Comments on: More Research on Mitochondrial Disorders?

By: Deconstructing the Vaccine-Autism Scare

Deconstructing the Vaccine-Autism Scare — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:53:21 +0000

[...] abortion debate.” Dr. Parikh—-who has also written about junk science and autism and mitochondrial disorders—lauds Autism’s False Prophets for its cogent “examination of science and [...]

By: Back in Jersey Where There’s “Looming Dread of Autism”

Back in Jersey Where There’s “Looming Dread of Autism” — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:04:59 +0000

[...] this month, the Star-Ledger sought parental input about parents having “unfounded fears” of autism in a child. I spoke to Ms. [...]

By: Regan

Regan — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:10:22 +0000

Kristina said,
“Would it not be more accurate to say that her case “merits government research dollars” about vaccines, or mitochondrial disorders?”
————————–
I would agree. To state a priori that this is necessarily about autism seems to put the cart before the horse.
There may be more details, and I am sincerely sorry about the little girl’s death in CO, but as described I am not seeing the necessary autism connection, which makes the story seem somewhat disjointed if that point is being made.

By: daedalus2u

daedalus2u — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:32:33 +0000

“Mitochondrial deficiency can theoretically give rise to any symptom, in any organ or tissue, at any age, and with any mode of inheritance.”

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v440/n7084/full/440600a.html

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:04:08 +0000

I found the 3rd page of the Rachel Hotez story puzzling, too, especially the comment about her behaving like a much younger child.

By: Regan

Regan — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:56:51 +0000

Just something that might be related to this discussion, however I don’t have full text access and this is just the link page,
Autistic features part of global neurologic syndrome in children who have mitochondrial disease
Gregory M. Enns
July issue AAP News 2008 29: 20.

By: Regan

Regan — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:51:41 +0000

The Washington Post/Hotez article was interesting for the back story and kind of disturbing. I wonder if the situation with Rachel is as negative as portrayed, and whether that was a function of interview or editing. Certainly it conveyed a lack or insufficiency of access to appropriate services and supports for that family, not the least of whom is Rachel herself.

The paragraph that rang the truest to me in the story,
“It is not one disorder; it is at least several, and there are probably hundreds,” acknowledged Andrew Gerber, a Columbia University autism expert. “There are autisms– there is an autism spectrum disorder.”

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:04:43 +0000

Swimming kind of does, and sustained and regular physical, aerobic activity and conditioning—–who knows but maybe there’s some weights lying around the house that get picked up, for cross training…..

By: Chuck

Chuck — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:13:00 +0000

Many historical reprints are factually incorrect given current knowledge and may be considered politically incorrect to print in today’s newspapers.

By: Karin

Karin — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:33:56 +0000

Yes, this just blew my mind when I read it yesterday:

“Federal officials are also looking at a recent case of a 6-year-old from Colorado who was treated with the flu vaccine FluMist and shortly thereafter “became weak with multiple episodes of falling to the ground,” according to a report in The New York Times. She was hospitalized, had surgery and later died.

Her case offers more evidence, according to the specialists, that the potential link between vaccines and autism merits government research dollars.”

I’m sorry, tell me exactly why a child with a reaction to a flu vaccine, who becomes ‘weak’ and then dies, shows that the ‘potential link between vaccines and autism merit government dollars’ ??? Was this child autistic? Isn’t the usual argument that the vaccine causes autism? Or are we now going back to just plain ‘vaccines kill people, we shouldn’t be giving them’ and let’s all go back to the ‘good old days’ when polio, smallpox, measles, etc. ran rampant?