Alterations in whole-brain white matter fiber networks in individuals with autism spectrum disorder after social skills training.

Social skills training (SST) has demonstrated efficacy in improving social deficits in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated alterations in whole-brain white matter network topology after SST in ASD individuals and explored potential correlation with improvements in social interaction deficits. 38 ASD patients aged 12 - 30 years were recruited, including 19 who completed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and social responsiveness scale (SRS) assessments at both baseline and the endpoint of a 14-week SST (training group) and 19 age-, sex-, and IQ-matched patients who underwent MRI scans and SRS assessment at the same time points but did not receive SST (control group).

Frequency-specific age-related changes in the amplitude of spontaneous fluctuations in autism.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by atypical developmental changes during brain maturation, but regional brain functional changes that occur with age and across different frequency bands are unknown. Therefore, the current study aimed to explore potential age and frequency band-related changes in the regional brain activities in autism.

Methods: A total of 65 participants who met the DSM-IV criteria for autistic disorder and 55 typically developed (TD) participants (both age 6-30 years) were recruited in the current study.

Developmental brain structural atypicalities in autism: a voxel-based morphometry analysis.

Background: Structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) studies have shown atypicalities in structural brain changes in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), while a noticeable discrepancy in their results indicates the necessity of conducting further researches.

Methods: The current study investigated the atypical structural brain features of autistic individuals who aged 6-30 years old. A total of 52 autistic individuals and 50 age-, gender-, and intelligence quotient (IQ)-matched typically developing (TD) individuals were included in this study, and were assigned into three based cohorts: childhood (6-12 years old), adolescence (13-18 years old), and adulthood (19-30 years old).

Atypicalities in the developmental trajectory of cortico-striatal functional connectivity in autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder has long been conceptualized as a disorder of "atypical development of functional brain connectivity (which refers to correlations in activity levels of distant brain regions)." However, most of the research has focused on the connectivity between cortical regions, and much remains unknown about the developmental changes of functional connectivity between subcortical and cortical areas in autism spectrum disorder. We used the technique of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to explore the developmental characteristics of intrinsic functional connectivity (functional brain connectivity when people are asked not to do anything) between subcortical and cortical regions in individuals with and without autism spectrum disorder aged 6-30 years.

Health-related risky behaviors and their risk factors in adolescents with high-functioning autism.

Background: Health-related risky behaviors generally refer to behaviors that have a negative impact on health and quality of life. Health-related risky behaviors in adolescents with high-functioning autism (HFA) have not been well understood so far. Adolescents with HFA may have more health-related risky behaviors than neurotypical adolescents.

MiR-410-3p activates the NF-κB pathway by targeting ZCCHC10 to promote migration, invasion and EMT of colorectal cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent malignancy of the digestive tract. miR-410-3p is involved in oncogenesis and development of CRC, but the specific regulation mechanism is still not known clearly.

Methods: The expression of miR-410-3p and zinc finger CCHC-type containing 10 (ZCCHC10) in CRC cells was detected by qRT-PCR and western blot method, respectively.