Big Hearts in Texas Planning for Autism's Adults

This is so cool and I had to share for those that haven't seen it yet! I wish them great success.

From AoA:

Big Hearts in Texas Planning for Autism's Adults

Countryside Texas will provide a safe, healthy, rewarding living experience for adults with autism. Check out their site.

Countryside will be a farm setting that offers rich, varied and abundant opportunities for self-paced, distraction-free programs for hundreds of adults with Autism in Fayette County.

Countryside, the first of its kind in Texas, will provide a home where the residents feel accepted and welcome. Each individual will have opportunities for personal growth and independence in their life and develop friendships along the way. They will have choices for vocational work and social activities which will not only be rewarding but fun too. Everyone is encouraged to explore their creativity through art, music and drama. They can expand their knowledge and technology skills through the library and computer center. There will also be a chapel and meditative gardens for spiritual reflections and worship.

Link to Dr. MIchael Goldberg's NIDS presentation

For those that are interested in NIDS, here's a presentation he gave recently. We no longer see him but I do feel that a lot of what he says has value. There are some things we just don't agree upon but it's always good to have information and decide for yourself.

Possible immunological disorders in autism: concomitant autoimmunity and immune tolerance

Click the title to link to the full study.

1: Egypt J Immunol. 2006;13(1):99-104.

*Possible immunological disorders in autism: concomitant
autoimmunity and immune tolerance.*

Kawashti MI, Amin OR, Rowehy NG.
Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine (For Girls), Al Azhar
University, Cairo, Egypt.

Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder that affect children
early in their life. Immunological disorders is one of several
contributing factors that have been suggested to cause autism.
Thirty autistic children aged 3-6 years and thirty non-autistic
psychologically-free siblings were studied. Circulating IgA and IgG
autoantibodies to casein and gluten dietary proteins were detected
by enzyme-immunoassays (EIA). Circulating IgG antibodies to measles,
mumps and rubella vaccine (M.M.R) and cytomeglovirus were
investigated by EIA. Results revealed high seropositivity for
autoantibodies to casein and gluten: 83.3% and 50% respectively in
autistic children as compared to 10% and 6.7% positivity in the
control group. Surprisingly, circulating anti-measles, anti-mumps
and anti-rubella IgG were positive in only 50%, 73.3% and 53.3%
respectively as compared to 100% positivity in the control group.
Anti-CMV IgG was positive in 43.3% of the autistic children as
compared to 7% in the control group. It is concluded that,
autoimmune response to dietary proteins and deficient immune
response to measles, mumps and rubella vaccine antigens might be
associated with autism, as a leading cause or a resulting event.
Further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Separate MMR To Return?

From Askdrsears.com

Return of Separate Measles, Mumps, Rubella Vaccines Planned for 2011

Friday, May 15, 2009

I received official word from a Merck representative that the company plans to resume production of the separate M-M-R component vaccines. They anticipate these becoming available in 2011 (no actual month specified). This is good news for those parents who want the vaccines separated, but the two year wait will leave some kids unprotected. In my MMR blog from January (http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/archives/2009_01_01_archive.asp) I discuss all the ins and outs of deciding whether or not to do the full MMR. Delaying it definitely puts children at risk of catching these diseases. Parents have to weigh all the information and decide what to do. The good news is that it looks like the separate shots will be back. I will certainly let you know as soon as they become available in 2011.

Dr. Bob

Need Protein?

Here's a little something I tried - making protein popsicles! If you have a kid like mine that simply doesn't get enough protein try making protein popsicles. There isn't much of a fuss when you offer a chocolate popsicle! Here's what I did and maybe you'll get a little inspiration of your own. Keep in mind that my kids are not GFCF so modify as you need.

Chocolate protein powder of choice
DariFree (less sugar than regular milk and many other subs)
water
chocolate syrup - because my kids aren't GFCF I get the sugar free Hershey's since it's made with erythritol
popsicle molds

You can make various incarnations of these popsicles, too. Remove chocolate , use vanilla protein powder, add a little pumpkin and pumpkin spice and you have yummy pumpkinsicles. Or add peeled oranges and cream of choice and you have an orangesicle. Add juices instead of water or think of some other variation that would be more useful to you. Play around with it and see what kind of yummy protein popsicles you can make and your child will enjoy. I've found it to be a very easy way to get protein in my kids and to them it's a treat!

Keep in mind that how much protein you put in the mix is going to determine how much protein you have per popsicle.  Do the math and if you can, add more protein powder.  Make it a protein power posicle.  The more you add, though, the more molds you need.

RevitaPOP

Here's a new product developed by Stan Kurtz and a portion of the proceeds go to Generation Rescue. Yes, I know the pics don't seem to fit but I'm not so computer savvy that I know how to make them smaller as I just copied and pasted from the site. I'm open to instructions but if you don't feel like going there with me, you can simply click RevitaPop above and it will take you to the site where you can see the full pictures. Or you can save the pics and view them from your desktop.

ReVitaPop compared to MB12 Injections for Autism

MB12 has been used most often in the subcutaneous injection form (small needles injecting MB12 into body fat).

In the MB12 Parent Group there are polls that show some children respond better to the shots and some children respond better to the the ReVitaPop.

On the Autism Research Institute Parent Report (Form 34) has only collected a small number of reports so far shows a great deal of children with autism respond to MB12 supplementation.

Effects of MB12

Based on video observation and QEEG monitoring, typical effects of MB12 may begin to occur within minutes (sometimes seconds) of the application. An experiment on QEEG activity showed changes almost instantly after MB12 administration. On video, Stan has recorded many subjects feeling better often within minutes and sometimes seconds. Besides autism, which MB12 can have both immediate and long-term benefits, most adults report that any improvements from MB12 occur within the first hour of administration.

The average administration seems to last about 24 hours, but every person is different. Some people that seem to become depleted of MB12 in hours, others seem to feel the benefits for days. Very interestingly, we see reports that for some people the need for MB12 decreases as time goes on. Additionally, the reduction of milk and wheat products, lessening complex carbohydrates and starches and improvements to intestinal flora may decrease the need for MB12. Some people, as in Stan's case, have reported that their need for MB12 completely diminishes over time.

QEEG Activity

In March of 2006, MB12 was shown to seemingly normalize brain waves of a 23 year old with DSM-IV Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Testing included pre testing and 3 post tests including one immediately after administration. All test showed a dramatic lessoning of theta wave activity (3.5-7.5 Hz), which is common in attention challenges, and activity in the entire brain increased, while the subject was observed to be more relaxed and attentive while ocular “twittering” was greatly reduced. A more detailed report of this experiment is available here. This experiment was monitored by Jack Johnstone PhD from Q-Metrx.

University Study of MB12

Stan began meeting with the ADHD research team at UCLA to present his finding on MB12 . After much work, an IRB approved pilot study of MB12. Additionally a study is planned at California State Northridge.

SPECT Activity

In March of 2007, MB12 was shown to seemingly greatly improve brain blood flow of a 53 year old mom of two children with autism and personally struggling with fibromyalgia, depression, and symptoms of brain fog, trouble finding words, memory issues, attention issues and several other chronic symptoms. Along with other possible abnormalities, the baseline test shows a significant amount of hypoprofusion (reduced blood flow) in the temporal, frontal and prefrontal lobes. In the post testing, this individual was sprayed with MB12 50 minutes prior to the SPECT isotope being administered. In addition to the obvious temporal lobe improvement, the frontal lobes dramatically normalized (see the black circle markers on the interactive view). This single person experiment was monitored by J. Michael Uszler M.D. at Santa Monica Imaging.

Anecdotes

In addition to the MB12 recovery videos at www.recoveryvideos.com , there are hundreds of reports on our health web listserve and a short public list as well. Literally tens of thousands of people are reporting on the benefits of supplementing with MB12.

Testimonials

What Experts are saying

Personal Testimonials

More on the vaccine front

From Safeminds.org

Pediatric Vaccines Influence Primate Behavior, and Amygdala Growth and Opioid Ligand Binding Friday, May 16, 2008: IMFAR

L. Hewitson , Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA B. Lopresti , Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA C. Stott , Thoughtful House Center for Children, Austin, TX J. Tomko , Pittsburgh Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA L. Houser , Pittsburgh Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA E. Klein , Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA C. Castro , Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA G. Sackett , Psychology, Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA S. Gupta , Medicine, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of California - Irvine, Irvine, CA D. Atwood , Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY L. Blue , Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY E. R. White , Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY A. Wakefield , Thoughtful House Center for Children, Austin, TX

Background: Macaques are commonly used in pre-clinical vaccine safety testing, but the combined childhood vaccine regimen, rather than individual vaccines, has not been studied. Childhood vaccines are a possible causal factor in autism, and abnormal behaviors and anomalous amygdala growth are potentially inter-related features of this condition.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare early infant cognition and behavior with amygdala size and opioid binding in rhesus macaques receiving the recommended childhood vaccines (1994-1999), the majority of which contained the bactericidal preservative ethylmercurithiosalicylic acid (thimerosal).

Methods: Macaques were administered the recommended infant vaccines, adjusted for age and thimerosal dose (exposed; N=13), or saline (unexposed; N=3). Primate development, cognition and social behavior were assessed for both vaccinated and unvaccinated infants using standardized tests developed at the Washington National Primate Research Center. Amygdala growth and binding were measured serially by MRI and by the binding of the non-selective opioid antagonist [11C]diprenorphine, measured by PET, respectively, before (T1) and after (T2) the administration of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR).

Results: Compared with unexposed animals, significant neurodevelopmental deficits were evident for exposed animals in survival reflexes, tests of color discrimination and reversal, and learning sets. Differences in behaviors were observed between exposed and unexposed animals and within the exposed group before and after MMR vaccination. Compared with unexposed animals, exposed animals showed attenuation of amygdala growth and differences in the amygdala binding of [11C]diprenorphine. Interaction models identified significant associations between specific aberrant social and non-social behaviors, isotope binding, and vaccine exposure.

Conclusions: This animal model, which examines for the first time, behavioral, functional, and neuromorphometric consequences of the childhood vaccine regimen, mimics certain neurological abnormalities of autism. The findings raise important safety issues while providing a potential model for examining aspects of causation and disease pathogenesis in acquired disorders of behavior and development.

Pediatric Vaccines Influence Primate Behavior, and Brain Stem Volume and Opioid Ligand Binding Saturday, IMFAR

Wakefield , Thoughtful House Center for Children, Austin, TX C. Stott , Thoughtful House Center for Children, Austin, TX B. Lopresti , Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA J. Tomko , Pittsburgh Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA L. Houser , Pittsburgh Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA G. Sackett , Psychology, Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA L. Hewitson , Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Background: Abnormal brainstem structure and function have been reported in children with autism. Opioid receptors play key roles in neuro-ontogeny, are present in brainstem nuclei, and may influence aspects of autism. Childhood vaccines are a possible causal factor in autism and while primates are used in pre-clinical vaccine safety testing, the recommended infant regimen (1994-1999) has not been tested.

Objectives:

The objective of this study was to compare brain stem volume and opioid binding in rhesus infants receiving the recommended infant vaccine regimen.

Methods:

Rhesus macaques were administered vaccines adjusted for age and thimerosal dose (exposed; N=13), or placebo (unexposed; N=3) from birth onwards. Brainstem volume was measured by quantitative MRI, and binding of the non-selective opioid antagonist [11C]diprenorphine (DPN) was measured by PET, at 2 (T1) and 4 (T2) months of age. Neonatal reflexes and sensorimotor responses were measured in standardized tests for 30 days.

Results:

Kaplan-Meier survival analyses revealed significant differences between exposed and unexposed animals, with delayed acquisition of root, suck, clasp hand, and clasp foot reflexes. Interaction models examined possible relationships between time-to-acquisition of reflexes, exposure, [3C]DPN binding, and volume. Statistically significant interactions between exposure and time-to–acquisition of reflex on overall levels of binding at T1 and T2 were observed for all 18 reflexes. For all but one (snout), this involved a mean increase in time-to-acquisition of the reflex for exposed animals. In each model there was also a significant interaction between exposure and MRI volume on overall binding.

Conclusions:

This animal model examines the neurological consequences of the childhood vaccine regimen. Functional and neuromorphometric brainstem anomalies were evident in vaccinated animals that may be relevant to some aspects of autism. The findings raise important safety issues while providing a potential animal model for examining aspects of causation and disease pathogenesis in acquired neurodevelopmental disorders.

Microarray Analysis of GI Tissue in a Macaque Model of the Effects of Infant Vaccination Saturday, May 17, 2008 IMFAR
S. J. Walker , Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, E. K. Lobenhofer , Cogenics, a Division of Clinical Data E. Klein , Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Pittsburgh, A. Wakefield , Thoughtful House Center for Children, Austin, TX L. Hewitson , Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Background: There has been considerable debate regarding the question of an interaction between childhood vaccinations and adverse sequelae in the gastrointestinal tract, immune system, and central nervous system of some recipients. These systems, either singly or in combination, appear to be adversely affected in many ASD children. Although pre-clinical tests of individual vaccines routinely find the risk/benefit ratio to be low, previously there has not been a study to examine the effects of the comprehensive vaccination regime currently in use for infants.

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate potential alterations in normal growth and development resulting from the vaccine regimen that was in use from 1994-1999. Specifically, this portion of the study was to compare the gene expression profiles obtained from gastrointestinal tissue from vaccinated and unvaccinated infants.

Methods: Infant male macaques were vaccinated (or given saline placebo) using the human vaccination schedule. Dosages and times of administration were adjusted for differences between macaques and humans. Biopsy tissue was collected from the animals at three time points: (1) 10 weeks [pre-MMR1], (2) 14 weeks [post-MMR1] and, (3) 12-15 months [at necropsy]. Whole genome microarray analysis was performed on RNA extracted from the GI tissue from 7 vaccinated and 2 unvaccinated animals at each of these 3 time points (27 samples total).

Results: Histopathological examination revealed that vaccinated animals exhibited progressively severe chronic active inflammation, whereas unexposed animals did not. Gene expression comparisons between the groups (vaccinated versus unvaccinated) revealed only 120 genes differentially expressed (fc >1.5; log ratio p<0.001)>

Conclusions: We have found many significant differences in the GI tissue gene expression profiles between vaccinated and unvaccinated animals. These differences will be presented and discussed.

The authors and organizations are withholding comment or elaboration until the full articles are published.

Monkey business

SICK MONKEYS: RESEARCH LINKS VACCINE LOAD, AUTISM SIGNS

BY DAN OLMSTED
The first research project to examine effects of the total vaccine load received by children in the 1990s has found autism-like signs and symptoms in infant monkeys vaccinated the same way. The study's principal investigator, Laura Hewitson from the University of Pittsburgh, reports developmental delays, behavior problems and brain changes in macaque monkeys that mimic "certain neurological abnormalities of autism."
The findings are being reported Friday and Saturday at a major international autism conference in London.

Read the rest here.

Low NK activity in large autism subgroup

Low natural killer cell cytotoxic activity in autism: The role of
glutathione, IL-2 and IL-15

Aristo Vojdani, Elizabeth Mumper, Doreen Granpeesheh, Lynne Mielke,
David Traver, Kenneth Bock, Karima Hirani, James Neubrander, Kurt N.
Woeller, Nancy O'Hara, Anju Usman, Cindy Schneider, Frank Hebroni,
Joshua Berookhim and Jaquelyn McCandless.

Journal of Neuroimmunology
Volume 205, Issues 1-2, 15 December 2008, Pages 148-154
http://tinyurl.com/oew4ph

Although many articles have reported immune abnormalities in autism,
NK cell activity has only been examined in one study of 31 patients,
of whom 12 were found to have reduced NK activity. The mechanism
behind this low NK cell activity was not explored. For this reason, we
explored the measurement of NK cell activity in 1027 blood samples
from autistic children obtained from ten clinics and compared the
results to 113 healthy controls. This counting of NK cells and the
measurement of their lytic activity enabled us to express the NK cell
activity/100 cells. At the cutoff of 15–50 LU we found that NK cell
activity was low in 41–81% of the patients from the different clinics.
This NK cell activity below 15 LU was found in only 8% of healthy
subjects (p < 0.001). Low NK cell activity in both groups did not
correlate with percentage and absolute number of CD16+/CD56+ cells.
When the NK cytotoxic activity was expressed based on activity/100
CD16+/CD56+ cells, several patients who had displayed NK cell activity
below 15 LU exhibited normal NK cell activity. Overall, after this
correction factor, 45% of the children with autism still exhibited low
NK cell activity, correlating with the intracellular level of
glutathione. Finally, we cultured lymphocytes of patients with low or
high NK cell activity/cell with or without glutathione, IL-2 and
IL-15. The induction of NK cell activity by IL-2, IL-15 and
glutathione was more pronounced in a subgroup with very low NK cell
activity. We conclude that that 45% of a subgroup of children with
autism suffers from low NK cell activity, and that low intracellular
levels of glutathione, IL-2 and IL-15 may be responsible.

It's been a while but check this out...

http://bit.ly/QH1GI

It makes me outraged that this is perfectly acceptable and appropriate medical treatment for the mainstream medical community while other biomedical treatments such as diet, supplements, antivirals, etc. are all considered "experimental", "dangerous" and "unproven". You have to wonder what is going on in this world when antipsychotics and antidepressants for children are the norm and parents, other medical professionals and the children themselves are completely ignored. Where is the outrage? Why aren't the people out there calling us "crazy" beating on this door? Why is this considered safe and a GFCF diet isn't? I simply can't wrap my head around several mostly irreversible possible side effects being better than oh, digestive enzymes and treating for yeast.

I guess I'm still crazy.

I haven't blogged in a while. I realize I've been very lax in my duties as a very unknown blogger. Things are slowing down around the homestead so I hope to be bloggining regularly. I've said that before so don't hold your breath but who knows. I do plan to put forth a bit more effort so I know I'll at least do better. :)