Infant's Gaze May Be an Early, but Subtle, Marker for Autism Risk

/PRNewswire/ -- Kennedy Krieger Institute announced today new study results showing an early marker for later communication and social delays in infants at a higher-risk for autism may be infrequent gazing at other people when unprompted. Published in the September issue of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, the study also found that six-month-old high-risk infants demonstrated the same level of cause and effect learning skills when compared to low-risk infants of the same age.

The study observed 25 infant siblings of children with autism (high-risk group) and 25 infants with no family history of autism (low-risk group) at six months of age in order to assess cause and effect learning as well as social engagement. Infant siblings of children with autism are considered at high-risk for the disorder, as they are 25 times more likely to develop autism. Researchers at Kennedy Krieger, in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Delaware, created a novel, multi-stimuli social learning task, where infants were seated in a custom chair with an attached joystick within easy reach, a musical toy located to the right and their caregiver on the left. Researchers evaluated how quickly the infant learned that the joystick activated the toy and the infant's level of social engagement with their caregiver.

Researchers found that, like the low-risk group, the high-risk siblings exhibited typical levels of social gazing when their caregivers actively engaged them, such as pointing at the toy and expressing excitement. However, high-risk sibs spent less time looking to their caregivers and more time fixated on the non-social stimuli (toy or joystick) when the caregiver was not engaging them, which could indicate a disruption in development related to joint attention. Joint attention is often a core deficit for children with autism.

"My colleagues and I wanted to create a task that would involve learning something novel and would give babies an opportunity to pay attention to either an object or their caregiver," said Dr. Rebecca Landa, corresponding study author and director of Kennedy Krieger's Center for Autism and Related Disorders. "This study shows that there is a particular vulnerability in high-risk siblings at six months of age. They are not as socially interactive and engaged on their own as their peers, but still respond typically when engaged by their caregivers, making for a subtle difference that could be easily overlooked by both parents and some professionals."

The study also showed no evidence of impaired associative learning in the high-risk siblings. Both groups demonstrated cause and effect learning abilities; once the infants learned that pulling the joystick activated the toy, they increased how often they pulled on the joystick to activate the toy's music. This finding supports past research demonstrating that associative learning is a relative strength in older individuals with autism and may help to explain why children with autism respond well to teaching approaches that utilize a predictable reward system when children exhibit desired behaviors.

"Babies in both groups of the study learned the multi-stimuli task to the same degree," said Dr. Landa. "While the high-risk siblings are at a higher risk for developing autism later in life, they still have the capacity to learn cause and effect as well as their low-risk peers at this young age."

Implications from the overall study findings reveal that like older children, infants at high risk for autism may benefit from frequent exposure to simple cause and effect learning opportunities to aid in their development. For example, Landa recommends using simple songs paired with easy, predictable gestures to promote language and social learning, rather than using electronic toys that children can enjoy and operate without engaging with their peers or caregivers.

It is expected that about 20 percent of the high-risk infants in this study will receive a diagnosis of autism. While participants in this study have not yet reached their third birthday, the age at which the research diagnoses are confirmed, the study findings help to highlight the vulnerability of developing social initiation skills in high-risk infants. This study is the first of its kind, and a follow-up will soon be published from the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at Kennedy Krieger Institute.

The research study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Mental Health.

-----
Community News You Can Use
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter:  @GAFrontPage

Robots to Help Children With Autism

/PRNewswire/ -- Interbots, Inc., a high-tech spin-off company associated with the Carnegie Mellon University Entertainment Technology Center has teamed up with the Autism Center of Pittsburgh to provide innovative robot-based therapy for children with autism.

The program, "Character Therapy," through the use of the Interbot robot "Popchilla" will test the ability of children with autism with limited or no verbal skills.

According to Seema Patel, CEO and co-founder of Interbots, "We've had numerous individuals tell us our robots could be tremendous tools for Autism therapy. We're excited to be working with the Autism Center of Pittsburgh and the Sprout Foundation to take this first step. We're going to learn a lot from the next few months."

"The premise behind the program is that children with autism are sometimes more likely to communicate with a non-human entity," said Cindy Waeltermann, Founder and Director of the Autism Centers of Pittsburgh. "When you have a child with autism, you use whatever interests them to gain access into their world. The idea is to bridge the gap between their word and ours.

Popchilla will be used in the first phase of the program with a trained therapist. Programmers and developers at Interbots have created an iPad application that will allow the therapist to direct sessions, which will eventually be transitioned to allow the child to control the robot through an iPad application to identify emotions.

According to Waeltermann, "By using Popchilla as an intermediary, we hope to increase the understanding of the child's internal feelings, thus reducing behavioral frustrations. If they are able to identify that they are 'angry' and what 'angry' means, it can significantly help them understand what they are feeling, reducing behavioral ramifications."

The program is funded by Spark. Spark is an initiative of The Sprout Fund catalyzing projects and programs that engage children ages birth to eight through the creative use of technology and media. Spark challenges individuals, organizations, and communities to generate inventive technology-based solutions to the issues and opportunities facing today's young child. Through its funding opportunities and extensive network of support, Spark is unleashing the innovative potential of Southwestern Pennsylvania and transforming our region into one of the best places on earth to be a kid.

"Our emphasis has always been making the use and control of our robots as simple and flexible as possible. You don't need to have a technical background to control our characters. You can control them with a variety of other familiar devices. So that opens a lot of interesting applications - like having a therapist or a parent use our robots as a tool to interact with children - even the possibility of kids using the robot to express themselves and explore emotions on their own," according to Sabrina Haskell, Interbots, Designer & Co-Founder.

The iPad application is currently in production and the program is slated to begin this fall.

"Nobody is more excited than the parents of the children with autism who have the potential to gain great strides from this program," said Cindy Waeltermann. "That's what this is all about -- thinking outside the box to reach these kids."

-----
Community News You Can Use
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter:  @GAFrontPage

New Survey by Enzymedica Links Autism & Digestion, Suggests Successful Strategies

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Autism is the fastest growing developmental disorder in the world. With 1 child in 91 facing the disorder, the diagnosis is more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined.

“A product containing a full spectrum blend of all enzymes is considered an ideal digestive aid.”

Autism and Digestion: The Surprising Link

A new survey by Enzymedica and the Enzyme Research Group (ERG), links autism and digestive problems, and suggests diet modification and dietary supplements as successful tools for families facing the diagnosis.

While autism is generally considered a neurological disorder, the new survey reminds us that autistic children face additional health challenges, including 80% who report digestive difficulty, sensitivity, or intestinal inflammation.

Survey Participants Tout Special Diets for Autism

Food sensitivities and cravings are widespread in the autism community. The ERG survey found that 35% of children craved sugary treats, 30% dairy, 25% wheat and 32% junk foods; and cravings were not mutually exclusive.

Interestingly, the craved foods also caused the greatest digestive reaction. Lactose, gluten, casein, and phenol were the top reactive contenders in children on the spectrum.

* 70% currently follow, or have tried, a restrictive diet
* 52% gluten-free
* 55% casein-free
* 44% eliminate artificial flavors and additives
* 70% use digestive enzymes or probiotics

Since even healthy foods can cause problems, supplementation can be used to prevent nutritional deficiency. 80% of parents said they offer dietary supplements in some form, typically in combination with a special diet, to soothe and support healthy digestion, and reduce dietary sensitivities.

Healthy Digestion Requires Digestive Enzymes

Our body uses enzymes to enhance digestion and turn the food we eat into energy. Produced throughout the digestive tract, and available from raw foods and supplements, these enzymes include amylase for carbohydrates, lipase for fats, protease for proteins, and cellulase for fiber.

“Many of our children are enzyme deficient,” writes Elizabeth Lipski, Ph.D., C.C.N., a board-certified clinical nutritionist in her book, Digestive Wellness for Children. “These deficiencies can play a pivotal role in the development of childhood disease.” Lipski has over 20 years experience working in the field of holistic and complementary medicine and views enzymes as the body’s workhorses.

“In children, enzyme supplements have been used successfully to treat food allergies, gastroenteritis, asthma, and other illnesses, and research on enzymes for children is promising,” she continues.

Like healthy bones and muscle tissue, our enzyme producing organs rely on good nutrition to fuel production. Physical stressors and inflammation are also implicated as a component in compromised enzyme capacity, and these conditions are common with autism.

The ERG researchers found a statistically significant 80% of autistic children experience digestive disturbances related to certain types of food, with dairy topping the list. 57% said dairy is the culprit, and wheat was second in line with 43%.

Autism Breeds Picky Eaters

“Many children on the spectrum are unwilling to eat a sufficient quantity of raw, unprocessed foods,” declares Kristin Selby Gonzalez, Director of Autism Education for Enzymedica, herself the mother of a son with autism. “It’s unfortunate because these healthy foods naturally contain the enzymes and micronutrients needed to support a healthy intestine and aid digestion.”

Taking a daily enzyme supplement can create the foundation of a healthy digestive process,” says Ellen Cutler, D.C., whose Mill Valley, California practice caters to patients with allergies and digestive distress. “A product containing a full spectrum blend of all enzymes is considered an ideal digestive aid.”*

While typical parents may experience difficulty getting growing children to eat their fruits and veggies, consider the behavioral challenges present in some autism diagnoses. Families with autistic children often find mealtime a battleground.

The junk foods and processed snacks craved by many children on the spectrum contain common allergens which cause food sensitivities. These types of foods are hard to digest and are a frequent and familiar source of the constipation and diarrhea autistic children experience.

Science Investigates the Autism / Digestion Link

A 2009 study in Pediatics, described a gene called MET, involved in both brain development and the process of gastrointestinal system repair. The study indicated a genetic variation may contribute to increased risk for autism spectrum disorder that includes familial gastrointestinal dysfunction.

More than 58% of parents, aunts and uncles, 45% of grandparents, and 20% of siblings reported problems in the ERG survey. While still considered controversial, the new survey indicates the familial autism/digestion link may indeed be viable.

Diet and Enzymes Provide Hope

“Given the option, my son would survive on processed snacks and treats like cookies, crackers, chicken nuggets and French fries,” declares Gonzalez. “I’ve learned by keeping them out of his diet and adding enzymes Jaxson behaves better, his attention is more focused, and many of his digestive reactions evaporate.”*

To read the results of the entire survey, please visit www.Enzymedica.com. To learn more about Enzymedica’s commitment to the autism community, visit www.hopeineverybottle.com.

About the Survey:

Enzymedica sponsored the recent survey in association with The Enzyme Research Group. The survey evaluated 143 parents with children on the autism spectrum, surveying their experience with digestive health issues. The survey was conducted online and in anonymous interview and ran from May – June, 2010.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter:  @GAFrontPage

A Better Genetic Test for Autism

/PRNewswire/ -- A large study from Children's Hospital Boston and the Boston-based Autism Consortium finds that a genetic test that samples the entire genome, known as chromosomal microarray analysis, has about three times the detection rate for genetic changes related to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) than standard tests. Publishing in the April issue of Pediatrics (and online March 15), the authors urge that CMA become part of the first-line genetic work-up for ASDs.

Expectant parents who have family members with ASDs, as well as families who already have an affected child, often request genetic testing. However, there is still only limited knowledge about actual causative genes. The currently recommended tests (karyotyping to look for chromosomal abnormalities and testing for Fragile X, the single largest known genetic cause of ASDs) often come up negative. Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) is a genome-wide assay that examines the chromosomes for tiny, sub-microscopic deletions or duplications of DNA sequences, known as copy-number variants.

CMA offers about 100-fold greater resolution than standard karyotyping. However, since it is new, it is often considered a second-tier test. Depending on where a person lives, or what insurance they have, CMA may not be covered by health insurance. "Based on our findings, CMA should be considered as part of the initial clinical diagnostic evaluation of patients with ASDs," says Bai-Lin Wu, PhD, Director of Children's DNA Diagnostic Lab in the Department of Laboratory Medicine, which has offered CMA to families since 2006.

The research team, led by co-senior authors Wu (heading the Children's team), and David Miller, MD, PhD, of Children's Division of Genetics and Department of Laboratory Medicine (heading the Autism Consortium team), assessed the diagnostic value of CMA in the largest cohort to date - 933 patients with a clinical diagnosis of ASD (by DSM-IV-TR criteria) who received clinical genetic testing in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Half were Children's patients who had their samples submitted to the hospital's DNA Diagnostic Laboratory, and the others were recruited through the Autism Consortium, a research and clinical collaboration of five Boston-area medical centers. Nearly half of the patients were diagnosed with autistic disorder, nearly half with PDD-NOS (pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified) and about 3 percent with Asperger disorder. Ages ranged from 13 months to 22 years.

Testing included the two currently used tests (G-banded karyotype and fragile X), as well as CMA. When the researchers compared the tests' diagnostic yield, they found:

-- Karyotyping yielded abnormal results in 2.23 percent of patients
-- Fragile X testing was abnormal in 0.46 percent
-- CMA results were judged to be abnormal in 7.3 percent of patients when
the entire length of the chromosomes (the whole genome) was sampled.


Extrapolating from these results, the researchers estimate that without CMA, genetic diagnosis will be missed in at least 5 percent of ASD cases. CMA performed best in certain subgroups, such as girls with autistic disorder, and past studies indicate that it also has a higher yield in patients with intellectual disability (who constituted only 12 percent of this sample).

"CMA clearly detects more abnormalities than other genetic tests that have been the standard of care for many years," says Miller. "We're hoping this evidence will convince insurance companies to cover this testing universally."

In all, roughly 15 percent of people with autism have a known genetic cause. Establishing a clear genetic diagnosis helps families obtain early intervention and services for autism, and helps parents predict the possibility of having another child with autism.

In addition, by pinpointing bits of chromosomes that are deleted or duplicated, CMA can help researchers zero in on specific causative genes within that stretch of DNA. They can also begin to classify patients according to the type of deletion or duplication they have, and try to find specific treatment approaches for each sub-type of autism.

"Just in the last two years, a number of studies have revealed the clinical importance of ever smaller chromosome deletions and duplications found with advanced microarray technology," says Wu. "These new, highly-efficient tests can help in the evaluation or confirmation of autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disorders, leading to early diagnosis and intervention and a significantly improved developmental outcome."

Two known chromosome locations - on chromosome 16 (16p11.2) and chromosome 15 (15q13.2q13.3) accounted for 17 percent of abnormal CMA findings. Both chromosome abnormalities were initially linked with ASDs by Children's Hospital Boston and collaborators in The New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of Medical Genetics, respectively, in 2008. Children's now offers specific tests targeting both of these "hot spots."

However, the researchers note that most copy-number changes were unique or identified in only a small number of patients, so their implications need further study. Many of them are presumed to be related to ASDs because they involve important genes, cover a large region of the chromosome, or because the child is the first person in that family to have the change.

"Some deletions and duplications are rare and specific to one individual or one family," says Miller. "Learning about them is going to be an evolving process. There won't be one single test that finds all genetic changes related to autism, until we completely understand the entire genome."

The paper's co-first authors were Autism Consortium members Yiping Shen, PhD, of Children's Department of Laboratory Medicine and the Center for Human Genetic Research at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Kira Dies, ScM, LGC, of the Family Research Network of the Autism Consortium and Children's Multi-Disciplinary Tuberous Sclerosis Program. A number of specialists from Children's Departments of Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Clinical Genetics and physicians from other medical centers in greater Boston were also authors on the study. The research was supported by the Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation, the Simons Foundation, Autism Speaks and the National Institutes of Health.

Families interested in scheduling an appointment at Children's may call the Developmental Medicine Center (617-355-7025) or the Department of Neurology (617-355-2711).

Citation: Shen Y; et al. Clinical genetic testing for patients with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics 2010 Apr; 125(4):e1-e17. (Published online March 15)

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter:  @GAFrontPage

New Pediatrics Report Urges Medical Community to Address Underlying Pathologies in Patients With Autism

/PRNewswire/ -- An article published today in the journal Pediatrics confirms what parents and advocacy organizations have been saying for years: many individuals with autism suffer from gastrointestinal disease that can contribute to behaviors and symptoms associated with autism.

Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Disorders in Individuals With ASDs: A Consensus Report is the result of expert panel study and discussion led by Dr. Timothy Buie of the Harvard Medical School Department of Pediatrics. The panel's findings point out not only the existence of underlying GI disturbances that can manifest as behavioral problems, but also notes that such medical issues have often gone undiagnosed or been ignored in the past by physicians treating patients diagnosed with autism.

"We are finally getting mainstream acknowledgement that our kids are physically sick, and not the victims of some mysterious genetic behavioral disorder," commented Lori McIlwain, National Autism Association (NAA) board chair. "With one in 110 children now diagnosed with autism, we are in the midst of a national health emergency. Physicians must address the underlying medical conditions involved in this epidemic if they are to help us find answers and relief for our children."

The panel arrived at several conclusions regarding current clinical practice guidelines and made recommendations for future medical and research priorities. These include:

-- Current treatment guidelines do not routinely consider potential
medical problems
-- Problem behaviors including self-injury, aggression, irritability,
and sleep disturbance may be manifestations of abdominal pain
-- Behavioral treatment should not substitute for medical treatment
-- Gastrointestinal symptoms should be considered an urgent indication
for medical investigation
-- Immunologic dysfunction, inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and
allergies are all potentially associated with autism
-- Research is needed to determine the role of abnormal GI permeability
in neuropsychiatric manifestations of autism
-- Greater awareness is needed among health care providers of the
atypical manifestations of GI disorders
-- Awareness of unrecognized medical conditions in autism must become a
priority of professional societies including the American Academy of
Pediatrics
-- Diagnostics should be performed to accurately identify co-morbid
allergic disease
-- Research is needed to determine the role of immune dysfunction in
autism


"This is definitely a step in the right direction," said Ms. McIlwain. "Our kids need and deserve clinical investigation and treatment for the underlying medical conditions from which they suffer."

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter: @GAFrontPage

Federal Court Declares Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by Every Child By Two:

The U.S. Court of Federal Claims today exonerated vaccines in the debate over the causes of autism. The three judges ruled that the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR), given in combination with thimerosal-containing vaccines, does not cause autism. The ruling is consistent with 18 major scientific studies which have failed to show a link between vaccines and the widely-diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder.

The decision is the result of an extensive deliberation by three Special Masters, judges responsible for claims filed in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. In his opinion on general causation, and the specific case of Michelle Cedillo, Special Master George Hastings wrote, "The petitioners have failed to persuade me that there is validity to any of their general causation arguments, and have also failed to persuade me that there is any substantial likelihood that Michelle's MMR vaccination contributed in any way to the causation of any of Michelle's own disorders."

"This is a real victory for children and a great day for science," said pediatrician Dr. Paul Offit, chief of Infectious Diseases and the director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "I hope that this decision will finally put parents' fears to rest and that we can once again concentrate on protecting children from the resurgence of deadly vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough."

"What is most important about these decisions is that the three cases were decided based on the overwhelming body of science," said Randolph Moss, partner and co-chair of the Government and Regulatory Litigation Practice Group at WilmerHale. "The Special Masters looked at the scientific evidence and credited the opinions of the scientific experts."

"It is a great relief to public health advocates to see that the Special Masters have based their judgment on the expert opinions of the scientific community," said Amy Pisani, MS, executive director of Every Child By Two. "We are hopeful that parents will have confidence in their decision to protect children against deadly diseases by vaccinating them on time."

This is the first of two decisions to be issued in what the U.S. Court of Federal Claims has dubbed the Omnibus Autism Proceeding. The second ruling will decide whether thimerosal-containing vaccines alone can cause autism. These judgments will decide over 5,000 claims that autism is caused by vaccines pending in this court.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Successful Natural Treatment for Autism: A Progress Report

24-7 - Parents of autistic children are being trained in a simple, non-drug based, procedure that activates the alternative cellular energy (ACE) pathway in their children. The parents act as clinical investigators and openly document the changes observed during and after the therapy. Among the documented results are markedly improved social interactions with far better eye contact, joyfulness, verbal speech, reading ability, attention span and following of instructions. In one patient, previous uncontrollable epileptic seizures in a child have now ceased allowing for the discontinuation of anti-seizure medication. The results are posted on www.iminhere.ca

The premise of the study is that autism is a collection of symptoms of brain damage caused primarily by infection with a stealth adapted virus acquired by the fetus during pregnancy. It is part of a much wider epidemic of illnesses caused by stealth adapted viruses. Public Health officials have been reluctant to recognize these viruses as a significant cause of chronic illnesses. Hopefully, this reluctance will give way to a more proactive response as the positive findings from the autism clinical trial become more widely publicized and discussed.

Parents and other supporters of patients with autism can assist by informing others of the trail and by joining the ranks of participating clinical investigators. A similar natural energy based protocol is being developed for evaluation in other illnesses attributed to stealth adapted viruses as well as in diseases caused by conventional viruses.

Additional information on stealth adapted viruses is available at www.s3support.com Enquiries on these viruses and on the enrollment opportunities in the ongoing clinical studies can be addressed to s3support@mail.com W. John Martin, MD, PhD. Institute of Progressive Medicine.

_____
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page

Enerceutical Mediated Activation of the Alternative Cellular Energy (ACE) Pathway: A Clinical Trial Open to Qualified Parents of Autistic Children

24-7PressRelease/ -A natural therapy that activates the alternative cellular energy (ACE) pathway has been developed by the Institute of Progressive Medicine and is available for extended clinical studies in patients with various illnesses, including autism. Qualified parents of autistic children are being offered the opportunity to participate in these studies by acting as clinical investigators within the Institute of Progressive Medicine.

According to Dr. W. John Martin, MD, PhD. founder of the Institute of Progressive Medicine, the increasing incidence of autism is attributed to a relatively silent epidemic of an infectious disease process affecting adults that, in pregnant women, can cause brain damage of the fetus leading to the subsequent development of autism. He firmly believes the infectious agents are "stealth adapted" viruses that lack the antigenic components normally targeted by the cellular immune system.

"There has been an over emphasis on some of potential triggering factors of an autism breakdown," stated Dr. Martin, "rather than pursuing the fundamental cause of autism; seeking a truly effective therapy ;and most importantly, trying to prevent autism from developing in a susceptible, stealth adapted virus infected child."

The current treatment protocol is predicated upon the underlying postulate that autism is primarily caused a congenitally acquired, persisting, non-inflammatory viral infection that can not be effectively controlled by the immune system. Dr. Martin has proposed and has now proven that the body has an auxiliary defense mechanism beyond the immune system, which can suppress the cell damaging effects of viruses, including those that are stealth adapted. This protection can be increased by activating the ACE pathway using products termed enerceuticals. Some of these products work well if placed against the body and illuminated with an ultraviolet-A light.

The autism related studies using a light stimulated enerceutical medical device are being coordinated, in part, by Mr. BJ McKelvie, the co-producer of the autism anthem song "I'm in Here." "We have begun to see remarkable improvements in the treated children" commented Mr. McKelvie. "It is time to move forward with much more extensive clinical testing and for this we need parent participation. With a well coordinated effort, we can potentially achieve at least a 50% improvement in the intellectual and social functioning of children labeled as being autistic. This has occurred with my own son immediately after beginning the therapy."

While still investigational, the studies also hold promise as a potential approach to preventing autism from occurring in children born to mothers presumptively infected with a stealth adapted virus. "Maintaining an active ACE pathway during the first few years of life may help virus infected infants resist some of the suspected triggers of an autistic breakdown in interpersonal communication" commented Dr. Martin. "

A major challenge for public health authorities is to stop denying the existence of stealth adapted viruses, some of which clearly originated from African green monkey simian cytomegalovirus (SCMV) contamination of earlier batches of live polio virus vaccines." More information on this topic is available at www.s3support.com or my sending an e-mail to s3support@mail.com Parent enrollment procedures for the autism study can be viewed at the web site www.iminhere.ca or obtained by contacting Mr. BJ McKelvie via e-mail to bj@iminhere.ca