Posts

May 20, 2013

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7:59 AM | Autism, plasma cytokines and siblings

I'm gonna try and be fairly brief in this post on the paper by Valerio Napolioni and colleagues* (open-access) looking at plasma cytokine profiles in cases of autism and their asymptomatic siblings. Brief because (a) the paper is open-access and (b) the participant groups (autism: n=25; sibling controls n=25) were relatively small so one has to be quite careful in extrapolating the findings with any large degree of confidence.Siblings by Paul Klee @ WikiPaintings Just in case you are […]

Napolioni V, Ober-Reynolds B, Szelinger S, Corneveaux JJ, Pawlowski T, Ober-Reynolds S, Kirwan J, Persico AM, Melmed RD, Craig DW & Smith CJ (2013). Plasma cytokine profiling in sibling pairs discordant for autism spectrum disorder., Journal of neuroinflammation, 10 38. PMID: 23497090

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May 08, 2013

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8:35 AM | Does melatonin affect leaky gut? Relevance to autism

Shocker alert: medicines might have more effects than those listed on the patient information leaflet.I like being surprised. I particularly like being surprised about medicines and health, and how many of the medicines which even reside in the typical household medicines cabinet* might carry the potential to do so much more than that listed on the package insert. Leaking? @ Wikipedia Take for example the recent paper I bumped into by Sommansson and colleagues** continuing their […]

Sommansson A, Wan Saudi WS, Nylander O & Sjöblom M (2013). Melatonin inhibits alcohol-induced increases in duodenal mucosal permeability in rats in vivo., American journal of physiology. Gastrointestinal and liver physiology, PMID: 23639810

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April 02, 2013

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8:07 AM | Gastrointestinal comorbidity for World Autism Awareness Day

Today (Tuesday 2 April 2013) is World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD).I don't exactly know how one is supposed to communicate this message ('Happy world autism awareness day' just doesn't roll off the tongue). So I guess all I will say is to reiterate the subtext of this blog on what the spectrum - the very wide spectrum - means: "To some it means a need for life-long support. To others it is part of the varied tapestry of humanity. To all it means a need to foster a welcoming society […]

Horvath K, Papadimitriou JC, Rabsztyn A, Drachenberg C & Tildon JT (1999). Gastrointestinal abnormalities in children with autistic disorder., The Journal of pediatrics, 135 (5) 559-63. PMID: 10547242

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March 21, 2013

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5:56 PM | CDC: Norovirus Now Leading Cause Of Gastroenteritis In Children

Norovirus – Credit HPA # 7020 Prior to the introduction of a pair of live, attenuated Rotavirus vaccines in the middle of the last decade (RotaTeq and Rotarix), nearly all children in the United States were infected by one of the Rotaviruses before their 5th birthday (cite). The CDC estimated the pre-vaccine disease burden in the United States each year as: • more than 400,000 doctor visits, • more than 200,000 emergency […]

March 11, 2013

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9:49 AM | Inflammatory bowel disease in autism: distinctive features?

Where to start with this very long post... where to start?That autism, some cases of autism, also coincide with various comorbidities sometimes including severe gastrointestinal (GI) issues is a relatively undisputed finding these days. I'm actually getting a little bored of saying this myself on this blog and I'm sure some readers are getting bored of hearing it too.Health inequalityLymphocytic infiltration @ Wikipedia The reason why I continue to keep hammering away at this line however […]

Walker, S., Fortunato, J., Gonzalez, L. & Krigsman, A. (2013). Identification of Unique Gene Expression Profile in Children with Regressive Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Ileocolitis, PLoS ONE, 8 (3) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058058

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February 21, 2013

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7:21 PM | Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and HERVs

Viruses. Apparently there are quite a lot of them on this old rock we call home and I've started to become quite interested in some of them, or at least how we as a species have, and continue to interact with them down the ages.I must start by thanking Natasa for bringing me into contact with the paper by Kenny De Meirleir and colleagues* (open-access) looking at human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) expression in a small cohort of patients diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). I'm […]

KENNY L. DE MEIRLEIR, SVETLANA F. KHAIBOULLINA, MARC FRÉMONT, JAN HULSTAERT, ALBERT A. RIZVANOV, ANDRÁS PALOTÁS & VINCENT C. LOMBARDI (2013). Plasmacytoid dendritic cells in the duodenum of individuals diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis are uniquely immunoreactive to antibodies to human endogenous retroviral proteins, In Vivo, 27 (2) 177-187. Other: Link

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February 19, 2013

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12:37 AM | Amino acids and autism in China

Many happy returns @ Paul WhiteleyQuestioning Answers is 2 years old today (19th February 2013). Happy Birthday to 'me', or should that be 'it'?Still a relative newcomer to the blogosphere but still churning out posts on all things autism research and beyond. Just in case you thought that I did actually bake a cake for the occasion, I didn't. But if I had have done (and yes a man can make a cake), it would have looked like the cake shown alongside. So please loyal readers, take an imaginary […]

Tu WJ, Chen H & He J (2012). Application of LC-MS/MS analysis of plasma amino acids profiles in children with autism., Journal of clinical biochemistry and nutrition, 51 (3) 248-9. PMID: 23170055

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February 07, 2013

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9:45 AM | More GI symptoms reported in cases of autism

The real Star Wars... @ Wikipedia The paper by Susie Chandler and colleagues* adds to the quite voluminous literature on bowel issues and autism by suggesting that "Parents report more GI symptoms in children with ASD than children with either SEN or TD children".A translation if it is needed: according to mums and dads, kids diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have more toilet-related issues than those without autism or those with a physical / learning disability (SEN) […]

Chandler S, Carcani-Rathwell I, Charman T, Pickles A, Loucas T, Meldrum D, Simonoff E, Sullivan P & Baird G (2013). Parent-Reported Gastro-intestinal Symptoms in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders., Journal of autism and developmental disorders, PMID: 23371507

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February 01, 2013

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11:24 AM | Acyl-carnitine profiles and autism

No doubt alongside quite a few others, I was interested to read the latest paper from Richard Frye and colleagues* (open-access) discussing the potential links between an animal model of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and real-world ASD in a particular cohort of participants.This is not the first time that I've talked about (a) the work of Dr Frye - as per my [don't panic] post on folate receptor autoantibodies in cases of autism (see here) and (b) some of the difficulties attached to […]

Frye RE, Melnyk S & Macfabe DF (2013). Unique acyl-carnitine profiles are potential biomarkers for acquired mitochondrial disease in autism spectrum disorder., Translational psychiatry, 3 PMID: 23340503

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January 12, 2013

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11:00 PM | Join the autism research dots?

A very, very short post this one...I don't want to make too much of the paper by Heberling and colleagues* with the grand title: Hypothesis for a systems connectivity model of autism spectrum disorder pathogenesis: Links to gut bacteria, oxidative stress, and intestinal permeability because it is, as the title suggests, a hypothesis join-the-research-dots type of manuscript rather than a novel scientific experiment paper.Published also in a journal that has had its fair share of […]

Heberling CA, Dhurjati PS & Sasser M (2012). Hypothesis for a systems connectivity model of autism spectrum disorder pathogenesis: Links to gut bacteria, oxidative stress, and intestinal permeability., Medical hypotheses, PMID: 23273906

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January 04, 2013

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11:53 AM | A wish-list for gluten and casein free diet autism research

I think that this is possibly the first time that I've actually talked about one of my own research papers as being central to a post on this blog. I'm not altogether sure of the wisdom and etiquette of how and indeed whether to do this - see this commentary bearing in mind I'm blogging post peer review publication - so fingers crossed that this works...Hopefully not... @ Paul Whiteley It's actually been a year or two since I've been part of a peer-reviewed publication, mostly […]

Paul Whiteley, Paul Shattock, Ann-Mari Knivsberg, Anders Seim, Karl L. Reichelt, Lynda Todd, Kevin Carr & Malcolm Hooper (2013). Gluten- and casein-free dietary intervention for autism spectrum conditions, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 6 344. Other: Link

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November 20, 2012

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10:46 PM | Regression and autism continued

Regression.Definition: "relapse to a less perfect or developed state".Apologies for the very dramatic and very scientifically 'cold' description of regression. But as has been mentioned in the scientific literature, defining regression where it does occur in cases of autism has been a bit of a sticking point in some quarters.Indeed, the topic of regression in relation to autism onset has graced this blog before. In that post, the main message was that after a bit of a lack of initial […]

Barger BD, Campbell JM & McDonough JD (2012). Prevalence and Onset of Regression within Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Meta-analytic Review., Journal of autism and developmental disorders, PMID: 22855372

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November 01, 2012

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10:16 AM | More sulphate and autism research (at last)

I've mentioned my interest in sulphation (sulfation) and autism in previous posts and how it always seemed like a real shame that the work of Rosemary Waring and others was never really followed up with any great enthusiasm.To those who might not know about the whole autism-sulphate story, it goes something like this: higher levels of urinary sulphate (and related metabolites) detected accompanied by increased protein excretion in autism compared to controls. Plasma levels of sulphate […]

Bowling, F., Heussler, H., McWhinney, A. & Dawson, P. (2012). Plasma and Urinary Sulfate Determination in a Cohort with Autism, Biochemical Genetics, DOI: 10.1007/s10528-012-9550-0

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October 26, 2012

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6:17 PM | LabBook October 26, 2012

Welcome to LabBook, our weekly roundup of University of Chicago Medicine & Biological Sciences research news from around campus and the world wide web. Each Friday, LabBook will recap the week on the blog, link to news stories about our faculty and studies, and briefly summarize a handful of recent publications by our researchers. THIS [...]

September 22, 2012

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7:42 PM | No clinically meaningful differences: gut bacteria and autism?

Who's stool? @WikipediaI've been in heavy gut microbiome reading mode these past few days as a result of helping to write some overview material on the topic (and various other -omics) for some collaborations. Autism spectrum disorders have not been a specific focus for most of the work, but I've been drawing heavily on the collected research so far as per the Lipkin Sutterella findings and the Aussie Akkermansia muciniphila observations.It was with great interest therefore that I read the […]

Gondalia SV, Palombo EA, Knowles SR, Cox SB, Meyer D & Austin DW (2012). Molecular Characterisation of Gastrointestinal Microbiota of Children With Autism (With and Without Gastrointestinal Dysfunction) and Their Neurotypical Siblings., Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, PMID: 22997101

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September 02, 2012

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9:16 AM | C1q activation and schizophrenia

The Doorman @ WikipediaI'm back to schizophrenia with this post based on another very interesting paper by Dr Emily Severance and colleagues* describing some of the potential ins and outs of C1q activation, diet and immune function.Regular readers of this blog might remember the last offering from Dr Severence et al on gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation and immune activation in cases of schizophrenia (see here**). The net finding suggesting that inflammation might tie into permeability of the […]

Severance EG, Gressitt K, Halling M, Stallings CR, Origoni AE, Vaughan C, Khushalani S, Alaedini A, Dupont D, Dickerson FB & Yolken RH (2012). Complement C1q formation of immune complexes with milk caseins and wheat glutens in schizophrenia., Neurobiology of disease, PMID: 22801085

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August 17, 2012

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7:25 PM | LabBook August 17, 2012

Welcome to LabBook, our weekly roundup of University of Chicago Medicine & Biological Sciences research news from around campus and the world wide web. Each Friday, LabBook will recap the week on the blog, link to news stories about our faculty and studies, and briefly summarize a handful of recent publications by our researchers. THIS [...]

August 16, 2012

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9:54 AM | Are gut problems in autism linked to anxiety and sensory issues?

I'd been waiting to get hold of the recent article by Dr Micah Mazurek and colleagues titled: Anxiety, sensory over-responsivity, and gastrointestinal problems in children with autism spectrum disorders* (abstract here) for quite a few days before posting about it.This paper was always going to catch my eye given the focus on gastrointestinal (GI) problems comorbid to cases of autism. That and the authors connecting issues with anxiety and sensory issues to the presence of such functional […]

Mazurek MO, Vasa RA, Kalb LG, Kanne SM, Rosenberg D, Keefer A, Murray DS, Freedman B & Lowery LA (2012). Anxiety, Sensory Over-Responsivity, and Gastrointestinal Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders., Journal of abnormal child psychology, PMID: 22850932

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August 15, 2012

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12:17 AM | Propionic acid and autism

Another post, another organic acid (!) but please don't click away just yet as I attempt once again not to blind you with science. The topic of the day today is propionic acid (PPA) otherwise known as propanoic acid and the very tentative suggestions of some link to autism. Search on-line for propionic acid and you're quite likely to get lots of industrial chemical information about it including a materials safety data sheet (MSDS) (here) implying that this stuff is toxic, […]

El-Ansary AK, Ben Bacha A & Kotb M (2012). Etiology of autistic features: the persisting neurotoxic effects of propionic acid., Journal of neuroinflammation, 9 (1) 74. PMID: 22531301

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July 22, 2012

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7:23 PM | GABA Dabba Doo

I'm probably setting myself up for a fall with this quite descriptive post on GABA - gamma aminobutyric acid in relation to autism spectrum conditions given my amateur status in the knowledge stakes regarding the various neurotransmitters. I am however going to chance my luck because more and more frequently GABA seems to be cropping up in the peer-reviewed literature on autism.Indeed I don't know whether it is just me, but other neurotransmitters such as serotonin (5-HT) seem to be […]

June 19, 2012

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1:36 PM | Just wondering about CM-AT and autism

CM-AT. Ever heard of it? Well, if you haven't before you certainly might be hearing a lot more about it in the near future with autism in mind. I will from the outset stress that I am not writing this entry as some kind of 'advertorial' for CM-AT or anything like that, but rather because I am genuinely interested in this enzyme-replacement preparation developed by Dr Joan Fallon and how it might link in with some other favourite topics included on this blog. I would also refer you to […]

June 06, 2012

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5:01 PM | A Warning for Childhood Cancer Survivors

As the hundreds of people at last weekend’s Cancer Survivors Day event could attest, overcoming cancer is a hard-earned victory. Unfortunately, double jeopardy laws don’t apply to cancer, and a patient who has beaten the disease once must remain vigilant about its potential return. A new study of people who survived cancer during their childhood [...]

May 26, 2012

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9:33 PM | PCOS, DOGMA and autism with a pinch of salt

I really have to stop doing this. Speculating. Taking a few scoops of relatively small scale research, often in quite disparate areas and making a meal out of them. I don't know if it is the freedom of a lack of peer-review that follows with blogging or just my silly brain making mountains out of molehills, but tenuous links seem to be coming thick and fast at the moment. Perhaps I need a break and some sunshine...But just before I do, and with a rather large pinch of salt in hand...Polycystic […]

May 17, 2012

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7:46 PM | Hypochlorhydria and autism?

I'm in speculative mode in this post so you will have to humour me a little. I know, I know, this is a blog which is supposed to be about autism research, so why the tangent? Well, let's just say that there are a few ideas for further study potentially included in this post should anyone care. The caveat as always is that no medical advice is intended or given. So, got your pinch of salt ready?Part of the title of this post - hypochlorhydria - refers to a state rather than a condition, whereby […]

May 04, 2012

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9:55 AM | When poo tells a story (and I'm not talking about Winnie)

If you sprinkle while you tinkle, be a sweetie and wipe the seatie.Bear with me on this post but probably best if you're not eating when reading this.When was the last time you watched a film and saw any of the protagonists pop into the toilet for a 'number two'? Seriously now. Did James Bond ever stop to think about the yummy Brussels sprout curry he ate last night washed down with a vodka martini or two? Come to think about it, does anyone know where the toilets were on the Millenium [...]

April 27, 2012

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11:53 AM | Short chain fatty acids and ammonia in autism

It is perhaps apt that Jon Brock over at Cracking the Enigma recently posted about the Australasian Society for Autism Research highlighting the various links being forged regarding autism research in that part of the world. Apt because there are several very good autism research groups producing findings which have some potential real-world application to autism, in that part of the World. I speak in particular of the team based at the Sansom Institute for Health Research based at the [...]

April 14, 2012

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3:24 PM | Significantly over-represented in autism

Comorbidity in autism spectrum conditions is of great interest to this blog. Not only because of the possible impact that certain comorbidities might have on the presentation of some cases of autism but also because, for one reason or another, certain types of comorbidity just don't seem to get either the acknowledgement or necessary resources for potential remediation that they require. As I have said many, many times, having an autism spectrum condition is not seemingly protective of having [...]

April 02, 2012

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6:18 AM | Gastrointestinal inflammation and immune activation in schizophrenia

Monday 2nd April 2012. It is World Autism Awareness Day today and, in light of the 1 in 88 figure recently published by the CDC, perhaps more poignant than ever. Today's post is not specifically autism research orientated but might provide an idea or two for any budding autism researcher out there.Every now and again a paper comes along which seems to fill in a gap in the research literature. I'm not saying that said paper is anything definitive, as if such a thing exists in science, and in [...]

March 02, 2012

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2:11 PM | But it's only a survey study of the GFCF diet and autism...

Treelight @ Paul WhiteleyI briefly touched upon the recent study published by Pennesi and Cousino Klein* examining the efficacy of a gluten- and casein-free (GFCF) diet for children with autism a few days back. Having had some contact with the authors and a chance to look at the full-text of the paper, I feel I can post some more details about how the study was done and just what can be inferred from the results obtained.I freely admit that there is a bit of a conflict of interest here on my [...]

January 22, 2012

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10:05 AM | Vitamin D and intestinal barrier integrity

I've learned some key lessons over the years when it comes to science and the interpretation of science. Probably the most important lesson is that rarely in science do you find a simple relationship between two variables. By this I mean that just because researchers report studying and finding a connection between one factor and one outcome does not necessarily mean it is that one factor which solely 'causes' or 'correlates' with that outcome. Indeed more often that not, several factors are [...]

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