• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.49-60
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• 2017

Objectives The purpose of this study is to report the effectiveness of Korean medicine on treating autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in childhood. Methods We treated an 8-years-old patient who was diagnosed with autism (grade II) with herbal medicine, acupuncture and electric moxibustion. Every 11 months, Korean-Childhood Autism Rating Scale (K-CARS) was used to assess the patient's symptom progression. Results After 21 months of Korean medicine treatment, the child's overall health was improved. Moreover, language ability, emotional control, memory and cognitive abilities got better, as well as anxiety, agitation, and aggressive behavior related to ASD were also decreased. K-CARS score at the initial stage of the treatment was 39.5 points, which can be considered as severe autism. After 11 months of the treatment, the K-CARS score was 34.5 points which is mild-moderate autism. Conclusions Korean medicine treatment can be effective in improving symptoms of ASD. However, further studies are needed to demonstrate the treatment benefits to ASD.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.125-136
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• 2018

Although atypical sensory processing is a core feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there is considerable heterogeneity among ASD individuals in the modality and symptoms of atypical sensory processing. The present study examined visual processing of children with ASD, focusing on the complexity and orientation of visual information. Age- and -IQ-matched Korean children (14 ASD and 14 typically-developing (TD) children) received an orientation discrimination task involving static spatial gratings varied in complexity (simple versus complex) and orientation (horizontal versus vertical). The results revealed that ASD children had difficulty perceiving complex information regardless of orientation, whereas TD children had more difficulty with vertical gratings than horizontal gratings. Thus, group-level differences between ASD and TD children appeared greater when gratings were presented horizontally. Unlike ASD adult literature, however, ASD children did not show superior performance on simple gratings. Our findings on typical and atypical processing of ASD children have implications for both understanding the characteristics of ASD children and developing diagnostic tools for ASD.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.119-126
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• 2015

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate recent clinical studies on effect of acupuncture for Autism Spectrum Disorder in other countries. We have analyzed the studies on effect of acupuncture for Autism Spectrum Disorder within randomized controlled trail (RCT) for 6years (from 2010 to 2015). Methods The search database includes Medline, Embase, Cochrane library and CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure). To narrow the search, the following key search terms were used: 'autism or ASD or Asperger's Syndrome or pervasive developmental disorder, acupuncture'. The search was limited to the publication date from 2010 to 2015. 7 control studies in Medlin, Embase, Cochrane library and 5 control studies in CNKI were selected for analysis. Results and Conclusions 1. The acupuncture and rehabiliation treatment is more effective than only acupuncture treatment. Especially, Retention of needling is helpful. 2. It is necessary to set up standard scale in assessment of ASD patients and serum arginine-vasopressin (AVP) can be substitution. 3. Head acupuncture and tongue acupuncture is effective for ASD.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.131-135
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• 2022

Purpose: There is inconsistent evidence about the association between fetal nuchal cord and the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We performed a meta-analysis to investigate whether fetal nuchal cord is associated with an increased risk of ASD in offspring. Methods: Three main English databases were searched until January 2021. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess study quality. Study heterogeneity was determined using the I 2 statistic, while publication bias was assessed using Begg and Egger tests. Results are presented as odds ratios (ORs) and relative ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and were determined by a random-effects model. Results: Five articles (1 cohort, 4 case-control; 3,088 total children) were included in the present meta-analysis. Fetal nuchal cord was not a risk factor for ASD (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.66-1.57). There was homogeneity among studies that reported a risk of ASD (I²=0.0%). Conclusion: Our results showed that fetal nuchal cord is not a risk factor for ASD. Future large cohort studies should confirm this finding.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.76-92
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze research trends in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and savant syndrome and their cognitive characteristics through a systematic literature review. The objectives of this study were to establish an overview of research trends in ASD and savant syndrome, analyze the overall characteristics of individuals with ASD and savant syndrome, and examine their cognitive characteristics. Methods: For the systematic literature review, three criteria were used to select review articles: 1) literature from peer-reviewed journals, published in the past 15 years, from 2008 to 2022; 2) subjects with ASD and savant syndrome; 3) study objectives focused on the basic phenomenon and cognitive characteristics of ASD and savant syndrome. Finally, based on the selection criteria, a total of 40 articles were included. Results: Five themes and nine subthemes were derived from the analysis of 40 studies. The five main themes were as follows: 1) What is savant syndrome? 2) Demographic characteristics of savant syndrome; 3) Spectra of savant syndrome; 4) Savant syndrome and ASD; and 5) Cognitive characteristics of ASD with savant syndrome. The subthemes of the cognitive characteristics were weak central coherence, detail-focused cognitive processing, enhanced perceptual functioning, and hyper-systemizing. Conclusion: Several studies have been conducted to understand ASD and savant syndrome; however, no single theory can specify the cognitive characteristics of people with ASD and savant syndrome. Therefore, further systematic and multi-layered research on ASD and savant syndrome are required for more comprehensive results.

• International Journal of Contents
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.13-20
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• 2019

This systematic review compared Korean and international researches on sensory integration therapy in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We targeted studies on sensory integration therapy for patients with ASD published from January 2000 through July 2016. Specifically, we analyzed the papers that used the phrase 'sensory integration, autism' as keywords. There were fewer Korean studies of sensory integration therapy, and the diversity of research topics were limited, focusing mainly on case studies. There was no difference between the internal/external validity of Korean and those of international studies targeting the clinical environment and patients. Further study of a variety of aspects of sensory integration therapy is needed to gain high internal/external validity.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.40-50
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• 2023

Objectives: This study examined the validity of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition (CARS-2) compared with the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2) in identifying autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: A total of 237 children were tested using both the CARS-2 and ADOS-2. We examined the correlation using Pearson's correlation analysis. In addition, we used a receiver operating characteristic graph to determine the optimal standard version of the CARS-2 (CARS2-ST) cutoff score for ASD diagnosis using the ADOS-2. Results: The concurrent validity of the CARS2-ST was demonstrated by a significant correlation with the ADOS-2 (r=0.864, p<0.001). The optimal CARS2-ST cutoff scores were 30 and 28.5 for identifying autism and autism spectrum, respectively, based on the ADOS-2. Conclusion: We suggest a newly derived CARS2-ST cutoff score of 28.5 for screening ASD and providing early intervention.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.53-58
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• 2013

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior and interest. Sleep problems are not uncommon in children with autism spectrum disorders. Symptoms of insomnia are the most frequent sleep problems in individuals with ASD. Sleep problems can cause significant difficulties in the daily life of children with ASD and their families. Genetic factor, deregulations of melatonin synthesis, extraneous environmental stimuli and psychiatric and medical conditions may cause sleep problems. The first line treatment of sleep problems in ASD includes managements for potential contributing factors and parent education about sleep hygiene care for child and behavioral therapy. Supplementation with melatonin may be effective before considering other medications, such as risperidone, clonidine, and mirtazapine.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2015

Objectives : In children and adolescents, the prevalence of overweight has increased in the last 20 years. little research is available on the prevalence of obesity in children with autism spectrum disorders(ASD). The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of overweight among a clinical population of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders(ASD). Methods : Retrospective chart review of children ages 3-18 years seen between 2012 and 2015 at a Konyang University hospital psychiatric clinic. Diagnostic, medical, and demographic information was extracted from the charts. Body mass index(BMI) was calculated from measures of height and weight recorded in the child's chart. The Center for Disease Control's BMI growth reference was used to determine an age and gender-specific BMI z-score for the children. Results : In our study, children with ASD compared to non ASD group had significantly higher BMI percentiles (p=0.032). The prevalence of overweight($BMI{\geq}85th$ to 95th percentiles) and obesity($BMI{\geq}95th$ percentiles) was 35% and 19% respectively in children with ASD and without ASD. Conclusions : Despite noted limitations, our data suggest that overweight and obesity in children with ASD are more prevalent than without ASD. Longitudinal and further study is needed to examine the factors associated with obesity in this population.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.131-145
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• 2020

The microbiota-gut-brain axis, which refers to the bidirectional communication pathway between gut bacteria and the central nervous system, has a profound effect on important brain processes, from the synthesis of neurotransmitters to the modulation of complex behaviors such as sociability and anxiety. Previous studies have revealed that the gut microbiota is potentially related to not only gastrointestinal disturbances, but also social impairment and repetitive behavior-core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although studies have been conducted to characterize the microbial composition in patients with ASD, the results are heterogeneous. Nevertheless, it is clear that there is a difference in the composition of the gut microbiota between ASD and typically developed individuals, and animal studies have repeatedly suggested that the gut microbiota plays an important role in ASD pathophysiology. This possibility is supported by abnormalities in metabolites produced by the gut microbiota and the association between altered immune responses and the gut microbiota observed in ASD patients. Based on these findings, various attempts have been made to use the microbiota in ASD treatment. The results reported to date suggest that microbiota-based therapies may be effective for ASD, but largescale, well-designed studies are needed to confirm this.