Early intervention alters brain activity in children with autism

From Medical News Today (10/26):

The Early Start Denver Model early-intervention program for children with autism can help normalize brain activity, improve language and soc

ial skills, and enhance cognitive thinking, a study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry found. The program combines developmental, play-based and relationship-based methods and training techniques.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/252079.php

PANDAS to CANS: Evolution of a controversial disorder

Dr. O'Hara is quoted in the attached article found in the October 2012 issue of Infectious Diseases in Children

PANDAS to CANS: Evolution of a controversial disorder

http://www.healio.com/pediatrics/news/print/infectious-diseases-in-children/%7BCAFAB629-3452-44AF-BA2D-4D99A8012DFC%7D/PANDAS-to-CANS-Evolution-of-a-controversial-disorder

Many babies at risk of development delays don't get early intervention

From Reuters (5/22):

Thirty-six percent of 118 children in California who failed the standardized developmental test and had no previous early intervention did not receive a referral during an initial follow-up visit at ages 4 months to 8 months, a study in Pediatrics found. Researchers said the numbers were similar at the second follow-up visit. Budget cuts to the state's early intervention services and stricter eligibility criteria might explain the low referral rate for such services, they said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/22/us-babies-development-idUSBRE84L14T20120522

Disney clothing set recalled over high lead content

From Examiner.com (10/16):

An estimated 6,200 of Children's Apparel Network's Disney fleece hoodie and t-shirt sets sold at Target were recalled due to excessive lead levels found on the ...

coating of the zippers, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on Tuesday. No incidents have been reported.

http://www.examiner.com/article/disney-hoodie-and-t-shirt-sets-recalled-due-to-lead-risk-sold-at-target

Gardasil

Please note: We still do not recommend this vaccine and this study only shows the side effects in the acute situation, not long term.

From Reuters (10/1):
HPV vaccine Gardasil safe for teens, young women

A study involving almost 190,000

girls and women ages 9 to 26 found no new safety concerns with Merck & Co.'s human papillomavirus vaccine Gardasil. Fainting and rare cases of skin infections, the only observed side effects, were expected and benign, according to researchers. The findings appear in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/01/us-hpv-vaccine-found-safe-in-large-study-idUSBRE8901B820121001

Adenotonsillectomy resolves bed-wetting in some children

From Family Practice News (10/4):

A study of 35 children diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and bed-wetting showed 51% had reductions in bed-wetting following adenoidectomy, ton

sillectomy or adenotonsillectomy, according to a study presented at the American Academy for Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery Foundation meeting. Researchers also found that girls had a fivefold greater chance of having their bed-wetting resolved than boys following the procedure.

http://www.familypracticenews.com/single-view/adenotonsillectomy-dries-up-some-bed-wetting/93dd9b936823a5c8aaa0324e1b23687b.html

Prenatal fish intake, mercury exposure tied to ADHD risk

From Reuters (10/8):

Maternal consumption of at least two fish servings a week was linked to a 60% lower risk of their children developing some attention-deficit/hyperactivity diso

rder symptoms, according to a study in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. However, higher mercury hair levels from mothers taken after delivery was associated with about a 60% greater likelihood of hyperactivity, inattentiveness and impulsivity in their children at about age 8.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/08/us-fish-adhd-idUSBRE89713O20121008

Tips on reducing your exposure to arsenic

As a follow up to an earlier post about high levels of Arsenic found in rice, the Environmental Working Group senior scientist Sonya Lunder and nutritionist Dawn Undurraga did what EWG does best: developed helpful tips so you can minimize h

ow much arsenic is in your - and your family's - diet.

Check out EWG's tips on reducing your exposure to arsenic.

From tips on choosing rice alternatives to reading labels, these easy-to-use tips will help you limit your arsenic exposures.

http://www.enviroblog.org/2012/09/getting-arsenic-out-of-your-and-your-kids-diet.html?utm_source=2012arsenicfull&utm_medium=email&utm_content=first-link&utm_campaign=toxic

Gestational diabetes may raise ADHD risk in children

From PhysiciansBriefing.com/HealthDay News (9/11):

Maternal gestational diabetes and/or low socioeconomic status may increase a child's risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, according to a study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. However, breast-feeding appeared to offer protective benefits against developing ADHD, researchers said.

http://www.physiciansbriefing.com/Article.asp?AID=668515

Dr. O'Hara will be at ARI next week

Dr. O'Hara will be speaking at the Autism Research Institute (ARI) Conference in Orange County, CA next week

October 11th-12th Moderator, Clinician Level 2 Sessions
October 12th Clinician Seminar: PANDAS/PANS and Autism
October 12th Clinician Seminar: Complex Case Management

October 13th Parent Lecture: Getting the Most Out of Your Practitioner: Be Prepared.

For more information visit: www.autism.com

Antibiotic use linked to increased risk for IBD

From WebMD (9/24):

Children exposed to antibiotics before age 1 were at five times greater risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease compared with children not given antibiotics, according to a U.K. study in the journal Pediatrics. Researchers said that the more exposed that patients were to these drugs during childhood and adolescence, the higher the odds of having IBD.

http://www.webmd.com/ibd-crohns-disease/news/20120924/antibiotics-bowel-disease-risk-kids?src=NEWS

Smoke exposure during pregnancy may affect brain development

From HealthDay News (9/19):

Prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke or secondhand smoke was linked to a greater likelihood of learning problems, obesity and attention-deficit/hyper

activity disorder, a Spanish study found. Researchers said that babies exposed to smoke while in the womb may be less able to block stimuli that can change their central nervous system. The findings appear in the journal Early Human Development.

http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=668695