Abdulrahman Mohammed Alhowikan’s research while affiliated with King Saud University and other places

Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition of atypical neurodevelopment and is characterized by social communication problems and repetitive patterns of behavior. Early diagnosis and intervention are decisive for managing symptoms and improving outcomes. Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) protein is implicated in neural development and plays a role in brain connectivity and synapse formation. Genetic research has shown a possible link between CNTNAP2 and ASD. Aim We aimed to discover the blood plasma levels of CNTNAP2 in children with ASD and explore the potential association between CNTNAP2 concentrations and ASD severity. Methodology This case-control study included children with ASD (n=40) and aged-matched healthy controls (n=40). Blood plasma levels of CNTNAP2 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The Children Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) were used to assess the severity of the ASD. Spearman correlation coefficient (r) was used to correlate the variables. Results Children with severe ASD had significantly lower CNTNAP2 levels (0.31 (0.14) ng/mL, p=0.003) compared to normal controls (0.47 (0.24) ng/mL). However, CNTNAP2 levels of children with mild autism (0.44(0.22), ng/mL, p=0.77) were not significantly different as compared to normal controls (0.47 (0.24) ng/mL). Furthermore, a significant difference was found between CNTNAP2 levels, by comparing the mild and severe groups based on the CARS (p= 0.05). Furthermore, no significant correlation between CNTNAP2 levels, and severity scores (CARS and SRS), was obtained. However, a significant correlation between CNTNAP2 and age was observed. Conclusion The low CNTNAP2 plasma level in children with ASD indicated that it might be involved in the pathophysiology of ASD. Nevertheless, these results should be interpreted with care till more studies are achieved using a larger population to decide whether the reduction in CNTNAP2 plasma level is a mere outcome of ASD or it plays a pathogenic role in the disease.

According to previous research, individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have lower levels of physical activity than their typically developed (TD) counterparts. There have been conflicting reports about physical activity (PA) levels in people with ASD. Given the conflicting evidence, further investigation is required. We believe that evaluating PA in individuals with ASD is critical in order to offer PA intervention plans aiming at increasing their health-related physical fitness on a daily, systematic, and individualized basis. In the current study, an ActiGraph monitor (GT3X+) was used to accurately measure PA and sedentary activity in 21 children with autism aged 6.43 ± 2.29 years and 30 TD children aged 7.2 ± 3.14 years. Our data indicated that while the light and moderate activity counts were not significantly different between the two groups, the vigorous activity was significantly higher in ASD compared to TD. This finding was attributed to ASD characteristic stereotypy and self-stimulating behaviors. The significantly higher vigorous PA is discussed in relation to altered neurochemistry, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation as etiological mechanisms in ASD. This research provides a better understanding of the status of PA participation in individuals with ASD.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.954755.].

“Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in three core behavioral: social deficits, impaired communication, and repetitive behaviors.” There is developing indication and emerging data that irregular autoimmune responses to the central nervous system may play a pathogenic role in patients with autism spectrum disorder.” The aim of this review was to discuss the updated research carried out at Autism research and treatment center, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia particularly on the role of autoimmunity in Autism spectrum disorder. This review also present state of information available about the role of autoimmunity biomarkers involved in the neuronal damage of central nervous system in autistic children. The systematic literature search was carried out using Google Scholar, Science direct and PubMed databases on the role of autoimmunity in autism and reviewed all relevant articles published in peer reviewed journals by Autism research and treatment center, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia till April, 2022. We searched relevant articles using key words Autism spectrum disorder, Autoimmunity, Neuroinflamation and Central nervous system. This review revealed that plasma levels of autoimmunity related factors/ markers were altered in patients with autism. Significant change in blood markers in subjects with ASD may resulted in several years of decreased neutrotrophic support along with increasing impairment in relationship with down-regulated inflammation that may play a role in the ASD. Overall, the role of autoimmunity in ASD subjects with excess of anti-brain antibodies suggest that in some patients, autoantibodies that target the CNS may be pathological factor in neuronal growth in autistic children. Large cohort studies with well-defined and specially pheno typed autistic groups and matched healthy controls are required to examine the role of autoantibodies in the pathology of subjects with ASD.

Background Converging lines of evidence confirmed neuroinflammation’s role in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) etiological pathway. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 8 (ADAM8) play major roles in inflammatory and allergic processes in various diseases. Aim This study aimed to investigate ADAM8 plasma levels in autistic children compared to healthy controls. Also, to discover the association between ADAM8, disease severity, and neuroinflammation in ASD. Methodology This case–control study included children with ASD (n=40) and aged-matched healthy controls (n=40). The plasma levels of the ADAM 8 were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The assessment of ASD severity and social and sensory behaviors were categorized as mild, moderate and severe. Correlations among ADAM8 plasma levels and ASD severity scores [Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and Short Sensory Profile (SSP)] were obtained by Spearman correlation coefficient (r). Results ASD children (n=40), including severe autism (n=21) and mild-to-moderate autism (n=19), showed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lower plasma levels of ADAM8 [4683 (2885–5229); 4663 (4060–5000); 4632 (2885–5229)], respectively, than those of healthy controls [5000 (4047–5000)] [median (IQR) pg/mL]. However, there was no significant difference between the ADAM8 levels of children with severe and mild-to-moderate autism (p = 0.71). Moreover, ADAM8 plasma levels were not significantly correlated with the severity of ASD measured by behavioral scales [CARS (r= −0.11, p=0.55), SRS (r=0.11, p= 0.95), SSP (r=−0.23, p=0.23)]. Conclusion The low ADAM8 plasma levels in children with ASD possibly indicated that ADAM8 might be implicated in the pathogenesis of ASD but not in the severity of the disease. These results should be interpreted with caution until additional studies are carried out with larger populations to decide whether the reduction in plasma ADAM8 levels is a mere consequence of ASD or if it plays a pathogenic role in the disease.

Obesity among adolescents is a global health apprehension which requires early prevention. The aim of this study was to determine the association between lifestyle habits including physical activity, sedentary behaviors and eating habits with obesity indices of body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) among male adolescents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We randomly selected 471 secondary school male adolescents aged 14–18 years. A pre-validated self-reported questionnaire was used to record the data on physical activity level, sedentary behaviors, sleep duration and eating habits. The International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cutoff values for adolescents under 18 years of age were used to define overweight and obesity. Total energy expenditure was calculated using metabolic equivalent-minutes per week. Anthropometry including weight, height, BMI, waist circumference, waist/height ratio (WHtR), were assessed. 53.7% and 48.4% of the adolescents were overweight/obese and had abdominal obesity; respectively. Those with overweight and obesity or above 50% of WHtR were much less active in terms of METs-min/week from vigorous-intensity sports, sum of all METs-min/week from all vigorous-intensity physical activity, total METs-min/week from all physical activity compared with non-obese adolescents and below 50% of WHtR. The present study identified the lifestyle habits that were associated with obesity and may represent valid targets for the prevention and management of obesity among Saudi adolescents. Knowledge of the factors that contribute to obesity could be used in preventive programs for the control of obesity among adolescents.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder. Previous research reported the beneficial effects of Auditory Integration Training (AIT) on a considerable range of behavior and learning problems. Limited studies examined the association between AIT and biological biomarkers in autistic subjects. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effect of auditory integrative training on the plasma syntaxin1A protein (STX1A) level and also to assess its impact on behavioral, social, and sensory symptoms in autistic children, using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Total scores of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), and Short Sensory Profile (SSP) were calculated before one month and three months after AIT for all participants. Results show that the plasma level of STX1A was significantly increased immediately, one month, and three months after AIT (P<0.05). Moreover, Pearson correlation (r) values between STX1A levels before and after AIT shows strong and positive significant correlations between STX1A levels before AIT and immediately after AIT (r=0.594, p=0.01) and one month after AIT (r=0.819, p=0.01). Additionally, our results revealed that behavioral, social, and sensory symptoms were significantly improved in terms of disease severity three months after AIT (p<0.05). The study supports the usefulness of AIT as a therapeutic intervention to improve some measures of ASD such as symptoms. It may also induce the up-regulation of STX1A in plasma in ASD subjects. However, Additional research, on a larger size population, is necessary to evaluate the AIT effect on behavioral and social changes in ASD children, and the up-regulation of STX1A.

This study aimed to explore the effect of auditory integration therapy (AIT) on the forkhead box J1 protein and assessed its impact on behavioral, social, and sensory symptoms in children with autism. Behavioral, social, and sensory scores were calculated for each child using the childhood autism rating scale, social responsiveness scale, and short sensory profile before and after AIT. The plasma level of Foxj1 was [575 (351-2553) pg/mL] [median (interquartile range)] before AIT. This level did not change significantly (p˃0.05) immediately [1143(336-4599)], after one month [1268 (275-4932)], or three months [1058 (184-3462)] AIT. However, results revealed that behavioral, social, and sensory rating scales were improved after AIT. Pearson correlation (r) values before and after AIT between severity variables were calculated. Unchanged plasma levels of Foxj1 after AIT supported the non-therapeutic effect of AIT on Foxj1 in autistic children. A significant change in behavioral, social, and sensory symptoms was noticed in autistic children. Additional research, on a large population, is necessary to assess AIT's impact on behavioral and social changes in children with an autism spectrum disorder.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity among adolescents is a global health apprehension which requires early prevention. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the association between lifestyle habits including physical activity, sedentary behaviors and sleep and eating pattern with obesity indices of body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) among male adolescents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. STUDY DESIGN: Questionnaire survey PLACE AND DURATION OF THE STUDY: College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during the period Jan 2017 to Oct 2017. METHODOLOGY: We randomly selected 471 secondary school male adolescents aged 14-18 years. A pre-validated self-reported questionnaire was used to record the data on eating pattern, sedentary behaviors, physical activity level and sleep duration. The International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cutoff values for adolescents under 18 years of age were used to define overweight and obesity. Total energy expenditure was calculated using metabolic equivalent-minutes per week. Anthropometry including weight, height, BMI, waist circumference, waist/height ratio (WHtR), were assessed. RESULTS: Adolescents with overweigh and obesity and above 50% of WHtR were much less active in terms of METs-min/week from vigorous-intensity sports, sum of all METs-min/week from all vigorous-intensity physical activity, total METs-min/week from all physical activity compared with non-obese adolescents and below 50% of WHtR. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that more than half of the male adolescents were either overweight or obese. It also showed that physical activity was associated with obesity indices. Physical activity may represent a valid target for the prevention and management of obesity among Saudi adolescents.

This study aims to analyze the associations between whole-body reaction-movement time (RT) and anaerobic power performance among Saudi athletes participating in different sports. Fifty athletes (age 18-26 years) of four different sport groups representing sprinters (SP, n=12), fencers (FN, n=13), table tennis player (TT, n=12) long-distance runner (LD, n=13), and one non-athlete group (NA, n=8) participated in the study. All groups performed Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT), and the vertical jump (VJ) test. RT was recorded using a sound (RT-S), light (RT-L), and a choice of light (RT-C). There were no significant differences in reaction-movement time between LD, SP, FN, TT, or NA groups. However, tests between subjects showed significant differences relative to sport type in muscular power (p=0.011), absolute maximal anaerobic power (p=0.008), absolute average anaerobic power in 30 seconds (p=0.001), average anaerobic power relative to body weight (p=0.007), and in fatigue index (p=0.028). Fencers recorded the highest values in absolute anaerobic power, absolute average power in 30 seconds, and average anaerobic power relative to body mass. Sprinters showed the highest decrement in anaerobic power during the 30-second test (18.7±6.0 watts/sec). Partial correlation coefficients (r) of selected anthropometric variables with reaction time and anaerobic power were calculated. This study showed that there were no significant changes in reaction-movement time between LD, SP, FN, TT, or NA groups. However, tests between subjects showed significant differences relative to sport type in muscular power, absolute maximal anaerobic power, absolute average anaerobic power in 30 seconds, average anaerobic power relative to body weight, and fatigue index.