Not Mercury via MedWorm.com

"subpoenaed"

Not Mercury — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:50:00 +0100

(Source: Not Mercury)

Quote for today: ian lipkin

Not Mercury — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 02:22:00 +0100

“But technology is like a car with a lot of horsepower. If you point it in the wrong direction, you can run people over.”-Ian Lipkin (Source: Not Mercury)

Jrc hidden camera footage?

Not Mercury — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:34:00 +0100

(Source: Not Mercury)

Comparative minicolumnar morphometry of three distinguished scientists

Not Mercury — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:21:00 +0100

I thought this was interesting but I haven't had the chance to read the full article.Autism, Vol. 11, No. 6, 557-569 (2007)DOI: 10.1177/1362361307083261The National Autistic Society, SAGE PublicationsComparative minicolumnar morphometry of three distinguished scientistsManuel F. Casanova University of Louisville, USA,Andrew E. Switala University of Louisville, USAJuan Trippe University of Louisville, USAMichael Fitzgerald Trinity College, Dublin, IrelandIt has been suggested that the cell minicolumn is the smallest module capable of information processing within the brain. In this case series, photomicrographs of six regions of interests (Brodmann areas 4, 9, 17, 21, 22, and 40) were analyzed by computerized image analysis for minicolumnar morphometry in the brains of three distinguished scientists and six normative controls. Overall, there were significant differences (p < 0.001) between the comparison groups in both minicolumnar width (CW) and mean cell spacing (MCS). Although our scientists did not exhibit deficits in communication or interpersonal skills, the resultant minicolumnar phenotype bears similarity to that described for both autism and Asperger's syndrome. Computer modeling has shown that smaller columns account for discrimination among signals during information processing. A minicolumnar phenotype that provides for discrimination and/or focused attention may help explain the savant abilities observed in some autistic people and the intellectually gifted.Key Words: creativity • minicolumns • neocortex • neuropathology (Source: Not Mercury)

Uncanny predictions

Not Mercury — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 14:41:00 +0100

I see that psychics told Jenny McCarthy that she would have a daughter.“For so long I have had psychics say they see me with a daughter,” McCarthy said. “I now know what they are talking about.” I guess the psychics should have been more specific in their predictions so Jenny could have known that the daughter wouldn't be her own biological daughter but rather the daughter of boyfriend Jim Carey. Looking back, it all makes sense.No word as to the number of psychics who predicted her son would be autistic, then not.On the subject of predictions, it seems that somewhere in the neighborhood of 20% of children diagnosed with autism go on to pass as neurotypical.Fein, whose work is funded by the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Development, is on the forefront of research that suggests 20 per cent of children diagnosed with autism may recover. While some examples are more dramatic than others, her work gives hope to the families of children who fear the diagnosis.Go figure."I think the most responsible thing to do is to tell parents, 'When they're two, we don't know what they'll look like when they're seven'," said Fein in an interview from Connecticut.That does sound like the responsible thing to do. It's also another way of saying that it's irresponsible to tell parents that they can expect their child will end up in an institution or any other prediction concerning development and outcome.Let's leave the predictions to the professionals. Most doctors aren't psychic. (Source: Not Mercury)

Live each day like it's your last

Not Mercury — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 01:48:00 +0100

The problem with living each day as if it's your last is that it probably won't be. (Source: Not Mercury)

Mercury madness: it’s time for a reality check

Not Mercury — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 21:45:00 +0100

I read a very interesting article today and I learned a few things about environmental mercury distribution that I didn't know before.Harold M. Koenig, M.D. responds to some common myths that I've heard many times from mercury activists but I never really gave them much thought. I don't recall the specific number 630,000, but I have heard similar statements which I've always accepted as fact.The CDC Report represents merely the latest scientific information which should put to rest the oft-repeated claim by almost every Mercury advocacy group that 630,000 American babies are born each year with elevated levels of Mercury in their blood that puts them at risk for brain damage and other negative neurological and developmental effects. This statement cannot be substantiated by medicine, science or mathematics…but advocacy groups continue to perpetrate the myth because it is an effective scare tactic which plays on the fears and emotions of women and families.Ironically, the "630,000 myth" came about as the result of very misleading analysis of the 1999-2000 CDC NHANES report data which indicated that 8% of women of childbearing age (16-49) exhibited blood Mercury level concentrations above what the EPA called "safe." With over four million live births annually in the U.S., Mercury opponents and some government agency personnel extrapolated that 320,000 babies are born "at risk." This number was revised upward to 630,000 as a result of "new" information about maternal cord blood that was not new at all, but actually double-counting on the part of the EPA. The EPA’s reference dose is the most stringent in the world and does not represent a "bright line" in which anyone exceeding the RfD would be at risk.What is the truth about the Mercury exposure in America’s children? The CDC survey mentioned above not only looked at women’s blood; it also conducted blood Mercury measurements for children ages 1-5 years. The 1999-2000 survey revealed seven out of 705 (less than 1%) children with blood Mercury above the EPA's "safe" Mercury dose (the RfD that is at least a factor of 10 less than the level at which effects might be seen), while the 2001-2002 survey found only four out of 872 (less than 0.5%) children exceeding the RfD. It is important to note that even the highest Mercury level measured in this four-year CDC study retains a safety cushion of more than 500% below the lowest exposure level of concern. Since EPA's "safe" Mercury dose is far below the level where harm has ever been documented, a reasonable person could safely conclude that no U.S. children are being dangerously exposed to Mercury that could lead to brain or developmental damage. That is not to say that Mercury exposure does not pose risk. It does, but it is a matter of the level of exposure.The bottom line is that no U.S. women or children are being exposed to unsafe levels of Mercury through fish consumption. How many times have I heard this one.An Example of "Mercury Madness"Can one gram of Mercury contaminate a 20-acre lake as claimed by the PIRG? Obviously, different measurements can mean vastly different things depending upon how they can be interpreted, but test results and measurements can be misinterpreted in an effort to spread fear among consumers. PIRG states (without attribution) that "a gram of Mercury, about a drop, deposited in a mid-sized Wisconsin lake over the course of a year was enough to contaminate the lake’s fish." Certainly this would be alarming if it was based on fact. Trouble is, it’s just not true, and the science behind the issue needs to overtake the emotional (and political) hysteria before a generation of Americans is deprived of the well-documented health benefits of eating fish, the main dietary source of Methylmercury in trace amounts. This statement – which has become the "gold standard" for a host of environmental activist groups – is yet another example of bastardizing science to forward a political agenda.Someone might want to ask Ed Swain, Ph.D., of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency what the facts really are. It was Dr. Swain who made an effort to determine the rate of Mercury deposition in his State. He did a series of tests on several Minnesota lakes and authored an article of his findings entitled, "Increasing Rate of Atmospheric Mercury Deposition in Midcontinental North America," which appeared in Science magazine on August 7, 1992.Dr. Swain determined that in Minnesota, the rate of atmospheric deposition – primarily from rain – was approximately one gram of Mercury per year for a 20 acre lake. He did NOT claim that one gram of elemental Mercury can contaminate a 20 acre lake. Interestingly, his study had absolutely nothing to do with the effects of Mercury contamination in fish. His conclusions did include some nuggets that activist groups probably don’t want you to know:• Mercury deposited from natural sources accounts for 25 to 30% of all Mercury.• Mercury deposition is a global problem. (Computer models run by U.S. EPA and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) show that 60-80% of the Mercury that deposits in the United States comes from non-US and natural sources.)• It is the soluble – not the elemental – form of Mercury that is the focus of concern. Soluble Mercury, through a complex transformation, rises in the atmosphere and returns in rain, converting to Methylmercury that might be absorbed by fish in Minnesota lakes. Only about 5% of Mercury converts to Methylmercury...and even that is subject to variability.• Methylmercury’s effect on fish depends on several variables including types and sizes of fish and reproduction rates, among others. Good to know.I do believe we should do everything in our powers to limit exposure to mercury and other environmental toxins but we should also do what we can to limit our exposure to irrational fear and the stress that it brings.Thank you Dr. Koenig for the reality check (Source: Not Mercury)

Worse than cancer

Not Mercury — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:59:00 +0100

If you talk to enough parents of autistic children, eventually you will here some sort of comparison to cancer. I know I've made the comparison at least once during the early days of grappling with this new (to us) and unknown "affliction." AUTISM, it's a scary word.In many ways, hearing that your child "has autism" is every bit as scary as hearing that your child has cancer, or at least it must seem that way to parents who have never heard the latter. I think most parents who decide to invoke the 'C' word are simply trying to use an extreme example of how difficult it can be to have and raise an autistic child. It's an act of desperation when conventional descriptions fail to garner the desired level of sympathy or understanding from their audience. If you aren't raising an autistic child it's nearly impossible to understand the unique brand of stress that can accompany the diagnosis and all that can come with it.After a few years, if you happen to be blessed with a good memory and the honesty to accurately recall the origins of these emotions, you may feel more than a bit guilty for ever uttering those words. For those who are new to autism, I strongly advise thinking long and hard about the similarities and many, many differences between having a child diagnosed with autism and learning that your child has cancer.There have many been great advances in the treatment of pediatric cancers in recent years, and survival rates continue to increase as new drugs and treatment modalities are discovered, but survivors and their families will always live with specter of relapse and secondary health complications from the very treatments that saved their lives. CANCER is a scary word because most people associate the word with DEATH. Another scary word.Autism, on the other hand, is never a fatal condition, though many autistic people may require extra help to recognize and avoid dangerous situations.Unlike autism, cancer can be divided into increasingly narrower sub-categories through relatively accurate testing procedures. Treatment recommendations usually depend on many factors including stage and type of malignancy. True, many drugs and procedures begin or began as experimental treatments but response and outcome are predictable, to some degree, and treatment protocols are based on many years of clinical trials. There is little doubt that many cancer treatments carry considerable risk. Radiation, surgery and chemotherapy aren't the sort of things that a responsible medical professional would recommend if he or she didn't know that the benefits outweigh the risks. Left untreated, most cancers are fatal so the choice is usually clear.More often than not, the horrors of autism are perceived as such by parents who may read of how terrible it is to be autistic or how hard it is to raise an autistic child. Again, I'm not saying that parenting a child with disabilities is always easy, but it is nothing like cancer.Don't believe me? Get in touch with a family who has been through it. Ask a parent who has lost a child to a fatal disease if they would trade places with a parent of an autistic child. Ask them if they would trade all of the difficult moments for a hug or a glimpse of happiness in their child's eyes as they engage in a favorite stim.Or ask family members of a child who has survived cancer if they would rather have an autistic child if it meant they could spare their child all of the medical procedures that allowed them to survive."But a pediatric cancer survivor," one might observe, "stands an excellent chance of living a long 'normal' and fulfilling life, right?" There was also a good chance that they wouldn't. Want to know what it's really like? You really can't but maybe try reading a few stories like this one before you decide to compare autism with cancer.In a perfect world, no child would ever have to battle cancer. No child would be born with or develop a disability. Every child would be exactly what we wished for and we'd all live happily ever after. Fortunately, or unfortunately if you prefer, we don't get to make those choices. We do what we can to protect our children from harm and help them if they are sick or injured, but certain choices are beyond our reach, no matter how much we try to convince ourselves otherwise.If you are reading this and you absolutely must insist on trying to draw parallels between cancer and autism, take some time to really think about that and imagine how you would make healthcare decisions for your child if he or she were faced with a potentially fatal disease rather than a developmental delay.When was the last time you heard a cancer patient or family member say "This is worse than autism." (Source: Not Mercury)

Scientists make gut-brain connection to autism

Not Mercury — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:35:00 +0100

Scientists make gut-brain connection to autismAn article, more of a press release really, suggests that Scientists have made a connection between the gut, brain, and autism. One might read that to mean that they've discovered a connection but I prefer the more literal interpretation. They've made a connection where one may or may not exist.Now don't get me wrong, I'm completely open to the idea that there is significant communication between the Central Nervous System(CNS) and the Enteric Nervous System(ENS) but how that interplay might (if at all) contribute to autism is largely unknown. These researchers have an hypothesis, or at least a vague outline, of the mechanism(s) that might be involved. Essentially, certain foods are metabolized by certain gut bacteria in such a way as to release high concentrations of Propionic Acid which may travel to the brain causing one to be autistic.So how did they test their hypothesis? Did they measure blood or cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of proionic acid? Did they isolate and culture unique bacteria form the guts of autistic children to see if they are more likely to convert culprit foods into propionic acid?No. They injected PPA into the brains of mice and observed their behaviors. Surprise!"They immediately engaged in bouts of repetitive behaviour, hyperactivity and impaired social behaviours which had close similarity to what parents are seeing with autism," MacFabe said.Note the reference to parent anecdote. Here it is again:UWO researchers investigated the "gut-brain" connection after many parents of autistic children reported significant improvements in the behaviour of their autistic children when they modified their diet, eliminating dairy and wheat products, Dr. Derrick MacFabe, the director of a research group at UWO in London, Ont., told CBC News Thursday.So how does this show a connection between the gut-brain and autism? Easy. Parents tell the scientists that removing certain foods from their children's diet cause improvements in their behavior. Scientists say, "Ah-Ha! We think we know what's causing that." There's the connection.Expect to hear more 'connections' from the thimerosal/mercury folks since it's well know that mercury kills the good gut bacteria allowing the PPA producing bugs to thrive, or something like that.Below is the abstract of the research published in January.Neurobiological effects of intraventricular propionic acid in rats: Possible role of short chain fatty acids on the pathogenesis and characteristics of autism spectrum disordersDerrick F. MacFabe, Donald P. Cain, Karina Rodriguez-Capote, Andrew E.Franklind, Jennifer E. Hoffman, Francis Boon, A. Roy Taylor, Martin Kavaliersand Klaus-Peter OssenkoppAbstractClinical observations suggest that certain gut and dietaryfactors may transiently worsen symptoms in autism spectrum disorders (ASD),epilepsy and some inheritable metabolic disorders. Propionic acid (PPA) is ashort chain fatty acid and an important intermediate of cellular metabolism. PPAis also a by-product of a subpopulation of human gut enterobacteria and is acommon food preservative. We examined the behavioural, electrophysiological,neuropathological, and biochemical effects of treatment with PPA and relatedcompounds in adult rats. Intraventricular infusions of PPA produced reversiblerepetitive dystonic behaviours, hyperactivity, turning behaviour, retropulsion,caudate spiking, and the progressive development of limbic kindled seizures,suggesting that this compound has central effects. Biochemical analyses of brainhomogenates from PPA treated rats showed an increase in oxidative stress markers(e.g., lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation) and glutathioneS-transferase activity coupled with a decrease in glutathione and glutathioneperoxidase activity. Neurohistological examinations of hippocampus and adjacentwhite matter (external capsule) of PPA treated rats revealed increased reactiveastrogliosis (GFAP immunoreactivity) and activated microglia (CD68immunoreactivity) suggestive of a neuroinflammatory process. This was coupledwith a lack of cytotoxicity (cell counts, cleaved caspase 3′ immunoreactivity),and an increase in phosphorylated CREB immunoreactivity. We propose that sometypes of autism may be partial forms of genetically inherited or acquireddisorders involving altered PPA metabolism. Thus, intraventricularadministration of PPA in rats may provide a means to model some aspects of humanASD in rats.Keywords: Locomotor activity; Seizures; Dystonia; Kindling;Animal model; Oxidative stress; Neuroinflammation; Glutathione; ClostridiaInteresting ideas but absolutely nothing beyond a proposed rodent model and a pet hypothesis.Martha Herbert has this to say about the groundbreaking research:Dr. Martha Herbert, assistant professor in neurology at Harvard Medical School, told CBC News that the study opens up a new way of thinking about the disorder.Really? How's that exactly? Martha has made it clear that she see autism as the result of any number of environmental insults, including thimerosal and even toxic mold, so how many more ways of thinking can there be. Inject bad stuff, observe neuroinflammation and antisocial behaviors, Et Viola! Autism. It's a pretty simple formula and one that can be applied to just about anything at the right concentration.Herbert strongly advocates a balanced diet, consisting of all food groups, not just "bread and cheese."Wow. Sage advice."If you have foods that child is sensitive to in their immune system, that can set up processes that can impact brain function, and it can do so in a negative way. And if you remove those foods, that negative impact can stop."Brilliant. At least they didn't ask her why a fifth of Americans can't locate the US on a world map. (Source: Not Mercury)

Porphyrins: a far out idea?

Not Mercury — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 00:50:00 +0100

Porphyrin as an Ideal Biomarker in the Search for Extraterrestrial LifeTo cite this paper:Zhiyong Suo, Recep Avci, Mary Higby Schweitzer, Muhammedin Deliorman. Astrobiology. 2007, 7(4): 605-615. doi:10.1089/ast.2006.0120.A key issue in astrobiological research is identifying target molecules that areunambiguously biological in origin and can be easily detected and recognized. Wesuggest porphyrin derivatives as an ideal target, because these chromophores areglobal in distribution and found in virtually all living organisms on Earth,including microorganisms that may approximate the early evolution of life onEarth. We discuss the inherent qualities that make porphyrin ideally suited forastrobiological research and discuss methods for detecting porphyrin moleculesin terrestrial sedimentary environments. We present preliminary data to supportthe use of ToFSIMS as a powerful technique in the identification of porphyrins.I wonder if Michael Menkin knows about this. (Source: Not Mercury)

Jim carrey 'autism whisperer'

Not Mercury — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 23:36:00 +0100

McCarthy Calls Carrey 'Autism Whisperer'I always knew he was good with kids. (Source: Not Mercury)

Wave gauche

Not Mercury — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:11:00 +0100

An article in Scientific American reports that Left-handed people were once rare.The number of people born left-handed plummeted temporarily around the turn of last century, according to recently released documentary footage of factory workers in northern England between 1900 and 1906. Researchers recorded the number of people waving to the camera with their right or left hand—a proxy for handedness—and compared the results for different age groups. My first reaction to this was that there were no more or less southpaws around then but that people were trained to use their right hands no matter their preference. Of course that question is addressed in the article.Researchers have hotly debated whether the puzzling discrepancy stemmed from reduced social pressure on kids to switch from left to right, a tendency for lefties to die earlier than righties or plain old fibbing by survey respondents. "What we needed was some way of getting at actual handedness of people born before 1900," says study co-author Chris McManus, professor of psychology and medical education at University College London (U.C.L). McManus and his colleague, psychologist Alex Hartigan, also of U.C.L., got their wish in the form of a 90-minute excerpt of footage shot by early filmmakers Sagar Mitchell and James Kenyon, from which they identified 391 hands waving at the camera. Unlike handwriting, they note, waving is a spontaneous gesture that is not influenced by social pressure.I'm not sure I agree with this because I began my life favoring my left hand for certain tasks and my right for others. I had a hard time remembering which hand to place on my heart for the pledge of allegiance so I would hesitate and wait to see which hand my peers would use. In fact, I would take quite a few cues from the people around me and I'm certain that might include waving with the same hand in a crowd. I know it's not right but I hated to be left out. (Source: Not Mercury)

Epidemic?

Not Mercury — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:38:00 +0100

"How come there's no cure for a*****?""They're working on it," she says wearily. "They're working on it."Back in the early 1980s, after a diagnostic manual redefined a***** to include......While there is likely a genetic component in most kids who get a*****, not everyone with this genetic predisposition suffers from it....A British scholar named Andrew Wakefield came up with a parallel theory that focused on childhood vaccinations....In hopes of finding a cure, geneticists are furiously studying a***** and have actually cloned several genes that seem to be linked to the disease. But whatever has caused the a***** upswing, it's unlikely genetics alone are going to reverse the trend. "The environment plays such a big role in this disease," says Malveaux, the Howard University dean. "It's not one of those diseases where if you have the genes you'll get the disease -- though genes may affect the ultimate severity. There's nothing we can do about the genetics right now anyway......Snipped from An article by Arthur Allen - Salon - August 31, 1998 (Source: Not Mercury)

Breakfast at midnight

Not Mercury — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:22:00 +0100

Something I read this morning - Breakfast at Midnight (Source: Not Mercury)

The deadly five

Not Mercury — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 17:37:00 +0100

That's the title of an article in the latest Popular Science Magazine (Oct. 2007 pp. 46-49) followed by the alarming subtitle, "Meet the biggest, scariest enemies of the brain--depression, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, stroke and autism--and the medical breakthroughs that could defeat them."Deadliest? Granted, stroke can certainly be deadly while Parkinson's and Alzheimer's are progressive disorders that very often prove fatal, but depression is rarely fatal unless you include suicide or severe self neglect. Neither of which make depression deadly in a direct way.How did the author, Eric Hagerman, arrive at the top five roster? Why a survey, of courseSo which brain diseases will yield the most profound medical insights? We surveyed dozens of neuroscientists, epidemiologists, and psychiatrists--experts like [Walter] Koroshetz and [Ted] Dawson--and asked them for their best bets.The article goes on to list each of the 'deadly five' in no apparent order.1. DEPRESSION2. PARKINSON'S3. ALZHEIMER'S4. STROKEand last but not least 5. AUTISMThere are a few rare and degenerative pediatric brain disorders that may present with autistic-like symptoms, but rarely does the diagnosis stick as other symptoms appear and the disease progresses. As far as I can tell, autism is never 'deadly' in a direct way.I have witnessed my share of what many would consider regressive autism and never was I concerned that loss of language or other skills could be fatal. That's not to say it wasn't alarming at the time but progressive and ultimately lethal brain disease never crossed my mind.Each of the 'Deadly Five' is broken down in four easy to digest segments.WHAT GOES WRONG, THE NUMBERS, TODAY'S Rx, and THE FUTURE Rx.What goes wrong for autism, according to David Amaral of the M.I.N.D. Institute, "Some parts of the brain, like the frontal lobe and the amygdala, may develop too fast in early childhood, possibly because cells become overwrapped in an insulating layer that may facilitate growth." sounds a lot better than "We don't know" which is essentially what's said in the FUTURE Rx section. "Of all the brain disorders on the list, autism is the most poorly understood, and the prospect for future treatments is, sadly, pretty bleak.""On the Bright side" Judy Van de Water, also of the M.I.N.D. says that "20-25 percent of mothers carry antibodies against the fetal brain." I wonder if JB Handley has taken that into account as he sets out to prevent autism. Funny that the article made no mention of natural detoxification or adjusting mom's methylation cycle based on genetics, whatever that means.No, autism isn't deadly but articles like this do little to enhance the quality of life for people living with with autism. (Source: Not Mercury)

The mercury craze

Not Mercury — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 21:37:00 +0100

(Source: Not Mercury)

Pieces of eight

Not Mercury — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 15:05:00 +0100

Steve D., over at the One Dad's Opinion blog, has tagged me with the 'Eight Random Things Meme'.The rules are as follows:1. Let others know who tagged you.2. Players start with 8 random facts about themselves.3. Those who are tagged should post these rules and their 8 random facts.4. Players should tag 8 other people and notify them they have been tagged.OK. I'll play but I, like Do'C from autism Street, choose to opt out of the last rule. Mostly because I don't know that many other bloggers to tag or they've already been tagged. It's a good thing Steve isn't involved with an MLM scheme or he'd be losing money on Do'c and me.Here are few random things about me.1) I was considered a bit of a dare devil when I was younger but I have never broken a single bone.2) I am happiest when I am alone in the wilderness but I don't mind crowds or noisy environments.3) I don't mind spiders or snakes.4) I once joined the mosh pit at a Blink 182 concert.5) I don't mind nails on a chalkboard but styrofoam rubbing together makes my spine shiver.6) I used to love drag racing when I was younger but I no longer own a motorcycle or any hotrods.7) If I were born today I would easily receive an autism diagnosis. I guess I've 'recovered' whatever that means.8) I occasionally like to listen to Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass recordings.Not the most interesting facts, I admit, but definitely random. (Source: Not Mercury)

Crime doesn't pay

Not Mercury — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 12:14:00 +0100

But Chelation sure does. Or at least it did for this DAN! Doctor.One investor lost $30MThe investor who lost the most money in the Al Parish investment collapseis a doctor from Buffalo, N.Y. The $30 million in savings that Dr. Kalpana Patelentrusted to him appears to be about half the total cash lost.Apparently Mr. Parish bilked many investors out of their hard earned savings. Tragic, to be sure, but I find it hard to feel sorry for a doctor who has managed to accumulate $30 Million dollars administering dubious treatments to patients including autistic children. I'm sure her patients believed she was a kind and caring doctor just trying to help the kids. Little did they know this was big business for her and other DAN! doctors."In her mind, it's not a $30 million loss, but a $200 million loss," hesaid, referring to the amount that she believed was in her portfolio."So with $200 million in her portfolio she was getting ready to retire. Maybe she'll have to drum up new business at Autism One or the ASA conference next year, poor woman.In court last week, Dantzler described the investor as a woman "on the cuspof retirement" from a lucrative career.On the same day, during a hearingcovering Parish's release on bail, Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlie Bourne spokein court of a single, unidentified investor who believed she had amassed hundreds of millions of dollars with Parish.Now, "she has nothing," he said.Now she has nothing. So sad. (Source: Not Mercury)

Hooray for dr. yasko!

Not Mercury — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 14:17:00 +0100

Today I received this wonderful anonymous comment on and old blog entry, 'More Answers'.Hooray for Dr. Yasko! She is quoted and mentioned in the April 2007 Discover article about the disease we call autism. Not only is she helping children heal, she is doing it with integrity, kindness and passion. Shame on you "not mercury" for your annoying and snarky little comments about her. Go read the Discover article.I know. I really should stop picking on Dr. Amy now that she's published in the well respected, peer reviewed, international science journal, Discover. Shame on me.Well, I have read the Discover article and I noticed that the Amy Yasko coverage was somewhat incomplete. Nowhere does it talk about the number of children who have been 'healed' while under her care but it also fails to mention some of the more spectacular claims concerning her RNA drops and RNA therapy. Either the author included specific examples of children being healed with Amy's magic potions, and it was lost to editing, or Amy neglected to present data. Either way, it seems a shame that the readers of Discover would be denied the opportunity to learn about Yasko's miraculous concoctions. After all, these products are recommended for more than just autism. These drops, along with Amy's signature "integrity, kindness and passion" can be formulated to treat a variety of disorders.Too good to be true you say? Don't take my word for it.Longevity Plus RNA with "Stem cell like properties" Hmm, I wonder which properties are shared with stem cells. Anyway, let's suppose I am suffering from "impulsivity and motor restlessness that can result in hostile, injurious or destructive behavior." Gotcha covered. Simply reach for a bottle of Aggression Support NutriSwitch Formula. Sounds like it might support my aggression issues but what if I have a problem with my ammonia levels. Maybe I've downed a bottle of Windex and need to knock those NH3 levels back a smidge. No problem: Ammonia Support NutriSwitch Formula - Helps to support healthy ammonia levels.Whether you are dealing apraxia, anxiety, behavior, bones, bowels, breasts, etc., there's a formula for you. Funny thing is, the ingredients look strikingly similar for each formulation.Proprietary Blend of Nucleotides (Saccharomyces cerevisiae,cytidine-5'-monophosphate, adenosine-5'-monophosphate,guanosine-5'-monophosphate)5 mcgI guess the trick is in how it's blended. Since anyone can purchase these wonder drugs online, I would imagine it's important to make sure you don't mix up your "Organ Support" bottle with your "Prostate PLUS Nutriswitch formula" or confuse your "Stomach pH balancing" formula with the "Topical Skin Cosmetic" drops. Things could go horribly wrong, or not.Don't worry though, the bottles are clearly labeled and come with the warning: Warning: Keep out of the reach of children. Do not take if pregnant or nursing without first consulting a health care professional.Because you don't want your toddlers chugging a bottle containing a whole 5 micrograms of yeast nucleotides. Not at $75 a pop at least. So I'd like to take this opportunity to apologize to Dr. Amy and any readers who may have been offended by my earlier Amy Yasko blog posts. It's clear to me now that "Not only is she helping children heal, she is doing it with integrity, kindness and passion."That's the real story, isn't it? Maybe Discover will do a hard hitting follow-up article called 'The Scientist Behind RNA Science: Dr. Amy Yasko'Hooray! (Source: Not Mercury)

Real mercury intoxication: a case report

Not Mercury — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 15:36:00 +0100

I came across this case report last night and thought it might be informative to compare the clinical symptoms of actual mercury toxicity in a child to the symptoms of autism and certain claims made by supporters of the autism = mercury poisoning hypothesis.The first thing I noticed is that this report comes from Israel so I'm assuming that the child and her family also reside in Israel. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that the authors were able to identify the source of the child's exposure to mercury so we will need to allow for several possibilities including thimerosal in vaccines, fish consumption, or any number of other routes of exposure. We should also acknowledge that different chemical forms of mercury may result in different rates of uptake and organ distribution and/or accumulation in the brain as well as differences in neurological symptoms.Evidence of mercury exposure, by elevated urinarymercury levels, was also detected in two of her siblings(24.9 μ/g creatinine, 22.2 μg/g creatinine, respectively),though none was symptomatic, and, therefore, theywere not treated. Both parents and representative neighbors hadnormal urine mercury concentrations. A detailed epidemiologicalinvestigation revealed no source for the mercury intoxication.With that said, the symptoms observed and reported here more closely resemble classical symptoms of mercury intoxication than anything observed in autistic children.Now I suppose it's possible that a 'Novel form of mercury poisoning' might not include obvious symptoms like; hypertension, anorexia and vomiting, and acrodynia, and some will no doubt argue personality change, restlessness and insomnia are consistent with autism, but why is this case reported as mercury intoxication and not autism? If autism is truly a common misdiagnosis for mercury poisoning, as JB Handley likes to claim, how is it that the treating physicians avoided that pitfall? How did these medical professionals arrive at a diagnosis of mercury intoxication when so many of their peers more often mistake these symptoms for autism?From the case report:The patient was a 2-year-old girl who presented to theemergency department with anorexia and vomiting, restlessness,insomnia, and pain in the extremities that hadlasted for 5 weeks. Physical examination revealed anirritable child, with hypertension (blood pressure 145/98 mmHg upon arrival) and red, swollen palms that thechild scratched and pulled at endlessly.So it was pretty clear that something was wrong here. The child didn't suddenly retreat into a world of her own, lose speech, or exhibit any of the hallmarks of autism. She exhibited signs that seem consistent with some sort of toxic exposure. The ER doctors didn't immediately suspect mercury poisoning but they also didn't see any reason to suspect or rule out autism.So what lead them to suspect mercury toxicity?Mercury intoxication was suspected, due to hypertensionand acrodynia, along with increased urinary catecholamineslevels. This diagnosis was confirmed by elevated urinemercury concentration (33.2 μg/g creatinine) despite a normalserum level (>0.5 μg/dl, reference value 0–4 μg/dl). Owing toenuresis, mercury was measured in a urinary spot and not as a24-h urine collection.It wasn't revealed by a blood test but urine levels were high enough to make the diagnosis. High enough, I might point out, that they didn't need to rely on dubious labs or DMSA provocation to amplify the signal. This brings me to an extremely interesting section of the paper. When the patient arrived, urinary mercury levels were 33.2 μg per gram of creatinine. After seven days of oral chelation therapy with DMSA, levels rose to 47.7 μg/g, followed by 87.9 μg/g after 25 days of chelation. And, as the authors report; "Following a 1-month course of oral treatment with dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) the child’s symptoms and signs resolved." So it would appear that chelation therapy was effective, in this case, and the symptoms that brought the child to the ER in the first place were resolved.After three months of oral DMSA mercury levels dropped to 6.3 μg/g and below detectable levels after one year follow-up. Either this child was a much better 'excretor' than most of the autistic children who undergo chelation therapy or these doctors weren't familiar with Rashid Buttar's patent applied for transdermal chelator guaranteed to work in 2 years or, well -- not your money back, I guess, -- but some sort of guarantee, express or implied.Something else that caught my attention here is the marked elevation of catecholamines and the authors' suggestion that "Catecholamines may serve as a surrogate marker for the success of treatment." (Look for this on future lab panels from the leading mail order autism labs.)Here they explain possible reasons for catecholamine elevation:Mercury inhibits the enzyme catecholamine-O-methyltransferase(COMT) by directly inactivating its coenzyme Sadenosylmethionine(SAM). COMT is the key enzyme inthe catabolization of catecholamines. SAM is also directlyinvolved in the conversion of norepinephrine to epinephrine.As a result of inactivation of the enzyme by mercury,norepinephrine, dopamine and epinephrine accumulate andare responsible for the pheochromocytoma-like syndrome[1]. As has been demonstrated in our patient, catecholamineslevels decreased in parallel with clinical improvementfollowing the initiation of DMSAIn this particular case, Urinary Homovanillic acid was elevated and Epinephrine was mildly elevated and both returned to normal following chelation therapy. Urine Dopamine and especially Norepinephrine levels were extremely high as one might expect in a case of genuine mercury toxicity. Possible SAM inactivation by thimerosal has been suggested as one mechanism whereby thimerosal may cause or contribute to autism and certain genetic polymorphisms including COMT may be associated with autism. If that's true and catecholamine levels can be used to indicate COMT activity and mercury exposure, maybe we should look at urinary catecholamine levels in autism.J Autism Dev Disord. 1988 Dec;18(4):583-91.Urinary free and conjugated catecholamines and metabolites in autistic children.Barthelemy C, Bruneau N, Cottet-Eymard JM, Domenech-Jouve J, Garreau B, Lelord G, Muh JP, Peyrin L.Service d'Explorations Fonctionnelles Psychopathologiques, INSERM U316, C.H.U., Bretonneau, Tours, France.Urinary catecholamines (DA, NE, E) and their main metabolites (HVA, DOPAC, MHPG) were analyzed both as free and conjugates in eight children diagnosed as autistic according to DSM-III criteria and eight normal children. Significant differences appeared for the urinary excretion of both DA and NE and their respective metabolites: Autistic children showed low DA, high HVA, high NE, low MHPG urinary levels. These results are consistent with previous findings on altered catecholamine metabolism in autistic children. They suggest that autistic behaviors might be related to an abnormal functional imbalance among monoamines either at a molecular level or at a system level. Furthermore, they emphasize the special interest of urinary assays in pediatric research.So low dopamine, elevated HVA, and high norepinephrine in this one. At least two other studies report high HVA so we'll have to score that as consistent with the mercury hypothesis. However, most studies report either a decrease in dopamine and norepinephrine or no significant differences between the ASD and control groups.Encephale. 1989 Mar-Apr;15(2):255-62.[Disorders of catecholamine metabolism in infantile autism. Comparative study of 22 autistic children][Article in French]Ferrari P, Bursztejn C, Dreux C,Braconnier A, Zarifian E, Lancrenon S, Fermanian J.Service de Psychotherapie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Hopital Robert Debre, Reims.In a group of 22 autistic children aged 5 to 16 y., and a group of normal controls matched for age and sex, catecholamines metabolism has been investigated in plasma, platelets and urine. This investigation was part of a research project in which several biological parameters (including serotonin) were simultaneously explored in the same children. In the autistic group, epinephrine and norepinephrine and dopamine were significantly lower in isolated platelets, and no significant difference was found between the two groups for the urinary excretion of epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, DOPAC and MHPG. Other differences between the two groups in the statistical correlations of several biochemical parameters (plasma norepinephrine and dopamine with platelet MAO activity, platelet norepinephrine with platelet dopamine, platelet dopamine, platelet dopamine with platelet serotonin) also suggest abnormalities of bioamine metabolism in the platelets of autistic children. From what I can find, nothing suggests significantly elevated urinary catecholamine levels in autistic subjects and most of the literature reports decreased dopamine levels. If anyone can locate something to suggest elevated urine catecholamine concentrations associated with autism please post a link in the comments section. Whether or not urinary catecholamine levels can be used to determine possible mercury toxicity, they don't appear to be useful as markers for determining autism. Just one more example of how very different real mercury poisoning is from autism. (Source: Not Mercury)

A picture is worth

Not Mercury — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 13:37:00 +0100

One thousand words Ice Sculpture. Canadian photographer Michael Moon, diagnosed with autism, feels that his autism enhances his sensory experiences. He notes that his photographs show society there are "other ways of being in and seeing the world" and that his autism "just gives me a different perspective on things." — J. Lynn Fraser, freelance writer, Toronto, Ont. Photo by: Michael Moon edit: More about Michael Moon and his art here (Source: Not Mercury)

The kirby crapper zapper

Not Mercury — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 13:09:00 +0100

Is your household plagued by rivers of diarrhea? Are you menaced by toxic plumes, lingering odors of forest fires or last week's Chinese take-out. Do you search and search for the source of that mystery odor even in the absence of evidence?Well fear no more, I bring you the solution to your multiple malodorous maladies.The Kirby Crapper ZapperThat's right folks. This revolutionary product will neutralize odors ranging from 'Something Rotten in Denmark' to good old fashioned bullshit.Here's what the press has to say about this easy to install product:HUNTINGTON -- When David Kirby didn't like the smell in a bathroom at a country club in Naples three years ago, he decided to do something about it and maybe make a tidy profit."They didn't have a bathroom fan. It ran me out of the room," Kirby said. "I thought, man, that is just nasty."I know how you feel David.Kirby claims the filter also captures bacteria with a zeolite filter, though some local experts remain skeptical of this claim. Some analysis was performed on the system at Microbiological Consultants Inc. in Huntington but no definitive studies were done there to confirm these claims, said Dr. Frank L. Binder, vice president of Microbiological Consultants Inc.There will always be skeptics. Can't they see this is real science? Who you going to believe, a small group of skeptics who want you to suffer with bathroom odors or Dr. Frank L. Binder? The man is a doctor, OK?Not only does zeolite capture and neutralize offending odors and the bacteria that cause them, Zeolite can actually trap toxic metals and chemicals and maybe even a few unsuspecting parents.So the next time you hear evidence that doesn't smell quite right, don't take it sitting down. Tell them to put a lid on it and flush your troubles away. For a limited time each edition will be signed by David Kirby himself.$789.00 Built to orderSigned by the inventorFill out the form below to find out how you can purchase your own Crapper Zapper.100% odorless Bathroom Guarantee!Oh, and if you run out of toilet paper I hear Evidence Of Harm is now available in paperback (Source: Not Mercury)

Hands

Not Mercury — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 15:54:00 +0100

Lot's of them.Thousand-Hand Guan YinThere is a phenomenon sweeping through Asia which is stillrelatively unknown in the West. We were privileged to see it in our trip toTaiwan. It is a stunning stage performance called Thousand-Hand GuanYin.About Guan YinGuan Yin is the bodhisattva of compassion, revered byBuddhists as the Goddess of Mercy. Her name is short for Guan Shi Yin. Guanmeans to observe, watch, or monitor; Shi means the world; Yin means sounds,specifically sounds of those who suffer. Thus, Guan Yin is a compassionate beingwho watches for, and responds to, the people in the world who cry out forhelp.Bodhi means wisdom or enlightenment; sattva means being or essence. Putthe two together and you get bodhisattva, a being who is enlightened and readyto transcend the cycles of birth and death, but chooses to return to thematerial world in order to help other people reach the same level ofenlightenment. This is the ultimate demonstration of pure compassion (Source: Not Mercury)

Jb handley claiming absence of proof of lack of evidence

Not Mercury — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 15:51:00 +0100

UPI's crack investigative reporter, Dan Olmsted, has turned up yet another shocking confirmation that US Government officials knew even less than we were lead to believe when they recommended that thimerosal be removed from vaccines even though there was no evidence linking the use of thimerosal in vaccines with autism. Got that?In other words:"How can health authorities, with a straight face, claim they have any evidence proving no connection after this report?" asked J.B. Handley, co-founder of Generation Rescue, an advocacy group that believes autism is essentially mercury poisoning by another name."This is analogous to our government not finding WMD in Iraq after reassuring the world they would. It's a loss of credibility, and we are back at square one."An apt analogy indeed, JB, but it works better when your organization, Generation Rescue, and the other Mercury=Autism groups assume the role of the entity making unsubstantiated claims.You see, our government hasn't claimed to have evidence proving no connection as you've so eloquently stated. As near as I can tell, the bulk of these claims originate elsewhere and the burden of evidence belongs to those making the claims. The government has stated, after listening to testimony from the likes of Bradstreet and Geier, that there is little scientific evidence to support a connection. A sentiment you've echoed if I'm not mistaken."But, here's a dose of reality:- We have no science that clearly proves autism is caused by mercury- We have no science that proves children recover from autism by having mercury removed from their bodies- We have no clear data today that shows that the removal of Thimerosal has ended the autism epidemic."Applying the same level of proof to the WMD scenario, we are forced to admit that we were misled and the evidence was exaggerated or possibly even fabricated. Sound familiar?At this point, JB, surely you must realize you were wrong about the idea of autism being a misdiagnosis for mercury poisoning, or at least you must realize that thimerosal hasn't precipitated an autism epidemic as evidenced by plummeting autism rates in line with thimerosal reductions. Surely you must realize that the damning evidence you've promised will be just around the corner, hasn't materialized and probably never will. Unless you can produce some sort of evidence, it's your loss of credibility, and you are behind square one.I'm left wondering if your role in this debate has more to do with your inherent tenacity and inability to admit your own fallibility over your desire to actually help your son or other autistic children. I do believe you started out with the best of intentions- genuine belief your child was injured, wishing to protect other innocent victims, all noble intents - but possibly it became more important to save face and justify your actions.I understand you are expecting another child. Congratulations. I sincerely hope your baby will be healthy and happy in every way possible and I hope your security in your beliefs will allow you the comfort of knowing that your next child is guaranteed to be non-autistic. Speaking from experience I know this makes it a lot easier to enjoy those baby years without the constant worrying and watching for every little quirky behavior. Of course I now realize that I was wrong but I'm still grateful to have enjoyed the insulation of denial, but what a difference a few years can make.Here's a question I'd like you to answer in another two years: Can you keep a straight face while maintaining your position that thimerosal causes autism and chelation will reverse it? (Source: Not Mercury)

Thimerosal induces th2 responses

Not Mercury — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 15:06:00 +0100

Yeah, So? Is that supposed to tie thimerosal to the development of autism? Let's take a look.Thimerosal induces TH2 responses via influencing cytokinesecretion by human dendritic cellsAnshu Agrawal,1 Poonam Kaushal, Sudhanshu Agrawal, Sastry Gollapudi, and Sudhir GuptaDivision of Basic and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Irvine, California, USAFirst let's ask why was this study was done and what were the authors attempting to determine.Recent studies have shown a TH2-skewing effect of mercury, althoughthe underlying mechanisms have not been identified.From this we can gather that the main thrust of this study will be to identify the molecular mechanisms of mercury's ability to shift host immune response toward a TH2 bias. Hey, cool. Pure science. What does this have to do with autism? Maybe nothing. Who said this had anything to do with autism?There is an increasing concern about association between the exposure to mercury (via vaccination) and the development of neurodevelopmental disorders, especially autism and learning disabilities.The authors are just sensitive to increasing public concern. Since thimerosal has long been removed from the pediatric vaccine schedule with no apparent impact on the rates of autism or neurodevelopmental delay, the authors are probably interested in the potential effects on the immune system for reasons unrelated to autism, right?The majority of the studies is directed toward understanding the neurotoxiceffect of Thimerosal, and few studies deal with its effect on the immune system.The authors correctly point out that different mercury compounds will differently effect immune response, depending on the parameters of the experiment and which markers are measured. That's a very good reminder that mercury is not synonymous or interchangeable with mercury compounds. Mercury is an element and forms chemical compounds with other elements. The physical, chemical, and biological properties of every chemical compound are unique though sometimes similar to other compounds.The different forms of mercury differ in the type and range ofimmune disorders, and ethylmercury (thimerosal) and inorganicmercury are similar in that they cause systemic autoimmunity,characterized by a marked increase of IgE and systemicimmune-complex deposits [16, 17]. Antifibrillarin autoantibodies(AFA) and maximum levels of serum IgE arepresent as early as 10 days after exposure to ethylmercury inthe mice [16]. Similar to the autoimmune disease induced byinorganic mercury, Thimerosal induced a distinctly increasedexpression of IL-4 mRNA and a large increase in TH2-dependent,Ig-secreting cells and serum Igs [18]. The increase inIL-4 has been attributed to a direct induction of IL-4 geneexpression in lymphocytes by mercury [19]. Methylmercury,conversely, induces only modest titers of AFA and none of theabove symptomsOK, so if mercury, or more specifically thimerosal, somehow triggers autoimmunity which somehow triggers autism, we might expect to see elevated IgE, systemic immune-complex deposits, Antifibrillarin autoantibodies, and increased IL-4. Unfortunately these elevations aren't routinely detected in autistic patients. This hardly exonerates thimerosal but it doesn't exactly show clear cause and effect.Back to the abstract we see that thimerosal does have some measurable effects on cytokine production as described here.Thimerosal, in a concentration-dependent manner, inhibited the secretion of LPS induced proinflammatory cytokines TNFa IL-6, and IL-12p70 from human monocyte-derived DC.Ah, I see. So if thimerosal is exerting these changes in living humans, maybe we'd see similar effects in children whose autism was presumably cause by thimerosal.LPS is a substance derived from bacterial cell walls. When certain immune cells are cultured in a laboratory setting and exposed to bacterial endotoxin, measuring the provoked levels of cytokines offers an indication of how vigorous an immune response can be mounted. In the case of thimerosal (as described by these authors) there seems to be an inhibitory effect. In other words, a less robust immune response occurs following thimerosal exposure. One could say that it has a short term immunosuppressive effect. How does that compare with observations from other autism research?ASD and NFH PBMCs produced higher levels of TNF-alpha with LPS than controls regardless of dietary interventions.That's actually the opposite of what we would expect to see following thimerosal exposure. At least in regards to TNF-alpha release.With lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a stimulant for innate immunity, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 59/71 (83.1%) ASD patients produced >2 SD above the control mean (CM) values of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and/or IL-6 produced by control PBMCs. Again, LPS stimulation produced more, not less, TNF alpha and IL-6, in sharp contrast to effects produced by thimerosal. The authors of the study also noted that thimerosal had no effect on IL-10, a counter-regulatory cytokine, but other research suggests that IL-10 production is either inadequate or elevated in some autistic children, depending on the investigator and study.Of course it's entirely possible that cytokine patterns might shift in the months or years following exposure but two polar opposite sets of effects don't strengthen the case for thimerosal induced immune dysregulation as a component of autism. It would be much easier to demonstrate a protective effect for thimerosal, assuming excessive immune responses contribute to the etiology of autism in some way.These Thimerosal-exposed DC induced increased TH2 (IL-5 and IL-13) and decreased TH1 (IFN-) cytokine secretion from the T cells in the absence of additional Thimerosal added to the coculture.The TH2 bias, as indicated by interleukins 5 and 13, is aggravated by thimerosal whereas the TH1 arm, as indicated by interferon gamma, is suppressed by thimerosal. How does that compare with levels reported by Cynthia Molloy's team? Not favorably I'm afraid.Cases had significantly higher IL-13/IL-10 and IFN-gamma/IL-10 than controls. Conclusion: Children with ASD had increased activation of both Th2 and Th1 arms of the adaptive immune response, with a Th2 predominance, and without the compensatory increase in the regulatory cytokine IL-10.The authors may feel they've demonstrated enhanced TH2 and suppressed TH1 type cytokines following thimerosal exposure but they've failed to show how this might correlate to immune response in autistic children or for that matter how immunity is connected to autistic behavior. This seems to be another example of a comparison between general and somewhat broad terms generously applied to two entirely separate conditions.In a nutshell:a) Some mercury compounds including thimerosal can induce an in vitro T-helper subset bias under certain conditions as measured by certain markers.b) Some researchers have reported a TH-2 bias in the immune response of some autistic children.c) Thimerosal is implicated in autismOn the surface this might seem to imply a relationship between thimerosal exposure and being autistic. If we scratch the surface and look at some of the details, we quickly realize that autism and exposing dendritic cells to mercury have very little in common.This study differs from the previous DC/thimerosal study in cell lineage. The earlier study used DC's from mice and this one uses actual human cells. It should be noted that the cells were collected from non-autistic donors and immune response was not compared to that of ASD dendritic cells. In other words they didn't look for or observe aberrant immune function in ASD donors as compared to the control group. There was essentially one group divide in to thimerosal exposed or non-exposed dendritic cells.One other important, if not ground breaking, result from this study. Thimerosal depletes intracellular glutathione levels and exogenous GSH (glutathione added to the matrix) protected cells from depletion and pro-inflammatory cytokine production was restored. So adding glutathione, something our own cells make in abundance, effectively tied up thimerosal and neutralized the immune suppressive and toxic effects. A predictable and utterly unremarkable result.If excess inflammatory response does contribute to autism, as many have suggested, it's difficult to make a case for thimerosal as a causative agent on the basis of this kind of experiment. As a matter of fact it could more easily be interpreted in the opposite way.I'm certain this will be lined up with several other studies to show that thimerosal can be toxic, it may exert undesirable or unanticipated effects on the immune system, and that it should be removed from vaccines as soon as possible. Believe it or not I don't disagree. I also agree that we need to limit release and exposure to industrial pollutants, find ways to responsibly dispose of cellphone and iPod batteries, restrict coal burning power plant emissions, or limit childhood television viewing. Those really aren't the issues though, are they.Lately autism has been thrown in with any number of maladies wherever it seems necessary to appeal to public emotion. For all I know it's already being used to call for reductions of greenhouse gasses because autism is caused by global warming. Is it because autistics can be less capable or less inclined to object?As long as autism is presented as a terrible disease, a fate worse than death, and something that can be cured through detoxification and/or chelation, what should we expect?As long as we allow or encourage a lesser burden of proof, autism will continue to be an easy target for anyone with an agenda to promote.Put that in your pipette and titrate it. (Source: Not Mercury)

T.p.o.h.

Not Mercury — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 18:18:00 +0100

The Pursuit Of HappinessThe Declaration Of Independence states that every US citizen is entitled to the pursuit of happiness. No guarantee we will find it but we are all free to pursue it. I've noticed that many US residents tend to see that as one of their inalienable rights - that they are free to pursue happiness in any way they see fit as long as it doesn't break any laws.The problem with guaranteeing individual rights to pursue happiness develops when the individual places his or her needs or desires above the rights of others. One of the reasons we need so many rules and regulations in this country is because many of us have forgotten how to treat others with respect and consider the rights and needs of others. It's never OK to do anything that makes you happy, however you define happiness, if it infringes on the rights of others.Some people seem to have a genetic predisposition towards happiness while others always seem to find something to be miserable about. If this is true, it's probably unrealistic to expect all parents to find or see the Joy of Autism. I believe there is joy and happiness to be found in any situation but that's just me. I make an effort to find little things to make me smile or laugh whether I'm visiting a sick friend in a hospital or attending a funeral. That doesn't mean I'm happy a friend is sick or has passed away, it means I'm not interested in wallowing in sorrow and misery.Of course there are times when I am unhappy and I'd be lying if I said autism hasn't brought me sadness in some ways. The way I see it, I can either think about all of the things I don't like about autism and imagine the worst case scenario for my children, or I can try to support and encourage my children and share in their accomplishments, failures, pain, and happiness. Yes, these things can be more extreme for them at times but it's really no different for any other parent. More like Extreme Parenting, maybe.How many of us have friends who seem to have everything they could want or need yet they still complain about seemingly trivial problems? I'm sure I'm not the only parent of an autistic child who sometimes wants to grab other parents and tell them to stop moaning about their typical kids and their typical lives and problems. But think about it - To them their problems are just as great, if not greater, than yours or mine. Why should anyone be more or less entitled to whining once in awhile. It's all how you look at it or how you choose to look at it.No matter how severely autistic your child seems to be, there is a very good chance that he or she can still be happy or find happiness and you can share in that happiness once you realize that being autistic doesn't equate to being miserable. Your job as a parent is to help your children and help them in their pursuit of happiness whatever that may mean to them. Don't assume happiness means the same thing it means to you. Many parents fall into that pitfall whether their children have a diagnosis or not.The other day at the playground, my kid walked right in front of another little girl on a swing while the parent shouted "WATCH OUT!" and "HELLO? EXCUSE ME."My back was turned for a minute so I felt a little guilty. Sometimes it's necessary to mention autism because is the only way to explain what just happened and this was clearly one of those situations. The mother laughed and said "That's OK, you don't have to be autistic to walk in front of a moving swing." I laughed and agreed. I told her I was pretty sure I remembered a few playground collisions that weren't always accidental. I really appreciated her response though. No hesitation, no judgment or pity, just an honest and humorous comment.Happiness Is Mostly Genetic Or at least that's what some people are saying.Unhappy? Blame biology. Then cheer yourself up by finding a job with a shorter commute. As economists, psychologists and biologists try to determine what makes a person happy or unhappy, one factor stands out as especially powerful. To a large degree, it seems, happiness is inherited. I don't think I would describe myself as always happy, I'm certainly not always angry or sad, maybe something in between. I know I don't enjoy being unhappy so I do try to look at the bright side whenever possible. I admit it, I'm an optimist but I'm also realistic. I've had my share of believing in unrealistic ideas for no other reason than the hope they've offered. In the long run it only leads to greater disappointment and ultimately unhappiness.Over on Autism Diva's blog, someone named Camille left this comment.I am a mother of a 3 year old daughter with autism and I am looking for ways to improve both of our lives. I often think of the 12 Step saying: Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and the courage to know the difference.Wise words Camille but I was taken aback by the statement to follow:In reading your blog - which is incredibly informative and well written - I see you dismissing ideas of "improving" the lives of those with autism and praising people who accept their children as being different.Like Autism Diva, I don't see where anyone is dismissing ideas of improving lives. As a matter of fact, I think calling for respect and pointing out cases of potentially dangerous medical experiments, and the actions of questionable practitioners is a step toward improving the lives of children who are often the subjects of these experiments. Some efforts at improving lives fall squarely into the category of that which cannot be changed. That's not to say that the quality of life can't be improved for some autistic children but taking short cuts with little regard for ethical research is nothing more than complete disregard for the saftey, happiness, and rights of the subjects. Exactly the reasons why we now have such tight regulations and procedures when it comes to experiments involving human subjects. Things like chelation, methyl-B12 injections, Lupron, etc. None of these things have been shown to improve the lives of autistics in the long term and often hurt in the short term. Sometimes it takes more than courage to know the difference.If your pursuit of happiness requires exposing your child to unnecessary risks so that he or she will be closer to your idea of a happy child, you may want to weigh your needs against your child's. If your pursuit of happiness requires you to practice medicine through unconventional, unethical or demeaning procedures, you may want to weigh your needs against your patient's or customer's. It's never OK to do anything that makes you happy, however you define happiness, if it infringes on the rights of others.Being an adult and being a parent means your right to pursue happiness doesn't always come first anymore. Do whatever it takes to be a little happier each day, go out of your way to find a little joy in any situation, but along the way always try to consider how your pursuit will impact others.Oh, and watch out for that swing. (Source: Not Mercury)

It's over!

Not Mercury — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 19:25:00 +0100

As we approach the end of 2006 and head into 2007, let me be the first to say;IT'S OVERYes you heard me clearly now I said; It's Over. The thimerosal hypothesis was examined and rejected by the majority of researchers many times and many years ago but it's still managed to hang on for a few more years, supported by a small group of parents and fringe scientists.With each year came the ever shifting goal posts but the consensus is that the effects of removing thimerosal from pediatric vaccines should be apparent by the end of 2006. Can anyone dispute that this hasn't happened? Each year hasn't brought new and compelling evidence. Each year made the thimerosal hypothesis less likely until it's become completely improbable. It's over, it's over now.One sure sign that the mercury moms and dads are tiptoeing away from thimerosal as a cause is the absence of intelligent debate. There was a time, not too long ago, when supporters of the hypothesis would at least try to present semi-scientific arguments and possible mechanisms whereby thimerosal might cause or trigger autism. That doesn't happen any more. Why? I'm not sure but I bet it has something to do with the ease with which those arguments were dismantled.I can't imagine that anyone enjoys being proved wrong over and over again, so why are people proving them wrong? Because they are mean spirited and like to build up their own self image at the expense of others? Is it because they are better at debate or more motivated to find weaknesses in the arguments of others? Maybe but the more obvious and logical answer is that the science is weak and the proponents aren't accustomed to encountering people who can spot flaws and readily expose them.Anyone can feel like a hot-shot on the Evidence of Harm list where members tend to nod in agreement with anything that might tentatively link thimerosal with autism. You don't see a lot of critical thinking in small groups of people with similar beliefs. More often you'll find positive reinforcement and encouragement and these are the things that allow a weak hypothesis to gather steam.For those occupying their little corner of cyberspace, never meeting with much opposition, it comes as quite a shock when they are first exposed to real tough questions in the real world. When they realize they are ill equipped to argue the science, they either retreat or become angrier with each encounter.That brings us to the present. Most supporters of the thimerosal either recognize that the science is lacking or they've given up arguing the science and turned to rabidly attacking those who disagree. Maybe a few have realized they were wrong and feel a little betrayed but most of the die-hard mercury zealots will fall into one of the two categories. Those who display irrational anger and those who widen the hypothesis to allow for other sources of mercury or other toxins.Don't agree that it's over? Show me with your comments but before you do, let me ask a simple question: What has the thimerosal hypothesis done for you lately?Has it brought you happiness or comfort? Helped us to understand true causes? Has it prevented anyone from being autistic? Has it helped you to connect with your child? If so then stick with it. Clearly it works for you and that's what's important. Doesn't make it any more correct but the important thing is that the idea has helped you to deal with a reality you find unpleasant and maybe you've made a few friends along the way. That's what really matters.Who cares about truth. It's not over 'til it's over, and over, and over, and over..... (Source: Not Mercury)

Orac: justice for abubakar tariq nadama at last?

Not Mercury — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 22:12:00 +0100

Please visit Respectful Insolence Blog and read Orac's take on the charges filed against Roy Kerry and thoughts on the NIMH chelation trial. (Source: Not Mercury)

Methyl-b12 no better than secretin

Not Mercury — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 20:51:00 +0100

In other words: Vitamin B12 Injections for Autism Show No Signs of Benefit which is pretty much the same outcome as the secretin trials. I'm sure this won't discourage any of Dr. Neubrander's loyal customers or scientists like Richard Deth and Jill James who depend on methylcobalamin response to support their own ideas concerning autism.I suppose it's possible that a handful of kids do respond to methyl-B12 and were missed in this study but it would be difficult to overlook the kind of dramatic improvements claimed by many, including Jim Neubrander:Dr James Neubrander, who will discuss the injection at a conference on autism in Edin burgh this week, has a private clinic in New Jersey where he says he has given more than 75,000 shots of methyl cobalamin B12 since May 2002, with, he claims, 94% of children showing improvement.“When we first see these kids they can’t talk and now they are totally recovered. This is to the autism world what antibiotics was to the modern world.”Oh well, 94% improvement is easy to miss in a relatively small study group.Maybe they didn't follow these kids long enough?Neubrander said one injection is given every three days and the effects can be seen within five weeks. “My kids can lose their diagnosis [as autistic] within a year and a half to two and a half years and be in a normal classroom where nobody would know they had autism. When they stop the shots they regress in the same manner a diabetic who stops taking insulin would regress.Neubrander was part of the study team so we'll have to assume he isn't one of those people who might miss an autistic child. I hope this is just a just another bump in the road for the father of methyl-B12.Together we are driven to move forward before the light of science illuminates our way, all the while knowing we will occasionally trip, all the while hoping we will not fall too far, too hard, and hurt ourselves. Naysayers are abundant and there is no shortage of fear mongers. But for the many not willing to listen there is that new dawn, that new day, that vibrant renewed hope along the way. -James Neubrander (Source: Not Mercury)

Boy loses autism diagnosis

Not Mercury — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 13:48:00 +0100

Here's an amazing story: 'A very exceptional individual' Today, he is no longer considered autistic. He drives a car, takes guitar lessons and will attempt to make the Gateway Christian basketball team when try-outs begin in a few weeks. He plans to attend New River Valley Community College next fall after graduation.What brought on this miraculous 'recovery' from autism you may ask? Chelation therapy? Gold Salts? Lupron, ABA? It's possible, the article describes some of the various therapies he received over the years.Wesley first underwent occupational and physical therapy for autism at three years old. With time and continued therapy for motor and sensory skills, his condition, one of several classified by the American Psychiatric Association as a Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), improved.No mention of any biomedical or alternative type medical interventions but we can't know for sure that his parents didn't do something to remove mercury from his brain.One thing that seems to have helped Wesley eventually lose his diagnosis, other than the forward march of time that is; Martial Arts.Martial arts did as much for Wesley Heckendorn's spirit as his motor skills."I've stuck to it just because it really helps with my focus," he said. "It helps with my determination. All in all, it makes me, I guess, a more improved person, you can say."If Dan Olmsted were to read about someone like Wesley H.'s recovery in the past, he might express anger toward his incompetent sensei for missing the true nature of his recovery. Maybe he'd say something like "Not for the last time, a family noticed something significant while the experts prattled on about their pet theories." or "Until now, I thought the sensei and the rest of the martial arts establishment simply weren't aware of Wesley's improvement following Karate treatment; otherwise, they would have followed up this very promising and obvious lead from the past."Maybe Wesley can join the scores of 'recovered' autistic children on stage at the next DAN! conference but I guess that wouldn't be very good for business. Some kids become less autistic over time and are able to participate in typical childhood and teen activities. No biomed needed.What does Wesley have to say about overcoming some of his challenges:"Most people that had that, they've had it their entire lives," he said. "I've ran into some people of a medical background ,and they've heard about it and they're surprised. They said really nobody recovers from that and you actually did."How about that. His hard work and determination allowed him to reach his goal."It's something I've been working towards for a large part of my life. I mean, you know, it was finally there in September. It was a little bit of a shock: Wow, I actually have this now."Congratulations on your black belt Wesley. Nice to see that an individual's achievments aren't limited by predictions of limitations. (Source: Not Mercury)

Comorbid

Not Mercury — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 16:11:00 +0100

I've been meaning to write about this topic for some time but never quite got around to it. Now seems like as good a time as any so here goes.A lot of people discuss certain medical symptoms and conditions, that may or may not be more common in autistic children, as if these disorders are either linked to the etiology of autism or and integral component of autism. For some reason many parents of autistic children become offended when these symptoms are described as comorbid to autism because they see these things as part of autism. I'm not saying that some autistic children aren't also afflicted with various health issues but let's look at reasons why they are often described as comorbidities and why some would prefer to see these things recognized as symptoms of autism.First the Definition of ComorbidityComorbidity: The coexistence of two or more disease processes.That's a very simple definition from a medically oriented website but it's a pretty straightforward and more or less accurate definition. The only way this definition works for autism is when one of the two or more diseases is autism. Right there we have a problem because autism cannot accurately be described as a disease. Not with our current knowledge of the biology of autism, it can't.For the sake of discussion, we'll need to accept that medical professionals will most likely define autism as a medical condition, to some extent, and other medical conditions will be described as co-existing disease processes as long as one doesn't clearly cause the other. That probably won't please many of us but that's the way it usually works.The definition of comorbidity can also change according to context. In some circles it's perfectly acceptable to describe two or more psychiatric disorders or behaviors as comorbidities.The presence of multiple disorders in one individual. Pathological gambling has high rates of comorbidity with disorders such as alcoholism and depression.Unless it becomes widely recognized that drinking causes gambling, gambling causes depression, and depression causes alcoholism, rates of comorbidity will be used to describe the relationship between these conditions. As long as Casinos serve alcohol in attempt to impair gambling decisions, patrons will become depressed after losing money which may cause some to drink. Clinical depression isn't a symptom of gambling losses and alcoholism doesn't promote gambling, for the most part.The Symptoms of AutismThere's a reason why the DSM-IV description for autism doesn't include things like GI distress, diarrhea, constipation, immune abnormalities, allergies, etc. Autism can be diagnosed in people with any number of other medical or psychiatric conditions and the diagnosis doesn't rely upon physical, medical, or biological parameters. That's one of the reasons we know that autism can be diagnosed more often with Down Syndrome, Fragile-X, Prader Willi Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, etc. Depending on how autism is described, autism itself might be seen as a comorbidity. Autism doesn't cause those other conditions and those conditions can exist without autism.When Andrew Wakefield decided to investigate GI symptoms in a handful of autistic children, they weren't randomly selected. Parents who were concerned about their autistic child's GI issue sought medical attention from a gastroenterologist. No doubt he saw a strong correlation between autism and GI symptoms. A GI specialist may be more inclined to think that GI inflammation can cause autism in the same way an economist might leap to the conclusion that correlation implies causation. If this particular GI specialist claims to have previously detected the measles virus in the GI tracts of patients with Crohn's Disease, he might be inclined to connect reports of autistic regression with exposure to the measles component of the MMR. It's also likely that these same parents saw a correlation and shared their observations with Dr. Wakefield but we can't be sure.Whatever the sequence of events, Wakefield reported a relationship between Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, autism, and the presence of the measles virus. Even if he didn't specifically say that one cause the other, he did nothing to dispel the obvious conclusions drawn form his work. One doesn't coin the term autistic enterocolitis and describe the presence of the measles virus only in autistic children without implying a relationship. Of course the relationship was more than implied in the years to follow and we now have a pretty good idea of where he went wrong with the PCR techniques but I don't expect Wakefield will ever come out and admit that he was wrong. We'll probably see more emphasis placed on GI inflammation as he argues that his actions were justified given the circumstances.Is there a higher rate of GI disturbances and gut inflammation in autistic children? Possibly, maybe even probably. My personal opinion, based on my own observations leads me to believe so but I am willing to accept data from well designed studies if it shows otherwise. So far it looks like there are higher rates but the debate is far from over. Wakefield didn't just claim a relationship between ASD's and GI symptoms. He claimed a relationship between highly specific patterns of GI inflammation, exposure and detection of vaccine strain measles virus, and regressive autism. The presence of all or absence of 1 of 3 could make or break the diagnosis of "new variant inflammatory bowel disease." Based on Wakefield's requirements, how many autistic children would be eligible for the diagnosis - Measles-mumps-rubella-induced regressive autism. None, apparently, since no other labs are able to confirm the presence of the measles virus and it's difficult to find a doctor ready and eager to scope children without good reason, autism or not.Should we include nodular lymphoid hyperplasia in the DSM-V diagnostic criteria for autism? Of course not. Even when it's reported along with Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome , autism and PTEN mutation. The traits that make this person autistic are still described as autism and comorbid conditions are described with different medical terms. Never will the word autism be used to communicate a broad range of physical medical disorders.Idiopathic AutismAccording to Wikipedia, the word idiopathic means arising spontaneously or from an obscure or unknown cause. Idiopathic Autism has become somewhat of a catch-all phrase where a cause, most often genetic, is unknown. Although the majority of autism falls into this category, this does not mean the majority of autism is the same thing. Before we had the tools to identify genetic and environmental factors, it could be said that all autism was idiopathic autism. Unfortunately, when a cause isn't identified, the void may be filled with any number of less plausible hypotheses. This phenomenon isn't unique to autism but no where else can we witness such a low standard of scientific accountability.Autism By Any Other NameI can't count the number of times I've heard it said that one type of autism or autistic-like behaviors aren't the same as this autism, core autism, idiopathic autism, HF, LF, AS, Whatever. Just stop it already. If a person is diagnosed as autistic, that's autism, alright? Whether it's part of Cri du chat syndrome or a creatine transport deficiency, if the label is applied it can't be peeled away by amateur diagnosticians on internet mailing lists. If a diagnosis gets counted under total number of cases which in turn is held up as evidence of an autism epidemic, you don't get to break out individual causes as it serves your agenda.At this point we haven't found a single thing that causes autism each and ever time. True, there are certain genetic conditions associated with autism, there are several substances and infectious agents that may increase the chances of having an autistic child following prenatal exposure, and there are many suspected prenatal and perinatal risk factors under investigation.No single gene, environmental factor, combination of genes and/or environment, or other risk factors, can consistently cause autism. I doubt that we will find such a gene or agent but we will most certainly continue to identify new causes, potential treatments, comorbidities, categories, and labels cleaved from the idiopathic autism realm. There's a lot to sort out before we can say that one thing is caused by another so our only option for now is to ignore symptoms that may or may not be associated with being autistic, or continue to discuss these things as potential comorbid conditions. Humans will always sort, catalog, and label all we encounter. We need to exercise great caution when we approach categorizing humans by comorbidities. (Source: Not Mercury)

Find out what it means to me

Not Mercury — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 18:36:00 +0100

Jonathan has started a new meme - a joint effort with María Luján.Links to both blogs:Respect Meme:5 Simple QuestionsInterverbal: Reviews of Autism Statements and Research: Respect Meme: 5 Simple QuestionsBefore I attempt to offer my answers to these 5 simple questions, I'd like to welcome Maria and her new blog. Maria has been participating in discussions for some time now and always leaves thoughtful and respectful comments, or simply refrains from commenting when the conversation becomes heated or downright disrespectful.I'd also like to say that I always appreciate Maria's comments and her willingness to share in her vast knowledge of autism research and I deeply admire Maria's ability to present her perspective while considering other opinions and points of view. Unfortunately, it's come to my attention that some of my replies to Maria may have been interpreted as disrespectful and for that I must apologize. I'm afraid that I don't share her ability or desire to entertain multiple hypotheses or assign each of them equal attention and weight.Maybe this is one of my own shortcomings but I've found that false respect can foster more disrespect in the long run. I'll try to explain what I mean by that.When we discuss theoretical factors (call them causes, contributors, collaborators, etc.) and autism, we should always try to remember that we aren't discussing abstract ideas or an hypothesis such as string theory, we are talking about a word that is used to describe the behavior of other human beings. The very use of the word to describe a person can either impart or diminish respect for a person, depending on how it's used. The debate over string theory can get pretty nasty at times, offensive remarks are common to both sides, but the fabric of space and time remains completely indifferent to insults. Not so when we debate autism issues.Should we really expect people to sit by quietly while poor or incomplete science is used to explain how they came to be who they are? Would anyone like it if their particular strengths and weaknesses are explained as toxicity, infection, morbidity, damage, defect, disease? Maybe, but only if there were some damn good evidence to go along with those descriptions.If I'm driving along in my car and I see a vehicle nudging out on to the highway, do I show respect for that person by slamming on my brakes and motioning for them to go? What about the twenty or so cars behind me? Is it OK to be considerate to a few at the expense of others?When it comes to autism research we simply can't afford to be charitable when the science doesn't hold up to scrutiny. We can't. Science demands criticism and if a scientist is hurt or offended by criticism, he or she should choose another vocation. All autism research effects every autistic person and their family members but bad science hurts us all.I think we all need to understand that some people are hardwired to demand honesty and detect deceit. To some that means exposing government and corporate officials when they are convinced that they have caused harm. For others that means pointing out dishonest and possibly criminal conduct by individuals masquerading as medical professionals. Of course some will say those two things are one in the same. I disagree. Right is right, wrong is wrong, good is good, and bad is bad no matter the source.In Maria's introduction she presents a moderate point of view:I must say that personally, I would not choose for my son transdermal treatments (because of efficiency-where is the proof that i.e DMPS reaches blood through skin?), intravenous treatments (because of personal safety´s concerns about my son), HBOT- because of lack of data regarding safety/efficiency. I would never consider some test/treatment aggressive or potentially dangerous under my personal/familiar analysis (lumbar punction, megadoses of vitamin A, Lupron for example or marijuana, sprays and so on). However, because of the clinical results in my son several aspects of the biomedical approach has been extremely helpful- what to search-once they were analyzed in a team of parents-us-/doctors in my country and out of my country that I found after a lot of personal concern. In the same way, I respect every parent of an autistic child, trying to do their best for their children, even when our family would never choose this or thatI understand and respect her position but I simply can't adopt a live-and-let-live attitude in this debate. Personally, for me, a position of tacit approval gnaws at my conscience as long as I remain silent about things like Lupron and HBOT. I have absolutely no interest in dictating or influencing parent decisions but I do feel an obligation to point out a potential for harm, beyond saying "Well, it's not what I would choose."I've done that for years and I've watched as parents and so called DAN! doctors have continued to crash through the boundaries of safety and human rights every year. I refuse to nod approvingly while people like the Geiers hatch schemes involving sheets of testosterone and mercury to be treated with powerful drugs like Lupron. I have absolutely no respect for the Geiers, Jeff Bradstreet, Andrew Wakefield, and a long list of others. Why should I? They've shown no respect for autistics and have therefore earned my contempt, not respect.Let's consider the recent hypothesis that TV triggers, or possibly causes, autism. Most of us probably laughed when we first read about this but is it just a silly, harmless hypothesis? Maybe to some but by how many of us have already heard from friends and relatives who may have noticed that a few of our kids share more than a passing interest in television and they thought they should bring this study to our attention. Maybe a few parents are already feeling a little more guilty about the number of TV hours they allowed during those formative years. Maybe it doesn't compare to the thimerosal hypothesis in magnitude but it's neither harmless or humorous to me.OK, enough of my rambling and on to the meme.1) What is respect for others?Respect for others comes when we recognize our differences and make an effort to treat others the way we wish to be treated in spite of our differences.2) What are things that appear to respect issues, but are not?When intentions are offered as justification for irresponsible actions.3) Is this relevant to the autism discussion and why?Absolutely. Supporting the idea of respect through words while acting oppositely or tolerating actions that erode respect has become commonplace in the autism community.4)What can we do to help resolve these issues?If ever I say anything or act in a way that is perceived to be disrespectful, I ask that it be brought to my attention. I may be a little slow to learn when it comes to matters of social etiquette but I only require it to be pointed out once.5) How well do you think this will be accomplished?Not very well I'm afraid. I'm willing to bend a little but probably not far enough to meet the rigidity I've encountered so far. (Source: Not Mercury)

A bizarre study indeed

Not Mercury — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 20:39:00 +0100

From Time Magazine:Analysis: Childhood vaccines, toxins, genes and now television watching? The alarming rise in autism rates is one of the biggest mysteries of modern medicine, but it's irresponsible to blame one factor without hard scientific proofSo well said it bears repeating:"it's irresponsible to blame one factor without hard scientific proof"Thank you CLAUDIA WALLIS (Source: Not Mercury)

Sick building syndrome

Not Mercury — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 16:45:00 +0100

EXT. 4BDRM HOUSE - MIDDLE CLASS SUBURBIA- WIDE - DAY[Birds chirping, bees buzzing around flower garden, the sounds of dogs barking and lawnmowers in the distance.]INT. FOYER - TWO SHOT - DAY [cue music]HOME INSPECTORYou've Got Problems Ma'amHOUSEWIFEI Do?HOME INSPECTOROh Yes. Termites.HOUSEWIFETermites!?!HOME INSPECTORUh huh. Lots of them. The whole house is infested.HOUSEWIFEB-b-but that's impossible. We just moved in to this house three years ago and it passed the termite inspection then. We've kept up the service contract with a very well known exterminator. How could we have termites??HOME INSPECTORThose national franchise exterminator companies don't know how to find termites. Not the kind you have. These are hiding in the very core of your beams and joists. Only the most sensitive equipment and test methods can detect these termites. These are a stealthy sub-Saharan subspecies Macrotermes falcigerum Isoptera. Most inspectors are only familiar with the more common Gnathamitermes perplexusHOUSEWIFEWell that all sounds very impressive but how do I know this isn't all just some scientific mumbo-jumbo you made up to scare me?HOME INSPECTORWhat could I possibly have to gain by scaring you? I can assure you that I am a certified integrative home inspector and an entemoarcheological engineer.HOUSEWIFEOh. Well I guess if you're certified.....HOME INSPECTORI am Madam. I've completed many training courses and seminars. My CV is available online if you care to look it up. I've published in countless peer reviewed trade journals and I am listed in the who's who of Integrative Building Inspectors. Come over here. Let me show you something you won't find in a mainstream home inspection.HOUSEWIFEWhat is it?HOME INSPECTORThis is nano-molecular fiber optic near infrared inspection scope. It sends a tiny fiber optic laser through your walls and into the center of the studs. It's a lot like the fiber optic laproscopic surgical instruments doctors use but it's specially designed to bore microscopic holes through building materials allowing us to see what's going on deep within your walls. Don't worry, it won't leave any holes or marks.Here. Take a look.HOUSEWIFE[gasps]Oh my goodness! I see them. I see the termites moving around inside my walls. This is horrible. I can't sleep in this house knowing the walls are filled with termites! What can I do?HOME INSPECTORThere a few options but I have to warn you. It can take a long time and may get very expensive.HOUSEWIFEFine. Whatever it takes. This was our dream home and I'll do anything to make it perfect again. Just tell us what we have to do.HOME INSPECTORWell to start with, you will have to move out for awhile so we can [fades to inaudible]**********INT. 4BDRM HOUSE - TWO SHOT- EVENINGHUSBANDTermites? What the hell are you talking about? Termites? Sub-Saharan Stealth Termites? Where did you find this guy? I asked you to find a handy man to fix a few loose shingles and now your telling me the whole house will fall down if we don't take drastic measures? This is insane.HOUSEWIFEI know, I know, that's what I thought but he explained it so well and he really seems to know what he's talking about plus he wore a white coat.HUSBANDWell he sounds like a con man to me. Where did you find him??HOUSEWIFEHoney, what would he have to gain by telling us we have termites. I saw them with my own eyes, well, through the fiber scope thingamajig.He's one of the good guys. It's the big Home builders and the government who are the con men. He doesn't even do any of the exterminating or repair work himself. He gave me a list of integrative contractors who have fixed thousands of homes and he says the rate of complete remediation is very high. Something like 85% of the homes they work on are permanently termite free.HUSBANDI don't know about this. It all sounds a little flaky, I mean Hyperbaric house tenting, argon atmosphere replacement, microwave beam ionic saponification, I don't even know what all this stuff is. And the Price! We'll go broke doing all of these things. I think we should get a second opinion from a regular home inspection company or an exterminator.HOUSEWIFEHe said you would say that. Those guys don't have the equipment and expertise to detect this kind of termite or low level radon....HUSBANDRadon!? We have Radon too?HOUSEWIFEYes, and poltergeists. That's why we've been hearing those creaking sounds at night and you are always losing your keys in the house, right? Look, let's not panic. The treatments are designed to address all of these things at the same time. It's a wholistic approach.HUSBANDThat's it. I think you've lost your mind and this guy is nothing but a scam artist. I'm calling my friend in construction to see what he says about all this.HOUSEWIFEGo ahead but he probably doesn't know anything about this stuff. Most people don't. Just go on the internet and look at some of the websites I book marked and you'll see. The government brought these termites over many years ago to try to replace the local termites that were destroying American homes. That's why you don't hear about people's homes falling down from termites anymore but the trade off is this new microscopic strain that slowly eats away your house. The big construction companies are all in on it but they can't say anything because the economic impact would be .......[fade audio] [roll credits] (Source: Not Mercury)

Now for something completely different

Not Mercury — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 18:23:00 +0100

I'm playing around to see if I can add an occasional song or other audio to this blog. hopefully this will work. If anyone knows a better way to share songs with an embedded player or something, please let me know. Here's one I thought some readers might enjoy.For Stars - There Was A River (Source: Not Mercury)

Autism: a novel form of television exposure

Not Mercury — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:19:00 +0100

A study out of Cornell claims to have found a correlation between TV viewing and autism. Gregg Easterbrook of Slate magazine interviewed one of the authors, Michael Waldman from Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell:The Cornell study represents a potential bombshell in the autism debate. "We are not saying we have found the cause of autism, we're saying we have found a critical piece of evidence," Well, it's not completely implausible. Like thimerosal in vaccines, television viewing has increased steadily since the early 1930's when commercial television began broadcasting. Kanner didn't document the television viewing habits of his subjects but many of the children were from affluent homes, hence increasing the probability that they owned one or more television sets. We know that 'Donald T.' made remarkable improvements after he moved to a farm with no television. He also received injections of gold salts around the same time but everyone know that gold can block or deflect electron beams such as those used in cathode ray tubes.When it rains it pours.Using the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ American Time Use Survey, we first establish that the amount of television a young child watches is positively related to the amount of precipitation in the child’s community. This suggests that, if television is a trigger for autism, then autism should be positively correlated with precipitation.Maybe, but precipitation and damp conditions can create a climate ideal for mold growth. Maybe the folks at Cornell should get in touch with Martha Herbert.Of course Ray Palmer will point out that precipitation carries with it mercury from coal burning power plants. I'm not sure how that would support his hypothesis because the rain doesn't always fall mainly on the Texas plains but often very far from the source. Oh well, I'll let him figure that out. Maybe the TV transmissions bounce off of mercury laden clouds better or something. Every cloud has a quicksilver lining?More from Slate:Because autism rates are increasing broadly across the country and across income and ethnic groups, it seems logical that the trigger is something to which children are broadly exposed. Vaccines were a leading suspect, but numerous studies have failed to show any definitive link between autism and vaccines, while the autism rise has continued since worrisome compounds in vaccines were banned.Hey, what's he talking about? Is he saying that the thimerosal hypothesis is still dead? If California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger finds out about this he may have to face a choice between banning television to save children from autism and losing out on all of those royalties and residual checks that flow in each time Conan the Terminator airs. What to do, what to do.Specifically, our precipitation tests suggest that just under forty percent of autism diagnoses in the three states studied is the result of television watching due to precipitation, while our cable tests suggest that roughly seventeen percent of the growth in autism in California and Pennsylvania during the 1970s and 1980s is due to the growth of cable television. These findings are consistent with early childhood television viewing being an important trigger for autism. You just can't argue with logic like that folks. If there is anything to this hypothesis we should expect to see an even bigger jump in autism now that DVD players are becoming common in mini-vans and SUV's. I wonder if they've considered the Autism-Fries hypothesis? It seems to me that parents are more likely to order fast food at a drive-in restaurant when it's raining.He found what appears to be a dramatic relationship between television viewing and autism onset. In counties or years when rain and snow were unusually high, and hence it is assumed children spent a lot of time watching television, autism rates shot up; in places or years of low precipitation, autism rates were low. Waldman and Nicholson conclude that "just under 40 percent of autism diagnoses in the three states studied is the result of television watching." Thus the study has two separate findings: that having cable television in the home increased autism rates in California and Pennsylvania somewhat, and that more hours of actually watching television increased autism in California, Oregon, and Washington by a lot.One way to confirm this effect would be to divide a group of children into two groups. One group should be from a place where it doesn't rain very often (Southern California perhaps?) and this group would be allowed to watch TV only while outdoors on sunny days. The other group should be from Seattle or Portland and only allowed to watch the weather channel to see if a broadcast of a forecast of precipitation is able to precipitate or forecast the broader precipitation of autism. OK, there are probably a few details that need to be worked out in my study design but it's start.Remember, it's not television alone that causes autism. It's a genetic vulnerability to the effects of television viewing that are to blame.Our hypothesis is that it is exactly the interaction between genetics and a particular type of early life experience, i.e., early childhood television watching, that can result in the profound impact on the development of the brain referred to as autism. It's probably not a single gene though but rather a set of polymorphisms that interfere with a person's ability to operate a universal remote control.We can't ignore the Amish connection either:Researchers might also turn new attention to study of the Amish. Autism is rare in Amish society, and the standing assumption has been that this is because most Amish refuse to vaccinate children. The Amish also do not watch television.So what's the solution to this scourge?Waldman thinks that until more is known about what triggers autism, families with children under the age of 3 should get them away from the television and keep them away. Just to be on the safe side, I think television viewing by anyone under five years of age should be banned. Maybe the law firm of Waters & Kraus is already busy lining up a class action suit. Big Television may have known about this all along. What does Bob Wright of Autism Speaks do for a living again? (Source: Not Mercury)

Passive aggression

Not Mercury — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 16:39:00 +0100

While reading through some of the comments left on different blogs, a few things that are said stay with me for days and even weeks after I've read them. I tell myself it's best to just leave these comments be and try to ignore them but as they echo in my head I find the only way to clear them is to address them.One such comment on ABFH's blog really can't be ignored:The insidious, condescending hypocritical, passive agressive blogs and bloggers are far more offensive to me. They sicken me."You can see I didn't use the word "forceful".This is my whole point.Passive aggression is worse than overt aggression, which doesn't use the pretence of being 'civil' and 'reasonable', while being equally or more aggresive and offensive.I think it's safe to assume that the author, jonsmum, is referring to blogs and bloggers who are able to express their opinions and disagree in a polite way, calmly pointing out the facts (or absence of facts) while engaging in civil discussion. Apparently 'jonsmum' sees this as a form of aggression, albeit a passive form.I had no idea that jonsmum was so sickened by, what she calls, passive aggression so I'd like to ask everyone to try to be more respectful of jonsmum's feeling and uncloak your aggressions where and when ever possible.For instance, when someone calls another parent, whom you admire and respect, a "scumbag" simply because this person doesn't see autism as a death sentence or an abyss to rot in, you are expected to respond with your own expletive studded angry tirade. Overt aggression is always preferable.Also, if your child isn't as severely autistic as jonsmum's son, you really have no right presenting your views or opinions. If your kid doesn't smear feces they aren't autistic enough by her or John Best's standards. Only parents of severely autistic children understand pain and suffering and only they can say whatever the hell they want. Everyone else should learn to be more respectful of these parents when they tell us how horrible it is to raise an autistic.....er, mercury poisoned child.If you don't have any horror stories and prefer to emphasize some of positive parts of your parenting experience, well then your child probably isn't autistic anyway and you should just shut the hell up, lest you offend any parents of feces smearing mercury toxic monsters.OK people? Can we all agree to put a cork in our passive aggression, or should that be pull the cork on passive aggression? Whatever. Just treat jonsmum with as little respect and decency as possible so she doesn't become sickened. If you need examples just stop by John Best Jr.'s blog (hatingautism) where jonsmum and a few other experts demonstrate their craft on a regular basis.Here's another comment that's been echoing in my head.As well as all the evidence linking autism to thimerosal in vaccines, I have good reason to believe this was the cause of my sons autism. His development stopped dead in it's tracks after his second infant multi vaccination.Although I didn't know about thimerosal at that time, I don't believe his regression after vaccination was a coincidence.I believed this before I had access to the internet and before I had heard of John Best.My view on this will never change.[...] I beleive that Eli Lily is/was responsible for bringing about the cause of autism in 1931.Her evidence is that she has good reason to believe and nothing will change her mind? Believe it or not that doesn't bother me and it doesn't bother most people I know. everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and I'm sure each person feels their beliefs are supported by the available evidence when combined with their observations and experiences. I am no exception.There are plenty of things I believe in even though I am unable to produce enough conclusive evidence to convince others of my beliefs. How am I any different from jonsmum and her beliefs?Well, for one, I am willing to consider new evidence and change my mind and beliefs to follow the science. On more than one occasion I've been forced to consider the possibility that there may actually be a connection. Ultimately, because I did my best to find flaws in the research and reasons why it fails to show a connection, I saw no reason to change my mind. Am I biased? Of course I am. I have every reason to believe that autism has nothing to do with thimerosal and it wasn't invented by Eli Lilly in 1931. If ever there is evidence to convince me otherwise I will, again, reconsider my position.Another key difference is that I am not interested in changing anyone's mind about thimerosal. If jonsmum or anybody else wants to believe thimerosal causes autism they are free to do so but start trying to convince the rest of the world and we have a problem. Honestly, if it was simply a mater of individual beliefs and one's desire to experiment on their children, there'd be no argument. A parent would just chelate their children quietly and privately and that would be the end of it. That's not how it happens though.Each and every encounter I've had with mercury parents feels exactly like a run-in with a religious cult member. What's even more amazing to me is that I've never spoken to a parent of a formerly autistic child. Are they trying to help other children or justify their own beliefs? I guess I must prefer passive aggression over aggressive conversion.Here's another comment from Orac's blog that rubbed me the wrong way:As for my feeling on the treatments given to autistic children. I do feel terrible that parents must face difficult treatment options for their children. Many of these children are, in fact, physically ill. Yes, Mouse, PHYSICALLY ILL. This from anti-vaccination activist 'Sue M.' aka Common Sense who must also sicken jonsmum since she doesn't have a severely autistic child or an autistic child at all. The part that bothers me is that Sue doesn't have a problem talking about autistic children as if physical illness is an integral component of autism. In all fairness she did say "many of these children" but it's no less offensive.Sue,My children have been ill, yes Sue, PHYSICALLY ILL, but that is not a sign they have been poisoned by thimerosal. If you prefer to believe that your kids were sickened by thimerosal that is your business but I'll thank you not to make blanket statements about my kids or "these kids" you know almost nothing about. If you don't understand why that is a problem I guess I can see why you are so enamored with David Kirby and his trash novel. Do us all a favor, find another group of "these kids" to be poster children for your quest to remove every last atom of mercury from vaccines but leave mine out of it.Hey, I kind of like this open aggression thing. Thanks jonsmum (Source: Not Mercury)