A partial trisomy 16p was identified in a 14-year-old male adolescent with autistic disorder. He additionally showed complex motor and vocal phenomena, including some simple tics which had first appeared in childhood. Whereas these simple... more
A partial trisomy 16p was identified in a 14-year-old male adolescent with autistic disorder. He additionally showed complex motor and vocal phenomena, including some simple tics which had first appeared in childhood. Whereas these simple tics were of subclinical significance, an additional diagnosis of Tourette`s syndrome (TS) appears justified. The case report illustrates the diagnostic difficulties in assessing psychiatric symptomatology
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The aim of the catch-up follow-up study is to describe the long-term outcome of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) with onset in childhood and adolescence. The psychiatric morbidity in adulthood including personality disorders was... more
The aim of the catch-up follow-up study is to describe the long-term outcome of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) with onset in childhood and adolescence. The psychiatric morbidity in adulthood including personality disorders was assessed and predictors in childhood for the course of obsessive–compulsive symptoms were examined. The total study group consisted of the entire patient population treated for OCD at our
Research Interests: Psychology, Personality Assessment, Personality Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Adolescent, and 14 moreHumans, Child, Personality Development, Female, Personality Disorder, Male, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Follow-up studies, Mental Disorders, Clinical Sciences, Adult, Prognosis, Affective Disorder, and Age of Onset
The aim of this prospective longitudinal study was to examine outcome, psychosocial functioning, and prognostic factors in adolescent anorexia nervosa. Thirty-four (88%) out of a consecutive series of 39 inpatients were reinvestigated... more
The aim of this prospective longitudinal study was to examine outcome, psychosocial functioning, and prognostic factors in adolescent anorexia nervosa. Thirty-four (88%) out of a consecutive series of 39 inpatients were reinvestigated three and seven years after discharge. The patients and 34 controls matched for age, sex, and occupational status were interviewed using structured interviews on their Diagnostic Statistical Manual,
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Low leptin levels are an endocrinological hallmark of acute anorexia nervosa (AN); a subthreshold leptin secretion in adi- pocytes as a consequence of a reduced energy intake is pre- sumed to be the major trigger of the adaptation of an... more
Low leptin levels are an endocrinological hallmark of acute anorexia nervosa (AN); a subthreshold leptin secretion in adi- pocytes as a consequence of a reduced energy intake is pre- sumed to be the major trigger of the adaptation of an organism to semistarvation. The aim of the current study is to define symptoms of AN that are potentially linked to
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Several lines of evidence indicate a role of mutations in the two X-linked genes neuroligin 3( NLGN3) and neuroligin 4 (NLGN4X) in the etiology of autistic spectrum disorders. To ana- lyze whether genetic variants in the NLGN3 and NLGN4X... more
Several lines of evidence indicate a role of mutations in the two X-linked genes neuroligin 3( NLGN3) and neuroligin 4 (NLGN4X) in the etiology of autistic spectrum disorders. To ana- lyze whether genetic variants in the NLGN3 and NLGN4X genes occurs in patients with autistic disorders on high functioning level, we perform- ed a mutation screen of both genes using
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Circulating leptin concentrations are known to be low in acute anorexia nervosa (AN), which is characterized by low weight, amenorrhea and specific psychopathological features. In this study plasma leptin concentrations were determined... more
Circulating leptin concentrations are known to be low in acute anorexia nervosa (AN), which is characterized by low weight, amenorrhea and specific psychopathological features. In this study plasma leptin concentrations were determined during inpatient treatment of 23 adolescent females with AN using a sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) and set into relationship to leptin levels of females matched for age, body mass index (BMI; kg m-2) and/or percent body fat. At referral patients had leptin concentrations well below the female controls. Weight gains led to steep increases of leptin levels which peaked at values well in excess of those observed in controls matched for BMI. In patients who reached the final treatment stage and who were followed-up after discharge, levels subsequently fluctuated and finally dropped into or below the control range. The low leptin levels at referral are likely to be involved in the pathogenesis of amenorrhea and the reduced metabolic state of acutely ill ...
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Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disease of complex aetiology with a marked genetic component. Impact of the serotonergic system has been reported but the contribution of additional transmitter systems to the pathogenesis seems... more
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disease of complex aetiology with a marked genetic component. Impact of the serotonergic system has been reported but the contribution of additional transmitter systems to the pathogenesis seems likely. The extraneuronal monoamine transporter, EMT (SLC22A3), is implicated in non-neuronal termination of noradrenergic signalling in the central nervous system and a candidate gene for a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. We conducted a case-control study of 84 Caucasian children and adolescents with OCD according to DSM-IV criteria, and healthy adults by comprehensive sequencing of the EMT gene. Additionally, targeted genotype analysis was done with patient-parent trios. Known polymorphisms and frequent haplotypes were not associated with OCD in the present sample. Transmission disequilibrium test was negative for the presumptive cryptic splice site 1233G>A polymorphism. However, we identified two novel independent mutations exclusively in...
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The magnitude of mental health problems in children and adolescents has not been recognized sufficiently by many governments and decision-makers. This paper reviews the epidemiology of these problems as a basis for planning of services;... more
The magnitude of mental health problems in children and adolescents has not been recognized sufficiently by many governments and decision-makers. This paper reviews the epidemiology of these problems as a basis for planning of services; the situation of mental health services for children and adolescents in the various regions of the world; the principles and strategies of intervention for mental health disorders in children and adolescents; and the role of international organizations and advocacy groups. It is concluded that old myths, treatments and policies are no longer to be tolerated and that there is now the opportunity to develop and implement evidence-based interventions, modern training programs and effective policies.
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Positive association between obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and the A-allele of the 5-HT(2A)-receptor promoter polymorphism -1438G/A has recently been reported in adults. We performed an association analysis of this polymorphism in... more
Positive association between obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and the A-allele of the 5-HT(2A)-receptor promoter polymorphism -1438G/A has recently been reported in adults. We performed an association analysis of this polymorphism in 55 children and adolescents with OCD and in 223 controls consisting of unrelated students. We detected statistically significant differences in genotype (P < 0.05) and allele frequencies (P < 0.05) between individuals with OCD and controls. In this, to our knowledge, first association study based on children and adolescents with OCD, we confirm an association of the A-allele of the 5-HT2A receptor gene with OCD.
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To compare rates of DSM-IV psychiatric disorders between (1) a clinical study group of extremely obese adolescents and young adults, (2) gender-matched population-based obese controls and (3) a population-based control group of the same... more
To compare rates of DSM-IV psychiatric disorders between (1) a clinical study group of extremely obese adolescents and young adults, (2) gender-matched population-based obese controls and (3) a population-based control group of the same age range. Rates of psychiatric disorders were assessed in (1) the clinical study group of obese adolescents and (2) the population based sample of obese adolescents, and compared to (3) a large population-based control group using a standardized psychiatric interview. (1) Clinical study group: 30 female and 17 male extremely obese adolescents and young adults (age range: 15-21 y; mean BMI:42.4 kg/m2). (2) Thirty females and 17 males with the highest BMI (age range 15-21 y; mean BMI: 29.8 kg/m2) of a population-based control group encompassing 1655 (805 males) adolescents and young adults. (3) The population based control group excluding the 30 females and 17 males with the highest BMI (n = 1608; 788 males). Munich-Composite International Diagnostic ...
Research Interests: Education, Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Obesity, Eating Disorders, and 22 moreAdolescent, Bulimia Nervosa, Adipose tissue, Humans, Female, Body Composition, Male, Population based study, Population Control, Young Adult, Mental Disorders, Body Mass Index, Mood Disorders, Adult, Time Factors, Somatoform disorders, Clinical Study, Eating Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Binge eating, Mood Disorder, and Control Group
The serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) system has been implicated in body weight regulation and in the etiology of anorexia nervosa (AN). Here we describe the screening of the known Phe-124-Cys polymorphism in the 5-HT1Dbeta... more
The serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) system has been implicated in body weight regulation and in the etiology of anorexia nervosa (AN). Here we describe the screening of the known Phe-124-Cys polymorphism in the 5-HT1Dbeta receptor gene and of the known Pro-279-Leu polymorphism in the 5-HT7 receptor gene. For association tests allele frequencies were compared between up to 393 extremely obese children and adolescents, 142 underweight students and 84 patients with AN. None of the association tests revealed nominal P-values below 0.3. We conclude that a major role of the investigated polymorphisms in body weight regulation or AN appears unlikely.
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... Flament MF, Koby E, Rapoport JL, Berg CJ, Zahn T, Cox C, Denckla M, Lenane M (1990). ... Rainald Mössner1*, Susanne Walitza2*, Klaus-Peter Lesch1, Frank Geller3, Nikolaus Barth4, Helmut Remschmidt4, Freya Hahn5, Beate... more
... Flament MF, Koby E, Rapoport JL, Berg CJ, Zahn T, Cox C, Denckla M, Lenane M (1990). ... Rainald Mössner1*, Susanne Walitza2*, Klaus-Peter Lesch1, Frank Geller3, Nikolaus Barth4, Helmut Remschmidt4, Freya Hahn5, Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann5, Christian Fleischhaker6 ...
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Percentiles for the body mass index (BMI) offer a possibility to epidemiologically assess the linear weight criterion of 85% average body weight commonly used for the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. BMI values corresponding to 85% average... more
Percentiles for the body mass index (BMI) offer a possibility to epidemiologically assess the linear weight criterion of 85% average body weight commonly used for the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. BMI values corresponding to 85% average body weight were calculated and assessed with percentiles derived from epidemiological studies in both the United States and Germany. The underweight range was characterized epidemiologically. The weight criterion used for the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa corresponds to BMI values between the 5th and 10th centiles in both populations. In epidemiological terms the lowest BMI values in individuals aged 10 years and older occur during adolescence. In the general population BMI values <16 kg/m2 are rarely observed. Upon the use of higher BMI cutoffs in the underweight range females clearly predominate. The BMI increase associated with the 5th or 10th centile in the age range between 18 and 30 years is quite low suggesting that many underweight femal...
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A systematic epidemiological comparison of body weights of patients with anorexia nervosa can be enhanced by the use of age percentiles for the body mass index. To demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, body mass indices of 81... more
A systematic epidemiological comparison of body weights of patients with anorexia nervosa can be enhanced by the use of age percentiles for the body mass index. To demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, body mass indices of 81 female adolescents with anorexia nervosa were calculated from anthropometric data upon admission for inpatient treatment and at follow-up and set into relationship to the age-dependent distribution of the body mass index in a large and representative sample of the German population. The percentiles were used to visualize the weight increase over time of each former patient by aligning the body mass index at referral with the respective body mass index at follow-up. Upon admission most adolescents had body mass indices below the third age centile. The distribution of body mass indices at outcome suggests a continuum between death of complications related to starvation, chronic anorexia, residual anorexia, and a low body weight Patients with very low body...
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To investigate course, outcome, and psychiatric comorbidity in adolescent anorexia nervosa by repeated follow-up assessment. Thirty-four subjects (88%) of an original sample of 39 inpatients were followed up personally 3 and 7 years after... more
To investigate course, outcome, and psychiatric comorbidity in adolescent anorexia nervosa by repeated follow-up assessment. Thirty-four subjects (88%) of an original sample of 39 inpatients were followed up personally 3 and 7 years after discharge and classified according to DSM-III-R eating disorder categories. Standardized psychometric instruments were used to assess specific eating disorder symptoms, concomitant general psychopathology, and comorbid psychiatric diagnoses. After 7 years, 1 patient (3%) had anorexia nervosa, 4 patients (12%) bulimia nervosa, and 10 patients (29%) eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS). Anxiety disorders (41%) and affective disorders (18%) were the most prevalent comorbid psychiatric disorders. Concomitant general psychopathology was significantly related to the outcome of the eating disorder. According to our results, the majority of former adolescent anorexic inpatients had shown substantial improvement in their eating disorders symptoma...
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Within the past decades prevalence rates for obesity among children and adolescents have increased in different populations. The hypothesis of this study is that the degree of adiposity in clinical study cohorts of extremely obese... more
Within the past decades prevalence rates for obesity among children and adolescents have increased in different populations. The hypothesis of this study is that the degree of adiposity in clinical study cohorts of extremely obese children and adolescents increased within the past decade. In six different study cohorts of the time period from 1985-1995 body mass indices (BMIs) of obese children and adolescents who were treated as inpatients at a specialized children's hospital were evaluated. For this purpose body heights, body weights, ages and sex of all inpatients of three referring agencies were retrospectively assessed biannually. In these six cohorts a significant BMI-increase from 1985-1995 of 1.9 kg/m2 (P < 0.0001) for constant sex, age and referring agencies was found: Comparisons of the quartiles and the ninth decline in both sexes did not show any systematic increase at the first quartile. In contrast, BMI-increases at the ninth decile were approximately 5 kg/m2 fo...
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Research Interests: Schizophrenia, Treatment Outcome, Adolescent, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Humans, and 12 moreChild, Patient Admission, Length of Stay, Social Adjustment, Nursing Home, Clinical Sciences, Children and Adolescents, Mood Disorders, Sex Factors, Age Factors, Rehabilitation Centers, and Cross Sectional Studies
The dopaminergic system has been shown to be involved in the aetiology of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Family studies suggest a higher genetic loading in patients with early onset OCD. Our investigation is the first family-based... more
The dopaminergic system has been shown to be involved in the aetiology of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Family studies suggest a higher genetic loading in patients with early onset OCD. Our investigation is the first family-based association study concerning polymorphisms in genes of the dopaminergic system in early onset OCD. We studied polymorphisms within the dopamine-4 receptor gene (DRD4), the dopamine
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Type and extent of objectively tested cognitive impairments (attention, verbal fluency, nonverbal reasoning) and their association with self-ratings (Paranoia Depression Scale; Frankfurt Complaint Questionnaire) and clinical assessments... more
Type and extent of objectively tested cognitive impairments (attention, verbal fluency, nonverbal reasoning) and their association with self-ratings (Paranoia Depression Scale; Frankfurt Complaint Questionnaire) and clinical assessments (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Scales for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms and Negative Symptoms) of psychopathological symptoms were studied in a sample of 74 adolescents primarily suffering from chronic schizophrenia (DSM-III-R; mean duration
Research Interests: Psychology, Schizophrenia, Attention, Language, Adolescent, and 30 moreComparative Study, Germany, Developmental Coordination Disorder, Factor analysis, Humans, Child, Age, Personality Assessment Inventory, Verbal Fluency, Reasoning, Chronic Disease, Female, Male, Developmental disabilities, Risk factors, Clinical Sciences, Canonical Correlation, Prevalence, Risk Factor, Cognitive impairment, Adult, Cross Section, Cognitive Function, Prognosis, Clinical Assessment, Age Factors, Risk Factors, Cross Sectional Studies, Age of Onset, and Cognition disorders
OBJECTIVE: Prevalence rates of obesity have been increasing in several countries over the past two decades. Mainly secular changes in energy intake and expenditure have been invoked to underly the increasing rates; genetic factors have... more
OBJECTIVE: Prevalence rates of obesity have been increasing in several countries over the past two decades. Mainly secular changes in energy intake and expenditure have been invoked to underly the increasing rates; genetic factors have not been considered because of the very recency of this phenomenon. We hypothesize that genetic factors might very well be involved via an increased rate
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The missense mutation (64Trp to 64Arg) in the beta 3-adrenergic-receptor has previously been described to confer a genetic predisposition to the development of obesity. To test the hypothesis we evaluated allele frequencies in children,... more
The missense mutation (64Trp to 64Arg) in the beta 3-adrenergic-receptor has previously been described to confer a genetic predisposition to the development of obesity. To test the hypothesis we evaluated allele frequencies in children, adolescents and young adults who belonged to different weight groups that were delineated with percentiles for the body mass index (BMI; kg/m2). 99 underweight probands (BMI &amp;amp;lt; or = 15th percentile). 80 normal weight probands (BMI: 5th-85th percentile). 238 obese children and adolescents (BMI &amp;amp;gt; or = 97th percentile). 84 patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). The cohorts were screened by polymerase chain reaction with subsequent restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Data were statistically analysed for association. In addition to these case control studies, the transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) was applied to 80 families of obese probands and to 52 families of patients with AN. Both the tests for association and linkage were negative. The Trp64Arg allele frequencies in the three weight groups (obesity: 0.071; normal weight: 0.081; underweight: 0.056) and the AN patients (0.054) were similar. Extremely obese individuals showed no excess of the Trp64Arg allele. No homozygotes for the Trp64Arg allele were detected. Heterozygosity for the Trp64Arg allele is not of major importance in regulation of body weight in individuals younger than 35 y. Additionally, the extreme obese subgroup is not enriched for the polymorphism.
Research Interests: Education, Obesity, Polymorphism, Adolescent, Anorexia Nervosa, and 18 moreAssociation study, Humans, Child, Female, Male, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Young Adult, Body Mass Index, Tryptophan, Genetic linkage analysis, Children and Adolescents, Body mass index (BMI), Adult, Arginine, Body Weight, Case Control Study, Allele Frequency, and Cohort Studies
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Sleep deprivation (SD) has enriched our treatment programme for major depression. SD has been demonstrated to modify different host defence activities. There is some evidence that there are reciprocal relationships between immune function... more
Sleep deprivation (SD) has enriched our treatment programme for major depression. SD has been demonstrated to modify different host defence activities. There is some evidence that there are reciprocal relationships between immune function and increased hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis activity in depression. We therefore investigated the number of leukocytes, granulocytes, monocytes, lymphocytes, B cells, �T cells, helper T cells, cytotoxic T
Research Interests: Cognitive Science, Cortisol, Humans, Natural Killer cells, Sleep Deprivation, and 17 moreBlood sampling, Male, HPA axis, Sleep, Clinical Sciences, T lymphocytes, Major Depression, Adult, Monocytes, Immune function, B Lymphocytes, Salivary Cortisol, Neurosciences, Leukocytes, NK Cell, White Blood Cell, and Cytotoxic T cells
The 5-HT3 receptor is unique among the serotonin receptors in that it is a ligand-gated ion channel. Dysfunction of the serotonin system is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of obsessive—compulsive disorder (OCD). Apart from the... more
The 5-HT3 receptor is unique among the serotonin receptors in that it is a ligand-gated ion channel. Dysfunction of the serotonin system is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of obsessive—compulsive disorder (OCD). Apart from the standard treatment with serotonin reuptake inhibitors and behavioural therapy, a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist has recently been shown to benefit some OCD patients, suggesting the
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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common behavioral disorder in childhood with substantial heritability. Pharmacological and molecular genetic studies as well as characterization of animal models have implicated... more
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common behavioral disorder in childhood with substantial heritability. Pharmacological and molecular genetic studies as well as characterization of animal models have implicated serotonergic dysfunction in the pathophysiology of ADHD. Here, we investigated the effect of polymorphic variants in the gene of the tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2), the rate-limiting enzyme of serotonin (5-HT) synthesis in the
Research Interests: Genetics, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Nonparametric Statistics, Polymorphism, Neuropsychopharmacology, and 29 moreMolecular Genetics, Adolescent, Molecular Psychiatry, Biological Sciences, Molecular, Serotonin, Brain, Humans, Child, Female, Male, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Animal Model, Cognitive Process, The, Pedigree, Enzyme, Children and Adolescents, Potential Function, Genotype, Adult, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism, Control Region, Linkage Disequilibrium, Genetic variation, Tryptophan hydroxylase, Family Study, Relative Risk, and Motor activity
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The prevalence of obesity in inpatients of a German psychiatric rehabilitation center for adolescents and young adults (mean age 19.5 years) is assessed and set into relationship to diagnosis and medication regimen. In a cross-sectional... more
The prevalence of obesity in inpatients of a German psychiatric rehabilitation center for adolescents and young adults (mean age 19.5 years) is assessed and set into relationship to diagnosis and medication regimen. In a cross-sectional naturalistic study body weights and heights of 151 inpatients, 109 of whom presented with ICD-10 schizophrenia spectrum disorders, were measured for the calculation of body
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To assess the relative contribution of genetic factors in antipsychotic-induced weight gain, we explored the similarity in body mass index (BMI) (kg/m(2)) change under clozapine only (clozapine DeltaBMI) and upon additional inclusion of... more
To assess the relative contribution of genetic factors in antipsychotic-induced weight gain, we explored the similarity in body mass index (BMI) (kg/m(2)) change under clozapine only (clozapine DeltaBMI) and upon additional inclusion of BMI change under prior antipsychotic medication (total DeltaBMI) of five monozygotic twins in comparison with seven same-sex sibs. Twin and sib pairs were identified by a telephone screening of 786 office-based psychiatrists. Measured data on weight and other clinical variables were obtained cross-sectionally and retrospectively from medical records. We found greater similarity in total DeltaBMI in monozygotic twins (intrapair difference 2.78+/-3.41 kg/m(2)) than in same-sex sibs (5.55+/-4.35 kg/m(2)), resulting in heritability estimates of h(2)=0.8 and A=0.45 (ACE twin model). However, intrapair differences in clozapine DeltaBMI were similar between twins (4.18+/-4.27 kg/m(2)) and sibs (4.68+/-4.88 kg/m(2)). We hypothesize that the weight plateau achieved under clozapine is influenced by genetic factors. The weight gain achieved during pretreatment with other antipsychotics seems to limit clozapine-induced weight gain, thus presumably explaining why heritability/similarity in monozygotic twins in comparison with same-sex sibs is greater for total DeltaBMI than for clozapine DeltaBMI. An important caveat is that, owing to the sample size, the heritability estimates have a large standard error and thus have to be interpreted with caution.
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Weight gain is a major side effect of treatment with clozapine and other antipsychotics. Recent studies suggest an important role of the serotonin type 2C receptor gene (5-HT2CR) in antipsychotic-induced weight gain. However,... more
Weight gain is a major side effect of treatment with clozapine and other antipsychotics. Recent studies suggest an important role of the serotonin type 2C receptor gene (5-HT2CR) in antipsychotic-induced weight gain. However, investigations pertaining to a possible association between a -759C/T polymorphism (C allele) of the 5-HT2CR and weight gain induced by clozapine and/or other antipsychotics have yielded inconsistent results. We investigated the -759C/T polymorphism of the 5-HT2CR in relation to clozapine-induced change in body mass index (BMI) (kg/m) in 97 German patients with schizophrenia and found no association between the -759C allele and weight gain after 12 weeks of clozapine treatment. In addition, confounding effects of initial BMI, age, sex and duration of illness on change in BMI could not be detected by multiple linear regression analysis. Our data do not support an involvement of the -759C/T polymorphism of the 5-HT2CR in clozapine-induced weight gain in German patients with schizophrenia. Further pharmacogenetic studies pertaining to antipsychotic-induced weight gain are warranted.
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Several genome scans have been performed for adult obesity. Because single formal genetic studies suggest a higher heritability of body weight in adolescence and because genes that influence body weight in adulthood might not be the same... more
Several genome scans have been performed for adult obesity. Because single formal genetic studies suggest a higher heritability of body weight in adolescence and because genes that influence body weight in adulthood might not be the same as those that are relevant in childhood and adolescence, we performed a whole genome scan. The genome scan was based on 89 families with 2 or more obese children (sample 1). The mean age of the index patients was 13.63 +/- 2.75 years. A total of 369 individuals were initially genotyped for 437 microsatellite markers. A second sample of 76 families was genotyped using microsatellite markers that localize to regions for which maximum likelihood binomial logarithm of the odd (MLB LOD) scores on use of the concordant sibling pair approach exceeded 0.7 in sample 1. The regions with MLB LOD scores &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;0.7 were on chromosomes 1p32.3-p33, 2q37.1-q37.3, 4q21, 8p22, 9p21.3, 10p11.23, 11q11-q13.1, 14q24-ter, and 19p13-q12 in sample 1; MLB LOD scores on chromosomes 8p and 19q exceeded 1.5. In sample 2, MLB LOD scores of 0.68 and 0.71 were observed for chromosomes 10p11.23 and 11q13, respectively. We consider that several of the peaks identified in other scans also gave a signal in this scan as promising for ongoing pursuits to identify relevant genes. The genetic basis of childhood and adolescent obesity might not differ that much from adult obesity.
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It has been hypothesized that auditory temporal processing plays a major role in the aetiology of dyslexia. Event-related brain potentials (mismatch negativity, MMN) of auditory temporal processing were assessed in 15 dyslectic adults and... more
It has been hypothesized that auditory temporal processing plays a major role in the aetiology of dyslexia. Event-related brain potentials (mismatch negativity, MMN) of auditory temporal processing were assessed in 15 dyslectic adults and 20 controls. A complex tonal pattern was used where the difference between standard and deviant stimuli was the temporal, not the frequency structure. Dyslexics had a significantly smaller MMN in the time window of 225-600 ms. This result shows that dyslexics have a significant pre-attentive deficit in processing of rapid temporal patterns suggesting that it may be the temporal information embedded in speech sounds, rather than phonetic information per se, that resulted in the attenuated MMN found in dyslexics in previous studies. MMN scalp topographies were similar for both groups, showing a maximum over fronto-central leads.