Drug fails in autism study.In the most extensive test so far of its capability to treat autism autism (ô`tĭzəm), developmental disability resulting from a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain. It is characterized by the abnormal development of communication skills, social skills, and reasoning. , the controversial drug secretin secretin /se·cre·tin/ (se-kre´tin) a hormone secreted by the duodenal and jejunal mucosa when acid chyme enters the intestine; it stimulates secretion of pancreatic juice and, to a lesser extent, bile and intestinal secretion. has failed to help children with the neurological disorder Noun 1. neurological disorder - a disorder of the nervous system nervous disorder, neurological disease disorder, upset - a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning; "the doctor prescribed some medicine for the disorder"; . On Jan. 5, Repligen of Waltham, Mass., the biotech company seeking to develop secretin for use against autism, announced the disappointing results of its latest trial, which involved 132 children. A protein that occurs naturally in the gut, secretin gained notice as a potential autism cure in 1998, when news media reported a ease in which the substance seemingly cured an autistic autistic /au·tis·tic/ (aw-tis´tik) characterized by or pertaining to autism. boy. Neuroscientists were pleasantly surprised when they later discovered in rodent studies that nerve cells in brain regions implicated im·pli·cate tr.v. im·pli·cat·ed, im·pli·cat·ing, im·pli·cates 1. To involve or connect intimately or incriminatingly: evidence that implicates others in the plot. 2. in autism respond to secretin, a finding that offered a biological rationale for a gut protein influencing autism (SN: 11/17/01, p. 314). Although Repligen didn't rule out further tests of secretin for some people with autism, the company said it also plans to investigate the protein as a treatment for schizophrenia.--J.T. |
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