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Sex Differences in Early Brain Development; Brain Development in Turner Syndrome

This study is currenly Recruiting patients.
Sponsored by: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Purpose
Relative risk for many psychiatric disorders differs dramatically in males and females. Early-onset disorders, such as autism, occur more often in males; other conditions, such as schizophrenia, occur at similar rates in males and females, but the sexes differ in expression. It has been hypothesized that the prevalence and expression of these disorders is related to sex differences in brain development. X-chromosome effects and early exposure to gonadal hormones are strong candidates for a causal role. The aims of the research are (1) to characterize sex differences in brain development from birth to age 2; (2) to test whether brain development is altered in infants with Turner syndrome, a well-defined genetic disorder resulting from the partial or complete loss of one of the sex chromosomes. To address aim 1, high resolution MRI, including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), will be used to characterize sex differences in brain development from birth to age 2 in a longitudinal cohort of 250 children. To address aim 2, high resolution MRI, including DTI, will be used to compare brain development in 30 infants with Turner syndrome (X monosomy) to 30 matched controls. The investigators hypothesize that sex differences in gray and white matter development and in white matter maturation as assessed by DTI will be present during the first 2 years of life and that children with TS will exhibit abnormal gray and white matter development in the neonatal period.
Study Type: Treatment
Condition Treatment Phase
Turner Syndrome
None N/A
Study Design:Observational Model: Case Control, Time Perspective: Prospective
Official Title: Sex Differences in Early Brain Development; Brain Development in Turner Syndrome
Further Study Details:
Expected Total Enrollment:
Study Dates:October 2006 -

Eligibility
Ages Eligible for Study- Min: N/A Max: 2 Years
Gender: Both
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • For controls a child must have a normal ultrasound at the 18 week prenatal visit and
    the absence of major medical or psychiatric conditions in the mother.

  • Children with Turner Syndrome must have complete X-monosomy confirmed by genetic
    testing.

    Exclusion Criteria:

  • For controls
  • major medical or psychiatric conditions in the mother and major
    medical problems or congenital conditions in the child.

  • For Turner children
  • mosaic and non-complete X-monosomy.

  • For both groups children with conditions that preclude participating in an MRI scan (
    i.e. metal in the body)

  • Location and Contact Information
    Please refer to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00877942
    North Carolina
    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
    Rebecca C Knickmeyer, Ph.D. 919-966-2216 rebecca_knickmeyer@med.unc.edu

    More Information
    Record Last Reviewed:February 2010
    Last Updated:February 2, 2010
    Record First Recieved:April 6, 2009
    ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:NCT00877942
    Health Authority: United States Food and Drug Administration
    Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on September 02, 2010

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