Master list of Lyme disease movies and videos

The release of Under Our Skin 2: Emergence has brought further attention to films related to Lyme disease. This is a list of some of the Lyme disease movies/videos. There are also many news video clips on Lyme disease. It is not a complete list, but a start. If anyone can expand on this, feel free to do so by leaving a comment for me here on my Lyme blog:

http://bobcowart.blogspot.com/2014/08/master-list-of-lyme-disease-movies-and.html

-Bob Cowart

This movie list was originally compiled and sent out on 8/29/2014 by Dr Robert Bransfield, an LLMD based in New Jersey, USA.

Updates:

8/30/2014  I added about  8 more entries (Bob Cowart)

General coverage:

Under Our Skin, Under Our Skin 2: Emergence:

http://www.underourskin.com/#home-emergence

Lymelife:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5j6QAkGbNU

Invisible Illness: Lyme disease, TED:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPWiCGSYtlw

French Lyme video: (52 minutes) “Lyme Disease: A Silent Epidemic"

Two versions -- one in French and one in English. It is very good and includes interviews of American as well as French LLMDs and patients (including Pr Christian Perronne and Dr Richard Horowitz).

It is called: Produced by France 5 Public Network 

http://vimeo.com/95647143

The Voices of Lyme Disease-Breaking the Silence created by Victoria Wilcox, a 16 year old girl and her friend, Sara Lynch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpB287Yx9iQ

Documentary Film on Lyme Disease and Stealth Infections, Invisibly Ill, Australia:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj9zBXPutvs&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Great Lyme Disease Parody!

http://goanimate.com/movie/0XCA4kvs8vk4?utm_source=facebook  

Ode to Lyme Brain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lSliucgygc

Lyme Awareness Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCB6ezBzSMY

Under the Eight Ball:

http://vimeo.com/7165595

The Lyme Altar: A People's History of Symptoms, Sacrifice and Hope
From Touchable Stories Productions (40 minutes)

http://www.karlmcmanusfoundation.org.au/books--movies/lyme-disease-movie-store

Curable: Lyme Disease & Morgellon's
From Science of Medicine Publishing

http://www.karlmcmanusfoundation.org.au/books--movies/lyme-disease-movie-store

Curable: Autsim, ADHD, Lyme Disease with Co-Infection & Morgellon's Disease
From Science of Medicine Publishing

http://www.karlmcmanusfoundation.org.au/books--movies/lyme-disease-movie-store

Lyme Disease: What You Should Know (Lyme Disease Foundation)

Format: VHS Tape

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MEO5UU/ref=nosim?tag=karlmcmfou-d-20&linkCode=sb1&camp=212353&creative=380549#cm_cr_dpwidget

Lyme Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment (Lyme Foundation)

(51 minutes)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009YKH00A/ref=nosim?tag=karlmcmfou-d-20&linkCode=sb1&camp=212353&creative=380549

Lyme Disease: Time for Truth (1996) 

(VHS Video) A disease spreading through the country...a look through the eyes of those who suffer from it and those who have chosen to fight for them. With digital graphics from DE, and original music by Arte Bratton, this video explores the real issues involved with this spreading disease.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/6304896468/ref=nosim?tag=karlmcmfou-d-20&linkCode=sb1&camp=212353&creative=380549

Lyme Disease: The Holistic Approach (75 minutes)

From IngaVid Productions

Currently unavailable

Celebrity videos:

Yolanda Foster's Experience With Lyme: LRA Gala

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6djL18mfXj8&feature=youtu.be

Daryl Hall Speaks About Persistent Lyme Disease Infection

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoTEP9lZetY&list=PL53Pb2ML9856pvIsuW5KNzAblY1j-cmII

Dorothy Leland (Lymedisease.org) shared this story:

http://lymedisease.org/news/touchedbylyme/touched-by-lyme-lyme-disease-awareness-through-figure-skating.html

Scientific:

Alan MacDonald videos:

http://borrelialyme.forumatic.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3&p=7#p7

Mason Kuhn, Lyme and Autism, video is half way down the blog:

http://our-lyme-autism-journey.blogspot.com/

Pr Luc Montagnier on Lyme disease, autism and chronic infections

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRQ-NhEkLXU

Lyme Disease - Seasons On The Fly, Dr Jason West:

http://www.seasonsonthefly.com/blog/?page_id=89

Political:

Rep. Mario Scavello poses some questions at the House Appropriations Committee budget hearing with the Department of Health.

Rep. Scavello Asks About Lyme Disease at Health Budget Hearingd

Some ILADS videos:

http://www.ilads.org/lyme/lyme-videos.php

http://www.ilads.org/lyme_programs/conference-videos.php

http://ilads.org/ilads_media/boston-videos-home/

http://www.ilads.org/media/conference_land.php

Also, do an Internet search of Lyme or Lyme + video + the names of the doctors involved with Lyme disease to find many additional videos. When I did this with my name I was surprised to find 7 videos.

 

Robert C Bransfield, MD, DLFAPA

225 Highway 35

Red Bank, NJ 07701

Phone: 732-741-3263

Fax: 732-741-5308

Website: www.MentalHealthandIllness.com

Disseminated Lyme Disease Presenting With Nonsexual Acute Genital Ulcers

Finch JJ, Wald J, Ferenczi K, Khalid S, Murphy M.

JAMA Dermatology. Online before print, 2014 Aug 27. 

http://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2014.1072

Abstract

Importance  Nonsexual acute genital ulceration (NAGU) is a rare vulvar skin condition typically affecting girls and young women, characterized by acute onset of singular or multiple painful vaginal ulcers. The etiology of this ulcerative dermatosis has not been identified, although it has been associated with systemic infections. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an association with Lyme disease.

Observations  A case of a woman with early disseminated Lyme disease presenting with NAGU is reported. A thorough workup ruled out other causes of genital ulceration, and the ulcers completely resolved after treatment with topical steroids and oral doxycycline.

Conclusions and Relevance  Although the etiology of NAGU is unknown, the vulvar ulcers may result from an exuberant immune response to infection. Most patients with NAGU exhibit nonspecific symptoms such as myalgias and fever, suggesting an infectious agent, but the majority have no identifiable pathogen. In addition to previously reported associations with systemic infection, which are reviewed herein, Lyme disease should be considered in women presenting with acute-onset genital ulcers.

Accessing Affordable, Effective and Safe Medications

Access to the appropriate medically necessary medication has been challenging for a number of reasons in our current healthcare system. If you are having difficulty accessing your prescribed medications you may be interested in the following resources:

https://www.pparx.org  Partnership for Prescription Assistance is a clearinghouse to network with drug companies that have patient assistance programs to provide medication for free to individuals that meet income requirements.

http://RxOutreach.org  Discount prices to individuals that meet certain income requirements.

A number of different companies provide discount cards for medications. Physicians are mailed these and they are on the Internet. 

Needy Meds:www.needymeds.org/index.htm 

Healthcare Alliance: www.TheHealtCareAlliance.com  

Half Off: www.HalfOffRx.com 

National Prescription Savings Network: www.NPSNCard.com 

Patient Savings Alliance: www.PatientSavingsAlliance.com  

Avia Partners: www.AviaPartners.com 

PDR card: www.pdr.net/pharmacy-savings/discount-card-for-patients

Go to the drug company website for the medication prescribed and access discount coupons. These websites are often www.(name of the drug).com

www.GoodRx.com  Type in the name of the drug and your zip code and compare the prices in different drug stores and discount coupons can be printed.

Costco has a drug pricing tool, but it is difficult to find it on their website. They charge 3% above wholesale, but do not carry every medication. It is useful as a price guide. You do not have to be a member to use the pharmacy. http://www.costco.com/pharmacy/drug-directory-main?storeId=10301&catalogId=10701&langId=-1

In general, outlet stores and supermarkets are cheaper than pharmacy chains and use the pharmacy as a loss leader to draw customers into the store. Don't waste a lot of time with insurance company approval barriers or manipulations to use their 90 day prescriptions or mail order pharmacies for a generic medication in which the cash price is less or close to the insurance company copay.

Be advised that some generics are inequivalent to brand name drugs. Demand generic brands that are known to be equivalent with that particular medication and avoid generic brands that known to be inequivalent.

Use caution when using Internet and foreign pharmacies. Many "Canadian Pharmacies" are not in Canada and there are risks of substandard, fraudulent and potentially toxic medications.

A knowledgeable pharmacist is a pivotal part of your healthcare. This is most commonly acquired at a local pharmacy that provides personalized attention. Also independent pharmacies have greater access to more wholesalers and greater flexibility to order the brand of the generic that is more effective. Often it is better to pay a little more at a pharmacy that provides this service.

Clarithromycin Linked to Increased Cardiac Death Risk

(HealthDay News) -- There is a significantly increased risk of cardiac death associated with clarithromycin use, according to a study published online August 19 in BMJ.

Henrik Svanström, from the Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen, Denmark, and colleagues assessed the risk of cardiac death associated with use of clarithromycin and roxithromycin compared with penicillin V in Danish adults (aged 40–74 years). Participants had received seven-day treatment courses with clarithromycin (160,297 adults), roxithromycin (588,988 adults), and penicillin V (4,355,309 adults).

Here is the source article:

http://www.empr.com/clarithromycin-linked-to-increased-cardiac-death-risk/article/367195/?DCMP=EMC-MPR_DailyDose&CPN&spMailingID=9273670&spUserID=NTc2NzQzMDc4NTkS1&spJobID=361888994&spReportId=MzYxODg4OTk0S0

EIGHT species of Borrelia found in the SF Bay Area's Alameda County

Remarkable diversity of tick or mammalian-associated Borreliae in the metropolitan San Francisco Bay Area, California.

Fedorova N, Kleinjan JE, James D, Hui LT, Peeters H, Lane RS.

Ticks Tick Borne Diseases. Online before print, 2014 Aug 13. pii: S1877-959X(14)00160-5. 

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.07.015

Abstract

The diversity of Lyme disease (LD) and relapsing fever (RF)-group spirochetes in the metropolitan San Francisco Bay area in northern California is poorly understood. We tested Ixodes pacificus, I. spinipalpis, and small mammals for presence of borreliae in Alameda County in the eastern portion of San Francisco Bay between 2009 and 2012. 

Analyses of 218 Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bb sl) culture or DNA isolates recovered from host-seeking I. pacificus ticks revealed that the human pathogen Bb sensu stricto (hereinafter, B. burgdorferi) had the broadest habitat distribution followed by B. bissettii. Three other North American Bb sl spirochetes, B. americana, B. californiensis and B. genomospecies 2, also were detected at lower prevalence. 

OspC genotyping of the resultant 167 B. burgdorferi isolates revealed six ospC alleles (A, D, E3, F, H and K) in I. pacificus. A novel spirochete belonging to the Eurasian Bb sl complex, designated CA690, was found in a questing I. spinipalpis nymph. Borrelia miyamotoi, a relapsing-fever (RF) group spirochete recently implicated as a human pathogen, was detected in 24 I. pacificus. 

Three rodent species were infected with Bb sl: the fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) with B. burgdorferi, and the dusky-footed wood rat (Neotoma fuscipes) and roof rat (Rattus rattus) with B. bissettii. Another spirochete that clustered phylogenetically with the Spanish R57 Borrelia sp. in a clade distinct from both the LD and RF groups infected some of the roof rats. 

Together, eight borrelial genospecies were detected in ticks or small mammals from a single Californian county, two of which were related phylogenetically to European spirochetes.

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.07.015

 

__._,_.___

---

 

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Two more Lyme-associated Parkinsonism references

Neuroborreliosis in a patient with progressive supranuclear paralysis. An association or the cause?

TITLE: [Neuroborreliosis in a patient with progressive supranuclear
paralysis. An association or the cause?]

VERNACULAR TITLE: Neuroborreliosis en un paciente con paralisis
supranuclear progresiva: asociacion o causa? 

AUTHORS: Garcia-Moreno JM;
Izquierdo G; Chacon J; Angulo S; Borobio MV

AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Departamento de Inmunologia, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Macarena, Sevilla, Espana. Ay...@arrakis.es

SOURCE: Rev Neurol 1997 Dec;25(148):1919-21

CITATION IDS: PMID: 9528031 UI: 98188456

ABSTRACT:

INTRODUCTION: Many different neurological conditions may be seen in the
later stages of Lyme Disease, such as blindness, epileptic crises,
CVA, extrapyramidal disorders, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and
dementia may be yet another form of presentation of chronic infection
due to Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). Progressive Supranuclear Paralysis
(PSP), a disorder of unknown aetiology, considered to be the commonest
cause of Parkinsonism-plus, one of the symptoms of which is dementia,
has never been mentioned in this type of differential diagnosis.

CLINICAL CASE: We present the case of a 78 year old man with sub-acute
mental deterioration, Bb positive serology in both plasma and CSF, and
with clinical and epidemiological features compatible with Lyme's
Disease. Complementary tests were negative. The syndrome corresponded
to Lyme's Disease and improved after treatment with ceftriaxona.

CONCLUSIONS: We consider aspects of the aetiology of PSP which are still not clear. In our patient, the aetiology seemed to be Bb infection, according to the criteria of the original description of the disease and in view of the neuropathological findings which have shown Bb in the substancia nigra of the mid-brain and the existence of an animal model in which Bb shows a particular tendency to colonize infratentorial structures. 

MAIN MESH HEADINGS: Borrelia
burgdorferi/*isolation & purification
Lyme Disease/*complications
Substantia Nigra/*microbiology
Substantia Nigra/*pathology
Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive/*diagnosis
Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive/*microbiology
ADDITIONAL MESH HEADINGS: Aged
Antiparkinson Agents/therapeutic use
Case Report
Ceftriaxone/therapeutic use
Cephalosporins/therapeutic use
Dementia/etiology
Electroencephalography
English Abstract
Facies Frontal Lobe/radionuclide imaging Human Lyme Disease/drug
therapy Magnetic Resonance Imaging Male Parietal Lobe/radionuclide
imaging Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive/drug therapy Temporal
Lobe/radionuclide imaging Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
1998/04 1998/07 02:02 PUBLICATION TYPES: JOURNAL ARTICLE CAS REGISTRY
NUMBERS: 0 (Antiparkinson Agents) 0 (Cephalosporins) 73384-59-5
(Ceftriaxone) LANGUAGES: Spa

Title: [Neurologic forms of Lyme disease. 12 cases]
Authors: Viader F, Poncelet AM, Chapon F, Thenint JP, Dupuy B, Morin P,
Lechevalier B
Source: Rev Neurol (Paris) 1989;145(5):362-8
Organization: Service de Neurologie Dejerine, CHU de Caen.

Abstract:
Twelve cases of Lyme disease with neurological complications are
reported. Seven patients had meningoradiculitis of the Garin-Bujadoux-
Bannwarth type, with facial palsy in 2 cases. In 1 case the radiculitis
involved only the cauda equina. Two more patients had meningomyelitis.
Of the remaining 3, 1 had subacute inflammatory polyneuritis with
albumino-cytologic dissociation, 1 had probable dorsal epiduritis, and
the last one developed parkinsonism and communicating hydrocephalus
after an otherwise classical meningoradiculitis. Three patients
recalled a tick bite but only one a cutaneous eruption. No arthritis or
cardiac involvement were observed. In 2 cases the CSF contained pseudo-
neoplastic cells. Severe pain was a prominent feature in most cases.
Pain consistently and rapidly improved on high-dose intravenous
penicillin, while other signs or symptoms (e.g. paresthesias or
fatigue) often lasted several months. Parkinsonism and hydrocephalus
were not influenced by penicillin, and both required specific therapy.
Isolated neurological (both central and peripheral) involvement is not
unusual in Lyme's disease and may give rise to a wide range of signs
and symptoms. This diagnosis is to be considered even when other
features of Borrelia burgdorferi infection are lacking.

Keywords:
Adult, Aged, English Abstract, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Human, Lyme
Disease, CEREBROSPINAL FLUID, COMPLICATIONS, DIAGNOSIS, Male, Middle
Age, Myelitis, CEREBROSPINAL FLUID, DRUG THERAPY, ETIOLOGY,
Penicillins, THERAPEUTIC USE, Radiculitis, CEREBROSPINAL FLUID, DRUG
THERAPY, ETIOLOGY, Serology

Language: Fre

Unique ID: 89297964

Social causes of Lyme, Parkinson's and depression?

I find this study to be quite interesting and a nuanced conception of how an individual's work, social standing and self image could affect his/her immune system health and potentially create a cascade effect leading to clinical depression and even neurological degeneration. I have read over the years that, for example, the experience of humiliation is one of the most difficult life circumstances to navigate and recover from. In some cultures, public humiliation is tantamount to death, or worse. Historically speaking and cross-culturally, exile and excommunication have often been seen as more deeply punitive than being condemned to death. 

-Bob

Psychol Bulletin. Author manuscript; available in PMC May 1, 2014.

Published in final edited form as:

Psychol Bull. May 2014; 140(3): 774–815.

Published online Jan 13, 2014. doi:  10.1037/a0035302

PMCID: PMC4006295

NIHMSID: NIHMS561676

From Stress to Inflammation and Major Depressive Disorder: A Social Signal Transduction Theory of Depression

George M. Slavich and Michael R. Irwin

University of California, Los Angeles

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to George M. Slavich, Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA Medical Plaza 300, Room 3156, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7076. Email: ude.alcu.tendem@hcivalsg

George M. Slavich and Michael R. Irwin, Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology and Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles.

Author information ► Copyright and License information ►

Copyright notice and Disclaimer

The publisher's final edited version of this article is available at Psychol Bull

Go to:

Abstract

Major life stressors, especially those involving interpersonal stress and social rejection, are among the strongest proximal risk factors for depression. In this review, we propose a biologically plausible, multilevel theory that describes neural, physiologic, molecular, and genomic mechanisms that link experiences of social-environmental stress with internal biological processes that drive depression pathogenesis. Central to this social signal transduction theory of depression is the hypothesis that experiences of social threat and adversity up-regulate components of the immune system involved in inflammation. The key mediators of this response, called proinflammatory cytokines, can in turn elicit profound changes in behavior, which include the initiation of depressive symptoms such as sad mood, anhedonia, fatigue, psychomotor retardation, and social-behavioral withdrawal. This highly conserved biological response to adversity is critical for survival during times of actual physical threat or injury. However, this response can also be activated by modern-day social, symbolic, or imagined threats, leading to an increasingly proinflammatory phenotype that may be a key phenomenon driving depression pathogenesis and recurrence, as well as the overlap of depression with several somatic conditions including asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic pain, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and neurodegeneration. Insights from this theory may thus shed light on several important questions including how depression develops, why it frequently recurs, why it is strongly predicted by early life stress, and why it often co-occurs with symptoms of anxiety and with certain physical disease conditions. This work may also suggest new opportunities for preventing and treating depression by targeting inflammation.

New research that Borrelia does produce persister bacteria

A note from someone in the Lyme community:

Had you heard the news out of ASM2014 (American Society for Microbiology)? Kim Lewis from Northeastern has been doing research on what are called persisters (bacteria that can survive antibiotics without being killed). He had been granted about $6M in NIH (National Institute of Health) funding plus was supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for chronic TB due to persisters. 

So he is the real deal in chronic infections and drug discovery to cure TB persisters and also has a culture team for bacteria that are difficult to culture. He was funded $.5M by the LRA (Lyme Research Alliance) to see if Borrelia has persisters which might explain chronic Lyme and lead to a cure. 

At ASM2014 they released the first results and Borrelia does produce persisters. This might be the most important Lyme news in a long time. Kim Lewis was the researcher who discovered and cured MRSA chronic infections due to persisters and not due to mutant, resistant bacteria.

Watch Kim Lewis's video on the Paradox of Chronic Infections.... Its worth watching! This video was done before the recent announcement at ASM 2014 but watch with that discovery in mind and that this researcher received $6M from the NIH. The NIH is cautious in selecting grant recipients, as is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXTPiJWhtDg

Is Lyme disease a feminist issue?

From our last KPFA Lyme interview. New article in Truthout entitled: Lyme Disease is a Feminist Issue: An Interview With Sini Anderson: http://truth-out.org/news/item/24405-lyme-disease-is-a-feminist-issue-an-interview-with-sini-anderson

Please like and share............

Tragic death of a 2-year-old from a tick bite

Tragic death of 2 yr. old in Middleburg, VA  from tick-bite transmitting Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever....  

Posted: Friday, August 8, 2014 6:45 am

By Dulcy Hooper For Middleburg Life | 0 comments

It's no easy task to deal with a devastating personal loss--the death of a beautiful, healthy young child--and use it to help others avoid the same tragedy, but Brenda Klepper of Berryville is doing just that.

Less than three months ago, Amberlynn Cross, Klepper's great granddaughter, was playing outside at the home of friends of her parents, Emily and Michael Cross, also of Berryville. She was just a few days shy of her second birthday.

"Amberlynn loved to play in the dandelions and try to blow them," Klepper said. "But then she would become frustrated and end up wildly shaking them in her hands so that the seeds would blow. She was playing in the dandelions the day she got bit by the tick."

Her parents found the tick later in the day and removed it. Five days later, on May 15, Amberlynn had developed a rash and a 105-degree fever and was taken to her pediatrician. Although the physician was informed about the rash and the tick, he diagnosed Amberlynn with a viral illness and advised her parents to take her home and keep an eye on her temperature.

Read the full story here:

http://www.leesburgtoday.com/more_a/middleburg_life/tragedy-is-a-call-to-action-for-grieving-great-grandmother/article_9bf8924a-1e76-11e4-980e-001a4bcf887a.html

Great TV Coverage of Lyme - Amy Tan, Ray Stricker

Here's a terrific half-hour program from Bay Area TV channel 7 about Lyme. Spread it around to your friends and family. It's a very good intro for folks who don't want to watch an entire movie-length piece such as Under Our Skin.

I hadn't heard Amy talk about her symptoms in much detail before. Dr Stricker provides the necessary info and is to the point and well spoken, as usual. This is the first time I have heard that the CDC is thinking maybe the 300,000 number of new infectees per year may be too low an estimate, too, and that is now thinking that as many as 1 million may be more like it. Considering that Germany alone claims 1 million, the US could certainly have as many cases. 

Click the link and the video should play on your computer. 

http://abc7news.com/health/beyond-the-headlines-lyme-disease/242626/

BEYOND THE HEADLINES
August 3, 2014
Lyme Disease
Hosted by ABC7's Cheryl Jennings

Each Beyond the Headlines show focuses on a different topic affecting the people who make up the fabric of the Bay Area. What do you know about the disease that you could get from a tick bite? It's called Lyme Disease. 

At first, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control only reported about 30,000 cases a year. But, new studies reveal the numbers could be far higher... as many as 300,000 a year. Now, the CDC estimates that number could be as high as a million cases a year!

Studio Guests

Amy Tan
Award-winning Author
Facebook 
@AmyTan

Raphael Stricker, MD
Lyme Disease Expert
Union Square Medical Experts
Facebook
@UnionSquareMed

Kate Steele
Mother of 2 
A Journey of Faith and Healing
http://HelpAriAndDannie.com 

Ari Steele-Baker
College Student
A Journey of Faith and Healing
Facebook

Other resources:
Lyme Disease Association
International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society 
Lyme Light Foundation

Upcoming scientific symposium on Lyme disease

Hartford State Capitol to Host First of its Kind Scientific Lyme Disease Symposium

http://www.streetinsider.com/Press+Releases/Hartford+State+Capitol+to+Host+First+of+its+Kind+Scientific+Lyme+Disease+Symposium/9716282.html

August 4, 2014 10:00 AM EDT Response to a call-to-action by CDC's Dr. Paul Mead; Press Conference Planned

HARTFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Coalition Against Lyme and Related Borrelioses (CALRB, www.calrb.org) is hosting a symposium on September 16, 2014 at the State Capitol building in Hartford, Conn., to discuss new scientific approaches to Lyme disease testing and diagnosis. The symposium is believed to be the first of its kind devoted strictly to discussing new and evolving DNA sequencing based testing techniques.

"The symposium will feature a diverse group of speakers from the scientific and medical communities coming together for the first time to discuss new and evolving Lyme disease testing techniques," said Kevin Moore, president and executive director of CALRB.

Specifically, presenters will be discussing DNA sequencing based testing for Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi and other pathogenic borreliae in patient samples for reliable diagnosis of this disease complex, said Moore.

"The symposium is a call to action in response to a recent desire expressed by Dr. Paul Mead, chief of epidemiology and surveillance for the CDC's Lyme disease program, for more reliable and conclusive Lyme disease tests," Moore said, adding, "This symposium hopefully gets us one step closer to newer, more effective tests."

In a recent interview with ABC News, Dr. Mead acknowledged the limitations of the two-tier serology test, long the standard for Lyme disease testing, and said, "We would love to have better tests available, but it's not as easy as it sounds."

Dr. Mead has advised the symposium organizers of a conflict in his schedule that will make it impossible for him to attend,Moore said. However, in seeking the CDC's guidance, he has asked Dr. Mead to consider designating another CDC scientist to attend. "The FDA, Infectious Diseases Society of America and the College ofAmerican Pathologists are also invited," said Moore.

More than 300,000 cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed annually in the United States. The illness is increasing across the nation, reaching almost epidemic proportions in some areas. Lyme disease, or, more accurately, the borrelia bacteria that causes the illness, dates back millions of years. It wasn't until 1975, however, when several cases turned up in Lyme,Connecticut, that the illness was named. Serology tests for Lyme disease were introduced in the 1980's, but the two-tier serology test has been the chief testing tool for the diagnosis of Lyme disease since 1994. At the time, serology tests were considered a significant advancement in diagnostic medical science. However, medical practitioners and scientists readily concede that the tests can be inaccurate and have a high rate of false positives or false negatives resulting in missed diagnosis and improper treatment.

"With the dramatic increase in the numbers of Lyme disease cases in recent years, has come demand for more reliable tests,"Moore said.

Experts from the medical and scientific communities at the symposium will discuss various new and evolving Lyme disease tests utilizing DNA sequencing. These tests are believed by medical scientists to be far more accurate than standard serology tests. They are able to detect the Lyme and related borrelia bacteria, such as Borrelia miyamotoi at earlier stages of infection, unlike the current tests, and take far less time than the blood culture method to complete. Greater test accuracy and a quicker turn-around in test results means timely, appropriate treatment of affected patients and can help to prevent or minimize patient tissue damage resulting from undiagnosed borreliosis or to identify persistent borrelia infections due to poor response to antibiotic treatments.

For more information about the symposium and to register for this event, log on to:http://calrb.org/2014symposium.html

Symposium Agenda:

Date:		September 16, 2014
Place:		State Capitol Building
		Legislative Building Annex
		Hartford, Conn.
Time:		9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
--		8:00 a.m. registration and light breakfast fare – coffee, muffins
--		12:00 noon lunch break
--		12:00 noon PRESS CONFERENCE (media and key presenters only)
--		Afternoon session: 1:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Agenda Topics:

9:30 AM – 11: 00 AM16S rDNA sequencing testing for spirochetemia in clinical practiceSin Hang Lee, MD, Thomas Moorcroft, DO and Katherine Lantsman, MD

11:00 AM – 11: 30 AMRelapsing fever borrelia and the MSIDS modelRichardHorowitz, MD

11:30 AM- 12:00 NoonThe need of testing for Lyme disease causative agents in clinical practiceDaniel J. Cameron, MD, President, ILADS

12:00 Noon Lunch BreakPRESS CONFERENCE (media and key presenters only)

1:30 PM- 2:00 PMPhilip Molloy, MD, Medical Director, IMUGEN, Inc. (pending confirmation)

Confirmed speakers:Sin Hang Lee, MD, Pathologist, Milford Hospital, Milford, CTThomas Moorcroft, DO, Berlin, CTKatherine Lantsman, MD, Boston, MA Richard Horowitz, MD, Hyde Park, NY Daniel J. Cameron, MD, President, International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society

Invited speakers:Paul Mead, MD, Chief of Epidemiology and Surveillance, Centers for Disease Control and PreventionPhilip Molloy, MD, Medical Director, IMUGEN, Inc. Norwood, MASally Hojvat, PhD, FDAGene N. Herbek, MD, President, College of American PathologistsBarbara E. Murray, MD, President, Infectious Diseases Society of AmericaJewel Mullen, MD, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Health

CALRB is a newly formed Connecticut non-profit organization dedicated to informing the public, medical, scientific and political communities about developments in the fight against Lyme disease, specifically pertaining to the reliable diagnosis of Lyme disease and Lyme disease-mimicking borrelia infections.

Media:

For Coalition Against Lyme and Related Borrelioses

Kevin Moore, 203-788-8497

kjtm@calrb.com

Source: Coalition Against Lyme and Related Borrelioses

 

Carl Tuttle
Hudson, NH 03051

Website: New Hampshire Lyme Misdiagnosis

http://home.comcast.net/~runagain/site/?/home/

Petition: Calling for a Congressional investigation of the CDC, IDSA and ALDF

Letter to the Editor, The Lancet Infectious Diseases Published May 2012