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Motta M, Hwang J, Stecula D. What Goes Down Must Come Up? Pandemic- Related Misinformation Search Behavior During an Unplanned Facebook Outage. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2024; 39:2041-2052. [PMID: 37674255 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2254583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Pundits and scholars alike suspect that Facebook plays a role in not only exposing Americans to misinformation, but also encouraging them to seek out misinformation from other sources. Whether or not Facebook is responsible for stimulating misinformation search beyond the social networking site, however, is an open question. If Facebook encourages misinformation search behavior, we might expect search volume on other websites to simultaneously decrease when web traffic to Facebook is comparatively low. Here, we exploit a naturally-occurring and exogenous interruption to Facebook's service to study the site's impact on misinformation search. Difference-in-difference analyses reveal that minute-by-minute Google searches for pandemic misinformation (e.g., unproven COVID-19 remedies, vaccine conspiracy theories) tended to increase during the outage period, in comparison to a typical day (and vs. a placebo). These findings are less consistent with views that the site stimulates misinformation search, and more consistent with a steady and transferable demand for health misinformation. Our results showcase the importance of examining not only the supply side of misinformation, but also the demand side.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt Motta
- Department of Health Law, Policy, & Management, Boston University School of Public Health
| | - Juwon Hwang
- School of Media & Strategic Communications, Oklahoma State University
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2
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Xu Y, Yang Z, Wang T, Hu L, Jiao S, Zhou J, Dai T, Feng Z, Li S, Meng Q. From molecular subgroups to molecular targeted therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: A bioinformatics approach. Heliyon 2024; 10:e35774. [PMID: 39220908 PMCID: PMC11365346 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
1Background Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease with multiple unidentified pathogenic factors. The inconsistency between molecular subgroups poses challenges for early diagnosis and personalized treatment strategies. In this study, we aimed to accurately distinguish RA patients at the transcriptome level using bioinformatics methods. 2Methods We collected a total of 362 transcriptome datasets from RA patients in three independent samples from the GEO database. Consensus clustering was performed to identify molecular subgroups, and clinical features were assessed. Differential analysis was employed to annotate the biological functions of specifically upregulated genes between subgroups. 3Results Based on consensus clustering of RA samples, we identified three robust molecular subgroups, with Subgroup III representing the high-risk subgroup and Subgroup II exhibiting a milder phenotype, possibly associated with relatively higher levels of autophagic ability. Subgroup I showed biological functions mainly related to viral infections, cellular metabolism, protein synthesis, and inflammatory responses. Subgroup II involved autophagy of mitochondria and organelles, protein localization, and organelle disassembly pathways, suggesting heterogeneity in the autophagy process of mitochondria that may play a protective role in inflammatory diseases. Subgroup III represented a high-risk subgroup with pathological processes including abnormal amyloid precursor protein activation, promotion of inflammatory response, and cell proliferation. 4Conclusion The classification of the RA dataset revealed pathological heterogeneity among different subgroups, providing new insights and a basis for understanding the molecular mechanisms of RA, identifying potential therapeutic targets, and developing personalized treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Xu
- Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, China
- Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital Affiliated of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Zhenyu Yang
- Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
- Xuzhou New Health Hospital, North Hospital of Xuzhou Cancer Hospital, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Tengyan Wang
- Guizhou Hospital of The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Liqiong Hu
- Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital Affiliated of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Songsong Jiao
- Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jiangfei Zhou
- Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Tianming Dai
- Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital Affiliated of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Zhencheng Feng
- Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital Affiliated of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Siming Li
- Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, China
- Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital Affiliated of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Qinqqi Meng
- Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital Affiliated of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
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Lutaud R, Verger P, Peretti-Watel P, Eldin C. When the patient is making the (wrong?) diagnosis: a biographical approach to patients consulting for presumed Lyme disease. Fam Pract 2024; 41:534-542. [PMID: 36267023 PMCID: PMC9619758 DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmac116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Media coverage of Lyme disease (LD) has led to an increase in consultations for presumed LD in Europe. However, LD is confirmed in only 10%-20% of patients, with a significant number remaining in a diagnostic dead-end. OBJECTIVES To reach a deeper understanding of how patients themselves contribute to the diagnostic process. To describe the genesis of the LD hypothesis in care pathways. METHODS In 2019, 30 patients from a prospective cohort consulting in the infectious diseases department at University Hospital in Marseille for presumed LD were recruited for semistructured interviews. The inclusion criteria were: suffering from subjective symptoms for 6 months, no clinical or paraclinical argument suggesting current LD. The patients' medical trajectories were collected using a biographical approach. RESULTS The diagnosis of LD was primarily triggered by identification with personal testimonies found on the Internet. Most of patients were leading their own diagnostic investigation. The majority of participants were convinced they had LD despite the lack of medical evidence and the scepticism of their referring GP. CONCLUSION GPs should first systematically explore patients' aetiologic representations in order to improve adherence to the diagnosis especially in the management of medically unexplained symptoms. Long COVID-19 syndrome challenge offers an opportunity to promote active patient involvement in diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Lutaud
- Department of General Practice, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
- UMR UMR 7268 ADES, EFS, CNRS, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
- ORS PACA, Observatoire régional de la santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Marseille, France
| | - Pierre Verger
- ORS PACA, Observatoire régional de la santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Marseille, France
| | | | - Carole Eldin
- UMR UVE, Aix Marseille University, IRD, Inserm, Marseille, France
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Oliver G, Yap VMZ, Chalder T, Oliver VL, Gibney KB, Dharan A, Wilson SJ, Kanaan RAA. The challenges of living with Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks (DSCATT) - A qualitative study. Aust N Z J Public Health 2024; 48:100163. [PMID: 38945055 DOI: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2024.100163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We sought to explore the lived experience of people with Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks (DSCATT) to inform the development of a potential treatment intervention. METHODS We conducted one-to-one in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 13 people living in Australia affected by DSCATT. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS Although participants attributed the origin of their illness to tick bites, not all were adamant they had Lyme disease. Negative experiences in conventional healthcare were marked and were reported to exacerbate the impact of the illness and affect mental health. Further, these negative experiences propelled participants to seek unapproved treatments (by Australian standards). The desire for the illness to be acknowledged and causative agents identified was pronounced among the participant group. CONCLUSIONS Individuals with DSCATT experience significant challenges amid a contentious healthcare landscape surrounding chronic symptoms attributed to ticks in Australia. Our findings suggest the need for empathetic, supportive and patient-centred treatments for this cohort. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH DSCATT results in a considerable burden across multiple domains for those affected. Negative experiences with healthcare exacerbate the suffering of people with DSCATT in Australia. New approaches that acknowledge the illness experience of people with DSCATT, alongside evidence-based treatments that encompass biopsychosocial models of care, are needed to tackle this debilitating condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina Oliver
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia.
| | - Valerie M Z Yap
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
| | - Trudie Chalder
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria L Oliver
- Nossal Institute for Global Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Katherine B Gibney
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Anita Dharan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Sarah J Wilson
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; Department of Medicine, Epilepsy Research Centre, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
| | - Richard A A Kanaan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
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Gonzalez-Ponce F, Ramirez-Villafaña M, Gomez-Ramirez EE, Saldaña-Cruz AM, Gallardo-Moya SG, Rodriguez-Jimenez NA, Jacobo-Cuevas H, Nava-Valdivia CA, Avalos-Salgado FA, Totsuka-Sutto S, Cardona-Muñoz EG, Valdivia-Tangarife ER. Role of Myostatin in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Review of the Clinical Impact. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:1085. [PMID: 38893612 PMCID: PMC11171688 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14111085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects synovial joints and that frequently involves extra-articular organs. A multiplicity of interleukins (IL) participates in the pathogenesis of RA, including IL-6, IL-1β, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α; immune cells such as monocytes, T and B lymphocytes, and macrophages; and auto-antibodies, mainly rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs). Skeletal muscle is also involved in RA, with many patients developing muscle wasting and sarcopenia. Several mechanisms are involved in the myopenia observed in RA, and one of them includes the effects of some interleukins and myokines on myocytes. Myostatin is a myokine member of the TGF-β superfamily; the overproduction of myostatin acts as a negative regulator of growth and differentiates the muscle fibers, limiting their number and size. Recent studies have identified abnormalities in the serum myostatin levels of RA patients, and these have been found to be associated with muscle wasting and other manifestations of severe RA. This review analyzes recent information regarding the relationship between myostatin levels and clinical manifestations of RA and the relevance of myostatin as a therapeutic target for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola Gonzalez-Ponce
- Instituto de Terapeutica Experimental y Clínica, Programa de Doctorado en Farmacología, Departamento de Fisiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico; (F.G.-P.); (M.R.-V.); (E.E.G.-R.); (A.M.S.-C.); (N.A.R.-J.); (S.T.-S.); (E.G.C.-M.)
| | - Melissa Ramirez-Villafaña
- Instituto de Terapeutica Experimental y Clínica, Programa de Doctorado en Farmacología, Departamento de Fisiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico; (F.G.-P.); (M.R.-V.); (E.E.G.-R.); (A.M.S.-C.); (N.A.R.-J.); (S.T.-S.); (E.G.C.-M.)
| | - Eli Efrain Gomez-Ramirez
- Instituto de Terapeutica Experimental y Clínica, Programa de Doctorado en Farmacología, Departamento de Fisiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico; (F.G.-P.); (M.R.-V.); (E.E.G.-R.); (A.M.S.-C.); (N.A.R.-J.); (S.T.-S.); (E.G.C.-M.)
| | - Ana Miriam Saldaña-Cruz
- Instituto de Terapeutica Experimental y Clínica, Programa de Doctorado en Farmacología, Departamento de Fisiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico; (F.G.-P.); (M.R.-V.); (E.E.G.-R.); (A.M.S.-C.); (N.A.R.-J.); (S.T.-S.); (E.G.C.-M.)
| | - Sergio Gabriel Gallardo-Moya
- Programa de Doctorado en Farmacología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS), Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico; (S.G.G.-M.); (F.A.A.-S.)
| | - Norma Alejandra Rodriguez-Jimenez
- Instituto de Terapeutica Experimental y Clínica, Programa de Doctorado en Farmacología, Departamento de Fisiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico; (F.G.-P.); (M.R.-V.); (E.E.G.-R.); (A.M.S.-C.); (N.A.R.-J.); (S.T.-S.); (E.G.C.-M.)
| | - Heriberto Jacobo-Cuevas
- Programa de Postdoctorado, Departamento de Psicología Básica, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico;
| | - Cesar Arturo Nava-Valdivia
- Departamento de Microbiología y Patología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico;
| | - Felipe Alexis Avalos-Salgado
- Programa de Doctorado en Farmacología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud (CUCS), Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico; (S.G.G.-M.); (F.A.A.-S.)
| | - Sylvia Totsuka-Sutto
- Instituto de Terapeutica Experimental y Clínica, Programa de Doctorado en Farmacología, Departamento de Fisiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico; (F.G.-P.); (M.R.-V.); (E.E.G.-R.); (A.M.S.-C.); (N.A.R.-J.); (S.T.-S.); (E.G.C.-M.)
| | - Ernesto German Cardona-Muñoz
- Instituto de Terapeutica Experimental y Clínica, Programa de Doctorado en Farmacología, Departamento de Fisiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico; (F.G.-P.); (M.R.-V.); (E.E.G.-R.); (A.M.S.-C.); (N.A.R.-J.); (S.T.-S.); (E.G.C.-M.)
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Shere-Wolfe KD, George N, Al Kibria GM, Silk R, Alexander CS. A Multimodal Ayurveda and Mind-Body Therapeutic Intervention for Chronic Symptoms Attributed to a Postinfectious Syndrome: A Pilot Study. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE 2024; 30:450-458. [PMID: 37844086 DOI: 10.1089/jicm.2023.0234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Evaluate feasibility and impact of a multimodal integrative therapeutic intervention in patients presenting with chronic symptoms attributed to a postinfectious syndrome. Design: This was a prospective longitudinal single-center pilot study conducted from January 2019 to December 2020. Setting/Location: University of Maryland Lyme Program, Baltimore Maryland. Subjects: Persons presenting for Lyme evaluation for symptoms attributed to Lyme disease. Interventions: Participants attended two 1-h individual instructional sessions consisting of Ayurveda-based dietary intervention and breath-coordinated mind-body practice to be used for home practice. Outcome measures: Standard measures of impact were obtained at baseline, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months using the following validated survey instruments: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), PROMIS Global Health v1.2 (GH), and PROMIS 29 v2.0 survey. Results: From 216 patients presenting for Lyme evaluation, 19 participants enrolled with 84% completing the study (N = 16). Baseline PROMIS GH scores consisting of general Physical Health (GPH) and general Mental Health (GMH) scores were lower in the study population than in the general U.S. population. PROMIS 29 scores were higher for fatigue, anxiety, and pain than those in the general U.S. population. Over 12-month period, improvement in both the GPH and GMH was 6.09 (confidence interval [95% CI] = 2.71-9.46; p < 0.001) and 4.65 (95% CI = 1.50-7.80; p = 0.004), respectively. PROMIS 29 scores showed the greatest improvement in fatigue at -7.91 (95% CI = -12.34 to -3.48; p < 0.001), pain interference -5.08 (95% CI = -9.20 to -0.96; p = 0.016), and ability to participate in social roles and activities 7.48 (95% CI = 3.21-11.75; p = 0.001) and least with depression -1.82 (95% CI = -4.74 to 1.10; p = 0.223). Employment status had significant effects on almost all outcome scores. Postinfectious state was associated with improvement in anxiety and PSS scores. Conclusions: A multimodal Ayurvedic and breath-coordinated mind-body therapeutic intervention is feasible and a potential nonpharmacologic therapeutic option for persons presenting with pain, stress, fatigue, physical dysfunction, and sleep disturbance attributed to a postinfectious syndrome. Further research is needed to determine efficacy in this population and in other groups with similar symptom complexes due to postinfectious syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalpana D Shere-Wolfe
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nivya George
- Department of Biostatistics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Gulam Muhammed Al Kibria
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rachel Silk
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Human Virology, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Carla S Alexander
- Clinical Care and Research Division, Institute of Human Virology, Baltimore, MD, USA
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7
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Williams MT, Zhang Y, Pulse ME, Berg RE, Allen MS. Suppression of host humoral immunity by Borrelia burgdorferi varies over the course of infection. Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0001824. [PMID: 38514468 PMCID: PMC11003232 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00018-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochetal agent of Lyme disease, utilizes a variety of strategies to evade and suppress the host immune response, which enables it to chronically persist in the host. The resulting immune response is characterized by unusually strong IgM production and a lack of long-term protective immunity. Previous studies in mice have shown that infection with B. burgdorferi also broadly suppresses host antibody responses against unrelated antigens. Here, we show that mice infected with B. burgdorferi and concomitantly immunized with recombinant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein had an abrogated antibody response to the immunization. To further define how long this humoral immune suppression lasts, mice were immunized at 2, 4, and 6 weeks post-infection. Suppression of host antibody production against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein peaked at 2 weeks post-infection but continued for all timepoints measured. Antibody responses against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were also assessed following antibiotic treatment to determine whether this immune suppression persists or resolves following clearance of B. burgdorferi. Host antibody production against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein returned to baseline following antibiotic treatment; however, anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM remained high, comparable to levels found in B. burgdorferi-infected but untreated mice. Thus, our data demonstrate restored IgG responses following antibiotic treatment but persistently elevated IgM levels, indicating lingering effects of B. burgdorferi infection on the immune system following treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan T. Williams
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
- The Tick-Borne Disease Research Laboratory, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
- The Tick-Borne Disease Research Laboratory, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - Mark E. Pulse
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - Rance E. Berg
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - Michael S. Allen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
- The Tick-Borne Disease Research Laboratory, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
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Sloupenska K, Koubkova B, Horak P, Dolezilkova J, Hutyrova B, Racansky M, Miklusova M, Mares J, Raska M, Krupka M. Antigenicity and immunogenicity of different morphological forms of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato spirochetes. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4014. [PMID: 38369537 PMCID: PMC10874929 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54505-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is a species complex of pleomorphic spirochetes, including species that cause Lyme disease (LD) in humans. In addition to classic spiral forms, these bacteria are capable of creating morphological forms referred to as round bodies and aggregates. The subject of discussion is their possible contribution to the persistence of infection or post-infection symptoms in LD. This study investigates the immunological properties of these forms by monitoring reactivity with early (n = 30) and late stage (n = 30) LD patient sera and evaluating the immune response induced by vaccination of mice. In patient sera, we found a quantitative difference in reactivity with individual morphotypes, when aggregates were recognized most intensively, but the difference was statistically significant in only half of the tested strains. In post-vaccination mouse sera, we observed a statistically significant higher reactivity with antigens p83 and p25 (OspC) in mice vaccinated with aggregates compared to mice vaccinated with spiral forms. The importance of the particulate nature of the antigen for the induction of a Th1-directed response has also been demonstrated. In any of morphological forms, the possibility of inducing antibodies cross-reacting with human nuclear and myositis specific/associated autoantigens was not confirmed by vaccination of mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristyna Sloupenska
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Hnevotinska 3, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Koubkova
- Department of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Olomouc, Zdravotniku 248/7, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Horak
- Third Department of Internal Medicine-Nephrology, Rheumatology and Endocrinology, University Hospital Olomouc, Zdravotniku 248/7, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Third Department of Internal Medicine-Nephrology, Rheumatology and Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Hnevotinska 3, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Dolezilkova
- Laboratory of Medical Parasitology and Zoology, Public Health Institute Ostrava, Partyzanske Namesti 2633/7, Moravska Ostrava, 702 00, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Beata Hutyrova
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Hnevotinska 3, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Department of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Olomouc, Zdravotniku 248/7, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Mojmir Racansky
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Hnevotinska 3, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Department of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Olomouc, Zdravotniku 248/7, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Miklusova
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Olomouc, Zdravotniku 248/7, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Mares
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Olomouc, Zdravotniku 248/7, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Hnevotinska 3, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Raska
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Hnevotinska 3, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Department of Immunology, University Hospital Olomouc, Zdravotniku 248/7, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Krupka
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Hnevotinska 3, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
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Birmingham SW, Saeed L, Thurlow CM, Vilfort K, Pillay A, Rojek NW, Doan LT, Lee BA. Round Bodies Detected by Treponema pallidum Immunohistochemical Stain in Two Cases of Cutaneous Syphilitic Gummata. Am J Dermatopathol 2024; 46:31-35. [PMID: 37982491 DOI: 10.1097/dad.0000000000002583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Tertiary syphilis may present a diagnostic challenge due to negative nontreponemal serologies in up to 30% of cases and frequent lack of identifiable spirochetes on histopathology or other direct detection tests. We report 2 cases of round bodies staining with Treponema pallidum immunohistochemistry by light microscopy in biopsies from cutaneous syphilitic gummata. In 1 case, the finding was validated 3 times by 2 independent laboratories; in the other case, T. pallidum was detected by polymerase chain reaction in the biopsy sample. Spirochete round bodies have previously been reported in the setting of electron microscopy and fluorography, but to the best of our knowledge, have not been reported by light microscopy in a routine skin biopsy. Although the clinical implications are unclear, this may represent a helpful new paradigm for the diagnosis of tertiary syphilis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lina Saeed
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA; and
| | - Charles M Thurlow
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Kendra Vilfort
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Allan Pillay
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Nathan W Rojek
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA; and
| | - Linda T Doan
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA; and
| | - Bonnie A Lee
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA; and
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10
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Rich SM, Siegel EL, Xu G. What a Tick Can Tell a Doctor: Using the Human-Biting Tick in the Clinical Management of Tick-Borne Disease. J Clin Med 2023; 12:6522. [PMID: 37892661 PMCID: PMC10607280 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12206522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
With expanding concern about ticks, there is a general sense of uncertainty about the diagnosis and treatment of tick-borne diseases. The diagnosis process is often based on clinical judgment in conjunction with laboratory testing and can be pathogen specific. Treatments may require disease-dependent approaches, and co-infections complicate or increase the severity of the clinical picture. Measuring exposure indices in the tick has become popular among providers and their patients, though this practice is not universally understood, and certain public health agencies have voiced concerns regarding interpretation and rigor of testing. As many providers subscribe to or recommend these services to aid in pretest risk and exposure assessments, this work sought to clarify the role of pathogen testing human-biting ticks as a complement to the diagnostic pipeline and raises points that must be addressed through future research and interdisciplinary conversation. Future work is needed to develop quality control oversight for tick testing laboratories. Studies on the integration of tick testing with human cases to see how these services affect health outcomes are also needed. Alongside these, improvements in the quality and availability of diagnostics are of critical importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen M. Rich
- Laboratory of Medical Zoology, Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01002, USA; (E.L.S.); (G.X.)
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11
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Alnashwan R, O'Riordan A, Sorensen H. Multiple-Perspective Data-Driven Analysis of Online Health Communities. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2723. [PMID: 37893797 PMCID: PMC10606133 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11202723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The growth of online health communities and socially generated health-related content has the potential to provide considerable value for patients and healthcare providers alike. For example, members of the public can acquire medical knowledge and interact with others online. However, the volume of information-and the consequent 'noise' associated with large data volumes-can create difficulties for users. In this paper, we present a data-driven approach to better understand these data from multiple stakeholder perspectives. We utilise three techniques-sentiment analysis, content analysis, and topic analysis-to analyse user-generated medical content related to Lyme disease. We use a supervised feature-based model to identify sentiments, content analysis to identify concepts that predominate, and latent Dirichlet allocation strategy as an unsupervised generative model to identify topics represented in the discourse. We validate that applying three different analytic methods highlights differing aspects of the information different stakeholders will be interested in based on the goals of different stakeholders, expert opinion, and comparison with patient information leaflets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana Alnashwan
- Department of Information Technology, College of Computer and Information Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adrian O'Riordan
- School of Computer Science and Information Technology, University College Cork, T12 K8AF Cork, Ireland
| | - Humphrey Sorensen
- School of Computer Science and Information Technology, University College Cork, T12 K8AF Cork, Ireland
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12
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Hernández SA, Ogrinc K, Korva M, Kastrin A, Bogovič P, Rojko T, Kelley KW, Weis JJ, Strle F, Strle K. Association of Persistent Symptoms after Lyme Neuroborreliosis and Increased Levels of Interferon-α in Blood. Emerg Infect Dis 2023; 29:1091-1101. [PMID: 37209716 PMCID: PMC10202885 DOI: 10.3201/eid2906.221685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients who have Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) might experience lingering symptoms that persist despite antibiotic drug therapy. We tested whether those symptoms are caused by maladaptive immune responses by measuring 20 immune mediators in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 79 LNB patients followed for 1 year. At study entry, most mediators were highly concentrated in CSF, the site of the infection. Those responses resolved with antibiotic therapy, and associations between CSF cytokines and signs and symptoms of LNB were no longer observed. In contrast, subjective symptoms that persisted after use of antibiotics were associated with increased levels of serum interferon-α (IFN-α), which were already observed at study entry, and remained increased at each subsequent timepoint. Highest IFN-α levels corresponded with severe disease. Although the infection serves as the initial trigger, sequelae after antibiotic therapy are associated with unremitting systemic IFN-α levels, consistent with the pathogenic role of this cytokine in interferonopathies in other conditions.
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13
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Stelma FF, Berende A, Ter Hofstede H, Vrijmoeth HD, Vos F, Kullberg BJ. Classical Borrelia Serology Does Not Aid in the Diagnosis of Persistent Symptoms Attributed to Lyme Borreliosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13051134. [PMID: 37240779 DOI: 10.3390/life13051134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis is based on two-tier testing using an ELISA and Western blot. About 5-10% of patients report persistent symptoms of unknown etiology after treatment, resulting in substantial difficulties in further diagnostic workup. This paper presents a study aimed at determining whether serology can differentiate between patients with persistent symptoms attributed to Lyme and other patients with Lyme borreliosis. METHODS A retrospective cohort study included 162 samples from four subgroups: patients with persistent symptoms of Lyme (PSL), early Lyme borreliosis with erythema migrans (EM), patients tested in a general practitioner setting (GP), and healthy controls (HC). ELISA, Western blots, and multiplex assays from different manufacturers were used to determine inter-test variations in PSL and to compare reactivity against Borrelia-specific antigens among the groups. RESULTS In comparing the IgG and IgM reactivity by Western blot, IgG was more often positive in the PSL group than in the GP group. The individual antigen reactivity was similar between the PSL and EM or GP groups. Inter-test agreement among the manufacturers was variable, and agreement was higher for IgG testing compared to IgM. CONCLUSIONS Serological testing is unable to define the subgroup of patients with persistent symptoms attributed to Lyme borreliosis. Additionally, the current two-tier testing protocol shows a large variance among different manufacturers in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Foekje F Stelma
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Anneleen Berende
- Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Hadewych Ter Hofstede
- Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Hedwig D Vrijmoeth
- Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Fidel Vos
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bart-Jan Kullberg
- Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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14
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Chung MK, Caboni M, Strandwitz P, D'Onofrio A, Lewis K, Patel CJ. Systematic comparisons between Lyme disease and post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome in the U.S. with administrative claims data. EBioMedicine 2023; 90:104524. [PMID: 36958992 PMCID: PMC10114153 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) is used to describe Lyme disease patients who have the infection cleared by antibiotic but then experienced persisting symptoms of pain, fatigue, or cognitive impairment. Currently, little is known about the cause or epidemiology of PTLDS. METHODS We conducted a data-driven study with a large nationwide administrative dataset, which consists of more than 98 billion billing and 1.4 billion prescription records between 2008 and 2016, to identify unique aspects of PTLDS that could have diagnostic and etiologic values. We defined PTLDS based on its symptomatology and compared the demographic, longitudinal changes of comorbidity, and antibiotic prescriptions between patients who have Lyme with absence of prolonged symptoms (APS) and PTLDS. FINDINGS The age and temporal distributions were similar between Lyme APS and PTLDS. The PTLDS-to-Lyme APS case ratio was 3.42%. The co-occurrence of 3 out of 19 chronic conditions were significantly higher in PTLDS versus Lyme APS-odds ratio and 95% CI for anemia, hyperlipidemia, and osteoarthrosis were 1.46 (1.11-1.92), 1.39 (1.15-1.68), and 1.62 (1.23-2.12) respectively. We did not find significant differences between PTLDS and Lyme APS for the number of types of antibiotics prescribed (incidence rate ratio = 1.009, p = 0.90) and for the prescription of each of the five antibiotics (FDR adjusted p values 0.72-0.95). INTERPRETATION PTLDS cases have more codes corresponding to anemia, hyperlipidemia, and osteoarthrosis compared to Lyme APS. Our finding of hyperlipidemia is consistent with a dysregulation of fat metabolism reported by other researchers, and further investigation should be conducted to understand the potential biological relationship between the two. FUNDING Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, Global Lyme Alliance, and the Pazala Foundation; National Institutes of Health R01ES032470.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Kim Lewis
- Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
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15
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Jin L, Jiang BG, Yin Y, Guo J, Jiang JF, Qi X, Crispell G, Karim S, Cao WC, Lai R. Interference with LTβR signaling by tick saliva facilitates transmission of Lyme disease spirochetes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2208274119. [PMID: 36383602 PMCID: PMC9704693 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2208274119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme spirochetes have coevolved with ticks to optimize transmission to hosts using tick salivary molecules (TSMs) to counteract host defenses. TSMs modulate various molecular events at the tick-host interface. Lymphotoxin-beta receptor (LTβR) is a vital immune receptor and plays protective roles in host immunity against microbial infections. We found that Ltbr knockout mice were more susceptible to Lyme disease spirochetes, suggesting the involvement of LTβR signaling in tick-borne Borrelia infection. Further investigation showed that a 15-kDa TSM protein from Ixodes persulcatus (I. persulcatus salivary protein; IpSAP) functioned as an immunosuppressant to facilitate the transmission and infection of Lyme disease spirochetes. IpSAP directly interacts with LTβR to block its activation, thus inhibiting the downstream signaling and consequently suppressing immunity. IpSAP immunization provided mice with significant protection against I. persulcatus-mediated Borrelia garinii infection. Notably, the immunization showed considerable cross-protection against other Borrelia infections mediated by other ixodid ticks. One of the IpSAP homologs from other ixodid ticks showed similar effects on Lyme spirochete transmission. Together, our findings suggest that LTβR signaling plays an important role in blocking the transmission and pathogenesis of tick-borne Lyme disease spirochetes, and that IpSAP and its homologs are promising candidates for broad-spectrum vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Jin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, China
| | - Bao-Gui Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yizhu Yin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Jingya Guo
- Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jia-Fu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xiaopeng Qi
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Gary Crispell
- Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406
| | - Shahid Karim
- Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406
| | - Wu-Chun Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Ren Lai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
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16
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Nilsson K, Skoog E, Edvinsson M, Mårtensson A, Olsen B. Protein biomarker profiles in serum and CSF in 158 patients with PTLDS or persistent symptoms after presumed tick-bite exposure compared to those in patients with confirmed acute neuroborreliosis. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0276407. [PMID: 36327322 PMCID: PMC9632922 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current diagnostics for patients with lingering symptoms categorized as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) have their limitations and may be difficult to interpret. The aim of this exploratory study was to evaluate the feasibility of protein biomarker profiling as a diagnostic platform for this category of patients and to compare these results with similarly obtained results from a group of patients with acute neuroborreliosis. METHODS AND FINDINGS Two groups of patient cohorts (Cohort 1 and 2) were analyzed for biomarkers in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); the results were used for group-level comparison. Cohort 1 comprised 158 adult patients selected from 224 previously diagnosed patients, who between October 2015 and December 2018, after referral, were enrolled and structurally investigated based on defined inclusion criteria. They displayed similar lingering symptoms, with a duration of at least 6 months, after presumed previous tick-borne infection (TBI) and are fully described in a previously published study originating from the Center for Vector-borne Infections (CVI), Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden. Cohort 2, comprised 30 patients diagnosed at Uppsala University Hospital between 2016 and 2019 with laboratory-confirmed acute neuroborreliosis. Their proteomic results, based on serum and CSF analyses, were compared with the 158 patients in Cohort 1. The expression and the concentration of potential biomarkers in each patient's serum and CSF samples were measured based on two multiplex protein panels enabling simultaneous analysis of 92 inflammatory and neurology biomarkers. The PTLDS patient subgroup showed no nominally significant proteins compared to the other CVI patients in Cohort 1. However, CVI patients with signs of inflammation, which were evenly distributed in Cohort 1, showed 16 significantly (p <0.05) different proteins in both CSF and serum, but no association was seen with laboratory-confirmed exposure to Borrelia spp or other TBIs. When comparing the two cohorts, different protein profiles were observed, with 125/148 significantly different proteins in CSF and 93/174 in serum, in patients with laboratory confirmed acute neuroborreliosis, of which 6 in CSF and 6 in serum were significant at the p <0.001 level. CONCLUSIONS In this first comprehensive inflammatory and neurological biomarker profile study no differences in biomarker profiles were detected between patients with PTLDS and patients with similar persisting symptoms but who did not meet the PTLDS criteria, regardless of whether laboratory verified previous exposure to Borrelia or other TBI's were present. However, the expressed markers differed from those found in patients with confirmed acute neuroborreliosis, which does not support the view that PTLDS reflects an ongoing Borrelia infection. Further studies are needed to understand and assess the usefulness of biosignatures of patients with PTLDS before they can be applied in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Nilsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Clinical Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elisabet Skoog
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marie Edvinsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Andreas Mårtensson
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, International Maternal and Child Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Björn Olsen
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Medical Sciences, Zoonosis Science Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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17
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Abstract
Most patients with Lyme disease will fully recover with recommended antibiotic therapy. However, some patients report persisting nonspecific symptoms after treatment, referred to as posttreatment Lyme disease symptoms (PTLDs) or syndrome (PTLDS), depending on the degree to which the individual's symptoms impact their quality of life. PTLDs occur in a portion of patients diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease (CLD), a controversial term describing different patient populations, diagnosed based on unvalidated tests and criteria. Practitioners should review the evidence for the Lyme disease diagnosis and not overlook unrelated conditions. Current evidence shows that prolonged antibiotic therapy provides little benefit and carries significant risk. Further research to elucidate the mechanisms underlying persistent symptoms after Lyme disease and to understand CLD is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Marques
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, BG 10 RM 12C118 MSC 1888 10 Center, Bethesda, MD 20892-1888, USA.
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18
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Wen S, Xu X, Kong J, Luo L, Yue P, Cao W, Zhang Y, Liu M, Fan Y, Chen J, Ma M, Tao L, Peng Y, Wang F, Dong Y, Li B, Luo S, Zhou G, Chen T, Li L, Liu A, Bao F. Comprehensive analyses of transcriptomes induced by Lyme spirochete infection to CNS model system. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2022; 103:105349. [PMID: 35964914 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2022.105349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lyme disease is a zoonotic disease caused by infection with Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), the involvement of the nervous system in Lyme disease is usually referred to as Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB). LNB has diverse clinical manifestations, most commonly including meningitis, Bell's palsy, and encephalitis. However, the molecular pathogenesis of neuroborreliosis is still poorly understood. Comprehensive transcriptomic analysis following Bb infection could provide new insights into the pathogenesis of LNB and may identify novel biomarkers or therapeutic targets for LNB diagnosis and treatment. METHODS In the present study, we pooled transcriptomic dataset of Macaca mulatta (rhesus) from our laboratory and the human astrocyte dataset GSE85143 from the Gene Expression Omnibus database to screen common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the Bb infection group and the control group. Functional and enrichment analyses were applied for the DEGs. Protein-Protein Interaction network, and hub genes were identified using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interaction Genes database and the CytoHubba plugin. Finally, mRNA expression of hub genes was validated in vitro and ex vivo from Bb infected models and normal controls by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). RESULTS A total of 80 upregulated DEGs and 32 downregulated DEGs were identified. Among them, 11 hub genes were selected. The pathway enrichment analyses on 11 hub genes revealed that the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway was significantly enriched. The mRNA levels of ANGPT1, TLR6, SREBF1, LDLR, TNC, and ITGA2 in U251 cells and/or rhesus brain explants by exposure to Bb were validated by qRT-PCR. CONCLUSION Our study suggested that TLR6, ANGPT1, LDLR, SREBF1, TNC, and ITGA may be candidate mammal biomarkers for LNB, and the TLR6/PI3K-Akt signaling pathway may play an important role in LNB pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyuan Wen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China; Department of Intensive Care Unit, First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Xin Xu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Jing Kong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Lisha Luo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Peng Yue
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Wenjing Cao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Meixiao Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yuxin Fan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Jingjing Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Mingbiao Ma
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China; Yunnan Province Key Laboratory of Children's Major Diseases Research, The Affiliated Children's Hospital of Kunming, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650030, China
| | - Lvyan Tao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China; Yunnan Province Key Laboratory of Children's Major Diseases Research, The Affiliated Children's Hospital of Kunming, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650030, China
| | - Yun Peng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yan Dong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Bingxue Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Suyi Luo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Guozhong Zhou
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Taigui Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Lianbao Li
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Aihua Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China; Yunnan Province Key Laboratory of Children's Major Diseases Research, The Affiliated Children's Hospital of Kunming, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650030, China; The Institute for Tropical Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China; Yunnan Demonstration Base of International Science and Technology Cooperation for Tropical Diseases, Kunming 650500, China.
| | - Fukai Bao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China; Yunnan Province Key Laboratory of Children's Major Diseases Research, The Affiliated Children's Hospital of Kunming, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650030, China; The Institute for Tropical Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China; Yunnan Demonstration Base of International Science and Technology Cooperation for Tropical Diseases, Kunming 650500, China.
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Schnall J, Oliver G, Braat S, Macdonell R, Gibney KB, Kanaan RA. Characterising DSCATT: A case series of Australian patients with debilitating symptom complexes attributed to ticks. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2022; 56:974-984. [PMID: 34465249 DOI: 10.1177/00048674211043788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES(S) To characterise the clinical profile, aetiology and treatment responsiveness of 'Australian Lyme', or Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks. METHODS Single-centre retrospective case analysis of patients referred to the Infectious Diseases Unit at Austin Health - a tertiary health service in Heidelberg, Australia - between 2014 and 2020 for investigation and treatment of suspected Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks. Patients were included if they had debilitating symptoms suggested by either themselves or the referring clinician as being attributed to ticks. RESULTS Twenty-nine Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks cases were included in the analysis. Other than Lyme disease (83%), the most common prior medical diagnoses were Epstein-Barr virus (38%), chronic fatigue syndrome (28%) and fibromyalgia (24%). Prior histories of anxiety (48%) and depression (41%) were common. The most frequently reported symptoms included fatigue (83%), headache (72%) and arthralgia (69%). National Association of Testing Authorities/Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia-accredited serology was not diagnostic of acute infective causes, including Lyme disease, in any patient. Of 25 cases with available data, 23 (92%) had previously been prescribed antimicrobials, with 53% reporting benefit from them. The most common diagnoses made by our hospital were chronic fatigue syndrome (31%), migraines (28%) and fibromyalgia (21%). Only one patient's symptoms were not accounted for by other diagnoses. CONCLUSION This is the first case series of patients with Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks. They had high rates of other medically unexplained syndromes, and no evidence of acute Lyme disease, or any common organic disease process. Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks remains medically unexplained, and may therefore be due to an as yet unidentified cause, or may be considered a medically unexplained syndrome similar to conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse Schnall
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC 3084
| | - Georgina Oliver
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC 3084
| | - Sabine Braat
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Australia.,MISCH (Methods and Implementation Support for Clinical Health research platform), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Australia
| | - Richard Macdonell
- Department of Neurology, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC 3084
| | - Katherine B Gibney
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Department of Infectious Diseases, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne
| | - Richard A Kanaan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC 3084
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20
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Cabello FC, Embers ME, Newman SA, Godfrey HP. Borreliella burgdorferi Antimicrobial-Tolerant Persistence in Lyme Disease and Posttreatment Lyme Disease Syndromes. mBio 2022; 13:e0344021. [PMID: 35467428 PMCID: PMC9239140 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03440-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The annual incidence of Lyme disease, caused by tick-transmitted Borreliella burgdorferi, is estimated to be at least 476,000 cases in the United States and many more worldwide. Ten to 20% of antimicrobial-treated Lyme disease patients display posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), a clinical complication whose etiology and pathogenesis remain uncertain. Autoimmunity, cross-reactivity, molecular mimicry, coinfections, and borrelial tolerance to antimicrobials/persistence have been hypothesized and studied as potential causes of PTLDS. Studies of borrelial tolerance/persistence in vitro in response to antimicrobials and experimental studies in mice and nonhuman primates, taken together with clinical reports, have revealed that B. burgdorferi becomes tolerant to antimicrobials and may sometimes persist in animals and humans after the currently recommended antimicrobial treatment. Moreover, B. burgdorferi is pleomorphic and can generate viable-but-nonculturable bacteria, states also involved in antimicrobial tolerance. The multiple regulatory pathways and structural genes involved in mediating this tolerance to antimicrobials and environmental stressors by persistence might include the stringent (rel and dksA) and host adaptation (rpoS) responses, sugar metabolism (glpD), and polypeptide transporters (opp). Application of this recently reported knowledge to clinical studies can be expected to clarify the potential role of bacterial antibacterial tolerance/persistence in Lyme disease and PTLDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe C. Cabello
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA
| | - Monica E. Embers
- Division of Immunology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University Health Sciences, Covington, Louisiana, USA
| | - Stuart A. Newman
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA
| | - Henry P. Godfrey
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA
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21
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Maxwell SP, Brooks C, McNeely CL, Thomas KC. Neurological Pain, Psychological Symptoms, and Diagnostic Struggles among Patients with Tick-Borne Diseases. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10071178. [PMID: 35885705 PMCID: PMC9323096 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10071178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Public health reports contain limited information regarding the psychological and neurological symptoms of tick-borne diseases (TBDs). Employing a mixed-method approach, this analysis triangulates three sources of symptomology and provides a comparison of official public health information, case reports, medical literature, and the self-reported symptoms of patients with Lyme disease and other TBDs. Out of the fifteen neuropsychiatric symptoms reported in the medical literature for common TBDs, headaches and fatigue and/or malaise are the only two symptoms fully recognized by public health officials. Of TBDs, Lyme disease is the least recognized by public health officials for presenting with neuropsychiatric symptoms; only headaches and fatigue are recognized as overlapping symptoms of Lyme disease. Comparisons from a patient symptoms survey indicate that self-reports of TBDs and the associated symptoms align with medical and case reports. Anxiety, depression, panic attacks, hallucinations, delusions, and pain—ranging from headaches to neck stiffness and arthritis—are common among patients who report a TBD diagnosis. Given the multitude of non-specific patient symptoms, and the number and range of neuropsychiatric presentations that do not align with public health guidance, this study indicates the need for a revised approach to TBD diagnosis and for improved communication from official public health sources regarding the wide range of associated symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah P. Maxwell
- School of Economic, Political & Policy Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Chris Brooks
- Laboratory for Human Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (C.B.); (K.C.T.)
| | - Connie L. McNeely
- Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA;
| | - Kevin C. Thomas
- Laboratory for Human Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (C.B.); (K.C.T.)
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22
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Gęgotek A, Moniuszko-Malinowska A, Groth M, Pancewicz S, Czupryna P, Dunaj J, Atalay S, Radziwon P, Skrzydlewska E. Plasma Proteomic Profile of Patients with Tick-Borne Encephalitis and Co-Infections. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084374. [PMID: 35457192 PMCID: PMC9031133 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the increasing number of patients suffering from tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), Lyme disease, and their co-infection, the mechanisms of the development of these diseases and their effects on the human body are still unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the proteomic profile of human plasma induced by the development of TBE and to compare it with changes in TBE patients co-infected with other tick-borne pathogens. The results obtained by proteomic analysis using a nanoLC-Q Exactive HF mass spectrometer showed that the most highly elevated groups of proteins in the plasma of TBE patients with co-infection were involved in the pro-inflammatory response and protein degradation, while the antioxidant proteins and factors responsible for protein biosynthesis were mainly downregulated. These results were accompanied by enhanced GSH- and 4-HNE-protein adducts formation, observed in TBE and co-infected patients at a higher level than in the case of patients with only TBE. In conclusion, the differences in the proteomic profiles between patients with TBE and co-infected patients indicate that these diseases are significantly diverse and, consequently, require different treatment, which is particularly important for further research, including the development of novel diagnostics tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Gęgotek
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Bialystok, Mickiewicza 2D, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland; (S.A.); (E.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-857485883
| | - Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Bialystok, Zurawia 14, 15-540 Bialystok, Poland; (A.M.-M.); (M.G.); (S.P.); (P.C.); (J.D.)
| | - Monika Groth
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Bialystok, Zurawia 14, 15-540 Bialystok, Poland; (A.M.-M.); (M.G.); (S.P.); (P.C.); (J.D.)
| | - Sławomir Pancewicz
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Bialystok, Zurawia 14, 15-540 Bialystok, Poland; (A.M.-M.); (M.G.); (S.P.); (P.C.); (J.D.)
| | - Piotr Czupryna
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Bialystok, Zurawia 14, 15-540 Bialystok, Poland; (A.M.-M.); (M.G.); (S.P.); (P.C.); (J.D.)
| | - Justyna Dunaj
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Bialystok, Zurawia 14, 15-540 Bialystok, Poland; (A.M.-M.); (M.G.); (S.P.); (P.C.); (J.D.)
| | - Sinemyiz Atalay
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Bialystok, Mickiewicza 2D, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland; (S.A.); (E.S.)
| | - Piotr Radziwon
- Regional Centre for Transfusion Medicine, M. Sklodowskiej-Curie 23, 15-950 Bialystok, Poland;
| | - Elżbieta Skrzydlewska
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Bialystok, Mickiewicza 2D, 15-222 Bialystok, Poland; (S.A.); (E.S.)
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Kobayashi T, Higgins Y, Melia MT, Auwaerter PG. Mistaken Identity: Many Diagnoses are Frequently Misattributed to Lyme Disease. Am J Med 2022; 135:503-511.e5. [PMID: 34861197 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2021.10.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prior studies have demonstrated that Lyme disease is frequently over-diagnosed. However, few studies describe which conditions are misdiagnosed as Lyme disease. METHODS This retrospective observational cohort study evaluated patients who lacked evidence for Borrelia burgdorferi infection referred for Lyme disease to a Mid-Atlantic academic center from 2000-2013. The primary outcome is clinically described diagnoses contributing to symptoms. Secondary outcomes included symptom duration and determination whether diagnoses were new or attributed to existing medical conditions. RESULTS Of 1261 referred patients, 1061 (84%) had no findings of active Lyme disease, with 690 (65%) receiving other diagnoses; resulting in 405 (59%) having newly diagnosed medical conditions, 134 (19%) attributed to pre-existing medical issues, and 151 (22%) with both new and pre-existing conditions. Among the 690 patients, the median symptom duration was 796 days, and a total of 139 discrete diagnoses were made. Infectious disease diagnoses comprised only 3.2%. Leading diagnoses were anxiety/depression 222 (21%), fibromyalgia 120 (11%), chronic fatigue syndrome 77 (7%), migraine disorder 74 (7%), osteoarthritis 62 (6%), and sleep disorder/apnea 48 (5%). Examples of less frequent but non-syndromic diseases newly diagnosed included multiple sclerosis (n = 11), malignancy (n = 8), Parkinson's disease (n = 8), sarcoidosis (n = 4), or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (n = 4). CONCLUSIONS Most patients with long-term symptoms have either new or pre-existing disorders accounting for their symptoms other than Lyme disease, suggesting overdiagnosis in this population. Patients referred for consideration of Lyme disease for chronic symptoms deserve careful assessment for diagnoses other than Borrelia burgdorferi infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takaaki Kobayashi
- Infectious Disease, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City; Sherrilyn and Ken Fisher Center for Environmental Infectious Diseases.
| | - Yvonne Higgins
- Sherrilyn and Ken Fisher Center for Environmental Infectious Diseases; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md
| | - Michael T Melia
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md
| | - Paul G Auwaerter
- Sherrilyn and Ken Fisher Center for Environmental Infectious Diseases; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md
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24
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Boyce RM. Destroying the Village in Order to Save It: Collateral Damage in the Battle Over Lyme Disease. Open Forum Infect Dis 2022; 9:ofac153. [PMID: 35415197 PMCID: PMC8992362 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofac153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A federal court recently dismissed the case against the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) brought by a group of patients with Lyme disease. While the outcome represented an important victory of the IDSA, I argue that it should also serve as a turning point in our approach to patients with “chronic” Lyme disease, many of whom experience substantial symptoms and suffer an emotional burden due to the uncertainty of their diagnosis. As the incidence of Lyme disease continues to increase and the geographic range of the vector expands, infectious disease specialists—experts in history taking, physical examination, and diagnosis—should play a leading role, not only to combat pervasive misinformation, but more importantly to benefit patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross M Boyce
- Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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25
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Nicholas P, Evans LA, Albert M, Kelly D, Michelson N. The nurse practitioner's role in addressing chronic sequelae of Lyme disease as a climate change related disease. J Am Assoc Nurse Pract 2022; 34:579-585. [PMID: 34799528 DOI: 10.1097/jxx.0000000000000670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT A major health consequence of climate change is an increased prevalence of vector-borne diseases due to changes in temperatures and the environments in which vectors can survive and carry out transmissible activity. Because of climate change, emerging health challenges related to the warming of the planet have led to an increase in vector-borne diseases in broadening geographic areas. Individuals affected with Lyme disease may present with a variety of symptoms, which highlights the importance of illness recognition to ensure that a patient can receive timely treatment and effective support. Despite the focus on early detection and treatment of acute Lyme disease, chronic health problems associated with Lyme disease are an emerging problem in the 21st century. This article focuses on the role of nurse practitioners and members of the health professional team in the recognition, clinical care, patient education, and management of increasing rates of chronic Lyme disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrice Nicholas
- Center for Climate Change, Center for Climate Change, Climate Justice and Health Steering Committee, Boston, Massachusetts
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- MGH Center for the Environment and Health , Boston, Massachusetts
- MGH Institute of Health Professions School of Nursing, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Linda A Evans
- South University, College of Nursing and Public Health, Royal Palm Beach, Florida
| | - Marisa Albert
- MGH Institute of Health Professions School of Nursing, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Debra Kelly
- MGH Institute of Health Professions School of Nursing, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Naomi Michelson
- Center for Climate Change, Center for Climate Change, Climate Justice and Health Steering Committee, Boston, Massachusetts
- The George Washington University, Boston, Massachusetts
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26
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Dattwyler RJ, Gomes-Solecki M. The year that shaped the outcome of the OspA vaccine for human Lyme disease. NPJ Vaccines 2022; 7:10. [PMID: 35087055 PMCID: PMC8795424 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00429-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The expansion of Lyme borreliosis endemic areas and the corresponding increase of disease incidence have opened the possibility for greater acceptance of a vaccine. In this perspective article, we discuss the discovery of outer surface protein A (OspA) of B. burgdorferi, and the subsequent pre-clinical testing and clinical trials of a recombinant OspA vaccine for human Lyme disease. We also discuss in detail the open public hearings of the FDA Lyme disease vaccine advisory panel held in 1998 where concerns of molecular mimicry induced autoimmunity to native OspA were raised, the limitations of those studies, and the current modifications of recombinant OspA to develop a multivalent subunit vaccine for Lyme disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond J. Dattwyler
- grid.260917.b0000 0001 0728 151XDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY USA
| | - Maria Gomes-Solecki
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
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27
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Aucott JN, Yang T, Yoon I, Powell D, Geller SA, Rebman AW. Risk of post-treatment Lyme disease in patients with ideally-treated early Lyme disease: A prospective cohort study. Int J Infect Dis 2022; 116:230-237. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.01.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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Morrison T, Madaras S, Larson C, Harrison R. Personal Agency and Community Resilience: Narratives of Women Navigating Health Care With Chronic Lyme Disease. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2021; 31:2706-2714. [PMID: 34772306 DOI: 10.1177/10497323211044463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Chronic Lyme disease can manifest as a debilitating illness with symptoms that change over time. With its varied presentation, timeline variation, diagnostic difficulty, and lack of definitive treatment, clinical recognition of chronic Lyme disease remains controversial. At the same time, patients face challenges in finding a provider who is supportive and knowledgeable about diagnosing and treating Lyme. We examined the ways the medical system may have affected the lived experiences of chronic Lyme patients. In this article, we communicate the personal, health care, and community illness experiences of 14 women navigating the medical system with chronic Lyme disease through a qualitative community-based participatory research study using interviews and narrative reflection in a rural community setting. The women were interviewed by a researcher living with chronic Lyme disease and the transcripts were analyzed for themes. All participants described navigating multiple allopathic and nonallopathic care modalities to find satisfactory care. They struggled with physical and emotional burdens of chronic, nonlinear illness, as well as disbelief and discrimination by medical providers. Their lives followed patterns of illness and wellness, trust and mistrust of medical treatment, and community connection and disengagement. They learned to become their own advocates to seek affirmative care. They are aware of the controversial nature of their illness, and many have channeled their frustrations into caring for one another through their Lyme community. Women living with controversial diagnoses like chronic Lyme disease experience increased challenges navigating the medical system to find satisfactory care and thus create communities with each other for mutual aid and support. In understanding these challenges, the medical community can improve care for people living with contested chronic illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sylvia Madaras
- Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
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29
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LACOUT ALEXIS, MAS MARIE, PAJAUD JULIE, PERRONNE VÉRONIQUE, LEQUETTE YANNICK, FRANCK MICHEL, PERRONNE CHRISTIAN. Real time micro-organisms PCR in 104 patients with polymorphic signs and symptoms that may be related to a tick bite. Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) 2021; 11:62-75. [PMID: 34739391 PMCID: PMC8614493 DOI: 10.1556/1886.2021.00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Ticks are frequently polyinfected and can thus transmit numerous microorganisms. A large number of bacteria, parasites and viruses are transmitted by tick bites and could cause different signs and symptoms in patients. The main goal of this study was to search for these numerous microorganisms in patients presenting with persistent polymorphic syndrome possibly due to a tick bite (SPPT). PATIENTS AND METHODS The following microorganisms were searched for in saliva, urine, venous and capillary blood by using real time PCR: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Borrelia miyamotoi, Borrelia hermsii, Bartonella spp., Bartonella quintana, Bartonella henselae, Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Brucella spp., Francisella tularensis, Mycoplasma spp., Chlamydia spp., Babesia spp., Theileria spp. RESULTS 104 patients were included. 48% of the patients were poly-infected, and 25% harboured at least three different microorganisms. Borrelia spp. were not the most frequent bacteria observed, observed far behind Mycoplasma spp., Rickettsia spp. and Ehrlichia spp. which were the most frequent microorganisms observed. Piroplasms were found in a significant number of patients. The most sensitive matrix was saliva, followed by urine, capillary blood and venous blood. CONCLUSION Our prospective study has shown that patients with SPPT, a syndrome close to fibromyalgia, could harbour several tick borne microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- ALEXIS LACOUT
- Centre de Diagnostic ELSAN, Centre Médico-Chirurgical, 83 Avenue Charles de Gaulle, 15000, Aurillac, France
| | - MARIE MAS
- Clinique Convert, Médecine Générale, Service des Urgences, 62 Avenue de Jasseron, 01000, Bourg en Bresse, France
| | - JULIE PAJAUD
- ADNucleis, 3 Route des Pierres Blanches, 69290, Grézieu la Varenne, France
| | - VÉRONIQUE PERRONNE
- Hôpital Universitaire Raymond Poincaré (Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris), Département d’Infectiologie, Université de Versailles – Saint Quentin, Paris-Saclay, France
| | - YANNICK LEQUETTE
- ADNucleis, 3 Route des Pierres Blanches, 69290, Grézieu la Varenne, France
| | - MICHEL FRANCK
- ADNucleis, 3 Route des Pierres Blanches, 69290, Grézieu la Varenne, France
| | - CHRISTIAN PERRONNE
- Hôpital Universitaire Raymond Poincaré (Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris), Département d’Infectiologie, Université de Versailles – Saint Quentin, Paris-Saclay, France
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Radu AF, Bungau SG. Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Overview. Cells 2021; 10:2857. [PMID: 34831081 PMCID: PMC8616326 DOI: 10.3390/cells10112857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 259] [Impact Index Per Article: 86.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease of unknown etiology, primarily affecting the joints, then extra-articular manifestations can occur. Due to its complexity, which is based on an incompletely elucidated pathophysiological mechanism, good RA management requires a multidisciplinary approach. The clinical status of RA patients has improved in recent years due to medical advances in diagnosis and treatment, that have made it possible to reduce disease activity and prevent systemic complications. The most promising results were obtained by developing disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), the class to which conventional synthetic, biologic, and targeted synthetic drugs belong. Furthermore, ongoing drug development has led to obtaining molecules with improved efficacy and safety profiles, but further research is needed until RA turns into a curable pathology. In the present work, we offer a comprehensive perspective on the management of RA, by centralizing the existing data provided by significant literature, emphasizing the importance of an early and accurate diagnosis associated with optimal personalized treatment in order to achieve better outcomes for RA patients. In addition, this study suggests future research perspectives in the treatment of RA that could lead to higher efficacy and safety profiles and lower financial costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei-Flavius Radu
- Doctoral School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania
| | - Simona Gabriela Bungau
- Doctoral School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410028 Oradea, Romania
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31
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A Review of Post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome and Chronic Lyme Disease for the Practicing Immunologist. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2021; 62:264-271. [PMID: 34687445 DOI: 10.1007/s12016-021-08906-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Lyme disease is an infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected Ixodes tick. The majority of patients recover without complications with antibiotic therapy. However, for a minority of patients, accompanying non-specific symptoms can persist for months following completion of therapy. The constellation of symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and musculoskeletal pain that persist beyond 6 months and are associated with disability have been termed post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), a subset of a broader term "chronic Lyme disease." Chronic Lyme disease is a broad, vaguely defined term that is used to describe patients with non-specific symptoms that are attributed to a presumed persistent Borrelia burgdorferi infection in patients who may or may not have evidence of either previous or current Lyme disease. The diagnoses of chronic Lyme disease and of PTLDS have become increasingly relevant to the practice of immunologists due to referrals for consultation or for intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment. This review aims to explore the relationship between chronic Lyme disease, post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, and the immune system. Here, we review the current literature on (1) issues in conventional and alternative diagnostic testing for Lyme disease, (2) the hypothesis that B. burgdorferi infection can persist despite appropriate use of recommended antibiotics, (3) current theories regarding B. burgdorferi's role in causing both immune dysregulation and protracted symptoms, and (4) the use of IVIG for the treatment of Lyme disease.
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32
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Kortela E, Kanerva MJ, Kurkela S, Oksi J, Koivisto M, Järvinen A. Consumption of healthcare services and antibiotics in patients with presumed disseminated Lyme borreliosis before and after evaluation of an infectious disease specialist. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 13:101854. [PMID: 34695770 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Our objective was to study the consumption of healthcare services and antibiotics in patients with suspicion of disseminated Lyme borreliosis (LB) before and after consultation of an infectious disease specialist. We evaluated retrospectively all presumed disseminated LB patients (n = 256) with a referral to the Department of Infectious Diseases (DID) in Helsinki University Hospital in 2013. Medical records from all healthcare providers in the area were reviewed and the number of physician contacts because of symptoms leading to LB suspicion and antimicrobial purchases were calculated 1 year before and after consultation or treatment at the DID. Patients were divided into three groups according to certainty of LB: unlikely, possible or probable/definite LB. The number of healthcare contacts 1 year before referral was higher among 121 patients with unlikely LB (6; interquartile range [IQR] 3-10), than 65 possible (4; IQR 2.5-7; p = 0.018) or 66 probable/definite LB patients (4; IQR 2.8-7; p = 0.010). The median number of contacts to healthcare during one year after consultation or treatment was 3 (IQR 0.5-7), 1 (IQR 0-3) and 0.5 (IQR 0-2.3), respectively, with a statistically significant difference between the groups (p<0.001). Antibiotics were purchased by 151 (60%) patients one year before referral and by 127 (50%) patients year after consultation or treatment at DID without statistically significant difference between groups with different LB certainty. These antibiotic purchases do not include the treatments prescribed by infectious disease specialists. In the case of 27 patients, an antimicrobial treatment was recommended in the consultation reply. In conclusion, patients with unlikely LB used more healthcare services than patients with possible or probable/definite LB. Antimicrobial consumption was similar between groups of different LB certainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Kortela
- Division of infectious diseases, Inflammation Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
| | - Mari J Kanerva
- Division of infectious diseases, Inflammation Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Satu Kurkela
- Virology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jarmo Oksi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Mari Koivisto
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Asko Järvinen
- Division of infectious diseases, Inflammation Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Abstract
A substantial proportion of patients who have recovered from acute SARS-CoV-2 infection report persisting symptoms. The author discusses why understanding the basis of postinfectious syndromes is critical to establishing their legitimacy and the prospect of successful treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul G Auwaerter
- The Sherrilyn and Ken Fisher Center for Environmental Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland (P.G.A.)
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Tutt-Guérette MA, Yuan M, Szaroz D, McKinnon B, Kestens Y, Guillot C, Leighton P, Zinszer K. Modelling Spatiotemporal Patterns of Lyme Disease Emergence in Québec. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18189669. [PMID: 34574592 PMCID: PMC8470240 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18189669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Lyme disease is a growing public health problem in Québec. Its emergence over the last decade is caused by environmental and anthropological factors that favour the survival of Ixodes scapularis, the vector of Lyme disease transmission. The objective of this study was to estimate the speed and direction of human Lyme disease emergence in Québec and to identify spatiotemporal risk patterns. A surface trend analysis was conducted to estimate the speed and direction of its emergence based upon the first detected case of Lyme disease in each municipality in Québec since 2004. A cluster analysis was also conducted to identify at-risk regions across space and time. These analyses were reproduced for the date of disease onset and date of notification for each case of Lyme disease. It was estimated that Lyme disease is spreading northward in Québec at a speed varying between 18 and 32 km/year according to the date of notification and the date of disease onset, respectively. A significantly high risk of disease was found in seven clusters identified in the south-west of Québec in the sociosanitary regions of Montérégie and Estrie. The results obtained in this study improve our understanding of the spatiotemporal patterns of Lyme disease in Québec, which can be used for proactive, targeted interventions by public and clinical health authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc-Antoine Tutt-Guérette
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, 3755 Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada;
| | - Mengru Yuan
- Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, 7101 Av du Parc, Montréal, QC H3N 1X9, Canada; (M.Y.); (D.S.); (B.M.); (Y.K.); (C.G.); (P.L.)
| | - Daniel Szaroz
- Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, 7101 Av du Parc, Montréal, QC H3N 1X9, Canada; (M.Y.); (D.S.); (B.M.); (Y.K.); (C.G.); (P.L.)
- Département de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, École de Santé Publique, Université de Montréal, 7101 Av du Parc, Montréal, QC H3N 1X9, Canada
| | - Britt McKinnon
- Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, 7101 Av du Parc, Montréal, QC H3N 1X9, Canada; (M.Y.); (D.S.); (B.M.); (Y.K.); (C.G.); (P.L.)
| | - Yan Kestens
- Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, 7101 Av du Parc, Montréal, QC H3N 1X9, Canada; (M.Y.); (D.S.); (B.M.); (Y.K.); (C.G.); (P.L.)
- Département de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, École de Santé Publique, Université de Montréal, 7101 Av du Parc, Montréal, QC H3N 1X9, Canada
| | - Camille Guillot
- Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, 7101 Av du Parc, Montréal, QC H3N 1X9, Canada; (M.Y.); (D.S.); (B.M.); (Y.K.); (C.G.); (P.L.)
- Research Group on Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health (GREZOSP), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Patrick Leighton
- Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, 7101 Av du Parc, Montréal, QC H3N 1X9, Canada; (M.Y.); (D.S.); (B.M.); (Y.K.); (C.G.); (P.L.)
- Research Group on Epidemiology of Zoonoses and Public Health (GREZOSP), Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Kate Zinszer
- Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, 7101 Av du Parc, Montréal, QC H3N 1X9, Canada; (M.Y.); (D.S.); (B.M.); (Y.K.); (C.G.); (P.L.)
- Département de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, École de Santé Publique, Université de Montréal, 7101 Av du Parc, Montréal, QC H3N 1X9, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, 1020 Pine Ave W, Montréal, QC H3A 1A2, Canada
- Correspondence:
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Bobe JR, Jutras BL, Horn EJ, Embers ME, Bailey A, Moritz RL, Zhang Y, Soloski MJ, Ostfeld RS, Marconi RT, Aucott J, Ma'ayan A, Keesing F, Lewis K, Ben Mamoun C, Rebman AW, McClune ME, Breitschwerdt EB, Reddy PJ, Maggi R, Yang F, Nemser B, Ozcan A, Garner O, Di Carlo D, Ballard Z, Joung HA, Garcia-Romeu A, Griffiths RR, Baumgarth N, Fallon BA. Recent Progress in Lyme Disease and Remaining Challenges. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:666554. [PMID: 34485323 PMCID: PMC8416313 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.666554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease (also known as Lyme borreliosis) is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States with an estimated 476,000 cases per year. While historically, the long-term impact of Lyme disease on patients has been controversial, mounting evidence supports the idea that a substantial number of patients experience persistent symptoms following treatment. The research community has largely lacked the necessary funding to properly advance the scientific and clinical understanding of the disease, or to develop and evaluate innovative approaches for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Given the many outstanding questions raised into the diagnosis, clinical presentation and treatment of Lyme disease, and the underlying molecular mechanisms that trigger persistent disease, there is an urgent need for more support. This review article summarizes progress over the past 5 years in our understanding of Lyme and tick-borne diseases in the United States and highlights remaining challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R. Bobe
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Brandon L. Jutras
- Department of Biochemistry, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | | | - Monica E. Embers
- Tulane University Health Sciences, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Allison Bailey
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mark J. Soloski
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Lyme Disease Research Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | - Richard T. Marconi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - John Aucott
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Lyme Disease Research Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Avi Ma'ayan
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Kim Lewis
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Alison W. Rebman
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Lyme Disease Research Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Mecaila E. McClune
- Department of Biochemistry, Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Edward B. Breitschwerdt
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | | | - Ricardo Maggi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Frank Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Bennett Nemser
- Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, Stamford, CT, United States
| | - Aydogan Ozcan
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Omai Garner
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Dino Di Carlo
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Zachary Ballard
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Hyou-Arm Joung
- University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Albert Garcia-Romeu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Roland R. Griffiths
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Nicole Baumgarth
- Center for Immunology and Infectious Diseases and the Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Brian A. Fallon
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
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Breitbart P, Meister S, Meyer T, Gärtner BC. Incidence and Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi Antibodies in Male Professional Football Players. Clin J Sport Med 2021; 31:e200-e206. [PMID: 31241490 DOI: 10.1097/jsm.0000000000000758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Infections with Borrelia burgdorferi can cause Lyme disease with multiorganic involvement such as (myo)carditis or joint manifestations. Musculoskeletal complaints possibly mimicking some of these symptoms are common among elite athletes. This study aimed to determine seroprevalence and incidence of B. burgdorferi antibodies in professional football players. DESIGN Prospective observational study. SETTING Healthy professional football players. PARTICIPANTS Five hundred thirty-five men in the first and second German league. INTERVENTIONS Two screening assays were used to examine immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) against B. burgdorferi: an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and a chemiluminescence assay (CLIA). In case of a positive or equivocal result, an immunoblot including in vivo antigens was performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Course of IgM and IgG against B. burgdorferi in overall 1529 blood samples. RESULTS A total of 96.4% of all results were concordant between EIA and CLIA. Considering only samples with identical results in both assays, prevalence was 1.6%. A positive IgM was detected in 2.3%. No player showed any symptoms of Lyme disease. A seroconversion to IgG was not found. Three players developed a positive IgM corresponding to an incidence of 1032/100 000 person-years. Depending on the assay, 49% to 75% of positive or equivocal screening results could not be confirmed by immunoblot. CONCLUSIONS Seroprevalence and incidence of B. burgdorferi among healthy male professional football players are low. Therefore, infections with B. burgdorferi have to be regarded a rare differential diagnosis in professional football in Central Europe. The low confirmation rate of positive screening assays points to an unspecific immune activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Breitbart
- Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology II, University Heart Center Freiburg-Bad Krozingen, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Steffen Meister
- Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Sportmedizin München, Munich, Germany; and
| | - Tim Meyer
- Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Barbara C Gärtner
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Saarland University, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, Homburg/Saar, Germany
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Nesgos AT, Harrington LC, Mader EM. Experience and knowledge of Lyme disease: A scoping review of patient-provider communication. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101714. [PMID: 33780825 PMCID: PMC10044390 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
There has been limited research on patient-provider communication dynamics regarding Lyme disease (LD) diagnosis and treatment. Evidence suggests communication in the clinical encounter improves when both patient and healthcare provider (HCP) have concordant orientations (or beliefs) on discussed topics, resulting in higher patient satisfaction and care outcomes. The purpose of this scoping review was to characterize and summarize current research findings on patient and provider knowledge and experiences regarding LD - two factors that may influence the orientation of both patients and providers toward LD in the clinical setting. None of the articles included in the review specifically addressed patient-provider interaction and relationships as the main objective. However, the existing literature indicates notable HCP uncertainty regarding LD diagnosis, treatment, and applied practice patterns. Current research also describes limited knowledge of LD among patient populations and a high prevalence of negative perceptions of care received in mainstream healthcare settings among individuals with persistent symptoms. We identified a critical gap in research that seeks to understand the dynamic of patients and HCPs communicating on the topic of LD in the clinical setting. Future research may identify opportunities where the patient-provider communication dynamic can be improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna T Nesgos
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
| | - Laura C Harrington
- Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, 3138 Comstock Hall, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
| | - Emily M Mader
- Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, 3138 Comstock Hall, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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Pascal C, Arquembourg J, Vorilhon P, Lesens O. Emergence of Lyme disease as a social problem: analysis of discourse using the media content. Eur J Public Health 2021; 30:504-510. [PMID: 31688903 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckz198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic Lyme disease (LD) is a matter of debate worldwide and has emerged as a social problem. We aim to analyze the media content and describe the transformation process of a collective pain into a social problem in France. METHODS Using social science methodology, a corpus of articles from 20 newspapers and videos from seven major TV stations from 1987 to 2017 were analyzed for discourse content. The speaking times and the frequency of interventions between doctors supporting the official guidelines and those against them were compared using the Mann-Whitney test and the Chi-square test, respectively. RESULTS In France, the media discourse is carried through testimonials from patient organizations and a professor of infectiology who acted as a whistleblower (WB). We showed that the emergence of the LD alert in the media corresponds to the process described by social sciences as 'naming, blaming, claiming'. Since his first article in 2014, the WB has featured in 24% (22/89) of newspaper articles compared with 20% (18/89) for doctors defending the official guidelines (P = 0.52). Since his first appearance on a TV newscast in 2014, the WB has appeared in 45% (22/49) of news reports on LD with 24% of the speaking time compared with 22% (11/49) for doctors defending the official guidelines (P = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS Media coverage of LD has been unbalanced since 2014 and promotes associations as well as the WB, who seems to be better identified than any of the different doctors defending the official guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clélia Pascal
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department, CRIOA, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France.,UMR CNRS 6023, Laboratoire Microorganismes: Génome Environnement (LMGE), Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Jocelyne Arquembourg
- Sciences de l'Information et de la Communication, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle - Paris3, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Vorilhon
- Department of General Practice, Institut Pascal, CNRS, SIGMA Clermont, Clermont Auvergne University, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Olivier Lesens
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department, CRIOA, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France.,UMR CNRS 6023, Laboratoire Microorganismes: Génome Environnement (LMGE), Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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Comparison of the clinical practice guidelines for Lyme disease from the Infectious Diseases Society of America: 2000, 2006, and 2020. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2021; 101:115446. [PMID: 34256207 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2021.115446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Pradelli L, Pinciroli M, Houshmand H, Grassi B, Bonelli F, Calleri M, Ruscio M. Comparative Cost and Effectiveness of a New Algorithm for Early Lyme Disease Diagnosis: Evaluation in US, Germany, and Italy. CLINICOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2021; 13:437-451. [PMID: 34079307 PMCID: PMC8165099 DOI: 10.2147/ceor.s306391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose This Lyme disease early detection economic model, for patients with suspected Lyme disease without erythema migrans (EM), compares outcomes of standard two-tier testing (sTTT), modified two-tier testing (mTTT) and the DiaSorin Lyme Detection Algorithm (LDA), a combination of both serology tests and Interferon-ɤ Release Assay. Patients and Methods A patient-level simulation model was built to incorporate effectiveness estimation from a structured focused literature review, and health-care cost inputs for the United States, Germany, and Italy. Simulated clinical outcomes were 1) percent of patients with timely and correct diagnosis, 2) patients appropriately treated and exposed to antibiotics therapy, and 3) patients with late Lyme disease manifestations. Expected health outcomes were expressed in terms of differences in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) due to disseminated Lyme disease and persisting symptoms, and economic outcomes were analyzed from a third-party payer perspective. Results The DiaSorin LDA resulted in a better sensitivity compared to sTTT and mTTT, 84% vs 49% and 45%, respectively, in the base case (13% of infected patients in the tested population). Due to the improved diagnostic performance, the LDA-based strategy is expected to be more effective, providing mean incremental 0.024 QALYs per tested patient, or 0.19 per infected patient. Furthermore, from a third-party payer perspective, the adoption of the LDA-based strategy would reduce the expected health-care cost for suspected and confirmed Lyme disease by roughly 40%, ie about $410, €130, and €170 per tested patient in the United States, Germany, and Italy, respectively, compared to sTTT. The results are most sensitive to the infection rate in the tested population, with LDA maintaining a cost advantage for Lyme disease active infection rates ≥0.8-2.5%. Conclusion LDA early diagnostic testing and subsequent treatment of subjects with early Lyme disease without EM are expected to outperform traditional management strategies both clinically and economically in the US, Germany, and Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Maurizio Ruscio
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Giuliano Isontina (ASU GI), Trieste, Italy
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Abstract
Lyme disease (LD) is endemic in many regions of the Northeastern United States. Given the elusive nature of the disease, a systematic approach to identify efficient interventions would be useful for policymakers in addressing LD. We used Markov modeling to investigate the efficiency of interventions. These interventions range from awareness-based to behavioral-based strategies. Targeting animal reservoirs of LD using fungal spray or bait boxes did not prove to be an effective intervention. Results of awareness-based interventions, including distribution of signage, fliers, and presentations, implementable in different geographical scales, suggest that policymakers should focus on these interventions, as they are both cost-effective and have the highest impact on lowering LD risk. Populations may lose focus of LD warnings over time, thus quick succession of these interventions is vital. Our modeling results identify the awareness-based intervention as the most cost-effective strategy to lower the number of LD cases. These results can aid in the establishment of effective LD risk reduction policy at various scales of implementation.
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Nilsson K, Skoog E, Jones V, Labbé Sandelin L, Björling C, Fridenström E, Edvinsson M, Mårtensson A, Olsen B. A comprehensive clinical and laboratory evaluation of 224 patients with persistent symptoms attributed to presumed tick-bite exposure. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0247384. [PMID: 33735220 PMCID: PMC7971513 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persistent symptoms attributed to presumed tick-bite exposure constitute an unresolved medical controversy. We evaluated whether Swedish adults who met the criteria for post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) exhibited characteristics distinguishable from adults who did not, but who displayed similar symptoms and disease course after suspected previous tick-bite infection (TBI). METHODS AND FINDINGS During 2015-2018, 255 patients-referred to the Centre for Vector-borne Infections, Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden with symptoms lasting longer than six months-were recruited. Of this group, 224 completed the study. Each patient was examined by an infectious disease specialist and, besides a full medical history, underwent a panel of blood and cerebrospinal fluid laboratory tests including hematological, biochemical, microbiological and immunological analyses, and the RAND-36 scale to measure quality of life. For analysis purposes, patients were divided into five subgroups, of which one represented PTLDS. According to serological results indicating TBI and documented/ reported objective signs of Lyme disease, 85 (38%) patients fulfilled the criteria for PTLDS and were compared with the other 139 (62%) serologically classified patients. In the PTLDS group, erythema chronicum migrans (ECM) was documented/reported in 86% of patients, previous neuroborreliosis in 15%, and acrodermatitis chronica atroficans (ACA) in 3.5%. However, there were no significant differences regarding symptoms, laboratory results or disease course between patients with PTLDS and those without laboratory evidence of Borrelia exposition. Most reported symptoms were fatigue-related (70%), musculoskeletal (79%), neurological (82%) and neurocognitive (57%). Tick bites were recalled by 74%. The RAND-36 score was significantly below that of the general Swedish population. Signs of immunological/inflammatory reactivity with myositis antibodies were detected in 20% of patients, fibrinogen levels were moderately increased in 21% and elevated rheumatoid factor in 6%. CONCLUSIONS The PTLDS group did not differ exclusively in any respect from the other subgroups, which either lacked previously documented/reported evidence of borreliosis or even lacked detectable serological signs of exposure to Lyme disease. The results suggest that symptoms often categorized as Chronic-Lyme-Disease (CLD) in the general debate, cannot be uniquely linked to Lyme disease. However, approximately 20% of the total group of patients showed signs of autoimmunity. Further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying causes and mechanisms of PTLDS and there is reason to consider a multifactorial approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Nilsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Clinical Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Medical Sciences, Zoonosis Science Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elisabet Skoog
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Viktor Jones
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lisa Labbé Sandelin
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Communicable Diseases and Disease Control, Kalmar County Hospital, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Christina Björling
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ester Fridenström
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marie Edvinsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Andreas Mårtensson
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, International Maternal and Child Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Björn Olsen
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Medical Sciences, Zoonosis Science Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Strizova Z, Smrz D, Bartunkova J. Response to Weiss MF re: "Seroprevalence of Borrelia IgM and IgG Antibodies in Healthy Individuals: A Caution Against Serology Misinterpretations and Unnecessary Antibiotic Treatments". Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020; 20:804-805. [PMID: 32833594 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2020.2690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Strizova
- Department of Immunology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Smrz
- Department of Immunology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jirina Bartunkova
- Department of Immunology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Motol, Prague, Czech Republic
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Abstract
An unexpected Diplorickettsia species closely related to the tickborne pathogen D. massieliensis was found in the microbiome of an Ixodes scapularis tick in Vermont, USA. This evidence of Diplorickettsia in North American ticks suggests a need for disease surveillance using molecular screening of ticks and serologic studies of humans.
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Adel FW, Esmaeilzadeh S, Chen HH. 32-Year-Old Man With Dyspnea on Exertion and Dizziness. Mayo Clin Proc 2020; 95:e37-e42. [PMID: 32115194 DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2019.10.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2019] [Revised: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fadi W Adel
- Resident in Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Rochester, MN
| | - Sarvenaz Esmaeilzadeh
- Resident in Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Rochester, MN
| | - Horng H Chen
- Advisor to residents and Consultant in Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
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Rauer S, Kastenbauer S, Hofmann H, Fingerle V, Huppertz HI, Hunfeld KP, Krause A, Ruf B, Dersch R. Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment in neurology - Lyme neuroborreliosis. GERMAN MEDICAL SCIENCE : GMS E-JOURNAL 2020; 18:Doc03. [PMID: 32341686 PMCID: PMC7174852 DOI: 10.3205/000279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis is the most common tick-borne infectious disease in Europe. A neurological manifestation occurs in 3–15% of infections and can manifest as polyradiculitis, meningitis and (rarely) encephalomyelitis. This S3 guideline is directed at physicians in private practices and clinics who treat Lyme neuroborreliosis in children and adults. Twenty AWMF member societies, the Robert Koch Institute, the German Borreliosis Society and three patient organisations participated in its development. A systematic review and assessment of the literature was conducted by the German Cochrane Centre, Freiburg (Cochrane Germany). The main objectives of this guideline are to define the disease and to give recommendations for the confirmation of a clinically suspected diagnosis by laboratory testing, antibiotic therapy, differential diagnostic testing and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Volker Fingerle
- German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology (DGHM), Münster, Germany
| | - Hans-Iko Huppertz
- German Society of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (DGKJ), Berlin, Germany.,German Society of Paediatric Infectology (DGPI), Berlin, Germany
| | - Klaus-Peter Hunfeld
- The German United Society of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (DGKL), Bonn, Germany.,INSTAND e.V., Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Bernhard Ruf
- German Society of Infectious Diseases (DGI), Berlin, Germany
| | - Rick Dersch
- German Society of Neurology (DGN), Berlin, Germany.,Cochrane Germany, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany
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47
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Rebman AW, Aucott JN. Post-treatment Lyme Disease as a Model for Persistent Symptoms in Lyme Disease. Front Med (Lausanne) 2020; 7:57. [PMID: 32161761 PMCID: PMC7052487 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2020.00057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
It has long been observed in clinical practice that a subset of patients with Lyme disease report a constellation of symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and musculoskeletal pain, which may last for a significant period of time. These symptoms, which can range from mild to severe, have been reported throughout the literature in both prospective and population-based studies in Lyme disease endemic regions. The etiology of these symptoms is unknown, however several illness-causing mechanisms have been hypothesized, including microbial persistence, host immune dysregulation through inflammatory or secondary autoimmune pathways, or altered neural networks, as in central sensitization. Evaluation and characterization of persistent symptoms in Lyme disease is complicated by potential independent, repeat exposures to B. burgdorferi, as well as the potential for co-morbid diseases with overlapping symptom profiles. Antibody testing for B. burgdorferi is an insensitive measure after treatment, and no other FDA-approved tests currently exist. As such, diagnosis presents a complex challenge for physicians, while the lived experience for patients is one marked by uncertainty and often illness invalidation. Currently, there are no FDA-approved pharmaceutical therapies, and the safety and efficacy of off-label and/or complementary therapies have not been well studied and are not agreed-upon within the medical community. Post-treatment Lyme disease represents a narrow, defined, mechanistically-neutral subset of this larger, more heterogeneous group of patients, and is a useful definition in research settings as an initial subgroup of study. The aim of this paper is to review the current literature on the diagnosis, etiology, risk factors, and treatment of patients with persistent symptoms in the context of Lyme disease. The meaning and relevance of existing patient subgroups will be discussed, as will future research priorities, including the need to develop illness biomarkers, elucidate the biologic mechanisms of disease, and drive improvements in therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison W Rebman
- Lyme Disease Research Center, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - John N Aucott
- Lyme Disease Research Center, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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48
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Ruiz VH, Edjolo A, Roubaud-Baudron C, Jaulhac B, Avila-Funes JA, Dartigues JF, Amieva H, Pérès K. Association of Seropositivity to Borrelia burgdorferi With the Risk of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Functional Decline in Older Adults: The Aging Multidisciplinary Investigation Study. JAMA Neurol 2020; 77:210-214. [PMID: 31560067 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2019.3292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Importance Exposure to Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) has been reported to be associated with certain neuropsychiatric disorders. Objective To establish the association between seropositivity to Bb and incidental neuropsychiatric disorders (eg, cognitive decline, incident dementia, and depressive symptoms) as well as functional decline. Design, Setting, and Participants This prospective, 6-year follow-up cohort study was conducted in a rural southwestern region of France and included 689 retired farmers 65 years or older randomly recruited from the Farmer Health Insurance System who agreed to submit a blood sample and were participants in the Aging Multidisciplinary Investigation study, an ongoing epidemiological prospective study of aging initiated in 2007. The data were analyzed from April to May 2019. Exposures Borrelia burgdorferi serology testing was performed in a 2-tiered approach. During the follow-up period, cognitive decline, incident dementia, depressive symptoms, and functional decline were repeatedly assessed. Main Outcomes and Measures Diagnosis of dementia relied on a 3-step procedure; cognitive decline was determined using the Mini-Mental State Examination and depressive symptomatology was assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. For disability, scores on instrumental and basic activities of daily living were investigated. Results Of 689 participants, 432 (62.2%) were men and the mean (SD) age was 75.8 (6.4) years. The seroprevalence rate of Bb was 6.5%. At baseline, compared with Bb- participants, those who were Bb+ were older, predominantly men, and had lower depressive symptoms. No association between seropositivity and any of the studied outcomes (ie, cognitive decline, depressive symptoms, or functional decline) was found in the crude analysis and after adjusting for confounding variables. Regarding incident dementia, no increased risk was found among Bb+ participants (hazard ratio, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.1-1.17; adjusted for diverse confounders). Conclusions and Relevance To our knowledge, this is one of the few longitudinal studies exploring the risk of neuropsychiatric disorders and functional decline associated with exposure to Bb. Despite its limitations (eg, a lack of information if clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis existed, date of exposure, or treatment received), this study suggests that seropositivity to Bb is not a risk factor for incidental neuropsychiatric disorders and functional decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virgilio Hernández Ruiz
- University Bordeaux, Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, UMR 1219, Bordeaux, France.,Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Arlette Edjolo
- University Bordeaux, Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, UMR 1219, Bordeaux, France
| | - Claire Roubaud-Baudron
- University Bordeaux, Inserm, BaRITOn, URM 1053, Pôle de Gérontologie Clinique, CHU Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Benoît Jaulhac
- French National Reference Center for and Early Bacterial Virulence: Lyme borreliosis Group, Université de Strasbourg, CHRU Strasbourg, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - José-Alberto Avila-Funes
- University Bordeaux, Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, UMR 1219, Bordeaux, France.,Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Jean-François Dartigues
- University Bordeaux, Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, UMR 1219, Bordeaux, France
| | - Hélène Amieva
- University Bordeaux, Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, UMR 1219, Bordeaux, France
| | - Karine Pérès
- University Bordeaux, Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, UMR 1219, Bordeaux, France
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49
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Mason C, Thompson C, Ouyang Z. The Lon-2 protease of Borrelia burgdorferi is critical for infection in the mammalian host. Mol Microbiol 2020; 113:938-950. [PMID: 31955462 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi encodes a functional homolog of canonical Lon protease termed Lon-2. To date, the contribution of Lon-2 to B. burgdorferi fitness and infection remains unexplored. Herein, we showed that expression of lon-2 was highly induced during animal infection, suggesting that Lon-2 is important for B. burgdorferi infection. We further generated a lon-2 deletion mutant. Compared with that of wild-type (WT) strain, the infectivity of the mutant was severely attenuated in a murine infection model. Although no growth defect was observed for the mutant in normal BSK-II medium, resistance of the lon-2 mutant to osmotic stress was markedly reduced. In addition, when exposed to tert-Butyl hydroperoxide, survival of the lon-2 mutant was impaired. In addition, we found that the protein levels of RpoS and RpoS-dependent OspC were decreased in the mutant. All these phenotypes were restored to WT or near-WT levels when lon-2 mutation was complemented in cis. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Lon-2 is critical for B. burgdorferi to establish infection and to cope with environmental stresses. This study provides a foundation for further uncovering the direct link between the dual roles of Lon-2 in protein quality control and bacterial pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Mason
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Christina Thompson
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Zhiming Ouyang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
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50
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Yeung C, Baranchuk A. Diagnosis and Treatment of Lyme Carditis: JACC Review Topic of the Week. J Am Coll Cardiol 2020; 73:717-726. [PMID: 30765038 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2018.11.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The incidence of Lyme disease, a tick-borne bacterial infection, is dramatically increasing in North America. The diagnosis of Lyme carditis (LC), an early disseminated manifestation of Lyme disease, has important implications for patient management and preventing further extracutaneous complications. High-degree atrioventricular block is the most common presentation of LC, and usually resolves with antibiotic therapy. A systematic approach to the diagnosis of LC in patients with high-degree atrioventricular block will facilitate the identification of this usually transient condition, thus preventing unnecessary implantation of permanent pacemakers in otherwise healthy young individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Yeung
- Department of Cardiology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. https://twitter.com/yeung2020
| | - Adrian Baranchuk
- Department of Cardiology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
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