Serum Tryptophan, Tryptophan Catabolites and Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor in Subgroups of Youngsters with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Background: There is evidence that changes in neuro-immune responses coupled with dysfunctions in serotonin metabolism underpin the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Objective: This study aimed to delineate whether ASD subgroups or characteristics show aberrations in tryptophan and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) metabolism.

Methods: 65 individuals with ASD (diagnosed according to ICD criteria) and 30 healthy control patients were included.

Role of the Immune System in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

Background: The evidence based supports that multifactorial and complex immune interactions play a role in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), but contradictory findings are also reported.

Objective: The aim of this selective review was to identify trends in the research literature on this topic, focusing on immunology and other aberrations with respect to the different ASD subtypes.

Methods: This selective review is based on original and review articles written in English and identified in literature searches of PubMed.

Kynurenine Pathway in Autism Spectrum Disorders in Children.

Background: There is increasing evidence that altered immune responses play a role in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), together with dysfunction of the serotonergic and glutamatergic systems. Since the kynurenine (KYN) pathway that degrades tryptophan (TRP) is activated in various neuroinflammatory states, we aimed to determine whether this pathway is activated in ASD.

Methods: Sixty-five pediatric ASD patients (including 52 boys) were enrolled from an epidemiological survey covering 2 counties in Norway; 30 (46.

Cytokine Profile in Autism Spectrum Disorders in Children.

The pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is not completely understood, but there is evidence of associations with altered immune responses. The aim of this study was to determine the serum levels of various cytokines in children with ASD and in healthy controls, in order to determine their role in ASD and its diagnostic subgroups. Sixty-five ASD patients were enrolled from an epidemiological survey in Norway, of which 30 were diagnosed with childhood autism, 16 with Asperger syndrome, 12 with atypical autism, 1 with Rett syndrome, and 6 with another ASD diagnosis.

A recurrent deletion on chromosome 2q13 is associated with developmental delay and mild facial dysmorphisms.

We report two unrelated patients with overlapping chromosome 2q13 deletions (patient 1 in chr2:111415137-113194067 bp and patient 2 in chr2:110980342-113007823 bp, hg 19). Patient 1 presents with developmental delay, microcephaly and mild dysmorphic facial features, and patient 2 with autism spectrum disorder, borderline cognitive abilities, deficits in attention and executive functions and mild dysmorphic facial features. The mother and maternal grandmother of patient 1 were healthy carriers of the deletion.

Children with autism spectrum disorders - the importance of medical investigations.

Background: Considerable knowledge about medical comorbidity in cases of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is available, still it is not well established how extensive the medical investigations should be in individual cases. The aim is to explore proportions of possible specific medical conditions in ASD.

Methods: 79 subjects went through extensive medical evaluations according to pre-defined procedures, including medical and developmental history, physical and biomedical investigations.