Author Archive

Why Do Some People Develop Severe Lyme Arthritis & Others Don’t?

https://www.lymedisease.org/genetic-pathway-lyme-arthritis/

Why do some people develop severe Lyme arthritis and others don’t?

By Doug Dollemore, University of Utah

April 12, 2022

Janis J. Weis, PhD

Understanding how and why Lyme arthritis occurs has puzzled scientists for decades. In a step toward unraveling this mystery, University of Utah Health researchers report they have discovered a new genetic pathway that could help explain why some individuals have more severe Lyme disease arthritis than others.

They say the finding, based on laboratory experiments and animal studies, could eventually lead to new and improved treatments for the condition.

“The association of severe Lyme arthritis with a heightened presence of interferon, an important regulator of the autoimmune response, suggests the genetic pathway we identified could offer important new insights into how interferon regulation impacts the onset and progression of Lyme disease and other human diseases associated with elevated interferon,” says Janis J. Weis, PhD, the study’s corresponding author and a professor of pathology in the Division of Microbiology and Immunology at U of U Health.

The study appears in PLOS Pathogens.

Previously, scientists found that interferon plays a role in the onset of Lyme arthritis. However, because of interferon’s vital role in the immune system, directly inhibiting its activity would leave the body vulnerable to a host of viral infections.

Genetic pathways

To get around this problem, Weis and Jinze Li, a graduate student in her lab, decided to take a closer look at the genetic pathways that lead to interferon production.

In studies of laboratory mouse cells, they found that Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, uses a protein called p19ARF to help regulate interferon production. They also determined that the p19ARF pathway is more active in mouse strains with severe Lyme arthritis. If this is also true in people, it could help explain why some patients with Lyme arthritis have more severe symptoms than others.

“We know that some variation in the symptoms of Lyme arthritis is caused by genetic properties of the bacteria itself,” Li says. “But this study illuminates the importance of genetic differences in the hosts.”

To test this theory, Weis and Li dampened the activity of the p19ARF genetic pathway in one set of laboratory mice while inducing elevated activity of it in other mice. The animals with elevated p19ARF genetic activity developed more severe symptoms of Lyme arthritis.

Weis says that this pathway appears to be exclusively set in motion by bacteria. Thus, it is possible that therapeutic interventions could one day relieve or prevent Lyme arthritis without disrupting interferon’s key role in preventing viral infections.

PRESS RELEASE SOURCE: University of Utah Health

__________________

**Comment**

Having to go down the Lyme arthritis road myself, I’ve discovered a few things:

  1. Diet can have a huge impact.  Gluten was my problem, but never appeared to be a problem before.  Removing it has made all the difference. I’m not celiac.  Some also struggle with dairy or the nightshade plants.  Do an elimination diet to determine if these things can help you.
  2. Supplements can really help.
    1. MSM & DMSO
    2. LDN
    3. CBD
    4. Staying hydrated with water
    5. Niacinamide, please see Dr. Saul’s website for many other articles
    6. Vitamin C
    7. Various laser therapies
    8. Systemic or proteolytic enzymes

If you are willing to spend $50, you may want to read a brief testimonial from someone who used  “The Arthritis Strategy” by Shelly Manning.  While I have not used it myself, it appears to be sound advice – although as always “buyer beware.”  It’s always wise to run things by your LLMD to make sure.  What’s nice about this is it’s about a month long strategy that will educate you fairly quickly on the things you can tangibly do yourself that could make a world of difference.  Sometimes it’s overwhelming to attack all these issues on your own.  With this strategy, you will have someone who has been there, giving you advice that worked for them.

For more:

Category:

Lyme, Pain Management

Political Interference at HHS & Governments Working in Lockstep

https://rwmalonemd.substack.com/p/political-interference-at-health?

Political interference at Health and Human Services (NIH, CDC, FDA, ASPR)

The U.S. General Accounting Office finds evidence of political interference and a lack of reporting mechanisms in the handling of the pandemic

Bombshell: U.S. General Accounting Office Finds Evidence of Political Interference Occurring at CDC & FDA During COVID-19. Trial Site News reports (Behind a Paywall)

The US GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE: REPORT TO CONGRESS documents that the FDA, CDC, NIH and ASPR have been compromised during the pandemic by allowing political interference.

Trial Site News has also documented “that ‘political interference’ associated with scientific reports and possibly even tampered with study results to skew or bias the results has been ongoing throughout the pandemic (see the trial site news article for more details).”

Read the GAO Report Here

The 37-page GAO report issued a warning that American federal agencies who have managed the pandemic public policy response (including vaccine and drug development) don’t have any mechanism to stop political interference. That they also don’t have reporting mechanisms for whistleblower allegations involving political interference. Furthermore, despite the leadership of these organizations (CDC, FDA, NIH and ASPR) asserting that there have been no political interference during the pandemic, an investigation by the GAO found multiple examples of such within the agencies.

FROM THE “US GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE (GAO): REPORT TO CONGRESS”:

SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY HHS Agencies Need to Develop Procedures and Train Staff on Reporting and Addressing Political Interference

“What GAO Found:

The four agencies GAO reviewed do not have procedures that define political interference in scientific decision-making or describe how it should be reported and addressed. These agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR).

The absence of specific procedures may explain why the four selected agencies did not identify any formally reported internal allegations of potential political interference in scientific decision-making from 2010 through 2021. Through semistructured interviews and a confidential hotline, employees at CDC, FDA, and NIH told GAO they observed incidents that they perceived to be political interference but did not report them for various reasons. These reasons included fearing retaliation, being unsure how to report issues, and believing agency leaders were already aware…

All four selected agencies—CDC, FDA, NIH, and ASPR—train staff on some scientific integrity-related topics, such as public health ethics, but only NIH includes information on political interference in scientific decision-making as part of its scientific integrity training (see figure).”

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https://dailyexpose.uk/2022/04/29/lockstep-digital-id-social-credit-system/  Full article here as well as audio story  (Approx. 9 Min)

Governments worldwide are working in Lockstep to bring in Digital I.D. & Social Credit System as EU agrees to expand online censorship with ‘Digital Services Act’

By on

Under pressure applied by both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, the European Union is working to expand online censorship to an extreme Orwellian level, as well as strictly regulate speech during what authorities deem to be times of crisis (we always seem to be in the middle of a “crisis”), and remove online anonymity by forcing the public to have a digital identity

But these plans aren’t unique to the EU. They are also currently being rolled out in the UK and Africa, proving Governments worldwide are working in lockstep to bring in a digital identity and social credit system right under your nose.

Email AddrHillary Clinton and Barack Obama both lobbied for the EU to back the censorship bill known as the ‘Digital Services Act‘ on Thursday, April 21st, 2022….  (See link for article)

http://

President Ursula von der Leyen (2021):

“Before Easter, we promised to the Europeans that we will do everything possible so that they can gain back some normality when planning for their well-deserved summer holidays. So on Monday, the European Parliament and the European Council signed the Regulation for the EU digital COVID certificate. It is applicable from 1 July on, but if you want to, as a Member State, you can sign up early voluntarily. And that is what Belgium did. Belgium allows, as of today, to travel with the Certificate and they issue these Certificates. And here is mine. So everyone who is fully vaccinated, or tested negative or has recovered from COVID-19, can get one. And we have right now 15 Member States that have already signed up. And from 1 July, all 27 Member States have to apply these EU Digital COVID Certificates. I am planning now to start my tour through 27 Member States for the NextGenerationEU, our Recovery and Resilience Plan, and I am very curious to test and to see how this Certificate will work. Thank you.

**Comment**

I’ve been posting about the digital identity and social credit system since COVID began as a monopolized tyranny has always been the end game of COVID.  There is an unprecedented assault upon freedom of speech as well as medical freedom,  so if you believe it’s hard to get diagnosed and treated for Lyme/MSIDS now, just wait and see what happens if these monstrosities roll forward.  This is Lymeland on steroids. 

Besides censoring dissenting opinions and restricting free speech during times of crisis, they are also pushing for a “public electronic identity (eID),” which Politico previously described as a “National ID card” on your phone that has its origins in vaccine passports and “Digital COVID Certificates.”

Excerpt:

On April 6, 2022, new digital identity document verification technology (IDVT) that enables data sharing between public bodies and businesses for the purpose of identity verification was introduced. It has been made available to UK employers, landlords, and letting agents who can use it to digitally carry out pre-employment criminal record checks, right to work checks, and right to rent checks.

The introduction of this digital IDVT is part of the government’s far-reaching digital ID plans which were announced in March. The government has framed these digital ID plans as a way for UK citizens to “easily and quickly prove their identity using digital methods instead of having to rely on traditional physical documents.”

The plan also involves a new digital currency called “Britcoin” to replace cash.  It is being framed as “giving the economy a boost in times of financial crisis”.  

Excerpt:

In January 2022 the Department of Health and Social Care, currently led by Sajid Javid, launched a new app that allegedly “helps people to make positive changes to their diet and physical activity.”

The pilot scheme has seen users wear wrist-worn devices that can generate personalised health recommendations, such as increasing their step count, eating more fruit and vegetables, and decreasing portion sizes.

Users allegedly collect points for behaviours deemed healthy by the Government, which unlock “rewards”. The Government says these rewards include “gym passes, clothes or food vouchers, discounts for shops, and cinema or theme park tickets”.

Now Italy is about to launch an identical scheme with the addition of being rewarded with cryptocurrency and with discounts for complying with the ‘climate change’ agenda by recycling and using public transit.

I posted about this creepy reward system two years ago.

Even the third world country of Nigeria is in on the act with the government ordering telecommunication companies to bar calls from phone numbers not linked to a National Identity Number as well as disconnect unregistered SIM cards. 

National Identity Number registration contains extremely private information such fingerprints and photo, as well as their digital signature.  It’s required for all transactions that normal an ID is required for such as opening a bank account, voting, getting insurance, filing tax returns, and getting a driving license.

Category:

Activism, vaccines, Viruses

Correlation Between Mask Compliance & COVID-19 Outcomes in Europe

https://www.cureus.com/articles/93826-correlation-between-mask-compliance-and-covid-19-outcomes-in-europe

Compliance and COVID-19 Outcomes in Europe

Beny Spira

Published: April 19, 2022 (see history)

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.24268

Cite this article as: Spira B (April 19, 2022) Correlation Between Mask Compliance and COVID-19 Outcomes in Europe. Cureus 14(4): e24268. doi:10.7759/cureus.24268

Abstract

Masking was the single most common non-pharmaceutical intervention in the course of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Most countries have implemented recommendations or mandates regarding the use of masks in public spaces. The aim of this short study was to analyse the correlation between mask usage against morbidity and mortality rates in the 2020-2021 winter in Europe. Data from 35 European countries on morbidity, mortality, and mask usage during a six-month period were analysed and crossed. Mask usage was more homogeneous in Eastern Europe than in Western European countries. Spearman’s correlation coefficients between mask usage and COVID-19 outcomes were either null or positive, depending on the subgroup of countries and type of outcome (cases or deaths). Positive correlations were stronger in Western than in Eastern European countries. These findings indicate that countries with high levels of mask compliance did not perform better than those with low mask usage.

Excerpt:

“….the lack of negative correlations between mask usage and COVID-19 cases and deaths suggest that the widespread use of masks at a time when an effective intervention was most needed, i.e., during the strong 2020-2-21 autumn-winter peak, was NOT able to reduce COVID-19 transmission.

Moreover, the moderate positive correlation between mask usage and deaths in Western Europe also suggests that the universal use of masks may have had harmful unintended consequences.”

There was a statistically significant correlation between higher deaths in countries that locked down hard, with vast mask usage, and COVID deaths.

To hear the study explained:  https://rumble.com/v13607x-more-harm-than-good-a-new-study-shows-that-masks-not-only-didnt-work-but-th.html  (Approx. 3 Min)

For more:

Category:

Activism, research, Viruses

Maine CDC Confirms Fatal Case of Powassan Virus in Waldo County

https://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=DHS+Press+Releases&id=7360066&v=dhhs_article_2020

Maine CDC confirms fatal case of Powassan virus in Waldo County

April 20, 2022

Rare illness spread by bite of infected ticks

AUGUSTA – The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) has confirmed a fatal case of Powassan virus infection in a Waldo County resident. The adult developed neurologic symptoms and died while in the hospital. This person likely became infected in Maine.

Cases of Powassan virus are rare in the United States, with about 25 cases reported each year since 2015. Maine has identified 14 cases since 2010. Humans become infected with Powassan through the bite of an infected deer or woodchuck tick.

“Ticks are active and looking for a host to bite right now,” said Nirav D. Shah, Director of the Maine CDC. “I urge Maine people and visitors to take steps that prevent tick bites.”

Symptoms of Powassan virus infection usually start one week to one month after the tick bite. People who get sick may have fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures, or memory loss. Some may experience serious neurologic problems, such as brain or spinal cord inflammation. Severe infection may result in death. Many people infected with Powassan virus do not get sick.

There is no specific treatment available for this disease. If you experience these symptoms, call a health care provider as soon as you can.

The best protection against all tickborne diseases is to prevent tick bites. Use these strategies to prevent tick bites:

  • Know what tick habitat is — wooded and bushy areas with tall grass — and use caution in areas where ticks may live.
  • Avoid these areas and stay in the middle of trails whenever possible.
  • Use an EPA-approved repellent on skin. Use Permethrin on clothing for added protection.
  • Perform tick checks every day, and especially after leaving tick habitat and after returning home. Bathe or shower after coming inside to wash crawling ticks off your body. Also examine clothing, gear, and pets.
  • Ask a veterinarian about tick bite prevention for cats and dogs.

For more information:

__________________

**Comment**

To clarify:

POWASSAN VIRUS IS NOT RARE.

Coppe Lab out of Wisconsin emphatically states Powassan is NOT rare:

http://www.coppelabs.com/blog/why-is-powassan-virus-infection-still-described-as-rare-and-mysterious/  Please read the following excerpt by Coppe Lab here in Wisconsin,

For the last two years, Coppe Laboratories has dedicated a significant amount of time and resources to dispelling the myth that infection with Powassan virus, a virus transmitted by tick bite, is rare. The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) reports only 100 cases of Powassan virus infection in the United States in the last 10 years. Indeed, that statistic gives the illusion that Powassan infection is rare. However, did you know that the only infections reported to CDC are those that are life-threatening, particularly cases causing severe inflammation of the brain like the case reported in LiveScience? Coppe has published three new papers in the last year that clearly show Powassan virus infection is not rare are at all, and until testing for this virus is included as part of tick-borne disease screening panels infections will continue to be underreported. Coppe’s Powassan Guide, which can be downloaded from the website, summarizes the findings from both tick and human Powassan prevalence studies, as well as defining the patient populations that would benefit most from Powassan testing.

For more:

Category:

Prevention, Ticks, Viruses

Osteopathy for Tick borne & Other Chronic Illness – ZOOM May 10, 2022

https://mnlyme.org/upcoming-events

Minnesota Lyme Association
Zoom Presentation with Simone Childs-Walker, MD
Tuesday, May 10th at 6:30PM CST

Osteopathy for Tick borne Illness and Other Chronic Illness

We are honored to have Simone Childs-Walker, MD sharing her knowledge about the various ways patients can utilize osteopathic manual medicine to heal. Dr. Walker completed her family medicine residency with Hennepin Healthcare and received her certificate in integrative therapies and healing practices from the University of Minnesota.

Osteopathy is a tradition of hands-on healing that aligns the body’s structure to promote optimal function and health. By opening blood flow, lymph drainage, and nervous system innervation to all tissues in the body, Osteopathic Manual Medicine can help facilitate recovery from almost any illness – including tick-borne disease.

Access the meeting on Zoom here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86445852820?pwd=RGppRWVpR3A3VUdUU3dWWFNEMkwzZz09

Meeting ID: 864 4585 2820

Passcode: 675316

Learn more about MN Lyme Association here: https://mnlyme.org/
 

For more:

Category:

Activism, Chiropractic Care for MSIDS, Lyme