PEDIATRIC VACCINES INFLUENCE PRIMATE BEHAVIOR: ABSTRACTS
POSTED WITH PERMISSION
This piece accompanies Dan Olmsted's "Sick Monkeys" piece.
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Pediatric Vaccines Influence Primate Behavior, and Amygdala Growth and Opioid Ligand Binding Friday, May 16, 2008: IMFAR
L. Hewitson , Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA B. Lopresti , Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA C. Stott , Thoughtful House Center for Children, Austin, TX J. Tomko , Pittsburgh Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA L. Houser , Pittsburgh Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA E. Klein , Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA C. Castro , Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA G. Sackett , Psychology, Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA S. Gupta , Medicine, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of California - Irvine, Irvine, CA D. Atwood , Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY L. Blue , Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY E. R. White , Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY A. Wakefield , Thoughtful House Center for Children, Austin, TX
Background: Macaques are commonly used in pre-clinical vaccine safety testing, but the combined childhood vaccine regimen, rather than individual vaccines, has not been studied. Childhood vaccines are a possible causal factor in autism, and abnormal behaviors and anomalous amygdala growth are potentially inter-related features of this condition.
allObjectives: The objective of this study was to compare early infant cognition and behavior with amygdala size and opioid binding in rhesus macaques receiving the recommended childhood vaccines (1994-1999), the majority of which contained the bactericidal preservative ethylmercurithiosalicylic acid (thimerosal).
Methods: Macaques were administered the recommended infant vaccines, adjusted for age and thimerosal dose (exposed; N=13), or saline (unexposed; N=3). Primate development, cognition and social behavior were assessed for both vaccinated and unvaccinated infants using standardized tests developed at the Washington National Primate Research Center. Amygdala growth and binding were measured serially by MRI and by the binding of the non-selective opioid antagonist [11C]diprenorphine, measured by PET, respectively, before (T1) and after (T2) the administration of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR).
Results: Compared with unexposed animals, significant neurodevelopmental deficits were evident for exposed animals in survival reflexes, tests of color discrimination and reversal, and learning sets. Differences in behaviors were observed between exposed and unexposed animals and within the exposed group before and after MMR vaccination. Compared with unexposed animals, exposed animals showed attenuation of amygdala growth and differences in the amygdala binding of [11C]diprenorphine. Interaction models identified significant associations between specific aberrant social and non-social behaviors, isotope binding, and vaccine exposure.
Conclusions: This animal model, which examines for the first time, behavioral, functional, and neuromorphometric consequences of the childhood vaccine regimen, mimics certain neurological abnormalities of autism. The findings raise important safety issues while providing a potential model for examining aspects of causation and disease pathogenesis in acquired disorders of behavior and development.
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Pediatric Vaccines Influence Primate Behavior, and Brain Stem Volume and Opioid Ligand Binding Saturday, IMFAR
Wakefield , Thoughtful House Center for Children, Austin, TX C. Stott , Thoughtful House Center for Children, Austin, TX B. Lopresti , Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA J. Tomko , Pittsburgh Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA L. Houser , Pittsburgh Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA G. Sackett , Psychology, Washington National Primate Research Center, Seattle, WA L. Hewitson , Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Background: Abnormal brainstem structure and function have been reported in children with autism. Opioid receptors play key roles in neuro-ontogeny, are present in brainstem nuclei, and may influence aspects of autism. Childhood vaccines are a possible causal factor in autism and while primates are used in pre-clinical vaccine safety testing, the recommended infant regimen (1994-1999) has not been tested.
Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare brain stem volume and opioid binding in rhesus infants receiving the recommended infant vaccine regimen.
Methods: Rhesus macaques were administered vaccines adjusted for age and thimerosal dose (exposed; N=13), or placebo (unexposed; N=3) from birth onwards. Brainstem volume was measured by quantitative MRI, and binding of the non-selective opioid antagonist [11C]diprenorphine (DPN) was measured by PET, at 2 (T1) and 4 (T2) months of age. Neonatal reflexes and sensorimotor responses were measured in standardized tests for 30 days.
Results: Kaplan-Meier survival analyses revealed significant differences between exposed and unexposed animals, with delayed acquisition of root, suck, clasp hand, and clasp foot reflexes. Interaction models examined possible relationships between time-to-acquisition of reflexes, exposure, [3C]DPN binding, and volume. Statistically significant interactions between exposure and time-to–acquisition of reflex on overall levels of binding at T1 and T2 were observed for all 18 reflexes. For all but one (snout), this involved a mean increase in time-to-acquisition of the reflex for exposed animals. In each model there was also a significant interaction between exposure and MRI volume on overall binding.
Conclusions: This animal model examines the neurological consequences of the childhood vaccine regimen. Functional and neuromorphometric brainstem anomalies were evident in vaccinated animals that may be relevant to some aspects of autism. The findings raise important safety issues while providing a potential animal model for examining aspects of causation and disease pathogenesis in acquired neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Microarray Analysis of GI Tissue in a Macaque Model of the Effects of Infant Vaccination Saturday, May 17, 2008 IMFAR
S. J. Walker , Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, E. K. Lobenhofer , Cogenics, a Division of Clinical Data E. Klein , Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, University of Pittsburgh, A. Wakefield , Thoughtful House Center for Children, Austin, TX L. Hewitson , Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Background: There has been considerable debate regarding the question of an interaction between childhood vaccinations and adverse sequelae in the gastrointestinal tract, immune system, and central nervous system of some recipients. These systems, either singly or in combination, appear to be adversely affected in many ASD children. Although pre-clinical tests of individual vaccines routinely find the risk/benefit ratio to be low, previously there has not been a study to examine the effects of the comprehensive vaccination regime currently in use for infants.
Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate potential alterations in normal growth and development resulting from the vaccine regimen that was in use from 1994-1999. Specifically, this portion of the study was to compare the gene expression profiles obtained from gastrointestinal tissue from vaccinated and unvaccinated infants.
Methods: Infant male macaques were vaccinated (or given saline placebo) using the human vaccination schedule. Dosages and times of administration were adjusted for differences between macaques and humans. Biopsy tissue was collected from the animals at three time points: (1) 10 weeks [pre-MMR1], (2) 14 weeks [post-MMR1] and, (3) 12-15 months [at necropsy]. Whole genome microarray analysis was performed on RNA extracted from the GI tissue from 7 vaccinated and 2 unvaccinated animals at each of these 3 time points (27 samples total).
Results: Histopathological examination revealed that vaccinated animals exhibited progressively severe chronic active inflammation, whereas unexposed animals did not. Gene expression comparisons between the groups (vaccinated versus unvaccinated) revealed only 120 genes differentially expressed (fc >1.5; log ratio p<0.001) at 10 weeks, whereas there were 450 genes differentially expressed at 14 weeks, and 324 differentially expressed genes between the 2 groups at necropsy.
Conclusions: We have found many significant differences in the GI tissue gene expression profiles between vaccinated and unvaccinated animals. These differences will be presented and discussed.
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The authors and organizations are withholding comment or elaboration until the full articles are published.
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Kidless, our sponsors (on the left sidebar)have info to help you make proper choices for your (future) family. Also, Dr. Bob Sears "Vaccine Book" is a good resource. Best wishes,
Kim
Posted by: Managing Editor for Kidless | August 17, 2009 at 09:55 AM
I am curious about the current vaccination schedule and how it compares to that of the 90s. I have worked with children with Autism, and they are very close to my heart. One that definitely was caused by vaccinations. We'll be starting our family in the next couple of years and I was just wondering what the suggestions are now as far as vaccinating. Thanks!
Posted by: Kidless but Caring | August 17, 2009 at 12:37 AM
I believe their actually could be millions of adults who people just pass off as slightly odd, that have high functioning autism or aspergers syndrome, as questioned above. I know of a young women in her 3rd year of college who was just recently tested at the recommendation of her college psych professor and diagnozed with asperger's. She is now being given coping mechanism which has helped her in the areas where she previously struggled. Just think how many people are out there denying they or their family member has a problem, and thus not getting the needed help.
Posted by: Sue K | June 17, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Oldfart, for the record, I neither attacked nor insulted you.
BTW, with a name like that you implied that you asked for the attacks and the insults. Didn't you, weren't you, out to *provoke* from the get go?
Posted by: Let's tell the parents | May 19, 2008 at 12:24 PM
To Oldfart:
I looked back over the comments and nobody issued personal insults.
*YOU* are the one who chose the “Oldfart” alias – not us.
Word of Wisdom: if you want people to take your comments seriously, I suggest you find a new “handle” – or better yet, why not just use your real name?
Now, there’s a novel idea.
Posted by: Kelli Ann Davis | May 19, 2008 at 12:01 PM
I see my second post was not "approved" by the author.
Only posts attacking my initial posts, including the personal insults, were permitted.
There's unbiased thought for ya!
From Kim: Dear Mr. Fart, I did not deny any of your comments. The blog only has one comment from you. Feel free to resend for review.
Posted by: Oldfart | May 19, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Theresa Cedillo!!!
“Dear Mr. Fart”??
I’m dying -- I never thought I’d see the day -- something like this coming from mild-mannered Theresa!
Too damn funny!
Kelli
Posted by: Kelli Ann Davis | May 18, 2008 at 11:53 AM
"100% of the vaccinated animals were found to have autistic-type signs? Does this indicate that there are literally millions upon millions of children out there, now young adults, that have autism and don't know it? What would it be? 100 million? 50 million? Amazing. Someone ought to tell their parents.
Or maybe it just doesn't indicate anything at all."
Going by past vaccination records, 50% of the Americans today are chronically sick and are on medications for it. Suppressing symptoms, mind you, and not getting cured.
Going by the new vaccine schedule from the 1990s, who knows where chronic disease is going to end up at - anywhere from between 50% to a 100% I guess. Possibly closer to 100% than 50% might be a more realistic estimate.
BTW what does mainstream media think about this? Who is getting the scoop? CBS for good behavior?
Posted by: Let's tell the parents | May 18, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Dear Mr. Fart -
"I'm not an expert but somehow N=33 and N=8 just doesn't get it not to mention the subjective measurements and the lack of any proof that macaques can serve as an autism or mercury poisoning model at all."
Macaque monkeys are the same primates used by the vaccine makers in vaccine safety trials. This is one of the reasons they were chosen to be used in this research.
As far as the results, the authors state it best: "The findings raise important safety issues while providing a potential model for examining aspects of causation and disease pathogenesis in acquired disorders of behavior and development."
Further discussion of the findings and further details will be released upon publication.
These studies are the closest clinical (not epidemiological) research we have in a vaccinated vs. unvaccinated population although done in primates. However, primates have long been used in clinical safety trials.
The results of all three studies are nothing short of stunning.
Posted by: Theresa Cedillo | May 17, 2008 at 11:24 PM
Well oldfart, you could look at it as saying that 100 million kids are slightly sicker, less cognative, and have worse bowels than they would have been if left unvaccinated. The ones that are worse off get damage that is lumped into the catch-all phrase "autism". Of course, you could just disregard the results if you really want to. It's not like a test with primates has any relation to humans... right? Forget all those experiments with lab rats also. Let's just ignore all toxicity tests unless they prove 100% that humans will be affected. Lab animals.. no way those relate at all if they get autism or cancer.
Posted by: doodle | May 17, 2008 at 07:12 PM
(1) Macaques were administered the recommended infant vaccines, adjusted for age and thimerosal dose (exposed; N=13), or saline (unexposed; N=3).
(2) Rhesus macaques were administered vaccines adjusted for age and thimerosal dose (exposed; N=13), or placebo (unexposed; N=3) from birth onwards.
(3) Whole genome microarray analysis was performed on RNA extracted from the GI tissue from 7 vaccinated and 2 unvaccinated animals at each of these 3 time points (27 samples total).
100% of the vaccinated animals were found to have autistic-type signs? Does this indicate that there are literally millions upon millions of children out there, now young adults, that have autism and don't know it? What would it be? 100 million? 50 million? Amazing. Someone ought to tell their parents.
Or maybe it just doesn't indicate anything at all.
I'm not an expert but somehow N=33 and N=8 just doesn't get it not to mention the subjective measurements and the lack of any proof that macaques can serve as an autism or mercury poisoning model at all.
Posted by: Oldfart | May 17, 2008 at 06:33 PM
This is amazing! But i feel that it is going to get swept under the rug. They have known for years that vaccines cause other life altering and sometimes ending effect. but they just created a program to compensate the lucky ones and hopefully shut us up. And the unlucky ones got told to get over it. I am afraid that they are more concerned that there was 70 cases of measles this year than the fact that our children are dropping like flies. i was speaking with a friend the other day and if big Pharm. admitted that these vaccines have caused and continue to cause autism and other developmental delays and even death...... we would have a war on our hands! I encourage all of you if you are not already going to come to the rally in Washington June 4th. i only found out about this study because a friend called and told me about it. Believe me they (the Media) has no interest in this. they don't want anything that will cause people to not vaccinate. you may have better luck with your local station and your local newspaper. The national media is to regulated by big brother.
Posted by: DTaPMom | May 17, 2008 at 03:50 PM
Does this allow room for those who will argue "yes, but we took the mercury out"?
Garbo:
How could that possibly be a valid argument from the other side??
Whether the mercury is *out now* doesn’t erase the fact that there are a whole boatload of injured children (my son included) who rec’d these massive amounts during the 90’s.
“So the big mouths will start talking about how they were right, and thank you to Andy and the others for proving thimerosal/mercury doesn't cause autism; otherwise, autism rates would have gone down after that nasty ingredient was "removed" from vaccines.”
Jeanne (comment from Dan’s piece):
Remember, this is a **controlled study** and we know exactly how much mercury was given to these monkeys and when it was given!
Whether children today receive less mercury and whether the rates have subsided is irrelevant in terms of whether **this study** is valid or not. The fact is these monkeys were injected with vaccines, in a controlled setting, that mirror the mid 90’s schedule and now they have problems that mimic autism – just like our children.
And besides that, we don’t know *exactly* how much mercury children are currently getting because of all the variables involved in the massive *experiment* that is occurring outside the confines of a controlled laboratory setting so it’s hard to argue that less mercury should equate to reduced rates when 1.) We really don’t know how much *trace amount* is contained in each vial and 2.) A level of safety has never been established for even these reduced, trace amounts.
Also, don’t forget that this isn’t just about the mercury – it’s also about the mmr.
Bottom Line: In my estimation, this study will eventually be seen as one of the major *turning points* for our children once the full details of the study are published.
Major kudos to Andy and his colleagues for conducting this pivotal research -- it couldn’t have come at a better time!
Posted by: Kelli Ann Davis | May 17, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Absolutely extraordinary and stunning research - great job Andy and colleagues!!!
Posted by: Theresa Cedillo | May 17, 2008 at 09:15 AM
I'm kind of curious to know why they chose the 1990s schedule instead of the current one. Somehow less threatening to view it in the past tense? More mercury, but less shots... Does this allow room for those who will argue "yes, but we took the mercury out"?
Posted by: Garbo | May 17, 2008 at 12:01 AM
Next they need to feed the monkeys a typical American, high-fructose corn syrup, genetically-modified/processed, wheat-and-dairy rich diet starting around 8 mos. along with the vaccines and see what the outcome is! PETA might be called in, however!
Posted by: Rachel | May 16, 2008 at 09:33 PM
Wow.
And it isn't like this conference is pro-DAN!. I mean, I think the funding for this organization comes from Autism Speaks. That's the only link they have on their web site.
Posted by: Wow! | May 16, 2008 at 04:07 PM