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Autism advocates take to the streets to raise awareness |
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Written by Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten
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Tuesday, 06 April 2010 00:33 |
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten has praised hundreds of children with Autism, their families and carers who have marched through Melbourne to raise awareness of Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Mr Shorten said the march was an important step to help bring Autism out of the shadows and recognising the individuality of children with autism.
"World Autism Day 2010 is tomorrow but that doesn't stop them from making their voices heard today," Mr Shorten said.
"We need to break down the ignorance in the community about this condition, and ensure that children with autism get the support they need."
"People with autism should not lead lives that are defined by their conditions. They are not second-class citizens and they have the same right as other Australians to share the opportunities this country offers."
"Parents of a child with autism should not have to struggle in isolation.
"The sight of hundreds of people marching through Melbourne is a reminder to the rest of the community of the prevalence of autism, and the need for better understanding."
Autism Spectrum Disorders affect one child in 160 and are more common in boys than girls.
Mr Shorten said the Australian Government recognised the challenges people with Autism, their families and carers face and is committed to assisting people with a disability through services such as our Helping Children with Autism package.
The $190 million package provides early intervention funding for children with autism and their families to help them access the therapies they need.
Since October 2008, over 6300 children have accessed early intervention services.
"Early intervention gives families and carers the ability to help these children to live happy and healthy lives," Mr Shorten said.
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Single-laboratory validation of the microplate receptor binding assay for paralytic shellfish toxins |
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Written by Van Dolah FM, Leighfield TA, Doucette GJ, Bean L, Niedzwiadek B, Rawn DF
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Monday, 29 March 2010 05:34 |
A single-laboratory validation (SLV) study was conducted for the microplate receptor binding assay (RBA) for paralytic
shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins in shellfish. The basis of the assay is the competition between [3H]saxitoxin
(STX) and STX in a standard or sample for binding to the voltage dependent sodium channel. A calibration curve is
generated by the addition of 0.01-1000 nM STX, which results in the concentration dependent decrease in [3H]
STX-receptor complexes formed and serves to quantify STX in unknown samples. This study established the LOQ,
linearity, recovery, accuracy, and precision of the assay for determining PSP toxicity in shellfish extracts, as performed
by a single analyst on multiple days. The standard curve obtained on 5 independent days resulted in a halfmaximal
inhibition (IC50) of 2.3 nM STX +/- 0.3 (RSD = 10.8%) with a slope of 0.96 +/- 0.06 (RSD = 6.3%) and a
dynamic range of 1.2-10.0 nM. The LOQ was 5.3 microg STX equivalents/100 g shellfish. Linearity, established by
quantification of three levels of purified STX (1.5, 3, and 6 nM), yielded an r2 of 0.97. Recovery from mussels
spiked with three levels (40, 80, and 120 microg STX/100 g) averaged 121%. Repeatability (RSD(r)), determined on
six naturally contaminated shellfish samples on 5 independent days, was 17.7%. A method comparison with the
AOAC mouse bioassay yielded r2 = 0.98 (slope = 1.29) in the SLV study. The effects of the extraction method on
RBA-based toxicity values were assessed on shellfish extracted for PSP toxins using the AOAC mouse bioassay
method (0.1 M HCI) compared to that for the precolumn oxidation HPLC method (0.1% acetic acid). The two extraction
methods showed linear correlation (r2 = 0.99), with the HCl extraction method yielding slightly higher toxicity
values (slope = 1.23). A similar relationship was observed between HPLC quantification of the HCI- and acetic acidextracted
samples (r2 = 0.98, slope 1.19). The RBA also had excellent linear correlation with HPLC analyses (r2 =
0.98 for HCl, r2 = 0.99 for acetic acid), but gave somewhat higher values than HPLC using either extraction method
(slope = 1.39 for HCl extracts, slope = 1.32 for acetic acid). Overall, the excellent linear correlations with the both
mouse bioassay and HPLC method and sufficient interassay repeatability suggest that the RBA can be effective as
a high throughput screen for estimating PSP toxicity in shellfish
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New autism services for young children in Brisbane |
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Written by Joint Media Release with The Hon Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families Housing Community Services
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Tuesday, 30 March 2010 06:57 |
Young children with autism spectrum disorders can now access specialist early childhood services vital for them to reach their full potential at a new, autism-specific early learning and care centre in Brisbane.
The Rudd Government is providing more than $4 million over three years to AEIOU for Children with Autism to establish the centre at Griffith University's Nathan Campus, including $2.3 million in capital funding to build the new centre.
The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, Bill Shorten, and the Member for Moreton, Graham Perrett today officially opened the new centre.
The centre is one of six autism specific centres, which are part of the Rudd Government's $190 million Helping Children with Autism Package.
The centre employs seven specialist staff, including two speech pathologists, two specialist early childhood teachers, an occupational therapist, a psychologist and a research fellow who all work alongside 10 trained child care workers.
"As many as one in 160 Australian children have an autism spectrum disorder," Ms Macklin said.
"Early intervention and ongoing family support can make a huge difference to these children's quality of life, making it easier for them to attend school and participate in everyday activities.
"Children with autism at the new centre will also benefit from highly-structured interaction with other children, to help them grow in confidence and experience playing and learning in groups."
The Minister for Early Childhood Education and Childcare, Kate Ellis, said the centre draws on international best practice.
"The early years are an important time for all children, but it is especially important for helping children with autism to reach their full potential and become receptive learners," Ms Ellis said.
"The work done in this centre will build on the existing evidence base about autism spectrum disorders and promote best practice through the involvement of Griffith University."
The Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, Bill Shorten, said the Brisbane centre would offer crucial support and information to parents.
"Having a child diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder can be an isolating and difficult experience for parents. This centre will be a place where children can learn and interact with others, while getting professional support tailored to their needs," Mr Shorten said.
The Member for Moreton, Graham Perrett welcomed the new centre which will provide support to both children and their parents.
"This new centre will help local families affected by autism, by providing a supportive environment for the children to learn and grow, as well as helping parents with their caring responsibilities," Mr Perrett said
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Behavioral and morphological endpoints: as an early response to sublethal malathion intoxication in |
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Written by Patil VK, David M
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Monday, 29 March 2010 05:32 |
A short-term definitive test by the static renewal bioassay method was conducted to determine the acute toxicity
(LC(50)) of commercial-grade organophosphate insecticide, malathion (50% EC) on the freshwater fish, Labeo rohita.
Carp fingerlings were exposed to different concentrations of malathion for 96 hours. The acute toxicity (LC(50))
of malathion was found to be 4.5 microg/L. One tenth (1/10, 0.45 microg/L) of the acute toxicity value was selected
as the sublethal concentration for subacute studies. The fish were exposed to sublethal concentration for 1, 5, 10,
and 15 days and allowed to recover in toxicant-free medium for 15 days. Behavioral responses and morphological
deformities were studied in the experimental tenures. Fish in toxic media exhibited irregular, random, circular swimming
movements, hyperexcitability, loss of equilibrium, and sinking to the bottom. Caudal bending was the prime
morphological malformation. The behavioral and morphological deformities were due to inhibition of acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) activity. Inhibition of AChE activity results in excess accumulation of acetylcholine in cholinergic
synapses, leading to hyperstimulation and cessation of neuronal transmission (i.e., paralysis). The carp were found
under stress, but mortality was insignificant at the sublethal concentration tested. Impaired behavioral responses
and morphological deformities were observed during recovery. This may be a consequence due to inhibition of
brain and muscular AChE by malaoxon, via the biotransformation of sequestered malathion
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Jonathan Shar Comments 04 Sep 2010 Hits:20 Reel