Impact of Belgian COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on autistic individuals' socio-communicative behaviors and their parents' quality of life

Background In the spring of 2020, Belgian authorities enforced a full lockdown period to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This lockdown drastically disrupted the daily life of autistic individuals’ and that of their families. In the midst of these extraordinary circumstances, we assessed the impact of social restrictions on autistic individuals’ behavior and their parents’ or caregivers’ quality of life; we also sought to identify individual characteristics that may influence such changes. Methods We designed an online survey targeting caregivers living with an autistic child or adult. The questionnaire included 125 five-point Likert questions which targeted changes in families’ quality of life and in autistic individuals’ behavior, as well as factors likely to influence the extent and direction of these changes. Results We collected data from 209 French-speaking Belgian respondents. Respondents reported that the lockdown brought about a higher frequency of nonfunctional socio-communicative behaviors, as well as a decrease in families’ quality of life. Parents who had less access to respite care experienced a steeper decrease in their quality of life. Autistic individuals with comorbidities, and whose parents had less access to respite care and implemented fewer rules at home during lockdown were more likely to display nonfunctional socio-communicative behaviors. Conclusion COVID-19 lockdown restrictions had a negative impact on both autistic individuals and their parents

H4 Histamine Receptors Mediate Cell Cycle Arrest in Growth Factor-Induced Murine and Human Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells

The most recently characterized H4 histamine receptor (H4R) is expressed preferentially in the bone marrow, raising the question of its role during hematopoiesis. Here we show that both murine and human progenitor cell populations express this receptor subtype on transcriptional and protein levels and respond to its agonists by reduced growth factor-induced cell cycle progression that leads to decreased myeloid, erythroid and lymphoid colony formation. H4R activation prevents the induction of cell cycle genes through a cAMP/PKA-dependent pathway that is not associated with apoptosis. It is mediated specifically through H4R signaling since gene silencing or treatment with selective antagonists restores normal cell cycle progression. The arrest of growth factor-induced G1/S transition protects murine and human progenitor cells from the toxicity of the cell cycle-dependent anticancer drug Ara-C in vitro and reduces aplasia in a murine model of chemotherapy. This first evidence for functional H4R expression in hematopoietic progenitors opens new therapeutic perspectives for alleviating hematotoxic side effects of antineoplastic drugs

Trouble du spectre de l'autisme ou spectre des troubles du neurodéveloppement: Quels repères pour un diagnostic utile pour l'intervention.

International audienc

Electrophysiological characterisation of myoclonic-atonic seizures in symptomatic continuous spike-waves during slow sleep syndrome.

Sudden epileptic falls are frequently reported in continuous spike-waves during slow sleep (CSWS) syndrome. Inhibitory seizures are usually considered as the underlying mechanism. However, published polygraphic recordings are rare. We report the case of a 22 month-old boy suffering from a symptomatic CSWS syndrome associated with a perinatal stroke involving the right middle cerebral artery territory. He presented with psychomotor regression and daily multiple falls related to myoclonic-atonic seizures. Neurophysiological examination showed secondary generalized myoclonus systematically correlated with a bilateral spike spreading from the right central area. This confirms that positive myoclonus, in addition to negative myoclonus, may be responsible for epileptic falls in CSWS syndrome. [Published with video sequences]

Provide a “useful diagnosis”?The example of school inclusion for autistic children

peer reviewedL’établissement d’un diagnostic d’autisme ne permet souvent pas de décrire précisément le fonctionnement et les besoins de la personne. Afin de proposer un diagnostic utile à la personne, nous proposer de compléter, et parfois remplacer, le diagnostic catégoriel en dressant pour chaque individu un profil individuel multidimensionnel qui permet de préciser ses forces et de ses faiblesses. Nous illustrons cette méthodologie dans le cadre de la mise en place d’aménagements scolaires.10. Reduced inequalitie

Impact of Belgian COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on autistic individuals’ socio-communicative behaviors and their parents’ quality of life

BackgroundIn the spring of 2020, Belgian authorities enforced a full lockdown period to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This lockdown drastically disrupted the daily life of autistic individuals’ and that of their families. In the midst of these extraordinary circumstances, we assessed the impact of social restrictions on autistic individuals’ behavior and their parents’ or caregivers’ quality of life; we also sought to identify individual characteristics that may influence such changes.MethodsWe designed an online survey targeting caregivers living with an autistic child or adult. The questionnaire included 125 five-point Likert questions which targeted changes in families’ quality of life and in autistic individuals’ behavior, as well as factors likely to influence the extent and direction of these changes.ResultsWe collected data from 209 French-speaking Belgian respondents. Respondents reported that the lockdown brought about a higher frequency of nonfunctional socio-communicative behaviors, as well as a decrease in families’ quality of life. Parents who had less access to respite care experienced a steeper decrease in their quality of life. Autistic individuals with comorbidities, and whose parents had less access to respite care and implemented fewer rules at home during lockdown were more likely to display nonfunctional socio-communicative behaviors.ConclusionCOVID-19 lockdown restrictions had a negative impact on both autistic individuals and their parents.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

L'expérience du modèle d'intervention "Inter-Action" pour les comportements-défis sévères chez les personnes avecTrouble du Spectre de l'Autismeet/ou Trouble du Développement Intellectuel

editorial reviewedDepuis 2013, la Fondation SUSA a développé un service spécialisé dans l’évaluation et la prise en charge des personnes avec un Trouble du Spectre de l’Autisme et/ou un Trouble du Développement Intellectuel, associés à des comportements-défis sévères. Le poster que nous avons présenté avait pour objectif de décrire la méthodologie utilisée dans le cadre de ce service, les caractéristiques de la population accueillie et l’évolution des comportements-défis, dans une perspective de compréhension des besoins des personnes et de leur famille, d’analyse des facteurs de réussite et d’échec, et d’amélioration de notre programme. Entre 2013 et 2019, 136 personnes ont bénéficié d’une intervention d’au moins trois mois. Trente quatre ont abandonné prématurément pour diverses raisons. Sur les 102 personnes ayant bénéficié d’un programme complet, nous avons pu analyser l’évolution des CDS à l’aide de la GECEN (n=55) et l’EGCP (n=28). Les résultats obtenus indiquent que l’intervention a permis une diminution significative de la fréquence d’apparition des CDS. Toutefois, une proportion importante des bénéficiaires n’a pas terminé le cycle d’intervention. La discussion porte sur les raisons de l’arrêt précoce de la prise en charge et sur des pistes d’améliorations du modèle