Archive for the ‘Treatment’ Category

Ketamine Limits Bb in Vitro

https://academic.oup.com/femspd/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/femspd/fty006/4819281?redirectedFrom=fulltext

Ketamine intervention limits pathogen expansion in vitro

German Torres, Christopher L Hoehmann, Joshua A Cuoco, Kyle Hitscherich, Charles Pavia, Michael Hadjiargyrou, Joerg R Leheste
Pathogens and Disease, Volume 76, Issue 2, 1 March 2018, fty006, https://doi.org/10.1093/femspd/fty006

Abstract

Ketamine is one of several clinically important drugs whose therapeutic efficacy is due in part to their ability to act upon ion channels prevalent in nearly all biological systems. In studying eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms in vitro, we show that ketamine short-circuits the growth and spatial expansion of three microorganisms, Stachybotrys chartarum, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Borrelia burgdorferi, at doses efficient at reducing depression-like behaviors in mouse models of clinical depression. Although our findings do not reveal the mechanism(s) by which ketamine mediates its antifungal and antibacterial effects, we hypothesize that a function of L-glutamate signal transduction is associated with the ability of ketamine to limit pathogen expansion. In general, our findings illustrate the functional similarities between fungal, bacterial and human ion channels, and suggest that ketamine or its metabolites not only act in neurons, as previously thought, but also in microbial communities colonizing human body surfaces.
______________
**Comment**

Ketamine is used for starting and maintaining anesthesia and induces a trance-like state while providing pain relief, sedation, and memory loss.  It can cause confusion and hallucinations as it wears off.  Discovered in 1962 it was used in the Vietnam War due to its safety and is on the WHO’s list of essential medicines.

It’s also used as a recreational drug in raves and as a club drug.  Due to this, it’s a schedule III substance in the U.S.

 

Category:

Lyme, research, Treatment

The Eleven Year Old Boy Who Knows More About Lyme/MSIDS Than Most Doctors

  Approx. 6.5 Min

Published on Mar 6, 2018

An introduction to Lyme Disease, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention, and challenges from the perspective of an 11 year old who started his own advocacy group. The information has been vetted for accuracy by biologists and doctors working in Lyme research and treatment.
Removal of Tick using tweezers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27Mcs… (University of Manitoba)
Please check out these Lyme Organizations and Friends:
CanLyme: https://canlyme.com
Lyme Ontario: http://lymeontario.com

LivLyme Foundation: http://livlymefoundation.org LymeHope: http://www.lymehope.ca International Lyme and Associated Disease Society: http://www.ilads.org G. Magnotta Foundation http://www.gmagnottafoundation.com Lyme Out Loud Kids: https://www.facebook.com/lymeoutloudk…

_____________

**Comment**

I am so impressed.  Kudos to Daniel Stimers for speaking out for patients too weak to do so themselves!

Don’t you find it a bit sad when a kid knows more than most doctors regarding the most common vector borne disease in the U.S.?

Category:

Activism, Lyme, Pregnancy, Testing, Ticks, Transmission, Treatment

Bartonella Outbreak in Homeless

https://patch.com/washington/seattle/3-disease-outbreaks-king-county-put-homeless-risk

3 Disease Outbreaks In King County Put Homeless At RiskFile photo by Neal McNamara/Patch

 

SEATTLE, WA – King County Public Health investigators are looking into outbreaks of three diseases that are especially harmful for the local homeless population – and a fourth outbreak may be emerging.

According to Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin, health officials are seeing a big increase of group A streptococcus infections and shigella, which causes gastrointestinal distress. There’s also a cluster of trench fever cases, a painful illness spread through body lice carrying the bacteria Bartonella quintana. There have been three trench fever cases among the homeless since mid-2017, according to Duchin.

Additionally, Duchin said, the department is monitoring for a possible Hepatitis A outbreak – a type of hepatitis that infects the liver and can be spread through contact with infected feces.

These illnesses are particularly tough on the homeless because they lack access to proper medical care. Hepatitis A, for example, can be prevented by taking a vaccine.

“People who lack permanent housing often also have limited access to medical care, so many people living homeless and with health problems have difficulty getting prompt treatment. Living conditions – like crowding and fewer opportunities for personal hygiene – can contribute to the spread of disease,” Duchin said in a blog post.

King County is working with the state Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, and Harborview Medical Center to address the strep problem. The county is also spreading information about the other illnesses through homeless outreach.

________________

**Comment**

There is conflicting information regarding Bartonella transmission by ticks; however, prudence would err on the side of caution.  Nearly every patient I work with has Bartonella – and I think it is far more prevalent than many think.  Even the CDC states that ticks carry some species of Bart.  In my experience if the CDC acknowledges something, it is far worse in reality.  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/16/3/09-0443_article

Somehow, Lyme patients are getting Bartonella.

The problem lies in the fact researchers state that the presence of a pathogen in a tick does not imply they can transmit it – and therefore is not epidemiologically important.  They typically do “reviews” of previous studies to only conclude transmission has not been established.

Please know these studies are approximately 10 years old and older.  And again, garbage in, garbage out.  They keep recycling old studies and regurgitating ancient information.

If I had a dime for every time I read the words, “rare,” or “atypical” regarding Lyme/MSIDS, I’d be a rich woman.  Trust me, this stuff isn’t rare.  Just look around.

More on Bartonella: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/01/03/bartonella-treatment/  (Checklist found in link)

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/08/09/a-bartonella-story/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/02/07/finally-rt-pcr-detected-bartonella-henselae-dna-on-tissue-valve/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/03/04/bartonella-erythema-nodosum-atypical-presentations/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/02/08/anemic-dog-found-to-have-bartonella-resolved-with-prolonged-antibiotics/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/08/02/neurological-and-immunological-dysfunction-in-two-patients-with-bartonella-henselae-bacteremia/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/05/11/bartonella-henselae-in-children-with-congenital-heart-disease/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/01/04/endocarditis-consider-bartonella/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/07/31/shedding-light-on-bartonella/

I could go on and on to infinity.  Bartonella is a REAL PROBLEM.  Time for researchers to wake up from their stupor and do some current meaningful research.

 

Category:

Activism, Bartonella, Ticks, Transmission, Treatment

Dogs & Ehrlichiosis

https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/check-dogs-for-ticks-to-prevent-ehrlichiosis/article_3ff4e19c-e682-5ab5-8ae1-0dc14fc95bdb.html Jan. 2018

Check dogs for ticks to prevent Ehrlichiosis

Check dogs for ticks to prevent Ehrlichiosis

Shana Bohac  Contributed Photo

By Shana Bohac

Ehrlichiosis is a common tick-borne illness seen in animals and humans. It is most commonly seen in dogs and rarely in cats. This disease is caused by three different bacteria: Ehrlichia canis, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and Ehrlichia ewingii. Outdoor dogs, particularly hunting dogs, with inadequate tick prevention are at higher risk; however, any dog that goes outside can be exposed to a tick and thus become infected. There are a wide variety of ticks that can spread the Ehrlichia bacteria through their saliva, however the brown dog tick and the lone star tick are the most common.

Ehrlichia canis is found worldwide with increased frequency in tropical and subtropical climates, making South Texas and the southern U.S. prime locations. This bacterium is spread primarily via the brown dog tick. The brown dog tick can tolerate hot and cold temperatures and can complete its entire lifecycle indoors. Dogs are their preferred hosts, however they will feed on a wide variety of mammals.

 Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii are found in the central, southeastern and eastern United States. The lone star tick is the primary transmitter of both of these bacteria. This tick is found in thick underbrush or high grass. They can bite painlessly and go unnoticed by its host for several days. The lone star tick requires three separate hosts to complete its life cycle and they will feed on a wide variety of mammals and birds.

 

The most common signs of a dog with Ehrlichiosis are decreased energy, loss of appetite, fever and weight loss. There may also experience an increase in bleeding, lameness and lymph node enlargement. Signs usually start one to three weeks after infection with the bacteria. Some dogs become chronically infected with the bacteria. These dogs may experience kidney failure, neurologic disturbances and chronic bleeding disorders.

Diagnosis is made based on clinical signs, history of exposure to a tick, and analysis of bloodwork. Initial bloodwork typically shows low platelets, anemia and low white blood cell counts. There are various blood tests that can be performed to confirm a diagnosis Ehrlichiosis. In-hospital tests may be available at some clinics. These tests are great screening tools for Ehrlichia; however, in early infections this test may not show up positive. Advanced testing may be needed if Ehrlichiosis is suspected.

Antibiotics are the treatment of choice for Ehrlichiosis. Twenty-eight days of treatment is recommended to clear the infection. In cases of severe anemia or blood loss, blood transfusions may be needed. Corticosteroids may also be used to help stop the body from destroying platelets and red blood cells.

Though this disease can be found in humans, there is very minimal risk, if any, of contracting these infections directly from a pet. The disease is only spread through the bite of a tick.

Prevention is so important in avoiding Ehrlichiosis. Good quality flea and tick products from your veterinarian can help prevent your pet from getting this potentially deadly disease. Flea and tick products from your veterinarian are much more effective and are much safer for your pet. Over-the-counter products have higher risk of toxicity and localized reactions.

Dr. Shana Bohac is a veterinarian at Lakeway Veterinary Clinic in Edna. She works on both small animals and equine patients. Submit questions to drshanabohac@hotmail.com.

 

Category:

Activism, Ehrlichiosis, Testing, Ticks, Transmission, Treatment

Study Shows Doxy Not Superior to Comparators in Preventing NLB in Patients with EM Rash

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29477274

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2018 Feb 2. pii: S0732-8893(18)30042-7. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2018.01.025. [Epub ahead of print]

Is the risk of early neurologic Lyme borreliosis reduced by preferentially treating patients with erythema migrans with doxycycline?

Strle F1, Stupica D2, Bogovič P3, Visintainer P4, Wormser GP5.

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2018 Feb 2. pii: S0732-8893(18)30042-7. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2018.01.025. [Epub ahead of print]

Abstract
Doxycycline is highly effective treatment for early neurologic Lyme borreliosis (NLB). Nineteen studies were reviewed to determine if treatment of patients with erythema migrans with other oral antibiotics would increase the risk for developing NLB. In the eight studies that directly compared doxycycline to another antibiotic, the pooled difference indicated a 0.2% greater risk of developing NLB in doxycycline-treated patients (95% CI: -1.0%, +1.4%; P = 0.77), with an estimated heterogeneity of 0.0%, P = 0.58. Overall, in the 19 studies, NLB was reported in 8/828 (1.0%; 95% CI: 0.42%, 1.89%) doxycycline-treated patients versus 6/1022 (0.6%; 95% CI: 0.22%, 1.27%) patients treated with other antibiotics (P = 0.42). Based on the 95% CI calculation (-0.5%, +1.40%), patients receiving nondoxycycline treatment regimens collectively might have at most a 0.5% greater risk for developing NLB. Available data suggest that oral doxycycline is not superior to comparators for preventing NLB in patients receiving treatment for erythema migrans.

______________

**Comment**

I do not have access to the entire article but it would be interesting to know what the comparators were.

Of course NLB by definition means central nervous system involvement:  https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Neurological-Complications-Lyme-Disease-Information-Page.  As this link inaccurate states that NLB most often occurs in the 2nd stage with numbness, pain, weakness, Bell’s palsy (paralysis of the facial muscles), visual disturbances, and meningitis symptoms such as fever, stiff neck, and severe headache. Other problems, which may not appear until weeks, months, or years after a tick bite, include decreased concentration, irritability, memory and sleep disorders, and nerve damage in the arms and legs.

Again, people can hop from stage to stage with no seeming rhyme or reason and in no particular order.  Remember the story of the little girl who went out to play, got bit by a tick above her eye, and within 4-6 hours could not walk or talk.  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/04/14/transmission-time-for-lymemsids-infection/

That’s not a singular case, by the way.  Nor is it rare.

This literature review should cause the authors to pause and think.  Why is it that doxycycline is not superior, despite the decades of literature stating it is?

Could it be perhaps because borrelia shape-shifts and doxycycline is only effective against two forms of borrelia, leaving the third form free to proliferate?  

I tell patients, “All the doxy in the world isn’t going to cure this. It’s like taking sand and throwing it into the ocean.” Don’t get me wrong, doxy is a great front-line drug with action against many pathogens, but researcher Eva Sapi has found doxy to throw the spirochetal form into the cyst form later. I am afraid this mono-treatment might be setting people up for dementia/Alzheimer’s later on in life. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3132871/ Doxycycline reduced spirochetal structures ∼90% but increased the number of round body (cyst) forms about twofold.

For more on persistent borrelia infection: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/08/25/sleeper-cells-the-stringent-response-and-persistence-in-the-borreliella-burgdorferi-enzootic-cycle/
https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/08/18/drexel-prof-lyme-persists/
https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/12/14/live-bb-found-after-months-of-doxy/
https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2015/09/19/proof-of-borrelia-persistence/

 

 

 

Category:

Lyme, research, Treatment