AUTISM FIRST STEPS
AUTISM DAILY NEWSLETTER    
Tuesday, November 27, 2001 

INDEX:
*   Bipolar Disorder Hits the Youngest the Hardest
*   God Chooses Mom for Disabled Child
*   CHERAB Foundation Meeting
*   Holiday Gala Event
*   CAUCUS for Autism Meeting
*   Why do people think that vaccines can cause autism?
*   How do vaccines help the immune system defend the body?
*   Probiotic VSL-3 Improves Clinical Picture for Irritable Bowel Patients
*   Doctor to offer single doses of MMR vaccine
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Bipolar Disorder Hits the Youngest the Hardest

By Linda Searing
HealthScoutNews ReporterFRIDAY, Nov. 23 (HealthScoutNews) -- People may think small kids don't generally get as sick as grown-ups. But new research shows that when bipolar disorder, or manic depression, is involved, the exact opposite is true. "The little children that we see have the most severe form of the illness," says Dr. Barbara Geller, one of the nation's acknowledged pioneers in research on bipolar children. By contrast, she says, only 20 percent of adults with the disorder have the severest form. A typical bipolar adult has high or low periods that last for a few months, she explains, but can feel and behave normally in between, free of the disorder's telltale mood swings. "But the children do not have well periods," Geller, a psychiatry professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, says. Rather, they have manic and depressive episodes almost simultaneously, her research shows. "A child can be absolutely manic and amusing and, just a few minutes later, can be suicidal and talk about stabbing themselves in the heart," Geller says. Since 1995, Geller and her colleagues have been following 93 bipolar children, comparing them to 81 hyperactive children and 94 healthy children. The children were all around 7 years old when the study began, she says. The idea was "to characterize systematically what this illness looks like in prepubertal children," Geller says. Bipolar disorder is a serious brain disease that causes extreme changes in a person's mood, energy and ability to function. It afflicts about 2.3 million adults in the United States, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. About 1 million children are bipolar, reports the Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation, based in Wilmette, Ill. Some experts, however, suspect that far more children have the disorder than many doctors believe. "We think that it's vastly underdiagnosed," says Ruth Field, president of the foundation's board of directors. "Vastly." That's because, experts say, children with bipolar disorder may appear instead to be hyperactive or have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, commonly known as ADHD. Or doctors may think some of them have conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder or even attachment disorder, which is the inability to bond with other people, Field says. "It would be a real shame to diagnose young people with a condition for which there is no treatment and let them suffer when, if they had the correct medical diagnosis, there's adequate treatment," she adds. "Bipolar disorder is a medical illness that responds to treatment," usually medications that control sufferers' mood swings. Recent research also has shown that almost half the children who doctors first believe are depressed are eventually diagnosed as bipolar, Field says. But researchers like Geller say they're making progress in identifying the extent and severity of the disease in children. "We now can tell who's [hyperactive] and who isn't," Geller says. "Hyperactivity, irritability, distractibility, aggression -- those symptoms don't tell you anything because they're so common," she says. Children who are hyperactive, autistic or manic, for instance, all could have these symptoms. "But elation and grandiose behavior occur only in the manic kids," Geller says. "[They're] the cardinal symptoms of mania. They're unique to [bipolar disorder], and don't occur in ADHD." To understand the world of the bipolar child, picture this: "A normal child is told they're going to Disneyland and goes absolutely bananas. And that's completely appropriate," Geller says. But a bipolar child "will be just that happy and excited for no reason at all in the middle of the classroom every day," she explains. That's what she calls inappropriate elation. As for the grandiose behavior, again imagine a child in school, but this time the child "tells the teacher how to teach, tells other students what to learn, generally takes over the classroom," Geller says. That's like an adult "who calls the president, calls the mayor and advises them on what to do," she says, something a bipolar adult might do. Finding these "childhood equivalents of adult symptoms of mania" has been groundbreaking and critical, Geller says. "This was important because many of the [warning signs] in adults could not possibly occur in children," she says. "They aren't going to max out credit cards, have four marriages [or] call the president and tell him how to run the country." But now, she says, we know that children with this disorder behave much the same as bipolar adults, just in a more childlike way. In the months and years ahead, Geller says, she and her researchers "want to see if the children stay the way they are, having the most severe form [of bipolar disorder], or if, later on, they'll look like the more typical [bipolar] adult." What To Do Field says, "What organizations like ours need to do is get the word out to the medical profession, especially pediatricians, who are on the front lines of medical care for children and adolescents, that bipolar disorder can occur in all age ranges." "So don't rule it out," she advises doctors. "Consider it along with all the other things you're considering, so you don't accidentally make a mistake." To better understand bipolar disorder, check out information from the National Institute of Mental Health. Or visit the Web site of the Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation
http://us.a1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/a/1/java/popunders/popunder_tigerdirect_cassiopeia_720x300.html
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God Chooses Mom for Disabled Child

Written by Erma Bombeck Published in the Today Newspaper Sept. 4th, 1993

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social
pressures, and a couple by habit. This year, nearly 100,000 women will become
mothers of handicapped children.
Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen? Somehow I
visualize God hovering over Earth selecting his instruments for propagation
with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to
make notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth; son; patron saint, Matthew.
"Forrest, Marjorie; daughter; patron saint, Cecelia.
"Rudledge, Carrie; twins; patron saint.... give her Gerard. He's used to
profanity.
" Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a handicapped
child."
The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a handicapped child a mother who does
not know laughter? That would be cruel."
"But has she patience?" asks the angel.
"I don't want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of
self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she'll handle
it."
"I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence. She'll
have to teach the child to live in her world and that's not going to be
easy."
"But, Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."
God smiles. "No matter. I can fix that. This one is perfect. She has just
enough selfishness." The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"
God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll
never survive. Yes, there is a woman I will bless with a child less then
perfect. She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never
take for granted a spoken word. She will never consider a step ordinary. When
her child says "Momma" for the first time, she will be present at a miracle
and know it! When she describes a tree or a sunset to her blind child, she
will see it as few people ever see my creations." "I will permit her to see
clearly the things I see---ignorance, cruelty, prejudice--- and allow her to
rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute
of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is
here by my side."
"And what about her patron saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in midair.
God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."
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CHERAB Foundation Meeting

Date: Monday, December 3, 2001
Time: 7:00PM - 8:30PM EST (GMT-05:00)

CHERAB meets the first Monday of every month. Please check the
website for meeting details http://www.apraxia.cc Please RSVP to
kiddietalk@yahoo.com
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Holiday Gala Event

Happy Holidays!
Christmas Tree Lighting to honor The CHERAB Foundation and our
children (info also at http://www.apraxia.cc)

DATE,  TIME, LOCATION
Wednesday, December 5, 2001 6:00 to 8:00 PM
Headquarters Plaza Hotel, Morristown, NJ 973-889-2002

"Share the holiday spirit with good friends, great food, and the
sounds of the season"

ABOUT THE EVENT

The CHERAB Foundation is privileged to be this holiday season's
chosen charitable organization.  Each Year, the Headquarters Plaza
selects one charitable organization based on their commitment and
dedication to the communities, to honor in a festive gala.  Some of
the past organizations honored with this prestigious nomination have
been The American Red Cross, The Cancer Society and The American
Heart Association. 

The joyful affair, which is held at the Headquarters Plaza during the
holiday season, is a magical celebration of fun, food, family, and
friends.  Headquarters Plaza is a deluxe hotel in the timeless
European tradition with a dazzling ambiance, exceptional service and
a historic location.

On the eve of Wednesday, December fifth 2001, Santa arrives early at
Headquarters Plaza to say "hello" to all the good little boys and
girls.  With carolers singing under a grand Christmas tree, which
reaches to the top of the cathedral ceiling of its elegant lobby. 
Delicious hor'dorves and premium open bar for the adults, and finger
foods and beverages for the children, will be served while the
exciting planned events of the evening unfold.  It will hold special
moments and memories, which will light up more than the tree for you
and your family to always treasure.

Many distinguished government officials will be there to raise
awareness about the goals of the CHERAB Foundation to support all of
our children.  This event will be featured on News Channel 12, along
with other TV, newspapers, and radio stations, who will join us for
this wonderful event to assist us to further spread the "word"

Please join us in helping to give our children a smile and a voice.

Due to the popularity of this yearly event and our limited number of
invitations, reservations are needed to attend.  Please RSVP to
Melanie dePoortere at md070264@aol.com, or call 908-229-5110 as soon
as possible. 

A $20 donation to the CHERAB Foundation per family is suggested.

You can also mail your request with your donation to
Melanie dePoortere, Director of Fundraising
CHERAB Foundation, Box 379, Bernardsville, NJ 07924


CHERAB helps bring our children a smile and a voice
CHERAB-Communication Help, Education, Research, Apraxia Base
Foundation
The CHERAB Foundation is a world wide, nonprofit organization
designed to improve communication skills, and education, of all
children with speech delays or disorders.  Our major area of emphasis
is verbal and oral apraxia, which are severe neurologically based
speech and language disorders.  These disorders hinder children from
speaking, or even smiling. 

DIRECTIONS TO HEADQUARTERS PLAZA

From Newark Int'l Airport
Take Route 78 West to Route 24 West. Take Route 24 West to Route 287
South to Exit 35 (Madison Avenue). Turn right at the end of the ramp
and stay right onto South Street. Follow South Street to the center
of town, the Morristown Square Park. Go halfway around the park and
bear right onto Speedwell Avenue (this is also Route 202 North). The
hotel is two blocks on the right.

From George Washington Bridge
Take Route 80 West to Exit 43, Route 287 South. Follow Route 287
South to Exit 35 (Madison Avenue). Turn right at the end of the ramp
and stay right onto South Street. Follow South Street to the center
of town, Morristown Square Park. Go halfway around the park and bear
right onto Speedwell Avenue (this is also Route 202 North). The hotel
is two blocks on the right.

From Lincoln Tunnel
Follow the NJ Turnpike South (95 South) to exit 15W, Interstate 280
West. Take I-280 West to Route 80 West (the end of I-280 becomes 80
West). Take Route 80 West to Exit 43, Route 287 South. Follow Route
287 South to Exit 35 (Madison Avenue). Turn right at the end of the
ramp and stay right onto South Street. Follow South Street to the
center of town, Morristown Square Park. Go halfway around the park
and bear right onto Speedwell Avenue (this is also Route 202 North).
The hotel is two blocks on the right.

From Holland Tunnel
Follow the signs for the NJ Turnpike South (95 South) and take Exit
14 (Newark Airport), which will be Route 78 West. Take Route 78 West
to Route 24 West. Take Route 24 West to Route 287 South to Exit 35
(Madison Avenue). Turn right at the end of the ramp and stay right
onto South Street. Follow South Street to the center of town, which
will be a park. Go halfway around the park and bear right onto
Speedwell Avenue (this is also Route 202 North). The hotel is two
blocks on the right.

From Southern New Jersey
Take Route 287 North to Exit 35 (South Street / Madison Avenue). At
light Turn left onto South Street. Follow South Street to the center
of town, Morristown Square Park. Go halfway around the park and bear
right onto Speedwell Avenue (this is also Route 202 North). The hotel
is two blocks on the right.

From Western New Jersey / Pennsylvania
Take Route 80 East to exit for Route 287 South. Take Route 287 South
to Exit 35 (Madison Avenue). Turn right at the end of the ramp and
stay right onto South Street. Follow South Street to the center of
town, Morristown Square Park. Go halfway around the park and bear
right onto Speedwell Avenue (this is also Route 202 North). The hotel
is two blocks on the right.

From Philadelphia Area
Take Route 278 East to the New Jersey Turnpike North (I-95). Take NJ
Turnpike North to Route 287 North (Exit 10). Take Route 287 North to
Exit 35 (South Street / Madison Avenue). At light Turn left onto
South Street. Follow South Street to the center of town, Morristown
Square Park. Go halfway around the park and bear right onto Speedwell
Avenue (this is also Route 202 North). The hotel is two blocks on the
right
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CAUCUS for Autism Meeting

Date: Monday, December 3, 2001
Time: 7:00PM - 9:00PM EST (GMT-05:00)

Location:  Upper Main Line YMCA (directions www.UMLY.org)
1416 Berwyn-Paoli Road, Berwyn, PA.  Room 1.

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Why do people think that vaccines can cause autism?

Some parents and families of children with autism believe that the Measles/Mumps/ Rubella (MMR) vaccine caused their children’s autism. These parents report that their children were “normal” until they received the MMR vaccine. Then, after getting the vaccine, their children started showing symptoms of autism. Because the symptoms of autism begin to occur around the same time as the child’s MMR vaccination, parents and families see the vaccine as the cause of the autism. However, just because the events happen around the same time does not mean that one caused the other. Although children receive many other vaccines in addition to the MMR vaccine, these other vaccines have not been identified as possible causes of autism.These parents’ beliefs and observations were reinforced by a small study of bowel disease and autism, published by Wakefield and his colleagues in 1998 (Wakefield et al 1998). The study’s authors suggested that there was a link between the MMR vaccine and autism. This study did not include scientific testing to find out if there was a link. The authors relied on the reports of parents and families of the 12 children with autism involved in the study to make their suggestion.  The study did not provide scientific proof that there was any link.  Since this study was published in 1998, a number of other studies have also been published that suggested a link between the MMR vaccine and autism (Singh et al 1998; Horvath et al 1999; O’Leary et al 2000; Wakefield et al 2000; Kawashima et al 2000), but none of these provide scientific proof of such a link.   To date there is no definite, scientific proof that any vaccine or combination of vaccines can cause autism. It’s important to know that vaccines actually help the immune system to defend the body.
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How do vaccines help the immune system defend the body?

The immune system has cells, sometimes called memory cells, that remember diseases. If these cells meet a disease, they keep track of what it looks like so they can recognize it later. When the memory cells meet up with the disease again, they recognize it and know they need to get rid of it. They call in the other parts of the immune system to get rid of the disease. In some cases, memory cells can recognize a disease without ever having to meet up with it, which is called “natural” immunity. In other cases, the cells need some help to become familiar with a disease.  That help comes in the form of a vaccine. The vaccine takes a form of the disease that doesn’t make you sick and introduces it to the memory cells so they know what to look for later. If the memory cells ever bump into the disease again, they know to call in other cells in the immune system to protect the body and get rid of the disease. The memory cells of a child keep track of diseases well into adulthood, preventing such diseases by getting rid of them quickly. In this way, vaccines help the immune system by making it easier to remember diseases.
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/autism/mmr/sub2.htm
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Probiotic VSL-3 Improves Clinical Picture for Irritable Bowel Patients
Research in Microbiology

11/22/2001
By Elda Hauschildt

Preliminary results indicate that patients with irritable bowel syndrome or functional diarrhoea improve when administered a course of the probiotic preparation VSK-3.

Italian researchers say the probiotic "improved the clinical picture and changed the composition and biochemistry of faecal microbiota" of 10 patients they tested in a clinical trial.

Investigators at the University of Bologna in Bologna evaluated intestinal bacterial groups before and after the probiotic therapy. They used both culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques to measure titre variations.

"A significant increase in lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and Streptococcus thermophilus was observed as a consequence of probiotic treatment," the researchers report.

"Enterococci, coliforms, Bacteroides and Clostridium perfringens did not change significantly."

Two strains included in VSL-3 were specifically detected in participants' faeces when strain-specific PCR primers were used. These were Bifidobacterium infantis Y1 and Bifidobacterium breve Y8.

"In addition, faecal beta-galactosidase increased and urease activities decreased as a result of changes in the intestinal microbiota induced by VSL-3 administration," the researchers point out.

Research in Microbiology, 2001; 152: 735-741.
http://www.docguide.com/dgc.nsf/RegisterGE?OpenForm&code=webfeed
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Doctor to offer single doses of MMR vaccine

By Kitty Holland A Dundalk doctor will this morning begin offering parents the option of having their children inoculated with single doses of the MMR vaccine.Amid ongoing concerns that the combined MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine may be linked to the onset of autism, Dr Mary Grehan is the first Irish GP to offer the option of having the vaccines separately. "We've already had quite a number of enquiries about the new service," she said yesterday.Speaking from her home in Dundalk, Dr Grehan explained that parents would be able to import the vaccine themselves from a company in England on a named-patient basis.She said there had been an "ongoing battle with the Department of Health" about getting "full information" about the possible side effects of the combined MMR vaccine."The biggest problem is that the Department is not treating parents as if they have any intelligence. Too many parents are saying there's a problem with combined MMR. If they know they have a problem \with autism in a child\ and they can trace that back to the time they got the vaccination, those parents should be treated as intelligent, concerned parents."Stressing that she was not making a judgement on the safety of the combined vaccine, she said the issues were of choice for parents who had concerns, and about getting full information. She will still offer the combined MMR vaccine. Dr Grehan has had enquiries from other GPs throughout the State interested in offering single dose MMR vaccines, she said. Dr Grehan,who is an urban district councillor, yesterday also confirmed she intends standing in the next general election.
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2001/1126/hom14.htm
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ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.