Can Type 1 Diabetes Be Reversed?

Individuals with Type 2 diabetes are fortunate in that it's possible, with diet and lifestyle changes, to actually reverse the course of the disease. Even if they're unable to reverse Type 2, it's possible for them to avoid going on insulin by losing weight, watching carbs, and getting moderate exercise.

Those with Type 1, however, can't change the reality that they'll always need to take insulin since their bodies no longer make it. Or can Type 1 diabetes ever be reversed?

Very preliminary experiments suggest that it might in fact be possible to reverse Type 1 with an inexpensive vaccine that keeps the immune system from attacking pancreatic cells, reports the Los Angeles Times. Studies in mice already had documented the effectiveness of the tuberculosis vaccine known as BCG in Type 1 diabetes. That vaccine was shown to prevent T cells from attacking the insulin-secreting cells in the pancreas. In mice that got the vaccine, the pancreas began to regenerate and to produce insulin once again, effectively "curing" the mice of their diabetes.

An immune system protein called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is pivotal in the research. When blood levels of TNF are increased, studies show, the protein blocks other areas of the immune system that attack the body, particularly the pancreas.

Researchers report that humans who got low doses of the vaccine began to demonstrate transient increases in insulin production. At Massachusetts General Hospital, medical experts are getting ready to try higher doses of the vaccine in larger groups of people.

The research is intriguing: if the vaccine works, even those who've had Type 1 diabetes for awhile might have their pancreas function restored, reports the Los Angeles Times. That depends, of course, on whether it's possible to block the beta cell-destroying parts of the immune system. "It's fascinating research," says Spyros Mezitis, MD, Ph.D., endocrinology consultant at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "It's changing the way we think about Type 1 diabetes."

Further experiments are needed with more individuals who have Type 1 diabetes, Mezitis says. "And higher doses of BCG tuberculosis vaccine are needed to confirm these important results," he adds.

Immunology expert Eva Mezey, MD, who directs the adult stem-cell unit at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, called the study results "fascinating and very promising," according to the Los Angeles Times. She noted, though, that only a small number of patients had gotten good results, and that vaccinations would most likely need to be repeated on a regular basis.

Source:

Maugh, Thomas H. "Research shows promise in reversing Type 1 diabetes." 25 June 2011. Los Angeles Times.
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/25/health/la-he-bcg-diabetes-20110625

Food Allergies and Autism

If you have a child who has been diagnosed with autism and also suffers from food allergies, you may wonder if there's any relationship between these two serious conditions. In fact, some research does indicate that a link between food allergies and autism exists, yet the findings aren't consistent and exactly how the two topics relate seems to be a subject of great debate.
Food Allergies and Autism
A study published in the May 2009 Journal of Current Allergy and Asthma Reports makes reference to the fact that stomach ailments are indeed a common symptom of children who fall on the spectrum of autism disorders. But the researchers have questioned whether the two conditions are inter-related or if they could simply be two separate yet co-existing conditions.
Leading this effort are scientists from the New Jersey Medical School, who reviewed earlier research that found that food allergies did play a role in some, but not all, of the common gastrointestinal symptoms experienced by children with autism. They also looked at different alternative and complementary treatment options used and provided an overview of the risks and benefits of these approaches in an effort to help guide practitioners on the best way to address such issues.
The Vaccine Piece
It's also worth noting that some researchers have explored whether the MMR vaccine can be to blame for causing an adverse reaction that triggers both food allergies and autism. This concept was first raised in 1998 by a researcher named Andrew Wakefield, who did see a significant cause and effect relationship in this area. Yet his research findings were later retracted by some of his colleagues because a conflict of interest existed that could have skewed his results. Further, two studies published in the British Medical Journal in 2002 that delved into the topic were unable to confirm that any relationship existed between this vaccine and the conditions in question.
What You Can Do About Food Allergies and Autism
While all of the conflicting information about food allergies and autism can be quite confusing, it can be helpful to take a step back and remember that regardless of whether a connection exists, all children (with and without autism) are at risk for food allergies and may benefit from avoiding certain foods. To this end, a trial and error approach may work best when determining what type of diet is most appropriate for your child's needs. It can also be a good idea to consult with an allergist and determine whether your child may suffer from any serious food allergies that could put him at great risk.
Sources:
British Medical Journal
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/325/7361/419
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/324/7334/393
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19348719
Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies
http://www.behavior.org/AUTISM/index.cfm?page=http%3A//www.behavior.org/AUTISM/ahearn.cfm
The Journal of Pediatrics
http://www.jpeds.com/article/PIIS0022347605001897/fulltext

View the original article here

Autism and Vaccines: What's the Link?

Since 1998, when the British medical journal The Lancet published a study connecting the use of vaccines containing thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, with a spike in the diagnoses of autism, a debate has waged over the validity of such a hypothesis. Since then, a number of other studies have been published, and the link between autism and vaccines has remained in the public eye. In fact, actress Jenny McCarthy recently came forward, claiming that her son, Evan, developed the disorder after receiving a measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) shot. Is the evidence that supports these facts well-founded, or is the development of autism in these children just sheer coincidence?

The Lowdown on Mercury
A recent University of Rochester study published in the February issue of Pediatrics showed that ethyl mercury, the type used in thimerosal, was quickly excreted among the infants who took part in the study, meaning that unlike methyl mercury, which is often found in fish, ethyl mercury cannot establish a progressive, debilitating buildup in the body. Additionally, investigations undertaken in Denmark and by the California Department of Health concluded that the removal of thimerosal from childhood vaccines failed to result in a corresponding decrease in autism; in fact, diagnoses of the disorder continued to rise in the preservative's absence. Still, many parents stand firm in the belief that their autistic children would have been fine had they not received certain vaccines.

Why the Increase in Autism?
If autism isn't undeniably the result of vaccines, why the increase in the reported incidences of the disorder? Experts credit heightened public awareness and the greater pool of knowledge available to the medical community. Understandably, this provides little solace to concerned parents, especially in light of plight of Hannah Poling, the subject of a federal court case last year. Soon after the girl received five vaccines in 2000, she developed a high fever and exhibited signs of lethargy and irritability that persisted for 10 days and continued to surface over the following months. Doctors determined that Poling had a preexisting mitochondrial disorder that was exacerbated by the vaccination, leading to a regressive encephalopathy, a disease that causes the deceleration of brain activity, with autistic features.

However, scientists caution that Poling's case is quite rare. Mitochondrial disease, a genetic disorder in which the mechanisms that convert sugar and oxygen into cellular energy fail to function, often because of a stressor like a high fever, occurs among a very small segment of the population-each year about 4,000 children with the condition are born in the United States. And the likelihood that it will result in autism is also rather low, though researchers are still investigating the relationship between the disorders. Ironically, the diseases prevented by the vaccines in question are proven triggers for mitochondrial problems.

The Parental Plan
According to experts, the best thing that parents can do for their children is keep a watchful eye over them and maintain an open dialogue with their pediatrician. Remaining on track with regularly scheduled immunizations is also important. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, whooping cough has become a threat yet again. In 2005, more than 20,000 cases were reported and eight infants died during an outbreak in Texas. Childhood vaccinations, which since 2001 have been manufactured with little to no trace of thimerosal, are vital in the fight against diseases that have the potential to take thousands of lives.

View the original article here

Does an Autism Cure Exist

If you've recently learned that your child has autism, you may feel overwhelmed by this diagnosis and wonder if there's any cure. And while this is a controversial topic, some people believe that the answer may be yes, thanks to recent research efforts exploring this very question.

As many as one in 150 children suffers from autism, and this condition can cause a host of physical and developmental symptoms. Some advocacy groups in recent years have been promoting the idea that the condition can be cured, yet medical experts have stood firm on the fact that there isn't any way to reverse it. That being said, many believe that early behavioral interventions and therapies do seem to have meaningful benefits.

However, a study released in the FASEB Journal in April of 2010 offers new hope to autistic children and their families that the condition may indeed be effectively cured in the future.
Scientists from the George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C have discovered that it may be possible to identify autism by using a sample of a patient's blood, and then to effectively alter the person's gene state in order to reverse the symptoms.

To come to this conclusion, scientists looked at the levels of protein that were produced by two genes that are associated with autism disorder. While the findings are complicated, in the simplest terms these proteins seem to be lower in those people who've been diagnosed with autism than in healthy counterparts. This fact has led researchers to believe that they can identify the problem using blood samples and when needed, can also administer a medication that will block the associated chemical change (also called "tagging") in the DNA. In the process, this can actually reverse or cure the symptoms of autism that exist. This drug is also currently being successfully used in cancer patients.

These findings are particularly significant because they indicate that genetic changes are to blame for autism, rather than the disorder occurring as the result of a vaccine reaction, as some earlier research has suggested. Second, the findings demonstrate the need to correctly diagnose the condition and then use the information to determine how best to reverse and treat the associated symptoms. Finally, they offer real hope to parents of autistic children that their children can greatly increase their level of functioning with the proper intervention.

If your child has been diagnosed with autism, you should talk to your pediatrician about these results and find out how the information can help in his specific case. While it may be a while before the medications studied to alter the DNA tagging are available for patients on a widespread basis, you can support further research in this area and also help to spread the message that a cure for autism may soon exist.

Sources:

American Academy of Pediatrics/National Center for Medical Home Implementation
http://www.medicalhomeinfo.org/health/autism.html

FASEB Journal
http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/abstract/fj.10-154484v1

Yale Child Study Center
http://childstudycenter.yale.edu/autism/pdd.html

View the original article here

Food Allergies and Autism

If you have a child who has been diagnosed with autism and also suffers from food allergies, you may wonder if there's any relationship between these two serious conditions. In fact, some research does indicate that a link between food allergies and autism exists, yet the findings aren't consistent and exactly how the two topics relate seems to be a subject of great debate.

Food Allergies and Autism

A study published in the May 2009 Journal of Current Allergy and Asthma Reports makes reference to the fact that stomach ailments are indeed a common symptom of children who fall on the spectrum of autism disorders. But the researchers have questioned whether the two conditions are inter-related or if they could simply be two separate yet co-existing conditions.

Leading this effort are scientists from the New Jersey Medical School, who reviewed earlier research that found that food allergies did play a role in some, but not all, of the common gastrointestinal symptoms experienced by children with autism. They also looked at different alternative and complementary treatment options used and provided an overview of the risks and benefits of these approaches in an effort to help guide practitioners on the best way to address such issues.

The Vaccine Piece

It's also worth noting that some researchers have explored whether the MMR vaccine can be to blame for causing an adverse reaction that triggers both food allergies and autism. This concept was first raised in 1998 by a researcher named Andrew Wakefield, who did see a significant cause and effect relationship in this area. Yet his research findings were later retracted by some of his colleagues because a conflict of interest existed that could have skewed his results. Further, two studies published in the British Medical Journal in 2002 that delved into the topic were unable to confirm that any relationship existed between this vaccine and the conditions in question.

What You Can Do About Food Allergies and Autism

While all of the conflicting information about food allergies and autism can be quite confusing, it can be helpful to take a step back and remember that regardless of whether a connection exists, all children (with and without autism) are at risk for food allergies and may benefit from avoiding certain foods. To this end, a trial and error approach may work best when determining what type of diet is most appropriate for your child's needs. It can also be a good idea to consult with an allergist and determine whether your child may suffer from any serious food allergies that could put him at great risk.

Sources:

British Medical Journal

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/325/7361/419

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/324/7334/393

Current Allergy and Asthma Reports

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19348719

Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies

http://www.behavior.org/AUTISM/index.cfm?page=http%3A//www.behavior.org/AUTISM/ahearn.cfm

The Journal of Pediatrics

http://www.jpeds.com/article/PIIS0022347605001897/fulltext

View the original article here

Autism and Vaccines: What's the Link?

Since 1998, when the British medical journal The Lancet published a study connecting the use of vaccines containing thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, with a spike in the diagnoses of autism, a debate has waged over the validity of such a hypothesis. Since then, a number of other studies have been published, and the link between autism and vaccines has remained in the public eye. In fact, actress Jenny McCarthy recently came forward, claiming that her son, Evan, developed the disorder after receiving a measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) shot. Is the evidence that supports these facts well-founded, or is the development of autism in these children just sheer coincidence?

The Lowdown on Mercury
A recent University of Rochester study published in the February issue of Pediatrics showed that ethyl mercury, the type used in thimerosal, was quickly excreted among the infants who took part in the study, meaning that unlike methyl mercury, which is often found in fish, ethyl mercury cannot establish a progressive, debilitating buildup in the body. Additionally, investigations undertaken in Denmark and by the California Department of Health concluded that the removal of thimerosal from childhood vaccines failed to result in a corresponding decrease in autism; in fact, diagnoses of the disorder continued to rise in the preservative's absence. Still, many parents stand firm in the belief that their autistic children would have been fine had they not received certain vaccines.

Why the Increase in Autism?
If autism isn't undeniably the result of vaccines, why the increase in the reported incidences of the disorder? Experts credit heightened public awareness and the greater pool of knowledge available to the medical community. Understandably, this provides little solace to concerned parents, especially in light of plight of Hannah Poling, the subject of a federal court case last year. Soon after the girl received five vaccines in 2000, she developed a high fever and exhibited signs of lethargy and irritability that persisted for 10 days and continued to surface over the following months. Doctors determined that Poling had a preexisting mitochondrial disorder that was exacerbated by the vaccination, leading to a regressive encephalopathy, a disease that causes the deceleration of brain activity, with autistic features.

However, scientists caution that Poling's case is quite rare. Mitochondrial disease, a genetic disorder in which the mechanisms that convert sugar and oxygen into cellular energy fail to function, often because of a stressor like a high fever, occurs among a very small segment of the population-each year about 4,000 children with the condition are born in the United States. And the likelihood that it will result in autism is also rather low, though researchers are still investigating the relationship between the disorders. Ironically, the diseases prevented by the vaccines in question are proven triggers for mitochondrial problems.

The Parental Plan
According to experts, the best thing that parents can do for their children is keep a watchful eye over them and maintain an open dialogue with their pediatrician. Remaining on track with regularly scheduled immunizations is also important. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, whooping cough has become a threat yet again. In 2005, more than 20,000 cases were reported and eight infants died during an outbreak in Texas. Childhood vaccinations, which since 2001 have been manufactured with little to no trace of thimerosal, are vital in the fight against diseases that have the potential to take thousands of lives.

View the original article here