Brain perfusion SPECT and EEG findings in children with autism spectrum disorders and medically intractable epilepsy
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20594786
Brain Dev. 2010 Jun 29.

Sasaki M, Nakagawa E, Sugai K, Shimizu Y, Hattori A, Nonoda Y, Sato N.

Department of Child Neurology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi-cho, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8551, Japan.

Abstract

Objective: We performed brain perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to detect the abnormal brain region in children with both autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and medically intractable epilepsy.

Methods: Fifteen children aged 4-16years underwent multimodal examinations (MRI, interictal and/or ictal ECD-SPECT, EEG and MEG) to investigate their indications for surgical treatment. All children were diagnosed with ASD according to DSM-IV criteria and intractable epilepsy. Despite medical treatment for more than a year, all experienced at least one seizure per month.

All had no underlying basic disorders. Each SPECT result was statistically analyzed by comparing with standard SPECT images obtained from our institute (easy Z-score imaging system; eZIS). The relationship between the eZIS pattern and EEG abnormalities or clinical symptoms was investigated. Results: All children showed focal abnormal patterns on eZIS and focal spikes on EEG.

In all children, eZIS revealed a mixed hypoperfusion pattern, especially in the prefrontal cortex, medial frontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, medial parietal cortex, and/or anterior temporal cortex. In seven of 12 children who underwent interictal SPECT studies, areas of hypoperfusion were related to the focus observed on EEG; in six children, the focal EEG spikes represented areas of hyperperfusion.

The children were divided into two groups according to the main type of hypoperfusion patterns seen on eZIS; medial-cingulate type and temporal type. No significant relationship was observed between the areas of hypoperfusion and clinical symptoms.

eZIS showed the epileptic focus clearly on ictal SPECT.

Conclusions: SPECT was useful to detect the abnormal brain region not only in searching for the epileptic focus but also in assessing the low or high functioning region of the brain.

James Tillman
LifeSiteNews.com
06/03/2010

Dr. Theresa Deisher, founder of the pro-life Sound Choice Pharmaceutical Institute, presented a study revealing the link between autism and aborted fetal DNA in vaccinations at the International Meeting for Autism Research in May.

“The temporal connection between the introduction of aborted fetal DNA and autism rises is found over decades and across continents,” Dr. Deisher told LifeSiteNews. “This temporal connection is more compelling than any mercury connection,” which, she said, had no temporal connection to rising rates of autism.

As the abstract of the study indicates, autism rates in the US and the UK began to increase around the same time that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine switched from using animal cells to using human cells that had been derived from aborted fetuses.

The use of such cells means that the vaccine might contain residual human DNA fragments. Dr. Deisher told LSN that “short fragments of human DNA residuals in vaccines present two well-documented potential physiological dangers” and “the possibility for auto-immune reactions.” While the immune system recognizes the DNA as foreign, its similarity to an individual’s own DNA can cause the immune system to attack parts of the individual’s own body.

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Lylah M. Alphonse
Boston.com
05/24/2010

Stripped today of his license to practice medicine, Dr. Andrew Wakefield — whose 1998 study on the Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine and autism led millions of parents to stop vaccinating their children — insists that he will continue with his research into vaccines and autism.

“My concern is for vaccine safety, for a safety-first vaccine policy,” Dr. Wakefield told me in an interview today. “I have every intention of continuing to serve this population of children for as long as I can.”

Earlier today, The British government announced that it had found Wakefield guilty of “serious professional misconduct” in the way that he and his colleagues carried out their research; they are not investigating the science behind it. The ruling affects Wakefield’s ability to practice medicine in the United Kingdom but not in other countries. He is currently not licensed to practice in the U.S., though he does do clinical research here and was on the board of The Thoughtful House for Children, an autism center in Austin, Texas, until he resigned in February 2010.

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