Tag Archives: Pediatrics

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Volume 15 Issue 16

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A Rooted Approach to Modern Medicine: The Vision Forward

My emerging and chronically iterating philosophy of medicine is a rising structural entity rooted between ancient healing wisdom and modern scientific insight. It is layered with root cause immunometabolomic thinking and built upon anthropological foundations. As a pediatrician, educator, and onion peeling thinker, I believe that a medical approach grounded in compassion, prevention, and the pursuit of root causes is the way forward. Medicine is not just about treating disease but about reshaping the very terrain in which illness arises. This can and must start with our women and children.

At the heart of this vision is a belief in the power of systems biology and our deep interconnectedness. The human body cannot be understood or healed through isolated parts or siloed provider experiences. We must move beyond symptom suppression and toward an understanding of the why behind disease. Why does a child struggle with allergies, ADHD, or autoimmune illness? What factors in the environment, diet, stress response, or microbial ecosystem have altered their trajectory? Why are the governmental and NGO leaders not guiding us towards a benevolent goal of whole child health? These are the questions that shape and guide our practice….and a literature review.

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 Women and Children First Podcast #13 Repost – Dr. Peter Rowe, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long Covid

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Welcome to Dr. M’s Women and Children First, where we dive into the latest insights on health and wellness for women and children. Today, we’re honored to have Dr. Peter Rowe, a world-renowned expert from Johns Hopkins University, joining us to unravel the complexities of chronic fatigue.  Dr. Peter Rowe is a Professor of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is the inaugural Sunshine Natural Wellbeing Foundation Professor of Chronic Fatigue and Related Disorders and serves as the Director of the Chronic Fatigue Clinic at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. His areas of clinical expertise include chronic fatigue syndrome and other disorders characterized by fatigue and orthostatic intolerance. Dr. Rowe and his colleagues were the first to describe the relationship between chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and treatable orthostatic intolerance syndromes, as well as the association between Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and CFS. In this episode, Dr. Rowe and I dive deep into CFS and long Covid for both the parent and the clinician. We set the stage for a better understanding of this complex disorder in order to encourage earlier diagnosis and better therapy. From its impact on daily life to cutting-edge approaches for management, Dr. Rowe brings decades of expertise to help us understand this challenging condition. 

Please Enjoy,

Dr. M

 

Dr. M’s SPA Newsletter Volume 15 Issue 7

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Let’s dive into articles that have been critical to understanding type 2 diabetes and Insulin Resistance: the Ominous Octet and now the Egregious Eleven from the BMC Medicine paper and the 2009 Diabetes paper by Dr. Ralph DeFronzo. Peter Attia recently interviewed Dr. Defronzo and I am on listen #3 because it is so good and yet incredibly complicated. This piece is a compilation of that interview and reviewing Dr. DeFronzo’s papers.

“…all too often, the risk factors for these disorders are not addressed promptly in clinical practice, leading to irreversible pathologic progression… Traditional approaches to treatment involving sequential therapy, in which agents are added only after one has failed, contribute to clinical inertia and often prevent goal attainment, leading to adverse outcomes…. in turn contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. In contrast, early diagnosis and prompt, intensive intervention, often with initial combination therapy, leads to faster goal attainment and improved outcomes for at-risk patients.” (Handelsman et al. 2023)(Schwartz et. al. 2024)

…literature review.

Enjoy,

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 Women and Children First Podcast #89 – Trenna Sutcliffe, MD – Autism and Development

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Today we are joined by a remarkable guest, Dr. Trenna Sutcliffe, a board-certified developmental-behavioral pediatrician and the founder of the Sutcliffe Clinic in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her educational history is impressive. She completed her undergraduate education in Molecular Biology and Medical Genetics followed by a masters degree in Biophysics at The University of Toronto. She obtained her Medical degree at McMaster University before her pediatric residency and training finished at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. And oh by the way, she then did a year of pediatric Neurology residency and a Fellowship in Developmental Pediatrics. And finally, another Masters degree in Epidemiology at Stanford University. Thus, her educational path has allowed her to see the developmental landscape through a wider lens covering many disciplines. Dr. Sutcliffe started the first Developmental Pediatrics Clinic at Stanford and played the role of trailblazer throughout her career.

With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Sutcliffe specializes in supporting children with autism, ADHD, and anxiety, offering a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment. In this episode, she’ll share her insights on the rising prevalence of these conditions, the importance of personalized care, and practical strategies for parents navigating developmental challenge. Fundamentally, Dr. Sutcliffe is a going to educate us on a better way to deliver whole person care to the developmentally challenged and beautiful children of this country.

Two words encapsulate her work: empowering and thoughtful.

Let’s dive into this conversation with Dr. Sutcliffe to learn how we can help our children thrive!

Dr. M

Dr. M’s Women and Children First Podcast #88 – Michael Collins – Sugar Addiction

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Today we’re tackling a topic that hits close to home for so many of us, sugar addiction and its impact on our kids and ourselves.

We’ve got an incredible guest joining us: Michael Collins, the author of The Last Resort Sugar Detox Guide: Learn How To Quickly and Easily Detox from Sugar and Stop Cravings Completely. Michael is a former sugar addict who’s been sugar-free for over 30 years, and he’s helped thousands break free from sugar’s grip through his work as the founder of SugarAddiction.com. He’s also raised two children sugar-free from the womb to age six—a feat that’s as inspiring as it is eye-opening. In this episode, Michael will share his journey, the science behind sugar’s addictive pull, and practical strategies to detox for good, especially for families navigating the modern food landscape. Whether you’re a parent worried about your child’s sugar intake or someone struggling with cravings yourself, you won’t want to miss this.

Dr. M

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