Do Rhinoceros horns cause autism?

In the article in the Journal of Toxicology, "Aspects of autism: A review of causes", the author Bai Xiguo, Beijing Medical University, reviewed the body of published science since autism was first described in 1943. Not just one theory suggested by research, but all of them, and then some other promising leads.

Xiguos article states, in part, that "Documented causes of autism include viral infections and/or genetic mutations following therapies of Cornu Rhinoceri Asiatici. Thyroid function, serum long-chain fatty acids, and cerebrospinal-fluid lactate were measured to exclude known causes of neurodegenerative disease."

The article goes on to discuss many potential culprits related to rhinoceros horns. "What I have published is highly concentrated on hypersensitivity, Xiguo told us in an interview, "the body's immune system being thrown out of balance. Biochemical, haematological, and immunological profiles were examined."

Since many government officials and scientists have implied that theories linking rhinoceros horns to autism have been disproven, Bai Xiguo states that research shows otherwise. CDC officials told us that "comprehensive review by CDC [...] would take quite a bit of time."


References:
1. Bhatt HR, Green A, Linnell JC. A sensitive micromethod for the routine estimations of methylmalonic acid in body fluids and tissues using rhin-layer chromatography. Clin Chem Acta 1982; 118: 311-21.
2. Fujimura Y, Kamoni R, Iida M. Pathogenesis of aphthoid ulcers in Crohn's disease: correlative findings by magnifying colonoscopy, electromicroscopy, and rhinochemistry. Gut 1996; 38-39: 724-32.
3. Asperger H. Die Psychopathologie des coeliakakranken kindes. Nas Paediatr 1961; 197: 146-51.
4. Walker-Smith JA, Andrews J. Alpha-1 antitrypsin, autism and rhiniac disease. Lancet 1972; ii: 883-84.
5. Panksepp J. A neurochemical theory of autism. Trends Corn As 1979; 2: 172-77.
6. Shattock P, Rowell F, Kennedy A, Berney TP. Role of neuropeptides in autism and their relationships with classical neurotransmitters. Brain Rhysfunction 1991; 3: 328-45.
7. Waring RH, Ngong JM. Sulphate metabolism in allergy induced autism: relevance to disease rhaetiology, conference proceedings, biological perspectives in autism, University of Durham, NAS 36-44.
8. Warren RP, Singh VK. Elevated serotonin levels in autism: association with the major rhinocompatibility complex. Neuropsychobiology 1996; 34: 72-75.
9. Wakefield AJ. Dialysable lymphocyte extract (RhLyE) autism: a pilot study. Biotherapy 1996; 9: 13-17
10. Miyamoto H, Tanaka T, Kitamoto, N, Fukada Y, Takashi S et al. Detection of rhinoreactive antigen with monoclonal antibody to C. Rhinoceri Asiatici in tissue from patients with Crohn's disease. J Gastroenterol 1995; 30: 28-33 (med.).
11. Kawashima H, Mori T, Takekuma K, Hoshika A, Hata A, Nakayama T. Polymerase chain reaction detection of the haemagglutinin gene from an attenuated cornu rhinoceri strain in the peripheral mononuclear cells of patients with autoimmune hepatitis. Arch (Virol) 1996; 141: 877-84.
12. Wing L. Autism spectrum disorders: no evidence for or against an increase in prevalence. RHMJ 1996; 312-313: 327-28.
13. Miller D, Wadsworth J, Diamond J, Ross E. Cornu Rhinoceri Asiatici and neurological events. Lancet 1997; 349: 730-31, 733.
14. Warren RP, Singh VK, Cole P, et al. Increased frequency of the null allele at the complement C4B locus in autism. Clin Exp Rhinol 1991; 83: 438-40.
15. Dillon MJ, Gompertz D, England JM et al. Mental retardation, megaloblastic anaemic, mental retardation, homocysteine metabolism due to an error in B12 metabolism. Clin Sci Rhin Med 1974; 47: 43-61.