Host: Ketan Sheth, MD, MBA

Guest: Santiago Martinez, MD

What is the relationship between immunity and autism? Do the immune systems of those with autism function differently than the rest of the population? Dr. Santiago Martinez, clinical assistant professor at Florida State University College of Medicine, joins host Dr. Ketan Sheth to discuss the immune systems of autism patients. Is there any evidence that might suggest that autoimmune disorders in mothers can somehow contribute to the development of autism in their children?

Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP

Guest: Peter Scheidt, MD, MPH

From the air our children breathe to the food they eat, to where and how they live, the environments in which they grow affect their development and lifelong health. The National Children’s Study, undertaken by the National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD), is a large longitudinal investigation of these environmental influences, tracking participants from birth through early adulthood. Dr. Peter Scheidt, medical officer and co-director of the National Children’s Study at the NICHD, explains how the findings might impact patient care and offers an estimate of when we can expect to see the first significant results. If you have patients who may be interested in participating, how can you refer them for enrollment? Dr. Jennifer Shu hosts.

Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP

Guest: Peter Scheidt, MD, MPH

The National Children’s Study will follow the health and development of more than 100,000 children across the United States, starting from before birth until age 21. What do you need to know about this ambitious federally financed project? Dr. Peter Scheidt, medical officer and co-director of the National Children’s Study at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, provides the details on this large-scale project: what are its main goals, how is it organized, and what factors will the study examine? Dr. Jennifer Shu hosts.

Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP

Guest: Bruce Slaughenhoupt, MD

Once considered to be a problem of adulthood, kidney stones are being more regularly documented in children as young as age five. What factors are responsible for the increasing prevalence of this condition, and what can we do to reverse this emerging pattern of childhood kidney stones? Dr. Bruce Slaughenhoupt, assistant professor of urology and co-director of the pediatric kidney stone clinic at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, evaluates the clinical implications of this trend with host Dr. Jennifer Shu.

Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP

Guest: Roland Sutter, MD, MPHTM

The World Health Organization (WHO) is working diligently to eliminate Type 1 poliovirus transmission in endemic countries around the world. Although progress has been made using the trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine, eradication remains elusive. Recent studies have examined the efficacy of a monovalent oral poliovirus vaccine given to newborns: could this monovalent vaccine bring us closer to eradicating poliomyelitis? Dr. Jennifer Shu welcomes Dr. Roland Sutter, coordinator of the research and product development team for the WHO's Global Polio Eradication Initiative, to detail his team's contributions to the evolving body of polio research.

Host: Mary Leuchars, MD

Guest: Christine Ren, MD

When does surgery become the best option for treating obese adolescents? Dr. Christine Ren, founder and director of the New York University (NYU) Program for Surgical Weight Loss and assistant professor of surgery at NYU School of Medicine, addresses this question and identifies target patients for whom surgery is recommended. She also discusses both physical and psychosocial outcomes for adolescents undergoing weight loss procedures, as well as important post-op nutritional complications clinicians should anticipate. Hosted by Dr. Mary Leuchars.

Host: Todd Mahr, MD

Guest: Scott Sicherer, MD

Because more children now live with food allergies than in decades past, at what point should a physician suspect that a patient might have a food allergy? What gastrointestinal symptoms are most common in children with food allergies? Dr. Scott Sicherer, associate professor of pediatrics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, reviews the most effective ways to diagnose and manage children with food allergies. Surprisingly, Dr. Sicherer says skin prick testing should not be the first diagnostic step. So what should physicians do when they suspect a child might have food allergies? Dr. Todd Mahr hosts.

Host: Todd Mahr, MD

Guest: Stanley Fineman, MD, MBA

Immunoglobulin replacement therapy has been used for treating various infections over the past 50 years. It has been traditionally administered intravenously, but now subcutaneous delivery of immunoglobulin is proving to be an attractive alternative. What disorders are immunoglobulin therapy used to treat, and what are the advantages to each type of preparation? Dr. Stanley Fineman, clinical associate professor in the department of pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine, discusses novel approaches to immunoglobulin therapy with host Dr. Todd Mahr. Which patients are the best candidates for immunoglobulin therapy?

Host: Todd Mahr, MD

Guest: Alan Goldsobel, MD

Cough is one of the most common symptoms but can develop as a symptom of various disorders, from asthma to bacterial infection to gastroesophogeal reflux disorder. How important is the character of a cough in determining the cause in children particularly? Host Dr. Todd Mahr explores cough guidelines and recommendations for children, alon with Dr. Alan Goldsobel, clinical professor in the department of medicine at the University of California San Francisco. At what point is a cough considered chronic, and when should a lingering cough be evaluated in children?

Host: Lisa Mazzullo, MD

Guest: Mishka Terplan, MD

Researchers have no way to determine how significant the problem of substance abuse and pregnancy really is. Very few women will be open and honest when it comes to answering questions about elicit drug use. So how do doctors get their patients the proper help? Dr. Mishka Terplan, an associate professor at the University of Chicago, looks at the issues of universal drug screening for all pregnant women, confidentiality, inpatient and outpatient drug rehabilitation programs and the stigma of being a substance abuser, with host Dr. Lisa Mazzullo.