geoffrey modest medical blogs

  The spread of the lone star tick as a result of climate change/warmer weather has led to the northward spread of some tick-borne illnesses. A prior blog highlighted the spread of the potentially fatal Heartland virus, associated with the lone star tick ( http://gmodestmedblogs.blogspot.com/2023/03/climate-change-tick-disease-spreads.html ); this blog includes a picture of the tick as well as more general observations of the effects of climate change on the spread of infectious diseases. And, now the alpha-gal syndrome (AGS)   Details : -- the lone star tick bites have been associated with the alpha-gal syndrome, AGS (also called the red meat allergy or tick bite meat allergy), a potentially life-threatening allergic condition     -- it seems that AGS is primarily associated with lone star tick bites, though other ticks may also be involved (one suspect is  Ixodes   spp: the culprit also in anaplasmosis, Lyme disease, babesiosis, Borrelia miyamoto...

  Another article just came out suggesting a significant  clinical  role  for  the gut microbiota/brain interaction , this time for depression and anxiety . This small study found benefit in adding probiotics as adjunctive treatment for patients with insufficient response to antidepressant  med s (see  depression   probiotics jamapsych2023  in dropbox, or doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.1817 )    Details : -- 49 patients with moderate major depressive disorder (MDD) on antidepressants but  having  incomplete response to the meds were randomized to probiotics versus placebo in this UK study, between 2019-2022. -- Patients were 18 to 55 years old, were taking an approved antidepressant at a stable dose for at least six weeks, and did not have bipolar disorder, psychosis, eating disorders, personality disorders, substance dependence, suicidal ideation, serious medical illnesses, were taking gastrointestinal medications, ...