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Biomedical subjects

John Wray

Publications and source records attributed to John Wray.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

7. Language disorders and autism.

Early diagnosis of language disorders and autism is important, and early intervention for autism and some language disorders makes a difference. Developmental surveillance of children to detect these disorders should be a routine part of medical practice. The persistence and pervasiveness of communication and socialising deficits differentiate children with autism from those with specific developmental language disorders. Hearing and vision assessment is essential in any communication disorder. Interventions, targeted to identified areas of need, should encompass communication enhancement, behavioural therapy, educational modification, parent education and family support. Pharmacological interventions have an important but discrete role in autism, but there are no magic bullets. It is important to remember that the normal childhood illnesses occur in children with developmental disorders. Parents should be directed to reliable websites on the Internet, and given information and books to read as well as phone numbers of relevant services (eg, autism associations). There is a need for increased government financial support for early intervention programs.

Autistic Disorder↗
PubMed2005

Incidence of autism spectrum disorders in children in two Australian states.

AIM: To ascertain the incidence of autism spectrum disorders in Australian children. SETTING: New South Wales (NSW) and Western Australia (WA), July 1999 to December 2000. DESIGN: Data were obtained for WA from a prospective register and for NSW by active surveillance. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Newly recognised cases of autism spectrum disorders (defined as autistic disorder, Asperger disorder and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified [PDD-NOS]) in children aged 0-14 years; incidence was estimated in 5-year age bands (0-4 years, 5-9 years, 10-14 years). RESULTS: In WA, 252 children aged 0-14 years were identified with autism spectrum disorder (169 with autistic disorder and 83 with Asperger disorder or PDD-NOS). Comparable figures in NSW were 532, 400 and 132, respectively. Most children were recognised with autistic disorder before school age (median age, 4 years in WA and 3 years in NSW). Incidence of autistic disorder in the 0-4-years age group was 5.5 per 10,000 in WA (95% CI, 4.5-6.7) and 4.3 per 10,000 in NSW (95% CI, 3.8-4.8). Incidence was lower in older age groups. The ratio of all autism spectrum disorders to autistic disorder alone was 1.5:1 in WA and 1.3:1 in NSW, and rose with age (1.8:1 and 2.9:1 in 10-14-year-olds in WA and NSW, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These are the first reported incidence rates for autism for a large Australian population and are similar to rates reported from the United Kingdom. Ongoing information gathering in WA and repeat active surveillance in NSW will help to monitor any future changes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Gamma-amido-ATP stabilizes a high-fluorescence state of myosin subfragment 1.

On binding to myosin subfragment 1 (S1), the gamma-amido derivative of ATP (ATPgammaNH2), an isomer of adenosine 5'-[beta,gamma-imido]-triphosphate (AMPPNP), induces a larger increase in the intrinsic (tryptophan) fluorescence than is seen with ATP. A binding constant of 1.7x10(7) M(-1) was measured for ATPgammaNH2, compared to 2.1-2.4x10(7) M(-1) for AMPPNP. ATPgammaNH2 was hydrolyzed only very slowly by S1. ATPgammaNH2 appears to stabilize the 'closed' conformation of S1, and does so without cleavage of the beta-gamma phosphate bond. The dissociation of actin-S1 by ATPgammaNH2 and that of S1.ATPgammaNH2 by actin are both strikingly slow.

Actomyosin↗