Jersey scientists find a possible key to autism

Newark Star Ledger ^ | 2/18/2007 | Peggy O'Crowley

[Incorrigible]

Jersey scientists find a possible key to autism

A team of New Jersey scientists believes it has found ways to detect biological risk factors for autism through simple urine and blood tests, a discovery that could lead to groundbreaking medical treatment for the neurological disorder.

The team of 16 scientists, mostly drawn from the campuses of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, say their findings, the result of more than two years of study on how the body breaks down fatty acids, could be a breakthrough for what is the fastest-growing developmental disorder in the nation, with no known cause or cure.

The UMDNJ researchers say they have found that children with autism are unable to metabolize key fatty acids that help the body fight inflammation that causes damage to the brain and other organs.

"It's an exciting story that's unfolding," said George Lambert, coordinator of the 15-member research team.

The potential treatment, members of the team say, is a kind of "therapeutic cocktail" tailored to each child, which would give them a dose of a "good" fatty acid that they are not able to make on their own. Team member Bernd Spur of UMDNJ-Stratford created the chemical process to replicate one of those good fatty acids.

"The pathway doesn't work (in the body), so we circumvent it," said Spur, a chemist.

Currently, the only way to diagnose autism is by a clinical assessment of symptoms, which include difficulty with communication and social interaction, as well as obsessive behaviors and interests. New Jersey has a high incidence of the disorder, affecting 1 in 94 children in the state, compared with 1 in 150 in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

[miliantnutcase]

Fascinating. What if we're the "children" to your son. If nothing else it would make a great episode of the Outer Limits.

[pandoraou812]

I saw this and its interesting as I have a friend who teaches these children. We have a supposed cluster area right in the area I grew up in too. None of the kids I grew up with had it that I can remember but that little area does have more then a normal amount of autistic children now. Really sad, I hope they find out more about this. Prayers for all the children.~P~

[dannyboy72]

Sci-Fi channel here we come... I was waiting for everyone to think I was looney tunes, but I've spent day after day looking into his eyes and I swear the kid looks at me like I'm an idiot.

Of course, he can walk into any home and operate all of their electronics within a few minutes...hook up cords, replace disks, etc. He's amazing.

[TomB]

I'd be very careful believing anything produced by the Geiers.

Dr. Mark Geier Severely Criticized

They are notorious for shoddy research.

[dgallo51]

Thanks. I guess that settles his credentials, it would appear Dr. Mark Geier is not a competent expert. I am comforted knowing this as I read…

Experts Confirm the Double Dose Flu Vaccine for Infants

http://www.medindia.net/news/view_news_main.asp?x=17805

[TomB]

Given the total amount of thimerosal peaked in the mid 90's, or even earlier, as physicians moved to unit-dose packaging, and the preservative was banned in '99 (although it didn't phase out completely until around '03), why are there ANY autism cases? It seems to me that if mercury is the cause, the children born in the past few years should show almost no signs of it.

Also, why don't we see abnormally high levels of autism in counties that have above normal levels of seafood consumption?

[dgallo51]

If Thimerosal was banned in '99, why did I receive a disclosure of it when I took my flu most recent flu vaccine? What can you tell me about this David Ayoub, M.D.?

David Ayoub MD - Thimerosal Definite Cause Of Autism
By: Evelyn Pringle
Independent Media TV

http://www.gordonresearch.com/articles_autism/thimerosal_definite_cause_of_autism.pdf

Studies question effectiveness of flu treatments - Health & Science - International Herald Tribune

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/09/21/news/flu.php

[TomB]

If Thimerosal was banned in '99, why did I receive a disclosure of it when I took my flu most recent flu vaccine?

They stoppped putting thimerosal in pediatric vaccines.

And instead of throwing links at me, why don't you tell me what your issues are, and I can answer them. Link dumping is quite rude and doesn't tell me if you know anything about what you are posting.

And I asked some simple questions. I'd appreciate some answers.

[dgallo51]

And instead of throwing links at me, why don't you tell me what your issues are, and I can answer them…


My issue is National Security Study Memorandum 200…what is your position on NSSM 200?

[TomB]

what is your position on NSSM 200?

Uh, what does a paper written in 1974 about overpopulation have to do with thimerosal?

Now, instead of dancing around the issue, how about some answers? Here they are again:

Given the total amount of thimerosal peaked in the mid 90's, or even earlier, as physicians moved to unit-dose packaging, and the preservative was banned in '99 (although it didn't phase out completely until around '03), why are there ANY autism cases? It seems to me that if mercury is the cause, the children born in the past few years should show almost no signs of it.

Also, why don't we see abnormally high levels of autism in counties that have above normal levels of seafood consumption?

I'd very much appreciate some answers.

[Ramcat]

My autistic son is 5 and he is slowly finding ways to communicate with me, but I can't help but notice that he always seems to have this look on his face like he's talking to a child rather than the other way around.

Sounds like you have a great relationship with that little fellow?
Wishing all the best to you and your boy. May you always be open to learning from one another.

[Some hope remaining.]

I don't know if mercury is a cause or not but there are certainly other sources of mercury. You listed one -- seafood. And in that case it may be a counterexample if people with higher consumption don't have higher rates of autism. There are also mercury fillings in teeth. That's a case where, it is claimed at least, the mercury can be passed from mother to child. If that's true, and I don't know if it is, then we might also see a decline as fewer people are using "silver" fillings.

[TomB]

I don't know if mercury is a cause or not but there are certainly other sources of mercury.

I beleive it can be safely stated that mercury does not cause autism, simply becuase mercury was much more widely used in decades past. And, as you have pointed out, there are many societies that consume large amounts of seafood that contains high amounts of mercury. It would be a fairly simple epidimiological exercise to compare autism rates of these societies with others with lower mercury exposure.

The fact of the matter is that thimerosal has been pretty much out of children's vaccines since '99, and if it was the cause of autism, as some here claim, logic demands that new cases would be dropping precipitously, and they aren't.

This is yet another scare from the neo-luddites.

[TomB]

My issue is National Security Study Memorandum 200…what is your position on NSSM 200?

I just had a chance to look at that document. Are you seriously saying that the government put thimerosal into vaccines to control population?!

If so, you have issues. Ayoub is nothing short of a nut case, and the Geiers are charlatans. You really need to be careful who you hitch your wagon to.

Wouldn't it be easier to just, you know, not give vaccines out, or give out inactivated doses?

[dgallo51]

National Security Study Memorandum 200 (NSSM 200) - April 1974

http://www.population-security.org/28-APP2.html

[djf]

Yup. Fatty acids and brain development/health.

Breast milk is positively loaded with dha. And the estimates I've heard are that a newborns brain is something like 60 percent fatty acids, and HALF OF THAT dha. So at birth, about a third of your brain is the equivalent of fish oil!

These compounds are essential for the compositions of the cell membranes and the nerve cell myelin sheaths in particular. Without good membranes, nerve cells will either not work or will short out.

[TomB]

National Security Study Memorandum 200 (NSSM 200) - April 1974

Yea, great. But why don't you tell me what it means to you?

Are you capable of any independent thought at all?

Or can you only cut-and-paste?

[dgallo51]

Don't you know how to work a search engine? Doesn't it take an act of Congress to rescind our ratificatication of the Geneva Conventions? What's your definition of Genocide?

United Nations Agreements on Human Rights

snip…

Convention against Genocide


This convention bans acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. It declares genocide a crime under international law whether committed during war or peacetime, and binds all signatories of the convention to to take measures to prevent and punish any acts of genocide committed within their jurisdiction. The act bans killing of members of any racial, ethnic, national or religious group because of their membership in that group, causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group, inflicting on members of the group conditions of life intended to destroy them, imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group, and taking group members' children away from them and giving them to members of another group.

It declares genocide itself, conspiracy or incitement to commit genocide, attempts to commit or complicity in the commission of genocide all to be illegal. Individuals are to be held responsible for these acts whether they were acting in their official capacities or as private individuals. Signatories to the convention are bound to enact appropriate legislation to make the acts named in Article 3 illegal under their national law and provide appropriate penalties for violators.

People suspected of acts of genocide may be tried by a national tribunal in the territory where the acts were committed or by a properly constituted international tribunal whose jurisdiction is recognized by the state or states involved. For purposes of extradition, an allegation of genocide is not to be considered a political crime, and states are bound to extradite suspects in accordance with national laws and treaties. Any state party to the Convention may also call upon the United Nations to act to prevent or punish acts of genocide.

The remainder of the Convention specifies procedures for resolving disputes between nations about whether a specific act or acts constitute(s) genocide, and gives procedures for ratification of the convention.


http://www.hrweb.org/legal/undocs.html


POPULATION CONTROL, THE FINAL SOLUTION (3 of 3) [Free Republic]

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3926c1113f40.htm

[TomB]

What in the name of God does any of your incoherent rant have to do with vaccines?

I realize you think there is some big illuminati conspiracy to control the population. Great. Knock yourself out. But trying to change the subject makes you look worse than you already do.

[dgallo51]

But trying to change the subject makes you look worse than you already do.

Oh…that's rich…I've got to use that technique…it's a goodie.