Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/rV8GGA-o26E   Children and adolescents of any age who contract CoVid are as likely as infected adults to spread the virus and its variants to others.  Researchers at Harvard and MIT studied 97 children with a median age of 10 and an age ranging from 2 weeks to 22 years.   CoVid positivity and viral loads were determined by PCR testing.  As with adults, the children had the highest measurable viral loads during the first 5 days of their illnesses.  Those children hospitalized with more symptomatic disease had viral loads similar to those found in hospitalized adults.  The viral variants isolated from the children were similar to those isolated from adults.   Since our kids are the last group to be vaccinated, we all need to be aware that they could be potential spreaders of CoVid including those variants that are of greatest risk to the very young, elders, and the immunocompromised.   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.05.30.21258086v1   #CoVid #children #adolescents #var

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/7qhJMVpyav   Adding a second dose of the Pfizer mRNA CoVid vaccine yields better and more uniformly protective viral neutralization antibodies.  Portuguese investigators studied the responses of 1245 health care workers and 146 nursing home residents ranging in age from 19 to 99 years.   After the first dose, 98.6% of younger recipients 19-29 years developed antibodies while only 25.4% of the older recipients 70-100 years of age developed them.  Adding the second dose bumped the antibody development up to 100% for the young and to 94.9% for the older and led to more uniform levels of protective antibody in all age groups.   A second dose benefits all, but especially our elders.   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.19.21253680v2.full.pdf+html   #CoVid #vaccine #mRNA #pfizer #antibodies  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/lqDzwBXKfb4   An implantable chip is 6 times better than external cardiac monitoring for detecting bouts of atrial fibrillation that could trigger a devastating stroke.  Cardiologists at Harvard’s Mass General Hospital and Northwestern University draw this conclusion from their study of 492 patients who suffered a first stroke with no identifiable cause.     Half the group were randomized to receive a tiny implantable cardiac monitoring chip and the others were monitored with conventional methods.  The chip detected runs of atrial fibrillation in 12.1% of cases versus only 1.8% by conventional means.  Based on this result, the investigators suggest that any stroke patient with a history of atrial fibrillation should be monitored with this high tech implant.   https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2780490   #atrialfibrillation #stroke #monitoring #implant  

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/cAmUQlHW8kE Today’s medical discoveries that point to future therapy. Elephants May Help Us PREVENT Cancer Making Plant-based Meats Healthier Genetically Enhanced Heart Attack Therapy Smart Device Monitoring Of Your Psyche Antibiotics Could Treat Cancer   Elephants are one-third as likely to die from cancer even though they have 100 times as many potentially cancerous cells.  Geneticists at the University of Chicago have unraveled the mystery by their discovery that elephants possess a gene that triggers a cytokine called LIF6 to destroy cancer cells. We humans have one copy of the tumor suppressor gene p53, versus 20 copies in elephants, and we also have a version of the LIF cytokine.  Work is underway to harness for humans the gene-driven cancer preventive that works so well in elephants.   Plant-based meat and fish substitutes are all the rage, but they are not healthier than the real thing due to their abundance of saturated fat, salt, and sugar.  Food scientists at UMass Amhers

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/V0cOYpNRyZQ   Eating yogurt twice a week lowers a man’s risk of developing adenomatous, cancer-producing polyps by 26%.   Researchers studied colonoscopy data from over 88,000 participants in the continuing Health Professionals and Nurses Health Studies.  Sadly, the data did not show any beneficial association between yogurt consumption and polyps in women.   The investigators feel that the live culture bacteria found in yogurt likely feed on the carcinogenic substances found in the gastrointestinal tract.  They also point to yogurt’s known anti-inflammatory properties as helpful in reducing colon adenoma formation.   So guys—try to enjoy several cups of yogurt a week especially if you have a personal or family history of bowel polyps or bowel cancer.   BMJ. "Yogurt may help to lower pre-cancerous bowel growth risk in men: Observed association strongest for growths highly likely to become cancerous." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 18 June 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/1

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/VPOkjMpecZc   Imagine that you’re waiting for a biopsy report, a job offer, a college or grad school acceptance, or a colonoscopy.  You’re on pins and needles anxious. Just how do you cope?  A new study from UC-Riverside gives you a novel strategy: watching an awe-inducing or heart-tugging movie.   The researchers studied a total of 729 subjects all stressed awaiting important test results.  Groups were exposed to various videos including one of an awe-inducing sunrise with orchestral accompaniment, one of cute animals playing, and the third a rather boring documentary about padlock manufacture.  Those who experienced awe reported more positive emotions and significantly less anxiety while waiting than the the subjects who screened the less inspiring selections.     So just what is awe?  The psychologists define it as a “transportive mindset” of the sort often triggered by a tear-jerking movie.  I have a few of those that work every time: It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle On 34th Str

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/55poyxu_SAc   Premature infants who listen to music enjoy enhanced neural development.  Swiss neuroscientists at the University of Geneva report the positive effects of specially composed and performed music on developing neural networks of premies.   The musical selections varied with time of day and were designed to lend an auditory structure to the infant’s first days out of the womb.  The instruments that produced the most consistent reactions from the babies were the snake charmer’s flute, the harp, and bells.   The   double blind study used MRI imaging before and after the musical exposure to assess the effect.  The group of premies treated to the music showed stronger connections between the parts of their brains that perform cognitive tasks, manage social relationships, and manage emotions.   If a premie has recently joined your family, consider adding lilting flute, harp, and orchestral bell music to their environments.   Lara Lordier, Djalel-Eddine Meskaldji, Frédéric G

Fainting While Pregnant Signals Impending Complications - Reprise Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/TqkKrrK7FJA   Urban legend has it that fainting while pregnant is no big deal.  A study just published by Canadian cardiologists and epidemiologists finds that fainting, the common term for syncope, while pregnant is a bad prognostic sign for both the mother and her developing baby.   The researchers studied more than 480,000 babies and their mothers.   Though fainting is uncommon affecting only 1% of pregnant women, it tends to occur most often during the first trimester.     When fainting does occur, it is associated with an increase in maternal cardiac problems and higher rates of prematurity.  Carrying and nourishing a fetus is an acknowledged strain on the mother’s cardiovascular system.   If a pregnant woman you know faints, be certain that she reports the event to her medical doctors as well as to her OBGYN.  She should then be followed more carefully throughout her pregnancy for the potential development of ca

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/dZ_q5BJtlzQ Women who use assisted reproduction techniques including in-vitro fertilization and intracystoplasmic sperm injection are 5 times more likely to suffer pregnancy-associated heart failure.  This conclusion comes from a study at Germany’s Hannover Medical School presented last week to the European Society of Cardiology.   This pregnancy-associated heart failure is due to so-called peripartum cardiomyopathy or PPCM, and this condition affects one in every 1000 pregnant women around the world.  It threatens the life of mother and baby alike.  Assisted reproduction is now added to known risk factors including twin pregnancy, many past pregnancies, very young or very old mothers, obesity, and substance abuse.   PPCM is heralded by shortness of breath, leg edema and swelling, and excessive nighttime urination.  Since these same symptoms are all too common during the late third trimester, the study authors suggest that all women who conceive with medical help have a cardiology c

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/GYPIGUKq8v8   If you’re suffering stomach and esophageal ache from enjoying Buffalo wings or accidentally swallowing that red pepper hidden in your Szechuan chicken , the food scientists at Penn State have some first aid for you.  It turns out that the best liquid for neutralizing pepper burn is good old milk.   The study looked at 72 subjects each using 7 different liquids as rescues after drinking a hot Bloody Mary mix containing Scoville-rich red peppers.  Milk, regular and skim, followed by Kool Aid were best at relieving the pepper pain.  Carbonated beverages such as cola, seltzer, and beer helped the least.  Plain old water was in-between.   So if you find yourself the victim of some hot sauce at a barbecue or elsewhere, quickly swig some milk.  In the pinch, I’ll bet that ice cream would also do the trick.   Penn State. "Milk: Best drink to reduce burn from chili peppers." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 June 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/190625133526.htm.   #H

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/a1-x6b-tNyc   Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may cause you to overdose on many popular prescription drugs.  The FDA now repeats its 2017 warning to us and asks us to carefully read the label on any drug you are taking to see if grapefruit can interfere with its function.   Grapefruit juice blocks the enzyme in the small intestine that normally breaks down drugs causing you to absorb too much of a drug into your system.  And, as always, too much of a good thing isn’t good.   The list of affected drugs includes: some statin drugs that lower cholesterol: Zocor (simvastatin), Lipitor (atorvastatin); blood pressure medications such as nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat CC); transplant rejection drugs: cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral); Anxiety drugs: buspirone; steroids: budesonide for IBD (Entocort EC, Uceris); cardiac rhythm controllers: amiodarone (Pacerone, Nexterone).   Do speak with your doctor and pharmacist about your medications and grapefruit juice as well as checking the labels

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/d8WD8kCnbms   C’mon get happy by biting off a few squares of bittersweet chocolate.  A British study just published in the journal Depression and Anxiety makes that delicious suggestion.   The study looked at more than 13,600 Americans and analyzed their chocolate consumption and their likelihood of reporting depressive feelings.  Individuals who reported eating any dark chocolate were 70% less likely to report feeling down.  Even those who ate an abundance of milk chocolate benefitted.   The next time you anticipate a “downer derby” or find yourself in the midst of one, pull out those dark chocolate bars and enjoy.   Sarah E. Jackson, Lee Smith, Joseph Firth, Igor Grabovac, Pinar Soysal, Ai Koyanagi, Liang Hu, Brendon Stubbs, Jacopo Demurtas, Nicola Veronese, Xiangzhu Zhu, Lin Yang. Is there a relationship between chocolate consumption and symptoms of depression? A cross‐sectional survey of 13,626 US adults. Depression and Anxiety, 2019; DOI: 10.1002/da.22950   #Darkchocolate #de

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/l1TYL1paUUk   Gentlemen...listen up!  The more mushrooms you eat the better, and enjoying them 3 times a week or more will drop your prostate cancer risk at least 17%.     Japanese epidemiologists studied about 36,500 men 40-79 years of age who are in the Miyagi (no relation to Mr. Miyagi of Cobra Kai fame) and Ohsaki Cohorts,  They followed the men for 13 years.   Those eating mushrooms twice a week saw an 8% benefit demonstrating a dose response effect.  The researchers did not capture info about the mushroom species eaten.  Although the mechanism of this protective effect is not yet known, you can still take advantage by eating ‘shrooms often.   Shu Zhang, Yumi Sugawara, Shiuan Chen, Robert B. Beelman, Tsuyoshi Tsuduki, Yasutake Tomata, Sanae Matsuyama, Ichiro Tsuji. Mushroom consumption and incident risk of prostate cancer in Japan: A pooled analysis of the Miyagi Cohort Study and the Ohsaki Cohort Study. International Journal of Cancer, 2019; DOI: 10.1002/ijc.32591   #Mushroo

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/VYcpbXexVsM   Each participant underwent pulmonary function tests and recorded their use of NSAIDs over the month before testing.  Air quality measurements during that month were added to the database.  Analysis showed that NSAID use, which turned out to be mostly aspirin, reduced the effects of air pollution on lung function by one-half.  If you expect significant exposure to air pollution, you might try aspirin.  Better strategies are use of a mask or remaining in clean air.   Xu Gao, Brent Coull, Xihong Lin, Pantel Vokonas, Joel Schwartz, Andrea A Baccarelli. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Modify the Effect of Short-Term Air Pollution on Lung Function. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2019; DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201905-1003LE   #Airpollution #NSAIDS #aspirin #lungfunction  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/mshoJ1qxdBU   The FDA and California Terra Garden Inc. are recalling Guan’s Seafood Mushrooms.  This product is contaminated with listeria monocytogenes.  This bacterium can cause a severe and sometimes life-threatening infection in the very young, the elderly, and those who are immunocompromised.  These mushrooms were distributed and sold in CA,  If you have this product, don’t consume it but rather return it to the place of purchase for a refund.  If you require more information, call California Terra Garden at 1-323-597-0346.    https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/california-terra-garden-inc-recalls-seafood-mushroom-because-possible-health-risk   #mushrooms #guans #listeria #recall  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/lgC8arAXWL4   The FDA and multiple companies including Concord Farms, Marquis Worldwide Specialty, and Rainfield Marketing Group announce the recall of their Korean-grown enoki mushrooms.  These mushrooms are contaminated with listeria monocytogenes.  This bacterium can create life-threatening disease.  Return this product to the point of purchase. For more information, contact Concord at 1-323-582-6000, Marquis at 1-626-810-6426 , and Rainfield at 1-323-825-2825.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/concord-farms-recalls-enoki-mushrooms-due-possible-health-risk   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/marquis-worldwide-specialty-inc-recalls-organic-enoki-mushroom-200g-because-possible-health-risk   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/rainfield-marketing-group-inc-vernon-ca-recalling-enoki-mushrooms-product-korea-because-it-has   #mushrooms #enoki #listeria #recall  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/_W8GPN_tXC4   The FDA and Hy-Vee Inc. are recalling Hy-Vee Chicken Street Taco Kits.  This product contains undisclosed egg allergen.  Those with an egg allergy could develop a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they ingest these tacos.  These kits were sold at Hy-Vee grocery stores in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.  If you bought this kit, dispose of it or return it to your local Hy-Vee store for a refund.  Questions may be directed to Hy-Vee at 1-800-772-4098.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/hy-vee-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-egg-chicken-street-taco-kit-due-resers-fine-foods-recall   #hyvee #tacokit #egg #recall  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/9jEXNfOpBaE   The FDA and Gilster-MaryLee Corp. now recall; Full Circle Organic Microwave Popcorn Salted.  This product contains undeclared milk. Those with a milk allergy could develop a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they ingest this popcorn.  This popcorn was distributed and sold in Schenectady, NY; Chandler, AZ; Lathrop, CA; Farr West, UT; Pembroke, NH; Milton, PA; Byron Center, MI; Cheshire, CT and St. Cloud, MN. Do not consume this popcorn, but return it to the point of purchase for a refund.  For more information, contact the Gilster-Mary Lee Corp  at 1-at 618-826-2361 x 3283.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/gilster-mary-lee-corp-issues-recall-undeclared-milk-allergen-full-circle-organic-microwave-popcorn   #popcorn #fullcircle #milk #recall  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/hDmv12LrSiU   The FDA and Giant Eagle are recalling Giant Eagle Chicken Street Taco Kits.  These kits contain undisclosed egg allergen.  Those with an egg allergy could develop a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they ingest these tacos.  These kits were sold at Giant Eagle and Market District stores in PA, OH, MD, and IN.  If you bought this kit, dispose of it or return it to your local Giant Eagle and Market District store for a refund.  Questions may be directed to Giant Eagle at 1-800-553-2324.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/giant-eagle-voluntarily-recalls-chicken-street-taco-kit   #gianteagle #tacokit #egg #recall  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/5DGpT6v0Hb4   The CPSC and HSN now recall Joy/JM Branded My Little Steamer® and My Little Steamer® Go Mini.  These defective steamers can spray or leak scalding water during use leading to burns. About 5.4 million of these steamers were sold in the US and 14,300 were sold in Canada.  These were sold on the HSN TV network and online at hsn.com, amazon.com, target.com, bedbathandbeyond.com, Walmart.com, and Lowes.com.  Stop using these clothing steamers and contact HSN at 1-855-654-0942 or online at www.SteamerRecallSettlement.com for information about how to receive a full refund.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/HSN-Recalls-5-4-Million-Handheld-Clothing-Steamers-Due-to-Serious-Burn-Hazard   #steamers #hsn #burns #recall