Each point on the ROC curve represents a sensitivity/specificity pair corresponding to a particular decision threshold

Each point on the ROC curve represents a sensitivity/specificity pair corresponding to a particular decision threshold. demonstrated by the improved Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). 1. Introduction Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a severe neurodevelopment disorder with onset prior to 3 years of age [1, 2]. It is characterized by impairments in social orientation, communication, and repetitive behaviors [3, 4]. In addition to behavioural impairment, ASD is associated with high prevalence of autoimmune disease [5, 6], gastrointestinal disease and dysbiosis [7], and mental retardation [8]. The prevalence of autism has increased over the last several decades. The incidence of ASD in United States increased in 2008 to 1 1 in 88 children [9]. Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in Saudi Arabia is estimated to be 6?:?1000 [10]. Increased prevalence has great effects on public SIGLEC6 health implications and has stimulated intense research into potential etiologic factors. Although the aetiology and pathology is poorly understood, different factors have been suggested to affect autism, for example, immune factors, environmental, neurochemical, and genetic factors [3, 10, 11], oxidative stress [10C13]. Extensive studies have demonstrated that oxidative stress plays a vital role in the pathology of several neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease [14], Down syndrome [15], Parkinson’s disease [16], schizophrenia [17], bipolar disorder [18], and autism [10, 14]. Oxidative stress occurs when reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels exceed the antioxidant capacity of a cell. It acts as a mediator in brain injury, strokes, and neurodegenerative diseases [19C21]; thus, the control of ROS production is necessary for physiologic cell function. The ROS within the cells are neutralized by antioxidant defence mechanisms, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidise (GSH-Px) Cilengitide enzymes. The increased production of ROS both centrally (in the brain) and peripherally (in the plasma) may result in the reduction of brain cell number leading to autism pathology and apoptosis [14, 22]. Several studies have suggested the contribution of oxidative stress to the development of autism. These studies demonstrated the alteration of antioxidant enzymes like GSH-Px, MPO, and SOD, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant proteins as ceruloplasmin and transferrin, and detoxifying metabolites Cilengitide like GSH, as well as antioxidant Cilengitide nutrient vitamins and minerals [10, 11, 13, 23C26]. Camel milk has emerged to have potential therapeutic effects in many diseases such as food allergy, diabetes mellitus [27, 28], hepatitis B [29], autism [30], and other autoimmune diseases [31]. It has a unique composition that differs from other ruminants’ Cilengitide milk. It contains lower fat, cholesterol, and lactose than cow milk, higher minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, copper, zinc, and potassium) and vitamins A, B2, E, and C compared to cow milk [32, 33], and it contains no beta lactoglobulin and beta casein which are the main causative of allergy in cow’s milk [34]. Furthermore, camel milk contains various protective proteins, mainly enzymes which exert antibacterial, antiviral, and immunological properties [35, 36]; these include immunoglobulins, lysozymes, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, N-acetyl–glucosaminidase (NAGase), and peptidoglycan recognition protein (PGRP) [34], which are crucial in preventing food allergy and rehabilitating the immune system [31]. Camel milk proved its potential effect in the treatment of food allergies, due to its inflammation-inhibiting proteins, and hypoallergenic properties, in addition to its smaller size nanobodies, which are different than those found in human. Camel milk nanobodies, as a single domain, show many promising and therapeutic potencies in infection and immunity [37]. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of camel milk consumption on oxidative stress biomarkers in autistic children, by measuring the plasma levels of glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and myeloperoxidase. 2. Materials and Methods 2.1. Subjects The present study included 60 subjects with ASD, especially those with known.