Is the presence of urinary indolyl-3-acryloylglycine associated with autism spectrum disorder?

To test whether the presence of indolyl-3-acryloylglycine (IAG) is associated with autism, we analyzed urine from population-based, blinded cohorts. All children in York, UK with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), diagnosed using ICD-10 research diagnostic criteria, were invited to participate. Fifty-six children on the autism spectrum (mean age 9y 8mo, SD 3y 8mo; 79% male) agreed to participate, as did 155 children without ASDs (mean age 10y, SD3y 2mo; 54% male) in mainstream and special schools (56 of whom were age-, sex-, and school-matched to children with ASDs). IAG was found at similar levels in the urine of all children, whether IAG concentrations or IAG: ereatinine ratios were compared. There was no significant difference between the ASD and the comparison group, and no difference between children at mainstream schools and those at special schools. There is no association between presence of IAG in urine and autism; therefore, it is unlikely to be of help either diagnostically or as a basis for recommending therapeutic intervention with dietary manipulation. The significance of the presence of IAG in urine has yet to be determined

How hearing about harmful chemicals affects smokers' interest in dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes

Substantial harm could result from concurrent cigarette and e-cigarette use (i.e., dual use) were it to undermine smoking cessation. Perceptions of chemical exposure and resulting harms may influence dual use. We conducted a probability-based phone survey of 1164 U.S. adult cigarette smokers in 2014–2015 and analyzed results in 2016. In a between-subjects experiment, smokers heard a hypothetical scenario in which cigarettes and e-cigarettes had the same amount of harmful chemicals or cigarettes had more chemicals than e-cigarettes (10× more, 100× more, or chemicals were present only in cigarettes). Smokers indicated how the scenario would change their interest in dual use and perceived health harms. Few smokers (7%) who heard that the products have the same amount of chemicals were interested in initiating or increasing dual use. However, more smokers were interested when told that cigarettes have 10× more chemicals than e-cigarettes (31%), 100× more chemicals than e-cigarettes (32%), or chemicals were present only in cigarettes (43%) (all p < .001). Individuals told that cigarettes have more chemicals were more likely than those in the “same amount” scenario to perceive that cigarettes would be more harmful than e-cigarettes (79% vs. 41%, OR = 5.41, 95% CI = 4.08–7.17). These harm perceptions partially explained the relationship between chemical scenario and dual use interest. Smokers associated higher chemical amounts in cigarettes versus e-cigarettes with greater health harms from cigarettes and thus expressed increased interest in dual use. The findings suggest that disclosing amounts of chemicals in cigarette smoke and e-cigarette aerosol could unintentionally encourage dual use