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Biomedical subjects

Varda Gross-Tsur

Publications and source records attributed to Varda Gross-Tsur.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Language abilities of siblings of children with autism.

BACKGROUND: Language abilities of siblings of children with autism were examined to explore the possibility that language abilities are behavioral markers specific to the genetic liability for autism, as part of the broader phenotype. METHOD: Language abilities were compared among 27 siblings of children with autism, 23 siblings of children with mental retardation of unknown etiology (MR), and 22 siblings of children with developmental language disorders (DLD). Groups were matched by siblings' age, gender, birth order, family size, ethnicity, family income and by probands' gender and mental age. RESULTS: Siblings of children with autism achieved higher scores than siblings of children with DLD on receptive, expressive, and total language scales of the Children's Evaluation of Language Fundamentals and on verbal IQ. Moreover, within the DLD group, school problems in the domains of reading and arithmetic were more prevalent than within the other two groups. Only 2 siblings of children with autism received clinical diagnoses based on DSM-IV criteria compared to 3 siblings of children with MR and 7 siblings of children with DLD. CONCLUSIONS: After excluding data of the diagnosed siblings, no differences in language abilities could be discerned among the groups, except that more siblings in the DLD group were identified as having language difficulties. In summary, although language deficits characterize autism, siblings of children with autism were not found to demonstrate deficits in language skills assessed by formal language tests, IQ, or academic skills.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Speed of performance of children with developmental right hemisphere syndrome and with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Slowness is a common complaint in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and with developmental right hemisphere syndrome. However, it was our clinical impression that slowness in developmental right hemisphere syndrome was more prominent than in ADHD. Our objective was to assess slowness as operationalized by speed of performance in children with developmental right hemisphere syndrome, children with ADHD, and controls. The research sample comprised 19 children in each group, matched for age, gender, socioeconomic status, IQ, and handedness. The subjects were administered a reaction time battery assessing speed of performance. Overall, the average performance differed among the three study groups (F(2,53) = 2.40, P < .01). Children with developmental right hemisphere syndrome were slower than their peers with ADHD (t(35) = 1.99, P < .05) and slower than controls (t(35) = 4.55, P < .001). Children with ADHD performed more slowly than controls, although for the majority of tasks, this was nonsignificant. We conclude that slowness is an integral and consistent component of developmental right hemisphere syndrome and cannot be attributed only to the ADHD symptomatology.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Efficacy of methylphenidate in patients with cerebral palsy and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Our objective was to study the short-term efficacy and safety of methylphenidate in patients with the dual diagnosis of cerebral palsy and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Twenty-nine patients (8.0 +/- 4.0 years old) with cerebral palsy and ADHD completed the study. In a prospective, crossover, double-blind paradigm, patients were treated with methylphenidate or placebo, each for 4 weeks. Parents and teachers completed a modified Abbreviated Conners' Rating Scale at the beginning of the study and the end of the first and second months of treatment with methylphenidate or placebo. Parents were contacted weekly to report side effects. Methylphenidate treatment, as assessed by teachers' ratings, resulted in a significant improvement in ADHD symptomatology (t = 2.29, df = 27, P < .05); however, a trend for improvement was noted only on the parents' ratings. After the conclusion of the study, 12 patients continued methylphenidate for 20 +/- 10 months. Side effects were minimal, with the exception of transient hallucinations in one patient. In children with cerebral palsy and ADHD, methylphenidate is effective, rendering it a valuable adjunct to their overall medical therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[Visual field disturbances in epileptic patients treated with vigabatrin (sevril)].

Vigabatrin, one of the newer anti-epileptic drugs (AED), whose effect is mediated via elevated levels of brain GABA, has proved to be effective in drug resistant partial seizures and infantile spasms. Recently, visual field constriction was found in up to 30% of adults, whereas information for the pediatric age group is sparse. We examined 24 visually-asymptomatic children, ages 3.5-18 years, treated for 3.01.6 years at doses of 25-90 mg/kg. These children underwent an ophthalmologic examination, visual evoked potentials, electroretinogram and when possible, perimetry. Over half of the children had at least one abnormal test and 11/17, who were able to undergo perimetric studies, had symmetrical, nasal visual field constriction. In view of the gravity and prevalence of visual field constriction, use of the AED vigabatrin should be weighed against its clinical benefits.

Anticonvulsants↗