Allelic variation within the putative autism spectrum disorder risk gene homeobox A1 and cerebellar maturation in typically developing children and adolescents.

Homeobox A1 (HOXA1) has been proposed as a candidate gene for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as it regulates embryological patterning of hind-brain structures implicated in autism neurobiology. In line with this notion, a nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism within a highly conserved domain of HOXA1--A218G (rs10951154)--has been linked to both ASD risk, and cross-sectional differences in superior posterior lobar cerebellar anatomy in late adulthood. Despite evidence for early onset and developmentally dynamic cerebellar involvement in ASD, little is known of the relationship between A218G genotype and maturation of the cerebellum over early development.

Metabolic correlates of antidepressant and antipsychotic response in patients with psychotic depression undergoing electroconvulsive therapy.

Objectives: Although electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a very effective treatment of depression and psychosis, the mechanisms by which this occurs are not fully delineated. The objective of this study was to investigate the functional alterations in brain metabolism in response to ECT through the use of positron emission tomography assessment of cerebral glucose metabolism before and after a course of ECT.

Methods: Ten subjects with psychotic depression were studied with positron emission tomography using [F]fluorodeoxyglucose before and between 2 and 3 weeks after a course of ECT.

Cerebellar development and clinical outcome in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Objective: Anatomic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have detected smaller cerebellar volumes in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than in comparison subjects. However, the regional specificity and longitudinal progression of these differences remain to be determined. The authors compared the volumes of each lobe of the cerebellar hemispheres and vermis in children with ADHD and comparison subjects and used a new regional cerebellar volume measurement to characterize the developmental trajectory of these differences.