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Hooker BS, Miller NZ. Analysis of health outcomes in vaccinated and unvaccinated children: Developmental delays, asthma, ear infections and gastrointestinal disorders. SAGE Open Med 2020; 8:2050312120925344. [PMID: 32537156 PMCID: PMC7268563 DOI: 10.1177/2050312120925344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the health of vaccinated versus
unvaccinated pediatric populations. Methods: Using data from three medical practices in the United States with children
born between November 2005 and June 2015, vaccinated children were compared
to unvaccinated children during the first year of life for later incidence
of developmental delays, asthma, ear infections and gastrointestinal
disorders. All diagnoses utilized International Classification of Diseases–9
and International Classification of Diseases–10 codes through medical chart
review. Subjects were a minimum of 3 years of age, stratified based on
medical practice, year of birth and gender and compared using a logistic
regression model. Results: Vaccination before 1 year of age was associated with increased odds of
developmental delays (OR = 2.18, 95% CI 1.47–3.24), asthma (OR = 4.49, 95%
CI 2.04–9.88) and ear infections (OR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.63–2.78). In a
quartile analysis, subjects were grouped by number of vaccine doses received
in the first year of life. Higher odds ratios were observed in Quartiles 3
and 4 (where more vaccine doses were received) for all four health
conditions considered, as compared to Quartile 1. In a temporal analysis,
developmental delays showed a linear increase as the age cut-offs increased
from 6 to 12 to 18 to 24 months of age (ORs = 1.95, 2.18, 2.92 and 3.51,
respectively). Slightly higher ORs were also observed for all four health
conditions when time permitted for a diagnosis was extended from ⩾ 3 years
of age to ⩾ 5 years of age. Conclusion: In this study, which only allowed for the calculation of unadjusted
observational associations, higher ORs were observed within the vaccinated
versus unvaccinated group for developmental delays, asthma and ear
infections. Further study is necessary to understand the full spectrum of
health effects associated with childhood vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian S Hooker
- Department of Sciences and Mathematics, Simpson University, Redding, CA, USA
| | - Neil Z Miller
- Institute of Medical and Scientific Inquiry, Santa Fe, NM, USA
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Kern JK, Geier DA, Deth RC, Sykes LK, Hooker BS, Love JM, Bjørklund G, Chaigneau CG, Haley BE, Geier MR. RETRACTED ARTICLE: Systematic Assessment of Research on Autism Spectrum Disorder and Mercury Reveals Conflicts of Interest and the Need for Transparency in Autism Research. Sci Eng Ethics 2017; 23:1689-1690. [PMID: 26507205 PMCID: PMC5705728 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-015-9713-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Janet K. Kern
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., 14 Redgate Court, Silver Spring, MD 20905 USA
| | - David A. Geier
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., 14 Redgate Court, Silver Spring, MD 20905 USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Geir Bjørklund
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, Mo i Rana, Norway
| | | | | | - Mark R. Geier
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., 14 Redgate Court, Silver Spring, MD 20905 USA
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Kern JK, Geier DA, Deth RC, Sykes LK, Hooker BS, Love JM, Bjørklund G, Chaigneau CG, Haley BE, Geier MR. Systematic Assessment of Research on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Mercury Reveals Conflicts of Interest and the Need for Transparency in Autism Research. Sci Eng Ethics 2017; 23:1691-1718. [PMID: 29119411 PMCID: PMC5705731 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-017-9983-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Historically, entities with a vested interest in a product that critics have suggested is harmful have consistently used research to back their claims that the product is safe. Prominent examples are: tobacco, lead, bisphenol A, and atrazine. Research literature indicates that about 80-90% of studies with industry affiliation found no harm from the product, while only about 10-20% of studies without industry affiliation found no harm. In parallel to other historical debates, recent studies examining a possible relationship between mercury (Hg) exposure and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show a similar dichotomy. Studies sponsored and supported by industry or entities with an apparent conflict of interest have most often shown no evidence of harm or no "consistent" evidence of harm, while studies without such affiliations report positive evidence of a Hg/autism association. The potentially causal relationship between Hg exposure and ASD differs from other toxic products since there is a broad coalition of entities for whom a conflict of interest arises. These include influential governmental public health entities, the pharmaceutical industry, and even the coal burning industry. This review includes a systematic literature search of original studies on the potential relationship between Hg and ASD from 1999 to August 2015, finding that of the studies with public health and/or industry affiliation, 86% reported no relationship between Hg and ASD. However, among studies without public health and/or industry affiliation, only 21% find no relationship between Hg and ASD. The discrepancy in these results suggests a bias indicative of a conflict of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet K. Kern
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc, 14 Redgate Court, Silver Spring, MD 20905 USA
| | - David A. Geier
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc, 14 Redgate Court, Silver Spring, MD 20905 USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Geir Bjørklund
- Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, Mo i Rana, Norway
| | | | | | - Mark R. Geier
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc, 14 Redgate Court, Silver Spring, MD 20905 USA
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Hooker BS. Influenza Vaccination in the First Trimester of Pregnancy and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder. JAMA Pediatr 2017; 171:600. [PMID: 28437533 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.0734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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Geier DA, Kern JK, Hooker BS, King PG, Sykes LK, Homme KG, Geier MR. Thimerosal exposure and increased risk for diagnosed tic disorder in the United States: a case-control study. Interdiscip Toxicol 2016; 8:68-76. [PMID: 27486363 PMCID: PMC4961900 DOI: 10.1515/intox-2015-0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Revised: 04/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A hypothesis testing, case-control study evaluated automated medical records for exposure to organic-Hg from Thimerosal-containing hepatitis B vaccines (TM-HepB) administered at specific intervals in the first six-months-of-life among cases diagnosed with a tic disorder (TD) or cerebral degeneration (CD) (an outcome not biologically plausibly linked to TM exposure) in comparison to controls; both cases and controls were continuously enrolled from birth (born from 1991-2000) within the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) database. TD cases were significantly more likely than controls to have received increased organic-Hg from TM-HepB administered within the first month-of-life (odds ratio (OR)=1.59, p<0.00001), first two-months-of-life (OR=1.59, p<0.00001), and first six-months-of-life (OR=2.97, p<0.00001). Male TD cases were significantly more likely than male controls to have received increased organic-Hg from TM-HepB administered within the first month-of-life (OR =1.65, p<0.0001), first two-months-of-life (OR=1.64, p<0.0001), and first six months-of-life (OR=2.47, p<0.05), where as female TD were significantly more likely than female controls to have received increased organic-Hg from TM-HepB administered within the first six-months-of-life (OR=4.97, p<0.05). By contrast, CD cases were no more likely than controls to have received increased organic-Hg exposure from TM-HepB administered at any period studied within the first six-months-of-life. Although routine childhood vaccination is considered an important public health tool to combat infectious diseases, the present study associates increasing organic-Hg exposure from TM-HepB and the subsequent risk of a TD diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Geier
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., 14 Redgate Ct, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Janet K Kern
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., 14 Redgate Ct, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Brian S Hooker
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., 14 Redgate Ct, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Paul G King
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., 14 Redgate Ct, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Lisa K Sykes
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., 14 Redgate Ct, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Kristin G Homme
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., 14 Redgate Ct, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Mark R Geier
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., 14 Redgate Ct, Silver Spring, MD, USA
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Geier DA, Kern JK, Hooker BS, King PG, Sykes LK, Geier MR. A longitudinal cohort study of the relationship between Thimerosal-containing hepatitis B vaccination and specific delays in development in the United States: Assessment of attributable risk and lifetime care costs. J Epidemiol Glob Health 2015; 6:105-18. [PMID: 26166425 PMCID: PMC7320444 DOI: 10.1016/j.jegh.2015.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2015] [Revised: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological evidence suggests a link between mercury (Hg) exposure from Thimerosal-containing vaccines and specific delays in development. A hypothesis-testing longitudinal cohort study (n = 49,835) using medical records in the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between exposure to Hg from Thimerosal-containing hepatitis B vaccines (T-HBVs) administered at specific intervals in the first 6 months of life and specific delays in development [International Classification of Disease, 9th revision (ICD-9): 315.xx] among children born between 1991 and 1994 and continuously enrolled from birth for at least 5.81 years. Infants receiving increased Hg doses from T-HBVs administered within the first month, the first 2 months, and the first 6 months of life were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with specific delays in development than infants receiving no Hg doses from T-HBVs. During the decade in which T-HBVs were routinely recommended and administered to US infants (1991–2001), an estimated 0.5–1 million additional US children were diagnosed with specific delays in development as a consequence of 25 μg or 37.5 μg organic Hg from T-HBVs administered within the first 6 months of life. The resulting lifetime costs to the United States may exceed $1 trillion.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Geier
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Janet K Kern
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
| | - Brian S Hooker
- Biology Department, Simpson University, Redding, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Mark R Geier
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc, Silver Spring, MD, USA
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Geier DA, King PG, Hooker BS, Dórea JG, Kern JK, Sykes LK, Geier MR. Thimerosal: Clinical, epidemiologic and biochemical studies. Clin Chim Acta 2015; 444:212-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2015.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2015] [Revised: 02/06/2015] [Accepted: 02/14/2015] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Geier DA, Kern JK, Hooker BS, Sykes LK, Geier MR. A Prospective Longitudinal Assessment of Medical Records for Diagnostic Substitution among Subjects Diagnosed with a Pervasive Developmental Disorder in the United States. Front Pediatr 2015; 3:85. [PMID: 26528457 PMCID: PMC4600915 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2015.00085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previously, investigators suggested that diagnostic substitution from other diagnoses, e.g., mental retardation (MR) and/or cerebral palsy (CP) to pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) is a driving factor behind increases in autism. This study evaluated potential diagnostic substitution among subjects diagnosed with PDD vs. MR or CP by examining birth characteristic overlap. METHODS SAS(®) and StatsDirect software examined medical records for subjects within the Vaccine Safety Datalink database who were Health Maintenance Organization-enrolled from birth until diagnosed with an International Classification of Disease, 9th revision (ICD-9) outcome of PDD (299.xx, n = 84), CP (343.xx, n = 300), or MR (317.xx, 318.xx, or 319.xx, n = 51). RESULTS Subjects with PDD had significantly (p < 0.01) increased: male/female ratio (PDD = 5.5 vs. CP = 1.5 or MR = 1.3), mean age of initial diagnosis in years (PDD = 3.13 vs. CP = 1.09 or MR = 1.62), mean gestational age in weeks at birth (PDD = 38.73 vs. CP = 36.20 or MR = 34.84), mean birth weight in grams (PDD = 3,368 vs. CP = 2,767 or MR = 2,406), and mean Appearance-Pulse-Grimace-Activity-Respiration scores at 1 min (PDD = 7.82 vs. CP = 6.37 or MR = 6.76) and 5 min (PDD = 8.77 vs. CP = 7.92 or MR = 8.04), as compared to subjects diagnosed with CP or MR. CONCLUSION This study suggests diagnostic substitution cannot fully explain increased PDD prevalence during the 1990s within the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Geier
- The Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc , Silver Spring, MD , USA
| | - Janet K Kern
- The Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc , Silver Spring, MD , USA
| | | | | | - Mark R Geier
- The Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc , Silver Spring, MD , USA
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Geier DA, Kern JK, Hooker BS, King PG, Sykes LK, Geier MR. Thimerosal-containing hepatitis B vaccination and the risk for diagnosed specific delays in development in the United States: a case-control study in the vaccine safety datalink. N Am J Med Sci 2014; 6:519-31. [PMID: 25489565 PMCID: PMC4215490 DOI: 10.4103/1947-2714.143284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Background: Within the first 3 years of life, the brain develops rapidly. Its development is characterized by critical developmental periods for speech, vision, hearing, language, balance, etc.; and alteration in any of the processes occurring in those critical periods can lead to specific delays in development. Aims: The present study evaluated the potential toxic effects of organic-mercury exposure from Thimerosal (49.55% mercury by weight) in childhood vaccines and its hypothesized possible relationship with specific delays in development. Materials and Methods: A hypothesis testing case-control study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between exposure to Thimerosal-containing hepatitis B vaccines administered at specific intervals in the first 6 months among cases diagnosed with specific delays in development and controls born between 1991-2000, utilizing data in the Vaccine Safety Datalink database. Results: Cases were significantly more likely than controls to have received increased organic-mercury from Thimerosal-containing hepatitis B vaccine administered in the first, second, and sixth month of life. Conclusion: Though routine childhood vaccination may be an important public health tool to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases, the present study supports an association between increasing organic-mercury exposure from Thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines and the subsequent risk of specific delays in development among males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Geier
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Janet K Kern
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA ; Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Brian S Hooker
- Biology Department, Simpson University, Redding, California, USA
| | | | | | - Mark R Geier
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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Hooker BS. Retraction: Measles-mumps-rubella vaccination timing and autism among young African American boys: a reanalysis of CDC data. Transl Neurodegener 2014; 3:22. [PMID: 25285211 PMCID: PMC4183946 DOI: 10.1186/2047-9158-3-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 09/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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Geier DA, Hooker BS, Kern JK, Sykes LK, Geier MR. An Evaluation of the Effect of Increasing Parental Age on the Phenotypic Severity of Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Child Neurol 2014:0883073814541478. [PMID: 25163730 DOI: 10.1177/0883073814541478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
It was recently postulated that because increased genetic load and increased parental age are both purportedly associated with the risk to develop an autism spectrum disorder, there must be a linkage between increasing genetic load and increasing parental age in autism spectrum disorder pathogenesis. The present study examined the hypothesis that if increased genetic load from increasing paternal age is important to autism spectrum disorder pathogenesis, then there should be a significant relationship between increasing parental age and increasing autism spectrum disorder phenotypic severity. Outpatient clinical records were retrospectively examined to identify a consecutive cohort of subjects diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (n = 351). Increasing autism spectrum disorder phenotypic severity was found not to be associated with increasing maternal/paternal age. The present study failed to support the hypothesis that increasing parental age was associated with increasing autism spectrum disorder phenotypic severity, but future studies should examine the relationship between genetic mutations in subjects diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and increasing parental age.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Geier
- The Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | | | - Janet K Kern
- The Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | | | - Mark R Geier
- The Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc, Silver Spring, MD, USA
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Hooker BS. Measles-mumps-rubella vaccination timing and autism among young African American boys: a reanalysis of CDC data. Transl Neurodegener 2014; 3:16. [PMID: 25114790 PMCID: PMC4128611 DOI: 10.1186/2047-9158-3-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 08/05/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A significant number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder suffer a loss of previously-acquired skills, suggesting neurodegeneration or a type of progressive encephalopathy with an etiological basis occurring after birth. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectof the age at which children got their first Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine on autism incidence. This is a reanalysis of the data set, obtained from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC), used for the Destefano et al. 2004 publication on the timing of the first MMR vaccine and autism diagnoses. Methods The author embarked on the present study to evaluate whether a relationship exists between child age when the first MMR vaccine was administered among cases diagnosed with autism and controls born between 1986 through 1993 among school children in metropolitan Atlanta. The Pearson’s chi-squared method was used to assess relative risks of receiving an autism diagnosis within the total cohort as well as among different race and gender categories. Results When comparing cases and controls receiving their first MMR vaccine before and after 36 months of age, there was a statistically significant increase in autism cases specifically among African American males who received the first MMR prior to 36 months of age. Relative risks for males in general and African American males were 1.69 (p=0.0138) and 3.36 (p=0.0019), respectively. Additionally, African American males showed an odds ratio of 1.73 (p=0.0200) for autism cases in children receiving their first MMR vaccine prior to 24 months of age versus 24 months of age and thereafter. Conclusions The present study provides new epidemiologic evidence showing that African American males receiving the MMR vaccine prior to 24 months of age or 36 months of age are more likely to receive an autism diagnosis.
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Geier DA, Hooker BS, Kern JK, King PG, Sykes LK, Geier MR. A two-phase study evaluating the relationship between Thimerosal-containing vaccine administration and the risk for an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis in the United States. Transl Neurodegener 2013; 2:25. [PMID: 24354891 PMCID: PMC3878266 DOI: 10.1186/2047-9158-2-25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2013] [Accepted: 12/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is defined by standardized criteria of qualitative impairments in social interaction, qualitative impairments in communication, and restricted and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities. A significant number of children diagnosed with ASD suffer a loss of previously-acquired skills, which is suggestive of neurodegeneration or a type of progressive encephalopathy with an etiological pathogenic basis occurring after birth. To date, the etiology of ASD remains under debate, however, many studies suggest toxicity, especially from mercury (Hg), in individuals diagnosed with an ASD. The present study evaluated concerns about the toxic effects of organic-Hg exposure from Thimerosal (49.55% Hg by weight) in childhood vaccines by conducting a two-phased (hypothesis generating/hypothesis testing) study with documented exposure to varying levels of Thimerosal from vaccinations. Methods A hypothesis generating cohort study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between exposure to organic-Hg from a Thimerosal-containing Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular-Pertussis (DTaP) vaccine in comparison to a Thimerosal-free DTaP vaccine administered, from 1998 through 2000, for the risk of ASD as reported in the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) database (phase I). A hypothesis testing case–control study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between organic-Hg exposure from Thimerosal-containing hepatitis B vaccines administered at specific intervals in the first six months of life among cases diagnosed with an ASD and controls born between 1991 through 1999 in the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) database (phase II). Results In phase I, it was observed that there was a significantly increased risk ratio for the incidence of ASD reported following the Thimerosal-containing DTaP vaccine in comparison to the Thimerosal-free DTaP vaccine. In phase II, it was observed that cases diagnosed with an ASD were significantly more likely than controls to receive increased organic-Hg from Thimerosal-containing hepatitis B vaccine administered within the first, second, and sixth month of life. Conclusions Routine childhood vaccination is an important public health tool to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases, but the present study provides new epidemiological evidence supporting an association between increasing organic-Hg exposure from Thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines and the subsequent risk of an ASD diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Mark R Geier
- The Institute of Chronic Illnesses Inc, 14 Redgate Ct, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
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Taylor RC, Singhal M, Daly DS, Gilmore J, Cannon WR, Domico K, White AM, Auberry DL, Auberry KJ, Hooker BS, Hurst G, McDermott JE, McDonald WH, Pelletier DA, Schmoyer D, Wiley HS. An analysis pipeline for the inference of protein-protein interaction networks. INT J DATA MIN BIOIN 2010; 3:409-30. [PMID: 20052905 DOI: 10.1504/ijdmb.2009.029204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We present a platform for the reconstruction of protein-protein interaction networks inferred from Mass Spectrometry (MS) bait-prey data. The Software Environment for Biological Network Inference (SEBINI), an environment for the deployment of network inference algorithms that use high-throughput data, forms the platform core. Among the many algorithms available in SEBINI is the Bayesian Estimator of Probabilities of Protein-Protein Associations (BEPro3) algorithm, which is used to infer interaction networks from such MS affinity isolation data. Also, the pipeline incorporates the Collective Analysis of Biological Interaction Networks (CABIN) software. We have thus created a structured workflow for protein-protein network inference and supplemental analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald C Taylor
- Computational Sciences and Mathematics Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (US Department of Energy), Richland, WA 99352, USA.
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Pelletier DA, Hurst GB, Foote LJ, Lankford PK, McKeown CK, Lu TY, Schmoyer DD, Shah MB, Hervey WJ, McDonald WH, Hooker BS, Cannon WR, Daly DS, Gilmore JM, Wiley HS, Auberry DL, Wang Y, Larimer FW, Kennel SJ, Doktycz MJ, Morrell-Falvey JL, Owens ET, Buchanan MV. A general system for studying protein-protein interactions in Gram-negative bacteria. J Proteome Res 2008; 7:3319-28. [PMID: 18590317 DOI: 10.1021/pr8001832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
One of the most promising methods for large-scale studies of protein interactions is isolation of an affinity-tagged protein with its in vivo interaction partners, followed by mass spectrometric identification of the copurified proteins. Previous studies have generated affinity-tagged proteins using genetic tools or cloning systems that are specific to a particular organism. To enable protein-protein interaction studies across a wider range of Gram-negative bacteria, we have developed a methodology based on expression of affinity-tagged "bait" proteins from a medium copy-number plasmid. This construct is based on a broad-host-range vector backbone (pBBR1MCS5). The vector has been modified to incorporate the Gateway DEST vector recombination region, to facilitate cloning and expression of fusion proteins bearing a variety of affinity, fluorescent, or other tags. We demonstrate this methodology by characterizing interactions among subunits of the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase complex in two metabolically versatile Gram-negative microbial species of environmental interest, Rhodopseudomonas palustris CGA010 and Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. Results compared favorably with those for both plasmid and chromosomally encoded affinity-tagged fusion proteins expressed in a model organism, Escherichia coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dale A Pelletier
- Biosciences Division, Chemical Sciences Division, Computer Science and Mathematics Division, and Physical Sciences Directorate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
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Anderson MP, Hooker BS, Herbert MR. Bridging from Cells to Cognition in Autism Pathophysiology: Biological Pathways to Defective Brain Function and Plasticity. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.3844/ajbbsp.2008.167.176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Hooker BS, Bigelow DJ, Lin CT. Methods for mapping of interaction networks involving membrane proteins. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2007; 363:457-61. [PMID: 17897627 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.09.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2007] [Accepted: 09/08/2007] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Nearly one-third of all genes in various organisms encode membrane-associated proteins that participate in numerous protein-protein interactions important to the processes of life. However, membrane protein interactions pose significant challenges due to the need to solubilize membranes without disrupting protein-protein interactions. Traditionally, analysis of isolated protein complexes by high-resolution 2D gel electrophoresis has been the main method used to obtain an overall picture of proteome constituents and interactions. However, this method is time consuming, labor intensive, detects only abundant proteins and is limited with respect to the coverage required to elucidate large interaction networks. In this review, we discuss the application of various methods to elucidate interactions involving membrane proteins. These techniques include methods for the direct isolation of single complexes or interactors as well as methods for characterization of entire subcellular and cellular interactomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian S Hooker
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA.
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Sharp JL, Anderson KK, Hurst GB, Daly DS, Pelletier DA, Cannon WR, Auberry DL, Schmoyer DD, McDonald WH, White AM, Hooker BS, Victry KD, Buchanan MV, Kery V, Wiley HS. Statistically inferring protein-protein associations with affinity isolation LC-MS/MS assays. J Proteome Res 2007; 6:3788-95. [PMID: 17691832 DOI: 10.1021/pr0701106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Affinity isolation of protein complexes followed by protein identification by LC-MS/MS is an increasingly popular approach for mapping protein interactions. However, systematic and random assay errors from multiple sources must be considered to confidently infer authentic protein-protein interactions. To address this issue, we developed a general, robust statistical method for inferring authentic interactions from protein prey-by-bait frequency tables using a binomial-based likelihood ratio test (LRT) coupled with Bayes' Odds estimation. We then applied our LRT-Bayes' algorithm experimentally using data from protein complexes isolated from Rhodopseudomonas palustris. Our algorithm, in conjunction with the experimental protocol, inferred with high confidence authentic interacting proteins from abundant, stable complexes, but few or no authentic interactions for lower-abundance complexes. The algorithm can discriminate against a background of prey proteins that are detected in association with a large number of baits as an artifact of the measurement. We conclude that the experimental protocol including the LRT-Bayes' algorithm produces results with high confidence but moderate sensitivity. We also found that Monte Carlo simulation is a feasible tool for checking modeling assumptions, estimating parameters, and evaluating the significance of results in protein association studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia L Sharp
- Clemson University, 237 Barre Hall, Clemson, South Carolina 29634-0313, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, Richland, Washington 99352, USA.
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Dai Z, Hooker BS, Quesenberry RD, Thomas SR. Optimization of Acidothermus cellulolyticus endoglucanase (E1) production in transgenic tobacco plants by transcriptional, post-transcription and post-translational modification. Transgenic Res 2005; 14:627-43. [PMID: 16245154 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-005-5695-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2004] [Accepted: 04/12/2005] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
An attempt was made to obtain a high-level production of intact Acidothermus cellulolyticus endoglucanase (E1) in transgenic tobacco plants. The E1 expression was examined under the control of the constitutive and strong Mac promoter or light-inducible tomato Rubisco small sub-unit (RbcS-3C) promoter with its original or Alfalfa Mosaic Virus (AMV) RNA4 5'-untranslated leader (UTL) and targeted to different sub-cellular compartments via transit peptides. The transit peptides included native E1, endoplasmic reticulum, vacuole, apoplast, and chloroplast. E1 expression and its stability in transgenic plants were determined via E1 activity, protein immunoblotting, and RNA gel-blotting analyses. Effects of sub-cellular compartments on E1 production and its stability were determined in transgenic tobacco plants carrying one of six transgene expression vectors, where the E1 was under the control of Mac promoter, mannopine synthase transcription terminator, and one of the five transit peptides. Transgenic tobacco plants with an apoplastic transit peptide had the highest average E1 activity and protein accumulation, which was about 0.25% of total leaf soluble proteins estimated via E1 specific activity and protein gel blots. Intercellular fluid analyses confirmed that E1 signal peptide functioned properly in tobacco cells to secret E1 protein into the apoplast. By replacing RbcS-3C UTL with AMV RNA4 UTL E1 production was enhanced more than twofold, while it was less effective than the mannopine synthase UTL. It was observed that RbcS-3C promoter was more favorable for E1 expression in transgenic plants than the Mac promoter. E1 activity in dried tobacco seeds stored one year at room temperature was 45% higher than that observed immediately after harvesting, suggesting that E1 protein can be stored at room temperature for a long period. E1 stability in different sub-cellular compartments and the optimal combination of promoter, 5'-UTL, and sub-cellular compartmentation for heterologous protein production in transgenic plants are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyu Dai
- Chemical and Biological Processing Development Group, Process Science and Engineering Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Shi
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA.
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Markillie LM, Lin CT, Adkins JN, Auberry DL, Hill EA, Hooker BS, Moore PA, Moore RJ, Shi L, Wiley HS, Kery V. Simple Protein Complex Purification and Identification Method for High-Throughput Mapping of Protein Interaction Networks. J Proteome Res 2005; 4:268-74. [PMID: 15822902 DOI: 10.1021/pr049847a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Most current methods for purification and identification of protein complexes use endogenous expression of affinity-tagged bait, tandem affinity tag purification of protein complexes followed by specific elution of complexes from beads, and gel separation and in-gel digestion prior to mass spectrometric analysis of protein interactors. We propose a single affinity tag in vitro pull-down assay with denaturing elution, trypsin digestion in organic solvent, and LC-ESI MS/MS protein identification using SEQUEST analysis. Our method is simple and easy to scale-up and automate, making it suitable for high-throughput mapping of protein interaction networks and functional proteomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lye Meng Markillie
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., P.O. Box 999, Richland, Washington 99354, USA
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Gao J, Hooker BS, Anderson DB. Expression of functional human coagulation factor XIII A-domain in plant cell suspensions and whole plants. Protein Expr Purif 2004; 37:89-96. [PMID: 15294285 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2004.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2004] [Revised: 03/09/2004] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Coagulation factor XIII, a zymogen present in blood as a tetramer (A2B2) of A- and B-domains, is one of the components of many "wound sealants" which are proposed for use or currently in use as effective hemostatic agents, sealants, and tissue adhesives in surgery. After activation by alpha-thrombin cleavage, coagulation factor XIII A-domain, a transglutaminase, is formed and catalyzes the covalent cross-linking of the alpha- and gamma-chains of linear fibrin to form homopolymers, which can quickly stop bleeding. We have successfully expressed the A-domain of factor XIII in both plant cell cultures and whole plants. Transgenic plant cell culture allows a rapid method for testing production feasibility while expression in whole plants demonstrates an economic production system for recombinant human plasma-based proteins. The expressed factor XIII A-domain had a similar size as that of human plasma-derived factor XIII. Crude plant extract containing recombinant factor XIII A-domain showed transglutaminase activity with monodansylcadaverine and casein as substrates and cross-linking activity in the presence of linear fibrin. The expression of factor XIII A-domain was not affected by plant leaf position.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnway Gao
- Battelle Memorial Institute, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA 99352, USA.
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Dai Z, Hooker BS, Anderson DB, Thomas SR. Expression of Acidothermus cellulolyticus endoglucanase E1 in transgenic tobacco: biochemical characteristics and physiological effects. Transgenic Res 2000; 9:43-54. [PMID: 10853268 DOI: 10.1023/a:1008922404834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The expression of the Acidothermus cellulolyticus endoglucanase E1 gene in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) was examined in this study, where E1 coding sequence was transcribed under the control of a leaf specific Rubisco small subunit promoter (tomato RbcS-3C). Targeting the E1 protein to the chloroplast was established using a chloroplast transit peptide of Rubisco small subunit protein (tomato RbcS-2A) and confirmed by immunocytochemistry. The E1 produced in transgenic tobacco plants was found to be biologically active, and to accumulate in leaves at levels of up to 1.35% of total soluble protein. Optimum temperature and pH for E1 enzyme activity in leaf extracts were 81 degrees C and 5.25, respectively. E1 activity remained constant on a gram fresh leaf weight basis, but dramatically increased on a total leaf soluble protein basis as leaves aged, or when leaf discs were dehydrated. E1 protein in old leaves, or after 5 h dehydration, was partially degraded although E1 activity remained constant. Transgenic plants exhibited normal growth and developmental characteristics with photosynthetic rates similar to those of untransformed SR1 tobacco plants. Results from these biochemical and physiological analyses suggest that the chloroplast is a suitable cellular compartment for accumulation of the hydrolytic E1 enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Dai
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA.
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Dai Z, Hooker BS, Quesenberry RD, Gao J. Expression of Trichoderma reesei Exo-Cellobiohydrolase I in Transgenic Tobacco Leaves and Calli. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 1999; 77-79:689-99. [PMID: 15304689 DOI: 10.1385/abab:79:1-3:689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Expression of Trichoderma reesei exo-cellobiohydrolase I (CBHI) gene in transgenic tobacco was under the control of CaMV 35S promoter. In transgenic leaf tissues, CBHI activity up to 66.1 micromol/h/g total protein was observed. In transgenic calli, the highest CBHI activity was 83.6 micromol h/g total protein. Protein immunoblot analysis confirms the presence of CBHI enzyme in both transgenic calli and leaf tissues. CBHI expression levels accounted for about 0.11% and 0.082% of total protein in transgenic leaf tissues and calli, respectively. Furthermore, expression of CBHI gene did not affect normal growth and development of transgenic plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Dai
- Bioprocessing Group, Environmental Technological Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, P.O. Box 999, MSIN K2-10, Richland, WA 99352, USA.
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Abstract
In the past year, there has been a dramatic maturation of intrinsic bioremediation technologies. As methods pertinent to the intrinsic bioremediation of fuel hydrocarbons have become better established, a comprehensive protocol has been developed for the validation and prediction of these processes. Study of intrinsic bioremediation of other prevalent contaminants, such as chlorinated aliphatics, polychlorinated biphenyls, and high explosives, has also been undertaken.
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Affiliation(s)
- B S Hooker
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, MSIN P7-41, Richland, Washington 99352, USA.
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Skeen RS, Valentine NB, Hooker BS, Petersen JN. Kinetics of nitrate inhibition of carbon tetrachloride transformation by a denitrifying consortia. Biotechnol Bioeng 1995; 45:279-84. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.260450314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Hooker BS, Lee JM. Cultivation of plant cells in aqueous two-phase polymer systems. Plant Cell Rep 1990; 8:546-549. [PMID: 24226283 DOI: 10.1007/bf00820206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/1989] [Revised: 10/04/1989] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Suspension cultures ofNicotiana tabacum have been successfully grown in aqueous, two-phase systems comprised of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and dextran in a modified LS medium. Aqueous two-phase systems may be advantageous for plant tissue cultivation since cells can be immobilized in one phase while secondary products are collected and withdrawn in the other phase, thus enhancing productivity. Culture growth rate was compared in a variety of two-phase systems, covering a range of both polymer molecular weight and concentration. Systems exhibiting relatively higher phase miscibility yielded increased growth rates as compared to less miscible phase formulations. The highest observed growth rate occurred in 3% PEG 20000/5% crude dextran and approached growth rates and cell densities of cultures grown in standard LS medium.
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Affiliation(s)
- B S Hooker
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Washington State University, 99164, Pullman, WA, USA
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