Szapuova Zofia Janik, Argalasova Lubica, Vondrova Diana, Jansakova Katarina, Belica Ivan, Kopcikova Maria, Babinska Katarina, Ostatnikova Daniela
Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia.
Institute of Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, 813 72 Bratislava, Slovakia.
Toxics. 2022 Apr 13;10(4):189. doi: 10.3390/toxics10040189.
The study focuses on current issues of adaptive behavior in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and on the possible risk factor of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Children examined at the Academic Research Center for Autism (ARCA) in Bratislava were involved in the study. The study sample included 84 children (71 boys) with ASD (average age 5.35 years) and a non-ASD group of 24 children (20 boys; average age 8.10 years). The "ETS Questionnaire" focused on the detection of parental smoking habits and other ETS exposures. The concentrations of cotinine in urine were measured by ELISA kit. A significant delay in adaptive behavior of children with ASD in comparison with the non-ASD group was identified. The significant differences were in adaptive behavior, communication, and everyday skills. Children with ASD were more likely to be exposed to ETS, especially in the household. Good agreement was found between objective and subjective ETS exposure indicators (kappa = 0.613). Self-reported exposure to ETS corresponded significantly with the median levels of urinary cotinine. In addition to evaluation and assessment of the quality of adaptive behavior, an important goal of further research should be to identify, investigate, and eliminate environmental factors that interfere with adaptive behavior.
该研究聚焦于自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）个体的适应性行为当前问题以及环境烟草烟雾（ETS）这一可能的风险因素。在布拉迪斯拉发的自闭症学术研究中心（ARCA）接受检查的儿童参与了此项研究。研究样本包括84名患有ASD的儿童（71名男孩），平均年龄5.35岁，以及一个由24名儿童（20名男孩，平均年龄8.10岁）组成的非ASD组。“ETS问卷”侧重于检测父母的吸烟习惯及其他ETS暴露情况。通过ELISA试剂盒测量尿液中可替宁的浓度。与非ASD组相比，发现ASD儿童的适应性行为存在显著延迟。显著差异体现在适应性行为、沟通和日常技能方面。ASD儿童更有可能暴露于ETS，尤其是在家庭环境中。客观和主观的ETS暴露指标之间存在良好的一致性（kappa = 0.613）。自我报告的ETS暴露与尿液中可替宁的中位数水平显著相关。除了评估和评价适应性行为的质量外，进一步研究的一个重要目标应该是识别、调查和消除干扰适应性行为的环境因素。
