In response to Larry Gary Guarnotta’s July 5 letter questioning the price of doxycycline, a drug used to treat Lyme disease that I posted in my May 24th “How to Take Pills” column, those prices are correct. Without getting into the tedious chemistry of doxycycline, that antibiotic comes in several therapeutically equivalent forms: hydrochloride, monohydrate, and hyclate. These are the various salts used to stabilize the molecule. My character in that scenario was quoting the price of doxycycline hyclate, which was and still is $2,500-$3,500 for a 4-week course (as verified by 2 mail-order companies and 2 chains). The point of the article was that patients often make bad decisions. In that case, the bad decision was made by bad information. The pharmacist should have told the patient that there were far less expensive alternatives, such as the hydrochloride or monohydrate salts and should have confirmed this with the prescriber. Yet, this brings up another problem.

The practice of prescribing 2 doxycycline pills to prevent Lyme disease has been widely dismissed by the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), which found that a single dose is ineffective in warding off Lyme disease. Nevertheless, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidelines adopted the single 200 mg dose of doxycycline despite the fact that 3 previous prophylactic antibiotic trials for a tick bite had failed. Further research has shown that the subtherapeutic “one-dose” method could curtail the tell-tale bulls-eye rash, but did not prevent the disease. In fact, Lyme disease antibodies are known to persist for up to 3 years after infection, meaning that the body will be fighting off the infection for that length of time, possibly resulting in far more serious complications of the infection.

I would ask the patient whether or not he brought in the tick to be identified, since not all ticks carry the Lyme disease bacterium. Was the tick engorged with blood? How long was the tick attached? If it was 72 hours or longer, then the tick had time to pump bacteria into the body. Was a tick titer blood test done to confirm an infection? Physicians have different ways of treating diseases and do not always keep up-to-date on medical research or follow the approved treatment guidelines. To me, Mr. Gaurnotta would be better served “bitching” at his doctor, rather than at the pharmacist.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ron Gasbarro

New Milford, PA

Never have so many given so much for so little. It's time to pull the covers off this climate con: The emperor has no clothes. In fact, he's buck naked, and it's time someone said so.

Is the climate changing? Without doubt. Its certainty rivals death and taxes. Climate is dynamic; it's always changing.

The study of fossils in the Antarctic reveal that the South Pole was once covered by dense forests and inhabited by dinosaurs.

At other times, vast sheets of ice two miles thick pierced the clouds and bulldozed their way across North America, from Alaska to New York. Then they retreated leaving glacial scars in bedrock, the evidence of their passing.

More recently there was the Medieval Warm Period. Between 800 to 1400, Europe experienced a balmy climate. Warmer weather ushered in the Renaissance, an era of intellectual awakening and prosperity.

Following the European Warm Period was the Little Ice Age, that affected Europe between 1550 to 1850. Shortened growing seasons caused mass starvation, even cannibalism.

What, then, is the driving force causing climate change. There are five:

• Variations in the shape of the earth's orbit affecting its distance from the sun.

• The procession of the earth's axis that changes the angle of the earth's axis.

• Volcanic activity that spews sun-blocking dust into the atmosphere.

• Variation in the sun's energy output.

 • The greenhouse effect that traps heat radiating from the land.

All five play a part in climate change, but the only one that is given any attention is the greenhouse effect.

The greenhouse effect is caused by several gases that accumulate in the upper atmosphere. These gases trap some of the heat radiated from the earth, causing the surface temperature to increase.

The top five in the rogues' gallery of greenhouse gases are:

• Ozone (emissions from combustion engines is the primary source).

• Nitrous oxide (used as an aerosol propellant).

• Methane (a gas released from rotting vegetation and animals).

 • Carbon dioxide (gas emitted by animals and the burning of fossil fuels).

• Water vapor (a gas rising from the oceans and all water bodies on land).

Paradoxically, the least potent gas, water vapor, is far and away the most effective because it comprises 95 percent of greenhouse gases. On the other hand, the most powerful, carbon dioxide, is the least efficient because of its paucity in the upper atmosphere, 0.008 of one percent.

In fact, because of its infinitesimal percent of greenhouse gases, CO2 is the only gas that cannot cause global warming.

Carbon Dioxide is not a pollutant. Like water, it is essential for life. Plants cannot live without it. Commercial greenhouse operators enrich their facilities with it because it increases plant productivity.

If the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere could be increased, as it is in hothouses, the planet's flora would similarly flourish.

But let's play devil's advocate. The best computer modeling that puts the world on a hotplate predicts a 0.086 degree F. increase by 2100. For this, an astounding $1.5 trillion/year is spent worldwide to study and reduce global temperatures by an immeasurably small amount, 83 years from today!

Have we gone bonkers?

Moreover, a minuscule increase of less than one-tenth of one degree in planetary temperature is utterly impossible to measure. Even if time were to prove this forecast correct, it is not evidence of climate change but rather of climate stability.

And one more point. No one knows the optimal temperature of the planet. All indications are that a warmer world would be more hospitable to life.

Yes, yes, but what about the rising ocean levels?

It takes about 800 years for the surface of the ocean to heat up. If ocean levels are rising today, it's because of something that happened 800 years ago.

But what about those flooded islands we see on the news?

They're volcanic. The ocean isn't rising; the islands are sinking. If the oceans were rising that quickly, we would all be wearing water wings.

The villains in this climate crime drama are that three-headed, CO2 spitting, fossil fuel monster of coal, oil, and gas.

The only hope to save life on earth from a sweltering extinction is to switch from this earth-ravaging monster to green energy like windmills, solar panels, and such. But these energy producers are puny, expensive and unreliable.

It is fossil fuels that have enabled one man to do the work of hundreds and to do it better. The unrelenting hardship and drudgery of daily life have been alleviated. Sure we work an eight-hour day, but not 12 to 14 hours. And we labor for five days a week, not seven days a week every week for every year. And retirement. What's that?

If someone from a pre-fossil fuel day could forward himself 150 years to today, it would seem like a paradise of plenty and ease. And indeed it is.

In closing, 32,000 scientists, 9,000 of whom have PhDs, signed this petition:

“We urge the United States to reject any global warming agreement. The proposed limits on greenhouse gases would harm the environment, hinder the advancement of science and technology and damage the health and welfare of mankind.”

Sincerely,

Bob Scroggins

New Milford, PA

Much can be said about coming from a small community. For months I have been struggling with how I can possibly thank everyone without leaving someone out. There is so much to say and so many of you to thank. Last October I was diagnosed with 2b cervical cancer. This was found on a routine check up and I did not have any symptoms that would make the doctors suspect of cancer. Once we had a treatment plan, the battle began.

I will never be able to thank all of you enough. The support from my loving family, friends, co-workers, community, and even strangers was overwhelming to say the least. One of the biggest lessons cancer taught me was to accept the help. This was a huge task for me because up until this point I was the one who was always jumping in to help others. Some complain about living in a small community. I get it, everyone knows everything about everyone else, or at least they think they do. I on the other hand have experienced the other side, the side where everyone rallies behind you.

My treatment consisted of daily trips after work for 5 weeks, for radiation along with chemotherapy 1 time a week, followed with 5 doses of brachytherapy (internal radiation) once a week for the following 5 weeks. This could not be achieved without all of you and my faith in God.

First of all, my family is my rock, making sure I got to my appointments safely and always there to hold my hand when I needed it most. My friends who all rallied around to make sure we were fed and that if my kids needed to be somewhere they arrived. My co-workers all chipped in and bought gas cards so we didn’t have to worry about the cost getting back and forth to my appointments. They also donated sick days. Let me tell you something else, from the cafeteria, custodians, support staff teachers and administration I couldn’t work with more caring people. Keep in mind that these are the people who have contact with your children, and mine alike for 180 days a year. They teach so much more than the standards they are required to teach. They teach compassion and how to care for one another. As for the community, I don’t even know where to begin. There were so many people who gave their time, money and services. Maybe you were one of those who helped, maybe you remembered me in your prayers, perhaps you just smiled at me when you saw me out in public when I was having a rough day. Sometimes, the littlest of things goes a very long way.

I will never be able to thank all of you. I challenge you to look around for the good in people and in the community you live in instead of looking at the bad. If you look, you will see that we truly do live in a great place. I am proud to be part of this community and have learned to appreciate what is around me. We so often lose focus on the big picture. I have been humbled and I am truly grateful for all of you and this community. I am happy to say that my treatment worked and there is no evidence of the cancer anymore. I will continue with surveillance appointments every 3 months for the next 2 years.

Thank you all, for what you have done for me and what you have taught me. Keep smiling and appreciate the life you have, for there is always someone out there that is in a worse situation. 

Sincerely,

Joanna Soden

Thompson, PA