Health
Single tick bite can cause a life-threatening meat allergy: report
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Have you ever ever eaten steak at dinnertime after which developed hives at midnight?
As tick season kicks into gear, it’s a good suggestion to find out about a probably life-threatening meals allergy referred to as alpha-gal syndrome which will happen after sure tick bites – particularly the lone star tick, based on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC).
“An allergy to ‘alpha-gal’ refers to having a extreme and probably life-threatening allergy to a carbohydrate molecule referred to as galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose that’s present in most mammalian or ‘purple meat,’” based on the American Academy of Allergy Bronchial asthma & Immunology.
The lone star tick, named for its attribute white star form on its again that some recommend is formed like Texas and generally discovered within the South, first picks up the alpha-gal molecule from mammalian animals that they generally chew, like cows and sheep, then transfers it to people after a chew, based on the Mayo Clinic.
A detailed up picture of the lone star tick. A great way to stop tick bites is to put on mild coloured lengthy sleeves and tuck your pants into your socks when open air in tall grass, put on insect repellant, and to look at your pores and skin for ticks when going inside.
(Screenshot: Youtube/FOX 13 Seattle)
Anybody bitten by the tick, particularly a number of instances, turns into “sensitized” the place the immune system produces antibodies in opposition to alpha-gal, so allergic reactions can happen not solely when re-exposed to mammalian meat, but additionally future bites and even drugs that include alpha-gal, per American Academy of Allergy Bronchial asthma & Immunology.
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“It began with the most cancers drug cetuximab. The yr it was launched, it turned apparent that some sufferers had been having dangerous reactions to it in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, southern Missouri and japanese Oklahoma,” mentioned Dr. Thomas Platts-Mills, who made the unique discovery of the meat allergy.
He proved if sufferers had the kind of antibody that’s well-known to be associated to allergic reactions, generally known as IgE, to the most cancers drug earlier than taking it, they had been 30 instances extra more likely to have an allergic response to it. He additionally found together with his group that these antibodies had been binding to alpha-gal in sufferers who suffered delayed allergic reactions to purple meat, based on a 2017 information launch.
He was working with Jake Hosen, a specialist-doctor in coaching on the time generally known as a fellow, who spent two days researching different illnesses that match “…the identical geographic sample because the alpha-gal allergy and the one one which matched was Rocky Mountain noticed fever, and we all know that’s unfold by Lone Star ticks,” mentioned Platts-Mills, professor of medication and microbiology at College of Virginia.
“That’s once we began asking sufferers in the event that they seen the allergic reactions starting after they acquired tick bites.”
Lone star ticks haven’t been proven to transmit Borrelia burgdorferi, the reason for Lyme illness. In actual fact, their saliva has been proven to kill Borrelia.
(Ledin et al., 2005, Zeidner et al., 2009 by way of the CDC)
So that is why some people who find themselves bitten by ticks can have a meat allergy, as a result of a subset who develop a powerful immune response to the carbohydrate molecule can also develop a meals allergy after they eat mammalian merchandise, corresponding to beef, pork, lamb, venison, rabbit, based on Mayo Clinic.
Signs vary from delicate to extreme reactions from an itchy rash or hives to problem respiratory and swelling of the lips or tongue that may require speedy emergency care, per the CDC.
Not like different reactions from typical meals allergic reactions, like peanuts or shellfish, which happen inside minutes, alpha-gal allergy is delayed inside three to eight hours after an publicity, based on the allergy society.
HOW TO AVOID TICK-BORNE ILLNESSES
And up to date analysis suggests some sufferers with unexplained, frequent anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening allergic response, might have undiagnosed alpha-gal syndrome, based on Mayo Clinic.
Ticks cover in grasses and wooded areas throughout the USA and tick-borne illnesses are on the rise, so it’s necessary to know easy methods to forestall tick bites as the heat of spring season lures them into the open, based on the CDC.
“Ticks ‘quest,’ they cling on some vegetation with their again legs whereas holding out entrance legs to understand a bunch that walks by,” mentioned Dr. Amy Korman, an entomology skilled.
There is no such thing as a treatment for alpha-gal allergy, so prevention is essential, however if you happen to discover a tick in your pores and skin, the CDC advises to take away it instantly.
“Use clear, fine-tipped tweezers to understand the tick as near the pores and skin’s floor as attainable. Pull upward with regular, even stress,” based on the CDC.
This engorged grownup lone star tick. Lone star ticks can transmit the pathogen that causes tickborne illnesses such ehrlichiosis and Southern tick-associated rash sickness, or STARI. Credit score: NIAID (Photograph by: IMAGE POINT FR/NIH/NIAID/BSIP //Common Photos Group by way of Getty Photos)
(Credit score: NIAID (Photograph by: IMAGE POINT FR/NIH/NIAID/BSIP //Common Photos Group by way of Getty Photos))
The company warns to keep away from twisting the tick when eradicating it, as a result of which will go away a part of the tick embedded within the pores and skin, recommending as an alternative if the tick can’t be simply eliminated with tweezers, to depart it alone and let the pores and skin heal by itself.
And don’t overlook to scrub the chew space and wash your arms with both rubbing alcohol or cleaning soap and water.
The CDC notes different prevention methods embrace avoiding locations the place ticks lurk, like wooded or brushy areas, sporting lengthy sleeves and pants when tenting or mountaineering, treating clothes with a minimum of 0.5% permethrin merchandise and utilizing EPA registered repellents that may be discovered right here.
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And the company reminds to at all times test for ticks after you come back dwelling, wash all garments in sizzling water afterwards and bathe to take away free ticks.
And never even former presidents are resistant to tick bites.
In the summertime of 2007, President George W. Bush developed a rash on his decrease left leg, which was recognized as Lyme illness by the White Home physicians, based on a 2007 Washington Submit report.
However given his frequent visits to Texas in the summertime, some consultants urged the prognosis was incorrect, as an alternative pondering the rash was probably southern-tick-associated-rash-illness, in any other case generally known as STARI.
STARI is brought on by the lone star tick, the tick most implicated in alpha-gal syndrome, and though its rash mimics the “bulls-eye” rash typical of Lyme illness, it’s one tick that’s endemic in Lone Star State whereas Lyme illness isn’t, per the Submit report.
The CDC offers this handout on ideas and customary questions relating to what to do after a tick chew, together with signs to observe for and tips about easy methods to take away a tick.
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As Los Angeles battles the worst wildfires in the city’s history, thousands of people have been displaced or have seen their homes burn to the ground.
Around 130,000 people were ordered to evacuate and some 10,000 structures were destroyed, according to the Associated Press. At least 10 people have died as a result of the blazes.
The devastation of the fires has undoubtedly taken a grave toll on the psyches of those affected, experts agree.
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Fox News Digital spoke with celebrities and mental health experts, who offered the following guidance for the people impacted.
Recognize your feelings
For those who have experienced a loss from the fires, common reactions include shock, disbelief and confusion, according to David Kessler, a grief counselor in Los Angeles and founder of Grief.com.
“I call it grief brain,” he told Fox News Digital.
Luke Dexter reacts as he sifts through the remains of his father’s fire-ravaged beachfront property in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire on Jan. 10, 2025 in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) (AP Newsroom)
“Your mind is trying to comprehend what happened, and it’s a hard thing for it to do, because this is unimaginable that your house, your safety, is suddenly gone.”
Not all grief is related to death, Kessler noted, as there are many different types of losses.
“I always say grief is a change you didn’t want — and certainly a fire is a change we didn’t want,” he added.
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It’s important to “self-validate” the reality of the loss, he said.
“People might give you toxic positivity of, ‘well, at least no one died,’” he said. “And while that’s true, the reality is you still have lost your home. Don’t let anyone minimize that.”
“The loss of a home is devastating and it can take years to recover.”
“I think we’re going to deal with a lot of depression after this, a lot of sadness.”
Actor Steve Guttenberg, who lives in Pacific Palisades, California, where fires erupted on Tuesday, shared how the disaster has impacted his own mental health.
“I’ve seen so much tragedy the last three or four days that I’ve got to be careful to … keep a hold of my mind,” he said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“And I think that we’re going to deal with a lot of depression after this, a lot of sadness. And it’s going to be really tough because this is like nothing you’ve ever seen.”
Actor Steve Guttenberg, who lives in Pacific Palisades, California, where fires erupted on Tuesday, shared how the disaster has impacted his own mental health. (AGUSTIN PAULLIER/AFP via Getty Images; Fox News)
Gutenberg noted that while it’s “very normal” to be down, he is trying not to let himself “go down that hole.”
“But I’m pretty sad about this,” he added.
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Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist in Manhattan and Washington, D.C., noted that the grief following the Los Angeles fires is “profound.”
“It’s not just about the physical loss of homes or belongings — it’s also about the sense of safety and normalcy that has been lost,” he told Fox News Digital.
“It’s important for people to feel emotions and not ignore them. This is a normal reaction to such overwhelming loss and tragedy.”
Reach out for support
Guttenberg emphasized the importance of maintaining connections with others and drawing support from the community during a disaster of this magnitude.
“We’re social animals — we need people,” he said. “So I’m reaching out to my friends. There’s no way to meet right now because it’s so dangerous — so the best thing you cn do … is call and reach out and maybe you can drive somewhere.”
Experts agreed that it’s essential to avoid isolating yourself after a loss. “We need to be taken care of. We need other people around us.” (AP Newsroom)
Most of the people in town have evacuated, he pointed out. “There’s probably 10% of the population left here. Or less.”
Kessler reiterated that connection is critical after this type of trauma. “We need to be taken care of. We need other people around us. People equal safety,” he said.
“We need other people around us. People equal safety.”
Pastor Jesse Bradley of Grace Community Church outside Seattle, Washington, agreed that it’s essential to avoid isolating yourself after a loss.
“We need God and we need each other. Community is vital,” he told Fox News Digital.
“Family, friends and neighbors care about you. God sends His love through these people. Reject isolation. Don’t shut down and don’t shut people out.”
Take action
“In times of crisis such as this, regaining even small amounts of control can be grounding,” Alpert said.
He recommends creating a plan for what’s next, whether it’s finding temporary housing, accessing local resources or starting the process of rebuilding.
“Taking action — no matter how small — can help you move forward.”
Ben Treger hugs his wife Sarah Treger after finding his grandfather’s watches at the remains of their Pacific Palisades home on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. “If you do have survivor’s guilt, I always say the best thing is to take action,” one expert advised. (Juan Carlo/Imagn)
Kessler agreed, noting that people who are in the area but did not experience loss may feel a sense of relief mixed with guilt.
“If you do have survivor’s guilt, I always say the best thing is to take action,” he advised.
In the longer term, advocacy efforts can be a powerful tool in dealing with trauma, Alpert noted.
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“Working to improve fire prevention policies, supporting relief efforts or helping neighbors rebuild can provide a sense of purpose and empowerment during this difficult time,” he said.
Some people may be angry about the systems that failed to prevent the fires in the first place, Alpert acknowledged, and this anger can be a “powerful motivator.”
“Taking action — no matter how small — can help you move forward.”
“Use that energy to demand better, but don’t get stuck on the anger,” he advised.
“By holding leaders accountable for the policies — or lack thereof — that contributed to this devastation, and by asking the right questions and demanding answers, you might start to feel better.”
Seek professional help as needed
“The L.A. fires no doubt will not just leave physical scars, but deep emotional ones, too,” Alpert said.
“For many people, the fear, panic and helplessness experienced during the fires don’t just disappear — they linger, creating flashbacks, anxiety and difficulty functioning.”
“For many people, the fear, panic and helplessness experienced during the fires don’t just disappear — they linger, creating flashbacks, anxiety and difficulty functioning.” (iStock)
In many cases, this can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms of this condition can include vivid memories of the fires, nightmares, hypervigilance or avoidance of anything that reminds someone of the event, Alpert said.
“It’s important to see this not as weakness, but rather, the mind’s and body’s way of trying to cope with extreme stress.”
“While the fires were devastating, they don’t diminish your strength or character.”
As you seek help, it’s also important to understand that PTSD doesn’t define you, he added.
“It’s a part of your experience, not your identity. While the fires were devastating, they didn’t diminish your strength or character.”
Lean on your faith
For those who have experienced traumatic grief, Kessler emphasized the importance of faith and spirituality.
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“They help ground us in a world full of fear,” he said. “And when we’ve lost everything, it can feel like our faith is the one thing we have to hold onto.”
During a time of crisis, Guttenberg said it’s important to “rely on anything that you believe in.”
Cesar Plaza becomes emotional while looking at his home destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on Jan. 9, 2025. “It’s easy to be consumed with what you no longer have,” a pastor told Fox News Digital. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) (AP Newsroom)
“If you believe in your mom and dad, you rely on them, your brothers and sisters, your friends, your family. God, the universe.”
Above all, he added, “Just remember, you’re not alone. God is always with you. Jesus is always with you. You’ve got to hang on to that.”
Find ways to exercise gratitude
During times of hardship, it’s important to recognize the good things that are still in your life, Pastor Bradley said.
“It’s easy to be consumed with what you no longer have,” he told Fox News Digital.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
“You need to be intentional to take inventory of the blessings in your life. For example, you might lose a home or business, but you still have family.”
This mindset will help you keep a healthy perspective and protect gratitude, Bradley added.
Health
Scientists May Be Able to Make Grapefruits Compatible With Medications They Currently Interfere With
You may be among the millions of people who have seen a surprisingly specific warning like this on the labels of drugs you take:
Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using this medication.
Such warnings are issued for dozens of substances, including docetaxel, a cancer drug; erythromycin, an antibiotic; and some statins, the cholesterol-lowering drugs prescribed to more than a third of American adults over 40.
The problem is a set of molecules, furanocoumarins. High levels of furanocoumarins interfere with human liver enzymes, among other processes. In their presence, medications can build up to unhealthy levels in the body. And grapefruits and some related citrus fruits are full of them.
But there is no such warning for other kinds of citrus, such as mandarins and other oranges. Citrus researchers at the Volcani Center in Israel reported Wednesday in the journal The New Phytologist that, by crossing mandarins and grapefruit, they’ve uncovered genes that produce furanocoumarins in some citrus fruits. It’s a finding that opens the possibility of creating grapefruit that doesn’t require a warning label.
Scientists had worked out the compounds’ structures and pieced together a basic flowchart of how they are made years ago, said Yoram Eyal, a professor at the Volcani Center. But the precise identities of enzymes catalyzing the process — the proteins that snip off a branch here, or add a piece there — remained mysterious. He and his colleagues knew that one way to identify them was to breed citrus high in furanocoumarins with those without. If the offspring of such a cross had varying levels of the substances, it should be possible, by digging into their genetics, to pinpoint the genes for the proteins.
“We were afraid to approach it, because it’s very time-consuming and it takes many years,” he said, noting how involved it can be to grow new trees from seeds and assess their genetics. “But finally, we decided we have to dive in.”
When they examined the offspring of a mandarin and a grapefruit, the researchers saw something remarkable. Fifty percent of the young plants had high levels of furanocourmains, and 50 percent had none. That particular signature meant something very specific, in terms of how the ability to make these substances is inherited.
“We saw there was only one gene that could have controlled it,” said Livnat Goldenberg, a Volcani Center researcher who is the lead author of the new study.
The researchers soon identified the gene controlling the production of furanocoumarins in leaves and fruit, which produces an enzyme called 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase, or 2OGD for short. Mandarins, it turns out, have a mutated form of this gene that keeps the enzyme from functioning properly. This version cropped up in all the mandarin and orange varieties the researchers checked, explaining why they do not cause the same problems as grapefruit in people taking prescription medications. In these plants, furanocoumarin production is paused.
With gene editing technology, it should be possible to alter the gene in grapefruit as well, Dr. Eyal suggests. The team at the Volcani Center is now exploring that project.
Looking at how widespread this mutated version is in mandarins and some other citrus, the scientists speculate that some gene nearby on the genome must play an important role in a highly prized trait. A long-ago citrus breeder, selecting for some unknown quality, must have unwittingly spread this furanocoumarin-busting version of the gene to an ancestor of modern varieties of mandarins and oranges.
All these years later, that person’s work is coming to light, under the gaze of geneticists, who may, someday, put grapefruit back on the menu.
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