PLT Test Blog

    The degranulation process in a Mast cell. 1 = antigen ; 2 = IgE ; 3 = FcεRI ; 4 = preformed mediators ( histamine , proteases , chemokines , heparin ); 5 = granules; 6 - Mast cell; 7 - newly formed mediators  leukotrienes , platelet-activating factor ) Source: Wikipedia   Some of the most popular posts on my blog refer to my investigation into the role of histamine in autism.   The investigation was productive and lead to a highly effective treatment for the wild summertime flare-ups in autistic behaviour exhibited by Monty, aged 10 with ASD.  Since I have found a therapy it is only reasonable to give the condition a name.  Seasonal Autistic Mastocytosis (SAM) Seasonal Autistic Mastocytosis (SAM), sometimes known as Airborne Autistic Mastocytosis, occurs when airborne allergens like pollen, cause mast cells in the eyes, nose, mouth and lungs to degranulate.   These mast cells contain many granules, themselves containing histamine, seroton...

  In the world of clinical trials for drugs, judging success and failure can be highly subjective.   They try to make it as logical as possible and the method works pretty well for assessing things that you can measure objectively. Primary and Secondary Endpoints To quote Pfizer: A trial endpoint of a clinical trial should fulfill three criteria: (1) be measurable and interpretable , (2) sensitive to the objective of the trial, and (3) clinically relevant . The endpoint can be either clinical or surrogate in nature. If you are developing a drug to lower cholesterol or to increase survivability after a traumatic brain injury, it is pretty easy to define your endpoints. When it comes to autism, one of the major hurdles is to define objective measurable endpoints.   As it stands today, none of the assessment tools are really fit for purpose, when Big Pharma is supposed to come along and invest hundreds of millions of dollars in some bright spark’s idea. Arbaclofen, Seaside P...

            Source: Wikipedia   As I mentioned a few posts back, it looks like endocrinology of the brain holds the key to treating autism and indeed most other psychiatric and neurological conditions. Today’s post is about one group of hormones/neurotransmitters called  catecholamines.   Due to the inter-relationships between hormones, neurotransmitters and electrolytes it is helpful to group them together.   Catecholamines include three well known hormones: - epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and dopamine . For those of you that did chemistry at school, the reason for the odd sounding name, catecholamines, is that these hormones contain a benzene ring with two OHs attached. Catecholamines are very important hormones and also form the basis of several well-known drugs.   In chemistry when you take molecule like a hormone and make a tiny change to it, it then is referred to as an...