The Italian autism network (ITAN): a resource for molecular genetics and biomarker investigations.

BACKGROUND: A substantial genetic component accounts for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) aetiology, with some rare and common genetic risk factors recently identified. Large collections of DNAs from thoroughly characterized ASD families are an essential step to confirm genetic risk factors, identify new variants and investigate genotype-phenotype correlations. The Italian Autism Network aimed at constituting a clinical database and a biorepository of samples derived from ASD subjects and first-degree relatives extensively and consistently characterized by child psychiatry centers in Italy. METHODS: The study was approved by the ethical committee of the University of Verona, the coordinating site, and by the local ethical committees of each recruiting site. Certified staff was specifically trained at each site for the overall study conduct, for clinical protocol administration and handling of biological material. A centralized database was developed to collect clinical assessment and medical records from each recruiting site. Children were eligible for recruitment based on the following inclusion criteria: age 4-18 years, at least one parent or legal guardian giving voluntary written consent, meeting DSM-IV criteria for Autistic Disorder or Asperger's Disorder or Pervasive Developmental Disorder NOS. Affected individuals were assessed by full psychiatric, neurological and physical examination, evaluation with ADI-R and ADOS scales, cognitive assessment with Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children or Preschool and Primary, Leiter International Performance Scale or Griffiths Mental Developmental Scale. Additional evaluations included language assessment, the Krug Asperger's Disorder Index, and instrumental examination such as EEG and structural MRI. DNA, RNA and plasma were collected from eligible individuals and relatives. A central laboratory was established to host the biorepository, perform DNA and RNA extraction and lymphocytes immortalisation. DISCUSSION: The study has led to an extensive collection of biological samples associated with standardised clinical assessments from a network of expert clinicians and psychologists. Eighteen sites have received ADI/ADOS training, thirteen of which have been actively recruiting. The clinical database currently includes information on 812 individuals from 249 families, and the biorepository has samples for 98% of the subjects. This effort has generated a highly valuable resource for conducting clinical and genetic research of ASD, amenable to further expansion.

Dose linearity of lacidipine pharmacokinetics after single and repeated oral doses in healthy volunteers.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the dose proportionality of lacidipine after single and repeated oral doses, and to obtain new information on the pharmacokinetics of the compound since improvement of the plasma assay method. DESIGN: Open, randomised, four-way cross-over trial. PARTICIPANTS: 24 healthy male and female volunteers, aged 18-46 years. METHODS: Lacidipine was administered as single doses of 2, 4, 6 and 8 mg, and as multiple doses of 2, 4 and 6 mg for 8 days. Pharmacokinetic evaluations were performed on study days 1 and 8. Plasma concentrations of lacidipine were determined by a validated high-performance liquid chromatography-radioimmunoassay method. The ratios of dose-normalised peak plasma concentration (C(max)) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) were calculated and then compared across dose groups by analysis of variance to assess dose linearity against a 4 mg reference dose. A power model was also applied as an alternative method for the evaluation of linearity. RESULTS: After repeated 2, 4 and 6 mg doses of lacidipine, geometric least square mean values (95% CI) were 1.76 (1.46-2.12), 3.56 (2.96-4.29) and 5.23 (4.34--6.30) microg/L for C(max) and 5.29 (4.57-6.11), 11.42 (9.87-13.20) and 17.55 (15.18-20.29) microg x h/L for AUC over the administration interval at steady state (AUC(tau)), respectively. Mean half-life ranged between 13.2 hours and 18.7 hours. Precision of these estimates was limited by the small number of sampling timepoints collected in the final part of the curve. After administration of single doses, no statistically significant deviation from linearity was found except for the 8 mg dose, but a trend of greater than proportional exposure was evident with increasing dose. Following repeated administration, dose linearity over the therapeutic range was observed. No statistically significant difference was observed between AUC to infinity (AUC( infinity)) on day 1 and AUC(tau) on day 8, suggesting time-invariance of pharmacokinetics. CONCLUSIONS: Lacidipine exhibited linear kinetics after repeated doses in the therapeutic range of 2-6 mg once daily. The two different methodologies for assessing linearity gave consistent results. Only the single 8 mg dose, which is outside the recommended therapeutic range, resulted in greater than predicted exposure. After low doses, the analytical method still does not allow complete characterisation of kinetics. Time-invariance of lacidipine kinetics is suggested.

The association of rs4307059 and rs35678 markers with autism spectrum disorders is replicated in Italian families.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to replicate an association study on a newly collected Italian autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cohort by studying the genetic markers associated with ASDs from recent genome-wide and candidate gene association studies. METHODS: We have genotyped 746 individuals from 227 families of the Italian Autism Network using allelic discrimination TaqMan assays for seven common single-nucleotide polymorphisms: rs2292813 (SLC25A12 gene), rs35678 (ATP2B2 gene), rs4307059 (between CDH9 and CDH10 genes), rs10513025 (between SEMA5A and TAS2R1 genes), rs6872664 (PITX1 gene), rs1861972 (EN2 gene), and rs4141463 (MACROD2 gene). A family-based association study was conducted. RESULTS: A significant association was found for two of seven markers: rs4307059 T allele (odds ratio: 1.758, SE=0.236; P-value=0.017) and rs35678 TC genotype (odds ratio: 0.528, SE=0.199; P-value=0.0013). CONCLUSION: A preferential allele transmission of two markers located at loci previously associated with social and verbal communication skill has been confirmed in patients of a new ASD family sample.