FEAT DAILY NEWSLETTER
Sacramento, California http://www.feat.org
January 26, 2002
News Morgue Search www.feat.org/search/news.asp
·
The Pattern Of Intact And Impaired Memory Functions In
Autism
·
Social Understanding In Autism: Eye Gaze As A Measure
Of
·
Translocated Genetic Material in Autistic Girl
·
Prader-Willi/Angelman Syndrome and Chromosome 15
·
Serotonin Transporter Gene and Autism
·
Support For Linkage Of Autism With Markers On
Chromosome 7
·
Activation of the Inflammatory Response System In
Autism
·
Positive vs. Negative Reinforcement in Experiment with
ASD Child
·
Self-control In Children With Autism
·
The Efficacy of Social Stories, Text Cues, Video
·
Behavior Analysis And Intervention For Adults With
Autism
·
Intensive Behavioral Treatment For A Toddler At
·
Intensive Behavioral Treatment For 4- To 7-Year-Old
·
Training and Certifying Behavior Analysts
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui
ds=11806691&dopt=Abstract <- - address ends here.
Minshew NJ, Goldstein G. University of Pittsburgh School
of Medicine,
Pennsylvania, USA. minshewnj@msx.upmc.edu
A battery of tests of auditory and visual memory was used
to investigate memory function in 52 high-functioning adolescents and young adults
with autism and 40 group-matched normal controls. It was hypothesized that
memory dysfunction is present in autism but is not modality specific and is
produced by poor utilization of organizing strategies.
It was therefore hypothesized that memory impairment in
autism would become more prominent as task complexity was increased. The
participants with autism performed as well as controls on short-term memory and
paired-associate learning tasks, but performed significantly less well than controls
on a list learning task. They also performed significantly more poorly on
immediate and delayed recall of a story and of a complex geometric figure.
On a maze learning task, their performance became
progressively worse relative to controls as the complexity of the maze
increased. On a series of span tasks, they did not differ from controls on
letter span, but did significantly worse on word span and sentences of
increasing complexity. These findings
indicate a lack of modality specificity and a failure to initiate organizing
strategies as evidenced by inefficiency in new learning, poor utilization of
contextual cues in story and complex pattern recall, and greater impairment
with increasing complexity of the material.
PMID: 11806691 [PubMed - in process]
* * *
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui
ds=11806690&dopt=Abstract <- - address ends here.
Ruffman T, Garnham W, Rideout P. University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.
Twenty-eight children with autism and 33 MLD children were
given two tasks tapping social understanding and a control task tapping
probability understanding. For each task there was a measure of eye gaze (where
children looked when anticipating the return of a story character or an object)
and a verbal measure (a direct question).
We found that eye gaze was better than verbal performance
at differentiating children with autism from children with MLD. Children with autism
did not look to the correct location in anticipation of the story character’s
return in the social tasks, but they did look to the correct location in the
nonsocial probability task. We also found that within the autistic group,
children who looked least to the correct location were rated as having the most
severe autistic characteristics.
Further, we found that whereas verbal performance
correlated with general language ability in the autistic group, eye gaze did
not. We argue that:
(a) eye gaze probably taps unconscious but core
insights into social
behavior and as such is better than verbal measures at
differentiating
children with autism from mentally handicapped controls,
(b) eye gaze taps either spontaneous processes of
simulation or
rudimentary pattern recognition, both of which are less
based in language,
and
© the social understanding of children with autism is
probably based mostly on verbally mediated theories whereas control children
also possess more spontaneous insights indexed by eye gaze.
PMID: 11806690 [PubMed - in process]
* * *
“A balanced reciprocal translocation t(5;7)(q14;q32)
associated with autistic disorder: Molecular analysis of the chromosome 7
breakpoint.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui
ds=11803521&dopt=Abstract <- - address ends here.
Tentler D, Brandberg G, Betancur C, Gillberg C, Anneren G,
Orsmark C, Green ED, Carlsson B, Dahl N. Department of Genetics and Pathology,
Section of Clinical Genetics, The Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University,
Uppsala, Sweden.
Autism is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by
impairments in social interaction, restricted and stereotypic pattern of
interest with onset by 3 years of age. The results of genetic linkage studied
for autistic disorder (AD) have suggested a susceptibility locus for the
disease on the long arm of chromosome 7.
We report a girl with AD and a balanced reciprocal
translocation t(5;7)(q14;q32). The mother carries the translocation but do not
express the disease. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis with
chromosome 7-specific YAC clones showed that the breakpoint coincides with the candidate
region for AD. We identified a PAC clone that spans the translocation
breakpoint and the breakpoint was mapped to a 2 kb region. Mutation screening of the genes SSBP and
T2R3 located just centromeric to the breakpoint was performed in a set of 29
unrelated autistic sibling pairs who shared at least one chromosome 7
haplotype.
We found no sequence variations, which predict amino acid
alterations. Two single nucleotide
polymorphisms were identified in the T2R3 gene, and associations between allele
variants and AD in our population were not found. The methylation pattern of
different chromosome 7 regions in the patient’s genomic DNA appears normal.
Here we report the clinical presentation of the patient
with AD and the characterization of the genomic organization across the
breakpoint at 7q32. The precise localization of the breakpoint on 7q32 may be
relevant for further linkage studies and molecular analysis of AD in this
region. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
PMID: 11803521 [PubMed - in process]
* * *
“The phenotypic manifestations of interstitial
duplications of proximal 15q with special reference to the autistic spectrum
disorders.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui
ds=11803514&dopt=Abstract <- - address ends here.
Bolton PF, Dennis NR, Browne CE, Thomas NS, Veltman MW,
Thompson RJ, Jacobs P. Section of Developmental Psychiatry, University of
Cambridge, Cambridge, U.K.
This study investigated the phenotypic manifestations of
interstitial duplications of chromosome 15 that involve the
Prader-Willi/Angelman syndrome critical region (PWACR). Twenty-one affected
individuals from six families were evaluated in detail, using standardized and
semi-standardized measures of intelligence, psychopathology, and physical
anomalies.
Special attention was placed on determining the prevalence
of autism spectrum disorders as well as the relationship between the parental
origin of the duplication and the phenotypic effects. Assessments of the
affected individuals were compared with evaluations of the unaffected relatives
from the same families. Results indicated that duplications in the region were associated
with variable degrees of intellectual impairments and motor coordination
problems.
Four of the subjects received a diagnosis of pervasive
developmental disorder. Three of these cases were probands and only one met
criteria for classic autism. There was very little evidence of the duplication cosegregating
with autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Paternally inherited duplications were
significantly less likely to give rise to phenotypic effects. The findings
indicate that duplications in the PWACR give rise to developmental delay but
not necessarily autism spectrum disorders.
They also suggest that phenotypic expression is dependent
on the parental origin of the duplication and implicate maternally active genes
in the pathogenesis of the developmental impairments. Further research will be required
to clarify the range and basis of the phenotypic manifestations. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
PMID: 11803514 [PubMed - in process]
* * *
“Serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms and
hyperserotonemia in autistic disorder.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui
ds=11803447&dopt=Abstract <- - address ends here.
Betancur C, Corbex M, Spielewoy C, Philippe A, Laplanche
JL, Launay JM, Gillberg C, Mouren-Simeoni MC, Hamon M, Giros B, Nosten-Bertrand
M, Leboyer M. INSERM U513, Faculte de Medecine, 94000 Creteil, France.
Previous studies have provided conflicting evidence
regarding the association of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene with
autism. Two polymorphisms have been identified in the human 5-HTT gene, a VNTR
in intron 2(1) and a functional deletion/insertion in the promoter region
(5-HTTLPR) with short and long variants.(2) Positive associations of the
5-HTTLPR polymorphism with autism have been reported by two family-based
studies, but one found preferential transmission of the short allele(3)and the
other of the long allele.(4) Two subsequent studies failed to find evidence of transmission
disequilibrium at the 5-HTTLPR locus.(5,6)
These conflicting results could be due to heterogeneity of
clinical samples with regard to serotonin (5-HT) blood levels, which have been
found to be elevated in some autistic subjects.(7-9)Thus, we examined the association
of the 5-HTTLPR and VNTR polymorphisms of the 5-HTT gene with autism, and we
investigated the relationship between 5-HTT variants and whole-blood 5-HT.
The transmission/disequilibrium test (TDT) revealed no
linkage disequilibrium at either loci in a sample of 96 families comprising 43
trios and 53 sib pairs. Furthermore, no significant relationship between 5-HT blood
levels and 5-HTT gene polymorphisms was found. Our results suggest that the
5-HTT gene is unlikely to play a major role as a susceptibility factor in
autism.
PMID: 11803447 [PubMed - in process]
>>> PROFESSORS, TEACHERS, TRAINERS
<<<
Autism Continuing Education for
Students Now Available
FEAT Daily Newsletter, NO FEE
For the Knowledge Only, No CEUs
* * *
Support For Linkage Of Autism With Markers On Chromosome 7
“Regional meta-analysis of published data supports linkage of autism with markers
on chromosome 7.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui
ds=11803446&dopt=Abstract <- - address ends here.
Badner JA, Gershon ES. Department of Psychiatry,
University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Although the concept of meta-analysis of multiple linkage
scans of a genetic trait is not new, it can be difficult to apply to published
data given the lack of consistency in the presentation of linkage results.
In complex inheritance common diseases, there are many
instances where one or two studies meet genome-wide criteria for significant or
suggestive linkage but several other studies do not show even nominally
significant results with the same region. One possibility for resolving
differences between study results would be to combine an available result
parameter of several studies. We describe here a method of regional
meta-analysis, the multiple-scan probability (MSP), which can be used on
published results.
It combines the reported P-values of individual studies,
after correcting each value for the size of the region containing a minimum P-value.
Analyses of the power of MSP and of its type I error rates are presented. The
type I error rate is at least as low as that for a single genome scan and thus
genome-wide significance criteria may be applied.
We also demonstrate appropriate criteria for this type of meta-analysis
when the most significant study is included, and when that study is used to
define a region of interest and then excluded. In our simulations,
meta-analysis is at least as powerful as pooling data. Finally, we apply this
method of meta-analysis to the evidence for linkage of autism susceptibility
loci and demonstrate evidence for a susceptibility locus at 7q.
PMID: 11803446 [PubMed - in process]
* * *
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui
ds=11803234&dopt=Abstract <- - address ends here.
Croonenberghs J, Bosmans E, Deboutte D, Kenis G, Maes M.
University Center of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Antwerp, Belgium.
Background/Aim: There is now some evidence that autism may
be accompanied by abnormalities in the inflammatory response system (IRS).
Products of the IRS, such as proinflammatory cytokines,
may induce some of the behavioral symptoms of autism, such as social
withdrawal, resistance to novelty and sleep disturbances. The main aim of the
present study was to examine whether autism is accompanied by an activation of
the IRS.
Methods: We measured the production of interleukin (IL)-6,
IL-10, the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumor
necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha by whole blood and the serum concentrations of
IL-6, the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) and IL-1RA.
Results: This study showed a significantly increased
production of IFN-gamma and IL-1RA and a trend toward a significantly increased
production of IL-6 and TNF-alpha by whole blood of autistic children. There
were no significant differences in the serum concentrations of IL-6, IL-2R and IL-1RA
between autistic and normal children.
Conclusions: These results suggest that autism may be
accompanied by
an activation of the monocytic (increased IL-1RA) and
Th-1-like (increased
IFN-gamma) arm of the IRS. It is hypothesized that increased
production of
proinflammatory cytokines could play a role in the
pathophysiology of
autism. Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel
PMID: 11803234 [PubMed - in process]
* * *
Positive vs. Negative Reinforcement in Experiment with One
ASD Child “Choices between positive and negative reinforcement during treatment
for escape-maintained behavior.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui
ds=11800194&dopt=Abstract <- - address ends here.
DeLeon IG, Neidert PL, Anders BM, Rodriguez-Catter V.
Neurobehavioral Unit,
Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
Positive reinforcement was more effective than negative
reinforcement in promoting compliance and reducing escape-maintained problem
behavior for a child with autism. Escape extinction was then added while the
child was given a choice between positive or negative reinforcement for
compliance and the reinforcement schedule was thinned.
When the reinforcement requirement reached 10 consecutive
tasks, the treatment effects became inconsistent and reinforcer selection
shifted from a strong preference for positive reinforcement to an unstable
selection pattern.
PMID: 11800194 [PubMed - in process]
* * *
Self-control In Children With Autism:
response allocation during delays to reinforcement.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui
ds=11800188&dopt=Abstract <- - address ends here.
Dixon MR, Cummings A. Behavior Analysis and Therapy Program,
Rehabilitation
Institute, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale 62901,
USA.
This study examined the use of a progressive-delay
schedule of reinforcement to increase self-control and decrease disruptive
behavior in children with autism. When initially given the choice between an
immediate smaller reinforcer and a larger delayed reinforcer, all participants
chose the smaller reinforcer.
When access to the larger reinforcer required either no
activity or engaging in a concurrent task during the delay, all participants demonstrated
both self-control and preference for a response requirement. Disruptive behavior decreased during delays
that required a concurrent task compared to sessions without an activity
requirement.
PMID: 11800188 [PubMed - in process]
>> DO SOMETHING ABOUT AUTISM NOW <<
Subscribe, Read, then Forward the FEAT Daily
Newsletter.
To Subscribe go to www.feat.org/FEATnews
No Cost!
* * *
The Efficacy of Social Stories, Text Cues, Video Feedback
with Autism “Social stories, written text cues, and video feedback: effects on
social communication of children with autism.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui
ds=11800183&dopt=Abstract <- - address ends here.
This study investigated the effects of written text and
pictorial cuing with supplemental video feedback on the social communication of
5 students with autism and social deficits. Two peers without disabilities participated
as social partners with each child with autism to form five triads.
Treatment was implemented twice per week and consisted of
10 min of systematic instruction using visual stimuli, 10 min of social
interaction, and 10 min of self-evaluation using video feedback. Results showed
increases in targeted social communication skills when the treatment was
implemented. Some generalized treatment
effects were observed across untrained social behaviors, and 1 participant
generalized improvements within the classroom.
In addition, naive judges reported perceived improvements
in the quality of reciprocal interactions. These findings support
recommendations for using visually cued instruction to guide the social
language development of young children with autism as they interact with peers
without disabilities.
PMID: 11800183 [PubMed - in process]
* * *
Behavior Analysis And Intervention For Adults With Autism http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui
ds=11799656&dopt=Abstract <- - address ends here.
McClannahan LE, MacDuff GS, Krantz PJ. Princeton Child
Development Institute, USA.
This article describes a behavioral intervention program
for adults with autism, suggests that preparation for adulthood should begin in
early childhood, asserts that the curriculum should be just as comprehensive
and evaluation criteria just as rigorous in programs for adults as in programs for
children, and proposes that close examination of adults’ repertoires may lead
to key modifications of services delivered to children.
Along the way, the authors provide some data on the
progress of 15 people who are now adults and whom they have known for 15 to 25
years. Finally, the authors argue that,
because of the diversity of skills and skill deficits displayed by adults with
autism, a program model that prevents “falling through the cracks” must provide
an array of options—from training center to supported employment.
PMID: 11799656 [PubMed - in process]
* * *
Intensive Behavioral Treatment For A Toddler At High Risk
For Autism http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui
ds=11799655&dopt=Abstract <- - address ends here.
Green G, Brennan LC, Fein D. New England Center for
Children, University of Massachusetts, USA.
Intensive, comprehensive treatment using a variety of applied
behavior analysis methods was provided to a toddler who was determined to be at
high risk for autism at the age of about 1 year. Initially, treatment was delivered
in a one-to-one adult-child format in the child’s home and other settings, with
gradual transitions to group instruction in early intervention and preschool
classrooms.
Intensive treatment continued for 3 years; by the 4th
year, the child was spending most of her time in a regular preschool classroom,
with minimal ongoing one-to-one instruction. Direct observational data and
results of norm-referenced tests documented large increases in language,
social, cognitive, and daily living skills over the course of treatment.
After 4 years, the child demonstrated no behavioral or
developmental abnormalities, performed above her chronological age level on norm-referenced
tests of cognitive and language skills, and was functioning as a typical child
in a regular public school kindergarten classroom.
PMID: 11799655 [PubMed - in process]
* * *
Intensive Behavioral Treatment For 4- To 7-Year-Old
Children With Autism “Intensive behavioral treatment at school for 4- to
7-year-old children with autism. A 1-year comparison controlled study.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui
ds=11799654&dopt=Abstract <- - address ends here.
Eikeseth S, Smith T, Jahr E, Eldevik S. Akershus College.
This study was designed to evaluate 1 year of intensive
treatment for 4- to 7-year-old children with autism. An independent clinician
assigned children to either behavioral treatment (n = 13) or eclectic treatment
(n = 12). Assignment was based on availability of personnel to supervise treatment
and was not influenced by child characteristics or family preference.
The two treatment groups received similar amounts of
treatment (M = 28.52 hours per week at the child’s school). Children in the
behavioral treatment group made significantly larger gains on standardized
tests than did children in the eclectic treatment group.
Results suggest that some 4- to 7-year-olds may make large
gains with intensive behavioral treatment, that such treatment can be
successfully implemented in school settings, and that specific aspects of behavioral
treatment (not just its intensity) may account for favorable outcomes.
PMID: 11799654 [PubMed - in process]
* * *
Training and Certifying Behavior Analysts http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui
ds=11799652&dopt=Abstract <- - address ends here.
Shook GL, Ala’i-Rosales S, Glenn SS. Department of
Behavior Analysis, University of North Texas, USA.
Proper professional certification and training of behavior
analysts who work with individuals with autism is critical in ensuring that
those individuals receive the highest quality behavior analytic services.
This article discusses the current issues surrounding
certification of behavior analysts and describes the important features of the
Behavior Analyst Certification Board and its credentials.
The article also reviews approaches to the training of
professional behavior analyst practitioners and discusses appropriate training
content for behavior analysts who work with persons with autism. The interrelationship
between training and certification is explored.
PMID: 11799652 [PubMed - in
process]
Lenny Schafer, Editor@feat.org • CALENDAR EVENTS@feat.org
Michelle Guppy
Catherine Johnson PhD
• Ron Sleith •
Kay Stammers • Edward Decelie
UNSUBSCRIBE: FEATNews-signoff-request@LIST.FEAT.ORG
ALL
INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR
GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE
KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED
AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO
VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU
ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.