Vaccine-Autism
Federal Test Case
In June 2007, a US Court of Federal Claims tribunal began hearing
the first of nine test cases that will examine whether certain vaccines
and/or thimerosal can cause autism. The results of these test cases
will determine whether autism will be added to the list of vaccine
injuries, recognized by the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
(VICP). VICP, which is financed by a 75-cent surcharge on each vaccine,
was established to protect vaccine manufacturers from lawsuits and
thereby make sure that vaccine production continues. The program
dispenses money for medical expenses, lost future income, and up
to $250,000 for pain and suffering. Claimants are required to appeal
to VICP before engaging in a lawsuit against the manufacturer. Unlike
a product liability lawsuit, VICP claimants need only show a causal
relationship. "If medical records show," Stephen D. Sugarman,
JD, explains in a New England Journal
of Medicine Perspective article,
"that a child had one of several listed adverse effects within
a short period after vaccination, the VICP presumes that it was
caused by the vaccine (although the government can seek to prove
otherwise)." Autism, however, is not on the list of covered
adverse effects. About 300 autism-related claims have been rejected,
and another 4800 autism claims are pending. Expert witness testimony
from the nine test cases and their outcomes should provide guidance
for settling other autism claims.
The first test case, Cedillo vs. Secretary of Health and Human Services,
involves 12-year-old Michelle Cedillo, who developed symptoms seven
days after receiving the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
In addition to autistic symptoms, Michelle has inflammatory bowel
disease, glaucoma, and epilepsy. She is confined to a wheelchair
and uses a feeding tube. A ruling is expected in 2008.
People who do not receive compensation from VICP are permitted to
file a regular lawsuit. Few do. They would have to convince a jury
that the vaccine in question has a defective design or that it lacks
necessary warnings about its use. Families of autistic children,
however, have the power of large support groups, organized lawyers,
and even federal senators and congressmen behind them. While a VICP
ruling to include autism on its list of vaccine injury will not
directly affect vaccine manufacturers, it could further erode public
trust in vaccinations.
Bridges A. Children with autism get day in court. USA
Today. June 11, 2007. Available
at: www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-06-11-3419893127_x.htm.
Accessed January 18, 2008.
Mauro T. Test case linking vaccines and autism reaches federal court.
Legal Times.
June 5, 2007. Available at: www.law.com/jsp/law/LawArticleFriendly.jsp?id=1180947929140.
Accessed January 3, 2008.
Sugarman SD. Cases in vaccine court – legal battles over vaccines
and autism. N Engl J Med,
September 27, 2007: 357(13): 1275-1277. Available at: www.NEJM.org.
Accessed January 3, 2007.
DMG and Autism
Supplementation with N,N-Dimethylglycine (DMG) has been credited
with bringing noticeable improvement in some children with autism.
About 42% of 5367 children who took DMG in Autism Research Institute's
survey "Parent Ratings of Behavioral Effects of Biomedical
Interventions" (Feb 2006) got better; 51% showed no effect;
eight percent reported worse behavior. In children who respond to
DMG, parents and teachers report better verbal communication, better
social interaction, better eye contact, improved affection, reduction
in seizures, and improved sleep, according to Roger V. Kendall,
PhD. In his book Building Wellness
with DMG, Dr. Kendall explains that DMG benefits the neurological
system and helps modulate the immune system. The compound provides
glycine to make phosphocreatine, an energy source for the central
nervous system and muscles. It also acts as a methyl donor. Methylation
activates catecholaminergic pathways, which produce neurologic chemicals
that affect behavior (e.g., dopamine).
Dr. Kendall recommends one to four 125 mg tablets per day for an
autistic child and two to eight 125 mg tablets per day for an adult.
He says to start by taking one tablet for two or three days, then
gradually increasing the dosage to the desired amount by adding
another tablet every few days. "If agitation or hyperactivity
is seen," he writes, "it is recommended that folic acid
should be given in the amount of two 800 microgram tablets for each
125 mg of DMG taken. Some professionals suggest that DMG should
always be supplemented with folic acid."
DMG. Available at: www.dmgdoctor.com/dmg.php.
Accessed January 3, 2008.
Kendall RV. DMG and autism. In: Building
Wellness with DMG. California: Freedom Press; 2003: 96-118.
Agricultural Pesticide
and Autism
A California study, published in Environmental
Health Perspectives (October 2007), looks at the incidence
of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) among children whose mothers
were exposed to agricultural pesticide applications during pregnancy.
Pesticides are known neurotoxins, and many can travel across the
placenta to the fetus. Few studies, however, have looked at the
neurological consequences of pesticide exposure in children. The
population for this California study consists of 269,746 infants
born between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 1998 to women living
in the 19 counties that make up the California Central Valley (a
highly agricultural area). Infant deaths, multiple births, and preterm
infants were excluded. The researchers used California Department
of Developmental Services files to identify children with ASD. The
California Department of Pesticide Regulation provided agricultural
pesticide application records during the four years after January
1, 1995. A reported 6,710,727 applications occurred during that
period.
The researchers looked at pesticide application dates and gestation
stage. They found that organochlorine pesticides were associated
with ASD incidence. The association becomes smaller the farther
the distance from the application site, becoming nonsignificant
at 1,750 meters (1.085 miles). The most pesticide-sensitive stage
of gestation appears to be in the eight weeks after neural tube
closure. Organochlorine pesticides are used on cotton, fruits, vegetables,
beans, and nuts. These halobenzene derivatives are generally metabolized
by the cytochrome P450 system.
The California researchers say that their "results require
replication in further studies and should be treated with caution."
Some of the limitations of this study include the possibility of
exposure misclassification since as many as one-in-three women changes
her home address during pregnancy. Also, the researchers were unable
to adjust for confounders such as prenatal vitamin use and the possibility
that some mothers may have been employed in agriculture and not
exposed simply through drift. This study is not trying to discount
the role of mercury in ASD. Rather, it looks at other possible "environmental
insults" that can lead to neurological problems. "ASD
as currently defined," they write, "may well include multiple
disorders that have not yet been successfully differentiated."
At least 200 scientists from a variety of fields have voiced concern
about prenatal exposure to environmental chemicals. The International
Scientific Committee at the International Conference on Fetal Programming
and Developmental Toxicity (Faroe Islands, May 2007) stated in a
position paper: "The old paradigm, developed over four centuries
ago by Paracelsus, was that ‘the dose makes the poison.' However,
for exposures sustained during early development, the most important
issue is that ‘the timing makes the poison.' This extended
paradigm deserves wide attention to protect the fetus and child
against preventable hazards."
Early exposure to chemicals can affect long-term brain development,
scientists warn. CRIME Times. 2007;13(3):
3.
Roberts EM, English PB, Grether JK, Windham GC, Somberg L, Wolff
C. Maternal residence near agricultural pesticide applications and
autism spectrum disorders among children in the California central
valley. Environmental Health Perspectives.
October 2007; 115(20); 1482-1489. Available at: www.ehponline.
Accessed January 2, 2008.
Assistance for Developmentally
Disabled
About 75% of the 4.6 million developmentally disabled people in
the US receive in-home care from family members without public-funded
aid. But families are now seeking help in growing numbers. Aging
parents, in particular, are finding that their own decline in physical
stamina and health as well as the financial strain makes caretaking
increasingly difficult. Many families with disabled children live
with financial challenges, partly due to the child's medical and
therapeutic costs and partly due to home demands that take time
and energy from focusing on a career. "The poverty rate among
families whose children have developmental disabilities is nearly
twice the national average, according to a 1998 study by Glenn Fujiura,
an associate professor at the University of Illinois," Clare
Ansberry wrote in The Wall Street Journal
(September 20, 2005).
In 2005, an estimated 80,000 developmentally disabled people in
the US were waiting for in-home help or an opening in a group home.
Their wait can last years. Part-time, in-home help (while parents
work) costs an average of $19,000/year. Group home care costs an
average of $68,000 per year, about half the cost of state institution
care. Half of public funding for developmentally disabled persons
comes from the federal government (mostly Medicaid); 46% comes from
the state; and local governments pay about four percent. Most states
give priority to those who live on their own, need 24-hour care,
or are homeless. Increased demand for services, rising costs, and
a lack of home care workers have propelled states to raise eligibility
requirements and limit the number served.
Ansberry C. Needing assistance, parents of disabled resort to extremes.
The Wall Street Journal. September
20, 2005; A1, A5.
ADHD Treatment Study
Update
A three-year follow-up to the 1999 Multimodal Treatment Study of
Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (MTA) reports
that "children continue to experience improvement in their
symptoms regardless of which treatment they use"(my emphasis).
In the original 1999 randomized study, 579 children, aged seven
to ten years, received stimulant medication (e.g., Ritalin), intensive
behavior therapy, a combination of medication and behavior therapy,
or community care ("whatever the parents could find").
The researchers evaluated attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) symptoms, Oppositional Defiant Disorder symptoms, reading
achievement scores, functional impairment, and social skills, using
parent, teacher, and clinical evaluations. Children in the stimulant
group and in the stimulant-plus behavioral therapy group had significantly
better evaluations than those receiving community care or behavioral
therapy alone. At the end of the 14-month study period, families
were free to use whatever treatment they wished or to stop treatment
altogether.
At 36 months, 485 children from the initial study (now ten to 13
years) were re-evaluated (Jensen PS, et al. Three-year follow-up
of the NIMH MTA study. J Am Acad Child
Adolesc Psychiatry. 2007;46:988-1001). In this follow-up,
71% of children who took stimulants in the original study were still
taking ADHD medication at a "high level." Also, 62% of
those in the community care group and 45% of the behavioral therapy-alone
group were on high levels of medication. Overall, however, the advantage
of taking ADHD medication for an extended period had disappeared.
The researchers even looked at the number of days the children were
on medication and found "no significant difference in ADHD
symptoms." The researchers were reportedly "struck by
the remarkable degree of improvement found in all of the subjects
over time." Even though the children, on average, had some
symptoms, the symptoms were no longer severe. "The benefit
for patients may be related to the extra attention brought by participation
in the study or may reflect ‘a natural waning of symptoms,'"
the researchers say. Without a control group of children who received
no treatment, these researchers could not be sure if ADHD symptoms
decline without treatment as a child matures.
Doheny K. After 3 years on Ritalin, kids are shorter, lighter than
peers. WebMD Medical News. July
20, 2007. Available at: www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=82704&pf=3&page=1.
Accessed January 9, 2008.
Elias M. Kids treated for attention deficit get better in a few
years. USA Today. July 19, 2007.
Available at: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-07-19-adhd_n.htm.
Accessed December 27, 2007.
Phend C. ADHD therapies hold roughly uniform benefit in the long
run. Medpage Today. July 20, 2007.
Available at: www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/ADHD-ADD/tb/6205.
Accessed January 9, 2008.
EEG Neurobiofeedback
and ADHD
EEG neurobiofeedback can teach children with ADHD how to focus their
attention, according to recent studies. The therapy usually involves
a screen display (often in the form of a video game) that responds
to a child's brain waves. When children produce brain waves that
indicate focused attention, they win. When the brain waves slip
into daydream mode, they lose. Thom Hartmann explains in his book
The Edison Gene (reviewed in this
issue) that, in the process, children learn what it feels like to
be in a focused state and how to return to that state when the mind
wanders.
Researchers are using double-blind controlled studies to verify
neurobiofeedback's effect on children with ADHD. In an editorial,
Laurence M. Hirshberg of The Neuro-Development Center (Providence,
Rhode Island), refers to a study by R. DeBeus, presented at The
Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, Toronto,
Canada, in May 2006. The study involved 42 children with ADHD, randomly
assigned to an active neurobiofeedback group or to a sham-treatment
group. Demographic, diagnostic, intelligence quotient, and achievement
score variables were very similar in the two groups. Three behavior
measures and a quantitative EEG indicated "highly significant
improvements" in the active treatment group. Four other controlled
group studies indicate that the response rate to neurobiofeedback
is similar to medication response rate (about 75%), according to
Richard Sogn, MD. In addition to improving attention, neurobiofeedback
often reduces a child's anxiety and increases emotional regulation.
"Parents will say something like, ‘I'm not sure his attention
is better yet, but he sure is easier to live with,'" Hirschberg
writes. "In parallel with this, we often see improved parent-child
relationships and reduced parent and familial stress."
Neurofeedback works best when the child is motivated and at an age
that finds "winning the game" interesting. Older children
can find the game boring. Also, the older the client, the more difficult
it becomes to make EEG changes. Neurobiofeedback treatment for ADHD
takes at least 40 sessions, costing up to $100 per session. Benefits
may not be noticeable until midway through the treatment. Neurobiofeedback,
like medication, works best when used in conjunction with other
therapies such as nutritional counseling, improving parenting skills,
individual educational plans, social skills training, and medication.
Hirshberg LM. Place of electroencephalographic biofeedback for attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder. Expert Rev. Neurotherapeutics.
2007;7(4): 315-319. Available at: http://neurodevelopmentcenter.com/fileadmin/uploads/Hirshberg_Editorial.pdf.
Accessed January 9, 2008.
Kane A. The role of neurofeedback in ADHD treatment. (September
19, 2004). Available at: http://addadhdadvances.com/neurofeedback.html.
Accessed January 9, 2008.
Sogn R. ADHD and neurofeedback. (April 26, 2006) Available at: http://blogs.webmd.com/adhd-medications-and-treatments/2006/04/adhd-and-neurofeedback.html.
Accessed January 9, 2008.
Gluten-Free-Casein-Free
Diet and Autism
Actress Jenny McCarthy promoted the importance of diet, specifically
a gluten-free-casein-free diet (GFCF), for children with autism
when she talked about her son Evan on The Oprah Winfrey Show (September
18, 2007). Casein is a phosphoprotein found in milk products. Gluten
is a protein that gives dough made from wheat, rye, barley, or oat
flours its elasticity. Autism Research Institute reports that 65%
of the 1818 children whose parents kept them on a GFCF diet reported
improved behavior.
Jenny McCarthy removed wheat and dairy from Evan's diet even though
he did not test positive for gluten allergy. The improvements she
saw encouraged her to remove artificial colorings (which contain
heavy metals), sugar, and yeast from his diet. In Evan's case, yeast
overgrowth apparently played a significant role. "Evan started
to come out of autism completely after I killed CANDIDA (sic),"
McCarthy writes. "Evan is still on the GFCG diet, and if I
take him off or feed him sugars, his candida comes back and so do
old autism characteristics."
Keeping a child on a restrictive diet can seem overwhelming. Several
parent support groups on the Internet, including www.gfcfdiet.com,
provide guidance. McCarthy also recommends Talk About Curing Autism
(www.TACAnow.org).
Both McCarthy and gfcfdiet.com emphasize that "there is NO
cheating!" Reading ingredients listed on food labels is essential
for this program to work. "You can't give a little here and
there [even unintentionally] and still expect to see a change,"
say writers at www.gfcfdiet.com. A lactose-free product may still
contain casein (caseinate), and once-acceptable products may have
an ingredient change that triggers symptoms. At www.gfcfdiet.com,
writers recommend keeping a food, behavior, and symptom (rashes,
diarrhea, etc.) journal to see what is or is not working. It usually
takes about two to three months for results.
That first month can be hard, though, if the child rebels and refuses
to eat acceptable foods. For the diet to work, parents must keep
their resolve. "Because [Evan] could only eat the foods that
I put in front of him," Jenny McCarthy writes, "I knew
sooner or later he would eat. It was a struggle at first, but let's
face it, sooner or later they get REALLY hungry, and they're gonna
eat what you give them. You just need to be strong. Eventually he
adjusted and now only prefers GFCG." While diet is not a cure-all
for autistic syndrome disorders, it has been credited with improving
speech, readiness/ability to learn, better bowel function, less
cranky behaviors, and more affectionate and less self-stimulatory
behaviors in many children.
Autism Research Institute. Parent Ratings of Behavioral Effects
of Biomedical Interventions. ARI Publ.
34/Feb. 2006.
GFCFDIET. About us. Available at: www.gfcfdiet.com/NewPage2.htm.
Accessed December 27, 2007.
Lindgren, DC. Artificial food and cosmetic coloring: A hidden source
of toxic metals. Available at: www.townsendletter.com.
Accessed January 22, 2008.
McCarthy J. Things I didn't get to on the show that I'd like say…[sic].
Available at: http://gfcfdiet.com/Jenny.htm.
Accessed December 27, 2007.
Talk about Curing Autism (TACA). Gluten free/ casein-free (GF CF)
dietary intervention. Available at: www.talkaboutcuringautism.org/gfcf-diet/gfcfdietintro.htm.
Accessed December 27, 2007.
Methyl-B12
Methylcobalamin (methyl-B12), given as a subcutaneous injection
or as a nasal spray, can have a significant effect on language and
speech, eye contact, and socialization in children with autism.
Dr. James Neubrander initiated the use of methylcobalamin injections
in 2002. He based the treatment on oxidative stress and methionine
synthase research by Richard Deth, PhD, and Jill James, PhD. According
to Defeat Autism Now! doctor Jaquelyn McCandless, MD, 25 mg/ml injections
at 64.5 mcg/kg of body weight every three days is the optimal volume
and dose. The subcutaneous injections are given with a BD 3/10 cc
insulin syringe with an 8 mm, 31-gauge needle.
Stan Kurtz, an independent researcher and father of an autistic
child, developed the MB12 nasal spray idea. His research indicates
that MB12 nasal spray may be helpful to some people with memory
problems, anxiety, chronic fatigue, sleep regulation, chemical sensitivity,
asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory conditions, migraines,
ADHD, and autism. MB12 nasal spray begins to work within minutes.
In a March 2006 trial, it apparently normalized brain waves in a
23-year-old with DSM-IV Attention Deficit Disorder. Three post-tests,
including one immediately after using the nasal spray, "showed
a dramatic lessening of theta wave activity (3.5-7.5 Hz)" from
baseline. Theta wave activity occurs when people are daydreaming
and not focused or attentive. The subject also began more relaxed
and attentive.
MB12 nasal spray requires a prescription in the US and is available
from compounding pharmacies that are familiar with Defeat Autism
Now! protocols. The dosage for the nasal spray is less exact than
for the injection. "We suggest you use as little as you need
to get the desired results," Stan Kurtz writes. "Using
more does not mean better results. Taking a break from time to time
or trying to space out your administration is a good practice to
make sure you are not administering too much."
A person's response to the vitamin depends on individual biochemistry
and physiology and on environmental factors. Mode of administration
is a factor. Some people experience a beneficial effect with the
nasal spray but no effect with the injections and vice versa. A
few people experience side effects after receiving a dose of MB12
nasal spray, including temporary hyperactivity, headaches, crankiness,
and/or sleepiness (especially if taken on an empty stomach). If
such symptoms occur, Stan Kurtz's website (www.childrenscornerschool.com)
suggests trying other types of detoxification before using methyl
B12 again.
Kurtz S. MB12 Nasal spray summary (draft document) March 16, 2007.
Available at: www.childrenscornerschool.com/mb12nasalspray.htm.
Accessed January 1, 2008.
McCandless J. Clinical use of methyl-B12 in autism. Autism
Research Institute Newsletter. 2005;19(4). Available at:
www.autism.com/ari/editorials/ed_b12.htm.
Accessed January 1, 2008.
PhosphatidylSerine,
Omega-3, and ADHD
"PS [PhosphatidylSerine] has a unique molecular structure that
makes it a building block for all the cells of the body," Parris
M. Kidd, PhD, says in his book PS (PhosphatidylSerine)
Nature's Brain Booster for Memory, Mood, and Stress. "When
added to the daily diet as a supplemental nutrient concentrate,
PS can have great benefits for the human brain." Even though
every cell membrane in the body contains this compound, nerve cells
need it the most. Without phosphatidylSerine (PS) in their membranes,
nerve cells can neither produce nor conduct electrical impulses.
The PS molecule is designed to carry two fatty acids, one of which
is the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA is essential
for healthy brain and nerve function. Studies indicate that omega-3
fatty acids can also reduce ADHD symptoms. PS supplementation increases
energy production in the brain and can improve memory, learning,
comprehension, and word recall, according to research.
Preliminary evidence suggests that PS can help children with behavioral
and attention problems. Carol Ann Ryser, MD, a physician who treats
children with ADHD, and Dr. Kidd performed a pilot study involving
27 children, ages three to 19 years. Dr. Ryser added 200 or 300
mg of PS per day (depending on body size) to her usual "best
[treatment] program" for each child. "PS produced marked,
clinically meaningful benefit for 25 of the 27 children," Dr.
Kidd reports. Attention, concentration, learning, and behavior improved
with PS use. No adverse effects or drug interactions were reported.
Kidd Parris M, PhD. PS (PhosphatidylSerine) Nature's
Brain Booster. St. George, Utah; Total Health Communications,
Inc.; 2005.
New research supports value of omega-3 supplements in reducing ADHD
symptoms. CRIME Times 2007;13(3):4,5.
Early Thimerosal Exposure
and Neuropsychological Outcomes
In September 2007, New England Journal
of Medicine (NEJM) published a widely publicized study called
"Early Thimerosal Exposure and Neuropsychological Outcomes
at 7 to 10 Years." William W. Thompson, PhD, from the Influenza
Division and Immunization Safety Office, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (Atlanta, GA) led the study, which involved 1047
children. The children and their mothers received their health care
through one of four HMOs since the child's birth. Children whose
birth weight was less than 2500 grams or who had encephalitis, meningitis,
hydrocephalus, or other conditions that "could bias neuropsychological
testing" were excluded. HMO records provided the data used
to assess the children's exposure to mercury in thimerosal-containing
vaccines during the prenatal period, the neonatal period (birth
to 28 days), and the first seven months of life. The children, ages
seven to ten years, completed standardized tests to assess 42 neuropsychological
outcomes. The conclusion reads: "Our study does not support
a causal association between early exposure to mercury from thimerosal-containing
vaccines and immune globulins and deficits in neuro-psychological
functioning at the age of 7 to 10 years."
The January 3, 2008 issue of NEJM
contains two critical letters. Sallie Bernard, executive director
of SafeMinds and a member of the panel of external consultants for
this study, writes, "The sample was skewed toward higher socioeconomic
status and maternal education" and "[excluded] children
in higher-mobility families, who tend to have lower academic and
behavioral function." Also, "only 30% of families selected
for recruitment participated, a low rate for scientific research."
In their response, the authors say they "controlled for socioeconomic
factors, maternal education, and maternal IQ in the statistical
analyses."
In the second letter, James P.K. Rooney raises questions about nutritional
and genetic factors that may influence results. The authors respond:
"Although nutrition and genetics play an important role in
neurodevelopmental outcomes, we believe (my emphasis) that the factors
pointed out by Mr. Rooney were unlikely to confound the results
of our study because they are unlikely to be correlated with thimerosal
exposure."
In the study's discussion section, the authors admit that prenatal
exposure to methyl mercury, found in fish, has "significant
negative effects" on neuropsychological performance (e.g.,
speech and verbal abilities, dexterity, attention, and visuospatial
abilities). "However, the appropriateness of methyl mercury
as a referent for assessment of exposure to ethyl mercury from thimerosal
is questionable," they assert, "since the half-life of
ethyl mercury in blood (<10 days) is much shorter than the half-life
of methyl mercury (> 20 days)." The reference for this statement
is a 2005 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences study
by Thomas M. Burbacher and colleagues, "Comparison of Blood
and Brain Mercury Levels in Infant Monkeys Exposed to Methylmercury
or Vaccines Containing Thimerosal." In this study, infant monkeys
were given methyl mercury (via oral gavage) or IM injections of
thimerosal-containing vaccines at birth and one, two, and three
weeks of age. The researchers measured blood mercury (Hg) levels
two, four, and seven days after each exposure and total and inorganic
brain mercury levels at intervals after the final exposure. Although
the half-life of ingested methyl mercury is longer than injected
ethyl-mercury, the authors of this study do not make the leap that
one mercury compound is less or more toxic than the other. "The
current study indicates that MeHg," they conclude, "is
not a suitable reference for risk assessment from exposure to thimerosal-derived
Hg. Knowledge of the toxicokinetics and developmental toxicity of
thimerosal is needed to afford a meaningful assessment of the developmental
effects of thimerosal-containing vaccines." Have toxicokinetics
and/or developmental toxicity studies been performed?
This study includes five pages of outcome statistics. It looks impressive,
even daunting. But I wonder what the researchers used as a control.
Have these neuro-psychological tests ever been given to a cohort
of mercury-free kids? Is that even possible?
Bernard S. Early thimerosal exposure and neuropsychological outcomes
(letter). N Engl J Med. January
3, 2008: 358(1):93-94. Available at: www.nejm.org.
Accessed January 3, 2008.
Burbacher TM, Shen DD, Liberato N, Grant KS, Cernichiari E, Clarkson
T. Comparison of blood and brain mercury levels in infant monkeys
exposed to methylmercury or vaccines containing thimerosal (abstract).
Environmental Health Perspectives.
April 21, 2005. Available at: www.ehponline.org/docs/2005/7712/abstract.pdf.
(519KB .pdf) Accessed January 3, 2008.
Rooney JPK. Early thimerosal exposure and neuropsychological outcomes
(letter). N Engl J Med. January
3, 2008: 358(1):93-94. Available at: www.nejm.org.
Accessed January 3, 2008.
Thompson WW, Price C, Goodson B, et al. Early thimerosal exposure
and neuropsychological outcomes at 7 to 10 years. The New
England Journal of Medicine. September 27, 2007; 357(13):
1281-1292. Available at: www.nejm.org.
Accessed January 1, 2008.
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