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Representative Group (representative + group)
Selected AbstractsOne hundred males with Asperger syndrome: a clinical study of background and associated factorsDEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 10 2004Mats Cederlund MD The objective of this study was to investigate the background and associated factors in a representative group of young males with Asperger syndrome (AS) presenting at a specialized autism clinic. One hundred males aged 5 years 6 months to 24 years 6 months, with a mean age of 11 years 4 months (SD 3y 10mo), who had a clinical diagnosis of AS were included in the study. An in-depth review of their medical records and neuropsychological test data was performed. There was a high rate (51%) of non-verbal learning disability (defined as Verbal IQ more than 15 points higher than Performance IQ), but otherwise there was little or no support for the notion of right-hemisphere brain dysfunction being at the core of the syndrome. There was a very high rate of close relatives with autism spectrum problems, but also high rates of prenatal and perinatal problems, including prematurity and postmaturity. In comparison with general population data, those with AS very often had a combination of genetic and prenatal and perinatal risk factors. Non-verbal learning disability test results applied in about half the group. There was a subgroup of individuals with AS who had macrocephalus. However, there was no support for an association of AS with low body mass index. [source] Autism spectrum disorders in children with active epilepsy and learning disability: comorbidity, pre- and perinatal background, and seizure characteristicsDEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 11 2003Suzanne Steffenburg MD PhD The aim of this study was to examine the comorbidity pattern, seizure characteristics, and aetiology in a representative group of children with a combination of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), active epilepsy, and learning disability. Ninety children (47 males, 43 females; mean age 11 years 2 months, range 8 to 16 years at the time of psychiatric examination) with active epilepsy and learning disability, identified in a population-based study in Göteborg, Sweden, were subdivided into those with and those without ASD and compared with respect to aetiology, additional neuroimpairments, and seizure characteristics. In addition, the cohorts were examined for trends of prevalence over a period of time. Results indicated that established aetiology was much more often present in the prenatal period than in the peri- or postnatal periods in the ASD group. Cerebral palsy and visual impairment were under-represented in the ASD group. Partial seizures tended to be more common and generalized seizures less common in the ASD group compared with the non-ASD group. Seizure onset was later in the ASD group. Many of the significant differences were accounted for by a large group of psychiatrically unclassifiable participants in the non-ASD group. There was no trend towards an increase of affected children over the 12-year period. There was no increase in the prevalence of active epilepsy and learning disability nor in the rate of autism with active epilepsy and learning disability in children born between 1981 and 1986 compared with those born from 1976 to 1980, indicating no statistical association with the general measles-mumps-rubella vaccination introduced in the early 1980s. [source] Fertility and history of sexual abuse at 10-year follow-up of adolescent-onset anorexia nervosaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, Issue 4 2005Elisabet Wentz MD Abstract Objective We studied fertility and history of child sexual abuse (CSA) in a representative group of anorexia nervosa (AN) cases. Method Fifty-one adolescent-onset AN cases recruited after community screening and 51 matched comparison cases were interviewed 10 years after reported AN onset, at mean age 24 years, regarding children, miscarriages, and fertility problems. They completed anonymously the Finkelhor self-report questionnaire regarding history of CSA. Results There were few fertility problems in our AN population. There was a tendency towards more subjects in the AN group to give birth to a child (10 AN and 4 comparison mothers). The prevalence of CSA was equal between groups. For example, 6% in each group had experienced CSA before the age of 10 years, and 14% of the AN and 12% of the comparison cases reported CSA. Discussion Infertility and history of CSA may not be overrepresented in a population-based AN sample at long-term follow-up. © 2005 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Analysis of the capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis locus of Porphyromonas gingivalis and development of a K1-specific polymerase chain reaction-based serotyping assayJOURNAL OF PERIODONTAL RESEARCH, Issue 6 2008J. Brunner Background and Objective:,Porphyromonas gingivalis is a gram-negative obligate anaerobe that is strongly associated with severe periodontitis. Previous reports showed an association of P. gingivalis capsular polysaccharide with virulence. The K1 capsular polysaccharide was found to be more immunostimulatory than the other serotypes. Our objective was to explore the genetic background of the capsule biosynthesis (K-antigen) locus in a representative group of K1 serotype strains. Material and Methods:, We used restriction fragment length polymorphism, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing to study the capsular polysaccharide locus in P. gingivalis K1 strains. For serotyping by double immunodiffusion and PCR we used 32 strains of P. gingivalis, including strains of all six known K serotypes. Results:, All tested K1 strains showed high conservation of the capsular polysaccharide locus, although a DNA re-arrangement was found in two strains. Based on this information a K1-specific PCR-based serotyping assay was designed. The specificity and sensitivity of this test were confirmed using non-K1 P. gingivalis serotypes. Conclusion:, The capsular polysaccharide locus of P. gingivalis is conserved but may vary slightly among K1 strains. The new K1 serotyping assay presented here is much faster than double immunodiffusion and can detect K1 strains in a very selective and sensitive way. This method may therefore be clinically relevant in the detection of the virulent P. gingivalis K1 serotype. [source] | ||||||||||