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 'epidemic'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:52:06 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158994&cid=t_102720_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdrug-shown-to-protect-obese-mice-from-the-diseases-of-obesity%2F2011.08.25 I usually choose not to write about the “new new scientific thing” that gets picked up by the press,  because early research is usually not reproducible and good science takes a long time to validate as true.  But since we know that mice and rats that are kept on low-calorie diets live 30% longer (and healthier) than their fat cohorts, I was interested in a new research compound, SRT-1720,  that was shown to protect obese mice from diseases of obesity.  Fat mice lived 44% longer if they were given this drug. The “designer” drug works by (more…) *This blog post was originally published at EverythingHealth* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158994 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +0100 5158994 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062244&cid=t_102720_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fsome-young-europeans-are-starting-to-eat-like-americans%2F2011.07.24 For years I have touted the health benefits of the “Mediterranean Diet” and encouraged patients to eat like the Europeans.   Fresh farm vegetables, olive oil, fish and red wine have been linked with longevity and good health.  I just read in NPR news that young Italians are forgoing the eating patterns of their elders and are imitating the “U.S. diet”.  The result is soaring obesity, just like in the United States. According the the article, young Italians ages 6-12 are sitting in front of the TV and are eating fast foods and soda.  In just three generations, the eating habits and activity of kids has changed from their healthy grandparents.  Italian health officials say obesity is reaching epidemic proportions. Part of the diet changes are a result of (more&#... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062244 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 21:00:00 +0100 5062244 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050574&cid=t_102720_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmore-bad-news-about-the-obesity-epidemic-in-america%2F2011.07.22 A report released recently by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Trust for America’s Health issued some grim warnings about the current and future state of the U.S.’s obesity epidemic. Bluntly titled “F is for fat: How obesity threatens America’s future 2011,” the report found that obesity rates rose in 16 states since 2010 and that more than 30% of people are obese in 12 states, compared with one state just four years ago. The South is still the worst-faring region—nine out of 10 states with the highest obesity rates are located there. The report compared today’s data with data from 20 years ago, when no state’s obesity rate exceeded 15%. Now, only one state—Colorado—has a rate below 20%. The report also points out that d... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050574 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0100 5050574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050914&cid=t_102720_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FO712DJOvAhQ%2F Very interesting new data reinforcing two main themes we have been analyzing for a while: 1) We better start paying serious attention (and R&D dollars) to lifestyle-based and non-invasive cognitive and emotional health interventions, which are mostly ignored in favor of invasive, drug-based options 2) Interventions will need to be personalized. The study below analyzes data at the country level, but the same logic applies to the individual level Many fear Alzheimer’s, want to be tested: survey (Reuters): - “The telephone survey of 2,678 adults aged 18 and older in the United States, France, Germany, Spain and Poland was conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and Alzheimer Europe, with funding by Bayer AG” - “When asked to identify the most feared disea... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050914 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:26:15 +0100 5050914 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4820923&cid=t_102720_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F12%2Fthe-stupid-complex%2F Nowhere in the DSM-IV does it mention “the stupid complex,” but I’m telling you it’s an epidemic these days. I used to suffer in silence. But ever since I’ve come out of the closet, I swear I find a fellow sufferer every day. At my last therapy session, I was telling her how scared I was that everyone was going to find out that I was inherently stupid. She laughed out loud and said, “Do you know how many times I hear that a day?” Oh. Good. Then it’s not just me. I don’t know when it started. It could be a result of being a twin, and needing to form a sense of identity separate from my sister. Since she stole “tomboy” early on, I became “the brain,” except that mine didn’t work, but no one really knew that but me. And I was able to keep it a secret all throug... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4820923 Thu, 12 May 2011 15:35:01 +0100 4820923 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4438887&cid=t_102720_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmanaging-diabetes-in-real-time%2F2011.02.05 The cost of managing chronic diseases is the largest portion of healthcare expenditures in developed countries. For example, the prevalence of adult acquired diabetes has been rising in the United States, in concert with increasing rates obesity. The CDC has termed it an “epidemic,” especially in light of the massive costs incurred by the healthcare system due to diabetes. The deleterious health effects of many chronic conditions can be diminished by behavior modifications. While few would underestimate the difficulty of having patients lose weight or exercise more, good management of blood sugar in diabetes is both objectively measurable and strongly correlated with reduced end-organ damage. This is among the reasons why Research2Guidance has recently nominated diabetes as the conditi... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4438887 Sat, 05 Feb 2011 14:00:52 +0100 4438887 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4429018&cid=t_102720_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-food-culture-change-is-upon-us%2F2011.02.02 As a pediatric endocrinologist, I am on the frontline of the childhood obesity epidemic. In fact, I am now seeing 100-pound two year olds and 150-pound three-year-old kids in my clinic and I am concerned. The obesity epidemic is perpetuated by a processed food-culture that lacks healthier local whole foods.    Diets dominated by processed foods (refined carbohydrates with high fat- and/or high-sugar content and artificial ingredients) over whole foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains) spur more obesity and diabetes, and have even been shown to negatively change gene expression of the offspring during pregnancy. All-processed ingredients reflect the balance of desirable factors in the modern way of life such as shelf life (long), taste (sweet), texture (fat) convenience (high), and pric... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4429018 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 21:00:50 +0100 4429018 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4394539&cid=t_102720_109_f&fid=38951&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcarlatpsychiatry.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fanatomy-of-epidemic-carlat-take-part-2.html In this study, Harrow and colleagues identified 64 patients with schizophrenia and reinterviewed them five times over the next 15 years. At the final 15 year follow up, 64% of the patients who were taking antipsychotics still had psychotic symptoms, whereas only 28% of those not taking antipsychotics had such symptoms. What does this mean? Whitaker sees this as evidence that antipsychotics worsen mental illness. I see it differently. I suspect that the patients still taking antipsychotics after 15 years had more severe cases of schizophrenia to begin with, and therefore required more prolonged treatment with medications. The medication didn't cause the psychosis--the psychosis caused patients to still need the medications. Over the last few days, I've spent many hours thinking and wri... The Carlat Psychiatry Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4394539 Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:00:00 +0100 4394539 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4372046&cid=t_102720_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fsimple-blood-test-for-cancer-breakthrough-or-nightmare%2F2011.01.19 That’s the question Dartmouth’s Dr. Gil Welch asks in a column on the CNN website. He reflects on [recent] news about a test in development that might find a single cancer cell among a billion healthy ones — as so many news stories framed it. Welch analyzes: “But it’s not that simple. The test could just as easily start a cancer epidemic. … Most assume there are no downsides to looking for things to be wrong. But the truth is that early diagnosis is a double-edged sword. While it has the potential to help some, it always has a hidden side-effect: overdiagnosis, the detection of abnormalities that are not destined to ever bother people in their lifetime. Becoming a patient unnecessarily has real human costs. There’s the anxiety of being told you ar... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4372046 Wed, 19 Jan 2011 18:00:29 +0100 4372046 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4343127&cid=t_102720_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Finfluenza-its-not-just-the-flu%2F2011.01.13 One of our readers suggested that I review the book The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History, by John M. Barry. It’s not a new book (it was published in 2004) but it is very pertinent to several of the issues that we have been discussing on this blog, especially in regards to the current anti-vaccine movement. It’s well worth reading for its historical insights, for its illumination of the scientific method, and for its accurate reporting of what science has learned about influenza. In the great flu epidemic of 1918, influenza killed as many people in 24 weeks as AIDS has killed in 24 years. It’s hard to even imagine what that must have been like, but this book helps us imagine it. It tells horror stories: Children found alone and starving beside the cor... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4343127 Thu, 13 Jan 2011 20:00:51 +0100 4343127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4205933&cid=t_102720_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fobesity-epidemic-solved-the-second-stomach%2F2010.11.27 Dr. Steve Brule (aka John C. Reilly) makes medical history by solving America’s obesity epidemic with a groundbreaking new operation. Dr. Oz, step aside – Brules rules! *This blog post was originally published at tbtam* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4205933 Sat, 27 Nov 2010 19:00:24 +0100 4205933 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4197142&cid=t_102720_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F23%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-november-23-2010%2F Gratitude. It’s a funny word, isn’t it? Being thankful used to make me cringe because I thought of it as an obligatory handwritten note or a required childhood greeting following birthdays and holidays and immediately after, “Hello.” But as I grew older, the words, “thank you,” and “gratitude” had a lot more meaning. You could say a powerful one at that. When I started to record what I was grateful for on any given day or send a note or even just an email to those who I was thankful for, it had a surprising effect. More than just ridding myself of childhood guilty from the expected etiquette of please and thank you, it changed the way I perceived the world and my role in it. It meant that the difficulties in my life had a purpose. It meant th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4197142 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 12:36:16 +0100 4197142 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4018180&cid=t_102720_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fan-obesity-causing-virus%2F2010.09.29 Finally, the answer to the obesity epidemic. [According to the LA Times], it’s a virus: New evidence indicates that children who are exposed to a virus called adenovirus-36 are more likely to be obese than those who are not exposed to it, and to be heavier than other obese kids who were not exposed to it, researchers said this week. The virus…is one of 10 bacteria and viruses that have been associated with a propensity for putting on plural poundage. Maybe this explains why I and two of my sisters all became fat in the same year. Well, that — combined with the fact that we had just moved to a new neighborhood where there were no kids we knew to play outside with, and we started taking a bus to school instead of walking, and “Dark Shadows” had just started, leadi... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4018180 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 20:00:08 +0100 4018180 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3993910&cid=t_102720_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcan-social-networks-predict-epidemics%2F2010.09.21 Nicholas Christakis talks about how social networks predict epidemics in a TEDMED presentation: After mapping humans’ intricate social networks, Nicholas Christakis and colleague James Fowler began investigating how this information could better our lives. Now, he reveals his hot-off-the-press findings: These networks can be used to detect epidemics earlier than ever, from the spread of innovative ideas to risky behaviors to viruses (like H1N1). *This blog post was originally published at ScienceRoll* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3993910 Tue, 21 Sep 2010 18:00:10 +0100 3993910 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3987095&cid=t_102720_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F21%2Fproof-positive-not-negatively-oriented-therapy-the-cure-for-happiness%2F “Misery loves company and our company loves misery.” –I.M. Kidding, NOT founder The happiness movement has reached epidemic proportions. It is now constantly in the news, and more blogs, journals and websites are featuring outcome studies indicating that happiness is within our grasp. Too many scientists, teachers and practitioners are pointing the way to cheerfulness. Where is it all going to end? Right here. Negatively Oriented Therapy (NOT) is specifically designed to blunt and reverse happiness. Here is an excerpt from a book we are working on that we have little or no hope of getting published. Stumbling on Misery is not likely to see the light of day. But this would be the introduction. Here are the top 10 ways to get you into, or help you maintain, a foul mood. Dwell on... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3987095 Tue, 21 Sep 2010 10:25:10 +0100 3987095 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3920900&cid=t_102720_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F31%2Fintroducing-an-epidemic-of-addiction%2F I’m pleased today to introduce our newest blog, Epidemic of Addiction, with Dr. Jeffrey Junig. Addictions to substances — like alcohol, cocaine, opioids, prescription drugs and other kinds of drugs — remain a serious problem in modern society. It’s a telling sign that society pays little attention to drug addicts, believing that theirs is a self-made bed in which to lie upon. But like any mental illness, addiction is not something a person ever asks for. Addiction often creeps up on a person as they’re living their everyday lives, starting out not so much as a problem at first. It can quickly snowball, though, and become a problem before a person ever realizes it. As Dr. Junig says in his introduction, “This blog will explore the psychology of addictive... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3920900 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:27:03 +0100 3920900 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3753853&cid=t_102720_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2FrzZFIXGQUSU%2F This article is contributed by Susan White, who regularly writes on the subject of online radiology technician schools. She invites your questions, comments at her email address: susan.white33@gmail.com) addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fmedicineandman.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F07%2F14%2Fguest-post-fighting-fat-with-drugs-%25e2%2580%2593-is-it-worth-it%2F'; addthis_title = 'Guest+Post%3A+Fighting+Fat+with+Drugs+%E2%80%93+Is+it+Worth+It%3F'; addthis_pub = ''; (Source: Medicine and Man) Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3753853 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:36:41 +0100 3753853 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595587&cid=t_102720_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-epidemic-of-sedentary-behavior%2F2010.05.25 “I never worry about action, but only about inaction.”  — Winston Churchill Winston Churchill was right: Experts are saying sedentary behavior is an epidemic, with the resulting health effects potentially devastating. Lack of muscular activity is associated with higher incidence of obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer, as well as a heightened risk of death. And this is regardless of one’s level of structured physical exercise, according to the authors of an article published [recently] in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The team from Stockholm, Sweden, says that sedentary behavior has become synonymous with lack of exercise, but that this is inaccurate and misleading. Rather, sedentary behavior should be defined as whole body muscular inactivity... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595587 Tue, 25 May 2010 12:00:32 +0100 3595587 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3566661&cid=t_102720_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F14%2Fdrunk-online-shopping%2F Do you engage in drunk online shopping? You apparently are not alone. Alcohol decreases our inhibitions, and removes that rational switch that normally intercedes between our emotional selves and a particular behavior. That’s why people drink in social situations — it makes it easier to engage in social activities without worrying about what others think of you or over-analyzing the situation. Ki Mae Heussner has the story about drunk shopping online, over at ABC News. Drunk shopping is when you’ve had a little bit to drink, your inhibitions are down, and you decide to make a purchase or two that maybe you didn’t really need. There hasn’t been any research done on this phenomenon yet, but we do have anecdotal evidence that drunk shopping online is something m... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3566661 Fri, 14 May 2010 17:40:26 +0100 3566661 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3502807&cid=t_102720_93_f&fid=35707&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHemodynamics%2F%7E3%2FWdRyLKdumis%2F1996-protease-inhibitors-were-confusing.html For my zine, I wrote this; although my life changed in other ways shortly afterwards, and somehow that also meant that I stopped publishing my zine. Those were in the days before blogs, children; in the days of photocopiers when self-published writers had to go to the Leather Tongue video store and drop off five copies of the zine for the magazine rack, in hopes that there might be only two when they returned a month later.Not long after this I ended up going to work for an HIV vaccine research group, which restored my sense of urgency. It also stalled the question of doctor or account planner (see previous 1996 post); then I learned immunology, did some needle exchange, and with much more excitement and no inertia, I decided to become a doctor.October 14, 1996At my job [at an HIV preventi... hemodynamics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3502807 Sun, 25 Apr 2010 05:26:00 +0100 3502807 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3366441&cid=t_102720_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2FkjCHziS7Fpo%2F I sometimes get the sense that there is a parallel universe besides this one, and I am not sure which one is real.  In one, the kids grow up safely, and every premature death is cause for alarm that generates immediate effective action by the community.  In the other universe, kids in their teens are dying in ever-increasing numbers, and only their family members and a few close friends react with alarm.  After a few weeks each death is forgotten and life goes on–  for some.  The parents and siblings of the children who lose their lives somehow stumble forward, living the rest of their with the horrible realization of this second universe–  the one that they didn’t know about until it was forced upon them. My heart goes out to any parent who has found the way to thi... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3366441 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:06:20 +0100 3366441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3363827&cid=t_102720_151_f&fid=36896&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSuboxoneTalkZone%2F%7E3%2FkjCHziS7Fpo%2F I sometimes get the sense that there is a parallel universe besides this one, and I am not sure which one is real.  In one, the kids grow up safely, and every premature death is cause for alarm that generates immediate effective action by the community.  In the other universe, kids in their teens are dying in ever-increasing numbers, and only their family members and a few close friends react with alarm.  After a few weeks each death is forgotten and life goes on–  for some.  The parents and siblings of the children who lose their lives somehow stumble forward, living the rest of their with the horrible realization of this second universe–  the one that they didn’t know about until it was forced upon them. My heart goes out to any parent who has found the way to thi... Suboxone Talk Zone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3363827 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:06:20 +0100 3363827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3331524&cid=t_102720_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2010%2F03%2Frethinking-a-%25e2%2580%2598cure%25e2%2580%2599-for-diabetes.html Dan Hurley, award-winning journalist and author of the new book Diabetes Rising is turning out to have some controversial views. He certainly thinks about Type 1 diabetes — which he’s lived with himself for 34 years — in different terms than I do; he’s very focused on causes and prevention, while I’m just trying to [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3331524 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:00:04 +0100 3331524 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3059364&cid=t_102720_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FnChi-DNuUM4%2F When will the 2009 swine-origin influenza virus become a seasonal strain? While prediction is very hard, especially of the future (at least according to Yogi Berra), examining past pandemics can be informative. The 1968 pandemic began with the emergence of a novel H3N2 influenza virus in Hong Kong in July 1968. First isolates (stars) were obtained globally throughout the summer. The previous seasonal H2N2 strain was last isolated in August 1968 in Australia and was subsequently not seen again. There were sporadic H3N2 outbreaks for several months (hatched lines). Epidemic spread (solid lines) ensued in the northern hemisphere throughout the winter, and then ceased in the spring of 1969. In the southern hemisphere the first epidemic occurred from January through October. There were second ... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3059364 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:17:32 +0100 3059364 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2927505&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FHZIPU1gHIVo%2F Slate’s Erica Westly takes an interesting look at the increasing incidence of Asperger’s as a legal defense, citing the recent headline case of British computer whiz Gary McKinnon, who hacked into almost 100 U.S. government and NASA computers after becoming obsessed with the United States covering up UFO contact. “Criminal defendants in the United States have been using similar tactics with varying degrees of success in recent years,” Westly writes. “In fact, it’s not all that rare for criminal defendants with Asperger’s to argue for leniency in cases of computer fraud, sexual misconduct, and murder. Three years ago, the defense even made its way into an episode of ‘Boston Legal.’” Photo/D Sharon Pruitt (Pink Sherbet Photograph... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2927505 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:55:50 +0100 2927505 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2894525&cid=t_102720_101_f&fid=38969&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheemtspot.com%2F2009%2F10%2F15%2Fwhat-is-a-pandemic-anyway%2F This pandemic word has been getting tossed around a bunch in the media lately. Ever since the World Health Organiztion started raising the pandemic alert level back in April of 2009 the media started tossing the P word out there like it was a bad cliche or a Geiko commercial. But what is a pandemic anyway? What makes one disease a pandemic and another one a run of the mill epidemic? To answer that question lets start with that other, over-used media phrase “epidemic“. Epidemics are all about predictability. (Not rate of spread or numbers of individuals effected.) So lets say you’re a run of the mill influenza virus and you’re off doing your seasonal influenza thing. The Centers for Disease Control may predict that you’ll infect 8.2-12.9% of the populatio... The EMT Spot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2894525 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:00:34 +0100 2894525 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2871934&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FiVY-x8EReD8%2F The golden spike (or, as Jill says and I wish I’d thought of this, “100 is the new 160″) has unleashed a crop of opinions in the general media on autism’s present and future impact — and, indeed, if the “real” numbers have risen at all. “Autism is on the rise — or is it?’ wonders Newsweek (”The new data has everyone who cares about autism abuzz. But, as with so many issues connected to the disorder, no one can quite agree on what it means … “). The Los Angeles Times seems have interpreted the new numbers chiefly by averaging the affected ages at 8, and an opinion piece in The Boston Globe and on Boston.com maintains that awareness can’t be the sole reason for the seemingly overnight doubling. Even bigger m... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2871934 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:30:48 +0100 2871934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2865859&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FBHoJmndcGno%2F The Centers for Disease Control now says that 1 in 100 children has autism. Some of the growth is likely spurred by a change in terminology: children who once would have been diagnosed as “emotionally disturbed” or “mentally retarded” are now notches on the autism spectrum. On The Atlantic’s website, there’s an eye-opening piece that looks behind the statistics and points out that along with the surge in diagnosis comes a wave of potential clients for services and supports that may not be available for anything less than a determination of full-on autism. Photo courtesy of D Sharon Pruitt (flickr.com) Forget fuzzy terms like “processing disorder” or nonspecific developmental delay. The word “autism” is what gets funded services fo... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2865859 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:34:34 +0100 2865859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2862681&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FxKGrioHk0aA%2F Imagine if some important number doubled overnight: Your rent, your car payment, your taxes, your salary (or unemployment benefits), your health insurance premiums (or the number of people who think healthcare reform is only common sense). Imagine the impact of doubling. Well, on Friday the numbers stood at 1 in 160. This morning, the government proclaims, the numbers are actually closer to 1 in 100 children. That’s a spike that’s going to look awfully impressive on some chart in a history book a century (or 160 years) from now. Photo courtesy of James Cridland (flickr.com) Greater awareness, broader definitions and diagnoses in younger children may explain some of the increase, federal health officials said. “The concern here is that buried in these numbers is a true i... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2862681 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:36:15 +0100 2862681 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2828408&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FZBtBzUP6poc%2F The U.K.’s NHS Information Centre, citing autism rates among British adults as 1:100 and identical to the rate in children in that country, has said that the MMR vaccine does not cause autism. If it did, the centre maintains, rates among children would be higher since the MMR has only been available since the early 1990s. Stipulating that the sample size was small and any conclusions “need to be tempered with caution,” the report suggests that despite popular perceptions prevalence of ASD remains broadly level across all age bands. According to the findings, while 1% of adults had an ASD, the rate for men was higher (1.8%) than for women (0.2%), which was in line with studies among child populations. The study also found many of these adults are failing to get the diagnos... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2828408 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:00:47 +0100 2828408 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2859169&cid=t_102720_167_f&fid=37833&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnutrition.edublogs.org%2F2009%2F09%2F20%2Fresearch-links-soda-to-obesity%2F A new study c ommissioned by the California Center for Public Health Advocacy (CCPHA) is provides scientific evidence of the direct contribution of sugar-sweetened beverages to California’s $41 billion obesity epidemic. Researchers at UCLA, lead by Susan Babey, examined sugary drinks and their effect on state spending and consumers’ health published in the report, Bubbling Over: Soda Consumption and Its Link to Obesity in California.  Babey pointed out: Soda is cheap, sweet and irresistibly marketed to teens.  Not enough teens know about the health and dietary risks of drinking huge quantities of what is essentially liquid sugar. Hear what Dr. Harold Goldstein, another study author and executive director for CCPHA has to say about the study and their findings. To get to his... Nutrition and Wellness Biology 50 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2859169 Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:05:35 +0100 2859169 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2758023&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FTOfY2x_U2bQ%2F Owner and operator Lisa Witte, 29 and diagnosed at age 2 with autism, has cut a place for herself in the world at Lisa’s Quality Rags, based in Wyoming, Mich. Witte can’t read, write or talk beyond saying, “Hi, I’m Lisa,” and sometimes parroting what others say (sounds like Alex), but she’s turned a decade and a half of training by Goodwill Industries into a profitable business. She began by taking clothes out of boxes and putting them on hangers, but her aide soon saw she could do a lot more, becoming by last summer a veteran rag cutter, producing half a ton of rags monthly. When Goodwill’s government funding for Witte’s program evaporated, her family decided to set her up in her own rag-cutting business. Goodwill sold three cutting machine... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2758023 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:15:46 +0100 2758023 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2748103&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fac1hSDsttnU%2F From MSNBC: “NBC News’ Matt Lauer will take an unprecedented look at the emotional debate surrounding vaccines and the suggested link to autism today, August 30, 7 p.m. Eastern with “Dose of Controversy.” In the one-hour Dateline, Lauer speaks with Dr. Andrew Wakefield, whose 1998 medical study was the first in the world to suggest a possible link between the MMR vaccine and autism.” Photo courtesy of respres (flickr.com)   Here are some questions and points to bear in mind during Matt Lauer’s “Dateline” show concerning autism, vaccines, and the possible connection: General Electric owns NBC.  Does General Electric own or have a financial interest in any company that makes vaccines? How does Lauer phrase his questions? Are they yes-or-no q... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2748103 Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:50:17 +0100 2748103 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2660757&cid=t_102720_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2FU5hWfAG2MAY%2F Another great talk at TED: “Drug-resistant bacteria kills, even in top hospitals. But now tough infections like staph and anthrax may be in for a surprise. Nobel-winning chemist Kary Mullis, who watched a friend die when powerful antibiotics failed, unveils a radical new cure that shows extraordinary promise.” addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fmedicineandman.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F07%2F31%2Fnext-generation-cure-for-killer-infections%2F'; addthis_title = 'Next+generation+cure+for+killer+infections'; addthis_pub = ''; (Source: Medicine and Man) Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2660757 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:12:21 +0100 2660757 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2598457&cid=t_102720_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2FdOUM3nRVp5k%2Fnew-cases-of-alzheimers-and-dementia.html This study's results confirm that Alzheimer's and dementia are very common among the oldest people in society. We believe this strengthens the need to shift more of the focus of clinical research to this segment of the elderly population."According to the researchers, though the rate of women who developed dementia during the follow-up period was higher than in men in this study, no definite conclusion can be drawn about this difference because the number of men in the oldest ages became very small.Systematic Review of Dementia in Europe – Higher Prevalence in Female "Oldest Old"The goal of Dr. Emma Reynish, a consultant geriatrician and coordinator of the European Alzheimer's Disease Consortium from the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, Scotland, UK, and colleagues at the EuroCoDe (European... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2598457 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:18:07 +0100 2598457 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2741115&cid=t_102720_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FI40CaL3fkHI%2F WHO reports that as of 15 June 2009, 76 countries have officially reported 35, 928 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection, including 163 deaths. These numbers can be used to calculate a case fatality ratio (CFR) of 0.45%. Is this number an accurate indication of the lethality of influenza? Determining how many people die from influenza is a tricky business. The main problem is that not every influenza virus infection is confirmed by laboratory testing. For example, early in the Mexico H1N1 outbreak, the apparent CFR was much higher because the total number of infections had not been established. Even with the intense surveillance being conducted at the onset of this pandemic, many infections are still not diagnosed. Virologic surveillance is likely become even more incomplete as health syste... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2741115 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:30:24 +0100 2741115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2510792&cid=t_102720_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2FQ4DypJowUUo%2F Guest Post: The word pandemic has been thrown around in recent years because of the prevalence of many major illnesses that have occurred throughout the third world nations as well as even many Western nations. However, the recent Swine Flu outbreak has caused much deliberation as to the proper terminology of the word itself. There have been generations of widespread epidemics in the past that have included influenza, cholera, and a multitude of other diseases. However, the World Health Organization has come up with a six-tiered level in which to determine when to implement specific disease control efforts around the world, which has successfully led to many countries quarantining illnesses which could be easily spread abroad. However, the true definition of a pandemic is not delivered by ... Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2510792 Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:52:19 +0100 2510792 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2424159&cid=t_102720_105_f&fid=36987&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FIvorKovicMd%2F%7E3%2FufO8My3NoX0%2F There seam to be more swine flu apps in iTunes store than confirmed swine flu cases throughout the World :). As of today, there are 25 iPhone applications related to swine influenza available in iTunes store. Eleven of these apps are free, while the other 14 cost somewhere between $0.99 and $1.99. Most of these apps are either trackers, meaning that they show you maps of swine flu cases, or RSS aggregators, bringing you the latest swine influenza news. I tried all of the free apps, and can tell you that none of them really impressed me. Some are better designed than others, some offer more functions, but none are great. For example, Swine Flu Tracker Map looks great, but its map loads so painfully slow that you want to shoot yourself. On the other hand, The Swine Flu Tracker (notice how ... Ivor Kovic, M.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2424159 Tue, 19 May 2009 18:00:55 +0100 2424159 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2389935&cid=t_102720_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F05%2F05%2Fsleep-and-your-sanity%2F With everything that’s going on these days from recession worries to epidemic scares, it’s not surprising a lot of people are reporting sleep problems. Sleep is essential to our health generally, our sanity in particular. Interrogators know, if you want to break someone down, deprive them of sleep. I didn’t appreciate how important sleep was until I became sleep deprived myself about six years ago. The anxiety that fed my insomnia that fed my anxiety was driving me crazy and drove me, literally, to my doctor’s office. Surely something was very wrong with my thyroid or maybe I had a brain tumor. After a complete workup that took two days and many little tubes of blood I met with my medical specialist, an endrocrinologist. With unforgettable kindness he asked what was... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2389935 Tue, 05 May 2009 09:00:26 +0100 2389935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2380945&cid=t_102720_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fwho-warns-of-likely-pandemic%2F Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has elevated their swine flu pandemic alert to phase 5, the number of confirmed cases as of April 29, 2009 remains extremely low, with most cases mild and rarely fatal. In fact, although you may hear about some 2,500 cases in Mexico with 152 deaths, only 26 cases and 7 deaths have actually been confirmed as being due to swine flu. Around the world only 148 cases are confirmed. The one death of the 91 cases in the United States was in a Mexican child who contracted the illness in Mexico before visiting the U.S. The only thing newsworthy about these numbers is that they are so low and yet the reaction to them so high. It’s important also to remember that “pandemic” simply means worldwide spread. An epidemic is a localized outbrea... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2380945 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:59:51 +0100 2380945 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376271&cid=t_102720_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2Fe63W7x_-ljk%2F The Swine Flu has claimed its first U.S. death. A 23-month old boy has died in Texas. President Obama has suggested that schools in the area may close on Wednesday for a temporary basis if they have had a confirmed case of swine flu. However, right now officials are watching the situation. Other countries, including Canada, Austria, New Zealand, Israel, Spain, Britain, and Germany have reported cases of the disease. With this death, the United States now joins Mexico as the only countries thus far with Swine Flu deaths. Image: sxc.hu. Post from: Blisstree First Swine Flu Death in US Reported (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376271 Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:55:36 +0100 2376271 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2375901&cid=t_102720_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2FXvVCC-S-JlQ%2Fstop-that-bug.html Colleague and WBP supporter Art Caplan explains that the 1918 offers some lessons for us today and that all of us have a responsibility to keep swine flu from spreading:When faced with the threat of disease, the impulse of most Americans is to think about medical technology and miracle drugs. These are not likely to be much help in the battle against swine flu — but the history books might. As history has proven, the best way to halt a deadly virus is to keep infected people away from others. In 1918, an influenza pandemic caused by a strain of flu similar to the one identified in Mexico killed more people than died in all of World War I. Up to 50 million people died worldwide. The greatest number of deaths occurred among young adults between the ages of 15 and 35.At the time, young Amer... Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2375901 Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:08:06 +0100 2375901 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376402&cid=t_102720_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fswine-flu-separating-hysteria-from-fact%2F As of today, Monday April 27, I agree completely with President Obama when he says that while swine flu is an issue of concern, it is “not a cause for alarm.” There are several reasons why you should not panic in spite of the incessant media drum beat and the minute by minute updates. First, so far this is an extremely uncommon illness affecting a very small number of people in the United States, all of whom had mild illness and recovered without incident. Yes, it might spread further, but even so, let’s take a step back and remember that we’re talking about influenza, not Ebola or smallpox. And while full-blown influenza is no walk in the park, for most people it’s not even remotely life-threatening. It’s an unpleasant upper respiratory illness with systemic symptoms of fever,... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376402 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:53:24 +0100 2376402 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2367559&cid=t_102720_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FAD35rP5eaZk%2F Since mid-April, several people have died from swine flu and many more are ill, report Mexican authorities. The numbers reported differ a bit though, according to the news source. The New York Times reports 61 dead, while Associated Press reports “Mexico put the confirmed toll at 20 dead, but 40 other fatalities were being probed, and at least 943 nationwide were sick from the suspected flu, the health department said.” The worrying thing is that, like the major epidemic of early last century, it’s the young, healthy adults who are dying, not the very young, sick, or elderly who the most common victims of influenza. In an attempt to limit the spread of the illness, Mexican authorities have closed several school and cultural buildings. They are also discouraging people fro... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2367559 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:34:05 +0100 2367559 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2311096&cid=t_102720_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2FPocpp7nfcoc%2F “Using genetic sequencing, needle-haystack research, and dogged persistence, Nathan Wolfe has proven what was science-fiction conjecture only a few decades ago — not only do viruses jump from animals to humans, but they do so all the time. Along the way Wolfe has discovered several new viruses, and is poised to discover many more. His research may open the door before the next pandemic may happen.” Watch this awesome presentation at TED 2009. A related presentation was given by Joe DiRisi at TED 2006 in which he described a DNA Microarray test (Virochip) that can not only detect all viruses in one test but also has the capability (and technology) to detect relatively unknown viruses. addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fmedicineandman.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F03%2F31%2Fpreventing... Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2311096 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 02:04:36 +0100 2311096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2284426&cid=t_102720_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fsickcity-gives-real-time-disease-detection%2F Last year Google unveiled the Google Flu Trend Tool which follows any increased flu-related search terms to determine where in the U.S. flu outbreaks may be occurring. Well, now a creative computer programmer has put together an application that allows you to track  the latest epidemic trends in your city via twitter (and soon facebook). Called SickCity, it monitors twitter status messages in realtime, looking for keywords like  “flu”, “chicken pox”, “fever”, etc. The information is then plotted on charts that show 30 day trends in each individual city. So far, only 10 cities are being followed: New York, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles,  Austin, Chicago, Sydney, Toronto, Boston, and Seattle. Interesting idea… (image from stock.xchng) (Sou... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2284426 Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:26:35 +0100 2284426 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2227167&cid=t_102720_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F03%2F01%2Fthe-disease-of-a-thousand-things-to-do%2F I have contracted an illness called “the disease of a-thousand-things-to-do.” That’s how author Abby Seixas describes it in her insightful book, “Finding the Deep River Within.” It’s a modern condition whereby human beings are always rushing, trying desperately to cross off every task on their to-do lists, and are bombarded by interruptions and information overload. Does this sound famililar? Consider these observations she makes to claim her case of what has become a very unbalanced and frenetic culture: The average working couple in America spends 20 minutes a day together. “Family time” has become a goal, an achievement, rather than a natural consequence of being a family. Most Americans are trapped in a vicious cycle of overwork and overconsumption. Dropping in on ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2227167 Sun, 01 Mar 2009 20:20:42 +0100 2227167 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2190674&cid=t_102720_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2F540346649%2F This video explains how the salmonella outbreak related to peanuts was identified and how the affected products are being identified and recalled. Updated information regarding the outbreak can be found at the CDC website. Updated peanut butter and related product recall list from FDA. addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fmedicineandman.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F02%2F15%2Fsalmonella-outbreak-related-to-peanut-butter%2F'; addthis_title = 'Salmonella+Outbreak+related+to+peanut+butter'; addthis_pub = ''; (Source: Medicine and Man) Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2190674 Sun, 15 Feb 2009 18:04:32 +0100 2190674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2104992&cid=t_102720_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F511462725%2F Good article in the New York Times today: An Epidemic of Crashes Among the Aging? Unlikely, Study Says - "The (Insurance Institute for Highway Driving) insurance institute is conducting further research to determine why the risks appear to be going down for older drivers. It may be that today’s older drivers are simply in better physical and mental shape than their counterparts a decade ago, so they are not only less likely to make a driving mistake, but also less frail and better able to survive injuries." There is no doubt that, as a group, older persons of any given age are in better physical and mental shape today than their counterparts years ago. For context, worldwide life expectancy has increased more than 20 years in less than 6o years - so you can imagine how a person... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2104992 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 04:09:36 +0100 2104992 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2096250&cid=t_102720_117_f&fid=38158&url=http%3A%2F%2Famericanacupuncture.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Ffirefighters-disease-antimony-toxicity.html FIRE FIGHTERS DISEASE, ANTIMONY TOXICITY Boca Raton Florida, firefighters are showing symptoms of heavy metal poisoning linked to a flame retardant in their pants. Antimony, a heavy metal related to arsenic seems to be the cause.After testing 36 city firefighters for heavy metal toxicity, 30 were found to have very elevated levels of antimony in their bodies. Antimony is not found normally in the human body. All 30 are seeking solutions to their problems. Symptoms of these young men included trembling in the fingers, weakened legs, paralysis, a case of rare belly cancer, brain cancer, fluid on the heart, crippling headache, incurable rash, low testosterone levels, large number of miscarriages by their wives, and a handful of thyroid surgeries.Antimony is a semi-metallic chemical used as ... Dr. Needles Medical Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2096250 Sun, 11 Jan 2009 14:31:00 +0100 2096250 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2609138&cid=t_102720_46_f&fid=38791&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsf.ca%2Fblogs%2Febolablog%2F2009%2F01%2F10%2Fdisinfection%2F After a few days of calm, once again we’re seeing some action. At the beginning of the afternoon, two nurses and I went to check out new case alerts we had been informed about. We decided to admit one person into the isolation zone. A new admission means that both the medical staff and the “watsan” (water and sanitation) have a whole series of tasks to perform. First of all, the isolation zone must be prepared: a thorough disinfection of the area and everything in it, plus preparing all the various chlorinated solutions that will need to be used both inside and outside the isolation unit. And then there is also disinfection work in the home of the newly-admitted patient, to ensure that the changes of further transmission are immediately stopped. First of all, we have to expla... MSF Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2609138 Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:09:04 +0100 2609138 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2609139&cid=t_102720_46_f&fid=38791&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsf.ca%2Fblogs%2Febolablog%2F2009%2F01%2F08%2Fisolation%2F Hello everyone, So here I am in Kampungu, in the Western Kasaï province, in the heart of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). I’d heard so much about this place from colleagues I met on past MSF projects, who had worked here during last year’s Ebola epidemic It’s so interesting to finally see everything in person. It’s also my very first mission in a forest, and though it’s not of those deep forests, where you can hardly see your hand in front of you, it’s still much greener and more humid that anything I’ve experienced up to now! I went into the isolation zone when our last patient was inside. Donning the full suit is a saga in itself, but it is nothing compared to taking it off again. When removing it you have to be so careful, because you are leaving « isolation » �... MSF Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2609139 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:04:14 +0100 2609139 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2074314&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fvm6BiQLpVdU%2F A constant theme in 2008 was the rebranding of autism, as Orac at Respectful Insolence referred to how the likes of David Kirby have been constantly saying that “autism isn’t autism”—-it’s “mercury poisoning,” “vaccine-aggravated mitochondrial disorder,” “mercury-induced neurological disorder,” etc., etc. (April being Autism Awareness Month—-does your child know about this—let’s not get into what such “rebranding” would do to the month…….) The notorious Judge Rotenburg Center in Canton, Massachusetts uses electroshock “treatment” on some its residents, some of whom are autistic. In April, one of its staff was charged with rape, assault, and battery of another staff member... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2074314 Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:07:52 +0100 2074314 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2039815&cid=t_102720_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F12%2Fnhs-meltdown-hospitals-collapsing-in.html In all fairness, I am not sure that this is the solely the result of socialized medicine--an epidemic would put pressure on any health care system--although I think it is a contributing factor: Apparently the UK is ill prepared for a viral epidemic that threatens to sweep the country. From the story:Millions face being struck down by a deadly winter vomiting bug sweeping the country.Scores of hospitals have been forced to close wards to new patients as they struggle to cope with the influx of norovirus sufferers. One of London’s leading hospitals has even had to turn away 999 emergency patients after being overwhelmed with cases of the virus, while another hospital has drafted in GPs to cover for staff hit by the bug.As the crisis deepens, health campaigners are warning that hospitals fa... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2039815 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:51:00 +0100 2039815 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2035858&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fv3UB4FiJwVA%2F In the midst of talk of diagnosis and disability rights, of treatments and of what’s an appropriate education for an autistic student, we took a hands-free cold walk last weekend to see the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Plaza, and passed a wall of snowflakes too. Age of Diagnosis and the Apparent Increase in Autism A study in the December Archives of Pediatrics and General Medicine examines autism prevalence trends over time in Denmark and states that “the apparent increase in autism in recent years is in part attributable to a decrease over time in the age at diagnosis. Recovery Distracts How the notion of “recovery from autism” colors—not for the better— parents’ decisions about “treatments” and “therapies” for autism, and also on the popular percept... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2035858 Sun, 14 Dec 2008 02:36:32 +0100 2035858 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2026954&cid=t_102720_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F12%2F09%2Fwhy-theres-no-epidemic-of-depression%2F Scientific American has an accessible and interesting interview with the authors of a new book called The Loss of Sadness: How Psychiatry Transformed Normal Sorrow into Depressive Illness. Despite the book’s title, the authors argue that there’s no new epidemic of depression, just greater awareness (and treatment seeking) of it: Our book argues that, despite widespread beliefs to the contrary, the rate of depressive disorders in the population has not undergone a general upsurge. In fact, careful studies that use the same criterion for diagnosis over time reveal no change in the prevalence of depression. What has changed is the growing number of people who seek treatment for this condition, the increase in prescriptions for antidepressant medications, the number of articles a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2026954 Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:15:49 +0100 2026954 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2005916&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FbpYDN-p0c5k%2F Conclusions Shifts in age at diagnosis inflated the observed prevalence of autism in young children in the more recent cohorts compared with the oldest cohort. This study supports the argument that the apparent increase in autism in recent years is at least in part attributable to decreases in the age at diagnosis over time. When Charlie was just diagnosed and shortly after (in 1999-2000), we were often told that he—he was 2-3 years old then—was “very young” to be diagnosed. Now, it seems standard for children to be diagnosed by the time they’re the age Charlie was when he was diagnosed with autism back in 1999. It seems more than obvious to me that we would have been told that they were seeing “red flags” about, who knows, 6-month-old Charlie&#821... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2005916 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:48:22 +0100 2005916 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1975198&cid=t_102720_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2F458849288%2F Poliomyelitis is a deadly disease which may affect the central nervous system leading to irreversible flaccid paralysis of the legs. Since it strikes children at a very young age, affected children are paralyzed for their entire life. Google’s philanthropic arm - Google.org is about to release a movie titled “The Final Inch” to document the historic effort to eradicate this disease from the planet. Once we succeed this will be second disease after small pox to be found only in history books (and/or some covert lab, somewhere in the world). The Final Inch is a 38-minute film about the historic global effort to eradicate polio. Here, the story told is as much about the messengers as the message. You’ll meet Munzareen Fatima, one of the thousands of community “f... Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1975198 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:27:02 +0100 1975198 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1968932&cid=t_102720_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2F456655795%2F What if HIV mutates and can now be transmitted by sneezing and coughing - just like common cold?? What would this graph look like?   addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fmedicineandman.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F11%2F17%2Ffood-for-thought%2F'; addthis_title = 'Food+for+Thought'; addthis_pub = ''; (Source: Medicine and Man) Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1968932 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 03:37:20 +0100 1968932 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1951987&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FGJcL7nX_Gww%2F No question that the prevalence of autism has increased significantly in the past couple of years. Rod Welford, the education minister of Queensland (Australia) attributes the rise in his state—which is, according to the Australia Broadcasting Corporation, “much higher” than in other states—–to “over-” and “mis” diagnosis. Parents, says Winter, are seeking an autism diagnosis falsely, so their children may “receive more resources from the Education Department.” Talking about “over-” and “mis” diagnosis of autism seems quite opposed to the argument that rise in the prevalence rate is due to a better understanding and identification of autism, and to better diagnosis—-somehow I don’t think f... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1951987 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:20:59 +0100 1951987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1914717&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FGFwipG2UYFU%2F So thimerosal’s not the “‘smoking gun‘” linking vaccines to autism, according to David Kirby, whose 2005 book, Evidence of Harm: Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic: A Medical Controversy argued that thimerosal—-a mercury-based preservative—-was the culprit behind what he calls the “autism epidemic.” From an article in today’s Star-Ledger (New Jersey) about an October 23rd forum on infant and child vaccines at the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology at Hackensack University Medical Center: [Kirby]…..said he believed that thimerosal, which still exists in trace amounts in some childhood vaccines, was no longer the “smoking gun.” Several national studies have found no connection, and a ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1914717 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 23:06:18 +0100 1914717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1908833&cid=t_102720_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2F432735015%2F Acquired Immuno-deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is potentially fatal disease caused by HIV virus. AIDS renders our body defenseless against any and every infection in the world by killing the immune system. The currently available treatment - highly active anti-retroviral treatment (HAART) is very effective in giving people a few more decades to live. However, HAART has 2 major problems: It is not a cure and the medications have to be taken lifelong The side effects of treatment at times may be as bad as cancer chemotherapy Therefore, it is of imperative importance that we find a cure for this deadly disease which is safer (ideally without side effects) and does not need to be taken over a protracted period of time. Mortality data of HIV/AIDS in the world and US: ... Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1908833 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:03:45 +0100 1908833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1856112&cid=t_102720_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2F412079300%2F Tuberculosis is treatable and preventable. Inadequate treatment in many countries is leading to the emergence of extremely drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) for which there is no effective treatment available. XDR-TB in most cases leads to death within weeks of diagnosis making it deadlier than any cancer (in which survival is measured in months and not weeks). This photoessay by James Nachtwey captures the horrors of this deadly disease. More research is needed for prevention of TB. We need better vaccines to prevent transmission. BCG vaccine is minimally effective in preventing pulmonary infection and moderately effective against disseminated infection. Sadly the best drugs for treatment of TB are the ones we have been using for many decades. We may have made enormous advances in al... Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1856112 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:15:38 +0100 1856112 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1841166&cid=t_102720_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FVwuYWwCcCno%2F Here are 5 fun facts, well not really fun but useful, to share with your kids, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, neighbors, students and… well, you get the point. It is so darn important to educate our youth. After all, they are our future…1. The human heart looks like a piece of red meat, aka steak or a raw hamburger patty. In fat or obese people the heart actually looks like it is covered in yellow goo, aka the fat tissue. Yellow… no good. Red… good! 2. Even though we are taught to put our hand over our heart on the left side of our chest, it is actually tucked away between our lungs in the middle of our chests. Think of it as being protected. 3. When you are exercising, it takes about 10-12 seconds for your blood to go from your heart to your big toe and back again... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1841166 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 23:47:24 +0100 1841166 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1798227&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FrCtVxnhyduE%2F “Fear of autism is perfectly reasonable.” Well, I guess it could be construed as such. But not really. The above sentence is from a September 15th article on Babble—”the magazine and community for a new generation of parents”—by Kate Tuttle, with the title of Compulsory Vaccination. The article presents a capsule history of vaccines and resistance to them since their invention in the late 18th century: Some of these early objectors believed that vaccination was itself an affront to the God who had sent disease to punish sinners, while others, like today’s anti-vaccination activists, feared that the shots meant to protect the public good would inflict harm on individuals. The numerous scientific studies refuting a vaccine-autism link are cited, and ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1798227 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 07:09:16 +0100 1798227 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1779308&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F9Ap8p0qbpXQ%2F Seems a band called Elbow has won the Nationwide Mercury Prize—-a “staple of UK music accolade-giving since 1992“—-for its album The Seldom Seen Kid. Considering the attention devoted by some “autism activists” (Safe Minds etc.) to the belief that vaccines or something in vaccines, like the mercury-based preservative thimerosal, can be linked to autism, there would indeed be some competition for, I don’t know, “most mad about mercury” and “best talking about detoxing autism.” Jenny McCarthy—now starting up a lifestyle line of non-toxic products—would be a fair contender, as would Evidence of Harm author David Kirby who has again and again “rebranded autism”—-renaming it vaccine-transmitted mercu... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1779308 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:35:41 +0100 1779308 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1746380&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FczwBN7B752I%2F Some software and other updates have been going on behind the scenes here, so if this blog loads slowly or (alas and argh) a comment does not go through, please bear with us. Over in the sidebar, the lists of comments and recent posts have not been updating (Learning All the Time (Whether You Know It Or Not) was posted on Friday morning) and I’m hoping that will get fixed soon. In the meantime, I wanted to point out discussions about the YouTube video of an autistic teenager getting beat up—about how autism, unlike measles, is not an infectious disease—–about the luxury of being able to choose to vaccinate or not—-whether hacker Gary McKinnon is a scapegoat or a public enemy. Also: Tara on an idea for housing for disabled adults in New Jersey on Sued: New Jers... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1746380 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 20:27:16 +0100 1746380 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1717243&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FGj8BrmY3U8c%2F Darn, I thought it was my own state of New Jersey that does: According to the most recent figures released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2007, about 1 in 150 8-year-old children in multiple areas of the United States had an ASD, and New Jersey has the highest prevalence rate, 1 in 94. An article in the August 20th CityPages in Minnesota suggests that it’s rather the North Star state that has the highest rate, 1 in 81. The CityPages article mentions a 2001 CDC study but not the more recent one in 2007, though it does cite the 1 in 150 figure. For the 1 in 81 figure, the article relies on a chart made up from data from public school districts around the country. (You can see the chart here via a parent’s website.) The parent of an autistic child, Dan Hollen... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1717243 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:30:15 +0100 1717243 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1711950&cid=t_102720_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F367729370%2F The article Clumsy kids more likely to become obese adults: study (CBC)... - "The study was based on tests of about 11,000 people in Britain who were tested for hand control, co-ordination and clumsiness at age seven and 11, and were then followed until age 33." - "Prof. Scott Montgomery of the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm and his colleagues at Imperial College London in England said they purposely chose measurements of fine hand control such as picking up matches, rather than those likely to be influenced by participating in sports, such as catching balls." - "While it is often assumed that the cognitive impairments seen in adult obesity are a consequence of excess weight, that could be putting the chicken before the egg, the researchers say" ...remin... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1711950 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 03:17:08 +0100 1711950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1696282&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F9HVr2ZwdjNg%2F Autism incidents rising, is the headline for an August 9th story in the Grand Rapids Herald-Review. Two different school districts report having 35 and 52 students diagnosed with autism, versus five and maybe two students ten years ago: It’s been the past ten years that have seen the results of changes in the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorders and a concurrent rise in diagnoses. Though, isn’t it “autism incidence” that is meant in the headline for that Grand Rapids Herald-Review article? Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, Diagnosis, Environment, grand rapids, Health, michigan, pdd-nos, ScienceShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1696282 Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:52:53 +0100 1696282 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1683092&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FVG5xFg66GA8%2F Discussions about vaccines and autism are mostly about children, and even children who are yet in utero and have yet to be conceived, who don’t have autism; as proponents of a vaccine-autism link claim, they want to get the thimerosal out and the schedule changed so that no more children will become autistic due to a vaccine. This is one reason why anti-vaccine/pro-vaccine safety advocates seems to be so (at the very least) hesitant and (as often stated) disdainful of evidence for genetic causes of autism. Autism is “preventable” (just say no to those shots, or at least that schedule and green ‘em in the process) and “treatable” (by unproven and potentially dangerous treatments like chelation that stem from also-nproven theories of what causes autism). A... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1683092 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:59:05 +0100 1683092 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1677227&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FLJQIW_5enZo%2F Over at Primary Source in an August 1st post, Sharyl Attkisson discusses the case of Hannah Poling and says that “it’s the first time we know of that the government has ‘conceded’ an autism case in vaccine court.” Attkisson then writes: But CBS News has learned the government has previously been court-ordered to pay on other vaccine injury cases in which a child ended up with damage including autism or autistic symptoms [my emphasis]. In one case from 1986, the child had a pre-existing condition that the court decided was aggravated by his vaccinations. Here, the pre-existing condition was “tuberous sclerosis” or TS. According to court testimony, many children with TS will suffer seizures and brain damage. However, the longer they can go before hav... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1677227 Sat, 02 Aug 2008 17:02:27 +0100 1677227 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1668489&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F351189107%2F The truth, as Mulder and Scully would put it, is out there. I’ll confess to never having watched The X-Files—we did have a TV then (Charlie, and I, had to watch all those videos of Barney, the Teletubbies, and the Wiggles on something)—but the years The X-Files were on (1993-2002) overlapped with the years in which I was writing my dissertation, getting married, getting my first teaching job, and having Charlie, who was diagnosed with autism in 1999. In those years, I wasn’t thinking too much about truth; I was just trying to figure out how to help Charlie learn to talk and sit at a desk so he could, we so hoped, go to school. Talk of treatments and causes swirled around me and while we found out as much as we could about what we might do for Charlie—especiall... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1668489 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 05:59:34 +0100 1668489 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1664352&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F349895932%2F As advertisers and networks have been dropping Michael Savage’s show in the wake of his infamous comments (here’s a list of 20 audio clips), here’s an email he sent to The Hook (Virginia): The drug companies are very powerful and have worked very hard to silence any voice critical of the misdiagnosis of our children and the drugging of vulnerable minds. Sad the station manager is such an ignorant man. Seems Savage is trying to portray himself as the misunderstood defender of so many poor misdiagnosed, “vulnerable [minded]” children and so offers up this defiant attempt parting shot. Guess a simple apology’s too hard. Tags: abc, adam race, alex barton, asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, Diagnosis, disabilities blog, disability, Epidemic, Family, family b... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1664352 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:00:21 +0100 1664352 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1652389&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F345384907%2F Talk Radio Network has announced that it will not be firing Michael Savage in the wake of his incendiary comments about autism. From the press release: Dr. Savage has clarified that his July 16th statements concerning autism were not directed at those who are in fact challenged by this horrible affliction, but were instead addressing efforts to broaden the concept of autism beyond those who truly are autistic to a broader “autistic spectrum” of behavioral symptoms which are also manifested by persons who do not suffer from autism, and his concern that many children are being misdiagnosed as autistic due to the subjective nature of autism diagnosis (due to the lack of known biomedical indicators, such as blood tests, to definitively confirm or deny the actual existence of autism). Dr. S... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1652389 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:38:04 +0100 1652389 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1649272&cid=t_102720_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F343819386%2F Apparently we haven’t reached the meat of the issue… “The full impact of the childhood obesity epidemic has yet to be seen because it can take up to 10 years or longer for obese individuals to develop type 2 diabetes,” says Lee, a member of the Child Health Evaluation and Research (CHEAR) Unit at Mott. “Children who are obese today are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes as young adults.” What will diabetes do to our future generations? Young adults with type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop complications such as blindness and kidney failure during their lifetimes and they have higher rates of diabetes complications and heart disease than older adults as well as babies born to young women with type 2 diabetes are at greater risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes t... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1649272 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:51:57 +0100 1649272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1645910&cid=t_102720_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F07%2F22%2Fsuicide-and-the-japanese%2F On Sunday, USA Today published an article detailing the epidemic of suicide that is gripping Japan. Unfortunately, like many stories on suicide, the article is thin on actual data to back this idea of an “epidemic.” When crossing international boundaries, one has to understand different cultures’ takes on taboo topics. Suicide is one such topic, and one where culture has a significant impact on how it’s viewed. For instance, in Japan suicide has practically been raised to a virtue, where committing suicide is seen as the honorable thing to do when one’s life seems to be going wrong: A suicide fad is sweeping Japan: Hundreds of Japanese have killed themselves this year by mixing ordinary household chemicals into a lethal cloud of poison gas that often injure... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1645910 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:24:40 +0100 1645910 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1642717&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F342251922%2F So I finally got around to reading Michael Savage on the Autism Controversy after grading papers, going swimming with Charlie and explaining to the water aerobics teacher why the boombox was contributing to him looking mighty distressed and since the class was over maybe it could be turned off?, making Charlie’s lunch, overseeing him practice cello, searching for the Leapster (not necessarily in that order). Yes, I know you’ve all read it, blogged it, rolled your eyes over it, read too many websites inveighing over the mean-spiritedness of remarks. Here’s Savage being called the most hated man in America (what better way to get, if not sympathy, attention?). Here’s AFLAC Just Saying No to advertising on Savage’s show. Here’s Salon on protesting parents a... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1642717 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:59:13 +0100 1642717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1635135&cid=t_102720_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F338516224%2F Now here is one I have never seen linked previously. TB and diabetes. The Harvard School of Public Health has completed 13 studies and concluded that having diabetes increases your risk of acquiring active TB by three fold. Ultimately, if this study is true with what it suggests, controlling diabetes would in turn help control worldwide TB. via Science Daily Tags: Diabetes, risk of disease, TB, tuberculosis, worldwide epidemicShare This (Source: Diabetes Notes) Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1635135 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:16:02 +0100 1635135 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1605964&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F331764571%2F Dr. Antonio Hardan, the director of the autism clinic at Stanford’s Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, says this in a July 9th ABC Local (Bay Area) report about increases in autism diagnoses throughout the region: “If you are diagnosed with autism you will get more services from the county from regional centers than if you just have an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or depression.” 90 percent of Bay Area schools reported a rise in children with autism between 2005 and 2007, with Santa Clara County having nearly eight autistic kids per 1,000 students—-note that this figure is not about an actual increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism, but in the number of autistic children reported by school systems. Washington University professor ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1605964 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:16:19 +0100 1605964 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1553074&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F322402458%2F This study was small (38 adults were involved)—-the July 2008 issue of the the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders has a “much larger and more elegant study” by Helen Coo and Hélène Ouellette-Kuntz of the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queens University, and Jennifer E. V. Lloyd of the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP), and three other authors: The authors examined trends in assignment of special education codes to British Columbia (BC) school children who had an autism code in at least 1 year between 1996 and 2004, inclusive. The proportion of children with an autism code increased from 12.3/10,000 in 1996 to 43.1/10,000 in 2004; 51.9% of this increase was attributable to children switching from another special education classification... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1553074 Sun, 29 Jun 2008 05:07:10 +0100 1553074 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1522227&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F312450605%2F Main event of the week: Charlie’s last day in elementary school. And, yes, Tuesday. In the comments, a link to a Press-Enterprise article about an 11-year-old, Nicholas Dooley, who has autism and possibly another psychiatric disorder. So Goeth the Autism Epidemic The June 6th Times (UK) has an article on The autism epidemic commeth, which heralds the publication of a book entitled Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism by anthropologist Roy Richard Grinker. If You Happen to Be Near a TV from 7-9am Tomorrow… See below. Trying to Be Pretty Good Neighbors Are nasty neighbors affecting your home’s value? asks a report today on ABC news. Telling the Grandparents A man writes about his 3-year-old niece to Dear Abby: Apparently the little girl has been diagnosed with aut... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1522227 Sun, 15 Jun 2008 16:00:59 +0100 1522227 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1501464&cid=t_102720_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=1469760&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F298504380%2F To read an article about the MMR vaccine and autism in today’s Telegraph, you’d think there was plenty of reason for the “debate” to be “reignited” thanks to Senator John McCain talking about an “autism epidemic”; recent statements about US health officials being too quick to dismiss arguments about vaccine as a cause of autism by Dr. Bernardine Healy; the case of Hannah Poling, in which the government conceded that vaccines “aggravated” an underlying mitochondrial disorder in Hannah and led to symptoms of autism; and a recent poster presentation at IMFAR about a study in which 13 vaccinated monkeys showed “increased aggression, impaired cognitive skills and developmental delay” after receiving vaccines. Here’s... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1469760 Mon, 26 May 2008 17:09:48 +0100 1469760 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1450324&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F292734361%2F I never got around to making a list of last week’s top posts last week so here’s two weeks of “top posts” about autism. Rather than arrange them in chronological order, I’ve arranged them by topic: My son Charlie turned 11 last Thursday, on May 15th. Life on the road with Charlie is my constant theme here and these posts are about his sensory sensitivities, his beloved bike rides with his beloved dad, and other things I’ve been learning on our journey. (In the photo, he’s enjoying a birthday dinner of sushi and cake on Jim’s desk.) Too High-Pitched to Hear It was a couple of months ago that my son Charlie started—for the first time in his life—to show sensitivity to sound by putting both hands over his ears. The Final (Bike Riding) Fro... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1450324 Sun, 18 May 2008 08:41:45 +0100 1450324 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1449389&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F291841926%2F With another round of vaccine court going on this week, the question of whether there’s a link between vaccines and autism is again getting a lot of discussion. Here’s five past posts on this blog  that suggest how this one hypothesis about the cause of autism has become entwined in debates about research, the understanding of what autism is, and much more. Much, much more. 1. The Vaccine-Autism Urban Myth (February 6, 2007) 2. Myth, Science, and a Trial: Vaccines and Autism (June 30, 2007) 3. Thoughts on Autism Research (July 2, 2007) 4. The New McCarthyism (October 28, 2007) 5. The Case of Hannah Poling (March 6, 2008) Tags: asd, asperger, autism, Autism Organizations, jenny mccarthy, Legislation, mercury, Myth, pdd-nos, Politics, research, Science, urban myth, Vaccines, was... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1449389 Fri, 16 May 2008 19:30:08 +0100 1449389 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1439662&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F289098729%2F In The “Open Question” on Vaccines and Autism, CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson interviews Dr. Bernardine Healy, a former head of the National Institutes of Health and a member of the Institute of Medicine. Noting that Dr. Healy’s credentials “couldn’t be more ‘mainstream’”—no DAN! doctor she—Attkisson writes: According to Healy, when she began researching autism and vaccines she found credible published, peer-reviewed scientific studies that support the idea of an association. That seemed to counter what many of her colleagues had been saying for years. She dug a little deeper and was surprised to find that the government has not embarked upon some of the most basic research that could help answer the question of a link. T... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1439662 Tue, 13 May 2008 01:57:00 +0100 1439662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1436945&cid=t_102720_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=1433790&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F287516606%2F Do childhood vaccines cause autism? (KSDK, St. Louis) No. Vaccinations do not cause autism. Source. Source. Source. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, Cause, Epidemic, Health, magical thinking, measles, mercury, mmr, Parenting, pdd-nos, savant syndrome, shots, VaccinesShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1433790 Sat, 10 May 2008 14:25:34 +0100 1433790 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1432564&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F286958053%2F The British government has announced that it is planning to calculate the number of autistic adults in England. The £500,000 project is the first to specifically study the number of adults who have autism, the BBC reports. It will be interesting to see how the study is conducted: The tools for diagnosing autism in adults are neither as valid nor as reliable as those used for children. And: The group has been hard to measure partly because so many people have grown up before improvements in recognition and diagnosis; and some may have been labelled inappropriately as having mental health problems or learning difficulties or not acknowledged at all. Academics at the University of Leicester will lead the research which will include a study of a sample of the adult population - a sort of mini... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1432564 Fri, 09 May 2008 17:00:53 +0100 1432564 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1426523&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F285131296%2F An article in the May Scientific American explains why the next president needs a powerful science advisor. If you consider the political pandering among the presidential candidates about the vaccine-autism myth—-it’s too obvious why. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, barack obama, Disability Rights, Education, Epidemic, hillary clinton, History, john mccain, Junk Science, Parenting, pdd-nos, Politics, president, Science, VaccinesShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1426523 Wed, 07 May 2008 05:26:06 +0100 1426523 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1408276&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F280551889%2F “Detoxifying” a child’s body of “heavy metals” via chelation is an alternative, and not uncontroversial, treatment for autism. It is based on the belief that exposure to environmental toxins is one factor behind the increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism in the past decade-plus. This book talks about the dangers of heavy metal poisoning; this book provides a “protocol” for treating such “poisoning”; these liquid vitamins are said to provide “natural detoxification.” The Body Ecology Diet is offering a three-day workshop to “take the mystery out of autism”; the workshop is “designed to help parents have a basic understanding of our 7 principles, like cleansing, acid/alkaline, principle of u... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1408276 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:10:46 +0100 1408276 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1407051&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F280324023%2F Is there a “vacuum” of information on autism, as Karin Klein writes in today’s Opinion LA? Klein suggests that this “information vacuum” is one reason why, when it comes to autism, “people tend to rush in with theories, wild or otherwise” about the causes of autism (such as these), and especially theories about the supposed “autism epidemic” (which, Klein posits, might be in part the result of “purposeful diagnosis” of autism in children, as autism has become a “ticket to social services”). Or is it rather that there’s too much about autism? Is an overload of information constantly being reported, so that parents have to comb through to find what is useful and accurate? Sometimes I feel that, when it comes ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1407051 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:00:02 +0100 1407051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1402990&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F279152444%2F In the past several months, more and more scientific studies have added evidence that disputes a link between thimerosal and rising autism rates, and that link autism to mercury. Concurrently, a number of studies offer further evidence about genetic of factors and autism. Also at the same time, proponents of the view that some external, environmental factor can be linked to what is called “regressive autism” have been on a steady campaign to redefine and “rebrand” autism. Journalist David Kirby, whose 2005 book Evidence of Harm is subtitled “Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic: A Medical Controversy,” has been offering a number of new monikers for autism, including “Environmentally-acquired Neuroimmune Disorder” (”E.N.D.”)... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1402990 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:01:35 +0100 1402990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1402144&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F278534373%2F After a lot of hesitation about riding his new bike, Charlie hoisted himself up, put his left foot on the left pedal, put his right foot on, and zoomed off with Jim easily catching up—that’s the image in my mind after a full week here. Parents Going Back to School Some parents of autistic children are returning to the classroom to study with a view towards helping their kids as they grow up. We Go to the Met Charlie and I spend a Saturday in Manhattan. So Much For Autism Awareness Robert Goldberg, the vice president of The Center for Medicine in the Public Interest in New York City writes about why Autism Awareness Month has become “not a noble search for a cure, but an annual war on the bookshelves, as scientists and activists - often with no medical proof - battle ov... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1402144 Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:20:41 +0100 1402144 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1400715&cid=t_102720_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F277860010%2F Second to diabetes, heart disease seems to be on the horizon for India. They are estimating that India will account for 60% of all heart disease cases worldwide within the next 2 years. As India becomes more developed so does it’s social habits… The risk factors in India were the same as elsewhere and included tobacco use, high levels of lipids in the blood due to diets rich in saturated fat, and hypertension, the study said. The major complication that goes along with such a rise in heart disease across India is the fact that the estimated time it takes one to reach a hospital in a time of emergency is 300 minutes! Scary. As the Indian economy grows there will be an even sharper increase in heart disease before we reach the plateau. via BBC  Tags: epidemic, heart-disease, Ind... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1400715 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:50:09 +0100 1400715 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1397685&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F277414857%2F Considering how many pressing issues there are to talk regarding children and adults—education, employment, housing, to name a very few—-why do we keep getting stuck talking about the hypothetical claim of a link between vaccines and autism? Here’s some thoughts towards why the whole issue seems to have devolved into something approaching paranoia, not to mention pander for politicians (and all the more after what two of the presidential candidates have said about autism, vaccines, and the “autism epidemic”). In a recent essay entitled The Paranoid Style in American Science, Daniel Engbar, associate editor at Slate, writes about critics of mainstream science “whose skepticism has taken on the trappings of conspiracy theory.” Engbar is specifically ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1397685 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:53:12 +0100 1397685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1393774&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F276260530%2F Autism now occurs in every 1 in 150 children, according to figures released in February of 2007 by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. To illustrate what some term an “autism epidemic” (including three presidential candidates), people regularly compare the prevalence rate of children diagnosed with autism to that of children diagnosed with childhood cancer (1.5 per 10,000 children) or to the rate of children who have three diseases, “pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. (And you can go here to review the NIH’s estimated funding for various diseases, conditions, and research areas.) The purpose of comparing the autism rate to that of childhood cancer and other diseases is to convey how pervasive autism has become (or seems to have become). An unf... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1393774 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:17:09 +0100 1393774 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1385437&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F273646154%2F Is there an autism epidemic and why does it matter if there is, or isn’t? Do you show you’re “aware” with a car magnet, a wristband, a ribbon? More from last week: New Findings on Genetic Link Between Autism and Mitochondrial Disease Researchers at Medical Neurogenetics have found that there may be a genetic link between autism and mitochondrial disease, “a muscle-weakening disorder.” Just a Couple of Characters in the City On foot, in the subway, by car, beside the water: We spend a sunny Saturday in New York City. The Claim of the Autism Epidemic Is there truly some epidemic of autism caused by some external, environmental agent? Or, can the change be accounted for by diagnostic substitution, by our being better able and equipped to identify, diagnose, an... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1385437 Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:45:51 +0100 1385437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1373544&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F270559122%2F It’s April 15th, halfway through Autism Awareness Month 2008, and you’ve surely heard more than a few mentions about the supposed “autism epidemic” that we’re currently facing, and musings about what is causing the recent rise in the prevalence rate of autism: In the 1960s, autism was considered a rare disorder that occurred in only about 3 in every 10,000 children; now the prevalence rate for autism is, according to the most recent figures released on February 8, 2007, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 150 among children in the United States. And in New Jersey, where I live, the prevalence rate is 1 in 94. A recently published study in the Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology by Dorothy Bishop, et al., found that some adults who re... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1373544 Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:21:29 +0100 1373544 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1356186&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F266430159%2F To what extent has the prevalence rate of autism increased because of the “better diagnosis” argument—-that we are able to better diagnose and identify autism today than in the past? Is what some call an “epidemic of autism” more accurately described as a sort of “epidemic of understanding and awareness” about autism? A new study in the Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology by Dorothy Bishop, et al., has found that some adults who received a diagnosis of language disorder during childhood might now have been diagnosed with autism. 38 adults (age 15 to 31) were included in the study, whose findings Translating Autism by Nestor L. Lopez-Duran, Ph.D., cogently summarizes: The authors were mostly interested in a particular type of language disorde... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1356186 Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:00:30 +0100 1356186 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1327535&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F257931404%2F The theory linking autism to a vaccine or something in vaccines (such as the mercury-based preservative thimerosal) has a certain simple elegance: A young child is developing normally. The child gets a vaccine. “Overnight,” the child changes dramatically, perhaps losing speech, having terrible gastrointestinal problems, lining up objects, spinning, flapping her or his hands, not responding to the people and the world around her or him—-”developing” or “becoming” autistic. Today on Assymetrical Information at The Atlantic.com, Megan McArdle writes that claims of a vaccine-autism link are based on associative thinking that confuses correlation with causation: Our brains are designed to learn by associating events that happen at the same time, or in c... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1327535 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:16:11 +0100 1327535 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1305837&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F252178469%2F In recognition of World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, CNN is planning a report on myths of autism (such as that “thimerosal in vaccines is the main cause for autism”) and ask readers: Do you think that there are prevailing myths related to autism? What are they? What questions do you need answered? Does autism touch your life? Tell us your story here: Autism iReport Here’s 10 myths about autism on Wrong Planet including “autism is an epidemic” and “most autistics are ‘low-functioning (and for some further debunking of the whole notion of “high vs. low functioning,” see Asperger Square 8’s post entitled I Am Joe’s Functioning Label). Let the debunking begin! Tags: asd, asperger, autism, debunking, Epidemic, myths, parent... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1305837 Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:33:20 +0100 1305837 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1292296&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F249328581%2F Since last week—last Thursday to be precise, when the parents of Hannah Poling Dr. Jon Poling and Terry Poling, held a news conference with their lawyer, Cliff Shoemaker, close by—the autism community has been discussing and debating just what the government said in its concession and what it did not. A recent post by Kev at Left Brain/Right Brain looks carefully at the laws and regulations for the vaccine court, as does Sullivan at Grey Matter/White Matter. Orac over at Respectful Insolence provides some of the background to the antivaccination movement and autism, the vaccine court, and the latest efforts by the “mercury militia” to “rebrand autism“: In previous years, there have been attempts to make the term “mercury poisoning” synonymous... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1292296 Tue, 11 Mar 2008 06:30:51 +0100 1292296 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1289140&cid=t_102720_85_f&fid=36195&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealth.tesstermulo.com%2F%3Fp%3D433 I find it a tragic comedy how superstition, rumors, and panic start or further worsen any epidemic. People make stupid mistakes and unfortunately, can worsen situations that could have been made more stable in usual ways. Sadly, in our history, there had been such times in which a spread of disease could have been prevented if the public had not panicked or if the government had more sense in thinking of ways to effectively quarantine affected areas. The worst epidemic in the history of Philippines was said to be the 1902-1904 Cholera Epidemic. Read the New York Times account here. Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by an organism called Vibrio cholerae that can be transmitted through food and water or through fecal-oral contamination. It leads to an acute onset of severe diarrh... Prudence, M.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1289140 Sun, 09 Mar 2008 07:57:29 +0100 1289140 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1270586&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F243857056%2F Not just me saying this: No, vaccines aren’t behind the rise in autism is the title of a February 29th Huffington Post piece by Harold Pollack, Associate Professor at the School of Social Service Administration, and faculty chair of the Center for Health Administration Studies at the University of Chicago. I’ll simply say that the scientific controversy has been put to bed long ago, even if many people angrily respond to this post. Unfortunately, the same social currents that lead people to fear vaccines lead people to dismiss the messengers and messages that might assuage these fears. Elaine Showalter’s Hystories: Hysterical Epidemics and Modern Culture appeared ten years ago. Too bad, because the vaccine-autism controversy provides a great illustration of how hysterical... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1270586 Sat, 01 Mar 2008 13:00:41 +0100 1270586 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1252656&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35109&url=http%3A%2F%2Fleftbrainrightbrain.co.uk%2F%3Fp%3D729 So – the ‘Hidden Horde’ – the term that anti-vaccinationists like to smirk about as evidence of an autism epidemic. The logic goes like this: if there’s no autism epidemic then where are all the [insert age here] year old autistic adults? I’ve heard people asking for evidence of 75 year old autistics (conveniently forgetting that the average mortality age in the US and UK is around 70), 50 year olds – even 30 year olds. Never mind that there’s been plenty of evidence for adult autistics. Thats not convenient for the anti-vaccinationist agenda so it gets ignored. Anyway, todays Sunday Herald carries another story about adult autistics in Scotland called ‘Revealed: ‘invisible’ adults living with autism’. According ... Left Brain/Right Brain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1252656 Sun, 24 Feb 2008 08:49:32 +0100 1252656 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1192865&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35109&url=http%3A%2F%2Fleftbrainrightbrain.co.uk%2F%3Fp%3D701 This is a Guest Blogged piece written by new bloggers from Hollywood Spectrum. For those who don’t know (I wish I were one of you), there is a TV show about to premiere called "Eli Stone". It was likely going to be a pretty run-of-the-mill premiere. Possibly, it was going to be a total non event.But, the plot includes autism. Not only does it include autism, but it involves a lawyer doing what has never happened in real life-he win’s a case about how mercury in vaccines caused autism in a child. This led to a number of news stories, internet discussions and blog posts.Well, after the initial press on this, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) sent a letter to ABC/Disney asking them to pull the show since it could erode confidence in vaccines.  Somehow this ... Left Brain/Right Brain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1192865 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 07:22:51 +0100 1192865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1161052&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F218995013%2F Journalist David Kirby, author of Evidence of Harm: Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic: A Medical Controversy, says this in an interview with the News-Times of Connecticut: “People don’t treat autism as the catastrophe it is. I’ve never seen such complacency in a health crisis, especially (one) in children……If one in 150 kids (the current autism rate) were getting cancer or going blind or dropping dead on the street, you can bet we’d be mobilizing every resource we had.” Why treat something—autism—as a catastrophe when it is not? Sure, like many/all families with autistic children, we have some really difficult moments (days, weeks……). My son Charlie does seem to have what is called “catastrophic thinking,&... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1161052 Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:17:06 +0100 1161052 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1156798&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F218043422%2F The Age of Autism is, its editor Dan Olmsted proclaims, “the first daily Web newspaper for the environmental-biomedical community—-those who believe autism is an environmentally induced illness, that it is treatable, and that children can recover.” Those who write for The Age of Autism do not follow “journalistic group-think” and “believe whatever ‘the experts’ tell them”—-The Age of Autism, it is promised, is going to make a “difference.” So what kind of news do we get from The Age of Autism folks? Pathbreaking discussions of new theories about the causes of autism, or treatments for autistic kids? New suggestions about how to help autistic children learn not to engage in self-injurious behavior without electroshock... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1156798 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 06:57:20 +0100 1156798 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1154036&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F217537031%2F On January 14th, drug company Wyeth said that a court in Maryland has rejected “some expert witnesses from testifying that exposure to thimerosal-containing vaccines can cause autism and rejected the compound’s link to autism”; the case in question involved an alleged vaccine injury. More than a few mothers I know have had their amalgam fillings replaced because of concerns about the mercury content: On January 15th, an EU scientific committee stated such fillings “pose no health risk to the human nervous system.” This is only one measure that parents have taken out of fears of a mercury-autism link. “Mercury in Retrograde” was the subtitle of the paper published last week in the Archives of General Psychiatry in which authors Robert Schechter, M... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1154036 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:30:18 +0100 1154036 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1140986&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F214227213%2F Conclusions We have identified a novel, recurrent microdeletion and a reciprocal microduplication that carry substantial susceptibility to autism and appear to account for approximately 1% of cases. We did not identify other regions with similar aggregations of large de novo mutations. The January 10th New York Times comments: The finding is not likely to improve diagnosis or treatment for most children struggling with autism or related problems anytime soon, experts said, but it points to a specific chunk of DNA where some developmental problems could originate. ………….. The rate of the chromosome alteration in a group of normally developing people was one in 10,000. “The analysis tells us that this is a very strong risk factor for autism, increasing the risk ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1140986 Thu, 10 Jan 2008 06:42:51 +0100 1140986 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1139842&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F213975953%2F Katie Wright, whose parents Bob and Suzanne Wright are the founders of Autism Speaks, praises their efforts “to bring attention to the needs of our families” and criticizes the organization for not funding “impactful, breakthrough science”—-that is, “biomedical grants on GI disease, methylation pathways and toxicity, vaccinated and unvaccinated siblings.” Wright distinguishes between such biomedical research into alternative treatments what she calls “traditional research, that is, “endless gene research” (such as a new study in today’s New England Journal of Medicine about a region on chromosome 16 that appears to play an important role in susceptibility for ASDs) and also research on the brain (such as a new study about ho... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1139842 Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:41:03 +0100 1139842 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1138115&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F213645047%2F Lots of nights and driving in my car thinking the same. With Charlie, January and February are “moody” months—winter is settling in, the changing of the year—-so much for her (for you) to work through. I do “let” Charlie spend a lot of time at home “chilling out” with his blanket and things: It just seems to take more time for him to work through and experience changes. You’ve all had a lot to go through and more ahead: Your plans and thoughts are all ahead and onwards and you’ll get there. But a bit of rest along the way is good…… Not exactly surprisingly, proponents of the theory that mercury, and in particular mercury in the form of the preservative thimerosal, causes autism (such as Safe Minds), are less than pleas... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1138115 Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:09:35 +0100 1138115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1133913&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F212737757%2F Exposure to thimerosal, a preservative that contains ethylmercury, during childhood is not a primary cause of autism. This is the conclusion of a study published in the January Archives of General Psychiatry (Vol. 65, no. 1) by Robert Schechter, MD, MSc, Immunization Branch and California Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, Research and Epidemiology, and Judith K. Grether, PhD, Environmental Health Investigations Branch, of the California Department of Public Health, Richmond. Schechter’s and Grether’s article is entitled Continuing Increases in Autism Reported to California’s Developmental Services System: Mercury in Retrograde. By studying time trends in the (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1133913 Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:01:02 +0100 1133913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1124277&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F209550685%2F As you’ve perhaps already heard, celeb autism mother Jenny Mccarthy has been named one of the 10 women who inspired us in 2007. The zany blond struck a serious note this year, going public with her son’s autism diagnosis. Her book Louder Than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism was honest, informative, down-to-earth and sometimes painful. McCarthy took a gamble, going public with her problems and shattering her fantasy image. Mothers everywhere thank her. “Honest” and “down-to-earth,” okay, okay. But “informative”? Only if you like your facts served up with a “zany” (read: questionable) adherence to the truth. A passage (see p. 82) that is set in 2004 or 2005 shows McCarthy looking up information on Google&#8212... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1124277 Tue, 01 Jan 2008 20:37:27 +0100 1124277 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1120787&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F207607596%2F The Ransom Notes “public awareness” campaign is over but the notion that autistic children have been “kidnapped” remains: See the December 28th Palm Beach Daily News (which also comments on the “epidemic nature of autism”). (Last time I checked my autistic was right here beside me—-on a Southwest Airlines flight from California back to Philadelphia.) Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1120787 Fri, 28 Dec 2007 16:20:28 +0100 1120787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1118227&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F206946619%2F A few days ago I noted that the word imus—as in shock-talk host Don Imus and his wife, Deirdre Imus (who has not infrequently publicized her views about an environmental cause of autism)—-has (at least) two meanings in Latin: “We go,” when imus is the first person plural, present tense, of the verb “go,” eo, ire, ii, iturum; and also “go, mouse!,” when imus is taken as i, mus, with i the second person singular imperative of eo, ire, ii, iturum and mus meaning, indeed, “mouse.” There is a third Latin meaning of imus: The word can also function as an adjective meaning “inmost, deepest, bottom-most, last“; in this instance, imus is the superlative form of the adjective inferus, which means “lower, southern, of the l... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1118227 Thu, 27 Dec 2007 10:25:48 +0100 1118227 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1101495&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F202089749%2F Will 2007 go down as the year in which interest in autism reached new heights? Autism has become an issue on the platforms of presidential candidates. This year saw the introduction of the Expanding the Promise for Individuals with Autism Act of 2007, which, if passed, would provide some $350 million in supports and services for autistic persons and their families. The Combating Autism Act (CAA) was signed into law by President Bush almost a year ago on December 19, 2006; this year saw the meeting of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (which was authorized by the CAA) to develop a Strategic Plan. In February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention presented new statistics showing that the prevalence of autism in children is now 1 in 150. From January on, a number of book... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1101495 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 09:00:13 +0100 1101495 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1091307&cid=t_102720_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F12%2F13%2Fat-last-an-explanation-how-stress-causes-obesity.html By Dov Michaeli MD, Ph.DIt is a well-known phenomenon: people under stress hit the fridge, and gorge on candy and fatty food. A gallon of ice scream in one sitting is not unheard of. But people who think deeply about such things asked themselves: why don’t they (people under stress) gorge on veggies? And what is the nature of the connection between stress and obesity? Is it simply overeating equalsobesity, or is there a deeper connection, involving the brain? After all, stress is a mind thing.The physiology of acute stress Almost every physiological action in our body is controlled by two systems: the autonomic nervous system, and the endocrine system. The autonomic nervous system has this name because it is, well, autonomic: it marches to its own drum, if you will, independently of ... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1091307 Thu, 13 Dec 2007 03:21:24 +0100 1091307 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1074996&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F196334353%2F It is too true in discussions about autism: Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose. On the one hand, new developments in research about autism—-as a study published today in Neuron about how the lack of the synapse-inducing protein CASK may be associated with autism—are regularly reported. This year also saw the publication of new studies about autism genetics and a continued focus on the environment and autism, in an April workshop on this topic at the Institute of Medicine; the myth of the autism epidemic: Is there something, such as an environmental factor—-thimerasol from vaccines, toxins from the environment, that is causing the increase? How do “changing criteria” contribute? Notes the Scientific American article Two recent studies buttress ass... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1074996 Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:36:48 +0100 1074996 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1073402&cid=t_102720_107_f&fid=36585&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHighlightHealth%2F%7E3%2F196119816%2F This article was published on Highlight HEALTH. (Source: Highlight HEALTH) Highlight HEALTH blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1073402 Thu, 06 Dec 2007 14:38:33 +0100 1073402 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1040118&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F188002827%2F Last night CNN had a one-hour special on autism, and yesterday morning the CBS Early Show aired the first of four segments about Jacob Allen in its Autism: A New Frontier series. Another Early Show segment on a “medical history of autism” was shown this morning and tonight brings another  CNN special on adults; tomorrow (Wednesday) brings a report on schools and education for autistic children; Friday offers another, longer showing of CNN’s program; and Monday, a final Early Show segment on adults and autism. Topics discussed have ranged from what it’s like live with autism from the perspectives of autistic persons; the American Academy of Pediatrics‘ recently issued guidelines for universal autism screening in young children; theories linking au... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1040118 Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:24:26 +0100 1040118 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1013391&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F181531689%2F Autism gains attention as experts meet: Research, celebrities raise profile of childhood disorder is the headline of a November 8th Atlanta Journal-Constitution article about the National Autism Conference, which is to be held this weekend in Atlanta. Some brief musings about the conference, the experts, autism, and who’s gaining “attention.” The National Autism Conference is the annual conference of the National Autism Association, which notes that autism is “environmentally triggered,” perhaps by a vaccine or something in vaccines, and which may not be the most national of autism organizations. The experts include keynote speakers Deirdre Imus, Katie Wright, and Jenny McCarthy, along with Andrew Wakefield, Jeff Bradstreet, Bryan Jepson, Anju Usman, David Kir... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1013391 Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:45:09 +0100 1013391 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1012468&cid=t_102720_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F181195890%2F America’s tweens more than doubled their use of type-2 diabetes medications between 2002 and 2005, with girls between 10 and 14 years of age showing a 166 percent increase. The likely cause: Obesity, which is closely associated with Type 2 diabetes. This is so darn scary! Oh, we have to do something now about this epidemic in our children. Please, I beg you to teach your kids about nutrition and the risks of heart disease and diabetes as well as the complications that go along with them. My kids eat happy Meals just like every other kid but they also understand the importance of fruits, veggies and exercise! Not that they always conform to my wishes but I think of it as laying the groundwork if you will. You know? What do you do to teach your children about the importance of a health... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1012468 Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:57:23 +0100 1012468 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1007323&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F180457849%2F 1 in 150. 1 in 94. 1 in 67. These and other statistics are frequently heard in discussions about autism, and especially when the topic is the so-called autism epidemic and the rising prevalence rate of autism (occurring in only about 3 in every 10,000 children in the 1960s); they make for good t-shirts and headlines. I guess it’s known that you can lie with statistics—that numbers don’t always add up to what they seem to say. As Temple University mathematician and author John Allen Paulos writes in the November 4th ABC News in Deny All You Want, They’ll Still Believe: Why Public Denials May Only Fuel Conspiracy Theories: The difficulty in processing denials is probably part of the reason for their frequent ineffectiveness. Complexity and logical connectives get lost... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1007323 Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:58:15 +0100 1007323 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1002814&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F179615229%2F It is time to register for spring semester classes at the college where I teach: Over the summer I took on some administrative duties and have a long list of students to advise. I know the students who are in their first year of college but not all those who are sophomores, juniors, and seniors and on Friday around noon appeared a young woman who said that she was a double major in Mathematics and Economics. She kept apologizing as she had only contacted me yesterday for an appointment. Due to the double major, figuring out what combinations of courses she might take along with a special research seminar took two computers (an aging desktop with the scheduling software and my laptop to look up the latest version of the spring semester schedule), a paper copy of the schedule, two copies of... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1002814 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 15:00:36 +0100 1002814 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1002525&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F179482248%2F It was a full week for autism news, with the release Monday of two new reports from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), one calling for universal screening of all young children for autism and the other noting how to teach and treat autism. The longstanding question of “can better diagnosis account for the rise in the prevalence rate of autism” again arose—–and, of course, Wednesday was Halloween. Tricks and treats: Thinking Differently: Advocacy, Witness, HopeThe National Autistic Society launches its Think differently about autism campaign and I recall the Autism and Advocacy conference Jim organized last year. New AAP Reports Call for Universal Screening for AutismAll children aged 18-24 months will be screened for autism. The Right, and the Fight, to Be I... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1002525 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 14:05:37 +0100 1002525 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1002292&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F179355722%2F There’s been a discussion going on in the comments to my post on So That’s What Happened to the Clock on the Computer (aka a post on Halloween and trick or treating). The discussion has been about Daylight Saving Time, with asides about how life in the modern world (and after the wake of the Industrial Revolution) contributed to efforts to standardize time. Changes in technology have changed our understanding and even experience of time: Whoever invented the sundial was not worrying about nanoseconds. Also earlier this week I posted about the “Brainbow,” a new genetic technique that makes it possible to visualize the complete neuronal circuits in great detail; scientists hope that by studying neuronal diagrams produced by the “Brainbow,” more can be lear... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1002292 Sat, 03 Nov 2007 21:53:33 +0100 1002292 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=991876&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F177331224%2F It is happening already: In the wake of the AAP’s call for universal screening of 18-24 month old children for autism, parents are starting to worry: A mother wrote that autism scares the hell out of me. And, the October 2007 issue of Popular Science listed autism as among the “deadly five” of the “enemies of the brain.” Okay. It is not easy, and it can be scarey, to have a doctor tell you that your child has a “serious/severe/lifelong brain disorder,” and too hear that awful “d” word, delay. I do know that, back in the spring of 1999, after I got over my first denial and disbelief that Charlie had “something”—autism—I felt a great relief. I felt as if I had gained some knowledge and that, thus fortified, I could... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=991876 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:41:25 +0100 991876 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=989743&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F177084702%2F These days it seems that more children have autism and that we hear a lot more about autism: Why? When people try to account for the dramatic rise in the prevalence of autism in the past few years—in the 1960s, autism was considered a rare disorder that occurred in only about 3 in every 10,000 children; the prevalence rate for autism is now 1 in 150 among children in the United States (and 1 in 94 in New Jersey, where I live)—they often turn to external factors. In the 1960s, parents themselves, and mothers in particular, were blamed. During the time in which both awareness of autism and the numbers of children diagnosed with it increased greatly—even to the extent that some have proclaimed that there is an “epidemic of autism”—many factors have been tag... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=989743 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:23:07 +0100 989743 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=989634&cid=t_102720_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F10%2F30%2Fhey-men-here-is-something-just-for-you.html This study had several strengths, including the large number of men with prostate cancer, a wide range of reported weights, and the ability to determine if any other factors affected the association between BMI and prostate cancer risk. This last statement is especially important, since studies of this sort are susceptible to what we call “confounding factors”, meaning that other factors, not the ones studied, may account for the results. Having participated in the study (as a subject), I can verify that the investigators left no stone unturned. I remember thinking, as I filled out the exhaustive, and exhausting, questionnaire that the only thing they left out was asking about the phase of the moon on the day I was born.The study results add to the growing evidence that obesity... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=989634 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 06:02:57 +0100 989634 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=985642&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F176093451%2F If you hear about Arthur Miller—a witch hunt—McCarthyism—-the first thing that might come to mind is Miller’s 1952 play The Crucible, which is often interpreted as an allegory for the McCarthy Hearings. In 1952, Joe McCarthy, the junior senator from Wisconsin, proclaimed that 205 Communists had infiltrated the State department. Actors, screenwriters, directors and others associated with Hollywood had been investigated by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) since 1947; many who refused to cooperate with the HUAC lost their jobs in the film industry and were blacklisted. Said Miller in a Paris Review interview, as noted in an essay by Tom Shafer: In this general atmosphere of fear and suspicion, Arthur Miller was reminded of a topic he had researched for... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=985642 Sun, 28 Oct 2007 05:35:29 +0100 985642 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=983935&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F175883570%2F The Institute of Medicine held a Workshop on Environment on April 18th. You can pre-order the proceedings as a book or (as I did) download them as a PDF file (over 300 pages in uncorrected page proofs). From the introduction: Read this free online The goal of the workshop was to provide a venue to bring together scientists, members of the autism community, and the major sponsors of autism-related research to discuss the most promising scientific opportunities….The focus was on improving the understanding of the ways in which environmental factors such as chemicals, infectious agents, or physiological or psychological stress can affect the development of the brain. In addition, discussions addressed the infrastructure needs for pursuing the identified research opportuniti... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=983935 Sat, 27 Oct 2007 16:48:13 +0100 983935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=961628&cid=t_102720_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2Fwe-are-what-we-eat-where-is-americas-leadership-brian-kleppe.html One of the attributes of a great image is its ability to convey vast amounts of information and meaning quickly and simply. Here's a terrific example. In one of his typically astute comments, Barry Carol alerted us to a wonderfully clever graphic by Wellington Gray - the image needs more space to be viewed properly than this blog allows, so you'll have to click on the link - displaying the percentage of people older than 15 in different developed countries with a Body Mass Index greater than 30. In other words, the percentage of fat adults. At 31% of our adult population, the US has the most obesity by far, fully 20-25 percent higher than our closest competitors in the race to lifestyle oblivion, Mexico and the UK. At the skinny end of the scale, France, Austria and Italy are at 9%, and N... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=961628 Thu, 18 Oct 2007 21:18:58 +0100 961628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=956050&cid=t_102720_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F10%2F16%2Ffood-porn-hardees-and-the-920-calorie-burrito.html by Pat Salber Perhaps the folks over at Hardee's fast food haven't heard the country is in the midst of an obesity epidemic.  They have just unveiled a new breakfast offering, the Country Breakfast burrito.  It consists of a two egg omelet filled with bacon, sausage, diced ham, cheddar cheese, hash browns and sausage gravy.  Surrounding this protein load is a flour tortilla.  The burrito weighs in at 920 calories.  That's right, 920 calories, about half of what you should ingest in a day.  This little baby also has 60 grams of fat.  All those calories and all that fat will only set you back $2.69.According to a story by the Associated Press, Brad Haley, Hardees' marketing chief, says that the burrito offers the sort of big breakfast item normally found in sit-down restaurants with... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=956050 Tue, 16 Oct 2007 14:16:54 +0100 956050 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=938718&cid=t_102720_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F10%2F9%2Fwhat-obesity-really-costs.html Brian KlepperAny lingering doubts that America's cavalier attitude toward lousy food and obesity is draining the nation's health and economic vitality should have been laid to rest last week. Two important studies were released that quantified just how much our inability to resist fast food is costing us. In Health Affairs, the premier journal of health care market dynamics, economics and policy, Professor Ken Thorpe and colleagues from Emory reported on a study comparing incidences of chronic disease in the US and in 10 European countries.  They found strong evidence that Americans have much higher levels of lifestyle-related chronic disease than do Europeans - in other words, we're sicker - that American medicine tends to identify and treat disease more aggressively than does E... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=938718 Tue, 09 Oct 2007 22:14:42 +0100 938718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=927925&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35109&url=http%3A%2F%2Fleftbrainrightbrain.co.uk%2F%3Fp%3D633 OK, this one has been beaten to death. I am amazed that it still think that there is evidence of an “epidemic”. This is especially true of those who rely on the California Department of Developmental Services (CDDS) data. These data are so muddy as to be able to hide a real increase or a real decline. These data have severe limitations as noted before on this blog. They are not “epidemiological” data. They are not a census of those with autism in California. They are a count of who is getting services and this can and does vary dramatically over time and geography. That said, let’s take a look at how service rates change with time for a given birth cohort. (click to enlarge). This is much as you would expect. Kids start being listed at age 3. The number in... Left Brain/Right Brain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=927925 Thu, 04 Oct 2007 23:27:33 +0100 927925 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=927924&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F165285674%2F I was not alone in recently receiving an enigmatic, and (if I may so), sinister-toned email from one “Adam Smith,” making the claim that the rise in the prevalence of autism is caused by the “the mixing of different ethnic groups.” “Smith” even asserts that “Autism is caused by the mixing of different ethnic groups.” Orac at Respectful Insolence makes it clear that “‘Smith’ has it all wrong”: What’s almost certainly bothering this “Adam Smith” is not the “mixing” of Russians with Dutch or Spanish with Irish or French with British. What is almost certainly really bothering “Adam Smith” is the influx of all those nasty dark-skinned races into Europe and the increasing acceptanc... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=927924 Thu, 04 Oct 2007 16:50:58 +0100 927924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=926263&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F165127314%2F Studies that indicate that autism is genetic are often roundly decried by those who believe that autism is caused by vaccines, or thimerasol, or other environmental, “extra-genetic” factors. Remarks such as “there can’t be a genetic epidemic” and “what is causing genes to mutate” are frequently offered. On the other hand, such statements suggest that more education in genetics and its terminology would be helpful in understanding why it is highly unlikely that some single “autism gene” can be found, and even some one factor that is causing genes to “mutate.” Epidemiologist and biotech consultant Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei notes how a recent article on cancer risk in the LA Times confused the terms “gene” and “gene... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=926263 Thu, 04 Oct 2007 09:47:42 +0100 926263 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=966603&cid=t_102720_107_f&fid=36585&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FHighlightHealth%2F%7E3%2F165036461%2F This article was published on Highlight HEALTH. (Source: Highlight HEALTH) Highlight HEALTH blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=966603 Thu, 04 Oct 2007 04:14:56 +0100 966603 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=909385&cid=t_102720_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fpossibly-watershed-in-responsible.html For some of us, the day that The Observer published some egregiously poor reporting about the incidence of autism in the UK and a series of errors about the MMR vaccine, was a landmark in shoddy medical journalism. I dubbed it St. Maximilian Kolbe and Blessed Titus Brandsma Day: once The Observer had published those notorious pieces, it guaranteed abysmal coverage of the issue for the next 100 days.There was outrage throughout the UK blogosphere. Many people wrote to The Observer to correct these stories, not least Dr Fiona Scott whose views had been misrepresented and one apiece from Prof. Baron-Cohen and Prof. Bustin. Baron-Cohen:[Your] article linked MMR and autism.The research does not...The best estimate of the prevalence of autism is the 1 per cent figure published in the Lancet in 2... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=909385 Fri, 28 Sep 2007 08:37:00 +0100 909385 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=894231&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F160335269%2F How perfect should our children be? asks an article originally published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press about prenatal genetic testing and Down Syndrome (85% of women choose to end their pregnancy when they find out their fetus has tested positive for Down Syndrome.) So many more children are diagnosed with autism that it feels (feels) to many that there is an “epidemic of autism”; an article in today’s Peoria Journal-Star notes that there are so many more students with autism that the school district is having an “autistic overload.” Autism consultant Lisa Bowe is quoted as saying “Autism used to be a sentence in a textbook, then a paragraph, then a chapter. Now it’s a whole book.” And a book that, I hope, will keep growing as we learn more a... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=894231 Sun, 23 Sep 2007 21:00:24 +0100 894231 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=891636&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35109&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kevinleitch.co.uk%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D641   What if there were a way that people could dramatically reduce the number of people born with autism? What if it took a concerted effort on the part of everyone to make it happen?  Should we do it?  Would people complain? Would we respect the lessons of  the past if it had already happened? Well, it may have already happened.  “May” as in it requires correlating one set of trends with California DDS numbers on Autism.  We all know how dangerous that can be.  CDDS data are not epidemological.  They don’t tell you how many people in California have autism, they tell you how many people in California are getting services under autism.  People who forgot the importance of that distinction have found themselves promo... Left Brain/Right Brain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=891636 Fri, 21 Sep 2007 21:42:53 +0100 891636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=889633&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35109&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kevinleitch.co.uk%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D639 Hey, it’s Thursday evening. Why don’t we stop by and see what the cat dragged in over at Rescue Host. Holy Vaccinations Batman! It’s more autism epidemic gibberish! The current installment comes to us from Kelli Ann Davis, who writes: I knew the day was coming. With numbers like 1 in 150 children and 1 in 94 boys, “it” was bound to happen. Her “it” apparently refers to the recent appearances of some fellow believers on daytime television. Davis goes on to share some apparent feelings of vindication: I must of recited “the-numbers-are-getting-larger-and-our-voices-are-getting-louder” mantra at least a bazillion times over the last 5 years, cuz that’s how many meetings it feels like I’ve been in. but it never seemed to r... Left Brain/Right Brain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=889633 Fri, 21 Sep 2007 05:35:24 +0100 889633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=875211&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F157253110%2F Theories of what causes autism (a milk molecule?) and of how to treat autism (horseback riding and shamans) often seem to mushroom overnight and bloggers like those at Left Brain/Right Brain, at Mike Stanton’s Action for Autism and Kathleen Seidel’s Neurodiversity, at Autism Diva and Respectful Insolence tirelessly analyze and question the claims of junk/pseudo/crank science. A September 11th article on Nobel Intent on Ars Technica casts a critical eye on pseudoscience by carefully reviewing the articles in a special edition of the journal Homeopathy on the “memory of water.” Noting their consistent “concern regarding science education and the public understanding of science,” authors John Timmer, Chris Lee, Jonathan M. Gitlin, and Matt Ford write: &#823... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=875211 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 17:22:30 +0100 875211 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=874636&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F156993757%2F A Different Look at the MMR IssueScience writer David Bradley posts about measles and giving the MMR as three separate vaccines; readers find flaws. Special Ed, For ProfitShould a for-profit company run private special education schools? A Suggestion for Dr. WakefieldDAN! seeks “messages of support” for the doctor; Autism Vox asks him to write some messages, too. Eye Contact May Be OverratedWhy, or why not, or why maybe, autistic kids need to be taught to “look at me.” The Cure QuestionIs the notion of “curing autism” beside the point? Quirky, NOSTo diagnose or not to diagnose? Back to School with b5mediaCharlie goes back to school and I reflect on his learning struggles and strengths What Are We Treating With WhatOn the “off label” use of me... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=874636 Sat, 15 Sep 2007 23:17:12 +0100 874636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=868254&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35109&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kevinleitch.co.uk%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D620 Do you miss Dan Olmsted’s writing? He now apparently showcases his version of scientific brilliance over at Rescue Host. Recently, he tried to pass off the Flu shots and Chinese mercury hypothesis (which I thought was David Kirby’s, but I guess I was wrong) without much more than unfounded speculation and belief. California, of course, is ground zero as we watch autism rates keep rising—even after mercury was “removed” from childhood vaccines starting in 1999 (the situation is much more complicated than that, since more and more pregnant women and younger and younger kids are getting mercury-preserved flu shots). So if you believe as I do that autism is fundamentally an environmental illness that whacks a subgroup of susceptible kids, mercury from Chi... Left Brain/Right Brain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=868254 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 11:00:30 +0100 868254 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=867248&cid=t_102720_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F9%2F12%2Ftaking-obesity-seriously.html Brian Klepper Over at Health Care Policy and Marketplace Review, the always insightful Bob Laszewski drew my attention to the release of a new report from The Trust for America's Health , F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America. This 120 page document, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, provides an update on how obesity is ravaging America's health and productivity.The facts about America's obesity problem aren't new.  They continue to be grim and worsening:Two thirds of American adults are now overweight or obese.Adult obesity rates exceed 20 percent in 47 states.In the past year,  the obesity rates increased in 31 states; no state improvedObesity is at the root of an array of our most expensive major diseases that will generate huge costs for ca... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=867248 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 06:35:14 +0100 867248 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=863790&cid=t_102720_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F155224649%2F Headline a story “Hi-tech facial scans used to detect autism in children” and what do you think will happen? A professor angry that “his work had been misreported, he had been misquoted, and he wanted nothing more to do with the media”? The full story is at the BBC news and underscores the gap between scientific research and journalists (and throw in some bloggers, and things can get rather messy). Not all the news is fit to print, nor is it news: Note this headline from today’s Guardian: Autistic traits linked to testosterone in mother’s womb The articles notes a correlation between high testosterone levels in the womb and children getting high scores on the autistic spectrum quotient or AQ which measures “personality traits that are typically mu... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=863790 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 22:10:08 +0100 863790