Obesity, cause, treatment and complication

Based on research conducted by Johns Hopkins Children’s Investigators found that mothers of children with autism have antibodies that can cause disturbances in the fetus in the womb. The antibodies can cross the placenta and cause changes that lead to autism. Another study in Sacramento, California by Davis MIND Institute and the Center for Children’s Environmental Health also found that the antibodies of pregnant women tied with fetus brain cells, which probably disturbing brain development that could affect the autism.

Autism itself is a disorder with a major problem in the brain and characterized by social interaction disorders, communication disorder and repeated behavior, and 90% patients with unknown cause. Genetic, metabolic, and environmental factors was suspected related to the cause of autism. This research was initiated from obtaining an unusual antibody levels in children suffering autism and from postmortem (dead) brain tissue, which shows an immunity disorders (immune system) in an area of the brain. Antibodies are proteins in the body to respond the viruses and bacteria or sometimes on some cases of autoimmune disorders, the antibodies can attack the body’s own cells.

The majority of children with autism do not have autoimmune disease, so the question that needs to be answered is whether the antibodies are found here are provided by maternal antibodies while in the womb that can interfere with fetal brain directly.

To test their hypothesis (Johns Hopkins), the research team used a technique called immunoblotting (Western blot technology) where the antibody is derived from the blood samples were exposed to adult and fetal brain tissue to confirm whether the antibodies recognize and react with specific brain proteins.

Comparing antibody and brain interactions in the sample of 100 mothers with autistic children and 100 mothers with children without autism. Researchers found a greater reactivity of about 40% of mothers with children with autism. Furthermore, the presence of maternal antibodies associated with a decreased development of the child who is one of the signs of autism.

Although the study found no link between autism with antibodies in the fetal brain, but further research is still needed to confirm whether these antibodies can cross the placenta and cause fetal brain damage.

Facts whereby pregnant women with antibodies can cause fetal brain damage, does not mean that women will always have children with autism disorders. Autism itself is a complex condition caused by interaction between genetic factors, immunity, and environmental factors.

Two years old children from Florida had free from symptoms of Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML), a blood cancer that occurs in children, 17 months after transplant of cord blood (blood from the umbilical cord or placenta) from the National Cord Blood Programme ( NCBP) of the New York Blood Center’s Howard P. Milstein National Cord Blood Center.

JMML is a type of leukemia that occurs in children three or five years age and the number of accurence ranging from less than 1% of the type of leukemia in children. JMML prognosis or cure rate was very low and generally children who suffer from JMML would died before reaching the age of 3 years.

Adolfo Gonzalez JMML was diagnosed at age 13 months, “Adolfo will not be alive today if it were not for cord blood transplants,” said Gary Kleiner, MD, Ph.D., a pediatrician sub immunology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Miami. “Mother of Adolfo who have donated their children to bank cord blood storage is a part of New York’s National Cord Blood Program, saved the life of this child.

The therapy Adolfo include chemotherapy to destroy leukemia cells followed by transplantation of cord blood from NCBP. Adolfo experiencing a complication, but two weeks after he received intravenous stem cells, white blood cells slowly returning to normal amount. Adolfo has no signs of leukemia until 17 months later.

Cord blood storage is recommended if only there is a history of genetic disease in the family. Blood drawn from the newborn fetal umbilical cord before clamped as much as 180 ml, believed to have stem cells that can cure a genetic disease in the family.