October 21 - Immune System Abnormalities in Autism (Cleveland area biomedical support group meeting)

[Guest guest]

Hello!

Just a friendly reminder about our biomedical parent support group meeting coming up on October 21st in the Cleveland Area. Please note that the location of this meeting has changed to a more central venue and the time has also been slightly adjusted. Please consider passing on this information to anyone who may be interested. I have attached a flier in three formats for your convenience. Should you need me to send them to you in an individual email, please let me know at apattison@....

Thank you and I hope to see you at the meeting!!

Pattison

NAA-NEO

You are cordially invited to attend our Cleveland area

Biomedical Support Group Meeting

Discussing

Immune System Abnormalities in Autism

When?

October 21, 6:30 - 9 pm

Informal meeting to follow at one of the nearby venues

Where?

Independence Field House at 6354 Selig Blvd., Independence, OH

Map it by clicking here

For directions you may call (216) 522-0088 (front desk) at the Field House. It is the building directly attached to the Indepence High School - easy to find!

What?

Come learn about the immune system and how it is often found to function abnormally in children and individuals with autism. Learn about treatment options and experiences of other parents who have tried to address these issues in their children.

Who?

Shoemaker, Parent to Physician Liaison at Dr. DeMio's office and a mom to a highly recovered child will be at the meeting to give us a background on the above topic. Then an informal discussion and Q and A session will follow.

We primarily expect parents and caregivers of individuals with autism to attend but others are also welcome.

If you would like to attend, pease RSVP to at apattison@... or by calling 216.544.1231 by October 20. Room capacity is 30 people!

Thanks and I hope you will be able to make it!!

Pattison,

Program Manager at NAA-NEO

Providing grants and supports for the autism community and families with children with ASD - learn more at www.autismnortheastohio.org.

Apply for a Helping Hand Grant at www.autismnortheastohio.org. Applications are due November 15, 2008!

Resources:

I have included some excerpts re. the immune system and autism from various sites, below.

http://www.autismmedia.org/media3.html:

The majority of autistic children tested have skewed immune responses. From autoimmunity to brain protein to chronic IgA deficiencies, these children do not react to viruses, toxins or even foods as a regular functioning person would. For autistics who have these issues treated, there are instances of great improvement to their abilities and general health.

On this webpage you will find a link to a video presentation on autism and the immune system - a very good resource and learning tool.

Aristo Vojdani, PhD., M.T.

Aristo Vojdani received his PhD in Immunology and Microbiology from Bar Ilan University, Israel, and completed his post-graduate work at Tel Aviv University Medical Center and the University of California Hospital, Los Angeles. Dr. Vojdani's area of expertise includes early detection of cancer signals and markers, immune function disorders, immunotoxicology, chemically induced immune deficiency and autoimmune diseases, and immunoassay technology development. Dr. Vojdani has published

more than 80 articles in peer-reviewed journals, such as Cancer and Detection Prevention, Internal Medicine, Human and Experimental Toxicology, Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Cellular Immunology, Cancer Research, Immunopharmacology, and Molecular and Cellular Probes.

Dr. Vojdani is currently the CEO of Immunosciences Lab, Inc. in Beverly Hills, California.

This video is presented in 2 segments.

Another article from http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20040503/autism-linked-with-immune-system:

Autism Linked With Immune System

Children With Autism Have More Digestive, Food Allergies

By Jeanie Lerche WebMD Health News

May 3, 2004 -- Autism may be linked with immune system abnormalities. Researchers have uncovered a pattern of allergies among children with autism, especially food and digestive allergies.

Lead researcher Webb, MD, with Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, presented his report this week at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in San Francisco.

Autism is a complex disability that interferes with a person's ability to interact with others. Signs of autism are usually evident by age 3. Doctors have long believed that autism is caused by irregularities in brain function that affect the development of communication and social skills.

In his study, Webb analyzed Census Bureau data from 1997 to 2001 for about 55,000 households, identifying 152 children with autism.

He found that children with autism were almost three times more likely to have a reported history of a digestive or food allergy than other, healthy children. They also had slightly more respiratory and skin allergies, but they were less likely to have a reported history of asthma.

Among children in the general population, asthma rates are higher than digestive and food allergies, Webb notes.

Some research has shown that among children with autism, the immune cell receptors seem to be different, he writes. These receptors respond to allergy triggers, like pollen or certain food chemicals.

The findings warrant further research of this link between autism and allergic diseases, he writes.

SOURCE: Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting, San Francisco, May 1-4, 2004. News release, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.