• 대한한방소아과학회지
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• 제31권4호
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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.

• 감성과학
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• 제21권2호
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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.

• 대한한방소아과학회지
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• 제29권4호
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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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• 제65권3호
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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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• 제34권2호
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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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• 제15권3호
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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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• 제34권1호
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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.

• 수면정신생리
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• 제20권2호
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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.

• 정신신체의학
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.129-135
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• 2015

연구목적 지난 20년 동안 아동에 있어 과체중(overweight)의 유병률이 증가하였다. 또한 자폐스펙트럼장애(Autism spectrum disorder, ASD)를 진단 받는 아동의 숫자도 매해 증가하고 있다. ASD를 진단받은 아동의 비만(obesity)에 대한 연구가 미국에서는 활발하게 이루어지고 있으나, 한국에서는 많은 연구가 수행되지는 않았다. 따라서 이 연구의 목적은 ASD를 지닌 아동의 과체중 및 비만의 유병률 및 실태를 알아보고자 한다. 방 법 2012년부터 2015년까지의 3세에서 18세 사이의 소아 청소년을 대상으로 대전 건양대학교병원 정신건강의학과 외래에 내원한 소아 청소년 환자의 의무기록을 조사하였다. 각각의 의무기록으로부터 진단적, 의학적, 인구학적 정보를 추출하였다. 신체질량지수인 Body mass index(BMI)는 병원에서 시행하여 의무기록에 기입되어 있는 키와 체중으로 토대로 계산 하였다. 나이와 성별을 보정한 BMI z-score을 사용하였다. 결 과 ASD를 지닌 아동 군에서 ASD를 지니지 않은 군보다 더 높은 BMI 값을 가지고 있으며, 이는 통계적으로 유의하였다(p=0.032). 또한 ASD를 지닌 아동들이 ASD를 지니지 않은 아동에 비해 비교적 더욱 과체중 및 비만인 것으로 나타났다. 유병률에 있어서는 ASD가 있는 아동(35%)이 ASD가 없는 아동(19%)에 비해 과체중 및 비만인 것으로 간주되었다. 결 론 ASD를 지닌 아동과 지니지 않은 대상에 대한 과체중 및 비만에 관한 연구로서, ASD를 지닌 아동이 그렇지 않은 군에 비해 더욱 과체중 및 비만을 지니고 있음을 보여주었다. 향후 ASD 비만에 대한 유발 및 보호인자에 대한 장기적이고 심화된 연구가 필요하겠다.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제31권3호
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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.