Chronic Lyme Disease: New Strategies for Investigation, Diagnosis and Therapy

描述（由申请人提供）：莱姆病是一种严重的感染，可能对患者产生破坏性影响，并降低生活在疾病流行地区的人的生活质量。 虽然在急性莱姆病的治疗方面已经取得了重大进展，但对于那些通过现有测定法确定似乎无病原体但继续表现出各种症状的患者仍然存在许多问题。 在明显缺乏螺旋体的情况下，这些症状被归因于许多不同的原因，这延迟了对这些患者的有效治疗的发展。 至关重要的是，这些患者不应该感到被边缘化，我们应该确定他们疾病的根本原因。 为此，我们建议在“慢性莱姆病：调查、诊断和治疗新战略”的总标题下，就这一问题的三个方面举行讨论会。 第一次讨论会--“慢性莱姆病调查策略”--将于2006年10月15日至18日在冷泉港实验室的班伯里中心举行。 这次会议将提供一个论坛，详细的批判性审查和分析这一有争议的话题，对于那些谁有长期残疾后莱姆病的重要性之一。 将有多达36名受邀参与者，来自世界各地的领先实验室。 来自不同技术和学术领域的研究人员聚集在一起分享他们的见解和发现。 我们将确保在慢性莱姆病问题上的各种科学可持续理论的代表性。 第一次会议的主题将包括但不限于：（1）严格审查和讨论有关数据：莱姆病后病例中伯氏疏螺旋体的存在或持续性;（2）可能存在由相同蜱媒传播的其他未知合并感染的可能性;以及（3）可能存在炎症触发症状。 每场会议将由一名专题专家主持，每次会议的发言者不超过六人。 将安排时间表，以确保每一次会议都有时间进行讨论，最后一次会议的大部分时间将用于审查所讨论的关键问题，并讨论今后需要进行哪些研究。 此外，班伯里中心的场地为会议室外的持续互动提供了充足的时间。 随后的两次会议将遵循同样的组织模式。 2007年和2008年会议审议的主题是“莱姆病诊断”和”莱姆病及其后遗症的治疗“。"

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Lyme Disease is a serious infection which can have a devastating impact on patients and diminish the quality of life of those who live in regions where the disease is endemic. Although there have been significant advances in the treatment of acute Lyme Disease, many questions remain about those patients who appear to be pathogen-free as determined by existing assays but continue to exhibit a variety of symptoms. In the apparent absence of the spirochete, these symptoms have been ascribed to many different causes, and this has delayed the development of effective therapies for these patients. It is essential that these patients should not feel marginalized and that we determine the underlying causes of their illness(es). To that end, we propose holding discussion meetings on three aspects of this problem, under the general title "Chronic Lyme Disease: New Strategies for Investigation, Diagnosis and Therapy". The first of these discussion meetings-"Strategies to Investigate Chronic Lyme Disease"-will be held at the Banbury Center of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, October 15-18, 2006. This meeting will provide a forum for the detailed critical review and analysis of this controversial topic, one of great import for those who have long-term disability following Lyme Disease. There will up to 36 invited participants, drawn from the leading laboratories throughout the world. Researchers from diverse technical and academic arenas be brought together to share their insights and discoveries. We will ensure representation of the various scientifically sustainable theories on the issue of chronic Lyme Disease. Topics in this first meeting will include, but will be not limited to, (1) critical review and discussion of data pertaining to: the presence or persistence of Borrelia burgdorferi in post-Lyme cases; (2) the possibility that there may be other unknown co-infections transmitted by the same tick-vector; and (3) the possibility that there are inflammatory triggered symptoms. Each session will be chaired by an expert in the topic and there will be not more than six speakers per session. The schedule will be arranged to ensure that there is time for discussion in each session, and a substantial part of the final session will be set apart for review of the key issues discussed and discussion of what future research is necessary. In addition, the Banbury Center venue provides ample time for continued interactions outside the Conference Room. The two subsequent meetings will follow the same organizational pattern. The topics under consideration for the meetings in 2007 and 2008 are "Diagnostics for Lyme disease" and" Therapy for Lyme disease and its Sequelae."