Archive for the ‘research’ Category

Why the Medical Community’s Perspective on Lyme Disease is Different From a Pathologist’s Perspective

Just a year ago I posted a short letter by microbiologist Tom Grier to governors and congressmen in Lyme endemic regions.  You can read it here:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/08/25/open-letter-to-governors-congressmen-in-lyme-endemic-areas/  Today I post his lengthier letter explaining the state of affairs in simple lay-man’s terms that can be understood by all.  This is a wonderful resource for you to save and refer to when explaining the science behind this horribly mishandled 21st century plague.

LTR to Congress (Letter here)

Executive summary:

  1. Lyme disease is a collection of many species of bacteria, not just borrelia burgdorferi (Bb).
  2. Current testing uses only this one strain (B-31) therefore missing many cases. B-31 is not found in nature and is a created lab strain designed for cost, convenience, & consistency.
  3. Researchers are discovering approximately one new species a year to the existing 17 pathogenic borrelia species.
  4. There are numerous reasons patients are not testing positive on antibody testing such as: low infection load, different borrelia species, immune system ineffectiveness, borrelia quickly moves out of the blood stream and into  human cells.
  5. It can take less than a day for Lyme to get into the brain.
  6. Mouse models show spirochetes entering tissues within minutes.
  7. Some species of Borrelia settle in the brain where it is safe behind the blood brain barrier which prevents drugs from entering.
  8. Borrelia forms protective biofilms also impeding antimicrobials from working.
  9. Brain-autopsies on dementia patients almost always show Borrelia in amyloid plagues.  
  10. Borrelia infections can survive in a dormant state for decades.
  11. Regarding testing, each lab has a different cut off point for dilution.
  12. Independent researchers have found there are more false negatives than false positives.
  13. There are rife conflicts of interests within the CDC regarding Lyme testing as they own the patents.
  14. Borrelia Miyamotoi (Bm) can be transmitted in 20 minutes and autopies show it loves the human brain, and is associated with Alzheimer’s Dementia.
  15. Although Bm is similar to Bb, testing won’t pick it up.
  16. The CDC ignores the shortcomings of testing, the newer species of Borrelia, as well as Lyme-like diseases typically found in the South, and continues to use a one-size-fits-all approach.

I will add to this list the fact that the CDC besides only looking at one strain of borrelia, refuses to acknowledge coinfection involvement of other pathogens which research has shown to complicate cases making them more severe and of longer duration:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/09/05/babesia-subverts-adaptive-immunity-and-enhances-lyme-disease-severity/

Nearly every patient I work with is coinfected with numerous pathogens yet the CDC/NIH/IDSA refuse to acknowledge this.  Researchers also are finding that ticks are also coinfected:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/05/18/powassan-and-bb-infection-in-wisconsin-and-u-s-tick-populations/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/07/28/coinfection-of-many-types-of-borrelia-rickettsia-babesia-bartonella-anaplasma-in-french-castor-bean-ticks/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/04/26/three-strains-of-borrelia-other-pathogens-found-in-salivary-glands-of-ixodes-ticks-suggesting-quicker-transmission-time/ Another false notion is that ticks have a “grace period” in which they don’t seemingly transmit infections to humans.  This is asinine.  Ticks often feed partially and then drop off.  The pathogens are right in the salivary glands ready to be transmitted to the next unlucky host.

We’ve been sold a bill of lies and the mythology continues unabated.

Category:

Activism, Alzheimer's, Lyme, research, Testing

Tick Paralysis in a Free-ranging Bobcat

https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.256.3.362?journalCode=javma

Abstract
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
February 1, 2020, Vol. 256, No. 3, Pages 362-364
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.256.3.362

Tick paralysis in a free-ranging bobcat (Lynx rufus)

Meredith E. Persky DVM1; Yousuf S. Jafarey DVM1; Sarah E. Christoff​‌1; Dewey D. Maddox​‌1; Stephanie A. Stowell​‌2 and Terry M. Norton DVM23
1Department of Animal Health, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, 370 Zoo Pkwy, Jacksonville, FL 32218. (); 2Georgia Sea Turtle Center, 214 Stable Rd, Jekyll Island, GA 31527. (); 3Jekyll Island Authority, 100 James Rd, Jekyll Island, GA 31527. ()
Address correspondence to Dr. Persky ().

 

CASE DESCRIPTION

A free-ranging male bobcat (Lynx rufus) was evaluated because of signs of pelvic limb paralysis.

 

CLINICAL FINDINGS

Physical examination of the anesthetized animal revealed tick infestation, normal mentation, and a lack of evidence of traumatic injuries. Radiography revealed no clinically relevant abnormalities. Hematologic analysis results were generally unremarkable, and serologic tests for exposure to feline coronavirus, FeLV, FIV, and Toxoplasma gondii were negative. Results of PCR assays for flea- and common tick-borne organisms other than Bartonella clarridgeiae were negative.

 

TREATMENT AND OUTCOME

Ticks were manually removed, and the patient received supportive care and fipronil treatment. The bobcat made a full recovery within 72 hours after treatment for ticks, and a presumptive diagnosis of tick paralysis was made. Identified tick species included Dermacenter variabilis, Amblyomma americanum, and Ixodes scapularis.

 

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

To the authors’ knowledge, tick paralysis has not previously been reported in felids outside Australia. This disease should be considered a differential diagnosis in felids, including exotic cats, with signs of neuromuscular disease of unknown etiopathogenesis.

 

 

 

Category:

Bartonella, research, Ticks

Molecular Prevalence of Bartonella, Babesia, and Hemotropic Mycoplasma Species in Dogs With Hemangiosarcoma from Across the United States

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31923195/

2020 Jan 10;15(1):e0227234. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227234. eCollection 2020.

Molecular prevalence of Bartonella, Babesia, and hemotropic Mycoplasma species in dogs with hemangiosarcoma from across the United States.

Lashnits E1, Neupane P1, Bradley JM1, Richardson T1, Thomas R2, Linder KE3, Breen M2, Maggi RG1,4, Breitschwerdt EB1,4.

Abstract

Hemangiosarcoma (HSA), a locally invasive and highly metastatic endothelial cell neoplasm, accounts for two-thirds of all cardiac and splenic neoplasms in dogs. Bartonella spp. infection has been reported in association with neoplastic and non-neoplastic vasoproliferative lesions in animals and humans. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Bartonella spp. in conjunction with two other hemotropic pathogens, Babesia spp. and hemotropic Mycoplasma spp., in tissues and blood samples from 110 dogs with histopathologically diagnosed HSA from throughout the United States. This was a retrospective, observational study using clinical specimens from 110 dogs with HSA banked by the biospecimen repository of the Canine Comparative Oncology and Genomics Consortium. Samples provided for this study from each dog included: fresh frozen HSA tumor tissue (available from n = 100 of the 110 dogs), fresh frozen non-tumor tissue (n = 104), and whole blood and serum samples (n = 108 and 107 respectively). Blood and tissues were tested by qPCR for Bartonella, hemotropic Mycoplasma, and Babesia spp. DNA; serum was tested for Bartonella spp. antibodies.

  • Bartonella spp. DNA was amplified and sequenced from 73% of dogs with HSA (80/110)
  • hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. DNA was amplified from a significantly smaller proportion (5%, p<0.0001)
  • Babesia spp. DNA was not amplified from any dog

Of the 100 HSA tumor samples submitted,

  • 34% were Bartonella PCR positive (32% of splenic tumors, 57% of cardiac tumors, and 17% of other tumor locations)
  • Of 104 non-tumor tissues, 63% were Bartonella PCR positive (56% of spleen samples, 93% of cardiac samples, and 63% of skin/subcutaneous samples).
  • Of dogs with Bartonella positive HSA tumor, 76% were also positive in non-tumor tissue.
  • Bartonella spp. DNA was not PCR amplified from whole blood.

This study documented a high prevalence of Bartonella spp. DNA in dogs with HSA from geographically diverse regions of the United States. While 73% of all tissue samples from these dogs were PCR positive for Bartonella DNA, none of the blood samples were, indicating that

whole blood samples do not reflect tissue presence of this pathogen.

Future studies are needed to further investigate the role of Bartonella spp. in the development of HSA.

_________________

**Comment**

And here, we see exactly what patience experience in reality: negative blood tests but positive tissue samples.  Dr. Ericson has found Bartonella in tissues directly by where a PICC line was removed:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/02/27/advanced-imaging-found-bartonella-around-pic-line/

This is true not only for Bartonella but for Lyme as well as all of the coinfections.  Doctors that rely only on testing are missing patients right and left.

Please spread the word.

 

Category:

Babesia, Bartonella, Mycoplasma, research, Testing

Study Finds Probiotics Help Hayfever Symptoms

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2019-12-probiotics-hayfever-symptoms.html

DECEMBER 10, 2019

Study finds probiotics help hayfever symptoms

by Griffith University

allergy

Griffith University research indicates that patients suffering from allergic rhinitis, otherwise known as hay fever, can specifically benefit from probiotic supplements.

In a study funded by Winclove Probiotics, Griffith’s research team at the Menzies Health Institute QLD found eight weeks of supplementation with a specific multi-species probiotic reduced symptoms of and medication use.

This study published in the Journal Genes, found most allergy patients (64%) responded with a clinical improvement in their QoL score, otherwise known as the quality of life scale.

Whilst noting that not all people with allergies respond similarly, Dr. Pete Smith of Queensland Allergy Services and a member of the study team said, “our study may allow us to personalize probiotic treatment for individuals with seasonal allergic rhinitis.”

Dr. Nic West of Griffith University adds that the for the role of probiotics in allergy continues to increase.

“The results from our study will allow us to conduct targeted research to find strategies people can use during the pollen season,” said Dr. West.

Hay fever is a chronic disorder that has a serious impact on quality of life for up to 30% of the general population. Current treatment options are costly and do not tackle the underlying cause of the disorder.

With the aim of helping sufferers the research team examined the differences in the between responders and non-responders and are currently undertaking a clinical trial of the supplement that involves further immune profiling of individuals with .

For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/12/28/what-are-the-pros-of-probiotics/
https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/01/03/the-invisible-universe-of-the-human-microbiome-msm/  Recitas, author of “The Plan,” calls MSM the wonder supplement for your gut. It can alleviate allergy symptoms, helps with detoxification, eliminates free radicals, and improves cell permeability. She states that with given time, MSM will start to actually repair damage caused by leaky gut – a common problem with Lyme/MSIDS patients. It can also help the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food. Many Lyme patients struggle with paralysis of the gut where the muscles of the stomach and intestines stop being efficient. MSM helps this muscle tone as well.

 

Category:

research, Supplements

Antibiotics Could Be Promising Treatment For Form Of Dementia

https://neurosciencenews.com/antibiotics-dementia-15439/

Antibiotics could be promising treatment for form of dementia

Neuroscience NewsNEUROSCIENCE NEWS
FEATUREDGENETICSNEUROLOGYNEUROSCIENCEOPEN NEUROSCIENCE ARTICLES3 MIN READ
Summary: Gentamicin and G418, two aminoglycoside antibiotics, were effective at correcting genetic mutations associated with a specific form of frontotemporal dementia. The findings are promising for the treatment of frontotemporal dementia.Source: University of Kentucky

Researchers at the University of Kentucky’s College of Medicine have found that a class of antibiotics called aminoglycosides could be a promising treatment for frontotemporal dementia.

Results of their proof of concept study, which was a collaborative effort between UK’s Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry and the University of California San Francisco’s Department of Pathology, were recently published in the journal, Human Molecular Genetics.

Frontotemporal dementia is the most common type of early onset dementia. It typically begins between ages 40 and 65 and affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which leads to behavior changes, difficulty speaking and writing, and memory deterioration.

A subgroup of patients with frontotemporal dementia have a specific genetic mutation that prevents brain cells from making a protein called progranulin. Although progranulin is not widely understood, its absence is linked to the disease.

A group led by Haining Zhu, a professor in UK’s Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, discovered that after aminoglycoside antibiotics were added to neuronal cells with this mutation, the cells started making the full-length progranulin protein by skipping the mutation.

“These patients’ brain cells have a mutation that prevents progranulin from being made. The team found that by adding a small antibiotic molecule to the cells, they could ‘trick’ the cellular machinery into making it,” said Matthew Gentry, a co-author of the study and the Antonio S. Turco Endowed Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry.

The researchers found two specific aminoglycoside antibiotics – Gentamicin and G418 – were both effective in fixing the mutation and making the functional progranulin protein. After adding Gentamicin or G418 molecules to the affected cells, the progranulin protein level was recovered up to about 50 to 60%.

These results could be promising to drug development. Currently, there are no effective therapies for any type of dementia.

This shows pills

After this preclinical proof of concept study, the next step is to study the antibiotics’ effects on mice with the mutation that causes frontotemporal dementia, Zhu says. Another focus is to possibly develop new compounds from Gentamicin and G418 that could be safer and more effective. Although Gentamicin is an FDA-approved medication, its clinical usage is limited as it is associated with a number of adverse side effects.

“If we can get the right resources and physician to work with, we could potentially repurpose this drug. This is an early stage of the study, but it provides an important proof of concept that these aminoglycoside antibiotics or their derivatives can be a therapeutic avenue for frontotemporal dementia,” said Zhu.

ABOUT THIS NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH ARTICLE

Source:
University of Kentucky
Media Contacts:
Elizabeth Chapin – University of Kentucky
Image Source:
The image is in the public domain.

Original Research: Open access
“Frontotemporal dementia nonsense mutation of progranulin rescued by aminoglycosides”. Haining Zhu et al.
Human Molecular Genetics doi:10.1093/hmg/ddz280.

Abstract

Frontotemporal dementia nonsense mutation of progranulin rescued by aminoglycosides

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is an early onset dementia and is characterized by progressive atrophy of the frontal and/or temporal lobes. FTD is highly heritable with mutations in progranulin accounting for 5-26% of cases in different populations. Progranulin is involved in endocytosis, secretion and lysosomal processes, but its function under physiological and pathological conditions remains to be defined. Many FTD-causing nonsense progranulin mutations contain a premature termination codon (PTC), thus progranulin haploinsufficiency has been proposed as a major disease mechanism. Currently, there is no effective FTD treatment or therapy.

___________________

For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/12/13/the-link-between-lyme-disease-and-dementia/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/06/10/the-coming-pandemic-of-lyme-dementia/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/06/22/dementia-from-illness/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/03/10/baseballs-tom-seaver-diagnosed-with-dementia/

Category:

Psychological Aspects, research, Treatment