1. Catarino A, Churches O, Baron-Cohen S, Andrade A, Ring H. {{Atypical EEG complexity in autism spectrum conditions: A multiscale entropy analysis}}. {Clin Neurophysiol};2011 (Jun 3)
OBJECTIVE: Intrinsic complexity subserves adaptability in biological systems. One recently developed measure of intrinsic complexity of biological systems is multiscale entropy (MSE). Autism spectrum conditions (ASC) have been described in terms of reduced adaptability at a behavioural level and by patterns of atypical connectivity at a neural level. Based on these observations we aimed to test the hypothesis that adults with ASC would show atypical intrinsic complexity of brain activity as indexed by MSE analysis of electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. METHODS: We used MSE to assess the complexity of EEG data recorded from 15 participants with ASC and 15 typical controls, during a face and chair matching task. RESULTS: Results demonstrate a reduction of EEG signal complexity in the ASC group, compared to typical controls, over temporo-parietal and occipital regions. No significant differences in EEG power spectra were observed between groups, indicating that changes in complexity values are not a reflection of changes in EEG power spectra. CONCLUSIONS: The results are consistent with a model of atypical neural integrative capacity in people with ASC. SIGNIFICANCE: Results suggest that EEG complexity, as indexed by MSE measures, may also be a marker for disturbances in task-specific processing of information in people with autism.
2. Chartan C, Aarons E, De A, Fishberger S, Messina J, Abdirahman I, Arora S, Dekna M, Lau KK. {{Index of Suspicion * Case 1: Status Epilepticus, Hypertension, and Tachycardia in a 5-year-old Boy * Case 2: Cardiopulmonary Arrest During Gymnastics Practice in a Teenage Girl * Case 3: Acute Renal Failure in a Teenage Boy Who Has Autism and Pica}}. {Pediatr Rev};2011 (Jun);32(6):257-263.
3. Cunningham AB. {{Measuring Change in Social Interaction Skills of Young Children with Autism}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2011 (Jun 3)
Designing effective treatments for improving early social behaviors in autism has been identified as a critical research need. One barrier to drawing conclusions about optimal treatments for children with autism is the use of highly varied dependent measures in the treatment literature. Contributing to this is the absence of « gold standard » assessment batteries. This is particularly true for assessing changes in social interaction impairments in very young children with autism. This paper addresses this issue by reviewing variables important in the development and evaluation of assessment measures, discussing previous studies’ choices of socially-related dependent measures, and the strengths, limitations, and research questions pertaining to them. It concludes with recommendations for measurement selection and future directions for research.
4. Etherton MR, Tabuchi K, Sharma M, Ko J, Sudhof TC. {{An autism-associated point mutation in the neuroligin cytoplasmic tail selectively impairs AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission in hippocampus}}. {EMBO J};2011 (Jun 3)
Neuroligins are evolutionarily conserved postsynaptic cell-adhesion molecules that function, at least in part, by forming trans-synaptic complexes with presynaptic neurexins. Different neuroligin isoforms perform diverse functions and exhibit distinct intracellular localizations, but contain similar cytoplasmic sequences whose role remains largely unknown. Here, we analysed the effect of a single amino-acid substitution (R704C) that targets a conserved arginine residue in the cytoplasmic sequence of all neuroligins, and that was associated with autism in neuroligin-4. We introduced the R704C mutation into mouse neuroligin-3 by homologous recombination, and examined its effect on synapses in vitro and in vivo. Electrophysiological and morphological studies revealed that the neuroligin-3 R704C mutation did not significantly alter synapse formation, but dramatically impaired synapse function. Specifically, the R704C mutation caused a major and selective decrease in AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission in pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus, without similarly changing NMDA or GABA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission, and without detectably altering presynaptic neurotransmitter release. Our results suggest that the cytoplasmic tail of neuroligin-3 has a central role in synaptic transmission by modulating the recruitment of AMPA receptors to postsynaptic sites at excitatory synapses.
5. Fendri-Kriaa N, Hsairi I, Kifagi C, Ellouze E, Mkaouar-Rebai E, Triki C, Fakhfakh F. {{A case of a Tunisian Rett patient with a novel double-mutation of the MECP2 gene}}. {Biochem Biophys Res Commun};2011 (Jun 3);409(2):270-274.
Rett syndrome is an X-linked dominant disorder caused frequently by mutations in the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 gene (MECP2). Rett patients present an apparently normal psychomotor development during the first 6-18months of life. Thereafter, they show a short period of developmental stagnation followed by a rapid regression in language and motor development. The aim of this study was to perform a mutational analysis of the MECP2 gene in a classical Rett patient by sequencing the corresponding gene and modeling the found variants. The results showed the presence of a double-mutation: a new and de novo mutation c.535C>T (p.P179S) and the common c.763C>T (p.R255X) transition of the MECP2 gene. The p.P179S mutation was located in a conserved amino acid in CRIR domain (corepressor interacting region). Modeling results showed that the P179S transition could change local electrostatic properties by adding a negative charge due to serine hydroxyl group of this region of MeCP2 which may affect the function and stability of the protein. The p.R255X mutation is located in TRD-NLS domain (transcription repression domain-nuclear localization signal) of MeCP2 protein.
6. Gallup GG, Jr., Hobbs DR. {{Evolutionary medicine: Bottle feeding, birth spacing, and autism}}. {Med Hypotheses};2011 (Jun 3)
To compensate for the high metabolic costs of lactation, the likelihood of re-impregnation shortly after childbirth is normally reduced due to hormonal changes triggered by breast feeding during the postpartum period. Nowadays, however, bottle feeding as a substitute for breast feeding precludes such changes and leads to early postpartum reinstatement of fertility. We suggest that recent data showing the risk of autism goes up dramatically as the time between pregnancies goes down [1] may be a byproduct of bottle feeding. The decision to bottle feed your last child may unwittingly put your next child at risk of being autistic.
7. Oliveras-Rentas RE, Kenworthy L, Roberson RB, 3rd, Martin A, Wallace GL. {{WISC-IV Profile in High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders: Impaired Processing Speed is Associated with Increased Autism Communication Symptoms and Decreased Adaptive Communication Abilities}}. {J Autism Dev Disord};2011 (Jun 3)
Changes in the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children-IV (WISC-IV) may affect the IQ profile characteristic of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Moreover, the association of particular component cognitive abilities (unlike overall IQ) with symptomatology and adaptive functioning in ASD remains unclear. This archival study characterizes the WISC-IV IQ profile among 56 high-functioning (IQ > 70) children with ASD and correlates WISC-IV performance with ASD and ADHD symptomatology and adaptive functioning. The ASD WISC-IV profile included strengths on Matrix Reasoning and Similarities, weaknesses on Comprehension (which correlated negatively with social symptoms) and the subtests comprising the Processing Speed Index (Coding, Symbol Search). Processing speed task performance correlated negatively with communication symptoms and positively with communication abilities, indicating its importance to functional outcomes in ASD.
8. Samaco RC, Neul JL. {{Complexities of Rett Syndrome and MeCP2}}. {J Neurosci};2011 (Jun 1);31(22):7951-7959.
9. Schneider HD, Hopp JP. {{The use of the Bilingual Aphasia Test for assessment and transcranial direct current stimulation to modulate language acquisition in minimally verbal children with autism}}. {Clin Linguist Phon};2011 (Jun 1)
Minimally verbal children with autism commonly demonstrate language dysfunction, including immature syntax acquisition. We hypothesised that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) should facilitate language acquisition in a cohort (n = 10) of children with immature syntax. We modified the English version of the Bilingual Aphasia Test (BAT) to test only basic canonical subject-verb-object sentences. We tested syntactic accuracy after teaching then testing all vocabulary from the subsequent syntax test to ensure validity of syntactic scoring. We used scaffolding sentences for syntax training. All procedures were performed both before and after tDCS. Results demonstrated a large effect size of the difference between pre-/post-tDCS groups (p < 0.0005, d = 2.78), indicating syntax acquisition. Combining a modified BAT with tDCS constitutes effective modalities for assessment and treatment of immature syntax in children with autism. Future studies should explore the BAT for patients with an inability to use or understand language, in particular bilingual children with autism.
10. Semansky RM, Xie M, Mandell DS. {{Datapoints: Medicaid’s Increasing Role in Treating Youths With Autism Spectrum Disorders}}. {Psychiatr Serv};2011 (Jun);62(6):588.
