Omicron Overview - The world of omicron as I see it now
January 17th, 2022
Ugh - 2 weeks changes everything
My partner, Dr. Koontz stated the other day, that nature is vaccinating the US with Omicron since we couldn't do it. He was present during measles outbreaks in Dallas, Texas during his training and he noted this feels closer to that than anything in his career. He is correct. Everyone will see this virus sooner or later this year. Hopefully, since we cannot vaccinate this virus into submission like measles, this will become like seasonal influenza where we have some a priori immunity leading to less death. Fingers crossed.
Vaccine Effectiveness Goes Down The Drain
January 17th, 2022
By Viany Prasad
"Some argue there is still a justification to boost because you can help prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed. Sadly, that argument fails in several ways. First, you have no evidence boosting younger people will slow hospitalizations. A vaccinated younger person already has very low risk of being hospitalized. Boosting may not further lower what is already very low. We simply have no evidence. Event rates are sparse at those ages.
Second, this argument would mean the state could tell people what to eat and how much to exercise, and how much to drink.
COVID Pathophysiology 2021/2022
January 17th, 2022
The massive update to this theory is finished for now: it is long, complex and interesting!
SARS2, the virus that causes Covid – 19, is now known to be an infectious disease with features of a human disease that span the spectrum from asymptomatic to profoundly dysregulated immune system responses leading to both aggressive inflammation and autoimmunity in the moderately to severely affected persons. It is now very clear that the vast majority of these significantly affected
Fructose redo
Januray 24th, 2022
In preparation for the upcoming podcast with Dr. Rick Johnson. We are going to discuss the survival switch and fructose metabolism in specific. It will be another life changing discussion for many of us.
We all are paying more attention to the effects of lifestyle choices on our health especially as it relates to Covid 19. One of the primary lifestyle choices that is hurting us is the over consumption of refined carbohydrates or sugars, in particular the molecule fructose.
2 COMPLETELY AVOIDABLE DISEASES OF CHILDHOOD
january 24th, 2022
Redo
Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, NAFLD
Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis, NASH
When I was in medical school in the early 90's, the primary cause of fatty liver disease in adults was alcohol abuse. Over the last 20 years, the obesity epidemic and associated fatty liver disease, NAFLD, has taken over first place. Unfortunately, this is no longer an adult only phenomena. Akin to type II diabetes mellitus, children are now suffering increasing rates of NASH and then NAFLD.
"Multiple sclerosis (MS)
january 24th, 2022
From the study, "Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system of unknown etiology. We tested the hypothesis that MS is caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in a cohort comprising more than 10 million young adults on active duty in the US military, 955 of whom were diagnosed with MS during their period of service. Risk of MS increased 32-fold after infection with EBV but was not increased after infection with other viruses, including the similarly transmitted cytomegalovirus. Serum levels of neurofilament light chain, a biomarker of neuroaxonal degeneration, increased only after EBV seroconversion. These findings cannot be explained by any known risk factor for MS and suggest EBV as the leading cause of MS."
Volume 12, Letter 7 Coronavirus Update 54
January 31st, 2022
This newsletter will be a little more opinionated than normal as I feel that it is time to call a spade a spade as it relates to children's health in this pandemic. I do not expect everyone to agree with me. However, as always discourse is key and you are welcome to send me your thoughts.
The data is showing us that we are in a much better place from a death and risk perspective despite massive case volume! The world around masking, testing and quarantining needs to leave the alpha/beta/delta protocol world and enter endemic omicron.
Coronavirus Update 54
January 31st, 2022
A graph on Dr. Peter Attia's twitter feed showing us the realities of young people's death risk based on a comparator against COVID death. This is a very poignant representation of risk and where we should be spending our monetary and energetic capital in the prevention landscape for young people. We need to have more indignation around the deaths from MVA, suicide, homicide and drug use. I would like to see a national message fighting these diseases of young adults.
We need perspective as a society. Mental health is our biggest crisis next to nutrition. Covid is not a problem in comparison. This is not to say that we should not teach people true risk from Covid and take individual mitigating measures.
Sugar is the Problem
January 31st, 2022
After having a dysfunctional discussion with one of my ICU colleagues about the efficacy of lifestyle modification and the lack of need to push it, I am even more determined to push this message. The message that modern medicine is here to save you is not lost on the 840,000+ deceased Americans and counting. Could they have reduced their risk had they known and chosen to change the antecedent physiology that put them at risk in the first place? I, resoundingly, think so for many.
COVID Pathophysiology 2021/2022
January 31st, 2022
The massive update to this theory is finished for now: it is long, complex and interesting!
SARS2, the virus that causes Covid – 19, is now known to be an infectious disease with features of a human disease that span the spectrum from asymptomatic to profoundly dysregulated immune system responses leading to both aggressive
Allergy Season and School - What is your plan?
February 7th, 2022
Spring is on the horizon for many of us in the Southern United States. For the parents of allergy suffering kids, this is a time for check ups, medicines and the countless forms required by school. I know! What a pain!
But, it is what it is.
The goal for parents, providers and educators is to limit missed or unproductive school days due to asthma and allergies and to get the most out of the learning environment for all children. We can work together to make sure allergic children stay healthy. To suffer from congestion and wheeze will limit adversely one's focus and ability to attend a classroom event.
Section II Vitamin D
February 7th, 2022
Vitamin D is arguably the most important micronutrient. It is one of the four fat soluble vitamins and has the added benefit of being synthesized in our skin via the sun's UVB rays. I think that it is critically associated with allergic rhinitis and atopic diseases.We all love sunny days and the effect the sun has on our psyche and feelings of wellness.
Section III Propeller Health
Febrauary 7th, 2022
A device for asthma and lung diseases that helps the user determine trigger locations and aggregate data to enhance therapy. Very interesting way for us to use data inn the fight against disease.
I have no financial connection. Just a great product.
Dr. M
Fructose Survival Switch Graphic
February 7th, 2022
Volume 12, Letter 9 Coronavirus Update 55
February 14th, 2022
I want to ask for a big favor. If you listen to the podcast, please rate it at apple podcasts.
As this Omicron wave comes back to Earth, I am going to shift gears and spend a little more time looking at secondary problems of the Pandemic and now Endemic disease of SARS2 Covid19.
This week in specific we are going to look a little closer at long Covid.
Omicron Overview this week.
February 14th, 2022
The Omicron variant found me finally in a consciuosly un-boosted state. It was a kitty cat compared to my first brush with Covid in March of 2020. First illness lasted 8 days with mild myocarditis and with a month of fatigue. It was frankly rough. Round 2 was 2+ days of flu like symptoms with minimal secondary symptom continuance. The memory T and B cells from round one plus an mRNA vaccine dose a year later made a huge difference considering how well Omicron evaded the immune antibodies circulating. (of which I had a lot based on testing in October, 9
Vitamin D and Covid
SECTION II -
From the study: Of 1176 patients admitted, 253 had records of a 25(OH)D level prior to COVID-19 infection. A lower vitamin D status was more common in patients with the severe or critical disease (<20 ng/mL) than in individuals with mild or moderate disease (<20 ng/mL). Patients with vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) were 14 times more likely to have severe or critical disease than patients with 25(OH)D ≥40 ng/mL.
COVID Pathophysiology 2021/2022
February 14th, 2022
The massive update to this theory is finished for now: it is long, complex and interesting!
SARS2, the virus that causes Covid – 19, is now known to be an infectious disease with features of a human disease that span the spectrum from asymptomatic to profoundly dysregulated immune system responses leading to both aggressive inflammation and autoimmunity in the moderately to severely affected persons.
Fructose in a pictorial explanation!
February 21st, 2022
This picture lays out the benefits of fructose sugar to humans over history versus the dysfunction of the modern Westen diet driving metabolic disarray.
I am almost finished with the fructose breakdown according to Dr. Johnson. Stay tuned.
Dr. M
Fructose in a pictorial explanation!
This picture lays out the benefits of fructose sugar to humans over history versus the dysfunction of the modern Westen diet driving metabolic disarray.
Non nutritive sweeteners are a net negative for your intestinal microbiome says a new study.
February 21st, 2022
"To identify possible mechanisms by which maternal consumption of non-nutritive sweeteners increases obesity risk in offspring, we reconstructed the major alterations in the cecal microbiome of 3-week-old offspring of obese dams consuming high fat/sucrose (HFS) diet with or without aspartame (5–7 mg/kg/day) or stevia (2–3 mg/kg/day) by shotgun metagenomic sequencing (n = 36). High throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing (n = 105) was performed for dams, 3- and 18-week-old offspring. Maternal consumption of sweeteners altered cecal microbial composition and metabolism of propionate/lactate in their offspring.