Archive for the ‘Testing’ Category

Infections Increase the Risk of Developing Sjogren’s Syndrome

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30892751/

2019 Jun;285(6):670-680. doi: 10.1111/joim.12888. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Infections increase the risk of developing Sjögren’s syndrome.

Mofors J1, Arkema EV2, Björk A1, Westermark L3, Kvarnström M1, Forsblad-d’Elia H4, Magnusson Bucher S5, Eriksson P6, Mandl T7, Nordmark G3, Wahren-Herlenius M1.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Environmental factors have been suggested in the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases. We here investigated whether infections increase the risk of developing primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS).

METHODS:

Patients with pSS in Sweden (n = 945) and matched controls from the general population (n = 9048) were included, and data extracted from the National Patient Register to identify infections occurring before pSS diagnosis during a mean observational time of 16.0 years. Data were analysed using conditional logistic regression models. Sensitivity analyses were performed by varying exposure definition and adjusting for previous health care consumption.

RESULTS:

A history of infection associated with an increased risk of pSS (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.6-2.3). Infections were more prominently associated with the development of SSA/SSB autoantibody-positive pSS (OR 2.7, 95% CI 2.0-3.5). When stratifying the analysis by organ system infected, respiratory infections increased the risk of developing pSS, both in patients with (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.8-4.7) and without autoantibodies (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-3.8), whilst skin and urogenital infections only significantly associated with the development of autoantibody-positive pSS (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.8-5.5 and OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.7-4.2). Furthermore, a dose-response relationship was observed for infections and a risk to develop pSS with Ro/SSA and La/SSB antibodies. Gastrointestinal infections were not significantly associated with a risk of pSS.

CONCLUSIONS:

Infections increase the risk of developing pSS, most prominently SSA/SSB autoantibody-positive disease, suggesting that microbial triggers of immunity may partake in the pathogenetic process of pSS.

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For more: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/03/19/sjogrens-syndrome-clinical-benefits-of-low-dose-naltrexone-therapy/

Tick-borne illnesses are all infections that could potentially increase the risk of developing primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) yet most doctors will not even consider this.

 

 

 

Category:

Lyme, research, Testing

Antinuclear Antibodies in Infectious Diseases

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31718355

2019 Nov 12:1-9. doi: 10.1080/23744235.2019.1690676. [Epub ahead of print]

Antinuclear antibodies in infectious diseases.

Im JH1, Chung MH2, Park YK3, Kwon HY1, Baek JH1, Lee SY4, Lee JS1.

Abstract

Introduction: Antinuclear antibody (ANA) tests are widely used for the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases, but ANAs are also commonly found in patients with various infections. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the relationship between infections and ANA status.

Methods: Patients that visited the Department of Infectious Diseases at Inha University Hospital between January 2007 and July 2018 were investigated. We analysed their ANA test results and reviewed rheumatic and infectious diagnoses of patients with positive ANA findings.

Results: Of the 9,320 patients during the study period, 1,111 underwent ANA testing and 110 tested positive. Seven of the 110 patients were previously diagnosed with ANA-positive disease, and 21 were diagnosed with autoimmune disease during the present study. Of the remaining 82 patients, 43 were confirmed with infectious disease. The most common pathogen was Mycobacterium tuberculosis (n = 10), followed by Treponema pallidum (n = 5), Orientia tsutsugamushi (n = 5), Escherichia coli (n = 5), Bartonella henselae(n = 3), and human immunodeficiency virus (n = 3). Of the 39 patients without a confirmed pathogen, 7 were seropositive for O. tsutsugamushi, B. henselae, or Rickettsia spp. Patients were observed at an average of 24 weeks in our hospital. One patient developed systemic lupus erythematosus after being diagnosed with Epstein-Barr virus-induced infectious mononucleosis, and another patient developed adult-onset Still’s disease after being diagnosed with scrub typhus.

Conclusion: This study showed that various relationships exist between infections and rheumatic diseases. In particular, several patients with a positive ANA test result were found to have intracellular infections such as mycobacterial infections, syphilis, or scrub typhus.

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For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/03/22/1st-report-of-anaplasma-found-in-thai-bartonella-rickettsia-leptospira-scrub-typhus-in-humans-as-well-even-more-found-in-ticks/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/01/03/tick-bite-in-ear-gave-uk-teacher-rickettsial-typhus-infection/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/10/18/study-finds-q-fever-rickettsia-typhus-in-australian-ticks-and-people/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/04/24/human-bartonellosis-an-underappreciated-public-health-problem/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/11/04/24514/ EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS: A KEY PLAYER IN CHRONIC ILLNESS and TIPS TO TREAT REACTIVATED EBV

 

 

 

Category:

Bartonella, research, Rickettsia, Testing, Viruses

Being a Sexual Health Doctor in ‘Chlamydia Capital’ of New Zealand

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/love-sex/114848305/being-a-sexual-health-doctor-in-chlamydia-capital-of-new-zealand  Video and full article here

Being a sexual health doctor in ‘chlamydia capital’ of New Zealand

Libby Wilson, Nov 06 2019
Excerpt:

“She got interested in sexual health field in her first year as a doctor when one of her patient’s joint problems were a complication from chlamydia.

‘I had no idea – until that point – that was a thing,’ she said. ‘There’s the slightly nerdy bit of seeing something interesting and fascinating. But also the shame that young person had, that really touched me.'”

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**Comment**

I include this information because Chlamydia and borrelia mixed biofilms have been found in infected skin tissue: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/04/19/first-study-showing-borrelia-chlamydia-mixed-biofilms-in-infected-human-skin-tissues/ Excerpt:

Chlamydia antigen and DNA in 84% of Borrelia biofilms. Confocal microscopy revealed that Chlamydia locates in the center of Borrelia biofilms, and together, they form a well-organized mixed pathogenic structure.

Chlamydia-like organisms are in ticks:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/10/07/chlamydia-like-organisms-found-in-ticks/

Here, researchers identify chlamydia along with other pathogens in Alzheimer’s:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/03/09/researchers-identify-herpes-1-chlamydia-pneumoniae-several-types-of-spirochaete-as-major-causes-of-alzheimers/

CHLAMYDIA IS BEST DEFINED FROM THE LATIN WORD: CLOAK. YEP. ANOTHER STEALTH PATHOGEN.

Great read on the types of chlamydia:  https://articles.mercola.com/chlamydia/types.aspx The first two are mentioned in the abstract:

  • Chlamydia trachomatis can be passed from one person to another via unprotected sexual intercourse. Pain English: this is a STD.
  • Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae), a nonsexually transmitted disease that infects the lungs and causes bacterial pneumonia.
  • Chlamydia psittaci is another chlamydia strain that can lead to a rare condition called psittacosis, aka “parrot fever.”

Category:

Testing, Ticks

Why Test Neurotransmitters & Hormones?

Dr. Kathleen O’Neil-Smith: Why Test Neurotransmitters and Hormones?

November 20, 2019

Why test neurotransmitters and hormones in complex chronic conditions?
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Category:

Testing

C6 Peptide Test For Lyme Disease May Indicate Borrelia Miyamotoi Infection

https://danielcameronmd.com/c6-peptide-test-lyme-disease-borrelia-miyamotoi-infection/

C6 PEPTIDE TEST FOR LYME DISEASE MAY INDICATE BORRELIA MIYAMOTOI INFECTION

The C6 enzyme immunoassay (EIA) is often used to diagnose Lyme disease. The test is based on the C6 peptide of the Borrelia burgdorferi sl VlsE protein. But a recent study suggests the C6 peptide test may also indicate an infection with Borrelia miyamotoi, another tick-borne disease.

By

Koetsveld and colleagues examined C6 reactivity in sera from both mice infected with Borrelia miyamotoi and from 46 patients with PCR-positive Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD).

They found, “Cross-reactivity against the C6-peptide was confirmed in 21 out of 24 mice experimentally infected with B. miyamotoi.” And a C6 antibody response was present in 39 of 46 patients. ¹

Interestingly, another recent study “showed that in a set of 43 sera from 24 patients with [Borrelia miyamotoi disease] from the United States the C6 ELISA was also positive in the vast majority (>90%) of convalescent phase serum samples.” ²

Koetsveld warns, however, that since “BMD [Borrelia miyamotoi disease] and Lyme borreliosis are found in the same geographical locations, caution should be used when relying solely on C6-reactivity testing.”

According to a new study, the C6 peptide test used to diagnose Lyme disease may also be helpful in identifying Borrelia miyamotoi. CLICK TO TWEET

They recommend further testing if the Western blot is negative.

“We propose that a positive C6 EIA with negative immunoblot, especially in patients with fever several weeks after a tick bite, warrants further testing for B. miyamotoi.”

Testing for the glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase (GlpQ) gene may be helpful in detecting B. miyamotoi infection.

“Our results demonstrate that cross-reactive antibodies against the C6 peptide regularly occur in patients with [Borrelia miyamotoi disease],” writes Koetsveld.

He adds, “with as much as 90% (95% CI 68.3–98.8) of patients being C6-reactive in samples taken 10 to 19 days after onset of disease.”

Editor’s note: It is also possible that the patients could have seronegative Lyme disease concurrent with B. miyamotoi.  In fact, 10 of their 39 patients were reactive by Western blot for Lyme disease.
Related Articles:

The best antibiotics to treat Borrelia miyamotoi?

Blood smear not reliable in diagnosing Borrelia miyamotoi

Doctors face challenges in diagnosing Borrelia miyamotoi

References:
  1. Koetsveld J, Platonov AE, Kuleshov K, et al. Borrelia miyamotoi infection leads to cross-reactive antibodies to the C6 peptide in mice and men. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2019.
  2. Molloy, P.J., Weeks, K.E., Todd, B., and Wormser, G.P. Seroreactivity to the C6 peptide in Borrelia miyamotoi infections occurring in the northeastern United States. Clin Infect Dis. 2018; 66: 1407–1410

Category:

Borrelia Miyamotoi (Relapsing Fever Group), Lyme, research, Testing