Introduction: Turner syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects only females and is caused by the loss of the whole or a part of the X-chromosome. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life and frequency of anxiety and depression in a cohort of Egyptian children with Turner syndrome (TS) diagnosed in Assiut university hospitals, Assiut, Egypt. Methods: In a case-control study; 40 females with Turner Syndrome (TS), aged 6-16 years, diagnosed in Assiut university hospitals, Upper Egypt, were compared to 40 age- matched apparent healthy girls as controls. They were subjected to full history taking, thorough clinical examination and assessment of pediatric quality of life; we used pediatric anxiety and depression scores. For cognitive assessment, health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) and psychological evaluation of anxiety and depression; we used the "Children Depression Scale" (CDI), "Children Anxiety Scale" Wechsler Intelligence Scale for children (WISC), and SF-36 by trained psychiatrists blind to the study. Results: Our study revealed Children Anxiety Scale scores ranged from 13-41 for patients with TS and 5-23 for controls. The mean anxiety scores were significantly higher in TS patients as compared to controls (p 0.001), (27.32 ± 7.1 versus 15.2± 2.9). In addition, we found CDI scores ranged from 38-70 for patients and 31-56 for controls. Mean depression scores were significantly higher in TS patients as compared to controls (p 0.001), (54.7 ± 8.8 versus 36.8 ± 9.9). The physical and mental component summary scores of HR-QOL were lower in TS patients when compared to controls. Conclusion: We concluded that female children with TS experience significant problems with HR-QOL, anxiety and depression, which need thorough psychiatric evaluation and rapid intervention of these patients.

Background: There is growing evidence for a gut-brain connection associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This suggests a potential benefit from introduced digestive enzymes for children with ASD. Methods: We performed a double-blind, randomized clinical trial on 101 children with ASD (82 boys and 19 girls) aged from 3 to 9 years. ASD patients were diagnosed according to DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria. Structured interviews of at least one hour each both with the parents and the child were performed. Later on, another two hours-session was conducted applying the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). ASD patients were randomized to receive digestive enzymes or placebo. Results: The ASD group receiving digestive enzyme therapy for 3 months had significant improvement in emotional response, general impression autistic score, general behavior and gastrointestinal symptoms. Our study demonstrated the usefulness of digestive enzyme in our population of ASD patients. Conclusion: Digestive enzymes are inexpensive, readily available, have an excellent safety profile, and have mildly beneficial effects in ASD patients. Depending on the parameter measured in our study; we propose digestive enzymes for managing symptoms of ASD. Digestive enzyme therapy may be a possible option in treatment protocols for ASD in the future.

Background: There is growing evidence for a gut-brain connection associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This suggests a potential benefit from introduced digestive enzymes for children with ASD. Methods: We performed a double-blind, randomized clinical trial on 101 children with ASD (82 boys and 19 girls) aged from 3 to 9 years. ASD patients were diagnosed according to DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria. Structured interviews of at least one hour each both with the parents and the child were performed. Later on, another two hours-session was conducted applying the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). ASD patients were randomized to receive digestive enzymes or placebo. Results: The ASD group receiving digestive enzyme therapy for 3 months had significant improvement in emotional response, general impression autistic score, general behavior and gastrointestinal symptoms. Our study demonstrated the usefulness of digestive enzyme in our population of ASD patients. Conclusion: Digestive enzymes are inexpensive, readily available, have an excellent safety profile, and have mildly beneficial effects in ASD patients. Depending on the parameter measured in our study; we propose digestive enzymes for managing symptoms of ASD. Digestive enzyme therapy may be a possible option in treatment protocols for ASD in the future.

Background: There is growing evidence for a gut-brain connection associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This suggests a potential benefit from introduced digestive enzymes for children with ASD. Methods: We performed a double-blind, randomized clinical trial on 101 children with ASD (82 boys and 19 girls) aged from 3 to 9 years. ASD patients were diagnosed according to DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria. Structured interviews of at least one hour each both with the parents and the child were performed. Later on, another two hours-session was conducted applying the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). ASD patients were randomized to receive digestive enzymes or placebo. Results: The ASD group receiving digestive enzyme therapy for 3 months had significant improvement in emotional response, general impression autistic score, general behavior and gastrointestinal symptoms. Our study demonstrated the usefulness of digestive enzyme in our population of ASD patients. Conclusion: Digestive enzymes are inexpensive, readily available, have an excellent safety profile, and have mildly beneficial effects in ASD patients. Depending on the parameter measured in our study; we propose digestive enzymes for managing symptoms of ASD. Digestive enzyme therapy may be a possible option in treatment protocols for ASD in the future.

Background: There is growing evidence for a gut-brain connection associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This suggests a potential benefit from introduced digestive enzymes for children with ASD. Methods: We performed a double-blind, randomized clinical trial on 101 children with ASD (82 boys and 19 girls) aged from 3 to 9 years. ASD patients were diagnosed according to DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria. Structured interviews of at least one hour each both with the parents and the child were performed. Later on, another two hours-session was conducted applying the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). ASD patients were randomized to receive digestive enzymes or placebo. Results: The ASD group receiving digestive enzyme therapy for 3 months had significant improvement in emotional response, general impression autistic score, general behavior and gastrointestinal symptoms. Our study demonstrated the usefulness of digestive enzyme in our population of ASD patients. Conclusion: Digestive enzymes are inexpensive, readily available, have an excellent safety profile, and have mildly beneficial effects in ASD patients. Depending on the parameter measured in our study; we propose digestive enzymes for managing symptoms of ASD. Digestive enzyme therapy may be a possible option in treatment protocols for ASD in the future.

Background: There is growing evidence for a gut-brain connection associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This suggests a potential benefit from introduced digestive enzymes for children with ASD. Methods: We performed a double-blind, randomized clinical trial on 101 children with ASD (82 boys and 19 girls) aged from 3 to 9 years. ASD patients were diagnosed according to DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria. Structured interviews of at least one hour each both with the parents and the child were performed. Later on, another two hours-session was conducted applying the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). ASD patients were randomized to receive digestive enzymes or placebo. Results: The ASD group receiving digestive enzyme therapy for 3 months had significant improvement in emotional response, general impression autistic score, general behavior and gastrointestinal symptoms. Our study demonstrated the usefulness of digestive enzyme in our population of ASD patients. Conclusion: Digestive enzymes are inexpensive, readily available, have an excellent safety profile, and have mildly beneficial effects in ASD patients. Depending on the parameter measured in our study; we propose digestive enzymes for managing symptoms of ASD. Digestive enzyme therapy may be a possible option in treatment protocols for ASD in the future.