Improving research about us,with us: a draft framework for inclusive autism research

It is both epistemologically as well as ethically problematic if the autistic voice is not heard in relation to social scientific research seeking to further develop knowledge of autism. Ever since autism first emerged, it has remained medicalised and almost exclusively the preserve of non-autistic researchers. More recently, autistic individuals have begun to contribute to autism research. However, the vast majority of research in autism is still undertaken on autistic people, rather than with them, and is often not concerned with improving the day-to-day lives of people with autism. We discuss the concepts of participatory research and emancipatory research before presenting a draft framework for what we regard as truly inclusive research in autism. Our proposals are firmly based on ideas developed by the members of a university-based group of autistic adults (the Asperger’s Consultation Group) as well as the knowledge and experience of the other contributors.     

Association of low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels with the frailty syndrome in Mexican community-dwelling elderly

Objective: Since vitamin D is an important regulator of muscle function, the effect of vitamin D deficiency on frailty syndrome has been recently studied. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the association between 25(OH)-vitamin D levels and frailty status in Mexican community-dwelling elderly.

Methods: Sample of 331 community-dwelling elderly aged 70 or older, a subset of those included in the “Coyoacán cohort” were included. 25(OH)-vitamin D assay and frailty status were measured.

Results: Mean age was 79.3 years and 54.1% were women. Those classified as frail were more likely to have lower Mini-Mental State Examination score (p?=?0.015), more disability for instrumental activities of daily living (p?p?p?Conclusion: These results suggest that older adults with low 25(OH)-vitamin D levels are associated with the probability to being frail compared with those with sufficient vitamin D levels.     

Responses to prenatal opioid and alcohol abuse: A review of US and Australian mandatory reporting laws

Prenatal substance use, specifically opioid and excessive alcohol use, can cause significant adverse effects for the unborn foetus in both the short-and long-term. Responses by state social systems occur on a spectrum of prevention and early intervention to support mothers. Some but not all states include reporting duties, so that professionals made aware of the situation may alert agencies that can intervene to provide appropriate support. This article will review legal duties to report maternal substance use during pregnancy in the US and Australia. We identify variations in these laws regarding who is required to report, what circumstances must be reported and what indicates child abuse or neglect. Inconsistencies in laws raise questions about the nature of different approaches, and how reforms might be made to improve provision of support. Informed by the medical literature, the contemporary context and federal policy in the US, we make recommendations for reform, and for the appropriate response to such reports.     

腰围变化和代谢综合征患病率的关系研究：社区人群心脑血管事件前瞻性研究系列之十

目的分析人群腰围水平与代谢综合征之间的关系。方法选取广西南宁两社区1072例研究对象,分为腹型肥胖406例和腰围正常666例两组,测量其代谢综合征主要组分指标,比较两组代谢综合征的患病率,研究腰围与代谢综合征之间的关系。结果①与腰围正常组比较,腹型肥胖组中的代谢综合征患病率是3．36％,（P〈0．0001）,差异具有显著性。②腹型肥胖组中肥胖、高血压、高血糖、高甘油三酯、低-高密度脂蛋白胆固醇的患病率差异具有显著性（P〈0．05）。②腰围与体重指数呈强正相关（r=0．607,P〈0．0001）,与收缩压、舒张压、空腹血糖、甘油三酯呈正相关,与高密度脂蛋白胆固醇呈负相关（r=-0．201,P〈0．0001）。结论人群腰围水平变化与代谢综合征的发生有显著的相关性;腰围水平与MS各组分之间具有显著的相关关系。     

Using a grey relational analysis in an improved Grunow–Finke assessment tool to detect unnatural epidemics

The Grunow–Finke epidemiological assessment tool (GFT) has several limitations in its ability to differentiate between natural and man-made epidemics. Our study aimed to improve the GFT and analyze historical epidemics to validate the model. Using a gray relational analysis (GRA), we improved the GFT by revising the existing standards and adding five new standards. We then removed the artificial weights and final decision threshold. Finally, by using typically unnatural epidemic events as references, we used the GRA to calculate the unnatural probability and obtain assessment results. Using the advanced tool, we conducted retrospective and case analyses to test its performance. In the validation set of 13 historical epidemics, unnatural and natural epidemics were divided into two categories near the unnatural probability of 45%, showing evident differences (p < 0.01) and an assessment accuracy close to 100%. The unnatural probabilities of the Ebola virus disease of 2013 and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome of 2012 were 30.6% and 36.1%, respectively. Our advanced epidemic assessment tool improved the accuracy of the original GFT from approximately 55% to approximately 100% and reduced the impact of human factors on these outcomes effectively.