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Query: UMLS:C0004352 (autism)
 32,579 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Children with autism have a relatively shorter index finger (2D) compared with their ring finger (4D). It is often presumed that the 2D:4D ratio is associated with fetal testosterone levels and that high fetal testosterone levels could play a role in the aetiology of autism. It is unknown whether this effect is specific to autism. In this study, 2D:4D ratios of 144 males aged 6 to 14 years (mean age 9y 1 mo [SD 1y 11 mo]) with psychiatric disorders were compared with those of 96 males aged 6 to 13 years from the general population (mean age 9y 1 mo [SD 1y 10 mo]). Psychiatric disorders were divided into autism/Asperger syndrome (n=24), pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS; n=26), attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)/oppositional defiant disorder (ODD; n=68), and anxiety disorders (n=26). Males with autism/Asperger syndrome (p<0.05) and ADHD/ODD (p<0.05) had significantly lower (though not significantly; p=0.52) ratios than males with an anxiety disorder, and males with autism/Asperger syndrome had lower ratios than those in the comparison group. These results indicated that higher fetal testosterone levels may play a role, not only in the origin of autism, but also in the aetiology of PDD-NOS and of ADHD/ODD. Males with anxiety disorders might have been exposed to lower prenatal testosterone levels.
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PMID:Differences in finger length ratio between males with autism, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified, ADHD, and anxiety disorders. 1710 83

The ADOS characterizes socio-communicative deficits in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In this study the effect of module choice on ADOS classification was examined. For 74 participants (52 autism, 22 PDD-NOS), Module 1 and Module 2 were administered in a single session. Fifty-one participants maintained ADOS classification, with 17 more impaired on M2 and 6 more impaired on M1. For 64 participants (25 autism, 39 PDD-NOS), Module 2 and Module 3 were administered. Thirty-nine participants maintained classification, with 24 more impaired on M3 and 1 more impaired on M2. As expected, more impairment was indicated when a module with more language and task demands was administered. Clinical judgment of the most appropriate module for administration was found to be important.
J Autism Dev Disord 2007 Aug
PMID:Effect of language and task demands on the diagnostic effectiveness of the autism diagnostic observation schedule: the impact of module choice. 1714 69

In 118 children followed from age 2 to 5 (59 with autism, 24 with PDD-NOS and 35 with non-spectrum developmental disabilities), age 2 and age 3 scores of non-verbal ability, receptive communication, expressive communication and socialization were compared as predictors of receptive and expressive language at age 5. Non-verbal cognitive ability at age 2 was generally the strongest predictor of age 5 language, while at age 3 communication scores were a stronger predictor of age 5 language for children with autism. Early joint attention as well as vocal and motor imitation skills were more impaired in children who did not develop language by age 5 (but had relatively strong non-verbal cognitive skills) than in children who did develop language by 5.
J Autism Dev Disord 2007 Oct
PMID:Predictors of language acquisition in preschool children with autism spectrum disorders. 1718 Jul 17

Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) begin to manifest during the first 2 years; there is limited evidence regarding type and timing of symptom onset. We examined factors related to parental age of recognition (AOR) of early abnormalities and the association between AOR and diagnosis and levels of functioning at 2 and 4 years in 75 toddlers with ASD. Results suggest significant differences between autism and PDD-NOS in the AOR and type of first concerns. Early social and motor delays as well as maternal age was associated with AOR. Later AOR was associated with poorer social-communicative and nonverbal cognitive functioning at 2 and 4. The findings are discussed in a context of identifying distinct developmental trajectories within the autism spectrum.
J Autism Dev Disord 2007 Jan
PMID:Parental recognition of developmental problems in toddlers with autism spectrum disorders. 1719 21

A diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is usually taken to be permanent. In this study, 13 two-year-old children with ASD lost the diagnosis by age 4, at which time they scored within the normal range on standardized measures of cognitive and adaptive functioning. No differences were found in symptom severity, socialization, or communication between children who lost the ASD diagnosis and children who did not, but children with PDD-NOS were significantly more likely than those with full autistic disorder to move off the spectrum. The clearest distinguishing factor was motor skills at age 2. Results support the idea that some toddlers with ASD can lose their diagnosis and suggest that this is difficult to predict.
J Autism Dev Disord 2007 Jan
PMID:Predictors of optimal outcome in toddlers diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. 1720 22

The diagnostic criteria for Asperger syndrome (AS) are still controversial. ICD-10 and DSM-IV are usually used as a formal diagnostic criteria for AS. However, many papers point out there are many problems in ICD-10/DSM-IV. It is indicated that the diagnosis of AS using ICD-10/DSM-IV criteria is virtually impossible due to the rule of onset and precedence. ICD-10/DSM-IV criteria don't include core symptoms of AS, such as odd speech and limited intelligent interests reported by Hans Asperger. Most of the cases which are diagnosed as AS clinically meet the diagnostic criteria for autism or atypical autism(PDD-NOS) in ICD-10/DSM-IV. ICD-10/DSM-IV criteria is too narrow to diagnose AS. This causes much confusion and disadvantage for families, clinicians and researchers. We need to establish the clinically useful and reliable diagnostic criteria for AS.
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PMID:[Diagnostic criteria for Asperger syndrome]. 1735 60

Verbal skills were assessed at approximately ages 2, 3, 5, and 9 years for 206 children with a clinical diagnosis of autism (n = 98), pervasive developmental disorders-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS; n = 58), or nonspectrum developmental disabilities (n = 50). Growth curve analyses were used to analyze verbal skills trajectories over time. Nonverbal IQ and joint attention emerged as strong positive predictors of verbal outcome. The gap between the autism and other 2 groups widened with time as the latter improved at a higher rate. However, there was considerable variability within diagnostic groups. Children with autism most at risk for more serious language impairments later in life can be identified with considerable accuracy at a very young age, while improvement can range from minimal to dramatic.
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PMID:Patterns of growth in verbal abilities among children with autism spectrum disorder. 1766 13

PDD-NOS has been an illusive diagnostic category in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). It is a frequently occurring ASD, but it has typically been defined by what it is not-autism. This latter condition has received the bulk of the attention in the development of diagnostic methods, while PDD-NOS has largely been ignored from a diagnostic standpoint. The symptoms that characterize PDD-NOS in adults with intellectual disability (ID), beyond the extrapolation of a few child studies, are largely unknown. This study is an attempt to provide systematic empirical data to describe the condition of PDD-NOS in adults with ID. The implication of these data for diagnosis and future research are discussed.
J Autism Dev Disord 2008 Mar
PMID:PDD-NOS symptoms in adults with intellectual disability: toward an empirically oriented diagnostic model. 1768 39

Previous studies indicate that Multiple Complex Developmental Disorder (MCDD) children differ from PDD-NOS and autistic children on a symptom level and on psychophysiological functioning. Children with MCDD (n = 21) and PDD-NOS (n = 62) were compared on two facets of social-cognitive functioning: identification of neutral faces and facial expressions. Few significant group differences emerged. Children with PDD-NOS demonstrated a more attention-demanding strategy of face processing, and processed neutral faces more similarly to complex patterns whereas children with MCDD showed an advantage for face recognition compared to complex patterns. Results further suggested that any disadvantage in face recognition was related more to the autistic features of the PDD-NOS group rather than characteristics specific to MCDD. No significant group differences emerged for identifying facial expressions.
J Autism Dev Disord 2008 Apr
PMID:Face and emotion recognition in MCDD versus PDD-NOS. 1772 12

Evidence both from animal and human studies suggests that common polymorphisms in the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene are likely candidates to confer risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In lower mammals, oxytocin is important in a wide range of social behaviors, and recent human studies have shown that administration of oxytocin modulates behavior in both clinical and non-clinical groups. Additionally, two linkage studies and two recent association investigations also underscore a possible role for the OXTR gene in predisposing to ASD. We undertook a comprehensive study of all 18 tagged SNPs across the entire OXTR gene region identified using HapMap data and the Haploview algorithm. Altogether 152 subjects diagnosed with ASDs (that is, DSM IV autistic disorder or pervasive developmental disorder--NOS) from 133 families were genotyped (parents and affected siblings). Both individual SNPs and haplotypes were tested for association using family-based association tests as provided in the UNPHASED set of programs. Significant association with single SNPs and haplotypes (global P-values <0.05, following permutation test adjustment) were observed with ASD. Association was also observed with IQ and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS). In particular, a five-locus haplotype block (rs237897-rs13316193-rs237889-rs2254298-rs2268494) was significantly associated with ASD (nominal global P=0.000019; adjusted global P=0.009) and a single haplotype (carried by 7% of the population) within that block showed highly significant association (P=0.00005). This is the third association study, in a third ethnic group, showing that SNPs and haplotypes in the OXTR gene confer risk for ASD. The current investigation also shows association with IQ and total VABS scores (as well as the communication, daily living skills and socialization subdomains), suggesting that this gene shapes both cognition and daily living skills that may cross diagnostic boundaries.
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PMID:Association between the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene and autism: relationship to Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales and cognition. 1789 5


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