Adults Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder are Five Times More Likely to be Suffering from Depression or Anxiety Disorders
More than 3.5 million Americans are currently living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Abdul, sixteen, is one of those people. If you were to ask his older brother, Rafaf, how this affects him, he’d tell you it just makes Abdul a little quiet. Rafaf has been struggling with moving his younger brother out of the special needs school he attends and into a traditional high school. If this transition were to occur, his chances of going to college and subsequently attaining a profession would skyrocket.
Rafaf’s hope for this lies in his belief that Abdul is a victim of the same problem that Matthew Hollock’s study reveals.
Matthew Hollocks wanted to address the hypothesis that adults with ASD are at higher risk for Depression and Anxiety disorders. With the lack of specific review of this correlation, he and his team decided to conduct a meta-analysis, a quantitative statistical review of several similar studies. Of the 1,661 papers reviewed that related ASD to Depression and Anxiety disorders, only 35 met the requirements of studying people 18 or older. These studies had 26,070 participants in studies analyzing anxiety disorders and 26,117 participants in studies analyzing depression. From these populations 27% are currently suffering from an anxiety disorder and 23% are currently suffering from some form of depression. However, all of the studies analyzed suffered from extreme heterogeneity, or variations among the subjects of the study. This caveat is important because it demonstrates that the majority of research isn’t systematically categorizing the severity of ASD in the subject. The lack of case-by-case analysis is exactly what Abdul is a victim of.
He found himself in a gray area, his meeting with a specialist diagnosed him with acute Autism, and his IQ test score of 73 put him a few points below the cutoff for intellectual disability. Instead of going through subsequent interviews or further testing, he was put into a special needs school. This is the kind of treatment that needs to change. Generalizing a specific group of people is what we’re taught against as children, yet this problem, as it tends to do, has still seeped into the treatment of ASD. The solution to this is a new systematic method of categorizing ASD led by scientists and health care workers. Scientists need to start differentiating the severity of ASD in research studies. Healthcare and social workers need to be willing to commit to case-by-case analysis of individuals suffering from this disorder. The lack of understanding of ASD should not be used as an excuse for the lack of better treatment, but rather motivation for future scientists and health care workers to lead this culture shift.
Rafaf is hopeful. A lawyer is finally reviewing Abdul’s case and the likelihood for his transition to a traditional high school makes his chance at a life not defined by ASD even more of a reality.
Using Host Factors to stop the spread of the Flu
Influenza (also known as the common flu) , is caused by a virus that annually infects 5 percent to 20 percent of the U.S. population where thousands die from flu-related illness. Globally it is even more of an epidemic , where between 291,000 and 646,000 people worldwide die from seasonal influenza-related respiratory illnesses each year . Despite the widespread national and global suffering caused by influenza there is no effective drug or medication to protect from it, outside of the yearly flu shot.
The flu shot is a common (an unpleasant) part of our yearly medical checkups. Like any other vaccine it contains a weakened version of the influenza virus. However each year the viruses that are selected are based off of an estimation. The vaccine is designed to protect against the three or four influenza viruses that research indicates are most likely to spread and cause illness among people during the upcoming flu season.Through extensive testing and global surveillance activities, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identifies the strains and makes the final decision about the influenza vaccine viruses to be distributed in the United States. Based on that decision, candidate vaccine viruses are prepared in labs and then distributed to the public . Due to this, there is no guarantee that the vaccine will actually prevent an individual from getting sick.
Research on lung cells conducted in The University of Tokyo have raised hopes for the development of a more effective protection against influenza. Viruses (unlike bacteria) are not classified as living creatures, so they are unable to create their own proteins. Therefore, upon entry to the human body they attach to a host cell where the insert their genetic material for the forced production of viral proteins. Host factors are certain proteins that interact with the viral components and are crucial to their life cycle.In a previous version of this study Nucleoporin 93(NUP93) is the host factor found to interact with influenza virus in lung epithelial cells.
Using small interfering RNA (SiRNA), the expression of NUP93 was reduced to observe the effect on infected lung cells. The results indicate that NUP93 plays an important role in influenza virus replication and is involved in the early steps of the influenza virus life cycle. NUP93 also contributes to the nuclear export of influenza virus RNA to infect further cells in the body. However, NUP93 was not found to be necessary for the virus binding and internalization steps right after the initial interaction. So, although NUP93 is not involved in the actual infection of influenza in the cells, it does play an important role in the advancement of the virus to further cells.
Current antiviral drugs are only directed towards viral proteins which have the potential to lead to drug- resistant viruses (due to the tendency of viruses to rapidly mutate). Manufacturing antiviral drugs and medication that target host factors instead could not only prevent the possibility of dangerous mutations, but also may create produce more effective results. Further exploration and research in this area will lead to increased knowledge on viral life cycles and host-virus interaction, which could be applicable to other strains of viruses as well. In other words, it is possible that in the foreseeable future a trip to the doctors office for a flu shot will mean guaranteed protection from a fever and headache filled seasonal experience.
The Impact of Rising Sea Levels in Macau
Recent studies have shown that Macau, a Chinese city state, is vulnerable to tsunamis because of its geological factors, and this vulnerability is projected to only increase as sea levels continue to rise in the future. Macau is located along the northern coast of the South China Sea, an area that is often devastated by what are known as megathrust earthquakes, since they occur along the Manila Trench. Scientists believe that there is evidence dictating that these earthquakes have the potential to cause major tsunamis along the location of the Manila Trench, and have even come up with a method of measuring how the likelihood of tsunami occurrence will increase when rises in sea level are considered.
In order to predict how future rises in sea level will impact tsunami hazards in Macau, scientists use probabilistic tsunami inundation maps. What these maps do is simulate what the impact of a tsunami in this region would be using estimations as well as what is known about the effects of Manila megathrust earthquakes. Then, scientists calculate how these effects differ when different sea levels are accounted for. What was found when scientists ran the numbers for the current sea level was that tsunamis are only likely to affect coastal areas in Macau for now. However, when these results are compared to a potential sea level rise of 0.5m, the likelihood of tsunami damage doubles. The results of this study demonstrate how detrimental of an effect even the slightest change in sea level could have on not just Macau, but a number of coastal communities.
Even though Macau is already accustomed to the regular threat of tropical storms and typhoons, tsunamis are a much more formidable obstacle to overcome. It is unlikely whether or not Macau possesses the necessary resources to protect itself from one. They have thus far not made any preparation efforts, such as tsunami evacuation routes, and a solution for the tsunami problem has not yet been posed.
Although the heightened tsunami threat in Macau seems like a far-off problem that has no possibility of affecting life in other areas of the world, that is not entirely true. The reason why Macau is susceptible to this tsunami hazard in the first place is due to increasing sea levels, which are caused by climate change, an issue that is prevalent all over the world. While climate change may feel like an inevitability, there are small actions that people everywhere can carry out on a daily basis that can help protect the planet from the effects of global warming, such as making use of renewable energy sources and utilizing fuel-efficient methods of transportation. By working together, it is possible to reduce the threat of natural disasters not just in Macau, but everywhere.
Public Health at Risk: Toxic Algae Growth on the Rise as Ocean Temperatures Increase
As global temperatures rise, we often forget that our ocean temperatures are rising as well, affecting our environment and public health in ways we haven’t even begun to consider. Over the course of a 34-year study monitoring rising ocean temperatures, researchers are beginning to understand the possible health impacts from something as seemingly insignificant as algae. Released in 2016, in this article researchers initially sought to determine whether ocean temperature was a defining factor for the growth of harmful algal blooms through the use of high-resolution sea surface temperature records. What they found was surprising. Some of the most toxic species of algae were not only multiplying in magnitude, but their blooming period was getting longer as well.
The algae species studied in this case, known as A. fundyense and D. acuminta, are some of the most toxic species of algae because they release various poisons. Both algal blooms are detrimental not only to their aquatic ecosystems but when ingested by humans, can lead to Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning or Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning. In severe cases, Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning can lead to paralysis or even death within hours. Coastal regions have been drastically affected by these growths.
Alaska has been greatly affected by this phenomena. Researchers were able to observe a prolonged increase in ocean temperatures through high-resolution sea surface temperature records. As temperatures increase the density of algae has increased and the blooming period for these species has lengthened. This change has not gone unnoticed. As early as 1970, Alaska has reported an increase in Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning and Diarrhetic Seafood Poisoning in the coastal area, and it has only continued. The increase in density of these algae and their lengthened growth period is not only a risk to public health, but it has the potential to hinder tourism and the fishing industry in the region. Alaska is not the only region facing this hardship, as it is becoming a global issue. In Norway and the United Kingdom, coastal regions are experiencing the sudden growth of toxic algae due to increased ocean temperatures as well. Before 1997, there had never been a reported case of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning, but it is now on the rise in coastal areas. These regions are faced with similar health and economic effects to Alaska.
Using this evidence, researchers were not only able to find that temperature is a defining factor in the growth of harmful algal blooms, but that it is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed. From a scientific standpoint, there needs to be a greater study of rising ocean temperatures in order to reach a global consensus. Although researchers have generally found that ocean temperatures have risen overall, there have been some outliers showing that more research must be conducted. From a social standpoint, this research reminds us that we cannot become complacent as the climate changes. It may start as things as small as algae, but it has the potential to impact global health. It is with this in mind that the scientific community must work with global governments in order to create legislation which slows the impact of climate change and works to remediate existing condittions.
Chest Scars—Acceptable or Unacceptable?
Scars—the first thing that people think when they see one is to cover it. They think it’s shameful or ugly, sometimes going a step further to surgically remove it. Imagine having multiple scars on the side of your chest one day, but even if it means the success of cardiac surgery, you would have to live with these permanent marks forever. Now picture this, seeing yourself in the mirror and an unwelcoming long scar paves right down the middle of your chest. Both sights may be considered unbearable and it is widely known that a patient may be negatively impacted psychologically after a surgery due to various cosmetic changes to their body.
This specific project by İyigün studied a patient’s self-esteem due to their body image after a major heart surgery. The study compared two different methods—open heart surgery leaving one with prominently visible scars, and a recently introduced method, robotic surgery, resulting in minimal scarring. While it seems obvious that less noticeable scars are the way to go, open heart surgery is still very common. This study determined whether robotic surgery was suitable for those concerned about cosmetics.
From start to finish, details of the patients’ surgery were documented carefully, especially the finishing wound sizes; the same materials were used to close the incisions in both operations. Patients were also performed on by the same robotic and open surgical group. To collect such abstract data, two questionnaires were completed by the participants one month before and six months after the surgery. The body image, self-esteem, and overall satisfaction of the patients were analyzed based on a scale and to personalize the study, they were asked to rate their scars.
As expected, those who underwent robotic surgery had very small scars, and surprisingly, resulted in practically no impact on their self-esteem. Therefore, there was no difference before and after for patients recovering from robotic surgery. However, the ones who had open heart surgery were noticeably affected and had much lower levels of self-esteem. This is also due to the pressing issue of scar concealment. However, while the open surgery group experienced a dramatic change in their appearance and felt much more negatively about their body image, it was not to the extent where mental illness came into play. While this may vary from individual to individual, the overall consensus proved that robotic surgery was more suited for those concerned about scarring.
It is important that after a successful surgery, patients must recover; despite success, certain setbacks such as scarring can negatively impact their mental state post-operation. This study will help future patients with their decision on choosing the surgical method that will best suit their needs—whether cosmetics is a huge variable, discussing the different surgery options and covering every factor is vital for any procedure.
Clip on, Eat Up – Electrode based vagus nerve stimulation offers a non-invasive method to combat feeding delays in infants.
Babies need to eat. Unfortunately, not all of them can do so on their own. Premature infants and infants that have hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), or a specific type of brain damage due to lack of oxygen, are more likely to suffer from feeding delays. Feeding delays inhibit these babies from taking in, digesting, and accepting nourishment; thus, usually leading to their deterioration or need for medical intervention. For the past few decades, the surgical route has been the most common solution to the problem; however, a new electrode paves the path for non-invasive treatments to promote long-term feeding success. With the adoption of such a device, brain stimulation will no longer be isolated to neurological disorders but will extend its reach into neonatal care.
Currently, the most prescribed method of treating feeding delays in infants is the surgical implementation of a feeding tube by nose (nasogastric tube) or through the abdominal wall (percutaneous endoscopic gastric tube). A need for a better solution has been present in the field of neonatal health care, but the logistics, especially when dealing with such small and fragile patients, have been hard to organize. An unconventional answer in the form of nerve stimulation seems to be the future for feeding these finicky infants.
Commonly thought to only be a form of treatment for nerve pain or brain disorders, electrode stimulation has grown in the medical world over the years as the technology has become more sophisticated and compact. This new use of nerve stimulation, specifically vagus nerve stimulation through an ear electrode, is a step out of the realm of Parkinson’s and pain treatments that nerve and brain stimulation have previously been isolated to.
This treatment option involves an ear electrode being clipped onto the infant’s tragus to connect the patient to a stimulator that delivers a low-intensity current to the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve and is responsible for both sensory and motor function, including but not limited to stimulating muscles in the heart, pharynx, and digestive tract, as well as contributing to the sensation of taste. This nerve stimulation, coupled with designated feeding behaviors such as sucking on a bottle or swallowing milk, promotes positive feeding behaviors that lead to sustainable independent nourishment. Clinical trials at the Medical University of South Carolina have yielded positive results thus far. Electrode stimulation in the study contributed to the prevention of feeding tube implementation in the sample populations tested, as well as having aided in the infants involved in achieving full oral feeding stage.
The use of vagus nerve stimulation in infants opens the door to more non-invasive and less expensive methods of treatment within neonatal and pediatric healthcare. In addition to the immediate medical benefits, this technology introduces the possibility of brain stimulation becoming a new standard in neonatal care. It also welcomes a new broader market for brain stimulation to cater to and a new perspective with which to view the future of electrode stimulation. At this crossroads between two very different fields stands an opportunity for better quality of care, improved treatment methods, and interdisciplinary innovation.
Forgotten Already? — A Study in Transient Global Amnesia
It is always difficult and scary to comprehend when a loved one starts to display symptoms of memory loss. Memory loss, often associated with amnesia, is typically divided into two categories: anterograde and retrograde amnesia. Anterograde amnesia is the inability to develop new memories after the event that caused the amnesia while retrograde amnesia is the inability to access memories prior to the event that caused the amnesia. Transient global amnesia (TGA), a clinical syndrome of anterograde amnesia, has been studied in efforts to greater understand the link between the brain and amnesia, and in hopes to lessen the worries of those affected by TGA.
Symptoms of transient global amnesia may stem from repetitive questioning but may devolve into a more serious long-term forgetfulness. TGA affects patients who are middle-aged and older, but the older one gets, the more susceptible they are to TGA. Such symptoms may be concerning to the families of TGA patients, especially if these symptoms are not documented or diagnosed.
In a recent clinical study led by Dr. Tarun P. Jain, potential in addressing the concerns of TGA is on the horizon. To attempt to pinpoint the root of the problem, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used on 12 patients to analyze the hippocampus of each of their brains. These patients had TGA, displaying acute-onset confusion and amnesia. The study focused on diffusion weighted imaging in the MRI and any abnormalities that may have been discovered from the scans.
The results of the study found that each MRI scan of each patient displayed at least one abnormality in the hippocampus. Such abnormalities included punctate foci, which are bright spots on the MRI that signal cerebral white matter, which may be potentially harmful. This discovery allowed the research to, at minimum, correlate abnormalities within the brain to amnesia-related conditions such as TGA. Ultimately, the cause of TGA was not determined, but the study led to a greater understanding of TGA through the MRI scans of these various TGA patients.
Furthermore, the importance of understanding TGA and its symptoms lies in that TGA is often linked to other conditions such as strokes, epilepsy, and other head injuries. The research recommends that such conditions—ones that may produce transient amnesic syndromes—should be considered when patients visit their doctors. Routine MRI for strokes also may avoid the need for the protocols of TGA and repeat scans should symptoms return. TGA, although it is still classified as a clinical diagnosis, remains important to be diligent of should one display symptoms of this condition.
Although treatment is not necessarily required, as TGA symptoms generally go away within 24 hours, it is still frightening to witness one go through any level of memory loss. An apt and timely diagnosis would help to reassure not only patients, but their relatives, that TGA is a benign disorder. Even more so, if one displays uncertain symptoms, MRI findings of punctate foci in the hippocampus is nonetheless helpful to confirm or deny the diagnosis of TGA and most importantly, for peace of mind.
An Early-Onset Future
An Early-Onset Future
Sarah Taj
Newborns enter this world saturated from their time before birth being immersed in an amniotic fluid. After birth, they aim to adjust to their new environment outside of the uterus by losing the extraneous fluid which inevitably lowers their body weight significantly. During this critical week of modification, they are also learning to breast or bottle feed which adds to the abrupt weight loss. 95 percent of newborns will lose up to 10 percent of the birth weight and will regain this weight in 14.5 days by the continuance of breast or bottle feeding. Physicians highly recommend tracking your newborn’s growth in both weight and height over time to provide a clear sense of your child’s health. By collecting, recording, and analyzing routine checkups, physicians are able to seek whether there is a trend between newborn weight changes and future physiological changes.
This research studies the fluctuations of newborn weight changes during early childhood and tests whether there is a correlation between the child’s cardiovascular outcomes later in life. The goal of this study is to analyze the data concerning the impact of early infant weight gain and losses with how the child eventually metabolizes sugar and any possible risk factor they will have/not have in relation to their heart and blood vessels including diabetes, high cholesterol, and coronary heart disease. For this study, children between the ages of 4 and 7 had fasting blood samples collected and were properly measured in search of any inconsistencies. Their birth weight and postnatal care were collected from clinical records and trained examiners during the child’s hospital stay. This study examined a total of 312 children with detailed background information on their growth from very early in life and subsequent measurements in relation to their physiological well-being.
Why this study is so crucial is mainly due to the high possibility of a child failing to regain their lost weight; if a newborn does not regain their lost weight within 20 days, their condition is labeled as chronic and poses a concern for both the newborn and its parents. A large percentage of newborns develop complications such as dehydration and, in many cases, jaundice which is caused by an accumulation of aged red blood cells in the blood. These two difficulties are the most common causes of newborn hospital readmissions. In response to this, mothers believe this weight loss means their baby is not getting enough breast milk, which leads them to supplement their baby with formula, a practice physicians aim to avoid whenever possible. This study brings awareness to both the commonality and abnormalities of weight variation and, if there is a correlation, how to properly treat any irregularity to prevent future physiological impacts.
With the completion of the research, there was no evidence that new born weight fluctuation is related to future health concerns. As a solution however, it suggests that the changes in weight should be faced in clinical practice as a short term issue with no medium or long term consequences. Furthermore, parents are recommended to continue monitoring their child’s weight to prevent the aforementioned complications, dehydration and jaundice.
A New Piece in the Galactic Formation Puzzle by Aidan Subrahimovic
The study and understanding of radiation and how it affects our daily lives is a relatively young science that has not seen much of human history. However, computer simulations run by astrophysicists have suggested that stellar radiation is vital to the regulation of star formation in galaxies such as our own.
The observations made by astronomers in physical space, while informative, can be cryptic in finding the reasons that galaxies behave the way they do. To supplement their research, astrophysicists have used computer simulations of galaxies to understand more about their formation. The millions upon millions of years in a galaxy’s lifespan are compressed into a few seconds, and data on star formation rates are recorded for interpretation.
In most of these computer simulated galaxies, the majority of radiation present is generated by the deaths of stars in catastrophic events called supernovae. This, however, does not mimic the actual majority of radiation in real-life galaxies, which is generated by stars in the form of stellar radiation. For this reason, computer-generated galaxies can sometimes show an overabundance of stars that would not occur in nature.
With this in mind, a group of scientists with backings from Columbia University and the Flatiron Institute have devised a computer simulation that accurately simulates the amount of stellar radiation observed in real galaxies. The result was a computer-generated galaxy that had a fifth less stars than had been present in previous simulations, and a galaxy that more closely resembled those observed in physical space, demonstrating that stellar radiation plays a tremendous role in regulating star formation.
Stellar radiation is a phenomena that has been observed by scientists since the dawn of radiation science. Every active star in space emits tremendous amounts of energy every passing second in the form of radiation across the whole electromagnetic spectrum, which is then emitted into the vast empty space in between stars, referred to by scientists as the “interstellar medium,” or ISM. Our own sun emits massive bursts of radiation into the solar system in the form of solar flares, one of which containing enough energy to fully charge about ten billion iPhones.
Though solar flares seem harmless, they actually pose a considerable threat to various technologies we take advantage of daily. To humans on the Earth’s surface, even an extremely intense solar flare poses no threat, as the atmosphere serves as a protective barrier for the surface. From a technological standpoint, however, they can be quite disruptive, especially to telecommunicative technologies from cell phone service to air traffic control. In fact, the radiation can get so intense that high-flying airplanes run the risk of getting bathed in radiation if they fly too close to a solar flare. A solar flare in 1989 managed to leave a whopping six million people in the U. S. and Canada when it struck an electrical facility in Quebec.
The evidence found in this Columbia study suggests that stellar radiation is a necessary in regulating star formation in galaxies. Tons of scientific speculation on the origins of our galaxies have been validated by this research. It does, however, emphasize how deeply vulnerable our place in the universe is, and how the most natural processes in our galaxy can prove to be the most detrimental to humans.
Early Signs of Anxiety
Mental health has become a popular topic in recent years, and more people are being diagnosed with and receiving treatment for anxiety and depression than in the past. New research has been conducted in order to recognize early signs of anxiety in children and adolescents, which is extremely beneficial to our understanding of what causes these ailments and how they can be prevented.
Researchers distributed a questionnaire to parents and guardians of young kids in order to determine what their behavioral habits were like. These children were monitored from ages 6 to 12, and were tested for anxiety once they were older. It was found that children who displayed symptoms such as frequent crying, isolation, and bullying were more likely to have anxiety as an adult.
Anxiety is bad because it limits the person’s ability to do things that they encounter in their daily life. Consequentially, it has a great impact on the quality of their life. It can come as a voice which eats away at the person and prevents them from growing and enjoying life. It is no wonder that the formation of anxiety can be linked to early childhood.
Often if a child feels bad about the things going on in their life, they will need some form of comfort from a caregiver or friend. This comfort provides relief from the negative feeling and allows the child to move on. But if the child does not receive any comfort at all, or even more importantly, if they child does not receive the type of comfort they need, then they will not feel relief. This leads to a nagging feeling which, if it continuously is not addressed solidifies as anxiety.
The subjects that were involved in the research and observations were only female. This is worth noting because it is reported that anxiety and depression is more commonly diagnosed in the female population. It is suspected that if the subjects included boys, the results would be similar.
It is important for all of us to have a better understanding of where exactly anxiety comes from. Going forward with this better understanding, we can hope that parents and caretakers will take more caution in raising their children, going forward with a lot of empathy and patience in order to understand if their child’s needs are being met. This will help parents to see what is really going on with their kids during not only the times when they are most distressed, but also during the times when the storm is seemingly quiet.
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