Archive for the ‘Lyme’ Category

Decoding the Mysteries of Medically Unexplained Neurologic Diseases

https://www.rutgers.edu/news/decoding-mysteries-medically-unexplained-neurologic-diseases

Decoding the Mysteries of Medically Unexplained Neurologic Diseases

By Greg Bruno

Date  January 10, 2024

Using advanced research techniques, Rutgers Health–led scientists have shed light on how chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia are related, paving the way to even bigger breakthroughs.

New research may create some respite for sufferers of two medically unexplained fatigue-inducing conditions: myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and fibromyalgia (FM).

The conclusion, and the methods used to reach it, could inform how these and other conditions – such as multiple sclerosis, long COVID, Alzheimer’s and post-treatment Lyme disease – are diagnosed and treated.

“Using mass spectrometry to analyze spinal fluid, the liquid that bathes the brain, we found that these two illnesses may fall along a common disease spectrum,” said Steven Schutzer, a professor of medicine at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and lead author of the study published in the Annals of Medicine.

“The results have implications for how the conditions can be investigated, while the technique may help advance treatment approaches with these diseases, and many others,” Schutzer said.

(See link for article)

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**Comment**

Due to advances in mass spectrometry, of 2,083 proteins quantified, 1,789 proteins were present in both samples of ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, and only ME/CFS, indicating there is a relationship between the two diseases.

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Category:

Inflammation, Lyme, research

U.S. Attorney’s Office Files Lawsuit Against Jail Alleging Discrimination Against Officer With Lyme Disease

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdpa/pr/us-attorneys-office-files-lawsuit-against-franklin-county-jail-alleging-it

U.S. Attorney’s Office Files Lawsuit Against Franklin County Jail Alleging It Discriminated Against Officer With Lyme Disease

For Immediate Release

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania

SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that it filed a lawsuit charging Franklin County Jail (the Jail) with violating Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  The lawsuit alleges that the Jail unlawfully terminated a correctional officer whose disability substantially limited her ability to walk, stand, concentrate, and sleep.  The correctional officer sought, but was denied, a modification of the Jail’s policy that a probationary employee could only have two unscheduled absences during her probationary period.  Although the Jail initially provided the employee an accommodation, it later relied on the absence policy to terminate her.

“Employers must make reasonable accommodations so that employees with disabilities can earn a living,” said U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam.  “Lyme Disease creates debilitating health issues for numerous Pennsylvanians yearly, and employers should find reasonable solutions to allow employees with any kind of disability to work and not terminate them because of that disability.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to enforce civil rights laws and ensure equal employment opportunities for all.”

Title I of the ADA prohibits employers from discriminating against a qualified individual on the basis of disability in regard to the hiring, advancement, or discharge of employees; employee compensation; and other terms, conditions, or privileges of employment.  An employer may not demote, terminate, or deny employment opportunities to an employee who is otherwise qualified if the demotion or termination is based on the need to make reasonable accommodations for the employee.

The U.S. Employment Opportunity Commission, Philadelphia District Office, found that the Jail violated the ADA and referred the matter to the Department of Justice.  The United States is represented by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Butler, Civil Rights Coordinator, and Attorney Kimberly Scheckner of the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section.

For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov.  Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at civilrights.justice.gov/report.  Anyone in the Middle District of Pennsylvania may also report civil rights violations to the Civil Rights Coordinator of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania by calling 717-614-4911 or emailing usapam.civil.rights@usdoj.gov.

The complaint alleges unlawful conduct, but the United States must still prove that allegation in federal court.

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Category:

Activism, Lyme

British Soap Opera to Feature Lyme Disease Story Line

https://www.lymedisease.org/british-soap-to-feature-lyme-story/

British soap opera to feature Lyme disease story line

“Coronation Street” is a popular British TV soap opera. Next week, one of its characters is diagnosed with Lyme disease.

Here’s more from the website of Lyme Disease UK:

Some months ago we were approached by the research team from the popular soap opera Coronation Street about a possible story line featuring a child who contracts Lyme disease.

Julia Knight, our Press and Community Outreach Manager, worked with the researchers to put together a credible story line, resulting in the recent story about Joseph Brown, age 12, son of Chesney, contracting the infection during a camping trip.

Next week, Joseph’s mysterious illness is diagnosed as Lyme disease. After weeks of worry, trips to the doctors and his step-mum, Gemma being removed from the house by social services under suspicion of deliberately poisoning the youngster, things take a dramatic turn when he collapses at home.

Joseph is rushed to hospital where doctors tell his worried parents and grandparents that he has Lyme disease, probably contracted from a tick bite whilst on a camping holiday.

Julia says “It has been my great pleasure to work with the Coronation Street script writers to give them advice and pointers so that they could produce a story line that is both realistic and engaging. Lyme disease can easily be overlooked if a person only shows viral-type symptoms initially, as in the storyline.

“Raising awareness of the disease and giving people the information about how to prevent it is essential. With knowledge, bites can be prevented, and awareness of possible symptoms means that people who do contract the disease can seek medical advice promptly.”

How to watch “Coronation Street” in the US

The streaming channel BritBox offers Coronation Street and other British shows as soon as they have aired in the UK. You can access it through Amazon Prime (though you’ll have to pay extra for the service).

If you have Hulu, you can watch episodes of Coronation Street for free. But you’ll have to wait until two weeks after they have aired in the UK.

Kudos to Lyme Disease UK for taking their Lyme Awareness activities to a new level. I’m looking forward to watching the show.

TOUCHED BY LYME is written by Dorothy Kupcha Leland, President of LymeDisease.org. She is co-author of Finding Resilience: A Teen’s Journey Through Lyme Disease and of When Your Child Has Lyme Disease: A Parent’s Survival Guide. Contact her at dleland@lymedisease.org.

Category:

Activism, Lyme

Lyme Disease Test Lawsuit Settled & Dismissed

https://www.masslive.com/news/2024/01/lawsuit-over-at-home-lyme-disease-test-gets-dismissed-after-settlement.html

Lawsuit over at-home Lyme disease test gets dismissed after settlement

By Greta Jochem | gjochem@repub.com

SPRINGFIELD — A class action lawsuit alleging that an at-home Lyme disease test is faulty was voluntarily dismissed last week in U.S. District Court in Springfield after a settlement.

Moira Kerans, a Dalton woman, and TruthCures, a Kansas-based nonprofit group, filed a lawsuit in June against LetsGetChecked, arguing the company’s home Lyme disease tests are deceptive and inaccurate.

On Dec. 28, the plaintiffs filed to voluntarily dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning it can’t be brought again.  (See link for article)

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**Comment**

The class action lawsuit alleges that the LetsGetChecked test is not accurate.

Sadly, this can be said about ALL testing for Lyme, particularly the FDA “cleared” 2-tier CDC testing, which was rigged for vaccine purposes by leaving out two highly specific bands.

As with most settlement cases, the terms are confidential so we will never know what went on behind closed doors.  The only thing that was brought to light was that the company will never again sell these tests directly to consumers.

The complaint asked for $5 million in damages and a jury trial. In the end, each side paid its own costs and attorneys fees, according to the voluntary dismissal paperwork.  Evidently the amount of money in the agreement was “minimal.”

Category:

Activism, Lyme, Testing

Combination Antibiotic Therapy for Treatment of Lyme Disease

http://  Approx. 36 Min

Combination Antibiotic Therapy for Treatment of Lyme Disease

Course overview: This module discusses differences between antibiotic tolerance and resistance in Lyme disease, demonstrates persistence via tolerance by the Lyme disease spirochete, and evaluates the efficacy of combination therapy versus monotherapy in both animal models and humans.

Instructor: Monica E. Embers, PhD Associate Professor in the Division of Immunology Director of Vector-borne Disease Research Tulane National Primate Research Center

About: This course is part of the Invisible Education Initiative, funded by the Montecalvo Foundation, which provides free, accredited Continuing Medical Education (CME) courses that focus on vector-borne and environmental illness and utilize a One Health framework.

Learn more: https://learn.invisible.international. CME Pending Application for CME credit has been filed with the American Academy of Family Physicians. Determination of credit is pending.

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Category:

Lyme, research, Treatment