Evaluation of Platelet Parameters in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Elongated Collagen-Adenosine Diphosphate and Collagen-Epinephrine Closure Times

Changes related to the serotonin system play a key role in the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although we know that platelets are associated with the serotonin system, their relation to ASD has not yet been elucidated. In this study, we aim to investigate platelet parameters in children with ASD. Forty patients with ASD according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (DSM-5) and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. A complete blood count was done to measure parameters relating to platelet morphology. Moreover, prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) were evaluated. Lastly, platelet functions were assessed with a platelet functions analyzer 100 (PFA-100) device by measuring collagen-ADP and collagen-epinephrine (EPI) closure times. There was not a significant difference between the groups in terms of platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width, plateletcrit, PT, or aPTT parameters for ASD patients when compared to the control group (P > 0.05). However, MPV in severe ASD, as quantified by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, was found to be significantly lower when compared to mild to moderate ASD (P = 0.047). Moreover, in terms of platelet functions, the elongation in collagen-ADP and collagen-EPI closure times were significantly higher for the ASD group (P = 0.044). These results may suggest an impairment in platelet functions rather than in platelet morphology for children with ASD. Considering these results, further investigation of thrombocyte functions in the ASD may lead to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of ASD and to the development of our limited knowledge of this disorder. Autism Res 2019, 12: 1069-1076. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Serotonin is a chemical that is found in brain as wells as in blood cells that function in blood clotting in the human body. There are problems related to serotonin in brains of people who have autism. Thus, blood clotting cells may also be affected in people who have autism. In this study, we compare blood clotting functions of children with autism with that of healthy controls.

Chronotypical characteristics and related miR-142-3p levels of children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder

To compare children with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and a healthy control group in terms of chronotype characteristics and miRNA-142-3p/miRNA-378 levels. 50 children with ADHD and 44 healthy children were included in the study. Childhood Chronotype Questionnaire was used to identify the chronotype preferences of children. Serum miR-142-3p and miR- 378 levels were determined. Preference for nighttime was higher in children with ADHD. Additionally, a night preference was found to be associated with attention deficit in both groups. While a significant correlation was found between the psychopathology rate in mothers and the presence of ADHD, there was no such correlation in fathers. In the comparison between children with ADHD and the control group, no significant difference was found between miRNA levels. Both the miR-142-3p and miR-378 values of the children with ADHD that have immediate relatives with a psychiatric disorder were lower, compared to control group. We found that shift to night preference in the circadian rhythm was higher and this preference was associated with attention deficit in the children with ADHD. In addition, the presence of psychopathology in the family and the mother's psychopathology affected the miR-142-3p and miR378 levels.

Our experience with Syrian refugee patients at the child and adolescent psychiatry clinic in Gaziantep, Turkey

Reporting from Turkey's frontier with the civil war in Syria, we examined the demographic characteristics, psychiatric diagnoses and treatments for the Syrian refugee patients who have presented to Gaziantep University, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic through 2016 and the first half of 2017 retrospectively, having aimed to understand the special characteristics and needs of this novel patient group. Within a year and a half, we evaluated 51 children and adolescents and 25 (51%) had come from refugee camps, where primary healthcare services are available. Twenty-eight patients (54.9%) had special educational needs. Among our patients, there were only 15 (29.4%) girls. After our experience with refugee patients, we conclude that the role of primary healthcare services in reaching psychiatric treatment should be investigated for child refugees that special educational needs of Syrian refugees in Turkey needs urgent attention and that more research is needed to establish whether gender may be a factor in negligence of internalising symptoms by refugee families.