ORCID Profile
0000-0002-5353-786X
Current Organisations
University of Adelaide
,
University of Manchester
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Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2019
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 22-05-2021
DOI: 10.1002/AUR.2545
Abstract: Delays within the motor domain are often overlooked as an early surveillance marker for autism. The present study evaluated motor difficulties and its potential as an early predictive marker for later autism likelihood in a cohort of infants ( N = 96) showing early behavioral signs of autism aged 9–14 months. The motor domain was evaluated using the motor subscales of the Mullen Scales of Early Learning at baseline, and at a 6‐month follow‐up. The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – Toddler Module (ADOS‐T) was completed at follow‐up as a measure of autism likelihood. Motor difficulties were common at baseline, with 63/96 (65.6%) infants scoring very low or below average in the gross motor domain and 29/96 (30.2%) in the fine motor domain. At follow‐up, gross motor difficulties had resolved for many, with 23/63 (36.5%) infants maintaining these difficulties. Fine motor difficulties resolved in fewer infants, with 20/29 (69.0%) continuing to present with fine motor delays at follow‐up. Adjusted linear regression models suggested that fine motor scores at baseline ( β = −0.12, SE = 0.04) and follow‐up ( β = −0.17, SE = 0.05) were associated with higher ADOS‐T scores with difficulties across both timepoints ( β = 5.60, SE = 1.35) the strongest (largest in magnitude) association with ADOS‐T scores of the predictors examined. Motor difficulties are prominent in children displaying emerging signs of autism, with persistent fine motor difficulties predictive of the developing autism phenotype. The findings indicate the potential clinical value of including evaluation of motor skills within early autism surveillance measures. This prospective study evaluated motor development over a 6‐month period in infants showing early behavioral signs of autism. Atypical motor development was a common feature of infants showing early signs of autism and persistent fine motor difficulties were predictive of the emerging autism phenotype.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-06-2023
DOI: 10.1007/S00394-023-03191-Z
Abstract: To our knowledge, no studies have examined the association of diet quality and plant-based diets (PBD) with inflammatory-related mortality in obesity. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the joint associations of Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), plant-based dietary index (PDI), healthy PDI (hPDI), unhealthy PDI (uPDI), pro-vegetarian dietary index (PVD), and systemic inflammation with all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer mortality risks by obesity status. Participants from NHANES were included in cross-sectional ( N = 27,915, cycle 1999–2010, 2015–2018) and longitudinal analysis ( N = 11,939, cycle 1999–2008). HEI-2015, PDI, hPDI, uPDI, and PVD were constructed based on the 24-h recall dietary interview. The grade of inflammation (low, moderate, and high) was determined based on C-reactive protein (CRP) values and multivariable ordinal logistic regression was used to determine the association. Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine the joint associations of diet and inflammation with mortality. In the fully adjusted model, HEI-2015 (OR T3vsT1 = 0.76, 95% CI 0.69–0.84 p -trend = 0.001), PDI (OR T3vsT1 = 0.83, 95% CI 0.75–0.91 p trend = 0.001), hPDI (OR T3vsT1 = 0.79, 95% CI 0.71–0.88 p trend = 0.001), and PVD (OR T3vsT1 = 0.85, 95% CI 0.75–0.97 p trend = 0.02) were associated with lower systemic inflammation. In contrast, uPDI was associated with higher systemic inflammation (OR T3vsT1 = 1.18, 95% CI 1.06–1.31 p-trend = 0.03). Severe inflammation was associated with a 25% increase in all-cause mortality (OR T3vsT1 = 1.25, 95% CI 1.03–1.53, p trend = 0.02). No association was found between PDI, hPDI, uPDI, and PVD with mortality. The joint association, between HEI-2015, levels of systemic inflammation, and all-cause, CVD and cancer mortality, was not significant. However, a greater reduction in mortality risk with an increase in HEI-2015 scores was observed in in iduals with low and moderate inflammation, especially those with obesity. Higher scores of HEI-2015 and increased intake of a healthy plant-based diet were associated with lower inflammation, while an unhealthy plant-based diet was associated with higher inflammation. A greater adherence to the 2015 dietary guidelines may reduce the risk of mortality associated with inflammation and may also benefit in iduals with obesity who had low and moderate inflammation.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-01-2023
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 09-10-2021
Abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Although screening programs have reduced mortality rates, there is a need for research focused on finding the main factors that lead primary CRC to progress and metastasize. During tumor progression, malignant cells modify their habitat, corrupting or transforming cells of different origins and creating the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cells forming the TME like macrophages, neutrophils, and fibroblasts generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) that modify the cancer niche. The effects of ROS in cancer are very erse: they promote cellular proliferation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), evasion of cell death programs, migration, and angiogenesis. Due to the multifaceted role of ROS in cancer cell survival and function, ROS-modulating agents such as antioxidants or pro-oxidants could have therapeutic potential in cancer prevention and/or as a complement to systemic treatments. In this review, we will examine the main ROS producer cells and their effects on cancer progression and metastasis. Furthermore, we will enumerate the latest clinical trials where pro-oxidants and antioxidants have therapeutic uses in CRC.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 22-10-2020
Abstract: Often included within ‘high-risk sibling’ studies, the Autism Observation Scale for Infants (AOSI) has only one independent replication study and no evaluation with community-ascertained cohorts. We administered the AOSI and established clinical measures with 103 infants (68% male) at ‘high autism likelihood’ on the Social Attention and Communication Surveillance - Revised (SACS-R) tool, at 9–14 months of age and again 6 months later. AOSI Total scores showed adequate internal consistency and strong inter-rater agreement (live- or video-coded) and were approximately normally distributed at each visit. Modest significant associations presented between Time 1 AOSI scores and concurrent developmental/adaptive skills measures. Concurrent associations were stronger at Time 2, particularly between AOSI Total and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) Social Affect scores. AOSI scores were only moderately associated across Time 1 and 2 assessments, as were Time 1 AOSI with Time 2 ADOS scores. These data from a clinically indicated cohort broadly replicate previous AOSI validity accounts from ‘high-risk sibling’ studies, particularly beyond the first year. Strong inter-rater agreement indicates viable AOSI inclusion within protocols necessitating blinded evaluation (e.g. intervention trials). Moderate within-participant stability suggests that, like ‘high-risk siblings,’ community-ascertained infants experience variable early trajectories. We investigated whether a commonly used research assessment – the Autism Observation Scale for Infants (AOSI) – accurately measures autism behaviours among infants showing early signs of autism identified within the community. The AOSI is often included in studies tracking the development of infants at increased likelihood of autism, such as the infant siblings of diagnosed children. However, the suitability of this measure has not previously been tested with community-referred infants. We administered the AOSI with infants when aged 9 to 14 months and again 6 months later. Our researchers – independent of the AOSI development team and newly trained on this measure – were able to administer the brief interactive assessment and score it accurately. The infants’ AOSI scores were linked to their scores on other established and validated clinical assessments, particularly at the second visit when average age was 18 months. Stronger correspondence of AOSI and other scores at this second visit suggests early autism behaviours are better established and more consistent by 18 months of age, even though these infants showed clear enough signs of possible autism to prompt referral to our study around 12 months of age. However, the moderate association of AOSI scores over time suggests that, like infant siblings – who mostly do not develop autism – community-identified infants showing early signs may also have variable developmental pathways in early life.
Publisher: American Medical Association (AMA)
Date: 11-2021
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-09-2020
DOI: 10.1002/AUR.2381
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-05-2020
DOI: 10.1002/AUR.2296
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 03-07-2021
DOI: 10.1007/S10802-021-00838-5
Abstract: Child temperament and caregiver psychological distress have been independently associated with social-emotional difficulties among in iduals with autism. However, the interrelationship among these risk factors has rarely been investigated. We explored the reciprocal interplay between child temperament (surgency, negative affectivity, and self-regulation) and caregiver psychological distress in the development of child internalizing and externalizing symptoms, in a cohort of 103 infants showing early autism traits. Caregivers completed questionnaires when children were aged around 12-months (Time 1 [T1]), 18-months (Time 2 [T2]), and 24-months (Time 3 [T3]). Cross-lagged path models revealed a significant pathway from T1 caregiver psychological distress through lower T2 child self-regulation to subsequently greater T3 child internalizing symptoms. No such caregiver-driven pathway was evident through T2 child negative affectivity or in the prediction of T3 child externalizing symptoms. Further, no support was found for temperament-driven pathways through caregiver psychological distress to child social-emotional difficulties. Child surgency was mostly unrelated to caregiver psychological distress and social-emotional difficulties. These findings implicate the need to support the mental health of caregivers with an infant with autism traits in order to enhance the emotion regulation and social-emotional development of their infants.
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Ming Wai Wan.