Chili's Is Fundraising For A Notoriously Anti-Vaccine Charity

[n2doc]

In honor of National Autism Awareness Month, Chili's is planning to donate 10% of customers' checks on April 7 to the National Autism Association, a charity with controversial views about vaccinations.

More than 1,200 Chili's restaurants will participate in the fundraiser for the group, which writes vaccinations can trigger or exacerbate autism in "some, if not many, children" on its website.

That's not the case, as the Centers for Disease Control explained after its most recent study of the issue in the Journal of Pediatrics. "There is not a causal relationship between certain vaccine types and autism," it writes. This follows at least nine other studies into immunization safety and autism that also found no link.

The NAA, however, notes anecdotal data — i.e. parents claiming vaccines caused a change in their children — rather than scientific data.



Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/chilis-autism-2014-4

[mercuryblues]

1. It looks

like Chili's will be denying vaccine coverage on their employee insurance if HL wins the SC case.

[n2doc]

2. kick n/t

[proverbialwisdom]

3. Business Insider really ought to expand their sources beyond CDC and AAP. Others actually do exist.

Look at the credentials of these editors and contributors, a gold standard for independent researchers, and the absence of pharmaceutical advertising in the journal.

http://najms.net/wp-content/uploads/v06i03.pdf#page=34

Preface to the special issue of autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the fastest-growing complex neurodevelopment disorder, continues to rise in its prevalence, now affecting up to 1 in 50 children in the USA, and averaging 1% globally, according to the latest CDC report. More children will be diagnosed with ASD this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined in the USA. ASD costs the nation $137 billion a year and this debt is expected to increase in the next decade. Hence, ASD has become a huge healthcare burden and global threat, categorized by the CDC as a national public health crisis.

ASD is characterized by social-communication impairment, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, which cause significant disability for those affected. With its etiology still largely unknown, and its pathophysiology poorly understood, ASD currently has no universally accepted therapy. ASD is affecting more and more families; unmet services and limited resources need to be addressed urgently. Researchers, clinicians, healthcare providers, social agencies and government need to coordinate efforts to develop more effective treatments and a satisfactory continuum of care, across the lifespan. Ultimately, a cure needs to be sought for the various subtypes of ASD that exist.

The current issue of North American Journal of Medicine and Science (NAJMS) represents a continuation of our previous two special issues on autism (NAJMS Vol. 5 Issue 3 and Vol. 4 Issue 3) published in July 2012 and July 2011, respectively. In this issue, we are honored to have another panel of expert researchers and clinicians on the frontlines of ASD research and treatment to present their newest research findings and views from different perspectives.

This issue of NAJMS consists of five original research articles, two comprehensive reviews, one case report and two commentary articles, covering topics in genetics, pathogenesis, metabolic disorder biomarkers of ASD, and a clinical study, that bring into focus our newest understanding and treatment strategies.

<>

The data presented in Dr. Mumper’s review of the medical literature, suggests that ASD may be impacted by environmental toxicants, duration of breastfeeding, gut flora composition, nutritional status, acetaminophen use, vaccine practices and use of antibiotics and/or frequency of infections. In her current general pediatric practice (Advocates for Children), she has noted a modest trend toward a lower prevalence of ASD than in her previous pediatric practice or recent prevalence estimates from the CDC.

<>

Xuejun Kong, MD
Editor-in-Chief, NAJMS
Department of Medicine
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Harvard Medical School

Christopher J. McDougle, MD
Guest Editor, NAJMS
Lurie Center for Autism Massachusetts General Hospital
Harvard Medical School

More: http://www.democraticunderground.com/101672031

Dr Liz Mumper research published North American Journal of Medicine and Science, Vol 6, Issue 3 July

[proverbialwisdom]

4. Except now it's all 404 NOT FOUND - everywhere.

http://tacanowblog.com/2013/08/08/lessons-from-the-autism-epidemic-hopes-for-prevention/

Lessons from the autism epidemic – hopes for prevention
AUGUST 8, 2013

By Dr. Elizabeth Mumper – TACA Physician Advisory Board Member

[img][/img]

Emerging research over the past several decades has identified that some combinations of genetic and environmental factors, depending on timing, might create a “perfect storm” for the development of autism. This retrospective clinical study looks at a cohort in the general pediatrics practice of the former medical director of the Autism Research Institute, in which there have been no known new cases of autism since 2000 (1.) This paper is intended to be hypothesis generating and prompt prospective research. It should not be over-interpreted since it has clear limitations.

When we talk about preventing autism, we are not talking about preventing the type of autism in which people are healthy and intelligent but quirky, innovative, artistic or creative with amazing savant skills. We hope to prevent some cases of the types of autism associated with inflammatory bowel disease, immune dysregulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and metabolic abnormalities in which the children and families suffer.

As our paper went to press, we became worried about one eighteen month old in our practice who exhibits some autistic features but has only been diagnosed with language delay so far. In the cohort we examined, we would have expected about 6 new cases of autism based on the background prevalence. There is a 1.4% chance that our zero new cases would have occurred by chance alone.

Did our practices and strategies make a difference for a small group of patients? Only time (and replication studies) will tell.

Elizabeth Mumper, MD Founder, Rimland Center

Dr Elizabeth Mumper biography https://www.tacanow.org/about-taca/physician-advisory-board/

Reference:

1) http://najms.net/wp-content/uploads/v06i03.pdf#page=34

[proverbialwisdom]

5. A Special Issue of NAJMS: ADVANCES IN AUTISM 2013

http://najms.net/wp-content/uploads/v06i03.pdf#page=34

North American Journal of Medicine and Science

Vol. 6, Issue 3
July 2013

ADVANCES IN AUTISM 2013

A Special Issue of NAJMS

http://najms.net/wp-content/uploads/v06i03.pdf#page=34

Editors-in-Chief: Xuejun Kong, MD
Guest Editor: Christopher J. McDougle, MD ( http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1402 )
Published: Boston, MA, USA
Distributed:Worldwide


Editors-in-Chief
Xuejun Kong, MD Harvard Medical School, Boston

Advisory Editors
Richard E. Frye, MD, PhD University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock
John Halamka, MD Harvard Medical School, Boston
Ursula Kaiser, MD Harvard Medical School, Boston
Kenneth K. Kidd, PhD Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven
John Tomaszewski, MD State University of New York, Buffalo

Associate Editors
Mitchell Albert, PhD University of Massachusetts, Worcester
Robit Arora, MD, FACC, FAHA, FSCAI, FACP Chicago Medical School, North Chicago
Frank Chen, MD, PhD State University of New York, Buffalo
Jason Chen, PhD University of Massachusetts, Worcester
Ke-Qin Hu, MD University of California, Irvine
Edmond Kabagambe, DVM, PhD University of Alabama, Birmingham
Tamara Kalir, MD, PhD Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York
David Lee, PhD Harvard Medical School, Boston
Calvin Pan, MD Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York
Yiqing Song, MD, ScD Harvard Medical School, Boston
George C. Tsokos, MD Harvard Medical School, Boston

Specialty Editors
See PDF

Here's where the real debate is being conducted, IMO. Sorry, no link.

[proverbialwisdom]

7. On principle,"404 Not Found" links are inappropriate and wrong for peer-reviewed scientific articles

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Yt6-avN-wZ4J:najms.net/wp-content/uploads/v06i03.pdf

Page 34

Can Awareness of Medical Pathophysiology in Autism Lead to Primary Care Autism Prevention Strategies?

Elizabeth Mumper, MD, FAAP* 2919 Confederate Avenue, Lynchburg, VA

Emerging research suggests that the timing of environmental factors in the presence of genetic predispositions has influenced the increase in autism spectrum disorders over the past several decades. A review of the medical literature suggests that autism may be impacted by environmental toxicants, breastfeeding duration, gut flora composition, nutritional status, acetaminophen use, vaccine practices and use of antibiotics and/or frequency of infections. The author reports her retrospective clinical research ina general pediatric practice (Advocates for Children), which shows a modest trend toward lower prevalence of autism than her previous pediatric practice or recent CDC data. Out of 294 general pediatrics patients followed since 2005 there were zero new cases of autism (p value 0.014). Given the prevalence of autism for that cohort of 1 in 50 children in the United States, it is important to consider implementing strategies in primary care practice that could potentially modify environmental factors or affect the timing of environmental triggers contributing to autism.

(N A J Med Sci. 2013;6(3):134-144. DOI: 10.7156/najms.2013.0603134)

Key Words: primary care, autism, prevention strategies

PRINT OUT RECOMMENDED.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

14. Quit posting your woo bullshit here...

[SidDithers]

6. DU rec...

Sid

[proverbialwisdom]

8. CDC Chief Julie Gerberding in March 2008 on CNN. What innocent times, then.

[NickB79]

10. And the incidence of mitochondrial diseases is.....?

The rate of mitochondrial diseases is fairly low, and the wide variety of mitochondrial diseases have not been shown to respond to vaccinations in the same way.

Mitochondrial disease reactions can't account for more than a very small portion of current autism cases.

See also: http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/on-the-rebranding-of-autism-as-a-mitochondrial-disorder-by-antivaccinationists/

[proverbialwisdom]

12. Don't know, personally, but the video cites a CDC conference call @ the time re:unpublished paper,

(from memory) describing the rate to be 1:50. Apparently, also on that same recording someone stated, "It's not rare."


You should really pursue dialogue directly with the parents. Diverse group, however, many are self-proclaimed vaccine safety advocates and probably started out the same as you and me. Don't you catch the paradox here? Any parents claiming adverse reactions vaccinated first. That means, in reality, they can't be what they've been labeled by the bullies, despite the rampant abuse and urge to turn away.

The schedule isn't static and has changed over time. The number of doses has approximately tripled since 198?, birth to 18. Theoretically, if the schedule in the future again grew substantially, would it be justifiable to savagely vilify those who wanted to comply with the 2014 schedule as antivaxxers?

Also, as immunization schedules vary with country, are public health officials from those countries themselves to be regarded as antivaxxers if fewer are advised than here?

RIDICULOUS. The use of undefined terms is profoundly unscientific. That's branding, nothing more. Contact Ginger Taylor for more info on her video (names, transcript, etc). She's a Hopkins grad and her research is meticulous.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

16. This poster has no wisdom in his links...

Anti-science as they come. All woo, all the time.

[proverbialwisdom]

21. IACC Full Committee Meeting, April 8, 2014. Mito disease discussed + plans for follow-up, July 2014.

If you missed it, I strongly urge you to watch the entire session.

http://videocast.nih.gov/summary.asp?Live=13929&bhcp=1

IACC Full Committee Meeting, April 2014 Video

Air date: Tuesday, April 08, 2014, 8:45:00 AM
Views: Total views: 477, (471 Live, 6 On-demand)
Runtime: 06:48:21

Category: Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee

Description: The IACC will meet to discuss ASD research and services activities.
Author: Dr. Thomas Insel

Overview page: https://iacc.hhs.gov/events/index.shtml

[proverbialwisdom]

22. NEW: Mitochondrial Dysfunction as a Neurobiological Subtype of Autism Spectrum Disorder

http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1859135

JAMA Psychiatry

Original Investigation | April 09, 2014

Mitochondrial Dysfunction as a Neurobiological Subtype of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Evidence From Brain Imaging

Suzanne Goh, MD1; Zhengchao Dong, PhD1,3; Yudong Zhang, PhD1,2; Salvatore DiMauro, MD3; Bradley S. Peterson, MD1

[-] Author Affiliations
1Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
2New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York
3Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York

JAMA Psychiatry. Published online April 09, 2014. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.179

Link from Twitter by Generation Rescue.

[proverbialwisdom]

9. NAA SAVES LIVES with their wandering program. Compassionate peeps will consider donating directly.

http://nationalautismassociation.org/big-red-safety-box/

[center]

[/center]

[center]Big Red Safety Box | FOUND

Just $35 will cover the cost of providing this life-saving toolkit at no charge to a family in need. Please donate today!

[img][/img] [/center]

[center]Our inventory of free Big Red Safety Boxes has now been depleted. We hope to have additional funding soon. If you, or someone you know would like to support this program, NAA is actively seeking sponsors and donors. Please contact us.
For those needing immediate resources, there are a small number of boxes available for
purchase in our Big Red Safety Shop.[/center]

Also, NAA has developed two free digital Big Red Safety Toolkits that can be downloaded here:

[center][img][/img][/center]

http://www.ageofautism.com/2014/04/heroes-chilis-supports-safety-for-people-with-autism-thank-you.html

Heroes! Chili's Supports Safety For People with Autism: Thank you!

PLEASE dine at Chili's on April 7 to support NAA. There is a bot-based campaign to ATTACK NAA - a great org - started at the kitchen table of real autism Moms a decade ago and protecting, loving and supporting real families EVERY DAY - these attackers have branded NAA falsely - and viciously in social media - to protect an industry. NAA SAVES LIVES with their wandering program. Eat. At. Chili's.

We'd like to thank Chili's restaurants for their support of the National Autism Association and their many programs that help keep children, teens and adults with autism spectrum disorders safe and in many instances, can save their very lives.

UPDATE: Wow - Chili's CAVED to media pressure and cancelled their support of NAA. What a tragedy - from now on when a child wanders and dies you can Tweet and FB Chili's and remind them.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

15. FUCK NAA!

They do SHIT to help people. They propagate the vaccines cause autism junk science that has been DISPROVEN over and over. Cheers to Chilis for kicking this group to the curb where they belong.

My daughter is Asperger's (high functioning autism) and I am likely undiagnosed Asperger's (which was discovered during my daughter's screening). The NAA is a bullshit woo organization that needs to be burned to the ground. 80% of all proceeds go to their corporate offices and to promoting the VERY FALSE vaccine link. 20% actually goes to helping people.

[KamaAina]

17. That's actually considerably better than Aut$peaks

96% of all proceeds go to its corporate offices and to attempts to "cure" us (i.e. make sure there are no more of us). 4% actually goes to helping people.

You both might be interested in the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. We run it!

http://www.autisticadvocacy.org

[Dr Hobbitstein]

18. Seems you reject the vaccine argument...

I've bookmarked the page for future viewing. Thank you so much.

[KamaAina]

19. You betcha

along with any and all attempts to "cure" (get rid of) us.

[KamaAina]

11. No, they're not.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024790525

[The Green Manalishi]

13. Anti-vaxxers

The only people doing more deliberate harm to this country than teadards

[shanemcg]

23. controversial views

Who and how decides what views are "controversial" and which are not? By vote or by dictate?

[proverbialwisdom]

24. FYI, Autism Speaks awarded NAA $30k in Feb 2012 for "Big Red Safety Boxes."

Just saw this terrific post. No feedback required.

http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/25182001/chilis-cancels-fundraiser-for-anti-vaccine-charity

Anne Dachel · Top Commenter · University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire

Hundreds of news sites expressed alarm that Chili's would donate to what they called an "anti-vaccine" organization. There was no absolutely no mention of the fact that in February, 2012, Autism Speaks, the world's largest autism advocacy organization, announced http://www.autismspeaks.org/about-us/press-releases/national-autism-association-big-read-safety-boxes-funding that it awarded $30,000 to the National Autism Association in order to provide 1,000 of their "Big Red Safety Boxes" to families of children who were at risk for wandering. The NAA has done more to prevent death from autistic children wandering away than any other organization. In the eyes of the media, that doesn't matter. It's more important to attack anyone who dares mention the link between vaccines and the epidemic of autism, now affecting one in every 68 children in the U.S.

Why weren't media outlets attacking Autism Speaks for donating to NNA?

Anne Dachel, Media editor: Age of Autism
April 9 at 10:30am