Conor Shows Off His Basketball Skills For Dad

Conor showing off his ball handling skills at the gym for Dad while Education Aide Brad Daniels looks on. Brad has done some great work with Conor in the gym this year. It was a real thrill for me to be able to attend at the school gym yesterday and see Conor having so much fun.

It is a large field house style gym and there were many other children making lots of noise which didn't seem to bother Conor at all. A huge plus!




autism

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Yeah...It's Friday Feast Time! Friday Feast #178

I have a field trip to go on today with my oldest daughter so I am so glad it's Friday and I can do my favorite meme! Sit back and enjoy!

Appetizer
How many times per day do you usually laugh?

I laugh a lot in a day. I have a great life and I think that makes it easier to laugh at things! My kids make me laugh, T. is kinda funny (don't tell him I said that - It will just encourage him!), my sister, my Mom and my friends all make me laugh! Life in general is pretty funny!

Soup
What do your sunglasses look like?

I have some big black Juicy Couture Sunglasses. They are the fashion type not sport.

Salad
You win a free trip to anywhere on your continent, but you have to travel by train. Where do you go?

Can I go 2 place or one place via a quick stop over? I thought I could...I would love to go to see my family in Canada but I would want to go to Chicago first and visit my best friend from high school who I haven't seen in over 10 years!!!

Main Course
Name one thing you consider a great quality about living in your town/city.

Definitely the weather!!! Southwest Florida...the weather doesn't get better than this!

Dessert
If the sky could be another color, what color do you think would look best?

Oh Pink of course...then I could take off my rose colored glasses and really live!

Hope you enjoy this!

As Always...

Happy Entertaining!!!

Judy
www.nofearentertaining.com

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Autism, Genetics and Environment - Study Finds Autism Immune System Link

A study reported in the January 2008 issue of Genomics, Gene expression changes in children with autism, has found that a group of genes with known links to natural-killer cells, that attack viruses, bacteria and malignancies, are expressed at high levels in the blood of children with autism when compared to children without the disorder. The study also found gene expression distinctions in children with early onset and regressive autism. The study is summarized in a digestible format on the UC Newsroom article Researchers identify gene expression profile distinctions in children with autism. Comments by the senior researcher Frank Sharp M.D. clinical neurologist, neuroscientist, and professor, department of neurology, school of medicine, indicate that the findings suggest a possible environmental role in the development of autism disorders:

"What we found were 11 specific genes with expression levels that were significantly higher in the blood of children with autism when compared to the blood of typically developing children," said Frank Sharp, senior author of the study and professor of neurology with the M.I.N.D. Institute.

"Those 11 genes are all known to be expressed by natural-killer cells, which are cells in the immune system necessary for mounting a defense against infected cells. We were surprised by our results because we were not looking for these particular genes. And while a number of studies have shown immune system dysregulation to be an important factor in autism, ours is one of the first to implicate these particular cells."

...

"What we are seeing can reflect something in the environment that is triggering the activation of these genes or something genetic that the children have from the time they were conceived," Sharp explained. "Such an immune response could be caused by exposure to a virus, another infectious agent or even a toxin.

Another possibility is that these changes represent a genetic susceptibility factor that predisposes children to autism when they are exposed to some environmental factor." He added that the current study also does not identify whether or not the natural-killer cells are functioning abnormally, which further work by M.I.N.D. Institute immunologists will reveal. "If the natural-killer cells are dysfunctional, this might mean that they cannot rid a pregnant mother, fetus or newborn of an infection, which could contribute to autism."

The study is also featured in an article by Carrie Peyton Dahlberg at sacbee.com which features several interesting comments by Dr. Jeffrey Gregg, director of molecular diagnostics for the UC Davis Medical Center who was also involved in the study. It is pointed out that both similarities and differences were found between the early onset and regression autism cases:

Children with that "regressive" autism had nearly 500 genes that were activated differently than children with "early onset" autism, Gregg and his colleagues found after examining blood samples from 61 children.

"That would suggest that those two groups are very different … and may have totally different underlying pathology," Gregg said.

Both groups, though, as well as other children with a range of symptoms called autism spectrum disorder, shared the 11 strongly expressed genes that control natural killer immune cells.

Dr. David Amaral, the UC Davis MIND Institute's research director suggested that much remains to be learned about how the genetic and environmental factors giving rise to autism interact:

It is still unclear how early those differences emerge, but other MIND Institute researchers are looking at immune differences in mothers' bloodstreams that might be predictive for having a child with autism, said Dr. David Amaral, the institute's research director.

"Things are moving really, really fast now," Amaral said, with scientists around the country working to understand the relationship of genetic and environmental factors that may underlie autism.

It seems clear from this study that environmental factors can not be ruled out in trying to understand the causes -- and potential treatments for autism. Some of the rhetoric which dismisses all genetic or all environmental factors appears to be ill founded. The Autism Knowledge Revolution is being carried out by researchers and scientists in relevant medical fields and the knowledge they are gaining appears to point to both genetics and environment as being involved in the development of autism.

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Autism Resources Miramichi Gets A Boost

Lila Barry accepts a cheque for $30,000 from MLA Bill Fraser. They
are joined by ARM board members Dianne Pineau and Linda Robichaud.
Photo and caption from Miramichi Leader Online Edition
© 2007 CanadaEast Interactive, Brunswick News Inc.

In Autism centre receives government funding the Miramichi Leader reports on a positive autism development in Miramichi, New Brunswick as Autism Resources Miramichi receives funding to get started. New Brunswick has seen its share of advocates of alternative non evidence based treatments for autism. Lila Barry, Dianne Pineau and Linda Robichaud at ARM will ensure that parents receive reliable information about evidence based interventions for their autistic children - and strong moral support through the tough times:

Barry and other parents of ASD children were at the office of Miramichi-Bay du Vin MLA Bill Fraser last Monday, Jan. 7 for the official funding presentation. She said the centre will especially help parents who are struggling to deal with affected children.

"As a parent you're actually trying to reach out to other parents. Parents often when they first get the diagnosis; they're always in a state of anxiety and overwhelmed with the diagnosis. They don't necessarily have anyone to turn to or don't know who to turn to once their child is diagnosed," she said.

Barry also said stress levels are very high for parents of ASD children and family separation and divorce often result. She said many parents are often desperate to get help for their children and turn to the wrong sources of information.

"It's difficult obtaining reliable, accurate information on best practices, treatment and research," she said. "So often there is some much out there on the Internet that is just garbage."

She said parents will often spend large amounts of time and money chasing worthless therapies and miracle treatments. She wants the centre to provide these parents with the right information needed to help.

autism

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Ο ενδοκρινολόγος Παναγιώτης Κοντολέων

Ο Ενδοκρινολόγος Παναγιώτης Κοντολέων
Σήμερα πέρασα από το Ιατρικό Σύλλογο Αθηνών για την ετήσια εγγραφή και στην εξερεύνηση του νέου κτιρίου μας Σεβαστουπόλεως 113 έπεσα πάνω σε ένα συντετριμμένο Πρόεδρο μας , τον κ. Ρηγάκη. Από αυτόν έμαθα την πρωινή είδηση γροθιά στο στομάχι μας για τον αιφνίδιο θάνατο του αγαπητού από όλους συνδικαλιστή, αγωνιστή του Ρήγα Φεραίου και αγιάτρευτου γιατρού στην υπηρεσία του Δημόσιου τομέα Υγείας.
Γεννήθηκε στην Αθήνα το 1954 και εργάζετο ως γιατρός ενδοκρινολόγος στο Νοσοκομείο ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΑ. Ηταν μέλος της Γραμματείας της ΑΝΟΙΧΤΗΣ ΠΟΛΗΣ, γραμματέας της Νομαρχιακής Υγείας του ΣΥΝ και μέλος του τμήματος Υγείας του ΣΥΝ. Είχε συμμετάσχει στο συνδικαλιστικό κίνημα των γιατρών από το 1984 ως μέλος του ΔΣ του Ιατρικού Συλλόγου Αθηνών, ως γραμματέας της ΟΕΝΓΕ και ως σήμερα ως γραμματέας της ΕΙΝΑΠ. Ηταν μέλος του Κεντρικού Συμβουλίου Υγείας και της Επιτροπής δικαιωμάτων ασθενών. Επίσης δραστηριοποιείτο στο Δ.Σ. του Πανελλήνιου Ιατρικού Συλλόγου.
Πρόσφατα σε αυτό το ιστολόγιο είχα φιλοξενήσει ανακοίνωση που είχε ο ίδιος συντάξει απλά είχα επιμεληθεί τίτλο και εικονογράφηση. Το αιφνίδιο συμβάν (μάλλον πνευμονικό οίδημα ) έγινε προ τριημέρου μέσα στο γραφείο του στο Νοσοκομείο Αλεξάνδρα όπου δούλευε. Αλλος ένας πρόωρος και άδικος θάνατος σε χώρο εργασίας. Ο Αγωνιστής παίδεψε το χάρο 8 ημέρες στη ΜΕΘ για να τον πάρει.

Ο Παναγιώτης διακρινόταν για την συνέπειά του στην ιδεολογική τοποθέτηση στο χώρο της σημερινής σύγχρονης Αριστεράς. Ηταν η μεγάλη του οικογένεια και η κύρια δραστηριότητα των ενεργειών του. Συγχρόνως με το διαλλακτικό και μειλίχιο πνεύμα του κατακτούσε δικαιωματικά το σεβασμό των (υποτιθέμενων) συνδικαλιστικών του αντιπάλων. Οι προτάσεις του πάντα στο χώρο του συνδικαλισμού είχαν μελέτη ωρών και ημερών πίσω και επιστημονική τεκμηρίωση. Το αρχείο θεμάτων που διατηρούσε θα γίνει σίγουρα πολύτιμο εφόδιο στους συναγωνιστές του. Στην αυριανή Αυγή θα υπάρχει πιστεύω πληρέστερο βιογραφικό. Το τελευταίο χαίρε αύριο 25-1-2008 στις 4μμ από το Α. Νεκροταφείο Αθηνών Συλλυπητήρια στην έρμη μάνα που θα συνοδέψει αύριο το λεβέντη της στην τελευταία κατοικία.

Διονύσης Λαμπαδάριος

ΣΤΟΝ ΠΑΝΑΓΙΩΤΗ

Ο Παναγιώτης των αγώνων, ο Παναγιώτης του Ρήγα, του Συνασπισμού, του ιατρικού συνδικαλιστικού κινήματος, της Ανοικτής Πόλης, ο Παναγιώτης της καλής παρέας, ο αφοσιωμένος μας σύντροφος δεν είναι πια μαζί μας.
Μετά από οκτώ ημέρες πάλης, στο ίδιο το νοσοκομείο που δούλευε τόσα χρόνια, έφυγε από κοντά μας, τόσο πρόωρα, αφήνοντας συντετριμμένους και απαρηγόρητους, όχι μόνο τους δικούς του και τους συντρόφους του, αλλά και όλο τον ιατρικό και υγειονομικό χώρο, όλους όσους τον γνώριζαν και τον αγαπούσαν. Και ήταν αυτοί πολλοί. Πάρα πολλοί.
Δοσμένος, κυριολεκτικά, στα πιο όμορφα ανθρώπινα ιδανικά, ο Παναγιώτης Κοντολέων της επιστήμης και των αγώνων, της διαρκούς αναζήτησης, της μοναδικής, για την εποχή μας, προσφοράς, σημάδεψε τα χρόνια μας, έγινε εμβληματική φυσιογνωμία των αγώνων των νοσοκομειακών γιατρών και όλου του υγειονομικού κινήματος.
Ακριβέ μας σύντροφε, η Ν.Ε. Υγείας του Συνασπισμού, που επί χρόνια υπήρξες γραμματέας της, όλοι οι σύντροφοί σου, που τους ενέπνεε, φιλοτιμούσε και κινητοποιούσε η δική σου συνέπεια, η δική σου αδιάκοπη όρεξη για δράση, θα σε έχουμε για πάντα μαζί μας, στους αγώνες και στη καθημερινή ζωη, στην καρδιά και τον νού.

Η ΝΟΜΑΡΧΙΑΚΗ ΕΠΙΤΡΟΠΗ ΥΓΕΙΑΣ ΤΟΥ ΣΥΝ

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Royal Foodie Joust

One of the things that I have loved so much about blogging about food is that I am learning that there are soooo many things that I don't know. I love the challenges because they encourage me to go beyond my comfort zone again and again! One of my favorites is the Royal Foodie Joust hosted by Jenn, which I love participating in. The winner from the previous month gets to choose the 3 ingredients that need to be used for the next month. Last months winner Dharm from Dad~Baker and Chef choose eggplant, Lentils and cinnamon as the ingredients. Wow what was I going to do with those???!!! First I thought I would do a dip like a Baba Ghannoush but then I thought that I should challenge myself a little more. So I came up with a stuffed eggplant dish that was to die for! I will definitely be making this one again!

Lentil Stuffed Eggplant Recipe

Thanks Dharm for choosing these ingredients and to you Jenn for hosting this challenge!

As Always...

Happy Entertaining!!!

Judy
www.nofearentertaining.com

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Autism Communication Deficit At The CIHR

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research have played an important role in fostering autism research. The CIHR quite properly promotes its role in funding the recently reported study on the association of certain chromosomes with some instances of autism. The CIHR also professes to be committed to partnering with relevant "stakeholders" and community interest groups in an open, transparent manner:

Freedom of Inquiry	CIHR recognizes that the primary purpose of all research in the public domain is the creation of new knowledge in an environment that embodies the principles of freedom of inquiry and unrestricted dissemination of research results.
Transparency and Accountability	Decision-making processes should ensure that all decisions are fair, open, reputable and able to bear close public scrutiny. Honest and cost-effective accountability mechanisms will be in place for all aspects of the work undertaken by CIHR.
Collaboration	CIHR values positive and mutually respectful relationships with partners and stakeholders who are committed to openness, responsibility and fairness and are mutually respectful of each other's priorities and objectives.

Measured against the noble principles espoused by the CIHR are the realities of the CIHR organized national autism symposium which was held, according to rumour at least, November 8 and 9 2007 in Toronto. The symposium was supposed to be a key element in the Stephen Harper- Tony Clement "national autism strategy" such as it is.

Invitees to the symposium were told that the symposium would be an exercise in community building, an odd goal for such a secretive event. No program, list of speakers or list of invitees to the event were ever published. The invitation also indicated that the symposium would be conducted by professional facilitators, which is a PR way of saying that the discussion would not be open and dissent or criticism would not be permitted. The hand picked delegates were selected not by the community organizations they were supposed to represent but by CIHR officials.

To date, no information has been released of the proceedings of the invisible National Autism Symposium of November 8 and 9 2007. In relation to autism, it seems reasonable to say that the CIHR has failed miserably in its goal of community building. It is not clear what the CIHR is so afraid of although it seems that parents advocating for a national autism strategy to actually help Canadian children are high on its "do not invite" list. Perhaps the CIHR scientists/bureaucrats are simply trying to ensure maximum compliance with their marching orders from Prime Minister Harper and Health Minister Clement.

What the CIHR is not doing is community building. What the CIHR is not doing is communicating with Canadians about autism, autism research or effective evidence based autism interventions. When it comes to autism the CIHR suffers from a massive communication deficit.

autism

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