FEAT DAILY NEWSLETTER
Sacramento, California http://www.feat.org
January 4, 2001
News Morgue Search www.feat.org/search/news.asp
·
Medical Research Council Review Sets Research Agenda
For Autism
·
Autism Review is Published
·
Measles-containing Vaccines and IBD
·
Autistic Children Enjoy Day At Movies
[By Susan Mayor, London BMJ 2002;324:10 05 January,
News roundup.]
http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/324/7328/10/b
The Medical Research Council has published a major review
of research which reveals that the prevalence of autism is higher than had been
thought butindicates no association with the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination.
The review was commissioned by the Department of Health in
March 2001, partly in response to public concerns raised by research alleging
that MMR vaccination might be linked to an apparent increase in the numbers of children
with autism. It was designed to be a wide ranging review of research into
different aspects of autism and other disorders in the autism spectrum, to
identify gaps in knowledge and to make recommendations on future research in
the United Kingdom.
Three groups of scientists examined the research evidence
and assessed the strength of knowledge based on research in epidemiology and
case definition; physiology and infection; and psychology and behaviour. For
the first time in a research review by the council there was extensive input
from the outset from lay people, who put forward questions that reflected the
concerns of parents of children with autism.
The report found that autism was more prevalent than had
previously been thought: around six in 1000 young children have a disorder in
the autism spectrum.
Carol Dezateux, clinical reader in epidemiology at the
Institute of Child Health at Great Ormond Street NHS Trust and chairwoman of
the review’s epidemiology subgroup, said: “This estimate makes autism spectrum
disorders far more common than was previously generally recognised.” Most of the apparent increase was considered
by the reviewers to have resulted from changes in case definition, as well as
increased awareness of the condition. The reviewers thought it most likely that
autism results from several causes, but they argued that the strongest evidence
was for a genetic component. They said:
“It seems likely that several genes interact to create
susceptibility to the disorder. The interplay between genetic and environmental
factors is also likely to play a key role but the nature of these interactions
is not yet known.” It was concluded
that current evidence did not support the link between MMR and autism spectrum
disorders.
The review was chaired by Professor Eve Johnstone, who is
also chairwoman of the council’s neurosciences and mental health research
board. She said, “The report has
identified some successes in research into autism but there is still a long way
to go to better understand these disorders.” She added: “The participation in
this review of people with autism, their carers, and people with experience of
support groups has enriched both the process and its outputs. Further
partnerships which give lay organisations access to scientific expertise and
give scientists access to lay perspectives can only be of benefit.” For the future, the report recommends
building on the existing strengths of research into autism by improving
coordination between different research disciplines and improving research
training in service settings. It also called for more research on the
definition of autism spectrum disorders, especially in adults, noting that such
research is “crucial both for future research and for provision of services”
for people with the disorder.
More basic biological research studies were also
suggested-an acknowledgement that there is still a lot of uncertainty about the
biological processes involved in autism, in the brain as well as other organs.
Large population studies were proposed, to address questions about environmental
risks and their interaction with genetic factors. The council is now discussing
with the Department of Health how to act on these proposals.
Dr Dezateux concluded that progress in autism research
would depend on adequate funding.
The Medical Research Council’s review of autism
research is available
on its website: www.mrc.ac.uk
* * *
[From an article in the Medical Research Council which
duplicates much
of the information in the above article, with the exception
of the
excerption below. The entire article is at this website.]
http://www.mrc.ac.uk/index/public_interest/topical_issues/autism_review.htm
Professor Sir George Radda, Chief Executive of the Medical
Research Council, said:
“Our report has identified current gaps in knowledge about
autism and we hope that our findings will stimulate the research community to
develop proposals that address the key issues. We want to encourage scientific proposals
for multi-disciplinary research around shared research strategies. We believe collaborations will lay the basis
for more effective approaches to diagnosis, treatment and perhaps, in the long
term, to ameliorate the more disabling effects of autism spectrum disorders,
identify ‘at risk’ groups and target interventions accordingly.”
Virginia Bovell, a parent of an autistic child and
Founding Trustee of Parents’ Autism Campaign for Education (PACE) and Judith
Barnard, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the National Autistic
Society, represented lay interests on the review steering group.
Virginia Bovell said: “We welcome the report. It now sets
out unequivocally that autism is not a rare condition, and that there is much
to be done to extend our research knowledge as a matter of urgency. It also has
significant implications for service provision, which we hope public agencies
will take very seriously indeed.”
Judith Barnard said: “It’s vital we understand more about
the causes of this devastating disability so that children and adults are given
the help they need at the earliest opportunity. We hope that the Government
will recognise the need to fund research into autism so that the
recommendations in this report can be implemented to improve the lives of
people with autism and their families.”
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* * *
Measles-containing Vaccines and IBD.
[By Andrew Wakefield, 02 January 2002 in
GastroHep.com. Technical
language.]
http://www.gastrohep.com/freespeech/freespeech.asp?id=72#comments
In an ironic twist, investigators from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD)
Project have confirmed an association between measles-containing vaccines (MCV)
and inflammatory bowel disease. Specifically, they have also determined how age
at exposure to an MCV may be important in determining the type of inflammatory
bowel disease - Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis - that develops [1].
Before the American Society of Microbiology’s millennium
meeting, Davis et al. reported a retrospective case-control study in which
cases (n = 142) with either Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis, were
compared with unaffected controls (n = 432). The exposure of interest was to an
MCV.
When performing the power calculations to determine the
necessary size of the study, Davis et al. assumed an MCV-exposure rate of 70%.
In actual fact, the exposure rate was 93-94%, revealing a fundamental flaw in
the study - overmatching.
Exposure of cases and controls to an MCV was so similar
that their study, as designed, would never have detected a risk for
inflammatory bowel disease, even if this risk were real.
Although these crucial data were presented to the American
Society for Microbiology (at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial
Agents and Chemotherapy in November 2000), they received no comment in the
subsequent paper published in Arch Pediatr Adolsce Med. An explanation is
clearly required.
In order to determine whether exposure to an MCV is or is
not a risk for inflammatory bowel disease, at the level identified previously
[2], power calculations reveal that they would have required at least 3 times
as many cases and controls as were included in the study.
The correct power calculations were readily performed
using the Epi.Info package, downloaded from the CDC website.
·
Article continues, references at:
http://www.gastrohep.com/freespeech/freespeech.asp?id=72#comments
* * *
[By Beth Feinstein-Bartl in the South Florida
Sun-Sentinel.] http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-pp04moviejan04.story?coll
=sfla%2Dnews%2Dbroward <-- address ends here.
When Stacey Hoaglund takes her 6-year-old son, Zachary, to
the movies it’s usually during non-peak hours when the theaters are less
crowded.
It’s easier that way. Zachary is autistic and finds it
difficult to sit still, said Hoaglund, who lives in Cooper City.
But a recent showing of the Disney film Monsters Inc.,
some 90 parents and their autistic children didn’t have to worry about what
patrons would think or say.
They had a screening room at the Muvico Paradise 24
Theater in Davie all to themselves. The special, early morning showing was a
gift from speech therapist Valerie Herskowitz to her clients.
Angela Findlay of Pembroke Pines was pleased by the gift.
Her sons, Justin, 6, and Nicholas, 7, are both autistic.
“Justin has problems sitting still,” she said. “I didn’t
have to worry about him making noise.”
Many theatergoers don’t understand why autistic children
act up. Some people have made rude comments, said Herskowitz of Plantation.
“The parents’ feelings get hurt,” said Herskowitz, whose
son, Blake, 10, also has autism. “Some try and avoid the situation.”
Many mothers and fathers do like Hoaglund and take their
children to the theater at times when the seats are less filled. Others don’t
go to the movies at all, Herskowitz said.
At the private showing of Monsters Inc., parents didn’t
have to be concerned how their children were acting, Herskowitz said.
This is the first time that Herskowitz invited her young
clients and their families to a movie outing. About 23 youngsters with autism,
ranging in age from 3 to 10 years old, attended.
“I used to have big parties in my back yard,” she said. “This
year, I wanted to do something different.”
Autism is a neurological disorder. Its causes are unknown.
For children who have been diagnosed, difficulties can include socialization skills
and reacting to stimuli in the environment such as noise and light, Herskowitz
said.
Dan Herrle, a manager at the 24-screen theater at 15601
Sheridan St., said Muvico was more than happy to accommodate the children’s
special needs by lowering the volume for those who are sensitive to loud noises
and helping the parents by having employees bring popcorn and soda to their seats.
“When we have big groups, we try to cater to them,” he
said. “When we got the call for this group, we knew we immediately wanted to
work with them.”
Lucy Sierra of Cooper City said her son, Jonathan, 6, has
had difficulty sitting through movies. But not this time. “He did great,” she said.
Ellen Moran, another parent from Plantation, came to the
movie with her three children, Dillon, 9, Briana, 8, and Colin, 2. Briana has
autism and this was her first time attending a film. In the past, it has been difficult
getting her daughter into the theater, she said.
“Once she got into the movie, she was more relaxed,”
Moran said.
Herskowitz said she would like to arrange another
movie outing in the
future. She believes strongly in providing entertainment for
families with autistic children.
Though her efforts as a board member for the Autism
Society of Broward County, Herskowitz organizes outings on behalf of the
organization for gymnastics Saturdays and roller skating Sundays.
A portion of the expenses for these activities are covered
by the society for its members, she said.
Herskowitz and her husband, Garth Dolderer, also founded
the National Autism Registry in 1999. Through the organization, the couple
distributes free cards to parents that they can use in places where there are
long lines, such as restaurants and amusement parks.
The cards explain to management that autistic children
have difficulty waiting and ask if the family could have easier access to the
facilities. Another card distributed by
the registry helps parents explain to people why children with autism exhibit
certain behaviors, Herskowitz said.
For more information on the National Autism Registry,
Herskowitz provides a link on her speech therapy Web site at www.dimensionsspeech.com
or people can call her office, Dimensions Speech, Language and Learning Services
at 954-423-9700.
To find out more about outings sponsored by the Autism
Society of
Broward County, call 954-474-5333. Copyright © 2002, South Florida
Sun-Sentinel
* * *
Recently, the FEAT Newsletter posted a report on enzymes
in which Karen DeFelice was described as a “professional unpaid volunteer
marketer of Houston Nutraceuticals products”.
Karen writes in to say that some readers mistook this statement to mean
that she markets Houston products exclusively.
She claims to market other products as well and that she receives no
compensation from Houston Nutraceuticals for her efforts to promote their
products.
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