1. Diep AA, Hunsaker MR, Kwock R, Kim K, Willemsen R, Berman RF. {{Female CGG knock-in mice modeling the fragile X premutation are impaired on a skilled forelimb reaching task}}. {Neurobiol Learn Mem}. 2011 Dec 21.
The fragile X premutation is a tandem CGG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene between 55 and 200 repeats in length. A CGG knock-in (CGG KI) mouse has been developed that models the neuropathology and cognitive deficits reported in fragile X premutation carriers. Previous studies have demonstrated that CGG KI mice have spatiotemporal information processing deficits and impaired visuomotor function that worsen with increasing CGG repeat length. Since skilled forelimb reaching requires integration of information from the visual and motor systems, skilled reaching performance could identify potential visuomotor dysfunction in CGG KI mice. To characterize motor deficits associated with the fragile X premutation, 6month old female CGG KI mice heterozygous for trinucleotide repeats ranging from 70-200CGG in length were tested for their ability to learn a skilled forelimb reaching task. The results demonstrate that female CGG KI mice show deficits for learning a skilled forelimb reaching task compared to wildtype littermates, and that these deficits worsen with increasing CGG repeat lengths.
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2. Finegold SM, Julie Downes AB, Summanen PH. {{Microbiology of regressive autism}}. {Anaerobe}. 2011 Dec 22.
This manuscript summarizes some of our earlier work on the microbiology of autism subjects’ stool specimens, as compared with stools from control subjects. Our most recent data indicating that Desulfovibrio may play an important role in regressive autism is also presented. In addition, we present information on antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Desulfovibrio using the CLSI agar dilution susceptibility technique. In addition, we summarize data from our earlier studies showing the impact of various antimicrobial agents on the indigenous bowel flora. This shows that penicillins and cephalosporins, as well as clindamycin, have a major impact on the normal bowel flora and therefore might well predispose subjects to overgrowth of such organisms as Clostridium difficile, and of particular importance for autism, to Desulfovibrio.
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3. Ming X, Chen X, Wang XT, Zhang Z, Kang V, Zimmerman-Bier B. {{Acupuncture for treatment of autism spectrum disorders}}. {Evid Based Complement Alternat Med}. 2012;2012:679845.
Background. There has been lack of reviews of evidence on efficacy, methodology, and/or safety of acupuncture in autism spectrum disorders. This paper examines the emerging evidence of the effects of acupuncture in the treatment of autistic children. Method. A literature review was completed via Medline and three Chinese search engines. A total of 31 studies were evaluated for acupuncture methodology, study design, treatment effects, and tolerability. Results. The acupoints used, the duration of needling, the frequency of treatment, the choice of stimulation, and the course of the treatment were highly variable amongst the studies. Behavioral and/or developmental improvements were reported in all acupuncture treatment studies. All studies reported general tolerability. Weakness of experimental designs was discussed. Conclusions. Vigorously controlled double-blinded clinical trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in children with autism spectrum disorders.
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4. Muratori F, Narzisi A, Tancredi R, Cosenza A, Calugi S, Saviozzi I, et al. {{The CBCL 1.5-5 and the identification of preschoolers with autism in Italy}}. {Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci}. 2011 Dec;20(4):329-38.
AIMS: To study the potential use of child behaviour checklist (CBCL) 1.5-5 scales for the early identification of preschoolers at risk of autism. METHODS: CBCL scores of three groups of preschoolers were compared: (1) an experimental group of 101 preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); (2) a control group of 95 preschoolers with other psychiatric disorders (OPD); (3) a control group of 117 preschoolers with typical development (TD). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), logistic regression with odds ratio (OR) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed. RESULTS: ANOVA revealed that ASD and OPD had significantly higher scores in almost all CBCL scales than TD. ASD presented significantly higher scores than OPD on Withdrawn, Attention Problems and Pervasive Developmental Problems (PDP) scales. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that these same CBCL scales have validity in predicting the presence of an ASD towards both TD and OPD. ROC analysis indicated high sensitivity and specificity for PDP (0.85 and 0.90) and Withdrawn (0.89 and 0.92) scales when ASD is compared to TD. Specificity (0.60 for PDP and 0.65 for Withdrawn) decreases when comparing ASD and OPD CONCLUSIONS: The PDP and Withdrawn scales have a good predictive validity so that they could be proposed as a first-level tool to identify preschoolers at risk of autism in primary care settings. Problems regarding the lower specificity when comparing ASD v. OPD are discussed.
