug cycle. RESULTS: Light touch sensation in both hands worsened significantly after the first drug cycle, though no significant changes were observed in muscular strength and manual dexterity. The QLQ-C30 analysis showed that Physical Functioning, Role Functioning, Nausea and Vomiting, and Dyspnea were significantly worse, whereas Emotional Functioning was improved. The DASH-DS analysis revealed significant worsening of dysfunction and subjective symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that light touch sensation may worsen even in the absence of multiple chemotherapy cycles. Even if arm and hand function (muscular strength and manual dexterity) is apparently intact, patients may experience dysfunction and decreased HRQoL. For preserving or improving patients' ADL and HRQoL, it is imperative to provide support at chemotherapy initiation.

Taurine Administration Mitigates Cisplatin Induced Acute Nephrotoxicity by Decreasing DNA Damage and Inflammation: An Immunocytochemical Study.

Cisplatin (CDDP) is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agent used in the treatment of many kind of solid tumors. Its primary side effect is nephrotoxicity. The aim of this study to investigate the effects of taurine on cisplatin-induced acute nephrotoxicity. A single intraperitoneal injection of CDDP (15 mg/kg, or 25 mg/kg) deteriorated the kidney functions as reflected by histopathological changes. Histopathological changes were observed in all cisplatin groups. In the cisplatin group, oxidative stress was evident in the cisplatin group by observing an increase in 8-OHdG expression, an indicator of oxidative DNA damage. CDDP also resulted to an increase in CD68 expression in the renal tissues of CDDP groups. Taurine transporter (TauT) was down-regulated, and p53 was up-regulated in renal tissues as indicated by immunohistochemical analysis. Administration with taurine prior to a cisplatin injection was able to protect against deterioration of kidney function, to abrogate the decline in anti-oxidants and to suppress the increase in DNA damage. Moreover, taurine inhibited p53 activation and improved the pathological changes induced by cisplatin. This study demonstrates the protective effects of taurine in attenuating the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and in improving antioxidant capacity in the kidney of cisplatin-injected rats. Thus, taurine could be a beneficial dietary supplement to attenuate cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity.

Effect of Taurine on iNOS-Mediated DNA Damage in Drug-Induced Renal Injury.

Owing to an outstanding wide antitumor spectrum and excellent anti-tumor effect cisplatin has been used in chemotherapy for malignant tumor. However, cisplatin has strong side effects such as renal injury. Taurine has been found to protect against inflammatory tissue damage in a variety of experimental models. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of taurine against iNOS dependent DNA damage in cisplatin-induced renal injury in rats. With the help of a rat model of drug-induced kidney damage, we have assessed the nephrotoxic effects of different doses of cisplatin in the presence and absence of taurine. Immunohistochemical methods were used to examine the distribution of arginine, iNOS, citrulline and 8-nitroguanine in renal tissue. The expression levels of citrulline, iNOS, and 8-nitroguanine immunoreactivities were found to increase as a function of the dose of cisplatin used, and to decrease in the presence of taurine. The expression level of arginine immunoreactivity was reduced as a function of the dose of cisplatin used. On the other hand, iNOS, 8-nitroguanine and citrulline immunohistochemical staining showed an intense immunoreactivity in the renal tubule of cisplatin-treated animals; and arginine immunoreactivity was localized in the renal tubule of taurine-treated animals. We also confirmed the decrease of citrulline and iNOS expression in the renal tubule after taurine administration as well as the expression level of 8-nitroguanine, a nitrative stress marker in the same animals. The present results support the concept that taurine may have a protective role in the formation of cisplatin-related DNA lesions arising through iNOS-mediated nitrative stress.

Effect of Radiation on the Expression of Taurine Transporter in the Intestine of Mouse.

There has been a growing interest on the effects of radiation since the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident of 2011. Taurine has been reported to have a radioprotective effect in irradiated mice. However, the detailed mechanism of this radioprotective effect is still awaiting clarification. The aim of this study was to investigation how radiation affects the expression of taurine and to shed light on the mechanism accounting for radioprotective and radiation mitigating effect. Six-week-old male mice were randomly divided into two groups: IR group (7 Gy irradiation) and IR + Tau group (7 Gy irradiation + taurine 3000 mg/kg/day). We examined the survival rate, the expression of taurine and taurine transporter in the small intestine and the urinary taurine concentration. In this study, no statistically significant difference was found in the survival rate between IR Group and IR + Tau Group. Three days and 7 days after irradiation, the urinary taurine concentration of IR + Tau group increased more than that of IR group. Three days and 10 days after irradiation, the expression of taurine and taurine transporter in the small intestine of IR group and IR + Tau group decreased more than that of normal small intestine. It is reported that radiation exposure increases the urinary taurine concentration. We found that the radiation exposure decreases the expression of the taurine transporter in the small intestine of mouse. This finding suggests that a decrease in the expression of the taurine transporter promotes the release of taurine from the tissue into the urine.

[A girl with dyslexia suspected to have Irlen syndrome, completely relieved by wearing tinted lenses].

Irlen syndrome is a proposed perceptual processing disorder characterized by visual distortions while reading. Patients with this syndrome may experience light sensitivity, visual stress, and other related problems such as dyslexia. Tinted lenses and colored overlays have been designed to help individuals with the symptoms of Irlen syndrome. However, there is still debate over the effectiveness of these interventions and whether this syndrome actually exists. In this report, we describe a case involving an 8-year-old girl with dyslexia who experienced severe visual hypersensitivity and whose symptoms completely resolved after wearing tinted lenses. While it is possible that she experienced a psychogenic visual disturbance that was relieved because of the placebo effect, the clinical course of her symptoms matched the findings previously described by Irlen. The patient was unable to read without tinted lenses. With tinted lenses, she could read at the appropriate age level, suggesting that her difficulty was due to a problem in optical information processing. The concepts underlying Irlen syndrome are vaguely defined, and several groups insist that the visual stress associated with this syndrome might be responsible for dyslexia as well as other disorders. These ambiguous criteria may be responsible for the criticism over the validity of this condition. Although this was only an anecdotal case, our patient exhibited the core functional deficit described in Irlen syndrome and showed a dramatic improvement with tinted lenses; therefore, this case may facilitate investigations into the mechanism underlying Irlen syndrome, if it actually exists. Although further studies are required to confirm the validity of this syndrome and the treatment approach, Irlen syndrome should be recognized as a disorder since its symptoms can be easily relieved by wearing tinted lenses or color filters.

Comparison of the Sensory Profile Among Autistic Individuals and Individuals with Williams Syndrome.

PURPOSE: With the current study, we aimed to reveal the similarities and differences in sensory profiles between Williams syndrome (WS) and autism spectrum disorder. METHODS: Using the sensory profile questionnaire completed by the caregivers, we analyzed the WS (n = 60, 3.4-19.8 years) and autistic (n = 39, 4.2-14.0 years) groups. RESULTS: The Severity Analysis revealed a significant group difference in Sensory Sensitivity but not in Low Registration, Sensation Seeking, and Sensation Avoiding subscales. Age can modulate the subscale scores differently across groups. For Sensation Seeking, the scores of both groups decreased with development. However, the scores of Sensory Sensitivity decreased with age in the autistic group but not in the WS group. Sensation Avoiding scores increased with development in the WS group but not in the autistic group. No significant developmental changes were observed in Low Registration. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the cross-syndrome similarities and differences in sensory profiles and developmental changes in autistic individuals and individuals with WS.

Protection by taurine against INOS-dependent DNA damage in heavily exercised skeletal muscle by inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Taurine protects against tissue damage in a variety of models involving inflammation, especially the muscle. We set up a heavy exercise bout protocol for rats consisting of climbing ran on a treadmill to examine the effect of an intraabdominal dose of taurine (300 mg/kg/day) administered 1 h before heavy exercise for ten consecutive days. Each group ran on the treadmill at 20 m/min, 25% grade, for 20 min or until exhaustion within 20 min once each 10 days. Exhaustion was the point when an animal was unable to right itself when placed on its side. The muscle damage was associated with an increased accumulation of 8-nitroguanine and 8-OHdG in the nuclei of skeletal muscle cells. The immunoreactivities for NF-κB and iNOS were also increased in the exercise group. Taurine ameliorated heavy exercise-induced muscle DNA damage to a significant extent since it reduced the accumulation of 8-nitroguanine and 8-OHdG, possibly by down-regulating the expression of iNOS through a modulatory action on NF-κB signaling pathway. This study demonstrates for the first time that taurine can protect against intense exercise-induced nitrosative inflammation and ensuing DNA damage in the skeletal muscle of rats by preventing iNOS expression and the nitrosative stress generated by heavy exercise.

Comparison of Psychological Quality of Life Between Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Cancer and Their Families.

Purpose: Although treatment outcomes for childhood cancer have improved in recent years, some patients continue to experience physical symptoms and psychological stress several years after the end of treatment. This study aimed to examine the correlation between the quality-of-life (QOL) scores of childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) aged 18-39 and (1) their families and (2) the time since the end of treatment. Methods: Measuring the QOL of CCSs attending the long-term follow-up (LTFU) and those of their families. The Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used for CCSs and the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC) for their families. Spearman's rank correlation analyses were used to examine the relationship between the CCSs' and their families' QOL and the time since the end of treatment. Results: Twenty-nine CCSs (mean age, 24.2 years; mean the time since the end of treatment, 13.9 years), each paired with one family member, were included. Time since the end of treatment was positively correlated with the CCSs' QOL on the physical component score (ρ = 0.42, p = 0.03) and negatively correlated with mental health (MH) (ρ = -0.50, p = 0.01), a subscale of the mental component score (MCS). Furthermore, the CCSs' QOL on the MCS was positively correlated with their families' QOL scores (ρ = 0.58, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Psychological stress may persist in CCSs long after treatment, even when physical symptoms improve. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a comprehensive support system for the LTFU of CCSs, including MH care and QOL monitoring for patients and their families.

Atypical Physiological Response to Less Controllable Sensory Stimulation in Children with ASD.

Atypical sensory features are frequently observed in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as uncontrollable and less predictable sensory stimuli are thought to be stressful for them. To quantify distal indicators of cardiac vagus nerve activity, which is associated with top-down self-regulatory capacity, during sensory tasks as a stress state in children with ASD, we conducted an exploratory study to measure phasic high-frequency components of heart rate variability (phasic HF-HRV) during less controllable tactile/auditory sensory tasks in 37 children with ASD (aged 6-12 years) and 37 typically developing (TD) children. Only children with ASD showed increased HF-HRV values from the resting state to the task (i.e., phasic HF-HRV augmentation) during both less controllable tactile/auditory sensory tasks. In TD children, decreased phasic HF-HRV values were observed to cope with the task demand during the less-controllable-tactile task. These findings suggest that increased phasic HF-HRV values in response to less controllable sensory stimuli may reflect atypical physiological regulation during sensory stimulation in children with ASD.