Health posts
- March 16, 2016
- 09:59 AM
- 472 views
An open letter to all science lovers who want to defend science ... please don't.
Last week I had an animated discussion on Facebook over an older post in which I describe some literature I dug out on possible (underline “possible”!) correlations with autism. True, my post is highly incomplete, but it was meant as a discussion starter to point at things that scientists have been looking at in an attempt to unravel what feels like a rise in autism. Is autism the new childhood plague of our modern society or has it always been around and we just became more aware of it? And........ Read more »
Kushak RI, Buie TM, Murray KF, Newburg DS, Chen C, Nestoridi E, & Winter HS. (2016) Evaluation of Intestinal Function in Children with Autism and Gastrointestinal Symptoms. Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition. PMID: 26913756
Li, Q., & Zhou, J. (2016) The microbiota–gut–brain axis and its potential therapeutic role in autism spectrum disorder. Neuroscience. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.03.013
Heijtz, R., Wang, S., Anuar, F., Qian, Y., Bjorkholm, B., Samuelsson, A., Hibberd, M., Forssberg, H., & Pettersson, S. (2011) Normal gut microbiota modulates brain development and behavior. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(7), 3047-3052. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1010529108
Mulle, J., Sharp, W., & Cubells, J. (2013) The Gut Microbiome: A New Frontier in Autism Research. Current Psychiatry Reports, 15(2). DOI: 10.1007/s11920-012-0337-0
- March 16, 2016
- 03:39 AM
- 358 views
9% of those diagnosed with autism might have optimal outcome?
by Paul Whiteley in Questioning Answers
"Although for many children, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong disability, a subset of children with ASD lose their diagnosis and show typical cognitive and adaptive abilities."Unfortunately, that sentence taken from the report by Emily Moulton and colleagues [1] including one Deborah Fein on the authorship list, is not likely to be taken well by some people. Indeed, the whole concept of 'optimal outcome' with autism in mind (see here) has sometimes been met with outright hostility de........ Read more »
Moulton E, Barton M, Robins DL, Abrams DN, & Fein D. (2016) Early Characteristics of Children with ASD Who Demonstrate Optimal Progress Between Age Two and Four. Journal of autism and developmental disorders. PMID: 26895327
- March 15, 2016
- 03:44 PM
- 389 views
Where aging memories get stored in the brain
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
Think back to when you were a child. Now instead, try to think of something that happened just a few minutes ago; would you believe that you are using different portions of the brain? When we remember events which occurred recently, the hippocampus is activated. This area in the temporal lobe of the brain is a hub for learning and memory. But what happens, if we try to remember things that took place years or decades ago?
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Lux, V., Atucha, E., Kitsukawa, T., & Sauvage, M. (2016) Imaging a memory trace over half a life-time in the medial temporal lobe reveals a time-limited role of CA3 neurons in retrieval. eLife. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.11862
- March 15, 2016
- 08:38 AM
- 146 views
Pre-Nephrectomy Kidney Volume Matters
by Cristy at Living Donor 101 in Living Donors Are People Too
Pre-nephrectomy (kidney removal) volume, otherwise known as parenchyma ,was measured in 75 patients who underwent the procedure from 2000-2010. “Over median follow-up of 36 months postsurgery, progression to Chronic Kidney Disease (defined as GFR less than 60) occurred in 42.6% of patients…Median time to reach CKD postnephrectomy is 12.7 (range 0.03–43.66) months for renal volume …
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Wu, F., Tay, M., Tai, B., Chen, Z., Tan, L., Goh, B., Raman, L., & Tiong, H. (2015) Preoperative Renal Volume: A Surrogate Measure for Radical Nephrectomy-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease. Journal of Endourology, 29(12), 1406-1411. DOI: 10.1089/end.2015.0318
- March 15, 2016
- 03:30 AM
- 362 views
Measuring anxiety comorbid to autism
by Paul Whiteley in Questioning Answers
Anxiety, whether reaching clinical thresholds or manifesting as something rather more subtle, is a common theme in autism research and practice these days. I've talked about it enough times on this blog (see here and see here for example) reflective of the growth in this peer-reviewed research area that has continued unabated.Recognition of just how 'disabling' anxiety can be for someone on the autism spectrum is fairly widely noted these days. Problems however, still remain in terms of (i) how ........ Read more »
Rodgers J, Wigham S, McConachie H, Freeston M, Honey E, & Parr JR. (2016) Development of the anxiety scale for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASC-ASD). Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research. PMID: 26887910
- March 14, 2016
- 02:19 PM
- 379 views
Decrypting a collagen’s role in schizophrenia
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
What would be worse than having bad joints? How about schizophrenia and bad joints? To be fair that isn’t what is suggested, but they may, in fact, be linked. A small peptide generated from a collagen protein may protect the brain from schizophrenia by promoting the formation of neuronal synapses and study may lead to new approaches to treating the mental disorder.
... Read more »
Su, J., Chen, J., Lippold, K., Monavarfeshani, A., Carrillo, G., Jenkins, R., & Fox, M. (2016) Collagen-derived matricryptins promote inhibitory nerve terminal formation in the developing neocortex. The Journal of Cell Biology, 212(6), 721-736. DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201509085
- March 14, 2016
- 02:19 PM
- 285 views
Decrypting a collagen’s role in schizophrenia
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
What would be worse than having bad joints? How about schizophrenia and bad joints? To be fair that isn’t what is suggested, but they may, in fact, be linked. A small peptide generated from a collagen protein may protect the brain from schizophrenia by promoting the formation of neuronal synapses and study may lead to […]... Read more »
Su, J., Chen, J., Lippold, K., Monavarfeshani, A., Carrillo, G., Jenkins, R., & Fox, M. (2016) Collagen-derived matricryptins promote inhibitory nerve terminal formation in the developing neocortex. The Journal of Cell Biology, 212(6), 721-736. DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201509085
- March 14, 2016
- 01:59 PM
- 396 views
How machines used to resurface ice rinks can also resurface your lungs
by Rosin Cerate in Rosin Cerate
In a previous post, I discussed how the introduction of the automobile also introduced a bunch of new ways for people to hurt themselves. Similarly, an injury known as ice hockey lung didn't exist until a key advance was made in the world of ice sports: motorized ice resurfacing machines. Otherwise known as Zambonis (the same way Kleenex is a catch-all term for different brands of tissue paper), they were developed in the 1940s as a means of quickly and efficiently restoring ice sheets carved up........ Read more »
Brat K, Merta Z, Plutinsky M, Skrickova J, & Stanek M. (2013) Ice hockey lung - a case of mass nitrogen dioxide poisoning in the Czech Republic. Canadian Respiratory Journal, 20(6), 100-103. PMID: 24032121
- March 14, 2016
- 03:49 AM
- 390 views
Methyl B12 for autism? Placebo-controlled results say maybe...
by Paul Whiteley in Questioning Answers
"Methyl B12 treatment improved clinician-rated symptoms of ASD [autism spectrum disorder] that were correlated with improvements in measures of methionine metabolism and cellular methylation capacity."Those were the very encouraging results published by Robert Hendren and colleagues [1] who can now update their ClinicalTrials.gov study entry (see here). Building on the ideas that: "Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been reported to have reduced ability to methylate DNA ........ Read more »
Hendren RL, James SJ, Widjaja F, Lawton B, Rosenblatt A, & Bent S. (2016) Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Methyl B12 for Children with Autism. Journal of child and adolescent psychopharmacology. PMID: 26889605
- March 13, 2016
- 03:40 PM
- 408 views
New learning procedure for neural networks
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
Rustling leaves, a creaking branch: To a mouse, these sensory impressions may, at first, seem harmless — but not if a cat suddenly bursts out of the bush. If so, they were clues of impending life-threatening danger. Researcher Robert Gütig has now found how the brain can link sensory perceptions to events occurring after a delay.
... Read more »
Gutig, R. (2016) Spiking neurons can discover predictive features by aggregate-label learning. Science, 351(6277). DOI: 10.1126/science.aab4113
- March 12, 2016
- 03:08 PM
- 411 views
People with anxiety show fundamental differences in perception
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
People suffering from anxiety perceive the world in a fundamentally different way than others, according to a new study. The research may help explain why certain people are more prone to anxiety. The study shows that people diagnosed with anxiety are less able to distinguish between a neutral, “safe” stimulus (in this case, the sound of a tone) and one that had earlier been associated with gaining or losing money.
... Read more »
Laufer, O., Israeli, D., & Paz, R. (2016) Behavioral and Neural Mechanisms of Overgeneralization in Anxiety. Current Biology. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.01.023
- March 12, 2016
- 03:26 AM
- 356 views
Psychopharmacologic intervention for adults with autism: systematically reviewed
by Paul Whiteley in Questioning Answers
"The results indicate that only two medications, fluoxetine and risperidone, can be considered as promising evidence-based practices for adults with ASD [autism spectrum disorder]."So said Lauren Taylor [1] and her (systematic) review of what might work, pharmaceutically speaking, when it comes to managing "behavioural disturbance in adults with ASD." Including over 40 studies examining psychopharmacology in adults diagnosed with ASD, Taylor concluded that many medicines/formulations did no........ Read more »
Taylor, L. (2016) Psychopharmacologic intervention for adults with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic literature review. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 58-75. DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2016.01.011
- March 11, 2016
- 02:17 PM
- 406 views
Finding the circuit for experience-informed decision-making
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
How is the brain able to use past experiences to guide decision-making? A few years ago, researchers discovered in rats that awake mental replay of past experiences is critical for learning and making informed choices. Now, the team has discovered key secrets of the underlying brain circuitry — including a unique system that encodes location during inactive periods.
... Read more »
Kay, K., Sosa, M., Chung, J., Karlsson, M., Larkin, M., & Frank, L. (2016) A hippocampal network for spatial coding during immobility and sleep. Nature, 531(7593), 185-190. DOI: 10.1038/nature17144
- March 11, 2016
- 09:24 AM
- 240 views
OPTN Standards For Transplant Surgeons Are Too Low
by Cristy at Living Donor 101 in Living Donors Are People Too
This excerpt pretty much says it all: The learning curve [of a surgeon specializing in laparoscopic donor nephrectomy], defined by decreased operating time, averaged 35 cases. Improved intra-operative, patient, and recipient outcomes were observed for centers performing ?50 LDNs annually. The United Network of Organ Sharing [UNOS; in this case used as a synonym for …
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The post OPTN Standards For Transplant Surgeons Are Too Low appeared first on Living Donors Are Peo........ Read more »
Raque, J., Billeter, A., Lucich, E., Marvin, M., & Sutton, E. (2015) Training techniques in laparoscopic donor nephrectomy: a systematic review. Clinical Transplantation, 29(10), 893-903. DOI: 10.1111/ctr.12592
- March 11, 2016
- 04:29 AM
- 356 views
Introducing MARA: The Mobile Autism Risk Assessment
by Paul Whiteley in Questioning Answers
I just had to post an entry about the latest Duda/Wall combo paper [1] continuing their machine learning voyage through autism screening and assessment (see here) culminating in an important end-point: the MARA - Mobile Autism Risk Assessment.So, what is the MARA? Well, we are told it is: "a new, electronically administered, 7-question autism spectrum disorder (ASD) screen to triage those at highest risk for ASD."What seven questions?"1. How well does your child understand spoken language, based........ Read more »
Duda, M., Daniels, J., & Wall, D. (2016) Clinical Evaluation of a Novel and Mobile Autism Risk Assessment. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-016-2718-4
- March 10, 2016
- 02:50 PM
- 477 views
Alzheimer’s on and now Alzheimer’s off?
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
Alzheimer's disease, is anything more frustrating than seeing someone -- who otherwise looks healthy -- start to forget who you are? Worse than that, we don't know exactly what causes Alzheimer's disease, or how to stop it. Well actually that might be changing. Don't get too excited, because we've had false starts before, but an international group of scientists have succeeded in sorting out the mechanism of Alzheimer's disease development and possibly distinguished its key trigger.
... Read more »
Istrate, A., Kozin, S., Zhokhov, S., Mantsyzov, A., Kechko, O., Pastore, A., Makarov, A., & Polshakov, V. (2016) Interplay of histidine residues of the Alzheimer’s disease Aβ peptide governs its Zn-induced oligomerization. Scientific Reports, 21734. DOI: 10.1038/srep21734
- March 10, 2016
- 02:55 AM
- 412 views
Omega-3 fatty acids, 'antibiotic exposure-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis' and obesity
by Paul Whiteley in Questioning Answers
The findings reported by Kaliannan and colleagues [1] provide food for thought today and the suggestion that in mice at least: "elevated tissue levels of omega-3 fatty acids significantly reduce body weight gain and the severity of insulin resistance, fatty liver, and dyslipidemia resulting from early-life exposure to azithromycin (AZT)."Azithromycin is an antibiotic quite commonly used for treating a number of bacterial infections. The idea that antibiotic use, and specifically the effects........ Read more »
Kaliannan K, Wang B, Li XY, Bhan AK, & Kang JX. (2016) Omega-3 fatty acids prevent early-life antibiotic exposure-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis and later-life obesity. International journal of obesity (2005). PMID: 26876435
- March 9, 2016
- 02:36 PM
- 421 views
Want a younger brain? Stay in school — and take the stairs
by Dr. Jekyll in Lunatic Laboratories
Taking the stairs is normally associated with keeping your body strong and healthy. But new research shows that it improves your brain’s health too — and that education also has a positive effect. Researchers found that the more flights of stairs a person climbs, and the more years of school a person completes, the “younger” their brain physically appears.
... Read more »
Steffener, J., Habeck, C., O'Shea, D., Razlighi, Q., Bherer, L., & Stern, Y. (2016) Differences between chronological and brain age are related to education and self-reported physical activity. Neurobiology of Aging, 138-144. DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2016.01.014
- March 9, 2016
- 09:07 AM
- 198 views
Older Kidneys Are A Good Alternative For Older Recipients
by Cristy at Living Donor 101 in Living Donors Are People Too
“[Deceased donor] organs from older donors are often discarded due to the macroscopic appearance of the parenchyma or major vessels. On the other hand, a large number of elderly patients are potential candidates for kidney transplantation, while many kidneys from elderly deceased donors are discarded due to a lack of age-matched recipients. In addition, a …
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The post Older Kidneys Are A Good Alternative For Older Recipients appeared first on Living Donors Are ........ Read more »
Morales, E., Gutiérrez, E., Hernández, A., Rojas-Rivera, J., Gonzalez, E., Hernández, E., Polanco, N., Praga, M., & Andrés, A. (2015) Preemptive kidney transplantation in elderly recipients with kidneys discarded of very old donors: A good alternative. Nefrología (English Edition), 35(3), 246-255. DOI: 10.1016/j.nefroe.2015.07.003
- March 9, 2016
- 02:39 AM
- 419 views
Blood lead levels and 'autistic behaviors in school-age children'
by Paul Whiteley in Questioning Answers
Lead (Pb) has been in the news quite a lot recently. The Flint water crisis (see here for some background) has brought back into stark view why science has pretty conclusive labelled lead as "a neurotoxin with no physiological functions in the human body, the ideal concentration of which in the blood is zero" [1].I've talked about lead and behaviour quite a bit on this blog (see here and see here for example). The crux of the combined peer-reviewed research looking at lead and children is that t........ Read more »
Kim, K., Kwon, H., & Hong, Y. (2016) Low-level lead exposure and autistic behaviors in school-age children. NeuroToxicology. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2016.02.004
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