- Scientists have uncovered the strongest evidence yet
that the three-in-one Measels-Mumps-Rubella(MMR) vaccine plays a clear
role in the development of autism.
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- Earlier this year British expert Dr Andrew Wakefield
and molecular pathologist Professor John O'Leary established a possible
link between the measles virus, autism and a related bowel disorder. They
found fragments of the measles virus from the MMR jab in the guts of autistic
children who also suffer a rare form of bowel disease.
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- Now scientists at Utah State University, have reported
finding a strong association between the MMR vaccine and an autoimmune
reaction which is thought to play a role in autism.
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- The team led by Dr Vijendra Singh analysed blood samples
from 125 autistic children and 92 children who did not have autism. Dr
Singh, is an acknowledged expert with more than 20 years experience of
immunology research.
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- In 75 of the 125 (Corrected: was 92. Ed) autistic children
they found antibodies showing there had been an abnormal reaction to the
measles component of the MMR vaccine. Nine out of ten of those children
were also positive for antibodies thought to be involved in autism.
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- These are incredible statistics. The antibodies attack
the brain by targeting the basic building blocks of myelin, the insulating
sheath that covers nerve fibres. This stops the nerves developing properly
and may affect brain functions. Dr Singh has suggested that an abnormal
immune response may be the root cause of many cases of autism.
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- None of the non-autistic children showed the unusual
anti-measles response.
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- Not one. Not any. Zero. Nil. What a damming statistic.
Read that sentence again and consider it well.
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- But incredibly, the UK Government's Chief Medical Officer
and the British Medical Association, both still insist there is a wealth
of scientific evidence that the triple jab is the safest way to protect
children.
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- And Peter Lachmann, Emeritus Professor of Immunology
at Cambridge, said that the conclusions drawn by Vijendra Singh and his
team did not make for a direct link between MMR and autism.
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- "In my view the associations that Dr Singh makes
do not follow. His hypothesis does not show causality; he is drawing unjustifiable
conclusions from the antibody data he has collected. I do not think such
conclusions can be drawn."
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- As these comments reveal, the new evidence has the Government
and the BMJ fighting a rearguard action to keep the lid on the vaccine/autism
disaster.
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- Dr Singh's team report their findings in the latest issue
of the Journal of Biomedical Science. The news of their findings is unreported
as of this date in the US media.
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- <http://www.neemwell.com>They sensibly conclude:
'Stemming from this evidence, we suggest that an inappropriate antibody
response to MMR, specifically the measles component thereof, might be related
to pathogenesis of autism.'
- http://www.gulufuture.com/future/newmmr_z.htm
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- Comment
From Dan Steinberg
- Jeff -
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- there is an error in the article on MMR and autism, copied
below. Specifically, 75 of the 125 austistic children had the antibody
(not 75 of the 92). I have provided the abstract for you from Medline:
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- J Biomed Sci 2002 Jul-Aug;9(4):359-64 Related Articles,
Books, LinkOut
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- Abnormal measles-mumps-rubella antibodies and CNS autoimmunity
in children with autism.
- Singh VK, Lin SX, Newell E, Nelson C.
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology Center, Utah
State University, Logan, Utah, USA.
- Autoimmunity to the central nervous system (CNS), especially
to myelin basic protein (MBP), may play a causal role in autism, a neurodevelopmental
disorder. Because many autistic children harbor elevated levels of measles
antibodies, we conducted a serological study of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
and MBP autoantibodies. Using serum samples of 125 autistic children and
92 control children, antibodies were assayed by ELISA or immunoblotting
methods. ELISA analysis showed a significant increase in the level of MMR
antibodies in autistic children. Immunoblotting analysis revealed the presence
of an unusual MMR antibody in 75 of 125 (60%) autistic sera but not in
control sera. This antibody specifically detected a protein of 73-75 kD
of MMR. This protein band, as analyzed with monoclonal antibodies, was
immunopositive for measles hemagglutinin (HA) protein but not for measles
nucleoprotein and rubella or mumps viral proteins. Thus the MMR antibody
in autistic sera detected measles HA protein, which is unique to the measles
subunit of the vaccine. Furthermore, over 90% of MMR antibody-positive
autistic sera were also positive for MBP autoantibodies, suggesting a strong
association between MMR and CNS autoimmunity in autism. Stemming from this
evidence, we suggest that an inappropriate antibody response to MMR, specifically
the measles component thereof, might be related to pathogenesis of autism.
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- Copyright 2002 National Science Council, ROC and S. Karger
AG, Basel
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