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Lyme Disease News & Current Medical Research The latest publications of scientific medical research, articles and news on Lyme disease from many resources are automatically displayed here. List of latest Lyme news and medical research
About the list The list on this page is powered by Medworm, a search engine based on > < a href="http://feeds.cbsnews.com/~ff/CBSNewsHealth? a=FrWRfhEp_T4:KFYundsh-w0:w--LzT5DBIM" > < img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CBSNewsHealth? i=FrWRfhEp_T4:KFYundsh-w0:w--LzT5DBIM" border="0" > < /img > < /a > < a href="http://feeds.cbsnews.com/~ff/CBSNewsHealth? a=FrWRfhEp_T4:KFYundsh-w0:yIl2AUoC8zA" > < img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CBSNewsHealth?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0" > < /img > < /a > < a href="http://feeds.cbsnews.com/~ff/CBSNewsHealth? a=FrWRfhEp_T4:KFYundsh-w0:F7zBnMyn0Lo" > < img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CBSNewsHealth? i=FrWRfhEp_T4:KFYundsh-w0:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0" > < /img > < /a > < a href="http://feeds.c...
Thursday 21 July 2016
Infections of the Brain and Meninges
Imaging findings for the various typical bacteria infecting the CNS are nonspecific and require correlation with laboratory tests to establish a definitive diagnosis. Mycobacterial and spirochetal infections have a clinical presentation and imaging appearance different from those of typical bacteria. Therefore, the following sections first discuss the various stages of pyogenic infections that occur with the majority of bacteria, followed by a description of mycobacterial (tuberculosis) and spirochetal (Lyme disease) infections (Source: Seminars in Roentgenology)
Thursday 21 July 2016
Lyme disease: You can't blame the deer
The last decades the disease Lyme borreliosis that is spread by ticks has been increasing, but this increase cannot be explained by the increasing deer population only, say researchers. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Wednesday 20 July 2016
Feasibility of a simple microsieve-based immunoassay platform.
In this report, the feasibility of creating a microsieve-based immunoassay platform was explored. Microsieves containing 5µm pores were coupled with poly-acrylic acid chains, and then mounted into a plastic holder to enable rapid reagent exchanges via a wicking mechanism. The mounted microsieves were coated with infectious disease-related antigens at [2.5 and 25µg/mL], [20 and 50µg/mL], and [20 and 100µg/mL] to facilitate detection of serum-derived human antibodies against Rubella (3-day measles), B. burgdorferi (Lyme disease), or T. pallidum (syphilis), respectively. The prototype microsievebased immunoassay platform was able to distinguish positive control sera containing antibodies against Rubella, T. pallidum, and B. burgdorferi from negative control sera with similar qualitative ...
Wednesday 20 July 2016
Geographical differences in seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in Norway, 2011 –2013
Publication date: July 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, Volume 7, Issue 5 Author(s): Didrik F. Vestrheim, Richard A. White, Ingeborg S. Aaberge, Audun Aase Detection of specific antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is a useful aid for the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis. However, antibodies are present in the general population. The seroprevalence increase with age, and varies according to the prevalence of infected ticks. We performed a seroprevalence study of IgM and IgG antibody reactivity against B. burgdorferi sensu lato in Norway by age-groups and geography, in order to provide a reference set of seroprevalence to inform the interpretation of positive test results. We used two commercially available enzyme immuno assays (EIA) and a multiplexed bead assay t...
Wednesday 20 July 2016
HtrA, a Temperature- and Stationary Phase-Activated Protease Involved in Maturation of a Key Microbial Virulence Determinant, Facilitates Borrelia burgdorferi Infection in Mammalian Hosts [Bacterial Infections]
High-temperature requirement protease A (HtrA) represents a family of serine proteases that play important roles in microbial biology. Unlike the genomes of most organisms, that of Borrelia burgdorferi notably encodes a single HtrA gene product, termed BbHtrA. Previous studies identified a few substrates of BbHtrA; however, their physiological relevance could not be ascertained, as targeted deletion of the gene has not been successful. Here we show that BbhtrA transcripts are induced during spirochete growth either in the stationary phase or at elevated temperature. Successful generation of a BbhtrA deletion mutant and restoration by genetic complementation suggest a nonessential role for this protease in microbial viability; however, its remarkable growth, morphological, and structural de... MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Wednesday 20 July 2016
Kris Kristofferson's Lyme disease misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's
The actor/songwriter struggled with memory issues thought to be dementia, but it turned out to be caused by tick-borne illness (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Wednesday 20 July 2016
Taking The Battle Against Lyme Disease Ticks To The Backyard
Scientists have tested all sorts of strategies to keep Lyme disease ticks from biting us. One is to make it less likely you'll cross paths with the critters in your yard. Sawdust mulch, anyone? (Source: NPR Health and Science)
Wednesday 20 July 2016
Lyme Disease: The Pharmacist's Role Lyme Disease: The Pharmacist's Role
Learn about the transmission, diagnosis, and treatment of Lyme disease and its complications in this overview. < br / > < i > U.S. Pharmacist < /i > (Source: Medscape Pathology Headlines) MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Wednesday 20 July 2016
Scientists review methods to prevent bites, suppress ticks that transmit Lyme disease
Decades of scientific literature on the effectiveness of various methods of preventing bites and controlling ticks that transmit Lyme disease has been reviewed by a research team, and outlined in a new report. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Wednesday 20 July 2016
Lyme Disease: The Pharmacist's RoleLyme Disease: The Pharmacist's Role
Learn about the transmission, diagnosis, and treatment of Lyme disease and its complications in this overview. U.S. Pharmacist (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Wednesday 20 July 2016
CDC scientists review methods to prevent bites and suppress ticks that transmit Lyme disease
(Entomological Society of America) Dr. Lars Eisen and Marc Dolan of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reviewed decades of scientific literature on the effectiveness of various methods of preventing bites and controlling ticks that transmit Lyme disease. Their findings are published in the Journal of Medical Entomology. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Tuesday 19 July 2016
Field-Adapted Spot Test for Evaluating Materials Treated with Permethrin Insect Repellent
Military uniforms and mosquito nets are treated with permethrin, a repellent and insecticide used for personal protection against biting flies, mosquitoes, and other disease-carrying insects. Vector-borne diseases such as malaria, leishmaniasis (a parasitic infection spread by sandflies), Zika virus, West Nile virus, Lyme disease, and more can be diminished if treated nets or clothing containing the proper amount of permethrin are utilized. Washing and wear depletes the insecticide on the material, eventually rendering it ineffective. Currently, there are no commercially available colorimetric (color-changing) tests available to gauge the amount of permethrin left in fabrics after use and repeated washes. CDC researchers developed a rapid and simple technique using a reagent to quantify th...
Monday 18 July 2016
Paired Real-Time PCR Assays for Detection of Borrelia miyamotoi in North American Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae)
Publication date: Available online 18 July 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Christine B. Graham, Mark A. Pilgard, Sarah E. Maes, Andrias Hojgaard, Rebecca J. Eisen Borrelia miyamotoi is an emerging, tickborne human pathogen. In North America, it is primarily associated with Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus, two species known to bite humans. Here we describe the development and evaluation of a pair of real-time TaqMan PCR assays designed to detect B. miyamotoi in North American ticks. We sought to achieve sensitivity to B. miyamotoi strains associated with ticks throughout North America, the full genetic diversity of which is unknown, by targeting sequences that are largely conserved between B. miyamotoi strains from the eastern United States and geneticall...
Monday 18 July 2016
Long-term antibiotics after ceftriaxone did not improve quality of life in persistent Lyme disease.
Authors: Meyerhoff J PMID: 27429317 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Annals of Internal Medicine)
Monday 18 July 2016
T2 Biosystems, Bayer ink blood disorder deal
T2 Biosystems (NSDQ:TTOO) said today that it inked a deal with Bayer (ETR:BAYN) for research on blood coagulation disorders. The deal calls for T2 to provide its T2MR magnetic resonance-based diagnostic device to Bayer for a research program for drug and biomarker discovery in hemostasis. “We are very enthusiastic about our collaboration with Bayer and the important validation it represents for our T2MR technology in the field of hemostasis,” T2 CEO John McDonough said in prepared remarks. “Together with Bayer, we look forward to continuing the exploration of the clinical potential of our platform to provide improved patient care in this area of significant unmet need.” The companies have been working together for the last year and recently extended the collabo...
Thursday 14 July 2016
Global Tn seq analysis of carbohydrate utilization and vertebrate infectivity of Borrelia burgdorferi
Summary Borrelia burgdorferi maintains a complex life cycle between tick and vertebrate hosts. Although some genes have been identified as contributing to bacterial adaptation in the different hosts, the list is incomplete. In this manuscript, we report the first use of transposon mutagenesis combined with highthroughput sequencing (Tnseq) in B. burgdorferi. We utilize the technique to investigate mechanisms of carbohydrate utilization in B. burgdorferi and the role of carbohydrate metabolism during mouse infection. We performed genetic fitness analyses to identify genes encoding factors contributing to growth on glucose, maltose, mannose, trehalose and Nacetylglucosamine. We obtained insight into the potential functions of proteins predicted to be involved in carbohydrate util...
Thursday 14 July 2016
Students' attitudes to tick risks.
CONCLUSION: Differences in preferences between the two nations appeared in many areas, e.g. the Czechs felt more threatened by all kind of risks and suffered from Lyme disease more frequently. Gaps can still be found in both the knowledge and behaviour among the respondents. It can be expected that the general public knowledge of this issue is rather limited in comparison with the students participating in the study, who are systematically educated in the field. PMID: 27660864 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine : AAEM)
Thursday 14 July 2016
First molecular evidence of [i]Borrelia burgdorferi[/i] sensu lato in goats, sheep, cattle and camels in Tunisia.
This study provides the first insight into the presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. DNA in ruminants in Tunisia, and demonstrates that host species such as goats and sheep may play an important role in natural Lyme disease cycles in this country. PMID: 27660865 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine : AAEM)
Thursday 14 July 2016
Course and Outcome of Early European Lyme Neuroborreliosis (Bannwarth Syndrome): Clinical and Laboratory Findings
Conclusions. Our patients had fewer pretreatment neurological complications (PFP, pareses) than reported for Bannwarth syndrome decades ago, probably as the result of earlier recognition and prompt antibiotic treatment. Unfavorable outcome was rare and was predicted by the continued presence of symptoms 14 days after commencement of treatment. (Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases) MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Tuesday 12 July 2016
New York News Team And Yale-Educated Doctor Question CDC's Lyme Denial
Late last month, FOX5NY broadcast "Lyme and Reason," a precedent-setting news special dedicated to the Lyme disease epidemic. The show was a success by many measures, including--most importantly by TV production standards--ratings wise. The strong viewership reflects a strong interest in learning more about Lyme disease. More and more, people are discovering that they know someone whose life has been profoundly affected by Lyme. More and more, people are discovering that they themselves have been living with undiagnosed Lyme for years. Now the FOX5NY team is calling on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and prevention to answer questions following up on a conversation between FOX5NY anchor Teresa Priolo and CDC Chief of Epidemiology and Surveillance Activity of The Bacterial Diseases Br... MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Monday 11 July 2016
Lyme Disease guidelines.
Authors: Bailey J PMID: 27402647 [PubMed - in process] (Source: cmaj)
Monday 11 July 2016
Don't be 'ticked' off by Lyme disease
The chief medical officer of Canada's Public Health Agency says cases of Lyme disease could be much higher than reported. @NightshiftMD talks about the symptoms of Lyme and what could be causing the increase in infections. (Source: CBC | Health)
Monday 11 July 2016
What's Really Inside Your Bug Spray?
It’s the height of summer — and if you’ve been spending more time outdoors lately, chances are you’ve got a few (or more) bug bites to show for your time in the sun. And while bites from pests are an inevitable part of summer, it’s important to reduce your risk of bug bites from mosquitoes and ticks. That’s because several species of these insects can carry dangerous disease, including Lyme disease and West Nile virus. “The most effective way to avoid West Nile virus disease is to prevent mosquito bites,” wrote the CDC in their summer health guidelines. “Repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and some oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol products provide longer-lasting protection.” The consumer advocacy org...
Sunday 10 July 2016
Woman living with Lyme: Behind my smile I’m in constant pain
LIFE and business coach Janice Haddon describes how a debilitating disease has turned her life upside down. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Friday 8 July 2016
Immunomodulatory effects of tick saliva on dermal cells exposed to Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease
The prolonged feeding process of ixodid ticks, in combination with bacterial transmission, should lead to a robust inflammatory response at the bloodfeeding site. Yet, factors present in tick saliva may down-... (Source: Parasites and Vectors) MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Thursday 7 July 2016
Underreporting of Lyme and Other TickBorne Diseases in Residents of a High Incidence County, Minnesota, 2009
Summary Lyme disease (LD), anaplasmosis, babesiosis and other tickborne diseases (TBDs) attributed to Ixodes ticks are thought to be widely underreported in the United States. To identify TBD cases diagnosed in 2009, but not reported to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), diagnostic and procedural billing codes suggestive of tickborne diseases were used to select medical charts for retrospective review in medical facilities serving residents of a highly endemic county in Minnesota. Of 444 illness events, 352 (79%) were not reported. Of these, 102 (29%) met confirmed or probable surveillance case criteria, including 91 (26%) confirmed LD cases with physiciandiagnosed erythema migrans (EM). For each confirmed and probable LD, probable anaplasmosis and confirmed babesiosis case...
Thursday 7 July 2016
Underreporting of Lyme and Other Tick Borne Diseases in Residents of a High Incidence County, Minnesota, 2009
Summary Lyme disease (LD), anaplasmosis, babesiosis and other tickborne diseases (TBDs) attributed to Ixodes ticks are thought to be widely underreported in the United States. To identify TBD cases diagnosed in 2009, but not reported to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), diagnostic and procedural billing codes suggestive of tickborne diseases were used to select medical charts for retrospective review in medical facilities serving residents of a highly endemic county in Minnesota. Of 444 illness events, 352 (79%) were not reported. Of these, 102 (29%) met confirmed or probable surveillance case criteria, including 91 (26%) confirmed LD cases with physiciandiagnosed erythema migrans (EM). For each confirmed and probable LD, probable anaplasmosis and confirmed babesiosis case...
Wednesday 6 July 2016
Is Localized Scleroderma Caused by Borrelia burgdorferi?
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases)
Wednesday 6 July 2016
Incidence and antibiotic treatment of erythema migrans in Norway 2005–2009
Publication date: Available online 30 June 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Knut Eirik Eliassen, Dag Berild, Harald Reiso, Nils Grude, Karen Sofie Christophersen, Cecilie Finckenhagen, Morten Lindbæk The first stage of Lyme borreliosis (LB) is mainly the typical skin lesion, erythema migrans (EM), which is estimated to comprise 80–90% of all LB cases. However, the reporting of and actual incidence of LB varies throughout Europe. Studies from Sweden and Holland found EM incidences varied from 53–464 EM/100,000 inhabitants/year. Under-reporting of LB is common and a coefficient of three to reach a realistic estimate is suggested. In Norway, it is mandatory to report only the second and third LB stages to the National Institute of Public Health. To find the N...
Wednesday 6 July 2016
5-hydroxytryptamine and Lyme disease. Opportunity for a novel therapy to reduce the cerebellar tremor?
Authors: Maximov GK, Maximov KG, Chokoeva AA, Lotti T, Wollina U, Patterson JW, Guarneri C, Tana C, Fioranelli M, Roccia MG, Kanazawa N, Tchernev G Abstract Lyme boreliosis is caused by the spirochete Borrelia burdorferi, which is transmitted by ticks. A 59 year-old woman developed pyrexia, strong headaches, ataxia, dysarthria and tremor of the limbs after a tick bite. She was unable to work and eat on her own. She was hospitalized three times and diagnosed with cerebellar intention tremor, cerebellar ataxia, dysarthria, bilateral horizontal gaze paralysis and a central lesion of the left facial nerve. There were no pyramidal, sensory or psychiatric disturbances. The brain MRI showed multifocal leucoencephalopathy with many hyperintense areas in both hemispheres, as well as in the ... MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Tuesday 5 July 2016
Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis and Lyme Disease
To the Editor Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), caused by the rickettsia Anaplasma phagocytophilum, is vectored by the same Ixodes spp ticks that transmit Lyme disease. HGA is associated with fever, headache, cytopenia, and rarely mortality (if the infection occurs in elderly or immunocompromised hosts). HGA is not spread person-to-person by mucocutaneous exposure to the blood of infected patients; does not typically, or perhaps ever, cause bleeding from multiple body sites; is not usually associated with diarrhea; and has never been associated with relative bradycardia. Convalescent phase antibody titers to the etiologic agent reach 640 or greater in more than 90% of culture-confirmed cases in the United States, and morulae are detected on blood smears in more than 70% of such cases....
Sunday 3 July 2016
Efficacy of Antibiotic Prophylaxis for the Prevention of Lyme Disease After Tick Bite
Lyme disease is endemic in several areas in the United States, including the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states, upper mid-West, and the West Coast. It is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans by ticks of the Ixodes species. The question of how to manage patients who have experienced a tick bite arises frequently in clinical practice and includes whether or not to recommend antibiotics either as a single dose or longer course in an effort to prevent development of acute Lyme disease characterized by systemic symptoms and the rash of erythema migrans. (Source: The American Journal of Medicine)
Friday 1 July 2016
Seroprevalence of West Nile virus, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, Francisella tularensis and Borrelia burgdorferi in rural population of Manisa, western Turkey.
CONCLUSION: Seropositivity rates were not found to be higher than the expected rates. Further, studies are needed to evaluate the threat of vector borne zoonoses and associated risk factors in the study area. PMID: 27353580 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Journal of Vector Borne Diseases) MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Friday 1 July 2016
Lyme Myocarditis Presenting as Chest Pain in an Adolescent Girl
Abstract: A previously healthy adolescent girl presented to the emergency department with new onset chest and right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Laboratory studies and imaging were consistent with myocarditis. She developed heart block after admission and required stabilization in the cardiac intensive care unit. Lyme serology returned positive, and her condition was diagnosed as Lyme disease-associated myocarditis. (Source: Pediatric Emergency Care)
Thursday 30 June 2016
Erratum to: Bilateral vestibular hypofunction and Lyme disease: a causal link?
(Source: Acta Neurologica Belgica)
Thursday 30 June 2016
Lyme Disease
Abstract Lyme disease is caused by the spirochetal bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted by ticks in the genus Ixodes. The key reservoirs for the spirochete include rodents and birds, and the primary hosts for ticks include rodents, birds, and lizards for immature stages and large mammal for the adults. Since its recognition in the USA in the 1970s, it has continued to emerge, increasing both in case numbers and geographic distribution. In the last two decades, a number of new findings have been observed, including a vast increase in disease distribution, additional Borrelia species causing disease in humans, and newly recognized clinical presentations of the disease. Areas of greatest need include (1) new diagnostic tests, including tests that detect Borrelia DNA, antigen...
Thursday 30 June 2016
Spirochetes flagellar collar proteins have astounding effects in orientation of periplasmic flagella, bacterial shape, motility, and stability of motors in Borrelia burgdorferi
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Molecular Microbiology)
Thursday 30 June 2016
Potential flaws in test for Lyme Disease
A new microscopy technique (LM-method) developed to detect Lyme disease is unable to distinguish infected patients from healthy controls, yielding falsepositive results that could lead doctors to over-diagnose a patient, according to new research. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Wednesday 29 June 2016
First Evidence of an Established Population of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in South Dakota
Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae) is the most important vector of human disease in the United States. Recent efforts by public health officials to determine its presence on a county-by-county basis have been undertaken to assist in Lyme disease risk assessment. Recent modeling efforts show that South Dakota can potentially support populations of I. scapularis based on favorable climatic conditions and presence of suitable hosts to support tick populations within the state. We provide the first documentation of an established population of I. scapularis in Clay County, SD, providing only the third record of the presence of this tick species within the state. (Source: Journal of Medical Entomology)
Wednesday 29 June 2016
Prevalence of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Host-Seeking Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) and Odocoileus virginianus (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) in Florida
Amblyomma americanum (L.), the lone star tick, is an aggressive tick that is expanding its geographic range within the United States. This tick is the vector for the human and veterinary pathogens Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii and is associated with other microbes of unspecified pathogenicity including Rickettsia amblyommii, Panola Mountain Ehrlichia, and Borrelia lonestari. In Florida, there has been sparse contemporary >Trypanosoma cruzi are discussed, and suggestions for future directions are included. Parents? and adolescents? willingness to be vaccinated against serogroup B meningococcal disease during a mass vaccination in Saguenay?Lac-St-Jean (Quebec)Since the implementation of the meningococcal C conjugate vaccine as a component of the routine vaccination schedule of children in Quebec, the incidence of meningitis caused by serogroup C Neisseria meningitidis has de...
Wednesday 23 December 2015
Volume: 25 Issue: 5
This article describes the treatment completion rate for latent tuberculosis infections at a health clinic in Edmonton, Alberta, including an assessment of the correlates of noncompletion as well as potential means to improve treatment adherence. Effects of breakpoint changes on carbapenem susceptibility rates of Enterobacteriaceae: Results from the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program (United States, 2008 to 2012)Antibiotic susceptibility breakpoints are determined at the time of clinical approval for a given drug, but may need to be revised to incorporate additional evidence obtained after approval of the drug. The breakpoints for several common carbapenems were updated between 2010 and 2013. The authors aimed to calculate the change in susceptibility rates for ...
Wednesday 23 December 2015
Anti-inflammatory effects of dexamethasone and meloxicam on Borrelia burgdorferi-induced inflammation in neuronal cultures of dorsal root ganglia and myelinating cells of the peripheral nervous system
Conclusions: These data help further explain our in vivo findings of significantly reduced levels of inflammatory mediators, DRG-apoptosis, and lack of inflammatory neurodegenerative lesions in the nerve roots and DRG of Bbinfected animals that were treated with dexamethasone, but not meloxicam. Evaluating the role of the signaling mechanisms that contribute to the antiinflammatory potential of dexamethasone in the context of LNB could serve to identify therapeutic targets for limiting radiculitis and axonal degeneration in peripheral LNB. (Source: Journal of Neuroinflammation)
Tuesday 22 December 2015
Postepy Hig Med Dosw 2015; 69:1222-1227 "Analysis of nanomechanical properties of Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes under the influence of lytic factors in an in vitro model using atomic force microscopy"
Conclusion: The average value of flexibility of spirochetes’ surface expressed by Young’s modulus was 10185.32 MPa, whereas the adhesion force was 3.68 nN. AFM is a modern tool with a broad spectrum of observational and measurement abilities. Young’s modulus and the adhesion force can be treated as parameters in the evaluation of intensity and changes which take place in pathogenic microorganisms under the influence of various lytic factors. The visualization of the changes in association with nanomechanical features provides a realistic portrayal of the lytic abilities of the elements of the innate and adaptive human immune system. (Source: Postepy higieny i medycyny doswiadczalnej) MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Tuesday 22 December 2015
Prevalence of Borrelia miyamotoi in Ixodes persulcatus in Irkutsk City and its neighboring territories, Russia
Publication date: Available online 21 December 2015 Source:Ticks and Tickborne Diseases Author(s): Maxim A. Khasnatinov, Galina A. Danchinova, Ai Takano, Hiroki Kawabata, Norio Ohashi, Toshiyuki Masuzawa Adult Ixodes persulcatus were collected in highly populated districts in Irkutsk city, Russia, and/or in popular recreational and professional areas in its neighboring territories. Borrelia miyamotoi infection in I. persulcatus was examined using multiplex Taqman-PCR targeting 16S rDNA, and nested PCR and sequencing analyses targeting flaB and 16S rDNA. B. miyamotoi and Lyme disease Borrelia species were detected in 13 (infection rate, 2.9%) and 77 (17.3%) out of 445 I. persulcatus ticks, respectively, collected from 4 sites around the Baikal Lake. The 16S rDNA and flaB sequences ...
Monday 21 December 2015
Distribution and survival of Borrelia miyamotoi in human blood components.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that B. miyamotoi can survive standard storage conditions of most human blood components, suggesting the possibility of transmission by blood transfusion. PMID: 26689144 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Transfusion)
Sunday 20 December 2015
Lyme Borreliosis: Is there a preexisting (natural) variation in antimicrobial susceptibility among Borrelia burgdorferi strains?
Authors: Hodzic E Abstract The development of antibiotics changed the world of medicine and has saved countless human and animal lives. Bacterial resistance/tolerance to antibiotics have spread silently across the world and has emerged as a major public health concern. The recent emergence of panresistant bacteria can overcome virtually any antibiotic and poses a major problem for their successful control. Selection for antibiotic resistance may take place where an antibiotic is present: in the skin, gut, and other tissues of humans and animals and in the environment. Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiological agents of Lyme borreliosis, evades host immunity and establishes persistent infections in its mammalian hosts. The persistent infection poses a challenge to the effective antibi...
Friday 18 December 2015
Impact of Spring Bird Migration on the Range Expansion of Ixodes scapularis Tick Population.
In this study, we develop a periodic delay meta-population model which takes into consideration the local landscape for tick reproduction within patches and the times needed for ticks to be transported by birds between patches. Assuming that the tick population is endemic in the source region, we find that bird migration may boost an already established tick population at the subsequent region and thus increase the risk to humans, or bird migration may help ticks to establish in a region where the local landscape is not appropriate for ticks to survive in the absence of bird migration, imposing risks to public health. This theoretical study reveals that bird migration plays an important role in the geographic range expansion of I. scapularis, and therefore our findings may suggest some str...
Friday 18 December 2015
Multi-trophic interactions driving the transmission cycle of Borrelia afzelii between Ixodes ricinus and rodents: a review
The tick Ixodes ricinus is the main vector of the spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the causal agent of Lyme borreliosis, in the western Palearctic. Rodents are the reservoir host of B. afzelii, which can be transmitted to I. ricinus larvae during a blood meal. The infected engorged larvae moult into infected nymphs, which can transmit the spirochaetes to rodents and humans. Interestingly, even though only about 1 % of the larvae develop into a borreliaeinfected nymph, the enzootic borreliae lifecycle can persist. The development from larva to infected nymph is a key aspect in this lifecycle, influencing the density of infected nymphs and thereby Lyme borreliosis risk. The density of infected nymphs varies temporally and geographically and is influenced by multi-trophic (tick-...
Friday 18 December 2015
Serological and molecular evidence for Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato co-infections in the Netherlands
In conclusion, our data show that B. burgdorferi s.l. and SFG rickettsiae coinfection occurs in Dutch I. ricinus and that Lyme borreliosis patients, or patients suspected of Lyme borreliosis, are indeed exposed to both tick-borne pathogens. Whether SFG rickettsiae actually cause disease, and whether coinfections alter the clinical course of Lyme borreliosis, is not clear from our data, and warrants further investigation. (Source: Ticks and Tick borne Diseases) MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Thursday 17 December 2015
Will Culling White Tailed Deer Prevent Lyme Disease?
Summary Whitetailed deer play an important role in the ecology of Lyme disease. In the United States, where the incidence and geographic range of Lyme disease continue to increase, reduction of whitetailed deer populations has been proposed as a means of preventing human illness. The effectiveness of this politically sensitive prevention method is poorly understood. We summarize and evaluate available evidence regarding the effect of deer reduction on vector tick abundance and human disease incidence. Elimination of deer from islands and other isolated settings can have a substantial impact on the reproduction of blacklegged ticks, while reduction short of complete elimination has yielded mixed results. To date, most studies have been conducted in ecologic situations that are not rep...
Thursday 17 December 2015
Infectious aetiology of marginal zone lymphoma and role of anti-infective therapy
Marginal zone lymphomas have been associated with several infectious agents covering both viral and bacterial pathogens and in some cases a clear aetiological role has been established. Pathogenetic mechanisms are currently not completely understood, however the role of chronic stimulation of the host immune response with persistent lymphocyte activation represents the most convincing explanation for lymphoproliferation. Gastric MALT lymphoma is strictly associated with Helicobacter pylori infection and various eradicating protocols, developed due to increasing antibiotic resistance, represent the first line therapy. The response rate to eradication is good with 80% of response at 1 year; this finding is also noteworthy because recapitulates a cancer cured only by antibacterial approach an...
Wednesday 16 December 2015
The generalist tick Ixodes ricinus and the specialist tick Ixodes trianguliceps on shrews and rodents in a northern forest ecosystem– a role of body size even among small hosts
Conclusions: Body mass was important for explaining load of I. ricinus mainly up to a body mass of ~10 g across a range of smaller mammalian hosts. Consistent with earlier work elsewhere in Europe, we found the highest tick infestation intensity on the wood mouse A. sylvaticus. However, this rodent species fed only 20.4 % of all I. ricinus larvae, while the much more abundant S. araneus fed 61.9 %. Our study emphasizes an important quantitative role of the common shrew S. araneus as a main host to I. ricinus larvae and to both I. trianguliceps larvae and nymphs. The partly seasonal distinct attachment pattern of I. ricinus and I. trianguliceps is evidence for niche separation. (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Monday 14 December 2015
Ben Baddeley desperate to walk made Christmas cards with his FEET to pay for physio
Ben Baddeley, 11, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, is learning to walk unaided for the first time since having an operation to relieve muscle spasms caused by cerebral palsy. (Source: the Mail online | Health) MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Monday 14 December 2015
How to beat Lyme disease and keep enjoying the great outdoors
A surge in cases of the tick-borne infection Lyme disease has made some people wary of the countryside. But there’s no need to worry, if you take care‘To be honest,” enthuses Dr Tim Brooks, “it’s a fascinating disease.” As head of the Rare and Imported Pathogens laboratory at Public Health England, trying to solve the growing problem of Lyme disease (and other bugs, such as ebola) is his vocation. Lyme disease – a bacterial infection spread by infected ticks – is a particularly complex puzzle, with little reliable data available so far. It can appear in numerous forms, occasionally causing long-term neurological symptoms that could be mistaken for other conditions, such as multiple sclerosis or motor neurone disease.Following a surge in cases this year – th...
Monday 14 December 2015
"Lyme": Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by Another Name?
(Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases) MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Sunday 13 December 2015
Isolation and characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi strains from Ixodes ricinus ticks in the southern England.
CONCLUSION: As a result of this study, antigenic differences have been seen between the UK isolates and the foreign isolates used as laboratory standards. PMID: 26191500 [PubMed] (Source: BioImpacts)
Saturday 12 December 2015
Clinical and diagnosis considerations of Lyme disease.
Authors: Ionescu D, Cotar AI, Bădescu D, Dumitriu S PMID: 24187811 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Roumanian Archives of Microbiology and Immunology)
Saturday 12 December 2015
[Evaluation of 10 cases of Lyme disease presenting with erythema migrans in Istanbul, Turkey].
Authors: Akın Belli A, Derviş E, Özbaş Gök S, Midilli K, Gargılı A Abstract Lyme disease (LD) is a tick-borne, multisystemic infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. Although variable rates of seropositivity for B.burgdorferi have been reported between 2% to 44% in Turkey, its actual prevalence is not wellunderstood. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the characteristics of 10 cases of LD presenting as erythema migrans (EM) between 2009 and 2013 from Istanbul which is one of the metropolitan cities of Turkey. Of the patients, five were male and five were female, ages between 951 years (mean age: 34.5 years). Five of the patients were admitted in June, three in October, one in November and two in December and all have the history of tick bite in last 1-2 w...
Friday 11 December 2015
Comparison of detection of Borrelia burgdorferi DNA and anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in patients with erythema migrans in north-eastern Poland.
CONCLUSIONS: Polymerase chain reaction of skin biopsy specimens seems to be currently the most sensitive and specific test for the diagnosis of patients with EM, especially in patients with a short duration of the disease (< 14 days) but still its effectiveness is much lower than expected. Polymerase chain reaction of blood samples cannot be recommended at the present time for the routine diagnostic of patients with EM. PMID: 25821421 [PubMed] (Source: Advances in Dermatology and Allergology)
Friday 11 December 2015
Sequential insults: acute Lyme disease with splenic infarction
After appropriate treatment was started for a patient’s most likely diagnosis, a surprising new finding prompted reevaluation. Previously healthy, the 39-yearold-man presented to his primary care clinic in early October after 7 days of progressive lower extremity myalgias, malaise, intermittent fevers, generalized headaches, rigors, and night sweats. He had no upper respiratory symptoms, abdominal pain, dysuria, diarrhea, rash, or arthralgias. (Source: The American Journal of Medicine) MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Wednesday 9 December 2015
Sixty seconds on . . . Lyme disease
(Source: BMJ News)
Wednesday 9 December 2015
Natural foci of Borrelia lusitaniae in a mountain region of Central Europe
Publication date: Available online 9 December 2015 Source:Ticks and Tickborne Diseases Author(s): Veronika Rusňáková Tarageľová, Lenka Mahríková, Diana Selyemová, Radovan Václav, Markéta Derdáková Lyme borreliosis is the most prevalent tick-borne disease in Europe. It is caused by spirochaetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex and transmitted to humans by ticks of the genus Ixodes. B. afzelii, B. garinii, and B. valaisiana are the most common genospecies in Central Europe. In contrast, B. lusitaniae predominates in Mediterranean countries such as Portugal, Morocco, and Tunisia. In Slovakia, its prevalence is low and restricted to only a few sites. The aim of our research was to study the expansion of ticks into higher altitudes in the ecosystem of th...
Monday 7 December 2015
Tick-Borne Disease Preventive Practices and Perceptions in an Endemic Area
Publication date: Available online 7 December 2015 Source:Ticks and Tickborne Diseases Author(s): Amber D. Butler, Tannaz Sedghi, Joann R. Petrini, Ramin Ahmadi Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the United States. Since the institution of Nationally Notifiable surveillance efforts for Lyme disease in the United States in 1991, there has been a consistent increase in the number of reported cases. Thus, the need for targeted prevention strategies is underscored. The purpose of this study was to investigate knowledge about tick-borne diseases as well as beliefs and practices related to a variety of personal tick-borne disease prevention methods among individuals in southwestern Connecticut, a Lyme disease-endemic area. Between June and September 2014, a...
Wednesday 2 December 2015
Laboratory diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis in Scottish patients: a novel approach.
Authors: Mavin S, Watson EJ, Evans R Abstract Traditional two-tier (enzyme immunoassay [EIA] screening and Western blot confirmation) testing for the laboratory diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis (LB) is expensive, lacks sensitivity in the diagnosis of early LB, cannot distinguish between current and past infection and cannot be used as a marker for treatment response. The aims of the present study is to investigate the role of the C6 EIA as a screening assay, as part of two-tier EIA test strategy, and its use as a marker of treatment response or resolving infection in a routine diagnostic laboratory. The C6 EIA was significantly less sensitive than the Enzygnost Lyme link VlsE/IgG EIA (169/249 vs. 190/249 reactive sera, respectively; P = 0.0455, Fishers exact twotailed test). The two-...
Wednesday 2 December 2015
[Seropositivity of Borrelia burgdorferi in risky groups in Van region, Turkey].
Authors: Parlak M, Bayram Y, Çıkman A, Ceylan N, Berktaş M Abstract Lyme borreliosis, which is more prevalent in the northern hemisphere, is the most common tick-borne contagious disease among people living in the North America and Europe. The causative agent of Lyme borreliosis, Borrelia burgdorferi, is transmitted by the bites of ticks of the genus Ixodes. In Turkey, the seroprevalence of Lyme disease is increased in regions where ticks and tick-bite cases are prevalent. The present study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Lyme borreliosis in people at risk, living in the rural areas of Van province, which is located in the eastern region of Turkey. No previous study on this topic has been performed in our province. The study included a total of 446 subjects (mean age: 3... MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Wednesday 2 December 2015
This Scientist Says Your Fears About The Coming Genetic Engineering Revolution Are Overblown
This week, hundreds of scientists from around the world are descending on Washington D.C. for a three-day summit on a new technique that has spurred a major genetic revolution. Thanks to a gene-editing technique called CRISPRCas9, it is now not only possible, but easy, cheap and fast, to change, delete or replace genes in any plant or animal, including people. The range of hypothetical ways CRISPR could change our lives is staggering -- from creating wheat that is invulnerable to mildew to curing the world’s most intractable diseases. Anything that has DNA, which is to say, every living thing on earth, can now be more easily manipulated than ever before. When it comes to the human genome, especially, this raises fears as much as it raises hopes. You don’t have to dip that deep...
Wednesday 2 December 2015
The burden of Lyme borreliosis expressed in disability-adjusted life years
Conclusions: LB causes a substantial disease burden in the Netherlands. The vast majority of this burden is caused by patients with Lyme-related persisting symptoms. EM and disseminated Lyme have a more modest impact. Further research should focus on the mechanisms that trigger development of these persisting symptoms that patients and their physicians attribute to LB. (Source: The European Journal of Public Health)
Tuesday 1 December 2015
Lyme Neuroborreliosis
This article reviews clinical aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme neuroborreliosis, with focus on the United States. DISCLAIMER: The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (Source: CONTINUUM)
Tuesday 1 December 2015
Appendix D: Summary of Evidence-based Guideline for Clinicians: Treatment of Nervous System Lyme Disease
No abstract available (Source: CONTINUUM)
Tuesday 1 December 2015
Appendix C: Practice Parameter: Diagnosis of Patients With Nervous System Lyme Borreliosis (Lyme Disease)
No abstract available (Source: CONTINUUM)
Tuesday 1 December 2015
IJERPH, Vol. 12, Pages 15182-15203: GIS and Remote Sensing Use in the Exploration of Lyme Disease Epidemiology
Given the relatively recent recognition of Lyme disease (LD) by CDC in 1990 as a nationally notifiable infectious condition, the rise of reported human cases every year argues for a better understanding of its geographic scope. The aim of this inquiry was to explore research conducted on spatiotemporal patterns of Lyme disease in order to identify strategies for implementing vector and reservoir-targeted interventions. The focus of this review is on the use of GISbased methods to study populations of the reservoir hosts, vectors and humans in addition to the spatiotemporal interactions between these populations. New GIS-based studies are monitoring occurrence at the macro-level, and helping pinpoint areas of occurrence at the micro-level, where spread within populations of reservoir hosts... MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Tuesday 1 December 2015
Will Culling WhiteTailed Deer Prevent Lyme Disease?
Summary Whitetailed deer play an important role in the ecology of Lyme disease. In the United States, where the incidence and geographic range of Lyme disease continue to increase, reduction of whitetailed deer populations has been proposed as a means of preventing human illness. The effectiveness of this politically sensitive prevention method is poorly understood. We summarize and evaluate available evidence regarding the effect of deer reduction on vector tick abundance and human disease incidence. Elimination of deer from islands and other isolated settings can have a substantial impact on the reproduction of blacklegged ticks, while reduction short of complete elimination has yielded mixed results. To date, most studies have been conducted in ecologic situations that are not rep...
Tuesday 1 December 2015
Lyme disease associated neuroretinitis - Case report.
We report a case of a 27-year-old woman with blurred vision on her right eye. Because of the suspicion of optic neuritis (multiplex sclerosis) neurological examination was ordered. Surprisingly, computer tomography of the brain revealed incomplete empty sella, which generally results not monocular, but bilateral optic nerve swelling. Opthalmological examination (ophthalmoscopy and optical coherence tomography) indicated not only monocular optic nerve, but retinal oedema next to the temporal part of the right optic disk. Visual evoked potentials (VEP) demonstrated no P100 latency delay and mild differences between the amplitudes of the responses of the left and right eye. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) demonstrated the swelling of the optic nerve head and oedematous retina at the tempor...
Monday 30 November 2015
Distribution and presentation of Lyme borreliosis in Scotland - analysis of data from a national testing laboratory.
Conclusion The incidence of Lyme borreliosis may be stabilising in Scotland but NHS Highland remains an area of high incidence. Lyme borreliosis should be considered in symptomatic patients that have had exposure to ticks and not just those with a definite tick bite. PMID: 26517097 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh)
Monday 30 November 2015
What are the Most Common Arboviruses in Children in the US?
Discussion Arboviruses are viruses transmitted by arthropods (primarily mosquitos and ticks) to humans. Most infections are asymptomatic. Many others have mild symptoms such as an influenza-like illnesses. But for some patients they can cause neuroinvasive disease with meningitis, encephalitis and flaccid paralysis. Some patients also unfortunately die. Diagnosis is by serum or cerebrospinal fluid IgM antibody to the specific virus. Treatment is supportive only as there is no specific treatment and currently there are no vaccines for prevention. Mosquito bite and tick bite prevention are the best options for families and can be reviewed here. A systematic review of West Nile Virus (WNV) neuroinvasive disease in adults showed those infected can have a lengthy recovery with many sequelae, p...
Monday 30 November 2015
What are the Most Common Arbovirus in Children in the US?
Discussion Arboviruses are viruses transmitted by arthropods (primarily mosquitos and ticks) to humans. Most infections are asymptomatic. Many others have mild symptoms such as an influenza-like illnesses. But for some patients they can cause neuroinvasive disease with meningitis, encephalitis and flaccid paralysis. Some patients also unfortunately die. Diagnosis is by serum or cerebrospinal fluid IgM antibody to the specific virus. Treatment is supportive only as there is no specific treatment and currently there are no vaccines for prevention. Mosquito bite and tick bite prevention are the best options for families and can be reviewed here. A systematic review of West Nile Virus (WNV) neuroinvasive disease in adults showed those infected can have a lengthy recovery with many sequelae, p...
Monday 30 November 2015
My Open Letter to Lyme Disease
Dear Lyme disease, I'm not angry. But I admit you made me miserable. You sneakily rushed through my veins. Anonymous, without a name, you tortured me for months. I didn't know who you were or where you came from. I would stare bleakly out my freshman dorm window, my eyes dull and my head throbbing. I blamed my school. During my first quarter at Northwestern University, my boyfriend and I broke up, my grandfather died, and I couldn't get out of bed for my morning classes. I reluctantly dropped a course after meeting with an adviser who thought I was struggling to acclimate to college. I was 850 miles from home and started to believe that I never should have left the East Coast. But Northwestern was the pennant on my corkboard at home; it was the sweatshirt my dad wore proudly to our local ... MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Monday 30 November 2015
Diagnosing Septic Arthritis in the Synovial White Cell Count “Gray Zone”
Abstract Differentiating septic arthritis of the pediatric hip from other causes of hip pain and effusion continues to present a diagnostic challenge for the clinician. Although septic arthritis traditionally has been reported to have a synovial white blood cell count of 75,000 cells/mm3 or greater, lower counts can be seen in this condition. In cases where a synovial sample has been obtained and the cell count falls in the intermediate range between 25,000 and 75,000 cells/mm3, it is unclear what proportion of these cases may be truly septic hips. In this evidence-based review, we examine Heyworth et al’s study focusing on the predictive value of this intermediate white cell count range in a Lyme-endemic region. (Source: HSS Journal)
Sunday 29 November 2015
Repurposing Drugs in Oncology (ReDO)-clarithromycin as an anti-cancer agent.
Authors: Van Nuffel AM, Sukhatme V, Pantziarka P, Meheus L, Sukhatme VP, Bouche G Abstract Clarithromycin (CAM) is a well-known macrolide antibiotic available as a generic drug. CAM is traditionally used for many types of bacterial infections, treatment of Lyme disease and eradication of gastric infection with Helicobacter pylori. Extensive preclinical and clinical data demonstrate a potential role for CAM to treat various tumours in combination with conventional treatment. The mechanisms of action underlying the antitumour activity of CAM are multiple and include prolonged reduction of proinflammatory cytokines, autophagy inhibition, and anti-angiogenesis. Here, we present an overview of the current preclinical (in vitro and in vivo) and clinical evidence supporting the role of ... MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Friday 27 November 2015
New, presumably tick-borne bacterium discovered in an Austrian fox
Ticks can transmit various diseases to people and animals. Some well-known diseases spread by ticks include tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Lyme disease. Researchers are hot on the trail of pathogens carried by ticks. The parasitologists recently discovered a new form of the bacterium Candidatus Neoehrlichia in a red fox from the Austrian state of Vorarlberg. The pathogen might also be transmittable to humans, they warn. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Friday 27 November 2015
New and presumably tick-borne bacterium discovered in an Austrian fox
(University of Veterinary Medicine -- Vienna) Ticks can transmit various diseases to people and animals. Some well-known diseases spread by ticks include tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Lyme disease. Researchers at the Vetmeduni Vienna are hot on the trail of pathogens carried by ticks. The parasitologists recently discovered a new form of the bacterium Candidatus Neoehrlichia in a red fox from Austrian. The pathogen might also be transmittable to humans. The results were published in the journal Parasites & Vectors. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Wednesday 25 November 2015
Methodological quality of guidelines for management of Lyme neuroborreliosis
Background: Many aspects of clinical management of Lyme neuroborreliosis are subject to intense debates. Guidelines show considerable variability in their recommendations, leading to divergent treatment regimes. The most pronounced differences in recommendations exist between guidelines from scientific societies and from patient advocacy groups. Assessment of the methodological quality of these contradictory guideline recommendations can be helpful for healthcare professionals. Methods: Systematic searches were conducted in MEDLINE and databases of four international and national guideline organizations for guidelines on Lyme neuroborreliosis published from 1999–2014. Characteristics (e.g., year of publication, sponsoring organization) and key recommendations were extracted from each gui...
Tuesday 24 November 2015
Long-term Assessment of Post-Treatment Symptoms in Patients With CultureConfirmed Early Lyme Disease
Conclusions. PTLDS may persist for >10 years in some patients with cultureconfirmed early Lyme disease. Such long-standing symptoms were not associated with functional impairment or a particular strain of B. burgdorferi. (Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases)
Monday 23 November 2015
A tick that feeds on birds may increase the range of Lyme disease
(Entomological Society of America) A tick that is not known to bite people may play a role in the transmission of Lyme disease, according to an article in the Journal of Medical Entomology. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Monday 23 November 2015
Cross reactivity between Lyme and syphilis screening assays: Lyme disease does not cause false positive syphilis screens
This study supports the previously-described cross-reactivity of Lyme screening among syphilis-positive sera, and reports evidence against the possibility of false-positive syphilis screening tests resulting from previous Borrelia burgdorferi infection. (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
Monday 23 November 2015
Monoclonal Antibodies for the Diagnosis of Borrelia crocidurae.
Authors: Aurélien FF, Mediannikov O, Nappez C, Azza S, Raoult D, Drancourt M Abstract Relapsing fever borreliae, produced by ectoparasite-borne Borrelia species, cause mild to deadly bacteremia and miscarriage. In the perspective of developing inexpensive assays for the rapid detection of relapsing fever borreliae, we produced 12 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against Borrelia crocidurae and characterized the two exhibiting the highest titers. P3A10 MAb reacts with the 35.6-kDa flagellin B (flaB) of B. crocidurae while P6D9 MAb recognizes a 35.1-kDa variable-like protein (Vlp) in B. crocidurae and a 35.2kDa Vlp in Borrelia duttonii. Indirect immunofluorescence assay incorporating relapsing fever and Lyme group borreliae and 11 blood-borne organisms responsible for fever in West Afr... MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Monday 23 November 2015
Cross-reactivity between Lyme and syphilis screening assays: Lyme disease does not cause false-positive syphilis screens
This study supports the previously described cross-reactivity of Lyme screening among syphilis-positive sera and reports evidence against the possibility of false-positive syphilis screening tests resulting from previous Borrelia burgdorferi infection. (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
Monday 23 November 2015
Ixodes scapularis dystroglycan-like protein promotes Borrelia burgdorferi migration from the gut
In conclusion, we have identified a dystroglycan-like protein in I. scapularis gut that can bind to B. burgdorferi and promotes B. burgdorferi migration from the tick gut. Key messages B. burgdorferi exploits tick proteins to orchestrate its transmission to the host. B. burgdorferi is able bind to an I. scapularis dystroglycan-like protein (ISDLP). Inhibition of ISDLP in ticks results in lower B. burgdorferi transmission to mice. ISDLP is a potential target to prevent Lyme borreliosis. (Source: Journal of Molecular Medicine)
Saturday 21 November 2015
Coinfection by Ixodes Tick-Borne Pathogens: Ecological, Epidemiological, and Clinical Consequences.
Authors: Diuk-Wasser MA, Vannier E, Krause PJ Abstract Ixodes ticks maintain a large and diverse array of human pathogens in the enzootic cycle, including Borrelia burgdorferi and Babesia microti. Despite the poor ecological fitness of B. microti, babesiosis has recently emerged in areas endemic for Lyme disease. Studies in ticks, reservoir hosts, and humans indicate that coinfection with B. burgdorferi and B. microti is common, promotes transmission and emergence of B. microti in the enzootic cycle, and causes greater disease severity and duration in humans. These interdisciplinary studies may serve as a paradigm for the study of other vector-borne coinfections. Identifying ecological drivers of pathogen emergence and host factors that fuel disease severity in coinfected individua...
Friday 20 November 2015
Lyme Disease Diagnosis
Serology is the mainstay of confirmation of Lyme borreliosis; direct detection has limited application. Because standardized 2-tier testing (STTT) has been commonly used since the mid 1990s, standardization and performance have improved. STTT detection of early, localized infection is poor; that of late disease is good. The best indicator of stage 1 infection, erythema migrans, is presented in the majority of US cases and should prompt treatment without testing. Clinical and epidemiologic correlates should be carefully assessed before ordering STTT. STTT has great value in confirming extracutaneous infection. Recent developments promise to improve performance, particularly in early disease detection. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Friday 20 November 2015
Friends from New York to Mexico make video for friend with Lyme disease
Chantelle Lewis, 31, from Falmouth, Cornwall, caught Lyme disease while working on a superyacht in the Caribbean. She cried 'the happiest tears' after receiving the supportive video. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Friday 20 November 2015
Gender Differences in Childhood Lyme Neuroborreliosis.
Conclusion. Girls and boys have different clinical presentations of LNB, and boys have a higher level of inflammation than girls independent of the clinical presentation. PMID: 26576072 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Behavioural Neurology)
Friday 20 November 2015
Intermediate uveitis and multiple sclerosis: to scan or not to scan
The investigation and management of inflammatory eye disease is complex and relies on detailed history taking and examination. It is not therefore unexpected that many patients are over-investigated. A question that has caused much debate in the past is whether patients with intermediate uveitis (IU), particularly young Caucasian women with no neurological symptoms, should have routine neuroimaging to ‘screen’ for multiple sclerosis (MS). In this editorial, we discuss the key issues related to the clinical presentation of IU, its association with MS and the rationale for investigation; in particular, we put forward our view that neuroimaging should not be carried out as a screening tool for patients with IU. IU is the term given to inflammation, which has the vitreous as its fo... MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Thursday 19 November 2015
Assessing the abundance, seasonal questing activity, and Borrelia and tickborne encephalitis virus (TBEV) prevalence of Ixodes ricinus ticks in a Lyme borreliosis endemic area in Southwest Finland
Publication date: Available online 24 October 2015 Source:Ticks and Tickborne Diseases Author(s): Jani J. Sormunen, Tero Klemola, Eero J. Vesterinen, Ilppo Vuorinen, Jukka Hytönen, Jari Hänninen, Kai Ruohomäki, Ilari E. Sääksjärvi, Elina Tonteri, Ritva Penttinen Studies have revealed that Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) have become more abundant and their geographical distribution extended northwards in some Nordic countries during the past few decades. However, ecological data of tick populations in Finland are sparse. In the current study, I. ricinus abundance, seasonal questing activity, and their Borrelia spp. and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) prevalence were evaluated in a Lyme borreliosis endemic area in Southwest Finland, Seili Island, where a previous stu... MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Thursday 19 November 2015
Truncated seasonal activity patterns of the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) in central and southern California
Publication date: Available online 25 October 2015 Source:Ticks and Tickborne Diseases Author(s): Andrew J. MacDonald, Cheryl J. Briggs Patterns of seasonal activity and density of host-seeking western blacklegged ticks, Ixodes pacificus, were investigated in central and southern California. Weekly to monthly drag sampling was undertaken at two sites in Santa Barbara County and one site in Los Angeles County over multiple years. Adult I. pacificus became active in the winter (late November) and were rare or absent by late April to early May. Nymphal ticks became active in early to late February, were absent by early May to early June, and were rarely encountered using the drag method throughout their period of peak seasonal activity. Larval ticks became active earlier in the season, o...
Thursday 19 November 2015
Occurrence of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in different genera of mosquitoes (Culicidae) in Central Europe
Publication date: Available online 12 November 2015 Source:Ticks and Tickborne Diseases Author(s): Christian Melaun, Sina Zotzmann, Vanesa Garcia Santaella, Antje Werblow, Helga Zumkowski-Xylander, Peter Kraiczy, Sven Klimpel Lyme disease or Lyme borreliosis is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. Some stages of the borrelial transmission cycle in ticks (transstadial, feeding and cofeeding) can potentially occur also in insects, particularly in mosquitoes. In the present study, adult as well as larvae mosquitoes were collected at 42 different geographical locations throughout Germany. This is the first study, in which German mosquitoes were analysed for the presence of Borrelia spp. Targeting two specific borreli...
Thursday 19 November 2015
Fine-scale genetic structure of woodrat populations (Genus: Neotoma) and the spatial distribution of their tick-borne pathogens
Publication date: Available online 25 October 2015 Source:Ticks and Tickborne Diseases Author(s): Janet Foley, Daniel Rejmanek, Colin Foley, Marjorie Matocq Dusky-footed woodrats are territorial cricetid rodents that individually occupy large stick houses from which they foray to gather food, find mates, and engage in other activities. These rodents are often bitten by Ixodes spp. ticks and are reservoirs of some strains of tick-borne bacterial pathogens such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi. Limited dispersal by hosts and vectors could create fine-scale population structure where related hosts and pathogen exposure are co-distributed in space. To quantify population genetic structure and infection status, we genotyped 167 woodrats using a panel of 15 microsatel...
Thursday 19 November 2015
Testing practices and volume of non-Lyme tickborne diseases in the United States
Publication date: Available online 30 October 2015 Source:Ticks and Tickborne Diseases Author(s): Neeta P. Connally, Alison F. Hinckley, Katherine A. Feldman, Melissa Kemperman, David Neitzel, Siok-Bi Wee, Jennifer L. White, Paul S. Mead, James I. Meek Large commercial laboratories in the United States were surveyed regarding the number of specimens tested for eight tickborne diseases in 2008. Seven large commercial laboratories reported testing a total of 2,927,881 specimens nationally (including Lyme disease). Of these, 495,585 specimens (17%) were tested for tickborne diseases other than Lyme disease. In addition to large commercial laboratories, another 1051 smaller commercial, hospital, and government laboratories in four states (CT, MD, MN, and NY) were surveyed regarding...
Wednesday 18 November 2015
Babesiosis and Lyme disease co-infection in a female patient returning from the United States.
Authors: Surgers L, Belkadi G, Foucard A, Lalande V, Girard PM, Hennequin C PMID: 26525187 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Medecine et Maladies Infectieuses)
Wednesday 18 November 2015
Development of a Multiantigen Panel for Improved Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi Infection in Early Lyme Disease [Immunoassays]
We examined novel and established antigen markers to develop a multiplex panel that identifies early infection using the combined sensitivity of multiple markers while simultaneously maintaining high specificity by requiring positive results for two markers to designate a positive test. Ten markers were selected from our initial analysis of 62 B. burgdorferi surface proteins and synthetic peptides by assessing binding of IgG and IgM to each in a training set of Lyme disease patient samples and controls. In a validation set, this 10-antigen panel identified a higher proportion of early-Lyme-disease patients as positive at the baseline or posttreatment visit than two-tiered testing (87.5% and 67.5%, respectively; P < 0.05). Equivalent specificities of 100% were observed in 26 healthy cont...
Tuesday 17 November 2015
Why FDA should oversee laboratory developed tests
By: Peter Lurie, M.D., M.P.H. Today FDA is issuing a report that illustrates the real and potential harms to patients and to public health from certain laboratory developed tests (LDTs) – tests that are designed, manufactured and used in a single laboratory. When FDA first began regulating medical devices under the Medical Device Amendments in the 1970s, we chose not to enforce applicable regulatory requirements for LDTs because they were relatively simple tests generally confined to local labs, and often used for rare conditions. But times have changed. LDTs have increased in complexity and availability and are now frequently used to diagnose common, serious medical conditions, including cancer and heart disease, with potentially greater impact on patients. And yet, LDTs are still under... MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Sunday 15 November 2015
A Systematic Approach to the Evaluation of a Limping Child.
Authors: Naranje S, Kelly DM, Sawyer JR Abstract A limp is defined as a deviation from a normal age-appropriate gait pattern resulting in an uneven, jerky, or laborious gait. It can be caused by pain, weakness, or deformity as a result of a variety of conditions. Transient synovitis is the most common diagnosis. Other causes of acute limp include contusion, foreign body in the foot, fracture, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, reactive arthritis, and Lyme arthritis. Causes of chronic limp include rheumatic disease, dermatomyositis, acute rheumatic fever, inflammatory bowel disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Evaluation of a limping child should begin with a history focused on identifying pain, trauma, and associated systemic symptoms. For a limping child with focal findings on...
Friday 13 November 2015
Borrelial Lymphocytoma in Children
Conclusions: BL in children, treated with recommended antibiotics, is a mild disease with a good prognosis. (Source: The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal)
Friday 13 November 2015
Lyme disease sufferer Tahlia Smith had live parasites in her blood
Lyme disease sufferer Tahlia Smith, 21, from the New South Wales Hunter Region has flown to Germany to undergo controversial treatment where doctors found live parasites in her blood (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Friday 13 November 2015
Study Design Questions Regarding Long-Term Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Culture-Confirmed Early Lyme Disease
(Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases)
Friday 13 November 2015
Association of Immune Response to Endothelial Cell Growth Factor With Early Disseminated and Late Manifestations of Lyme Disease but Not Posttreatment Lyme Disease Syndrome
Endothelial cell growth factor has been recently proposed as a potential autoantigen in manifestations of Lyme disease that are thought to involve immune-mediated mechanisms. Our findings indicate that a humoral immune response to this protein is not associated with posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome. (Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases) MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Thursday 12 November 2015
Causes of neuropathy in patients referred as “idiopathic neuropathy”
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Muscle and Nerve)
Tuesday 10 November 2015
Is Lyme the New AIDS? Part Three: A Caution to Gay Men
Note: This is the third and final entry in a series about how my life has been devastated by Lyme disease. With the advent of PrEP and effective medical interventions for HIV, I am truly disturbed that gay men -- first, younger generations, but increasingly people my age who lived through the plague of AIDS -- increasingly are rejecting the use of condoms and feeling invulnerable to potential sexually transmitted infections. Although the CDC claims absolutely that Lyme disease cannot be transmitted sexually, objective scientific research and anecdotes of those whose partners have Lyme argue otherwise. You do not want Lyme disease. It will change your life for the worse, not only by potentially disabling you at too young an age, but by rendering you an untouchable to many primary care phys...
Tuesday 10 November 2015
Lyme disease and juvenile idiopathic arthritis – a pediatric case report
Discussion In this case, the resolution of cutaneous symptoms and the persistence of chronic arthritis suggest that the strong likelihood of infection by Borrelia has triggered Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. (Source: Revista Brasileira de Reumatologia)
Tuesday 10 November 2015
Long-Term Survival of Borrelia burgdorferi Lacking the Hibernation Promotion Factor Homolog in the Unfed Tick Vector [Molecular Pathogenesis]
Borrelia burgdorferi, a causative agent of Lyme borreliosis, is a zoonotic pathogen that survives in nutrient-limited environments within a tick, prior to transmission to its mammalian host. Survival under these prolonged nutrientlimited conditions is thought to be similar to survival during stationary phase, which is characterized by growth cessation and decreased protein production. Multiple ribosome-associated proteins are implicated in stationary-phase survival of Escherichia coli. These proteins include hibernation-promoting factor (HPF), which dimerizes ribosomes and prevents translation of mRNA. Bioinformatic analyses indicate that B. burgdorferi harbors an hpf homolog, the bb0449 gene. BB0449 protein secondary structure modeling also predicted HPF-like structure and function. Howe...
Tuesday 10 November 2015
Lyme disease in Poland - A serious problem?
CONCLUSIONS: The reported incidence of LD in Poland, in our opinion, may be biased by overreporting and overdiagnosis. Nonspecific musculoskeletal and joint pain are the most frequent cause of LD suspicion and hospitalization. There is a necessity of better tests for active LD confirmation (especially in patients with musculoskeletal pain) as seroprevalence of anti Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies is high in endemic regions. PMID: 26641887 [PubMed as supplied by publisher] (Source: Advances in Medical Sciences)
Tuesday 10 November 2015
Lyme disease in Poland – A serious problem?
Conclusions The reported incidence of LD in Poland, in our opinion, may be biased by overreporting and overdiagnosis. Nonspecific musculoskeletal and joint pain are the most frequent cause of LD suspicion and hospitalization. There is a necessity of better tests for active LD confirmation (especially in patients with musculoskeletal pain) as seroprevalence of anti Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies is high in endemic regions. (Source: Advances in Medical Sciences)
Tuesday 10 November 2015
Outer Surface Protein OspC Is an Antiphagocytic Factor That Protects Borrelia burgdorferi from Phagocytosis by Macrophages [Molecular Pathogenesis]
In this study, we showed that the ospC-deficient spirochete could not establish infection in NOD-scid IL2rnull mice that lack B cells, T cells, NK cells, and lytic complement. The ospC mutant also could not establish infection in anti-Ly6Gtreated SCID and C3H/HeN mice (depletion of neutrophils). However, depletion of mononuclear phagocytes at the skin site of inoculation in SCID and C3H/HeN mice allowed the ospC mutant to establish infection in vivo. In phagocyte-depleted mice, the ospC mutant was able to colonize the joints and triggered neutrophilia during dissemination. Furthermore, we found that phagocytosis of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing ospC mutant spirochetes by murine peritoneal macrophages and human THP-1 macrophage-like cells, but not in PMN-HL60, was significantl... MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Monday 9 November 2015
Model Jessica Bennett left bed bound after medics failed to diagnose Lyme disease
Jessica Bennett, 31, of Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, suffered seizures, speech problems, hair loss, chronic insomnia and severe bloating due to Lyme disease she caught from a tick. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Thursday 5 November 2015
Seasonal Activity, Density, and Collection Efficiency of the Blacklegged Tick (Ixodes scapularis) (Acari: Ixodidae) in Mid-Western Pennsylvania
Although Pennsylvania has recently reported the greatest number of Lyme disease cases in the United States, with the largest increase for PA occurring in its western region, the population biology of the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis Say) has not been adequately characterized in western PA. We studied the seasonal activity of host-seeking I. scapularis larvae, nymphs, and adults in mid-western PA over the course of a year, including a severe winter, and determined their absolute densities and collection efficiencies using replicated mark-release-recapture or removal methods. Our results are compared to those from similar studies conducted in the highly Lyme disease endemic Hudson Valley region of southeastern New York State. The seasonal activity of I. scapularis was intermediate bet...
Thursday 5 November 2015
Distribution and Habitat of Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae) and Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Utah
Knowledge about the distribution and abundance of the western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus Cooley and Kohls, in Utah is limited. Recent concerns over tick-borne diseases in Utah, primarily Lyme disease, have reinvigorated the need to understand the distribution and habitats favored by this tick species. We surveyed 157 sites throughout Utah to examine the distribution, abundance, and habitat of I. pacificus. In total, 343 adult ticks were collected from 2011 to 2013. Specifically, 119 I. pacificus, 217 Dermacentor andersoni Stiles, six D. albipictus Packard, and one D. hunteri Bishopp were collected. Overall, tick abundance was relatively low in the areas evaluated in Utah. I. pacificus collections were limited to sites above 1700 m. Ninety-two percent of I. pacificus were captured ...
Wednesday 4 November 2015
Quantification of Borrelia burgdorferi Membrane Proteins in Human Serum: A New Concept for Detection of Bacterial Infection
Analytical ChemistryDOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b02803 (Source: Analytical Chemistry) MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Wednesday 4 November 2015
Application of Nanotrap technology for high sensitivity measurement of urinary outer surface protein A carboxyl-terminus domain in early stage Lyme borreliosis
ObjectivesPrompt antibiotic treatment of early stage Lyme borreliosis (LB) prevents progression to severe multisystem disease. There is a clinical need to improve the diagnostic specificity of early stage Lyme assays in the period prior to the mounting of a robust serology response. Using a novel analyte harvesting nanotechnology, Nanotrap particles, we evaluated urinary Borrelia Outer surface protein A (OspA) C-terminus peptide in early stage LB before and after treatment, and in patients suspected of late stage disseminated LB.MethodWe employed Nanotrap particles to concentrate urinary OspA and used a highly specific anti-OspA monoclonal antibody (mAb) as a detector of the C-terminus peptides. We mapped the mAb epitope to a narrow specific OspA C-terminal domain OspA236-239 conserved acr...
Wednesday 4 November 2015
A Highly Expressed Human Protein, Apolipoprotein B-100, Serves as an Autoantigen in a Subgroup of Patients With Lyme Disease
To discover novel autoantigens associated with Lyme arthritis (LA), we identified T-cell epitopes presented in vivo by human leukocyte antigen (HLA)– DR molecules in patients' inflamed synovial tissue or joint fluid and tested each epitope for autoreactivity. Using this approach, we identified the highly expressed human protein, apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB-100), as a target of Tand B-cell responses in a subgroup of LA patients. Additionally, the joint fluid of these patients had markedly elevated levels of apoB-100 protein, which may contribute to its autoantigenicity. In patients with antibiotic-refractory LA, the magnitude of apoB-100 antibody responses correlated with increased numbers of plasma cells in synovial tissue, greater numbers and activation of endothelial cells, and mor...
Monday 2 November 2015
Medical News Today: How to remove a tick
Around 30,000 new cases of Lyme disease are reported each year. Avoiding ticks and removing them when necessary are essential skills for anyone who likes to venture into nature. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Sunday 1 November 2015
'Water on the knee' could be early sign of Lyme disease
Spontaneous knee effusion, also known as 'water on the knee,' can be a primary symptom of Lyme disease, even when patients do not exhibit a 'bull's eye' rash, another common Lyme disease symptom. According to a literature review, early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment can prevent the development of Lyme disease's more severe symptoms. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines) MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Sunday 1 November 2015
Water on the Knee Can Be Sign of Lyme Disease
Spontaneous knee effusion, also known as "water on the knee," can be a primary symptom of Lyme disease, even when patients do not exhibit a "bull's eye" rash, another common Lyme disease symptom. According to a literature review appearing in the November issue of The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS), early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment can prevent the development of Lyme disease's more severe symptoms. (Source: Disabled World)
Sunday 1 November 2015
'Water on the knee' could be early sign of Lyme disease
(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) Spontaneous knee effusion, also known as 'water on the knee,' can be a primary symptom of Lyme disease, even when patients do not exhibit a 'bull's eye' rash, another common Lyme disease symptom. According to a literature review appearing in the November issue of The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS), early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment can prevent the development of Lyme disease's more severe symptoms. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Wednesday 28 October 2015
Absence of Borrelia burgdorferi in the myocardium of subjects with normal left ventricular systolic function: a study using PCR and electron microscopy.
CONCLUSIONS: The absence of Bb in the myocardium of individuals who undergo cardiac surgery and have normal LV systolic function supports the idea of Bb pathogenicity in the development of DCM. PMID: 26498214 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Biomedical Papers of the Medical Faculty of the Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub)
Tuesday 27 October 2015
Spirochetal motility and chemotaxis in the natural enzootic cycle and development of Lyme disease.
Authors: Motaleb MA, Liu J, Mark Wooten R Abstract Two-thirds of all bacterial genomes sequenced to-date possess an organelle for locomotion, referred to as flagella, periplasmic flagella or type IV pili. These genomes may also contain a chemotaxis-signaling system which governs flagellar rotation, thus leading a coordinated function for motility. Motility and chemotaxis are often crucial for infection or disease process caused by pathogenic bacteria. Although motility-associated genes are well-characterized in some organisms, the highly orchestrated synthesis, regulation, and assembly of periplasmic flagella in spirochetes are just being delineated. Recent advances were fostered by development of unique genetic manipulations in spirochetes coupled with cutting-edge imaging techniq...
Monday 26 October 2015
Do citation trends reflect epidemiologic patterns? Assessing MRSA, emerging and re-emerging pathogens, 1963–2014
Conclusions: The Type I pattern pathogens had varied trends in disease incidence in the years following the exponential growth and subsequent decline in the number of citations. Their differing epidemiologic patterns did not correlate with their pattern of citations. We conclude that citation trends on MRSA cannot be used to determine past epidemiologic trends and also that the citation trend for MRSA in 1995–2011 most closely resembled that for HIV in 1981–1998. (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases) MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Saturday 24 October 2015
Use of in vivo Expression Technology for the Identification of Putative Host Adaptation Factors of the Lyme Disease Spirochete
The causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, is an obligate parasite that requires either a tick vector or a mammalian host for survival. Identification of the bacterial genes that are specifically expressed during infection of the mammalian host could provide targets for novel therapeutics and vaccines. In vivo expression technology (IVET) is a reporter-based promoter trap system that utilizes selectable markers to identify promoters of bacterial host-specific genes. Using previously characterized genes for in vivo and in vitro selection, this study utilized an IVET system that allows for selection of B. burgdorferi sequences that act as active promoters only during murine infection. This promoter trap system was able to successfully distinguish active promoter sequences bot...
Saturday 24 October 2015
No Geographic Correlation between Lyme Disease and Death Due to 4 Neurodegenerative Disorders, United States, 2001-2010.
Authors: Forrester JD, Kugeler KJ, Perea AE, Pastula DM, Mead PS Abstract Associations between Lyme disease and certain neurodegenerative diseases have been proposed, but supportive evidence for an association is lacking. Similar geographic distributions would be expected if 2 conditions were etiologically linked. Thus, we compared the distribution of Lyme disease cases in the United States with the distributions of deaths due to Alzheimer disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), and Parkinson disease; no geographic correlations were identified. Lyme disease incidence per US state was not correlated with rates of death due to ALS, MS, or Parkinson disease; however, an inverse correlation was detected between Lyme disease and Alzheimer disease. The abse...
Saturday 24 October 2015
Structure of decorin binding protein B from Borrelia burgdorferi and its interactions with glycosaminoglycans
Publication date: December 2015 Source:Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Proteins and Proteomics, Volume 1854, Issue 12 Author(s): Wei Feng, Xu Wang Decorin-binding proteins (DBPs), DBPA and DBPB, are surface lipoproteins on Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. DBPs bind to the connective tissue proteoglycan decorin and facilitate tissue colonization by the bacterium. Although structural and biochemical properties of DBPA are well understood, little is known about DBPB. In current work, we determined the solution structure of DBPB from strain B31 of B. burgdorferi and characterized its interactions with glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Our structure shows that DBPB adopts the same topology as DBPA, but possesses a much shorter terminal helix, resulting in a longer u...
Friday 23 October 2015
Lyme Disease Presenting As Multiple Ischaemic StrokesLyme Disease Presenting As Multiple Ischaemic Strokes
This unusual case highlights the need to consider CNS Lyme vasculitis in patients with cryptogenic strokes, particularly those who are younger and who come from areas where Lyme disease is endemic. Practical Neurology (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Friday 23 October 2015
Vesiculobullous and hemorrhagic erythema migrans: uncommon variants of a common disease
ConclusionsIt is important to recognize the vesiculobullous and hemorrhagic variants of ECM in order to minimize the provision of inappropriate antibiotic treatment for other diagnoses. Early diagnosis of ECM and the initiation of appropriate antibiotics may prevent late complications of Lyme disease. (Source: International Journal of Dermatology)
Thursday 22 October 2015
Lyme Disease Is on the Rise
Title: Lyme Disease Is on the RiseCategory: Doctor's & Expert's views on SymptomsCreated: 4/29/2000 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 10/22/2015 12:00:00 AM (Source: MedicineNet Arthritis General)
Thursday 22 October 2015
Incidence and Patterns of Extended-Course Antibiotic Therapy in Patients Evaluated for Lyme Disease
Conclusions. Insurance claims data suggest that the use of extended courses of antibiotics and multiple antibiotics in the treatment of LD has increased in recent years. (Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases)
Thursday 22 October 2015
Flagellar motility of the pathogenic spirochetes
Publication date: Available online 17 October 2015 Source:Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology Author(s): Charles W. Wolgemuth Bacterial pathogens are often classified by their toxicity and invasiveness. The invasiveness of a given bacterium is determined by how capable the bacterium is at invading a broad range of tissues in its host. Of mammalian pathogens, some of the most invasive come from a group of bacteria known as the spirochetes, which cause diseases such as syphilis, Lyme disease, relapsing fever and leptospirosis. Most of the spirochetes are characterized by their distinct shapes and unique motility. They are long, thin bacteria that can be shaped like flat-waves, helices, or have more irregular morphologies. Like many other bacteria, the spirochetes use long, he... MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Wednesday 21 October 2015
So what IS the truth about the Lyme disease 'epidemic'?
Phones 4u's John Caudwell, (pictured with daughters Rebekah and Rhiannon) believes Lyme disease is behind a host of health problems that his family suffers from. (Source: the Mail online | Health) MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Wednesday 21 October 2015
The controversy over the chronic form of Lyme disease
(Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)
Tuesday 20 October 2015
Borrelia burgdorferiHtrA: evidence for twofold proteolysis of outer membrane protein p66
In this study, HtrA was found to degrade B. burgdorferi outer membrane protein p66 protein, as well as inhibit its transcription. In intact spirochetes, evidence is given for colocalization of HtrA and p66 in membrane lipid rafts. Taken together, the data support a role for HtrA in the regulation of p66 expression. (Source: Molecular Microbiology)
Monday 19 October 2015
The SaltSensitive Structure and Zinc Inhibition of Borrelia burgdorferi Protease BbHtrA
In this study, we utilized size exclusion chromatography and blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BNPAGE) to demonstrate BbHtrA oligomeric structures which were substrateindependent and salt sensitive. Examination of the influence of transition metals on the activity of BbHtrA revealed that this protease is inhibited by Zn2+>Cu2+>Mn2+. Extending this analysis to two other HtrA proteases, E. coli DegP and HtrA1, revealed that all three HtrA proteases were reversibly inhibited by ZnCl2 at all micro molar concentrations examined. Commercial inhibitors for HtrA proteases are not available and physiologic HtrA inhibitors are unknown. Our observation of conserved zinc inhibition of HtrA proteases will facilitate structural and functional studies of additional members of th...
Saturday 17 October 2015
Supervised Resistance Exercise for Patients with Persistent Symptoms of Lyme Disease
Conclusions: Although larger and controlled studies are necessary, supervised resistance exercise was feasible and may benefit patients with persistent symptoms of Lyme disease. (Source: Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise)
Saturday 17 October 2015
Tick saliva: Paving the way for the stowaway Borrelia
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Experimental Dermatology) MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Wednesday 14 October 2015
The Positive Predictive Value of Lyme Elisa for the Diagnosis of Lyme Disease in Children
By using a Lyme enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we demonstrated that high ELISA index values are strongly predictive of Lyme disease. In children with clinical presentations consistent with Lyme disease, ELISA index values ≥3.0 had a positive predictive value of 99.4% (95% confidence interval: 98.1–99.8%) for Lyme disease, making a supplemental Western immunoblot potentially unnecessary. (Source: The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal)
Tuesday 13 October 2015
Lyme disease jab is 'in sight' as MassBiologics scientists reveal breakthrough
Scientists at UMass Medical School MassBiologics have identified an antibody that could protect against the tick-borne disease afflicting Yolana Foster and her daughter Bella Hadid, 18. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Tuesday 13 October 2015
Medical News Today: Ticks and Lyme disease: how worried should we be?
With recent reports of a rise in Lyme disease cases, we try to find out just how worried should we be about the pesky bugs closely associated with the condition: ticks. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Monday 12 October 2015
Concern about rise in UK Lyme disease cases
"Surging numbers of people are being diagnosed with Lyme disease as cases spread from rural areas to the suburbs," the Daily Mail reports. The ongoing rise in Lyme disease cases in the UK – thought to be driven by climate change, leading to warmer winters – has been known by public health officials for some time. Reported cases in England and Wales rose from 268 in 2001 to 959 in 2011, but the true figure is thought be much higher. Current estimates put the actual figure at around 3,000 cases a year in England and Wales.It may also be the case that the disease is, as the Mail puts it, "moving into the suburbs," or least into the parks. A recent study from September 2015 found ticks that could potentially carry infection in two South London parks: Richmond Par...
Monday 12 October 2015
The symptoms of Lyme disease are a lot like flu - which is perhaps why NHS treatment is so inadequate
It took four years for me to be diagnosed - doctors and patients alike need to know much more about this illness to prevent more lives being ruined (Source: Telegraph Health) MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Monday 12 October 2015
Lyme disease cases quadruples in 12 years with over 1,000 diagnosed in 2013
Surging numbers of people are being diagnosed with Lyme disease, experts warn, as cases are spreading from rural areas to the suburbs. The debilitating disease is spread by tick bites. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Monday 12 October 2015
Prevalence and spectrum of residual symptoms in Lyme neuroborreliosis after pharmacological treatment: a systematic review
Abstract Controversy exists about residual symptoms after pharmacological treatment of Lyme neuroborreliosis. Reports of disabling long-term sequels lead to concerns in patients and health care providers. We systematically reviewed the available evidence from studies reporting treatment of Lyme neuroborreliosis to assess the prevalence and spectrum of residual symptoms after treatment. A literature search was performed in three databases and three clinical trial registers to find eligible studies reporting on residual symptoms in patients after pharmacological treatment of LNB. Diagnosis must have been performed according to consensus-derived case definitions. No restrictions regarding study design or language were set. Symptom prevalence was pooled using a random-effects model. F...
Saturday 10 October 2015
Ticks Carrying Lyme Disease Found in London
Visitors to two popular parks in South London are at risk of coming into contact with ticks that can transmit Lyme disease to humans, according to new research published in Medical and Veterinary Entomology. (Source: Disabled World)
Friday 9 October 2015
Bella and Anwar Hadid both have Lyme disease, Yolanda Foster reveals
The 51-year-old reality star was honoured at the Global Lyme Alliance Gala in New York City on Thursday, and told the audience her children were diagnosed over three years ago. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Friday 9 October 2015
Yolanda Foster reveals her model daughter Bella, 18, and son Anwar, 16, both also have Lyme disease at charity gala
The 51-year-old reality star was honoured at the Global Lyme Alliance Gala in New York City on Thursday, and told the audience her children were diagnosed over three years ago. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Friday 9 October 2015
Vesicular erythema migrans: an atypical and easily misdiagnosed form of Lyme disease.
Authors: Mazori DR, Orme CM, Mir A, Meehan SA, Neimann AL Abstract Erythema migrans is the initial sign in the majority of patients infected with Borrelia, the genus of spirochetes that causes Lyme disease. Early identification and treatment decrease the risk of progression to later stages of disease. Although a "bull's eye" appearance owing to lesional clearing is considered classic for erythema migrans, this feature is surprisingly often lacking among patients in the United States. Furthermore, cutaneous Lyme disease can exhibit a wide range of morphologic variability in a minority of patients. Herein, we describe the case of a patient with Lyme disease in which the presence of atypical vesicular features, in conjunction with the initial absence of clearing, resulted in multiple ...
Friday 9 October 2015
Poor Positive Predictive Value of Lyme Disease Serologic Testing in an Area of Low Disease Incidence
Conclusions. In this low-prevalence cohort, fewer than 20% of positive Lyme disease tests are obtained from patients with clinically likely Lyme disease. Positive Lyme disease test results may have little diagnostic value in this setting. (Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases)
Thursday 8 October 2015
Molecular detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Romania
Conclusion: This first report of A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi s.l. in red foxes from Romania suggests a limited role of foxes in the maintenance of the two related pathogens, but may represent a potential risk from a public health perspective. (Source: Parasites and Vectors) MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Tuesday 6 October 2015
[Review] Emerging tick-borne infections in mainland China: an increasing public health threat
Since the beginning of the 1980s, 33 emerging tick-borne agents have been identified in mainland China, including eight species of spotted fever group rickettsiae, seven species in the family Anaplasmataceae, six genospecies in the complex Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, 11 species of Babesia, and the virus causing severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome. In this Review we have mapped the geographical distributions of human cases of infection. 15 of the 33 emerging tick-borne agents have been reported to cause human disease, and their clinical characteristics have been described. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
Saturday 3 October 2015
'Like the Caudwells, our family also has Lyme disease'
Adelle Huckins believes her husband and children have contracted the illness from her after John Caudwell said he passed the illness on to his children (Source: Telegraph Health) MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Saturday 3 October 2015
Lyme Disease Presenting as a Spontaneous Knee Effusion.
Authors: Matzkin E, Suslavich K, Curry EJ Abstract Musculoskeletal complaints, which are frequently associated with Lyme disease, often prompt patients to see a physician. In particular, transient episodes of spontaneous knee effusion are common early in the progression of Lyme disease, and, if left untreated, 60% of patients diagnosed with the disease develop Lyme arthritis. This disease is easily treated with antibiotics; therefore, inclusion of Lyme disease in the differential diagnosis as a potential cause of a spontaneous knee effusion can prevent the development of more severe symptoms associated with the disease. However, the time required to receive test results and the inconsistencies between serum and synovial tests can complicate diagnosis of the disease. PMID: 26416...
Friday 2 October 2015
#InvisibleIllnessWeek Is Over -- What Happens Now?
Social media has been taken over by #InvisibleIllnessWeek. Almost everyone has seen a tweet there or a status update here referring to it, and as awesome as it has been in generating interest in a topic that doesn't often surface in everyday media, the conversations it has given rise to deviate into two extremes: either showcasing the horrible aspects of living with a chronic diagnosis or an all-encompassing positivity celebrating invisible illnesses. First of all, what IS an invisible illness? It's a diagnosis that often doesn't show itself on the surface, most of them are autoimmune conditions such as Lyme disease, Crohn's disease, etc. The reason they are so hard to track and represent is because they are so dispersed despite affecting literally millions of people around the world. Als...
Friday 2 October 2015
What is Lyme disease? The silent killer affecting over 3000 Brits a year
AVRIL LAVIGNE is a celebrity sufferer, but Lyme disease is no joke - there's 3,000 new cases occurring in the UK every year, but do you know what it is? (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Friday 2 October 2015
No Geographic Correlation between Lyme Disease and Death due to 4 Neurodegenerative Disorders, United States, 2001–2010
J. D. Forrester et al. (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal)
Thursday 1 October 2015
Why I’m thankful for my daughter’s MRSA
“What time is surgery today?” Ellie, age 12, croaks. She hasn’t opened her eyes yet, but she knows she’s headed to the operating room … again. It may be the fourth surgery this month, maybe the fifth. We don’t know. What we do know is our routine has changed from soccer carpools and homework battles to twice-weekly trips to the operating room, where the orthopedic surgeon will slice open my baby girl’s thigh and attempt to wash out the deadly bacteria accumulating in her right femur and knee joint. We’re trying to learn the new routine and master a new language. The vocabulary is demanding. There are procedures, medications, devices and acronyms. Most are scary — wound vacuum, PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter), clinical failure of vancomycin, Methicillin-resis...
Thursday 1 October 2015
In vitro evaluation of antibacterial activity of phytochemicals and micronutrients against Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia garinii
ConclusionsThe most effective antimicrobial compounds against all morphological forms of the two tested Borrelia sp. were baicalein and monolaurin. This might indicate that the presence of fatty acid and phenyl groups is important for comprehensive antibacterial activity. Significance and Impact of the StudyThis study reveals the potential of phytochemicals as an important tool in the fight against the species of Borrelia causing Lyme disease.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Journal of Applied Microbiology)
Thursday 1 October 2015
Lyme Carditis in the Fast Lane: From Alternating Bundle Branch Block to Asystole in 12 Hours.
We report a case of Lyme disease in a previously healthy 24-year-old male presenting with alternating right- and left-bundle branch block, indicating infraHisian atrioventricular (infra-His) block with an accelerated fascicular escape rhythm. Inless than 12 hours, the conduction abnormalities progressed to asystole requiring the urgent placement of a temporary transvenous pacemaker. Subsequently, with appropriate antibiotic treatment, the patient's conduction abnormalities resolved in a week without the need for a permanent pacemaker. PMID: 26630701 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Connecticut Medicine) MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Monday 28 September 2015
Similarities in murine infection and immune response to Borrelia bissettii and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto.
Authors: Leydet BF, Liang FT Abstract Three decades ago Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (ss) was identified as the etiologic agent of Lyme disease. Since then an increasing number of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (sl) species have been isolated in the United States. To date, many of these species remain understudied despite mounting evidence associating them with human illness. Borrelia bissettii is a spirochete closely related to B. burgdorferi that has been loosely associated with human illness. Using an experimental murine infection model, we compared the infectivity and humoral immune response to a North American isolate of B. bissettii and B. burgdorferi using culture, molecular and serological methods. Our original B. bissettii cultures were unable to infect immunocompet...
Saturday 26 September 2015
Epidemiology of Lyme Disease, Nova Scotia, Canada, 2002-2013.
Authors: Hatchette TF, Johnston BL, Schleihauf E, Mask A, Haldane D, Drebot M, Baikie M, Cole TJ, Fleming S, Gould R, Lindsay R Abstract Ixodes scapularis ticks, which transmit Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease (LD), are endemic to at least 6 regions of Nova Scotia, Canada. To assess the epidemiology and prevalence of LD in Nova Scotia, we analyzed data from 329 persons with LD reported in Nova Scotia during 20022013. Most patients reported symptoms of early localized infection with rash (89.7%), influenza-like illness (69.6%), or both; clinician-diagnosed erythema migrans was documented for 53.2%. In a separate serosurvey, of 1,855 serum samples screened for antibodies to B. burgdorferi, 2 were borderline positive (both with an indeterminate IgG on Western...
Saturday 26 September 2015
Structural and functional analysis of BB0689 from Borrelia burgdorferi, a member of the bacterial CAP superfamily
In this study, the bacterial CAP domain structure was analyzed and compared with the previously solved crystal structures of representative CAPs, and the function of BB0689 was examined. To determine the potential function of BB0689 and ascertain whether the functions that have been attributed to the CAP domain proteins are conserved, the binding of previously reported CAP domain interaction partners was analyzed, and the results suggested that BB0689 has a unique function that is yet to be discovered. (Source: Journal of Structural Biology)
Saturday 26 September 2015
Quality of life, fatigue, depression and cognitive impairment in Lyme neuroborreliosis
Abstract The prognosis and impact of residual symptoms on quality of life in patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) is subject to debate. The aim of this study was to assess quality of life, fatigue, depression, cognitive impairment and verbal learning in patients with definite LNB and healthy controls in a case–control study. We retrospectively identified all patients diagnosed with definite LNB between 2003 and 2014 in our tertiary care center. Healthy controls were recruited from the same area. Patients and healthy controls were assessed for quality of life [Short Form (36) with subscores for physical and mental components (PCS, MCS)], fatigue (fatigue severity scale), depression (Beck depression inventory), verbal memory and learning and cognitive impairment (mini-mental ...
Friday 25 September 2015
Patients may present with ticks in South London A&Es
Nurses working in emergency and primary care settings in South London could encounter patients with Lyme disease-carrying ticks, suggests latest research. (Source: Nursing Times Breaking News)
Friday 25 September 2015
Identification and the preliminary in vitro characterization of IRIS homologue from salivary glands of Ixodes persulcatus Schulze
In conclusion, Ipis could contribute to the establishment of environments suitable for tick blood feeding and pathogen transmission by suppressing the function of immune cells. (Source: Ticks and Tick borne Diseases) MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Thursday 24 September 2015
Ticks carrying Lyme disease found in South London parks
(London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine) Visitors to two popular parks in South London are at risk of coming into contact with ticks that can transmit Lyme disease to humans, according to new research by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases) MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Thursday 24 September 2015
Researchers find ticks linked with Lyme disease in south London parks
(Wiley) Visitors to two popular parks in South London are at risk of coming into contact with ticks that can transmit Lyme disease to humans, according to a new study in Medical and Veterinary Entomology. (Source: EurekAlert! Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Thursday 24 September 2015
Pathogens vectored by the tick, Dermacentor reticulatus, in endemic regions and zones of expansion in Poland
Conclusions: Our study found significant differences between the range and prevalence of vectored pathogens in D. reticulatus from the endemic areas and newly inhabited expansion zones. The differences were likely associated with the different time of settlement or ‘source’ of ticks populations, the Eastern and the Western one. (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Thursday 24 September 2015
Ecology and Epidemiology of Lyme Borreliosis
Lyme borreliosis is a zoonotic, tick-borne disease that infects humans worldwide. The disease is currently recognized as the most common vectorborne disease in Europe and North America. Disease is caused by several genospecies of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. Humans are at high risk of infection in regions where highly competent reservoirs are the primary hosts for the subadult stages of the tick, in contrast to regions where less competent or refractory animals feed ticks. Human infections are also most frequently associated with spring and summer months when the nymph stage of the tick is active. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Thursday 24 September 2015
Clinical Manifestations and Treatment of Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in the United States and is also seen in areas of Europe and Asia. The growing deer and Ixodes species tick populations in many areas underscore the importance of clinicians to properly recognize and treat the different stages of Lyme disease. Controversy regarding the cause and management of persistent symptoms following treatment of Lyme disease persists and is highlighted in this review. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Wednesday 23 September 2015
Ericaceae in Post-Lyme Disease
Homoeopathic Links 2015; 28: 179-181DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1563551Alex Leupen has been working in the Homeopathic Doctors Centre in Utrecht, the Netherlands, since 1990. Eight colleagues work in this centre, including Jan Scholten. Alex is an experienced teacher on the underlying systems in the plant families, nosodes, animal orders and the periodic table of the elements pertaining to homeopathic practice. He shares his clinical tips in this article. [...]Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd. Article in Thieme eJournals:Table of contents | Abstract | Full text (Source: Homoeopathic Links)
Tuesday 22 September 2015
Lyme neuroborreliosis: a treatable cause of acute ocular motor disturbances in children
Conclusions LNB can present as acute ocular motor disorders in conjunction with fatigue and other clinical manifestations. In endemic areas, children with unexplained, acquired ocular motor abnormalities should be evaluated for LNB, a treatable medical condition. (Source: British Journal of Ophthalmology) MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Monday 21 September 2015
An Update on the Hazards and Risks of Forensic Anthropology, Part II: Field and Laboratory Considerations.
Discussion of pathogen hazards (Brucella, Borrelia burgdorferi, Yersinia pestis, Clostridium tetani and West Nile virus) includes important history, exposure routes, environmental survivability, early symptoms, treatments with corresponding morbidity and mortality rates, and decontamination measures. Additionally, data pertaining to the use of formaldehyde in the laboratory environment have resulted in updated safety regulations, and these are highlighted. These data should inform field and laboratory protocols. The hazards of working directly with human remains are discussed in a companion article, "An Update on the Hazards and Risks of Forensic Anthropology, Part I: Human Remains." PMID: 26389711 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Journal of Forensic Sciences)
Saturday 19 September 2015
Exploratory spatial analysis of Lyme disease in Texas –what can we learn from the reported cases?
Conclusions: These results emphasize the need for follow-up investigations to determine whether the identified spatial pattern is due to: clustering of misdiagnosed cases, clustering of patients with an out-of state travel history, or presence of a clustered unknown enzootic cycle of B. burgdorferi in Texas. This would enable an improved surveillance and reporting of LD in Texas. (Source: BMC Public Health)
Thursday 17 September 2015
Nervous System Lyme Disease
Nervous system involvement occurs in 10% to 15% of patients infected with the tick-borne spirochetes Borrelia burgdorferi, B afzelii, and B garinii. Peripheral nervous system involvement is common. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement, most commonly presenting with lymphocytic meningitis, causes modest cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis. Parenchymal CNS infection is rare. If the CNS is invaded, however, measuring local production of anti–B burgdorferi antibodies in the CSF provides a useful marker of infection. Most cases of neuroborreliosis can be cured with oral doxycycline; parenteral regimens should be reserved for patients with particularly severe disease. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Thursday 17 September 2015
Disease
Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD) is a newly recognized borreliosis globally transmitted by ticks of the Ixodes persulcatus species complex. Once considered to be a tick symbiont with no public health implications, B miyamotoi is increasingly recognized as the agent of a nonspecific febrile illness often misdiagnosed as acute Lyme disease without rash, or as ehrlichiosis. The frequency of its diagnosis in the northeastern United States is similar to that of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis. A diagnosis of BMD is confirmed by polymerase chain reaction analysis of acute blood samples, or by seroconversion using a recombinant glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase enzyme immunoassay. BMD is successfully treated with oral doxycycline or amoxicillin. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Wednesday 16 September 2015
Meningomyeloradiculitis as an Unusual Presentation of Neuroborreliosis in Childhood
We report a pediatric case of Lyme neuroborreliosis–associated meningomyeloradiculitis with atypical manifestations and negative initial cerebrospinal fluid borrelial antibodies. Transverse myelitis and painful radiculoneuritis have rarely been described in pediatric neuroborreliosis. Clinical manifestations are wide ranging and nonspecific, and the serologic diagnosis is often delayed in the acute phase. (Source: The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal) MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Wednesday 16 September 2015
Azithromycin Is Equally Effective as Amoxicillin in Children with Solitary Erythema Migrans
Conclusions: Comparison of azithromycin and amoxicillin for the treatment of children with solitary EM revealed comparable efficacy and adverse effects of treatment. (Source: The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal)
Wednesday 16 September 2015
Nervous system Lyme disease, chronic Lyme disease, and none of the above
Abstract Lyme borreliosis, infection with the tick-borne spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, causes nervous system involvement in 10–15 % of identified infected individuals. Not unlike the other well-known spirochetosis, syphilis, infection can be protracted, but is microbiologically curable in virtually all patients, regardless of disease duration. Diagnosis relies on 2-tier serologic testing, which after the first 4–6 weeks of infection is both highly sensitive and specific. After this early, acute phase, serologic testing should rely only on IgG reactivity. Nervous system involvement most commonly presents with meningitis, cranial neuritis and radiculoneuritis, but can also present with a broader array of peripheral nervous system manifestations. Central nervous sy...
Wednesday 16 September 2015
Evaluation of selected Borrelia burgdorferi lp54 encoded gene products expressed during mammalian infection as antigens to improve serodiagnostic testing for early Lyme disease.
Authors: Weiner ZP, Crew RM, Brandt KS, Ullmann AJ, Schriefer ME, Molins CR, Gilmore RD Abstract Laboratory testing for the diagnosis of Lyme disease is performed primarily by serologic assays and is accurate for detection beyond the acute stage of the infection. Serodiagnostic assays to detect the early stages of infection, however, are limited in their sensitivity and improvement is warranted. We analyzed a series of Borrelia burgdorferi proteins known to be induced either within feeding ticks and/or during mammalian infection for their utility as serodiagnostic markers against a comprehensive panel of Lyme disease patient serum samples. The antigens were assayed for IgM and IgG reactivity in line immunoblots and separately by ELISA, with a focus on reactivity against early Lyme ...
Wednesday 16 September 2015
Cross-reactive acquired immunity influences transmission success of the Lyme disease pathogen, Borrelia afzelii.
This study shows that cross-immunity in infected vertebrate hosts can reduce pathogen load in the arthropod vector with potential consequences for vectorto-host pathogen transmission. PMID: 26384476 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution)
Tuesday 15 September 2015
Borrelia burgdorferi HtrA: evidence for twofold proteolysis of outer membrane protein p66
Summary In prokaryotes, members of the High Temperature Requirement A (HtrA) family of serine proteases function in the periplasm to degrade damaged or improperly folded membrane proteins. Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease, codes for a single HtrA homolog. Twodimensional electrophoresis analysis of B. burgdorferi B31A3 and a strain that over expresses HtrA (A3HtrAOE) identified a downregulated protein in A3HtrAOE with a mass, pI and MALDITOF spectrum consistent with outer membrane protein p66. P66 and HtrA from cellular lysates partitioned into detergent resistant membranes, which contain cholesterolglycolipidrich membrane regions known as lipid rafts, suggesting that HtrA and p66 may reside together in lipid rafts also. This agrees with previous work from ... MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Monday 14 September 2015
Tickborne Infections: Beyond Just Lyme Disease
Members of the Borrelia genus are associated with two main clinical syndromes: Lyme borreliosis and relapsing fever. With a few exceptions, these spirochetes share many similarities, including transmission via blood feeding arthropods, environmental maintenance among rodent populations, and interruption of the lifecycle following human infection. As a result of the high annual incidence of Lyme disease in both the United States (approximately 300,000 cases) and Europe (approximately 85,000 cases from 18 countries), Lyme borreliosis and its causative agents (primarily Borrelia burgdorferi in the United States and Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii in Europe) often garner the most attention from both the medical community and public forums. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Saturday 12 September 2015
Isolated facial diplegia in Guillain–Barré syndrome: Bifacial weakness with paresthesias
ABSTRACT Bifacial weakness with paresthesias (BFP) is a subtype of Guillain–Barré syndrome defined by rapidly progressive bilateral facial weakness in the absence of other cranial neuropathies, ataxia, or limb weakness. Many patients also complain of distal limb paresthesias and display diminished or absent deep tendon reflexes. BFP is a localized form of Guillain– Barré syndrome and is thought to be caused exclusively by demyelinating rather than axonaltype neuropathy. Patients with BFP do not display anti ganglioside IgG antibodies. Since it is rare, many physicians are unfamiliar with BFP, as bilateral facial weakness is more commonly associated with sarcoidosis, Lyme disease, or meningeal pathology. Many patients diagnosed with bilateral Bell palsy may instead have BFP. In...
Friday 11 September 2015
'Lab-on-a-Chip' technology to cut costs of sophisticated tests for diseases and disorders
Engineers have developed a breakthrough device that can significantly reduce the cost of sophisticated lab tests for medical disorders and diseases, such as HIV, Lyme disease and syphilis. The new device uses miniaturized channels and valves to replace 'benchtop' assays -- tests that require large samples of blood or other fluids and expensive chemicals that lab technicians manually mix in trays of tubes or plastic plates with cup-like depressions. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Friday 11 September 2015
American Black Bears as Hosts of Blacklegged Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Northeastern United States
Ticks and whole blood were collected from American black bears (Ursus americanus Pallas) between October 2011 and October 2012 across four counties in northwestern New Jersey, an area where blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis Say) and their associated tick-borne pathogens are prevalent. Adult American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis Say) were the most frequently collected tick species in late spring, whereas adult and nymphal blacklegged ticks were found in both the late spring and fall months. Additionally, for blacklegged ticks, we determined the quality of bloodmeals that females acquired from black bears compared with bloodmeals from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimmerman), the most important host for the adult stage of this tick species. Measures of fecundity after fee...
Wednesday 9 September 2015
What Is Lyme disease and why the controversy?
(NaturalNews) Lyme disease is no longer an obscure malady that can only be caught in Connecticut. In 2013, the year with the latest available data, the CDC predicted an estimated 300,000 actual new cases, though only 30,000 per year were reported and confirmed. Cases have been diagnosed... (Source: NaturalNews.com)
Wednesday 9 September 2015
Tricky ticks: the importance of Lyme carditis recognition.
Authors: Jansweijer JA, van Oort RJ PMID: 26353768 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Netherlands Heart Journal)
Wednesday 9 September 2015
General practitioner reported incidence of Lyme carditis in the Netherlands.
CONCLUSIONS: We report the first incidence estimate for Lyme carditis in the Netherlands, validated by a systematic review of the medical records. Although Lyme carditis is an uncommon manifestation of Lyme borreliosis, physicians need to be aware of this diagnosis, in particular in countries where the incidence of Lyme borreliosis has increased during the past decades. PMID: 26353767 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Netherlands Heart Journal) MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Tuesday 8 September 2015
Lyme law: targeting best practices.
Authors: Patrick DM PMID: 26351367 [PubMed - in process] (Source: cmaj)
Monday 7 September 2015
8 illnesses you could have brought back from holiday
From Lyme disease in Scotland to Chikungunya from the Caribbean, a list of common ailments you could have contracted during your week away (Source: Telegraph Health) MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Monday 7 September 2015
Cerebrospinal Fluid Cytology of Lyme Neuroborreliosis: A Report of 3 Cases with Literature Review
We present 3 Lyme neuroborreliosis cases in order to illustrate the challenging cytomorphological and immunophenotypic features of their CSF specimens. Three male patients who presented with central nervous system manifestations were diagnosed with Lyme disease. The clinical presentation, laboratory tests, CSF cytological examination and flow-cytometric studies were described for each case. CSF cytology showed lymphocytic pleocytosis with increased plasmacytoid cells and/or plasma cells. Flow cytometry showed the presence of polytypic B lymphocytes with evidence of plasmacytic differentiation in 2 cases. In all cases, Lyme disease was confirmed by the Lyme screening test and Western blotting. In such cases of Lyme neuroborreliosis, flow cytometry of CSF samples employing plasmacytic marker...
Saturday 5 September 2015
Lyme Disease Comparators
(Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases)
Saturday 5 September 2015
Lyme Disease Diagnosed by Alternative Methods: A Phenotype Similar to That of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Conclusions. In British Columbia, a setting with low Lyme disease incidence, ADCLS patients have a similar phenotype to that of CFS patients. Disagreement between alternative and reference laboratory Lyme testing results in this setting is most likely explained by false-positive results from the alternative laboratory. (Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases)
Friday 4 September 2015
Lyme Deaths From Heart Inflammation Likely Worse Than We Thought
Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections are skyrocketing. In western Pennsylvania, where I work, Lyme increased 25% just between 2013 and 2014, with Butler County having 412 cases and Allegheny County chalking up a record 822 cases last year. And where I vacation, in Maine, the rate of Lyme in 2014 was 240 cases per 100,000, which is more than 20 times the national average, and twice the rate of Butler. Across the country, the CDC now estimates there are ~329,000 cases of Lyme disease each year, tenfold higher than previously thought. Vermont and New Hampshire have the highest incidence. (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)
Friday 4 September 2015
Clinical and molecular features of one case of human infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum from Podlaskie Province in eastern Poland.
Authors: Welc-Falęciak R, Kowalec M, Zajkowska J, Pancewicz SA, Siński E Abstract The article focuses on the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in one of 28 patients (3.6%; n=1/28 tested samples) with early Lyme borreliosis. The clinical and laboratory results of a 42-year-old patient fulfilled criteria of confirm anaplasmosis and suggest an acute stage of illness. The described case provides strong presumptive evidence that infection in this patient was acquired with a pathogenic strain of A. phagocytophilum through a tick bite. A positive DNA with PCR for A. phagocytophilum infection was sequenced and analyzed phylogenetically. Physicians should consider the possibility of anaplasmosis in pati...
Friday 4 September 2015
ER-Coordinated Activities of Rab22a and Rab5a Drive Phagosomal Compaction and Intracellular Processing of Borrelia burgdorferi by Macrophages
Publication date: Available online 3 September 2015 Source:Cell Reports Author(s): Xenia Naj, Stefan Linder Borrelia burgdorferi is the causative agent of Lyme disease, a multisystemic disorder affecting the skin, joints, and nervous system. Macrophages and dendritic cells counteract Borrelia dissemination through internalization and degradation of spirochetes. We now show that Borrelia internalization by primary human macrophages involves uptake and compaction into Rab22a-positive phagosomes that are in close contact with Rab5a-positive vesicles. Compaction of borreliae involves membrane extrusion from phagosomes, is driven by Rab22a and Rab5a activity, and is coordinated by ER tubules forming contact sites of Rab22a phagosomes with Rab5a vesicles. Importantly, Rab22a and Rab5a deplet...
Friday 4 September 2015
Peroxidative metabolism of arachidonic acid in the course of Lyme arthritis.
CONCLUSIONS: It may be suggested that in the course of LA, the level of binding 8-isoPGF2 is significantly enhanced, and it may also be suggested that uncontrolled changes in the lipid status of some patients may make their Lyme arthritis unresponsive to antibiotics. PMID: 26403109 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine : AAEM)
Friday 4 September 2015
Abundance of questing ticks and molecular evidence for pathogens in ticks in three parks of Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy.
DISCUSSION: The peak of nymph presence was in May, and the higher prevalence of pathogens occurred in April-June, most often in nymphs; therefore, spring season could represent the higher risk period for the transmission of pathogens. These data could provide guidelines for the preventions of tick-trasmitted diseases in this region. PMID: 26403115 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine : AAEM)
Friday 4 September 2015
A broad-range survey of ticks from livestock in Northern Xinjiang: changes in tick distribution and the isolation of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto
Conclusions: Warmer and wetter climate may have contributed to the altered distribution and abundance of the five most common ticks in northern Xinjiang. The genetic analyses showed that certain tick species, such as Hy. asiaticum or Rh. turanicus, exhibit genetic commonness or diversity. Additionally, this study is the first to isolate B. burgdorferi sensu stricto in Hy. asiaticum asiaticum, H. punctata, D. nuttalli and D. marginatus ticks from domestic animals. These ticks may transmit borreliosis among livestock. (Source: Parasites and Vectors) MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Wednesday 2 September 2015
Lyme disease: How reliable are serologic results?
Authors: Gregson D, Evans G, Patrick D, Bowie W PMID: 26323708 [PubMed as supplied by publisher] (Source: Canadian Medical Association Journal) MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Wednesday 2 September 2015
A 35-year-old man with a positive Lyme test result from a private laboratory.
Authors: Andany N, Cardew S, Bunce PE PMID: 26323702 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Canadian Medical Association Journal)
Wednesday 2 September 2015
Borrelia burgdorferi elongation factor EF-Tu is an immunogenic protein during Lyme borreliosis
Authors: Sebastian E Carrasco, Youyun Yang, Bryan Troxell, Xiuli Yang, Utpal Pal & X Frank Yang (Source: Emerging Microbes and Infections)
Wednesday 2 September 2015
Persister mechanisms in Borrelia burgdorferi: implications for improved intervention
Authors: Jie Feng, Wanliang Shi, Shuo Zhang & Ying Zhang (Source: Emerging Microbes and Infections)
Tuesday 1 September 2015
How to rid the body of Lyme disease naturally
(NaturalNews) The bacteria that cause Lyme can be found in the skin, heart, joints, and nervous system. On top of that, Lyme disease specialists are finding that what we call Lyme disease may be caused by several different infectious organisms and may even be caused by a combination... (Source: NaturalNews.com)
Tuesday 1 September 2015
Lyme Arthritis
No abstract available (Source: Pediatric Emergency Care)
Tuesday 1 September 2015
Tick abundances in South London parks and the potential risk for Lyme borreliosis to the general public
Abstract Tick abundances and prevalences of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the causative agent of Lyme disease, were investigated in four South London parks. A total of 360 transects were sampled using three methods of collection (blanket, leggings and flags) simultaneously. No ticks were found on Wimbledon Common or at Hampton Court, but 1118 Ixodes ricinus (Ixodida: Ixodidae) ticks were collected at Richmond and Bushy Parks. At Richmond Park, lower canopy humidity [odds ratio (OR) 0.94; P = 0.005], increased mat depth (OR 1.15; P < 0.001) and increased soil moisture (OR 1.40; P = 0.001) predicted the presence of I. ricinus, and increased sward height [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.01; P = 0.006] and decreased ground temperature (IRR 0.90; P = 0.009) predicted increased...
Tuesday 1 September 2015
Transfusion-Transmitted Babesiosis During Total Hip Arthroplasty.
This article summarizes the current state of transfusion-transmitted babesiosis and the detrimental impact of this infection on blood transfusion safety. [Orthopedics. 2015; 38(9):e852-e855.]. PMID: 26375547 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Orthopedics) MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Tuesday 1 September 2015
BadR (BB0693) controls growth phasedependent induction of rpoS and bosR in Borrelia burgdorferi via recognizing TAAAATAT motifs
Summary In Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), the alternative sigma factor RpoS plays a central role during Bb's adaptation to ticks and mammals. Previous studies have demonstrated that RpoS is not expressed during the early stages of spirochetal growth or when Bb resides in ticks during the intermolt phase, but the molecular details of these events remain unknown. In the current study, biomagnetic bead separation of rpoS promoterbinding proteins, coupled with genetic inactivation, was employed to identify BadR (BB0693) as a negative regulator that controls growth phasedependent induction of rpoS and bosR in Bb. When badR was inactivated, the expression of rpoS and bosR was induced only during the early stages of bacterial growth, but not during the stationary growth phase. Recombinant BadR ...
Monday 31 August 2015
A Presentation of Lyme Disease: Pseudotumor Cerebri.
Authors: Şahin B, İncecik F, Hergüner ÖM, Alabaz D, Beşen Ş Abstract Lyme disease is caused by a tick-transmitted spirochete, B. burgdorferi. It can present with both central and peripheral nervous system manifestations, including aseptic meningitis, meningoencephalitis, Bell's palsy and other cranial neuropathies, radiculoneuritis, and myelitis. However, pseudotumor cerebri associated with Lyme disease is rare. Here, we report a eight-year-old girl with the unusual manifestation of pseudotumor cerebri associated Lyme disease. PMID: 27411423 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics)
Monday 31 August 2015
Staffordshire mother loses FOUR STONE after seeing herself in Ice Bucket Challenge video
Louise Bentley, 47, an admin assistant from Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, slimmed from 15st 5lb to a trim 11st 4lb in less than a year after swapping junk food for healthy meals. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Monday 31 August 2015
Lyme disease testing: Canadians may receive false-positives from some US labs
Lyme disease is becoming increasingly common in Canada, and Canadians with Lyme disease symptoms may seek diagnoses from laboratories in the United States, although many of the results will be false-positives, according to a new commentary article. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Monday 31 August 2015
Epidemiology of Lyme Disease, Nova Scotia, Canada, 2002–2013
T. F. Hatchette et al. (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal)
Monday 31 August 2015
Absence of sodA Increases the Levels of Oxidation of Key Metabolic Determinants of Borrelia burgdorferi
This study, utilizing the sodA mutant, has provided insights into adaptive capabilities critical for survival of B. burgdorferi in its hosts. (Source: PLoS One) MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Monday 31 August 2015
Alternatives to Serologic Testing for Diagnosis of Lyme Disease
Although serologic testing remains the gold standard for laboratory diagnosis of Lyme disease, the antibody response may take several weeks to increase greater than the limit of detection. Because of this extended time frame, it is necessary to identify new diagnostic methods for earlier diagnosis and appropriate treatment of Lyme disease. Alternative diagnostic modalities, such as Borrelia culture or nucleic acid amplification testing, may be beneficial in specific clinical scenarios. In early phases of acute infection, before the development of an immune response, detection of Borrelia DNA from clinical specimens may help establish the diagnosis sooner than serologic methods. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Monday 31 August 2015
Lyme Disease Coinfections in the United States
Lyme disease in North America is caused by infection with the spirochetal bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted by Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus ticks. These ticks also have the potential to transmit a rapidly expanding list of other pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and parasites, including Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, deer tick (Powassan) virus, Borrelia miyamotoi, and the Ehrlichia muris–like organism. Coinfections with B burgdorferi and these other agents are often difficult to diagnose and may go untreated, and thus contribute significantly to patient morbidity and mortality from tick-borne infections. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Saturday 29 August 2015
Lyme disease/borreliosis as a systemic disease
Lyme disease/borreliosis (LD) is a well-known arthropod-transmitted entity in the northern hemisphere. The incidence of LD is reportedly rising throughout the world, although better diagnostic facilities may be contributory. The disease distribution is expanding in Europe, with its presence being now documented at higher altitudes and latitudes. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is the most important genospecies leading to LD, although newer ones continue to be discovered. The variations in clinical spectrum with genospecies involved are an interesting feature. (Source: Clinics in Dermatology)
Saturday 29 August 2015
Structural characterization and modeling of the Borrelia burgdorferi hybrid histidine kinase Hk1 periplasmic sensor: a system for sensing small molecules associated with tick feeding
Publication date: Available online 28 August 2015 Source:Journal of Structural Biology Author(s): William J. Bauer, Amit Luthra, Guangyu Zhu, Justin D. Radolf, Michael G. Malkowski, Melissa J. Caimano Two-component signal transduction systems are the primary mechanisms by which bacteria perceive and respond to changes in their environment. The Hk1/Rrp1 two-component system (TCS) in B. burgdorferi consists of a hybrid histidine kinase and a response regulator with diguanlyate cyclase activity, respectively. Phosphorylated Rrp1 catalyzes the synthesis of c-di-GMP, a second messenger associated with bacterial life-style control networks. Spirochetes lacking either Hk1 or Rrp1 are virulent in mice but destroyed within feeding ticks. Activation of Hk1 by exogenous stimuli represents the...
Friday 28 August 2015
Isolated facial diplegia in GuillainBarré syndrome: Bifacial weakness with paresthesias
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Muscle and Nerve) MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Friday 28 August 2015
Lyme Disease
The answer key for this puzzle is available online. (Source: The Journal for Nurse Practitioners)
Friday 28 August 2015
IJERPH, Vol. 12, Pages 10536-10548: Spatial and Spatio-Temporal Models for Modeling Epidemiological Data with Excess Zeros
Epidemiological data often include excess zeros. This is particularly the case for data on rare conditions, diseases that are not common in specific areas or specific time periods, and conditions and diseases that are hard to detect or on the rise. In this paper, we provide a review of methods for modeling data with excess zeros with focus on count data, namely hurdle and zero-inflated models, and discuss extensions of these models to data with spatial and spatio-temporal dependence structures. We consider a Bayesian hierarchical framework to implement spatial and spatio-temporal models for data with excess zeros. We further review current implementation methods and computational tools. Finally, we provide a case study on five-year counts of confirmed cases of Lyme disease in Illinois at t...
Thursday 27 August 2015
Why antibiotics may not work for Lyme disease
(NaturalNews) For some, early treatment with antibiotics is effective. For others and for those in the late stages of infection, antibiotics may be ineffective for the following reasons:Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, has a corkscrew shape that allows... (Source: NaturalNews.com)
Thursday 27 August 2015
Characterization Through Multilocus Sequence Analysis of Borrelia turdi Isolates from Portugal.
In this study, we isolated B. turdi from five I. frontalis feeding on Turdus merula, Turdus philomelos, Parus major and Troglodytes troglodytes, and one Ixodes ricinus feeding on a T. merula in Portugal. These isolates were genetically characterised according to their 5S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer, 16S rRNA and through typing of seven housekeeping genes (multilocus sequence typing). Multilocus sequence analyses revealed that the strains isolated in our study, although belonging to B. turdi genospecies, are not identical to the B. turdi reference strain Ya501. Instead, our strains are separated into a clear defined group, suggesting that the European samples diverged genetically from the strain originally detected in Japan. Population analysis of 5S-23S rRNA sequences can further resolve su...
Thursday 27 August 2015
The Fur homologue BosR requires Arg39 to activate rpoS transcription in Borrelia burgdorferi and thereby direct spirochete infection in mice.
This study shows that BosR repressed synthesis of the long transcript while at the same time activating synthesis of the short transcript. How BosR does this is unclear. To address this, spirochetes were engineered to express either BosR or the naturally occurring variant BosRR39K. Mice became infected by the spirochetes expressing BosR but not by the spirochetes expressing BosRR39K. Furthermore, the spirochetes expressing BosR activated rpoS transcription during growth in culture whereas the spirochetes expressing BosRR39K did not. Thus, BosR's activation of rpoS transcription somehow involves Arg39. This arginine is highly conserved in other FUR proteins and therefore other FUR proteins may also require this arginine to function. PMID: 26318670 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (So...
Thursday 27 August 2015
On the radar: Lyme neuroborreliosis, an infectious cause of cerebral vasculitis
(Source: QJM)
Thursday 27 August 2015
Reply: On the radar: Lyme neuroborreliosis, an infectious cause of cerebral vasculitis
(Source: QJM) MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Wednesday 26 August 2015
Methods to Prevent Tick Bites and Lyme Disease
Current approaches for prevention of tick bites, Lyme disease, and other tickborne diseases are described. Particular attention is paid to 4 risk-reduction strategies: (i) avoiding risk areas; (ii) personal protective measures that reduce the risk of tick bites or transmission of the agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi; (iii) reducing the number of infected ticks in the environment; and (iv) use of prophylactic antibiotic treatments following a bite to prevent clinical Lyme disease. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Wednesday 26 August 2015
Ixodes tick saliva suppresses the keratinocyte cytokine response to TLR2/TLR3 ligands during early exposure to Lyme borreliosis
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Experimental Dermatology)
Sunday 23 August 2015
Transient synovitis of the hip: which investigations are truly useful?
CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that most investigations performed during the initial work-up in patients suspected transient synovitis of the hip are unnecessary and should routinely include only. PMID: 26295841 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Swiss Medical Weekly) MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Sunday 23 August 2015
Incidence of Clinician-Diagnosed Lyme Disease, United States, 2005-2010.
Authors: Nelson CA, Saha S, Kugeler KJ, Delorey MJ, Shankar MB, Hinckley AF, Mead PS Abstract National surveillance provides important information about Lyme disease (LD) but is subject to underreporting and variations in practice. Information is limited about the national epidemiology of LD from other sources. Retrospective analysis of a nationwide health insurance claims database identified patients from 2005-2010 with clinician-diagnosed LD using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, codes and antimicrobial drug prescriptions. Of 103,647,966 person-years, 985 inpatient admissions and 44,445 outpatient LD diagnoses were identified. Epidemiologic patterns were similar to US surveillance data overall. Outpatient incidence was highest among...
Sunday 23 August 2015
Enhancing Lyme Disease Surveillance by Using Administrative Claims Data, Tennessee, USA.
Authors: Clayton JL, Jones SG, Dunn JR, Schaffner W, Jones TF Abstract Lyme disease is underreported in the United States. We used insurance administrative claims data to determine the value of such data in enhancing case ascertainment in Tennessee during January 2011-June 2013. Although we identified »20% more cases of Lyme disease (5/year), the method was resource intensive and not sustainable in this low-incidence state. PMID: 26291336 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases)
Saturday 22 August 2015
Cutaneous Borreliosis With a T-Cell–Rich Infiltrate and Simultaneous Involvement by B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia With t(14;18)(q32;q21)
We report an unusual constellation in a patient with synchronously diagnosed B-CLL and Borrelia infection of skin presenting with a dense dermal T-cell–rich infiltrate masking specific leukemic infiltrates of neoplastic B cells in the context of B-CLL harboring t(14;18)(q32;q21). Specific cutaneous involvement by BCLL was confirmed by the detection of t(14;18)(q32;q21) (BCL2–IGH) using FISH in neoplastic B cells within the skin infiltrates. Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) DNA detected by nested polymerase chain reaction in the skin biopsy and serological findings proved Borrelia infection. Complete resolution of the cutaneous infiltrates was observed after antibiotic treatment. This case demonstrates that Borrelia infection of the skin may present with dense T-cell– rich infiltrate...
Saturday 22 August 2015
A prospective study on the incidence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection after a tick bite in Sweden and on the Åland Islands, Finland (2008-2009)
Publication date: Available online 22 August 2015 Source:Ticks and Tickborne Diseases Author(s): Peter Wilhelmsson, Linda Fryland, Pontus Lindblom, Johanna Sjöwall, Clas Ahlm, Johan Berglund, Mats Haglund, Anna J. Henningsson, Peter Nolskog, Marika Nordberg, Clara Nyberg, Katharina Ornstein, Dag Nyman, Christina Ekerfelt, Pia Forsberg, Per-Eric Lindgren Lyme borreliosis (LB) is a common and increasing tick-borne disease in Europe. The risk of acquiring a Borrelia infection after a tick bite is not fully known. Therefore, we investigated the incidence of Borrelia infection after a bite by a Borrelia-infected tick and if the Borrelia load and/or the duration of tick-feeding influenced the risk of infection. During 2008-2009, ticks and blood samples were collected from 154...
Friday 21 August 2015
Sexual transmission of Lyme disease: challenging the tickborne disease paradigm
Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy, Ahead of Print. (Source: Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy) MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Wednesday 19 August 2015
Lyme Disease May Linger for 1 in 5 Because of "Persisters"
A new theory about long-lasting Lyme disease symptoms suggests treatment options -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com (Source: Scientific American Official RSS Feed)
Wednesday 19 August 2015
Persister mechanisms in Borrelia burgdorferi: implications for improved intervention
Authors: Jie Feng, Wanliang Shi, Shuo Zhang & Ying Zhang (Source: Emerging Microbes and Infections)
Monday 17 August 2015
How This Couple Fought Through Illness To Find A New Destiny
I am a caregiver for my partner who has become housebound and bedridden due to an incurable "invisible" disease. I too live with a serious illness, barely getting through each day, mostly housebound myself. Franky and I met, and a spell was cast; we fell madly deeply infatuated with each other, as young love often does to people. We traveled, went to social events and started dreaming of a life together. Within a couple of months, I was diagnosed with an aggressive strain of HIV. Our fast-run fairytale seemed to be cursed and destined for failure. But we persevered. My family's involvement in my life was scarce due to their struggles with me being a gay man. Luckily, Franky took the reins in helping me to fight for my life. Though we had just met, Franky cared for my body, fed me, and cl...
Friday 14 August 2015
Tick-ing Time Bomb: Lyme Disease Conquers New Territory
In the summer of 1975 a group of children who often played together developed an unusual flu-like illness with severe joint pain. They were diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA). All of them lived in a small town at the mouth of the Connecticut River called Lyme. The story of their disease contains all the elements of a good novel; mystery, loss, blood, empathy, indifference, conflict, controversy and conspiracy, truth and fiction. Doctors suspect JRA when they see kids with persistent joint pain or swelling, unexplained skin rashes, and fever associated with swelling of lymph nodes or inflammation of internal organs. No single test can be used to make the diagnosis. Both the cause and the cure of JRA, an autoimmune disorder, are unknown. But it is not an infectious disease. P...
Friday 14 August 2015
Defeat Lyme disease without antibiotics
(NaturalNews) Let's be blunt: Western medicine will never really cure Lyme disease because the focus (like everything they do) is on symptoms, not the underlying cause. In fact, sadly, if you've been suffering with Lyme disease for some time, you've probably been labeled with a mental... (Source: NaturalNews.com)
Wednesday 12 August 2015
Ticks: Summer’s Unwanted Guests
Thorough checks of spouses, children and friends for the tiny pathogencarrying freeloaders are now a necessary part of summer rituals. (Source: NYT Health) MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Wednesday 12 August 2015
Lyme disease is vastly under-reported, CDC says
Government researchers say the tick-borne disease is far more common than previously believed (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Wednesday 12 August 2015
Lyme Disease in U.S. Is Under-Reported, CDC Says
About 329,000 cases actually occur each year (Source: WebMD Health)
Wednesday 12 August 2015
Incidence of Clinician-Diagnosed Lyme Disease, United States, 2005–2010
C. A. Nelson et al. (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal)
Wednesday 12 August 2015
Anaphylactoid reaction caused by sodium ceftriaxone in two horses experimentally infected by Borrelia burgdorferi
Conclusions: From the two cases presented here, it does appear that sodium ceftriaxone can induce anaphylactoid reactions in horses infected by Borrelia burgdorferi, which may evolve into colic syndrome, laminitis and the occurrence of opportunistic infections. However, further evidence should be collected in order to draw definite conclusions. (Source: BMC Veterinary Research)
Wednesday 12 August 2015
BB0744 Affects Tissue Tropism and Spatial Distribution of Borrelia burgdorferi [Molecular Pathogenesis]
Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiologic agent of Lyme disease, produces a variety of proteins that promote survival and colonization in both the Ixodes species vector and various mammalian hosts. We initially identified BB0744 (also known as p83/100) by screening for B. burgdorferi strain B31 proteins that bind to 11 integrin and hypothesized that, given the presence of a signal peptide, BB0744 may be a surface-exposed protein. In contrast to this expectation, localization studies suggested that BB0744 resides in the periplasm. Despite its subsurface location, we were interested in testing whether BB0744 is required for borrelial pathogenesis. To this end, a bb0744 deletion was isolated in a B. burgdorferi strain B31 infectious background, complemented, and queried for the role of... MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Wednesday 12 August 2015
Characterization and optimization of a novel vaccine for protection against Lyme borreliosis.
Authors: Comstedt P, Hanner M, Schüler W, Meinke A, Schlegl R, Lundberg U Abstract Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common vector-borne disease in the northern hemisphere and there is no vaccine available for disease prevention. The majority of LB cases in Europe are caused by four different Borrelia species expressing six different OspA serotypes, whereas in the US only one of these serotypes is present. Immunization with the outer surface protein A (OspA) can prevent infection and the C-terminal part of OspA is sufficient for protection against infection transmitted by Ixodes ticks. Here we show that the order of the stabilized monomeric OspA fragments making up the heterodimers in our LB vaccine does not influence the induced immunogenicity and protection. Using bioinformatics...
Wednesday 12 August 2015
Borrelia burgdorferi RevA Significantly Affects Pathogenicity and Host Response in the Mouse Model of Lyme Disease [Bacterial Infections]
The Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, expresses RevA and numerous outer surface lipoproteins during mammalian infection. As an adhesin that promotes bacterial interaction with fibronectin, RevA is poised to interact with the extracellular matrix of the host. To further define the role(s) of RevA during mammalian infection, we created a mutant that is unable to produce RevA. The mutant was still infectious to mice, although it was significantly less well able to infect cardiac tissues. Complementation of the mutant with a wild-type revA gene restored heart infectivity to wild-type levels. Additionally, revA mutants led to increased evidence of arthritis, with increased fibrotic collagen deposition in tibiotarsal joints. The mutants also induced increased levels of the chemokine...
Tuesday 11 August 2015
The Search for Persisters
Lyme disease–causing bacteria can outmaneuver antibiotics in vitro and manipulate the mouse immune system. (Source: The Scientist) MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Monday 10 August 2015
ESA Issues Statement on Tick-borne Diseases
Annapolis, MD; August 10, 2015 – The Entomological Society of America (ESA) recently released a statement (http://www.entsoc.org/ticks) supporting the creation and implementation of a national strategy using Integrated Tick Management to better control tick populations and reduce the rapidly escalating impact of tick-borne diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, and Lyme disease. read more (Source: ESA News)
Monday 10 August 2015
Woman Loses Vision After Mosquito Bite Transmits Chikungunya Fever
By: Laura Geggel Published: 08/10/2015 10:38 AM EDT on LiveScience A woman who caught chikungunya fever while vacationing in the Caribbean wound up losing some of the vision in her right eye permanently, according to a new report of her case. The findings suggest that vision problems may be an underreported effect of the mosquito-transmitted virus, which has spread in recent years from Africa and Asia to the Caribbean, Latin America and parts of the United States, the report's authors said. "Sight-threatening visual loss can be a late complication of infection with chikungunya," said Dr. Abhijit Mohite, who treated the woman and co-authored the report of her case. [7 Devastating Infectious Diseases] It is important that people with vision problems get treatment early, to prevent lasting vi...
Monday 10 August 2015
Entomological Society of America issues statement on tick-borne diseases
(Entomological Society of America) The Entomological Society of America (ESA) recently released a statement supporting the creation and implementation of a national strategy using Integrated Tick Management to better control tick populations and reduce the rapidly escalating impact of tickborne diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, and Lyme disease. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Monday 10 August 2015
The lipid raft proteome of Borrelia burgdorferi
This study provides the first analysis of a prokaryotic lipid raft and has relevance for the biology of Borrelia, other pathogenic bacteria, as well as for the evolution of these structures. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved (Source: Proteomics)
Sunday 9 August 2015
Molecular identification and bioinformatics analysis of a potential anti-vector vaccine candidate, 15-kDa salivary gland protein (Salp15), from Ixodes affinis ticks
In this study, we have identified a Salp15 homolog, designated as Iaff15, from Ixodes affinis ticks that are the principal enzootic vectors of B. burgdorferi sensu stricto in the southeastern part of the United States. Comparison of the annotated amino acid sequences showed that Iaff15 share 81% homology with I. sinensis Salp15 homolog and 64% homology with I. scapularis Salp15. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Iaff15 come within the same clade with I. sinensis, I. scapularis and I. pacificus Salp15 homologs. The bioinformatics analysis of the posttranslational modifications prediction revealed that all the Salp15 family members contain glycosylation sites. In addition, Iaff15 carried a higher number of Casein Kinase II phosphorylation sites in comparison to the other Salp15 family memb... MedWorm Message: If you are looking to buy something in the January Sales please visit TheJanuarySales.com for a directory of all the best sales in the UK. Any income gained via affiliate links keeps MedWorm running.
Saturday 8 August 2015
10 Essential Facts About Lyme Disease
By Allison Pohle for Everyday Health Every year, U.S. state health departments report about 30,000 cases of Lyme disease to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But the CDC says the true number of cases in the United States could be ten times as high. Lyme disease is transmitted to humans from tick bites. The ticks that transmit the disease are most active from April to September, which means spring and summer are the prime times for infection. With the right steps, and regular tick checks, however, you can prevent Lyme disease. Here are 10 things you should know about this tickborne disease: 1. You can only get Lyme disease from a tick bite. There is no evidence that Lyme disease can be transmitted from person-to-person, according to the CDC. You also can’t get Lyme dis...
Saturday 8 August 2015
Mayo Clinic Q and A: Take precautions to avoid ticks and Lyme disease
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: In the summer, my kids play outdoors most of the day, and we have found ticks on their clothing. Is Lyme disease something I should be worried about? What are the early symptoms? Does bug spray keep ticks away? ANSWER: Lyme disease is the most common illness spread by ticks in the [...] (Source: News from Mayo Clinic)
Saturday 8 August 2015
Detection, identification and genotyping of Borrellia spp. in rodents in Slovenia by PCR and culture
Conclusion: We determined the prevalence of B. afzelii in rodents and report for the first time the presence of B. miyamotoi in Slovenia. (Source: BMC Veterinary Research)
Saturday 8 August 2015
Pathogenesis and the Immune Response
Borrelia burgdorferi is the tick-borne etiologic agent of Lyme disease. The spirochete must negotiate numerous barriers in order to establish a disseminated infection in a mammalian host. These barriers include migration from the feeding tick midgut to the salivary glands, deposition in skin, manipulation or evasion of the localized host immune response, adhesion to and extravasation through an endothelial barrier, hematogenous dissemination, and establishment of infection in distal tissue sites. Borrelia burgdorferi proteins that mediate many of these processes and the nature of the host response to infection are described. (Source: Clinics in Laboratory Medicine)
Thursday 6 August 2015
Undiagnosed Lyme disease in adults with schizophrenia
Lyme disease (LD) is the world's leading tick borne infection caused by the spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). This infection is a global health concern and is associated with numerous cardiologic, dermatologic, rheumatologic neurologic, and psychiatric manifestations (Bratton et al., 2008). Only a few epidemiologic studies have evaluated the frequency of antibodies to Bb in psychiatric patients; one study found only 1/517 (0.2%) of all adult psychiatric patients had Lyme titer seropositivity (Nadelman et al., 1997) and the other larger study found that 322/926 (35%) of psychiatric inpatients had seropositivity to antibodies to Bb (Hajek et al., 2002). (Source: Schizophrenia Research) MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Thursday 6 August 2015
Middle region of the Borrelia burgdorferi surfacelocated protein 1 (Lmp1) interacts with host chondroitin6sulfate and independently facilitates infection
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Cellular Microbiology)
Thursday 6 August 2015
Relatively low prevalence of Babesia microti and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Ixodes scapularis ticks collected in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania
Publication date: Available online 5 August 2015 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Marten J. Edwards, Laura A. Barbalato, Amulya Makkapati, Katerina D. Pham, Louise M. Bugbee Several human pathogens are transmitted by the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis. These include the spirochetes that cause Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) which is endemic to the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. Emerging and currently rare tick-borne diseases have been of increasing concern in this region, including tick-borne relapsing fever (caused by Borrelia miyamotoi), human granulocytic anaplasmosis (caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum), and human babesiosis (caused by Babesia microti). Real-time PCR assays and in some instances, conventional PCR followed by DNA sequencing...
Wednesday 5 August 2015
[Lyme disease in paediatrics].
Authors: Vázquez-López ME, Pérez-Pacín R, Díez-Morrondo C, Díaz P, Castro-Gago M PMID: 26254967 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Anales de Pediatria)
Wednesday 5 August 2015
Managing monoarthritis in children
Publication date: Available online 4 August 2015 Source:Joint Bone Spine Author(s): Valérie Devauchelle-Pensec, Matthias Thepaut, Romain Pecquery, Laetitia Houx Monoarthritis, defined as inflammation of a single joint, requires a thorough physical examination in children, as pain may be lacking in 10% to 30% of cases and joint stiffness may be the only symptom. Joint aspiration is a crucial diagnostic tool that remains markedly underused. Joint aspiration may be unnecessary, however, when the family history or other investigations provide the diagnosis. Radiographs of the involved joint may supply information on the severity of the lesions. In doubtful cases and in patients with arthralgia, B-mode and Doppler ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may confirm the presence of...
Monday 3 August 2015
A Therapy That Rebuilds Your Defenses FAST
In ancient times, our ancestors had pure sources of the nutrients they needed to thrive. But they were limited in terms of how much they could get of any particular one. Organ meat gives you a wealth of nutrients, including protein, CoQ10, and a host of vitamins. But you can’t get really high doses of a nutrient or vitamin through food alone. That wasn’t a big issue for our ancestors because they had such a well-balanced environment. But it’s a big deal for you and me. In our toxic world, large doses of nutrients are sometimes necessary to balance or “straighten out” health concerns. This is a category of medicine I call “Ortho.” Ortho means, “to correct or straighten out.” If your basic needs for survival happen on a “Primal... MedWorm Message: Have you tried our new medical search engine? More powerful than before. Log on with your social media account. 100% free.
Monday 3 August 2015
Borrelia yangtzensis sp. nov. a rodent associated species in Asia is related to B. valaisiana.
Authors: Margos G, Chu CY, Takano A, Jiang BG, Liu W, Kurtenbach K, Masuzawa T, Fingerle V, Cao WC, Kawabata H Abstract Twenty nine isolates of Lyme borreliosis (LB) group spirochetes collected from ticks and rodents in China and Japan were included into multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA). Using a different typing system, three of these strains had previously been identified as being divergent from other LB spirochete species and the name "Borrelia yangtze" sp. nov. was proposed. The data presented here confirm that the genetic distance calculated using sequences of MLSA housekeeping genes to other known LB group spirochete species was