By Dr. Mercola

In February 1998, the Lancet published Dr. Andrew Wakefield’s case series of a group of autistic children with gastric problems, which has become one of the most controversial studies in medicine because part of the patients’ story included regression after receiving the MMR vaccine.

The debate is a heated one, as the study suggests there may be a link between the MMR vaccine, bowel disease and autism.

In an interview I conducted with Dr. Wakefield in 2010, he said he knew he was about to enter treacherous waters when the study was published, and he expected the inevitable backlash from the vaccine industry.

However, “backlash” is putting it mildly, as Dr. Wakefield’s reputation was completely smeared.

The latest revelations in this controversy add yet another twist, and suggest that a series of articles published by the BMJ in January 2011 alleging that Wakefield falsified data, making the original Lancet article fraudulent, were in fact the inaccurate ones …

New Investigation Defends Wakefield’s Lancet Study

At the heart of the Wakefield controversy has been whether or not the children in the study were, in fact, diagnosed with non-specific colitis, or if that information had been fabricated — allegations that were largely initiated by investigative journalist Brian Deer.

Writing in the BMJ, research microbiologist David Lewis, of the National Whistleblowers Center, explains that he reviewed histopathological grading sheets by two of Dr. Wakefield’s coauthors, pathologists Amar Dhillon and Andrew Anthony, and concluded there was no fraud committed by Dr. Wakefield:

“As a research microbiologist involved with the collection and examination of colonic biopsy samples, I do not believe that Dr. Wakefield intentionally misinterpreted the grading sheets as evidence of “non-specific colitis.” Dhillon indicated “non-specific” in a box associated, in some cases, with other forms of colitis. In addition, if Anthony’s grading sheets are similar to ones he completed for the Lancet article, they suggest that he diagnosed “colitis” in a number of the children.”

In a press release, Lewis continued:

“The grading sheets and other evidence in Wakefield’s files clearly show that it is unreasonable to conclude, based on a comparison of the histological records, that Andrew Wakefield ‘faked’ a link between the MMR vaccine and autism.

Now that these records have seen the light of day, it is time for others to stop using them for this purpose as well. False allegations of research misconduct can destroy the careers of even the most accomplished and reputable scientists overnight. It may take years for them to prove their innocence; and even then the damages are often irreparable. In cases where mistakes are made, every effort should be taken to fully restore the reputations and careers of scientists who are falsely accused of research misconduct.”

Wakefield is Not the Only Researcher to Look Into the Possible Connection Between MMR Vaccine, Bowel Disease and Autism

While the press continues to battle over Dr. Wakefield’s purported guilt or innocence, the bigger issue — that there appears to be a connection between inflammation, and particularly gut inflammation, and autism — is getting lost in the shuffle. Plus, other research has confirmed Wakefield’s hotly contested findings, linking the MMR triple vaccine with bowel disease and autism — contrary to what you might hear in the press.

The Daily Mail reported:

” … a team from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina are examining 275 children with regressive autism and bowel disease – and of the 82 tested so far, 70 prove positive for the measles virus … the team’s leader, Dr Stephen Walker, said: ‘Of the handful of results we have in so far, all are vaccine strain and none are wild measles.

This research proves that in the gastrointestinal tract of a number of children who have been diagnosed with regressive autism, there is evidence of measles virus. What it means is that the study done earlier by Dr Wakefield and published in 1998 is correct.

That study didn’t draw any conclusions about specifically what it means to find measles virus in the gut, but the implication is it may be coming from the MMR vaccine. If that’s the case, and this live virus is residing in the gastrointestinal tract of some children, and then they have GI inflammation and other problems, it may be related to the MMR.”

The lead researcher, Stephen J. Walker, Ph.D., was also quick to state however, that this does not necessarily mean the MMR vaccine causes autism. Still, his research notes the same connection that Wakefield’s team did, which is that many autistic children have chronic bowel inflammation, and have the vaccine strain of the measles virus in their intestines.

Says Dr. Wakefield of his original 1998 findings:

“… it’s been replicated in Canada, in the U.S., in Venezuela, in Italy… [but] they never get mentioned. All you ever hear is that no one else has ever been able to replicate the findings. I’m afraid that is false.”

You can see a list of 28 studies from around the world that support Dr. Wakefield’s controversial findings in this past article. In addition to his hotly contested MMR study, Dr. Wakefield has published dozens of peer-reviewed papers looking at the mechanism and cause of inflammatory bowel disease, and has extensively investigated the brain-bowel connection in the context of children with developmental disorders such as autism. As described below, other researchers are also doing the same …

What You Should Know About Gut Health and Autism …

In her research, Dr. Campbell-McBride discovered that nearly all of the mothers of autistic children have abnormal gut flora, which is significant because newborns inherit their gut flora from their mothers at the time of birth. Establishing normal gut flora in the first 20 days or so of life plays a crucial role in the maturation of your baby’s immune system. Babies who develop abnormal gut flora are left with compromised immune systems, putting them at higher risk for suffering vaccine reactions.

If your baby has suboptimal gut flora, vaccines can become the proverbial “last straw”—the trigger that “primes” his/her immune system to develop chronic heath problems.

In short, there is a close connection between abnormal gut flora and abnormal brain development—a condition Dr. Campbell-McBride calls Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS).The best way to prevent GAPS is for the mother to avoid all antibiotics and birth control pills prior to conception and then by breastfeeding and avoiding the use of antibiotics after delivering. This is because they destroy the balance of gut floras and promote the growth of pathogenic bacteria. In addition to breastfeeding,

I highly recommend the use of fermented foods and probiotics for your baby to help reduce his/her risk of GAPS.

Fortunately, it’s possible to screen your child for GAPS before he or she is vaccinated, so that you can make a better-informed vaccination decision. Dr. Campbell-McBride describes the entire process in her book. It involves providing a detailed family health history to a knowledgeable healthcare provider, combined with stool and urine analysis, and these combine to give you a picture of your baby’s gut health and overall immune status.Dr. Campbell-McBride states:

“If your child has abnormal gut flora, we can assume that your child has compromised immunity, and these children must not be vaccinated with the standard vaccination protocol because they simply get damaged by it. They should not be vaccinated.”

These non-invasive tests are now available in most laboratories around the world for, typically, $80 to $100 each. This cost is insignificant compared to the incredible expense of treating an autistic child, once the damage is done.

New research published by the American Society for Microbiology further contends:

“Many children with autism have gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances that can complicate clinical management and contribute to behavioral problems. Understanding the molecular and microbial underpinnings of these GI issues is of paramount importance for elucidating pathogenesis, rendering diagnosis, and administering informed treatment.

Here we describe an association between high levels of intestinal, mucoepithelial-associated Sutterella species and GI disturbances in children with autism. These findings elevate this little-recognized bacterium to the forefront by demonstrating that Sutterella is a major component of the microbiota in over half of children with autism and gastrointestinal dysfunction (AUT-GI) and is absent in children with only gastrointestinal dysfunction (Control-GI) evaluated in this study.”

Remember, you make serious, at times life-and-death, decisions based on what and who you believe … The avalanche of autism must be curbed—and quickly! And for now the burden rests on you, the parent, to take control of your and your child’s health, and to arm yourself with information that can have life-altering ramifications when it comes to making health care decisions.

Please, as always, make your vaccination decisions educated ones.

Other Related Health Posts:

• How a Physician Cured Her Son’s Autism…
• Why You Should NOT Vaccinate Your Children Against the Flu This Season
• Can Your Pet Get Swine Flu and Do They Really Need a Flu Shot?
• 3 Toxins that Could Bewilder Your Child FOREVER with This Life-Altering Condition…
• Pleading The Case For Boys To Receive The HPV Vaccine

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Article Source: Health And Fitness Journal
If you like all this stuff here then you can buy me a pack of cigarettes.

By Dr. Mercola

About 4.4 million Americans are living with chronic hepatitis — and most of them have no idea they have it. A new study has shown that customers in nail salons could be putting themselves at risk for the deadly disease.

Many nail salons use sharp instruments, which carry a risk of infection if they are re-used.

I’m willing to bet many of my female readers enjoy getting their nails done. I know I enjoy having mine done periodically.

Aside from looking well-groomed, getting a manicure and/or pedicure is a good stress reliever too, I’m told.

But there are certain risks involved. To protect yourself from accidental exposure to diseases such as hepatitis, make sure scissors and clippers are disinfected after each use, and that only disposable files are used.

The same goes for the pedicure bath and all suction screens in the tubs.

You’d also be wise to always bring your own nail polish—ideally a non-toxic version, which I’ll discuss in a moment—as the polish can be both a source of infectious contamination as well as adding to your toxic burden.

Woman’s Health Channel reports:

“It’s not just nail salons to watch out for… [A]nyplace where you can get tattoos, ear piercing, body piercing, and even dental offices can put you at risk.”

What is Hepatitis B?

“Hepatitis” means liver inflammation. The “A,” “B” and “C” designations refer to the type of hepatitis virus involved. Symptoms of hepatitis A and B are very similar, and include:

• Abdominal pain
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Joint pain
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)

However, hepatitis B is often called “the silent killer” because as many as 95 percent of those with the disease exhibit no symptoms at all, until it’s too late. The disease can progress unnoticed for years in some cases, and patients oftentimes learn they have chronic hepatitis B once they develop severe liver damage.

But as mentioned above, anytime you’re getting tattooed or pierced, or
even just getting a manicure or pedicure, you can be exposed to the
virus via contaminated instruments breaking through your skin. The virus is spread through contact with blood and/or body fluids of an infected person. Common routes of infection include:

• IV drug abuse
• Sexual activity with an infected partner
• Blood transfusion using contaminated blood

Hepatitis B Treatment

Fortunately, in most cases, the hepatitis B infection will resolve on its own provided you have a well-functioning immune system. Symptoms can be relieved by:

• Resting
• Avoiding foods that weaken your immune function, such as sugars/fructose, grains, and processed foods. Healthful foods that help boost your immune system include fermented foods and organic vegetables. (For a list of the top 12 most beneficial foods for robust immune function, please see this previous article)
• Optimizing your vitamin D levels
• Drinking plenty of pure water
• Avoiding alcohol and drugs

A diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B, on the other hand, will typically include some form of antiviral medication, and depending on how far along your disease has progressed, you may even require a liver transplant. If you were born in or after 1991, you’ve probably received the hepatitis B vaccine at birth, but if you think that means you don’t have to worry about these risks, think again… There are few or no detectable antibodies in the blood of most children within 7-10 years after vaccination, indicating that the inoculation does NOT provide lasting protection.

On the Hepatitis B Vaccine for Babies…

While we’re on the subject of hepatitis B, I want to quickly touch on the use of hepatitis B vaccine in newborns, as fears about this disease may lead some people to mistakenly assume vaccination is the best, if not the only, answer. But this vaccine is fraught with dangerous side effects that every parent needs to be aware of…

Routine use of the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns began in 1991, and according to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), operated jointly by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there were 36,788 officially reported adverse reactions to hepatitis B vaccines between 1992 and 2005. Of these, 14,800 were serious enough to cause hospitalization, life-threatening health events or permanent disabilities; 781 deaths were also reported.

These numbers, while large, are likely still an underestimation as doctors rarely report serious health problems following vaccination. Studies have estimated that a maximum of 10 percent, and as little as one percent of side effects are ever reported… When comes to infant deaths post vaccination, most are automatically attributed to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) without investigation into whether the vaccine caused the baby’s sudden death.

There’s no shortage of evidence of harm from this vaccine however, for those willing to look. GreenMedInfo.com lists 46 medical articles that specify more than 60 diseases or adverse unintended consequences associated with hepatitis B vaccination. Common reactions to the vaccine include fatigue, muscle weakness, fever, headache, irritability, and joint pain. But there have been reports of disabling neurological and immunological disorders that have developed following hepatitis B vaccinations as well, including:

The hepatitis B vaccine for newborns is the least justifiable of any vaccine I can think of. Remember, the disease is only transmitted via contaminated needles, blood transfusion, or contact with contaminated blood and/or body fluids. Babies can essentially only contract hepatitis B via their mother, if the mother is infected. So why not screen all pregnant women for the disease and only give the vaccine to those infants whose mothers actually test positive for hepatitis B? That policy would be a lot less expensive, and a lot safer for the majority of babies born in the United States.

If you’re an expecting parent, it’s important to know that the hepatitis B vaccine is given to virtually every newborn in the hospital—many times without parents’ consent—shortly after the child is born. If you choose not to have your 12-hour-old newborn vaccinated, it may take a lot of effort and insistence on your part to make sure this vaccine is not given without your informed consent.

The Health Dangers of Manicures and Nail Polish

Now, getting back to manicures and pedicures, viral infections are not the only health hazard you’re exposing yourself to at the nail salon.

Certain manicure procedures and most nail polishes typically involve or contain a number of toxic chemicals that can wreak havoc if accidentally introduced into your body. For example, two years ago, a woman reportedly ended up with chronic nerve damage after getting a gel manicure—a procedure in which a special solution is applied to your nails and then hardened under a UV light for a longer-lasting manicure. Most problems arise due to chemicals getting into abrasions, which can easily occur if a nail file slips or if your cuticles are cut back too far. Tip-offs that a manicure procedure could harm you include:

Your nail polish may also add to your toxic burden (remember, women who use make-up on a daily basis can absorb almost 5 pounds of chemicals into their bodies each year, so every little bit certainly adds up). Dangerous chemicals commonly found in nail polish include:

• Dibutyl phthalates (DBP), known to cause lifelong reproductive impairments in male rats. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), dibutyl phthalates has been shown to damage the testes, prostate gland, epididymus, penis, and seminal vesicles in animals.
• Toluene is made from petroleum or coal tar. Chronic exposure linked to anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver or kidney damage, and may affect a developing fetus
• Formaldehyde
• Oxybenzone

The EWG’s 2006 Campaign for Safe Cosmetics managed to create some positive change in terms of making safer nail polishes available, with several popular brands vowing to reformulate their products to remove some of the most harmful ingredients, such as DBPs, toluene and formaldehyde. I highly recommend using the EWG’s Skin Deep Database to research any cosmetic or personal care product you’re thinking of buying, including nail polish. Also beware that many nail polish removers score quite high on toxicity, but there are completely non-toxic versions on the market as well.

A Safer, Healthier Alternative

Whenever possible, I like to point out safer, healthier alternatives, and I’m happy to say that there is another option even when it comes to beautifying your nails, and that is: buffing. Simple buffing can create a nice, smooth sheen to your nails, without using any nail polish whatsoever. An added boon is that it may actually help your nails grow stronger and longer due to increased circulation, and you won’t have to worry about chipped nail polish either. The following video demonstrates how to buff your own nails, and for more information, check out this eHow article.

Getting a manicure can be a wonderful way to pamper yourself, and I’m not against the practice at all – just be mindful of how it’s done, and make sure your manicurist adheres to all the safety precautions to prevent spread of infections, and try to avoid as many harsh chemicals as possible.

Other Related Health Posts:

• Some Manicures Can Cause Nerve Damage
• More Americans Getting Multiple Chronic Illnesses
• Clarisonic PRO Deluxe Professional 4-Speed Skin Care System with Spot Therapy Kit, White
• Things to Look For When Treating Nail Fungus
• Do You Know Where Your Fish Comes From?

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Article Source: Health And Fitness Journal
If you like all this stuff here then you can buy me a pack of cigarettes.