Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/7bsKp6g7-nE   Data from the earliest victims of CoVid, infected more than a year ago in Wuhan, now show durable protective immunity against this dread virus for 12 months or more.  The longitudinal study of 1782 blood samples from 869 CoVid-surviving donors now appears online via the pre-publication server biorixiv.org.   Protective anti-CoVid antibody levels were present in 95% 1-2 months after infection but were still present in 89% at 6-7 months and in 81% at 12 months.  Antibody strength does decline over time, but those with the highest initial titers had persistently protective antibodies.   Expect that vaccine-induced antibodies will last longer and be stronger.   https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.04.05.437224v1.full.pdf+html   #CoVid #antibodies #vaccine #durability  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Cy37zQuJfpA   A designer vaccine that presents mutated forms of Covid spike proteins to the immune system on nanoparticles induces powerful antibodies to the 3 current variants, the British B.1.1.7, the South African B.1.351, and the Brazilian P.1.  Immunologists at San Diego’s Scripps Institute now report this achievement as a promising solution to our current CoVid variant challenge.   Nanoparticle-mounted CoVid spike proteins more efficiently induce a broader range of virus killing antibodies compared with vaccines that present CoVid proteins in solution.  Why? Longer retention of the nanoparticle-bound antigens within lymph nodes and better presentation of the antigens to antibody-producing lymphocytes.   This technology is very welcome news.   https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.26.437274v1.full.pdf+html   #CoVid #vaccine #nanotechnology #variants  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/a59K_yqb1ZU   Exercising during your off-hours can reduce your chances of death by as much as 40%.  Ironically, though, high physical exertion at work actually increases your death risk by 27%.  Danish researchers present these conclusions after studying the mortality data from a cohort of 104,046 Danes and tabulating it with self-reported physical activity during leisure time and at work.   Compared with those reporting little leisure activity, those with moderate and high or very high physical exertion experienced 26% and 40% reduced risks of death from coronary events and stroke.  Work activity was unhelpful, and those with high and very high exertion at work were 13% and 27% more likely to die.   https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehab087/6213772   #exercise #leisuretime #work #mortality   

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Wd06crfQLUM New treatments for Alzheimer’s, sickle cell disease, concussions, organ replacement, wound healing, and color blindness.  All this on  Medicine of the Future.   My reports typically cover research discoveries that you can use here and now.  This new feature, Medicine Of The Future, gives you an inkling of what’s to come in future medical and surgical therapeutics.   A small molecule discovered by University of Arizona researchers regulates cholesterol levels in the brain and may become part of new therapy for Alzheimer’s disease.  ABCA1 is that molecule and increasing it reduces dementia-producing brain inflammation.  The team found another small molecule CL2-57 that bumps up ABCA1 production and it could become Alzheimer therapy.   The Cambridge, MA biopharmaceutical company Fulcrum Therapeutics is developing a pill to treat the root cause of sickle cell disease.  Their oral drug FTX-6058 triggers the production of fetal-type hemoglobin within red cells and prevents the

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/bBtAEoEUjYY   The FDA and Glutenull Bakery recall Glutenull Goji Berries and Chocolate Cookies.  These cookies contain undeclared milk.  Those with a milk allergy may develop a severe or life-threatening allergic reaction after ingesting these cookies.  If you bought these cookies, return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. If you have questions contact Glutenull Bakery at 1-604-777-5596.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/glutenull-bakery-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-milk-goji-berries-and-chocolate-cookies   #cookies #glutenull #milk #recall  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/8GhENG8rW9Y   The CPSC and RH are recalling RH Animal, Heathered Plush and Luxe Sherpa Children’s Bath Wraps.  These bath wraps fail to meet flammability standards for children’s sleepwear and pose a risk of burn injuries to children.  About 55,700 were sold in the US and about 3,900 units were sold in Canada through RH Baby & Child Galleries and RH Outlets and online at www.rh.com and www.rhbabyandchild.com.  If you have these wraps, stop using them for your child and call RH at 1-833-917-3405 to arrange for a refund.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/RH-Recalls-Childrens-Bath-Wraps-Due-to-Violation-of-Federal-Flammability-Standard   #bathwrap #rh #flammable #fire #burns #recall  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Z87frKFPiKw   The CPSC and Epicure US now recall Epicure Prep Bowls in sets of four.  The tempered glass bowl could break or shatter during use and create a laceration hazard.  About 1,600 were sold in the US and about 5,250 were sold in Canada.  If you bought these bowls, discontinue using them and and contact Epicure at 1-855-668-5909 for a free replacement.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Epicure-Recalls-Glass-Prep-Bowls-Due-to-Laceration-Hazard   #glassbowl #epicure #shatter #laceration #recall  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/m5k17RFBdLQ   The CPSC and Goal Zero LLC now recall Goal Zero EC8 Power Extension Cables.  The connector pins may deform, overheat, and cause a fire hazard.  About 7,850 of these extension cables were sold at Bass Pro, REI and Sportsman’s Warehouse stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com, Backcountry.com, and GoalZero.com.  These cables connect Yeti power Stations to either a Yeti Tank or a vehicle battery.  If you have this cable, stop using it and contact Goal Zero at 1-888-794-6250 to arrange a free replacement.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Goal-Zero-Recalls-Power-Cables-Due-to-Fire-Hazard   #cable #goalzero #yeti #overheat #fire #recall  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/c69Sp5tiqrk   The CPSC and Hongkong Sun Rise Trading are recalling Greenworks and Powerworks Pressure Washer Spray Guns.   The spray gun connector may break causing the hose or connector parts to fly out creating an injury hazard for users or bystanders.   About 1 million of these sprayers were sold at Lowe’s Stores and online via lowes.com, amazon.com and other retailers.  Stop using the sprayer and contact Hongkong Sun Rise Trading at 1-833-211-9185 to arrange for a free replacement.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/One-Million-Greenworks-and-Powerworks-Pressure-Washer-Spray-Guns-Recalled-Due-to-Impact-Injury-Hazard-Distributed-by-Hongkong-Sun-Rise-Trading   #sprayer #greenworks #powerworks #connector #injury #recall  

  Xvid https://youtu.be/prZ8x_PjKDM   The CPSC and BATTOP are recalling the BATTOP Foldable Infant Bath Seats.  This product fails to meet the federal safety standards for infant bath seats, may tip over while in use, and create a drowning hazard to babies. About 5,000 units were sold through amazon.com.  If you bought one of these, stop using it for bathing your infant.  Contact BATTOP via e-mail at service@battop.net to obtain instructions for free return shipping and a full refund.  If you can, return it directly to amazon.com.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Infant-Bath-Seats-Recalled-Due-to-Drowning-Hazard-Imported-by-BATTOP-Sold-Exclusively-on-Amazon-com-Recall-Alert   #infant #bathseat #unstable #recall    

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/u-dtIiYDRCw   Drinking a flavanol-enriched cocoa beverage can protect your blood vessels during times of mental stress.  This the conclusion of a tightly controlled British study involving 30 male subjects from the University of Birmingham.   Each subject’s arm blood flow and a full battery of cardiovascular tests were performed at baseline and after drinking different cocoa drinks with either high or low concentrations of flavanol while being challenged with a difficult math problems.     The flavanol significantly improved peripheral blood flow during subject stress without impacting either heart rate or blood pressure. Such blood flow improvement could positively impact an individual’s reasoning abilities.   Flavanols occur in apples, berries, soy, tea, and red wine.   https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/4/1103/htm   #flavanols #bloodflow #stress #problemsolving  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Ks5mItzoaYQ   If you get CoVid, there is a 1 in 7 chance you’ll be hospitalized.  If you do, you’ll have a 1 in 4 chance of needing the ICU or a funeral.  Researchers at the University of Minnesota studied the fate of 7,578 CoVid patients across the midwestern US.   The results: 86% of the infected don’t require hospitalization.  Of the remaining 14% sick enough to require hospitalization, 23% are severe requiring prolonged ICU stays, 60% are serious, and only 17% are favorable.  Severe CoVid victims are 7 times more likely to die than those with mild infections.   So the 4 CoVid types: non-hospitalized; hospitalized mild, serious, and severe.   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/04/210402162941.htm   #CoVid #hospital #icu #ventilator  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/lJ0hyWFJ0RE   All of us are getting cabin fever, and we want to get out and eat out.  You say, “I’m vaccinated so I can just eat at restaurants as I did before the pandemic.”  Do so at your own peril. Even the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are at best 95% effective, the J&J fax is about 70%, and all work less well against variants. There’s a 50:50 chance you could get infected with a virus that might not kill you but could eat away your heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain.   Forget about indoor eating.  It isn’t safe even with distancing and barriers!  The air ventilation and filtration is simply not good enough.   Eat outdoors in a ventilated, distanced enclosure preferably an individual hut or igloo.  A completely enclosed outdoor structure is no safer than indoors.    Only eat in groups of 4 or fewer with other vaccinated people or those in your immediate bubble.  Keep your mask on when you aren’t eating and when interacting with servers.  Have hand sanitizer with you to use aft

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/9uxqJYd60yk   CoVid can spread silently table to adjacent though distanced table within a poorly ventilated indoor restaurant.  Chinese engineers and epidemiologists now report their study of a Wuhan restaurant where one CoVid-infected person spread disease to 9 others at the same and 2 nearby tables.   Tracer gas and computational fluid dynamics defined spread of droplets and aerosols from the infected person to others 3 tables in one end of the dining hall without fresh outdoor air.  None of the other 68 diners at the other 15 tables nor the restaurant servers and staff became infected.   It is dangerous to spend time eating indoors without a mask in a space without fresh, outdoor air.   https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360132321001955   #CoVid #restaurant #indoors #aerosols #droplets #ventilation  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/hLhD6BMb_r4   Working 55 hours a week or more following a heart attack drives a 67% higher risk of another coronary event including unstable anginal pain, another non-fatal heart attack, or a deadly MI.  Canadian investigators followed 967 first heart attack victims after their return to work.   The risk of another often deadly cardiac event was proportional to the hours participants worked each week.  While there were slight risk increases as weekly hours worked increased from less than 35 to 54, 55 hours a week was a level above which disaster lurked.  The other important variable was job stress with those under the greatest stress suffering a 2.5 fold greater risk.   https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0735109721003764?via%3Dihub   #coronary #heartattack #overwork #stress #death #angina  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/I2SYXphezPo   Patients regularly taking famotidine, sold as Pepcid, along with aspirin were 45% less likely to die with CoVid infections severe enough to require ICU-level therapy.  Researchers at the University of Virginia, collaborating with colleagues at Germany’s University of Berlin studied 1578 patients with severe CoVid.   The Pepcid alone reduced mortality 27% while aspirin alone reduced it 21%.  The investigators speculate that Pepcid and aspirin, both anti-inflammatory agents, help CoVid patients by squelching their deadly viral-induced cytokine storm.   This and other studies showing the therapeutic value of famotidine now trigger larger prospective trials.  The researchers suggest that aspirin should also be added to test a Pepcid cocktail.   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.29.21253914v1.full.pdf+html   #CoVid #icu #famotidine #pepcid #aspirin  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/JLsBNvMhS5s   Exposure to tobacco smoke activates genes in lung and to a lesser extent nasal lining cells that permit CoVid to bind, enter, and damage these vital tissues.  The details have now been reported by a collaborative group at Boston and Brown Universities.   Gene analysis of 796 nasal and 1673 bronchial cell samples shows that smoking strongly turns on production of the ACE2 CoVid binding proteins in lung tissue and less so in nasal tissues.  Production of the TMPRSS2 enzyme that allows CoVid to enter a cell was similarly boosted in smokers’ lung tissues but not in their nasal tissues.   Smoking turns on genes that help welcome a devastating virus like CoVid.   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.03.30.21254564v1.full.pdf+html   #CoVid #tobacco #smoking #ace2 #tmprss2  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Y2Ie8xi9P6I   The FDA and the b.a. Sweetie Candy Company are recalling Sweetie Chocolate Malt Balls and Chocolate Malted Milk Balls.  These candies contain undeclared wheat allergen.  They have been sold in and around the Cleveland, OH metro area.  If you bought one of these candies, return it to the point of purchase for a refund.  For additional information call the b.a. Sweetie Candy Co. at 1-216-739-2244.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/ba-sweeties-candy-co-issues-voluntary-recall-its-chocolate-malt-chocolate-malted-milk-balls   #candy #chocolate #maltballs #sweetie #wheat  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/rxo2LS_S7z4   The FDA and multiple companies are recalling multiple products sold under the brand names Thumbs Up, Red, Shogun-X, Krazy Night, 69Mode Blue, PremierZen, and SupremeZen.  These tainted products all have undeclared phosphodiesterase compounds in them including sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil.  These compounds are typically used for treatment of male erectile dysfunction and can product dangerous and life-threatening reactions in those also taking nitrate compounds such as nitroglycerin.  If you bought these products, return them to the purchase source which is often online.  For more information, check the references on my YouTube channel to find specific contact information for the various sources.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/nuri-trading-llc-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-shogun-x-7000-thumbs-7-black-25k-thumbs-7-white https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/nuri-trading-llc-issues-vol

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/tT9s9brTFPU   The FDA and the Sabra Dipping Company LLC are recalling 2100 cases of its Classic Hummus.  This product may contain salmonella that can cause a serious and sometimes life-threatening gastrointestinal infection with particular severity in the very young, elders, and immunocompromised persons.  This product was sold in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, Maine, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, New Jersey, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.  If you have this product, don’t consume it but return it to the point of purchase for reimbursement.  For additional information, call Sabra at 1-866-265-6761.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sabra-dipping-company-issues-limited-voluntary-recall-single-sku-classic-hummus   #hummus #sabra #salmonella