Re: Ped Med: The biological factor in autism

[Guest guest]

Thanks for posting this. The longer I go the more convinced I am that our babies's immune systems are what go haywire. Along with chelation (I think chelation agents also offer some kind of immune regulation, dmsa is thought to be an antiretroviral and dmps has been used to combat AIDS) shoring up the child's immune system is very important.

I don't follow a lot of what Dr. McCandless does or says but one thing she was spot on about was her observation that she never saw an ASD child with a fully functioning immune system.

We have been unable to use any antiviral product either rx or otc due to stomach or allergic rash issues, but shoring up her immune system with products like Transfer Factor and Neutrophil Plus, in addition to chelation are what I credit for her complete recovery.

You have to do both; chelation to remove the heavy metals and regulate the immune system and at the same time, prop up the immune system in whatever way you can.

Ped Med: The biological factor in autism

Ped Med: The biological factor in autismBy LIDIA WASOWICZUPI Senior Science Writer SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up the roots of autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune system's involvement in the intractable disorder.

Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms play a role in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.

However, for the most part, these studies were small and the results inconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't catch on until more recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of California, , School of Medicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.

"You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having a normal immune system," said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialist at the UC Center for Children's Environmental Health.

"We know when these kids are faced with particular environmental agents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as rigorously as the control kids do."

Among other projects, she's looking into whether children with autism show signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's protective system goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs it's supposed to safeguard from attack.

"This is important because a lot of investigators have suggested that patients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at whether these kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue," she told an international meeting on autism research in Boston.

Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's disease-deflecting armor in 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder, she detected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules called cytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two groups.

These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a response is needed to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly "switched on," or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported another team, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.

Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at the immensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators from s Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the University of Milan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to just a few components within the relatively restricted environment of the central nervous apparatus.

They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines, measuring their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11 children and adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or injury.

They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation, reinforcing the view that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism. However, the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity is destructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing brain.

Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the investigators followed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six children with autism ages 5 to 12.

As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevated cytokine levels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might be able to use these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might be able to treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the disorder.

But that's a long time and many studies away.

First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out the chicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to definitively get at the source of an ailment.

In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether the abnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the disorder.

Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is to protectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm with heat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the inflammation detected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts to combat some other cell-damaging process.

The finding "backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral blood, that perhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine production in the brain is altered," said Van de Water, who plans to conduct her own investigation into what those changes mean, whether they affect brain function and how they might be related to some of the classic symptoms of autism.

For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleep disorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism.

Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role heredity may play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain that may stir up a susceptibility to autism.

To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are looking back, sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any patterns in the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autistic youngsters.

Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000 babies born between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at an increased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with psoriasis, a chronic condition that runs in families.

Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the disorder marked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back and/or scalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure Now!

The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering from asthma and allergies -- particularly during the second trimester -- may face double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with autism.

However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmune diseases that turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications, lupus and multiple sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's autism status, the study authors reported.

These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect primarily women -- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because chemicals produced in response to their presence often are found at high levels in the bloodstream of autistic children.

That would suggest a possible link between autism and pre-birth exposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.

The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie such conditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's illness was frequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the flare-up may have triggered her immune system to produce more inflammatory cytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted brain development in the fetus, the researchers proposed.

(Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of reports, conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism, taking a backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies, facing facts revealed by research and looking forward to treatment enhancements and expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book, "Suffer the Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our Future," to be published by Capital Books.)

Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions

[Guest guest]

, do you have more info on dmps and dmsa being used in AIDS?

Natasa

>

> Thanks for posting this. The longer I go the more convinced I am that

our babies's immune systems are what go haywire. Along with chelation (I

think chelation agents also offer some kind of immune regulation, dmsa

is thought to be an antiretroviral and dmps has been used to combat

AIDS) shoring up the child's immune system is very important.

>

> I don't follow a lot of what Dr. McCandless does or says but one thing

she was spot on about was her observation that she never saw an ASD

child with a fully functioning immune system.

>

> We have been unable to use any antiviral product either rx or otc due

to stomach or allergic rash issues, but shoring up her immune system

with products like Transfer Factor and Neutrophil Plus, in addition to

chelation are what I credit for her complete recovery.

>

> You have to do both; chelation to remove the heavy metals and regulate

the immune system and at the same time, prop up the immune system in

whatever way you can.

>

>

> Ped Med: The biological factor

in autism

>

>

>

> Ped Med: The biological factor in autism

> By LIDIA WASOWICZ

> UPI Senior Science Writer

> SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up the roots

of autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune system's

involvement in the intractable disorder.

>

> Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms play a

role in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.

>

> However, for the most part, these studies were small and the results

inconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't catch on

until more recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatry and

behavioral sciences at the University of California, , School of

Medicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.

>

> " You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having a normal

immune system, " said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialist at the

UC Center for Children's Environmental Health.

>

> " We know when these kids are faced with particular environmental

agents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as rigorously as

the control kids do. "

>

> Among other projects, she's looking into whether children with autism

show signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's protective

system goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs it's

supposed to safeguard from attack.

>

> " This is important because a lot of investigators have suggested that

patients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at whether

these kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue, " she told an

international meeting on autism research in Boston.

>

> Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's disease-deflecting armor

in 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder, she

detected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules called

cytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two groups.

>

> These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a response is

needed to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly

" switched on, " or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported another

team, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.

>

> Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at the

immensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators from s

Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the University of

Milan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to just a few

components within the relatively restricted environment of the central

nervous apparatus.

>

> They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,

measuring their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11 children

and adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or injury.

>

> They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation, reinforcing the

view that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism. However,

the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity is

destructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing brain.

>

> Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the investigators

followed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six children

with autism ages 5 to 12.

>

> As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevated cytokine

levels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might be able to

use these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might be able

to treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the disorder.

>

> But that's a long time and many studies away.

>

> First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out the

chicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to definitively get

at the source of an ailment.

>

> In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether the

abnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the disorder.

>

> Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is to

protectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm with

heat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the inflammation

detected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts to combat

some other cell-damaging process.

>

> The finding " backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral blood, that

perhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine production in

the brain is altered, " said Van de Water, who plans to conduct her own

investigation into what those changes mean, whether they affect brain

function and how they might be related to some of the classic symptoms

of autism.

>

> For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleep

disorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism.

>

> Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role heredity

may play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain that

may stir up a susceptibility to autism.

>

> To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are looking back,

sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any patterns

in the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autistic

youngsters.

>

> Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000 babies

born between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at an

increased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with psoriasis, a

chronic condition that runs in families.

>

> Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the disorder

marked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back and/or

scalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure Now!

>

> The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering from

asthma and allergies -- particularly during the second trimester -- may

face double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with autism.

>

> However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmune diseases

that turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid arthritis,

type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications, lupus and

multiple sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's autism

status, the study authors reported.

>

> These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect primarily women

-- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because chemicals

produced in response to their presence often are found at high levels in

the bloodstream of autistic children.

>

> That would suggest a possible link between autism and pre-birth

exposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.

>

> The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie such

conditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's illness was

frequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the flare-up

may have triggered her immune system to produce more inflammatory

cytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted brain development in the

fetus, the researchers proposed.

>

> (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of reports,

conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism, taking

a backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies, facing

facts revealed by research and looking forward to treatment enhancements

and expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book, " Suffer

the Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our Future, " to

be published by Capital Books.)

>

> Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions

>

[Guest guest]

Natasa,

I never saw it written that dmsa was used for AIDS tx, but did see it written that dmps was. Although I can't remember where, I am in the office today seeing patients but it will occur to me at some point where I read it, I hope :-). I have read many times about dmsa being an antiretroviral but I was suprised to read about the connection between dmps and AIDS.

Ped Med: The biological factorin autism>>>> Ped Med: The biological factor in autism> By LIDIA WASOWICZ> UPI Senior Science Writer> SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up the rootsof autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune system'sinvolvement in the intractable disorder.>> Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms play arole in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.>> However, for the most part, these studies were small and the resultsinconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't catch onuntil more recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatry andbehavioral sciences at the University of California, , School ofMedicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.>> "You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having a normalimmune system," said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialist at theUC Center for Children's Environmental Health.>> "We know when these kids are faced with particular environmentalagents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as rigorously asthe control kids do.">> Among other projects, she's looking into whether children with autismshow signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's protectivesystem goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs it'ssupposed to safeguard from attack.>> "This is important because a lot of investigators have suggested thatpatients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at whetherthese kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue," she told aninternational meeting on autism research in Boston.>> Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's disease-deflecting armorin 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder, shedetected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules calledcytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two groups.>> These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a response isneeded to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly"switched on," or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported anotherteam, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.>> Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at theimmensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators from sHopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the University ofMilan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to just a fewcomponents within the relatively restricted environment of the centralnervous apparatus.>> They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,measuring their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11 childrenand adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or injury.>> They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation, reinforcing theview that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism. However,the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity isdestructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing brain.>> Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the investigatorsfollowed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six childrenwith autism ages 5 to 12.>> As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevated cytokinelevels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might be able touse these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might be ableto treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the disorder.>> But that's a long time and many studies away.>> First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out thechicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to definitively getat the source of an ailment.>> In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether theabnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the disorder.>> Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is toprotectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm withheat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the inflammationdetected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts to combatsome other cell-damaging process.>> The finding "backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral blood, thatperhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine production inthe brain is altered," said Van de Water, who plans to conduct her owninvestigation into what those changes mean, whether they affect brainfunction and how they might be related to some of the classic symptomsof autism.>> For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleepdisorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism.>> Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role hereditymay play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain thatmay stir up a susceptibility to autism.>> To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are looking back,sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any patternsin the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autisticyoungsters.>> Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000 babiesborn between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at anincreased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with psoriasis, achronic condition that runs in families.>> Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the disordermarked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back and/orscalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure Now!>> The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering fromasthma and allergies -- particularly during the second trimester -- mayface double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with autism.>> However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmune diseasesthat turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid arthritis,type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications, lupus andmultiple sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's autismstatus, the study authors reported.>> These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect primarily women-- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because chemicalsproduced in response to their presence often are found at high levels inthe bloodstream of autistic children.>> That would suggest a possible link between autism and pre-birthexposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.>> The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie suchconditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's illness wasfrequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the flare-upmay have triggered her immune system to produce more inflammatorycytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted brain development in thefetus, the researchers proposed.>> (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of reports,conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism, takinga backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies, facingfacts revealed by research and looking forward to treatment enhancementsand expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book, "Sufferthe Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our Future," tobe published by Capital Books.)>> Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions>

[Guest guest]

, While I waas doing a literature review for my paper on magnesium sulphate, I came across information about AIDS which knocked me sideways. AIDS sufferers have sulfur metabolism problems, of the same nature as autism, MS, Alzheimers etc.! I spent several weeks at www.pubmed.com and plugged in AIDS and several other terms (ie, fatty acid peroxidation) common to our kids. There were so many parallels. A creeping realization came over me that AIDS is just another expression of mercury toxicity.

I have little doubt that Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is "acquired" through the vaccine needle and that what is happening in Africa is mass murder on the greatest scale in the history of mankind.......And it's happening under our very noses. The notion that AIDS is sexually transmitted is a satisfactory explanation to many as it is commonly held that the Africans have the sexual mores of rabbits.

Ped Med: The biological factorin autism>>>> Ped Med: The biological factor in autism> By LIDIA WASOWICZ> UPI Senior Science Writer> SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up the rootsof autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune system'sinvolvement in the intractable disorder.>> Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms play arole in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.>> However, for the most part, these studies were small and the resultsinconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't catch onuntil more recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatry andbehavioral sciences at the University of California, , School ofMedicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.>> "You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having a normalimmune system," said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialist at theUC Center for Children's Environmental Health.>> "We know when these kids are faced with particular environmentalagents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as rigorously asthe control kids do.">> Among other projects, she's looking into whether children with autismshow signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's protectivesystem goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs it'ssupposed to safeguard from attack.>> "This is important because a lot of investigators have suggested thatpatients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at whetherthese kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue," she told aninternational meeting on autism research in Boston.>> Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's disease-deflecting armorin 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder, shedetected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules calledcytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two groups.>> These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a response isneeded to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly"switched on," or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported anotherteam, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.>> Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at theimmensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators from sHopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the University ofMilan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to just a fewcomponents within the relatively restricted environment of the centralnervous apparatus.>> They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,measuring their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11 childrenand adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or injury.>> They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation, reinforcing theview that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism. However,the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity isdestructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing brain.>> Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the investigatorsfollowed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six childrenwith autism ages 5 to 12.>> As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevated cytokinelevels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might be able touse these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might be ableto treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the disorder.>> But that's a long time and many studies away.>> First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out thechicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to definitively getat the source of an ailment.>> In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether theabnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the disorder.>> Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is toprotectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm withheat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the inflammationdetected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts to combatsome other cell-damaging process.>> The finding "backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral blood, thatperhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine production inthe brain is altered," said Van de Water, who plans to conduct her owninvestigation into what those changes mean, whether they affect brainfunction and how they might be related to some of the classic symptomsof autism.>> For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleepdisorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism.>> Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role hereditymay play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain thatmay stir up a susceptibility to autism.>> To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are looking back,sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any patternsin the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autisticyoungsters.>> Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000 babiesborn between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at anincreased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with psoriasis, achronic condition that runs in families.>> Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the disordermarked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back and/orscalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure Now!>> The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering fromasthma and allergies -- particularly during the second trimester -- mayface double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with autism.>> However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmune diseasesthat turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid arthritis,type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications, lupus andmultiple sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's autismstatus, the study authors reported.>> These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect primarily women-- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because chemicalsproduced in response to their presence often are found at high levels inthe bloodstream of autistic children.>> That would suggest a possible link between autism and pre-birthexposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.>> The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie suchconditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's illness wasfrequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the flare-upmay have triggered her immune system to produce more inflammatorycytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted brain development in thefetus, the researchers proposed.>> (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of reports,conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism, takinga backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies, facingfacts revealed by research and looking forward to treatment enhancementsand expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book, "Sufferthe Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our Future," tobe published by Capital Books.)>> Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions>

[Guest guest]

Please can you supply the link to this study. Fascinating stuff. ---

In Autism Treatment , rexel45@... wrote:

>

>

> Ped Med: The biological factor in autism

> By LIDIA WASOWICZ

> UPI Senior Science Writer

> SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up the

roots of

> autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune system's

involvement in

> the intractable disorder.

> Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms play

a role in

> autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.

> However, for the most part, these studies were small and the

results

> inconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't

catch on until more

> recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatry and

behavioral sciences

> at the University of California, , School of Medicine and

Medical Center

> and M.I.N.D. research director.

> " You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having a normal

immune

> system, " said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialist at the

UC Center

> for Children's Environmental Health.

> " We know when these kids are faced with particular environmental

agents, such

> as certain bacteria, they don't respond as rigorously as the

control kids

> do. "

> Among other projects, she's looking into whether children with

autism show

> signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's protective

system goes

> haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs it's supposed to

safeguard

> from attack.

> " This is important because a lot of investigators have suggested

that

> patients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at

whether these kids

> have auto-antibodies to brain tissue, " she told an international

meeting on

> autism research in Boston.

> Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's disease-deflecting

armor in 30

> autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder, she

detected a

> variation in the way specialized messenger molecules called

cytokines react to

> bacteria and other health threats in the two groups.

> These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a

response is needed

> to injury or irritation, instead appear to be

constantly " switched on, " or

> inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported another team, which

veered off

> the beaten path to study the issue.

> Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at the

immensely

> complex immune system as a whole, the investigators from s

Hopkins University

> School of Medicine in Baltimore and the University of Milan in

Italy decided

> to narrow their field of inquiry to just a few components within

the

> relatively restricted environment of the central nervous

apparatus.

> They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,

measuring

> their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11 children and

adults ages 5 to

> 44 who had died by accident, illness or injury.

> They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation, reinforcing

the view

> that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism.

However, the authors

> noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity is destructive

or

> beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing brain.

> Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the investigators

followed up

> with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six children with

autism ages 5

> to 12.

> As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevated

cytokine

> levels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might be

able to use these

> anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might be able to

treat the

> inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the disorder.

> But that's a long time and many studies away.

> First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out the

> chicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to

definitively get at the source of

> an ailment.

> In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether the

abnormality

> they observed is a cause or consequence of the disorder.

> Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is to

protectively

> wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm with heat,

redness and

> swelling, so, too, it may be that the inflammation detected by the

researchers

> may represent the brain's efforts to combat some other cell-

damaging process.

> The finding " backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral blood,

that perhaps

> there is a change in these kids and the cytokine production in

the brain is

> altered, " said Van de Water, who plans to conduct her own

investigation into

> what those changes mean, whether they affect brain function and

how they

> might be related to some of the classic symptoms of autism.

> For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleep

disorders are a

> common complaint of individuals with autism.

> Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role

heredity may play

> in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain that may

stir up a

> susceptibility to autism.

> To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are looking

back, sifting

> through tens of thousands of medical histories for any patterns in

the rates

> of earaches, colds and other infections in autistic youngsters.

> Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000

babies born

> between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at an

increased risk of

> autism in the offspring of mothers with psoriasis, a chronic

condition that runs

> in families.

> Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the

disorder marked

> by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back and/or

scalp,

> according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure Now!

> The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering from

asthma and

> allergies -- particularly during the second trimester -- may face

double the

> typical risk of giving birth to a child with autism.

> However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmune

diseases that

> turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid arthritis,

type 1

> diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications, lupus and

multiple sclerosis

> -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's autism status, the

study authors

> reported.

> These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect primarily

women -- who

> account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because chemicals

produced in

> response to their presence often are found at high levels in the

bloodstream of

> autistic children.

> That would suggest a possible link between autism and pre-birth

exposure to

> an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.

> The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie such

conditions as

> asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's illness was frequently

diagnosed

> in the second trimester of pregnancy, the flare-up may have

triggered her

> immune system to produce more inflammatory cytokines, which, in

turn, might have

> disrupted brain development in the fetus, the researchers

proposed.

> (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of

reports,

> conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism,

taking a backward

> glance at its history and surrounding controversies, facing facts

revealed by

> research and looking forward to treatment enhancements and

expansions. Wasowicz

> is the author of the forthcoming book, " Suffer the Child: How the

American

> Healthcare System Is Failing Our Future, " to be published by

Capital Books.)

> Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions

>

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

What about the high incidence amongst the

gay community?

Sara

Re:

Re: Ped Med: The biological factor in autism

, While I waas doing a

literature review for my paper on magnesium sulphate, I came across information

about AIDS which knocked me sideways. AIDS sufferers have sulfur

metabolism problems, of the same nature as autism, MS, Alzheimers etc.! I

spent several weeks at www.pubmed.com

and plugged in AIDS and several other terms (ie, fatty acid peroxidation)

common to our kids. There were so many parallels. A creeping realization came

over me that AIDS is just another expression of mercury toxicity.

I have little doubt that

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is " acquired " through the vaccine

needle and that what is happening in Africa is mass murder on the greatest

scale in the history of mankind.......And it's happening under our very

noses. The notion that AIDS is sexually transmitted is a satisfactory

explanation to many as it is commonly held that the Africans have the

sexual mores of rabbits.

Ped Med: The biological factor

in autism

>

>

>

> Ped Med: The biological factor in autism

> By LIDIA WASOWICZ

> UPI Senior Science Writer

> SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up the roots

of autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune system's

involvement in the intractable disorder.

>

> Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms play a

role in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.

>

> However, for the most part, these studies were small and the results

inconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't catch on

until more recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatry and

behavioral sciences at the University of California, , School of

Medicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.

>

> " You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having a normal

immune system, " said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialist at the

UC Center for Children's Environmental Health.

>

> " We know when these kids are faced with particular environmental

agents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as rigorously as

the control kids do. "

>

> Among other projects, she's looking into whether children with autism

show signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's protective

system goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs it's

supposed to safeguard from attack.

>

> " This is important because a lot of investigators have suggested that

patients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at whether

these kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue, " she told an

international meeting on autism research in Boston.

>

> Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's disease-deflecting armor

in 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder, she

detected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules called

cytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two groups.

>

> These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a response is

needed to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly

" switched on, " or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported

another

team, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.

>

> Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at the

immensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators from s

Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the University of

Milan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to just a few

components within the relatively restricted environment of the central

nervous apparatus.

>

> They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,

measuring their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11 children

and adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or injury.

>

> They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation, reinforcing the

view that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism. However,

the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity is

destructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing brain.

>

> Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the investigators

followed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six children

with autism ages 5 to 12.

>

> As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevated cytokine

levels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might be able to

use these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might be able

to treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the disorder.

>

> But that's a long time and many studies away.

>

> First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out the

chicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to definitively get

at the source of an ailment.

>

> In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether the

abnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the disorder.

>

> Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is to

protectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm with

heat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the inflammation

detected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts to combat

some other cell-damaging process.

>

> The finding " backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral blood, that

perhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine production in

the brain is altered, " said Van de Water, who plans to conduct her own

investigation into what those changes mean, whether they affect brain

function and how they might be related to some of the classic symptoms

of autism.

>

> For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleep

disorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism.

>

> Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role heredity

may play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain that

may stir up a susceptibility to autism.

>

> To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are looking back,

sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any patterns

in the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autistic

youngsters.

>

> Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000 babies

born between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at an

increased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with psoriasis, a

chronic condition that runs in families.

>

> Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the disorder

marked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back and/or

scalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure Now!

>

> The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering from

asthma and allergies -- particularly during the second trimester -- may

face double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with autism.

>

> However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmune diseases

that turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid arthritis,

type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications, lupus and

multiple sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's autism

status, the study authors reported.

>

> These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect primarily women

-- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because chemicals

produced in response to their presence often are found at high levels in

the bloodstream of autistic children.

>

> That would suggest a possible link between autism and pre-birth

exposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.

>

> The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie such

conditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's illness was

frequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the flare-up

may have triggered her immune system to produce more inflammatory

cytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted brain development in the

fetus, the researchers proposed.

>

> (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of reports,

conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism, taking

a backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies, facing

facts revealed by research and looking forward to treatment enhancements

and expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book, " Suffer

the Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our Future, " to

be published by Capital Books.)

>

> Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions

>

--

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[Guest guest]

I studied " Naturheilpraktikerin" in Germany, a form of naturopathy. I was told there that homosexual tend to use antibiotics more as they are very obsessed by their health. Don't know myself whether this is true or not. We know from studies that antibiotic use will promote mercury toxicity....so that might make sense.

Ped Med: The biological factorin autism>>>> Ped Med: The biological factor in autism> By LIDIA WASOWICZ> UPI Senior Science Writer> SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up the rootsof autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune system'sinvolvement in the intractable disorder.>> Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms play arole in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.>> However, for the most part, these studies were small and the resultsinconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't catch onuntil more recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatry andbehavioral sciences at the University of California, , School ofMedicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.>> "You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having a normalimmune system," said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialist at theUC Center for Children's Environmental Health.>> "We know when these kids are faced with particular environmentalagents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as rigorously asthe control kids do.">> Among other projects, she's looking into whether children with autismshow signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's protectivesystem goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs it'ssupposed to safeguard from attack.>> "This is important because a lot of investigators have suggested thatpatients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at whetherthese kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue," she told aninternational meeting on autism research in Boston.>> Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's disease-deflecting armorin 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder, shedetected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules calledcytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two groups.>> These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a response isneeded to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly"switched on," or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported anotherteam, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.>> Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at theimmensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators from sHopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the University ofMilan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to just a fewcomponents within the relatively restricted environment of the centralnervous apparatus.>> They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,measuring their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11 childrenand adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or injury.>> They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation, reinforcing theview that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism. However,the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity isdestructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing brain.>> Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the investigatorsfollowed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six childrenwith autism ages 5 to 12.>> As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevated cytokinelevels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might be able touse these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might be ableto treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the disorder.>> But that's a long time and many studies away.>> First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out thechicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to definitively getat the source of an ailment.>> In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether theabnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the disorder.>> Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is toprotectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm withheat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the inflammationdetected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts to combatsome other cell-damaging process.>> The finding "backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral blood, thatperhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine production inthe brain is altered," said Van de Water, who plans to conduct her owninvestigation into what those changes mean, whether they affect brainfunction and how they might be related to some of the classic symptomsof autism.>> For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleepdisorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism.>> Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role hereditymay play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain thatmay stir up a susceptibility to autism.>> To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are looking back,sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any patternsin the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autisticyoungsters.>> Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000 babiesborn between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at anincreased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with psoriasis, achronic condition that runs in families.>> Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the disordermarked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back and/orscalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure Now!>> The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering fromasthma and allergies -- particularly during the second trimester -- mayface double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with autism.>> However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmune diseasesthat turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid arthritis,type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications, lupus andmultiple sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's autismstatus, the study authors reported.>> These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect primarily women-- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because chemicalsproduced in response to their presence often are found at high levels inthe bloodstream of autistic children.>> That would suggest a possible link between autism and pre-birthexposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.>> The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie suchconditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's illness wasfrequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the flare-upmay have triggered her immune system to produce more inflammatorycytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted brain development in thefetus, the researchers proposed.>> (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of reports,conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism, takinga backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies, facingfacts revealed by research and looking forward to treatment enhancementsand expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book, "Sufferthe Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our Future," tobe published by Capital Books.)>> Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions>

--No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date: 28/11/2006

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[Guest guest]

Hmmmm.....thanks for sharing this, .

Ped Med: The biological factorin autism>>>> Ped Med: The biological factor in autism> By LIDIA WASOWICZ> UPI Senior Science Writer> SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up the rootsof autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune system'sinvolvement in the intractable disorder.>> Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms play arole in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.>> However, for the most part, these studies were small and the resultsinconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't catch onuntil more recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatry andbehavioral sciences at the University of California, , School ofMedicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.>> "You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having a normalimmune system," said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialist at theUC Center for Children's Environmental Health.>> "We know when these kids are faced with particular environmentalagents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as rigorously asthe control kids do.">> Among other projects, she's looking into whether children with autismshow signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's protectivesystem goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs it'ssupposed to safeguard from attack.>> "This is important because a lot of investigators have suggested thatpatients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at whetherthese kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue," she told aninternational meeting on autism research in Boston.>> Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's disease-deflecting armorin 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder, shedetected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules calledcytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two groups.>> These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a response isneeded to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly"switched on," or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported anotherteam, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.>> Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at theimmensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators from sHopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the University ofMilan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to just a fewcomponents within the relatively restricted environment of the centralnervous apparatus.>> They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,measuring their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11 childrenand adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or injury.>> They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation, reinforcing theview that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism. However,the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity isdestructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing brain.>> Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the investigatorsfollowed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six childrenwith autism ages 5 to 12.>> As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevated cytokinelevels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might be able touse these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might be ableto treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the disorder.>> But that's a long time and many studies away.>> First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out thechicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to definitively getat the source of an ailment.>> In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether theabnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the disorder.>> Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is toprotectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm withheat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the inflammationdetected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts to combatsome other cell-damaging process.>> The finding "backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral blood, thatperhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine production inthe brain is altered," said Van de Water, who plans to conduct her owninvestigation into what those changes mean, whether they affect brainfunction and how they might be related to some of the classic symptomsof autism.>> For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleepdisorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism.>> Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role hereditymay play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain thatmay stir up a susceptibility to autism.>> To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are looking back,sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any patternsin the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autisticyoungsters.>> Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000 babiesborn between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at anincreased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with psoriasis, achronic condition that runs in families.>> Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the disordermarked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back and/orscalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure Now!>> The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering fromasthma and allergies -- particularly during the second trimester -- mayface double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with autism.>> However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmune diseasesthat turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid arthritis,type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications, lupus andmultiple sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's autismstatus, the study authors reported.>> These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect primarily women-- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because chemicalsproduced in response to their presence often are found at high levels inthe bloodstream of autistic children.>> That would suggest a possible link between autism and pre-birthexposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.>> The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie suchconditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's illness wasfrequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the flare-upmay have triggered her immune system to produce more inflammatorycytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted brain development in thefetus, the researchers proposed.>> (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of reports,conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism, takinga backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies, facingfacts revealed by research and looking forward to treatment enhancementsand expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book, "Sufferthe Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our Future," tobe published by Capital Books.)>> Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions>

[Guest guest]

, I am glad to hear someone else is 'seeing thigs' too, I thought I

was going mad - see my post titled DNA is not a destiny just few above

this one (I think Darla replied to it).

I have been researching the calcium metabolism and how viruses can mess

it up, and whenever I typed in something we know is abnormal in autism

and how it can get abnormal, Tat protein or the other (g??120 something)

HIV proteins would come up on top ... weird or what! on the other hand

there is the fact that HIV gets by far the most research money, so who

is to say that other viruses would not have similiar effects...

then there is the misterious SV40, cousin of HIV that supposedly got

transferred to humans via the same route (poliovaccine contamination)

that has very similar characteristics...

also interesting the HIV-as-a-myth theory.

NATasa

> >

> > Thanks for posting this. The longer I go the more convinced I am

that

> our babies's immune systems are what go haywire. Along with

chelation (I

> think chelation agents also offer some kind of immune regulation,

dmsa

> is thought to be an antiretroviral and dmps has been used to

combat

> AIDS) shoring up the child's immune system is very important.

> >

> > I don't follow a lot of what Dr. McCandless does or says but one

thing

> she was spot on about was her observation that she never saw an

ASD

> child with a fully functioning immune system.

> >

> > We have been unable to use any antiviral product either rx or

otc due

> to stomach or allergic rash issues, but shoring up her immune

system

> with products like Transfer Factor and Neutrophil Plus, in

addition to

> chelation are what I credit for her complete recovery.

> >

> > You have to do both; chelation to remove the heavy metals and

regulate

> the immune system and at the same time, prop up the immune system

in

> whatever way you can.

> >

> >

> > Ped Med: The biological

factor

> in autism

> >

> >

> >

> > Ped Med: The biological factor in autism

> > By LIDIA WASOWICZ

> > UPI Senior Science Writer

> > SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up the

roots

> of autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune system's

> involvement in the intractable disorder.

> >

> > Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms

play a

> role in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.

> >

> > However, for the most part, these studies were small and the

results

> inconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't

catch on

> until more recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatry

and

> behavioral sciences at the University of California, , School

of

> Medicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.

> >

> > " You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having a

normal

> immune system, " said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialist

at the

> UC Center for Children's Environmental Health.

> >

> > " We know when these kids are faced with particular environmental

> agents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as rigorously

as

> the control kids do. "

> >

> > Among other projects, she's looking into whether children with

autism

> show signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's

protective

> system goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs it's

> supposed to safeguard from attack.

> >

> > " This is important because a lot of investigators have suggested

that

> patients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at

whether

> these kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue, " she told an

> international meeting on autism research in Boston.

> >

> > Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's disease-deflecting

armor

> in 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder,

she

> detected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules

called

> cytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two

groups.

> >

> > These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a

response is

> needed to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly

> " switched on, " or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported

another

> team, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.

> >

> > Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at the

> immensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators from

s

> Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the

University of

> Milan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to just a

few

> components within the relatively restricted environment of the

central

> nervous apparatus.

> >

> > They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,

> measuring their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11

children

> and adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or

injury.

> >

> > They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation, reinforcing

the

> view that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism.

However,

> the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity is

> destructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing

brain.

> >

> > Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the

investigators

> followed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six

children

> with autism ages 5 to 12.

> >

> > As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevated

cytokine

> levels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might be

able to

> use these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might be

able

> to treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the

disorder.

> >

> > But that's a long time and many studies away.

> >

> > First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out the

> chicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to

definitively get

> at the source of an ailment.

> >

> > In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether the

> abnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the

disorder.

> >

> > Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is to

> protectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm

with

> heat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the

inflammation

> detected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts to

combat

> some other cell-damaging process.

> >

> > The finding " backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral blood,

that

> perhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine

production in

> the brain is altered, " said Van de Water, who plans to conduct her

own

> investigation into what those changes mean, whether they affect

brain

> function and how they might be related to some of the classic

symptoms

> of autism.

> >

> > For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleep

> disorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism.

> >

> > Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role

heredity

> may play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain

that

> may stir up a susceptibility to autism.

> >

> > To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are looking

back,

> sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any

patterns

> in the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autistic

> youngsters.

> >

> > Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000

babies

> born between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at an

> increased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with

psoriasis, a

> chronic condition that runs in families.

> >

> > Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the

disorder

> marked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back

and/or

> scalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure Now!

> >

> > The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering

from

> asthma and allergies -- particularly during the second trimester

-- may

> face double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with

autism.

> >

> > However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmune

diseases

> that turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid

arthritis,

> type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications,

lupus and

> multiple sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's

autism

> status, the study authors reported.

> >

> > These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect primarily

women

> -- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because

chemicals

> produced in response to their presence often are found at high

levels in

> the bloodstream of autistic children.

> >

> > That would suggest a possible link between autism and pre-birth

> exposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.

> >

> > The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie such

> conditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's illness

was

> frequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the

flare-up

> may have triggered her immune system to produce more inflammatory

> cytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted brain development

in the

> fetus, the researchers proposed.

> >

> > (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of

reports,

> conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism,

taking

> a backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies,

facing

> facts revealed by research and looking forward to treatment

enhancements

> and expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book,

" Suffer

> the Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our

Future, " to

> be published by Capital Books.)

> >

> > Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions

> >

>

[Guest guest]

The scientist who was one of the first to dismiss HIV link to AIDS

claimed that the reason gay people got AIDS in the eighties was the very

popular and extensive use of poppers (drugs) at that time, and poppers

do mess up the immune system in a big way. He claimed that this screwed

immunity, coupled with then popular AZT drug was what killed all those

people, not HIV virus itself (which he claimed to be a myth).

not sure what the statistics for gay infections or AIDS deaths are

nowdays, is it as prevalent in the community as it was 20 years ago? if

the answer is NO now that would be sooooo very interesting!

Natasa

> >

> > Thanks for posting this. The longer I go the more convinced I

am that

> our babies's immune systems are what go haywire. Along with

chelation (I

> think chelation agents also offer some kind of immune

regulation, dmsa

> is thought to be an antiretroviral and dmps has been used to

combat

> AIDS) shoring up the child's immune system is very important.

> >

> > I don't follow a lot of what Dr. McCandless does or says but

one thing

> she was spot on about was her observation that she never saw an

ASD

> child with a fully functioning immune system.

> >

> > We have been unable to use any antiviral product either rx or

otc due

> to stomach or allergic rash issues, but shoring up her immune

system

> with products like Transfer Factor and Neutrophil Plus, in

addition to

> chelation are what I credit for her complete recovery.

> >

> > You have to do both; chelation to remove the heavy metals and

regulate

> the immune system and at the same time, prop up the immune

system in

> whatever way you can.

> >

> >

> > Ped Med: The biological

factor

> in autism

> >

> >

> >

> > Ped Med: The biological factor in autism

> > By LIDIA WASOWICZ

> > UPI Senior Science Writer

> > SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up

the roots

> of autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune

system's

> involvement in the intractable disorder.

> >

> > Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms

play a

> role in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.

> >

> > However, for the most part, these studies were small and the

results

> inconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't

catch on

> until more recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatry

and

> behavioral sciences at the University of California, ,

School of

> Medicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.

> >

> > " You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having a

normal

> immune system, " said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialist

at the

> UC Center for Children's Environmental Health.

> >

> > " We know when these kids are faced with particular

environmental

> agents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as

rigorously as

> the control kids do. "

> >

> > Among other projects, she's looking into whether children with

autism

> show signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's

protective

> system goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs it's

> supposed to safeguard from attack.

> >

> > " This is important because a lot of investigators have

suggested that

> patients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at

whether

> these kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue, " she told an

> international meeting on autism research in Boston.

> >

> > Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's

disease-deflecting armor

> in 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder,

she

> detected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules

called

> cytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two

groups.

> >

> > These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a

response is

> needed to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly

> " switched on, " or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported

another

> team, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.

> >

> > Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at the

> immensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators

from s

> Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the

University of

> Milan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to just

a few

> components within the relatively restricted environment of the

central

> nervous apparatus.

> >

> > They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,

> measuring their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11

children

> and adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or

injury.

> >

> > They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation,

reinforcing the

> view that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism.

However,

> the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity

is

> destructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing

brain.

> >

> > Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the

investigators

> followed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six

children

> with autism ages 5 to 12.

> >

> > As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevated

cytokine

> levels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might be

able to

> use these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might

be able

> to treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the

disorder.

> >

> > But that's a long time and many studies away.

> >

> > First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out the

> chicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to

definitively get

> at the source of an ailment.

> >

> > In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether the

> abnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the

disorder.

> >

> > Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is to

> protectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm

with

> heat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the

inflammation

> detected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts to

combat

> some other cell-damaging process.

> >

> > The finding " backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral

blood, that

> perhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine

production in

> the brain is altered, " said Van de Water, who plans to conduct

her own

> investigation into what those changes mean, whether they affect

brain

> function and how they might be related to some of the classic

symptoms

> of autism.

> >

> > For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleep

> disorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism.

> >

> > Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role

heredity

> may play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain

that

> may stir up a susceptibility to autism.

> >

> > To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are looking

back,

> sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any

patterns

> in the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autistic

> youngsters.

> >

> > Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000

babies

> born between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at an

> increased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with

psoriasis, a

> chronic condition that runs in families.

> >

> > Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the

disorder

> marked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back

and/or

> scalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure

Now!

> >

> > The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering

from

> asthma and allergies -- particularly during the second trimester

-- may

> face double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with

autism.

> >

> > However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmune

diseases

> that turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid

arthritis,

> type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications,

lupus and

> multiple sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's

autism

> status, the study authors reported.

> >

> > These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect

primarily women

> -- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because

chemicals

> produced in response to their presence often are found at high

levels in

> the bloodstream of autistic children.

> >

> > That would suggest a possible link between autism and

pre-birth

> exposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.

> >

> > The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie such

> conditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's

illness was

> frequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the

flare-up

> may have triggered her immune system to produce more

inflammatory

> cytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted brain

development in the

> fetus, the researchers proposed.

> >

> > (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of

reports,

> conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism,

taking

> a backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies,

facing

> facts revealed by research and looking forward to treatment

enhancements

> and expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book,

" Suffer

> the Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our

Future, " to

> be published by Capital Books.)

> >

> > Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions

> >

>

>

>

>

> --

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:

28/11/2006

>

>

>

>

> --

> No virus found in this outgoing message.

> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:

28/11/2006

>

[Guest guest]

The scientist who was one of the first to dismiss HIV link to AIDS

claimed that the reason gay people got AIDS in the eighties was the very

popular and extensive use of poppers (drugs) at that time, and poppers

do mess up the immune system in a big way. He claimed that this screwed

immunity, coupled with then popular AZT drug was what killed all those

people, not HIV virus itself (which he claimed to be a myth).

not sure what the statistics for gay infections or AIDS deaths are

nowdays, is it as prevalent in the community as it was 20 years ago? if

the answer is NO now that would be sooooo very interesting!

Natasa

> >

> > Thanks for posting this. The longer I go the more convinced I

am that

> our babies's immune systems are what go haywire. Along with

chelation (I

> think chelation agents also offer some kind of immune

regulation, dmsa

> is thought to be an antiretroviral and dmps has been used to

combat

> AIDS) shoring up the child's immune system is very important.

> >

> > I don't follow a lot of what Dr. McCandless does or says but

one thing

> she was spot on about was her observation that she never saw an

ASD

> child with a fully functioning immune system.

> >

> > We have been unable to use any antiviral product either rx or

otc due

> to stomach or allergic rash issues, but shoring up her immune

system

> with products like Transfer Factor and Neutrophil Plus, in

addition to

> chelation are what I credit for her complete recovery.

> >

> > You have to do both; chelation to remove the heavy metals and

regulate

> the immune system and at the same time, prop up the immune

system in

> whatever way you can.

> >

> >

> > Ped Med: The biological

factor

> in autism

> >

> >

> >

> > Ped Med: The biological factor in autism

> > By LIDIA WASOWICZ

> > UPI Senior Science Writer

> > SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up

the roots

> of autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune

system's

> involvement in the intractable disorder.

> >

> > Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms

play a

> role in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.

> >

> > However, for the most part, these studies were small and the

results

> inconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't

catch on

> until more recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatry

and

> behavioral sciences at the University of California, ,

School of

> Medicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.

> >

> > " You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having a

normal

> immune system, " said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialist

at the

> UC Center for Children's Environmental Health.

> >

> > " We know when these kids are faced with particular

environmental

> agents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as

rigorously as

> the control kids do. "

> >

> > Among other projects, she's looking into whether children with

autism

> show signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's

protective

> system goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs it's

> supposed to safeguard from attack.

> >

> > " This is important because a lot of investigators have

suggested that

> patients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at

whether

> these kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue, " she told an

> international meeting on autism research in Boston.

> >

> > Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's

disease-deflecting armor

> in 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder,

she

> detected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules

called

> cytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two

groups.

> >

> > These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a

response is

> needed to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly

> " switched on, " or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported

another

> team, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.

> >

> > Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at the

> immensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators

from s

> Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the

University of

> Milan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to just

a few

> components within the relatively restricted environment of the

central

> nervous apparatus.

> >

> > They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,

> measuring their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11

children

> and adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or

injury.

> >

> > They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation,

reinforcing the

> view that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism.

However,

> the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity

is

> destructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing

brain.

> >

> > Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the

investigators

> followed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six

children

> with autism ages 5 to 12.

> >

> > As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevated

cytokine

> levels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might be

able to

> use these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might

be able

> to treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the

disorder.

> >

> > But that's a long time and many studies away.

> >

> > First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out the

> chicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to

definitively get

> at the source of an ailment.

> >

> > In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether the

> abnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the

disorder.

> >

> > Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is to

> protectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm

with

> heat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the

inflammation

> detected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts to

combat

> some other cell-damaging process.

> >

> > The finding " backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral

blood, that

> perhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine

production in

> the brain is altered, " said Van de Water, who plans to conduct

her own

> investigation into what those changes mean, whether they affect

brain

> function and how they might be related to some of the classic

symptoms

> of autism.

> >

> > For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleep

> disorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism.

> >

> > Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role

heredity

> may play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain

that

> may stir up a susceptibility to autism.

> >

> > To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are looking

back,

> sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any

patterns

> in the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autistic

> youngsters.

> >

> > Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000

babies

> born between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at an

> increased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with

psoriasis, a

> chronic condition that runs in families.

> >

> > Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the

disorder

> marked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back

and/or

> scalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure

Now!

> >

> > The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering

from

> asthma and allergies -- particularly during the second trimester

-- may

> face double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with

autism.

> >

> > However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmune

diseases

> that turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid

arthritis,

> type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications,

lupus and

> multiple sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's

autism

> status, the study authors reported.

> >

> > These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect

primarily women

> -- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because

chemicals

> produced in response to their presence often are found at high

levels in

> the bloodstream of autistic children.

> >

> > That would suggest a possible link between autism and

pre-birth

> exposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.

> >

> > The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie such

> conditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's

illness was

> frequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the

flare-up

> may have triggered her immune system to produce more

inflammatory

> cytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted brain

development in the

> fetus, the researchers proposed.

> >

> > (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of

reports,

> conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism,

taking

> a backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies,

facing

> facts revealed by research and looking forward to treatment

enhancements

> and expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book,

" Suffer

> the Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our

Future, " to

> be published by Capital Books.)

> >

> > Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions

> >

>

>

>

>

> --

> No virus found in this incoming message.

> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:

28/11/2006

>

>

>

>

> --

> No virus found in this outgoing message.

> Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:

28/11/2006

>

[Guest guest]

Interesting. I don't know what the rates are anymore but it doesn't seem to present the public health dilemma it did years ago. Are you in the UK. If so, did you har the news about the epidemic STDs ( sexually transmitted diseases)? I read that the use if condoms is very low...So how do you reckon the STD is epidemic and no mention of AIDS??? Lastly, what I find really puzzling is whereas childen with autism seem to have a whole host of viral problems, I haven't heard one yet having HIV. That's strange......hemophiliac children yes as they get blood transfusions...... natasa778 <neno@...> wrote: The scientist who was one of the first to dismiss HIV link to AIDSclaimed that the reason gay people got AIDS in the eighties was the verypopular and extensive use of poppers (drugs) at that time, and poppersdo mess up the immune system in a big way. He claimed that this screwedimmunity, coupled with then popular AZT drug was what killed all thosepeople, not HIV virus itself (which he claimed to be a myth).not sure what the statistics for gay infections or AIDS deaths arenowdays, is it as prevalent in the community as it was 20 years ago? ifthe answer is NO now that would be sooooo very interesting!Natasa> >> > Thanks for posting this. The longer I go the more convinced Iam that> our babies's immune systems are what go haywire. Along withchelation (I> think chelation agents also offer some kind of immuneregulation, dmsa> is thought to be an antiretroviral and dmps has been used tocombat> AIDS) shoring up the child's immune system is very important.> >> > I don't follow a lot of what Dr. McCandless does or says butone thing> she was spot on about was her observation that she never saw

anASD> child with a fully functioning immune system.> >> > We have been unable to use any antiviral product either rx orotc due> to stomach or allergic rash issues, but shoring up her immunesystem> with products like Transfer Factor and Neutrophil Plus, inaddition to> chelation are what I credit for her complete recovery.> >> > You have to do both; chelation to remove the heavy metals andregulate> the immune system and at the same time, prop up the immunesystem in> whatever way you can.> >> > > > Ped Med: The biologicalfactor>

in autism> >> >> >> > Ped Med: The biological factor in autism> > By LIDIA WASOWICZ> > UPI Senior Science Writer> > SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig upthe roots> of autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immunesystem's> involvement in the intractable disorder.> >> > Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanismsplay a> role in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.> >> > However, for the most part, these studies were small and theresults> inconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn'tcatch on> until more recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatryand> behavioral sciences at the University of California, ,School of> Medicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.> >> > "You

cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having anormal> immune system," said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialistat the> UC Center for Children's Environmental Health.> >> > "We know when these kids are faced with particularenvironmental> agents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond asrigorously as> the control kids do."> >> > Among other projects, she's looking into whether children withautism> show signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body'sprotective> system goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs it's> supposed to safeguard from attack.> >> > "This is important because a lot of investigators havesuggested that> patients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking atwhether> these kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue," she told an> international

meeting on autism research in Boston.> >> > Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain'sdisease-deflecting armor> in 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder,she> detected a variation in the way specialized messenger moleculescalled> cytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the twogroups.> >> > These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when aresponse is> needed to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly> "switched on," or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reportedanother> team, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.> >> > Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at the> immensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigatorsfrom s> Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and theUniversity of> Milan in Italy

decided to narrow their field of inquiry to justa few> components within the relatively restricted environment of thecentral> nervous apparatus.> >> > They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,> measuring their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11children> and adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness orinjury.> >> > They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation,reinforcing the> view that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism.However,> the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularityis> destructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developingbrain.> >> > Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, theinvestigators> followed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from sixchildren> with autism ages 5 to 12.> >>

> As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevatedcytokine> levels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might beable to> use these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they mightbe able> to treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing thedisorder.> >> > But that's a long time and many studies away.> >> > First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out the> chicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts todefinitively get> at the source of an ailment.> >> > In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether the> abnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of thedisorder.> >> > Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is to> protectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harmwith> heat, redness and swelling,

so, too, it may be that theinflammation> detected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts tocombat> some other cell-damaging process.> >> > The finding "backs up what we're seeing in the peripheralblood, that> perhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokineproduction in> the brain is altered," said Van de Water, who plans to conducther own> investigation into what those changes mean, whether they affectbrain> function and how they might be related to some of the classicsymptoms> of autism.> >> > For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleep> disorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism.> >> > Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what roleheredity> may play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brainthat> may stir up a susceptibility

to autism.> >> > To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are lookingback,> sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for anypatterns> in the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autistic> youngsters.> >> > Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000babies> born between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at an> increased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers withpsoriasis, a> chronic condition that runs in families.> >> > Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have thedisorder> marked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, backand/or> scalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis CureNow!> >> > The early findings also indicate expectant mothers sufferingfrom> asthma and allergies -- particularly

during the second trimester-- may> face double the typical risk of giving birth to a child withautism.> >> > However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmunediseases> that turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoidarthritis,> type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications,lupus and> multiple sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby'sautism> status, the study authors reported.> >> > These maladies are under scrutiny because they affectprimarily women> -- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and becausechemicals> produced in response to their presence often are found at highlevels in> the bloodstream of autistic children.> >> > That would suggest a possible link between autism andpre-birth> exposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.> >>

> The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie such> conditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother'sillness was> frequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, theflare-up> may have triggered her immune system to produce moreinflammatory> cytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted braindevelopment in the> fetus, the researchers proposed.> >> > (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens ofreports,> conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism,taking> a backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies,facing> facts revealed by research and looking forward to treatmentenhancements> and expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book,"Suffer> the Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing OurFuture," to> be published by Capital

Books.)> >> > Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions> >>>>>> --> No virus found in this incoming message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition.> Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:28/11/2006>>>>> --> No virus found in this outgoing message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition.> Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:28/11/2006>

[Guest guest]

Interesting. I don't know what the rates are anymore but it doesn't seem to present the public health dilemma it did years ago. Are you in the UK. If so, did you har the news about the epidemic STDs ( sexually transmitted diseases)? I read that the use if condoms is very low...So how do you reckon the STD is epidemic and no mention of AIDS??? Lastly, what I find really puzzling is whereas childen with autism seem to have a whole host of viral problems, I haven't heard one yet having HIV. That's strange......hemophiliac children yes as they get blood transfusions...... natasa778 <neno@...> wrote: The scientist who was one of the first to dismiss HIV link to AIDSclaimed that the reason gay people got AIDS in the eighties was the verypopular and extensive use of poppers (drugs) at that time, and poppersdo mess up the immune system in a big way. He claimed that this screwedimmunity, coupled with then popular AZT drug was what killed all thosepeople, not HIV virus itself (which he claimed to be a myth).not sure what the statistics for gay infections or AIDS deaths arenowdays, is it as prevalent in the community as it was 20 years ago? ifthe answer is NO now that would be sooooo very interesting!Natasa> >> > Thanks for posting this. The longer I go the more convinced Iam that> our babies's immune systems are what go haywire. Along withchelation (I> think chelation agents also offer some kind of immuneregulation, dmsa> is thought to be an antiretroviral and dmps has been used tocombat> AIDS) shoring up the child's immune system is very important.> >> > I don't follow a lot of what Dr. McCandless does or says butone thing> she was spot on about was her observation that she never saw

anASD> child with a fully functioning immune system.> >> > We have been unable to use any antiviral product either rx orotc due> to stomach or allergic rash issues, but shoring up her immunesystem> with products like Transfer Factor and Neutrophil Plus, inaddition to> chelation are what I credit for her complete recovery.> >> > You have to do both; chelation to remove the heavy metals andregulate> the immune system and at the same time, prop up the immunesystem in> whatever way you can.> >> > > > Ped Med: The biologicalfactor>

in autism> >> >> >> > Ped Med: The biological factor in autism> > By LIDIA WASOWICZ> > UPI Senior Science Writer> > SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig upthe roots> of autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immunesystem's> involvement in the intractable disorder.> >> > Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanismsplay a> role in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.> >> > However, for the most part, these studies were small and theresults> inconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn'tcatch on> until more recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatryand> behavioral sciences at the University of California, ,School of> Medicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.> >> > "You

cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having anormal> immune system," said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialistat the> UC Center for Children's Environmental Health.> >> > "We know when these kids are faced with particularenvironmental> agents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond asrigorously as> the control kids do."> >> > Among other projects, she's looking into whether children withautism> show signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body'sprotective> system goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs it's> supposed to safeguard from attack.> >> > "This is important because a lot of investigators havesuggested that> patients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking atwhether> these kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue," she told an> international

meeting on autism research in Boston.> >> > Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain'sdisease-deflecting armor> in 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder,she> detected a variation in the way specialized messenger moleculescalled> cytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the twogroups.> >> > These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when aresponse is> needed to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly> "switched on," or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reportedanother> team, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.> >> > Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at the> immensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigatorsfrom s> Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and theUniversity of> Milan in Italy

decided to narrow their field of inquiry to justa few> components within the relatively restricted environment of thecentral> nervous apparatus.> >> > They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,> measuring their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11children> and adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness orinjury.> >> > They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation,reinforcing the> view that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism.However,> the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularityis> destructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developingbrain.> >> > Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, theinvestigators> followed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from sixchildren> with autism ages 5 to 12.> >>

> As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevatedcytokine> levels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might beable to> use these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they mightbe able> to treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing thedisorder.> >> > But that's a long time and many studies away.> >> > First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out the> chicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts todefinitively get> at the source of an ailment.> >> > In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether the> abnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of thedisorder.> >> > Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is to> protectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harmwith> heat, redness and swelling,

so, too, it may be that theinflammation> detected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts tocombat> some other cell-damaging process.> >> > The finding "backs up what we're seeing in the peripheralblood, that> perhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokineproduction in> the brain is altered," said Van de Water, who plans to conducther own> investigation into what those changes mean, whether they affectbrain> function and how they might be related to some of the classicsymptoms> of autism.> >> > For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleep> disorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism.> >> > Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what roleheredity> may play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brainthat> may stir up a susceptibility

to autism.> >> > To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are lookingback,> sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for anypatterns> in the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autistic> youngsters.> >> > Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000babies> born between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at an> increased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers withpsoriasis, a> chronic condition that runs in families.> >> > Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have thedisorder> marked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, backand/or> scalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis CureNow!> >> > The early findings also indicate expectant mothers sufferingfrom> asthma and allergies -- particularly

during the second trimester-- may> face double the typical risk of giving birth to a child withautism.> >> > However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmunediseases> that turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoidarthritis,> type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications,lupus and> multiple sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby'sautism> status, the study authors reported.> >> > These maladies are under scrutiny because they affectprimarily women> -- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and becausechemicals> produced in response to their presence often are found at highlevels in> the bloodstream of autistic children.> >> > That would suggest a possible link between autism andpre-birth> exposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.> >>

> The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie such> conditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother'sillness was> frequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, theflare-up> may have triggered her immune system to produce moreinflammatory> cytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted braindevelopment in the> fetus, the researchers proposed.> >> > (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens ofreports,> conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism,taking> a backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies,facing> facts revealed by research and looking forward to treatmentenhancements> and expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book,"Suffer> the Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing OurFuture," to> be published by Capital

Books.)> >> > Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions> >>>>>> --> No virus found in this incoming message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition.> Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:28/11/2006>>>>> --> No virus found in this outgoing message.> Checked by AVG Free Edition.> Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:28/11/2006>

[Guest guest]

This does my brain in, it really does, all these people in the West now

having sex and transmitting diseases and not getting aids (???) and all

those people in Africa having sex and dying from HIV-related (????) AIDS

!!!

must be that unsafe sex in Africa is different from unsafe sex in UK

then, hey.

someone is getting away with murder and it scares the hell out of me.

don't know if these people are bonkers, but I signed their petition

anyway:

http://www.virusmyth.com/aids/

Natasa

> > >

> > > Thanks for posting this. The longer I go the more convinced I

> am that

> > our babies's immune systems are what go haywire. Along with

> chelation (I

> > think chelation agents also offer some kind of immune

> regulation, dmsa

> > is thought to be an antiretroviral and dmps has been used to

> combat

> > AIDS) shoring up the child's immune system is very important.

> > >

> > > I don't follow a lot of what Dr. McCandless does or says but

> one thing

> > she was spot on about was her observation that she never saw an

> ASD

> > child with a fully functioning immune system.

> > >

> > > We have been unable to use any antiviral product either rx or

> otc due

> > to stomach or allergic rash issues, but shoring up her immune

> system

> > with products like Transfer Factor and Neutrophil Plus, in

> addition to

> > chelation are what I credit for her complete recovery.

> > >

> > > You have to do both; chelation to remove the heavy metals and

> regulate

> > the immune system and at the same time, prop up the immune

> system in

> > whatever way you can.

> > >

> > >

> > > Ped Med: The biological

> factor

> > in autism

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Ped Med: The biological factor in autism

> > > By LIDIA WASOWICZ

> > > UPI Senior Science Writer

> > > SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up

> the roots

> > of autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune

> system's

> > involvement in the intractable disorder.

> > >

> > > Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms

> play a

> > role in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.

> > >

> > > However, for the most part, these studies were small and the

> results

> > inconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't

> catch on

> > until more recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatry

> and

> > behavioral sciences at the University of California, ,

> School of

> > Medicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.

> > >

> > > " You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having a

> normal

> > immune system, " said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialist

> at the

> > UC Center for Children's Environmental Health.

> > >

> > > " We know when these kids are faced with particular

> environmental

> > agents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as

> rigorously as

> > the control kids do. "

> > >

> > > Among other projects, she's looking into whether children with

> autism

> > show signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's

> protective

> > system goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs it's

> > supposed to safeguard from attack.

> > >

> > > " This is important because a lot of investigators have

> suggested that

> > patients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at

> whether

> > these kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue, " she told an

> > international meeting on autism research in Boston.

> > >

> > > Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's

> disease-deflecting armor

> > in 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder,

> she

> > detected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules

> called

> > cytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two

> groups.

> > >

> > > These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a

> response is

> > needed to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly

> > " switched on, " or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported

> another

> > team, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.

> > >

> > > Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at the

> > immensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators

> from s

> > Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the

> University of

> > Milan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to just

> a few

> > components within the relatively restricted environment of the

> central

> > nervous apparatus.

> > >

> > > They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,

> > measuring their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11

> children

> > and adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or

> injury.

> > >

> > > They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation,

> reinforcing the

> > view that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism.

> However,

> > the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity

> is

> > destructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing

> brain.

> > >

> > > Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the

> investigators

> > followed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six

> children

> > with autism ages 5 to 12.

> > >

> > > As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevated

> cytokine

> > levels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might be

> able to

> > use these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might

> be able

> > to treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the

> disorder.

> > >

> > > But that's a long time and many studies away.

> > >

> > > First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out the

> > chicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to

> definitively get

> > at the source of an ailment.

> > >

> > > In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether the

> > abnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the

> disorder.

> > >

> > > Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is to

> > protectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm

> with

> > heat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the

> inflammation

> > detected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts to

> combat

> > some other cell-damaging process.

> > >

> > > The finding " backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral

> blood, that

> > perhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine

> production in

> > the brain is altered, " said Van de Water, who plans to conduct

> her own

> > investigation into what those changes mean, whether they affect

> brain

> > function and how they might be related to some of the classic

> symptoms

> > of autism.

> > >

> > > For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleep

> > disorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism.

> > >

> > > Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role

> heredity

> > may play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain

> that

> > may stir up a susceptibility to autism.

> > >

> > > To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are looking

> back,

> > sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any

> patterns

> > in the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autistic

> > youngsters.

> > >

> > > Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000

> babies

> > born between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at an

> > increased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with

> psoriasis, a

> > chronic condition that runs in families.

> > >

> > > Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the

> disorder

> > marked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back

> and/or

> > scalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure

> Now!

> > >

> > > The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering

> from

> > asthma and allergies -- particularly during the second trimester

> -- may

> > face double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with

> autism.

> > >

> > > However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmune

> diseases

> > that turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid

> arthritis,

> > type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications,

> lupus and

> > multiple sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's

> autism

> > status, the study authors reported.

> > >

> > > These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect

> primarily women

> > -- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because

> chemicals

> > produced in response to their presence often are found at high

> levels in

> > the bloodstream of autistic children.

> > >

> > > That would suggest a possible link between autism and

> pre-birth

> > exposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.

> > >

> > > The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie such

> > conditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's

> illness was

> > frequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the

> flare-up

> > may have triggered her immune system to produce more

> inflammatory

> > cytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted brain

> development in the

> > fetus, the researchers proposed.

> > >

> > > (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of

> reports,

> > conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism,

> taking

> > a backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies,

> facing

> > facts revealed by research and looking forward to treatment

> enhancements

> > and expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book,

> " Suffer

> > the Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our

> Future, " to

> > be published by Capital Books.)

> > >

> > > Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > --

> > No virus found in this incoming message.

> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:

> 28/11/2006

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > --

> > No virus found in this outgoing message.

> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:

> 28/11/2006

> >

>

[Guest guest]

This does my brain in, it really does, all these people in the West now

having sex and transmitting diseases and not getting aids (???) and all

those people in Africa having sex and dying from HIV-related (????) AIDS

!!!

must be that unsafe sex in Africa is different from unsafe sex in UK

then, hey.

someone is getting away with murder and it scares the hell out of me.

don't know if these people are bonkers, but I signed their petition

anyway:

http://www.virusmyth.com/aids/

Natasa

> > >

> > > Thanks for posting this. The longer I go the more convinced I

> am that

> > our babies's immune systems are what go haywire. Along with

> chelation (I

> > think chelation agents also offer some kind of immune

> regulation, dmsa

> > is thought to be an antiretroviral and dmps has been used to

> combat

> > AIDS) shoring up the child's immune system is very important.

> > >

> > > I don't follow a lot of what Dr. McCandless does or says but

> one thing

> > she was spot on about was her observation that she never saw an

> ASD

> > child with a fully functioning immune system.

> > >

> > > We have been unable to use any antiviral product either rx or

> otc due

> > to stomach or allergic rash issues, but shoring up her immune

> system

> > with products like Transfer Factor and Neutrophil Plus, in

> addition to

> > chelation are what I credit for her complete recovery.

> > >

> > > You have to do both; chelation to remove the heavy metals and

> regulate

> > the immune system and at the same time, prop up the immune

> system in

> > whatever way you can.

> > >

> > >

> > > Ped Med: The biological

> factor

> > in autism

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Ped Med: The biological factor in autism

> > > By LIDIA WASOWICZ

> > > UPI Senior Science Writer

> > > SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up

> the roots

> > of autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune

> system's

> > involvement in the intractable disorder.

> > >

> > > Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms

> play a

> > role in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.

> > >

> > > However, for the most part, these studies were small and the

> results

> > inconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't

> catch on

> > until more recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatry

> and

> > behavioral sciences at the University of California, ,

> School of

> > Medicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.

> > >

> > > " You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having a

> normal

> > immune system, " said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialist

> at the

> > UC Center for Children's Environmental Health.

> > >

> > > " We know when these kids are faced with particular

> environmental

> > agents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as

> rigorously as

> > the control kids do. "

> > >

> > > Among other projects, she's looking into whether children with

> autism

> > show signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's

> protective

> > system goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs it's

> > supposed to safeguard from attack.

> > >

> > > " This is important because a lot of investigators have

> suggested that

> > patients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at

> whether

> > these kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue, " she told an

> > international meeting on autism research in Boston.

> > >

> > > Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's

> disease-deflecting armor

> > in 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder,

> she

> > detected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules

> called

> > cytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two

> groups.

> > >

> > > These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a

> response is

> > needed to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly

> > " switched on, " or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported

> another

> > team, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.

> > >

> > > Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at the

> > immensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators

> from s

> > Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the

> University of

> > Milan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to just

> a few

> > components within the relatively restricted environment of the

> central

> > nervous apparatus.

> > >

> > > They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,

> > measuring their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11

> children

> > and adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or

> injury.

> > >

> > > They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation,

> reinforcing the

> > view that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism.

> However,

> > the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity

> is

> > destructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing

> brain.

> > >

> > > Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the

> investigators

> > followed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six

> children

> > with autism ages 5 to 12.

> > >

> > > As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevated

> cytokine

> > levels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might be

> able to

> > use these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might

> be able

> > to treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the

> disorder.

> > >

> > > But that's a long time and many studies away.

> > >

> > > First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out the

> > chicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to

> definitively get

> > at the source of an ailment.

> > >

> > > In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether the

> > abnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the

> disorder.

> > >

> > > Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is to

> > protectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm

> with

> > heat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the

> inflammation

> > detected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts to

> combat

> > some other cell-damaging process.

> > >

> > > The finding " backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral

> blood, that

> > perhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine

> production in

> > the brain is altered, " said Van de Water, who plans to conduct

> her own

> > investigation into what those changes mean, whether they affect

> brain

> > function and how they might be related to some of the classic

> symptoms

> > of autism.

> > >

> > > For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleep

> > disorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism.

> > >

> > > Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role

> heredity

> > may play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain

> that

> > may stir up a susceptibility to autism.

> > >

> > > To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are looking

> back,

> > sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any

> patterns

> > in the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autistic

> > youngsters.

> > >

> > > Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000

> babies

> > born between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at an

> > increased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with

> psoriasis, a

> > chronic condition that runs in families.

> > >

> > > Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the

> disorder

> > marked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back

> and/or

> > scalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure

> Now!

> > >

> > > The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering

> from

> > asthma and allergies -- particularly during the second trimester

> -- may

> > face double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with

> autism.

> > >

> > > However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmune

> diseases

> > that turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid

> arthritis,

> > type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications,

> lupus and

> > multiple sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's

> autism

> > status, the study authors reported.

> > >

> > > These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect

> primarily women

> > -- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because

> chemicals

> > produced in response to their presence often are found at high

> levels in

> > the bloodstream of autistic children.

> > >

> > > That would suggest a possible link between autism and

> pre-birth

> > exposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.

> > >

> > > The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie such

> > conditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's

> illness was

> > frequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the

> flare-up

> > may have triggered her immune system to produce more

> inflammatory

> > cytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted brain

> development in the

> > fetus, the researchers proposed.

> > >

> > > (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of

> reports,

> > conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism,

> taking

> > a backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies,

> facing

> > facts revealed by research and looking forward to treatment

> enhancements

> > and expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book,

> " Suffer

> > the Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our

> Future, " to

> > be published by Capital Books.)

> > >

> > > Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > --

> > No virus found in this incoming message.

> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:

> 28/11/2006

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > --

> > No virus found in this outgoing message.

> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:

> 28/11/2006

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Natasa, When I first started doing all this research and putting two and two together, it freaked me out too. Then after a while, I realized that a lot of people simply do not care, couldn't be bothered. That upset me even more..Stupid comments like, "Well we have to die from something!" God give me patience..... natasa778 <neno@...> wrote: This does my brain in, it really does, all these people in the

West nowhaving sex and transmitting diseases and not getting aids (???) and allthose people in Africa having sex and dying from HIV-related (????) AIDS!!!must be that unsafe sex in Africa is different from unsafe sex in UKthen, hey.someone is getting away with murder and it scares the hell out of me.don't know if these people are bonkers, but I signed their petitionanyway:http://www.virusmyth.com/aids/Natasa--- In Autism Treatment , JULIE GRIFFITHS<moppett1@...> wrote:>> Interesting. I don't know what the rates are anymore but it doesn'tseem to present the public health dilemma it did years ago.>> Are you in the UK. If so, did you har the news about the epidemic STDs( sexually transmitted diseases)? I read that the

use if condoms is verylow...So how do you reckon the STD is epidemic and no mention of AIDS???>>> Lastly, what I find really puzzling is whereas childen with autismseem to have a whole host of viral problems, I haven't heard one yethaving HIV. That's strange......hemophiliac children yes as they getblood transfusions......>>>>> >> natasa778 neno@... wrote:> The scientist who was one of the first to dismiss HIV linkto AIDS> claimed that the reason gay people got AIDS in the eighties was thevery> popular and extensive use of poppers (drugs) at that time, and poppers> do mess up the immune system in a big way. He claimed that thisscrewed> immunity, coupled with then popular AZT drug was what killed all those> people, not HIV virus itself (which he claimed to be a myth).>> not sure what the statistics for gay

infections or AIDS deaths are> nowdays, is it as prevalent in the community as it was 20 years ago?if> the answer is NO now that would be sooooo very interesting!>> Natasa>> > > >> > > Thanks for posting this. The longer I go the more convinced I> am that> > our babies's immune systems are what go haywire. Along with> chelation (I> > think chelation agents also offer some kind of immune> regulation, dmsa> > is thought to be an antiretroviral and dmps has been used to> combat> > AIDS) shoring up the child's immune system is very important.> > >> > > I don't follow a lot of what Dr. McCandless does or says but> one thing> > she was spot on about was her observation that she never saw an>

ASD> > child with a fully functioning immune system.> > >> > > We have been unable to use any antiviral product either rx or> otc due> > to stomach or allergic rash issues, but shoring up her immune> system> > with products like Transfer Factor and Neutrophil Plus, in> addition to> > chelation are what I credit for her complete recovery.> > >> > > You have to do both; chelation to remove the heavy metals and> regulate> > the immune system and at the same time, prop up the immune> system in> > whatever way you can.> > >> > > > > > Ped Med: The biological> factor> > in autism> > >> > >> > >> > > Ped Med: The biological factor in autism> > > By LIDIA WASOWICZ> > > UPI Senior Science Writer> > > SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up> the roots> > of autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune> system's> > involvement in the intractable disorder.> > >> > > Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms> play a> > role in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.> > >> > > However, for the most part, these studies were small and the> results> > inconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't> catch on> > until more recently, said

Amaral, professor of psychiatry> and> > behavioral sciences at the University of California, ,> School of> > Medicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.> > >> > > "You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having a> normal> > immune system," said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialist> at the> > UC Center for Children's Environmental Health.> > >> > > "We know when these kids are faced with particular> environmental> > agents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as> rigorously as> > the control kids do."> > >> > > Among other projects, she's looking into whether children with> autism> > show signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's> protective> > system goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and

organs it's> > supposed to safeguard from attack.> > >> > > "This is important because a lot of investigators have> suggested that> > patients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at> whether> > these kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue," she told an> > international meeting on autism research in Boston.> > >> > > Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's> disease-deflecting armor> > in 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder,> she> > detected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules> called> > cytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two> groups.> > >> > > These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a> response is> > needed to injury or irritation, instead appear to be

constantly> > "switched on," or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported> another> > team, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.> > >> > > Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at the> > immensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators> from s> > Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the> University of> > Milan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to just> a few> > components within the relatively restricted environment of the> central> > nervous apparatus.> > >> > > They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,> > measuring their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11> children> > and adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or> injury.> > >>

> > They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation,> reinforcing the> > view that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism.> However,> > the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity> is> > destructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing> brain.> > >> > > Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the> investigators> > followed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six> children> > with autism ages 5 to 12.> > >> > > As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevated> cytokine> > levels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might be> able to> > use these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might> be able> > to treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the>

disorder.> > >> > > But that's a long time and many studies away.> > >> > > First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out the> > chicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to> definitively get> > at the source of an ailment.> > >> > > In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether the> > abnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the> disorder.> > >> > > Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is to> > protectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm> with> > heat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the> inflammation> > detected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts to> combat> > some other cell-damaging process.> > >> > > The finding

"backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral> blood, that> > perhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine> production in> > the brain is altered," said Van de Water, who plans to conduct> her own> > investigation into what those changes mean, whether they affect> brain> > function and how they might be related to some of the classic> symptoms> > of autism.> > >> > > For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleep> > disorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism.> > >> > > Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role> heredity> > may play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain> that> > may stir up a susceptibility to autism.> > >> > > To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are

looking> back,> > sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any> patterns> > in the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autistic> > youngsters.> > >> > > Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000> babies> > born between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at an> > increased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with> psoriasis, a> > chronic condition that runs in families.> > >> > > Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the> disorder> > marked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back> and/or> > scalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure> Now!> > >> > > The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering> from> > asthma and

allergies -- particularly during the second trimester> -- may> > face double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with> autism.> > >> > > However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmune> diseases> > that turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid> arthritis,> > type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications,> lupus and> > multiple sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's> autism> > status, the study authors reported.> > >> > > These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect> primarily women> > -- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because> chemicals> > produced in response to their presence often are found at high> levels in> > the bloodstream of autistic children.> > >> > > That

would suggest a possible link between autism and> pre-birth> > exposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.> > >> > > The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie such> > conditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's> illness was> > frequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the> flare-up> > may have triggered her immune system to produce more> inflammatory> > cytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted brain> development in the> > fetus, the researchers proposed.> > >> > > (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of> reports,> > conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism,> taking> > a backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies,> facing> > facts revealed by research and

looking forward to treatment> enhancements> > and expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book,> "Suffer> > the Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our> Future," to> > be published by Capital Books.)> > >> > > Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions> > >> >> >> >> >> > --> > No virus found in this incoming message.> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.> > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:> 28/11/2006> >> >> >> >> > --> > No virus found in this outgoing message.> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.> > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:> 28/11/2006>

>>

[Guest guest]

Natasa, Look what I just found...AIDS and lack of dopamine... UNITED STATES: AIDS-Dementia Link; Patients Lack Dopamine Newsday (09.21.04) - Wednesday, September 22, 2004 Talan For the first time in living AIDS patients with early indications of dementia, scientists have detected depletion of the brain chemical dopamine. Dopamine depletion is more commonly associated with Parkinson's, not dementia. The scientists compared brain scans of 15 AIDS patients, some of whom had signs of dementia, with those of 13 HIV-negative volunteers. The results suggest that AIDS patients with dementia have lost 12-20 percent of their dopamine cells. Before symptoms develop,

Parkinson's patients lose 80-90 percent of dopamine cells in a key area of the brain that regulates movement. In addition to tremors and rigidity, Parkinson's patients often experience mild attention and thinking problems, and they are at high risk for depression. Recent cadaver studies of AIDS patients' brains have also noted a loss of dopamine cells. The new finding provides insight into some AIDS patients' complaints of memory and attention deficits. It also offers a potential treatment in the dopamine-boosting medications used to treat Parkinson's. However, test-tube and animal studies suggest that dopamine- enhancing medicines like L-Dopa may actually leave the brain's dopamine cells more vulnerable to HIV, according to lead author Dr. Gene-Jack Wang, who suggested adding antioxidants to the Parkinson's drugs reduces this risk. "It is a dementia, but it is very different from Alzheimer's," Wang said. "This is a unique form of dementia. Doctors

must appreciate that the treatments will be vastly different from the ones used in Alzheimer's patients." The full report, "Decreased Brain Dopaminergic Transporters in HIV-Associated Dementia Patients," was published in the journal Brain (doi:10.1093/brain/awh269). natasa778 <neno@...> wrote: This does my brain in, it really does, all these people in the West nowhaving sex and transmitting diseases and not getting aids (???) and allthose people in Africa having sex and dying from

HIV-related (????) AIDS!!!must be that unsafe sex in Africa is different from unsafe sex in UKthen, hey.someone is getting away with murder and it scares the hell out of me.don't know if these people are bonkers, but I signed their petitionanyway:http://www.virusmyth.com/aids/Natasa--- In Autism Treatment , JULIE GRIFFITHS<moppett1@...> wrote:>> Interesting. I don't know what the rates are anymore but it doesn'tseem to present the public health dilemma it did years ago.>> Are you in the UK. If so, did you har the news about the epidemic STDs( sexually transmitted diseases)? I read that the use if condoms is verylow...So how do you reckon the STD is epidemic and no mention of AIDS???>>> Lastly, what

I find really puzzling is whereas childen with autismseem to have a whole host of viral problems, I haven't heard one yethaving HIV. That's strange......hemophiliac children yes as they getblood transfusions......>>>>> >> natasa778 neno@... wrote:> The scientist who was one of the first to dismiss HIV linkto AIDS> claimed that the reason gay people got AIDS in the eighties was thevery> popular and extensive use of poppers (drugs) at that time, and poppers> do mess up the immune system in a big way. He claimed that thisscrewed> immunity, coupled with then popular AZT drug was what killed all those> people, not HIV virus itself (which he claimed to be a myth).>> not sure what the statistics for gay infections or AIDS deaths are> nowdays, is it as prevalent in the community as it was 20 years ago?if> the answer is NO

now that would be sooooo very interesting!>> Natasa>> > > >> > > Thanks for posting this. The longer I go the more convinced I> am that> > our babies's immune systems are what go haywire. Along with> chelation (I> > think chelation agents also offer some kind of immune> regulation, dmsa> > is thought to be an antiretroviral and dmps has been used to> combat> > AIDS) shoring up the child's immune system is very important.> > >> > > I don't follow a lot of what Dr. McCandless does or says but> one thing> > she was spot on about was her observation that she never saw an> ASD> > child with a fully functioning immune system.> > >> > > We have been unable to use any antiviral product either rx or> otc due> > to stomach or allergic rash issues, but shoring up her immune>

system> > with products like Transfer Factor and Neutrophil Plus, in> addition to> > chelation are what I credit for her complete recovery.> > >> > > You have to do both; chelation to remove the heavy metals and> regulate> > the immune system and at the same time, prop up the immune> system in> > whatever way you can.> > >> > > > > > Ped Med: The biological> factor> > in autism> > >> > >> > >> > > Ped Med: The biological factor in autism> > > By

LIDIA WASOWICZ> > > UPI Senior Science Writer> > > SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up> the roots> > of autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune> system's> > involvement in the intractable disorder.> > >> > > Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms> play a> > role in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.> > >> > > However, for the most part, these studies were small and the> results> > inconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't> catch on> > until more recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatry> and> > behavioral sciences at the University of California, ,> School of> > Medicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.> > >> > > "You cannot

have a normal neurodevelopment without having a> normal> > immune system," said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialist> at the> > UC Center for Children's Environmental Health.> > >> > > "We know when these kids are faced with particular> environmental> > agents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as> rigorously as> > the control kids do."> > >> > > Among other projects, she's looking into whether children with> autism> > show signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's> protective> > system goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs it's> > supposed to safeguard from attack.> > >> > > "This is important because a lot of investigators have> suggested that> > patients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at>

whether> > these kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue," she told an> > international meeting on autism research in Boston.> > >> > > Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's> disease-deflecting armor> > in 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder,> she> > detected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules> called> > cytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two> groups.> > >> > > These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a> response is> > needed to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly> > "switched on," or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported> another> > team, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.> > >> > > Rather than taking the more common approach of looking

at the> > immensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators> from s> > Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the> University of> > Milan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to just> a few> > components within the relatively restricted environment of the> central> > nervous apparatus.> > >> > > They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,> > measuring their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11> children> > and adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or> injury.> > >> > > They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation,> reinforcing the> > view that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism.> However,> > the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity>

is> > destructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing> brain.> > >> > > Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the> investigators> > followed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six> children> > with autism ages 5 to 12.> > >> > > As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevated> cytokine> > levels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might be> able to> > use these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might> be able> > to treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the> disorder.> > >> > > But that's a long time and many studies away.> > >> > > First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out the> > chicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts

to> definitively get> > at the source of an ailment.> > >> > > In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether the> > abnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the> disorder.> > >> > > Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is to> > protectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm> with> > heat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the> inflammation> > detected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts to> combat> > some other cell-damaging process.> > >> > > The finding "backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral> blood, that> > perhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine> production in> > the brain is altered," said Van de Water, who plans to conduct> her own> >

investigation into what those changes mean, whether they affect> brain> > function and how they might be related to some of the classic> symptoms> > of autism.> > >> > > For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleep> > disorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism.> > >> > > Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role> heredity> > may play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain> that> > may stir up a susceptibility to autism.> > >> > > To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are looking> back,> > sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any> patterns> > in the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autistic> > youngsters.> > >> > > Although still

preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000> babies> > born between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at an> > increased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with> psoriasis, a> > chronic condition that runs in families.> > >> > > Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the> disorder> > marked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back> and/or> > scalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure> Now!> > >> > > The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering> from> > asthma and allergies -- particularly during the second trimester> -- may> > face double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with> autism.> > >> > > However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmune>

diseases> > that turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid> arthritis,> > type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications,> lupus and> > multiple sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's> autism> > status, the study authors reported.> > >> > > These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect> primarily women> > -- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because> chemicals> > produced in response to their presence often are found at high> levels in> > the bloodstream of autistic children.> > >> > > That would suggest a possible link between autism and> pre-birth> > exposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.> > >> > > The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie such> > conditions as asthma

and autism. Or, because the mother's> illness was> > frequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the> flare-up> > may have triggered her immune system to produce more> inflammatory> > cytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted brain> development in the> > fetus, the researchers proposed.> > >> > > (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of> reports,> > conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism,> taking> > a backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies,> facing> > facts revealed by research and looking forward to treatment> enhancements> > and expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book,> "Suffer> > the Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our> Future," to> > be published by

Capital Books.)> > >> > > Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions> > >> >> >> >> >> > --> > No virus found in this incoming message.> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.> > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:> 28/11/2006> >> >> >> >> > --> > No virus found in this outgoing message.> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.> > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:> 28/11/2006> >>

[Guest guest]

natasa, Myelin Basic protein levels in CSF are high in advanced AIDS. Children with autism have high antibodies to MBP. Is there a commonality? ___________________________________________________________________Cerebrospinal fluid myelin basic protein as predictive marker of demyelination in AIDS dementia complex. J Neuroimmunol. 1992 Feb;36(2-3):251-4. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/92121424 Liuzzi GM; Mastroianni CM; Vullo V; Jirillo E; Delia S; Riccio P; Dipartimento di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare, Universita di; Bari, Italy. Abstract: Myelin basic protein (MBP) was measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) dementia complex (ADC) in order to investigate the degree of white matter destruction. Results show that increased CSF levels of MBP were detected in all patients with severe ADC (10/10) and, less often, in subjects with mild (2/7) or moderate dementia (7/16). No evidence of MBP-elevated concentration was observed in 14 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive subjects without neurological disorders and in nine HIV-seronegative controls. Our findings suggest that the measurement of CSF MBP concentration may represent a predictive marker of myelin injury and neurologic damage during the course of ADC. Keywords: Adult Aged AIDS Dementia Complex/*CEREBROSPINAL FLUID Biological Markers/*CEREBROSPINAL FLUID Demyelinating Diseases/*CEREBROSPINAL FLUID Female Human Male Middle Age Myelin Basic Proteins/*CEREBROSPINAL FLUID Support, Non-U.S. Gov't JOURNAL ARTICLEnatasa778

<neno@...> wrote: This does my brain in, it really does, all these people in the West nowhaving sex and transmitting diseases and not getting aids (???) and allthose people in Africa having sex and dying from HIV-related (????) AIDS!!!must be that unsafe sex in Africa is different from unsafe sex in UKthen, hey.someone is getting away with murder and it scares the hell out of me.don't know if these people are bonkers, but I signed their petitionanyway:http://www.virusmyth.com/aids/Natasa--- In Autism Treatment , JULIE GRIFFITHS<moppett1@...> wrote:>> Interesting. I don't know what the rates are anymore but it doesn'tseem to present the public health dilemma it did years ago.>> Are you in the UK. If so, did you har the news about the epidemic STDs( sexually transmitted diseases)? I read that the use if condoms is verylow...So how do you reckon the STD is epidemic and no mention of AIDS???>>> Lastly, what I find really puzzling is whereas childen with autismseem to have a whole host of viral problems, I haven't heard one yethaving HIV. That's strange......hemophiliac children yes as they getblood transfusions......>>>>>

>> natasa778 neno@... wrote:> The scientist who was one of the first to dismiss HIV linkto AIDS> claimed that the reason gay people got AIDS in the eighties was thevery> popular and extensive use of poppers (drugs) at that time, and poppers> do mess up the immune system in a big way. He claimed that thisscrewed> immunity, coupled with then popular AZT drug was what killed all those> people, not HIV virus itself (which he claimed to be a myth).>> not sure what the statistics for gay infections or AIDS deaths are> nowdays, is it as prevalent in the community as it was 20 years ago?if> the answer is NO now that would be sooooo very interesting!>> Natasa>> > > >> > > Thanks for posting this. The longer I go the more convinced I> am that> > our babies's immune systems are what go haywire. Along with> chelation (I> > think

chelation agents also offer some kind of immune> regulation, dmsa> > is thought to be an antiretroviral and dmps has been used to> combat> > AIDS) shoring up the child's immune system is very important.> > >> > > I don't follow a lot of what Dr. McCandless does or says but> one thing> > she was spot on about was her observation that she never saw an> ASD> > child with a fully functioning immune system.> > >> > > We have been unable to use any antiviral product either rx or> otc due> > to stomach or allergic rash issues, but shoring up her immune> system> > with products like Transfer Factor and Neutrophil Plus, in> addition to> > chelation are what I credit for her complete recovery.> > >> > > You have to do both; chelation to remove the heavy metals and> regulate>

> the immune system and at the same time, prop up the immune> system in> > whatever way you can.> > >> > > > > > Ped Med: The biological> factor> > in autism> > >> > >> > >> > > Ped Med: The biological factor in autism> > > By LIDIA WASOWICZ> > > UPI Senior Science Writer> > > SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up> the roots> > of autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune> system's> > involvement in the intractable

disorder.> > >> > > Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms> play a> > role in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.> > >> > > However, for the most part, these studies were small and the> results> > inconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't> catch on> > until more recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatry> and> > behavioral sciences at the University of California, ,> School of> > Medicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.> > >> > > "You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having a> normal> > immune system," said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialist> at the> > UC Center for Children's Environmental Health.> > >> > > "We know when these kids are

faced with particular> environmental> > agents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as> rigorously as> > the control kids do."> > >> > > Among other projects, she's looking into whether children with> autism> > show signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's> protective> > system goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs it's> > supposed to safeguard from attack.> > >> > > "This is important because a lot of investigators have> suggested that> > patients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at> whether> > these kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue," she told an> > international meeting on autism research in Boston.> > >> > > Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's> disease-deflecting armor> > in 30

autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder,> she> > detected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules> called> > cytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two> groups.> > >> > > These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a> response is> > needed to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly> > "switched on," or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported> another> > team, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.> > >> > > Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at the> > immensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators> from s> > Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the> University of> > Milan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to just> a

few> > components within the relatively restricted environment of the> central> > nervous apparatus.> > >> > > They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,> > measuring their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11> children> > and adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or> injury.> > >> > > They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation,> reinforcing the> > view that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism.> However,> > the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity> is> > destructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing> brain.> > >> > > Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the> investigators> > followed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six>

children> > with autism ages 5 to 12.> > >> > > As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevated> cytokine> > levels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might be> able to> > use these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might> be able> > to treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the> disorder.> > >> > > But that's a long time and many studies away.> > >> > > First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out the> > chicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to> definitively get> > at the source of an ailment.> > >> > > In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether the> > abnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the> disorder.> > >> >

> Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is to> > protectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm> with> > heat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the> inflammation> > detected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts to> combat> > some other cell-damaging process.> > >> > > The finding "backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral> blood, that> > perhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine> production in> > the brain is altered," said Van de Water, who plans to conduct> her own> > investigation into what those changes mean, whether they affect> brain> > function and how they might be related to some of the classic> symptoms> > of autism.> > >> > > For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and

sleep> > disorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism.> > >> > > Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role> heredity> > may play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain> that> > may stir up a susceptibility to autism.> > >> > > To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are looking> back,> > sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any> patterns> > in the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autistic> > youngsters.> > >> > > Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000> babies> > born between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at an> > increased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with> psoriasis, a> > chronic condition that runs in

families.> > >> > > Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the> disorder> > marked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back> and/or> > scalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure> Now!> > >> > > The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering> from> > asthma and allergies -- particularly during the second trimester> -- may> > face double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with> autism.> > >> > > However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmune> diseases> > that turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid> arthritis,> > type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications,> lupus and> > multiple sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's>

autism> > status, the study authors reported.> > >> > > These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect> primarily women> > -- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because> chemicals> > produced in response to their presence often are found at high> levels in> > the bloodstream of autistic children.> > >> > > That would suggest a possible link between autism and> pre-birth> > exposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.> > >> > > The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie such> > conditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's> illness was> > frequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the> flare-up> > may have triggered her immune system to produce more> inflammatory> > cytokines, which, in turn,

might have disrupted brain> development in the> > fetus, the researchers proposed.> > >> > > (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of> reports,> > conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism,> taking> > a backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies,> facing> > facts revealed by research and looking forward to treatment> enhancements> > and expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book,> "Suffer> > the Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our> Future," to> > be published by Capital Books.)> > >> > > Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions> > >> >> >> >> >> > --> > No virus found in this incoming message.> > Checked by AVG

Free Edition.> > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:> 28/11/2006> >> >> >> >> > --> > No virus found in this outgoing message.> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.> > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:> 28/11/2006> >>

[Guest guest]

Just found this... The same high level of antibodies to myelin basic protein found in children with autism is also common to AIDS. Wow, I am shocked myself now...... I'm off to re-start my NCD! _____________________________________________________________________ Cerebrospinal fluid antibodies to two different forms of myelin basic protein as a marker of myelin damage in AIDS dementia complex. Int Conf AIDS 1990 Jun 20-23; 6:183 (abstract no. F.B.421) Liuzzi GM, Mastroianni CM, Jirillo E, Vullo V, Delia S, Riccio P; University of Bari, Bari, Italy OBJECTIVE: Demyelination is one of the major alterations found in AIDS

Dementia Complex (ADC). The aim of the present study was the detection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) antibodies against the myelin basic protein (MBP) for the diagnosis of myelin damage in ADC patients. METHODS: 9 ADC patients were compared to 13 HIV-infected patients with no neurological disorders with regard to anti-MBP antibody concentration in their CSF. Analysis was carried out by ELISA, applying lug/well of MBP, either in a lipid-bound, native-like form, or in its denatured, lipid-free counterpart. CSF samples were subjected to acid hydrolysis to dissociate immune complexes. RESULTS: In the CSF of all individuals with ADC, high anti-MBP antibody titers were found, while this was not so in the case of the other 13 HIV+ patients. In 6 out of 9 ADC patients, on which a follow-up was carried out, antibody concentration increased significantly with time. The antibody reactivity was observed in the case of both MBP forms with no

significant difference. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of anti-MBP antibody levels in CSF may be a reliable method for a laboratory diagnosis of myelin damage in ADC. In fact, antibody levels paralleled the clinical progression of ADC. Antibody reactivity with native-like MBP reinforced the specificity, but it does not help in the early identification of myelin damagenatasa778 <neno@...> wrote: This does my brain in, it really does, all these people in the West nowhaving sex and

transmitting diseases and not getting aids (???) and allthose people in Africa having sex and dying from HIV-related (????) AIDS!!!must be that unsafe sex in Africa is different from unsafe sex in UKthen, hey.someone is getting away with murder and it scares the hell out of me.don't know if these people are bonkers, but I signed their petitionanyway:http://www.virusmyth.com/aids/Natasa--- In Autism Treatment , JULIE GRIFFITHS<moppett1@...> wrote:>> Interesting. I don't know what the rates are anymore but it doesn'tseem to present the public health dilemma it did years ago.>> Are you in the UK. If so, did you har the news about the epidemic STDs( sexually transmitted diseases)? I read that the use if condoms is

verylow...So how do you reckon the STD is epidemic and no mention of AIDS???>>> Lastly, what I find really puzzling is whereas childen with autismseem to have a whole host of viral problems, I haven't heard one yethaving HIV. That's strange......hemophiliac children yes as they getblood transfusions......>>>>> >> natasa778 neno@... wrote:> The scientist who was one of the first to dismiss HIV linkto AIDS> claimed that the reason gay people got AIDS in the eighties was thevery> popular and extensive use of poppers (drugs) at that time, and poppers> do mess up the immune system in a big way. He claimed that thisscrewed> immunity, coupled with then popular AZT drug was what killed all those> people, not HIV virus itself (which he claimed to be a myth).>> not sure what the statistics for gay infections or AIDS

deaths are> nowdays, is it as prevalent in the community as it was 20 years ago?if> the answer is NO now that would be sooooo very interesting!>> Natasa>> > > >> > > Thanks for posting this. The longer I go the more convinced I> am that> > our babies's immune systems are what go haywire. Along with> chelation (I> > think chelation agents also offer some kind of immune> regulation, dmsa> > is thought to be an antiretroviral and dmps has been used to> combat> > AIDS) shoring up the child's immune system is very important.> > >> > > I don't follow a lot of what Dr. McCandless does or says but> one thing> > she was spot on about was her observation that she never saw an>

ASD> > child with a fully functioning immune system.> > >> > > We have been unable to use any antiviral product either rx or> otc due> > to stomach or allergic rash issues, but shoring up her immune> system> > with products like Transfer Factor and Neutrophil Plus, in> addition to> > chelation are what I credit for her complete recovery.> > >> > > You have to do both; chelation to remove the heavy metals and> regulate> > the immune system and at the same time, prop up the immune> system in> > whatever way you can.> > >> > > > > > Ped Med: The biological> factor> > in autism> > >> > >> > >> > > Ped Med: The biological factor in autism> > > By LIDIA WASOWICZ> > > UPI Senior Science Writer> > > SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up> the roots> > of autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune> system's> > involvement in the intractable disorder.> > >> > > Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms> play a> > role in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.> > >> > > However, for the most part, these studies were small and the> results> > inconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't> catch on> > until more recently, said

Amaral, professor of psychiatry> and> > behavioral sciences at the University of California, ,> School of> > Medicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.> > >> > > "You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having a> normal> > immune system," said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialist> at the> > UC Center for Children's Environmental Health.> > >> > > "We know when these kids are faced with particular> environmental> > agents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as> rigorously as> > the control kids do."> > >> > > Among other projects, she's looking into whether children with> autism> > show signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's> protective> > system goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and

organs it's> > supposed to safeguard from attack.> > >> > > "This is important because a lot of investigators have> suggested that> > patients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at> whether> > these kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue," she told an> > international meeting on autism research in Boston.> > >> > > Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's> disease-deflecting armor> > in 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder,> she> > detected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules> called> > cytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two> groups.> > >> > > These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a> response is> > needed to injury or irritation, instead appear to be

constantly> > "switched on," or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported> another> > team, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.> > >> > > Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at the> > immensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators> from s> > Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the> University of> > Milan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to just> a few> > components within the relatively restricted environment of the> central> > nervous apparatus.> > >> > > They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,> > measuring their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11> children> > and adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or> injury.> > >>

> > They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation,> reinforcing the> > view that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism.> However,> > the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity> is> > destructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing> brain.> > >> > > Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the> investigators> > followed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six> children> > with autism ages 5 to 12.> > >> > > As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevated> cytokine> > levels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might be> able to> > use these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might> be able> > to treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the>

disorder.> > >> > > But that's a long time and many studies away.> > >> > > First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out the> > chicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to> definitively get> > at the source of an ailment.> > >> > > In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether the> > abnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the> disorder.> > >> > > Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is to> > protectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm> with> > heat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the> inflammation> > detected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts to> combat> > some other cell-damaging process.> > >> > > The finding

"backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral> blood, that> > perhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine> production in> > the brain is altered," said Van de Water, who plans to conduct> her own> > investigation into what those changes mean, whether they affect> brain> > function and how they might be related to some of the classic> symptoms> > of autism.> > >> > > For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleep> > disorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism.> > >> > > Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role> heredity> > may play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain> that> > may stir up a susceptibility to autism.> > >> > > To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are

looking> back,> > sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any> patterns> > in the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autistic> > youngsters.> > >> > > Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000> babies> > born between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at an> > increased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with> psoriasis, a> > chronic condition that runs in families.> > >> > > Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the> disorder> > marked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back> and/or> > scalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure> Now!> > >> > > The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering> from> > asthma and

allergies -- particularly during the second trimester> -- may> > face double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with> autism.> > >> > > However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmune> diseases> > that turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid> arthritis,> > type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications,> lupus and> > multiple sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's> autism> > status, the study authors reported.> > >> > > These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect> primarily women> > -- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because> chemicals> > produced in response to their presence often are found at high> levels in> > the bloodstream of autistic children.> > >> > > That

would suggest a possible link between autism and> pre-birth> > exposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.> > >> > > The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie such> > conditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's> illness was> > frequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the> flare-up> > may have triggered her immune system to produce more> inflammatory> > cytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted brain> development in the> > fetus, the researchers proposed.> > >> > > (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of> reports,> > conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism,> taking> > a backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies,> facing> > facts revealed by research and

looking forward to treatment> enhancements> > and expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book,> "Suffer> > the Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our> Future," to> > be published by Capital Books.)> > >> > > Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions> > >> >> >> >> >> > --> > No virus found in this incoming message.> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.> > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:> 28/11/2006> >> >> >> >> > --> > No virus found in this outgoing message.> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.> > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:> 28/11/2006>

>>

[Guest guest]

Exactly, stunned is the word LOL.

AIDS-related dementia is remarkably similar to autism, it is what

probably what some of the autism we know would be like if it developed

later on in life. Even more interesting is that it is probably a

consequence of disturbed calcium homeostasis in the brain (what I

believe to be the case in autism).

Posit Aware. 1996 Mar-Apr;7(2):10-1.

Diagnosing and treating HIV dementia.

McArthur JC. s Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.

AIDS: Many studies have shown that brain infections

occur early in HIV infection, usually within weeks of seroconversion.

Asymptomatic seropositive persons frequently show HIV in the brain and

spinal fluid. The most common presenting symptoms are memory loss,

walking difficulties, mental slowing, and depressive symptoms. In

patients with localized abnormalities, such as weakness, another

opportunistic infection should be suspected. Most patients with HIV

dementia have clear psychomotor slowing, greater than normal reflexes,

and signs indicating widespread brain dysfunction. As the dementia

progresses, patients develop language and attention problems, apathy,

severe psychomotor slowing, and lack of insight. Delirium is a frequent

side effect of the medicines used to treat dementia. Diagnosis is

fairly simple, with MRI being used to rule out CMV, progressive

multifocal leukoencephalopathy, and herpes. AZT and antiretrovirals

offer protective effects to delay the onset and progression of AIDS

dementia. The AIDS Clinical Trials Group has completed a study showing

that nimodipine, a calcium-channel blocker, can lessen damage to the

brain, and is safe and generally well tolerated. Combination therapies,

such as antiretrovirals with cytokine blockers, will probably emerge as

the treatment of choice for dementia.

Publication Types: * Newspaper Article

PMID: 11363357 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1994 Dec 15;747:205-24.

AIDS-related dementia and calcium homeostasis.

* Lipton

SA. Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital,

Boston, Massachusetts.

Approximately a third of adults and half of children

with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) eventually suffer from

neurological manifestations, including dysfunction of cognition,

movement, and sensation. Among the various pathologies reported in the

brain of patients with AIDS is neuronal injury and loss. A paradox

arises, however, because neurons themselves are for all intents and

purposes not infected by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).

This paper reviews evidence suggesting that at least part of the

neuronal injury observed in the brain of AIDS patients is related to

excessive influx of Ca2+. There is growing support for the existence of

HIV- or immune-related toxins that lead indirectly to the injury or

death of neurons via a potentially complex web of interactions between

macrophages (or microglia), astrocytes, and neurons. Human

immunodeficiency virus-infected monocytoid cells (macrophages,

microglia, or monocytes), especially after interacting with astrocytes,

secrete substances that potentially contribute to neurotoxicity. Not

all of these substances are yet known, but they may include

eicosanoids, that is, arachidonic acid and its metabolites, as well as

platelet-activating factor. Macrophages activated by HIV-1 envelope

protein gp120 also appear to release arachidonic acid and its

metabolites. These factors can lead to increased glutamate release or

decreased glutamate reuptake. In addition, gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)

stimulation of macrophages induce release of the glutamate-like agonist

quinolinate. Human immunodeficiency virus-infected or gp120-stimulated

macrophages also produce cytokines, including tumor necrosis

factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta, which contribute to astrogliosis. A

final common pathway for neuronal susceptibility appears to be

operative, similar to that observed in stroke, trauma, epilepsy,

neuropathic pain, and several neurodegenerative diseases, possibly

including Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic

lateral sclerosis. This mechanism involves the activation of

voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)

receptor-operated channels, and therefore offers hope for future

pharmacological intervention. This review focuses on clinically

tolerated calcium channel antagonists and NMDA antagonists with the

potential for trials in humans with AIDS dementia in the near future.

PMID: 7847672 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1994 Dec 15;747:205-24. Related Articles, Links

AIDS-related dementia and calcium homeostasis.

Lipton SA. Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

Approximately a third of adults and half of children

with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) eventually suffer from

neurological manifestations, including dysfunction of cognition,

movement, and sensation. Among the various pathologies reported in the

brain of patients with AIDS is neuronal injury and loss. A paradox

arises, however, because neurons themselves are for all intents and

purposes not infected by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).

This paper reviews evidence suggesting that at least part of the

neuronal injury observed in the brain of AIDS patients is related to

excessive influx of Ca2+. There is growing support for the existence of

HIV- or immune-related toxins that lead indirectly to the injury or

death of neurons via a potentially complex web of interactions between

macrophages (or microglia), astrocytes, and neurons. Human

immunodeficiency virus-infected monocytoid cells (macrophages,

microglia, or monocytes), especially after interacting with astrocytes,

secrete substances that potentially contribute to neurotoxicity. Not

all of these substances are yet known, but they may include

eicosanoids, that is, arachidonic acid and its metabolites, as well as

platelet-activating factor. Macrophages activated by HIV-1 envelope

protein gp120 also appear to release arachidonic acid and its

metabolites. These factors can lead to increased glutamate release or

decreased glutamate reuptake. In addition, gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)

stimulation of macrophages induce release of the glutamate-like agonist

quinolinate. Human immunodeficiency virus-infected or gp120-stimulated

macrophages also produce cytokines, including tumor necrosis

factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta, which contribute to astrogliosis.

A final common pathway for neuronal susceptibility appears to be

operative, similar to that observed in stroke, trauma, epilepsy,

neuropathic pain, and several neurodegenerative diseases, possibly

including Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic

lateral sclerosis. This mechanism involves the activation of

voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)

receptor-operated channels, and therefore offers hope for future

pharmacological intervention. This review focuses on clinically

tolerated calcium channel antagonists and NMDA antagonists with the

potential for trials in humans with AIDS dementia in the near future.

Publication Types: * Review

PMID: 7847672 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Neurosci Lett. 1995 Sep 15;197(3):215-8.

Neurotoxic mechanisms of transactivating protein Tat of Maedi-Visna virus.

Strijbos PJ, Zamani MR, Rothwell NJ, Arbuthnott G, Harkiss G.

Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Wellcome Research Laboratories, Beckenham, Kent, UK.

Infection by lentiviruses such as human

immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Maedi-Visna virus (MVV) is associated

with neurodegenerative disorders. We have investigated the neurotoxic

mechanisms of a synthetic peptide of transactivating protein tat of MVV

in striatal neuronal cultures. Tat peptide (but not control peptide)

caused neuronal death, without affecting glial viability, in a time-

and dose-dependent manner. Significant neuronal death was not observed

until 6-8 h after tat peptide application (2.35-2350 nM), whereas half

maximal and maximal cell death was observed after 12 and 24 h

respectively. Tat peptide neurotoxicity could be partially inhibited by

blockade of either N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)- or non-NMDA receptors,

suggesting that excessive neuroexcitation by glutamate or its analogues

may contribute to tat-neurotoxicity. Furthermore, when both these

glutamate receptor subtypes were blocked simultaneously, an increased

degree of neuroprotection was observed. Finally, tat peptide toxicity

was also reduced by blockade of L-type calcium channels. Calcium

imaging revealed that intracellular calcium increases slowly upon tat

application, predominantly due to entry of extracellular calcium. These

results indicate that cellular calcium entry through voltage-gated

calcium channels following activation of both NMDA and non-NMDA

receptors, and subsequent accumulation of intracellular calcium may

contribute to the neuronal death induced by tat protein.

PMID: 8552302 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Curr HIV Res. 2006 Jul;4(3):259-66.

The blood-brain barrier in neuroAIDS.

Banks WA, Ercal N, Price TO.

Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs

Medical Center-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63106, USA. bankswa@...

Nearly every aspect of blood-brain barrier (BBB)

function is involved in or affected by HIV-1. The disruption of the BBB

tends to be minimal and is not likely the mechanism by which infected

immune cells and virus enter the brain. Instead, immune cells, virus

and viral proteins likely activate brain endothelial cells and enable

their own passage across the BBB by way of highly regulated processes

such as diapedesis and adsorptive endocytosis. Viral proteins and

cytokines can enter the CNS from the blood and provide a mechanism by

which HIV-1 can affect CNS function independent of viral transport.

Brain endothelial cells can also secrete neuroimmunoactive substances

when stimulated by HIV-1, gp120, and Tat. Efflux systems such as

p-glycoprotein transport anti-virals in the brain-to-blood direction,

thus hampering effective accumulation of drug by the CNS. Overall, the

BBB plays a major role in establishing and maintaining virus within the

CNS and neuroAIDS.

Publication Types:

* Review

PMID: 16842079 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Rev Neurol (Paris). 1998 Dec;154(12):816-29.

The neuropathology of adult HIV infection.

* Bell JE.

Department of Pathology, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, United

Kingdom.

Since the onset of the acquired immune deficiency

syndrome (AIDS) epidemic fifteen years ago, much has been learned about

the effects of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the nervous

system. This review summarizes the pathology findings in the central

nervous system (CNS). There is now abundant evidence that HIV can

infect the CNS directly, leading to a characteristic HIV encephalitis (HIVE)

which occurs in 10-50 p. 100 of AIDS autopsy series. Multinucleated

giant cells are the pathognomonic feature of HIVE and are found

predominantly in the central white matter and deep grey matter.

Evidence of productive HIV infection in the CNS is confined to cells of

the microglial/macrophage lineage, from which the giant cells are

almost certainly derived. These cells are known to express both CD4 and

beta-chemokine receptors, which act in conjunction to permit HIV entry.

Restricted infection of astrocytes has also been identified by a

variety of methods. HIVE is frequently associated with white matter

damage ranging from inflammatory (microglia, macrophages and sparse

lymphocytes) to degenerative (myelin loss and axonal damage) pathology.

Although giant cells are seen less frequently in neocortical grey

matter, significant neuronal loss has been established in a number of

studies. Recent investigations using markers of apoptosis, (including

TUNEL, Bcl-2 and BAX), have established the presence of DNA damage in

some neurons and in other cell types. Axonal damage has also been

confirmed by evidence of amyloid precursor protein expression. The CNS

is also vulnerable to opportunistic infections and high grade B-cell

lymphomas as a result of the immune suppression of advanced HIV

infection. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is reported in 10-30 p. 100

of AIDS cases at autopsy, toxoplasma in 10-25 p. 100, progressive

multifocal leucoencephalopathy in about 5 p. 100 and lymphomas, usually

primary, in up to 10 p. 100. A wide variety of other infections has

also been reported. These may coexist with HIVE and may be difficult to

diagnose in life. CMV gives rise to microglial nodular encephalitis,

ventriculitis, necrotising encephalitis and myelo-radiculitis.

Presymptomatic HIV positive patients do not show HIVE or opportunistic

infections or lymphomas in the CNS. They frequently display a low-grade

T-cell infiltrate in the leptomeninges and parenchyma, particularly

around vessels. This lymphocytic infiltrate has been attributed to

presumed early invasion of the CNS by HIV although the exact timing of

entry is uncertain. It is possible that reported abnormalities in

presymptomatic cases such as gliosis, microglial activation and rising

proviral load may anticipate the onset of HIVE but most studies show

that significant CNS damage and HIV-related pathology is confined to

patients with AIDS. HIV-related pathology in the spinal cord includes

not only HIV myelitis, opportunistic infections and lymphomas, but also

vacuolar myelopathy (VM) which affects predominantly the dorsolateral

white matter tracts. The cause of VM is not understood and has not been

unequivocally linked with HIV infection. It is noted that none of these

neuropathological features (including HIVE) correlates exactly with the

clinical expression of AIDS-related dementia (ARD). The exact

contribution of macrophage activation and cytokine release, astrocytic

infection, neuronal loss and axonal damage to the neuropsychiatric

syndromes of advanced HIV infection remain to be determined. While the

current understanding of the pathogenesis of HIVE and ARD is beyond the

scope of this review it is axiomatic that accurate documentation of

neuropathology findings will help to resolve the outstanding dilemmas

relating to HIV infection of the CNS. There is considerable optimism

that progress in therapeutic regimes for HIV-infected patients will

succeed in eliminating the virus from the blood and from lymphoid

tissue. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

PMID: 9932303 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

> > > >> > > > Thanks for posting this. The longer I go the more convinced I> > am that> > > our babies's immune systems are what go haywire. Along with> > chelation (I> > > think chelation agents also offer some kind of immune> > regulation, dmsa> > > is thought to be an antiretroviral and dmps has been used to> > combat> > > AIDS) shoring up the child's immune system is very important.> > > >> > > > I don't follow a lot of what Dr. McCandless does or says but> > one thing> > > she was spot on about was her observation that she never saw an> > ASD> > > child with a fully functioning immune system.> > > >> > > > We have been unable to use any antiviral product either rx or> > otc due> > > to stomach or allergic rash issues, but shoring up her immune> > system> > > with products like Transfer Factor and Neutrophil Plus, in> > addition to> > > chelation are what I credit for her complete recovery.> > > >> > > > You have to do both; chelation to remove the heavy metals and> > regulate> > > the immune system and at the same time, prop up the immune> > system in> > > whatever way you can.> > > >> > > > > > > > Ped Med: The biological> > factor> > > in autism> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > > Ped Med: The biological factor in autism> > > > By LIDIA WASOWICZ> > > > UPI Senior Science Writer> > > > SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up> > the roots> > > of autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune> > system's> > > involvement in the intractable disorder.> > > >> > > > Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms> > play a> > > role in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.> > > >> > > > However, for the most part, these studies were small and the> > results> > > inconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't> > catch on> > > until more recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatry> > and> > > behavioral sciences at the University of California, ,> > School of> > > Medicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.> > > >> > > > "You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having a> > normal> > > immune system," said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialist> > at the> > > UC Center for Children's Environmental Health.> > > >> > > > "We know when these kids are faced with particular> > environmental> > > agents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as> > rigorously as> > > the control kids do."> > > >> > > > Among other projects, she's looking into whether children with> > autism> > > show signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's> > protective> > > system goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs it's> > > supposed to safeguard from attack.> > > >> > > > "This is important because a lot of investigators have> > suggested that> > > patients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at> > whether> > > these kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue," she told an> > > international meeting on autism research in Boston.> > > >> > > > Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's> > disease-deflecting armor> > > in 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder,> > she> > > detected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules> > called> > > cytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two> > groups.> > > >> > > > These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a> > response is> > > needed to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly> > > "switched on," or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported> > another> > > team, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.> > > >> > > > Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at the> > > immensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators> > from s> > > Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the> > University of> > > Milan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to just> > a few> > > components within the relatively restricted environment of the> > central> > > nervous apparatus.> > > >> > > > They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,> > > measuring their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11> > children> > > and adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or> > injury.> > > >> > > > They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation,> > reinforcing the> > > view that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism.> > However,> > > the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity> > is> > > destructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing> > brain.> > > >> > > > Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the> > investigators> > > followed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six> > children> > > with autism ages 5 to 12.> > > >> > > > As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevated> > cytokine> > > levels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might be> > able to> > > use these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might> > be able> > > to treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the> > disorder.> > > >> > > > But that's a long time and many studies away.> > > >> > > > First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out the> > > chicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to> > definitively get> > > at the source of an ailment.> > > >> > > > In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether the> > > abnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the> > disorder.> > > >> > > > Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is to> > > protectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm> > with> > > heat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the> > inflammation> > > detected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts to> > combat> > > some other cell-damaging process.> > > >> > > > The finding "backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral> > blood, that> > > perhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine> > production in> > > the brain is altered," said Van de Water, who plans to conduct> > her own> > > investigation into what those changes mean, whether they affect> > brain> > > function and how they might be related to some of the classic> > symptoms> > > of autism.> > > >> > > > For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleep> > > disorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism.> > > >> > > > Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role> > heredity> > > may play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain> > that> > > may stir up a susceptibility to autism.> > > >> > > > To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are looking> > back,> > > sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any> > patterns> > > in the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autistic> > > youngsters.> > > >> > > > Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000> > babies> > > born between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at an> > > increased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with> > psoriasis, a> > > chronic condition that runs in families.> > > >> > > > Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the> > disorder> > > marked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back> > and/or> > > scalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure> > Now!> > > >> > > > The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering> > from> > > asthma and allergies -- particularly during the second trimester> > -- may> > > face double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with> > autism.> > > >> > > > However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmune> > diseases> > > that turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid> > arthritis,> > > type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications,> > lupus and> > > multiple sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's> > autism> > > status, the study authors reported.> > > >> > > > These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect> > primarily women> > > -- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because> > chemicals> > > produced in response to their presence often are found at high> > levels in> > > the bloodstream of autistic children.> > > >> > > > That would suggest a possible link between autism and> > pre-birth> > > exposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.> > > >> > > > The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie such> > > conditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's> > illness was> > > frequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the> > flare-up> > > may have triggered her immune system to produce more> > inflammatory> > > cytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted brain> > development in the> > > fetus, the researchers proposed.> > > >> > > > (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of> > reports,> > > conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism,> > taking> > > a backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies,> > facing> > > facts revealed by research and looking forward to treatment> > enhancements> > > and expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book,> > "Suffer> > > the Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our> > Future," to> > > be published by Capital Books.)> > > >> > > > Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions> > > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > --> > > No virus found in this incoming message.> > > Checked by AVG Free Edition.> > > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:> > 28/11/2006> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > --> > > No virus found in this outgoing message.> > > Checked by AVG Free Edition.> > > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:> > 28/11/2006> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

So also the Autistic Enterocolitis,according to Wakefield it is histologically similar to the AIDS enterocolitis, as a sign that it is of viral origin.Geir FlatabøOn 11/30/06, natasa778 <neno@...> wrote:

Exactly, stunned is the word LOL.

AIDS-related dementia is remarkably similar to autism, it is what

probably what some of the autism we know would be like if it developed

later on in life. Even more interesting is that it is probably a

consequence of disturbed calcium homeostasis in the brain (what I

believe to be the case in autism).

Posit Aware. 1996 Mar-Apr;7(2):10-1.

Diagnosing and treating HIV dementia.

McArthur JC. s Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.

AIDS: Many studies have shown that brain infections

occur early in HIV infection, usually within weeks of seroconversion.

Asymptomatic seropositive persons frequently show HIV in the brain and

spinal fluid. The most common presenting symptoms are memory loss,

walking difficulties, mental slowing, and depressive symptoms. In

patients with localized abnormalities, such as weakness, another

opportunistic infection should be suspected. Most patients with HIV

dementia have clear psychomotor slowing, greater than normal reflexes,

and signs indicating widespread brain dysfunction. As the dementia

progresses, patients develop language and attention problems, apathy,

severe psychomotor slowing, and lack of insight. Delirium is a frequent

side effect of the medicines used to treat dementia. Diagnosis is

fairly simple, with MRI being used to rule out CMV, progressive

multifocal leukoencephalopathy, and herpes. AZT and antiretrovirals

offer protective effects to delay the onset and progression of AIDS

dementia. The AIDS Clinical Trials Group has completed a study showing

that nimodipine, a calcium-channel blocker, can lessen damage to the

brain, and is safe and generally well tolerated. Combination therapies,

such as antiretrovirals with cytokine blockers, will probably emerge as

the treatment of choice for dementia.

Publication Types: * Newspaper Article

PMID: 11363357 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1994 Dec 15;747:205-24.

AIDS-related dementia and calcium homeostasis.

* Lipton

SA. Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital,

Boston, Massachusetts.

Approximately a third of adults and half of children

with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) eventually suffer from

neurological manifestations, including dysfunction of cognition,

movement, and sensation. Among the various pathologies reported in the

brain of patients with AIDS is neuronal injury and loss. A paradox

arises, however, because neurons themselves are for all intents and

purposes not infected by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).

This paper reviews evidence suggesting that at least part of the

neuronal injury observed in the brain of AIDS patients is related to

excessive influx of Ca2+. There is growing support for the existence of

HIV- or immune-related toxins that lead indirectly to the injury or

death of neurons via a potentially complex web of interactions between

macrophages (or microglia), astrocytes, and neurons. Human

immunodeficiency virus-infected monocytoid cells (macrophages,

microglia, or monocytes), especially after interacting with astrocytes,

secrete substances that potentially contribute to neurotoxicity. Not

all of these substances are yet known, but they may include

eicosanoids, that is, arachidonic acid and its metabolites, as well as

platelet-activating factor. Macrophages activated by HIV-1 envelope

protein gp120 also appear to release arachidonic acid and its

metabolites. These factors can lead to increased glutamate release or

decreased glutamate reuptake. In addition, gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)

stimulation of macrophages induce release of the glutamate-like agonist

quinolinate. Human immunodeficiency virus-infected or gp120-stimulated

macrophages also produce cytokines, including tumor necrosis

factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta, which contribute to astrogliosis. A

final common pathway for neuronal susceptibility appears to be

operative, similar to that observed in stroke, trauma, epilepsy,

neuropathic pain, and several neurodegenerative diseases, possibly

including Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic

lateral sclerosis. This mechanism involves the activation of

voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)

receptor-operated channels, and therefore offers hope for future

pharmacological intervention. This review focuses on clinically

tolerated calcium channel antagonists and NMDA antagonists with the

potential for trials in humans with AIDS dementia in the near future.

PMID: 7847672 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1994 Dec 15;747:205-24. Related Articles, Links

AIDS-related dementia and calcium homeostasis.

Lipton SA. Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

Approximately a third of adults and half of children

with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) eventually suffer from

neurological manifestations, including dysfunction of cognition,

movement, and sensation. Among the various pathologies reported in the

brain of patients with AIDS is neuronal injury and loss. A paradox

arises, however, because neurons themselves are for all intents and

purposes not infected by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).

This paper reviews evidence suggesting that at least part of the

neuronal injury observed in the brain of AIDS patients is related to

excessive influx of Ca2+. There is growing support for the existence of

HIV- or immune-related toxins that lead indirectly to the injury or

death of neurons via a potentially complex web of interactions between

macrophages (or microglia), astrocytes, and neurons. Human

immunodeficiency virus-infected monocytoid cells (macrophages,

microglia, or monocytes), especially after interacting with astrocytes,

secrete substances that potentially contribute to neurotoxicity. Not

all of these substances are yet known, but they may include

eicosanoids, that is, arachidonic acid and its metabolites, as well as

platelet-activating factor. Macrophages activated by HIV-1 envelope

protein gp120 also appear to release arachidonic acid and its

metabolites. These factors can lead to increased glutamate release or

decreased glutamate reuptake. In addition, gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)

stimulation of macrophages induce release of the glutamate-like agonist

quinolinate. Human immunodeficiency virus-infected or gp120-stimulated

macrophages also produce cytokines, including tumor necrosis

factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta, which contribute to astrogliosis.

A final common pathway for neuronal susceptibility appears to be

operative, similar to that observed in stroke, trauma, epilepsy,

neuropathic pain, and several neurodegenerative diseases, possibly

including Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic

lateral sclerosis. This mechanism involves the activation of

voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)

receptor-operated channels, and therefore offers hope for future

pharmacological intervention. This review focuses on clinically

tolerated calcium channel antagonists and NMDA antagonists with the

potential for trials in humans with AIDS dementia in the near future.

Publication Types: * Review

PMID: 7847672 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Neurosci Lett. 1995 Sep 15;197(3):215-8.

Neurotoxic mechanisms of transactivating protein Tat of Maedi-Visna virus.

Strijbos PJ, Zamani MR, Rothwell NJ, Arbuthnott G, Harkiss G.

Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Wellcome Research Laboratories, Beckenham, Kent, UK.

Infection by lentiviruses such as human

immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Maedi-Visna virus (MVV) is associated

with neurodegenerative disorders. We have investigated the neurotoxic

mechanisms of a synthetic peptide of transactivating protein tat of MVV

in striatal neuronal cultures. Tat peptide (but not control peptide)

caused neuronal death, without affecting glial viability, in a time-

and dose-dependent manner. Significant neuronal death was not observed

until 6-8 h after tat peptide application (2.35-2350 nM), whereas half

maximal and maximal cell death was observed after 12 and 24 h

respectively. Tat peptide neurotoxicity could be partially inhibited by

blockade of either N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)- or non-NMDA receptors,

suggesting that excessive neuroexcitation by glutamate or its analogues

may contribute to tat-neurotoxicity. Furthermore, when both these

glutamate receptor subtypes were blocked simultaneously, an increased

degree of neuroprotection was observed. Finally, tat peptide toxicity

was also reduced by blockade of L-type calcium channels. Calcium

imaging revealed that intracellular calcium increases slowly upon tat

application, predominantly due to entry of extracellular calcium. These

results indicate that cellular calcium entry through voltage-gated

calcium channels following activation of both NMDA and non-NMDA

receptors, and subsequent accumulation of intracellular calcium may

contribute to the neuronal death induced by tat protein.

PMID: 8552302 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Curr HIV Res. 2006 Jul;4(3):259-66.

The blood-brain barrier in neuroAIDS.

Banks WA, Ercal N, Price TO.

Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs

Medical Center-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63106, USA. bankswa@...

Nearly every aspect of blood-brain barrier (BBB)

function is involved in or affected by HIV-1. The disruption of the BBB

tends to be minimal and is not likely the mechanism by which infected

immune cells and virus enter the brain. Instead, immune cells, virus

and viral proteins likely activate brain endothelial cells and enable

their own passage across the BBB by way of highly regulated processes

such as diapedesis and adsorptive endocytosis. Viral proteins and

cytokines can enter the CNS from the blood and provide a mechanism by

which HIV-1 can affect CNS function independent of viral transport.

Brain endothelial cells can also secrete neuroimmunoactive substances

when stimulated by HIV-1, gp120, and Tat. Efflux systems such as

p-glycoprotein transport anti-virals in the brain-to-blood direction,

thus hampering effective accumulation of drug by the CNS. Overall, the

BBB plays a major role in establishing and maintaining virus within the

CNS and neuroAIDS.

Publication Types:

* Review

PMID: 16842079 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Rev Neurol (Paris). 1998 Dec;154(12):816-29.

The neuropathology of adult HIV infection.

* Bell JE.

Department of Pathology, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, United

Kingdom.

Since the onset of the acquired immune deficiency

syndrome (AIDS) epidemic fifteen years ago, much has been learned about

the effects of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the nervous

system. This review summarizes the pathology findings in the central

nervous system (CNS). There is now abundant evidence that HIV can

infect the CNS directly, leading to a characteristic HIV encephalitis (HIVE)

which occurs in 10-50 p. 100 of AIDS autopsy series. Multinucleated

giant cells are the pathognomonic feature of HIVE and are found

predominantly in the central white matter and deep grey matter.

Evidence of productive HIV infection in the CNS is confined to cells of

the microglial/macrophage lineage, from which the giant cells are

almost certainly derived. These cells are known to express both CD4 and

beta-chemokine receptors, which act in conjunction to permit HIV entry.

Restricted infection of astrocytes has also been identified by a

variety of methods. HIVE is frequently associated with white matter

damage ranging from inflammatory (microglia, macrophages and sparse

lymphocytes) to degenerative (myelin loss and axonal damage) pathology.

Although giant cells are seen less frequently in neocortical grey

matter, significant neuronal loss has been established in a number of

studies. Recent investigations using markers of apoptosis, (including

TUNEL, Bcl-2 and BAX), have established the presence of DNA damage in

some neurons and in other cell types. Axonal damage has also been

confirmed by evidence of amyloid precursor protein expression. The CNS

is also vulnerable to opportunistic infections and high grade B-cell

lymphomas as a result of the immune suppression of advanced HIV

infection. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is reported in 10-30 p. 100

of AIDS cases at autopsy, toxoplasma in 10-25 p. 100, progressive

multifocal leucoencephalopathy in about 5 p. 100 and lymphomas, usually

primary, in up to 10 p. 100. A wide variety of other infections has

also been reported. These may coexist with HIVE and may be difficult to

diagnose in life. CMV gives rise to microglial nodular encephalitis,

ventriculitis, necrotising encephalitis and myelo-radiculitis.

Presymptomatic HIV positive patients do not show HIVE or opportunistic

infections or lymphomas in the CNS. They frequently display a low-grade

T-cell infiltrate in the leptomeninges and parenchyma, particularly

around vessels. This lymphocytic infiltrate has been attributed to

presumed early invasion of the CNS by HIV although the exact timing of

entry is uncertain. It is possible that reported abnormalities in

presymptomatic cases such as gliosis, microglial activation and rising

proviral load may anticipate the onset of HIVE but most studies show

that significant CNS damage and HIV-related pathology is confined to

patients with AIDS. HIV-related pathology in the spinal cord includes

not only HIV myelitis, opportunistic infections and lymphomas, but also

vacuolar myelopathy (VM) which affects predominantly the dorsolateral

white matter tracts. The cause of VM is not understood and has not been

unequivocally linked with HIV infection. It is noted that none of these

neuropathological features (including HIVE) correlates exactly with the

clinical expression of AIDS-related dementia (ARD). The exact

contribution of macrophage activation and cytokine release, astrocytic

infection, neuronal loss and axonal damage to the neuropsychiatric

syndromes of advanced HIV infection remain to be determined. While the

current understanding of the pathogenesis of HIVE and ARD is beyond the

scope of this review it is axiomatic that accurate documentation of

neuropathology findings will help to resolve the outstanding dilemmas

relating to HIV infection of the CNS. There is considerable optimism

that progress in therapeutic regimes for HIV-infected patients will

succeed in eliminating the virus from the blood and from lymphoid

tissue. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

PMID: 9932303 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

> > > >> > > > Thanks for posting this. The longer I go the more convinced I> > am that> > > our babies's immune systems are what go haywire. Along with

> > chelation (I> > > think chelation agents also offer some kind of immune> > regulation, dmsa> > > is thought to be an antiretroviral and dmps has been used to> > combat

> > > AIDS) shoring up the child's immune system is very important.> > > >> > > > I don't follow a lot of what Dr. McCandless does or says but> > one thing> > > she was spot on about was her observation that she never saw an

> > ASD> > > child with a fully functioni!

ng immune system.> > > >> > > > We hav

e been unable to use any antiviral product either rx or> > otc due> > > to stomach or allergic rash issues, but shoring up her immune> > system> > > with products like Transfer Factor and Neutrophil Plus, in

> > addition to> > > chelation are what I credit for her complete recovery.> > > >> > > > You have to do both; chelation to remove the heavy metals and> > regulate

> > > the immune system and at the same time, prop up the immune> > system in> > > whatever way you can.> > > >> > > > > > > > Ped Med: The biological & gt!

; > factor> > > in autism> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > > Ped Med: The biological factor in autism> > > > By LIDIA WASOWICZ

> > > > UPI Senior Science Writer> > > > SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up> > the roots> > > of autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune

> > system's> > > involvement in the intractable disorder.> > > >> > > > Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms> > play a> > > role in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.

> > > >> > > > However, for the most part, these studies were small and the> > results> > > inconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't> > catch on

> > > until more!

recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatry> > and

> > > behavioral sciences at the University of California, ,> > School of> > > Medicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.> > > >> > > > " You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having a

> > normal> > > immune system, " said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialist> > at the> > > UC Center for Children's Environmental Health.> > > >

> > > > " We know when these kids are faced with particular> > environmental> > > agents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as> > rigorously as> > > the control kids do. "

> > > >> > > > Among other projects, she's looking into whether children with> > autism> > > show signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's> > protective

> >!

> system goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs it's> > > supposed to safeguard from attack.> > > >> > > > " This is important because a lot of investigators have

> > suggested that> > > patients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at> > whether> > > these kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue, " she told an> > > international meeting on autism research in Boston.

> > > >> > > > Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's> > disease-deflecting armor> > > in 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder,> > she

> > > detected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules> > called> > > cytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two> > groups.> > > >

> > > > The!

se immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a> > r

esponse is> > > needed to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly> > > " switched on, " or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported> > another> > > team, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.

> > > >> > > > Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at the> > > immensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators> > from s> > > Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the

> > University of> > > Milan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to just> > a few> > > components within the relatively restricted environment of the> > central

> > > nervous apparatus.> > > >> > > > They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,> > > measuring their levels in brain !

tissue samples taken from 11> > children> > > and adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or> > injury.> > > >> > > > They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation,

> > reinforcing the> > > view that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism.> > However,> > > the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity> > is

> > > destructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing> > brain.> > > >> > > > Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the> > investigators

> > > followed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six> > children> > > with autism ages 5 to 12.> > > >> > > > As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevated

> > cytokine>!

> > levels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors mig

ht be> > able to> > > use these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might> > be able> > > to treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the> > disorder.

> > > >> > > > But that's a long time and many studies away.> > > >> > > > First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out the> > > chicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to

> > definitively get> > > at the source of an ailment.> > > >> > > > In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether the> > > abnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the

> > disorder.> > > >> > > > Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is to> > > protectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm & gt!

; > with> > > heat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the> > inflammation> > > detected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts to> > combat> > > some other cell-damaging process.

> > > >> > > > The finding " backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral> > blood, that> > > perhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine> > production in

> > > the brain is altered, " said Van de Water, who plans to conduct> > her own> > > investigation into what those changes mean, whether they affect> > brain> > > function and how they might be related to some of the classic

> > symptoms> > > of autism.> > > >> > > > For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleep> > > disorders are a common complai!

nt of individuals with autism.> > > >> > & gt

; > Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role> > heredity> > > may play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain> > that> > > may stir up a susceptibility to autism.

> > > >> > > > To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are looking> > back,> > > sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any> > patterns

> > > in the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autistic> > > youngsters.> > > >> > > > Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000

> > babies> > > born between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at an> > > increased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with> > psoriasis, a> > > chronic condition that runs in families.

> > > > & !

gt; > > > Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the> > disorder> > > marked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back> > and/or> > > scalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure

> > Now!> > > >> > > > The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering> > from> > > asthma and allergies -- particularly during the second trimester

> > -- may> > > face double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with> > autism.> > > >> > > > However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmune

> > diseases> > > that turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid> > arthritis,> > > type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications,> > lupus and

> > > multip!

le sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's> > a

utism> > > status, the study authors reported.> > > >> > > > These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect> > primarily women> > > -- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because

> > chemicals> > > produced in response to their presence often are found at high> > levels in> > > the bloodstream of autistic children.> > > >> > > > That would suggest a possible link between autism and

> > pre-birth> > > exposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.> > > >> > > > The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie such> > > conditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's

> > illness was> > > frequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the> > flare-up> > > may have triggere!

d her immune system to produce more> > inflammatory> > > cytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted brain> > development in the> > > fetus, the researchers proposed.

> > > >> > > > (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of> > reports,> > > conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism,> > taking

> > > a backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies,> > facing> > > facts revealed by research and looking forward to treatment> > enhancements> > > and expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book,

> > " Suffer> > > the Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our> > Future, " to> > > be published by Capital Books.)> > > >> > > > Next: Some autism study results p!

oint in genetic directions> > > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > --> > > No virus found in this incoming message.> > > Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> > > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:> > 28/11/2006> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > --> > > No virus found in this outgoing message.

> > > Checked by AVG Free Edition.> > > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:> > 28/11/2006> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

Whew...Thanks for showing me I am at least on somebody's planet....

Calcium channel blockers..Don't we need that to counter-act the glutamates Yasko believes to be a problem!

Ped Med: The biological> > factor> > > in autism> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > > Ped Med: The biological factor in autism> > > > By LIDIA WASOWICZ> > > > UPI Senior Science Writer> > > > SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up> > the roots> > > of autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune> > system's> > > involvement in the intractable disorder.> > > >> > > > Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms> > play a> > > role in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.> > > >> > > > However, for the most part, these studies were small and the> > results> > > inconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't> > catch on> > > until more recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatry> > and> > > behavioral sciences at the University of California, ,> > School of> > > Medicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.> > > >> > > > "You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having a> > normal> > > immune system," said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialist> > at the> > > UC Center for Children's Environmental Health.> > > >> > > > "We know when these kids are faced with particular> > environmental> > > agents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as> > rigorously as> > > the control kids do."> > > >> > > > Among other projects, she's looking into whether children with> > autism> > > show signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's> > protective> > > system goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs it's> > > supposed to safeguard from attack.> > > >> > > > "This is important because a lot of investigators have> > suggested that> > > patients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at> > whether> > > these kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue," she told an> > > international meeting on autism research in Boston.> > > >> > > > Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's> > disease-deflecting armor> > > in 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder,> > she> > > detected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules> > called> > > cytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two> > groups.> > > >> > > > These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a> > response is> > > needed to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly> > > "switched on," or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported> > another> > > team, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.> > > >> > > > Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at the> > > immensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators> > from s> > > Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the> > University of> > > Milan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to just> > a few> > > components within the relatively restricted environment of the> > central> > > nervous apparatus.> > > >> > > > They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,> > > measuring their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11> > children> > > and adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or> > injury.> > > >> > > > They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation,> > reinforcing the> > > view that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism.> > However,> > > the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity> > is> > > destructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing> > brain.> > > >> > > > Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the> > investigators> > > followed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six> > children> > > with autism ages 5 to 12.> > > >> > > > As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevated> > cytokine> > > levels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might be> > able to> > > use these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might> > be able> > > to treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the> > disorder.> > > >> > > > But that's a long time and many studies away.> > > >> > > > First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out the> > > chicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to> > definitively get> > > at the source of an ailment.> > > >> > > > In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether the> > > abnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the> > disorder.> > > >> > > > Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is to> > > protectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm> > with> > > heat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the> > inflammation> > > detected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts to> > combat> > > some other cell-damaging process.> > > >> > > > The finding "backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral> > blood, that> > > perhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine> > production in> > > the brain is altered," said Van de Water, who plans to conduct> > her own> > > investigation into what those changes mean, whether they affect> > brain> > > function and how they might be related to some of the classic> > symptoms> > > of autism.> > > >> > > > For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleep> > > disorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism.> > > >> > > > Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role> > heredity> > > may play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain> > that> > > may stir up a susceptibility to autism.> > > >> > > > To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are looking> > back,> > > sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any> > patterns> > > in the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autistic> > > youngsters.> > > >> > > > Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000> > babies> > > born between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at an> > > increased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with> > psoriasis, a> > > chronic condition that runs in families.> > > >> > > > Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the> > disorder> > > marked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back> > and/or> > > scalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure> > Now!> > > >> > > > The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering> > from> > > asthma and allergies -- particularly during the second trimester> > -- may> > > face double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with> > autism.> > > >> > > > However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmune> > diseases> > > that turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid> > arthritis,> > > type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications,> > lupus and> > > multiple sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's> > autism> > > status, the study authors reported.> > > >> > > > These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect> > primarily women> > > -- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because> > chemicals> > > produced in response to their presence often are found at high> > levels in> > > the bloodstream of autistic children.> > > >> > > > That would suggest a possible link between autism and> > pre-birth> > > exposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.> > > >> > > > The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie such> > > conditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's> > illness was> > > frequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the> > flare-up> > > may have triggered her immune system to produce more> > inflammatory> > > cytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted brain> > development in the> > > fetus, the researchers proposed.> > > >> > > > (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of> > reports,> > > conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism,> > taking> > > a backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies,> > facing> > > facts revealed by research and looking forward to treatment> > enhancements> > > and expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book,> > "Suffer> > > the Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our> > Future," to> > > be published by Capital Books.)> > > >> > > > Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions> > > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > --> > > No virus found in this incoming message.> > > Checked by AVG Free Edition.> > > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:> > 28/11/2006> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > --> > > No virus found in this outgoing message.> > > Checked by AVG Free Edition.> > > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:> > 28/11/2006> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

Geir,

Thanks for pointing this out. Think we have made a lot of headway today....thank-you for the power of the internet!!!!

Still think though it has a heavy metal origin.

Who wants to sleep over this....

Ped Med: The biological & gt! ; > factor> > > in autism> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > > Ped Med: The biological factor in autism> > > > By LIDIA WASOWICZ> > > > UPI Senior Science Writer> > > > SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up> > the roots> > > of autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune > > system's> > > involvement in the intractable disorder.> > > >> > > > Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms> > play a> > > role in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said. > > > >> > > > However, for the most part, these studies were small and the> > results> > > inconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't> > catch on > > > until more! recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatry> > and > > > behavioral sciences at the University of California, ,> > School of> > > Medicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.> > > >> > > > "You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having a > > normal> > > immune system," said Judy Van de Water, an immunology specialist> > at the> > > UC Center for Children's Environmental Health.> > > > > > > > "We know when these kids are faced with particular> > environmental> > > agents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as> > rigorously as> > > the control kids do." > > > >> > > > Among other projects, she's looking into whether children with> > autism> > > show signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's> > protective > >! > system goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs it's> > > supposed to safeguard from attack.> > > >> > > > "This is important because a lot of investigators have > > suggested that> > > patients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at> > whether> > > these kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue," she told an> > > international meeting on autism research in Boston. > > > >> > > > Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's> > disease-deflecting armor> > > in 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder,> > she > > > detected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules> > called> > > cytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two> > groups.> > > > > > > > The! se immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a> > r esponse is> > > needed to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly> > > "switched on," or inflamed, in individuals with autism, reported> > another> > > team, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue. > > > >> > > > Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at the> > > immensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators> > from s> > > Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the > > University of> > > Milan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to just> > a few> > > components within the relatively restricted environment of the> > central > > > nervous apparatus.> > > >> > > > They confined their search to the cell-coordinating cytokines,> > > measuring their levels in brain ! tissue samples taken from 11> > children> > > and adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or> > injury.> > > >> > > > They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation, > > reinforcing the> > > view that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism.> > However,> > > the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity> > is > > > destructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing> > brain.> > > >> > > > Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the> > investigators > > > followed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six> > children> > > with autism ages 5 to 12.> > > >> > > > As in the previous studies, they once again detected elevated > > cytokine>! > > levels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors mig ht be> > able to> > > use these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might> > be able> > > to treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the> > disorder. > > > >> > > > But that's a long time and many studies away.> > > >> > > > First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out the> > > chicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to > > definitively get> > > at the source of an ailment.> > > >> > > > In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether the> > > abnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the > > disorder.> > > >> > > > Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is to> > > protectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm & gt! ; > with> > > heat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the> > inflammation> > > detected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts to> > combat> > > some other cell-damaging process. > > > >> > > > The finding "backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral> > blood, that> > > perhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine> > production in > > > the brain is altered," said Van de Water, who plans to conduct> > her own> > > investigation into what those changes mean, whether they affect> > brain> > > function and how they might be related to some of the classic > > symptoms> > > of autism.> > > >> > > > For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and sleep> > > disorders are a common complai! nt of individuals with autism.> > > >> > & gt ; > Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role> > heredity> > > may play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain> > that> > > may stir up a susceptibility to autism. > > > >> > > > To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are looking> > back,> > > sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any> > patterns > > > in the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autistic> > > youngsters.> > > >> > > > Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of 88,000 > > babies> > > born between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at an> > > increased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with> > psoriasis, a> > > chronic condition that runs in families. > > > > & ! gt; > > > Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the> > disorder> > > marked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back> > and/or> > > scalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure > > Now!> > > >> > > > The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering> > from> > > asthma and allergies -- particularly during the second trimester > > -- may> > > face double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with> > autism.> > > >> > > > However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other autoimmune > > diseases> > > that turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid> > arthritis,> > > type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications,> > lupus and > > > multip! le sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's> > a utism> > > status, the study authors reported.> > > >> > > > These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect> > primarily women> > > -- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because > > chemicals> > > produced in response to their presence often are found at high> > levels in> > > the bloodstream of autistic children.> > > >> > > > That would suggest a possible link between autism and > > pre-birth> > > exposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.> > > >> > > > The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie such> > > conditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's > > illness was> > > frequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the> > flare-up> > > may have triggere! d her immune system to produce more> > inflammatory> > > cytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted brain> > development in the> > > fetus, the researchers proposed.> > > >> > > > (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of> > reports,> > > conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism,> > taking > > > a backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies,> > facing> > > facts revealed by research and looking forward to treatment> > enhancements> > > and expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book, > > "Suffer> > > the Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our> > Future," to> > > be published by Capital Books.)> > > >> > > > Next: Some autism study results p! oint in genetic directions> > > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > --> > > No virus found in this incoming message.> > > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > > > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:> > 28/11/2006> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > --> > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > > > Checked by AVG Free Edition.> > > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:> > 28/11/2006> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

So what

mercury could be causing this in grown men? Vaccinations?

Re:

Re: Ped Med: The biological factor in autism

So also the

Autistic Enterocolitis,

according to Wakefield it is histologically similar to the AIDS

enterocolitis, as a sign that it is of viral origin.

Geir Flatabø

On 11/30/06, natasa778 <nenodalmaholidays (DOT) co.uk>

wrote:

Exactly, stunned is the

word LOL.

AIDS-related dementia is remarkably similar to autism, it is what probably what

some of the autism we know would be like if it developed later on in life. Even

more interesting is that it is probably a consequence of disturbed calcium

homeostasis in the brain (what I believe to be the case in autism).

Posit Aware. 1996 Mar-Apr;7(2):10-1.

Diagnosing and treating HIV dementia.

McArthur JC. s Hopkins University,

Baltimore, MD.

AIDS: Many studies have shown that brain infections occur

early in HIV infection, usually within weeks of seroconversion. Asymptomatic

seropositive persons frequently show HIV in the brain and spinal fluid. The

most common presenting symptoms are memory loss, walking difficulties, mental

slowing, and depressive symptoms. In patients with localized abnormalities,

such as weakness, another opportunistic infection should be suspected. Most

patients with HIV dementia have clear psychomotor slowing, greater than normal

reflexes, and signs indicating widespread brain dysfunction. As the dementia

progresses, patients develop language and attention problems, apathy, severe

psychomotor slowing, and lack of insight. Delirium is a frequent side effect of

the medicines used to treat dementia. Diagnosis is fairly simple, with MRI

being used to rule out CMV, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy,

and herpes. AZT and antiretrovirals offer protective effects to delay the onset

and progression of AIDS dementia. The AIDS Clinical Trials Group has completed

a study showing that nimodipine, a calcium-channel blocker, can lessen damage

to the brain, and is safe and generally well tolerated. Combination therapies,

such as antiretrovirals with cytokine blockers, will probably emerge as the

treatment of choice for dementia.

Publication Types:

* Newspaper Article

PMID: 11363357 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1994 Dec 15;747:205-24.

AIDS-related dementia and calcium homeostasis.

* Lipton SA.

Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

Approximately a third of adults and half of children with

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) eventually suffer from neurological

manifestations, including dysfunction of cognition, movement, and sensation.

Among the various pathologies reported in the brain of patients with AIDS is

neuronal injury and loss. A paradox arises, however, because neurons themselves

are for all intents and purposes not infected by human immunodeficiency virus

type 1 (HIV-1). This paper reviews evidence suggesting that at least part of

the neuronal injury observed in the brain of AIDS patients is related to

excessive influx of Ca2+. There is growing support for the existence of HIV- or

immune-related toxins that lead indirectly to the injury or death of neurons

via a potentially complex web of interactions between macrophages (or

microglia), astrocytes, and neurons. Human immunodeficiency virus-infected

monocytoid cells (macrophages, microglia, or monocytes), especially after

interacting with astrocytes, secrete substances that potentially contribute to

neurotoxicity. Not all of these substances are yet known, but they may include

eicosanoids, that is, arachidonic acid and its metabolites, as well as

platelet-activating factor. Macrophages activated by HIV-1 envelope protein

gp120 also appear to release arachidonic acid and its metabolites. These

factors can lead to increased glutamate release or decreased glutamate reuptake.

In addition, gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) stimulation of macrophages induce

release of the glutamate-like agonist quinolinate. Human immunodeficiency

virus-infected or gp120-stimulated macrophages also produce cytokines,

including tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta, which

contribute to astrogliosis. A final common pathway for neuronal

susceptibility appears to be operative, similar to that observed in stroke,

trauma, epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and several neurodegenerative diseases,

possibly including Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic

lateral sclerosis. This mechanism involves the activation of

voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)

receptor-operated channels, and therefore offers hope for future

pharmacological intervention. This review focuses on clinically tolerated

calcium channel antagonists and NMDA antagonists with the potential for trials

in humans with AIDS dementia in the near future.

PMID: 7847672 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1994 Dec 15;747:205-24. Related Articles,

Links

AIDS-related dementia and calcium homeostasis.

Lipton SA. Department of Neurology,

Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

Approximately a third of adults and half of children with

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) eventually suffer from neurological

manifestations, including dysfunction of cognition, movement, and sensation.

Among the various pathologies reported in the brain of patients with AIDS is neuronal

injury and loss. A paradox arises, however, because neurons themselves are for

all intents and purposes not infected by human immunodeficiency virus type 1

(HIV-1). This paper reviews evidence suggesting that at least part of the

neuronal injury observed in the brain of AIDS patients is related to excessive

influx of Ca2+. There is growing support for the existence of HIV- or

immune-related toxins that lead indirectly to the injury or death of neurons

via a potentially complex web of interactions between macrophages (or

microglia), astrocytes, and neurons. Human immunodeficiency virus-infected

monocytoid cells (macrophages, microglia, or monocytes), especially after

interacting with astrocytes, secrete substances that potentially contribute to

neurotoxicity. Not all of these substances are yet known, but they may include

eicosanoids, that is, arachidonic acid and its metabolites, as well as

platelet-activating factor. Macrophages activated by HIV-1 envelope protein

gp120 also appear to release arachidonic acid and its metabolites. These

factors can lead to increased glutamate release or decreased glutamate

reuptake. In addition, gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) stimulation of macrophages

induce release of the glutamate-like agonist quinolinate. Human immunodeficiency

virus-infected or gp120-stimulated macrophages also produce cytokines,

including tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta, which

contribute to astrogliosis. A final common pathway for neuronal susceptibility

appears to be operative, similar to that observed in stroke, trauma, epilepsy,

neuropathic pain, and several neurodegenerative diseases, possibly including

Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

This mechanism involves the activation of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels and

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-operated channels, and therefore

offers hope for future pharmacological intervention. This review focuses on

clinically tolerated calcium channel antagonists and NMDA antagonists with the

potential for trials in humans with AIDS dementia in the near future.

Publication Types: * Review

PMID: 7847672 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Neurosci Lett. 1995 Sep 15;197(3):215-8.

Neurotoxic mechanisms of transactivating protein Tat of

Maedi-Visna virus.

Strijbos PJ, Zamani MR, Rothwell NJ, Arbuthnott G, Harkiss

G.

Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Wellcome Research

Laboratories, Beckenham, Kent, UK.

Infection by lentiviruses such as human immunodeficiency

virus (HIV) and Maedi-Visna virus (MVV) is associated with neurodegenerative

disorders. We have investigated the neurotoxic mechanisms of a synthetic

peptide of transactivating protein tat of MVV in striatal neuronal cultures.

Tat peptide (but not control peptide) caused neuronal death, without affecting

glial viability, in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Significant neuronal

death was not observed until 6-8 h after tat peptide application (2.35-2350

nM), whereas half maximal and maximal cell death was observed after 12 and 24 h

respectively. Tat peptide neurotoxicity could be partially inhibited by

blockade of either N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)- or non-NMDA receptors,

suggesting that excessive neuroexcitation by glutamate or its analogues may

contribute to tat-neurotoxicity. Furthermore, when both these glutamate

receptor subtypes were blocked simultaneously, an increased degree of

neuroprotection was observed. Finally, tat peptide toxicity was also reduced by

blockade of L-type calcium channels. Calcium imaging revealed that

intracellular calcium increases slowly upon tat application, predominantly due

to entry of extracellular calcium. These results indicate that cellular calcium

entry through voltage-gated calcium channels following activation of both NMDA

and non-NMDA receptors, and subsequent accumulation of intracellular calcium

may contribute to the neuronal death induced by tat protein.

PMID: 8552302 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Curr HIV Res. 2006 Jul;4(3):259-66.

The blood-brain barrier in neuroAIDS.

Banks WA, Ercal N, Price TO. Geriatric

Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Medical Center-St.

Louis, St. Louis, MO 63106, USA. bankswaslu (DOT) edu

Nearly every aspect of blood-brain barrier (BBB) function is

involved in or affected by HIV-1. The disruption of the BBB tends to be minimal

and is not likely the mechanism by which infected immune cells and virus enter

the brain. Instead, immune cells, virus and viral proteins likely activate

brain endothelial cells and enable their own passage across the BBB by way of

highly regulated processes such as diapedesis and adsorptive endocytosis. Viral

proteins and cytokines can enter the CNS from the blood and provide a mechanism

by which HIV-1 can affect CNS function independent of viral transport. Brain

endothelial cells can also secrete neuroimmunoactive substances when stimulated

by HIV-1, gp120, and Tat. Efflux systems such as p-glycoprotein transport

anti-virals in the brain-to-blood direction, thus hampering effective

accumulation of drug by the CNS. Overall, the BBB plays a major role in

establishing and maintaining virus within the CNS and neuroAIDS.

Publication Types:

* Review

PMID: 16842079 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Rev Neurol (Paris). 1998 Dec;154(12):816-29.

The neuropathology of adult HIV infection.

* Bell JE.

Department of Pathology, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Since the onset of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome

(AIDS) epidemic fifteen years ago, much has been learned about the effects of

the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the nervous system. This review

summarizes the pathology findings in the central nervous system (CNS). There is

now abundant evidence that HIV can infect the CNS directly, leading to a

characteristic HIV encephalitis (HIVE) which occurs in 10-50 p. 100 of

AIDS autopsy series. Multinucleated giant cells are the pathognomonic feature

of HIVE and are found predominantly in the central white matter and deep grey

matter. Evidence of productive HIV infection in the CNS is confined to cells of

the microglial/macrophage lineage, from which the giant cells are almost

certainly derived. These cells are known to express both CD4 and beta-chemokine

receptors, which act in conjunction to permit HIV entry. Restricted infection

of astrocytes has also been identified by a variety of methods. HIVE is

frequently associated with white matter damage ranging from inflammatory

(microglia, macrophages and sparse lymphocytes) to degenerative (myelin loss

and axonal damage) pathology. Although giant cells are seen less frequently in

neocortical grey matter, significant neuronal loss has been established in a

number of studies. Recent investigations using markers of apoptosis, (including

TUNEL, Bcl-2 and BAX), have established the presence of DNA damage in some

neurons and in other cell types. Axonal damage has also been confirmed by

evidence of amyloid precursor protein expression. The CNS is also vulnerable to

opportunistic infections and high grade B-cell lymphomas as a result of the

immune suppression of advanced HIV infection. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection

is reported in 10-30 p. 100 of AIDS cases at autopsy, toxoplasma in 10-25 p.

100, progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy in about 5 p. 100 and

lymphomas, usually primary, in up to 10 p. 100. A wide variety of other

infections has also been reported. These may coexist with HIVE and may be

difficult to diagnose in life. CMV gives rise to microglial nodular

encephalitis, ventriculitis, necrotising encephalitis and myelo-radiculitis.

Presymptomatic HIV positive patients do not show HIVE or opportunistic

infections or lymphomas in the CNS. They frequently display a low-grade T-cell

infiltrate in the leptomeninges and parenchyma, particularly around vessels.

This lymphocytic infiltrate has been attributed to presumed early invasion of

the CNS by HIV although the exact timing of entry is uncertain. It is possible

that reported abnormalities in presymptomatic cases such as gliosis, microglial

activation and rising proviral load may anticipate the onset of HIVE but most

studies show that significant CNS damage and HIV-related pathology is confined

to patients with AIDS. HIV-related pathology in the spinal cord includes not

only HIV myelitis, opportunistic infections and lymphomas, but also vacuolar

myelopathy (VM) which affects predominantly the dorsolateral white matter

tracts. The cause of VM is not understood and has not been unequivocally linked

with HIV infection. It is noted that none of these neuropathological features

(including HIVE) correlates exactly with the clinical expression of

AIDS-related dementia (ARD). The exact contribution of macrophage activation

and cytokine release, astrocytic infection, neuronal loss and axonal damage to

the neuropsychiatric syndromes of advanced HIV infection remain to be

determined. While the current understanding of the pathogenesis of HIVE and ARD

is beyond the scope of this review it is axiomatic that accurate documentation

of neuropathology findings will help to resolve the outstanding dilemmas

relating to HIV infection of the CNS. There is considerable optimism that

progress in therapeutic regimes for HIV-infected patients will succeed in

eliminating the virus from the blood and from lymphoid tissue. (ABSTRACT

TRUNCATED)

PMID: 9932303 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

> > > >

> > > > Thanks for posting this. The longer I go the more convinced

I

> > am that

> > > our babies's immune systems are what go haywire. Along with

> > chelation (I

> > > think chelation agents also offer some kind of immune

> > regulation, dmsa

> > > is thought to be an antiretroviral and dmps has been used to

> > combat

> > > AIDS) shoring up the child's immune system is very important.

> > > >

> > > > I don't follow a lot of what Dr. McCandless does or says

but

> > one thing

> > > she was spot on about was her observation that she never saw an

> > ASD

> > > child with a fully functioni! ng immune system.

> > > >

> > > > We hav e been unable to use any antiviral product either rx

or

> > otc due

> > > to stomach or allergic rash issues, but shoring up her immune

> > system

> > > with products like Transfer Factor and Neutrophil Plus, in

> > addition to

> > > chelation are what I credit for her complete recovery.

> > > >

> > > > You have to do both; chelation to remove the heavy metals

and

> > regulate

> > > the immune system and at the same time, prop up the immune

> > system in

> > > whatever way you can.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Ped Med: The

biological

& gt! ; > factor

> > > in autism

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Ped Med: The biological factor in autism

> > > > By LIDIA WASOWICZ

> > > > UPI Senior Science Writer

> > > > SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up

> > the roots

> > > of autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune

> > system's

> > > involvement in the intractable disorder.

> > > >

> > > > Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting

mechanisms

> > play a

> > > role in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.

> > > >

> > > > However, for the most part, these studies were small and

the

> > results

> > > inconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't

> > catch on

> > > until more! recently, said Amaral, professor of psychiatry

> > and

> > > behavioral sciences at the University of California, ,

> > School of

> > > Medicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.

> > > >

> > > > " You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without

having a

> > normal

> > > immune system, " said Judy Van de Water, an immunology

specialist

> > at the

> > > UC Center for Children's Environmental Health.

> > > >

> > > > " We know when these kids are faced with particular

> > environmental

> > > agents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as

> > rigorously as

> > > the control kids do. "

> > > >

> > > > Among other projects, she's looking into whether children

with

> > autism

> > > show signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's

> > protective

> >! > system goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs

it's

> > > supposed to safeguard from attack.

> > > >

> > > > " This is important because a lot of investigators have

> > suggested that

> > > patients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at

> > whether

> > > these kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue, " she told

an

> > > international meeting on autism research in Boston.

> > > >

> > > > Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's

> > disease-deflecting armor

> > > in 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the disorder,

> > she

> > > detected a variation in the way specialized messenger molecules

> > called

> > > cytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the two

> > groups.

> > > >

> > > > The! se immune proteins, which normally get into gear when

a

> > r esponse is

> > > needed to injury or irritation, instead appear to be constantly

> > > " switched on, " or inflamed, in individuals with

autism, reported

> > another

> > > team, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.

> > > >

> > > > Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at

the

> > > immensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators

> > from s

> > > Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the

> > University of

> > > Milan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to just

> > a few

> > > components within the relatively restricted environment of the

> > central

> > > nervous apparatus.

> > > >

> > > > They confined their search to the cell-coordinating

cytokines,

> > > measuring their levels in brain ! tissue samples taken from 11

> > children

> > > and adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or

> > injury.

> > > >

> > > > They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation,

> > reinforcing the

> > > view that immune activation in the brain is involved in autism.

> > However,

> > > the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the irregularity

> > is

> > > destructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing

> > brain.

> > > >

> > > > Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the

> > investigators

> > > followed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six

> > children

> > > with autism ages 5 to 12.

> > > >

> > > > As in the previous studies, they once again detected

elevated

> > cytokine

>! > > levels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors mig ht

be

> > able to

> > > use these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might

> > be able

> > > to treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the

> > disorder.

> > > >

> > > > But that's a long time and many studies away.

> > > >

> > > > First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out

the

> > > chicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to

> > definitively get

> > > at the source of an ailment.

> > > >

> > > > In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether

the

> > > abnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the

> > disorder.

> > > >

> > > > Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is

to

> > > protectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of harm

& gt! ; > with

> > > heat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the

> > inflammation

> > > detected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts to

> > combat

> > > some other cell-damaging process.

> > > >

> > > > The finding " backs up what we're seeing in the

peripheral

> > blood, that

> > > perhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine

> > production in

> > > the brain is altered, " said Van de Water, who plans to

conduct

> > her own

> > > investigation into what those changes mean, whether they affect

> > brain

> > > function and how they might be related to some of the classic

> > symptoms

> > > of autism.

> > > >

> > > > For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and

sleep

> > > disorders are a common complai! nt of individuals with autism.

> > > >

> > & gt ; > Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what

role

> > heredity

> > > may play in the development of immune abnormalities in the brain

> > that

> > > may stir up a susceptibility to autism.

> > > >

> > > > To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are

looking

> > back,

> > > sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any

> > patterns

> > > in the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in autistic

> > > youngsters.

> > > >

> > > > Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of

88,000

> > babies

> > > born between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at an

> > > increased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with

> > psoriasis, a

> > > chronic condition that runs in families.

> > > >

& ! gt; > > > Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age

have the

> > disorder

> > > marked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees, back

> > and/or

> > > scalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure

> > Now!

> > > >

> > > > The early findings also indicate expectant mothers

suffering

> > from

> > > asthma and allergies -- particularly during the second trimester

> > -- may

> > > face double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with

> > autism.

> > > >

> > > > However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other

autoimmune

> > diseases

> > > that turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid

> > arthritis,

> > > type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications,

> > lupus and

> > > multip! le sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's

> > a utism

> > > status, the study authors reported.

> > > >

> > > > These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect

> > primarily women

> > > -- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because

> > chemicals

> > > produced in response to their presence often are found at high

> > levels in

> > > the bloodstream of autistic children.

> > > >

> > > > That would suggest a possible link between autism and

> > pre-birth

> > > exposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.

> > > >

> > > > The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie

such

> > > conditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's

> > illness was

> > > frequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the

> > flare-up

> > > may have triggere! d her immune system to produce more

> > inflammatory

> > > cytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted brain

> > development in the

> > > fetus, the researchers proposed.

> > > >

> > > > (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of

> > reports,

> > > conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on autism,

> > taking

> > > a backward glance at its history and surrounding controversies,

> > facing

> > > facts revealed by research and looking forward to treatment

> > enhancements

> > > and expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming book,

> > " Suffer

> > > the Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our

> > Future, " to

> > > be published by Capital Books.)

> > > >

> > > > Next: Some autism study results p! oint in genetic

directions

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > --

> > > No virus found in this incoming message.

> > > Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> > > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:

> > 28/11/2006

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > --

> > > No virus found in this outgoing message.

> > > Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> > > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date:

> > 28/11/2006

> > >

> >

>

--

No virus found in this incoming message.

Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date: 28/11/2006

--

No virus found in this outgoing message.

Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release Date: 28/11/2006

[Guest guest]

Huh, unfortunately it looks like the calcium issue is MUCH more complex

than just glutamate toxicity... glutamate opens NMDA receptors and

allows extra calcium into the cell, but NMDA-glutamate pathway is just

one of the many ways calcium can enter the cell, and this extra

glutamate is most probably downstream conseqence of another problem in

calcium homeostasis = dysregulated VOLTAGE gated calcium channels, the

ones that get open by depolarisation, and that can be messed up badly,

directly and indirectly, by various agents such as VIRUSES (including

HIV proteins), metals, solvents, hypoxia, ishemia, maternal IgGs,

pesticides... take your pick.... hard to sum it up, it is going to take

me some 40 pages plus to really illustrate this issue and various

consequences it can have... Just to pick the one I was most stunned by

was uncovering that this particular calcium signalling pathway has A

DIRECT WAY TO GENETIC TRANSCRIPTION, something called CREB (look it up

on wikipedia), in other words this is the direct link to EPIGENETICS

that has been talked about a lot lately.

So there you have it, a huge up-yours to all those

" autism-is-all-genetic " bull***t theories, as this shows how external

agents have a very direct say on how our genes are

transcribed/expressed... so no matter what you have in your chromosomal

DNA it is only goint to come to surface (or not come to surface)

depending on what external things are going on in your life... if you go

back read that link on epigentics a few posts back, this is what I am

talking about.

And yes, calcium channel blockers and NMDA antagonists could be an

option, maybe, probably, possibly in some of the cases... hope someone

else will be able to answer this one day.

Natasa

> > > > >

> > > > > Thanks for posting this. The longer I go the more convinced

I

> > > am that

> > > > our babies's immune systems are what go haywire. Along with

> > > chelation (I

> > > > think chelation agents also offer some kind of immune

> > > regulation, dmsa

> > > > is thought to be an antiretroviral and dmps has been used to

> > > combat

> > > > AIDS) shoring up the child's immune system is very important.

> > > > >

> > > > > I don't follow a lot of what Dr. McCandless does or says but

> > > one thing

> > > > she was spot on about was her observation that she never saw

an

> > > ASD

> > > > child with a fully functioning immune system.

> > > > >

> > > > > We have been unable to use any antiviral product either rx

or

> > > otc due

> > > > to stomach or allergic rash issues, but shoring up her immune

> > > system

> > > > with products like Transfer Factor and Neutrophil Plus, in

> > > addition to

> > > > chelation are what I credit for her complete recovery.

> > > > >

> > > > > You have to do both; chelation to remove the heavy metals

and

> > > regulate

> > > > the immune system and at the same time, prop up the immune

> > > system in

> > > > whatever way you can.

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > Ped Med: The biological

> > > factor

> > > > in autism

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > Ped Med: The biological factor in autism

> > > > > By LIDIA WASOWICZ

> > > > > UPI Senior Science Writer

> > > > > SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Scientists trying to dig up

> > > the roots

> > > > of autism are unearthing mounting evidence of the immune

> > > system's

> > > > involvement in the intractable disorder.

> > > > >

> > > > > Scientific hints that the body's disease-fighting mechanisms

> > > play a

> > > > role in autism first surfaced in 1986, researchers said.

> > > > >

> > > > > However, for the most part, these studies were small and the

> > > results

> > > > inconclusive so that what now appears a logical concept didn't

> > > catch on

> > > > until more recently, said Amaral, professor of

psychiatry

> > > and

> > > > behavioral sciences at the University of California, ,

> > > School of

> > > > Medicine and Medical Center and M.I.N.D. research director.

> > > > >

> > > > > " You cannot have a normal neurodevelopment without having a

> > > normal

> > > > immune system, " said Judy Van de Water, an immunology

specialist

> > > at the

> > > > UC Center for Children's Environmental Health.

> > > > >

> > > > > " We know when these kids are faced with particular

> > > environmental

> > > > agents, such as certain bacteria, they don't respond as

> > > rigorously as

> > > > the control kids do. "

> > > > >

> > > > > Among other projects, she's looking into whether children

with

> > > autism

> > > > show signs of autoimmunity, a phenomenon in which the body's

> > > protective

> > > > system goes haywire, turning on the very tissues and organs

it's

> > > > supposed to safeguard from attack.

> > > > >

> > > > > " This is important because a lot of investigators have

> > > suggested that

> > > > patients with autism have auto-antibodies, so we're looking at

> > > whether

> > > > these kids have auto-antibodies to brain tissue, " she told an

> > > > international meeting on autism research in Boston.

> > > > >

> > > > > Indeed, when Van de Water probed the brain's

> > > disease-deflecting armor

> > > > in 30 autistic children ages 2 to 5 and 26 without the

disorder,

> > > she

> > > > detected a variation in the way specialized messenger

molecules

> > > called

> > > > cytokines react to bacteria and other health threats in the

two

> > > groups.

> > > > >

> > > > > These immune proteins, which normally get into gear when a

> > > response is

> > > > needed to injury or irritation, instead appear to be

constantly

> > > > " switched on, " or inflamed, in individuals with autism,

reported

> > > another

> > > > team, which veered off the beaten path to study the issue.

> > > > >

> > > > > Rather than taking the more common approach of looking at

the

> > > > immensely complex immune system as a whole, the investigators

> > > from s

> > > > Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and the

> > > University of

> > > > Milan in Italy decided to narrow their field of inquiry to

just

> > > a few

> > > > components within the relatively restricted environment of the

> > > central

> > > > nervous apparatus.

> > > > >

> > > > > They confined their search to the cell-coordinating

cytokines,

> > > > measuring their levels in brain tissue samples taken from 11

> > > children

> > > > and adults ages 5 to 44 who had died by accident, illness or

> > > injury.

> > > > >

> > > > > They observed the abnormal patterns of inflammation,

> > > reinforcing the

> > > > view that immune activation in the brain is involved in

autism.

> > > However,

> > > > the authors noted, it is not yet clear whether the

irregularity

> > > is

> > > > destructive or beneficial, or perhaps both, to the developing

> > > brain.

> > > > >

> > > > > Wanting to see if their findings would hold up, the

> > > investigators

> > > > followed up with an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from six

> > > children

> > > > with autism ages 5 to 12.

> > > > >

> > > > > As in the previous studies, they once again detected

elevated

> > > cytokine

> > > > levels, raising the possibility that ultimately doctors might

be

> > > able to

> > > > use these anomalies to diagnose autism or even that they might

> > > be able

> > > > to treat the inflammation, thereby preventing or reversing the

> > > disorder.

> > > > >

> > > > > But that's a long time and many studies away.

> > > > >

> > > > > First, they must deal with such challenges as figuring out

the

> > > > chicken-and-egg quandary that can sabotage attempts to

> > > definitively get

> > > > at the source of an ailment.

> > > > >

> > > > > In the case at hand, the scientists were uncertain whether

the

> > > > abnormality they observed is a cause or consequence of the

> > > disorder.

> > > > >

> > > > > Just as the body's first-aid response to a skinned knee is

to

> > > > protectively wall off the injury and ward off the agent of

harm

> > > with

> > > > heat, redness and swelling, so, too, it may be that the

> > > inflammation

> > > > detected by the researchers may represent the brain's efforts

to

> > > combat

> > > > some other cell-damaging process.

> > > > >

> > > > > The finding " backs up what we're seeing in the peripheral

> > > blood, that

> > > > perhaps there is a change in these kids and the cytokine

> > > production in

> > > > the brain is altered, " said Van de Water, who plans to conduct

> > > her own

> > > > investigation into what those changes mean, whether they

affect

> > > brain

> > > > function and how they might be related to some of the classic

> > > symptoms

> > > > of autism.

> > > > >

> > > > > For example, cytokines are known to affect slumber, and

sleep

> > > > disorders are a common complaint of individuals with autism.

> > > > >

> > > > > Among the next steps, scientists are looking into what role

> > > heredity

> > > > may play in the development of immune abnormalities in the

brain

> > > that

> > > > may stir up a susceptibility to autism.

> > > > >

> > > > > To get a clue, Van de Water and other researchers are

looking

> > > back,

> > > > sifting through tens of thousands of medical histories for any

> > > patterns

> > > > in the rates of earaches, colds and other infections in

autistic

> > > > youngsters.

> > > > >

> > > > > Although still preliminary, results of one study -- of

88,000

> > > babies

> > > > born between 1995 and 1999 in Northern California -- hint at

an

> > > > increased risk of autism in the offspring of mothers with

> > > psoriasis, a

> > > > chronic condition that runs in families.

> > > > >

> > > > > Some 3 million American women of child-bearing age have the

> > > disorder

> > > > marked by itchy, scaly, inflamed skin on the elbows, knees,

back

> > > and/or

> > > > scalp, according to the patient advocacy group Psoriasis Cure

> > > Now!

> > > > >

> > > > > The early findings also indicate expectant mothers suffering

> > > from

> > > > asthma and allergies -- particularly during the second

trimester

> > > -- may

> > > > face double the typical risk of giving birth to a child with

> > > autism.

> > > > >

> > > > > However, the presence during pregnancy of 45 other

autoimmune

> > > diseases

> > > > that turn the body against itself -- including rheumatoid

> > > arthritis,

> > > > type 1 diabetes, rheumatic fever, certain heart complications,

> > > lupus and

> > > > multiple sclerosis -- appear to have no bearing on the baby's

> > > autism

> > > > status, the study authors reported.

> > > > >

> > > > > These maladies are under scrutiny because they affect

> > > primarily women

> > > > -- who account for 78 percent of all cases -- and because

> > > chemicals

> > > > produced in response to their presence often are found at high

> > > levels in

> > > > the bloodstream of autistic children.

> > > > >

> > > > > That would suggest a possible link between autism and

> > > pre-birth

> > > > exposure to an autoimmune ailment, scientists said.

> > > > >

> > > > > The authors speculate a common genetic cause may underlie

such

> > > > conditions as asthma and autism. Or, because the mother's

> > > illness was

> > > > frequently diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, the

> > > flare-up

> > > > may have triggered her immune system to produce more

> > > inflammatory

> > > > cytokines, which, in turn, might have disrupted brain

> > > development in the

> > > > fetus, the researchers proposed.

> > > > >

> > > > > (Note: In this multi-part installment, based on dozens of

> > > reports,

> > > > conferences and interviews, Ped Med is keeping on eye on

autism,

> > > taking

> > > > a backward glance at its history and surrounding

controversies,

> > > facing

> > > > facts revealed by research and looking forward to treatment

> > > enhancements

> > > > and expansions. Wasowicz is the author of the forthcoming

book,

> > > " Suffer

> > > > the Child: How the American Healthcare System Is Failing Our

> > > Future, " to

> > > > be published by Capital Books.)

> > > > >

> > > > > Next: Some autism study results point in genetic directions

> > > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > --

> > > > No virus found in this incoming message.

> > > > Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> > > > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release

Date:

> > > 28/11/2006

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > --

> > > > No virus found in this outgoing message.

> > > > Checked by AVG Free Edition.

> > > > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.19/556 - Release

Date:

> > > 28/11/2006

> > > >

> > >

> >

>