Herbal Treatment For Coronavirus Infections – Buhner
HERBAL TREATMENT FOR CORONAVIRUS INFECTIONS
Stephen Harrod Buhner
https://www.stephenharrodbuhner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/coronavirus.txt.pdf Treatments start on page 12
Archive for the ‘Treatment’ Category
Potential Treatment For Lyme Disease Kills Bacteria That May Cause Lingering Symptoms, Study Finds (In a Petri Dish & Mice)
http://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2020/03/potential-treatment-for-lingering-lyme-disease.html
Potential treatment for Lyme disease kills bacteria that may cause lingering symptoms, study finds
Screening thousands of drugs, Stanford scientists determined that in mice, azlocillin, an antibiotic approved by the Food and Drug Administration, eliminated the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
By TRACIE WHITE, a science writer in the Office of Communications. Email her at tracie.white@stanford.e
MAR 12, 2020
For decades, the routine treatment for Lyme disease has been standard antibiotics, which usually kill off the infection. But for up to 20% of people with the tick-borne illness, the antibiotics don’t work, and lingering symptoms of muscle pain, fatigue and cognitive impairment can continue for years — sometimes indefinitely.
A new Stanford Medicine study in lab dishes and mice provides evidence that the drug azlocillin completely kills off the disease-causing bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi at the onset of the illness. The study suggests it could also be effective for treating patients infected with drug-tolerant bacteria that may cause lingering symptoms.
“This compound is just amazing,” said Jayakumar Rajadas, PhD, assistant professor of medicine and director of the Biomaterials and Advanced Drug Delivery Laboratory at the Stanford School of Medicine. “It clears the infection without a lot of side effects. We are hoping to repurpose it as an oral treatment for Lyme disease.” Rajadas is the senior author of the study, which was published online March 2 in Scientific Reports. The lead author is research associate Venkata Raveendra Pothineni, PhD.
“We have been screening potential drugs for six years,” Pothineni said. “We’ve screened almost 8,000 chemical compounds. We have tested 50 molecules in the dish. The most effective and safest molecules were tested in animal models. Along the way, I’ve met many people suffering with this horrible, lingering disease. Our main goal is to find the best compound for treating patients and stop this disease.”
Hunting for alternative drug
Frustrated by the lack of treatment options for Lyme disease patients with lingering symptoms, Rajadas and his team began hunting for a better alternative in 2011. In 2016, they published a study in Drug Design, Development and Therapy that listed 20 chemical compounds, from about 4,000, that were most effective at killing the infection in mice. All 20 had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for various uses. One, for instance, is used to treat alcohol abuse disorder.
In this most recent study, azlocillin, one of the top-20 contenders, was shown to eclipse a total of 7,450 compounds because it is more effective in killing B. burgdorferi and causes fewer side effects. Lyme disease affects more than 300,000 people annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can affect various organs, including the brain, skin, heart, joints and nervous system, and cause heart problems and arthritis if untreated. Symptoms include fever, headaches, chills, and muscle and joint pain.
Traditional antibiotics, such as doxycycline, are effective as an early course of treatment for the infection in the majority of patients, but it remains unclear why these drugs fail to treat 10% to 20% of patients, Rajadas said.
“Some researchers think this may be due to drug-tolerant bacteria living in the body and continuing to cause disease,” said Rajadas, who is also a member of the Lyme Disease Working Group at Stanford. “Others believe it’s an immune disorder caused by bacteria during the first exposure, which causes a perpetual inflammation condition. Whatever the cause, the pain for patients is still very real.”
Azlocillin comes out on top
The drug, which is not on the market, was tested in mouse models of Lyme disease at seven-day, 14-day and 21-day intervals and found to eliminate the infection. For the first time, azlocillinwas also shown to be effective in killing drug-tolerant forms of B. burgdorferi in lab dishes, indicating that it may work as a therapy for lingering symptoms of Lyme disease.
Pothineni and Rajadas have patented the compound for the treatment of Lyme disease and are working with a company to develop an oral form of the drug. Researchers plan to conduct a clinical trial.
Rajadas is also a professor of bioengineering and therapeutic sciences at the University of California-San Francisco.
Other Stanford co-authors are Hari-Hara S. K. Potula, PhD, senior research scientist; postdoctoral scholars Aditya Ambati, PhD, and Venkata Mallajosyula, PhD; senior research scientist Mohammed Inayathullah, PhD; and intern Mohamed Sohail Ahmed.
A researcher at Loyola College in India also contributed to the work.
The study was funded by the Bay Area Lyme Foundation and Laurel STEM Fund.
Those who go on to experience lingering symptoms are 40-60% of all patients: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/02/25/medical-stalemate-what-causes-continuing-symptoms-after-lyme-treatment/ We keep being told it’s only 10-20% when that group only includes those diagnosed and treated early. It doesn’t and shouldn’t included a larger group of 30-40% who are diagnosed and treated late. Add the two groups and you have up to 60% going on with chronic symptoms. That’s a big deal and should warrant much more attention than it’s currently getting.
The study mentions –
- disulfiram: Excerpt: An interesting drug candidate identified in the study was the alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor, disulfiram. Though the drug is used as a treatment of alcohol abuse, recently its anticancer potential has also been discovered. It has been known to make complexes with metal ions and cause the disruption of the proteasome, leading to death of the cancer cells. Similarly, the metabolites of the drug molecule have been known to significantly inhibit the growth of a number of bacterial species, including the biofilm-forming Pseudomonas aeruginosa.62 The drug molecule has a good bioavailability, and it passes the blood–brain barrier to show its effect in the central nervous system. Though most of the studies are concerned to the use of the drug molecule in alcoholism yet, being a safe, FDA-approved molecule, the drug can be repurposed for its antibacterial potential. Study here: https://flightpath.bio/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/liegner.pdf
- azlocillin and cefataxime: Excerpt: As we observe that azlocillin sodium and cefotaxime acid show low MIC values, we studied time kill studies to determine the rate of antimicrobial activity. In our observation, both azlocillin sodium and cefotaxime acid reduced Borrelia no 3-log10-unit (99.9%) between 48 hours and 72 hours at concentrations 2.5 μM and 5 μM, respectively. Study here: https://flightpath.bio/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/s41598-020-59600-4.pdf
Azlocillin is currently only available overseas and in IV form but a company called Flightpath biosciences https://flightpath.bio/pipeline/ is working on an oral formulation and says it has demonstrated in vivo efficacy in mice. This could be a good alternative to Disulfiram as it doesn’t carry some of the risks associated with DSF and doesn’t require a whole lifestyle change.
From their website:
Azlocillin was approved as Azlin® by the FDA on September 3rd, 1982 as a semisynthetic broad spectrum penicillin antibiotic to treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa via intravenous administration. Commercially, the drug was safe and well tolerated and had a limited side effect profile, with warnings and contraindications related only to a patient history of penicillin sensitivities.
In laboratory plate experiments, our scientific team demonstrated that azlocillin significantly inhibited the growth of drug-tolerant Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) bacteria in a manner far better than doxycycline (the standard of care).
Azlocillin also reduced Lyme disease related inflammation in mice infected with Bb for seven days, compared to the saline control, telismartin, and doxycycline. Upon completion of additional pharmacokinetic and efficacy studies in animals at Tulane University, we hope to advance FP-101 into clinical trials in acute and PTLDS indications in the near future. https://flightpath.bio/pipeline/
Lyme Podcast: 6-Week Old Boy With Babesia
https://danielcameronmd.com/lyme-disease-podcast-6-week-old-boy-babesia/ Go here for Podcast
LYME PODCAST: 6-WEEK-OLD BOY WITH BABESIA
Welcome to an Inside Lyme case study. I find that the best way to get to know Lyme disease is through reviewing actual cases. In this case study, I will be discussing a 6-week old baby boy with Babesia. This case series will be discussed on my Facebook and made available on podcast and YouTube.
This case was described in the journal Pediatrics, written by Handel and colleagues in 2019.
The baby boy was seen in an emergency department in Long Island, New York, an area endemic for Lyme disease. The baby spent “minimal time outside,” according to Handel. There was tall grass in the yard and the father painted home exteriors. The parents did not report seeing a tick. Instead, the parents removed a bloody “flea” from his arm 20 days before hospitalization writes Handel
This highlights the difficulties parents can face in recognizing a tick.
The baby boy was irritable, throwing up, not eating well, and had a temperature of 101.1°F. The doctors were initially not able to identify the reason the baby boy was ill or why there was anemia or a low platelet count. The doctors prescribed three antibiotics – ampicillin, ceftriaxone, and vancomycin until they could determine a cause of the illness.
The baby boy was transferred to a second hospital. The blood tests again showed anemia and a low platelet count along with abnormal liver function tests. The spleen appeared large. The laboratory tests now revealed the parasite Babesia in the red blood cells under the microscope. 3.6% of the baby’s red cells showed parasites seen with Babesia.
Babesia is a parasitic disease that is typically contracted by the same tick that carries Lyme disease. Babesia can also be contracted through the blood supply or during pregnancy.
The baby was prescribed oral atovaquone and intravenous azithromycin. These drugs are marketed as Mepron and Zithromax in the US. The anemia worsened. The hemoglobin dropped to 6.9 gram/dl, which is quite low. The doctors transfused a unit of blood. The doctors were concerned that the baby might also have suffered from Lyme disease. The doctors added 14 days of amoxicillin to the treatment.
The baby remained well on follow-up, according to the doctors.
What can we learn from this case?
- This paper reminds parents of the need to look for tick bites even in babies.
- Babies can be infected with a tick-borne infection even with little outdoor exposure.
- It can be difficult to determine if a baby has Babesia. The baby was not diagnosed with Babesia until transferred to a second hospital and then only because parasites were seen in the blood.
- It can be difficult to be sure a baby does not suffer from Lyme disease. In this case, the doctors elected to treat the baby with amoxicillin in case there was a co-infection. I might have continued azithromycin rather than add amoxicillin, as azithromycin has also been effective in Lyme disease.
What questions does this case raise?
- Would it have been helpful if the parents had recognized the “the bloody flea” as a tick?
- Would the doctor have recognized Babesia if the parasite were not seen in the red cells under the microscope?
- What if the baby girl had evidence of Ehrlichia or Anaplasmosis? If so, the doctors would have to consider doxycycline. Doctors have been reluctant to prescribe doxycycline in young children as the medication may discolor the teeth. The age of which doctors are uncomfortable prescribing doxycycline has dropped to eight. Moreover, the CDC had notified doctors that two weeks of doxycycline is safe in all children up for up to two weeks. I am sure we have not heard the last of this discussion.
- What is the best combination of treatment and length of treatment to prevent long-term complications in children?
- How do you know a baby is well when they cannot communicate how they are feeling? We only know that the parasite Babesia is no longer visible under the microscope.
TREATING TICK-BORNE DISEASE IN MY PRACTICE
In my practice, each individual requires a careful assessment. That is why I order tests a broad range of tests, including blood counts, liver and kidney function, thyroid disease, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis, in addition to tests for tick-borne infections. I also arrange consultations such as neurologists, rheumatologists, and ophthalmologists.
Many patients are complex, as highlighted in this Inside Lyme Podcast series.
We need more doctors with skills diagnosing and treating Babesia in children. We could use a reliable test to determine who has Babesia and a test to be sure Babesia has resolved. We need to determine the best course of treatment for babies. We hope that if a professional sees a baby that they can use this case to remind them to look for Babesia and treat accordingly.
We also need to give doctors the freedom to treat these difficult cases without undue interference by colleagues, insurance companies, medical societies, and medical boards.
Inside Lyme Podcast Series
This Inside Lyme case series will be discussed on my Facebook and made available on podcast and YouTube. As always, it is your likes, comments, and shares that help spread the word about this series and our work. If you can, please leave a review on iTunes or wherever else you get your podcasts.
Sign up for our newsletter to keep up with our cases.
References:
- Two Neonates With Postnatally Acquired Tickborne Infections Andrew S. Handel, Harriet Hellman and Saul R. Hymes Pediatrics 2019;144;
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For more: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/01/16/babesia-treatment/
Convalescent Plasma Therapy Tested on Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients
https://journosdiary.com/2020/02/15/convalescent-plasma-therapy-covid-19/
Convalescent plasma therapy tested on critically ill COVID-19 patients
A pharma company in China is testing convalescent plasma therapy to treat critically sick COVID-19 patients. So far, 13 patients have been treated and some improvements in clinical symptoms have been seen.
In the absence of any preventive vaccine or specific antivirals for treating COVID-19 patients infected with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, a pharmaceutical company in China has turned to plasma taken from people who have recovered from the infection to treat critically ill patients.
Convalescent plasma has been listed as a therapeutic method by China’s National Health Commission.
People who have recovered from COVID-19 disease would have antibodies against the virus. Infusing the antibodies to critically ill patients is expected to improve the chances of survival. The plasma that is transfused contains the antibodies. (See link for article)
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**Comment**
Important quote from article:
“Best time to give convalescent plasma containing antibodies is before disease develops. In the case of COVID-19, by the time pneumonia is diagnosed it is too late. That is the reason why therapy using convalescent plasma is not popular for other viral diseases,” Dr. John adds.
https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/03/09/coronavirus-lyme/
https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/03/10/corona-virus-lyme-disease-drs-bock-rawls/
Study Shows Lyme Patients Treated With Immune Suppressants Have Frequent Comorbidities, Late Stage Symptoms, & Treatment Failure
https://danielcameronmd.com/is-suppressing-immune-system-harmful-to-lyme-patients/
IS SUPPRESSING IMMUNE SYSTEM HARMFUL TO LYME PATIENTS?
There have only been a few published reports detailing the outcome of treatment on Lyme disease patients who are immunocompromised. Now, a study by Maraspin and colleagues¹ evaluates the impact of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors, medications that suppress the immune system, on Lyme disease patients.
The authors compared 16 individuals receiving TNF-α inhibitors with 32 healthy controls. The individuals had confirmed Lyme disease with an erythema migrans rash manifestation. The patients received immune-suppressing medications, which included adalimumab, infliximab, etanercept, golimumab. These were often combined with other immunosuppressant drugs for rheumatic (13 patients) or inflammatory bowel (3 patients) disease.
Investigators found that, when compared to controls, patients receiving immunosuppressants had:
- frequent comorbidities other than immune-mediated diseases (62.5% vs. 25%)
- symptoms/signs of disseminated Lyme borreliosis (18.8% vs. 0%)
- treatment failure (25% vs. 0%.)
In fact, 4 out of 16 (25%) Lyme disease patients treated with immunosuppression therapy failed treatment. Three of these four patients required retreatment. One of them was quite ill.
“The immunocompromised patients were also more likely to fail treatment than patients who were not immunocompromised,” writes Maraspin.
The fourth patient, a 44-year-old man, remained well until his 6-month follow-up visit. But, “7 months after beginning antibiotic treatment he developed severe arthralgia, fatigue and back pain,” writes Maraspin in the Journal of Clinical Medicine.
A specialist was consulted but could not confirm whether the man had a relapse of rheumatoid arthritis. He remained ill for the next 5 months. And tests revealed his IgG antibody to VlsE borrelial antigens rose from 542.1 to 1462.0 AU/mL.
His symptoms improved following re-treatment with the antibiotic, ceftriaxone.
The authors recommended regular follow-up visits to carefully monitor immunocompromised Lyme patients.
Related Articles:
Persistent Lyme infection or inflammatory immune response?
References:
- Bransfield RC, Friedman KJ, Differentiating Psychosomatic, Somatopsychic, Multisystem Illnesses and Medical Uncertainty. Healthcare 2019, 7(4), 114.
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**Comment**
I would argue that ALL Lyme/MSIDS patients are immune suppressed even if they are not taking immune suppressing drugs, which means the outcome would be similar. This issue desperately needs to be addressed as mainstream medicine and research continues to approach this as a singular pathogen illness when recent research shows 65% of TBD patients produce immune responses to various microbes: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/10/30/study-shows-lyme-msids-patients-infected-with-many-pathogens-and-explains-why-we-are-so-sick/
Here’s a study shows patients with EM who were receiving rituximab (an immune suppressant) for underlying disease show more borrelia isolated in the blood and that their cases are more often disseminated than in immunocompetent patients : https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/08/06/em-course-outcome-in-patients-treated-with-rituximab/
And here we see ticks have immunosuppressive proteins in their saliva: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/08/14/what-tick-saliva-does-to-the-human-body/
The exact cocktail of a tick’s saliva proteins changes every few hours, Ribeiro says. The thousands of proteins in its saliva are highly redundant in function, and the tick cycles through them as a way of circumventing a host’s immune system. Immune systems take time to recognize and react to a foreign tick protein, and this strategy simply doesn’t give a host’s cells a chance to do that. Suppose, Ribeiro says, “Monday a tick starts feeding on you and injecting the saliva in you.” By Friday, when your body can mount a proper immune response against those first proteins, “the tick has already changed the repertoire.”
Taken together, these results suggest that Ip-sL1 and Ip-sL2 confer immunosuppressive functions and appear to be involved in the transmission of pathogens by suppressing host immune responses, such as cytokine production and dendritic cell maturation.
In other words, there are immunosuppressants within tick saliva that makes it easier for transmission to occur.
It only follows that giving patients immunsuppressants (or those patients infected with numerous pathogens) will function similarly in the body – allowing for pathogen proliferation which will be demonstrated by more severe disease.
Madison Area Lyme Support Group 