Genetic Analysis of UGT1A1 Polymorphisms Using Preserved Dried Umbilical Cord for Assessing the Potential of Neonatal Jaundice as a Risk Factor for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children.

Neonatal jaundice has been suggested as a perinatal risk factor for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We examined UGT1A1 polymorphisms to assess the potential of neonatal jaundice as a risk factor for ASD in children by using DNA extracted from preserved umbilical cord. In total, 79 children with ASD were genotyped for UGT1A1*28 (c.

Control by one drop of solvent: selective preparation of guest release/trap-triggered interconvertible molecular crystals.

Interconvertible molecular crystals 1 and 1 composed of 4-pyridyl-1,3-indanedione dimer 1 were selectively obtained. Thermal removal of solvent molecules in 1 afforded 1. Further dipping of 1 in a specific solvent reproduced 1.

[Reliability of the measurement of stature in subjects with severe motor and intellectual disabilities].

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the reliability of the measurement of stature in individuals with severe motor and intellectual disabilities.

Methods: Using a stratified sampling method 12 subjects (mean age of 28.7 +/- 11.

[A study of cognitive and behavioral development in pre-school and school children with high functioning pervasive developmental disorder].

It has been reported that school-aged children with high functioning pervasive developmental disorder (HFPDD) have numerous difficulties in their school class. We used three psychological tests to investigate whether there is a relationship between intelligence and cognitive, behavioral development in children with HFPDD. The three tests used were an intelligence test (WIPPSI, WISC-lll), the P-F (Picture Frustration) study, and behavioral assessment by their parents.

[Neuroradiological studies in Rett syndrome].

Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by autistic behavior as well as cognitive and motor skill loss that occurs early in life and almost exclusively affects females. We studied the neuroradiological findings from MRI, SPECT, and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in 4 cases of Rett syndrome. Three of the 4 cases were diagnosed as Rett syndrome by gene analysis of MECP2.

Growth of head circumference in autistic infants during the first year of life.

This study analyzed the increase in head circumference (HC) of 85 autistic infants (64 boys and 21 girls) during their first year of life. The data were collected from their "mother-and-baby" notebooks. This notebook is a medical record of the baby's growth and development delivered to the parents of all babies born in Japan.

Long-term follow-up of a patient with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis successfully treated with intrathecal interferon alpha.

To clarify long-term effects of intrathecal administration of interferon (IFN)-alpha in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), we followed up a patient with SSPE for 18 years, who had been treated successfully using intrathecal IFN-alpha with response-based dose adjustments. IFN-alpha therapy dramatically induced remission of disease and greatly improved quality of life for 7-8 years, but this was followed by severely deterioration with decorticate posturing and akinetic mutism. Thus, IFN-alpha-induced remission appears most likely to be temporary, even when an SSPE patient shows an excellent initial response.

[Autistic disorders].

Autism is a syndrome that consists of disturbances in social interactions, communication and imagination, and its first-choice of therapy is education. Of special interest is the period of the onset and early diagnosis of autism, and its relation to the period of intervention. In retrospective studies from questionnaire and home videotape analysis, it has been reported that autistic children display significantly less social interaction, joint attention behavior and communicative behavior compared to typical children, before 12 to 18 months of age.

[High functioning pervasive developmental disorder: coexistence with other clinical disorders].

We examined 50 children in high functioning pervasive developmental disorder (HFPDD) to study the comorbidity with other clinical disorders by questionnaires. Seventy-two percentage of them met the criteria for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD). The majority of the children had intelligence quotient less than 90.

[An open trial of risperidone in autistic children].

Clinical effects of risperidone were evaluated in 9 young autistic children under informed consent of their parents. The patients were evaluated by the Children's Behavioral Checklist and Rutter's Autistic Behavioral Rating Scale. After the administration, two subjects (playing and adaptation to change) of the Children's Behavioral Checklist and four (anomalous autistic behavior, destructive behavior, developmental problem and activity level) of the Rutter's Autistic Behavioral Rating Scale were improved significantly.