Background: Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) are a group of neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by difficulties in social interaction and communication, alongside unusually repetitive behaviors and narrow interests. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of behavioral deficits among patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that decreased oxytocin levels are associated with high mTOR levels in individuals with autism.

Methods: We used ELISAs to measure plasma oxytocin and cellular phosphorylated mTOR in individuals with autism and age/gender similar controls, including mothers of autistic children, and non autistic siblings.

Results: We found that mean oxytocin levels of individuals with autism were significantly lower than oxytocin levels of mothers of autistic children and neurotypical, age and gender similar, controls. We also found that phosphorylated mTOR was significantly higher, and low oxytocin correlated significantly with high those high levels in the same autistic group.

Conclusions: This data supports the possibility that reduced oxtocin levels in individuals with autism results in high mTOR. High mTOR, in turn, may result in high protein translation in these patients, which is associated with changes in behavior.

MAP kinases and pathway proteins, such as ERK 1/2, may be associated with the etiology of mood disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, and these proteins have been identified as targets for mood stabilizers. There is evidence to suggest that ERK activation effects GABA secretion inhibition. This study was designed to measure phosphorylated ERK 1/2 and GABA in individuals with Bipolar Disorder and to begin to determine if there is a relationship between them.

Methods

We used ELISAs to measure the concentration of cellular, phosphorylated ERK ½ and plasma GABA levels in 34 individuals with Bipolar Disorder and 34 neurotypical, age and gender similar controls.

Results

We found that activated ERK 1/2 was significantly lower than in individuals with Bipolar Disorder compared to controls, and that these decreased levels correlated significantly with high GABA in these same patients.

Discussion

We suggest that in Bipolar Disorder, low ERK levels may result in high GABA, and that mood stabilizers, such as lithium and valproate, which act upon and raise ERK levels.

Given the increasing competitive nature of global markets, consumers are able to choose from an ever- increasing quality of products and services with constant declining prices. Hence, better understanding of B2B value co-creation activities that governs suppliers’ relationship with a direct impact on consumer is of great importance. The general purpose behind the study is that customers are willing to buy products only if consumers are in demand of the manufactured products, and therefore, the marketing efforts should target the ultimate consumer as opposed to the buyer. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of B2B value co-creation on consumers in South East Asia’s manufacturing industry. The research questions of this study are as following; what is the impact of B2B value co-creation on consumer satisfaction? What is the effect of value co-creation behavior on repurchase Intention? What is the effect of value co-creation behavior on willingness to pay premium? Available literature that deals with B2B co-creation in South-East Asia is primarily concerned with examining the concept of value co-creation behavior and its impact within organizational settings, with little consideration given to B2B value co-creation from consumer standpoint. Hence, an approach that attempts to assess B2B value co-creation impact on the ultimate consumer provides a new insights and a greater understanding of B2B value co-creation relationship within this important geographical part of the Asian market. Findings show that B2B value co-creation activities have a positive impact on consumer satisfaction in SE-Asian manufacturing sector. Findings also reveal that B2B value co-creation activities have a positive effect on ultimate consumer repurchase intentions. This suggests that B2B activities involving value co-creation have a positive effect on ultimate product consumer repurchase intention.