Research ArticleOpen accessEvery word in the titleEnvironmental Factors and Limbic Vulnerability in Childhood AutismRichard LatheThe rise in prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is suggestive of a new etiology. Diagnostic substitution alone is unlikely to account for the increase, while genetic association with detoxification gene alleles points to an environmental contribution. Subtle structural anomalies in the ASD brain are widespread but limbic damage seems important for the development of behaviors diagnostic of ASD. The … …American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vol. 4, Issue 2 · 30 Jun 2008 · 7,678 accessesView PDFCite
Research ArticleOpen accessEvery word in the titleThe Role of Neurodevelopmental Genes in Infectious Etiology of AutismS. Hossein FatemiAutism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with both genetic and environmental etiologies. Prenatal infections may play a role in evolution of autism. Experimental evidence shows human influenza viral infection in pregnancy leads to significant deleterious effects in brain structure and function in the developing mouse progeny. Several brain genes of interest in this animal model are also involved in the pathology … …American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vol. 4, Issue 2 · 30 Jun 2008 · 6,563 accessesView PDFCite
Research ArticleOpen accessEvery word in the titleA Microscopic Study of Language-Related Cortex in AutismEdith López-Hurtado, Jorge J. PrietoImpaired language function is a principle criterion for the diagnosis of autism. The present study of brain from age-matched autistic and control subjects compared brain regions associated with the production and processing of speech. Wernicke's area (Brodmann 22, speech recognition), Broca's area (Brodmann 44, speech production) andthe gyrus angularis (Brodmann 39, reading) from autistic subjects (7-44 years of age) and … …American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vol. 4, Issue 2 · 30 Jun 2008 · 8,544 accessesView PDFCite
Research ArticleOpen accessEvery word in the titlePeripheral Blood Leukocyte Production of BDNF following Mitogen Stimulation in Early Onset and Regressive AutismAmanda Enstrom, Charity Onore, Angela Tarver et al.Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is critical for neuronal differentiation and synaptic development. BDNF is also implicated in the development of psychological disorders including depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Previously, elevated BDNF levels were observed in neonatal blood samples from infants who were later diagnosed with autism when compared with children who developed normally, suggesting that BDNF may be involved in … …American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vol. 4, Issue 2 · 30 Jun 2008 · 8,525 accessesView PDFCite
Research ArticleOpen accessEvery word in the titleDetection of IL-17 and IL-23 in Plasma Samples of Children with AutismAmanda Enstrom, Charity Onore, Irva Hertz-Picciotto et al.Interleukin-23 (IL-23) is a survival factor for a newly described population of T lymphocytes, namely Th-17 cells, that secrete IL-17, tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNFα) and IL-6. It has been shown that Th-17 cells are a pathogenic T cell subset involved in autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases. Based on the increasing evidence of immune dysfunction in autism, including possible autoimmune … …American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vol. 4, Issue 2 · 30 Jun 2008 · 8,223 accessesView PDFCite
Research ArticleOpen accessEvery word in the titleAltered Sulfur Amino Acid Metabolism In Immune Cells of Children Diagnosed With AutismJung H. Suh, William J. Walsh, Woody R. McGinnis et al.Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a behaviorally defined neurodevelopmental disorder whose etiology is poorly understood. Recent studies have shown that autistic children may be experiencing increased inflammation and oxidative stress. Altered immune regulation may be one contributing factor to inflammation and oxidative stress in autistic children. Sulfur amino acid (SAA) metabolism plays a critical role in regulating blood leukocyte functions … …American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vol. 4, Issue 2 · 30 Jun 2008 · 10,789 accessesView PDFCite
Research ArticleOpen accessEvery word in the titleIncreased Copper-Mediated Oxidation of Membrane Phosphatidylethanolamine in AutismAbha Chauhan, Ashfaq M. Sheikh, Ved ChauhanWe have previously reported that levels of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in the erythrocyte membrane and of ceruloplasmin, a copper-transport antioxidant protein, in the serum are lower in children with autism than in control subjects. In the present study, we report that (a) copper oxidizes and reduces the levels of membrane PE and (b) copper-mediated oxidation of PE is higher in lymphoblasts … …American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vol. 4, Issue 2 · 30 Jun 2008 · 7,205 accessesView PDFCite
Research ArticleOpen accessEvery word in the titleThe Frequency of Polymorphisms affecting Lead and Mercury Toxicity among Children with AutismShannon Rose, Stepan Melnyk, Alena Savenka et al.Individual risk of developmental neurotoxicity with exposure to environmentally relevant levels of lead and mercury is likely to be determined by genetic susceptibility factors as well as additive interactions with other environmental pollutants, cumulative dose, and the developmental stage of exposure. The apparent increase in autism diagnosis over the last 15 years has enhanced interest in the possibility that an … …American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vol. 4, Issue 2 · 30 Jun 2008 · 7,521 accessesView PDFCite
Research ArticleOpen accessEvery word in the titleIdentification of Novel Chromosomal Abnormalities, inv(5)(p13q13) and t(7;18)(q32;q21), Associated with AutismZheng Chen, Xiao-bing Zou, Ya-nan Zhang et al.Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder defined by impairments in social interaction, communication, as well as restricted and stereotyped behaviors. While the etiology of autism remains largely unknown, the existence of genetic components has been clearly demonstrated in autistic pathogenesis. The incidence of autism is 50-100 fold greater in the population with autistic family history than the general population. Chromosomal abnormalities … …American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vol. 3, Issue 3 · 30 Sep 2007 · 6,773 accessesView PDFCite
Research ArticleOpen accessEvery word in the titleBeta-2-Microglobulin in Autism Spectrum DisordersPaula Goines, Joseph Schauer, Luke Heuer et al.Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are heterogeneous neurodevelopmental diseases of unknown etiology. There are no biological markers for ASD and current diagnosis is based on behavioral criteria. Recent data has shown that MHC I, a compound involved in adaptive immune function, is also involved in neurodevelopment, synaptic plasticity and behavior. It has been suggested that altered MHC I expression could play … …American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Vol. 3, Issue 2 · 30 Jun 2007 · 7,560 accessesView PDFCite