Infections

Full article: http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/pdf/1756-3305-3-76.pdf

Excerpt:

Cats appear to be the primary reservoir host for Bartonella koehlerae, an alpha Proteobacteria that is most likely transmitted among cat populations by fleas (Ctenocephalides felis). Bartonella koehlerae has caused endocarditis in a dog and in one human patient from Israel, but other clinically relevant reports involving this bacterium are lacking. Despite publication of numerous, worldwide epidemiological studies designed to determine the prevalence of Bartonella spp. bacteremia in cats, B. koehlerae has never been isolated using conventional blood agar plates. To date, successful isolation of B. koehlerae from cats and from the one human endocarditis patient has consistently required the use of chocolate agar plates.

Results

In this study, Bartonella koehlerae bacteremia was documented in eight immunocompetent patients by PCR amplification and DNA sequencing, either prior to or after enrichment blood culture using Bartonella alpha Proteobacteria growth medium. Presenting symptoms most often included fatigue, insomnia, joint pain, headache, memory loss, and muscle pain. Four patients were also infected with Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii genotype II. After molecular documentation of B. koehlerae infection in these patients, a serological test was developed and serum samples were tested retrospectively. Bartonella koehlerae antibodies were not detected (titers< 1:16) in 30 healthy human control sera, whereas five of eight patient samples had B. koehlerae antibody titers of 1:64 or greater.

Full article: http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&id=20392182&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks

Excerpt:

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-In this setting, monthly
topical administration of 10% imidacloprid-1% moxidectin reduced
flea infestation, compared with infestation in untreated cats,
and thus prevented flea transmission of B henselae to treated
cats. Regular monthly use of this flea control product in cats
may lessen the likelihood of humans acquiring B henselae
infection.

Full article: http://www.bostonherald.com/business/healthcare/view.bg?articleid=1268561&srvc=rss

Excerpt:

A new state law that spells out the rights of physicians to treat chronic Lyme disease patients with long-term antibiotics is being heralded as a victory by advocates of people afflicted by the tick-borne illness, reports the Cape Cod Times.

The law is meant to prevent doctors who treat patients with antibiotics beyond the 30 days recommended by some professionals from billing insurance, said Brenda Boleyn, who chairs the Cape and Islands Lyme Disease Task Force, a community organization comprised of local government, agencies and Lyme disease patients.

While short courses of antibiotics appear to work when Lyme is detected in its early stages, more aggressive and longer treatment seems to be the only solution for seemingly intractable cases of Lyme, Boleyn said.

Linda’s comment:  Good ole Borax has been around for years.  I can remember as a child my granny and mom using borax for cleaning.  Borax, Heinz White Vinegar, Clorox and ammonia was their best friends….Even though there are those, who are chemically sensitive, can not use Clorox or ammonia, it is still used today by thousands.

Full article: http://www.diylife.com/2010/08/12/25-household-uses-for-borax/?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl4|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diylife.com%2F2010%2F08%2F12%2F25-household-uses-for-borax%2F

Excerpt:

Sometimes referred to as “the miracle mineral,” this time-honored household ingredient is the natural solution for just about everything under your roof, from cleaning to insect control.

Borax, also known as sodium borate, is an a naturally occurring substance and an eco-friendly solution for many things around the house. Most commonly used as a cleaning agent, the uses extend far beyond that.

Talking with friends (ones far wiser than myself), and reading tips from Reader’s Digest,Laundry Goddess and Green Living Tips I’m excited to share all the ways you can use this natural element to your greatest advantage. Here are 25 to get you started. Let us know about your own special uses and we’ll keep updating the list. 

(Safety Warning: Just because borax is natural, that doesn’t mean it’s harmless. You should always use gloves when handling it and keep it out of reach of children and pets.While safe in the diluted solutions, borax could be very harmful to children and pets if ingested.)

Full article: http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&id=20699042&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks

Excerpt:

A 71-year-old man was referred to our outpatient clinic because
of arthralgia and swelling of his right hand. He also showed a
subcutaneous nodule on his left knee. A second patient, a
57-year-old woman, was referred because of painful skin of her
legs. Dermatologic examination revealed erythemateous livid
discoloration on both feet and legs. There were reticular
varices, corona flebectatia paraplantaris medialis and minimal
pitting oedema. Serology tested positive in both patients for
Borrelia and they both recalled tick bites. A third patient, a
73-year-old woman, was referred because of erythema and maculae
located at her lower legs and positive Borrelia serology.
Pathologic examination was typical for acrodermatitis chronica
atrophicans, a late skin manifestation of Lyme borreliosis. In
all patients, symptoms improved after treatment with doxycycline
for four weeks. A lack of familiarity with this skin condition
may lead to unnecessary vascular investigations and considerable
delay in adequate treatment.

Full article: http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&id=20595179&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks

Excerpt:

Results
27 different non-specific bands were detected in both groups. Six
of 27 (22%) of the non-specific bands were detected significantly
more in the western blot positive patients compared to the
western blot negative patients (20 kDa, p<0.0001; 28 kDa,
p<0.002; 36 kDa, p<0.002; 37 kDa, p<0.007; 48 kDa, p<0.023; 56
kDa, p<0.028; two-tailed F test). 

Conclusion
Results suggest that the 20, 28 and 48 kDa bands should be
regarded as specific.

Full article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100527122147.htm

Excerpt:

ScienceDaily (Aug. 16, 2010) — The bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which lives in the human stomach and is associated with ulcers and gastric cancer, is shaped like a corkscrew, or helix. For years researchers have hypothesized that the bacterium’s twisty shape is what enables it to survive — and thrive — within the stomach’s acid-drenched environment, but until now they have had no proof.

For the first time, researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have found that, at least when it comes to H. pylori’s ability to colonize the stomach, shape indeed matters. Microbiologist Nina Salama, Ph.D., and colleagues report their findings May 28 in Cell.

Salama and colleagues are the first to demonstrate that the bug’s helical shape helps it set up shop in the protective gelatin-like mucus that coats the stomach. Such bacterial colonization — present in up to half of the world’s population — causes chronic inflammation that is linked to a variety of stomach disorders, from chronic gastritis and duodenitis to ulcers and cancer.

Full article: http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&id=20407371&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks

Excerpt:

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Lyme borreliosis is the most common
vector-borne bacterial infection in temperate areas of the
northern hemisphere. It has been perceived as difficult to
diagnose and treat, but much is now known about its clinical
presentations, which largely fall into well defined categories in
both adults and children. This review features recent
publications on clinical diagnosis and management. 

RECENT FINDINGS: The reported incidence of Lyme borreliosis has
increased markedly in many countries. Many recent publications
have focused on clinical and laboratory aspects of paediatric and
adult neuroborreliosis, and there is now strong evidence for the
efficacy of oral doxycycline for most presentations of
neuroborreliosis. Serological tests have improved significantly.
Several studies have confirmed that patients treated for early
Lyme borreliosis have good overall long-term outcomes. Studies of
patients with persistent symptoms following treatment have not
shown evidence for active infection or for sustained benefit from
prolonged antibiotic treatment. 

Excerpt:

Common gut bacteria can induce eukaryotic chromosomal instability in vivo, according to a study published in a recent issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA.Up to 34% of commensal Escherichia coli strains isolated from human faeces in high-income countries contain pks, a genomic island encoding a cluster of non-ribosomal peptide synthetases and polyketide synthetases that are involved in the production of the genotoxin colibactin.

Full article: http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&id=20540415&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks

Excerpt:

Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA) is a rare tertiary
manifestation of Lyme borreliosis, manifesting as inflammatory
and atrophic lesions on acral skin. Although ACA rarely has been
reported in the United States, it may be seen in approximately
10% of European cases of Lyme borreliosis, most commonly
associated with the genospecies Borrelia afzelii. We report a
presumptive case of ACA involving an American woman from
Pennsylvania with convincing clinical, histopathologic, and
serologic findings. We also provide an overview of the history,
epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical and histopathologic
presentation, and treatment of ACA.