Maternal Exposure to Low-Dose BDE-47 Induced Weight Gain and Impaired Insulin Sensitivity in the Offspring.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), commonly used as synthetic flame retardants, are present in a variety of consumer products, including electronics, polyurethane foams, textiles, and building materials. Initial evidence from epidemiological and experimental studies suggests that maternal PBDE exposure may be associated with a higher BMI in children, with disturbance of energy metabolism and an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes. However, the causality between early exposure to real-life PBDE concentrations and increased weight as well as mechanisms underlying impaired metabolic pathways in the offspring remain elusive. Here, using a mouse model we examined the effect of maternal exposure to 2,2',4,4'-tetrabrominated diphenyl ether (BDE-47), the most abundant congener in human samples, on offspring weight gain and energy homeostasis using a mouse model. Maternal exposure to BDE-47 at low dose resulted in weight gain in female offspring together with an impaired glucose and insulin tolerance in both female and male mice. In vitro and in vivo data suggest increased adipogenesis induced by BDE-47, possibly mediated by DNA hypermethylation. Furthermore, mRNA data suggest that neuronal dysregulation of energy homeostasis, driven via a disturbed leptin signaling may contribute to the observed weight gain as well as impaired insulin and glucose tolerance.

Romantic Relationships and Relationship Satisfaction Among Adults With Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism.

OBJECTIVE: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience difficulties in maintaining romantic relationships. In this study high-functioning adults with ASD were examined concerning their romantic relationship interest and experience. METHOD: Participants, 31 recruited via an outpatient clinic and 198 via an online survey, were asked to answer a number of self-report questionnaires. The total sample comprised 229 high-functioning adults with ASD (40% males, average age: 35 years). RESULTS: Of the total sample, 73% indicated romantic relationship experience and only 7% had no desire to be in a romantic relationship. ASD individuals whose partner was also on the autism spectrum were significantly more satisfied with their relationship than those with neurotypical partners. Severity of autism, schizoid symptoms, empathy skills, and need for social support were not correlated with relationship status. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the vast majority of high-functioning adults with ASD are interested in romantic relationships.

Psychosocial Functioning and Life Satisfaction in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder Without Intellectual Impairment.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at (a) comparing psychosocial functioning and life satisfaction in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and nonclinical participants and (b) identifying areas of functioning that are most predictive for life satisfaction in individuals with ASD. METHOD: A total of 43 adults with ASD without intellectual impairment (age: mean = 31, standard deviation = 10 years; 63% females) and healthy nonclinical individuals (N = 44) were surveyed. RESULTS: Individuals with ASD reported significant functional impairments and less life satisfaction compared with nonclinical individuals in many areas of life. Although impairments were prominent in domains involving interaction with other people such as understanding and communication, getting along with others, and participation in society, daily living skills (e.g., getting around, self-care, and household) were not different from nonclinical participants. Participating in society was identified as the only factor predicting life satisfaction in individuals with ASD. CONCLUSION: There is a need for interventions facilitating functioning on a broad level and support toward societal inclusion for individuals with ASD.

[Comorbid psychiatric disorders and differential diagnosis of patients with autism spectrum disorder without intellectual disability]. / Komorbide psychiatrische Störungen und Differenzialdiagnostik bei nicht-intelligenzgeminderten Erwachsenen mit Autismus-Spektrum-Störung.

Autism spectrum conditions (ASC) without intellectual disability are often diagnosed late in life. Little is known about co-occurring psychiatric disorders and differential diagnosis of ASC in adulthood, particularly with regard to personality disorders. What kind of comorbid psychiatric disorders occur in ASC? Which are the most prevalent differential diagnoses in a sample of patients who seek autism specific clinical diagnostics? 118 adults who were referred with a presumed diagnosis of autistic disorder, were diagnosed with autism specific instruments and the prevalence of further psychiatric disorders was investigated. 59 (50%) fulfilled the criteria of ASC. 36% of the individuals with ASC fulfilled also criteria for a DSM-IV axis-I psychiatric disorder. Affective disorders (24%) and social phobia (14%) were the most prevalent comorbid disorders. The most frequent differential diagnoses were depression, social phobia, paranoid, avoidant and narcissistic personality disorder.

Effects of exposure to single and multiple parabens on asthma development in an experimental mouse model and a prospective cohort study.

Parabens are widely used preservatives present in consumer products like cosmetics and food. Although several epidemiological studies suggest that early-life exposure to parabens might alter the immune response and allergy risk in childhood, the evidence with respect to asthma is not clear. Therefore, we investigated the effect of paraben exposure on asthma development in mice and humans. Using a murine asthma model the experimental data show both, an asthma-reducing effect after direct exposure of adult mice to n-butyl paraben (nBuP) as well as an asthma-promoting effect after maternal exposure to ethyl paraben (EtP) in the female offspring. Interestingly, exposure of mice to a mixture of EtP and nBuP starting prenatally until the end of asthma induction in the adult offspring was without effect on allergic airway inflammation. In addition, parabens were determined within the German prospective mother-child cohort LINA and their single and mixture effect on asthma development in children within the first 10 years of life was estimated by logistic and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). Both approaches revealed no adverse effects of parabens on children's asthma development, neither when stratified for being at risk due to a positive family history of atopy nor when analysed separately for sex specificity. Therefore, we conclude that although single parabens might differentially impact asthma development, an adverse effect could not be seen in a multiple paraben exposure setting. Consequently, not only the time point of exposure but also multiple exposure scenarios to parabens should be considered in the evaluation of individuals' specific disease risk.

Maternal paraben exposure triggers childhood overweight development.

Parabens are preservatives widely used in consumer products including cosmetics and food. Whether low-dose paraben exposure may cause adverse health effects has been discussed controversially in recent years. Here we investigate the effect of prenatal paraben exposure on childhood overweight by combining epidemiological data from a mother-child cohort with experimental approaches. Mothers reporting the use of paraben-containing cosmetic products have elevated urinary paraben concentrations. For butyl paraben (BuP) a positive association is observed to overweight within the first eight years of life with a stronger trend in girls. Consistently, maternal BuP exposure of mice induces a higher food intake and weight gain in female offspring. The effect is accompanied by an epigenetic modification in the neuronal Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) enhancer 1 leading to a reduced hypothalamic POMC expression. Here we report that maternal paraben exposure may contribute to childhood overweight development by altered POMC-mediated neuronal appetite regulation.

Personality Pathology of Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder Without Accompanying Intellectual Impairment in Comparison to Adults With Personality Disorders.

Differentiating autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) without accompanying intellectual impairment from personality disorders is often challenging. Identifying personality traits and personality pathology specific to ASD might facilitate diagnostic procedure. We recruited a sample of 59 adults with ASD without accompanying intellectual impairment, 62 individuals with narcissistic personality disorder, 80 individuals with borderline personality disorder, and 106 nonclinical controls. Personality traits, measured with the neo-personality inventory-revised (NEO-PI-R), and personality pathology, measured with the dimensional assessment of personality pathology (DAPP-BQ), were assessed. Personality traits and personality pathology specific to ASD could be identified. ASD individuals scored significantly lower on the NEO-PI-R scales extraversion and openness to experience and significantly higher on the DAPP-BQ scales inhibitedness and compulsivity relative to all other groups. Diagnostic implications are discussed.

Stability of narcissistic personality disorder: tracking categorical and dimensional rating systems over a two-year period.

Personality disorders are characterized as temporally stable patterns of symptoms (APA, 2000). However, evidence on the stability of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is generally lacking. This study tracked the prevalence and remission rates of individual criteria for NPD over the course of 2 years. In addition, the stability of dimensional personality pathology in patients with NPD (assessed with the Dimensional Assessment of Personality Pathology, DAPP-BQ) was assessed over time. A sample of 96 patients with a diagnosis of NPD was recruited at baseline. Forty patients participated in the follow-up assessment 2 years later. Our results indicate a moderate remission rate (53%) for NPD as a categorical diagnosis. However, single NPD criteria differed in their prevalence and temporal stability, similar to findings for other personality disorders. Moreover, scores on dimensional subscales of the DAPP-BQ remained stable over time. Theoretical implications are discussed.