PREVIOUSLY: « Swell Gels  Pro Active Health and Diet »

Mar 4, 2006

Missing Bio Link

Posted in Bio at 1:24 pm by David Bradley -- 3 Comments; add your comment

The missing piece in the biochemistry of haem (heme) is reported in this week’s spectroscopyNOW. Japanese researchers have used x-ray diffraction to determine the crystal structure of the enzyme human indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). This crucial enzyme splits the pyrrole ring of the amino acid L-tryptophan and incorporates both atoms of a molecule of oxygen, an essential step in dozens of metabolic reactions. The discovery could have implications for other studies involving this enzyme and medical problems with which it is associated.

Newsfeed

3 Comments »

  1. kim said,

    June 7, 2007 at 9:47 pm

    After years of going insane trying to help my severely autistic, self-injurious son, I gave him garlic and L-Tryptophan and, whatdayknow, he’s calmer than ever. It’s been 8 months and everyone sees a huge difference. And yes, I told NOBODY about what I was giving him until teachers, social workers, etc….noticed the positive changes because I was so sick of idiots speculating on a disorder they didn’t understand and applying one size fits all logic to our situation with past medication trials, all of which, by the way, totally flopped and exacerbated his self punching fits because any time an autistic person exhibits self injury it’s because they are behaviorally fragile and that means anything, and I do mean anything from a cold, noise, different setting, etc.. can be a trigger to that horrible behaivor which includes smashing head, face into walls or slamming fist into eye and nose. I must add, we used to use a mild skin shock therapy and that was fabulous!

    Oh my God that totally worked, but all these people went nuts and said it was aversive and evil and you know how it goes so we stopped using it and then his behavior returned so I thought screw all you people I’ll find something that at least reduces the self punching fits so I prayed like a madwoman and the garlic and L-Tryph came around. No it’s not a miracle cure but it has reduced the self punching fits by keeping him happier more often than not, Now, if we could only have that awesome medically prescribed skin shock device again, wow, that would be the miracle if we could use as an adjunct therapy, which is always the best, ya know….seldom does only one therapy work for such complex cases.


  2. Tina said,

    December 10, 2007 at 10:38 am

    Approximately 10-15% of autistic children suffer from self injurious behavior. Of that percentage, 40% do not respond to conventional therapies, so I am happy you’ve found something that reasonably works. Keep investigating. The government needs to give parents of self injurious children more support. This kind of behavior seems like it cripples families.


  3. David Bradley said,

    December 10, 2007 at 3:46 pm

    Thanks for your comment Tina. I should maybe do a follow-up on this news. Watch this space.

    db


Comments: What are your thoughts on this? Leave a comment

You can use <b>, <i> and add a link or two using <a href="">. All comments are checked for spam before they appear.

Related Science Articles: