Blood and urine tests to indicate autism in children

Autism spectrum disorders ASDs are defined as developmental disorders mainly affecting social interaction and they can include a wide spectrum of behavioural problems like-speech disturbances, repetitive or compulsive behaviour, hyperactivity, anxiety, and difficulty to adapt to new environments, some with or without cognitive impairment. Since there is a wide range of ASD symptoms diagnosis can be difficult and uncertain at the early stages of development.

The research team which is based at the University's Warwick Medical School involves academics at the University of Warwick's Warwick Systems Biology group, the University of Birmingham, the University of Bologna, the Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna, and the Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation ONLUS. They found a link between ASD and damage to proteins in blood plasma by oxidation and glycation-processes where reactive oxygen species (ROS) and sugar molecules spontaneously modify proteins.

They found the most reliable of the tests they developed was examining protein in blood plasma where, when tested, children with ASD were found to have higher levels of the oxidation marker dityrosine (DT) and certain sugar-modified compounds called "advanced glycation endproducts" (AGEs). Genetic causes have been found in 30-35% of cases of ASD and the remaining 65-70% of cases are thought to be caused by a combination of environmental factors, multiple mutations, and rare genetic variants. However the research team also believe that the new tests could reveal yet to be identified causes of ASD.

The team's research also confirmed the previously held belief that mutations of amino acid transporters are a genetic variant associated with ASD. The Warwick team worked with collaborators at the University of Bologna, Italy, who recruited locally 38 children who were diagnosed as having with ASD (29 boys and nine girls) and a control group of 31 healthy children (23 boys and eight girls) between the ages of five and 12. Blood and urine samples were taken from the children for analysis.

They discovered that there were chemical differences between the two groups. Working with a further collaborator at the University of Birmingham, the changes in multiple compounds were combined together using artificial intelligence algorithms techniques to develop a mathematical equation or "algorithm" to distinguish between ASD and healthy controls. The outcome was a diagnostic test better than any method currently available.
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Links between personality trait and depression

Scientists analysed the DNA of over 300,000 people and found many genes linked to neuroticism- characterised by feelings of anxiety, worry and guilt. The genes are also linked to depression. The findings shed light on the causes of depression-which affects one in five people and could provide information to help better diagnosis and treatment for individuals.

Researchers analysed genetic information from a group of people aged from 39 to 73, whose levels of neuroticism had been measured by a personality questionnaire. DNA analysis combined with the personality data uncovered 116 gene variations linked to neuroticism.

Researchers from the University found that genes associated with neuroticism had some overlap with genes linked to a susceptibility to depression and some other psychiatric conditions. More than half of the genetic variations associated with neuroticism are expressed in the brain.
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Effects of maternal stress on fetus

Maternal stress during the second trimester of pregnancy may influence the nervous system of the developing child, both before and after birth, and may have subtle effects on temperament, resulting in less smiling and engagement, as well as diminished ability to regulate emotions. Researchers looked at the stress levels of many low-to-middle-income women who were between 12 and 24 weeks pregnant. The researchers followed the women throughout pregnancy and after delivery, and conducted a test to compare their reported stress levels during pregnancy with objective levels of stress in their 6-month-old offspring.

In the test, the infants' cardiac function was monitored while the mothers were instructed to look at the infant's face but not interact with or touch them for two minutes following a brief play session. The mothers reported the number of stressful life events they had experienced during pregnancy, which included illness, relationship problems, housing difficulties and legal issues. The babies of mothers with the highest number of these stressful life events who completed the testing were 22 percent more reactive than the infants of mothers reporting the lowest number of stressful life events. They also recovered less quickly from the stressor, demonstrating lower resilience.

High reactivity, which is assessed by measuring the variability in the heart rate in conjunction with breathing, is indicative of a stronger decrease in parasympathetic nervous system activity in response to challenge, The parasympathetic nervous system enables the body to rest and digest food, by slowing the heart rate and increasing intestinal and glandular activity. Being highly reactive places children at risk for a range of psychopathological problems, particularly anxiety and depression, as well as externalizing problems, such as disruptive behavior, especially if they experience adverse family and school environments.

However, in an optimal environment with few adversities, children with higher stress reactivity don't have their stress response triggered too often and may exhibit better-than-average social skills and emotional and behavioral well-being, because greater reactivity can make them more sensitive to the benefits of positive relationships and experiences in their environments. Those who had higher levels of perceived stress in pregnancy and post-delivery, had babies with temperamental surgency levels that were 8 percent lower than those babies of mothers in the lower third, who reported less perceived stress in pregnancy and post-delivery.

Surgency includes traits such as willingness to approach and engage with the outside world, as well as laughter and smiles. These same babies born to the highly-stressed mothers were also found to have eight percent lower levels of self-regulation, the ability to manage emotions – such as soothing themselves in periods of high stress  compared with the babies of mothers with less perceived stress during pregnancy and post-delivery. This combination of lower surgency and lower self-regulation can place individuals at added risk for depression, anxiety and difficulties with their social relationships.
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Abilify MyCite for treating schizophrenia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug with a digital ingestion tracking system. Abilify MyCite (aripiprazole tablets with sensor) has an ingestible sensor embedded in the pill that records that the medication was taken. The product is approved for the treatment of schizophrenia, acute treatment of manic and mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder and for use as an add-on treatment for depression in adults.

The system works by sending a message from the pill’s sensor to a wearable patch. The patch transmits the information to a mobile application so that patients can track the ingestion of the medication on their smart phone. Patients can also permit their caregivers and physician to access the information through a web-based portal. Being able to track ingestion of medications prescribed for mental illness may be useful for some patients.

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe and disabling brain disorder. Symptoms of those with schizophrenia include hearing voices, believing other people are reading their minds or controlling their thoughts, and being suspicious or withdrawn. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is another brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.

The symptoms of bipolar disorder include alternating periods of depression and high or irritable mood, increased activity and restlessness, racing thoughts, talking fast, impulsive behavior and a decreased need for sleep. Abilify MyCite contains a Boxed Warning alerting health care professionals that elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death.

Abilify MyCite is not approved to treat patients with dementia-related psychosis. The Boxed Warning also warns about an increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents and young adults taking antidepressants. The safety and effectiveness of Abilify MyCite have not been established in pediatric patients. Patients should be monitored for worsening and emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Abilify MyCite must be dispensed with a patient Medication Guide that describes important information about the drug’s uses and risks.

In the clinical trials for Abilify, the most common side effects reported by adults taking Abilify were nausea, vomiting, constipation, headache, dizziness, uncontrollable limb and body movements (akathisia), anxiety, insomnia, and restlessness. Skin irritation at the site of the MyCite patch placement may occur in some patients.
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Treating insomnia may reduce the risk of mental health problems

Treating insomnia with online cognitive behavioural therapy CBT could reduce mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and paranoia. Sleep disruption is a driving factor in the occurrence of paranoia, hallucinatory experiences, and other mental health problems in so many people.

One group received online cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for insomnia; the other group did not but had access to standard treatments. Those who received the CBT sleep treatment showed large reductions in insomnia, paranoia and hallucinatory experiences. The treatment also led to improvements in depression, anxiety, nightmares and psychological well-being.

The programme was interactive, with participants' daily sleep diaries used to tailor the advice. Researchers monitored participants' mental health through a series of online questionnaires. Those who received CBT may not experience anxiety disorder. Treating disrupted sleep could provide a key route for improving mental health.

Sleep problems are common in people with mental health disorders, insomnia is the cause of psychological difficulties. The results showed that insomnia may be a cause of mental health problems. A good night's sleep can make a difference to people's psychological health.

The cognitive-behavioural therapy was delivered through an online programme. It included behavioural, cognitive and educational components, such as learning to associate bed with sleep, encouraging people to put time aside to reflect on their day before going to bed, and facilitating a pro-sleep environment.
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Depression damages the heart

Depressed heart disease patients may die suddenly because post-coronary artery disease depression can leads to untimely death. This shows that their is
a link between depression, heart disease, and increased risks of death.

Coronary artery disease patients don't live as long as expected. But the life expectancy can be increased with better therapies, surgeries and treatment.

Depression is the strongest risk factor for dying, compared to any other risk factors like age, heart failure, diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney failure.

Hormonal changes and electrofunctioning changes which affect the heart's functioning during depression can cause sudden death.

Depressed people are prone to over eating, smoking and drinking. This can increase the risk of heart attack and sudden death. They have reduced levels of serotonin released in their brain which may affect their heart.

There are normal emotional reactions to having a heart attack, emotions like
anxiety, sadness and anger. These are normal for some people, but long-term anxiety and sadness can leads to depression.
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Dangers of high fat diet in pregnancy

High-fat diet during pregnancy affects the development of the brain and endocrine system of fetus. Unhealthy diet during pregnancy can increase the risk of mental health disorders like anxiety and depression in children.

 Fetuses exposed to a high-fat diet will have greater cases of anxiety, high fat exposure impaired the development of neurons containing serotonin, a neurotransmitter that's critical in developing brains.

High fat diet in pregnancy contributes to neuropsychiatric disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD spectrum disorders, bipolar
disorder, depression, eating disorders, schizophrenia, anxiety and depression in children.
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Depression changes the structure of the brain

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a regular feeling of sadness, rejection, sorrow and loss of interest. It affects feelings, thinking and behavior.

The recent scanning study shows how depression changes the structure of brain by causing alterations on white matter that contains fibre tracts that enable brain cells to communicate with one another by electrical signals.

White matter is a key component of the brain's wiring and its disruption has been linked to problems with emotion processing and thinking skills.

Scientists used a cutting-edge technique to map the structure of white matter and discovered that white matter integrity was reduced in people who are depressed but normal in the group of people that are not depressed.

 Symptoms of depression are low mood,  feelings of emptiness, forgetfulness, fatigue, restlessness, anxiety, worthlessness, helplessness, insomnia, loss of interest in activities and thoughts of suicide.
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Stem-cell therapy may be effective for erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is inability to get erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. According to Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases, about 12 percent of men under the age of 60, and 22 percent of men between 60 and 69 have erectile dysfunction.

Common cause of erectile dysfunction are: diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, anxiety, depression and stress.

Stem-cell therapy is the process of injecting the patients' own stem cell into the erectile tissue of his penis, patients' stem cells is always derived from his abdominal fat cells.

Dr Martha Haahr discovered that within 6 months of stem-cell, 8 out of 21 men treated were able to have sexual intercourse.

Current treatments for erectile dysfunction like injections, penile implant and PDE5 have side effects, researchers are looking for safer treatment. Steam-like cell therapy is safer in animal trials and will be safe for men.