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Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Volume 15 Issue 18

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Breastmilk is Dynamic

Cellular and transcriptional diversity over the course of human lactation

This recent 2022 paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Dr. Nyqiust and colleagues is a site for sore eyes.

It offers a remarkable, high-resolution portrait of how the cellular landscape of human breast milk (hBM) shifts over time. The authors capture something both scientifically rich and uniquely human: the dynamic, living composition of milk as it adapts to the changing needs of mother and child.

The abstract: “Human breast milk is a dynamic fluid that contains millions of cells, but their identities and phenotypic properties are poorly understood. We generated and analyzed single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data to characterize the transcriptomes of cells from hBM across lactational time from 3 to 632 d postpartum in 15 donors. We found that the majority of cells in hBM are lactocytes, a specialized epithelial subset, and that cell-type frequencies shift over the course of lactation, yielding greater epithelial diversity at later points. Analysis of lactocytes reveals a continuum of cell states characterized by transcriptional changes in hormone-, growth factor-, and milk production-related pathways. Generalized additive models suggest that one subcluster, LC1 epithelial cells, increases as a function of time postpartum, daycare attendance, and the use of hormonal birth control. We identify several subclusters of macrophages in hBM that are enriched for tolerogenic functions, possibly playing a role in protecting the mammary gland during lactation. Our description of the cellular components of breast milk, their association with maternal–infant dyad metadata, and our quantification of alterations at the gene and pathway levels provide a detailed longitudinal picture of hBM cells across lactational time. This work paves the way for future investigations of how a potential division of cellular labor and differential hormone regulation might be leveraged therapeutically to support healthy lactation and potentially aid in milk production.” (Nyquist et. al. 2022)

And more information on breastmilk immunology and a recipe.

Dr. M

Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #95 – Sanjay Bhorjaj, MD – Living Longer and Klotho

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Today’s guest is Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj, a powerful voice at the crossroads of advanced interventional cardiology and root-cause wellness. Dr. Bhojraj is board-certified in Cardiovascular Diseases and Interventional Cardiology, and one of only a small number of interventional cardiologists in the United States who is also certified in Functional Medicine through the Institute for Functional Medicine.

Dr. Bhojraj earned his medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine, trained in internal medicine at Northwestern, and completed a cardiology fellowship at the renowned Henry Ford Health System. For over two decades, he practiced in conventional cardiology, saving lives daily with stents, angioplasties, and transcatheter valve replacements.

But along the way, something essential began to stir. He found himself asking bigger questions: Why do people arrive in the cath lab in the first place? Why are we not doing more to prevent the first or second heart event? And what role do nutrition, sleep, stress, and emotional health truly play in long-term cardiovascular outcomes?

These questions led Dr. Bhojraj to Functional Medicine, not as an alternative, but as an evolution, a model that restores agency to patients and equips the body to heal through comprehensive lifestyle optimization. He now leads the Well12 Program, a transformational experience that guides individuals in upgrading the foundational systems of their health from metabolism to mindset, so they can live not just longer, but better.

Today, Dr. Bhojraj and I explore the remarkable protein Klotho and the emerging science linking it to human longevity and health span. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss, a glimpse into what may become a defining frontier in upstream disease prevention.

Enjoy,

Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Volume 15 Issue 15

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Systemic Maternal Inflammation and Neurodevelopment: The Role of IL-6 and IFN-γ in Autism Spectrum Disorder

I just returned from Estes Park, Colorado where I presented a lecture on the Growing Brain/Mind – a tour through the underpinnings of childhood neurological changes that we call Autism. The timing is perfect for this article to be written.

In an era when chronic disease in children is rising at an unprecedented pace, the search for root causes must include an honest inquiry into the conditions present during fetal development. The review article by Majerczyk and colleagues, Systemic Maternal Inflammation Promotes ASD via IL-6 and IFN-γ, brings forward a critical piece in this puzzle that I began to explore a few years ago when writing a book. It connects the dots between maternal immune dysregulation and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes, specifically autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Through a synthesis of clinical data and animal research, the authors make a compelling case for the centrality of two inflammatory messengers, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), in shaping fetal brain development during gestational stress. The key words here being GESTATIONAL STRESS, the recurring scientific theme for ASD development, not vaccines… and some literature reviews.

Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Volume 15 Issue 8

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Itaconate, what is it and why does it matter?

Science Heavy – skip to the bold for take home if you want to avoid the science.

The biggest takeaway from this complex science is this: High fat, high sugar diets (Ultra Processed Foods) are associated with decreased itaconate activity and increased inflammation. The science further answers the question of whether we should allow ultra processed food in schools.

Ultra Processed Foods likely reduce itaconate production driving inflammation, metabolic dysregulation, and gut dysbiosis, which could worsen active disease. Lower itaconate levels likely impair your body’s ability to resolve inflammation, potentially leading to prolonged issues with healing and repair. To support itaconate’s anti inflammatory activity, shift away from UPFs toward an anti-inflammatory diet (e.g., Mediterranean, rich in vegetables, omega-3s, and fiber) to reduce inflammation, support gut health, and enhance itaconate’s immune-regulating effects.

Science:…..

Enjoy,

Dr. M

Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #86 – Joe Pizzorrno, ND

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Welcome to Dr. M’s Women and Children First, the podcast where we dive deep into the science of health, wellness, and prevention—especially for women, children, and families. Today, we have a truly special guest, Dr. Joe Pizzorno.

Dr. Joe Pizzorno is a world-renowned leader in functional and naturopathic medicine, a trailblazer in environmental health, and the founding president of Bastyr University, one of the most prestigious natural health institutions in the world. With decades of research, policy advocacy, and clinical expertise under his belt, Dr. Pizzorno has been at the forefront of reshaping modern medicine by emphasizing the critical role of nutrition, detoxification, and whole person health in preventing and reversing disease.

He is the author of these books: Textbook of Natural Medicine, The Toxic Solution, Clinical Environmental Medicine, Clinical Pathophysiology and Total Wellness. He is an incredible teacher and sought after speaker worldwide.

Today, we’ll be discussing metabolism and the hidden impact of environmental toxins on women and children’s health, practical detox strategies, and how we can take charge of our well-being in an increasingly toxic world. If you’re looking for science-backed insights and actionable tips to help your family thrive, you won’t want to miss this conversation!

I hope that you enjoy my conversation with Dr. Joe Pizzorno!

Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Volume 14 Issue 50

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“Life forms on our planet have evolved under the strong influence of a daily light/dark cycle. Sunlight being the primary source of energy for photosynthesis, the daily production of photosynthetic biomass has a predictable diurnal rhythm. The daily cyclical production of photosynthesized chemical energy is at the base of the food chain. Daily changes in light and darkness result in diurnal rhythms in other environmental parameters such as temperature and humidity. Such a predictable and robust daily rhythm in food availability and environmental factors has led to the evolution of a ~24 h internal timing mechanism or circadian rhythm to enable organisms to anticipate daily changes and to optimize fitness. Fundamental to this 24 h rhythms is the ability to acquire food when it is available and to store a portion of these resources for utilization during the rest of the day (i.e. the fasting period) without compromising fitness and vitality. The fasting period also serves as a time for standby and repair so that the organism is fit and competent to harvest energy when light (for photosynthetic organisms) or food becomes available. While many non-photosynthetic lifeforms with short lifespan (< a few days) may not derive profound benefit from a circadian timing system, they share fundamental biochemical mechanisms for acquiring and storing food when it is available and then utilizing this stored energy during a quiescent period of fasting for repair, stress resistance and vitality.” (Longo et. al. 2016)

This is the crux of the understanding that we, the homo sapiens on Earth, need to realize that biology trumps any desire that we may have to fight against it. We are and have been moving in the wrong direction for quite some time as it relates to what we were meant to do biologically as children and then adults. Not coordinating activity with the sun is a negative recipe for health. Third shift workers are the canary’s in the coal mine for the risks of working and being awake when the sun is down and sleeping when it is up. This population has some very high risks for metabolic disease based on the data. (Biggi et. al. 2008)

Plus a section on filaggrin genes and skin function.

Dr. M

Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #81 – John Wherry, PhD – Covid, What Did We Learn?

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Today, we are honored to have Dr. E. John Wherry, a leading expert in the field of immunology, joining us. Dr. Wherry is the Chair of the Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also directs the Institute for Immunology. His undergraduate degree was obtained at Penn State University before completing his PhD in Immunology at the Thomas Jefferson University.

A thought leader in T cell biology and immune memory, Dr. Wherry’s work has been instrumental in improving therapies for viral infections, vaccines, and immunotherapy treatments. His discoveries in the field of immune exhaustion have had a profound impact on the way we approach treatments for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Widely published in top academic journals including Nature, Cell, and Science, Dr. Wherry is a heavy contributor to Covid research and especially the understandings of long Covid.

Today, we discuss Covid and the current state of the science regarding vaccines, long covid and what we can do better next time there is a pandemic.

Enjoy,

Dr. M

 

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