[Candida spp. in the gut microbiota of people with autism: a systematic review]. / Candida spp. en la microbiota intestinal de las personas con autismo: revision sistematica.

INTRODUCTION: There is great interest in studies on the implications that gut microbiota exerts on the behavior of people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), through the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Most studies on microbiota are focused on the possible involvement of bacteria on people with ASD, but few of them are focussed on the effect of microorganisms in the Fungi kingdom. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The present study performs a systematic review of the presence of Candida spp. in people with ASD using the PRISMA method. RESULTS: A total of three articles were found after applying the exclusion and inclusion criteria of the systematic review. Two studies coincided in reporting significant differences in the increase in the frequency of the Candida spp. genus in people with ASD. while the third study did not report significant differences of Candida spp. genus between people with ASD. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is a clear lack of investigation of both the Candida ssp. genus and the whole Fungi kingdom in people with ASD, the studies point to an important presence of this genre in this group. Specifically, in the results found in this review, the highest prevalence of the C. albicans in children with ASD stands out. However, little is still known about the involvement of Candida spp., and other types of fungi, on gastrointestinal symptoms and ASD symptoms, in children with ASD.

TITLE: Candida spp. en la microbiota intestinal de las personas con autismo: revision sistematica.Introduccion. Existe gran interes en los estudios sobre las implicaciones que la microbiota intestinal ejerce en el comportamiento de personas con trastornos del espectro autista (TEA) a traves del eje microbiota-intestino-cerebro. La mayoria de los estudios sobre microbiota estan enfocados en la posible implicacion de las bacterias sobre personas con TEA, pero pocos versan sobre el efecto de los microorganismos del reino Fungi. Sujetos y metodos. Se realiza una revision sistematica mediante el protocolo PRISMA de la presencia de Candida spp. en las personas con TEA. Resultados. Se encontro un total de tres articulos tras aplicar los criterios de exclusion e inclusion de la revision sistematica. Dos estudios coincidieron en mostrar diferencias significativas en el aumento de la frecuencia del genero Candida spp. en personas con TEA, mientras que en otro no se hallaron diferencias. Conclusiones. Pese a que existe una clara falta de investigacion tanto del genero Candida ssp. como de todo el reino Fungi en las personas con TEA, los estudios apuntan a una importante presencia de dicho genero en este colectivo. Concretamente, en los resultados encontrados se destaca la mayor prevalencia del genero C. albicans en los niños con TEA. Sin embargo, aun se sabe poco sobre la implicacion de Candida spp. y otros tipos de hongos sobre los sintomas gastrointestinales y la sintomatologia del autismo en niños con TEA.

Validation of the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised in Spanish-Speakers Participants with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Restricted and repetitive behavior (RRB) is one of the two key diagnostic features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). DSM-5 highlights the importance of severity-based diagnostic modifiers assigned on the basis of intensity of needed supports. Therefore, there is a need for available measures that assess the severity of RRB. The repetitive behavior scale-revised (RBS-R) is probably the most used informant-based rating scale for the assessment of RRB and interests observed in ASD. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the RBS-R in a sample of 233 participants with ASD, aged 3 to 63 years. Results revealed a six-factor model, good internal consistency, and concurrent-divergent validity. These findings suggest the utility of the Spanish version of RBS-R.

[Neuropsychological update on obsessive-compulsive disorder]. / Actualización neuropsicológica del trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo.

INTRODUCTION: The most recent neuroscientific studies have provided evidence about the existence of structural and functional abnormalities in fronto-estriatal circuits among patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Those abnormalities have also been proposed as the explanation for cognitive deficits and clinical symptoms of patients with OCD. In this paper we present a review of studies that have examined the neurocognitive functioning (attention, memory and executive functions) of patients with OCD. DEVELOPMENT: Studies show mixed results in terms of selective attention and processing speed. With regards to executive functions, patients with OCD display deficit to change the focus of attention, problems in response inhibition and difficulties to generate planning strategies. Studies assessing memory indicate that these patients present an evident deficiency in non-verbal memory, while is not so clear in verbal memory. This memory deficit seems to be related to the lack in the use of effective strategies, the need for excessive testing and the appearance of the doubt. CONCLUSIONS: The vast heterogeneity of the disorder and the limitations of some studies, which do not control the influence of variables such as comorbidity and medication, do not allow more definitive conclusions. Anyway, executive functions deficit seems to be the more consistent neuropsychological deficit in OCD. Future studies should focus on the control of extraneous variables, as well as on the relationship between the cognitive processes and symptoms of OCD.