Complex Chronic Conditions: Putting the Puzzle Pieces Together

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PETER KOSHLAND, PHARMD
 
Biofilm Disruption: Understanding Microorganism Complexity and Effects on the Microbiome
Presentation Description:
 
Presentation Description:

Biofilms are implicated in many conditions and multiple body systems, including otitis media, bacterial vaginosis, sinusitis, endocarditis, valvular infections, and infections of the respiratory, skin, and gastrointestinal systems. These conditions can be very hard and complex to treat. Luckily there are many pharmaceuticals that can treat biofilms, including antimicrobials, chemotaxis agents, matrix disruptors, dispersants, and bioadhesives. After this presentation, attendees will be able to cite studies and understand formulas that have been proven to be effective for various types of biofilm infections.
 
After the presentation, participants will be able to confidently:

1.     Understand the makeup of typical biofilms in the human body.
2.     Understand how biofilms function to prevent eradication of infectious diseases.
3.     Considerations for considering biofilm implication in a patient’s pathology.
4.     Treatment options for disrupting biofilms.
 
Chronic Sinusitis: Beyond Limitations of Naturopathic and Conventional Treatments
 
Presentation Description:
 
Chronic sinusitis affects at least 30 million people a year and can last longer than 8 weeks. During this time, patients tend to suffer from pain, congestion, pressure, insomnia, headache, fever, and ear ache. Sinusitis tends to be polymicrobial (bacterial, fungal, mold, viral), but is usually treated with antibiotics. Symptoms may go away, but the infection can still be present, leading to recurrent infections in the future. There are many ways to treat these sinus infections, and it is important to address the bacteria, fungus/mold, and virus
 
After the presentation, participants will be able to confidently:

1.     Understand the anatomy of the sinuses.
2.     Analyze the different presentations of sinusitis.
3.     Understand common pathogens for sinusitis.
4.     Explore the role of biofilm in limiting the effectiveness of the immune system and drugs in eradicating pathogens.
5.     Explore different treatment options.
6.     Compare sinus rinses and nasal nebulization as drug delivery devices.
 
 
DR. ALENA GUGGENHEIM, ND
 
Untangling the Triad: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Connection to Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) Part 1

PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION:

Heritable disorders of connective tissue such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) appear to predispose people to other disorders of the nervous system and immune system such as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). This can cause patients to present with seemingly disparate, but ultimately related complex multiple system symptoms. This lecture will cover recognition, diagnosis of EDS, POTS and MCAS for integrative providers.
 
After the presentation, participants will be able to confidently:
 
Recognize the common symptoms of hypermobile connective tissue disorders, dysautonomia and mast cell activation syndrome.
Order and interpret common testing for dysautonomia and mast cell activation syndrome.
Create a differential diagnosis for patients that present with complex, chronic, multi system disorders.
 
 
Untangling the Triad: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Connection to Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) Part 2
 
Presentation Description:

Part 2 this lecture will cover both pharmaceutical as well as naturopathic treatments of EDS, POTS and MCAS. After this lecture, attendees will understand the common medications used to treat these conditions. Naturopathic treatments will include nutraceuticals as well as lifestyle interventions.
 
After the presentation, participants will be able to confidently:
 
1.Safely prescribe appropriate medications to address dysautonomia and mast cell activation syndrome.
2. Provide integrative therapies including nutriceuticals and lifestyle interventions for patients with EDS, POTS and MCAS.
3. Understand which pharmaceutical medications are indicated for EDS, POTs, and MCAS and their mechanism of action.
 
 
DR. BONNIE NEDROW, ND
 
Metabolic Flexibility: The Key to Reversing Metabolic Syndrome
 
Presentation Description:

Metabolic disease is a prime driver of morbidity and mortality and overshadows our current medical landscape. Management of diabetes, heart disease and obesity dominate both the pharmaceutical and nutraceuticals industries. However, it is well known that lifestyle is the most effective therapeutic to reverse metabolic illness and restore health. 
In this lecture, Dr. Nedrow will share her system to reverse metabolic syndrome and it’s cluster of diseases through a series of steps involving detoxification, nutrition, nervous system reset and fasting. She will demonstrate with diverse cases how this patient-centric, customizable method can be used to reestablish metabolic flexibility and create a lifestyle to maintain metabolic health.
 
After the presentation, participants will be able to confidently:

1.     Recognize the multiple factors driving metabolic disease including nutrition, stress, obesogenic chemicals, sub-optimal circadian rhythms and epigenetic programming.
2.     Understand how metabolism is controlled by hormones and neurotransmitters and how lifestyle alterations can modulate those systems.
3.     Outline the limitations of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals to manage metabolic disease and describe why lifestyle intervention is key.
Metabolic Flexibility: Treating Fatty Liver Disease
 
 
Metabolic Flexibility: Treating Fatty Liver Disease
 
Presentation Description:

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has globally become the principal cause of liver disease and the most common condition to lead to liver transplant. MAFL progresses too often to serious disease and even organ failure due to inadequate screening and limited treatment models. Liver biopsy, which is both expensive and invasive, remains the gold-standard for diagnosis despite the availability of early screening with standard blood tests. Dr. Nedrow will share her research on lab value interpretation of multiple biomarkers that correlate with the early stages and progression of hepatic steatorrhea. She will then demonstrate through case studies how to apply her Metabolic Flexibility Method to the treatment and reversal of MAFLD.
 
After the presentation, participants will be able to confidently:

1.     Identify lab values that correlate to liver biopsy in the diagnosis of MAFLD.
2.     Understand why a high-fat low-carb diet is the most effective nutritional approach to reversing hepatic steatorrhea.
3.     Recognize how endogenous stores of fat-soluble chemicals can contribute to MAFLD when applying rapid weight-loss strategies and how to intervene to mitigate this risk.
 
 
DR. DENISE COOLURIS, ND
 
Women’s Integrative Health: Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus
 
Vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) is a chronic, distressing, inflammatory disease that can have an enormous impact on quality of life for our chronic complex illness patients. This presentation will cover the different complex illness concerns that may influence or drive the pathogenesis of VLS, concomitant vaginal dysbiosis considerations, and the disease pathways for us to consider in our therapeutic approach. Case studies will elucidate diagnostic and treatment pearls to consider with this challenging condition, which is more complicated with chronic inflammatory triggers.
 
After the presentation, participants will be able to confidently:

1.     Differentiation of vulvar lichen sclerosus and chronic dysbiosis.
2.     Be aware of the chronic complex issues that may complicate or drive the pathogenesis of VLS, diagnostic considerations such as infectious disease concerns, chronic inflammatory pathways, environmental/toxin exposures.
3.     Apply novel naturopathic, integrative, and conventional therapeutic and clinical considerations.
 
Endometriosis in Patients with Chronic Illness
 
Presentation Description:

Endometriosis is a complex inflammatory disease that is often overlooked or misdiagnosed in patients with chronic complex illness due to its complex and multifactorial presentation. In this presentation we will review endometriosis in the chronic complex illness patient with an emphasis on MCAS.
 
After the presentation, participants will be able to confidently:
 

• Understand diagnostic and treatment choreography in a patient with endometriosis and MCAS, environmental toxicity such as mold, and concomitant issues of dysautonomia, POTs, infectious disease, and autoimmune concerns.
• Be able to review the role of mast cells in pathophysiology of endometriosis and a few select additional women’s health issues.
• Treatment considerations and clinical pearls.

 
 
DR. TODD MADERIS, ND
 
Mold and Mycotoxin Illness: Causes, Symptoms and Testing
 
Exposure to molds and the toxins mold produce (mycotoxins) pose a significant risk to human health. Awareness of mold illness is on the rise, and its critical healthcare providers understand mold exposure risks, symptoms associated with mold illness, medical conditions that can be caused by mycotoxin exposure, how to effectively test for mold illness, and treatment strategies. There is significant published research identifying the mechanisms by which mold and mycotoxins cause illness and injury. These mechanisms will be discussed, and treatment strategies to address the mechanisms will be presented.
 
After the presentation, participants will be able to confidently:

1.     Discover the common causes of mold and mycotoxin exposure
2.     Understand toxic molds and the mycotoxins they produce
3.     Understand the symptoms and conditions associated with mold illness
4.     Understand various methods of mold testing
 
 
Mold and Mycotoxin Illness: Pathophysiology and Treatment
 
Presentation Description:

Molds and the mycotoxins they produce cause immune suppression, neurological disorders, cancer, and other chronic illnesses. In this presentation, I will discuss the mechanisms of injury and illness caused by mold and mycotoxin exposure, how to treat the pathophysiology, and how to effectively apply this approach to your patients.
 
After the presentation, participants will be able to confidently:

1.     Understand the mechanisms of injury and illness caused by molds and mycotoxins
2.     Learn treatments to address mycotoxicosis and subsequent injury
3.     Learn how to apply the concepts of recognizing, assessing, and treating mold illness in your practice
 
 
DR. CHRIS HOLDER, ND
 
Breast Cancer: Toxicology, Carcinogens and Detoxification
 
Presentation Description:

Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer among women in the US and is particularly high in Marin County CA. In this presentation, we will review the research on main toxins that can damage DNA, toxins affecting the immune surveillance of breast cancer, and toxins affecting the growth of breast cancer. Finally, we will review common carcinogens in breast cancer and detoxification strategies for these carcinogens.
 
After the presentation, participants will be able to confidently:
 
1. Understand the current state of research on breast cancer toxicology.
2. Understand the mechanism that different toxins play in developing breast cancer.
3. Understand the measurement of common carcinogens. (metals, molds, plastics, pesticides,
herbicides, solvents, and fuels)
4. Review treatment options of common carcinogens.
5. Review the preliminary data collection for research in our clinic.
 
Parkinson’s Disease: Ochrratoxin Causation and Treatment
 
Presentation Description:

Ochratoxin is a mycotoxin from Aspergillus and Penicillium molds. It has been implicated as a causative agent in developing Parkinson’s disease. In this presentation, Dr. Holder will present an overview of Parkinson’s disease statistics and the mechanisms that Ochratoxin plays in Parkinson’s. He will then review research on Ochratoxin in Parkinson’s. Finally, he will discuss treatment options to remove Ochratoxin as well as other toxins implicated in Parkinson’s
 
After the presentation, participants will be able to confidently:
 
1.Understand the current state of research on ochratoxin

2.Understand the mechanism that ochratoxin causes Parkinson’s disease.

3.Review the measurement of ochratoxin.

4.Review treatment options for ochratoxin in a Parkinson’s patient.

5.Review the preliminary data collection for research in our clinic.