A center to research, diagnose, and treat tick-borne illness will open its doors this Spring
The Tick-Borne Illness Center of Excellence will begin seeing patients in early 2019.
Located in Minocqua, Wisconsin, the center will offer the following services:
Patient-centered approach to diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up
Rehab
Behavioral Health
Pain Management
Radiology
Capturing data
Conducting Research
The Center will be led by Dr. Kogelnick and Dr. Tom Sult. Dr. Sult will apply Functional Medicine methodology and Dr. Kogelnik will be training him on the application of precision medicine.
The Center will open as a fee-for-service clinic, but will provide patients with paperwork they can submit themselves to their insurance companies.
Community members have already been donating blood samples for use in creating a community baseline for the types & prevalence of tick-borne illness.
“We try to collect as much information about an individual patient. We try to get deep into some of the complexity of what’s gone wrong in this patient’s body as a result of these illnesses and try to fix those,” Dr. Andy explained. “We think pretty far outside the box and are open to lots of different therapies ranging from treating the pathogens directly to treating some of the systems that may have gotten out of kilter. That’s part of looking at the whole patient instead of just that one little corner of that patient.”
“We want the doctor-shopping to stop and to have people simply come here and get the help they need,” Jillayne Waite said. “The staff at this Tick-Borne Illness Center will act as the quarterback for their patient’s treatment. In other words, they call the plays by providing and coordinating the care.”
Please consider making a gift to the TBI Center of Excellence by calling 715-439-4005, or online at howardyoungfoundation.org, or mail to P.O. Box 470, Woodruff, WI 54568.
All relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files.
Abstract
Lyme disease (LD), caused by bacteria of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species complex, is the most common vector-borne disease in North America and Europe. A systematic review (SR) was conducted to summarize the global literature on adverse birth outcomes associated with gestational LD in humans. The SR followed an a priori protocol of pretested screening, risk of bias, and data extraction forms. Data were summarized descriptively and random effects meta-analysis (MA) was used where appropriate. The SR identified 45 relevant studies, 29 describing 59 cases reported as gestational LD in the United States, Europe, and Asia (1969–2017).
Adverse birth outcomes included
spontaneous miscarriage or fetal death (n = 12)
newborn death (n = 8)
newborns with an abnormal outcome (e.g. hyperbilirubinemia, respiratory distress and syndactyly) at birth (n = 16).
Only one report provided a full case description (clinical manifestations in the mother, negative outcome for the child, and laboratory detection of B. burgdorferi in the child) that provides some evidence for vertical transmission of B. burgdorferi that has negative consequences for the fetus.
The results of 17 epidemiological studies are included in this SR. Prevalence of adverse birth outcomes in an exposed population (defined by the authors as: gestational LD, history of LD, tick bites or residence in an endemic area) was compared to that in an unexposed population in eight studies and no difference was reported.
A meta-analysis of nine studies showed significantly fewer adverse birth outcomes in women reported to have been treated for gestational LD (11%, 95%CI 7–16) compared to those who were not treated during pregnancy (50%, 95%CI 30–70) providing indirect evidence of an association between gestational LD and adverse birth outcomes. Other risk factors investigated; trimester of exposure, length of LD during pregnancy, acute vs. disseminated LD at diagnosis, and symptomatic LD vs. seropositive women with no LD symptoms during pregnancy were not significantly associated with adverse birth outcomes.
This SR summarizes evidence from case studies that provide some limited evidence for transplacental transmission of B. burgdorferi. There was inconsistent evidence for adverse birth outcomes of gestational LD in the epidemiological research, and uncommon adverse outcomes for the fetus may occur as a consequence of gestational LD.
The global evidence does not fully characterize the potential impact of gestational LD, and future research that addresses the knowledge gaps may change the findings in this SR. Given the current evidence; prompt diagnosis and treatment of LD during pregnancy is recommended.
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**Comment**
This is a perfect example of garbage in, garbage out. The reasons are numerous:
Testing misses over half of all cases.
ALL reported numbers are low regarding tick borne illness (TBI’s). Remember, the CDC itself increased the numbers of NEW cases per year from 30,000 to 300,000 all in one fell swoop, and even that estimate is low. Imagine all the patients who are pregnant of that number.
The Cabal has flatly stated that gestational Lyme doesn’t exist. They have had a stranglehold on research and the entire medical profession for 40 years. Do you think any researcher who wants to pay their bills will take gestational Lyme on? I don’t think so.
Please know that gestational Lyme happens, is far more prevalent than the literature shows, and is only going to increase.
So when you read this “literature review” please understand that every single thing is stacked against finding gestational Lyme.
https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/11/11/gestational-lyme-other-tick-borne-diseases-dr-jones/A retrospective study showed 480 children with gestational Lyme/MSIDS. Diagnosis was based on clinical physical and history. Two cases of in vitro fertilization caused embryonic infection. Gustafason & Burgess demonstrated gestational Bb infection in dogs. Of the inoculated bitches, 80% became infected who then birthed mostly infected pups.
https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/08/16/why-do-officials-continue-to-deny-gestational-lyme/Lyme disease is an infectious disease which is not only zoonotic (tick transmission) but has been proven and even documented by Canadian Federal Health authorities to be transferred from human-to-human, mother to child. There are also valid concerns that this disease could be transmitted sexually and through the blood supply.
Human babesiosis caused by Babesia duncani is an emerging infectious disease in Canada. This malaria-like illness is brought about by a protozoan parasite infecting red blood cells. Currently, controversy surrounds which tick species are vectors of B. duncani. Since the availability of a serological or molecular test in Canada for B. duncani has been limited, we conducted a seven-year surveillance study (2011⁻2017) to ascertain the occurrence and geographic distribution of B. duncani infection country-wide. Surveillance case data for human B. duncani infections were collected by contacting physicians and naturopathic physicians in the United States and Canada who specialize in tick-borne diseases. During the seven-year period, 1119 cases were identified. The presence of B. duncani infections was widespread across Canada, with the highest occurrence in the Pacific coast region. Patients with human babesiosis may be asymptomatic, but as this parasitemia progresses, symptoms range from mild to fatal. Donors of blood, plasma, living tissues, and organs may unknowingly be infected with this piroplasm and are contributing to the spread of this zoonosis. Our data show that greater awareness of human babesiosis is needed in Canada, and the imminent threat to the security of the Canadian blood supply warrants further investigation. Based on our epidemiological findings, human babesiosis should be a nationally notifiable disease in Canada. Whenever a patient has a tick bite, health practitioners must watch for B. duncani infections, and include human babesiosis in their differential diagnosis.
Human babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease caused by apicomplexan parasites of the genus Babesia. Clinical cases caused by Babesia duncani have been associated with high parasite burden, severe pathology and death. In both mice and hamsters, the parasite causes uncontrolled fulminant infections, which ultimately lead to death. Resolving these infections requires knowledge of B. duncani biology, virulence, and susceptibility to anti-infectives, but little is known and further research is hindered by a lack of relevant model systems. Here, we report the first continuous in vitro culture of B. duncani in human red blood cells. We show that during its asexual cycle within human erythrocytes, B. duncani develops and divides to form four daughter parasites with parasitemia doubling every ~22 h. Using this in vitro culture assay, we found that B. duncani has low susceptibility to the four drugs recommended for treatment of human babesiosis, atovaquone, azithromycin, clindamycin and quinine, with IC50 values ranging between 500 nM and 20 μM. These data suggest that current practices are of limited effect in treating the disease. We anticipate this new disease model will set the stage for a better understanding of the biology of this parasite and will help guide better therapeutic strategies to treat B. duncani-associated babesiosis.
My husband and I both had Babesia. Thankfully, that is one we are symptom-free from, but we treated for an entire year. Dr. Horowitz states it’s one of the most tenacious coinfections he treats.
We used:
Mepron (750mg/5ml two times a day)
Allergy Research Brand Artemisinin (500mg 2X/day)
An intracellular such as one of the following:
*azithromycin (Zithromax) 500mg twice a day
*clarithromycin (Biaxin) 500mg twice a day
*doxycline 100mg 2 pills twice a day
*minocycline 100mg twice a day
Wise treatment overlaps. It works synergistically and it helps prevent tolerance.
Babesia treatment is typically 3 weeks on, 1 week off. I believe we pulsed the Artemisinin MWF. This is a particular potent form and will give you a metallic taste in your mouth. To read about it: https://www.allergyresearchgroup.com/quality-artemisinin(I am not affiliated with any products or services). I was thankful for the pulsing as I had heart-attack type herxes and the breaks from those were welcome!
See Babesia Treatment link above for a symptom check-list you can print and fill out.
A Nationwide Study in Denmark of the Association Between Treated Infections and the Subsequent Risk of Treated Mental Disorders in Children and Adolescents
JAMA Psychiatry. Published online December 5, 2018. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.3428
Abstract
Importance Infections have been associated with increased risks for mental disorders, such as schizophrenia and depression. However, the association between all infections requiring treatment and the wide range of mental disorders is unknown to date.
Objective To investigate the association between all treated infections since birth and the subsequent risk of development of any treated mental disorder during childhood and adolescence.
Design, Setting, and Participants Population-based cohort study using Danish nationwide registers. Participants were all individuals born in Denmark between January 1, 1995, and June 30, 2012 (N = 1 098 930). Dates of analysis were November 2017 to February 2018.
Exposures All treated infections were identified in a time-varying manner from birth until June 30, 2013, including severe infections requiring hospitalizations and less severe infection treated with anti-infective agents in the primary care sector.
Main Outcomes and Measures This study identified all mental disorders diagnosed in a hospital setting and any redeemed prescription for psychotropic medication. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed reporting hazard rate ratios (HRRs), including 95% CIs, adjusted for age, sex, somatic comorbidity, parental education, and parental mental disorders.
Results A total of 1 098 930 individuals (51.3% male) were followed up for 9 620 807.7 person-years until a mean (SD) age of 9.76 (4.91) years. Infections requiring hospitalizations were associated with subsequent increased risk of having a diagnosis of any mental disorder (n = 42 462) by an HRR of 1.84 (95% CI, 1.69-1.99) and with increased risk of redeeming a prescription for psychotropic medication (n = 56 847) by an HRR of 1.42 (95% CI, 1.37-1.46). Infection treated with anti-infective agents was associated with increased risk of having a diagnosis of any mental disorder (HRR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.29-1.51) and with increased risk of redeeming a prescription for psychotropic medication (HRR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.18-1.26). Antibiotic use was associated with particularly increased risk estimates. The risk of mental disorders after infections increased in a dose-response association and with the temporal proximity of the last infection. The following were associated with the highest risks after infections:
schizophrenia spectrum disorders
obsessive-compulsive disorder
personality and behavior disorders
mental retardation
autistic spectrum disorder
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
oppositional defiant disorder
conduct disorder
tic disorders
Conclusions and Relevance Although the results cannot prove causality, these findings provide evidence for the involvement of infections and the immune system in the etiology of a wide range of mental disorders in children and adolescents.
Oils from garlic and several other common herbs and medicinal plants show strong activity against the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, according to a study by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. These oils may be especially useful in alleviating Lyme symptoms that persist despite standard antibiotic treatment, the study also suggests.
Image/CDC
The study, published October 16 in the journal Antibiotics, included lab-dish tests of 35 essential oils–oils that are pressed from plants or their fruits and contain the plant’s main fragrance, or “essence.” The Bloomberg School researchers found that 10 of these, including oils from garlic cloves, myrrh trees, thyme leaves, cinnamon bark, allspice berries and cumin seeds, showed strong killing activity against dormant and slow-growing “persister” forms of the Lyme disease bacterium.
“We found that these essential oils were even better at killing the ‘persister’ forms of Lyme bacteria than standard Lyme antibiotics,” says study senior author Ying Zhang, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Bloomberg School.
There are an estimated 300,000 new cases of Lyme disease each year in the United States. Standard treatment with doxycycline or an alternative antibiotic for a few weeks usually clears the infection and resolves symptoms. However, about 10 to 20 percent of patients report persistent symptoms including fatigue and joint pain–often termed “persistent Lyme infection” or “post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome” (PTLDS) that in some cases can last for months or years.
The cause of this lingering syndrome isn’t known. But it is known that cultures of Lyme disease bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, can enter a so-called stationary phase in which many of the cells divide slowly or not at all. The slow-dividing or dormant cells are “persister” cells, which can form naturally under nutrient starvation or stress conditions, and are more resistant to antibiotics. Some researchers have sought other drugs or medicinal compounds that can kill persister Lyme bacteria in the hope that these compounds can be used to treat people with persistent Lyme symptoms.
Zhang and his laboratory have been at the forefront of these efforts. In 2014, his lab screened FDA-approved drugs for activity against persister Lyme bacteria and found many candidates including daptomycin (used to treat MRSA) that had better activity than the current Lyme antibiotics. In 2015, they reported that a three-antibiotic combination–doxycycline, cefoperazone and daptomycin–reliably killed Lyme persister bacteria in lab dish tests. In a 2017 study they found that essential oils from oregano, cinnamon bark, clove buds, citronella and wintergreen killed stationary phase Lyme bacteria even more potently than daptomycin, the champion among tested pharmaceuticals.
In the new study Zhang and his team extended their lab-dish testing to include 35 other essential oils, and found 10 that show significant killing activity against stationary phase Lyme bacteria cultures at concentrations of just one part per thousand. At this concentration, five of these oils, derived respectively from garlic bulbs, allspice berries, myrrh trees, spiked ginger lily blossoms and may change fruit successfully killed all stationary phase Lyme bacteria in their culture dishes in seven days, so no bacteria grew back in 21 days.
Oils from thyme leaves, cumin seeds and amyris wood also performed well, as did cinnamaldehyde, the fragrant main ingredient of cinnamon bark oil.
Lab-dish tests such as these represent an early stage of research, but Zhang and colleagues hope in the near future to continue their investigations of essential oils with tests in live animals, including tests in mouse models of persistent Lyme infection. If those tests go well and the effective doses seem safe, Zhang expects to organize initial tests in humans.
“At this stage these essential oils look very promising as candidate treatments for persistent Lyme infection, but ultimately we need properly designed clinical trials,” he says.
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**Comment**
Please remember that both Stevia and the essential oil studies have been in vitro – or in a lab, not in the human body. This is an important distinction because the body is far more complex and what plays out in a petri dish may or may not play out in the body.
Personally, my husband and I have tried Stevia and EO’s internally. We relapsed on both. We also didn’t have any noticeable herx reactions. That isn’t to say they won’t work on someone else but for me and my husband we’ve ALWAYS responded to antibiotics with noticeable herxheimer reactions upon starting treatment. Again, much plays into this and for us, Bartonella is a key player – perhaps more so than even Lyme when going by symptoms. The polymicrobial nature of Lyme/MSIDS keeps this a complex, difficult to treat illness.We are human Guinea pigs. I will also add that we both took Tinidazole throughout our YEARS of treatment which, if you study it, you discover it is one of the few that reduces spirochetal and round body forms by ~80%-90% (Again, this is an in vitro study):
Madison Area Lyme Support Group 