Two-Year Follow-up of Isolated Epileptiform Discharges in Autism: An Endophenotypic Biomarker?

CONTEXT

A significant subset of autistic children exhibit abnormal isolated epileptiform discharges (IEDs) in the absence of clinical epilepsy. The etiological significance of such IEDs is under much debate.

AIMS

The aim is to study the relationship between IEDs with risk factors, clinical severity, behavioral problems, and social-quotient and follow-up for the occurrence of new seizures.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

This study was a prospective double-blind comparative study of autistic children with and without IEDs.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

All autistic children attending Child Psychiatry Department of tertiary care postgraduate teaching hospital in April 2013 were included in the study. Electroencephalography, risk factors, and clinical severity were assessed. The same cohort of 72 children was followed for 2 years and reassessed.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Independent sample t-test, Chi-square test, Pearson correlation, and linear by linear association were the statistical methods used.

RESULTS

Twenty-four (42%) of the followed up sample exhibited IEDs. 10.52% had converted to clinical seizures within the follow-up period. While there was no difference between risk factors and age at diagnosis between the IED and non-IED groups, there was a significant difference between disease severity, behavioral problems and social quotient between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

IED in a subgroup of autistic children point to more severe illness, severe behavioral problems, and severe social impairment over a 2-year follow-up period. Can IED be considered a neurobehavioral endophenotype in autism?

Quantitative bead-based flow cytometry for assaying Rab7 GTPase interaction with the Rab-interacting lysosomal protein (RILP) effector protein

Rab7 facilitates vesicular transport and delivery from early endosomes to late endosomes as well as from late endosomes to lysosomes. The role of Rab7 in vesicular transport is dependent on its interactions with effector proteins, among them Rab-interacting lysosomal protein (RILP), which aids in the recruitment of active Rab7 (GTP-bound) onto dynein-dynactin motor complexes to facilitate late endosomal transport on the cytoskeleton. Here we detail a novel bead-based flow cytometry assay to measure Rab7 interaction with the Rab-interacting lysosomal protein (RILP) effector protein and demonstrate its utility for quantitative assessment and studying drug-target interactions. The specific binding of GTP-bound Rab7 to RILP is readily demonstrated and shown to be dose-dependent and saturable enabling K d and B max determinations. Furthermore, binding is nearly instantaneous and temperature-dependent. In a novel application of the assay method, a competitive small molecule inhibitor of Rab7 nucleotide binding (CID 1067700 or ML282) is shown to inhibit the Rab7-RILP interaction. Thus, the assay is able to distinguish that the small molecule, rather than incurring the active conformation, instead 'locks' the GTPase in the inactive conformation. Together, this work demonstrates the utility of using a flow cytometry assay to quantitatively characterize protein-protein interactions involving small GTPases and which has been adapted to high-throughput screening. Further, the method provides a platform for testing small molecule effects on protein-protein interactions, which can be relevant to drug discovery and development.

The story of a girl with weeping blood: Childhood depression with a rare presentation

Ms. V, a 10-year-old girl was referred to Child Psychiatry Department with complaints of bleeding from eyes for last 3 months. Bleeding was spontaneous, recurrent, painless, and self-limited. History revealed significant Psychological stressors, Temperamental Difficulties and Conflicts with Mother. Mental status examination revealed Depression in Ms. V. During hospital stay, Ms. V developed repeated bleeding episodes. The presence of hemoglobin is confirmed in the bleeding sample. Hematologic investigations and computed tomography brain were normal. Ms. V was started on Sertraline, Propranolol, and Clonazepam. Both Ms. V and her Mother were psycho-educated about the nature of the illness. Ms. V was discharged and under follow-up. This case is reported for the rarity of presentation (bleeding from Eyes) of a childhood Depression.

Studies on the Effect of EMS and Colchicine in M₁ Generation of Sesame (<i>Sesamum indicum</i> L.) Var. TMV3

Seeds of sesame (Sesamum indicum L), genotypeTMV3 were treated with various concentrations of EMS and Colchicine like 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 % and the LD50 values observed at 1.0 % of EMS and 0.6 % of Colchicine. Based on their LD50 values appreciable concentrations only selected for further study and their effects on various morphological characters such as plant height per plant, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, days to first flowering, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule and seed yield per plant (g) were measured quantitatively and the results showed that all the characters were consequently or significantly reduced when compared to control and also EMS showed more effective than colchicine.

Studies on the Effect of EMS and Colchicine in M1 Generation of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Var. TMV3

Seeds of sesame (Sesamum indicum L), genotypeTMV3 were treated with various concentrations of EMS and Colchicine like 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 % and the LD50 values observed at 1.0 % of EMS and 0.6 % of Colchicine. Based on their LD50 values appreciable concentrations only selected for further study and their effects on various morphological characters such as plant height per plant, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, days to first flowering, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule and seed yield per plant (g) were measured quantitatively and the results showed that all the characters were consequently or significantly reduced when compared to control and also EMS showed more effective than colchicine.