My campus is becoming increasingly religious. Where are the skeptics?

2012-11-24T15:21:56-05:00

I go to the University of Toronto at Mississauga. For those of you that don’t know, the campus is increasingly becoming more and more fundamentalist Muslim. Most women here wear the hijab, and many young Muslims grow beards. Participation in the local Muslim Student Association’s events is ridiculously high, while the Mississauga Freethought Association’s events are lucky to have 3 attendees. What on earth is going on here and what can people do to reverse it? I grew up in Saudi Arabia, and I’ve seen what happens to people as they become more and more fundamentalist and closed minded. Its dangerous and scary.

Bus ADs

2010-12-06T17:15:43-05:00

We do not want your athiest advertisements on our buses in Ontario.

For those who think Dr. Andrew Wakefield is a Fraud

2011-10-01T12:51:14-05:00

Forget the MMR vaccine question. The 1998 Lancet paper that was withdrawn was a case study on inflammatory bowel disease in children with autistic spectrum disorders. The paper never claimed to have discovered a link between autism and the MMR vaccine. It merely stated that 8 of the 12 parents noted regression after the MMR vaccine and the onset of regression. The editor of the Lancet, Dr. Richard Horton, stated at the hearing’s that Wakefield’s findings were still clinically valid. It was about bowel disease, I repeat bowel disease, in autistic children.

The fact that, for whatever reason, children with autistic spectrum disorders have lots of gut problems—has been replicated in studies in 5 different countries including Canada.

The sad part is, that the conflation of these two issues, and the ensuing controversy, has made doctors in England afraid to treat children with bowel disease.

For those of you who think Dr. Wakefield is a fraud below are a list of studies, from peer reviewed journals that replicate/support his results vis-a-vis autistic bowel problems: The abstract for one is at the end of the list.

Here is a documentary, that has never to my knowledge, been shown on television. If you think Brian Deer is a legitimate journalist, please watch it. If you think Wakefield abused the children, I beg you to watch it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id_AxZ3zHAc

If you think Wakefield is not credible, please watch one of his lectures on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67U0_SUt5NM

(Skeptics were supposedly there to ambush him. I guess he won them over.)

Wakefield has never said not to vaccinate. That’s a joke. He has never said vaccines cause autism. He thinks there might be a link, but it has not been scientifically proven and more studies need to be done. He is concerned about vaccine safety. Watch his lecture and you’ll see why. His reasons are not that of an anti-vaccine fanatic; watch and I think you will find his reasons cogent and well thought out. Most of the lecture deals with bowel disease.

The GMC did not find the research fraudulent scientifically. It was a list of nonsense and pumped up casuistry. If you don’t believe read it here. It’s not that long:

http://www.gmc-uk.org/Wakefield_SPM_and_SANCTION.pdf_32595267.pdf

I have no idea how safe vaccines are or are not nor if they have any relation to autism. Asking questions is not a crime.

Refusing to treat bowel problems in Autistic children should be.

This whole Wakefield affair leaves me disgusted with the scientific establishment, the media in general for not doing 15 minutes of research and the “skeptical” community, in particular, who take medical journalism and press releases on science stories as gospel. I thought we applied skepticism to everything; not just tarot card readers. THE PAPER DID NOT PURPORT TO PROVE VACCINES CAUSE AUTISM. “WOW VICTORY, RATIONALITY HAS PREVAILED… VACCINES ARE VINDICATED WE HAD A PAPER ON BOWEL DISEASE WITHDRAWN!”

I think I’ll go ask Richard Dawkins to ask Rebecca Watson back to his room for coffee. In an elevator of course. Yeah skeptics are infallible.

Just found this. I guess Wake Forest University are fraudsters as well: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-388051/Scientists-fear-MMR-link-autism.html#ixzz1DevpXU1A

The following peer-reviewed papers duplicate Dr. Wakefield’s original findings in five additional countries, including the US, Italy, Venezuela, Canada and Poland:

1) Gonzalez, L. et al., Endoscopic and Histological Characteristics of the Digestive Mucosa in Autistic Children with gastro-Intestinal Symptoms. Arch Venez Pueric Pediatr, 2005;69:19-25.

2) Balzola, F., et al., Panenteric IBD-like disease in a patient with regressive autism shown for the first time by wireless capsule enteroscopy: Another piece in the jig-saw of the gut-brain syndrome? American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2005. 100(4): p. 979- 981.

3) Balzola F et al . Autistic enterocolitis: confirmation of a new inflammatory bowel disease in an Italian cohort of patients. Gastroenterology 2005;128(Suppl. 2);A-303.

4) Krigsman A, Boris M, Goldblatt A, Stott C. Clinical Presentation and Histologic Findings at Ileocolonoscopy in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Chronic Gastrointestinal Symptoms. Autism Insights. 2009;1:1—11.

5) Horvath K., Papadimitriou J.C., Rabsztyn A., Drachenberg C., Tildon J.T. 1999. Gastrointestinal abnormalities in children with autism. J. Pediatrics 135: 559-563.

6) Sabra S, Bellanti JA, Colon AR. Ileal lymphoid hyperplasia, non-specific colitis and pervasive developmental disorder in children. The Lancet 1998;352:234-5.

7) Sabra A, Hartman D, Zeligs BJ et al., Linkage of ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia (ILNH), food allergy and CNS developmental abnormalities: evidence for a non-IgE association, Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol, 1999;82:8

8) Galiatsatos P, Gologan A, Lamoureux E, Autistic enterocolitis: Fact or fiction? Can J Gastroenterol. 2009:23:95-98

9) Jarocka-Cyrta et al. Brief report: eosinophilic esophagitis as a cause of feeding problems in an autistic boy. The first reported case.J. Aut. Dev. Disord. Online July 10, 2010

The following articles support the importance of recognizing and treating gastrointestinal symptoms in autistic children:

1) Buie T, et al. Pediatrics. 2010 Jan;125 Suppl 1:S19-29. Recommendations for evaluation and treatment of common gastrointestinal problems in children with ASDs.

2) Buie T, et al. Pediatrics. 2010 Jan;125 Suppl 1:S1-18. Evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders in individuals with ASDs: a consensus report.

The following peer-reviewed papers provide further support for gastrointestinal disturbances involving the immune system in autism.

1) Jyonouchi H., Sun S., Lee H. 2001. Proinflammatory and regulatory cytokine production associated with innate and adaptive immune responses in children with autism spectrum disorders and developmental regression. J. Neuroimmunol. 120(1-2):170-9

2) Jyonouchi H, Geng L, Ruby A, Zimmerman-Bier B. Dysregulated Innate Immune Responses in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Their Relationship to Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Dietary Intervention. Neuropsychobiology. 2005;28:5177-85

3) Jyonouchi H, Geng L, Ruby A, Reddy C, Zimmerman-Bier B. Evaluation of an association between gastrointestinal symptoms and cytokine production against common dietary proteins in children with autism spectrum disorders. J Pediatr.2005;146(5):605-10.

4) Jyonouchi H, Sun S, Itokazu N. Innate immunity associated with inflammatory responses and cytokine production against common dietary proteins in patients with autism spectrum disorder. Neuropsychobiology. 2002;46(2):76-84.

5) Vojdani A, O’Bryan T, Green JA, McCandless J, Woeller KN, Vojdani E, Nourian AA, Cooper EL. Immune response to dietary proteins, gliadin and cerebellar peptides in children with autism. Nutr. Neurosci. 2004;7:151-61.

6) Whiteley P, Haracopos D, Knivsberg AM, Reichelt KL, Parlar S, Jacobsen J, Seim A, Pedersen L, Schondel M, Shattock P. The ScanBrit randomised, controlled, single-blind study of a gluten- and casein-free dietary intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders. Nutr Neurosci. 2010;13(2):87-100.

7) Knivsberg AM, Reichelt KL, Høien T, Nødland M. A randomised, controlled study of dietary intervention in autistic syndromes. Nutr Neurosci. 2002;5(4):251-61.

8) Balzola F, et al. Beneficial behavioural effects of IBD therapy and gluten/casein-free diet in an Italian cohort of patients with autistic enterocolitis followed over one year. Gastroenterology 2008;4:S1364.

9) Valicenti-McDermott M., McVicar K., Rapin I., et al., Frequency of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders and Association with Family History of Autoimmune Disease. Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. 2006;27:128-136

10) Chen B, Girgis S, El-Matary W. Childhood Autism and Eosinophilic Colitis. Digestion 2010;18:127-129

11) Sandler R, Finegold SM., Bolte ER., et al. Short-term benefit from oral vancomycin treatment of regressive-onset autism. J Child Neurol. 2000;15:429-435

Wakefield’s Science Proven Valid Again In New Study That Replicates Findings

Read the full study, Clinical presentation and Histologic Findings at Ileocolonoscopy in Children with Autistic spectrum Disorder and Chronic Gastrointestinal symptoms at Autism Insights . View a .pdf HERE.

Arthur Krigsman 1, Marvin Boris 2, Alan Goldblatt 3 and Carol Stott 4

Abstract

Background: Children with developmental disorders experience chronic gastrointestinal symptoms.

Aims:To examine the nature of these gastrointestinal symptoms and histologic findings in children with autism spectrum/developmental disorders and ileocolonic disease.

Methods: Chart review. 143 autism spectrum/developmental disorder patients, with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms, undergoing diagnostic ileocolonoscopy.

Results: Diarrhea was present in 78%, abdominal pain in 59% and constipation in 36%. Ileal and/or colonic lymphonodular hyperplasia (LNH), defined as the presence of an increased number of enlarged lymphoid follicles, often with hyperactive germinal centers, was present in 73.2%. Terminal ileum LNH presented visually in 67% and histologically in 73%. Colonic LNH was multifocal and presented histologically in 32%. Ileal and/or colonic inflammation presented in 74%, consisting primarily of active or chronic colitis (69%). Ileal inflammation presented in 35%. Presence of LNH significantly predicted mucosal inflammation.

Patients with ileal and/or colonic LNH had lower mean/median age than those without; patients with ileal and/or colonic inflammation had lower mean/median age than those without. There was a significant association between ileo and/or colonic inflammation or LNH, and onset of developmental disorder; plateaued or regressive onset conferred greater risk than early onset.

Conclusions: Patients with autism or related disorders exhibiting chronic gastrointestinal symptoms demonstrate ileal or colonic inflammation upon light microscopic examination of biopsy tissue. Further work is needed to determine whether resolution of histopathology with appropriate therapy is accompanied by GI symptomatic and cognitive/behavioral improvement.

Keywords:ASD ileitis, colitis, lymphonodular hyperplasia

1 Assistant professor of pediatrics, New York University school of Medicine Director of Gastroenterology services, Thoughtful House Center for Children, 3001 Bee Caves Rd, Austin, Texas, 78746, UsA.

2 Associate Clinical professor of pediatrics, New York University school of Medicine, 550 1st Ave., New York, NY 10016, UsA.

3 Adjunct professor Touro College, 27-33 West 23rd st, New York, NY 10010, UsA.

4Thoughtful House Center for Children, 3001 Bee Caves Rd, Austin, Texas, 78746, UsA.

For the vancouverites

2013-04-28T21:17:41-05:00

Hey I just found out about you guys and see that you guys meet weekly in billy bishop. I would like to go with my friend but the problem is that we are both 18. Do you know if we could get in and if they ID at the front. We wouldnt buy alcoholic drinks while we are there, just join the discussion.

Where all the Canadians at?

2010-12-12T13:27:16-05:00

HELLO OUT THERE..... Hello out there... hello out thereeeeeeeee........

No ‘news’ on home page

2012-08-03T07:06:48-05:00

Why is the last bit of news March 26, 2012?
Time for an update perhaps.
Not trying to be snarky just concerned.

A win for reason in Ontario?

2012-04-25T09:34:11-05:00

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20120417/ontario-school-board-set-to-vote-on-bible-ban-120417/20120417/?hub=CalgaryHome

Not sure if this is “old news”, but I guess this “tradition” of handing out bibles is really wide spread. This case is from Ontario, but here in Calgary my girl-friends daughter got one. I think this is a fairly typical situation. I got a pocket bible when I was in school.

Is this happening everywhere? Did you get one? Do your kids get them? Do you know of others that get them?

Do you feel that it is right? Does it bother you?

Kevin.

Morinville

2012-01-04T10:34:43-05:00

new here. so if this is already a topic, please disregard and let me know.

could we please get some support for donna @ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/story/2011/04/24/edmonton-hunter-school-moving.html

thanks.

Trayvon Martin

2012-04-12T16:13:36-05:00

Only in a Theocracy like America could a special prosecutor thank victim sympathizers for their prayers and call on them to continue to pray for the prosecution team. What are they supposed to pray for, god’s help in securing a conviction?

Subscription and membership

2011-12-16T11:25:25-05:00

Hi
I’m hoping I will get some results this way as my email and phone calls haven’t done the job.
I paid for a family membership and subscriptions to the skeptical inquirer and the other magazine , paid 119.00 through PayPal .
I did this early November in hopes that I would receive the membership info and hopefully the magazines by Christmas as this was a gift to my husband .
I haven’t received anything.
I’ve emailed and I even spoke with someone who was very apologetic and was going to look into it for me. I spoke with him the beginning of last week and still no phone call. I have left two messages with the Toronto office but no one has returned my calls.
Hopefully someone else can let me know what I need to do to get my membership package.
HELP
Thanks

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