PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 29-Oct-2014 Contact: Evelyn Martinez sciencenewsroom@wiley.com 201-748-6358 Wiley A new study published today in The Cochrane Library, highlights the difficult decisions women with epilepsy have to face when they become pregnant. Taking certain drugs used to control epilepsy during pregnancy may be linked to developmental problems in children. The authors of the study say evidence on the safety of anti-epileptic drugs is limited and that more research is needed to ensure women and their doctors make the most informed choices. Studies on children born to women with epilepsy increasingly suggest that some anti-epileptic medications affect development in the womb. However, most women with epilepsy rely on these medications to control seizures during pregnancy. To assess the safety of taking anti-epileptics during pregnancy, the researchers drew together evidence from 28 studies. They measured children's global cognitive ability using either intelligence quotient (IQ), for school aged children, or developmental quotient (DQ), for younger children, to provide a summary of development across a range of cognitive skills. The researchers looked at DQ and IQ scores in the children of three groups of women: those with epilepsy who took anti-epilepsy medication, those with epilepsy who did not take epilepsy medication and those … Continue reading →

Health officials hit back at e-cig claims Health professionals say more research is needed to prove using e-cigarettes is a good way to quit smoking. According to new health figures, Australian women are far less likely to survive a heart attack than men. Research says high factor sunscreen can't be relied on to protect against the deadliest skin cancer form. A British study using skin electrodes has found men experience greater levels of emotion than women. High protein diets may protect against stroke, especially if they contain a lot of fish, scientists say. Driving too much is bad for your health, according to a study of 40-thousand middle-aged Australians. Researchers say the financial crisis may have led to thousands of suicides in Europe and North America. Biologists have devised a new weapon against malaria by genetically engineering mosquitoes. Stomach-shrinking bariatric surgery beats other forms of treatment in bringing about remission of diabetes. Here is the original post: Epilepsy experts share PM's $300k prize … Continue reading →

By Lisa M. Krieger lkrieger@mercurynews.com Dozens of different gene defects are linked to autism, according to two major new studies of the developmental disorder led by UC San Francisco scientists and involving more than 50 laboratories worldwide. The mutations -- which may work alone or in combination -- are all connected by their roles in a few basic molecular pathways, which could be targets for future treatments, according to the two studies, published Wednesday in the journal Nature. "The genes that we identify are critically important clues about the underlying biology of autism, which we really need to understand to know what is going wrong," said Dr. Matthew W. State, UCSF professor of psychiatry, a co-leader of one study and a key participant in the second. Not all cases of autism have a gene-based beginning. Growing brains can also be influenced by environmental events. In many cases, a combination of factors may be involved, he said. While a rare few of the newly detected mutations are inherited from the parents' genomes, most families do not have a family history of the disorder. Rather, these mutations arose during the creation of a father's sperm cell or mother's egg cell, they found. … Continue reading →

Corpus Christi, TX (PRWEB) October 30, 2014 Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD), Inc. today announced the receipt of a $448,000 Autism Program grant from the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). The grant will allow CARD to provide home-based, center-based, and school services for up to 24 months to underserved children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who live in Corpus Christi and outlining areas. We are excited that Texas has allocated the resources to ensure that all children with autism get the treatment they need to lead happy, healthy lives, said CARD operations manager, Dorothy Light, M.A. Our team will partner with families, teachers and administrators to ensure these children see measurable results from their behavioral treatment. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission GIS/Demographic Team estimates 26,700 children in Texas, between the ages of three and eight years old, are diagnosed with autism. The DARS Autism Program will help the state identify models that best serve these children and will enable lawmakers to strengthen the state's efforts to serve those affected by autism. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), estimates that one in every 68 children in America is diagnosed with ASD, with … Continue reading →

TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Brothers and sisters of children with autism can show signs of the disorder as early as 18 months of age, a new study says. About 20 percent of younger siblings of children with autism will be diagnosed with autism by age 3, the Yale University researchers said. Their study included 719 younger siblings of children with autism. The siblings were assessed when they were 18 months old and again at age 3. Among those who were later diagnosed with autism, 57 percent showed signs of the disorder at 18 months and the rest developed symptoms between 18 and 36 months, the study authors reported. In 50 percent of the siblings, a combination of poor eye contact and lack of communicative gestures or imaginative play at 18 months was most strongly associated with a later diagnosis of autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A small percentage of siblings who were later diagnosed with autism had relatively normal eye contact at 18 months, but had started to display limited nonverbal communication skills and early signs of repetitive behavior, the investigators found. "So not only do the behavioral symptoms appear at different ages, but … Continue reading →

According to the US Census 2013, there are an estimated 5,853 children in the state of New Mexico who under the age of 18 and diagnosed with Autism Spectrum. Applied Behavior Analysis is recognized as a the only evidence-based treatment of autism. It is now a state-mandated benefit covered by many of New Mexico's leading health plans, including the state Medicaid Program. While there are several reputable ABA provider organizations throughout the state, the severe shortage of certified providers, coupled with New Mexico's rural landscape, has created significant barriers for families seeking treatment. In 2013, there were only 26 certified behavior analysts statewide. The Behavior Analyst Certification Board indicates that the average caseload for one behavior analyst supervising focused treatment is 16-24 patients. This leaves an estimated 5229 individuals under the age of 18 without access to this medically necessary treatment. In an effort to enhance access and build capacity in New Mexico's rural communities, provider organizations like Behavior Change Institute are relying on advanced technology to deliver treatment via a researched-based telemedicine model. Under this model, local Behavior Technicians are hired and trained to implement intensive 1:1 treatment in family homes, schools, and community-based settings. Where families do not … Continue reading →