1. Ekas N, Whitman TL. {{Autism symptom topography and maternal socioemotional functioning}}. {Am J Intellect Dev Disabil} (May);115(3):234-249.
Researchers examining the relationship of autism symptomatology and maternal stress have defined symptomatology in terms of level of severity, frequency of occurrence, or symptom type. In the present study, the relationship of maternal perceptions of these dimensions, along with a fourth, symptom diversity, and negative and positive indices of maternal socioemotional functioning was evaluated. Results indicate that each of these symptom dimensions was correlated with most of the measures of negative socioemotional status, together accounting for a substantial portion of the variance in these outcomes. The dimensions were especially robust predictors of negative but not positive maternal outcomes. The need for a systematic multidimensional assessment to evaluate autism symptomatology and its social impact was discussed.
2. Holt R, Barnby G, Maestrini E, Bacchelli E, Brocklebank D, Sousa I, Mulder EJ, Kantojarvi K, Jarvela I, Klauck SM, Poustka F, Bailey AJ, Monaco AP. {{Linkage and candidate gene studies of autism spectrum disorders in European populations}}. {Eur J Hum Genet} (May 5)
3. Jyonouchi H. {{Autism spectrum disorders and allergy: observation from a pediatric allergy/immunology clinic}}. {Expert Rev Clin Immunol} (May);6(3):397-411.
IgE-mediated allergic diseases (e.g., allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, atopic asthma and food allergy) are prevalent (up to 30%) in the general population and are increasing in developed countries. In infants and young children, non-IgE-mediated food allergy is also prevalent. In addition to easily recognized organ-specific symptoms, allergic diseases can cause neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as irritability and hyperactivity, in otherwise healthy individuals. This is also likely to occur in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Moreover, the discomfort and pain associated with allergic diseases could aggravate behavioral symptoms in ASD children. Allergic conditions are easily treatable; however, ASD children may be underdiagnosed and/or undertreated for allergic and other common childhood diseases, in part due to their impaired communication skills. Practicing physicians should be aware of the potential impact of allergic diseases on behavioral symptoms and cognitive activity in ASD children. However, they also need to be aware that certain symptoms often attributed to ‘allergy’ by caregivers may not be immune mediated and should understand that behavioral symptoms can also be affected by many non-IgE-mediated causes.
4. Palmieri L, Persico AM. {{Mitochondrial dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorders: cause or effect?}}. {Biochim Biophys Acta} (May 1)
Autism Spectrum Disorders encompass severe developmental disorders characterized by variable degrees of impairment in language, communication and social skills, as well as by repetitive and stereotypic patterns of behaviour. Substantial percentages of autistic patients display peripheral markers of mitochondrial energy metabolism dysfunction, such as (a) elevated lactate, pyruvate, and alanine levels in blood, urine and/or cerebrospinal fluid, (b) serum carnitine deficiency, and/or (c) enhanced oxidative stress. These biochemical abnormalities are accompanied by highly heterogeneous clinical presentations, which generally (but by no means always) encompass neurological and systemic symptoms relatively unusual in idiopathic autistic disorder. In some patients, these abnormalities have been successfully explained by the presence of specific mutations or rearrangements in their mitochondrial or nuclear DNA. However, in the majority of cases, abnormal energy metabolism cannot be immediately linked to specific genetic or genomic defects. Recent evidence from post-mortem studies of autistic brains points toward abnormalities in mitochondrial function as possible downstream consequences of dysreactive immunity and altered calcium (Ca(2+)) signalling.
5. Seskin L, Feliciano E, Tippy G, Yedloutschnig R, Sossin KM, Yasik A. {{Attachment and Autism: Parental Attachment Representations and Relational Behaviors in the Parent-Child Dyad}}. {J Abnorm Child Psychol} (May 5)
