“Parasites are a lot like relationships,” my infectious disease professor said as he introduced the day’s topic.

“there are relationships where both parties benefit: that’s mutualism. Then sometimes one person benefits and the other is unaffected: that’s commensalism. And then you have those dangerous relationships when one partner benefits at the expense of the other: that’s parasitism.”

He then proceeded to show a series of photos of worst-case scenario parasite infections to the often audibly disgusted class. the take-home message: some types of relationships ought to be avoided at all costs.

Just like identifying a case of strep throat, it’s important that you know how to diagnose the kind of relationship you’re in. there are two different ways to make a diagnosis: identifying symptoms in the host (for example, a sore throat, fever and headache) or identifying the infectious agent (taking a strep test).

In relationships, I prefer the symptomatic approach because you won’t have to feel guilty for criticizing the flaws in your significant other. in general, it’s a bad thing to blame all the problems in a relationship on the other party. looking for symptoms in yourself, though, allows you to investigate the way the relationship is affecting you without judging the other party.

So, diagnosing relationships. the goal, of course, is a mutual relationship. both of you bring your best selves, your idiosyncrasies and your flaws, and for some reason you’re both happier together than apart. Synergy happens when your personalities combine to make something better than the sum of your separate selves. in humans, we have this relationship with our gut flora. Little bacteria live in your belly and help to digest food more efficiently. the bacteria get to live in a pool of acid, which they for some reason like, and you get to eat food, which you like.

You’ll know you’re in a mutual relationship when being with another person makes you want to be your best self. you may find yourself motivated to live the gospel, to be kinder, more patient or to think the best of others. in particular, you’ll feel inspired to serve your significant other without compulsion or guilt, but simply out of the pure love of your heart. If you’re in a relationship like this, hold onto it.

Next there’s the commensalistic relationship in which one member of the relationship benefits and the other is neither harmed nor benefited. this is like when a barnacle latches onto the outside of a boat or a whale or something. the whale is just fine, only that it’s covered in barnacles, and the barnacle has a place to stay.

Both in nature and in the dating world, commensal relationships are fairly rare because usually the barnacle eventually causes some harm or benefit to its host. For example, you might be dating someone to whom you’re fairly indifferent. He could break up with you, and you’d just go back to watching reruns of “American Idol” like nothing happened. same emotional payoff.

Eventually, you’re probably harmed in that you’re not dating someone you actually like, or you’ll get exhausted toting around some useless barnacle everywhere you go. On the other hand, perhaps you’re benefited because at least you no longer have to look like such a loser showing up to all your friends’ wedding receptions single. Either way, though, a commensal relationship will eventually manifest some signs of either mutualism or parasitism.

Finally, there’s the parasitic relationship. a parasite will suck the life out of you and leave you crippled. Loa loa is this horrible worm that likes to travel about a person’s insides, which is all well and good until it squirms across your eye. Not only does this make me want to lose my lunch, if the loa loa rubs up your eye enough times, you’ll eventually go completely blind. Cysticercosis is another disease that happens when you eat a taenia solium tapeworm in undercooked pork. Under certain circumstances, one of these things can form a cyst in your brain —destroying brain tissue to make space for itself.

You might be in a parasitic relationship if you have the following symptoms: you dread hearing from your girlfriend or boyfriend, and when you answer the phone you find that his or her needs just fester and take advantage of your kindness. Eventually you feel that your generosity has been leeched away, and all that’s left is resentment and weariness. you know you’re dating a parasite when you feel obligated to spend time with your boyfriend or girlfriend, and you leave feeling like the whole evening was about him or her. Yes, sometimes one party in a relationship will have more needs than the other, but hopefully that’s just temporary and you both get to have your needs met.

Once you realize his or her insatiable, parasitic neediness will be an ever-present drain on your relationship, you have to get out. Pry that parasite off. of course, both parties will be harmed when you two separate. When cysticercosis is removed, the little worm gets its just deserts (death by sanitation), and you still have a hole in your brain. If you’ve ever dated a parasite, you know that sometimes it’s immediately quite a bit more painful to pry him or her out of your life than to just endure her toilsome presence. but unlike brain tissue, the emotional/social/financial scars incurred by your ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend are reparable. Given a few months and several cartons of ice cream, you’ll be a whole person again. of course you might have some extra baggage, but hopefully you’re also stronger, wiser and less likely to get reinfected.

In Study, Screen Detected Signs of Autism, Other Developmental Problems 75% of the Time

April 28, 2011 — a simple checklist completed by parents can help doctors screen for signs of autism as early as the child’s first birthday, according to new research.

”I am hoping it will become the standard of care,” researcher Karen Pierce, PhD, an assistant professor of neuroscience at the University of San Diego School of Medicine, tells WebMD.

She recently tested the screen, asking 137 pediatricians throughout San Diego County to take part. At the 12-month well baby visit, the doctors asked the parents to answer the 24-item checklist. the questions ask about their child’s emotions, eye gaze, communication, gestures, and other behaviors.

The screen found suspected autism, autism spectrum disorder, language delays, or other developmental problems about 75% of the time, Pierce says.

“One of every four times, it will be wrong,” she says. “The price to pay for that is actually very tiny” compared to the benefit of early intervention.

Currently, 5.7 years is the median age (half older, half younger) at which children receive an autism diagnosis, according to a 2009 study.

About one in 110 children in the U.S. has autism or autism spectrum disorder, a group of developmental disabilities that cause social, behavioral, and communication challenges.

The new study is published online in the Journal of Pediatrics.

Screen for Autism: a Closer Look

The screen used is already published and is available online for free download. it is called the CSBS DP IT checklist (Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile Infant-Toddler).

The questionnaire takes about five minutes to complete, Pierce says.

Among the questions:

• Do you know when your child is happy and when your child is upset?
• Does your child do things just to get you to laugh?
• Does your child string sounds together, such as uh oh, mamma, gaga, bye-bye?
• When you call your child’s name, does he/she respond by looking or turning toward you?
• Does your child wave to greet people?
• Does your child smile or laugh while looking at you?

“This is not an autism-specific screen,” Pierce tells WebMD. “It’s a screen to catch autism and other developmental delays.”

The doctors screened 10,479 infants. of them, 1,318 children failed. Pierce evaluated 184 of the children who failed the screen and were evaluated for autism, autism spectrum disorder, language delays, or other developmental delays. the researchers also tracked 41 of the 9,161 children who passed the checklist, who served as a comparison group.

To date, 32 of the children got a final or provisional diagnosis of autism or autism spectrum disorder, which encompasses a wider spectrum of developmental problems. another 46 received a false-positive diagnosis of autism, uncovered with evaluation.

Five babies who tested positive for ASD later no longer met the criteria. Fifty-six were diagnosed with learning disabilities, nine with developmental problems, and 36 with “other” developmental problems.

It is critical, Pierce says, that a doctor who uses the screen has access to a center where he can refer patients for more evaluation.

In 2007, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a report introducing universal screening for autism at ages 18 months and 24 months.

Copyright © 2011 National Public Radio®. for personal, noncommercial use only. See Terms of use. for other uses, prior permission required.

This is SCIENCE FRIDAY. I am Ira Flatow.

Up next, new guidelines for diagnosing a common disease. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the country, and the only one of those top 10 killers than cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed, says the Alzheimer’s Association. but even though there’s no good treatment, there are researchers who say there is a benefit to knowing the early symptoms, to figure out who might go on to develop the disease.

And earlier this week, the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association announced that for the first time in 27 years, they were changing the guidelines that clinicians use to diagnose Alzheimer’s to try and catch the disease earlier in people.

Joining me to talk more about this is my guest, Creighton Phelps. He’s director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Centers Program at the National Institute on Aging. It’s part of NIH.

Welcome to SCIENCE FRIDAY.

Dr. CREIGHTON PHELPS (Director, Alzheimer’s Disease Centers Program, National Institute on Aging): Good afternoon. I’m happy to be here.

FLATOW: Tell us how the guidelines have changed. What’s different about these newer ones?

Dr. PHELPS: what we’ve done is sort of reconstructed our whole way of thinking about Alzheimer’s disease and divided it into stages. And then we have set up these guidelines that will allow us to define how to diagnose – at least in a couple of the stages – whether somebody is suffering from this awful disease. so what – the guidelines in 1984, 27 years ago, were for only the dementia phase of the disease. And that’s when – that’s the terminal stage, you know, the last stage of the disease.

We have clarified and changed those somewhat to let people know – or let the physicians know – that while memory is still very important, it doesn’t necessarily have to always be memory that would be the main component of the disorder. It can be other kinds of cognitive functions, such as what we call executive function, ability to make decisions, perhaps problems some in getting around in the environment, not being able to solve complex problems and so forth. so that’s been clarified.

We’ve also – didn’t know 27 years ago that there were other dimensions of the aging that could also be confused with Alzheimer’s disease. so we’ve addressed that, as well. And so – then that’s the dementia phase.

There’s a middle stage, which we call mild cognitive impairment. That’s been only known for about 10 years. It wasn’t even heard of back in 1984. And that is where people are not demented yet, but they’re starting to see signs of cognitive loss, and it’s starting to be noticeable. their family notices it. They may notice it themselves. the physician can test this.

But what’s really new is a – what we are calling a pre-clinical stage, which is something that we couldn’t even consider years ago, because we thought Alzheimer’s disease was the dementia phase, and that was it. what – now we’re finding that there are biomarkers, changes in the brain that can be measured that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease in the dementia phase. but we can pick these up at a much earlier stage in people that have no symptoms.

FLATOW: but – so can I can go in and get these tests done to pick up those stages, the earliest stage?

Dr. PHELPS: no, not right now, because these biomarkers are in the research phase right now. They have to be validated to be sure. We don’t want to give you the wrong information. so we need to be sure they’re tracking with the course of the disease so we wouldn’t give you the wrong idea that if you, you know, just because you might have the marker, it doesn’t mean you’re necessarily going to get the disease.

FLATOW: so what practical value, then, is there to creating these three separate stages, especially if you – if no one can be tested to see if they have the earliest stage?

Dr. PHELPS: there – the reasons we say this for now is primarily for research. It’s setting up a framework for earlier interventions if we have drugs, and there are many drugs under investigation right now in clinical trials, some of whom – some of them will affect the course of the disease. so we want to be ready with these standards and with these guidelines so that we could intervene earlier if the drugs suddenly become available.

FLATOW: what kind of biomarkers are you talking about?

Dr. PHELPS: These are primarily imaging biomarkers, so MRI scans, PET scans, and as well as some fluid biomarkers from spinal taps, the cerebrospinal fluid analysis. And there’s a normal protein that gets deposited in the brains of the – of Alzheimer’s patients, and we can pick up some of these proteins early, before there are any symptoms. so we’re thinking that this may be a pre-clinical stage.

FLATOW: It almost sounds to me like you’re putting together a retrospective study that will be used later on.

Dr. PHELPS: Well, it’s going to be updated constantly because there’s new data coming out almost monthly. And so, rather then waiting to do this every 27 years, we wanted to put a structure in place so that as new information is gathered, it can be plugged in at the appropriate place in these three stages, and it can be tested much quicker.

FLATOW: And so what people will you be using? how will – who were – I don’t mean to use the guinea pigs on this, but how will you be testing out your hypothesis about the early stages and collecting the data on it?

Dr. PHELPS: there is a very large study that we’re doing already. It’s been going on for the last six years – it’s just not finished yet – called, ADNI, which is the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, where we are following people longitudinally over time and testing them several times a year for all – for clinical signs. We’re doing imaging. We’re doing the biomarker -fluid biomarkers. We’ve looked at their genetics. And they’re continually updated. And all this data, then, is put in a huge computer out at UCLA. And it’s world – it’s open to anybody in the world who wants to study it.

Dr. PHELPS: And so we hope what we’re seeing now is changes occurring, and we can – starting to predict which people are going to convert to Alzheimer’s disease.

FLATOW: Do you have any real potential active drugs in the pipeline that are being – that are – might be tested on some of these folks?

Dr. PHELPS: there are a number of drugs that aren’t quite ready for primetime yet. but they are new kinds of drugs that actually interfere with the disease process rather than treating symptoms. the only drugs that we have available right now that are approved by the FDA are symptomatic, you know, some of the cholinesterase inhibitors that alleviate symptoms for a short period of time.

What we’re now looking at, and you’ve heard probably before, there have been some failed trials. There’s been some revised trials now on antibodies against the abnormal proteins in the brain. And if we can stop the amyloid, which is the protein we’re talking about, from being deposited to begin with, we’re hoping that might stall the progress of the disease. And those are being tested very actively right now.

FLATOW: Mm-hmm. how can the public – is there anything the public can do to be involved in this process?

Dr. PHELPS: there are clinical trials. And there’s a website called clinicaltrials.gov where you can go and find if there are any sites in your vicinity for patients to enter into clinical trials.

FLATOW: Do you have to have the symptoms of Alzheimer’s to get into the trials?

Dr. PHELPS: yes. Well, you have to be evaluated, just – not necessarily. some of the trials are for mild cognitive impairment. so it’s – and then there are always controls, also, so that people are – they want normal people in the trials, too, so that they can compare the people that have no symptoms with people who do.

FLATOW: Right. Given your guidelines, let’s say that you have aging parents or you might have a spouse or some loved one, someone you take care of or live with, are there signs, early signs, that you should be looking for in that person? And then what would you do with that knowledge?

Dr. PHELPS: It’s tricky, because there are some normal changes that occur, and it’s age-related. so with normal aging, we do see a little drop off in some functions, cognitive functions. so it’s a little difficult to know whether those are due to normal aging, or whether they are due to some changes because of a disease. but if there is a family history or – and there’s something very noticeable in its – and to over time, that seems to be getting worse, then the families should take the patient to the doctor for initial evaluation to see.

FLATOW: And you’re hoping that the doctor then looks at these new guidelines, and use it then?

Dr. PHELPS: That’s our goal. We’re really putting them out there and publicizing them quite a lot. And we’re contacting most of the major geriatric groups and physician organizations to let them know they’re available.

FLATOW: And is there anything we can do, each one of us in, let’s say, in preclinical stages, to sort of try to ward this off or to, you know – because we don’t really what causes it.

Dr. PHELPS: Well, that’s the problem. We can’t tell you precisely what to do. but what we can be fairly clear on is that all the things that are good for you in general for – to prevent heart disease, diabetes are probably good for Alzheimer’s disease, as well. but we haven’t nailed that down, mainly because we see that the people with diabetes are more prone to get Alzheimer’s disease, and people that have high blood pressure in mid-life also are prone to get Alzheimer’s disease.

FLATOW: so what do say to people who say to you: Why should I get diagnosed early, if there’s no treatment for it? Why just live with this in terror? And it’s better not to know.

Dr. PHELPS: Well, some will people will say that. yes, I agree. but then there are other rational people, I think, that will say, wait a minute. I don’t want to sit back and just wait and see what’s going to happen. what can I do to sort of plan for this? if I have a family – especially if they’re younger person that might have, still have kids – that would be very unusual case, of course, because this is a disease of elderly.

However, they can make legal plans. They can – health care power of attorney. They can get their financial affairs in order, who’s going to take care them when finally can’t take of themselves. And to me, it seems that, gives them a sense of control. They have a little – because, like, they’re losing control of their mind, but they are – they have – they can control what’s left, you know, for a while.

FLATOW: Does Medicare or health care plans pay for any of this?

Dr. PHELPS: oh, yes.

FLATOW: Mm-hmm. so this – especially with the aging population?

Dr. PHELPS: Well, this is – yes. This is going to be a major drain on Medicare and Medicaid because of the baby boomers, starting January of this year, started turning 65. And it’s been estimated there’s 10,000 people turning 65 every day.

FLATOW: so this is something you’re hoping will be an aid to finding people early enough. And I know – I think of the Framingham Study, where they study all these people for 30 years or so.

Dr. PHELPS: yes.

FLATOW: And used it as a retrospective study to see how heart disease was shaping up. I kind of thinking if that’s what you’re doing here.

Dr. PHELPS: in fact, we’re using the Framingham Study in studying cognition, in that same – the very same study. so, yes.

FLATOW: all right. Well, thank you very much for taking time to explain that to us.

Dr. PHELPS: Okay. It’s been my pleasure.

FLATOW: You’re welcome.

Dr. Creighton Phelps is director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Centers Program at the National Institutes of Aging. That’s part of the National Institutes of Health, talking with us today about Alzheimer’s.

I’m Ira Flatow. This is SCIENCE FRIDAY, from NPR.

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NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by a contractor for NPR, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio.

They started this morning with nagging cough, sore muscles, and a fever of 99 degrees which is now upward toward 100 degrees. What benefit would there be in going to the doctor? I don't want to take tamiflu or anything because I have food allergies and don't like taking stuff that has a lot of ingredients.

Does your nose run and feet smell? Uh, oh you're built upside down Go see a shrink.

Some of the studies reviewed also found that those who used zinc had less severe symptoms compared with those who took a placebo. two other studies, which included nearly 400 participants, found that those who took zinc lozenges daily for at least five months developed 36 percent fewer colds than those who took a placebo.

Children who took zinc prophylactically had fewer missed days of school and fewer prescriptions for antibiotics.

“I think the results are interesting and show significance for the use of zinc to shorten or prevent the common cold,” says Dr. Richard Zane, vice chair of emergency medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “Does it convince me to take zinc? Probably not.”

Zinc appears to have antiviral properties and may have some immune boosting effects. over the past 25 years, however, clinical trials of zinc supplements have had conflicting results: 11 have shown zinc to be useful for colds whereas seven have found no benefit. 

(The Cochrane Review only included trials in which people took zinc for at least five days during a cold or at least five months to prevent a cold.)

Part of the problem, experts say, is that it’s tough to design studies where participants don’t know that they’re taking zinc versus a sugar pill. That’s because zinc tastes chalky and bitter and often causes nausea.

Those are two downsides you’d have to consider if you decide to take zinc for cold prevention or to manage any cold you catch. the Cochrane researchers stopped short, though, of recommending this, given that none of the trials were large enough on their own to determine an exact dose or formulation that should be used.

Also, the review didn’t include studies involving zinc nasal swabs like Zicam, which don’t have the bad taste and nausea problem. But the US Food and Drug Administration has warned against using Zicam after receiving reports of users losing their sense of smell from the product.

Zane predicts the finding will spur a host of new cold products on the market containing zinc.”But it’s important to emphasize that the common cold is usually self-limiting” and, unlike the flu, doesn’t pose much risk of turning into something life-threatening.

In the event that you are unfamiliar with what prostate cancer is, it is the abnormal growth of all of the cells within the prostate gland, the prostate gland is considered to be a major part of the male reproductive system. The prostate cancer symptoms may or may not occur within men that are suffering from this condition. Since prostate cancer is a type of cancer that develops slowly, there are some men that have the disease that may not even realize it.

Within the early stages of prostate cancer, the prostate cancer symptoms aren’t evident. relatively speaking, the screening process for prostate cancer is simple to perform, with a PSA test and a prostate examination annually. The majority of patients that have prostate cancer are going to be identified and with a high chance of finding a cure relatively. Overall, screening for all of these diseases is just a fact of modern day medicine.

In relationship to prostate cancer, this issue is rather complex, because the overall benefit to all of the patients is very far from being completely clear. a screening is performed before you ever have any of the symptoms of cancer, just to test to see if the cancer is present. when a screening test is performed, it can normally find cancer in its early stages.

All of the prostate cancer symptoms are the essential key to determining whether or not an individual is at risk for developing prostate cancer. with all of the early self-diagnosis, one will be able to create a detour completely away from prostate cancer’s deadly route. Prostate cancer symptoms within their early stages can reflect characteristics such as urinary incontinence and difficulties.

Often, there are men that experience frequent urination, even though the amount of urine that is passed is quiet small. Often, the urinary incontinence follows menopause or childbirth. Prostatic or urine fluid cytology could reveal some cells that look rather unusual. You should also take into consideration that all of the experts report that the PSA tests aren’t reliable any that they are searching for all of the better ways that they can diagnose prostate cancer.

Prostatic or urine fluid cytology could reveal some rather unusual cells. One of the other tests that are normally performed when all of the prostate cancer symptoms are present is the DRE or digital rectal exam which is performed by the oncologist, proctologist, and doctor. all of the blood within the urine is normally a symptom of something other than the prostate cancer.

However, within individuals that do have the prostate cancer, a presence of blood within the urine could be an indicator that the condition has advanced or either it has spread from the prostate and on into the urethra or bladder. Normally, the blood tests will confirm this diagnosis.

1. Prostate Cancer Symptoms
2. Symptoms Treatment And Diet for Prostate Cancer
3. Prostate Cancer Symptoms
4. Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
5. Spotting Colon Cancer Symptoms

Thank you for visiting this website which is created for the benefit of the general public. this website and its content are produced and sponsored by the law firm of James F. Early, LLC (James F. Early, Esq.). All of the information is intended as a resource available at no cost to people diagnosed with mesothelioma and their loved ones. Nonetheless, it may be considered attorney advertising. The content contained herein was not prepared by medical professionals and it is not intended, nor should it be considered, as a substitute for medical advice. The information provided on this website is intended as educational material, designed solely to support, and not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her healthcare professional. Additionally, neither visiting this website nor viewing its content is intended, and shall not be considered, to create an attorney-client relationship. an attorney-client relationship can only be created by mutual agreement and consent of the prospective client and the attorney. Neither the transmission nor receipt of this website material creates an attorney-client relationship between sender and receiver. The material contained herein is general in nature and may not apply to your particular factual or legal circumstances. Online readers should not act on this information without seeking professional counsel and advice. All information on this website is provided as a resource for the convenience and benefit of visitors to this website and their families. no affiliation with or endorsement of: (1) this website by the persons, facilities or organizations listed herein; OR (2) such persons, facilities or organizations by this website, is intended, nor should it be inferred. in all cases and without exception, such visitors and their families, for their own particular situation, must perform their own investigation of the suitability and appropriateness of any such person, facility or organization. Please read our disclaimer for more information.

This Science post is by Staff blogger, Leanne Chukoskie, Ph.D.

Like most parents, the Jensens had little information about the factors that might help explain their son’s autism other than it was compounded by severe and frequent seizures.  When their son was tested, however, they learned that Levi’s cells harbored a mutation that affected the way his cells produced energy.  the Jensens now had valuable information to help treat their son.  For individuals with his particular type of mitochondrial dysfunction, certain seizure medications can cause serious side effects.

In a way, Levi Jensen was lucky. He lived near a large research center that specializes in mitochondrial disorders which is funded by Autism Speaks to investigate the role mitochondria play in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). the diagnosis of mitochondrial disorder or dysfunction is difficult. Multiple tests, often including an invasive muscle biopsy, are required.  How many other individuals with autism might benefit from a deeper understanding of how their cells use energy?

A new study released today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reveals that children with autism may have more trouble fueling the energy demands of their cells due to dysfunctional mitochondria. In this new Autism Speaks-funded study from UC Davis, blood samples from 10 children between the ages 2 and 5 years old and diagnosed with autism were compared with matched control samples from typically developing children.  the investigators found evidence of “breaks” in the cascade of enzymes that mitochondria use to create energy in 8 of 10 autism samples, but no control samples.  They found evidence of a mutation in a gene that supports mitochondrial function, also only in the autism samples. Lastly, in most of the autism samples, there were extra copies of mitochondria. the over-proliferation of mitochondria may also be a sign that individually the mitochondria are not working optimally, and are compensating for reduced function from each mitochondrion by producing more mitochondria overall.

Previous studies have shown that breaks in mitochondrial function can lead to a host of disorders, and the energy-demanding brain can be particularly affected. however, none of the previous autism studies has shown as high a proportion of impaired mitochondrial function as the current study.  Cecilia Giulivi, Ph.D., the lead researcher on the study and a professor of Molecular Biosciences in the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis, was drawn to research abnormal energy metabolism in autism because several symptoms of ASD overlap with mitochondrial diseases.

“We wanted to test the hypothesis in a direct way: is there a mitochondrial dysfunction in material readily available from children with full autism syndrome?” says Giulivi. the research team chose to look at white blood cells—lymphocytes—because they are a type of cell that has significant quantities of mitochondria. Drawing blood is much less invasive than obtaining a muscle biopsy, but traditionally mitochondrial function has been difficult to assess in blood because there are relatively few mitochondria in blood, compared with other body tissues. In fact, red blood cells have no mitochondria at all.

While these results are an exciting new development for both this area of research and for families, it is important to remember that this is still the edge of science and not yet a clinically-useful set of tests. however, if replicated, these tests could make screening for mitochondrial dysfunction much more accessible.

Dr. Giulivi and colleagues are already taking the next steps to follow up this research.  They are studying the families of children with autism to try to understand the mechanism that causes the mitochondrial deficiency. the samples are part of a larger study (CHARGE; Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment) in which the investigators are already measuring both genetic and environmental influences on autism risk.  Adding mitochondria to that mix will be especially helpful.  Dr. Giulivi was also quick to add a note of deep appreciation for all the families that participated in the study, saying “Without their participation, we couldn’t have done it!”

Indeed the enthusiasm for research participation often works both ways.  the seizure medication Levi had been taking—Depakote—seemed to make Levi very drowsy. At three years old, Levi was sleeping and napping for 16 hours of the day. His mitochondrial specialist switched medication right away due to concern of an underlying mitochondrial disorder for which Depakote produced severe side effects.

The Jensens are thrilled to report that Levi now has more energy than ever, has regained words that he lost prior to the medication change, and is generally functioning at a much higher level.  For Levi’s parents, Curtis and Alaina Jensen, learning about Levi’s mitochondrial disease helped them gain an understanding of metabolic functions and sparked creative ways to make special considerations for the remaining challenges Levi faced.  Alaina says, “We have found that exercise has been a big key for Levi to feel good and increase his energy and stamina.  it took a long time for him to build up the endurance to play, but it has been worth all the effort.  With a combination of the right seizure medication, supplements, exercise and diet, we now have a very happy boy.”

Click here to view the press release on this new report.

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Medications for ulcerative colitis cannot actually cure ulcerative colitis itself. their major benefit is in reducing the discomfort that is typically caused by ulcerative colitis symptoms. one of the other primary reasons for using ulcerative colitis medications is to reach a stage of remission and hold it.

Here’s a list, including a brief description, of the most commonly used ulcerative colitis medications.

Sulfasalazine – this medication combines sulfapyridine and 5-aminosalicyclic acid (often abbreviated as 5-ASA). the of sulfapyridine is to transport 5-ASA to the intestines. the problem with sulfapyridine is a range of possible side effects, including nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, and headache.

Aminosalicylates – these also contain a 5-ASA as a component. But since there’s no sulfapyridine, it is free of side effects, and therefore it’s often the choice of people who can’t take sulfapyridine. . Aminosalicylates come from salicylic acid. They seem to have antioxidant properties. Your doctor can suggest several different methods for administering aminosalicylates: by mouth, by suppository, of with an enema. this is often the first choice of healthcare providers when treating for ulcerative colitis. They’re also used frequently when relapses occur.

Corticosteroids – there are several medication combined in this treatment: hydrocortisone prednisone and methylprednisone. the main benefit of corticosteroids is their ability to reduce inflammation and therefore relieve the discomfort of symptoms. Patients usually respond well to corticosteroids when they have ulcerative colitis that’s described as moderate to severe. They can be taken orally, intravenously, by enema or suppository.. Your doctor will recommend a delivery method based on where the inflammation is located in your colon. Corticosteroids are often extremely effective when used in the short term. side effects tend to crop up when they are used for extended periods. these side effects include acne, bone mass loss, diabetes, facial hair, hypertension, moodiness, increased risk of infection. and weight gain.

Immunomodulators – Immunomodulators limit swelling and inflammation by working with the human immune system. If a patient has had no success with 5-ASA’s and corticosteroids, or has become dependent on corticosteroids, then immunomodulators would probably be prescribed. They’re popular with many patients because they are taken by mouth. But immunomodulators also have several downsides. first, it can take months before the full benefit is realized (sometimes as many as six). there can also be complications and side effects, including pancreatitis, hepatitis, a low white blood cell count, and an increased risk of infection.

Cyclosporine A – this medication is generally good for patients who are trying to cope with active, severe ulcerative colitis. it is also often used with patients who are not responding to intravenous corticosteroids. Sometimes it’s used in combination with 6-MP or azathioprine. the patient may also be prescribed other medications to help hium or her relax and deal with pain, diarrhea, or infections.

As mentioned above, ulcerative colitis cannot be cured, except by surgically removing the colon. But medications for ulcerative colitis can be beneficial by preventing flare ups, minimizing inflammation and delaying the need for surgery.

Your doctor will evaluate a number of factors in deciding on the appropriate ulcerative colitis medication for you. among these factors are

* how much discomfort your symptoms are causing * the range of possible complications* possible side effects* any other ulcerative colitis treatments you have previously tried

Although many similarities exist from one case to another, ulcerative colitis affects different individuals in different ways.. so, your doctor may have to try different options before he or she finds the one – or combination – that is appropriate for you.

Click on ulcerative colitis medications and symptoms of ulcerative colitis to learn more about the colon. Neal Kennedy is a former TV and radio reporter with a special interest in medical subjects.