Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorders that manifests before 3 years of age, more common in boys. Whereas causes of autism remain uncertain, it is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Recent studies have shown that the genes involved in the folate metabolism pathway may play an important role in autism. Methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) is a key enzyme that plays an important role in the homocysteine/folate metabolism and has been shown to be implicated in neurological disorders including autism. In this study, 356 subjects were studied, which consists of 142 autistic children and 214 nonautistic control. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples. Genotype of MTRR 66A>G gene was performed using polymerase chain reaction-allele specific PCR (AS-PCR). The genotype frequencies of AA, AG and GG in the children with autism were 9.9%, 76.0% and 14.1%, respectively and in control group were 13.1%, 86.0% and 0.9%, respectively. The allele frequencies of A, G in the children with autism were 48.0%, 52.0%, respectively and in control group were 56.0%, 44.0%, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that there is a significant correlation in the genotype between two groups (OR=20, 95% CI=4.1 to 98, P<0.001). It is concluded that MTRR A66G polymorphism is associated with autism in a population in northern Iran. More studies with larger number should be done to confirm this result.
Autistic Disorder

Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the most important etiologies of nosocomial infections in recent years mainly because of increasing in frequency of multidrug and pan-resistant pathogens. Meningitis caused by this organism is a dilemma; because polymyxins are the only effective antibiotics against pan-resistant serotypes, but have poor penetration via blood brain barrier; however, it has still remained uncertain whether the intravenous therapy with these agents is an effective treatment with the sufficient concentration of the drug in the cerebrospinal fluid. Herein, we report a neonate who suffered from pan-resistant A. baumannii nosocomial meningitis successfully treated with intravenous colistin combined with meropenem and rifampin. It seems that intravenous colistin at least in combination with rifampin and meropenem might be considered as an option to try in patients in whom daily intrathecal injection or insertion of intraventricular device is not possible.

Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the most important etiologies of nosocomial infections in recent years mainly because of increasing in frequency of multidrug and pan-resistant pathogens. Meningitis caused by this organism is a dilemma; because polymyxins are the only effective antibiotics against pan-resistant serotypes, but have poor penetration via blood brain barrier; however, it has still remained uncertain whether the intravenous therapy with these agents is an effective treatment with the sufficient concentration of the drug in the cerebrospinal fluid. Herein, we report a neonate who suffered from pan-resistant A. baumannii nosocomial meningitis successfully treated with intravenous colistin combined with meropenem and rifampin. It seems that intravenous colistin at least in combination with rifampin and meropenem might be considered as an option to try in patients in whom daily intrathecal injection or insertion of intraventricular device is not possible.