Lunch boxes recalled due to poison hazard

From Reuters (1/24):

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced last Monday that California Innovations voluntarily recalled an estimated 248,000 insulated lunch boxes due to damaged freezer gel packs that pose a poisoning hazard. In the two reports of a dog chewing the packs received by the company, one dog died, while the other one recovered.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/24/us-lunchboxes-freezergel-idUSTRE80N26G20120124

New Definition of Autism Will Exclude Many, Study Suggests

From New York Times (1/19):
Only 45% of 372 children and adults among the highest functioning would qualify for the proposed autism spectrum criteria being considered by the American Psychiatric Association, an analysis found. Researchers said that an estimated 75% of patients with Asperger syndrome would not qualify for the diagnosis, while 85% of those with pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified would not qualify. The findings were presented at an Icelandic Medical Association meeting. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/20/health/research/new-autism-definition-would-exclude-many-study-suggests.html?_r=1

 

Study ties low vitamin D levels to depression risk in children

From The Daily Mail (London) (1/20):

Data from the Children of the 90s research project involving more than 2,700 children showed that those with low vitamin D levels were more prone to depression. Children who had the highest vitamin D levels had a 10% lower risk of developing depression, University of Bristol researchers found.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2088876/Exposure-vitamin-D-lower-risk-mental-health-problems.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

IPad app aims to help children with autism communicate

From The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk) (12/27)
Virginia father Joe Hill, whose son has autism, created an iPad application aimed at improving communication for children with the disorder. The Aeir Talk app, which launched Nov. 30, allows children to assemble sentences using virtual flashcards that can be customized with personal text, audio and photos uploaded by the child's parents. "The familiarity of things around them really helps in the learning," Hill said.

http://hamptonroads.com/2011/12/chesapeake-father-creates-app-navigate-autism

Children with autism have different gut bacteria

From HealthDay News (1/10):
More than half of the tissue samples collected from the stomachs of children with autism showed a relatively large amount of Sutterella bacteria, according to a study in the journal mBio. Researchers noted that this bacteria was not detected in the tissue samples taken from children without autism, but said more study is needed on the link between gut bacteria and gastrointestinal problems in children with autism.

http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=660530