Fwd: Autism research news from SFARI.org

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Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: December 6, 2011 7:03:02 AM PSTTo: Reply-To: Simons Foundation 6 December 2011 • A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeNEWSStudy charts epigenetic landscape of autism brainsTuberous sclerosis, fragile X may be molecular oppositesVIEWPOINT Kandel: The way forward for autism researchIN BRIEFGenetics: Small DNA region implicated in autismClinical research: Drug eases compulsions in mouse modelMolecular mechanisms: SHANK2 mutants alter synapsesTOOLBOXNew genetic approach identifies autism candidate genesBLOGBeyond stigmaFishy findingsNEWSStudy charts epigenetic landscape of autism brains In the brains of some individuals with autism, chemical changes to histones, proteins entwined with DNA, tend to show up near genes linked to the disorder, according to a study published 7 November in the Archives of General Psychiatry.Read More >Tuberous sclerosis, fragile X may be molecular opposites Some forms of autism are caused by too many proteins at the synapse, the junction between neurons, whereas other forms result from too few, according to a study published 23 November in Nature.Read More >VIEWPOINT Kandel: The way forward for autism research Studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie autism is crucial to advancing our understanding of the disorder, says neuroscientist Kandel.Read More >IN BRIEFGenetics: Small DNA region implicated in autism Duplication or deletion of four genes within a large chromosomal region linked to Angelman syndrome and autism could lead to developmental disability or language delay, according to a study published in the October issue of Human Genetics.Read More >Clinical research: Drug eases compulsions in mouse model A drug that blocks a type of receptor at the junctions between neurons reverses repetitive behaviors in a mouse model of autism, according to a new study.Read More >Molecular mechanisms: SHANK2 mutants alter synapses Three mutations in SHANK2, an autism-associated gene, each lead to abnormal synapses, the junctions between neurons, according to a study inHuman Molecular Genetics.Read More >TOOLBOXNew genetic approach identifies autism candidate genes Regions of the genome that contain the same genetic variants on both copies of a chromosome are more likely to contain autism-associated genes than other parts of the genome, according to a study published 14 October in Human Genetics.Read More >BLOGBeyond stigma In China, some parents of children with developmental disorders seek help — sometimes hundreds of miles from home — but have trouble getting it because of poor healthcare infrastructure, high costs, long lines and doctors' lack of awareness.Read More >Fishy findings Supplements of omega-3 fatty acids, prime ingredients of fish oils, don't improve symptoms in children with autism, according to a new review.Read More >160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 • • sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010

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Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: December 13, 2011 7:29:32 AM PSTTo: Reply-To: Simons Foundation 13 December 2011 • A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeNEWSStudy links brain size to regressive autismNeurons made from stem cells reveal cellular flaws in autismIN BRIEFClinical research: Autism, SLI are distinct on brain scansMolecular mechanisms: Protein linked to autism-like behaviorCognition and behavior: Language gene alters brain activityTOOLBOXNew system screens for drugs that alter neuronal junctionsBLOGGenomic liabilitySmall platesNEWSStudy links brain size to regressive autism Larger brains may be associated with regressive autism, but only in boys, according to a study published online 28 November in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Read More >Neurons made from stem cells reveal cellular flaws in autism Researchers have uncovered cellular abnormalities in syndrome by regenerating neurons from individuals with the rare autism-related disorder, according to a study published 27 November in Nature Medicine.Read More >IN BRIEFClinical research: Autism, SLI are distinct on brain scans Individuals with autism and those with specific language impairment have similar language deficits, but show differences in connectivity between language-related regions on structural brain scans, according to a study published 2 November in Cerebral Cortex.Read More >Molecular mechanisms: Protein linked to autism-like behavior HMGN1, a protein that regulates gene expression, leads to social deficits and hyperactivity when expressed at elevated levels in mice, according to a study published 9 December in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. This effect may result from HMGN1 dampening MeCP2 expression, the study suggests.Read More >Cognition and behavior: Language gene alters brain activity Individuals with autism-linked variants of a language gene use regions in the brain's right hemisphere, rather than the left, to process language, according to a study published 10 October in The American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B.Read More >TOOLBOXNew system screens for drugs that alter neuronal junctions A new technique efficiently screens for compounds that enhance or inhibit the formation of synapses, the junctions between neurons, according to a study published 25 October in Nature Communications.Read More >BLOGGenomic liability The rise of whole-genome sequencing is likely to result in a deluge of lawsuits against doctors for misinterpreting disease risks, two lawyers caution in an essay in Slate.Read More >Small plates People with autism may be picky eaters because they are hesitant to try new things, but also because they have an atypical sense of taste.Read More >160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 • • sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010

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Autism research news from SFARI.org

3 January 2012 • A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative

2011 in review

NEWS

Rhode Island plans statewide registry for autism research

IN BRIEF

Cognition and behavior: Mouse models human Rett mutation

Genetics: Focus on 2q23.1 region reveals autism candidate gene

Clinical research: Cancer drug could treat Angelman syndrome

AUTISM IN THE ARTS

Book review: Autism's twisted immune links, untangled

TOOLBOX

Quick test for fragile X may be ideal for developing nations

BLOG

Looking back on 2011

Adult decisions

2011 in review

The best of autism research in 2011, including top papers and techniques, a rodent model timeline and predictions for 2012.

Read More >

NEWS

Rhode Island plans statewide registry for autism research

A consortium of autism researchers, advocates and educators in Rhode Island are aiming to harness the advantages of the state's small size and tight-knit autism community to build the most comprehensive registry for the disorder yet.

Read More >

IN BRIEF

Cognition and behavior: Mouse models human Rett mutation

A mouse model of Rett syndrome that mimics a mutation seen in people shows many features of the disorder, such as hand clasping, according to a study published 27 November in Nature Neuroscience.

Read More >

Genetics: Focus on 2q23.1 region reveals autism candidate gene

MBD5, one of 20 genes located in the 2q23.1 chromosomal region, may be responsible for the autism-like syndrome caused by deletions in the region, according to a study published 7 October in the American Journal of Human Genetics.

Read More >

Clinical research: Cancer drug could treat Angelman syndrome

A cancer drug shows promise as a treatment for Angelman syndrome, according to a study published today in Nature.

Read More >

AUTISM IN THE ARTS

Book review: Autism's twisted immune links, untangled

Research on the immune system's link to autism and other psychiatric disorders is rich and varied — from massive epidemiological studies of twins and pregnant women, to the screening of immune molecules in amniotic fluid and postmortem studies of brain inflammation. In his new book, lays out this complicated work clearly and concisely, with little editorializing.

Read More >

TOOLBOX

Quick test for fragile X may be ideal for developing nations

Dried spots of blood taken from infants at birth can help clinicians screen for fragile X syndrome in countries with limited resources, according to a study published 11 October in Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers.

Read More >

BLOG

Looking back on 2011

There have been times in autism research when it has felt like there are more questions than answers, and progress is frustratingly slow and stilted. Not this year.

Read More >

Adult decisions

A new report outlines priorities for studying adults with autism, ranging from designing diagnostic tests to the most effective models of long-term care.

Read More >

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Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: January 24, 2012 6:59:38 AM PSTTo: Reply-To: Simons Foundation 24 January 2012 • A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeNEWSMapping whole-brain networks may untangle autism's rootsEffect of paternal age seen in girls with autismVIEWPOINTTony Charman: Longitudinal studies for autism researchIN BRIEFMolecular mechanisms: Autism gene linked to neuronal junctionsCognition and behavior: Blinking measures social interestGenetics: X chromosome gene linked to autism in malesTOOLBOXNew resource compiles data on autism-linked genesBLOGVideo insightsLove storyNEWSMapping whole-brain networks may untangle autism's roots Analyzing the organization of whole-brain structural networks could reveal differences in the way brains of children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders are wired.Read More >Effect of paternal age seen in girls with autism Children, especially girls, with autism who have older fathers are more likely than those with younger fathers to be the only child with the disorder in their family, according to a new study published 16 December in Autism.Read More >VIEWPOINTTony Charman: Longitudinal studies for autism research Clinicians and autism researchers should learn the early signs of autism and take into account an individual's developmental trajectory, says Tony Charman.Read More >IN BRIEFMolecular mechanisms: Autism gene linked to neuronal junctions Neurobeachin, or NBEA, an autism–associated gene, may regulate the transport of signaling molecules to neuronal branches, according to a study published 22 November in Nature Communications.Read More >Cognition and behavior: Blinking measures social interest Toddlers with autism do not anticipate emotional moments in videos of social scenes, unlike controls, according to a study published 27 December in theProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Read More >Genetics: X chromosome gene linked to autism in males TBL1X, a gene located on the X chromosome, is associated with autism in males but not in females, according to a study published 3 November inMolecular Autism.Read More >TOOLBOXNew resource compiles data on autism-linked genes A new online database provides searchable information for nearly 10,000 genes, variants and chromosomal regions linked to autism. Researchers describe the resource, dubbed AutismKB, in the January issue of Nucleic Acids Research.Read More >BLOGVideo insights A new online collection of definitions and short video clips aims to help parents and researchers distinguish among a wide variety of clinical therapies for autism.Read More >Love story Can people with autism, who lack the ability to understand others' thoughts and feelings, fall in love?Read More >160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 • • sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010

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Thanks, SarafOwner/Editor of sList Newsletterwww.sList.comsList@...Winner COMPASS Family Center STAR Award, 2011Winner 10News Leadership Award, 20105694 Mission Center Rd., PMB 436San Diego, CA 92108

Begin forwarded message:Subject: Autism research news from SFARI.orgDate: January 31, 2012 6:59:49 AM PSTTo: Reply-To: Simons Foundation 31 January 2012 • A Newsletter from the Simons Foundation Autism Research InitiativeNEWSSequencing identifies source of mitochondrial disordersScanning during sleep effective across autism spectrumIN BRIEFCognition and behavior: Brain scans yield few signs of autismGenetics: New dataset confirms schizophrenia associationsClinical research: Prozac may help adults with autismTOOLBOXNew technique charts patterns of microRNA expressionBLOGFishing for folateRisky businessNEWSSequencing identifies source of mitochondrial disorders Researchers have identified the genetic root of severe mitochondrial disorders in infants whose cases couldn't be solved by standard genetic testing, according to research published last week in Science Translational Medicine.Read More >Scanning during sleep effective across autism spectrum Scanning children's brains while they sleep is a viable alternative to sedation for infants and toddlers across the entire autism spectrum, according to a study published in the January issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.Read More >IN BRIEFCognition and behavior: Brain scans yield few signs of autism The results of two new studies support recommendations against the use of brain scans to diagnose autism.Read More >Genetics: New dataset confirms schizophrenia associations A new study uses data from more than 10,000 typical individuals to validate candidate regions implicated in schizophrenia. The results were published 5 November in Schizophrenia Research.Read More >Clinical research: Prozac may help adults with autism Fluoxetine, an antidepressant marketed as Prozac, may alleviate repetitive behaviors in adults with autism, according to a study published 2 December in the American Journal of Psychiatry.Read More >TOOLBOXNew technique charts patterns of microRNA expression Researchers have mapped the levels of tiny RNA fragments that regulate gene expression in specific brain regions and subtypes of neurons. The results were published 12 January in Neuron.Read More >BLOGFishing for folate A new study claims that low folate levels contribute to autism and offers a tenuous explanation for the low levels.Read More >Risky business The genome-wide association study has been the favorite whipping post among some geneticists, but three new reviews come to its defense.Read More >160 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10010 • • sfari.orgSent to valerieslist@... — why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences Simons Foundation · 160 5th Ave · Floor 7 · New York, NY 10010