Newsletter

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Volume 15 Issue 5

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Picture this, a tiny, 30 nm, relentless RNA virus named norovirus slips into your life, uninvited, and turns your gut into a battlefield. It’s not the flu. Forget that “stomach flu” misnomer. It’s a Caliciviridae family member, a nonenveloped, single-stranded RNA ninja that thrives in making chaos. As a pediatrician, I’ve seen it wreak havoc in kids and parents alike, and it’s a master of surprise.

It just played Risk in my GI tract last week. Not Fun!

Let’s unpack how it infects, spreads, and toys with us humans, straight from the AAP’s Red Book (2024) and other research. Norovirus causes an estimated 1 in 15 US residents to become ill each year as well as 71,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths annually, predominantly among young children and the elderly.

Norovirus doesn’t knock, more so it sneaks in, needing under 100 viral particles to ignite trouble. You’re sipping contaminated water, munching an oyster from a shady bay, or your toddler’s unwashed hands after a playdate deliver the payload. It’s mostly fecal-oral, stool to mouth via food, water, or surfaces. But don’t sleep on aerosolized vomit. One hurl in a crowded daycare, and airborne particles linger, landing on toys, doorknobs, you name it for days. Did I say lingering! Smart viral spread!

Gorilla warfare is on!

Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Volume 15 Issue 4

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What is measles – a refresher?

Measles is a serious, highly contagious and potentially deadly viral infection. It is caused by an RNA paramyxovirus. It is spread by contact with droplets from an infected person’s nose, mouth or throat. Sneezing and coughing can aerosolize the droplets and increase the range of infectious spread. Symptoms usually develop 8 to 10 days following exposure to an infected individual. A sick individual is contagious for 4 days before and 4 days after symptom onset. The reproductive rate is very high at 12+ meaning that 1 person will infect 12 and those 12 will get 12 more sick (144) and then 144 X 12 = 1728 X 12 = 20,736 and you are off to the exponential races….Plus, The Shock of a New Diagnosis: A Stoic Path Through the Storm.

Enjoy,

Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Volume 15 Issue 3

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Literature Review

1) Microplastics in the Brain – From Science Advances: “Human health is being threatened by environmental microplastic (MP) pollution. MPs were detected in the bloodstream and multiple tissues of humans, disrupting the regular physiological processes of organs. Nanoscale plastics can breach the blood-brain barrier, leading to neurotoxic effects. How MPs cause brain functional irregularities remains unclear. This work uses high-depth imaging techniques to investigate the MPs within the brain in vivo. We show that circulating MPs are phagocytosed and lead these cells to obstruction in the capillaries of the brain cortex. These blockages as thrombus formation cause reduced blood flow and neurological abnormalities in mice. Our data reveal a mechanism by which MPs disrupt tissue function indirectly through regulation of cell obstruction and interference with local blood circulation, rather than direct tissue penetration. This revelation offers a lens through which to comprehend the toxicological implications of MPs that invade the bloodstream.” (Huang et. al. 2025)

This weeks podcast is a direct look at the world of toxicology and the human consequences of exposure over time. Microplastics are the new and next trouble maker on the planet. This study raises the concern that micro and nano plastics can and do enter the brain and will disrupt and thus alter brain physiological processes. More time to answer the true risk reality. Not good. and more….Plus a letter about MAHA from Dr. Jeffrey Bland, a serious take on preventative medicine as opposed to disease pharmaceutical centric medicine.

Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Volume 15 Issue 2

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Klotho Protein and Longevity

I am reposting this information from last year because it is going to stay on my mind and I would like everyone to be aware of this peptide and the future of healing and what we can do now to be healthy. The science here is one part fascinating, one part complicated and equal parts necessary.

Ok, it is time for a potential log step shift in the human understanding of neurological decline with age starting from birth.

Enter the peptide, (C)Klotho, named after the greek goddess of fate who spins the thread of life for all. The Klotho protein was discovered by researchers looking at mice that aged faster than the general mouse population. These mice were noted to have a shortened lifespan, stunted growth, renal disease, blood vessel calcification, cardiac hypertrophy, hypertension, pulmonary disease, cognitive impairment, multi-organ atrophy and fibrosis. (Prud’homme et. al. 2022) When they looked closer, these mice were found to have hypoactive klotho proteins leading to an explosion of research over the past two decades to understand why. The next question was, could the hyperactive state provide an anti aging effect? To be clear the word anti aging should really say delayed inevitable aging.

The answer was a resounding yes!…..

Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Volume 15 Issue 1

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Some Key Literature Review Studies from Year 14

This is a bit of a long newsletter. That is intentional. This will be a repository for some of the best research for us to look back on from time to time this coming year to solidify the learning moving forward.

1) Time restricted eating patterns are known to help physiology and metabolism by initiating a pause in the action of mTOR and muscle synthesis as well as inducing autophagy. Autophagy is critical to the clearance of broken or damaged cells following injury or disease…..Plus a to do list and recipe of the week.

Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Volume 14 Issue 52

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Here are 20 takeaways from year 14 of the SPA Newsletter

1) Diet significantly impacts respiratory health – Reducing processed foods and increasing anti-inflammatory nutrients can help manage asthma and allergies.

2) Consistent sleep routines improve cognitive function – Children who maintain a regular sleep schedule have better emotional regulation, learning capacity, and immune health.

3) Environmental toxins affect child development – Reducing exposure to air pollutants, pesticides, and household chemicals lowers the risk of chronic illnesses and delayed learning.

4) Chronic stress in children is rising – Teaching mindfulness, outdoor play, and limiting academic overburden will support mental well-being. Over stressing a child leads to little in the positive realm. Align their learning with their passions and watch them thrive.

5) Processed foods are linked to behavior issues among so many issues – High sugar and ultra-processed diets may contribute to ADHD-like symptoms and mood instability…..

Dr. M

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Volume 14 Issue 51

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Here is an article that I wrote for Rupa Fullscript in order to lay the ground work for effective preventative medicine. In order to get a longer runway to preventing disease, targeted lab screening is becoming very important.

Classical medical training often relies on a traditional, binary approach to patient care: either a disease is present, or it is not. Functional medicine builds on this perspective by examining a continuum of potential dysfunction within lab results. Rather than waiting for a definitive diagnosis, functional medicine practitioners look for subtle “breadcrumbs” in the data—early indicators that might signal an evolving health issue long before it fully manifests. Routine lab panels remain a foundational tool, but their deeper insights are frequently underutilized. In functional medicine, we dig into each lab marker more thoroughly, considering it a potential clue to underlying imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, or early disease processes. This more granular interpretation goes beyond the standard understanding of “normal” values, seeking patterns that can inform more personalized and preventive care.

By viewing “normal” lab ranges through a more nuanced lens, functional medicine aims to identify previously overlooked indicators. The ultimate goal is to narrow our concept of “optimal” health ranges, enabling a more attentive and individualized approach that supports the patient’s best possible health outcomes…..plus a section on literature reviews.

Dr. M

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