Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Autistic Mannerisms Reduced By Sensory Treatment

Autistic Mannerisms Reduced By Sensory Treatment

The brain is so very complex! In children with developmental disorders, whether ASD, AD/HD, Dylexia or other learning disabilites, paramount to effective treatment is identifying which hemisphere of the brain is not maturing as fast as the other hemisphere. When one side of the brain is immature as compared wiht the other, sensory issues arise.

Functional neurology seeks to identify the weaknesses associated with a brain that is not maturing normally and then provides the specific stimulation to prompt development. The brain is very plastic, meaning it is changeable. Functional healthcare services for childhood developmental disorders are available at our office!

Visit us on the web at http://www.drdanechiro.com/

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

From the August 2010 Scientific American Magazine

How Acquired Diseases Become Hereditary Illnesses:

New understanding of epigenetics, or the molecular processes that control genes, show how it underlies hereditary forms of obesity and cancer.
By JR Minkel


One of the primary goals of genetics over the past decade has been to understand human health and disease in terms of differences in DNA from person to person. But even a relatively straightforward trait such as height has resisted attempts to reduce it to a particular combination of genes. In light of this shortcoming, some investigators see room for an increased focus on an alternative explanation for heritable traits: epigenetics, the molecular processes that control a gene’s potential to act. Evidence now suggests that epigenetics can lead to inherited forms of obesity and cancer.

The best-studied form of epigenetic regulation is methylation, the addition of clusters of atoms made of carbon and hydrogen (methyl groups) to DNA. Depending on where they are placed, methyl groups direct the cell to ignore any genes present in a stretch of DNA. During embryonic development, undifferentiated stem cells accumulate methyl groups and other epigenetic marks that funnel them into one of the three germ layers, each of which gives rise to a different set of adult tissues. In 2008 the National Institutes of Health launched the $190-million Roadmap Epigenomics Project with the goal of cataloguing the epigenetic marks in the major human cell types and tissues. The first results could come out later this year and confirm that different laboratories can get the same results from the same cells, says Arthur L. Beaudet of the Baylor College of Medicine, the project’s data hub. “One couldn’t automatically assume it would be so nice,” he says.

Up to this point, the best way to study epigenetic effects has been a strain of mice known as agouti viable yellow. In these mice, a retro¬transposon—a bit of mobile DNA—has inserted itself in a gene that controls fur color. Mice bearing the identical gene can be yellow or brown depending on the number of methyl groups along the retrotransposon. Such methylation marks would normally be erased in the reproductive cells of an animal. But in 1999 a group led by geneticists at the University of Sydney in Australia discovered that methylation of the fur color genes persists in the female germ line, allowing it to be passed down to offspring like a change in the DNA.

Agouti viable yellow mice might have something to say about the human obesity epidemic. The animals have a tendency to overeat and become obese. In 2008 Robert A. Waterland, also at Baylor, discovered that this trait gets passed down and amplified from one generation of agouti to the next, so that “fatter mothers have fatter offspring,” he says. He is investigating whether the effect can be explained in terms of methylation patterns in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that regulates appetite.

Retrotransposons could lead to other epigenetic effects. In the early 2000s geneticist David Martin of Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute in California reasoned that the silencing mechanism that keeps retrotransposons inactive might randomly shut down genes that are supposed to be left on. If the silencing occurred in a gene responsible for suppressing tumor formation, the result would appear the same as genetic mutations that predispose people to cancer.

Working with colleagues at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, Martin identified two individuals who had the characteristics of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, which is usually caused by a mutation that inactivates one of a person’s two copies of the tumor suppressor gene MLH1, but who showed no signs of mutation. Instead the MLH1 of both was methylated in cells of the blood, hair follicles and inner cheek—all derived from different embryonic layers.

In Martin’s view, the result strongly suggested that the patients had inherited the silenced gene from one of their parents, like the case with agouti mice. Although some researchers have suggested that a genetic mutation in the fertilized egg cell could be responsible for the methylation pattern, Martin says the simplest explanation is an inherited epimutation. “Nobody has been able to explain why these things aren’t actually germ-line epimutations,” he says.

If epimutations can happen, the same effect should turn up in other genes. Martin’s colleague Catherine Suter of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Sydney is studying whether melanoma patients have epimutations in genes associated with the cancer. It is also conceivable that epimutations could play a role in some cases of autism, Beaudet says.
Researchers agree they are just scratching the surface of understanding the role of epigenetics in health and disease. The NIH Roadmap Project should help by allowing them to compare models of disease with reference samples. In effect, “we’re trying to figure out how we work,” says epigenetics researcher Randy Jirtle of Duke University. “It’s an amazingly huge project, and it’ll never go away.”

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

From the Desk of Dr. Dane

Over the past decade we have seen an alarming increase in the number of children being diagnosed with developmental disorders, such as autism, Asperger’s syndrome, dyslexia, Tourette syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, and other various conditions that involve socialization skills. Current studies suggest that 1 in 150 children will be diagnosed with autism, whereas just ten years ago only 1 in 10,000 children were diagnosed as autistic.

This dramatic increase in the number of children being diagnosed with what used to be considered a rare condition gives me great pause. My questions have included:
why the increase, what are the environmental factors that are contributing to this sharp rise, what can I do to more effectively help children affected with developmental disorders, moreover, what can I do to help whole families find hope for what seems like a hopeless situation?

So, here is my plan of action: Over the next 3 years I will be completing 350+ hours of course work that will enable me to be credentialed as a Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Neurology Board (DACNB). Additionally, over the next 11 months, I will be completing 150 hour program of specialty training in Childhood Developmental Disorders which fulfills the academic and practical curriculum for Board Certification in CDD specifically for childhood developmental disorders. Accreditation for this certification is through the American College of Functional Neurology (ACFN).

500+ hours of course work ahead of me is definitely a mountain, but having already read one of the required books; I am extremely excited and anxious to begin these classes! I am going to be studying with and under some of the top chiropractors in North America; the cross-pollination will be extremely beneficial. I am looking forward to better serve you and your families.

In health,
Dr. Darcy Dane, DC

Monday, February 22, 2010

Mercury in Tuna

The following is a complete copy of "The Daily Health News" published by Vitacost.com.

Tests Show Top Tuna Brands Have High Mercury Levels
White typically has greater levels of the toxin than light, researchers say

(HealthDay News) -- Tests on more than 300 samples of canned tuna from the top three brands in the United States revealed that more than half contained mercury levels above what's considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Researchers from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), found that 55 percent of the samples had mercury levels higher than the EPA standard of 0.5 parts per million (ppm) and 5 percent had levels higher than the 1.0 ppm safety level set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for commercially sold fish.

The health effects of mercury poisoning include central nervous system damage, hearing loss and vision problems.

"Canned tuna accounts for up to a quarter of the nation's seafood consumption and creates some significant regulatory challenges," study author Shawn Gerstenberger, an environmental and occupational health professor, said in a UNLV news release. "With pregnant women and children the most susceptible to mercury poisoning -- yet also among the top consumers of canned tuna -- federal agencies need to urge distributors to expressly state mercury levels in their products."

The researchers found significant differences in mercury concentration by type (white and light) and brand. One brand had consistently elevated mercury levels, and white tuna from all three brands had the highest concentrations of mercury. White tuna comes from albacore, a different species of fish than "light" tuna.

"Mercury concentration in fish has a lot to do with the environment they're in, but since the locations of where the fish are harvested are not made available to consumers, it is very difficult to positively identify and reduce the source of the exposure," Gerstenberger said.

The researchers said federal regulators should require canned tuna producers to provide detailed information to consumers about the mercury content of each product and to disclose tuna harvest locations. In addition, the EPA and FDA need to have similar tuna consumption guidelines to lessen consumer confusion.

The study is published in the February issue of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry.

Many states have adopted EPA guidelines on tuna consumption, which suggest an average child consume only one can of tuna roughly every two weeks to ensure an acceptable level of mercury exposure.

More information

The U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has more about the health effects of mercury.
-- Robert Preidt

SOURCE: University of Nevada, Las Vegas, news release, Jan. 31, 2010

Friday, February 19, 2010

The Weight Loss Equation

Eat Less, Exercise More
The Equation for Healthy Weight Loss
by
Dr. Darcy D. Dane, DC
www.DrDaneChiro.com

Have you ever wondered, “Why does it seem easy to put weight on and so hard to take weight off?” Millions of Americans struggle to shed unwanted pounds. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that at any given time two-thirds of all American adults are on a diet to either lose weight or prevent weight gain.

In 2008, Business Week Magazine reported that Americans spend nearly 40 billion dollars per year trying to loose weight! 40 BILLION DOLLARS! Why do we spend so much on diet fads, pills, patches, and surgery? The simple answer is because we are looking for the EASY out. Brace yourself…There is no easy out. However, the equation for weight loss is simple: eat less, exercise more!

Here is what you need to know:
1. You cannot get around mathematics.
1 + 1 = 2 Always
2 - 1 = 1 Always
Calories ingested less than calories burned = weight loss. Always!
Calories ingested more than calories burned = weight gain. Always!
2. You cannot buy willpower, but you can exercise it, train it, and build it!

Here are a few things to think about when you think you feel hungry:
1. When you think you are hungry, you may be in reality thirsty. Try drinking a glass of water when you feel hungry.
2. When you think feel hungry, you may actually be bored. Many of us find ourselves snacking out of boredom. Try involving yourself in an activity when you start to feel hungry in between meals. This is especially true while you are watching TV.
3. When you are under emotional stress you may find yourself eating more because eating is pleasurable. Exercise is the best way to reduce stress and tension. Elevating your heart rate through cardiovascular exercise releases endorphins that help you feel better emotionally.

Here are some things to help get you started:
1. Log your calories. A site I have found particularly helpful is www.myfooddiary.com.
2. Fresh is best. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is essential to healthy nutrition.
3. Natural sugar is better for you than artificial sweeteners, which have been linked in recent years to the climbing rate of several diseases including obesity.
4. Eating foods high in fiber will help keep you feeling full longer.
5. Studies show that exercising 3 days per week is NOT enough. In order to loose weight you should be exercising at least 5 days a week.

Disclaimer: The information in this newsletter is for educational use only. Do not attempt to self-diagnose or treat any condition. Please consult your healthcare practitioner if you believe you may have any of the signs or symptoms discussed above before using any of the nutrients discussed.

You should also consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Facts About Vitamin D

Did you know vitamins were first recognized by the effects of their absence? Some vitamin deficiencies were identified centuries ago. The early part of the twentieth century brought about exciting advances in science making it possible for vitamins to be studied in great detail. Nutrition science is a discipline of biochemistry, the study of chemical processes in a living organism.

There are literally thousands of chemical processes happening in your body at any given moment. Processes such as, growth, maintenance of health, and metabolism are regulated by vitamins, which are supplied wholly or partially by diet. Vitamins are regulatory compounds. You can think of a vitamin as a key that locks or unlocks a bodily function.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is actually a steroid and is directly associated with skeletal growth and strong bones. Childhood deficiency results in the disease, Rickets, whereas adult deficiency results in Osteomalacia and Osteoporosis. The early twentieth century found that a diet containing sufficient qualities of Vitamin D and exposure to the ultra-violet rays of the sun would prevent this disease from occurring. Thus many of the foods we buy are fortified with Vitamin D. Foods naturally rich in Vitamin D are foods that are from animal origin, especially eggs, liver, butter, and fatty fish.

One of the factors contributing to the escalating rate of people being identified as having low levels of Vitamin D is lack of sun exposure. In general, people spend less time outdoors. Another contributing factor is the use of sunscreen. While prolonged sun exposure can damage the skin, limited sun exposure without sunscreen (15-30 minutes per day depending upon skin type) is actually good for you!

Vitamin D3 is naturally occurring in the body that starts out as an oily secretion (7-dehydrocholestrol) that is distributed along the skin. During exposure to sunlight 7-dehydrocholestrol is converted to pre-Vitamin D3 (precalciferol) and the further irradiation causes the precalciferol to be converted into Vitamin D3, cholecalciferol. Cholecalciferol through complex chemical processes targets tissues of the intestine, bone, and kidney, playing a critical role in regulating blood-calcium concentrations.

What about Vitamin D2? Vitamin D2 is a plant steroid that does not occur in animals. As far as supplementation goes, it is the opinion of this clinician that Vitamin D3 is preferred over Vitamin D2.

If you have been diagnosed as having low levels of Vitamin D be sure you are supplementing your diet under the supervision of your healthcare practitioner and get outdoors!

Disclaimer:
The information in this newsletter is for educational use only. Do not attempt to self-diagnose or treat any condition. Please consult your healthcare practitioner if you believe you may have any of the signs or symptoms discussed above before using any of the nutrients discussed.

You should also consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.