Characteristics of developmental regression in autistic children / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>About 30% of autistic cases experience developmental regression around 2 years of age. The clinical course and manifestations of autistic children with regression remain unclear. This study investigated the clinical features of a group of autistic children with regression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and fifty-two children at ages of 2.5-6.5 years confirmed with autism based on DSM-IV diagnostic criteria were enrolled. They were grouped according to language development: normal or regression. The perinatal history, developmental history and characteristics of regression were investigated. The symptoms were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Regressions were observed in 33 children (21.7%) at age of between 16 and 21 months, with loss both in communicative skills and social engagement. The regressive group was scored significantly higher on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) (P<0.05) and had a relatively higher proportion of severely ill children (66.7% vs 45.4%; P<0.05)compared with the non-regressive group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Regression as a characteristic symptom occurs in some autistic children and is of value for diagnosis of autism. The autistic children with regression display more severe social and language impairments than those without regression. Regressive autism may be a special subtype.</p>

Association between the polymorphism in the promoter region of dopamine D4 receptor gene and chronic tic disorder / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study a possible association between the three functional polymorphisms in the promoter region of dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene and chronic tic disorder.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Genomic DNA was isolated from the venous blood leukocytes of 84 unrelated patients with chronic tic disorder (Study group) and 100 healthy unrelated individuals (Control group). Polymorphisms of DRD4, 1240L/S, 616C/G and 521C/T, were genotyped by the allele-specific primer (ASP) PCR. Genotype, allele and haplotype frequencies were analysed by SHEsis online.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were significant differences in both allele and genotype frequencies (chi(2) = 8.419, P < 0.01; chi(2) = 7.860, P < 0.05 respectively) of DRD4-616C/G between the Study and the Control groups. Haplotypic frequencies of LCT (1240L/S, 616C/G, 521C/T) in the Study group were noticeably higher than in the Control group (chi(2) = 6.371, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There is an association between the DRD4-616C/G polymorphism and chronic tic disorder. The individuals with haplotype LCT (1240L/S, 616C/G, 521C/T) are susceptible to this disorder.</p>

Behavioral patterns of autistic children during infancy / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The present study investigated the behavioral patterns of autistic children during infancy to provide clues for early identification of childhood autism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The abnormal behaviors of 30 children with autism and 26 children with other developmental disorders in infancy were investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The children with autism presented a series of abnormal behaviors, including no social smile, no eye contact and no respond to own name, and joint attention deficiency, which were distinguished from the children with other developmental disorders. The imitation and attachment behaviors were significantly different between the two groups. Repetitive motor actions and interest peculiarity were only seen in children with autism.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The children with autism may present a series of abnormal behaviors as early as in infancy. The abnormal behaviors facilitate early diagnosis of autism.</p>