MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'asia'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:53:19 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118603&cid=t_105380_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FHUeY2V4PkxI%2F By Justin LoganYesterday, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland made the following comment regarding China’s maiden voyage in the old Varyag carcass it has been tinkering with for over a decade: We would welcome any kind of explanation that China would like to give for needing this kind of equipment. This echoes Donald Rumsfeld’s remarks at the 2005 Shangri-La Dialogue in which he puzzled in quintessentially Rumsfeldian fashion: Since no nation threatens China, one must wonder: * Why this growing investment? * Why these continuing large and expanding arms purchases? * Why these continuing robust deployments? Maybe, like me, the Chinese are reading Aaron Friedberg’s new book on U.S.-China security competition (Friedberg worked on Asia for Vice President Cheney). Perhaps high-ra... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118603 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:22:51 +0100 5118603 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5057787&cid=t_105380_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fwhen-do-indian-doctors-create-their-own.html As compared to the USA, Indian doctors have been much more reluctant to go online to establish a digital clinic, and I find this surprising, since India is considered to be the IT powerhouse of the world !For many senior doctors, the web is still a very new tool - and they are not sure what value it will add to their lives . They have practised medicine happily for many years without the internet and are quite happy to continue doing so. For some, it's also the anxiety of having to learn a new tool - and unfamiliar technology creates its own barriers.Most senior doctors who are online have moved there for the following reason.1. Their colleagues and peers have their own websites , which is why they follow suit. This is especially true for highly competitive "fee for service" fields, such a... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5057787 Sat, 23 Jul 2011 02:34:00 +0100 5057787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960042&cid=t_105380_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FdIgkSA8z8qo%2F By Malou InnocentIn the last three years, the United States has tripled the number of troops in Afghanistan, increased the number of drone strikes in neighboring Pakistan, and killed Osama bin Laden—the highest of high-value targets. President Obama has more than enough victories under his belt to stick to his timeline and substantially draw down the number of troops from Afghanistan. Still, the pace of America’s withdrawal and the size of its residual combat presence, even after his decision Wednesday, will depend on two things: negotiations with the Taliban and political pressure to stay the course. These two factors will feature prominently in the months ahead, as the administration reconfigures the strategy and objectives for winding down the 10-year campaign. First, although many ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960042 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:33:35 +0100 4960042 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934302&cid=t_105380_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Fsharing-on-the-global-scale.html There are obvious differences in quality of life in terms of food availability, access to fresh water, disease prevalence and medicine across many parts of the world. Until recently, the notion of the Third World had a far greater poignancy than the politically correct term “developing world”. While labelling the poorer nations as somehow separate from the West (the First World) and the old communist bloc (Second World) may have somehow eased the consciences of some, the term developing belies the true nature of life across the globe for billions of people. For those of us in Europe, the potential for surplus food production (cucumbers and bean sprouts aside), compared with current production and trade volumes as well as our well-off society ‘s desire to use land for non-... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934302 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:00:21 +0100 4934302 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813387&cid=t_105380_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F05%2Flooking-for-healthcare-it-entrepreneurs.html Are you an entrepreneur who wants to improve healthcare in India ? I am an angel investor, and am looking for companies which meet the following criteria.At least 3 years old, with a viable product, who need to grow and scale up and needs funds and a strategic investor to do so. I am especially looking for companies which are active in the following areas: Elearning for healthcareTeaching patients about their health in Indian regional languagesDeveloping healthcare apps customised for IndiaIf you are interested, please send me an email ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813387 Thu, 12 May 2011 11:35:00 +0100 4813387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734244&cid=t_105380_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fpeas-healthcare-and-patient-education.html While patients in the US are deluged with information, patients in India are usually starved for this. They have to depend upon US websites for information ( much of which is not applicable to Indian conditions and diseases); or upon their doctor ( who is often too busy to educate them !)One of the major issues is that the importance of educating patients has still not become a pressing issue for doctors. Traditionally, Indian doctors have always been quite paternalistic; and most Indian patients are quite happy to follow the doctor's orders.While it's true that times are changing, and that the younger generation of doctors is more willing to be open ad to invest time in discussing treatment options with their patients, another limitation has been the acute shortage of patient educational ... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734244 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 03:00:00 +0100 4734244 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4724180&cid=t_105380_136_f&fid=35302&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FWhitePebble%2F%7E3%2F-upChOONzUI%2F Questions over Greg Mortenson’s stories – 60 Minutes – CBS News. Filed under: books Tagged: 60 Minutes, Afghanistan, CBS News, Central Asia Institute, Greg Mortenson, Korphe, Pakistan, Three Cups of Tea (Source: white pebble) white pebble blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4724180 Sun, 17 Apr 2011 20:30:31 +0100 4724180 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4714842&cid=t_105380_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fdoctor-whats-your-website-url.html It's well known that most patients will google their symptoms and signs when they fall ill. Patients use the internet extensively to research their disease; to check on the treatment options available to them; to connect with other patients; and to select the right doctor.However, if there so many patients are online, why don't more Indian doctors have their own websites ? Indian doctors are considered to be well-read; well-informed; and their clinical skills are usually excellent. Moreover, India is an IT powerhouse , which means one would logically expect that most Indian doctors would have their own website, which they could use to attract more patients; and to educate their existing patients.While many Indian doctors now do have their own email address ( though many senior doctors stil... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4714842 Fri, 15 Apr 2011 03:21:00 +0100 4714842 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4405844&cid=t_105380_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fsuccess-story-from-netherlands-baby.html This is a story about perseverance, courage but most of all a good understanding between a doctor and a patient.After some difficult years including infertility treatments, despair and discouragement by infertility doctors (!), my husband and I decided we should take a sabbatical and rest for a while from all the disappointments of the past. We decided to travel to Asia and visit some wonderful countries.After a few months however, my child wish was very strong again and we decided we should try one more time an IVF treatment.The question was where? we had all these possibilities in all of these countries.I decided to do a little research and I wrote to a dozen clinics in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and India.Some clinics did not respond at all (!) other were very short in their informat... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4405844 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 04:32:00 +0100 4405844 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4309817&cid=t_105380_136_f&fid=35302&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FWhitePebble%2F%7E3%2FSQxcT6QaMiQ%2F   Buck and I visit the Taj Mahal   Apropos of nothing (well, okay, the dailypost.wordperss.com suggestion), I dug back in the iPhoto archives and found this sitting somewhere buried in time (2005, in fact). Buck and I were visiting India, and I think tourists are not allowed to leave the country without visiting Agra and the Taj Mahal. Earlier, we had seen New Delhi and traveled north on the Jammu Mail (a bit like a real life version of The Darjeeling Express) to Dharamsala and the Dalai Lama’s home. I was overwhelmed by the vastness of India: here we are in this picture, nearly beaten to the ground from the intense heat that is common in Agra in the summer. A few days earlier, I was cold and gasping for breath in Dharamsala and the Himalayan foothills. In that town, your a... white pebble blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4309817 Mon, 03 Jan 2011 22:13:31 +0100 4309817 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265987&cid=t_105380_117_f&fid=38856&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timemastermd.com%2F%3Fp%3D1632 If your jeans brand is “Wide Load” perhaps you might consider a exercise, diet and supplement program.  But, if you don’t exercise, you won’t be burning off that bodacious bootie, you will just be burning bucks. The problem is it is hard to find something to help reduce those unwanted pounds.  Two recent Swedish studies have shown 9 popular weight loss supplements were no more effective than the fake supplements they were compared with.  There are scores of slimming supplements out there claiming weight-loss effects through all sorts of mechanisms of action. Ads for ”fat magnets, mobilizers and dissolvers, as well as appetite tamers, metabolism boosters, carb blockers” are everywhere.   Researchers tested selected plant extracts and found them ... Timemaster MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265987 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 21:56:02 +0100 4265987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265687&cid=t_105380_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FueRzNG8I_pU%2F By Malou InnocentPresident Obama released his Afghanistan war review today. It highlights progress on the battlefield against insurgents, the success of Special Forces operations and drone strikes, and achievements in training the Afghan security forces. I have four thoughts on the matter: First, scattered throughout the document are passages such as “al-Qa’ida’s senior leadership in Pakistan is weaker,” “[a]l-Qa’ida’s senior leadership has been depleted,” and “al-Qa’ida’s leadership cadre have diminished.” However, can we deter more jihadists than our efforts help to inspire? After all, “fighting them over there so they don’t fight us here” did not deter Pakistani-American Faisal Shahzad and his inco... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265687 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 18:31:24 +0100 4265687 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4230203&cid=t_105380_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fexcellent-website-on-health-in-marathi.html I just stumbled across this excellent website on health in Marathi !As far as Indian patients are concerned, there are 2 major problems with the internet as a source of health information.1. Most of the material is in English.2.Very little information is India-specificIt's great to see that doctors like Dr Ashtekar have taken the initiative to fill this huge gap ! Keep it up - and I just hope many other doctors will be inspired to follow in his foot-steps ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4230203 Sat, 04 Dec 2010 17:08:00 +0100 4230203 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214454&cid=t_105380_147_f&fid=39266&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCreationInteractive%2F%7E3%2FWCk-UClEUzc%2F Conclusion Overcoming Russia’s health problems is a huge task, but engaging the population in prevention activities, and using social media-type platforms to provide information and normalise the concept of healthy living may provide a viable way forward. Digital media may be particularly helpful in driving change across such a large country, but other forms of communication and action are important for a diverse society. As the focus of the current initiatives is preventative, it may be that a difference will not be seen for some years, but it is clear that Russia is an area where engaging with the population about health will have a decisive impact on the country’s society and economic well-being. If you would like to have a conversation about healthcare engagement in Russ... Creation Interactive blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214454 Mon, 29 Nov 2010 13:00:49 +0100 4214454 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4168026&cid=t_105380_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F11%2Fwanted-patient-information-officer-for.html HELP is the world's largest free patient education library, located in Mumbai.We are looking for Patient Information Officers, to help promote Information Therapy in India.You will help to empower patients with information.If you are interested in this exciting job which please email your resume to: malpani@vsnl.com ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4168026 Mon, 15 Nov 2010 12:51:00 +0100 4168026 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4121854&cid=t_105380_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhos-first-social-media-effort-making-hospitals-disaster-safe%2F2010.10.30 I got an email from Mari (M4ID_Mari on Twitter) on behalf of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Emergencies and Humanitarian Action team in South East Asia, based in New Delhi about WHO’s first social media-driven effort, aiming to engage 1 million people in the issue of making hospitals safe in disasters. From WHO:  “Floods, tsunamis, earthquakes, cyclones – the WHO South-East Asia Region is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters. In 1996-2005, such events led to the deaths of more than half a million people in this region. This makes up 58% of the total number of people killed worldwide due to natural disasters. Hospitals are lifelines in the aftermath of a disaster, when large numbers of people are critically injured or vulnerable. It is particularly vital tha... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4121854 Sat, 30 Oct 2010 21:00:06 +0100 4121854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4009961&cid=t_105380_46_f&fid=38787&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsf.ca%2Fblogs%2Fphotos%2F2010%2F09%2F28%2Fcentral-asia%2F A 19 year old patient who has just been diagnosed with XDR-TB – the form of tuberculosis that is resistant to all available tuberculosis medication. The doctors just found out that he cannot be treated. The patient’s mother has died of TB and his brother is also sick with a drug resistant form of the bacteria. He however responds to some of the medication and is recovering. (Source: MSF Blogs) MSF Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4009961 Tue, 28 Sep 2010 09:52:46 +0100 4009961 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4003438&cid=t_105380_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FVIyzP8yQEzA%2F Welcome back, everyone. We hope your weekend was restful and rejuvenating. Now, of course, the routine has returned. Meetings and deadlines, as usual, beckon. What better way to prepare than with a cup of stimulation? So please join us as we indulge. Meanwhile, here are a few items to help you get started. Hope your day goes well and stay in touch… AstraZeneca Prostate Cancer Drug Fails Phase III (TheStreet) Pfizer Plans More Partnerships In Asia (OutsourcingPharma) Sanofi Keeps Genzyme Bid Steady, For Now (Reuters) Merck To Hire 300 At No. Carolina Vaccine Plant (The Herald Sun) Wyeth’s Genetically Modified Baby Formula Causes Protest (Sydney Morning Herald) European Rx Sales To Slow Due To Cost-Cutting (PharmaTimes) Actelion Drug For Brain Hemorrhage Fails In Study (Bloomberg... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4003438 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 11:51:00 +0100 4003438 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3980885&cid=t_105380_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fpatient-education-videos-in-indian.html I am an angel investor in PEAS, which makes patient educational videos for Indian patients in Indian languages - Hindi , Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malyalam, and Bengali !They now have an extensive library, which is growing weekly ! Because they use an animated format, they can get the message across to patients with low-literacy as well !Thanks to the flexibility of the audio-visual media format, P.E.A.S™ offers both customers and potential users the benefits of enjoying highly engaging patient education series on multiple channels - whether for personal viewing, online viewing or group sessions. You can watch many of their videos free online - for example the Angioplasty video ! (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3980885 Fri, 17 Sep 2010 16:07:00 +0100 3980885 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965398&cid=t_105380_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FRa6-2P3r7e8%2F By Malou InnocentI have a piece in the latest issue of Foreign Service Journal that details the ongoing clash of competing strategic interests among the United States, Pakistan, India, Iran, and other regional powers in Afghanistan . It’s a point I’ve belabored in the past (see here, here, here, and here, for example), yet it remains an understated problem in Washington’s Central and South Asia policy. C’est la vie. Check it out! (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965398 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:13:31 +0100 3965398 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3976691&cid=t_105380_147_f&fid=39266&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCreationInteractive%2F%7E3%2FGo3u-MgQtdw%2F Earlier this year I wrote about how language barriers are creating a new digital health divide and I suggested that the single biggest barrier to successfully connecting patients online internationally is language. On the one hand, the Internet has broken down many boundaries and has changed the geography of healthcare, uniting patients and healthcare stakeholders all over the world so that people are not constrained by information available in their own country alone. Yet on the other hand, language has become an even greater barrier as it separates people into groups – the advantaged or the disadvantaged – based on the information they can access. I concluded that innovation is required, and offered some ideas about how to tackle language barriers in healthcare engagement. No... Creation Interactive blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3976691 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:00:14 +0100 3976691 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3671672&cid=t_105380_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FrAaybV1oE8Q%2F By Tom G. PalmerCAFMI Director Mirsulzhan Namazaliev at 2009 Cato University Kyrgyz libertarians are leading a series of coordinated voluntary efforts to provide emergency aid to the victims of the vicious attacks of the last few days in their country and to promote peace throughout the nation and the region.  I’ve been in regular touch with our friends there, and on Tuesday evening I talked to Central Asian Free Market Institute (CAFMI) Director Mirsulzhan Namazaliev by Skype, as he was interrupted by a stream of volunteers working late into the night in the CAFMI offices.  He made their resolution clear: “We are helping those who are suffering, but we are doing more.  For me personally this is not only a fight for life.  It is a fight for freedom.  We don’t want to be rule... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3671672 Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:29:58 +0100 3671672 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662637&cid=t_105380_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fnew-roots-for-refugees-%25e2%2580%2593-farming-empowers-women%2F photo via Grist Asian and African female refugees arriving in the U.S. usually have pretty limited options in the working world, as culture shock and language barriers make adjusting to their new home incredibly difficult. But there’s one skill common among refugee women that doesn’t get lost in translation: Farming. That’s why the Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas City started the New Roots for Refugees Farm, in a partnership with Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture. New Roots For Refugees provides refugee women the opportunity to farm on a quarter-acre plot and sell their wares at farmers’ markets around Kansas City. The women gradually take on more business responsibility, including buying raw materials, taking marketing and English classes during the w... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662637 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:30:36 +0100 3662637 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644850&cid=t_105380_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F06%2Ffree-websites-for-indian-ngos-from-help.html I feel many Indian NGOs are doing some great work. Unfortunately, they are often strapped for cash because very few people know about their activities. This is why they are often not able to scale up their activities and they remain small, with limited impact.There are many large-hearted Indians out there who would be happy to provide money to deserving NGOs. However, how do they find out about these ? And which ones are worth funding ?NGOs need higher visibility and the best way to acquire this is through the internet. As a pilot project, I am going to award free websites to 10 suitable NGOs; and hope that this will help them to get additional visibility, so they can leverage their efforts.If you run an NGO, or know of one, who you feel will benefit from having a web presence, please ask ... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644850 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:02:00 +0100 3644850 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3502993&cid=t_105380_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FAfYMWnFBPms%2F Excerpt from the author of the "Physician, Heal Thyself!", interview with the Grapevine (GV), the journal of Alcoholics Anonymous. October 1995 edition. GV: Have you had periods in sobriety that were Emotionally difficult? Dr. Earle: Oh my, yes. So did Bill-you know that Bill W had a long depression. Let me tell you how I got at some emotional rest. Years ago, a medical college in the South asked me to go to Saigon to help the Vietnamese set up a new department. Before I left, I went back to see Bill and Lois and Marty M. and some others, and I spent about eight or nine days back in New York before I went to Asia. Bill took me to the airport and on the way there he said, "You know, Earle, I’ve been sober longer than anyone else in our organization. But," he said,... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3502993 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:08:31 +0100 3502993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420416&cid=t_105380_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2010%2F03%2F30%2Fdiabetes-rates-soar-in-asia%2F Although diabetes has long been a serious health problem in the United States, it's now reaching epidemic status in other countries. A new report shows that more people have diabetes in China than in any other country. With one-in-10 people diagnosed with diabetes, China's battle against diabetes is now one of the top public health priorities for the country. The recent Diabetes in Asia Study Group International Conference, which was created to promote diabetes awareness and encourage research, called for Asia-oriented diabetes research and studies. Among the major hurdles that Asian health experts face is the age of diabetes diagnosis. In Western countries, patients are diagnosed between ages 60 to 79. In Asia, they are diagnosed at 20- to 59-years old. Check out AOL Health for mo... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420416 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3420416 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3220501&cid=t_105380_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2FDZAhBRG-To4%2Fhealth-sex-and-womens-rights-in.html Starting this Saturday, the Gardner Center for Asian Arts and Ideas will be hosting a lecture series titled "Health, Sex, and Women's Rights in Contemporary Asia." All events will be located in Volunteer Park. January 30 – Women Feed the World: Women’s Land Rights in AsiaSpeakers: Renee Giovarelli, Rural Development Institute, and Haven Ley, Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationFebruary 6 – Asia: The Frontier in the Battle for Health Equity in the WorldSpeakers: Tachi Yamada, President of Global Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Chris Elias, President and CEO of PATHFebruary 13 – In Silence: Maternal Mortality in IndiaSpeakers: Susan Meiselas, Magnum photographer; Sylvia Wolf, Director, Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington; and France Donnay, Bill & Melinda Gates Found... Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3220501 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:52:31 +0100 3220501 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3164043&cid=t_105380_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F5gcj2gS4nrM%2F The drugmaker hopes to eventually boost sales and profits of various meds in the region, part of a stepped-up emphasis on so-called emerging markets. And at the same time, Sanofi-Aventis also hopes to win kudos for widening availability of its meds in poor nations, a move also recently embraced by GlaxoSmithKline. Patients in Indonesia and the Philippines may save up to half for such as the Lantus diabetes med and the Taxotere cancer treatment, Jean-Louis Grunwald, Sanofi’s Southeast Asia head, tells Bloomberg News, adding that the program will be expanded to other countries in the region. “Answering this need is a must. Our capability to solve this access issue, together with other stakeholders, will define the success of our organization in this part of the world in the years to come... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3164043 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:26:43 +0100 3164043 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2510284&cid=t_105380_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F0FhTEaO333Y%2F It seems that the Japanese government no longer seems entirely comfortable relying on America for it’s defense. Reports Reuters: A draft of Japan’s new mid-term defense policy guidelines is calling for the reinforcement of military personnel and equipment in the face of growing regional tensions, Kyodo news agency said. The draft, obtained by Kyodo, says Japan needs to reverse its policy of reducing its defense budgets in light of North Korea’s missile launches and nuclear tests, as well as China’s rise to a major military power, the news agency said. The document urges the government to raise the number of Ground Self-Defense Forces troops by 5,000 to 160,000, Kyodo said. The new National Defense Program Guidelines, covering five years to March 2015, are scheduled ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2510284 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:25:58 +0100 2510284 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2442293&cid=t_105380_131_f&fid=34994&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gnxp.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F05%2Fgoodbye-old-kashgar.php To Protect an Ancient City, China Moves to Raze It. The city is Kashgar, in the far west of China. I have read that Kashgar is the large city furthest from oceans on all directions. It's a typical story of developers wanting to develop. You read articles like this about Beijing all the time (or did, I assume that most of the developing to be done has been done). One issue that I'm curious about though, my understanding is that China (and East Asia in general) has fewer buildings of great antiquity than in the West because so much of the monumental architecture was in wood. This results in ancient cities being viewed as relatively ephemeral, with the elements (especially fire) taking what humans don't eventually tear down and reprocess. So there is very little of the earlier dynasties in th... Gene Expression blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2442293 Thu, 28 May 2009 03:17:00 +0100 2442293 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2282010&cid=t_105380_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Frecall-roundup-march-18-2009.html (Source: eFoodAlert.com) eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2282010 Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:50:00 +0100 2282010 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2192479&cid=t_105380_147_f&fid=38117&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.engageinhealth.com%2F2009%2F02%2Ftrust_in_asia.html “Trust is the cornerstone for the survival of an enterprise and a society.” – China Daily This marks my second week in Hong Kong. While most of my time in Asia has been based in Korea, I am excited about the move to Hong Kong especially as it provides a new perspective on healthcare in Asia. While trying to get my way around the very dynamic city practicing what little Cantonese I know, I have been able to meet with a number of individuals all working in the Hong Kong healthcare industry. Their comments on the state of healthcare in Hong Kong and greater China have fueled considerable thought on the way forward in Asia. I asked the communications representative of one of Hong Kong’s private care providers about how the downturn in the economy has impacted business and she replie... The Health Engagement Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2192479 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:56:53 +0100 2192479 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2184276&cid=t_105380_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fbits-pieces-malaysian-sports-drinks.html February 13, 2009Singapore's Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority has alerted consumers to the presence of unspecified foreign matter in the following sports drinks imported from Malaysia."18" Sports Drink – Blueberry plus Vit C, B6 & B12 Flavour (600 mL): Expiry dates 24 Oct 2009, 11 Nov 2009 & 11 Dec 2009"18" Sports Drink – Grape plus Vit C, B6 & B12 Flavour (600 mL): Expiry dates 25 Oct 2009 & 12 Dec 2009"18" Sports Drink – Lemon Lime plus Vit C, B6 & B12 Flavour (600 mL): Expiry dates 28 Oct 2009, 9 Dec 2009 & 27 Dec 2009"18" Sports Drink – Original plus Vit C, B6 & B12 Flavour (600 mL): Expiry dates 23 Oct 2009 & 10 Dec 2009AVA has instructed that importers and retailers of these items recall the contaminated products, and recommends that consumer... eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2184276 Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:36:00 +0100 2184276 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2108657&cid=t_105380_147_f&fid=38117&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.engageinhealth.com%2F2009%2F01%2Fhealth_across_borders_and_medi.html There is a new paradigm in health. We have long acknowledged the globalization of healthcare. However, we have not always recognized that the globalization of personal health has come along with it. It seems that as health transcends borders, the definition of ‘personal’ is augmented, and the line between ‘my’ health and ‘our’ health is blurred. In the past, when people were sick, they visited their family doctor and, if the condition was severe, they were referred to a hospital or to a higher institution of medical treatment. How things have changed! With the increasing cost of healthcare in traditional mainstays such as Europe and the United States, patients are now traveling abroad to Asia, enjoying discounts of up to 60 to 80 percent compared to prices in the United States... The Health Engagement Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2108657 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:46:55 +0100 2108657 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2090481&cid=t_105380_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Fsingapore-recalls-pere-ocean-mineral.html January 8, 2009The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) of Singapore has instructed the importer and retailers of Pere Ocean Mineral Water to recall all 500 mL bottles with an expiry date of 09.12.10 from the retail market.The action came after AVA detected unspecified foreign matter in the mineral water. Consumers who purchased the recalled water are advised to discard it.Foreign matter is a catch-all phrase. It includes everything from particles of dirt to insect fragments.Consumers with questions about this recall should call the AVA hotline at 1800-2262250. (Source: eFoodAlert.com) eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2090481 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:50:00 +0100 2090481 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2068109&cid=t_105380_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fcholera-in-zimbabwe-and-beyond-perfect.html December 26, 2008According to the latest report from the World Health Organization, the current cholera epidemic has killed 1,518 Zimbabwean victims. As of December 25th, 26,497 confirmed cases of cholera have been recorded, with more to come. And these numbers already are out of date.While international aid agencies appeal – successfully – for money and supplies to fight the epidemic, Mugabe continues to resist the international community's attempts to assist victims. According to Zimbabwe's president, the cholera epidemic is a plot hatched by the United Kingdom to overthrow the government.As we've reported previously, the Zimbabwe epidemic has spilled into neighboring countries, especially South Africa. Botswana and Zambia are on alert for cholera flare-ups, while Zimbabwe's remai... eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2068109 Fri, 26 Dec 2008 19:00:00 +0100 2068109 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2034301&cid=t_105380_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fzimbabwe-cholera-epidemic-over-not.html December 12, 2008Robert Mugabe, fearing that the United States and the United Kingdom would use Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic as an excuse to topple his dysfunctional regime, has found an easy way out. He has simply declared that the epidemic has ended.Sorry, Mr. President. It's not that simple.One thing that world leaders and non-government organizations can agree on is that Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic is far from over, and that Mugabe and his government are not capable of reversing the total collapse of infrastructure that their policies precipitated. Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, summarized that consensus, in a statement reported on December 8th. "This government," said Annan, "has not demonstrated the ability to lead the country out of its current crisis."T... eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2034301 Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:55:00 +0100 2034301 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2021293&cid=t_105380_113_f&fid=34625&url=http%3A%2F%2Fclinicalit.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fgates-foundation-to-fund-global.html The American Medical Informatics Association will announce Monday that it has received a $1.2 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to promote health informatics and biomedical education and training worldwide, particularly in developing countries.This will be the first project of a new program called 20/20, in which the International Medical Informatics Association and its regional affiliates, including AMIA, will attempt to train 20,000 informatics professionals globally by 2020. This is an outgrowth of the AMIA 10x10 program to train 10,000 people in informatics in the U.S. by 2010. IMIA and its partners will discuss details of 20/20 this week at the Wellcome Trust in London.AMIA will use the Gates Foundation money to develop "scaleable" approaches to e-health educati... Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2021293 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:40:00 +0100 2021293 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2017836&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F0katBrwYtBM%2F 23-year-old Alex Kwan is autistic and the team manager for the West Albany High School football team. Yesterday’s Oregonian describes how, for Kwan, football has become a “safe haven, a place where he is embraced for his differences instead of mocked because of them.” That’s real teamwork, yes? Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, disabilities blog, disability, Education, football, Health, high school, hormone, oregonShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2017836 Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:14:57 +0100 2017836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2012006&cid=t_105380_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fzimbabwe-cholera-update.html December 3, 2008The situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate.Two days ago, we reported that Zimbabwe's neighbors were getting worried that the Zimbabwe epidemic would spill over. South Africa, Botswana and Malawi already had reported cholera cases in people who had crossed their shared borders with Zimbabwe. Yesterday, the news got worse.The health department of Limpopo Province (South Africa) reported that Vibrio cholerae – the causative agent of cholera – has been detected in the Limpopo River. This river forms part of the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe, as well as between South Africa and Botswana. Limpopo has treated 399 cholera patients since November 15th. An additional 101 patients were admitted to hospitals around the province between December 1st and 2nd. Six ... eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2012006 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:53:00 +0100 2012006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2007195&cid=t_105380_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fzimbabwe-exports-cholera-to-neighbors.html The Zimbabwean economy is so bad that it has nothing to export – except its cholera victims. It has plenty of those.According to the country's opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, more than 500 Zimbabweans have died of cholera in an epidemic that has been simmering since August. The World Health Organization is somewhat more conservative, estimating a death toll of 412.It's taken the better part of four months, but the government finally appears to have acknowledged that an epidemic is in full flower. One week ago, the deputy health minister blamed the epidemic on "illegal sanctions" and stated that the situation was under control. And Zimbabwe denied entry visas to a committee of "Elders" – former US President Jimmy Carter, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Graca Machel, th... eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2007195 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:51:00 +0100 2007195 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1834786&cid=t_105380_85_f&fid=36194&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftesstermulo.com%2F2008%2F09%2F26%2Foktoberfest-evening-at-taste-asia%2F 2113 H I actually arrived at around 7 p.m. and there were still few people then.  I first saw Jay, Eric, Robby, Shari, and Ed.  Well, dinner’s served and there’s a Chocolate Fountain (though there are no cream puffs huhu)!  There are more people now and we’re just waiting for program to start. And yeah, plurkers do still have the Great Plurk Name switch hangover and here they are, swapping name tags!  hahaha!  Azrael’s setting up livestream.  More to follow later! 2120 H Program starts!  Kel is one of our hosts for tonight.  And he was called “Faith” because of the name tag!  hehehe!  they’re now calling contestants like Fritz, and Rens… 2121 H Poyt on stage!  they’re going to drink limited edition San Miguel Beer Oktoberfest... Prudence and Madness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1834786 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:19:24 +0100 1834786 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1742819&cid=t_105380_135_f&fid=35246&url=http%3A%2F%2Faids-write.org%2F%3Fp%3D890 Hi All… TLGLA has been accepted into the Ralph’s Community Program! We will now get points which equal $$$$ each time one of our supporters swipes their Ralph’s card or enters their phone number!!!! It’s easy to register… and costs nothing!!! Our NPO number is 90829. • Simply register online at www.ralphs.com , click on community contributions then click on participants. • Be sure to have your Ralph’s Club Card(s) available and register their card with your organization by following the easy online directions. • If you do not have a Ralph’s Club Card, please know that they are available at the customer service desk at any Ralph’s. • Do you use your phone number at the register? Call 800-660-9003 to get your Club Card number. • Members must swipe their... aids-write.org blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1742819 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 08:37:28 +0100 1742819 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1739253&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FqFP19ytiFC0%2F Be warned. This post contains a disparate slew of references to martial arts (kind of in a Kung Fu Panda vein); chocolate (M & M’s, even); the use of the r word in Tropic Thunder; Thailand; lots of flies. (And autism, but you knew that.) No, we didn’t once again see Po the Panda executing his moves against an opponent to get that last pad thai noodle or chocolate bar, with insects buzzing in the background. All the items listed in the first paragraph appear in Chocolate, a martial arts movie from Thailand with an autistic heroine who really knows how to kick her way around. From a review on Film School Rejects: [”Tattooed hottie”—that’s a quote, please note—Zin] gives birth to an autistic girl she names Zen, and we’re treated to another monta... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1739253 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:00:06 +0100 1739253 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1726415&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Ftk_X18bZ1P0%2F “Doesn’t make eye contact”: It’s often noted that autistic individuals don’t do this. Science Daily reports on new research that it’s society and cultural norms that influence how people recognize each other’s faces: Lead researcher Dr Roberto Caldara [of the University of Glasgow] said: “In a series of eye-movement studies, we showed that social experience has an impact on how people look at faces. Specifically we noticed a striking difference in eye movements in Westerners and East Asian observers. We found that Westerners tend to look at specific features on an individual’s face such as the eyes and mouth whereas East Asian observers tend to focus on the nose or the centre of the face which allows a more general view of all the featu... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1726415 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:35:08 +0100 1726415 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1718052&cid=t_105380_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fefoodalert-world-tour-asia-and-africa.html The cost of poor sanitation in developing countries is often overlooked or underestimated. The World Bank reported that Indonesia loses more than $6 billion per year to diseases transmitted by contaminated water and unsanitary practices. According to the WHO, Indonesia, with a total population of some 237 million, suffers 120 million cases of hygiene-related disease – and 50,000 fatalities – annually. These statistics should not be a surprise to anyone who has been following the eFoodAlert World Tour and Water Woes series. But this problem extends far beyond Indonesia's borders. BBC News reported today that the International Water Management Institute has found that untreated sewage is being used to irrigate urban crops in many areas of the developing world. The IWMI has learned tha... eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1718052 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:49:00 +0100 1718052 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1696848&cid=t_105380_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fefoodalert-world-tour-prague-hong-kong.html This phase of our world tour is a bit unusual, in that it includes a North American stop.We start the tour in Alaska, where botulism is endemic in the native community. Alaska saw 10 cases of botulism in 2007, all but one in the southwest part of the state. All 10 cases were traced to traditionally prepared native foods: fermented beluga, fermented beaver tail, fermented seal flipper, seal blubber, whale blubber and fermented fish heads. One of the victims died.From Alaska, we cross the Pacific Ocean to Hong Kong, which is still having problems with its restaurants. The Centre for Food Protection is investigating three separate incidents of food poisoning, encompassing 16 people. The victims, 11 of whom either consulted private doctors or visited a hospital, all ate at a restaurant in the ... eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1696848 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:23:00 +0100 1696848 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1696850&cid=t_105380_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fsmelling-rat.html Travel, we are told, is broadening – to the mind and to the palate. Part of the fun of visiting a new part of the world is to sample the local delicacies.The Indian government is trying to make it easier for tourists in Bihar to sample one of the staple foods of the Musahar community in that town – rat meat. According to an article in the Times of India, the poverty-stricken Musahars catch wild rats in the field to supplement their diet. Rat meat, apparently, is "... rich in protein and tastier than chicken."The government has been encouraging Musahars to farm rats instead of catching them in the wild. The farmed rats could be sold to local hotels, which would then be able to offer rat meat to their more adventurous guests.Rat meat is an inexpensive source of protein for many poorer v... eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1696850 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:35:00 +0100 1696850 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1680123&cid=t_105380_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fwater-woes-asia-africa-and-cholera.html It's a rare day that goes by without a story somewhere in the news about a cholera outbreak in Asia or Africa. In 2007, the World Health Organization received reports of 177,963 cases of cholera – including 4,031 deaths – from 53 countries. These data are not all-inclusive. No cases were reported from Central or South America, and no information was available from the Western Pacific or Central Asia.The culprit is Vibrio cholerae, a rod-shaped bacterium that is spread through contaminated water – including shellfish harvested from contaminated sea beds, produce grown using contaminated irrigation water, or produce washed in contaminated water.Vibrio cholerae infections result in a watery diarrhea, which can vary from mild to severe – sometimes bloody. Severe cases can result in lif... eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1680123 Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:51:00 +0100 1680123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1661260&cid=t_105380_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fwater-woes-asia-and-africa.html The good news, according to a recent World Health Organization report, is that the number of people worldwide with no access to a protected drinking water source has fallen below one billion for the first time. The bad news is that 2.5 billion people – most of them in Asia and Africa – lack access to decent sanitation facilities. And nearly 1.2 billion people still have no alternative than to defecate in the open.In light of these sad statistics, it's no wonder that a new or expanded cholera outbreak – or some other water-borne disease – is reported in Asia or Africa almost daily. Here are some examples:Jaipur India. Three people die – including an eight-year old girl – and 115 people suffer from diarrhea after drinking contaminated water. The drinking water supply became conta... eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1661260 Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:21:00 +0100 1661260 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1657222&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F346860417%2F A positive (I think?) but somewhat puzzling use of the word “autism” in today’s News Track India, in an article about the use of violence and damage to public property by protesters. A number of peaceful ways-silent procession, pickets, demonstration, flag march protest, candlelight protest, hunger strike, signature campaign-can be adopted by a person/community for his voice to be heard by the concerned authority. “Protestors” along with the “brain child” of protest indulged in violent means need to practice autism. They need to look into their conscience. Pause before doing or manoeuvring any such practice! Think about your family! Autism seems to be equated here with peacefulness—with non-violence. Perhaps it’s a bit of a stereotypical use, but after... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1657222 Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:24:01 +0100 1657222 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1582984&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F328211973%2F Autism not a problem for 12-year-old Muhammad Danial Zainuddin. Danial is autistic and was only able to “mumble a few words” when he started school at the age of 6—-at 12, he is a “straight A pupil and one of the creme-de-la-creme of his school.” He also won a Second Place in the the state Special Education Quran Recital competition, the New Straits Times reports. Danial’s achievements speak for themselves and one can only imagine how things might be different if, when hearing autism, more people said (instead of “tragedy,” “death sentence,” “awful,” and the like)— not a problem; lots that can be done, and always lots of hope. Tags: asd, Asia, asperger, autism, autism blog, disabilities blog, disability, Educatio... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1582984 Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:03:41 +0100 1582984 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1564816&cid=t_105380_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Frevisiting-myanmar-eyewitness-report_02.html Yesterday, I posted the first paragraphs of an eyewitness report that was written by a native of Myanmar now living in the United States. This courageous and compassionate person, who I refer to here as "U", traveled to Myanmar with two suitcases full of aid supplies and spent three weeks delivering assistance to villagers in the disaster area.Here is the rest of U's trip report:The Burmese government’s response to the storm has left a lot to be desired and can be described as neglect. Their reaction afterwards was even worse. The first to help those who had suffered, to clear roads and debris so that people who needed help could be reached, and to provide shelter for those in need, was not the government, but those living in the cyclone-hit regions who were fortunate enough to have some... eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1564816 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:00:00 +0100 1564816 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1556724&cid=t_105380_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Frevisiting-myanmar-eyewitness-report.html We haven't been hearing much about Myanmar recently. Its tragedy has been replaced by other – more recent – news: the electoral sham in Zimbabwe, China's preparation for the 2008 Olympics, world food shortages, and escalating petroleum prices.But lack of media attention doesn't equate to an absence of news – or mean that Myanmar's problems have disappeared in some magical way. The status quo is still very much in place.The difficulties encountered by the United Nations, international aid organizations, and foreign governments who wanted to assist survivors of Cyclone Nargis have been reported in great detail. The military junta, which rules Myanmar, first denied needing outside help, then welcomed foreign aid supplies, but insisted on distributing the aid itself.In spite of predictio... eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1556724 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:00:00 +0100 1556724 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1551452&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F321105100%2F I’ve been learning a lot from a recent discussion here about autism genetics. My own interest in the topic arises from what it reveals about how Charlie is linked to us, to our family. While neither Jim’s nor my family has had a child with an autism diagnosis prior to Charlie, we’ve both noted autistic traits in relatives in both of our families. I’m Chinese American on both sides. I’m third-generation; both sets of grandparents emigrated to the US from Toysan County (Toysan is the Cantonese pronunciation of Taishan, the county’s name in Mandarin). All but a few of my very distant relatives are now in the US. Jim is Irish American by way of Hudson County in New Jersey and Brooklyn: Charlie’s Hapa. Nonetheless, I sometimes wonder what it would have ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1551452 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:32:03 +0100 1551452 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1501464&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F307234379%2F The autism epidemic commeth — or, more accurately, it goeth. The threat of such a terrible scourge—–lots of children with autism—is behind the calls for “safer vaccines” and “change the schedule!” by anti/pro-safe vaccine rallyers at Wednesday’s Green Our Vaccines (which acronyms nicely into GOV) rally. Get out those toxins, change that schedule, flush that mercury out of those shots and don’t let it get into our kids’ bodies: If we don’t do this, we’re doomed, untold numbers of still-normal toddlers and yet-to-be-born (and even conceived) children could become……..autistic…….if we don’t so something about those shots, and then we’ll have more autism than anyone can handle or pa... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1501464 Sun, 08 Jun 2008 08:19:07 +0100 1501464 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1455601&cid=t_105380_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fmyanmar-after-storm-honoring-victims.html The government of Myanmar has borrowed a page from China's playbook and has declared three days of mourning for the victims of Cyclone Nargis. In honor of those victims – the dead and the still-living – here are some pictures of Myanmar people in slightly happier times. FACES OF MYANMAR - JANUARY 2008 A monk at home in his monastery in Yangon, near the Reclining Buddha statueThe senior monk at the same monasterySidewalk fruit seller in Yangon's city centerVolunteers cleaning the stone pavement of the Shwedagon Pagoda in YangonVisitors relaxing at the Shwedagon PagodaPublic bus service on the road outside of YangonA group of children on their way to schoolDaily procession of monks near BagoSolitary man - BagoYoung women at the Golden Rock Pagoda "base camp"Myanmar's future rests here (S... eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1455601 Mon, 19 May 2008 21:04:00 +0100 1455601 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1455604&cid=t_105380_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fmyanmar-after-storm-part-6.html The official toll of dead and missing in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis has increased to more than 133,000. Nearly 78,000 people have died, according to the Myanmar government, and more than 55,000 are still unaccounted for.Estimates of the total number of people affected by the cyclone are as high as 3.2 million, based on a computer model of the population distribution in the area. And the International Red Cross has warned repeatedly and urgently that clean water is needed to avert a public health disaster.But we need not worry, because the Myanmar government has announced that there is no outbreak of infectious diseases in the region hit by Cyclone Nargis. And that makes it so.The World Health Organization, however, has confirmed some cases of cholera, but it reports that the number of... eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1455604 Sun, 18 May 2008 18:29:00 +0100 1455604 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1455616&cid=t_105380_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fmyanmar-after-storm-part-5.html It's time to put the needs of the people first.Ever since Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar on May 3rd and decimated the population of the Ayeyarwaddy River Delta, the international community has been trying to help the cyclone victims.And in the aftermath of the storm, the military junta in control of that unfortunate country has responded:by holding a sham referendum to adopt a constitution that cements the junta's hold on power,by refusing to grant entry visas to medical personnel and other aid workers,by insisting on distributing all contributed aid itself,by re-labeling international aid packages with the names of Myanmar senior generals before handing out the packages,by confiscating some of the food aid and replacing it with poor quality substitutes, andby preventing foreigners from goi... eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1455616 Wed, 14 May 2008 12:42:00 +0100 1455616 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1436945&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F288478385%2F There’s been plenty of debate about whether or not there is an epidemic of autism; about whether or not the increase in the prevalence rate of autism (now 1 in 150) is due to our being better able to diagnose and count cases of autism, or whether there is some actual something that can be pointed to that is actually causing more children to become autistic. Recently, I’ve noted mention of an “autism pandemic,” a term which strikes me as a not exactly subtle attempt to make the rise in the prevalence rate of autism seem to be a much more extreme, and scary, phenomenon than various autism organizations claim that it is. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, the definition of an epidemic is disease outbreak in which some or many people in a comm... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1436945 Mon, 12 May 2008 05:51:11 +0100 1436945 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1455620&cid=t_105380_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fmyanmar-after-storm-part-4.html The sky has fallen on the people of Myanmar, and there is no relief in view. It has been raining all day in the hardest-hit part of the Ayeyarwaddy River delta; heavy thunderstorms are predicted to continue for the next three days.Now that the ruling junta has secured – through intimidation and intrigue – a "victory" in its referendum, it has grudgingly inched open the front door of the country to a few aid workers. Supplies have begun clearing through the Yangon airport with greater efficiency, and some boats, trucks and fuel have become available to transport food, medicines and shelters to the victims.At best, however, only a trickle of aid is reaching victims. Part of the problem is the lack of decent roads. Driving in Myanmar is a challenge even under good conditions, and the mass... eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1455620 Sun, 11 May 2008 19:42:00 +0100 1455620 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1455622&cid=t_105380_167_f&fid=36991&url=http%3A%2F%2Fefoodalert.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fmyanmar-after-storm-crisis.html The military government of Myanmar should be congratulated. They are writing the ultimate case study of how to turn a disastrous situation into a complete catastrophe.With more than 1 million of its people homeless, hungry, thirsty and in dire risk of infectious diseases, the military cabal that controls this country has said to the world, "Give us your money, your food, your water, and your medical supplies – but STAY OUT."The United Nations World Food Programme took the unprecedented step of halting aid flights to Myanmar temporarily after the UN was forced to transfer the supplies into government warehouses. The country's leaders denied impounding the supplies, claiming that the government simply wanted to control the distribution of food itself. The UN has since announced that it wil... eFoodAlert.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1455622 Fri, 09 May 2008 23:00:00 +0100 1455622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1417882&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F282377329%2F That’s the question I keep seeming to run into among parents: Where to live to get the best possible services for an autistic child? Over at About.com, Lisa Jo Rudy asks where should families move for better autism resources and notes that “in the United States, autism resources vary radically from state to state, county to county, and even town to town.” (She notes that she has heard “good things” about New Jersey (where we live now; my husband is a native); Minnesota (where Charlie was diagnosed); and North Carolina (where Charlie has yet to visit….). Today’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution also asks “where are the best schools for autism around Atlanta.” And needless to say the search for a school to educate autistic children is hardly ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1417882 Fri, 02 May 2008 21:58:16 +0100 1417882 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1402357&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F278938820%2F The Star (Malaysia) notes that 1 in 625 Malaysian children is autistic, which would be a much lower prevalence rate than the 1 in 150 figure among children in the US. But some think otherwise: If this were to be taken as a standard in Malaysia, there would be more than 3,000 new cases each year nationwide. Said [National Autism Society of Malaysia (Nasom) chairman Teh Beng Choon]: “The question is how different are we in Malaysia from the US? That’s a pretty scary number. Everyone should be concerned.” Dr Hasnah Toran, a senior lecturer in Early Intervention, Autism and Assessment from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Education Faculty, believed the situation in Malaysia is closer to that of the US as revealed by the recent research. “There are various problems with the survey co... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1402357 Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:30:53 +0100 1402357 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1322387&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F256911513%2F A mother writes about getting a call from the Centers for Disease Control about her daughter’s vaccinations. Her response leads to a pause at the other end of the line: What did she say……some strongly worded statement about a link between vaccines and autism? What this mother—-who is writer Peggy Orenstein in the March 23rd New York Times magazine—-says to the CDC researcher is this: “Caucasian and Asian” It’s Orenstein’s daughter being biracial that stumps the CDC researcher. The title of Orenstein’s essay is Mixed Messenger; her essay is about Barack Obama who, while he has “increasingly positioned himself as a black man,” is “the first biracial candidate.” Noting that the Senator was born in Hawaii, &#82... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1322387 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:00:37 +0100 1322387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1298768&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F250529098%2F There was a time (mercifully brief) when Charlie would only eat chocolate chip cookies. This was back in the spring of 1999: We had just taken him (permanently, though we did not yet know it) out of daycare, where he was known to “carbo load” on biscuits, pancakes, and the like. We were living in St. Paul, Minnesota, and, while Charlie had yet to receive his official diagnosis of autism, Jim and I felt quite certain that this was inevitable and had already begun to read too many books and looks at too many websites. We had soon discovered the gluten-free casein-free diet and, within days, cleared the kitchen of anything with flour or wheat or dairy in it. Jenny McCarthy’s recent and widely reported on claims about her son’s “recovery” from autism have pu... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1298768 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 04:11:26 +0100 1298768 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1219937&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F232276421%2F In my son Charlie’s classroom, three out of the five students (including him) are Asian and, from noting attendance at community activities for special needs children, there are a lot of Asian families with special needs children in our school district. The district has gained recognition for excellent schools for all students and the Asian student population has been growing in the past few years—-Charlie is half-Chinese American and this is the first time he has been among other Asian students, and I think he’s it (though Charlie, being half-Irish American, is taller than by a head or than the other two Asian boys, though Charlie is younger than them). I was born in California (as were both of my parents); still, when Charlie was first diagnosed, an evaluator asked if w... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1219937 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 18:33:18 +0100 1219937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1146459&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F215661146%2F 自閉症, zi bi zheng (formed of the three words “self,” shut/close,” “obstruction”) is the Mandarin for “autism,” with the suggestion that it is a condition in which the self is withdrawn, shut and closed up in itself. A January 9th Wall Street Journal article profiles the efforts of Ma Chen to create and fund a school and other efforts to help autistic children (thanks to Mike Stanton at Action for Autism for highlighting this). Ma’s daughter, Yu Miao, was born in 2000 and has autism. The China Disabled Persons’ Federation estimates that 104,000 children in China have learning disabilities, mostly autism, but the number is probably higher. There are few schools for autistic children in China: Go here to read about the Kangda Training Center in Zhengzhou and h... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1146459 Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:17:18 +0100 1146459 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1061214&cid=t_105380_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F192931728%2F This is hardly surprising, given the overwhelming desire to take advantage of lower costs in such places as China, for example. During an investor presentation in Hong Kong last night, Pfizer officials say they want to outsource as much as 30 percent of its manufacturing, mostly to Asia, according to Dow Jones. Pfizer currently outsources about 15 percent of its manufacturing, but wants to double that figure, as part of its ongoing cost cutting measures, although no timetable was given, or specific Asian countries named. Given the problems with corruption and toxic goods coming out of China, drugmakers are generally loathe to publicly embrace the country as a place to make their meds. AstraZeneca, for example, embarassed itself this fall by trying to deny such plans. Earlier this year, Pfi... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1061214 Fri, 30 Nov 2007 12:35:03 +0100 1061214 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1048514&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F189854316%2F Growing up in a suburb outside of the Bay Area in California in the 1970s, I knew I wasn’t normal. I’m Chinese American—-all of my grandparents were born in Southern China—and I was the only Asian student in my classes. Nobody else had black hair or a last name like “Chew.” My family celebrated the usual American holidays, plus Chinese ones: The New Year (and closing out the Old Year, and sweeping in the new one), and Ching Ming day for sweeping one’s ancestors’ graves, and various seasonal festivals, and Kwan Yin’s birthday. (And everyone’s birthday and Chinese birthday—-that’s another subject.) My grandmother, Ngin-Ngin, was a fabulous cook. There was bitter melon (fu gwa) in black bean sauce, hom yee (salted fish... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1048514 Sat, 24 Nov 2007 16:19:11 +0100 1048514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1031121&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F185572402%2F Autism no obstacle to scoring As. Well of course not! Kudos to 13-year-old S. Vishnudev, who is autistic, for scoring A’s in Science and English in the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR), a national examination taken by students in Malaysia. Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1031121 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 03:51:26 +0100 1031121 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=959801&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F171500084%2F With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child is a new manga by Keiko Tobe about a mother, Sachiko, and her efforts to take care of her autistic son, Hikaru. MangaBlog notes that, while With the Light attempts to convey a definite educational message, it is also entertaining. The story seems to be told mostly from the perspective of Sachiko as the mother of an autistic child, while less attention is given to Hikaru’s own perspective. In particular, MangaBlog points out that Tobe uses the manga format to good effect: Interestingly, the two characters drawn in classic big-eyed manga style are Sachiko and Hikaru, but the effects are very different: Sachiko is usually trembling with emotion, while Hikaru is usually looking off to the side or staring into space. Most of the adults are drawn ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=959801 Thu, 18 Oct 2007 08:29:10 +0100 959801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=959802&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F171397092%2F 23-year-old Andrew Chew (no relation to myself) learned to draw using a pencil on paper when he was six. He had stopped talking when he was four years old and started again at the age of 16, the October 18th The Star (Malaysia) reports. He paints with watercolors and also uses recycled materials and toothpicks; he can look at a picture for five minutes and then reproduce it. The Star has a photo of Chew and one of his artworks, and also describes two other 13-year-old autistic artists, Chew Siew Chong and Pua Zhe Xuan, who often paints rainbows in his paintings. My son Charlie does not draw or paint. But he has long been drawn to colors; a favorite topic of conversation between us is to go over the names of his various therapists, teachers, and (as of this afternoon) his neurologist and no... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=959802 Thu, 18 Oct 2007 02:10:24 +0100 959802 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853150&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F154155372%2F If you thought from reading the title that this blog has become, for one post, a travelogue, I am afraid that you thought wrong: This is a post about a two-fold “miracle cure” for autism, via horseback riding and shamans. While both of these are described (in today’s Times Online and on a website) as the latest, newest, breakthough in “reaching” autistic children, some assumptions of autistic children as being “trapped” in a private shell and unreachable, and as being in need of getting autism out of them, are implied, and raise questions about these therapies’ efficacy. 5-year-old Rowan Isaacson started talking not, as noted in the Times Online, after the “usual prescription” of therapies and treatments (”speech and occupat... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853150 Sun, 09 Sep 2007 10:56:43 +0100 853150 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=797976&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F144013185%2F Back on July 18th, Victoria Elizaga left a comment on the post Autism Consciousness Week in the Philippines. Victoria, I regret it has taken me so long to respond—-here is the comment: “Hello everyone! I’m marrid to a Phillipeno and our youngest has just been diagnosed with ADHA. My mother and I both have dyslexia to some some exent, and I know it is all related. I work with children and know them with ADHA, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and Autism’s of all sorts. My problem is…my husband says there’s no such thing. When he grew up in the Phillipeans no-one had them…it’s all in the head…they are just lazy! Everyone can spell, and our child ’s just a bit naughty…How can I convince him that this does not mean our child is unitelligent…far from it, or that he has a “d... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=797976 Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:02:08 +0100 797976 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=784115&cid=t_105380_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F141491565%2F That’s the indication after interviews were conducted with 185 execs from different drugmakers, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers. More of just about every activity will shift over there, but particularly a larger portion of research and development, and manufacturing. The survey participants, by the way, included execs from big pharma as well as local players with operations in China, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. “I don’t see anything that will stem this tide. It’s a trend. It’s just a question of when,” says Dan Bartholomew, a senior managing director who heads PwC’s life sciences practice on the west coast. “Although I could see certain research activities, such as the human genome, ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=784115 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 12:10:24 +0100 784115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=588458&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F114004074%2F Today was an all-autism all-the-time kind of day: Another professor at my college came into the classroom where I erasing Latin conjugations from the dry erase board and we started to talk about our kids; she and I both started teaching at our school at the same time and last year she saw me run out more than once from a new faculty seminar in a state of great haste, after a frantic phone call from the bus driver or the babysitter. “When did you know he was autistic?” she asked and I mentioned how Charlie was diagnosed just around the time of his second birthday, and my sense that now—due to increased understanding of the very early autism phenotype—-he might well have been diagnosed in his first year. Another conversation, this time with a former student, ensued af... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=588458 Fri, 04 May 2007 06:41:26 +0100 588458 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=577357&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F112681633%2F The story of Marcus Fiesel—the three-year-old boy who died in August of 2006—seems to just keep getting sadder. Marcus was left bound up in a closet while his foster parents, Dave and Liz Carroll, went to attend a family reunion in Kentucky, accompanied by Amy Baker, “their live-in girlfriend,” and the family dog, as reported in the April 28th Middletown Journal. Marcus is described as “developmentally disabled”; it has been suggested that he had autism or possibly Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). Now Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters is urging Marcus’ biological mother, Donna Trevino, to claim his remains and bury him. According to Deters, Trevino has refused an offer from the county to oversee funeral services for Marcus and worked instead with... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=577357 Sat, 28 Apr 2007 14:44:34 +0100 577357 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=575572&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F112560783%2F I’ve been puzzling over the title of an article in the Student Operated Press by Peter Giordano: Autism May Be Coming to a Home Near You—-Maybe Even Yours. The wording sends echoes of some blockbuster movie “coming to a theater near you soon” (so autism coming into one’s home would be positive?), but there is also a sense of something a bit sinister (as is autism is going to make its way, home-invader style, into your house, so look out……). For those of us who have autism very much in the house already, what I like to call the Autism Reality Show is nothing to be afraid of, and makes for some pretty good viewing, too. (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=575572 Sat, 28 Apr 2007 00:04:19 +0100 575572 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=574266&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F112491609%2F Talk to the Chos is the title of an op-ed by Dave Cullen in today’s New York Times. Cullen, who is writing a book about the Columbine High killers, notes a sad—a terrible irony: Fourteen days before Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 people at Virginia Tech, “[a] judge ruled …… that depositions by the parents of the gunmen in the 1999 Columbine school shootings would remain sealed until 2027.” Cullen writes: . It would be tragic to also have to wait 28 years to hear from the family of Seung-Hui Cho, the killer at Virginia Tech. But the tense legal standoff that led to the Columbine ruling is likely to repeat itself in Virginia if we don’t quickly devise an alternative. In the Columbine case, as in Virginia Tech, the killers’ families went into seclusion and rel... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=574266 Fri, 27 Apr 2007 18:10:20 +0100 574266 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=520608&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F106566249%2F Autism is everywhere—–by which I do not mean that, this being April and therefore Autism Awareness Month, we are hearing about autism—what it is and what to do about it—-everytime one turns around, gets on the internet, watches a popular TV show. By “autism is everywhere,” I mean that autism is a global phenomenon. Even though “most experts would……agree that nearly all their knowledge about autism spectrum disorders is based on research in North America and the United Kingdom and that little is known about autism in other parts of the world,” it is indeed the case that “autism is a brain disorder that can affect anyone in any culture”; countries like China and India—countries with huge populations—-are just... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=520608 Wed, 04 Apr 2007 12:37:54 +0100 520608 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=508592&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F105089645%2F “What is Chinese tradition and what is the movies?” writes Maxine Hong Kingston at the beginning of The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts, which was published 30 years ago last fall. To restate the question in words more obviously connected to this this blog: What is autism and what is the movies? Or: How autistic is “Rainman”? Let me back up a bit. The “genius” of The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts is described by Jess Row in a March 27th essay on Slate that highlights the author’s “deliberately” acknowledging that to write autobiography is to stand at the borderline between memory and invention. Like the “ghosts” in its subtitle (the word refers to the white Americans around whom Kingst... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=508592 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 06:42:25 +0100 508592 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=487727&cid=t_105380_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F103069984%2F “Comparing apples and automobiles”: That is how one scientist describes what it is like to compare current prevalence rates for autism (1 in 150) to past, older rates. In an interview in the March 20th Bloomberg News, anthropologist Roy Richard Grinker notes that comparing past and present rates of autism is also like “comparing apples and oranges” due to “different methods to study autism, different methods to count it, different definitions.” Grinker, author of Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism, speaks about why the higher rates do not “necessarily mean there’s a true rise”; about “autisms”; about his response to his daughter Isabel being diagnosed with autism in 1994 (”getting the diagnosis of autism ga... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=487727 Tue, 20 Mar 2007 15:00:04 +0100 487727