Autism Research News

Get your eyeglasses and read up on the latest research news on Autism.

The seventh annual International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) was held last May 15 – 17 in London. Autism Speaks has provided brief summaries of some of the IMFAR presentations in the areas of autism etiology, biology, diagnosis and treatment.

2008 IMFAR Shows Progress in All Areas of Autism Research

The seventh annual International Meeting for Autism Research recently concluded in London with more than 1150 researchers from around the world attending and making more than 850 presentations. Among the countries represented were Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela and Vietnam.

ETIOLOGY
The following are brief summaries of some of the IMFAR presentations in the areas of autism etiology, biology, diagnosis and treatment. The record number of attendees and the depth and breadth of the science presented signals that autism research is truly becoming global, with advances being made across the board. But most importantly, the science presented and discussed will help individuals and families who are living with autism by uncovering more effective means to diagnose, treat and determine the causes of autism.

Environmental Science
Several presentations focused on the role of the environment as a risk factor for autism. Genetic risk factors may be acted upon by additional environmental factors to ultimately cause autism. This year IMFAR hosted an educational symposium concerning links between the environment and autism. These presentations, led by Craig Newschaffer, Ph.D., were intended to educate the community on ongoing research and current thinking in environmental health science, genetics and epidemiology that is relevant to the investigation of environmental risk factors in autism. This symposium also served to complement other presentations on environmental exposures that are being examined for links to autism, which include such factors as method of birth induction, ultrasound frequency, as well as chemical exposures found in the home.

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Source: Autism Speaks

May 31, 2008 | Filed Under Continuing Education, Events, Making Ends Meet, Medical Conditions, News, Research | Leave a Comment 


OT Australia 23rd National Conference & Exhibition 2008

OT Australia’s 23rd National Conference & Exhibition 2008 will be held at the Sofitel in Melbourne, Australia on 11 to 13 September. The theme for this year’s conference is ‘Creating the Future: To explore, to inspire, to take action’. The vision for Conference 2008 is to provide a wide range of opportunities to facilitate creating your future, the future of the profession in Australia and the future of the Association.

Keynote Speakers
Rebecca Allen
Dr. Elizabeth Townsend Ph.D., O.T.(C), Reg.N.S., FCAOT
Alison Nelson

Themes and Topics

Inspire: Motivate and Encourage
Teaching and learning in all aspects of our profession is encompassed within this theme. You have the ability to inspire others by sharing your ideas and wisdom whatever your current role is within occupational therapy.

Explore: Discover and Investigate
Research and consolidation of theories provides the structure upon which our profession is based and continues to develop. This is an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing advancement of our profession’s knowledge and wisdom.

Action: Encounters and Achievements
The diversity of our clients and the environments in which we work provides us with a valuable opportunity for sharing our clinical experiences and expertise. This allows us to share ideas and current work practices and promote occupational therapists as experts in their field. Streams Topics and Keywords

Topics addressed:

Make sure to register early to avail of great hotel deals. For more information on this event, click here.

May 30, 2008 | Filed Under Continuing Education, Events, Making Ends Meet, News, Occupational Therapy | Leave a Comment 


Physical Therapists Help Detect Lymphedema

There was a recent study made which shows that pre-operative assessments of patients with breast cancer by physical therapists allow for early diagnosis and successful treatment of lymphedema, which gives patients the option not to resort to mega-doses of chemotherapy and not having to eventually end up at drug rehab from all the painkillers that they may need.

The study, conducted by the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and in collaboration with the University of Michigan-Flint and George Mason University, was published in the journal, Cancer (April 25, 2008). The authors demonstrated the effectiveness of a surveillance program that included pre-operative limb volume measurement and interval post-operative follow-up to successfully detect and treat lymphedema, a chronic and often irreversible condition that can cause significant swelling of the upper and lower extremities due to the build-up of excess lymph fluid.

“This study is significant for several reasons, but none more so than it showing that detection and management of lymphedema at early stages may prevent the condition from progressing to a chronic, disabling stage and may enable a more cost-effective, conservative intervention,” said American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) spokesperson and the study’s lead author, Nicole L Stout Gergich, PT, MPT, CLT-LANA, of the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) Breast Care Center, in Bethesda, Maryland.

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May 28, 2008 | Filed Under Making Ends Meet, Medical Conditions, Physical Therapy, Research | 1 Comment 


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