Gabby's Health News Brief (12/27/08)

[Guest guest]

1) Chilling Mercury Video:

 

 

Surinamese authorities could have seen in many mercury poisoned places in the

world what is coming up to Suriname by the gold mining activities in the

interior.

This video shows how mercury pollution affects the life of indigenous people in

Ontario / Canada.

1970 the territory of the Grassy Narrows 1st nation was severely poisoned, a

human disaster and a " writing on the wall " for all Surinamers as well as for all

friends of this marvellous tropical country.

 

 

2) The Unavoidable Hidden Factor that Greatly Contributes to Autism:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/12/25/the-unavoidable-hi\

dden-factor-that-greatly-contributes-to-autism.aspx

 

 

3) Important Vitamin D Update Now:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FDN/is_1_13/ai_n25332537/pg_1?tag=artBod\

y;col1

 

 

4) CTI Science Foundation Where Autism Treatment Meets Generosity:

http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/12/cti-science-foundation-where-autism-treatment\

-meets-generosity.html

 

 

5) Unbelievable Correspondence With CDC About Vaccine Safety:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/12/23/unbelievable-corre\

spondence-with-cdc-about-vaccine-safety.aspx

 

 

6) The Dangers of Aspartame (VIDEO):

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/12/23/the-dangers-of-asp\

artame.aspx

 

 

7) Tamiflu Not Much Help This Year:

 

The medical arsenal against the flu just got weaker. Government health officials

said Friday that a leading flu medicine, Tamiflu, might not work against all

cases of the flu this year. The most common flu bug right now is overwhelmingly

resistant to Tamiflu, they said. The alert is " an early heads-up " for doctors.

If current trends continue, they may need to change how they treat patients this

flu season, said Dr. Gerberding, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention.

Health officials say they aren't too worried, for several reasons. First, it's

early in the flu season, and it's not clear this strain will dominate through

the next several months. Second, not many people take antiviral medications for

the flu.

Third, the flu vaccine — the primary weapon against flu — seems well matched

against the circulating bugs. But doctors need to take it seriously, said

Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious diseases expert. " Each

influenza seasons provides a bit of a surprise and we got our (surprise) a

little early this year, " he added.

For the public, the best course of action is vaccination, health officials said.

Only about 30 percent of U.S. adults had gotten a flu vaccination this flu

season, according to an online survey conducted by the RAND Corporation in

November. A flu shot is recommended for those 50 and older, children from 6

months to 18 years, pregnant women, nursing home patients and those with certain

medical conditions or who care for people with those conditions.

For people who get the flu, the two most commonly used antivirals are Tamiflu, a

pill also known as oseltamivir, and Relenza, an inhaled drug also called

zanamivir. The drugs are most effective if taken within two days of getting sick

but most people don't see a doctor that quickly.

Early tests indicate that 49 of 50 samples of the main flu virus circulating

this year — H1N1 — were resistant to Tamiflu. The samples came mainly from

Hawaii, Texas and ten other states. Widespread flu has not yet been reported in

most of the country. " It could fizzle out, " or H1N1 could become the dominant

strain, Gerberding said.

A spokesman for Tamiflu's manufacturer — Roche, a Swiss company — said it's too

early to draw strong conclusions about the drug's usefulness this flu season.

The basis of the CDC's alert " is a small sample in a limited number of states,

and Tamiflu is showing good activity against other circulating viruses, " said

spokesman Terry Hurley.

For those sick with the flu, doctors cannot simply choose Relenza instead of

Tamiflu. That treatment is not approved for children younger than 7 or people

who have asthma or certain other breathing problems. GlaxoKline PLC, which

makes Relenza, said Friday it has enough to meet the demands of the current flu

season.

An option for some patients, Gerberding said, may be a combination of Tamiflu

and rimantadine, another antiviral medication that works against H1N1 but lost

effectiveness against another kind of flu virus.

However, it's not clear how well that combination will work, Schaffner said..

" This is a 'best advice with our back against the wall' kind of thing, " he said.

Copyright AP

 

8) Heard the latest about autism?

Researchers recently discovered a new and interesting fact about kids with

autism: they process sound slower than other kids. It's just a fraction of a

second slower, but it's believed that this finding could be a significant

insight into the many language and listening problems that plague the children

who suffer from this cruel disorder.

There are many variations to the autism " spectrum, " but the impairment of even

the most basic forms of communication is one of the hallmarks of the disorder.

Researchers detected the sound delay issue using magnetic imaging of brain

activity in autistic children.

Study author says that the hope is that magnetic imaging

techniques can detect the issue earlier, so that children can be treated

earlier.

Often, autism is not detected in children until they are toddlers. But with

autism, early intervention is key to putting kids on the right therapies so

their particular place on the " spectrum " can be better understood. So while this

new technique can't pinpoint the " why's " of autism, it's a potentially huge

weapon in the struggle to help the " how's " of dealing with the disorder.

Cutting through the B.S.,

s II, M.D

 

 

9) Jon Rappoport... interview of ex vaccine researcher:

http://avropa.spaces.live.com/blog/cns/

 

 

10) New Clues to Who Is Susceptible to Autism Via Vaccine Injury:

http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/12/new-clues-to-who-is-susceptible-to-autism-via\

-vaccine-injury.html

 

 

11) What is " neuroplasticity " and why do parents and SLPs need to know?

http://www.apraxia-kids.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=chKMI0PIIsE & b=788461\

& ct=1990523

 

 

12) Bugs in the Brain:

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=bugs-in-the-brain

 

 

13) Autism Night Before Christmas

by Waeltermann:

Twas the Night Before Christmas

And all through the house

The creatures were stirring

Yes, even the mouse

We tried melatonin

And gave a hot bath

But the holiday jitters

They always distract

The children were finally

All nestled in bed

When nightmares of terror

Ran through my OWN head

Did I get the right gift

The right color

And style

Would there be a tantrum

Or even, maybe, a smile?

Our relatives come

But they don't understand

The pleasure he gets

Just from flapping his hands.

" He needs discipline, " they say

" Just a well-needed smack,

You must learn to parent... "

And on goes the attack

We smile and nod

Because we know deep inside

The argument is moot

Let them all take a side

We know what it's like

To live with the spectrum

The struggles and triumphs

Achievements, regressions. ..

But what they don't know

And what they don't see

Is the joy that we feel

Over simplicity

He said " hello "

He ate something green!

He told his first lie!

He did not cause a scene!

He peed on the potty

Who cares if he's ten,

He stopped saying the same thing

Again and again!

Others don't realize

Just how we can cope

How we bravely hang on

At the end of our rope

But what they don't see

Is the joy we can't hide

When our children with autism

Make the tiniest stride

We may look at others

Without the problems we face

With jealousy, hatred

Or even distaste,

But what they don't know

Nor sometimes do we

Is that children with autism

Bring simplicity.

We don't get excited

Over expensive things

We jump for joy

With the progress work brings

Children with autism

Try hard every day

That they make us proud

More than words can say.

They work even harder

Than you or I

To achieve something small

To reach a star in the sky

So to those who don't get it

Or can't get a clue

Take a walk in my shoes

And I'll assure you

That even 10 minutes

Into the walk

You'll look at me

With respect, even shock.

You will realize

What it is I go through

And the next time you judge

I can assure you

That you won't say a thing

You'll be quiet and learn,

Like the years that I did

When the tables were turned......

Love, Gabby. :0)

http://stemcellforautism.blogspot.com/

 

" I know of nobody who is purely Autistic or purely neurotypical. Even God had

some Autistic moments, which is why the planets all spin. " ~ Jerry Newport