Ecstasy (Yes, the Club Drug) as a Treatment for Autism? – A new study in the journal Biological Psychiatry suggests that MDMA—that’s the club drug, ecstasy—may be used to ‘enhance the psychotherapy of people who struggle to feel connected to others.’ For this reason, it’s suggested that the drug might be used with those who have autism, schizophrenia, or antisocial personality disorder. Researchers do note that ‘these effects have been difficult to measure objectively, and there has been limited research in humans.’ And it’s pretty hard not to look at this latest idea about treating autism with several grains of salt. The new study, Is Ecstasy an “Empathogen”?, was undertaken by University of Chicago researchers and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. According to the lead author, Dr. Gillinder Bedi: “We found that MDMA produced friendliness, playfulness, and loving feelings, even when it was administered to people in a laboratory with little social contact. We also found that MDMA reduced volunteers’ capacity to recognize facial expressions of fear in other people, an effect that may be involved in the increased sociability said to be produced by MDMA.” The study found that the use of MDMA can make others ‘seem more attractive and friendly.’ However, MDMA can also make others seem ‘less threatening, which could increase users’ social risk-taking’—and which could, and would, one might think, pose potentially significant problems for those with psychiatric disorders or individuals on the autism spectrum, who may …

National Federation for Just Communities to present Community Leader Awards

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Darius G. Pridgen, senior pastor at True Bethel Baptist Church and Buffalo's Ellicott Council member, will be among the individuals and organizations honored by the National Federation for Just Communities of Western New York at its 2013 Community …
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Your toddler's ear ache may not be an infection

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Two days later, back home in New York, our pediatrician said our son probably never had an ear infection, and that regardless, he should stop taking the drugs. At the time, I was exceptionally annoyed. … down their stethoscope-adorned necks for the …
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Bioheart To Present At Cell Therapy For Cardiovascular Disease Conference In …

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Bioheart To Present At Cell Therapy For Cardiovascular Disease Conference In New York. Subscribe by RSS … In Phase II/III clinical trials stage in the U.S. for muscle stem cells for treating advanced heart failure, Bioheart's MyoCell is believed to …
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Young, Skelos call for stronger, permanent Kendra's Law

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Their call comes in the wake of the tragic school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, and two fatal incidents of people being pushed in front of New York City subway trains, allegedly by people with histories of mental illness. "The Senate is committed …
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