• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.369-378
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• 2012

Analysis of synaptic plasticity together with behavioral and molecular studies have become a popular approach to model autism spectrum disorders in order to gain insight into the pathosphysiological mechanisms and to find therapeutic targets. Abnormalities of specific types of synaptic plasticity have been revealed in numerous genetically modified mice that have molecular construct validity to human autism spectrum disorders. Constrained by the feasibility of technique, the common regions analyzed in most studies are hippocampus and visual cortex. The relevance of the synaptic defects in these regions to the behavioral abnormalities of autistic like behaviors is still a subject of debate. Because the exact regions or circuits responsible for the core features of autistic behaviors in humans are still poorly understood, investigation using region-specific conditional mutant mice may help to provide the insight into the neuroanatomical basis of autism in the future.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.286-292
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• 2021

Background: The effect of exposure to environmental factors on autism spectrum disorders (ASD), especially during pregnancy, is unclear. Purpose: This meta-analysis investigated the association between exposure to pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) during pregnancy and ASD risk among children. Methods: We searched Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and ProQuest for articles published through September 2019. Random-effects models were used to examine the association among studies using pooled odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). I2 tests were used to measure interstudy heterogeneity. Results: The pooled OR indicated a significant association between PCB and pesticide exposure during pregnancy and ASD risk among children (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.26-2.34; and OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.02-1.39), respectively. Conclusion: Findings of the present study indicate that exposure to pesticides and PCBs during pregnancy may affect the risk of ASD among children.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.117-129
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the current acupuncture treatment of autism. Methods : 13 Chinese clinical studies published in the last five years were selected for analyzing. Results : Treatment methods were used; massage of acupoints, electro acupuncture, scalp acupuncture, the general acupuncture and special acupuncture treatments for autism as Jin's three needling, Intelligence-increasing acupuncture. Commonly used acupoints were sishencong(四神總), shenting(神庭), benshen(本神), yintang(印堂), naohu(腦戶), naokong(腦空), bohui(百會), neiguan(內關), yanyu1qu(言語1區), yanyu2qu(言語2區), yanyu3qu(言語3區). 10 studies were showed the effects of acupuncture with total improvement rate and 7 of them were higher than 80%. Also, most of the studies showed the acupuncture treatment was extremely effective in improving autism children's speaking ability. Conclusions : Acupuncture have been shown as an effective treatment on autism. Further studies about various treatment using by acupuncture and the evaluation standard would be needed.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.86-95
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• 2014

This study verified a hypothesis "treatment circumstance that considers character of children with autism has an effect on emotion stability", and I set the final aim to suggest emotional design elements according to treatment program and also to construct basic data about study of treatment circumstance of children with autism. So I conduct a survey of teachers of nine centers for the disabled about "satisfaction about treatment circumstance, importance of design elements of treatment circumstance that increase children's with autism stability, sensibility estimation about treatment circumstance" and committed statistical analysis. As the results, emotional design elements that have to be improved are the wall finishing material, the color of the wall, and the artificial lighting. The color of the wall has an effect on importance of treatment circumstance and emotional design elements influence 47% to satisfaction of treatment circumstance. It get the positive result about the hypothesis "treatment circumstance that considers character of children with autism has an effect on emotion stability".

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.808-819
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• 2010

Purpose: While there are a number of studies on children with disabilities, there have been few studies on mothers of children with autism. The purpose of this study was to explore the process of life transition of mothers who have children with autism. Methods: From June 2007 to May 2009, the researcher interviewed 15 mothers of children with autism living in Seoul City, Gyeonggi or Chonbuk Provinces, and then analyzed the data gathered using the constant comparative method of grounded theory. Results: "Living together holding a string of fate" was a core category showing along the continuum of life. The basic social process of life transition encompassed 5 stages: stages of denying, wandering, devoting, mind controlling, and finally accepting. These five stages proceeded in phases, though returned back to the wandering stage occasionally. Conclusion: This study has opened the door to understanding how mothers of children with autism experienced life transition. The findings suggest that differentiated support and care at each stage should be given and there is the need to develop transition assessment tools for mothers of children with autism.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.28-42
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• 2021

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Tuina treatment for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and to propose guidance to future studies or application in clinical setting. Methods The articles published from year 2000 to May 2021 by China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were searched by setting up field as '中醫學', '中藥', '中西醫結合' and by setting up keyword as '小儿自閉症', '儿童自閉症', '自閉症譜系障碍', 'Autism', 'Autism spectrum disorder' that corresponds to participant and '推拿', '導引', '按摩', 'Tuina', 'massage'. Results Nine selected articles were analyzed and summarized by authors and year published, characteristics, diagnostic criteria, treatment methods and contents, treatment duration, evaluation criteria and results of the study. The articles were also reviewed by reported side effects, and evaluated the quality of the study according to Cochrane Handbook's Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) assessment of the Randomized Control Trial (RCT) articles. All studies used Tuina treatment to achieve effective results for pediatric autism spectrum disorder. Conclusion Pediatric Tuina treatment (TM) is a non-invasive treatment that does not stimulate patients with unstable ASD but increase patient adherence, and can be safely and simply operated. Therefore, pediatric Tuina treatment is worth utilizing as a clinical basis for further development of ASD treatment.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.238-243
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• 2022

Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a behavioral syndrome characterized by persistent deficits in social interaction, and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. The gene encoding Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is one of a few exceptional genes of established causal effect in ASD. Although genetically engineered mice studies may shed light on how MeCP2 loss affects synaptic activity patterns across the whole brain, such studies are not considered practical in ASD patients due to the overall level of impairment, and are technically challenging in mice. For the first time, we show that hippocampal MeCP2 knockdown produces behavioral abnormalities associated with autism-like traits in rats, providing a new strategy to investigate the efficacy of therapeutics in ASD. Ketamine, an N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) blocker, has been proposed as a possible treatment for autism. Using the MeCP2 knockdown rats in conjunction with a rat model of valproic acid (VPA)-induced ASD, we examined gene expression and ASD behaviors upon ketamine treatment. We report that the core symptoms of autism in MeCP2 knockdown rats with social impairment recovered dramatically following a single treatment with ketamine.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.141-148
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• 2011

Pbjective : A significant proportion of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have regression characterized by loss of previously acquired skills. The purpose of this study was to compare demographic, clinical characteristics and autism-related symptomatology of the children who have regression with children who don't have regression. Methods : The subjects with ASD and their unaffected siblings (SIB) were recruited from the Korean Autism Genetic Study Consortium. Typically developing children (TC) were volunteered from community. The subjects were administered the Korean version of Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (K-ADI-R) and the Korean version of Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (K-ADOS) to diagnose or exclude ASD. Regression was defined on the basis of K-ADI-R data. The Korean version of Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (K-VABS), Aberrant Behavior Checklist (K-ABC) and Social Responsiveness Scale (K-SRS) were obtained from their parents. Results : Regression occurred in 8.33% (n=14) of children with ASD (n=168). Any SIB (n=166) and TC (n=53) did not experience regression. Regression was associated with lower IQ and lower score of K-VABS. There was no difference in autism symptom severity and K-ABC, K-SRS scores, between children with ASD who experienced regression and who did not. Conclusion : Regression seems to be a distinctive feature of ASD. Regression is associated with cognitive and more general functions, rather than symptoms specific to autism.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.30-42
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• 2019

Objective : The purpose of this study is to analyze non-medication interventions for self-injurious behavior of individuals with autism spectrum disorders, using a systematic review, and to provide evidence of appropriate services for individuals with autism spectrum disorders with self-injury behaviors in the clinical practice of occupational therapy. Methods : Using the electronic databases PubMed, Medline (ProQuest), DBpia, RISS, KISS, and NDSL, we searched for articles published in Korean and international journals from December 2004 to November 2018. The main search term were "Autism OR Autism Spectrum Disorder AND Therapy OR Treatment Or Intervention AND Self Injurious Behavior." Qualitative analysis was performed, and the results are presented in the PICO format. Results : A total of 12 articles were selected. The quality of the evidence was highest in level IV and level V. Single studies with an experimental design were the most common. Behavior therapy was the most common type of intervention. The next most common interventions were behavioral therapy, brain stimulation and control, and sensory integration therapy with behavioral therapy. The self-injury behaviors of individuals autism spectrum disorders were decreased, and was statistically significant. Conclusion : This study investigated the use of non-medication interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders who showed self-injury behavior. Future research should use higher-level designs, and investigate differences between various non-medication interventions.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.181-186
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• 2011

Autism is characterized by pervasive impairments in social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication and restricted and stereotyped behavior. It is difficult for autism patients to receive dental treatment as lack of cooperation, so various behavior management method have been tried for dental treatment in clinic. The patients with mild autism can be managed by conventional behavior modification method and phamaco-logical conscious sedation. But the patients with severe autism and multiple dental caries can be treated by deep sedation or general anesthesia. The benefits of children's dental care in general anesthesia are full-mouth rehabilitation in one single appointment. We reported three cases of autism patients who were treated by various behavior management method as to severity of autism.