According to a recent press release by the Coalition for Mercury-free Drugs (mercury-freedrugs.org), "A Prospective Study of Transsulfuration Biomarkers in Autistic Disorders," published in Neurochemical Research (July 2008), recognizes mercury susceptibility markers in patients diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD).
The study evaluated a number of children diagnosed with an ASD. After examining transsulfuration metabolites, the investigators concluded that the patients diagnosed with an ASD showed signs of increased oxidative stress and a decreased detoxification capacity, particularly for mercury. Because routine, clinically available lab testing was used in the study, the researchers suggest making this procedure a standard part of the diagnostic process.
Download the study for more information: www.usautism.org
GreenKidsAuction.com
At GreenKidsAuction.com, you can reduce, reuse, recycle, and save money on new or gently used toys and products for your wee ones. From bedding to toys to carriers and furniture, you can find a variety of items at a good price. Tell your friends, or join the online community to help make the world a little more sustainable.
www.greenkidsauction.com.
The Fight Continues in Missouri
On June 26, 2008, the Missouri Supreme Court declared that professional midwives can now assist births within the state. Due to lack of validity of their arguments, physicians' attempts to block the law were dismissed by the Court. This is excellent news for mothers who have had to either have illegal homebirths or birth in a different state to avoid unnecessary medical procedures.
In response, the coalition of physician groups that tried to block the legislation began a smear campaign suggesting that midwives would be able to perform abortions.
The group Citizens for Midwifery used the following quote in a recent press release:
"To suggest that CPMs [Certified Professional Midwives] are trained to do abortions—or that they would even want to—is beyond the pale. CPMs are all about delivering babies?abortion is not within their scope of practice. Abortions are performed by obstetricians, not by midwives," said Mary Ueland, grassroots coordinator for Friends of Missouri Midwives (FOMM).
"This interpretation is incorrect and obviously so," stated Susan Jenkins, legal counsel for the National Birth Policy Coalition and a member of the legal team for FOMM. "The new law clearly references the federal Medicaid statutes to define the scope of practice for which CPMs are certified and, as everyone knows, the federal Medicaid program does not cover abortion, except under rare circumstances as defined by the Hyde Amendment. More importantly, CPMs are not certified to provide abortions by their certifying body, the North American Registry of Midwives, and this statute is directly linked to CPMs' certified scope of practice. The basic certification of CNMs does not include abortion either."
You can read the release in its entirety here: www.friendsofmomidwives.org
Artificial Colors Increase Hyperactivity in Children
The Lancet released a study that found that artificial colors and sodium benzoate increase hyperactivity in three-year-olds and in eight- to nine-year-olds.
The study included 153 three-year-olds and 144 eight- and nine-year-olds. The challenge drinks contained one of two artificial food color additives (Mix A, Mix B) and sodium benzoate. Mix A and B were compared with the placebo mix. The outcomes were measured by a global hyperactivity aggregate (GHA), scores based on parent and teacher observations, and for eight- and nine-year-olds, a computerized attention test.
Mix A significantly increased hyperactivity among the three-year-olds when compared with placebo, although this was not so with Mix B. Eight- and nine-year-old children experienced a significant increase in hyperactive behavior when given Mix A or Mix B. You can read more here: www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article
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