LymeX Diagnostics Prize: 6 Teams Advance to Phase 3
The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, through a fiscal sponsorship with the Digital Harbor Foundation has launched Phase 3 of the LymeX Diagnostics Prize.
The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, through a fiscal sponsorship with the Digital Harbor Foundation has launched Phase 3 of the LymeX Diagnostics Prize.
Louisiana State University announced (03.25.2024) that they have received the largest National Science Foundation Partnership for Innovation (NSF PFI) grant ever awarded to LSU, $550,000. With this grant, LSU Chemical Engineering (ChE) Professor Kerry Dooley, LSU (ChE) Department Chair and Professor Mike Benton, and LSU Department of Biological Sciences (Biol. Sci.) Professor Roger Laine will continue their work on nootkatone, an FDA-approved repellent to ticks and insects. Nootkatone is an organic compound found in grapefruit skin and Alaska yellow cedar trees that has already been shown to be safer and more effective than existing commercial tick & insect repellents. The problem is that this compound is currently too expensive to synthesize for consumer use.
WIRED’s staff writer, Emily Mullin (03.15.2024) published, “A Pill That Kills Ticks Is a Promising New Weapon Against Lyme Disease.” A pill is currently in development for humans by Tarsus Pharmaceuticals that could provide protection against the tick-borne disease for several weeks after ingestion. The company announced results from a small, early-stage trial in showing that ticks were killed on humans within 24 hours of taking the drug. And these tick-killing effects lasted up to 30 days.
International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Courville, J.M., et al.) 01.21.2024, published, “Obstetrical and neonatal outcomes in women with gestational Lyme disease.” In this study, researchers examined the effects of gestational Lyme disease on obstetrical and neonatal outcomes by conducting a retrospective cohort study of pregnant patients. They utilized data of women admitted to the hospital between 2016 and 2019 from the Healthcare Cost & Utilization Project National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample from the US.
New York Post’s, Brooke Steinberg, 03.07.24, published online, “Tick season is kicking off early this year — experts warn of Lyme disease risk.” Steinberg states that many northern states (NH, MN, NY) in the US are reporting tick activity earlier that usual this year, and warn that it could be a high risk year for ticks and tick-borne diseases. Mild winter temperatures are proposed as being responsible for this earlier than usual tick activity.
Northeastern Global News (Cynthia McCormick Hibbert, 02.28.24) published “Experimental antibiotic treatment for Lyme heads for human safety trials.” Human safety trials are scheduled to begin for hygromycin A this spring in Australia. Hygromycin A is a novel antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease developed by Northeastern professor Kim Lewis. So far, hygromycin A has been found to clear Lyme spirochete infections in mice without any toxicity to animals.
Rx Lyme editor, Stanley Lang, MD, 12.29.2023 posted, “How does sleep affect Lyme disease.” In this article, Dr. Lang discusses how those with chronic Lyme symptoms often experience disorders in sleep. He explains how many forms of sleep disruption can exacerbate symptoms of Lyme disease and demonstrates how important adequate sleep is to supporting the immune system in fighting the infection. He stresses the significance of both the quality and quantity of sleep that can effect the course of Lyme illness, and then presents strategies to improve sleep for patients suffering from Lyme disease, including diet, exercise, mindfulness, and stress reduction.
Health.mil (Stidham, R.A., et al.) 01.01.2024, published, “Brief Report: The Four Most Frequently Diagnosed Vector-borne Diseases Among Service Member and Non-Service Member Beneficiaries in the Geographic Combatant Commands, 2010–2022.” Confirmed, probable, and suspect cases of Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF), malaria, and dengue fever were identified in 5,199 service members and non-service member beneficiaries from January 2010 through December 31, 2022
Dr. Daniel Cameron has reviewed the article “Lyme Borreliosis as a Trigger for Autoimmune Disease,” in his Lyme Disease Science Blog, “Lyme Disease Triggers Autoimmune Disease – Lupus.” The case report describes a 35-year-old woman who developed pain in the joints of her hand, low-grade fevers, weakness, fatigue, and skin rashes on her hands and trunk following an insect bite. She was diagnosed with Lyme disease (positive by western blot) and treated with a 28-day course of doxycycline.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (Kugeler, k.J., et al. ) 02.15.2024, published “Surveillance for Lyme Disease After Implementation of a Revised Case Definition — United States, 2022.” This report describes the impact of the revised surveillance case definition in 2022. A total of 62,551 Lyme cases were reported to the CDC in 2022. This number, compared to an annual average of 37,118 cases reported from 2017-2019, was a 69% increase in case numbers. There was a 73% increase in high-incidence jurisdictions and a 10% increase in low-incidence jurisdictions.
LDA Doctor Referral System © Terms & Conditions and Guidelines
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About LDA DOCTOR REFERRAL SYSTEM ©
Welcome to the Lyme Disease Association’s LDA Doctor Referral System ©. LDA made updates and enhancements to its prior system and has launched a new site to provide patients with information about doctors, other practitioners, testing labs, and pharmacies that are knowledgeable about chronic Lyme disease and often about many other tick-borne diseases (TBD). Many of the doctors listed are often referred to as Lyme Literate Physicians/Doctors (LLMD). Tens of thousands of patients have successfully used the prior LDA system to locate Lyme and TBD resources.
Terms & Conditions and Guidelines
Because there is a negative political climate surrounding Lyme disease, many LLMDs do not want their names posted outright on the internet. LDA has tried to balance the doctors’ wishes with patients’ need to find a doctor. This new system is a result of that compromise and therefore:
Because of the limited number of physicians treating chronic Lyme disease nationwide, some states, and in some instances, entire regions, may not have any treating physicians who follow flexible treating approaches such as those in the International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) Guidelines, Evidence Assessments and Guideline Recommendations in Lyme Disease: The Clinical Management of Known Tick Bites, Erythema Migrans Rashes and Persistent Disease. In the event that the LDA Doctor Referral System © contains no Lyme or TBD resource listings in a given area, the closest possible option(s) will populate based on the location entered and specaialty/ies selected. The LDA appreciates any changes in provider information that you may find and make us aware of so we can investigate.
Some providers may not specifically treat Lyme and TBD but see patients who have symptoms associated with Lyme and TBD to address those specific symptoms. Contact the provider to confirm.
It is your responsibility to contact the provider’s office to confirm the current address, directions, nature of services provided, and all other provider information before you make an appointment.
DISCLAIMER: The Lyme Disease Association, Inc. provides referrals to health care providers who treat Lyme disease, and often other TBD, as a courtesy to those seeking Lyme Literate Physicians (LLMD). However, some of the providers included do not specifically treat Lyme and TBD but see patients who have symptoms associated with Lyme and TBD to address those specific symptoms. We do not evaluate the professional competence or qualifications of health care providers on our referral list or the costs of services provided. Accordingly, the LDA neither warrants nor endorses the health care providers contained on this list nor the quality of care you will receive from those providers. We do not make recommendations, only referrals. LDA does not receive any monies from physicians to be included on this list nor does LDA provide any monies to physicians. Because of the limited number of physicians treating chronic Lyme disease nationwide, some states, and in some instances, entire regions, may not have any treating physicians who follow flexible treating approaches such as those in the International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) Guidelines: Evidence Assessments and Guideline Recommendations in Lyme Disease: The Clinical Management of Known Tick Bites, Erythema Migrans Rashes and Persistent Disease. In the event that the Doctor Referral System contains no Lyme or TBD resource listings in a given area, the closest possible option(s) will populate based on the zip code entered and category/ies selected. The LDA appreciates any changes in provider information that you may find and make us aware of.
LDA does not accept or reply to any comments on:
We cannot guarantee that the information provided will be timely and accurate or that physicians on the list are accepting new patients, or that they accept insurance. The selection of a physician should be made by you after careful consideration. There are two approaches in the treatment of Lyme disease. Our list contains physicians who generally follow more flexible treatment approaches than those advocated by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). LDA is not responsible for incorrect information on the website. BEFORE DOCTOR VISIT: Please contact the physicians’ offices directly to confirm their current address, directions, and any other necessary information before scheduling an appointment. Do not rely only on the maps provided on this site. The maps on LDA’s Doctor Referral System are for informational purposes and provide an approximate locality of the listing based on the addresses we are provided with at the time of site updates. Practitioners often relocate and addresses can change. Notification of changes in listed information can be updated on our Dr. Referral Contact Form. Thank you, Lyme Disease Association, Inc. (LDA)
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