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Background: HOXA1 and HOXB1 have been strongly posed as candidate genes for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) given their important role in the development of hindbrain. The A218G (rs10951154) in HOXA1 and the insertion variant in HOXB1 (nINS/INS, rs72338773) were of special interest for ASD but with inconclusive results. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis integrating case-control and transmission/disequilibrium test (TDT) studies to clearly discern the effect of these two variants in ASD. Methods and Findings: Multiple electronic databases were searched to identify studies assessing the A218G and/or nINS/ INS variant in ASD. Data from case-control and TDT studies were analyzed in an allelic model using the Catmap software. A total of 10 and 7 reports were found to be eligible for meta-analyses of A218G and nINS/INS variant, respectively. In overall meta-analysis, the pooled OR for the 218G allele and the INS allele was 0.97 (95% CI = 0.76-1.25, Pheterogeneity = 0.029) and 1.14 (95% CI = 0.97-1.33, Pheterogeneity = 0.269), respectively. No significant association was also identified between these two variants and ASD risk in stratified analysis. Further, cumulative meta-analysis in chronologic order showed the inclination toward null-significant association for both variants with continual adding studies. Additionally, although the betweenstudy heterogeneity regarding the A218G is not explained by study design, ethnicity, and sample size, the sensitive analysis indicated the stability of the result. Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests the HOXA1 A218G and HOXB1 nINS/INS variants may not contribute significantly to ASD risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A hybrid nano-urchin structure consisting of spherical onion-like carbon and MnO2 nanosheets is synthesized by a facile and environmentally-friendly hydrothermal method. Lithium-ion batteries incorporating the hybrid nano-urchin anode exhibit reversible lithium storage with superior specific capacity, enhanced rate capability, stable cycling performance, and nearly 100% Coulombic efficiency. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of designing hybrid nano-architectures with uniform and isotropic structure, high loading of electrochemically-active materials, and good conductivity for the dramatic improvement of lithium storage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: To study the mediating role of working memory between sleep quality and symptoms in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)., Methods: The cluster random sampling method was used to select 110 ADHD children and 124 normal children as subjects from grade 3-5 students in two primary schools in Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. SNAP-IV, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and visual-spatial working memory paradigm were used for investigation and comparison., Results: Compared with the normal group, the ADHD group had a significantly higher total score of PSQI and scores of subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, and a higher incidence of sleep quality problems ( P <0.001). The working memory score in the ADHD group was significantly lower than that in the normal group ( P <0.001). In the ADHD group, the working memory score was negatively correlated with the total score of PSQI ( r s =-0.271, P <0.001) and the score of symptoms ( r s =-0.439, P <0.001), and the total score of PSQI was positively correlated with the score of symptoms ( r s =0.540, P <0.001). Working memory had a partial mediating effect in the influence of sleep quality on symptoms in children with ADHD, accounting for 18.10% of the total effect., Conclusions: Sleep quality issues are observed in some children with ADHD, and working memory plays a mediating role between sleep quality and symptoms in ADHD children.

Developmental dyslexia in children is one of the neurodevelopmental disorders and is affected by various susceptible genes. In recent years, researchers have found some susceptible genes for dyslexia via chromosome analysis, genome-wide association studies, association analysis, gene function research, neuroimaging, and neurophysiological techniques. This article reviews the research advances in susceptible genes for developmental dyslexia, and with the study on susceptible genes for dyslexia, it lays a foundation for in-depth studies on the "gene-brain-behavior" level and provides scientific clues for exploring etiology and pathogenesis of dyslexia.