An investigation of potential biomarkers in children with autism spectrum disorder /

Date

2011

Authors

Wang, Lv (Lynn),

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thesis

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Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with poorly defined aetiology. Recent well-designed studies using whole-genome scanning methods, cytogenetics and genetic linkage/association analyses indicate genetic factors play a key role in the aetiology of ASD. ASDs carry a greater risk of co-morbidities. Between 6% and 10% of children have a medical condition that might have led to the autistic disorder (e.g. fragile X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis and neurofibromatosis) leaving 90% of the cases to be idiopathic (Fombonne et al. 2005). Thus, environmental and epigenetic factors have also been suggested impacting on susceptibility to ASD. Evidence is building that ASD represents a cluster of syndromes that have distinct aetiologies involving inflammation, increased oxidative stress, impaired gastrointestinal (GI) health, mitochondrial dysfunction, autoimmune processes, and impaired ability to neutralise toxins. Currently, ASD diagnosis is based on a set of clinical behaviours. Laboratory-based diagnosis remains elusive. For the purpose of this study, urine and faecal samples were collected from children with ASD, their siblings and community controls in order to investigate the aetiology and develop a non-invasive laboratory test for the early diagnosis of ASD. Urinary and faecal metabolites were measured, and GI microbiota profiles investigated.

School/Discipline

University of South Australia. Sansom Institute.
Sansom Institute for Health Research

Dissertation Note

Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2011.

Provenance

Copyright 2011 Lv (Lynn) Wang. This work is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs Australia 3.0 licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/au/)

Description

xix, 201 leaves :
illustrations.
Includes bibliographical references.

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506 0#$fstar $2Unrestricted online access

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