Oral immunotherapy (OIT) is a preventative measure against food allergies that introduces increasing doses of an allergen to a patient under medical supervision. Research has sought to understand the benefits of introducing allergens in different age groups, but studies have yet to be compared to find the ideal window of time for children to be introduced to allergens. This literature review aims to determine whether this window exists in early childhood or the fetal stages to prevent the development of allergies using OIT.
Popular interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) target behavioral, educational, and socio-relational improvement. To reduce the workload of human therapists, robots have been used in recent years to record behaviors, engage children, and adapt levels of treatment. This review analyzes studies done on the interaction of NAO, the most popular robot in ASD interventions due to its humanoid shape and high capabilities in verbal and non-verbal communication, with human therapists, parents, and children to improve joint attention, motor skills, and prosocial behaviors of children with ASD.
From vacuuming floors in homes to serving food in restaurants, robots have become suffused into our daily lives. Now, robots have a new function in our healthcare system, as behavioral therapists for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Pathologies that arise during critical stages of infant brain development such as autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have no known causes. While infant trials are scarce, preliminary mice trials have proven associations between neurological pathologies and gastrointestinal microbiota (GIM). Presently, research on the human gut-brain axis connection has found similarities to these mice models. This review will critically examine recent studies which associate GIM with developmental benchmarks in infants.
Current approaches for managing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in children, including medication, behavioral therapy, parent training, and cognitive therapy, come with limitations. Cognitive training, which aims to enhance specific psychological skills through repetitive practice frequently via game-like computer programs, is being explored as a possible component of a multi-modal treatment strategy. Despite increasing development in recent years, its effectiveness on some cognitive deficits and clinical symptoms of ADHD has been questioned. Hence, this systematic review aims to evaluate and synthesize some of the available evidence to address the question: is cognitive training effective for improving WM in children diagnosed with ADHD?
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been shown to have a higher prevalence of comorbid psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety. Due to the complex nature of their conditions, children with ASD comorbid with anxiety face heightened health struggles that have significant impacts on their quality of life. Treating anxiety in children with ASD requires a greater focus on the complexities and challenges that each individual faces in their daily life. This paper consists of a comprehensive review of the impacts of anxiety in children with ASD and provides potential directions for future research that could aid in combating these disparities.
Defects in neurulation, a process in vertebrate embryonic development that forms the neural tube and eventually the central nervous system, lead to a range of disorders characterized by malformation of the brain and spinal cord. Past studies have shown that folate, a nutrient involved in the biomolecule-synthesizing one-carbon metabolism, plays a vital role in reducing the occurrence of these congenital malformations. Further investigation of lesser-known nutrients involved in the one-carbon metabolism may provide new insight on preventative measures. In this review, we highlight the current understanding of nutrients implicated in the embryonic process of neurulation and how they are interrelated in one-carbon metabolism.
Owning to the millennia-long relationship between dogs and humans, there is a wealth of research on the impacts of human-dog interactions, or Human-Animal Interactions (HAI). Most studies focus on the biopsychosocial model, which describes biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors as interrelated and interdependent aspects of human welfare. While research has shown that HAI improves psychological and social welfare, studies have yielded contrasting results regarding the physical health benefits of canine presence. This review addresses both cohesive and contradictory findings regarding the impact of dogs on humans, as well as potential explanations for the dramatic variation in conclusions.
What do a smoker, a two week old embryo, a child with a broken wrist, and a metastatic tumor all have in common? While these are a diverse group of conditions, they all have cells that are experiencing the same process known as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Mesenchymal cells are non-polarized, mobile, invasive, and their main function is to secrete extracellular matrix. In contrast ...
