Steve Novella highlights a recently published prospective (sortof) study on how early Autism develops. Read the article, but basically the findings show that the first signs develop around 6-12 months of age. So those claiming the MMR vaccine (given after 12 months of age) has any influence have quite a distorted view of causality…
While I’m chilling at the Annual Scientific Assembly waiting for the next session to start, it seemed like as good a time as any to post some links about the story that’s been circulating in the mainstream media about a man who was thought to be in a coma for 23 years and his ‘miraculous’ discovery to be in a ‘locked-in’ state. In fact, supposedly he’s writing a book!
Of course, skeptical bloggers (Orac and Science-Based Medicine; even covered by Cory at BoingBoing) are all over this one. Seems he’s using ‘facilitated communication’ (where a ‘facilitator’ helps move his hand on a keyboard) to speak… but this has been discredited, showing that it’s really the facilitator speaking and not the coma man himself.
Sad that the MSM is pretty credulous about stories like this, not questioning even their own footage of the patient one-finger typing with his eyes closed…
Quick little update regarding interesting mutterings in the blogosphere:
At this year’s Autism One conference in Chicago, I flashed more than once on Carl Sagan’s idea of the power of an “unsatisfied medical need.” Because a massive research effort has yet to reveal the precise causes of autism, pseudo-science has stepped aggressively into the void. In the hallways of the Westin O’Hare hotel, helpful salespeople strove to catch my eye as I walked past a long line of booths pitching everything from vitamins and supplements to gluten-free cookies (some believe a gluten-free diet alleviates the symptoms of autism), hyperbaric chambers, and neuro-feedback machines.
To a one, the speakers told parents not to despair. Vitamin D would help, said one doctor and supplement salesman who projected the equation “No vaccines + more vitamin d = no autism” onto a huge screen during his presentation. (If only it were that simple.) Others talked of the powers of enzymes, enemas, infrared saunas, glutathione drips, chelation therapy (the controversial — and risky — administration of certain chemicals that leech metals from the body), and Lupron (a medicine that shuts down testosterone synthesis).
Offit calls this stuff, much of which is unproven, ineffectual, or downright dangerous, “a cottage industry of false hope.”
These policies enrage us because they are blind to circumstance. Editorial after editorial denounced the suspensions of elementary school children for offenses that anyone with any common sense would agree were accidental and harmless. The Internet is filled with essays demonstrating how the TSA’s rules are nonsensical and sometimes don’t even improve security. I’ve written some of them. What we want is for those involved in the situations to have discretion.
However, problems with discretion were the reason behind these mandatory policies in the first place. Discretion is often applied inconsistently. One school principal might deal with knives in the classroom one way, and another principal another way. Your drug sentence could depend considerably on how sympathetic your judge is, or on whether she’s having a bad day.
New Scientist has a neat little timeline of H1N1 flu:
1889
Prior to 1889, the main flu virus circulating in humans has been from the H1 family. But this year, a new strain of H2 flu emerges in Russia and spreads around the world, killing about 1 million people. Afterwards, H2 replaces H1 in humans. Such replacements seem to be a regular feature of flu pandemics.
People born before 1889, who have been exposed to H1 flu, have some immunity to it. This affords them some protection in the deadly H1N1 epidemic of 1918. Those born after 1889 do not have any immunity to H1.
1918
The “Spanish flu” epidemic of 1918 kills at least 50 million people worldwide. It is caused by an H1N1 virus which evolves directly from a bird flu into a human flu.
After a mild wave of infections in the summer, the epidemic goes global: one-third of the population eventually get sick. Although most cases are mild, many sufferers develop a rapidly fatal infection deep in their lungs. People born before 1889 are less susceptible, thanks to their previous exposure to H1N1.
Most deaths are caused by bacterial lung infections that move in after the virus. Modern antibiotics might mean that a re-run of the 1918 pandemic would be less dangerous.
After 1919, the descendants of the H1N1 virus continue to circulate and cause seasonal flu outbreaks in humans – and pigs.
(via BoingBoing)
Great article by Steven Novella on H1N1 – the flu, the vaccine, and safety fears. I quote his conclusion below – but read the whole article – as usually his statements are well supported:
While there is uncertainty and reasonable concerns regarding the flu vaccine, and more research is welcome, current evidence is sufficient to recommend that the vaccine is safe and effective. The bottom line with any medical intervention is risk vs benefit. The benefit of the H1N1 vaccine far outweighs the minimal risk.
Further, the more people who get the vaccine the more effective it will be. At this rate, we are unlikely to achieve herd immunity, but everyone who gets vaccinated will not only provide themselves with a level of protection, but will also protect those around them.
It is still too early to tell how severe the H1N1 pandemic will be, but at least it will result in a bad flu season. It is also clear at this point that the pandemic will be significantly worsened by fear-mongering against the most effective defense we have against the flu – the vaccine.
There is a body count attached to this unreasonable fear, justifying FDR’s famous words.
Here’s a good, average Joe friendly article on critically reading articles on health & healthcare. [a href='http://dancingsamurai.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/HowToReadANewsStory_vers03_26Nov08.pdf'>Local cache] It’s all old hat to us McMaster Evidence-Based medicine folks, but a great overview with some humour thrown in:
If you’ve just read a health-related headline that’s caused you to spit out your morning coffee (“Coffee causes cancer” usually does the trick) it’s always best to follow the Blitz slogan: “Keep Calm and Carry On”. On reading further you’ll often find the headline has left out something important, like “Injecting five rats with really highly concentrated coffee solution caused some changes in cells that might lead to tumours eventually. (Study funded by The Association of Tea Marketing)”.
(via BoingBoing)
At least, that’s one interpretation of comments made by Dr. Reid Blackwelder:
U.S. adults are spending almost $34 billion a year on complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM, products and therapies, as well as on visits to CAM practitioners. And that popularity can translate into extra dollars for family physicians, says one FP.
[...]
“In many ways, the physician-patient encounter creates a suggestible moment similar to what is done in a hypnosis session,” said Blackwelder. “Use that power!”
Family physicians can build in discussions of CAM during face-to-face office visits for specific complaints, he said, by suggesting, for example, nasal irrigation for allergies and respiratory problems; yoga relaxation breathing for insomnia and anxiety; yin yoga for back, hip and flexibility problems; journaling for grief, depression, rheumatoid arthritis and asthma; and meditation and prayer for hypertension, stress and depression.
The article mentions many proven therapies many of us are already recommending (e.g. nasal irrigation), but many ‘therapies’ discussed actually have lots of evidence saying they are not effective.
More comments at Respectful Insolence and Science Based Medicine.
I am a Family Physician in Southern Ontario with an overindulgent geeky side!
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