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Published on Leave a comment on Waiting For A Lyme Disease Vaccine
Deer tick Credit: Wikipedia

Will we soon have vaccines to protect us from Lyme disease? It turns out that there are two possible vaccines being tested right now, including one based on mRNA technologies (same as the Covid vaccines).

The mRNA vaccine has has been successfully tested in mice so far, and yes - it protected the mice from being infected with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi which causes Lyme disease. The second one is an intranasal protein vaccine (an established vaccine type) and is currently being tested on humans. But both vaccines are a while off yet.

Meanwhile, we're all waiting, waiting, waiting for a Lyme disease vaccine.

Excerpts from The Scientist - Newly Developed mRNA Vaccine Protects Against Lyme Disease

After walking through a forest or field of tall grass, public health agencies in many countries advise people to check their clothes, pets, and bodies for unwanted hitchhikers—ticks. These arthropods feed on the blood of mammals, such as mice, deer, livestock, and humans, as well as lizards and birds.1 Additionally, Ixodes ticks act as vectors, where they transfer disease-causing bacteria, viruses, or protozoa to their host during feeding. ...continue reading "Waiting For A Lyme Disease Vaccine"

Published on Leave a comment on Study Finds Link Between Viruses and Alzheimer’s Disease

For a while now it has become clear to some scientists that the prevailing view of Alzheimer's disease (buildup in the brain of 2 substances: amyloid and tau) isn't correct. Instead, some researchers feel that there is growing evidence that viruses are implicated as a cause of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., vascular dementia, ALS, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis).

A recent study linked 22 viruses to the development of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., vascular dementia, ALS, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis) within 15 years. The strongest association was for viral encephalitis and later developing Alzheimer’s disease. Influenza with pneumonia was associated with 5 neurodegenerative diseases.

The researchers also found a link between infection with Epstein Barr and later developing multiple sclerosis (this confirmed other recent research).

Other studies find that vaccinations (influenza, pneumonia, shingles) are associated with lower rates of Alzheimer's disease. This has also been found with antivirals (e.g., for herpes simplex).

From Science Alert: A Study of 500,000 Medical Records Links Viruses to Alzheimer's Again And Again

A study of around 500,000 medical records suggested that severe viral infections like encephalitis and pneumonia increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. ...continue reading "Study Finds Link Between Viruses and Alzheimer’s Disease"

Published on Leave a comment on Kidney Stones and the Gut Microbiome
Kidney stones Credit: Wikipedia

What causes a person to develop kidney stones has long been debated. A recent study found that in persons who develop kidney stones, there are alterations in the gut, salivary, and urinary microbiomes. In other words, the community of fungi, viruses, and bacteria at each of these sites are out of whack or imbalanced.

In the study, not only were the 3 microbiomes imbalanced in the persons with kidney stones (when compared to healthy people without kidney stones), but they also had less diversity (fewer species) in their microbiomes. For example, persons with kidney stones had significantly fewer gut health associated bacteria F. prausnitzii, and significantly more inflammation associated E. lenta.

Those with kidney stones also had a history of having taken more antibiotics (antimicrobials).

The researchers conclusion: To avoid kidney stones a healthy diet is essential (for a healthy gut microbiome). One should also avoid taking antibiotics unless necessary. [BTW, the bacteria F. prausnitzii has long been viewed as a keystone microbe in a healthy gut microbiome. It can be increased by increasing fiber in the diet - e.g., fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, whole grains, legumes.]

From Medical Xpress: New study sheds light on the connection between the microbiome and kidney stones

A new study from Lawson Health Research Institute and Western University published in the journal Microbiome has found changes in the microbiome in multiple locations in the body are linked to the formation of kidney stones. ...continue reading "Kidney Stones and the Gut Microbiome"

Published on Leave a comment on Smoking and Shrinking of the Brain

We all know cigarette smoking is bad for our health (for example, higher rates of heart disease, respiratory disease, and cancer), but it also has an effect on our brains. Yup. Research shows it's associated with a decrease in brain size (volume)!

The researchers found that while all levels of daily smoking was associated with a decrease in brain volume, heavy smoking was associated with an even greater decrease in brain size (volume). This is a dose-response relationship.

By the way, this strong association between a history of daily smoking and overall brain volume, gray matter volume, and white matter volume of the brain was also found in other studies.

They also found that even if you stop smoking, you don't get back that missing brain volume. But at least it'll stop further cigarette smoking shrinkage. The researchers point out that this could explain why smoking is linked to increased rates of age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's. Yikes!

From Science Daily: Smoking causes brain shrinkage, study finds

Smoking shrinks the brain, according to a study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The good news is that quitting smoking prevents further loss of brain tissue -- but still, stopping smoking doesn't restore the brain to its original size. Since people's brains naturally lose volume with age, smoking effectively causes the brain to age prematurely, the researchers said. ...continue reading "Smoking and Shrinking of the Brain"

Published on Leave a comment on Study Finds Adults Eat A Meal’s Worth of Snacks Each Day

This is so true.... Researchers found that American adults eat about one meal's worth of snacks over the course of each day. That's about 400 to 500 calories, or almost one quarter of daily calories. Also, the snacks are typically poor nutritionally -  with lots of sugar and low in fiber.

Bottom line: If you snack, then try to have nutritionally good snacks, such as fruit or nuts (and not just chips, cookies, and candy). This way the snacks will be a source of nutrients and fiber (all good!).

From Science Daily: US adults eat a meal's worth of calories of snacks in a day

Snacks constitute almost a quarter of a day's calories in U.S. adults and account for about one-third of daily added sugar, a new study suggests. ...continue reading "Study Finds Adults Eat A Meal’s Worth of Snacks Each Day"

Published on Leave a comment on Ear Piercing and the Skin Microbiome
Credit: Wikimedia Commons

We all have a skin microbiome - the community of millions of microbes (bacteria, fungi, viruses) that normally live on the skin. New research shows that when we get the ears pierced and start to wear earrings, it causes a disruption to the skin microbiome of the earlobes, and there is an actual shift to different microbes. A new normal develops.

The researchers found that before piercing, the earlobe skin to be pierced is disinfected (which disrupts and kills off microbes), and then after the piercing and insertion of an earring that area of the skin is permanently more moist - thus there is a shift in the community of microbes (their composition). It becomes more complex, with a greater variety of microbes, and some moisture loving species move in.

Therefore. the researchers say that ear piercing represents "ecosystem engineering on the human body". Yes. And wow.

From Science Alert: After an Ear Piercing, Your Skin Microbiome Changes in a Fundamental Way

You may not have ever realized it, but there are many trillions of microorganisms living on our skin – and puncturing the skin and inserting a metal object, also known as getting a piercing, creates a significant shift in that microbiome. ...continue reading "Ear Piercing and the Skin Microbiome"

Published on Leave a comment on Combination Antibiotic Therapy May Help With Persistent Lyme Disease
Deer tick Credit: Wikipedia

Finally, some good news in the treatment of Lyme disease. A recent study found that treating with 2 or 3 antibiotics at once is more effective in clearing Lyme disease bacteria than just treating with a course of one antibiotic (which is what is done now). In other words, a combination therapy is superior.

A single course of antibiotics treats most Lyme disease infections, but not in about 10 to 20% of patients. Studies find that this is because the Lyme disease bacteria hide in the organs (the sneaky devils!). The Lyme disease bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) is transmitted by tick bites.

The study was done in mice with persistent Lyme disease, but the results also (probably) apply to humans with persistent Lyme disease infections. None of the single antibiotics completely eradicated the bacteria, but the following 4 dual combinations were effective: doxycycline + ceftriaxone, dapsone + rifampicin, dapsone + clofazimine, doxycycline + cefotaxime. Also effective were 3 triple antibiotic combinations: doxycycline + ceftriaxone+ carbomycin, doxycycline + cefotaxime+ loratadine, dapsone+ rifampicin+ clofazimine. The drugs were given for 28 days two months after infection.

Next step is testing this in humans with persistent Lyme disease.

From Medical Xpress: Combined antibiotics more effective against Lyme disease: Study

Researchers at Tulane University have found that a combination of antibiotics is more effective in treating Lyme disease than the commonly prescribed course of one single antibiotic. This finding, published in Frontiers in Microbiology, could pave the way for improved Lyme disease treatments, particularly in persistent cases that have not responded to standard antibiotic treatment. ...continue reading "Combination Antibiotic Therapy May Help With Persistent Lyme Disease"

Published on Leave a comment on Study Found Vitamin D Supplements Do Not Prevent Fractures In Children

Another disappointing result for Vitamin D supplements. A large study, with school-aged children randomly assigned to either a vitamin D supplement group or no supplement, found that vitamin D supplementation had no effect on the number of fractures that occurred in the children. Vitamin D3 supplementation did not prevent fractures or have an effect on bone strength.

Most children were vitamin D deficient at the beginning of the 3 year study (but none had rickets, for which vitamin D is prescribed). The vitamin D supplement (14,000 IU/week for 3 years) group soon had normal levels while the other group stayed at low levels. And yet there were no differences in the percentage getting fractures (6% in both groups) over time.

From Science Daily: Vitamin D supplements do not prevent bone fractures in children

A major clinical trial led by Queen Mary University of London and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has found that vitamin D supplements do not increase bone strength or prevent bone fractures in children with vitamin D deficiency. The findings challenge widely held perceptions relating to the effects of vitamin D on bone health. ...continue reading "Study Found Vitamin D Supplements Do Not Prevent Fractures In Children"