Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

New Scan Technique Reveals Brain Inflammation Associated With Post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190205090533.htm

New scan technique reveals brain inflammation associated with post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome

February 5, 2019

Johns Hopkins Medicine

Summary:  More than 1 in 10 people successfully treated with antibiotics for Lyme disease go on to develop chronic, sometimes debilitating, and poorly understood symptoms of fatigue and brain fog that may last for years after their initial infection has cleared up.

FULL STORY

More than 1 in 10 people successfully treated with antibiotics for Lyme disease go on to develop chronic, sometimes debilitating, and poorly understood symptoms of fatigue and brain fog that may last for years after their initial infection has cleared up. Now, in a small study, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report they have used an advanced form of brain scan to show that 12 people with documented post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) all show elevation of a chemical marker of widespread brain inflammation, compared with 19 healthy controls.

Results of the study, published in Journal of Neuroinflammation, suggest new avenues for treating the long-term fatigue, pain, sleep disruption and “brain fog” associated with PTLDS, the researchers say.

“There’s been literature suggesting that patients with PTLDS have some chronic inflammation somewhere, but until now we weren’t able to safely probe the brain itself to verify it,” says Jennifer Coughlin, M.D., associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and one of the first authors of the study report.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted to humans through tick bites. An estimated 300,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year, and their infections can be successfully treated with antibiotics. Doctors diagnose PTLDS if treated patients report fatigue and brain fog for at least six months after treatment. Little is known about what causes PTLDS or how to treat it, and while studies have shown that people with PTLDS have elevated markers of inflammation — such as the chemokine CCL19 — in their bloodstreams, it has not been clear where that inflammation may be occurring.

Over the last decade, Coughlin and her colleagues optimized a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging technique in which specially labeled molecules — or radiotracers — bind to a protein called translocator protein (TSPO). In the brain, TSPO is released primarily by two types of brain immune cells — microglia and astrocytes — so levels of TSPO are higher when brain inflammation is present.

With this type of PET scan, Coughlin’s team says it can visualize levels of TSPO — and therefore levels of inflammation, or astrocyte and microglia activation — throughout the brain. They’ve used it previously to see inflammation in the brains of former NFL players as well as to study brain inflammation in autoimmune diseases such as lupus.

In the new study, Coughlin’s group teamed up with Johns Hopkins Lyme disease researchers and compared PET scans of 12 patients with a diagnosis of PTLDS and 19 without. The PTLDS patients all had a history of confirmed or probable Lyme disease infection, documented evidence of treatment and no history of diagnosed depression. All had reported the presence of fatigue and at least one cognitive deficit such as problems with memory or concentration.

Controls and cases were all adult men (18) and women (13) over age 18 and did not differ significantly in age or body mass index (BMI).

The scans revealed that across eight different regions of the brain, PTLDS patients had significantly higher levels of TSPO compared with controls. On average, when all brain regions were combined and the data was adjusted for genotype, brain region, age and BMI, there was a mean difference of 0.58 between the TSPO levels of controls and patients with PTLDS.

“We thought there might be certain brain regions that would be more vulnerable to inflammation and would be selectively affected, but it really looks like widespread inflammation all across the brain,” says Coughlin.

The Johns Hopkins team cautioned that their study was small, and whether or not the results apply to all people with post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome — such as those with chronic pain but not cognitive symptoms — must await far larger and broader studies. In addition, the current study did not include people who recovered from Lyme disease and did not develop PTLDS, a key control group. But for now, the researchers hope their results give PTLDS patients some hope that the science of PTLDS is advancing.

“What this study does is provide evidence that the brain fog in patients with post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome has a physiological basis and isn’t just psychosomatic or related to depression or anxiety,” says John Aucott, M.D., a senior author of the new paper, associate professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and director of the Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center.

In addition, Aucott says, the results suggest that drugs designed to curb neuroinflammation may be able to treat PTLDS, although clinical trials are needed first to determine the safety and benefit of such therapy. Future variations of the PET scan may be able to narrow down more specifically which subsets of microglia and astrocytes are activated, helping guide drug development further, he added.

Story Source:

Materials provided by Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Journal Reference:

  1. Jennifer M. Coughlin, Ting Yang, Alison W. Rebman, Kathleen T. Bechtold, Yong Du, William B. Mathews, Wojciech G. Lesniak, Erica A. Mihm, Sarah M. Frey, Erica S. Marshall, Hailey B. Rosenthal, Tristan A. Reekie, Michael Kassiou, Robert F. Dannals, Mark J. Soloski, John N. Aucott, Martin G. Pomper. Imaging glial activation in patients with post-treatment Lyme disease symptoms: a pilot study using [11C]DPA-713 PET. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 2018; 15 (1) DOI: 10.1186/s12974-018-1381-4

**Comment**

This tells us what we all knew.  There is a definite physiological basis and isn’t just psychosomatic or related to depression or anxiety.

This study proves we aren’t whack jobs – something we kinda already knew.

They still are using the term Post-treatment Lyme Disease syndrome (PTLDS), which is inaccurate as it has not been proven conclusively if there is active infection or not.  If there IS active infection, this title is completely bogus.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/12/15/abandon-post-treatment-lyme-disease-syndrome-label/  It also implies without evidence that patients received adequate treatment and that any remaining symptoms are caused by something other than an infection.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/12/15/everything-about-lyme-disease-is-steeped-in-controversy-now-some-doctors-are-too-afraid-to-treat-patients/

 

 

 

Category:

Uncategorized

“Under Our Skin” Lyme Film – FREE on Amazon Prime (The Best Primer on Lyme on the Market)

https://www.lymedisease.org/under-our-skin-lyme-amazon-prime/

“Under Our Skin” Lyme film now free through Amazon Prime

Under Our Skin Lyme disease documentary

The award-winning Lyme documentary Under Our Skin, and its sequel, Under Our Skin 2: Emergence are now both available for free viewing by members of Amazon Prime.

Released in 2008, Under Our Skinremains one of the most effective ways of explaining the complexities of Lyme disease and the troublesome medical politics surrounding it.

If you haven’t seen it yet, we highly recommend it. For members of Amazon Prime, this is also a good chance to watch it along with family and friends who may need educating on this issues.

Here’s a trailer to give you a taste of the film:

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**Comment**

If you haven’t seen this film, you need to.  Make sure to watch the out-takes as well.  You will see person after person after person announce they were diagnosed with MS, fibromyalgia, Lupus, and on and on – but all the while they were infected with Lyme/MSIDS.

This film brilliantly shows the polarization of the medical field with one set of doctors saying it’s a simple illness against another set of doctors saying Lyme/MSIDS is probably one of the most complex illnesses to treat.  The collusion of the CDC is brilliantly exposed as well – showing that a majority on the committee to determine the “Lyme Guidelines,” have conflicts of interests including patents on organisms as well as test kits.

I diagnosed both my husband and I watching this film.

Category:

Activism, Lyme, Uncategorized

CNN Forced To Correct Piece on Measles

https://www.healthnutnews.com/cnn-forced-to-apologize-for-measles-scare-piece-using-pic-of-child-with-rash-from-bad-mmr-reaction/

Measles

What they failed to mention entirely is that horrible lump in the picture is actually from a MMR VACCINE.

Oops

Vaccine proponents also fail to mention that fully vaccinated people still contract the disease they’ve been vaccinated for:   https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/04/07/measles-cases-nevada-california/495735002/

For a great read on Measles:  https://www.healthnutnews.com/measles-a-rash-of-misinformation/

A few excerpts:

Natural infection with wild measles creates long-lasting viral-specific and viral-neutralizing antibodies that are not acquired following vaccine-introduced infection. There are numerous documented cases of measles occurring in highly vaccinated communities which can be attributed primarily to short-term efficacy (secondary vaccine failure).  This has important implications considering the fact that measles has an increased rate of complications in adults when compared to school age children….

Wild measles exposure occurs through contact with the human respiratory tract. The measles vaccine introduces a lab altered, live-virus through an unnatural route of exposure.  This weakened, man-made virus can bury deep into the tissues and create a slow infection in practically any area of the body including the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract and central nervous system (CNS). The consequences of these vaccine-induced infections may not show up for months, years or decades later.

A vaccine induced form of SSPE known as Measles Inclusion-Body Encephalitis (MIBE) has been documented in children months to years following measles vaccination.  Could the rapid rise in chronic inflammatory bowel and neurological disorders be caused by these slow infections? How many doctors would ever think to investigate the possibility that these illnesses may be with a distant vaccination?  To further complicate the issue, in a phenomenon known as recombination, the measles virus can combine with other live viruses in the vaccine to create a novel virus with unknown effects.

Lyme/MSIDS patients are in a battle for their health.  They suffer from dysfunctional immune systems that are in a war of epic proportions.  Please do your reading before considering any and all vaccines.  Every single patient I know who got vaccinated suffered a relapse and a worsened condition.

 

 

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Uncategorized

13 Common Infections That Can Raise Your Heart Attack Risk – Including Lyme/MSIDS

https://www.rd.com/health/wellness/infections-raise-heart-attack-risk/

13 Common Infections That Can Raise Your Heart Attack Risk

Andrea Barbalich
From STDs to pneumonia to flu, common infections can tip the balance and lead to a heart attack in susceptible people.

The infection-heart connection

Computer tomography angiography CTA of coronary artery. The study use for diagnosis the heart vessel problem that made the patient suffer from myocardial infractions or acute coronary syndrome.Peter Porrini/Shutterstock

There are two major reasons why infections can lead to heart attacks, says Sean J. Cloonan, MD, internal medicine and infectious disease physician at the Scarsdale Medical Group. The first is that infections cause stress on the body. “And any stress like this can tip somebody over the edge to having a heart attack,” Dr. Cloonan says. “Think of an infection as that tipping point.” Second, infections cause inflammation in the body, he explains, which can worsen the process of plaque building up in the arteries. Read on to learn some of the infections that can worsen heart trouble.

Flu

Doctor is holding glass bottle of medicineOleksandr Lysenko/Shutterstock

A study out of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that influenza was one of the respiratory illnesses that raised the risk of a heart attack and stroke. Risk increased sharply among the study participants in the first few days after diagnosis. Receiving the flu vaccine did not increase the risk. Read about how to tell when you have the flu—and when you don’t.

Bronchitis

Thoracic spine X-rays under 3d imagePraisaeng/Shutterstock

This respiratory infection—resulting from inflammation of the lining of the lungs—can raise the risk of a heart attack or stroke, according to the New England Journal of Medicine study. The researchers found that heart attack risk rose fivefold and stroke risk increased threefold during the first three days following the diagnosis of a respiratory infection. The risk declined over time, however, and was nearly normal within three months after recovering from the infection. Don’t miss these signs your “cold” is actually something worse.

Pneumonia

Human lung tissue with pneumonia infection caused by flu (Viral pneumonia) under a microscope. ChWeiss/Shutterstock

Another problematic respiratory infection: pneumonia. A study in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that patients who had lung infections requiring a hospital admission had a six times greater risk for cardiovascular disease in the year following the illness, compared to people who hadn’t had the infections. And the risk persisted over time: It was more than twice as high for the hospitalized patients two and three years after the event and remained elevated up to five years after. A 2015 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association produced a similar finding. Be sure you know these silent symptoms of lung disease.

Other respiratory infections

X-ray Chest Upright A Male 76 year old Fine Cardiomegaly.No definite active lung infiltration or lung mass.No pleural effusion.Richman Photo/Shutterstock

A study conducted by researchers at Ashton Medical School in Birmingham, UK, and presented at the American College of Cardiology conference this year found that respiratory infections could raise the risk of a heart attack and double the risk of a stroke caused by atherosclerosis (the buildup of plaque in the arteries). In fact, researchers said the risk could be greater than the risk posed by obesity and similar to the dangers of high blood pressure and diabetes. Don’t miss these 7 silent signs you may have clogged arteries.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

13 Common Infections That Can Raise Your Heart Attack RiskJarun Ontakrai/Shutterstock

The British researchers who presented at the American College of Cardiology conference also studied UTIs, which were found to pose a similar heart-attack risk. The study, which tracked 34,000 patients, is the largest to date that shows a correlation between these types of common infections and an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. And the numbers are striking: Those who were admitted to hospital with a respiratory or urinary tract infection were 40 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack and 2.5 times more likely to have a stroke than patients who did not have an infection. These are the 9 symptoms of a urinary tract infection everyone should know.

Sepsis

Abnormal neutrophil in pleural fluid smear.Sepsis or septicaemia is a life-threatening illness. Presence of numerous bacteria in the blood, causes the body to respond in organ dysfunction. toeytoey/Shutterstock

Sepsis is an extreme immune system response to an existing infection where the heart and circulatory system begin to fail and blood pressure plummets. This slows blood flow to major organs, which can begin to fail. People who were hospitalized for this life-threatening condition in the European study were afterward found to have an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. Researchers say the likely cause is systemic inflammation, which can cause plaque to crack open and lead to a heart attack or stroke. Inflammation remains in the body long after the infection has cleared up, experts say. Don’t miss these signs of sepsis.

Chlamydia

Chlamydia with elementary Cell (green Color)Mohd Firdaus Othman/Shutterstock

Research has shown that chlamydia, a common sexually transmitted disease, may raise the risk of a heart attack in young men. The lead study author, from the University of Wisconsin, however, cautions that the research is preliminary and further study is needed. Dr. Cloonan agrees: “It’s murky,” he says. “Small studies have been done here and there to try to find a relationship, but they’re not conclusive.” Here are 14 sex problems you should take seriously.

HIV

Blood collection tube with HIV test label held by technician.Sherry Yates Young/Shutterstock

“It’s very well known that people with HIV have an elevated risk of a heart attack,” says Dr. Cloonan. “This is thought to be related to chronic inflammation.” The virus causes chronic activation of the immune system, which causes molecules called cytokines to circulate and damage the arteries over time. “Some of the older HIV medications also contributed to cardiovascular risk, but we hope the newer drugs will be shown to have less of an effect.” Be sure you know these 13 surprising things about HIV and AIDS.

Oral infections

Dental xray shows 3 wisdom tooths. there is one critical in the lower part of the picture, this is a high resolution, photoPhotosampler/Shutterstock

For reasons that aren’t quite clear, some populations of bacteria inside your mouth can damage your heart. Culprits include tooth infections, gingivitis (swelling of the gums), and periodontitis (which leads to infected pockets of pus). Numerous studies have found a link between periodontal disease and heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. To help prevent this, brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily, see a dentist for cleanings twice a year, and pay prompt attention to any signs of an infected tooth or gum disease. Don’t miss the 13 things dentists never put in their mouths.

Blood infections

13 Common Infections That Can Raise Your Heart Attack Riskplenoy m/Shutterstock

“When bacteria gets into the blood, that’s a sign that an infection is way out of control,” Dr. Cloonan says. This leads to an intense response from the immune system and is another example of a situation where your body is in a state of stress. “This can worsen the risk of a heart attack or stroke,” he says. Check out these heart disease risk factors you might not know.

When the heart is infected

Histopathology of bacterial myocarditis, inflammatory heart disease, light micrographKateryna Kon/Shutterstock

Some people develop infections in the heart itself—a condition called myocarditis. Many people with this infection experience no symptoms and recover before they even know they have it. But for others, symptoms may include chest pain; rapid or abnormal heartbeat; shortness of breath; fluid retention in the legs, ankles, and feet; fatigue; and general signs of an infection like headaches, body aches, joint pain, fever, and sore throat, according to the Mayo Clinic. Severe myocarditis weakens the heart and impedes blood circulation. Clots can form in the heart, leading to a stroke or heart attack.

Viral infections

Herpes on the lip close up macroNataly Studio/Shutterstock

The most common cause of myocarditis is a viral infection. These can include viruses that cause the common cold; hepatitis B and C; parvovirus, which causes a mild rash (usually in children; it’s also known as fifth disease); and herpes simplex virus. Gastrointestinal infections, Epstein-Barr virus (mononucleosis), and German measles (rubella) can also cause myocarditis. It’s also common in people who have HIV/AIDS. Here are the 11 signs of mono you should never ignore.

Bacterial infections

Study for Bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) in the human nose, for study on Blood Agar Culture Plate in Lab Microbiology.Rattiya Thongdumhyu/Shutterstock

Numerous other factors can also lead to myocarditis, such as infection with common bacteria like staphylococcus (which causes staph infections) and streptococcus (which causes strep throat, scarlet fever, and other infections). The bacteria that cause diphtheria and the tick-borne bacteria that cause Lyme disease can also be culprits. Check out how doctors can tell whether your infection or viral or bacterial.

Yeast infections

View in microscopic Candida albicans infecion in Pap smear.Fungal infection.Medical background.Komsan Loonprom/Shutterstock

Yeast infections such as candida can cause myocarditis as well, according to the Mayo Clinic, particularly in people who have weakened immune systems. If myocarditis is untreated, it can lead to heart failure or a heart attack or stroke. It’s important to contact your doctor if you experience any signs of the infection. Don’t miss these yeast infection symptoms you shouldn’t ignore.

Taking care of your heart

Top view of stethoscope on EKG graph or electrocardiogram to test measures the electrical signals that control heart rhythm.eakasarn/Shutterstock

“We know what the major determinants of heart disease are, including smoking, diabetes, and high cholesterol,” says Dr. Cloonan. “For people who have these risk factors and are on the edge to begin with, getting a bad infection may tip them into having a heart attack.” So it’s important to have your cholesterol checked, maintain healthy blood sugar levels, get screened for diabetes, keep your weight in a normal range, and avoid smoking. “Manage your risk factors to keep yourself as healthy as possible.” He also recommends staying up to date with influenza and pneumococcal vaccines to reduce your risk of these illnesses, as well as the vaccine for rubella, which can cause myocarditis. Read on to find out the best and worst diets for heart health.

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For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/06/03/heart-problems-tick-borne-disease/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/02/20/babesia-and-heart-issues/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/11/16/advanced-heart-block-in-children-with-lyme-disease-2/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/10/10/lyme-carditis-presenting-with-atrial-fibrillation/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/09/17/lyme-carditis-heart-block-other-complications-of-ld/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/08/14/vermont-resident-dies-of-rare-lyme-disease-complication-that-isnt-rare/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/07/02/new-uva-study-tentatively-links-ticks-to-heart-disease/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/06/10/lyme-carditis-with-complete-heart-block/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/09/28/bartonella-infective-endocarditis-with-dissemination-a-case-report-literature-review/

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

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

Seriously, I could go on and on and on with this…..

Category:

Uncategorized

Man Trains to Break ADK 46 High Peaks Hiking Record for Lyme Disease Awareness

https://www.newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/2019/01/man-trains-to-break-adirondack-46-high-peaks-hiking-record-for-lyme-disease-awareness.html

Man trains to break ADK 46 High Peaks hiking record for Lyme Disease awareness

Posted
Adam Valastro, left, is training to break the record for the fastest hike of all 46 Adirondack High Peaks in 2019 -- an effort dedicated to his wife, Brianna, who is suffering advanced stages of Lyme Disease.
(Courtesy of Adam Valastro)
Adam Valastro, left, is training to break the record for the fastest hike of all 46 Adirondack High Peaks in 2019 — an effort dedicated to his wife, Brianna, who is suffering advanced stages of Lyme Disease. 

By David Figura | dfigura@nyup.com

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. — Adam Valastro has two huge goals for 2019 – both dedicated to his wife.

Valastro, 34, of Queensbury, N.Y., in Warren County, is obsessed with getting in shape and breaking the record for the fastest hike of all 46 Adirondack High Peaks.

In the process, the computer administrator hopes to draw attention and change to what he says is the lack of knowledge in the public and lack of support from the medical community and insurance companies for those dealing with Lyme Disease, a tick-borne illness.

He has set up an informational page on Facebook titled, “Quest 46” to keep people inform and keep people updated on his efforts to break the 46er hiking record as well as to share information and stories from others about their battles with Lyme Disease.

Both efforts, he said, are in honor of his wife, Brianna, who was recently diagnosed with advanced stages of the disease – a condition that appears to getting worse despite an initial regime of antibiotics.

The record for hiking the 46 High Peaks was set in 2008 by Jan Wellford, who got to the summits of every one in 3 days, 17 hours and 14 minutes. Valastro said he’s been in touch with Wellford.

With Wellford’s help, he said he’s come up with a game plan for a “supported hike,” where he gets transported to and from trailheads and help with supply (food, water) drops. He is planning his attempt for some time in August, he said.

Valastro said his wife was first diagnosed with Lyme disease three months after suffering, on-and-off headaches, fever, nagging muscle and joint pains.

“She’s one of these people who never gets sick. The tipping point was when she started having heart palpitations,” he said. He took her to the hospital where 19 samples of blood were taken for various tests.

Initially, the couple was told that all tests were negative. However, two days later they were told Brianna tested positive for Lyme disease.

She recently finished an initial regime of antibiotics. That didn’t cure her and her symptoms are persisting, getting worse, Valastro said. The medical bills are mounting,

And things couldn’t have happened at a worse time, Valastro said. He said the house where he grew up in and he owned burned to the ground last year. His 15-year-old dog died and his truck, his only means of transportation, broke down beyond repair, among other things.

So, why did you decided to do these two things?

When my wife came down with Lyme Disease I started going online and reading up on it, and found out it’s one of the fastest-growing diseases in the country. I read stories about individuals who have struggled with the long-term effects, and how more often than not they didn’t get the help they needed. It pissed me off. My wife is about to begin advanced treatments for her condition and our insurance won’t cover them. We’ve spent our savings and sold most of our possessions that had any value. We’ve been forced to take out loans just to keep the bills paid and pay for Brianna’s treatment.

The cause is noble — but hiking all the High Peaks? Has anyone told you that you’re nuts?

Nobody has told me that yet, but I expect it. My answer will be that sometimes to obtain unreasonable goals you have to expect to do unreasonable things. That’s what it boils down to. The whole point is to create awareness for my wife and anyone else suffering from Lyme Disease.

What kind of shape are you in right now? Talk about what you’re doing to get in shape.

I’m a big hunter, a hiker. I’ve been athletic most of my life. I have a pretty extensive background in fitness and nutrition. As part of the Healthy Hunter’s group, I’ve built fitness plans for individuals and groups. I plan to be obsessed with this. Right now, I’m getting up every morning to run at 4 a.m. – regardless of rain, sleet or snow — and then going to work. I come home, make dinner, care for my wife, put my 6-year-old son to bed – and sometimes I go out running again. I have time to be physically prepared. I’m confident my mental strength will get me through this.

What if you fail at breaking the record? What then?

There’s a lot of possible scenarios. Bad weather. I could break a leg. If one of those things happen I’ll recover, train and do it again. I will hike all 46 peaks. There’s not enough awareness about Lyme Disease. I want to show people that nothing is impossible if you’re the kind of person who believes that.

 

Category:

Activism, Lyme, Uncategorized