Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/jUScEJAweoA   Consuming foods rich in the monosaturated fat oleic acid could prevent the autoimmune attack on your central nervous system that triggers MS.  This the conclusion of a Yale University study.   The immunobiologists found that fat tissues of MS patients were deficient in oleic acid.  When they added it back to the fat in the test tube, they found it triggered an increase in regulatory T cells.  These cells are necessary to prevent the type of damaging autoimmune reactions that are characteristic of MS.   We don’t have proof that consuming oleic acid will prevent MS.  Just know that this fatty acid is found in beef, chicken, pork, cheese, nuts, eggs, milk, pasta, olives, and avocados.   https://www.jci.org/articles/view/138519   #ms #multiplesclerosis #oleicacid #autoimmunity  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/4Gsr9PkXWaE   Despite a predominance of women in college, men tend to monopolize classroom discussions 60% more often than women.  Dartmouth sociologists analyzed 95 hours of classes covering a broad range of subject matter, and they recently published their findings in the journal Gender & Society.   Despite the fact that 55% of the classes had more women than men and were taught by women, men were 3 times more likely to speak out without raising their hands and were more likely to monopolize the conversations.     The investigators, both women, are concerned that a so-called “chilly climate” for women continues dominate the college academic scene.  They encourage female students speak up and be heard.   https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0891243220977141   #women #college #discussions   

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/RFHDO5TME54   We all hope that receiving the vaccine will earn us a pass to return to our former, carefree social lives.   Most doctors around the world are against issuing such a document that guarantees unlimited travel and social interactions without masks and distancing.   Investigators at Duke, UNC, and Australia’s Bond University surveyed 1004 physicians in 40 countries representing 67 specialties.  Only 31% of these clinicians felt that vaccination and laboratory test proof of CoVid humoral and cellular immunity should warrant issuing of so-called immunity passports.      Why is this? Proven immunity can’t guarantee that individuals aren’t carrying infectious virus.  There are concerns about test accuracy as well as fraud and discrimination.   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.11.25.20234195v2.full.pdf   #vaccine #immunepassport #covid   

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/nJa_a4wU-Fc   The CPSC and Academy Sports + Outdoors are recalling the Academy Sport + Outdoors Ozone 500 Density Bicycles.  The locking hardware on the front wheel can become loose resulting in front wheel instability, posing fall and injury hazards.  If you have one of these bicycles, stop using it and contact the company at 1-888-922-2336 for a free repair or replacement hardware.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Academy-Sports-Outdoors-Recalls-Ozone-500-Density-Bicycles-Due-to-Fall-and-Injury-Hazards   #bicycle #faultyhardware bicycle, faultyhardware

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/VsK54q7042s   The CPSC and Rusdt-Oleum have recalled Rust-Oleum Professional Bright Galvanizing Compound Spray Paint. The bottom of the pressurized container can detach unexpectedly, posing an injury hazard. If you have this paint, stop using it and contact Rust-Oleum at 1-800-908-4050 for a refund.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Rust-Oleum-Recalls-Aerosol-Paint-Due-to-Injury-Hazard   #spraypaint #rustoleum #packaging  

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/xJ0MuDK6630   The CPSC and Massimo Motor Sports have recalled the Massimo Percussion Massage Guns.  The lithium ion battery may overheat causing a burn and fire hazard.  Immediately stop using these guns and contact Massimo at 1-877-881-6376 for a refund.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Massimo-Motor-Sports-Recalls-Percussion-Massage-Guns-Due-to-Fire-Hazard-Sold-Exclusively-at-Costco   #massagegun #massimo #battery #fire    

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/q0hT3qnVGz0   The CPSC and Belkin announce the recall of the Belkin Portable Wireless Charger + Stand Special Edition.  A manufacturing defect in the power supply unit can cause the charger to malfunction and overheat, posing fire and shock hazards.  If you own this unit stop, stop using it.  Contact Belkin at 1-800-223-5546 to obtain information about safe disposal of the product and a refund.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Belkin-Recalls-Portable-Wireless-Chargers-Stand-Special-Edition-Due-to-Fire-and-Shock-Hazards   #charger #belkin #shock #fire  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/rYPuZ6GtsJU   The CPSC and Juratoys have recalled Janod Toy Confetti Trumpets.  The small plastic pieces inside the toy trumpets can come loose and can be ingested by children, posing a choking hazard. If you own this toy, don’t permit your child to use it.  Dispose of the trumpet and contact Juratoys at 1-855-665-9287 for a refund.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Juratoys-Recalls-Toy-Trumpets-Due-to-Choking-Hazard   #trumpet #janod #choking  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/h5Jv9aP_yz4   The CPSC and Sea To Summit have recalled Summit Alpha and Sigma Camping Pots.  The nylon latch can disengage from the pot and cause the handle to detach, posing burn and scald hazards. A total of 16,200 were sold in the US through REI and 2050 sold in Canada.  If you own these pots, stop using them and return them to the place of purchase.  For additional info, call Summit at 1-888-201-4977.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Sea-to-Summit-Recalls-Camping-Pots-Due-to-Burn-and-Scald-Hazards   #pots #summit #burns  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/uUsZvYgxNZY   The FDA and Essaar, Inc. are recalling Soho Fresh 70% Rubbing Alcohol.  This product is contaminated with poisonous methanol.  Exposure to this product can trigger nausea and vomiting, headache, blurred vision, blindness, seizures, coma, and permanent nervous system damage.  Do not open the package and use this product.  Return it to the place of purchase for a refund.  Additional questions may be addressed to Essaar at 1-201-647-7606.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/essaar-inc-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-rubbing-alcohol-contaminated-methanol   #alcohol #essaar #methanol  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/vZslvVUwfRk   The FDA and Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc have recalled Dole Sesame Asian Chopped Salad.  This product has undeclared egg.  Anyone with a severe egg allergy ingesting it could suffer a life-threatening allergic reaction.  This product was sold in: AK, CA, ID, KS, MO, OK, OR, TX AND UT.  If you have the product, do not consume it.  Discard it retaining the packaging, and call Dole at 1-800-356-3111 for a refund.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/dole-fresh-vegetables-announces-limited-voluntary-recall-doletm-sesame-asian-chopped-salad-kit-due   #salad #dole #egg  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/VsILcxYUypY   The FDA and Weis Markets announce the recall of 10,869 containers of Weis Quality Cookies and Cream Ice Cream, 502 3 gallon bulk containers of Klein’s Vanilla Dairy Ice Cream, 665 3 gallon bulk contains of Klein’s Cookies and Cream Ice Cream, and 286 3 galloon containers of  Nelson’s Graham Slam Ice Cream.  These products are contaminated with metal pieces from the filling equipment.  This foreign body material may cause a choking risk.  If you have any of these products, don’t consume them but call Weis Customer Service at 1-866-999-9347 to discuss how to obtain a refund.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/weis-markets-issues-recall-possible-foreign-matter-contamination-weis-ice-cream-products   #icecream #weis #klein #nelson #foreignbodies  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/axpIPBdm8mE   The FDA and EVR Foods, Inc. are issuing a recall on Laava Blueberry Plant-Based Yogurt Lot #022121with an expiration date of 2/21/2021.  This particular product batch may have mold contamination.  If you have this yogurt in your fridge, don’t consume it but return it to the place of purchase for a refund. You may direct questions to Laava at 1-833-885-2882.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lavva-voluntarily-recalls-single-lot-blueberry-plant-based-yogurt   #yogurt #blueberry #laava #mold  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/om5xW8bg7EE   If you love post-apocalyptic films and tv, your psyche may be better prepared for the emotional turmoil of the CoVid pandemic.  Penn State psychologists in collaboration with two Danish experts on the psychology of horror surveyed 310 persons concerning their psychic resilience during CoVid.   Each participant was also polled about preparedness for the pandemic stress and about their preferences for entertainment featuring zombies, horror, the supernatural, alien invasion, crime, and pandemics vs comedy and romance. The results: fans of horror films maintained better psychic resilience; and fans of so called-“prepper” genres including aliens, apocalypses, and zombies were both more resilient and better prepared.  Power up your Netflix and Prime Video.   https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191886920305882?via%3Dihub   #covid #stress #pandemic #horror #zombies #resilience  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/I4IFhivphIM   If you rarely exercise your body, you run the risk of itchy, scaly skin as you age.  This the conclusion of a just-published Swedish study that followed nearly 1.2 million men over a 31 year average followup period.   The men were divided into 3 groups according to their levels of cardiovascular fitness.  The data showed that those with the highest level of fitness have a 55% lower risk of developing psoriasis and a 63% lower risk of developing psoriatic arthritis.   Study after study shows the benefits of regular exercise to hone your cardiovascular fitness.  The pandemic makes it more challenging to exercise, but do use your ingenuity to get your body moving.   https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0243348   #exercise #fitness #psoriasis  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/9ws7humxWQQ   Early in the CoVid pandemic, concerns arose about using ACE inhibitors and angiogensin receptor blockers (ARBs) since the ACE2 receptor is the entry point for the CoVid virus into human cells.  A just published study from the University of Pennsylvania suggests that these drugs are safe and perhaps even helpful.   Penn investigators studied 152 CoVid patients being treated with various blood pressure meds.   Their data showed that discontinuing those drugs had no positive effects on need for ventilation, incidence of organ failure, or death rate.   If you are on anti-hypertensive drugs in the ACE inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocking classes, don’t stop taking them if you develop CoVid.    https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30558-0/fulltext   #covid #aceinhibitor #arb  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/pa5lAcnIG04   Those taking drugs to prevent transplanted organ rejection or the scourge of autoimmune diseases do as well during hospital treatment for CoVid as non-immunosuppressed patients.  Researchers at Johns Hopkins report this finding after studying 2121 patients.   The immunosuppressed patients compared with non-immunosuppressed controls had similar outcomes including lengths of stay, rates of ventilator use, and mortality rates.  A larger, nationwide study is now underway to assess the effects of various immunosuppressant medications.   This good news for patients with immune system handicaps does not preclude their need to take all precautions to avoid contracting the virus including mask-wearing, distancing, hand-washing, and, when available, CoVid vaccination.   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/01/210107135651.htm   #immunocompromise #immunosuppression #covid #hospitalization  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/GOEHV368bss   With the CoVid pandemic raging and shortages of PPE once again occurring, you will want to know how to effectively recycle your N95, KN95, or HEPA masks.  From NY’s Columbia University come do-it-yourself methods that safely and economically eliminate virus while maintaining mask integrity, fit, and filtration parameters.   The investigators found that placing masks in breathable paper bags in a Cuckoo rice cooker with a stable temperature of  70˚C (160˚F) for one hour worked better than immersing masks protected by waterproof ziplock bags in water at 160˚F or in boiling water.      If you have an oven or toaster oven that maintains a stable temperature, use that.   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.05.20248590v1.full.pdf   #masks #heat #recycling #fit #filtration #covid  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Area-r3AMeQ   Will you soon have a chance to get either the Moderna or the Pfizer mRNA vaccine?  If so, here are some nitty-gritty things that you will want to know about these 95% protective vaccines courtesy of the CDC.   Each vaccine consists of a small fragment of RNA specially formulated so that your body won’t produce an immune response to it.  This RNA is packaged in a fatty nanoparticle that permits your white cells to swallow it up and begin producing pure and non-infectious CoVid spike protein.  Your lymphocytes then produce antibodies to that spike protein.  These antibodies prevent infectious CoVid virus  from entering your cells.   The RNA in a fat ball must be stored at subzero temps in freezers and transported in dry ice. An antifreeze, polyethylene glycol (PEG) prevents damaging ice formation.  It’s this antifreeze, similar to that used in cars, that some people have a deadly allergic reaction against.   Each vaccine requires two doses for optimal immunization.  Fo

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/ZFWgbAtZs9A   In two cases, cancers in a mother’s cervix were passed to their newborns during a vaginal delivery.  These reports from Japanese pediatric oncologists appeared in a recent New England Journal of Medicine.   One mother was belatedly diagnosed with metastatic squamous cell-neuroendocrine cervical cancer 3 months following her delivery, and her child developed a neuroendocrine carcinoma just prior to a second birthday.  The second mother was found to have a cervical adenocarcinoma, and her child developed a lung adenocarcinoma at age 6.  Genetic studies demonstrated link between maternal and child cancers.   Pregnant women with known or suspected cancerous or precancerous cervical or vaginal lesions should opt for c-sections.   https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2030391   #cancer #cervical #vaginal #transmission