Archive for the ‘research’ Category

Persister Cells: The LINK to Lyme Disease

https://holtorfmed.com/articles/lyme-disease/persister-cells-is-there-a-connection-to-lyme-disease?

By Holtorf Medical Group

4/4/23

Persister Cells: A Major Concern in the Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem in the world today. The overuse and misuse of antibiotics has led to the development of bacteria that are resistant to many of the drugs we use to treat infections. This has made it more difficult to treat bacterial infections and has resulted in increased morbidity and mortality. One factor that contributes to antibiotic resistance is the presence of persister cells.

What are Persister Cells?

Persister cells are a subpopulation of bacteria that have the ability to survive antibiotic treatment. These cells are not resistant to antibiotics, but rather they enter a dormant state that prevents them from being affected by the drugs. This means that even after a course of antibiotics, some bacteria may remain in this dormant state and can continue to cause problems later on.

This is a major concern in the treatment of bacterial infections, as persister cells can contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance and make it difficult to completely eradicate an infection. Researchers are currently working to develop new treatments that can target persister cells and prevent the development of antibiotic resistance.

Connection to Lyme Disease

According to a recent review published by the Global Lyme Alliance persister cells may play a role in the persistence of Lyme disease. These cells can enter a dormant state, similar to the spirochetes that cause Lyme disease, and may contribute to the chronic nature of the disease. Current treatments for Lyme disease, such as antibiotics, may not be effective against these persister cells. Therefore, researchers are investigating new treatments that can target these cells and prevent the recurrence of Lyme disease. This highlights the importance of understanding the role of persister cells in infections and developing new treatments to combat them.

Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. The disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks. In addition to the well-known symptoms of Lyme disease, such as fever, fatigue, and joint pain, some people with Lyme disease may experience problems with their vision.

Current treatments for Lyme disease typically involve antibiotics, which are effective in killing the actively growing bacteria. However, persister cells can enter a dormant state and evade the effects of antibiotics, leading to a possible recurrence of the disease.

To combat this problem, researchers are investigating new treatments that can target persister cells and prevent the recurrence of Lyme disease. One approach being studied is the use of drug combinations that can target both the actively growing bacteria and the dormant persister cells. Another approach is the use of drugs that can stimulate the persister cells to become active again, enabling the antibiotics to target and kill them.

Understanding the role of persister cells in Lyme disease is crucial to developing new treatments that can effectively eradicate the bacteria and prevent the recurrence of the disease. It is important to note, however, that the best approach to combating the spread of Lyme disease is through prevention, including avoiding tick bites and seeking treatment early if symptoms develop.

Persisters in Other Chronic Infections

A study published in the journal Nature found that persisters may be responsible for the development of chronic infections in patients with cystic fibrosis. The researchers found that Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common bacteria associated with cystic fibrosis, was able to form persisters in the lungs of patients with the condition. These persisters were able to survive antibiotic treatment and contribute to the chronic nature of the infection.

Another study published in the Journal of Bacteriology found that persisters may be involved in the development of chronic urinary tract infections. The researchers found that E. coli, the bacteria responsible for most urinary tract infections, was able to form persisters in response to antibiotic treatment. These persisters were then able to re-emerge and cause recurrent infections.

While the role of persisters in chronic infections is still not fully understood, these studies suggest that they may be an important factor in the development and persistence of these infections. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind persister formation and develop effective treatments for chronic infections.

Dormancy vs Activation of Persister Cells

One approach being investigated to combat persister cells is the use of drugs that can stimulate the persister cells to become active again. By doing this, the antibiotics can then target and kill the persister cells, instead of just putting them in a dormant state. However, this approach is still in the early stages of research, and it is not yet clear if it will be effective in treating bacterial infections.

Another approach to targeting persister cells is to use a combination of antibiotics that can target both the actively growing bacteria and the dormant persister cells. This approach has shown promising results in vitro and in animal studies, but more research is needed to determine if it will be effective in humans.

It is important to note that targeting persister cells is just one part of the fight against antibiotic resistance. It is also important to use antibiotics responsibly and only when necessary, to prevent the development of new resistant strains of bacteria. Additionally, the development of new vaccines and alternative treatments is also important in reducing the need for antibiotics.

Final Thoughts

Persister cells may contribute to the persistence of Lyme disease, and current treatments may not be effective against them. Researchers are investigating new treatments that can target persister cells and prevent the recurrence of the disease. However, prevention remains the best approach to combating the spread of Lyme disease.

For more:

Category:

Lyme, research, Treatment

Study Links Mask-Wearing to ‘Long Covid’

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1125150/full

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Public Health, 05 April 2023
Sec. Environmental health and Exposome
Volume 11 – 2023 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1125150

Physio-metabolic and clinical consequences of wearing face masks—Systematic review with meta-analysis and comprehensive evaluation

Kai Kisielinski1*, Oliver Hirsch2, Susanne Wagner3, Barbara Wojtasik4, Stefan Funken5, Bernd Klosterhalfen6, Soumen Kanti Manna7, Andreas Prescher8, Pritam Sukul9* and Andreas Sönnichsen10

Background: As face masks became mandatory in most countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, adverse effects require substantiated investigation.

Methods: A systematic review of 2,168 studies on adverse medical mask effects yielded 54 publications for synthesis and 37 studies for meta-analysis (on n = 8,641, m = 2,482, f = 6,159, age = 34.8 ± 12.5). The median trial duration was only 18 min (IQR = 50) for our comprehensive evaluation of mask induced physio-metabolic and clinical outcomes.

Results: We found significant effects in both medical surgical and N95 masks, with a greater impact of the second. These effects included decreased SpO2 (overall Standard Mean Difference, SMD = −0.24, 95% CI = −0.38 to −0.11, p < 0.001) and minute ventilation (SMD = −0.72, 95% CI = −0.99 to −0.46, p < 0.001), simultaneous increased in blood-CO2 (SMD = +0.64, 95% CI = 0.31–0.96, p < 0.001), heart rate (N95: SMD = +0.22, 95% CI = 0.03–0.41, p = 0.02), systolic blood pressure (surgical: SMD = +0.21, 95% CI = 0.03–0.39, p = 0.02), skin temperature (overall SMD = +0.80 95% CI = 0.23–1.38, p = 0.006) and humidity (SMD +2.24, 95% CI = 1.32–3.17, p < 0.001). Effects on exertion (overall SMD = +0.9, surgical = +0.63, N95 = +1.19), discomfort (SMD = +1.16), dyspnoea (SMD = +1.46), heat (SMD = +0.70), and humidity (SMD = +0.9) were significant in n = 373 with a robust relationship to mask wearing (p < 0.006 to p < 0.001). Pooled symptom prevalence (n = 8,128) was significant for: headache (62%, p < 0.001), acne (38%, p < 0.001), skin irritation (36%, p < 0.001), dyspnoea (33%, p < 0.001), heat (26%, p < 0.001), itching (26%, p < 0.001), voice disorder (23%, p < 0.03), and dizziness (5%, p = 0.01).

Discussion: Masks interfered with O2-uptake and CO2-release and compromised respiratory compensation. Though evaluated wearing durations are shorter than daily/prolonged use, outcomes independently validate mask-induced exhaustion-syndrome (MIES) and down-stream physio-metabolic disfunctions. MIES can have long-term clinical consequences, especially for vulnerable groups. So far, several mask related symptoms may have been misinterpreted as long COVID-19 symptoms. In any case, the possible MIES contrasts with the WHO definition of health.

Conclusion: Face mask side-effects must be assessed (risk-benefit) against the available evidence of their effectiveness against viral transmissions. In the absence of strong empirical evidence of effectiveness, mask wearing should not be mandated let alone enforced by law.

Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021256694, identifier: PROSPERO 2021 CRD42021256694.

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**Comment**

And yet, people are still donning these futile, toxic, oxygen depleters, infection propagators, and pollution causing face coverings that have set education back decades.  Yes, I’m passionate about this.

Sadly, an employee in a large hospital system in Michigan reports they’ve worn masks for almost three years. Recently, everyone got an email stating they are finally dropping masking but only for those who got the gene therapy injection and all recommended boosters despite the fact it is now widely known these injections don’t stop transmission or infection, severe illness, hospitalization, or death and are linked to more adverse reactions and death than any other “vaccine” in the history of VAERS.  But, truth be damned.  Keep pushing the face diaper narrative at all costs.

Seriously, ENOUGH of the lunacy!

For more:

Category:

Activism, research, Viruses

Are You Unknowingly Ingesting Toxic Mold?

https://www.lymedisease.org/unknowingly-ingesting-mold/

Are you unknowingly ingesting toxic mold?

By Lonnie Marcum
April 4, 2023

Do you feel like you’re doing everything right and still not getting better? It’s possible something hidden in your daily routine may be sabotaging your healing.

One potential culprit is manufactured citric acid (MCA), often added to food as a preservative and flavor enhancer.

It’s used in processed foods, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, fruit drinks, nutritional supplements, vitamins, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and more.

And here’s the potential problem: this ingredient is mass produced using  Aspergillus niger—a type of mold. People with chronic illness and weakened immune systems may react badly to it. In fact, many patients with persistent symptoms of Lyme disease experience more severe symptoms when exposed to mold.

To date, there have been no human trials investigating the safety of MCA. However, in 2018, two medical doctors at the University of Chicago did a deep literature review and found cause for concern.

In their published paper, they present a series of four case reports of patients who had significant worsening of symptoms after ingesting MCA. By eliminating MCA, each of the patients had a resolution of symptoms.

What exactly is this substance?

Citric acid is naturally derived from lemons, limes and other fruits and vegetables and was widely used in foods and beverages until the early 1900s. In 1917, James Currie, an American chemist, discovered he could mass produce citric acid from mold.

Today, 99% of citric acid in commercial use is manufactured from fermented corn syrup and Aspergillus niger.

In 2016 there were 2.3 million tons of MCA produced, predominantly in China. Approximately 70% of that MCA is used in foods and beverages, 20% in pharmaceutical ingredients and cosmetics, and 10% in cleaning and softening agents.

While the basic molecular formula for natural citric acid and MCA is the same (C-6,H-8,O-7), MCA contains the potential of contamination by impurities and fragments of Aspergillus niger.

When mold enters the body, the immune system recognizes it as a foreign invader and mounts a response to remove it. The specific immune response to mold depends on the type of mold, the individual’s immune system, and the duration and extent of exposure.

Aspergillus niger is commonly found in soil and decaying vegetation. It is extremely resilient, flourishing in both hot and cold climates.

While the FDA currently lists MCA as a safe ingredient, it was developed at a time before the agency monitored food additives. In 1958, the US adopted the Food Additives Amendment, making any ingredients added to food subject to FDA approval. However, Congress excluded from this requirement all food ingredients in use before 1958.

Allergic reactions

Symptoms of mold allergy can include:

  • Respiratory symptoms (coughing, wheezing, worsening Asthma)
  • Skin rash or hives
  • Itchy or watery eyes
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Headache
  • Gastrointestinal upset

In rare cases, exposure to Aspergillus niger can lead to a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which requires immediate medical attention.

If you suspect that you may have an allergy to Aspergillus niger or other molds, it’s important to speak with your healthcare provider. They may recommend allergy and mold testing to confirm the diagnosis.

Minimizing exposure

It’s important for people with weakened immune symptoms to minimize their exposure to mold. If you live or work in an environment where you are likely to be exposed to mold, you may need to take steps to reduce your exposure and minimize your risk of developing an allergy.

Ways to minimize mold exposure include keeping your living spaces clean and dry, using air filters or dehumidifiers, and consuming clean food and beverages. In severe cases, more drastic remediation efforts must be taken.

If you have a known mold sensitivity,  I recommend that you read the ingredient of your most frequently consumed foods, beverages, and supplements. Ingredients are listed from highest to lowest content. If you see citric acid high on the list and you notice an increase in symptoms shortly after consuming that product, you might try eliminating the item from your diet.

For more information, see:

LYME SCI: Are hidden ingredients in pills making you sicker?

LYME SCI: Dealing with Lyme disease and mold illness at the same time.

LYME SCI: Lyme? Mold toxicity? Other chronic ills? Read this book.

TICKTECTIVE: All about kids with Lyme, PANS, and mold illness.

LymeSci is written by Lonnie Marcum, a Licensed Physical Therapist and mother of a daughter with Lyme. She served two terms on a subcommittee of the federal Tick-Borne Disease Working Group. Follow her on Twitter: @LonnieRhea  Email her at: lmarcum@lymedisease.org.

Reference

Sweis IE, Cressey BC. Potential role of the common food additive manufactured citric acid in eliciting significant inflammatory reactions contributing to serious disease states: A series of four case reports. Toxicol Rep. 2018 Aug 9;5:808-812. doi: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2018.08.002. PMID: 30128297; PMCID: PMC6097542.

For more:

Category:

Mold, research, Supplements

Tick-borne Powassan Virus is Being Transmitted in Concentrated Clusters in New England, Yale Study Says

https://ysph.yale.edu/news-article/tick-borne-powassan-virus-is-being-transmitted-in-concentrated-clusters-in-new-england-yale-study-says/

Tick-borne Powassan virus is being transmitted in concentrated clusters in New England, Yale study says

YALE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

April 11, 2023

By Jenny Blair, Yale School of Public Health

For New Englanders, tick-borne infections are a fact of life. Lyme disease, a bacterial infection carried by the deer tick, was first described in Connecticut in the 1970s and remains a major problem.

But deer ticks transmit other diseases to humans as well, including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and an emerging virus called Powassan. Cases of Powassan virus have risen dramatically in recent years in the United States, mostly in the Northeast and Great Lakes region.

Most people infected with Powassan do not experience symptoms, but for some, it can result in brain swelling and even death. There are currently no vaccines or treatments for Powassan virus infection. Prevention is primarily dependent on education and control.

In a new study, researchers at the Yale School of Public Health provide insights into the transmission dynamics of the Powassan virus that could help focus public health efforts and limit infections. The study found that the virus appears to be highly localized in its spread, meaning that the virus is maintained in scattered local hotspots with very limited mixing between hotspot sites.

“It’s incredibly important to do surveillance to know what’s out there,” said Chantal Vogels, a research scientist in the Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases at the Yale School of Public Health (YSPH) and a co-first author of the study.

By greatly expanding on what little genomic information scientists had before our study, Vogels said, “we were able to explore patterns of transmission and spread and unravel the ecology of the virus.”

Mapping viral spread

The team studied 279 samples of Powassan virus lineage 2 found in deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis, also called black-legged ticks) collected in Connecticut, New York, and Maine between 2008 and 2019.

By deciphering and comparing the virus’s complete genetic codes, or genomes, the researchers reconstructed the history of Powassan in the region. They estimated when branches of the virus’s “family tree” diverged and pieced together how the virus evolved and where it traveled via its hosts.

It’s incredibly important to do surveillance to know what’s out there.

Chantal Vogels, research scientist, Yale School of Public Health

Sometime between 1940 and 1975, a major branch of the lineage 2 virus appeared in the Northeast. This branch of the virus, which accounts for most Powassan cases in North America, first appeared in southern New York State and Connecticut. Then, several long-distance jumps occurred, likely when infected ticks caught rides on migrating birds or other vertebrate hosts. By 1991, it had reached Maine. During its initial decades in the region, Powassan became more populous in the wild, but this probably leveled off about 2005.

The virus now appears to be moving slowly or staying put, simmering in specific hotspots, and evolving independently in each one. For instance, the scientists could find no evidence that separate clades of the virus were mingling with each other across a 20-kilometer (or approximately 12.5 miles) stretch between two Connecticut sites. The scientists note, however, that they sampled only a limited number of locations, so it’s possible they missed hotspots.

Still, this new information could help health officials to target those hotspots, where Powassan is more likely to spill over into humans, for education and eradication efforts.

“If it’s anything like [the related] tick-borne encephalitis virus, [previous researchers have] estimated that these foci are typically about the size of a football field,” said Doug Brackney, a researcher in the Department of Entomology at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, and an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases at YSPH.

A quiet menace

Researchers first identified the virus in 1958 in a five-year-old boy from Powassan, Ontario, who developed severe encephalitis and died. After that, about one case per year was diagnosed until 2006. Then cases began to climb, and since the late 2010s dozens of diagnoses have been made nearly every year.

Given that the virus’s numbers appear to have leveled off in the wild, this increase in human disease may have happened because more humans are encountering ticks, and/or because more health professionals are checking for Powassan in patients with suspicious symptoms.

Unlike Lyme disease, which takes hours to pass from an infected tick to a human, Powassan can be transmitted just 15 minutes after the tick latches on. More New England residents have likely been infected with Powassan than have shown symptoms.

“We typically only see the most severe cases of disease, and those are the people that end up in the hospital. But it’s probably just the tip of the iceberg,” Vogels said.

“I think it’s really important to be early with this work,” she added, “to prevent a situation where everyone has heard of this virus, and it creates a huge burden on public health.”

The study appears online in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

***

The study’s four co-first authors are Vogels; Brackney; Alan P. Dupuis II of the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and the State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany; and Rebecca M. Robich of the MaineHealth Institute for Research (MHIR).

The five co-senior authors are Robert P. Smith of MHIR; Philip M. Armstrong of The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES); Alexander T. Ciota of the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and SUNY Albany; Simon Dellicour of KU Leuven and Université Libre de Bruxelles, both in Belgium; and Nathan D. Grubaugh of the Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, and the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University.

Other co-authors are Joseph R. Fauver of the Yale School of Public Health and the University of Nebraska Medical Center; Anderson F. Brito of the Yale School of Public Health and Instituto Todos pela Saúde, São Paulo, Brazil; Scott C. Williams and John F. Anderson, both of CAES; Charles B. Lubelczyk of MHIR; Rachel E. Lange and Laura D. Kramer, both of NYSDOH and SUNY Albany; Melissa A. Prusinski of NYSDOH; Jody L. Gangloff-Kaufmann and Laura B. Goodman, both of Cornell University; and Guy Baele of Belgium’s KU Leuven.

The research was funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Science, a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the NIH. Baele received funding from Internal Funds KU Leuven and the Research Foundation – Flanders. Dellicour received funding from the Research Foundation – Flanders, the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique, and European Union Horizon 2020.

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**Comment**

Wisconsin is a hotspot for Powassan as well.  It also is not rare.  Again, this is an issue of it being “rarely reported.”  Big diff.

Coppe Lab, a CLIA certified lab, right here Waukesha has been studying Powassan for quite some time. Their pdf below states that numbers look low because only severe cases are reported. Despite this, there’s been a 375% increase in the last 5 years. 

They state the clinical picture of Powassan looks like many other tick-borne illnesses and is…

PROBABLY OVERLOOKED YET DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTES TO DISEASE LONG TERM.

About two-thirds are subclinical cases but around 30% of symptomatic adults contract a severe form called meningoencephalitis. One-third of those have incomplete recovery with neuropsychiatric symptoms that become chronic. The overall fatality rate is about 1% and severity of illness increases with the age of the patient.

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Category:

research, Ticks, Transmission, Viruses

Homicide, Two Assaults, And Suicide in Lyme Patient

https://danielcameronmd.com/homicide-two-assaults-suicide/

HOMICIDE, TWO ASSAULTS, AND SUICIDE IN LYME DISEASE PATIENT

lyme-disease-suicide

A case report by Dr. Robert Bransfield and colleagues describes a patient who developed substance abuse issues after struggling with Lyme disease and was eventually charged with homicide and two assaults. The patient later committed suicide.

By 

The article entitled “A Fatal Case of Late Stage Lyme Borreliosis and Substance Abuse,”1 describes a patient exhibiting aggressiveness, violence, and homicidality. Like many Lyme disease patients, the man experienced a delay in diagnosis and treatment. (One study reports that subjects enrolling in a trial of Lyme encephalopathy were ill an average of two years before being diagnosed.2)

The patient’s Lyme disease symptoms progressed. “Further disease progression contributed to him feeling desperate as a result of multiple late-stage symptoms,” wrote Bransfield et al.  According to Fallon et al., the number of Lyme disease patients who feel desperate is not clear. 2

Based on more than 30 years of experience treating Lyme disease patients, Dr. Bransfield previously described a wide range of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Lyme disease patients. “… neuropsychiatric symptoms, usually presenting with significant comorbidity which may include developmental disorders, autism spectrum disorders, schizoaffective disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders (panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, intrusive symptoms), eating disorders, decreased libido, sleep disorders, addiction, opioid addiction, cognitive impairments, dementia, seizure disorders, suicide, violence, anhedonia, depersonalization, dissociative episodes, derealization and other impairments.”3

“Further disease progression contributed to him feeling desperate as a result of multiple late-stage symptoms.”

The patient’s condition worsened.  “The pathophysiological effects of the infection resulted in an increased number and severity of multisystem symptoms, disability, and substance abuse,” the authors wrote. “He experimented with multiple substances in an effort for relief.”

The authors added, “During acute deterioration of his mental state from phencyclidine withdrawal, NMDA agonism increased, he committed a homicide, two assaults, and suicide.”

In an earlier study, Dr. Bransfield described substance abuse, cannabis use, and intoxication in Lyme disease patients.4

Bransfield and colleagues advised prompt diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease to help prevent addictive disorders, substance abuse, and death.

“More effective diagnosis and treatment and attention to substance abuse potential in these patients may help prevent some cases of addictive disorders, substance abuse, and death.”

Related Articles:

Mental health in COVID-19 and Lyme disease patients

Lyme disease and depression

Lyme disease patients at risk for suicide

References:
  1. Bransfield RC, Embers ME, Dwork AJ. A Fatal Case of Late Stage Lyme Borreliosis and Substance Abuse. Abstract. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports. April 2023. Last viewed 4/1/23 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666915323000641?via%3Dihub
  2. Fallon BA, Keilp JG, Corbera KM, et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of repeated IV antibiotic therapy for Lyme encephalopathy. Neurology. Mar 25 2008;70(13):992-1003. doi:10.1212/01.WNL.0000284604.61160.2d
  3. Bransfield RC. Neuropsychiatric Lyme Borreliosis: An Overview with a Focus on a Specialty Psychiatrist’s Clinical Practice. Healthcare (Basel). Aug 25 2018;6(3)doi:10.3390/healthcare6030104
  4. Bransfield RC. Aggressiveness, violence, homicidality, homicide, and Lyme disease. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2018;14:693-713. doi:10.2147/NDT.S155143

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**Comment**

Most are not diagnosed and treated promptly and nobody has a clue how many patients are going through something similar to this poor man.  Most of us feel desperate at some point.

For more:

Category:

Lyme, Psychological Aspects, research