1.
From the press release: “Exagen Inc. (Nasdaq: XGN), an organization dedicated to transforming the care continuum for patients suffering from autoimmune diseases, today announced it has entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with the Ohio State Innovation Foundation for the commercial diagnostic development and marketing rights for a novel blood test using vibrational spectroscopy and metabolomic analysis to differentiate patients with fibromyalgia from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, chronic lower back pain and systemic lupus erythematosus.”
2.
LymeDisease.org: The Lyme community has lost a hero and a friend [in] Dr. Neil Spector
Duke Cancer Center: Dr. Neil Spector passes away
Earlier this week, I was saddened to hear that Dr. Spector has passed away. Dr. Spector was one of the few physicians who have personal knowledge of what it’s like to live with chronic Lyme disease. When he began having mysterious symptoms, he went from doctor-to-doctor, trying to identify their cause. You would think his profession as an oncologist would have sped up his diagnosis, but it did not. Over time, the untreated Lyme infection damaged his heart to the point where he required a heart transplant.
Dr. Spector’s death is a huge blow to the Lyme community. In recent years, he had begun to research Lyme, applying many of the same principles he’d learned while studying cancer. I’ve heard his research team will continue his work but they will do so without his leadership and his personal knowledge of Lyme disease and its many complications.
Please pray for his family and friends if you feel called to do so.
3.
BizJournals.com: EpicGenetics teams with University of Illinois on test for severe COVID-19
From the article: “Recently published research concerning COVID-19 shows that IL-6 and IL-8 [cytokines] may be at the root of the ‘cytokine storms’ which are experienced by the most severely ill COVID-19 patients and were the possible cause of death in these cases,” Gillis said. “These findings might mean that the 20 million people in the U.S. estimated to have fibromyalgia are less susceptible to the extreme consequences of a COVID-19 viral infection.”
4.
RT.com: New generation [of] killer mutant tick on the loose in Siberia
Just what we needed! A new, more aggressive tick!
From the article: “Scientists from the Russian Academy of Science have identified a new tick in the forests around the city of Novosibirsk in Siberia. First spotted in 2009, genome sequencing has confirmed it’s neither the Taiga tick nor the Pavlovsky tick but a hybrid. Frighteningly, it has inherited both of its parents’ capacity to do severe damage.”
5.
Chronic Mom: Is kratom a revolutionary treatment for chronic pain?
Shelley from Chronic Mom shares her experience of using kratom for chronic pain caused by Lyme and fibromyalgia.
And an extra…
Washingtonian: I was young, female and catastrophically sick. Doctors told me I was crazy.
Singer Sarah Ramey shares her journey of navigating the healthcare system as a female with a mystery illness. I know many of you will resonate with her story. I sure do.
This week on FedUpwithFatigue.com…
Aromalief Hemp Pain Relief review
Mark your calendar…
Next online meeting of Tick-Borne Disease Working Group is July 8
From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):
“For this meeting, the TBDWG will review the draft 2020 report to the HHS Secretary and Congress and review and approve graphics and images for the report.
“The 2020 report will address ongoing tick-borne disease research, including research related to causes, prevention, treatment, surveillance, diagnosis, diagnostics, and interventions for individuals with tick-borne diseases; advances made pursuant to such research; federal activities related to tick-borne diseases; and gaps in tick-borne disease research.”
I’m Donna, a longtime newspaper reporter, health writer and chronic illness thriver! Fed Up with Fatigue provides weekly news, research, treatments and more to help you live better with fibromyalgia and/or Lyme.
PLEASE do not think mosquitoes are just pests! In 2002 I had a near-fatal case of West Nile meningoencephalitis. I have been left disabled with brain damage, kidney disease and many other problems! Please remember your bug spray!!!!!!