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November 19, 2001        News Morgue Search  www.feat.org/search/news.asp

ADVOCACY

·        US Health & Human Services Appoints ASA Pres. to Autism Committee

 

RESEARCH (8 Abstracts)

·        Altered Levels of Reelin In Schizophrenia and Mood Disorders

·        ASD Kids Display More Social Behaviors After Repeated Imitation

·        Eval. Of New Computer Intervention To Teach People With Autism

·        Developmental Profile And Regression In A Child With Autism

·        Anxiety in High-Functioning Children With Autism

·        Depressive Illness In People With Learning Disability & Autism

·        New Functional Assessment of Autism In Kids With Dev. Disorders

·        PDD & Obstetric Complications In Tuberous Sclerosis Kids, Adoles

·        Reader’s Posts

 

 

US Health & Human Services Appoints ASA President to Autism Committee

ASA President Lee Grossman has been appointed to the newly-created Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee announced the Autism Society of America. The committee, which was established by the Children’s Health Act of 2000, is tasked with coordinating autism research and other efforts of the Department of Health and Human Services. The National Institute of Mental Health, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services, is the lead agency for this committee.

Grossman’s appointment, which Secretary of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Tommy Thompson made official this week, marks the first time that an individual outside of the government has been appointed to an interagency government committee established specifically for autism. The ASA was a leader in securing passage of the Children’s Health Act of 2000, which launched this committee.

The primary mission of the coordinating committee is to facilitate the effective and efficient exchange of information on autism activities among the member agencies, and to coordinate autism-related activities. The committee will serve as a forum and assist in increasing public understanding of the member agencies’ activities, programs, policies, and research and in bringing important matters of interest forward for discussion.

The act specifically mandates that parents or legal guardians of individuals with autism or other pervasive development disorders be appointed to the committee, and that public members will bring to the DHHS the concerns and interests of members of the autism community.

Robert L. Beck, executive director of the ASA, noted that as a parent of a child who has autism and the president of the ASA, Grossman is perfect to fulfill this important task on behalf of the autism community.

“Of the many attributes Lee brings to his leadership responsibilities, one of the most striking is his ability to facilitate consensus. Lee has been able to balance his business leadership background with years of experience in all facets of the autism community to be a voice of reason.  Lee’s first priority has always been what’s best for the autism community,” Beck said.

Grossman, who has been a tireless advocate at both the state and national levels for more than 10 years, said he is eager to take on this new role on the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee.

“I am honored to have been chosen to represent the autism community on this important committee. It is a testament to the important work that the ASA has been doing for more than 35 years,” Grossman said. “I look forward to working with this dedicated group of professionals in forging new answers to the autism puzzle and improving the lives of those touched by autism.”

Grossman and his wife Nina have three sons and some Hawiian shirts.

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Altered Levels of Reelin In Schizophrenia and Mood Disorders Altered levels of Reelin and its isoforms in schizophrenia and mood disorders.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui ds=11711858&dopt=Abstract <-- address ends here.  Fatemi SH, Kroll JL, Stary JM.

Division of Neuroscience Research, Department of Psychiatry and 1Community University Health Care Clinic, University of Minnesota Medical School, Box 392, Mayo Building, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.

Reelin is a secreted extracellular matrix protein approximately 410 kDa mol. wt that is reduced in brains of patients with schizophrenia, autism, bipolar disorder and major depression. Recent reports also indicate its near absence in sera of some patients with an autosomal recessive form of lissencephaly. Moreover, Reelin is involved not only in normal cortical lamination of the brain during mammalian embryogenesis but is also implicated in cell signaling systems subserving cognition in adult brain.  Here, we show that blood levels of Reelin and its isoforms are altered in three psychiatric disorders, namely, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression.

The changes include significant increases in 410 kDa Reelin moiety of 49% in schizophrenic patients (p < 0.022) of four ethnic compositions (Caucasian, Vietnamese, Hmong and Laotian) and non-significant increases in depressed patients by 34% vs control blood. In contrast, 410 kDa Reelin levels decreased by 33% in bipolar blood, albeit non-signficantly, vs controls.

There was a significant increase of 90% (p < 0.0061) in 330 kDa Reelin in Caucasian schizophrenics; the depressed value was elevated by 30% vs control but non-significantly. Again, in contrast, bipolar 330 kDa value decreased by 31% vs control (p < 0.0480). Finally, all 180 kDa Reelin values varied minimally in schizophrenics vs controls.

In contrast, the 180 kDa Reelin values dropped significantly by 49% (p < 0.0117) and 29% (p < 0.0424) in bipolar and depressed patients, respectively, compared with controls. The alterations in blood Reelin values appear to be specific since levels of two other blood proteins, ceruloplasmin and albumin did not vary significantly between all psychiatric subjects and controls.

These findings suggest that blood Reelin levels and its isoforms may be used as potential peripheral markers to diagnose presence of several psychiatric disorders and may also serve as targets for future therapeutic interventions.

PMID: 11711858 [PubMed - in process]

 

 

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ASD Kids Display More Social Behaviors After Repeated Imitation

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui ds=11708590&dopt=Abstract <-- address ends here.  Field T, Field T, Sanders C, Nadel J.

Touch Research Institutes, University of Miami School of Medicine,

Department of Pediatrics, FL 33101, USA. tfield@mednet_med.miami.edu

Based on earlier studies, an adult’s imitations of the behaviors of children with autism lead to increased social behavior in the children. The present study explored the effects of repeated sessions of imitation. Twenty children were recruited from a school for children with autism to attend three sessions during which an adult either imitated all of the children’s behaviors or simply played with the child.

During the second session the children in the imitation group spent a greater proportion of time showing distal social behaviors toward the adult including: (1) looking; (2) vocalizing; (3) smiling; and (4) engaging in reciprocal play.

During the third session, the children in the imitation group spent a greater proportion of time showing proximal social behaviors toward the adult including: (1) being close to the adult; (2) sitting next to the adult; and (3) touching the adult. These data suggest the potential usefulness of adult imitative behavior as an early intervention.

PMID: 11708590 [PubMed - in process]

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Eval. Of New Computer Intervention To Teach People With Autism

or Asperger syndrome to recognize and predict emotions in others

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui ds=11708589&dopt=Abstract <-- address ends here.

Silver M, Oakes P. The Child and Family Unit, St James’s Hospital, Leeds,

UK. miriam@webmancer.freeserve.co.uk

This randomized controlled trial looked at the effect of a new computer program designed to teach people with autistic spectrum disorders to better recognize and predict emotional responses in others. Two groups of 11 children (age 12-18) with autism or Asperger syndrome at two special schools participated: one group used the computer program for 10 half-hour sessions over 2 weeks.

Within-program data showed a significant reduction in errors made from first to last use. Students were assessed pre- and post-intervention using facial expression photographs, cartoons depicting emotion-laden situations, and non-literal stories. Scores were not related to age or verbal ability.  The experimental group made gains relative to the control group on all three measures. Gains correlated significantly with the number of times the computer program was used and results suggest positive effects.

Further research could assess whether these gains generalized into real life or improved performance on theory of mind measures.

PMID: 11708589 [PubMed - in process]

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Developmental Profile And Regression In A Child With Autism:

a single case study.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui ds=11708588&dopt=Abstract <-- address ends here.

Bernabei P, Camaioni L.Department of Childhood Neurological and Psychiatric

Sciences, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy. pbernabei@uniroma1.it

The developmental profile of a child with autism during the first 3 years of life is presented. Clinical material obtained from different sources is discussed: home videos from birth to 3 years, and cognitive and communicative evaluations at 24, 34 and 38 months. The videos show how the child appeared to make progress up to 12 months, but from 12 to 18 months some abilities that had been previously acquired were lost, and a decrease in social interaction, communication and language was observed.

From 18 to 38 months communicative and linguistic abilities remained unchanged, but social interactive behaviours continued to decrease. The particular profile identified is discussed as one of the possible pathways through which autism may develop.

PMID: 11708588 [PubMed - in process]

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Anxiety in High-Functioning Children With Autism.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui ds=11708587&dopt=Abstract <-- address ends here.  Gillott A, Furniss F, Walter A. Department of Learning Disabilities, Highbury Hospital, Bulwell, Nottingham, UK.

High-functioning children with autism were compared with two control groups on measures of anxiety and social worries. Comparison control groups consisted of children with specific language impairment (SLI) and normally developing children. Each group consisted of 15 children between the ages of 8 and 12 years and were matched for age and gender. Children with autism were found to be most anxious on both measures.

High anxiety subscale scores for the autism group were separation anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. These findings are discussed within the context of theories of autism and anxiety in the general population of children. Suggestions for future research are made.

PMID: 11708587 [PubMed - in process]

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Depressive Illness In People With Learning Disability & Autism The phenomenology of depressive illness in people with a learning disability and autism.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui ds=11708586&dopt=Abstract <-- address ends here.  Perry DW, Marston GM, Hinder SA, Munden AC, Roy A.  Gulson Road Hospital, Coventry, UK.

People with autism may develop new behaviours in adolescence or early adult life, in addition to those associated with the primary disorder. Some of these behaviours have been postulated to be symptoms of depressive disorder. This article notes the methodological problems of investigating depression in people with autism. The authors also attempt to clarify the symptoms that may be significant in diagnosing depression in this group, by using treatment response methods.

PMID: 11708586 [PubMed - in process]

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New Functional Assessment of Autism In Kids With Dev. Disorders Towards a new functional assessment of autistic dysfunction in children with developmental disorders: the Behaviour Function Inventory.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui ds=11708585&dopt=Abstract <-- address ends here.

Adrien JL, Roux S, Couturier G, Malvy J, Guerin P, Debuly S, Lelord G,

Barthelemy C. Inserm U316, Tours, France. JL.Adrien@gil.med.univ-tours.fr

In order to assess particular disorders of psychological development and functioning in children with developmental disorders, we have developed a new tool, the Behaviour Function Inventory (BFI), based on 11 neurophysiological functions, disorders of which are considered to contribute to the core autistic syndrome.

This article reports the reliability and validity study of this new scale. Factorial analysis computed on the 55 initial items identified six main dimensions which we characterized and labelled: interaction dysfunction, praxis dysfunction, auditory dysfunction, attention dysfunction, islet of ability and emotional dysfunction. Relationships between these six new variables and diagnostic subgroups, and chronological and developmental age, are discussed.

The BFI offers precise information of the functional symptomatology of autism, showing clear evidence of some disordered areas of functioning. This new approach may provide valuable information in clinical research, especially for psychopathology and physiopathology studies.

PMID: 11708585 [PubMed - in process]

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PDD & Obstetric Complications In Tuberous Sclerosis Kids, Adoles

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_ui ds=11708584&dopt=Abstract <-- address ends here.

Park RJ, Bolton PF. The Autism and Related Conditions Research Centre,

Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK. rjp42@cam.ac.uk

Children with autism have an increased risk for obstetric complications but it is not known whether these are of primary aetiological significance. It is also unclear whether obstetric complications play a secondary role in shaping phenotypic expression in individuals at genetic risk for autism. We investigated this question by studying the role of obstetric complications in determining phenotypic manifestations in tuberous sclerosis, a single gene disorder frequently associated with autism spectrum disorders.

Obstetric histories of 43 children with non-familial TS and 40 unaffected siblings were obtained using a structured parent interview.  ADI-R, ADOS-G and IQ evaluations were undertaken. Children with TS experienced more obstetric complications than their unaffected siblings, but these were related to mild rather than severe adversities.

No differences in obstetric complications were found in children with and without autism spectrum disorders and there was no positive correlation between obstetric adversities and severity of autism spectrum disorders or intellectual impairments.

PMID: 11708584 [PubMed - in process]

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Reader’s Posts

Preschool shadow needed for 2.5 yr old, high functioning aut. son in Morris

County, New Jersey on Tues. & Thurs. from 1:00-3:00.  Our son is very

compliant, quite social & quick to learn.  Will train & supervise. 6 add’l

hrs are also available in home ABA program if interested.  Please email -

Autism Outreach, Inc. is seeking ABA therapists to work for multiple

families of autistic children in Olney MD, Winchester VA and the Northern

Virginia area.  Experience is preferred but not required.  Training

provided.  Competitive salary.  Fax resume with 3 references to Wendy at

 

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