Question:

On 23 Jan 2005 13:06:06 -0800, "Woody Long" <woodylon…@hotmail.com> wrote: >Woody’s comment: They can only hypothesize as to why, but one possible >explanation they neglected to mention is that autism, like chronic >sinusitis & asthma is caused by a fungus >http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/1/prweb194276.htm >Commonly Prescribed Antibiotic Implicated in Autism >The study, published in Medical Hypotheses, (2005 64, 312-315)

snip fluff & nonsense The following, from the publisher’s webpages, shows that "Medical Hypotheses" is NOT a peer reviewed  journal AND it charges authors to publish. Think of it as a vanity press for the scientifically bizarre. Boron http://www.harcourt-international.com/journals/mehy/ "Medical Hypotheses takes a deliberately different approach to peer review. Most contemporary practice tends to discriminate against radical ideas that conflict with current theory and practice. Medical Hypotheses will publish radical ideas, so long as they are coherent and clearly expressed. Furthermore, traditional peer review can oblige authors to distort their true views to satisfy referees, and so diminish authorial responsibility and accountability. In Medical Hypotheses, the authors’ responsibility for the integrity, precision and accuracy of their work is paramount. The editor sees his role as a ‘chooser’, not a ‘changer’: choosing to publish what are judged to be the best papers from those submitted. Papers in Medical Hypotheses take a standard scientific form in terms of style, structure and referencing. The journal therefore constitutes a bridge between cutting-edge theory and the mainstream of medical and scientific communication, which ideas must eventually enter if they are to be critiqued and tested against observations. Authors are required to pay page charges. "

Response:

> snip fluff & nonsense

Exactly what they were saying about fungus causing chronic sinusitis 10 years ago. Exactly what they were saying about Vioxx causing heart attacks 2 years ago. I would bet $10,000 in 10-20 years, the NIH will be saying the same thing.  To bad there aren’t any bookies who accept bets on the outcome of medical hypotheses.  I would be a rich man now.  A very rich man. Woody

Response:

On 23 Jan 2005 15:50:35 -0800, "Woody Long" <woodylon…@hotmail.com> wrote: >> snip fluff & nonsense >Exactly what they were saying about fungus causing chronic sinusitis 10 >years

And mostly are still saying it. I’m not saying fungus could not conceivably  cause of sinusitis.   I’m just saying that is mainly a research hypothesis at the present time.   For a decent summary, see http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=DS00232 and  click on treatment options. Here is what is says at the end: "Newer treatments are continually being studied. For example, some studies have examined the role of nasal antifungal medications in treating chronic sinusitis. Initial results looked promising, with as many as 75 percent of people experiencing some relief from their symptoms. More study is needed, however, because another study found no effect from the treatment." In other words, Mayo itself is not too sure….. >Exactly what they were saying about Vioxx causing heart attacks 2 years >ago.

One can always find such examples from the past using the benefi of hindsight. It’s a little harder without the hindsight.   A  lot more false hypotheses are made than correct ones. >I would bet $10,000 in 10-20 years, the NIH will be saying the same >thing.  To bad there aren’t any bookies who accept bets on the outcome >of medical hypotheses.  I would be a rich man now.  A very rich man. >Woody

I think some British bookies such as Ladbrokes will take a bet on anything.

Response:

On 23 Jan 2005 15:50:35 -0800, "Woody Long" <woodylon…@hotmail.com> wrote: >> snip fluff & nonsense >Exactly what they were saying about fungus causing chronic sinusitis 10 >years ago.

Actually, it is an immune response TO fungus that causes some cases of chronic sinusitis. Think of it as another allergen. And…it has been talked about since the 80s. http://www.utmb.edu/otoref/Grnds/afs.htm >Exactly what they were saying about Vioxx causing heart attacks 2 years >ago.

The information was all there and Merck knew it, too. >I would bet $10,000 in 10-20 years, the NIH will be saying the same >thing.  To bad there aren’t any bookies who accept bets on the outcome >of medical hypotheses.  I would be a rich man now.  A very rich man. >Woody

There is a rather long bandwagon of ideas about autism, not one of which has been proven scientifically.  Quoting a source they specializes in off-the-wall and non-peer reviewed studies gives little credence to your claim. Boron

Response:

> Actually, it is an immune response TO fungus that causes some cases of > chronic sinusitis.

And it is Antibiotics that cause the abnormal immune response to fungus by promoting – guess what – growth of fungus (now you going to tell me this only happens in mice.  Yeah right) > And…it has been talked about since the 80s. > http://www.utmb.edu/otoref/Grnds/afs.htm

Your article says "Approximately 7% of chronic sinusitis cases requiring surgery are caused by AFS".  7%!!! Proves my point exactly. > >Exactly what they were saying about Vioxx causing heart attacks 2 years > >ago. > The information was all there and Merck knew it, too.

Ah but is wasn’t proven now was it > >I would bet $10,000 in 10-20 years, the NIH will be saying the same > >thing.  To bad there aren’t any bookies who accept bets on the outcome > >of medical hypotheses.  I would be a rich man now.  A very rich man. > >Woody > There is a rather long bandwagon of ideas about autism, not one of > which has been proven scientifically.  Quoting a source they > specializes in off-the-wall and non-peer reviewed studies gives little > credence to your claim.

http://authors.elsevier.com/JournalDetail.html?PubID=623059&Precis=DESC "Medical Hypotheses is a forum for ideas in medicine and related biomedical sciences. It will publish interesting and important theoretical papers that foster the diversity and debate upon which the scientific process thrives" What is wrong with that?  I did not claim it was proven (I personally think Augmentin and other late model potent antibiotics probably cause autism, although I think the author is wrong as to WHY)  Hypothesis comes before proof.  To suppress new unproven hypotheses is to suppress progress.  There is not enough debate and new ideas in medicine.  This is why medical science lags other fields of human endeavor such as computer science.  The medical schools churn out drones who are only good at rote memorization with little ability to think for themselves, and slow to change.  Last year, the NIH said "Previously, Mayo clinic scientists used intranasal antifungal agents to successfully treat patients with chronic sinusitis. While those studies generated controversy, in part because other researchers were unable to replicate the findings, Dr. Kita says today’s report supports the rationale of treating chronic sinusitis with antifungals" But if you walk into an average medical clinic complaining of chronic sinusitis, chances are you will walk out with a prescription for an antibiotic.  And it will take 10 years for this to change.  Pathetic. Woody

Response:

Woody’s comment: They can only hypothesize as to why, but one possible explanation they neglected to mention is that autism, like chronic sinusitis & asthma is caused by a fungus http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/1/prweb194276.htm Commonly Prescribed Antibiotic Implicated in Autism The study, published in Medical Hypotheses, (2005 64, 312-315) examines 206 children under the age of 3 diagnosed with autism. These children were found to have a significantly higher number of ear infections than the general pediatric population. These same children received, on average, 12 courses of antibiotics representing a sum total number of 2480. Of the 2480, 893 of these courses were Augmentin with 362 of those given under the age of 1 year. Dr. Joan Fallon, scientist, autism researcher and author of the study, states that, "Augmentin is one of the most widely prescribed drugs for children. Its introduction into the marketplace for use in the treatment of childhood illnesses corresponds with the significant increase in the incidence of autism. It is possible that some children, especially those with immaturity, or others at risk for developmental disorders can be injured by taking this drug. It is imperative that further research be undertaken to determine if a subset of children are at risk for neurotoxicity due to the use of clavulanate or clavulanic acid in pharmaceutical preparations – especially Augmentin."

Response:

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