Autistic Children Have More Gray Matter in Brains

(HealthDay News) -- Children diagnosed with autism have more gray matter in their brains than healthy children, report researchers who used a novel imaging technique to analyze brain structure.

The excess gray matter in the parietal region may make it harder for autistic children to learn how to function socially by watching other people's behaviors, the researchers suggest. In contrast, increased gray matter among healthy children correlated with higher IQ, the researchers said.

The researchers, at the Fay J. Lindner Center for Autism, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System in Bethpage, N.Y., were to present their findings Nov. 28 at the Radiological Society of North America annual meeting, in Chicago.

The researchers analyzed the brain images of 13 males who had either high-functioning autism or Asperger Syndrome, a developmental disorder in the autism spectrum. The researchers compared the results with images from 12 healthy children who did not have autism. On average, the preteens were 11 years old.

The researchers used a technology called diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to produce a visual map of each child's brain. Scientists usually use DTI to visualize the brain's white matter, as well as the brain fibers. However, the research team applied it to the assessment of gray matter by employing apparent diffusion coefficient based morphometry (ABM), a new method that highlights brain regions with potential gray matter volume changes.

They found gray matter abnormalities throughout the brain, but particularly in the parietal lobe, which adds to previous research suggesting that mirror neurons found in that region play a key role in autism.

The increase in gray matter probably affects the action of the mirror neurons, said study investigator Manzar Ashtari, who is now a senior neuroscientist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Mirror neurons are those cells that activate when you perform an action and then see someone else perform the same action, or vice versa. These neurons have been dubbed the "monkey-see, monkey-do" cells.

"Mirror neurons allow us to learn without knowing we are learning and then respond appropriately in certain situations," said Ashtari. She hopes to explore the link between autism and mirror neurons in future studies, using brain imaging techniques to find out when, and if, mirror neurons are engaged at the appropriate times.

The challenge with imaging studies is getting beyond measures of volume to understand smaller and more localized changes, Ashtari said. Adding ABM to DTI gave the study researchers the ability to detect subtle regional or localized changes in the gray matter, which was not possible before, she said.

The brain structures of people with autism change over their life span, explained Ashtari, which poses a problem for researchers trying to understand the disorder. "I believe it's a very complex process the brain goes through with autism and we don't know much" about that process, she said.

Unfortunately, this new imaging technique can't be used to diagnose autism, Ashtari cautioned.
"Everyone is trying to find something that is very robust, to be able to say 'you take this test, do this screening, and then you know,'" she said.

Dr. Stewart H. Mostofsky is a pediatric neurologist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore. He agreed that it is too soon to use any imaging technique as a part of diagnosing autism.

"We are dealing with a disorder that is defined by symptoms," said Mostofsky, who was not involved in the study. He added that there are many different possible causes of autism, which means many different brain abnormalities. "The question beyond that is whether there is a common neuromechanism. That is not entirely clear. There is no evidence that would support imaging as a diagnostic tool."

Further, he cautioned that the new study had a very small number of high-functioning participants, so conclusions about brain abnormalities cannot be generalized to all people with autism.

Another expert lauded the new findings.

Dr. Vilayanur S. Ramachandran, professor of psychology and director of the Center for Brain and Cognition at the University of California, San Diego, called the new research "a landmark anatomical study which lends support to the increasing evidence that mirror neurons are an underlying cause of autism." He said the finding of excess gray matter suggests that one of the issues with the autistic brain may be a matter of malfunctioning connections between neurons, rather than the neurons themselves.

Ramachandran and his colleagues published work earlier this year in the journal Cognitive Brain Research that suggested that autistic children have a faulty mirror neuron system.

In February, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released statistics indicating that one in every 150 American 8-year-olds has autism spectrum disorders. A decade ago, estimates ranged anywhere from one in 500 youngsters to one in 166.

But those new statistics -- from a 14-state survey conducted by the CDC -- failed to clear up the mystery of why autism might be striking more and more children with each passing year.

More information
To learn more about autism, visit the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health.

Abilify Approved as Additional Treatment for Major Depression

(HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Abilify (aripiprazole) as an add-on therapy for people with major depressive disorder who don't benefit enough from antidepressant therapy alone, its makers said Tuesday.

Abilify, approved in November 2002 to treat schizophrenia, is among a class of medications called atypical antipsychotics. The latest approval followed clinical studies involving 743 patients.

Elderly people with dementia-related psychosis who are treated with atypical antipsychotics are at greater risk of death, drug maker Bristol-Myers Squibb warned in a statement.

Abilify is co-produced by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. of Japan.

Side effects of Abilify may include akathisia -- a syndrome characterized by feelings of inner restlessness and the urge to move. Other "adverse events" reported among clinical users included insomnia, constipation, fatigue, and blurred vision, the companies said.

More information
Learn more about this drug from the FDA.

Experience Total Body Cleansing and Rejuvenation

Try a Proprietary Formula for Detoxification based on Ayurveda - the Oldest and Most Holistic, Comprehensive Medical System Available. If you want to enjoy optimal health and eliminate fatigue, loss of energy, depressed appetite, allergies, muscle cramps, digestion problems, frequent headaches, and poor general health, there is proven help available.

India's men and women have been reaping the powerful benefits of Ayurveda Medicine for the past 5,000 years! Ayurtox is a natural supplement geared towards detoxifying your body and enriching your overall health. It will: Remove Toxins and Body Waste. Enhance Your Excretory System. Rejuvenate Internal Processes. Elevate Your Energy Levels. Decrease Allergic Reactions. Improve Your Overall Health.

more information:


http://www.ayurtox.com/index.htm?aff=dreddyclinic


http://dreddyclinic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5461

Oxy-Powder® Complete Cleansing System $147.75 [ learn more ] Complete Cleansing System with Livatrex™, Oxy-Powder®, Latero-Flora™, and two bottles of ParaTrex®.

Talking With Others May Make You Smarter

(HealthDay News) -- The gift of gab could boost brainpower, new research suggests.

A U.S. team found that talking to another person for 10 minutes a day improves memory and test scores.

They found that "socializing was just as effective as more traditional kinds of mental exercise in boosting memory and intellectual performance," lead author Oscar Ybarra, a psychologist at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, said in a prepared statement.

In one investigation, they analyzed data on 3,610 people, ages 24 to 96.

They found that the higher their level of social interaction, the better their cognitive functioning. Social interaction included getting together or having phone chats with relatives, friends and neighbors.

In another experiment, the researchers conducted lab tests on 76 college students, ages 18 to 21, to assess how social interactions and intellectual exercises affected the results of memory and mental performance tests.

The students were divided into three groups: The social interaction group had a discussion of a social issue for 10 minutes before taking the tests; the intellectual activities group completed three tasks (including a reading comprehension exercise and a crossword puzzle) before the tests; and a control group watched a 10-minute clip of the Seinfeld television show.

"We found that short-term social interaction lasting for just 10 minutes boosted participants' intellectual performance as much as engaging in so-called 'intellectual' activities for the same amount of time," Ybarra said.

The findings suggest that having a friendly chat with someone each day may be as helpful is staying mentally sharp as doing a daily crossword puzzle.

The study was expected to be published in the February 2008 issue of the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

More information
McGill University has more about memory and learning.

Breast-Feeding Cuts Food Allergy Risk

(HealthDay News) -- Breast-feeding in the first three months of life appears to help shield children from developing food allergies.

That's just one of a number of findings on food allergies scheduled to be presented this week at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in Dallas.

Research has determined a possible role for food allergy prevention strategies in high-risk children, including maternal food avoidance in pregnancy, breast-feeding, maternal food avoidance while breast-feeding, use of hypoallergenic formulas, delayed introduction of allergenic foods and probiotics, noted one expert.

"A review of 18 studies demonstrates a significant protective effect of exclusive breast-feeding for at least three months for children with high risk for atopy (genetic tendency to develop allergic diseases) against the development of atopic dermatitis and early childhood asthma-like symptoms," Dr. Robert Wood, international health director for pediatric allergy and immunology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, said in a prepared statement.

He offered a number of recommendations for children at high risk of allergic diseases:

• Women should avoid peanuts and tree nuts during pregnancy and while breast-feeding.


• Mothers should supplement breast-feeding with a hypoallergenic formula (extensively or partially hydrolyzed).


• Delay feeding these children solid foods until they're six months old.


• Delay introduction of milk and egg until age 1 and peanut and tree nuts until age 3.


• Start early intervention when signs of food allergy appear (secondary prevention).

In a planned presentation about allergies and dietary restrictions, another expert noted that a person may have an allergy to one member of a food family, but may be able to eat other members of the same food family.

For example, one study on nine common fish found cross-reactivity and allergenicity were highest among cod, salmon and pollack and lowest among halibut, flounder, tuna and mackerel.

Another study on edible nuts found cross-reactivity was strong among walnut, pecan and hazelnut; moderate among cashew, pistachio, Brazil nut and almond; and extremely low between peanut and tree nuts.

"You may be allergic to a particular part of a food, but not to another part," Dr. Sami Bahna, chief of allergy and immunology at Louisiana State University in Shreveport, said in a prepared statement.

Another expert said doctors need to consider food allergy as a potential cause of gastrointestinal or dermatological symptoms in patients.

"The eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGID) which may affect the esophagus, stomach, colon and rectum are mostly chronic and recurrent disorders that adversely impact quality of life for patients and families," Dr. Amal Assa'ad, director of the Food Allergy & Eosinophilic Disorders Clinic at Cincinnati Children's Medical Center, said in a prepared statement.

"Patients with EGID have a high rate of sensitization to food and environmental allergens, and many of them have a high rate of clinical symptoms with various food ingestions. A subset of patients respond to removal of major food allergens from their diet," Assa'ad said.

"EGID management often requires multiple specialists, including the primary physician, allergy and immunology, gastroenterology, nutrition and psychology," she noted.

More information
The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has more about food allergy.

Health Tip: When a Stomachache Requires Medical Attention

(HealthDay News) - While stomachache or abdominal pain are quite common and often harmless, these conditions sometimes can signal a more serious problem.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine says the following symptoms require a trip to the emergency room:

• Very sharp, severe and sudden pain.
• Fever along with your stomach or abdominal pain.
• Vomiting blood, or having bloody diarrhea.
• Soreness or tenderness in the abdomen.
• An abdomen that is hard and rigid.
• Inability to have a bowel movement, particularly if you are also vomiting.
• Pain in the chest, neck or shoulder.
• Dizziness or lightheadedness.

Many Vaccine Booster Shots Unnecessary: Study

(HealthDay News) -- Americans may be over-vaccinated against some diseases, according to a study that found the duration of protective immunity for many vaccines is greatly underestimated.

That means many people may be getting booster shots even though their immunity levels are adequate, the researchers say.

Based on the findings, it may be necessary to reevaluate timelines for vaccinating and revaccinating Americans against disease, said the Oregon Health & Science University researchers.

For this study, they analyzed 630 blood samples from 45 volunteers to determine each person's level of immunity against measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, mononucleosis, tetanus and diphtheria over an extended period of time.

"The goal of this study was to determine how long immunity could be maintained after infection or vaccination. We expected to see long-lived immunity following a viral infection and relatively short-lived immunity after vaccination, especially since this is the reasoning for requiring booster vaccinations," Mark Slifka, an associate scientist at the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, said in a prepared statement.

"Surprisingly, we found that immunity following vaccination with tetanus and diphtheria was much more long-lived than anyone realized, and that antibody responses following viral infections were essentially maintained for life," he said.

The study is published in the Nov. 8 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

"We want to emphasize that proper vaccination is vital for protecting people against infectious disease. We also need to mention that over-vaccinating the population poses no health or safety concerns -- it may just be unnecessary under certain circumstances," said Slifka, who has joint appointments at the Oregon National Primate Research Center and the department of molecular microbiology and immunology in the OHSU School of Medicine.

"What our study found was that the life span of protective immunity for certain vaccines is much longer than previously thought. So, what does that mean? Based on this data and other studies, we may want to consider adjusting some of our recommended vaccination schedules," Slifka said. "Doing so may reduce the number of required shots that are administered each year in this country while at the same time help extend limited health care resources."

More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about vaccines.

Immunice

Choose a Proprietary Formula for Immune System Support based on Ayurveda - the Oldest and Most Holistic, Comprehensive Medical System Available.

DOCTORS AND AYURVEDA SCIENCE AGREE ... Immunice's Herbal Formula Gives Safe, Lasting, and Meaningful Results.

If you want to enjoy optimal health and eliminate allergies, recurring chest discomfort, exhaustion, weakness and fatigue, aches and pains, and a generally poor immune system, there is proven help available. India's population has been reaping the powerful benefits of Ayurveda Medicine for the past 5,000 years!

Immunice is a natural supplement geared towards rebalancing your metabolism and rejuvenating and optimizing your immune system to regenerate and grow better and stronger each day naturally.
It will: Fortify Your Immune Cells.
Reduce Your Allergy Symptoms.
Enhance Your Breathing.
Improve Your Sleep.
Elevate Your Energy Level.
Raise Your Confidence.

Immunice is a product of: 5000 years of Ayurvedic wisdom. Modern testing and research.

Breakthrough encapsulation technique. Laboratory-controlled potency.
Doctor-approved, carefully calibrated formula.
http://www.immunice.com/index.htm?aff=dreddyclinic

Health Tip: Help Prevent Menstrual Cramps

(HealthDay News) - Cramps are a common symptom of a woman's monthly menstrual cycle.

Some women can prepare their bodies for their period, which may help reduce cramps.

At least two weeks before the period begins, the University of Maryland Medical Center suggests:

• Eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, avoiding junk foods and high-fat foods. Get protein in the form of lean meats, fish and eggs.
• Getting extra omega-3 fatty acids by eating oily fish like salmon and tuna.
• Reducing your salt intake.
• Limiting caffeine, sugar and alcohol.