Neural 'hyperconnections' caused by runaway protein production can be undone. By Dan Jones As diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder rise, the need for effective therapies has increased in urgency. Today, a paper in Nature describes two ways of reversing autism-like symptoms in a new mouse model of the condition. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects up to 1 in 110 people. Although a few drugs have shown promise in mouse models, none is able to treat the core social deficits common to ASD in humans. A team of researchers led by Nahum Sonenberg of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, created a new model of mouse autism, and then reversed its symptoms. They began by genetically engineering mice so that they lacked the gene Eif4ebp2. The 4E-BP2 protein that this produces suppresses the translation of certain messenger RNAs, so knocking out Eif4ebp2 allows the proteins that these mRNAs produce to be synthesized at above normal levels. Mice lacking Eif4ebp2 exhibit many autism-like symptoms, including poor social interaction, altered communication and repetitive behaviours. Sonenberg and his co-workers found that one group of proteins that proliferates in the absence of Eif4ebp2 is the neuroligins (NLGNs), which sit in the membrane of neurons and help … Continue reading →

Re: The Autism Project, Nov. 19 Pamelas Buttons story is at once about the resilience of the human spirit and the appalling obstacles put in its path. The fact that she was autistic makes both of these the more remarkable. The attempt to zap her into compliant normalcy through electroconvulsive treatment when she was 15 when she could not legally refuse it is symptomatic of a time and approach when do no harm meant much less than do anything to ensure normalcy. According to Pamela Button, the sheltered workshop that opened up when she was 16 saved her from a lifetime in an institution. How many others did not find such a place, but lived and died in bleak, isolated, cheerless places, their spirits broken, their voices silenced, and their stories untold? Julia Schneider, Stratford Your recent article about moms sometimes having symptoms of autism that affected their relationship with their autistic children. I worry that the impression left is that moms could be at fault for not demonstrating enough love. As a retired teacher of children with autism I can say that most parents were very loving and physically demonstrative, but their children were often limited in their ability … Continue reading →

Children with autism in Ontario can wait four years for an intensive therapy which, when provided early enough, could change the course of their lives. The Star surveyed the nine regional centres that manage autism services and found average wait times ranging from one year to four years for intensive behavioural intervention (IBI), the only sustained treatment paid for by the province. How quickly a child gets it depends on where he or she lives. In Toronto, children assessed and found eligible for the therapy, targeted at kids on the more severe end of the autism spectrum, wait an average of two years for a spot. That compares with 10 to 12 months in London and three years in Hamilton. Wait times for services in Ontario In Durham, York and Simcoe, the average wait is four years, according to Kinark Child and Family Services, Ontarios largest provider of autism services and the lead agency for the central east region, which spans a huge catchment area north and east of Toronto. By the time children in that region begin receiving IBI, they are on average 7.6 years old past the critical window between the ages of 2 and 7, when scientists … Continue reading →

Extra benefits coming from chest and breast stroke treatment qingdaomassagelady.com Qingdao Massage, a style associated with therapeutic massage applied to ladies breasts and chests. It starts off with a gentle stroke lower of the higher chest, and training collar bone fragments. After that continues right down to the particular external rib cage, as well as in the armpits, round the outside fringe of the breast tissue. Following that work your way underneath the busts, and also press securely, and up into the reduce part of the breast which dangles lower once the female is actually erect. Begin in order to strongly caress the particular external circumference of the breasts, in which the breast starts to stick out from your torso, together with your fingertips, circling across the perimeter. Make sure to provide the bosom a few attention, rubbing up and down between your bosoms, and also moving with average pressure. Next put your hands firmly around the reduced rib crate about 3-5 in . UNDER the bosom, as well as repeatedly squash securely, as well as stroke the lower rib crate having a honest level of stress. Work your way from in which in order to cupping the particular females … Continue reading →

Health rewards from chest as and breast stroke treatment shanghaimassagelady.com Shanghai Massage, a method of therapeutic massage utilized on ladies busts and also boxes. This begins with a mild stroke lower with the higher chest, as well as dog collar bone tissue. After that carries on down to the actual outside rib cage, as well as in the armpits, round the external side of the breast tissue. Following that come underneath the bosoms, and also push strongly, and up into the reduced section of the breast that weighs straight down if the female is erect. Then proceed to securely rub the actual outer border with the breast, in which the breast begins to protrude in the upper body, along with your tips of the fingers, circling around the perimeter. Make sure to supply the cleavage several interest, scrubbing along between the busts, and also sliding together with reasonable pressure. After that put your fingers securely around the lower rib cage about 3-5 in . Underneath the bosom, and also repeatedly press securely, as well as caress the reduced rib cage having a fair quantity of pressure. Come through in which to cupping the actual females bosom in your hands and … Continue reading →

ScienceDaily (Nov. 22, 2012) Scientists may have discovered a new way to prevent strokes in high risk patients, according to research from the University of Warwick and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW). Work by a new research group, led by Professor Donald Singer, Professor of Therapeutics at Warwick Medical School and Professor Chris Imray from UHCW, has now been published in US journal Stroke. The group is using ultrasound scanning to look at patients with carotid artery disease, one of the major causes of stroke. Clots can form on diseased carotid arteries in the neck. Small parts of these clots can released to form microemboli, which can travel to block key brain arteries and lead to weakness, disturbed speech, loss of vision and other serious stroke syndromes. Standard anti-platelet drugs such as aspirin may not prevent the formation of harmful microemboli. The scanning process can be used to find patients at very high risk of stroke because microemboli have formed despite prior anti-platelet drugs. Using scanning, the team has found that tirofiban, another anti-platelet drug designed to inhibit the formation of blood clots, can suppress microemboli where previous treatment such as aspirin has been ineffective. In their study, tirofiban … Continue reading →