LDA Selected News Topics Archives

LDA Selected News Topics

New Alpha-Gal Syndrome MMWR Publications

July 30, 2023

There are two new reports published by the CDC’s journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), also known as the red meat allergy. AGS is an emerging tick bite associated allergic condition to most mammalian meat. These reports highlight that “AGS is of increasing concern for public health, but many healthcare providers (HCPs) are unaware of the condition and how to diagnose or manage it.”

The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (Thompson, J. M., et al.) 07.28.2023, published the first report “Geographic Distribution of Suspected Alpha-gal Syndrome Cases — United States, January 2017-December 2022.” This report aims to make public health agencies and healthcare providers aware of AGS case hotspots in the United States in order to recognize the impact AGS is having in the country. Most cases were reported in the southern, midwestern, and mid-Atlantic United States.
The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (Carpenter, A., et al.) 07.28.2023, published the second report “Health Care Provider Knowledge Regarding Alpha-gal Syndrome — United States, March–May 2022.” This report is the first national survey to assess healthcare provider’s knowledge of AGS. Approximately 42% of the United State’s Healthcare providers had never heard of AGS, with only 29% of providers who knew of the condition knowledgeable to diagnosis it. The report highlights the need for further awareness and education of AGS to help improve patient care in the United States.
The CDC, in collaboration with Medscape, is providing a free CME/CE training so learners are better able to self-assess gaps in their knowledge regarding the diagnosis and management of patients with AGS. Providers can access the training below.

Why Lyme Disease Gets Misdiagnosed as Depression, Bipolar, and More

July 28, 2023

blue-monday-with-sticky-notes-copy-space

Everyday Health released an article “Why Lyme Disease Gets Misdiagnosed as Depression, Bipolar, and More” on 7.24.2023, written by By Katie Camero, medically Reviewed by Seth Gillihan, PhD. Sheila Statlender, PhD describes Lyme disease as “the great imitator” because symptoms mimic many other physical and mental conditions and therefore can be often misdiagnosed.
Aside from the typical symptoms of Lyme disease, such as a fever, headache, fatigue, joint pain, and a red bull’s-eye rash, Lyme disease can also also resemble psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and even sometimes hallucinations. This is because Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, can affect the nervous system and cause symptoms like anxiety, depression, brain fog, and irritability. Leo Shea, PhD says that more serious cases can also be associated with panic attacks, paranoia, rage, sudden mood swings, and audio and visual hallucinations. Leo Shea, PhD explains that “these neuropsychiatric symptoms overlap with common symptoms of mental health or neurological conditions.”
The process of getting diagnosed with Lyme disease is not easy, with diagnostic testing being a long process and not being the most reliable, doctors rely more on symptoms and the likelihood that the patient came in contact with a tick. The body doesn’t produce antibodies from Lyme disease until a few weeks after the initial bite, so tests done before this point will be negative, even though the patient has Lyme disease. Being diagnosed is also difficult because many doctors don’t have experience in diagnosing Lyme disease and therefore don’t understand the symptoms associated with it.
Lyme disease that goes undetected and untreated can pose serious health risks. Untreated Lyme disease can cause symptoms like “irregular heartbeat, dizziness, severe joint pain and swelling, shortness of breath, limb numbness, memory problems, facial palsy, and inflammation of the brain and spinal cord” the CDC says. Many people may also be unaware that they were bitten by a tick and therefore aren’t looking for the signs of Lyme disease, and may be prescribed with other medication for a condition they don’t have, and further worsen the person’s mental and physical health. A separate 2018 study, it was found that “1 in 5 people with Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome reported suicidal ideation.”

NIH Funding Post Treatment Lyme Research for 5 Projects

July 25, 2023

Photos of tubes of blood in hand, laboratory

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced in a press release on 7.21.23 that they have awarded approximately $3.2 million dollars in funding for this first year of research focused […]

Fighting Adrenal Fatigue

July 20, 2023

The Peoples Pharmacy has produced Podcast Show 1347: “How to Combat Adrenal Fatigue” on 7.18.2023, hosting guest, Izabella Wentz, PharmD, FASCP. Izabella is an internationally recognized thyroid specialist and pharmacist […]

Results of Lyme Vaccine Phase 1 Study

July 19, 2023

Photo of multiple colored vials with needle/syringe

The eBioMedicine Journal (Bézay, N., et al.) 07.04.2023, published “Safety and immunogenicity of a novel multivalent OspA-based vaccine candidate against Lyme borreliosis: a randomised, phase 1 study in healthy adults.”
This study investigates a Lyme borreliosis vaccine candidate (VLA15) to prevent an infection with pathogenic Borrelia spp which in prevalent in North America. Lyme borreliosis can potentially lead to long-term complications and so developing a vaccine that could prevent such serious effects would be life changing. Trials were performed on a randomized group of eligible healthy adults between 18 and 40 years old. Adverse reactions to the vaccine ranged from mild to moderate (please read the article for more details of adverse reactions). The results of the trials were that the VLA15 vaccine against Lyme borreliosis was safe and immunogenic, meaning it was able to produce an immune response, and “paves the way to further clinical development.”

Bartonella DNA in Flies, Lone Star Ticks, & a Human with Concurrent Lyme

July 19, 2023

The Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases Journal (Clark K. L. & Nunez J. V.) 07.10.2023, published “Detection of Bartonella DNA in Yellow Flies, Lone Star Ticks, and a Human Patient with Concurrent Evidence of Borrelia burgdorferi Infection in Northeast Florida, USA.” This study investigates cases of Bartonella species and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) in yellow flies in northeast Florida that led to the discovery of cases of Bartonella and Bbsl in lone star ticks and one human patient.
By sampling the flies, ticks, and one human patient in Florida, who had experienced chronic relapsing and remitting symptoms for over a decade, and detecting Bartonella and Bbsl, this study strengthens the understudy of these vectors in the southern United States, but more studies of these vectors in these hosts are needed.

Real-Time Environmental Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Aerosols

July 17, 2023

The Nature Communications Journal (Puthussery J. V., et al.) 07.10.2023, published “Real-Time Environmental Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Aerosols.” This study focuses on the use of virus aerosol detection to test the air to detect the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which is spread through droplets in the air, expelled from people when they cough, sneeze, breathe, and speak.

Deer Tick Nymphs & Repellents

July 17, 2023

Photo of a person spraying their clothing with tick repellent

Parasites Vectors (Burtis, J.C., et al.) 7.10.23, published “Comparison of in vitro and in vivo repellency bioassay methods for Ixodes scapularis nymphs.” In vitro bioassay methods are most commonly used for the testing of new potential unregistered active ingredients. This study aimed to compare both in vitro (use of artificial containers) and in vivo (human subject) methods.

ANA in Fibromyalgia Associated with Borrelia-specific T Lymphocytes

July 13, 2023

Reporting in Current Rheumatoligical Review (Puri, B.K. et al) 6.5.23, has indicated that infection by genus Borrelia may be associated with antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in a a small number of cases, so researchers decided to test the hypothesis that fibromyalgia patients who are ANA positive will show evidence of Borrelia specific T lymphocyte activity more than those who are seronegative. Twenty-seven fibromyalgia patients who fit the American College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria were used in the study.

The Use of Natural Bioactive Nutraceuticals in the Management of Tick-Borne Illnesses

July 13, 2023

The Microorganisms Journal (Shor S. M., et al.) 07.05.2023, published “The Use of Natural Bioactive Nutraceuticals in the Management of Tick-Borne Illnesses.”
This study explores the use of bioactive phytochemicals, nutraceuticals, and micronutrients (dietary supplements) that could help with the management of persistent cases of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases (Borrelia burgdorferi, Babesia, and Bartonella). Normally, antibiotics are prescribed to treat patients with acute Lyme disease, but there is evidence that using antibiotics “may leave up to 15–35% of people with chronic symptoms and health issues” when used to treat Lyme disease. Recent studies have shown that different dietary supplements can be used on patients with Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses to help decrease the long-term use of antibiotics, and therefore possibly decrease the chronic symptoms and health issues that may come along with it.