Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/g6wn4vZ2oaw   The few unlucky persons who test COVID positive after recovering from the virus appear not to be spreaders. This conclusion comes from a Wuhan, China study that reviewed the records of 20,280 COVID patients from December through August.  The researchers also surveyed their close contacts numbering 4,079.   The data show that 12% of the group were CoVid+ repeaters.  These patients were representative of the group initially infected except that they tended to require 3 day longer hospitalizations and a greater proportion of females were repeaters.   None of their close contacts developed positive CoVid PCR tests.  The investigators suggest that these “echo” positives may occur due to residual circulating non=infectious viral remnants.    https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.11.18.20232892v1.full.pdf   #covid #repeatpositive  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/GZ_q-f2XWGw   With COVID on the rise, you’ll want the best filter in your mask.  Virginia Tech engineers show that vacuum cleaner cloth material works best to filter out the smallest particles preventing you from breathing virus into your lungs or blowing it out into others.   Whether using the bag cloth in a cloth mask or a respirator mask, the vacuum bags bested microfiber, a surgical mask, a coffee filter, a MERV 12 HEPA filter, a bandana, and an acrylic face shield.  This was true for overall filtration as well as incoming and outgoing protection.   For your own protection and for the protection of us all, use the best filtration material in your mask.    https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.11.18.20233353v1.full.pdf   #mask #covid #filtration #vacuumbag  

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/eX_Du7YauBY   The FDA and Kansan Enterprises have recalled the ALDI Southern Grove On the Go Sweet & Salty Trail Mix.  These 8 pack caddies may have undeclared almonds.  Those with almond allergies may develop a serious and life-threatening allergic reaction should they consume these product.   The product was distributed in  CT, DE, FL, MA, MD, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, VT, WV.  If you have this product and have an almond allergic person in your household, return the product to the point of purchase for a refund.  For additional information, call the company at 1-800-860-5464   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/kanan-enterprises-conducts-voluntary-recall-aldi-southern-grove-go-sweet-salty-trail-mix-due   #trailmix #aldi #almonds  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/7ar87hiG_Xs   The highest incidence of CoVid cases that are now swamping Europe’s healthcare systems are occurring in young adults 18 to 29 years of age.  This effect is predominant in 22 of 25 countries.   Italian researchers report that the European second wave began in Spain during the early summer but really ramped up in early September due to a predominance of cases in those 15-24.  They theorize that the driver was a return to schools and universities.   The data show that the very young are not spreading the disease.  Older teens and young adults are partying without regard to masking and crowd control, and their careless actions are having devastating effects.   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.11.11.20230177v1.full.pdf   #covid #children #teens #genz #secondwave  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/VoLmZUn2bQU   Almost two-thirds of parents want their children to have the CoVid vaccine, but that percentage varies widely with parental age, gender, marital status, education, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.  Collaborators at Northwestern and Vanderbilt Universities surveyed 1008 parents.   Parents over 46 were 17% more likely to vaccinate.  Surprisingly fathers were 10% more likely.  Married parents approve it 14.5% more often.  College-educated parents are 19% more likely to vaccinate.  Asians are most likely to vaccinate at 76% followed by hispanics at 65%, whites at 61%, and blacks at 55%.  Those with the highest family income are 22% more likely to vaccinate compared with those at the bottom of the income scale.   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.11.10.20228759v1.full.pdf   #covid #vaccine #children #parents  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/7VEwuryRJ7Y   The FDA just granted an emergency use authorization, the prized EUA, for Lilly’s IgG1 monoclonal antibody called Bamlanivimab.  This now joins the  Regeneron dual antibody cocktail as early treatment for CoVid.   Thing is, though, there are many catch-22s about bamlanivimab.  It must be given immediately after symptom onset when patients are at their most contagious and a danger to others.  It’s not for hospitalized patients or for those requiring oxygen.  Bamlanivimab requires 3 hours for IV infusion, its tricky to prepare and requires refrigeration, and it has serious side effects like anaphylaxis.  The worst problem: it’s in short supply and there’s only about 2 week’s worth in existence.   https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-monoclonal-antibody-treatment-covid-19   https://blogs.jwatch.org/hiv-id-observations/index.php/bamlanivimab-hard-to-pronounce-even-harder-to-give/2020/11/15/   #covid #bamlanivimab

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/00KdCNwbiec   Consistently satisfying sleep may reduce your chances of dying from a worn out heart by 42%.  Epidemiologists at Tulane University followed a huge UK population of 408,802 patients over a 10 year period looking for correlations between sleep patterns and the development of congestive heart failure.   Over those 10 years, 5221 developed heart failure.  This disease incidence was 34% lower in those with no daytime sleepiness, 17% lower in those without insomnia, 12% lower for those sleeping 7 to 8 hours a day, and 8% reduced for early risers.   Congestive heart failure can be deadlier than cancer.  Its only cure is a heart transplant.  Protect your ticker by sleeping soundly and exercising consistently.   https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.050792   #sleep #heartfailure  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/EaG0OrjId0U   Those who survive CoVid not only have more anti-viral antibodies, but those they do have are of higher quality.  Harvard immunologists draw this conclusion from their studies of 193 hospitalized CoVid patients comparing those surviving moderate to severe disease with those who perished.   Those who survived CoVid developed antibodies that could effectively bind to spike protein and prevent the virus from invading cell after cell. They also brewed  antibodies that bind to the Fc sites on killer lymphocytes and trigger them to flush away virus-infected cells that would release ever more virus.   This new information will guide vaccine developers to produce agents that evoke even more powerful protective antibodies.   https://www.cell.com/cell/pdf/S0092-8674(20)31459-8.pdf?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0092867420314598%3Fshowall%3Dtrue   #covid #antibodies #spikeprotein #killercells  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/YuH6PjKc4NU   Those who refuse masks, distancing, and crowding restrictions do so because they fear government intrusion more than the coronavirus.  This the conclusion of two interrelated Lehigh University studies determining the attitudes of 300 participants regarding the power and purposeful actions of CoVid, so called agency, and the acceptance of societal interventions against it.   Social conservatives tend to view the virus as less dangerous than government.  The minority of conservatives who do recognize CoVid’s danger were more likely to embrace public health measures to stop it.   We all must recognize CoVid to be a predator army biologically evolved to spread silently throughout the world.   Fear it and welcome control measures.   https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1086/711838   #covid #agency #conservatives #liberals #predator  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/ZsXw99moIUI   A CoVid tsunami is upon us.  N95 and KN95 filtration masks may be in short supply. You’ll want a way to recycle those you have.  To help us do it properly, the engineers at Tufts University distilled the result of 58 studies that look at methods employing heat, chemicals, and UV light and impact on viral decontamination and maintenance of filtration.   The best methods were dry heat, 160 degrees for 50 minutes, hydrogen peroxide exposure for 100 minutes on average, or UV exposure for more than 10 minutes.  Each of these drove a more than 3 log reduction in  CoVid concentrations on and in the mask while maintaining mask filtration, fit, fiber resilience and strap fit.   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.11.11.20229880v1.full.pdf   #mask #recycle #heat #hydrogenperoxide #uv  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/9fhkNewMDb4   People tweet and write that wearing masks, distancing, and avoiding contaminated surfaces won’t protect you from CoVid.  Doesn’t matter though since the virus isn’t that dangerous for young adults.  WRONG on both counts.   Precautions DO work. The University of Minnesota studied 489 health care workers, 22% docs or mid-level practitioners, 51% nurses, and the remainder techs and managers.  Though 40% of them were directly exposed to CoVid patients, not one of them tested positive for the virus by the gold standard PCR test.   The young don’t skate!  Of 3222 young Bostonians admitted for CoVid, 21% needed the ICU, 10% went on a vent, and nearly 3% died. Be careful!   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.07.31.20166066v7.full.pdf   https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2770542   #covid #ppe #masks #distancing  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/-QzUzNUZzEE   The CPSC and the Zinus Inc. have recalled the Zinus Metal Bunk Beds.  The welds that secure the upper bunk can come apart causing the upper bunk to collapse and pose a fall and injury hazard.  Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled upper bunk and contact Zinus at 800-613-1225 for instructions on receiving a free repair kit with reinforcement brackets or a full refund.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Zinus-Recalls-Bunk-Beds-Due-Fall-and-Injury-Hazards-Recall-Alert   #bunkbed #structuralflaw  

Recall On Heated Blankets Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/GuIBzci_cjk   The CPSC and InfoSpa have recalled the InfoSpa Electric Throw Heated Blanket.  This product may overheat and pose fire and burn hazards with resultant injuries.  If you have one of the 7050 units sold, stop using it immediately and contact InfoSpa at 1-855-630-5993 to find out how you can receive a full refund.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/InvoSpa-Recalls-Heated-Blankets-Due-to-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards-Sold-Exclusively-at-Amazon-com-Recall-Alert   #electricblanket #overheat #fire electricblanket, overheat, fire

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/sj0sUWPx_UM   The CPSC and Target have placed toddler boots on recall.  A toggle on the boot may detract from the elastic lace, and this poses a choking hazard to children.  if you have a pair of the 122,000 sold by Target, do not allow your kids to wear them.  Return the boots to any Target store for a full refund.  If you purchased the boots online from target.com, contact Target at 1-800-440-0680 to obtain a prepaid return label and a refund.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Target-Recalls-Toddler-Boots-Due-to-Choking-Hazard   #boots #toddler #target  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/jbsyPGY3BhA   The CPSC and Yeti have recalled the Rambler 20 oz. Travel Mugs with Stronghold Lids.  The magnet safety slider on the lid may eject and hot contents could spill out thereby posing burn hazards and chemical injuries.  If you have one of the quarter-million mugs sold, contact Yelp at 1-833-444-3151 for a refund.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/YETI-Recalls-Rambler-Travel-Mugs-with-Stronghold-Lid-Due-to-Injury-and-Burn-Hazards   #yeti #mug #burn  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/KIx8aOLCRe8   The CPSC and Kohl’s have recalled the 3 Wick Sonoma Goods For Life Branded Candles.  The candle, when entirely lit, generates high flames and intense heat that may ignite the wax surface and/or cause the jar glass to shatter.  This poses significant fire and burn hazards.  If you have one of the half-million candles sold, do not use it but contact Kohl’s at 1-855-564-5755 to arrange for a refund.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Kohls-Recalls-Three-Wick-SONOMA-Goods-For-Life-Branded-Candles-Due-to-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards   #candle #kohls #fire  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/p390fZMrQwo   The CPSC and the Ring Co. Ave recalled the second generation Ring Doorbells.  This video doorbell’s battery may overheat if incorrect screws are used for installation.  This will pose fire and burn hazards.  If you have one of the 350,000 units sold in the US or one of the 8700 sold in Canada, do not install the unit.  Call the Ring Co. At 1-800-656-1918 to find out if you have an affected unit and to receive revised installation instructions.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Ring-Recalls-Video-Doorbells-2nd-Generation-Due-to-Fire-Hazard   #ring #doorbell #fire  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/gUI2xLPWXAw   The CPSC and Salsa Cycles have recalled the Salsa Cutthroat series bicycles.  These include all GRX 810Di2, GRX 810 1x, and the GRX 600 bicycles.  Also affected are the Apex 1 frame sets and the Carbon Deluxe V2 aftermarket forks. The bicycle’s fork legs may crack or break, and that poses a fall hazard for the rider.  If you have one of these bicycles or framesets, stop using it.  Bring the cycle and other affected parts to the Salsa authorized retailers for inspection and free installation of a replacement fork.  If you need more information, call Salsa cycles at 1-877-774-6208.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Quality-Bicycle-Products-Recalls-Salsa-Cycles-Cutthroat-Bicycles-Due-To-Injury-Hazard   #bicycles #salsa   

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/NWNiFiAm8l8   The CPSC and Arena North America have recalled the Arena Swim Snorkel Pro II.  These snorkels may release coating material from inside the breathing tube or mouthpiece.  The user may aspirate and choke on this material, and it could possible cause a fatal accident.  If you or your child use one of the 3350 snorkels sold in the US, one of he 3500 sold in Canada, or one of the 3100 sold in Mexico, immediately stop using it.  Contact Arena North America at 1-888-902-7362 to obtain a free replacement tube and mouthpiece.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Arena-North-America-Recalls-Swim-Snorkels-Due-to-Choking-Hazard   #snorkel #choking  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/uardZIWRnyY   The CPSC and The Sunjoy Co, have recalled the Oakmont LP Fire Pit Tables.  A burner kit hose is improperly installed and it may melt, ignite, and pose a fire hazard.  If you have one of the nearly 11,000 units sold, stop using it and call the Sunjoy Co at 1-866-578-0101 to request a free replacement burner kit with installation instructions.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Fire-Pit-Tables-Sold-Exclusively-at-Big-Lots-Recalled-Due-to-Fire-Hazard-Manufactured-by-Sunjoy   #firepit #burnhazard