Blood and urine tests to indicate autism in children

Autism spectrum disorders ASDs are defined as developmental disorders mainly affecting social interaction and they can include a wide spectrum of behavioural problems like-speech disturbances, repetitive or compulsive behaviour, hyperactivity, anxiety, and difficulty to adapt to new environments, some with or without cognitive impairment. Since there is a wide range of ASD symptoms diagnosis can be difficult and uncertain at the early stages of development.

The research team which is based at the University's Warwick Medical School involves academics at the University of Warwick's Warwick Systems Biology group, the University of Birmingham, the University of Bologna, the Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna, and the Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation ONLUS. They found a link between ASD and damage to proteins in blood plasma by oxidation and glycation-processes where reactive oxygen species (ROS) and sugar molecules spontaneously modify proteins.

They found the most reliable of the tests they developed was examining protein in blood plasma where, when tested, children with ASD were found to have higher levels of the oxidation marker dityrosine (DT) and certain sugar-modified compounds called "advanced glycation endproducts" (AGEs). Genetic causes have been found in 30-35% of cases of ASD and the remaining 65-70% of cases are thought to be caused by a combination of environmental factors, multiple mutations, and rare genetic variants. However the research team also believe that the new tests could reveal yet to be identified causes of ASD.

The team's research also confirmed the previously held belief that mutations of amino acid transporters are a genetic variant associated with ASD. The Warwick team worked with collaborators at the University of Bologna, Italy, who recruited locally 38 children who were diagnosed as having with ASD (29 boys and nine girls) and a control group of 31 healthy children (23 boys and eight girls) between the ages of five and 12. Blood and urine samples were taken from the children for analysis.

They discovered that there were chemical differences between the two groups. Working with a further collaborator at the University of Birmingham, the changes in multiple compounds were combined together using artificial intelligence algorithms techniques to develop a mathematical equation or "algorithm" to distinguish between ASD and healthy controls. The outcome was a diagnostic test better than any method currently available.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Social phobia linked to autism and schizophrenia

Latest research shows that people who find social situations difficult tend to have similar brain responses to those with schizophrenia or autism, the areas of the brain that show increased response when exposed to unexpected speech, sounds or 'phonemes' are associated with the processing of social information and linked with spectrum conditions such as autism or schizophrenia.

The brain of people who find social situations difficult may be processing social information inefficiently, autism and schizophrenia are multi-dimensional and spectrum conditions, which means they have varying degrees of many different symptoms, these symptoms present as non-clinical traits in the general population.

Brain responses to changes in the environment might be more closely related to the interpersonal and social difficulties experienced by those with schizophrenia and autism. Increasing the understanding of the relationship between clinical behaviours and brain response can scientists and clinicians develop innovative and efficient early detection, prevention and treatment options for patients with these conditions.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Genetic mutations start after conception

Hundreds of minor genetic mutations start to form in the cells of an embryo after conception, some of these mutations occur as sex cells are forming in the embryo. That means they can become part of the embryo's genome and be passed on to the next generation.

This opens up a larger perspective on human development,  this shows that some of our genome does not come from our parents.These early genetic mutations are also similar to those found in cancers, cancers can occur as a normal byproduct of cell division, this mat be the causes of neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia or autism.

These conditions are primarily the result of genetic abnormalities, but no single gene inherited by parents has been found to cause a large number of cases.The study may also help explain why one identical twin might have a genetic disorder while the other is healthy, or why some members of a family who carry a disease-causing mutation do not get sick.
         haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Levels of genetic code can cause neuropsychiatric disorders

Studying the genetic code allows researchers to know whether some patients with neuropsychiatric disorders either have extra copies of the CHRNA7 gene or are missing copies. Pluripotent stem cell technology helps better understand neuropsychiatric disorders. Taking skin biopsies from patients with these conditions, grow the cells in culture in the lab and reprogram them to become brain cells. Using this approach, researchers gained insights into the mechanisms of disease at the neuronal level.

The CHRNA7 gene is translated into CHRNA7 proteins that form a channel on the cell membrane that allows calcium to enter the cells. By regulating calcium levels, the CHRNA7 gene plays an important role on how neurons communicate and function with each other. The researchers found that neurons with fewer copies of the gene show a reduction in calcium flux, almost half of what they see in control samples, which they expect will have functional consequences on neuronal functioning in those patients.

These results provide insights into why the patients with fewer copies of the gene share clinical characteristics with the patients with extra copies of the gene, despite having opposite underlying genetic makeup. In both cases, the result of the genetic imbalance is a decrease in calcium flux in the neurons. Clinically, while the patients with fewer copies present with moderate to severe cognitive impairment, high prevalence of autism and other neuropsychiatric problems, those with extra copies present with similar but less severe characteristics.

Opposite genetic imbalance results in similar biological effect mediated by different mechanisms. In the case of neurons with fewer copies of the gene, and therefore fewer CHRNA7 proteins to form calcium channels, the researchers proposed that the reduction in calcium flux in the cells results from having fewer calcium channels.For the neurons with extra copies of the gene, we found that having extra copies of the gene results in more CHRNA7 proteins, which overwhelms the process that assembles them together, causes cellular stress and disturbs the formation of calcium channels.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Folic acid may reduce autism risk from pesticide

Taking folic acid during the window around conception reduced the risk associated with pesticides, researchers examined many children who had been diagnosed with ASD, the researchers interviewed their mothers about their household pesticide exposure during pregnancy, folic acid and B vitamin intake.

Children whose mothers took 800 or more micrograms of folic acid and other prenatal vitamins had a lower risk of developing autism spectrum disorder ASD even when their mothers were exposed to household or agricultural pesticides.

Mothers who took less than 800 micrograms and encountered household pesticides had higher risk of having a child who developed an ASD than their counterparts who took 800 micrograms of folic acid or more and were not exposed to pesticides.

The risk increased for women exposed several times, women with low folic acid intake who were exposed to agricultural pesticides during a window from three months before conception to three months afterward were at higher risk. Folic acid can reduce the risk of developing autism but it can not prevent it completely. Avoiding chronic pesticide before and during pregnancy can prevents ASD.

Folate plays a critical role in DNA methylation- a process by which genes are turned off or on, as well as in DNA repair and synthesis. These are important during periods of rapid growth when there are lots of cells dividing in developing fetus. Taking folic acid can improve genomic functions.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Links between gut bacteria and autism

According to the latest research, gut bacteria could cause spectrum disorder. Pathogens in the stomach alter the brain's development and may increase risk of suffering from the spectrum disorder.

Links between the brain, gut and stress hormone cortisol can influence how messages are passed in the body, which may cause autistic symptoms.

Changes in neurometabolites in childhood can have dangerous effects on brain development. Collection of bacteria, fungi, and viruses living in humans gut may be responsible for the disorder.

Autism may be corrected by changing of diet, taking probiotics and adopting a gluten-free lifestyle which may improve social behaviour and ability to express emotions in autistic people.

Leaky gut releases toxins and even undigested food enter the bloodstream and travel to the brain, which may cause autism symptoms. Probiotics can change this by enhancing the gut's lining.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Gene mutation can leads to brain malformation

Gene controls nerve stem cell growth and how it causes abnormal brain development in fetuses if the system goes wrong. Researchers explained how Dmrta2 controls gene in the division of cells and the production of specialised cells.

If Dmrta2 gene mutation is inherited from parents, it can cause brain malformations known as lissencephaly. Lissencephaly is a nervous system disorder in which a baby's brain is not fully developed.

Lissencephaly occurs in the second trimester of pregnancy, and leaves the fetus with a small brain and it prevents the development of brain folds and grooves which are needed for language skills and learning.

Researchers genetically mutated the Dmrta2 gene in embryonic stem cells to check the impact of too much or too little protein levels on brain development.

 They examined the effect of these changes on laboratory-created nerve cells, it shows a direct link between Dmrta2 mutation and the microcephaly.

When Dmrta2 gene is not maintaining balance between neurogenesis and cell cycle progression, brain development is altered. This can cause neurodevelopmental condition like autism.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

How biological clock affects male fertility

Waiting until forties before trying to become fathers could reduce male fertility because sperm DNA becomes damaged with age.

Frequent cell division to make new generation of sperm daily increases errors in cell formation as men get older and the risk increases everyday. Genetic errors may get into sperm as men aged.

The cumulative effect of these errors as cell division goes on and on and on affects children produced by older men. Autism, epilepsy and schizophrenia are associated with older sperm.

Older men may not be able to impregnate a woman naturally, it may take a long period of time to archive conception and risk of miscarriage is very high.

Healthy lifestyle can prevent DNA damage and changes to genes. Men must eat healthily diet, avoid smoking, engage in regular physical activities and avoid hot baths, as sperm likes cool temperatures to be in good reproductive shape.
          haleplushearty.blogspot.com

Fever in pregnancy increases risk of autism

Fever during pregnancy may raise the risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the child. The effect was high in the second trimester, raising odds for ASD by 40 percent.

Risk of an ASD was increased by over 300 percent for the children of women reporting three or more fevers after four months of pregnancy.

The researchers followed 95,754 children born between 1999 and 2009, including 583 cases of ASD identified in Norway through the Autism Birth Cohort (ABC) Study.

Mothers of 15,701 children (16 percent) reported fever in one or more four-week intervals throughout pregnancy, similar to rates reported in the U.S. ASD risk was increased by 34 percent when mothers reported fever at any time during pregnancy, and by 40 percent in the second trimester.

The risk increased in a dose-dependent fashion from 1.3-fold with one or two fever episodes after the twelfth prenatal week to 3.12-fold with three or more.

Gestational maternal infection and innate immune responses to infection in the onset of  pregnancy can increase some cases of autism spectrum disorder.

            haleplushearty.blogspot.com

The difference between autistic boys and girls

Autism spectrum disorder ASD is a disorder of nervous system that starts in childhood and lasts throughout a person's life. ASD affects communication, interaction and social skills.

According to Caroline Rieffe, a psychologist and his colleagues analyzed the behavior of 68 teenagers, girls and boys, and  discovered that girls responded to emotion different from boys.

Girls are able to follow social actions by observing other children and do what they do. They are involved in social play and play with other children, they make friends easily and love to be with their friends.

Interest of girls with ASD are similar to that of normal girls, the intensity of their interests differentiate them from others.

Genes for autism are located on the X chromosome, girls inherit the genes form both parents while boys inherit one from mother, this shows that the X chromosome that girls inherit from their fathers have an imprinted gene which protects the girls from autism.