Epilepsy and the smell of fear

OBJECTIVE

In our canine scent detection research involving a specific volatile organic compound (VOC) associated with human epileptic seizure, we began to suspect involvement of the primitive neural networks associated with production of a previously undescribed human alarm pheromone as the origin of our seizure scent. We hypothesized that if we presented fear-scented sweat to our canine seizure scent detection team, and they identified the fear scent as their seizure scent, then that would suggest that they are identical compounds.

METHODS

Following consent and approval, sweat samples taken from volunteers associated with the Brooke Gordon Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at Denver Health were processed by the Canine Assistants (CA) service dog team that had been imprinted to recognize the unique seizure scent from our previous study. In part one, sweat samples were collected from subjects, who had no prior history of epilepsy or seizures, under two different testing environments: watching a scary movie (It) and a neutral/comedy movie (Airplane!). In part two, a larger follow-up study utilizing fear sweat, exercise sweat, epilepsy sweat, and other distractor scents were provided in a multiple choice paradigm to better understand the inter-rater reliability of the canine responses.

RESULTS

In part one, our canine seizure scent detection team identified fear-scented sweat samples as their seizure scent in 4 of 5 study participants. There was almost perfect agreement of seizure scent detection during fear scent trials between the canine seizure scent detectors with a kappa value of 0.814 (95% CI: 0.668-0.960). In part two, (utilizing eleven different subjects) our canine scent detection team identified samples of either fear or seizure sweat with a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 100% (no false positives) from among the multiple choices offered. Additionally, there was 92% agreement between the members of the canine scent detection team.

SIGNIFICANCE

While this hypothesis testing study is small and deserves replication, it confirms that the Canine Assistants seizure scent detection team consistently and accurately identified fear-scented sweat as their seizure scent, implying that the VOC, menthone, is common to both conditions. This further implies that human seizure propagation and fear network circuitry may share a common anatomy, and that menthone may not only be an early seizure biomarker, but a newly described human alarm pheromone.

Association of State-Mandated Abstinence-only Sexuality Education with Rates of Adolescent HIV Infection and Teenage Pregnancy

INTRODUCTION

Abstinence-only sexuality education (AOSE); is required in the public school systems of many states, raising public health concerns and perpetuating health disparities through school systems. This study aimed to determine the correlations between state-mandated AOSE and the rates of adolescent HIV and teen pregnancy.

METHODS

Using publicly available data on all 50 United States' laws and policies on AOSE, states were ranked according to their level of abstinence emphasis on sexuality education (Level 0 - Level 3);. We calculated the relative proportion of Black students in public schools and the proportion of families below the federal poverty line then ranked them by state. We compared the states' ranks to the incidence of adolescent HIV and teen pregnancy in those states to identify associations between variables.

RESULTS

The majority of states (~44 percent ); have legally mandated AOSE policies (Level 3); and adolescent HIV and teen pregnancy rates were highest in these Level 3 states. There were significant, positive correlations between HIV incidence rates of 13-19 year olds, HIV rates of 20-24 year olds, teen pregnancy rates, and AOSE level, with the proportion of the population that lives below the federal poverty level, and whether they attended schools that had a greater than 50 percent of an African American population.

DISCUSSION

These data show a clear association between state sexuality education policies and adolescent HIV and teen pregnancy rates not previously demonstrated. Our data further show that states that have higher proportions of at-risk populations, with higher adolescent HIV and teen pregnancy rates, are more likely to also have restrictive AOSE policies. These populations may be more likely to attend public schools where AOSE is taught, increasing their risk for HIV and teen pregnancy. The World Health Organization considers fact-based Comprehensive Sexuality Education a human right, and the authors believe it is past time to end harmful, discriminatory sexuality education policies in US public schools.