18 New Autism Research Abstracts

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NEW RESEARCH ABSTRACTS

[Most titles are abbreviated for listing purpose.

Full titles immediately follow.]

* A Genomewide Screen For Autism Susceptibility Loci

* Autism Symptom Severity And Age Of Symptom Onset

* An Assessment Of Stimulus Generalization

* Autism and Chromosome 13

* Autism Stress Survey Schedule

* How Kids See Autistic Kids

* Postmordem Brain Research

* Lamotrigine Therapy For Autistic Disorder

* Fragil X

* Prevalence of Autism in Iceland.

* Commentary: The Modified Checklist For Autism In Toddlers.

* The Modified Checklist For Autism In Toddlers

* Social Understanding, Behavior in Verbal Able Autistic Kids

* Bornavirus and Neuropsychiatric Illnesses Like Autism

* The Autism Genetic Resource Exchange

* Adaptive Behavior In Children With Autism

* Re: Secretin And Autism: A Two-Part Clinical Investigation.

* Suppressed GABAergic inhibition and Autism

A Genomewide Screen For Autism Susceptibility Loci

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_ui

ds=11452361 & dopt=Abstract <-- Address ends here.

1: Am J Hum Genet 2001 Aug;69(2):327-40 , LinkOut

Liu J, Nyholt DR, Magnussen P, Parano E, Pavone P, Geschwind D, Lord C,

Iversen P, Hoh J, Autism Genetic Resource Exchange Consortium t, Ott J,

Gilliam TC.]

Columbia Genome Center and Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University,

New York, NY, 10032, USA.

We report the analysis of 335 microsatellite markers genotyped in 110

multiplex families with autism. All families include at least two " affected "

siblings, at least one of whom has autism; the remaining affected sibs carry

diagnoses of either Asperger syndrome or pervasive developmental disorder.

Affected sib-pair analysis yielded multipoint maximum LOD scores (MLS) that

reach the accepted threshold for suggestive linkage on chromosomes 5, X, and

19.

Nominal evidence for linkage (point-wise P<.05) was obtained on

chromosomes 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 18, and 20, and secondary loci

were found on chromosomes 5 and 19. Analysis of families sharing alleles at

the putative X chromosomal linked locus and one or more other putative

linked loci produced an MLS of 3.56 for the DXS470-D19S174 marker

combination. In an effort to increase power to detect linkage, scan

statistics were used to evaluate the significance of peak LOD scores based

on statistical evidence at adjacent marker loci.

This analysis yielded im pressive evidence for linkage to autism and

autism-spectrum disorders with significant genomewide P values <.05 for

markers on chromosomes 5 and 8 and with suggestive linkage evidence for a

marker on chromosome 19.

PMID: 11452361 [PubMed - in process]

* * *

Autism Symptom Severity And Age Of Symptom Onset

Brief report: Lack of correlation between age of symptom onset and

contemporaneous presentation.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_ui

ds=11450823 & dopt=Abstract <-- Address ends here.

1: J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Apr;31(2):241-5

Tolbert L, Brown R, Fowler P, Parsons D.

Glenwood Incorporated, and The University of Alabama at Birmingham,

35294-0017, USA. ltolbert@...

The parents/guardians of 50 individuals were surveyed using a

semistructured interview to determine the feasibility of this method and to

establish ages of symptom onset. Thirty-eight informants were able to recall

sufficient detail to allow categorization of the age of symptom onset.

Chi-square analysis confirmed a significant association between

investigators' categorization and informants' categorization.

Contemporaneous presentation was indexed using Childhood Autism Rating

Scale, the Autism Behavior Checklist, the Conners Hyperactivity Index, and

the Ritvo-Freeman Real Life Rating Scale for Autism. No significant

correlations were determined between any of these indices of symptom

severity and age of symptom onset.

PMID: 11450823 [PubMed - in process]

* * *

An Assessment Of Stimulus Generalization

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_ui

ds=11450822 & dopt=Abstract <-- Address ends here.

1: J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Apr;31(2):235-40

Brief report: An assessment of stimulus generalization and contingency

effects in functional communication training with two students with autism.

O'Neill RE, Sweetland-Baker M.

University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112-9253, USA. roneill@...

PMID: 11450822 [PubMed - in process]

* * *

Autism and Chromosome 13

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_ui

ds=11450821 & dopt=Abstract <-- Address ends here.

1: J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Apr;31(2):231-4

Brief report: A case of autism with interstitial deletion of chromosome 13.

Steele MM, Al-Adeimi M, Siu VM, Fan YS.

Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London Health

Sciences Centre, Canada. margaret.steele@...

A case of an 18-year-old male who meets the DSM-IV criteria for

autistic disorder and borderline intelligence is described. Cytogenetic

evaluation revealed a karyotype of 46, XY, del(13)(q14q22). The relevance of

this case to the etiology of autism is discussed.

PMID: 11450821 [PubMed - in process]

* * *

Autism Stress Survey Schedule

The development of a stress survey schedule for persons with autism and

other developmental disabilities.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_ui

ds=11450819 & dopt=Abstract <-- Address ends here.

1: J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Apr;31(2):207-17

Groden J, Diller A, Bausman M, Velicer W, Norman G, Cautela J.

The Groden Center, Providence, Rhode Island 02906, USA.

groden@...

The Stress Survey Schedule is an instrument for measuring stress in

the lives of persons with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Development of the survey and analysis of the underlying measurement

structure of the instrument is reported in three studies.

Through the use of exploratory and confirmatory analysis procedures,

eight dimensions of stress were identified: Anticipation/Uncertainty,

Changes and Threats, Unpleasant Events, Pleasant Events, Sensory/Personal

Contact, Food Related Activity, Social/Environmental Interactions, and

Ritual Related Stress.

These stress dimensions are highly relevant to the problems of autism

and have not been addressed by other stress surveys. The information

obtained from the Stress Survey can be used to plan for strategies to reduce

the stress before it occurs or results in maladaptive behavior.

PMID: 11450819 [PubMed - in process]

* * *

How Kids See Autistic Kids

Children's attitudes and behavioral intentions toward a peer with autistic

behaviors: does a brief educational intervention have an effect?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_ui

ds=11450818 & dopt=Abstract <-- Address ends here.

1: J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Apr;31(2):195-205

Swaim KF, SB.

The University of Memphis, Tennessee 38152, USA.

This study examined children's ratings of attitudes and behavioral

intentions toward a peer presented with or without autistic behaviors. The

impact of information about autism on these ratings was investigated as well

as age and gender effects. Third- and sixth-grade children (N = 233) were

randomly assigned to view a video of the same boy in one of three

conditions: No Autism, Autism, or Autism/Information.

Children at both grade levels showed less positive attitudes toward

the child in the two autism conditions. In rating their own behavioral

intentions, children showed no differences between conditions. However, in

attributing intentions to their classmates, older children and girls gave lo

wer ratings to the child in the autism conditions. Information about autism

did not affect ratings of either attitudes or behavioral intentions as

ascribed to self or others.

PMID: 11450818 [PubMed - in process]

* * *

Postmordem Brain Research

Assessment of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) in autistic serum and

postmortem brain.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_ui

ds=11450817 & dopt=Abstract <-- Address ends here.

1: J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Apr;31(2):183-94

Purcell AE, Rocco MM, Lenhart JA, Hyder K, Zimmerman AW, Pevsner J.

Department of Neuroscience, s Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore,

land, USA.

Studies have identified structural abnormalities in areas of the

autistic brain, with a pattern suggesting that a neurodevelopmental anomaly

took place. Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), which is involved in

development of the central nervous system, was previously shown to be

decreased in the serum of autistic individuals. In the present study, we

measured NCAM protein in the sera from controls, patients with autism,

siblings of autistic patients, and individuals with other neurologic

disorders, but found no significant differences.

We also measured NCAM protein in autistic postmortem brain samples and

found the longest isoform, NCAM-180, to be significantly decreased. In

addition, we investigated the mRNA expression of NCAM in these brain samples

using cDNA microarrays and RT-PCR. Results show that NCAM mRNA levels are

not altered in autism.

PMID: 11450817 [PubMed - in process]

* * *

Lamotrigine Therapy For Autistic Disorder

a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_ui

ds=11450816 & dopt=Abstract <-- Address ends here.

1: J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Apr;31(2):175-81

Belsito KM, Law PA, Kirk KS, Landa RJ, Zimmerman AW.

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger

Institute, Baltimore, land, USA.

In autism, glutamate may be increased or its receptors up-regulated as

part of an excitotoxic process that damages neural networks and subsequently

contributes to behavioral and cognitive deficits seen in the disorder. This

was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study of lamotrigine,

an agent that modulates glutamate release.

Twenty-eight children (27 boys) ages 3 to 11 years (M = 5.8) with a

primary diagnosis of autistic disorder received either placebo or

lamotrigine twice daily. In children on lamotrigine, the drug was titrated

upward over 8 weeks to reach a mean maintenance dose of 5.0 mg/kg per day.

This dose was then maintained for 4 weeks.

Following maintenance evaluations, the drug was tapered down over 2

weeks. The trial ended with a 4-week drug-free period. Outcome measures

included improvements in severity and behavioral features of autistic

disorder (stereotypies, lethargy, irritability, hyperactivity, emotional

reciprocity, sharing pleasures) and improvements in language and commu

nication, socialization, and daily living skills noted after 12 weeks (the

end of a 4-week maintenance phase).

We did not find any significant differences in improvements between

lamotrigine or placebo groups on the Autism Behavior Checklist, the Aberrant

Behavior Checklist, the Vineland Adaptive Behavior scales, the PL-ADOS, or

the CARS. Parent rating scales showed marked improvements, presumably due to

expectations of benefits.

PMID: 11450816 [PubMed - in process]

* * *

Fragil X

Autistic behavior, FMR1 protein, and developmental trajectories in young

males with fragile X syndrome.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_ui

ds=11450815 & dopt=Abstract <-- Address ends here.

1: J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Apr;31(2):165-74

DB Jr, Hatton DD, Skinner M, Mesibov G.

Porter Graham Child Development Center, University of North Carolina

at Chapel Hill, 27599, USA.

In the context of a longitudinal study, we assessed the relationship

between ratings of autistic behavior, FMR1 protein expression (FMRP), and

the developmental trajectories of 55 young males with fragile X syndrome.

Autistic behavior, as measured by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, was not

related to FMRP expression.

However, autistic behavior was a significant predictor of both

developmental status and developmental change. Boys with both autistic

behavior and fragile X syndrome functioned at significantly lower levels of

development and grew at significantly slower rates than those without

autistic behavior.

FMRP expression accounted for less variance in developmental level

than did autistic behavior, and was not significantly related to slope

(developmental change over time). No autistic behavior x FMRP interaction

was found.

PMID: 11450815 [PubMed - in process]

* * *

Prevalence of Autism in Iceland.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_ui

ds=11450814 & dopt=Abstract <-- Address ends here.

1: J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Apr;31(2):153-63

Magnusson P, Saemundsen E.

Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, National University Hospital,

Reykjavik, Iceland. pama@...

This clinic-based study estimated the prevalence of autism in Iceland

in two consecutive birth cohorts, subjects born in 1974-1983 and in

1984-1993. In the older cohort classification was based on the ICD-9 in 72%

of cases while in the younger cohort 89% of cases were classified according

to the ICD-10.

Estimated prevalence rates for Infantile autism/Childhood autism were

3.8 per 10,000 in the older cohort and 8.6 per 10,000 in the younger cohort.

The characteristics of the autistic groups are presented in terms of level

of intelligence, male:female ratio, and age at diagnosis. For the younger

cohort scores on the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised and the Childhood

Autism Rating Scale are reported as well.

Results are compared with a previous Icelandic study and recent

population-based studies in other countries based on the ICD-10

classification system. Methodological issues are discussed as well as

implications for future research and service delivery.

PMID: 11450814 [PubMed - in process]

* * *

Commentary: The Modified Checklist For Autism In Toddlers.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_ui

ds=11450813 & dopt=Abstract <-- Address ends here.

1: J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Apr;31(2):145-8; discussion 149-51

Charman T, Baron-Cohen I, Baird G, A, Wheelwright S, Swettenham J, Drew

A.

Behavioural Sciences Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College

London, United Kingdom. t.charman@...

The question of when it is best to screen for autism may only be

answered by a series of empirical studies. These will be difficult to plan,

fund, and conduct, and will by necessity take many years because of the need

to systematically follow up the whole cohort screened.

In our study, we identified 19 of the 50 children with autism by their

profile at the 18-month screen (though note that some fell out of risk

status at the repeat screen 1 month later--thus sacrificing sensitivity for

improved positive predictive power). Through the subsequent surveillance

methods we employed, we identified the remaining cases as follows: 5 at 42

months, 4 between 42 months and 7 years, and 25 at 7 years.

We do not mean to end on a pessimistic note. Our experiences have been

positive both in regard to the instrument we developed and the effects that

using it have had on the health practitioners involved in the research

study. In discussion, practitioners have commented on the usefulness of

knowing what prelanguage and prosoc ial skills can reliably be looked at

during the 18-month check. Training using the CHAT and eliciting its

behaviors improved the skills and confidence of primary health

practitioners.

It is our view that this has had the effect of reducing the age at

which autism is recognized and cases are referred on for a developmental

assessment. The work reported by Robins er al. makes an important

contribution to this ongoing research and clinical process as we attempt to

accurately identify children with autism at a young age.

PMID: 11450813 [PubMed - in process]

* * *

The Modified Checklist For Autism In Toddlers

An initial study investigating the early detection of autism and pervasive

developmental disorders.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_ui

ds=11450812 & dopt=Abstract <-- Address ends here.

1: J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Apr;31(2):131-44

Robins DL, Fein D, Barton ML, Green JA.

Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs 06269-1020, USA.

Autism, a severe disorder of development, is difficult to detect in

very young children. However, children who receive early intervention have

improved long-term prognoses. The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers

(M-CHAT), consisting of 23 yes/no items, was used to screen 1,293 children.

Of the 58 children given a diagnostic/developmental evaluation, 39 were

diagnosed with a disorder on the autism spectrum.

Six items pertaining to social relatedness and communication were

found to have the best discriminability between children diagnosed with and

without autism/PDD. Cutoff scores were created for the best items and the

total checklist. Results indicate that the M-CHAT is a promising instrument

for the early detection of autism.

PMID: 11450812 [PubMed - in process]

* * *

Social Understanding, Behavior in Verbal Able Autistic Kids

Links between social understanding and social behavior in verbally able

children with autism.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_ui

ds=11450811 & dopt=Abstract <-- Address ends here.

1: J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Apr;31(2):119-30

L, Sigman M, Ruskin E.

Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles,

90095-1563, USA.

This study investigated the relations between various measures of social

understanding and social interaction competence in verbally able children

with autism. Measures of social understanding included measures of

verbalizable knowledge (false belief understanding, affective perspective

taking), as well as measures of more intuitive forms of social

responsiveness (empathy, concern to distress, and initiating joint

attention).

Two measures of social interaction competence were employed: level of

engagement with peers on the playground, and prosocial behavior in a

structured laboratory task. For children with autism, initiating joint

attention and empathy were strongly related to both measures of social

interaction competence. No understanding-behavior links were identified for

a language-age matched comparison sample of developmentally delayed

children.

Several accounts of these understanding-behavior links are considered,

including the possibility that for children with autism, more impaired forms

of understanding are more closely linked to behavior because they serve as

limits on competence.

PMID: 11450811 [PubMed - in process]

* * *

Bornavirus and Neuropsychiatric Illnesses Like Autism

Bornavirus tropism and targeted pathogenesis: virus-host interactions in a

neurodevelopmental model.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_ui

ds=11450312 & dopt=Abstract <-- Address ends here.

1: Adv Virus Res 2001;56:557-82

Hornig M, Briese T, Lipkin WI.

Emerging Diseases Laboratory, Gillespie Neuroscience Research Facility,

University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA.

Animal models provide unique opportunities to explore interactions

between host and environment. Two models have been established based on

Bornavirus infection that provide new insights into mechanisms by which

neurotropic agents and/or immune factors may impact developing or mature CNS

circuitry to effect complex disturbances in movement and behavior. Distinct

losses in DA pathways in the adult infection model, and the associated

dramatic movement disorder that accompanies it, make it an intriguing model

for tardive dyskinesia and dystonic syndromes.

The neuropathologic, physiologic, and neurobehavioral features of BDV

infection of neonates indicate that it not only provides a useful model for

exploring the mechanisms by which viral and immune factors may damage

developing neurocircuitry, but also has significant links to the range of

biologic, neurostructural, locomotor, cognitive, and social deficits

observed in serious neuropsychiatric illnesses such as autism.

PMID: 11450312 [PubMed - in process]

* * *

The Autism Genetic Resource Exchange

A resource for the study of autism and related neuropsychiatric conditions

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_ui

ds=11452364 & dopt=Abstract <-- Address ends here.

1: Am J Hum Genet 2001 Aug;69(2):463-6 Geschwind DH, Sowinski J, Lord C,

Iversen P, Shestack J, P, Ducat L, Spence SJ.

Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, and Center for

Neurobehavioral Genetics, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, 90095,

USA. dhg@...

PMID: 11452364 [PubMed - in process]

* * *

Adaptive Behavior In Children With Autism

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_ui

ds=11450826 & dopt=Abstract <-- Address ends here.

1: J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Apr;31(2):249-50

Fisch GS.

Publication Types: Letter

PMID: 11450826 [PubMed - in process]

* * *

Re: Secretin And Autism: A Two-Part Clinical Investigation.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_ui

ds=11450825 & dopt=Abstract <-- Address ends here.

1: J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Apr;31(2):248-9

CE.

Publication Types: Letter

PMID: 11450825 [PubMed - in process]

* * *

Suppressed GABAergic inhibition and Autism

Suppressed GABAergic inhibition as a common factor in suspected etiologies

of autism.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_ui

ds=11450824 & dopt=Abstract <-- Address ends here.

1: J Autism Dev Disord 2001 Apr;31(2):247-8

Hussman JP.

Publication Types: Letter

PMID: 11450824 [PubMed - in process]

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