MIND Immune Dysfunction in Autism: Researchers suggest autism can be detected in newborns?

[Guest guest]

" Investigators at the Institute believe the discovery, announced today

at the 4th International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) in

Boston, could be a major step toward developing a routine blood test

that would allow autism to be detected in newborns and treatment or

even prevention to be initiated early in life. "

Are the researchers really saying this? This suggests that there is an

innate or " genetic " defect. We need to see the study to determine if

this is more media spin

Contact: Preeti Singh or Ellen

301-652-1558

Coimbra Sirica

631-757-4027

631-220-8775 (mobile)

Finney

916-734-9064

916-505-2601 (mobile)

UC M.I.N.D. Institute

Scientists report strong evidence of immune and protein alterations

in blood samples of children with autism, raising hope for an early

diagnostic blood test

BOSTON, Mass. (May 5, 2005) - Offering a new and exciting direction

in the effort to develop a diagnostic test for autism in infancy,

scientists from the UC M.I.N.D. Institute presented new

evidence today indicating that components of the immune system and

proteins and metabolites found in the blood of children with autism

differ substantially from those found in typically developing

children.

Investigators at the Institute believe the discovery, announced today

at the 4th International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) in

Boston, could be a major step toward developing a routine blood test

that would allow autism to be detected in newborns and treatment or

even prevention to be initiated early in life.

Over the last two decades parents, educators, scientists and

pediatricians have been alarmed by a dramatic and baffling rise in

the prevalence of autism, which now affects as many as 1 in every 166

children. But diagnosing autism, a brain disorder that leaves

children in apparent isolation from their families and communities,

is currently accomplished through a series of behavioral observations

that are not reliable until a child is between 2 and 3-years-old.

" Finding a sensitive and accurate biological marker for autism that

can be revealed by a simple blood test would have enormous

implications for diagnosing, treating and understanding more about

the underlying causes of autism, " said G. Amaral, research

director at the UC M.I.N.D. Institute and one of the co-authors

of the paper presented at IMFAR. " Not being able to detect autism

until a child is close to 3-years-old eliminates a valuable window of

treatment opportunity during the first few years of life when the

brain is undergoing tremendous development. "

Amaral along with pediatric neuropsychologist Blythe Corbett and

other M.I.N.D. Institute colleagues took blood samples from 70

children with autism who were between 4 and 6 years old and from 35

children of the same age who didn't have the disorder. The samples

were then analyzed by a biotech company, SurroMed, LLC, Menlo Park,

Calif., which has developed technology that can identify differences

in the number and types of immune cells, proteins, peptides and

metabolites in small amounts of blood.

The study has generated an enormous amount of data and M.I.N.D.

Institute researchers say it will take months before all of the

information has been fully evaluated. But initial findings clearly

demonstrate differences in the immune system, as well as proteins and

other metabolites in children with autism:

The antibody producing B cells are increased by 20 percent in the

autism group

Natural killer cells are increased by 40 percent

More than 100 proteins demonstrated significant differential

expression between the autism and typically developing groups

Other small molecules (metabolites) also show many differences

" This is an important pilot experiment, a proof of principle, " said

Amaral. " From these results we think it is highly likely that there

are differences we can detect in blood samples that will be

predictive of the disorder, though we are still some years away from

having an actual diagnostic blood test for autism. Scientists have

long suspected there were distinct biological components to autism

but the technology needed to reveal them has only recently become

available. "

Future research studies need to be done to confirm the findings in a

larger group and with younger children. For example, researchers

might take blood samples from newborns and then see if the results

predicting autism are later confirmed by a behavioral diagnosis.

Other studies would also use bioinformatics approaches to narrow down

the number of proteins or metabolites that would need to be assayed

to show the strongest link to autism.

" Discovering an early diagnostic test is an important focus of

research, " said Amaral. " There is a growing view among experts that

not all children with autism are 'doomed to autism' at birth. It may

be that some children have a vulnerability-such as a genetic

abnormality-and that something they encounter after being born,

perhaps in their environment, triggers the disorder. Studying the

biological signs of autism could lead to new ways to prevent the

disorder from ever occurring. And even if it can't be prevented,

intervening early in life-ideally shortly after birth-could greatly

improve the lifetime outlook for children with autism, particularly

those who now respond poorly to therapy initiated when they are three

or older. "

The UC M.I.N.D. (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental

Disorders) Institute is a unique collaborative center for research

into the causes and treatments of autism, bringing together parents,

scientists, clinicians and educators. For further information, go to

http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute

###

Thank you all for the comments on aluminum. As I have said for many

years, there are plenty of bad actors in that vile!

I hope you find the latest M.I.N.D. Institute findings on autism and

the immune system interesting and important. Although we all know as

parents and advocates that autism is an immune mediated disease, it is

important to get that well established in mainstream science and

medicine. Moving the paradigm away from chasing the illusive autism

gene and silly psychological studies, i.e., scientific masturbation,

is of paramount importance.

I have no doubt that this latest study from M.I.N.D. will ignite more

interest and research into autism and the immune system. Lots more on

this and other related issues to come from M.I.N.D. soon. rick

[Guest guest]

Jim,

Correct me if I am wrong, but this is the way I am reading this

information regardless of seeing the study.

" Scientists report strong evidence of immune and protein alterations

in blood samples of children with autism, raising hope for an early

diagnostic blood test. "

Yes this may be true, there may be a string of

alterations, " predisposition " shall we say, in the blood samples.

These may lay dormant until they are assaulted by the foriegn matter

in vaccinations.

Yet this test will be moot unless something like the following

experiments are done.

ie: The subjects would have been tested and these " alterations " were

found in their blood.

One receives vaccinations with thimerosal

One recieves vaccinations without thimerosal

One receives no vaccinations

Further, the mother would have no RhoGam etc..

This would have to be done on a massive scale and is probably highly

unethical.

I do believe my son was predisposed the same as I am predisposed to

gaining weight. But, I do not gain weight unless I put that cream

puff in my mouth and he would not have autism unless they put

thimerosal/aluminium etc. into his arm.

>

> " Investigators at the Institute believe the discovery, announced

today

> at the 4th International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) in

> Boston, could be a major step toward developing a routine blood

test

> that would allow autism to be detected in newborns and treatment

or

> even prevention to be initiated early in life. "

>

[Guest guest]

Based on what I have learned about this MIND Inst. study it is clear

that the researchers cannot be saying what was reported, about an

" autism " test for newborns. The quoted passage is malicious public

relations hyperbole, designed to fit this immune system finding into

the " genetic " " prenatal " " inborn defect " paradigm.

That's why I sent the original email out, quoted below by Jim, in the

first place.

On a somewhat related note (the topic being genetics propaganda

pervading our lives), today I learned that my daughter's public

elementary school, where she is in Fifth Grade, is sponsoring a NAAR

fundraiser. They are selling NAAR " footprints " to elementary schoolers

and then plan on pasting the footprints all around the school. This

will be humiliating to my daughter because she knows all too well why

in our household we do not support NAAR (in part because NAAR is an

obstacle to my son's recovery, and that of all our kids). I thought

there was separation of NAAR and state in this country. Judging by the

recent trend it looks like NAAR and genetics is becoming a state

religion.

What the school is doing in sponsoring NAAR is patently illegal. Not to

mention putting my family in a bad position, because even though my

daughter understands why we do not participate in the NAAR Walk

fundraiser, it places her in a position that is adverse to her school.

She is a leader among the students but she is having a hard enough time

coming to grips with the fact that her brother is sick and in special

education. I refrain from making public statements criticizing other

organizations, but this time NAAR has gone too far.

Any ideas how to respond without ruining my daughter's school life? I

already contacted the principal, who we like very much, and she had no

idea about the controversy and " split " in the autism community. I

recently gave a presentation on the THimerosal issue to the Sp Ed. PTA,

of which I am an officer. The principal, however, thought there was no

problem because mercury is now " out of the shots. " Propaganda works.

I will give the principal a copy of Evidence of Harm.

NAAR is tantamount to an autism mafia here on Long Island in NY. That

is true, even though most parents, even those who walk for NAAR,

believe Thimerosal in vaccines caused problems for their kids.

Bob Krakow

On May 5, 2005, at 3:39 PM, Jim Donnelly wrote:

>

>   " Investigators at the Institute believe the discovery, announced

> today

>   at the 4th International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) in

>   Boston, could be a major step toward developing a routine blood test

>   that would allow autism to be detected in newborns and treatment or

>   even prevention to be initiated early in life. "

>

> Are the researchers really saying this?  This suggests that there is

> an

> innate or " genetic " defect.  We need to see the study to determine if

> this is more media spin

>

>

>

> Contact: Preeti Singh or Ellen

>   301-652-1558

>   Coimbra Sirica

>   631-757-4027

>   631-220-8775 (mobile)

>

>   Finney

>   916-734-9064

>   916-505-2601 (mobile)

>

>   UC M.I.N.D. Institute

>

>   Scientists report strong evidence of immune and protein alterations

>   in blood samples of children with autism, raising hope for an early

>   diagnostic blood test

>

>   BOSTON, Mass. (May 5, 2005) - Offering a new and exciting direction

>   in the effort to develop a diagnostic test for autism in infancy,

>   scientists from the UC M.I.N.D. Institute presented new

>   evidence today indicating that components of the immune system and

>   proteins and metabolites found in the blood of children with autism

>   differ substantially from those found in typically developing

>   children.

>   Investigators at the Institute believe the discovery, announced

> today

>   at the 4th International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) in

>   Boston, could be a major step toward developing a routine blood test

>   that would allow autism to be detected in newborns and treatment or

>   even prevention to be initiated early in life.

>

>   Over the last two decades parents, educators, scientists and

>   pediatricians have been alarmed by a dramatic and baffling rise in

>   the prevalence of autism, which now affects as many as 1 in every

> 166

>   children. But diagnosing autism, a brain disorder that leaves

>   children in apparent isolation from their families and communities,

>   is currently accomplished through a series of behavioral

> observations

>   that are not reliable until a child is between 2 and 3-years-old.

>

>   " Finding a sensitive and accurate biological marker for autism that

>   can be revealed by a simple blood test would have enormous

>   implications for diagnosing, treating and understanding more about

>   the underlying causes of autism, " said G. Amaral, research

>   director at the UC M.I.N.D. Institute and one of the

> co-authors

>   of the paper presented at IMFAR. " Not being able to detect autism

>   until a child is close to 3-years-old eliminates a valuable window

> of

>   treatment opportunity during the first few years of life when the

>   brain is undergoing tremendous development. "

>

>   Amaral along with pediatric neuropsychologist Blythe Corbett and

>   other M.I.N.D. Institute colleagues took blood samples from 70

>   children with autism who were between 4 and 6 years old and from 35

>   children of the same age who didn't have the disorder. The samples

>   were then analyzed by a biotech company, SurroMed, LLC, Menlo Park,

>   Calif., which has developed technology that can identify differences

>   in the number and types of immune cells, proteins, peptides and

>   metabolites in small amounts of blood.

>

>   The study has generated an enormous amount of data and M.I.N.D.

>   Institute researchers say it will take months before all of the

>   information has been fully evaluated. But initial findings clearly

>   demonstrate differences in the immune system, as well as proteins

> and

>   other metabolites in children with autism:

>

>

>   The antibody producing B cells are increased by 20 percent in the

>   autism group

>   Natural killer cells are increased by 40 percent

>   More than 100 proteins demonstrated significant differential

>   expression between the autism and typically developing groups

>   Other small molecules (metabolites) also show many differences

>   " This is an important pilot experiment, a proof of principle, " said

>   Amaral. " From these results we think it is highly likely that there

>   are differences we can detect in blood samples that will be

>   predictive of the disorder, though we are still some years away from

>   having an actual diagnostic blood test for autism. Scientists have

>   long suspected there were distinct biological components to autism

>   but the technology needed to reveal them has only recently become

>   available. "

>

>   Future research studies need to be done to confirm the findings in a

>   larger group and with younger children. For example, researchers

>   might take blood samples from newborns and then see if the results

>   predicting autism are later confirmed by a behavioral diagnosis.

>   Other studies would also use bioinformatics approaches to narrow

> down

>   the number of proteins or metabolites that would need to be assayed

>   to show the strongest link to autism.

>

>   " Discovering an early diagnostic test is an important focus of

>   research, " said Amaral. " There is a growing view among experts that

>   not all children with autism are 'doomed to autism' at birth. It may

>   be that some children have a vulnerability-such as a genetic

>   abnormality-and that something they encounter after being born,

>   perhaps in their environment, triggers the disorder. Studying the

>   biological signs of autism could lead to new ways to prevent the

>   disorder from ever occurring. And even if it can't be prevented,

>   intervening early in life-ideally shortly after birth-could greatly

>   improve the lifetime outlook for children with autism, particularly

>   those who now respond poorly to therapy initiated when they are

> three

>   or older. "

>

>   The UC M.I.N.D. (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental

>   Disorders) Institute is a unique collaborative center for research

>   into the causes and treatments of autism, bringing together parents,

>   scientists, clinicians and educators. For further information, go to

> http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute

>

>

>   ###

>

>

>

> Thank you all for the comments on aluminum. As I have said for many

> years, there are plenty of bad actors in that vile!

>

>   I hope you find the latest M.I.N.D. Institute findings on autism and

> the immune system interesting and important. Although we all know as

> parents and advocates that autism is an immune mediated disease, it is

> important to get that well established in mainstream science and

> medicine. Moving the paradigm away from chasing the illusive autism

> gene and silly psychological studies, i.e., scientific masturbation,

> is of paramount importance.

>

>   I have no doubt that this latest study from M.I.N.D. will ignite

> more

> interest and research into autism and the immune system. Lots more on

> this and other related issues to come from M.I.N.D. soon. rick

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

By definition " autism " cannot be detected by a blood test because by

definition autism is a syndrome of psychological and behavioral symptoms.

This was well explained in a long post by branfordhandley (JB) a few days ago.

Persons with the " autism " classification may indeed have immune

abnormalities among many other disease states.

It would be helpful to have another term, or set of terms, that mean the

disease states associated with autistic symptoms, and not confused with the

psychological label.

It may make sense to test for early signs of some of the disease states

such as immune abnormalities.

It would be very useful, of course, if someone would fund and someone would

perform a high quality study (credible, objective, unbiased study)

examining relationships between the disease states associated with autistic

symptoms and exposure to and body concentrations of toxins such as mercury

in it various forms and microbes including viruses. It would be helpful to

determine which babies are more likely to be injured by environmental

toxins, whether they are from vaccines, fish, the air, or whatever.

It's probably more expensive and harder to get IRB approval for studies to

examine the blood of infants who appear to be perfectly healthy than to

test those older children who are already determined to be autistic. One

reason is that a large number of infants would have to be studied in order

to be expected to find a large enough number of subjects who will later be

determined to be autistic, and there are ethical problems involved even in

drawing blood from healthy infants.

Unfortunately these concepts of autism and disease are frequently

mis-represented and mis-understood.

The " blood test for autism " idea is an oxymoron, and it incorrectly implies

some sort of innate " defect " of the victims.

A blood test for someone who should delay and spread out vaccines and

absolutely avoid thimerosal in them is another matter.

--Sandy

At 12:39 PM 5/5/2005, Jim Donnelly wrote:

> " Investigators at the Institute believe the discovery, announced today

> at the 4th International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) in

> Boston, could be a major step toward developing a routine blood test

> that would allow autism to be detected in newborns and treatment or

> even prevention to be initiated early in life. "

>

>Are the researchers really saying this? This suggests that there is an

>innate or " genetic " defect. We need to see the study to determine if

>this is more media spin

[Guest guest]

Yes, we know. That was the point of the rhetorical question challenging

the media report suggesting there could be a blood test.

Unfortunately, the media keeps playing it that way, as do Pharma, CDC

and the lawyers defending Thimerosal and MMR cases, not to mention some

very prominent autism funding organizations that constantly put out

media pieces about the " autism gene " or the " test " for autism.

On May 5, 2005, at 6:00 PM, Sandy MacInnis wrote:

> By definition " autism " cannot be detected by a blood test because by

> definition autism is a syndrome of psychological and behavioral

> symptoms.

> This was well explained in a long post by branfordhandley (JB) a few

> days ago.

>

> Persons with the " autism " classification may indeed have immune

> abnormalities among many other disease states.

> It would be helpful to have another term, or set of terms, that mean

> the

> disease states associated with autistic symptoms, and not confused

> with the

> psychological label.

>

> It may make sense to test for early signs of some of the disease

> states

> such as immune abnormalities.

>

> It would be very useful, of course, if someone would fund and someone

> would

> perform a high quality study (credible, objective, unbiased study)

> examining relationships between the disease states associated with

> autistic

> symptoms and exposure to and body concentrations of toxins such as

> mercury

> in it various forms and microbes including viruses. It would be

> helpful to

> determine which babies are more likely to be injured by environmental

> toxins, whether they are from vaccines, fish, the air, or whatever.

>

> It's probably more expensive and harder to get IRB approval for

> studies to

> examine the blood of infants who appear to be perfectly healthy than

> to

> test those older children who are already determined to be autistic.

> One

> reason is that a large number of infants would have to be studied in

> order

> to be expected to find a large enough number of subjects who will

> later be

> determined to be autistic, and there are ethical problems involved

> even in

> drawing blood from healthy infants.

>

> Unfortunately these concepts of autism and disease are frequently

> mis-represented and mis-understood.

> The " blood test for autism " idea is an oxymoron, and it incorrectly

> implies

> some sort of innate " defect " of the victims.

> A blood test for someone who should delay and spread out vaccines and

> absolutely avoid thimerosal in them is another matter.

>

> --Sandy

>

> At 12:39 PM 5/5/2005, Jim Donnelly wrote:

>

> >   " Investigators at the Institute believe the discovery, announced

> today

> >   at the 4th International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) in

> >   Boston, could be a major step toward developing a routine blood

> test

> >   that would allow autism to be detected in newborns and treatment

> or

> >   even prevention to be initiated early in life. "

> >

> >Are the researchers really saying this?  This suggests that there is

> an

> >innate or " genetic " defect.  We need to see the study to determine if

> >this is more media spin

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

--- Hi Bob. Being a teacher and working in a public school

setting...I feel like the school of course thinks they are showing

support for Autism...they do not know better...but you may want to

let them know, especially after giving the principal EOH, that since

you know the different organizations that you could let them know

where their dollar would help the most....maybe next April, for

autism awareness month. Are there other children/siblings that have

autism...and what do their parents think?? And the principal's

comment of thimerosal being out of the shots minimizes the plight of

all those injured who never had a choice/chance. As far as your

daughter, is there anyway she could show her support to NAA, or

whichever your family chooses, explaining that THAT organization

helps your family the most...personalizing it more for her. It's

hard and frustating knowing that the " earth is round " when so many

others think " it's flat " .....good luck. C.

In EOHarm , J. Krakow <rkrakow@e...> wrote:

> Based on what I have learned about this MIND Inst. study it is

clear

> that the researchers cannot be saying what was reported, about an

> " autism " test for newborns. The quoted passage is malicious public

> relations hyperbole, designed to fit this immune system finding

into

> the " genetic " " prenatal " " inborn defect " paradigm.

>

> That's why I sent the original email out, quoted below by Jim, in

the

> first place.

>

> On a somewhat related note (the topic being genetics propaganda

> pervading our lives), today I learned that my daughter's public

> elementary school, where she is in Fifth Grade, is sponsoring a

NAAR

> fundraiser. They are selling NAAR " footprints " to elementary

schoolers

> and then plan on pasting the footprints all around the school.

This

> will be humiliating to my daughter because she knows all too well

why

> in our household we do not support NAAR (in part because NAAR is

an

> obstacle to my son's recovery, and that of all our kids). I

thought

> there was separation of NAAR and state in this country. Judging by

the

> recent trend it looks like NAAR and genetics is becoming a state

> religion.

>

> What the school is doing in sponsoring NAAR is patently illegal.

Not to

> mention putting my family in a bad position, because even though

my

> daughter understands why we do not participate in the NAAR Walk

> fundraiser, it places her in a position that is adverse to her

school.

> She is a leader among the students but she is having a hard enough

time

> coming to grips with the fact that her brother is sick and in

special

> education. I refrain from making public statements criticizing

other

> organizations, but this time NAAR has gone too far.

>

> Any ideas how to respond without ruining my daughter's school

life? I

> already contacted the principal, who we like very much, and she

had no

> idea about the controversy and " split " in the autism community. I

> recently gave a presentation on the THimerosal issue to the Sp Ed.

PTA,

> of which I am an officer. The principal, however, thought there

was no

> problem because mercury is now " out of the shots. " Propaganda

works.

> I will give the principal a copy of Evidence of Harm.

>

> NAAR is tantamount to an autism mafia here on Long Island in NY.

That

> is true, even though most parents, even those who walk for NAAR,

> believe Thimerosal in vaccines caused problems for their kids.

>

> Bob Krakow

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you. Those are great suggestions.

This is actually a good experience for my daughter. She's actually

showing a thicker skin than her father. I can learn a thing or two from

her.

Bob

On May 6, 2005, at 9:06 PM, redhead60707 wrote:

> --- Hi Bob.  Being a teacher and working in a public school

> setting...I feel like the school of course thinks they are showing

> support for Autism...they do not know better...but you may want to

> let them know, especially after giving the principal EOH, that since

> you know the different organizations that you could let them know

> where their dollar would help the most....maybe next April, for

> autism awareness month.  Are there other children/siblings that have

> autism...and what do their parents think??  And the principal's

> comment of thimerosal being out of the shots minimizes the plight of

> all those injured who never had a choice/chance.  As far as your

> daughter, is there anyway she could show her support to NAA, or

> whichever your family chooses, explaining that THAT organization

> helps your family the most...personalizing it more for her.  It's

> hard and frustating knowing that the " earth is round " when so many

> others think " it's flat " .....good luck.  C.

>

>

> In EOHarm , J. Krakow <rkrakow@e...> wrote:

> >   Based on what I have learned about this MIND Inst.  study it is

> clear

> > that the researchers cannot be saying what was reported, about an

> > " autism " test for newborns. The quoted passage is malicious public

> > relations hyperbole, designed to fit this immune system finding

> into

> > the " genetic " " prenatal " " inborn defect " paradigm.

> >

> > That's why I sent the original email out, quoted below by Jim, in

> the

> > first place.

> >

> > On a somewhat related note (the topic being genetics propaganda

> > pervading our lives), today I learned that my daughter's public

> > elementary school, where she is in Fifth Grade, is sponsoring a

> NAAR

> > fundraiser. They are selling NAAR " footprints " to elementary

> schoolers

> > and then plan on pasting the footprints all around the school.

> This

> > will be humiliating to my daughter because she knows all too well

> why

> > in our household we do not support NAAR (in part because NAAR is

> an

> > obstacle to my son's recovery, and that of all our kids).   I

> thought

> > there was separation of NAAR and state in this country. Judging by

> the

> > recent trend it looks like NAAR and genetics is becoming a state

> > religion.

> >

> > What the school is doing in sponsoring NAAR is patently illegal.

> Not to

> > mention putting my family in a bad position, because even though

> my

> > daughter understands why we do not participate in the NAAR Walk

> > fundraiser, it places  her in a position that is adverse to her

> school.

> > She is a leader among the students but she is having a hard enough

> time

> > coming to grips with the fact that her brother is sick and in

> special

> > education.  I refrain from making public statements criticizing

> other

> > organizations, but this time NAAR has gone too far.

> >

> > Any ideas how to respond without ruining my daughter's school

> life? I

> > already contacted the principal, who we like very much, and she

> had no

> > idea about the controversy and " split " in the autism community. I

> > recently gave a presentation on the THimerosal issue to the Sp Ed.

> PTA,

> > of which I am an officer. The principal, however, thought there

> was no

> > problem because mercury is now " out of the shots. " Propaganda

> works.  

> > I will give the principal a copy of Evidence of Harm.

> >

> > NAAR is tantamount to an autism mafia here on Long Island in NY.

> That

> > is true, even though most parents, even those who walk for NAAR,

> > believe Thimerosal in vaccines caused problems for their kids.

> >

> > Bob Krakow

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Can you ask for equal time for NAA? or SAFE MINDS? or CAN? How can they say no?

Heidi

Re: MIND Immune Dysfunction in Autism: Researchers suggest autism can be detected in newborns?

Based on what I have learned about this MIND Inst. study it is clear that the researchers cannot be saying what was reported, about an "autism" test for newborns. The quoted passage is malicious public relations hyperbole, designed to fit this immune system finding into the "genetic" "prenatal" "inborn defect" paradigm.That's why I sent the original email out, quoted below by Jim, in the first place.On a somewhat related note (the topic being genetics propaganda pervading our lives), today I learned that my daughter's public elementary school, where she is in Fifth Grade, is sponsoring a NAAR fundraiser. They are selling NAAR "footprints" to elementary schoolers and then plan on pasting the footprints all around the school. This will be humiliating to my daughter because she knows all too well why in our household we do not support NAAR (in part because NAAR is an obstacle to my son's recovery, and that of all our kids). I thought there was separation of NAAR and state in this country. Judging by the recent trend it looks like NAAR and genetics is becoming a state religion.What the school is doing in sponsoring NAAR is patently illegal. Not to mention putting my family in a bad position, because even though my daughter understands why we do not participate in the NAAR Walk fundraiser, it places her in a position that is adverse to her school. She is a leader among the students but she is having a hard enough time coming to grips with the fact that her brother is sick and in special education. I refrain from making public statements criticizing other organizations, but this time NAAR has gone too far.Any ideas how to respond without ruining my daughter's school life? I already contacted the principal, who we like very much, and she had no idea about the controversy and "split" in the autism community. I recently gave a presentation on the THimerosal issue to the Sp Ed. PTA, of which I am an officer. The principal, however, thought there was no problem because mercury is now "out of the shots." Propaganda works. I will give the principal a copy of Evidence of Harm.NAAR is tantamount to an autism mafia here on Long Island in NY. That is true, even though most parents, even those who walk for NAAR, believe Thimerosal in vaccines caused problems for their kids.Bob KrakowOn May 5, 2005, at 3:39 PM, Jim Donnelly wrote:>> "Investigators at the Institute believe the discovery, announced > today> at the 4th International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) in> Boston, could be a major step toward developing a routine blood test> that would allow autism to be detected in newborns and treatment or> even prevention to be initiated early in life.">> Are the researchers really saying this? This suggests that there is > an> innate or "genetic" defect. We need to see the study to determine if> this is more media spin>>>> Contact: Preeti Singh or Ellen > 301-652-1558> Coimbra Sirica> 631-757-4027> 631-220-8775 (mobile)>> Finney> 916-734-9064> 916-505-2601 (mobile)>> UC M.I.N.D. Institute>> Scientists report strong evidence of immune and protein alterations> in blood samples of children with autism, raising hope for an early> diagnostic blood test>> BOSTON, Mass. (May 5, 2005) - Offering a new and exciting direction> in the effort to develop a diagnostic test for autism in infancy,> scientists from the UC M.I.N.D. Institute presented new> evidence today indicating that components of the immune system and> proteins and metabolites found in the blood of children with autism> differ substantially from those found in typically developing> children.> Investigators at the Institute believe the discovery, announced > today> at the 4th International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) in> Boston, could be a major step toward developing a routine blood test> that would allow autism to be detected in newborns and treatment or> even prevention to be initiated early in life.>> Over the last two decades parents, educators, scientists and> pediatricians have been alarmed by a dramatic and baffling rise in> the prevalence of autism, which now affects as many as 1 in every > 166> children. But diagnosing autism, a brain disorder that leaves> children in apparent isolation from their families and communities,> is currently accomplished through a series of behavioral > observations> that are not reliable until a child is between 2 and 3-years-old.>> "Finding a sensitive and accurate biological marker for autism that> can be revealed by a simple blood test would have enormous> implications for diagnosing, treating and understanding more about> the underlying causes of autism," said G. Amaral, research> director at the UC M.I.N.D. Institute and one of the > co-authors> of the paper presented at IMFAR. "Not being able to detect autism> until a child is close to 3-years-old eliminates a valuable window > of> treatment opportunity during the first few years of life when the> brain is undergoing tremendous development.">> Amaral along with pediatric neuropsychologist Blythe Corbett and> other M.I.N.D. Institute colleagues took blood samples from 70> children with autism who were between 4 and 6 years old and from 35> children of the same age who didn't have the disorder. The samples> were then analyzed by a biotech company, SurroMed, LLC, Menlo Park,> Calif., which has developed technology that can identify differences> in the number and types of immune cells, proteins, peptides and> metabolites in small amounts of blood.>> The study has generated an enormous amount of data and M.I.N.D.> Institute researchers say it will take months before all of the> information has been fully evaluated. But initial findings clearly> demonstrate differences in the immune system, as well as proteins > and> other metabolites in children with autism:>>> The antibody producing B cells are increased by 20 percent in the> autism group> Natural killer cells are increased by 40 percent> More than 100 proteins demonstrated significant differential> expression between the autism and typically developing groups> Other small molecules (metabolites) also show many differences> "This is an important pilot experiment, a proof of principle," said> Amaral. "From these results we think it is highly likely that there> are differences we can detect in blood samples that will be> predictive of the disorder, though we are still some years away from> having an actual diagnostic blood test for autism. Scientists have> long suspected there were distinct biological components to autism> but the technology needed to reveal them has only recently become> available.">> Future research studies need to be done to confirm the findings in a> larger group and with younger children. For example, researchers> might take blood samples from newborns and then see if the results> predicting autism are later confirmed by a behavioral diagnosis.> Other studies would also use bioinformatics approaches to narrow > down> the number of proteins or metabolites that would need to be assayed> to show the strongest link to autism.>> "Discovering an early diagnostic test is an important focus of> research," said Amaral. "There is a growing view among experts that> not all children with autism are 'doomed to autism' at birth. It may> be that some children have a vulnerability-such as a genetic> abnormality-and that something they encounter after being born,> perhaps in their environment, triggers the disorder. Studying the> biological signs of autism could lead to new ways to prevent the> disorder from ever occurring. And even if it can't be prevented,> intervening early in life-ideally shortly after birth-could greatly> improve the lifetime outlook for children with autism, particularly> those who now respond poorly to therapy initiated when they are > three> or older.">> The UC M.I.N.D. (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental> Disorders) Institute is a unique collaborative center for research> into the causes and treatments of autism, bringing together parents,> scientists, clinicians and educators. For further information, go to> http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute>>> ###>>>> Thank you all for the comments on aluminum. As I have said for many> years, there are plenty of bad actors in that vile!>> I hope you find the latest M.I.N.D. Institute findings on autism and> the immune system interesting and important. Although we all know as> parents and advocates that autism is an immune mediated disease, it is> important to get that well established in mainstream science and> medicine. Moving the paradigm away from chasing the illusive autism> gene and silly psychological studies, i.e., scientific masturbation,> is of paramount importance.>> I have no doubt that this latest study from M.I.N.D. will ignite > more> interest and research into autism and the immune system. Lots more on> this and other related issues to come from M.I.N.D. soon. rick>>>>>

[Guest guest]

I am considering asking, but then I violate the principle that schools

should not endorse a particular private charity. Of course, I could

argue that the school should balance the scale first by allowing a

fundraiser by NAA or Safeminds.

On May 7, 2005, at 6:23 AM, elevatordance wrote:

> Can you ask for equal time for NAA?  or SAFE MINDS? or CAN? How can

> they say no?

>  

> Heidi

>  

>  

> Re: MIND Immune Dysfunction in Autism: Researchers

> suggest autism can be detected in newborns?

>

>   Based on what I have learned about this MIND Inst.  study it is clear

> that the researchers cannot be saying what was reported, about an

> " autism " test for newborns. The quoted passage is malicious public

> relations hyperbole, designed to fit this immune system finding into

> the " genetic " " prenatal " " inborn defect " paradigm.

>

> That's why I sent the original email out, quoted below by Jim, in the

> first place.

>

> On a somewhat related note (the topic being genetics propaganda

> pervading our lives), today I learned that my daughter's public

> elementary school, where she is in Fifth Grade, is sponsoring a NAAR

> fundraiser. They are selling NAAR " footprints " to elementary schoolers

> and then plan on pasting the footprints all around the school. This

> will be humiliating to my daughter because she knows all too well why

> in our household we do not support NAAR (in part because NAAR is an

> obstacle to my son's recovery, and that of all our kids).   I thought

> there was separation of NAAR and state in this country. Judging by the

> recent trend it looks like NAAR and genetics is becoming a state

> religion.

>

> What the school is doing in sponsoring NAAR is patently illegal. Not to

> mention putting my family in a bad position, because even though my

> daughter understands why we do not participate in the NAAR Walk

> fundraiser, it places  her in a position that is adverse to her

> school.

> She is a leader among the students but she is having a hard enough time

> coming to grips with the fact that her brother is sick and in special

> education.  I refrain from making public statements criticizing other

> organizations, but this time NAAR has gone too far.

>

> Any ideas how to respond without ruining my daughter's school life? I

> already contacted the principal, who we like very much, and she had no

> idea about the controversy and " split " in the autism community. I

> recently gave a presentation on the THimerosal issue to the Sp Ed. PTA,

> of which I am an officer. The principal, however, thought there was no

> problem because mercury is now " out of the shots. " Propaganda works.  

> I will give the principal a copy of Evidence of Harm.

>

> NAAR is tantamount to an autism mafia here on Long Island in NY. That

> is true, even though most parents, even those who walk for NAAR,

> believe Thimerosal in vaccines caused problems for their kids.

>

> Bob Krakow

>

>

> On May 5, 2005, at 3:39 PM, Jim Donnelly wrote:

>

> >

> >  " Investigators at the Institute believe the discovery, announced

> > today

> >  at the 4th International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) in

> >  Boston, could be a major step toward developing a routine blood test

> >  that would allow autism to be detected in newborns and treatment or

> >  even prevention to be initiated early in life. "

> >

> >  Are the researchers really saying this? This suggests that there is

> > an

> >  innate or " genetic " defect. We need to see the study to determine if

> >  this is more media spin

> >

> >

> >

> >  Contact: Preeti Singh or Ellen

> >  301-652-1558

> >  Coimbra Sirica

> >  631-757-4027

> >  631-220-8775 (mobile)

> >

> >  Finney

> >  916-734-9064

> >  916-505-2601 (mobile)

> >

> >  UC M.I.N.D. Institute

> >

> >  Scientists report strong evidence of immune and protein alterations

> >  in blood samples of children with autism, raising hope for an early

> >  diagnostic blood test

> >

> >  BOSTON, Mass. (May 5, 2005) - Offering a new and exciting direction

> >  in the effort to develop a diagnostic test for autism in infancy,

> >  scientists from the UC M.I.N.D. Institute presented new

> >  evidence today indicating that components of the immune system and

> >  proteins and metabolites found in the blood of children with autism

> >  differ substantially from those found in typically developing

> >  children.

> >  Investigators at the Institute believe the discovery, announced

> > today

> >  at the 4th International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) in

> >  Boston, could be a major step toward developing a routine blood test

> >  that would allow autism to be detected in newborns and treatment or

> >  even prevention to be initiated early in life.

> >

> >  Over the last two decades parents, educators, scientists and

> >  pediatricians have been alarmed by a dramatic and baffling rise in

> >  the prevalence of autism, which now affects as many as 1 in every

> > 166

> >  children. But diagnosing autism, a brain disorder that leaves

> >  children in apparent isolation from their families and communities,

> >  is currently accomplished through a series of behavioral

> > observations

> >  that are not reliable until a child is between 2 and 3-years-old.

> >

> >  " Finding a sensitive and accurate biological marker for autism that

> >  can be revealed by a simple blood test would have enormous

> >  implications for diagnosing, treating and understanding more about

> >  the underlying causes of autism, " said G. Amaral, research

> >  director at the UC M.I.N.D. Institute and one of the

> > co-authors

> >  of the paper presented at IMFAR. " Not being able to detect autism

> >  until a child is close to 3-years-old eliminates a valuable window

> > of

> >  treatment opportunity during the first few years of life when the

> >  brain is undergoing tremendous development. "

> >

> >  Amaral along with pediatric neuropsychologist Blythe Corbett and

> >  other M.I.N.D. Institute colleagues took blood samples from 70

> >  children with autism who were between 4 and 6 years old and from 35

> >  children of the same age who didn't have the disorder. The samples

> >  were then analyzed by a biotech company, SurroMed, LLC, Menlo Park,

> >  Calif., which has developed technology that can identify differences

> >  in the number and types of immune cells, proteins, peptides and

> >  metabolites in small amounts of blood.

> >

> >  The study has generated an enormous amount of data and M.I.N.D.

> >  Institute researchers say it will take months before all of the

> >  information has been fully evaluated. But initial findings clearly

> >  demonstrate differences in the immune system, as well as proteins

> > and

> >  other metabolites in children with autism:

> >

> >

> >  The antibody producing B cells are increased by 20 percent in the

> >  autism group

> >  Natural killer cells are increased by 40 percent

> >  More than 100 proteins demonstrated significant differential

> >  expression between the autism and typically developing groups

> >  Other small molecules (metabolites) also show many differences

> >  " This is an important pilot experiment, a proof of principle, " said

> >  Amaral. " From these results we think it is highly likely that there

> >  are differences we can detect in blood samples that will be

> >  predictive of the disorder, though we are still some years away from

> >  having an actual diagnostic blood test for autism. Scientists have

> >  long suspected there were distinct biological components to autism

> >  but the technology needed to reveal them has only recently become

> >  available. "

> >

> >  Future research studies need to be done to confirm the findings in a

> >  larger group and with younger children. For example, researchers

> >  might take blood samples from newborns and then see if the results

> >  predicting autism are later confirmed by a behavioral diagnosis.

> >  Other studies would also use bioinformatics approaches to narrow

> > down

> >  the number of proteins or metabolites that would need to be assayed

> >  to show the strongest link to autism.

> >

> >  " Discovering an early diagnostic test is an important focus of

> >  research, " said Amaral. " There is a growing view among experts that

> >  not all children with autism are 'doomed to autism' at birth. It may

> >  be that some children have a vulnerability-such as a genetic

> >  abnormality-and that something they encounter after being born,

> >  perhaps in their environment, triggers the disorder. Studying the

> >  biological signs of autism could lead to new ways to prevent the

> >  disorder from ever occurring. And even if it can't be prevented,

> >  intervening early in life-ideally shortly after birth-could greatly

> >  improve the lifetime outlook for children with autism, particularly

> >  those who now respond poorly to therapy initiated when they are

> > three

> >  or older. "

> >

> >  The UC M.I.N.D. (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental

> >  Disorders) Institute is a unique collaborative center for research

> >  into the causes and treatments of autism, bringing together parents,

> >  scientists, clinicians and educators. For further information, go to

> > http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute

> >

> >

> >  ###

> >

> >

> >

> >  Thank you all for the comments on aluminum. As I have said for many

> >  years, there are plenty of bad actors in that vile!

> >

> >  I hope you find the latest M.I.N.D. Institute findings on autism and

> >  the immune system interesting and important. Although we all know as

> >  parents and advocates that autism is an immune mediated disease, it

> is

> >  important to get that well established in mainstream science and

> >  medicine. Moving the paradigm away from chasing the illusive autism

> >  gene and silly psychological studies, i.e., scientific masturbation,

> >  is of paramount importance.

> >

> >  I have no doubt that this latest study from M.I.N.D. will ignite

> > more

> >  interest and research into autism and the immune system. Lots more

> on

> >  this and other related issues to come from M.I.N.D. soon. rick

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >