CHICAGO - A government agency has quitted plans for a study related to the treatment of autism, that critics had called an unethical experiment on children.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) said that the study of the treatment, called chelation has been aborted. The agency has decided to test other possible therapies for autism and associated disorders, the statement said.

“There will be parents who are disappointed,” said Richard Nakamura, the scientific director of NIMH. “We recognize that for children there is a thread line for the risk-benefit ratio. You have to be pretty assured of the overall safety of the procedure.”

The study had been suspended because of safety matters, after another study published last year regarding a drug used in the treatment to permanent brain dysfunction in rats. …Click here to read more

TUESDAY, Sept. 9 – One out of five, U.S. college students have started smoking, but college and university management need to take a strong action against tobacco industry marketing strategies to stop growing rate of student smoking, a new American Lung Association report finds.

“Colleges and universities are responsible to provide safe and sound environment in which their students can study. This should include an atmosphere free of smoking and tobacco advertisements that persuade young adults to use harmful tobacco products,” Bernadette A. Toomey said. …Click here to read more