Toxoplasmosis is a parasite transmitted from cats to humans. (Some cases of toxoplasmosis can be acquired from eating under-cooked meat.) Wild cats and kittens present the highest risk for transmission of toxoplasmosis; and pregnant women are advised to avoid litter boxes due to the risk toxoplasmosis presents to a fetus. Toxoplasmosis has been implicated in many chronic diseases, including numerous mental health disorders, regressive developmental disorders, brain diseases, seizures, autoimmune diseases, and eye diseases. When toxoplasmosis attacks the retina, the…..
Chlamydia trachoma is the most common sexually transmitted disease, with 92,000,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Chlamydia trachoma infects the reproductive tract and can spread to other organs and parts of the body, including the urethra, cervix, mouth, rectum, and kidney, in women; and the urethra, prostate, mouth, rectum, and kidney, in men. Once infected, trachoma may act differently in women and men, symptoms can change over time, and the infection may become asymptomatic as it evolves into a…..
Toxoplasmosis is a parasite, which is almost universal, in cats; and can be transmitted to people, particularly the very young and those with immune dysfunction. Some mental illnesses have been tied to toxoplasmosis, particularly those involving reckless behavior and explosive anger. Pregnant women are warned to avoid litter boxes during pregnancy, because toxoplasmosis can cross the placenta and invade the fetal brain, to cause epilepsy, regressive developmental disorders, and microcephaly. Toxoplasmosis can have different manifestations in different patients, based on the…..
Autism spectrum disorders include fragile X disability. Minocycline, an antibiotic used to treat immortal pathogens, was seemingly able to improve behavior and slow fragile X disability. In 2018, a clinical trial, in patients with fragile X, tested minocycline with Lovastatin, as a combined drug regimen. The combination drug regimen was reported to have eased atypical behavior, and improved signaling balance. The success of minocycline in improving fragile X disability, suggests immortal infectious pathogens play a role. The diagnosis of…..
Cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) is a cluster of malformed and tangled blood vessels in the brain, which was previously assumed to be genetic. Patients with CCM can be asymptomatic; or can have long-term health problems, including headaches, epilepsy, stroke, and death. In 2017, a multistate study, in mice, found gram-negative bacteria activated TLR-4; which was the molecular mechanism in endothelial cells that underlies formation of CCM. CCM and Alzheimer’s have similar findings, in the brain—abnormal and tangled blood vessels, neuronal…..
The reproductive system is a portal for immortal pathogens. Sexually transmitted pathogens are a significant risk to long term health; and can spread from the reproductive tract, to the urinary tract, and ascend upwards to the kidney. Sexually transmitted pathogens can cause a variety of chronic diseases, over time (reproductive disease, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, neurologic disease, cancer).
In 1988, Gertrude Elion (1918-1999), George Hitchings, and Sir James W. Black shared the Nobel Prize for physiology/medicine. They are credited with developing Daraprim, to treat blood borne parasitic infections (including malaria and toxoplasmosis). WHO reported Daraprim is one of the safest and most effective medicines needed in a health system. In clinical trials, Daraprim was shown to be effective in HIV, retinochoroiditis, ALS, and variety of other chronic diseases; and may slow the progression of Tay-Sachs disease, a syndrome…..
A NYT article reported scientists are finding mixed pathology in Alzheimer’s, including plaque, Lewy bodies, and silent stroke, which has made finding causes and cures significantly more difficult. The scientists are struggling to understand these findings and reframe the issues. Dr. Albert Hofman, chairman of the epidemiology department at Harvard, said he was convinced “Alzheimer’s disease is a vascular disease,” and the precipitating factor in Alzheimer’s is diminished blood flow to the brain. The article reported a more optimistic view…..