Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is quite prevalent, affecting 3-7% of school-age ... more Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is quite prevalent, affecting 3-7% of school-age children in the United States. Parents and providers often report reduced appetite and concerns about growth in treated children. Eighty-nine children treated for ADHD by psychostimulant medication were tracked up to 36 months. Reported appetite suppression was found for 66% of the children and those with appetite suppression had significant weight changes compared with those without reported appetite suppression. Significant weight, height, and body mass index changes were found compared with baseline regardless of type of medication, gender, race, and economic status. However, the degree of weight loss was not clinically significant for the group as a whole. Strategies to intervene with appetite suppression included adjusting meals and snacks to off-peak medication times and behavioral management at meal times, including school lunch. The addition of nutrition services as a part of tre...
Background: Little is understood about the causal mechanisms underlying autism spectrum disorders... more Background: Little is understood about the causal mechanisms underlying autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Prenatal risk factors, including maternal obstetric characteristics, labor and delivery complications, and neonatal problems have all been associated significantly with autism. Objectives: 1. To define the prevalence rates of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and prematurity in a cohort with ASD and compare them to the general Israeli population rates 2. To examine possible relationships between prenatal IVF and prematurity to autism severity, adaptive skills and developmental trajectories (regression/no regression) Methods: The study included 564 children who came to a tertiary autism center in Israel for a comprehensive evaluation. A pediatric neurologist obtained birth and developmental histories and performed a neurological examination. Evaluations of autism severity and of adaptive skills were performed using standardized tests [Autism Diagnosis Interview (ADI-R), Autism Diagnosi...
Background: Medical conditions, including, sleep, eating and gastrointestinal (GI) problems and t... more Background: Medical conditions, including, sleep, eating and gastrointestinal (GI) problems and the presence of minor neurological dysfunction (MND), have been reported in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Few studies have investigated the relationship between these medical problems and clinical manifestations in ASD. Objectives: 1. To describe the frequencies of sleep, eating and GI problems and MND in a large cohort with ASD; 2. To examine the relationship between these medical conditions and autism severity and adaptive functioning Methods: Of 637 participants evaluated in a tertiary autism center, 529 were diagnosed with ASD and 108 received other diagnoses (developmental delay, specific language impairment, ADHD, and more). Medical histories were obtained from parents and a comprehensive neurological examination was performed by a pediatric neurologist. Evaluations of autism severity were based on the Autism Diagnosis Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the new ADOS severity scale. ...
International journal of developmental neuroscience : the official journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience, 2000
In utero exposure to cocaine may result in altered neuronal development. Our previous studies dem... more In utero exposure to cocaine may result in altered neuronal development. Our previous studies demonstrated cocaine inhibits neurite outgrowth in NGF-induced PC12 cells through dopamine, by activation of D1 receptors. This study examined where cocaine interferes in the NGF signaling cascade. GSrasl cells that inducibly express activated forms of Ras upon treatment with dexamethasone were used. Morphological differentiation was quantified by counting cells bearing neurite-like processes after 72 h exposure to either dexamethasone or NGF alone, or with cocaine, dopamine or SKF-38393. Cocaine, dopamine, and the D1 agonist inhibited neurite-like process outgrowth in both dexamethasone and NGF-induced GSras1 cells. GAP-43 expression, used as a measure for biochemical differentiation was severely diminished in NGF and dexamethasone-induced GSras1 cells treated with cocaine. These results suggest that cocaine, dopamine and activation of D1 receptors affect the NGF signaling downstream, inde...
Autism spectrum disorders [ASD] are complex neurobehavioraL disorders defined by social and commu... more Autism spectrum disorders [ASD] are complex neurobehavioraL disorders defined by social and communication deficits and repetitive and stereotyped behaviors. The current estimated prevalence of ASD is approximately 1:100, which reflects a 15-fold increase from studies published a half-century ago. ASD is a highly heritable disorder, however, the exact cause of ASD is still unknown. ASD is associated with altered functional and structural connectivity patterns in the frontal and temporo-limbic brain regions that occur early in life. It is now believed that environmental factors may modulate phenotypical expression of ASD that are associated with the genetic predisposition. Several possible risk factors for ASD were investigated and included advanced parental age, birth complications, prematurity, Low birth weight and assisted conception. Numerous epidemioLogical reports have failed to confirm any association between immunizations and MMR specifically or thimerosaL exposure and risk fo...
ABSTRACT Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is quite prevalent, affecting 3–7% of sc... more ABSTRACT Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is quite prevalent, affecting 3–7% of school-age children in the United States. Parents and providers often report reduced appetite and concerns about growth in treated children. Eighty-nine children treated for ADHD by psychostimulant medication were tracked up to 36 months. Reported appetite suppression was found for 66% of the children and those with appetite suppression had significant weight changes compared with those without reported appetite suppression. Significant weight, height, and body mass index changes were found compared with baseline regardless of type of medication, gender, race, and economic status. However, the degree of weight loss was not clinically significant for the group as a whole. Strategies to intervene with appetite suppression included adjusting meals and snacks to off-peak medication times and behavioral management at meal times, including school lunch. The addition of nutrition services as a part of treatment for ADHD is recommended for nutritionists and child nutrition program supervisors.
Treating Childhood Psychopathology and Developmental Disabilities, 2009
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurobehavioral disorder affec... more Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurobehavioral disorder affecting school-age children. Studies suggest that approximately 8–12% of children (9.2 in males and 3.0 in girls) meet diagnostic criteria for the clinical disorder of ADHD (Faraone, Sergeant, Gillberg, & Biederman, 2003). Approximately 40–70% of those diagnosed with ADHD will have persistent symptoms into adolescence and adulthood with substantial risk of
... University / Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel and Esther Ben Itzchak, Ph.D, Comm... more ... University / Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel and Esther Ben Itzchak, Ph.D, Communication Disorder, Ariel University Center of Samaria, Ariel, Israel. Background: Few studies have examined the variability in intervention outcomes of very young children with ASD. ...
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is quite prevalent, affecting 3-7% of school-age ... more Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is quite prevalent, affecting 3-7% of school-age children in the United States. Parents and providers often report reduced appetite and concerns about growth in treated children. Eighty-nine children treated for ADHD by psychostimulant medication were tracked up to 36 months. Reported appetite suppression was found for 66% of the children and those with appetite suppression had significant weight changes compared with those without reported appetite suppression. Significant weight, height, and body mass index changes were found compared with baseline regardless of type of medication, gender, race, and economic status. However, the degree of weight loss was not clinically significant for the group as a whole. Strategies to intervene with appetite suppression included adjusting meals and snacks to off-peak medication times and behavioral management at meal times, including school lunch. The addition of nutrition services as a part of tre...
Background: Little is understood about the causal mechanisms underlying autism spectrum disorders... more Background: Little is understood about the causal mechanisms underlying autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Prenatal risk factors, including maternal obstetric characteristics, labor and delivery complications, and neonatal problems have all been associated significantly with autism. Objectives: 1. To define the prevalence rates of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and prematurity in a cohort with ASD and compare them to the general Israeli population rates 2. To examine possible relationships between prenatal IVF and prematurity to autism severity, adaptive skills and developmental trajectories (regression/no regression) Methods: The study included 564 children who came to a tertiary autism center in Israel for a comprehensive evaluation. A pediatric neurologist obtained birth and developmental histories and performed a neurological examination. Evaluations of autism severity and of adaptive skills were performed using standardized tests [Autism Diagnosis Interview (ADI-R), Autism Diagnosi...
Background: Medical conditions, including, sleep, eating and gastrointestinal (GI) problems and t... more Background: Medical conditions, including, sleep, eating and gastrointestinal (GI) problems and the presence of minor neurological dysfunction (MND), have been reported in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Few studies have investigated the relationship between these medical problems and clinical manifestations in ASD. Objectives: 1. To describe the frequencies of sleep, eating and GI problems and MND in a large cohort with ASD; 2. To examine the relationship between these medical conditions and autism severity and adaptive functioning Methods: Of 637 participants evaluated in a tertiary autism center, 529 were diagnosed with ASD and 108 received other diagnoses (developmental delay, specific language impairment, ADHD, and more). Medical histories were obtained from parents and a comprehensive neurological examination was performed by a pediatric neurologist. Evaluations of autism severity were based on the Autism Diagnosis Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the new ADOS severity scale. ...
International journal of developmental neuroscience : the official journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience, 2000
In utero exposure to cocaine may result in altered neuronal development. Our previous studies dem... more In utero exposure to cocaine may result in altered neuronal development. Our previous studies demonstrated cocaine inhibits neurite outgrowth in NGF-induced PC12 cells through dopamine, by activation of D1 receptors. This study examined where cocaine interferes in the NGF signaling cascade. GSrasl cells that inducibly express activated forms of Ras upon treatment with dexamethasone were used. Morphological differentiation was quantified by counting cells bearing neurite-like processes after 72 h exposure to either dexamethasone or NGF alone, or with cocaine, dopamine or SKF-38393. Cocaine, dopamine, and the D1 agonist inhibited neurite-like process outgrowth in both dexamethasone and NGF-induced GSras1 cells. GAP-43 expression, used as a measure for biochemical differentiation was severely diminished in NGF and dexamethasone-induced GSras1 cells treated with cocaine. These results suggest that cocaine, dopamine and activation of D1 receptors affect the NGF signaling downstream, inde...
Autism spectrum disorders [ASD] are complex neurobehavioraL disorders defined by social and commu... more Autism spectrum disorders [ASD] are complex neurobehavioraL disorders defined by social and communication deficits and repetitive and stereotyped behaviors. The current estimated prevalence of ASD is approximately 1:100, which reflects a 15-fold increase from studies published a half-century ago. ASD is a highly heritable disorder, however, the exact cause of ASD is still unknown. ASD is associated with altered functional and structural connectivity patterns in the frontal and temporo-limbic brain regions that occur early in life. It is now believed that environmental factors may modulate phenotypical expression of ASD that are associated with the genetic predisposition. Several possible risk factors for ASD were investigated and included advanced parental age, birth complications, prematurity, Low birth weight and assisted conception. Numerous epidemioLogical reports have failed to confirm any association between immunizations and MMR specifically or thimerosaL exposure and risk fo...
ABSTRACT Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is quite prevalent, affecting 3–7% of sc... more ABSTRACT Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is quite prevalent, affecting 3–7% of school-age children in the United States. Parents and providers often report reduced appetite and concerns about growth in treated children. Eighty-nine children treated for ADHD by psychostimulant medication were tracked up to 36 months. Reported appetite suppression was found for 66% of the children and those with appetite suppression had significant weight changes compared with those without reported appetite suppression. Significant weight, height, and body mass index changes were found compared with baseline regardless of type of medication, gender, race, and economic status. However, the degree of weight loss was not clinically significant for the group as a whole. Strategies to intervene with appetite suppression included adjusting meals and snacks to off-peak medication times and behavioral management at meal times, including school lunch. The addition of nutrition services as a part of treatment for ADHD is recommended for nutritionists and child nutrition program supervisors.
Treating Childhood Psychopathology and Developmental Disabilities, 2009
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurobehavioral disorder affec... more Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurobehavioral disorder affecting school-age children. Studies suggest that approximately 8–12% of children (9.2 in males and 3.0 in girls) meet diagnostic criteria for the clinical disorder of ADHD (Faraone, Sergeant, Gillberg, & Biederman, 2003). Approximately 40–70% of those diagnosed with ADHD will have persistent symptoms into adolescence and adulthood with substantial risk of
... University / Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel and Esther Ben Itzchak, Ph.D, Comm... more ... University / Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel and Esther Ben Itzchak, Ph.D, Communication Disorder, Ariel University Center of Samaria, Ariel, Israel. Background: Few studies have examined the variability in intervention outcomes of very young children with ASD. ...
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