Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/PCBM32gPZcc   Palmer Candy Company is recalling its Sea Salt Caramel Hearts that were sold at Bomgaars Supply Inc.  This product has a possible peanut allergy contamination.  Reaction to the peanut component could product a life-threatening reaction.  This product was sold at Bomgaars stores in IA, SD, NE, MN, WY, and CO.  If you have these products, throw them out or return them to the point of purchase.  Questions may be directed to the Palmer Candy Company at 1-712-258-5543.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/palmer-candy-company-announces-voluntary-recall-sea-salt-caramel-hearts   #recall #seasaltcaramelhearts #palmer #peanut  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/yORBKb5LxWA   The Rico company is recalling its Tofu Breakfast Burrito.  It contains undeclared soy.  Those with a soy allergy may have a severe or life-threatening reaction to ingesting the product. This product has only been sold in Utah.  If you have this product, return it to the place of purchase.  Direct your questions to Rico at 1-801-433-0615.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/rico-brand-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-soy-tofu-breakfast-burrito   #recall #burrito #rico #soy  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/zovNdjPYI2w   The FDA and Amneal Pharmaceuticals announce the recall of its Gemini Laboratories Nizatidine oral solution, 15 mg/ml.  This product has potentially toxic levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).  This agent is a probable human carcinogen. Three lots have been recalled: 06598004A, 06599001A, and 06599002A.  This is a prescription product.  If you have this product, return it to the pharmacy.  Speak with your doctor about an alternative medication.  For more information, call the company at 1-855-319-4807.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/amneal-pharmaceuticals-llc-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-nizatidine-oral-solution-15-mgml-due   #recall #nizatidine #ndma

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Af4xx0Y36LQ   Smokers are more than twice as likely as non-smokers to suffer a catastrophic progression of their CoVid19 infections.  Researchers at UC-San Francisco performed a meta-analysis of 12 published studies covering more than 9,000 patients infected by the novel coronavirus.   While none of the studies included in the analysis included e-cigarette use or smoking of agents other than tobacco,  the American Lung Association warns that all smoking is likely to put you at higher risk for more severe coronavirus infections.   This pandemic is driving up everyone’s anxiety.  Forget smoking and find another way to calm yourself.  Listen to music, practice mindfulness, socialize electronically, and ingest comforting foods.   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.13.20063669v1.full.pdf   https://bit.ly/3ahknAL   #covid19 #coronavirus #smoking #tobacco #anxiety

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/nbwuw_LkAmg   The much touted hydroxychloroquine or HCQ does not appear to reduce infection severity or save lives.  This according to a newly pre-published French study of 181 patients with CoVid19 pneumonia.   The data shows that 20% of HCQ-treated patients versus 22% of non-treated patients required ICU care or died with 7 days of admission. Twenty-seven percent of treated patients versus 24% of the untreated developed acute respiratory distress syndrome or ARDS.  Three percent of HCQ-treated patients versus 4% of untreated died.  Nearly 10% of HCQ-treated patients stopped the drug due to cardiac complications.   More data will be forthcoming.  Just know that HCQ appears not to be a silver bullet.   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.10.20060699v1.full.pdf   #covid19 #coronavirus #hydroxychloroquine  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/6pHfLHXvumo   BCG is a well-behaved version of the tuberculosis bacterium that incites a vigorous immune response to itself and appears to activate the body’s immune system to other germs as well.  Studies have shown that BCG vaccination drives a 70% reduction in adult respiratory tract infections and a 30-50% reduction in childhood mortality.     The evidence that this cross-protective immune function can fight coronavirus is thin but intriguing.  Dutch and Japanese investigations show that longer CoVid death toll doubling times are associated with BCG vaccination.    Several BCG vaccination studies are now underway led by researchers in the Netherlands, Australia, and Germany.  The crystal ball remains cloudy!   https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/928303   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.06.20055251v1.full.pdf   #covid19 #coronavirus #bcg  

x Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/eSuVw_PTIxg   Your olfactory sense departs with virus arrival in your body yet returns completely in some 74% as infection wanes.  UC San Diego researchers report these findings after studying 59 CoVid positive and 203 CoVid negative patients.   The majority of those reporting sensory changes with infection suffered a profound loss of smell and taste with onset of infection.  Those with olfactory sense losses in addition to fever and vague flu symptoms were almost 11 times more likely to test CoVid positive than those without sensory loss.   The study authors argue that loss of these senses should be added to fever and cough as indications for CoVid testing.   https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/alr.22579   #covid #coronavirus #smell #taste #olfactory  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/QpBicOoBuE4   Those with inflammatory bowel disease who become symptomatic and test positive for CoVid19 should speak with their doctors about discontinuing their specialized IBD medications.  The American Gastroenterological Association recommends this step in their just-released guidelines.   Many of the anti-inflammatory medications including steroids, salicylates, immunosuppressant drugs such as azathioprine, methotrexate, and cyclosporine, and biologics such as adalimumab, infliximab, and golimumab could adversely impact your host defenses to the virus.  They could also ramp up aspects of the cytokines storm that attacks vital organs.   These medications and IBD itself do not appear to increase a persons risk of contracting the virus.  Continue your medications until your doctor says otherwise.   https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(20)30482-0/pdf   #ibd #covid19 #coronavirus #ulcerativecolitis #crohns  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/m2bW6n7NBKs   To safely reopen society during the CoVid era, we must all accept that vaccination and viral treatments are safe and effective.  Psychologists at Texas Tech now report the reasons some deny such lifesaving medical interventions.   The researchers surveyed 158 participants with profound negative feelings about vaccines: so-called vaccine deniers.  These individuals as a group tended to always overestimate the dangers including injury or death associated with a variety of conditions and events including cancer, childbirth, fireworks, and flooding.   Levels of pessimism and fear showed no association with education level.   Treatment deniers tend to seek out sources of negative information, and bad news travels farther than good.   https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X20302644?via%3Dihub#!   #covid #coronavirus #deniers #vaccines #therapy  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/B_IQ53RXBrY   The South Korean Centres for Disease Control and Prevention report at least 124 relapsed cases of CoVid19.  These are patients who tested positive, clinically recovered from the disease, tested virus-negative several times, but then redeveloped symptoms and positive tests.   This represents 1.1% of the 10,591 cases to date and 1.6% of the recovered cases.  We don’t yet know if these recurrently positive cases represent reinfected individuals or those with reactivating of the virus.  We await more information about patient’s antibody status and viral genetic fingerprints.   We have to learn about this new coronavirus.  Until we do, the only safe place is away from all but your closest family members.   https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-pandemic-more-cases-of-virus-reactivation-being-reported-in-recovered-patients-in-south-korea   #covid19 #coronavirus #reactivation #latency #reinfection  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/ZR0e2YI_Ka0   Does tapping, humming, slurping, and loud chewing drive you nuts?  You may have misophonia that is a real disorder with real differences in your brain wiring.   For years, many professionals doubted  the existence of this problem.   Then, after study by groups in Australia and the UK over the past decade, the annoyance by repetitive sounds has been found to be associated with changes in heart rate, skin conductivity, and neuronal activity in the brain’s frontal lobe and anterior insular cortex.  A few with this problem even develop heightened anger and a propensity for violence.   There is no cure, but knowledge is power.  Mindfulness and self-hypnosis may help.   https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(16)31530-5   #misophonia #repetitivenoise #tapping #humming #chewing  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/p6cyIpN1eVE   Obese persons are 7 times more likely to require intubation and mechanical ventilation for a CoVid infection.  French researchers now report these results following their study of 124 CoVid patients admitted to intensive care.   More than three-quarters of these patients were overweight or obese.  Their disease severity increased with increasing weight from 150 lbs for a 5.5 foot person up to and beyond 210 lbs for a person of the same height.     The CoVid threat will be with us awhile so get to a healthy weight.  You’ll feel a whole lot better knowing you’re protecting yourself against not only the virus but also against heart attack and stroke.   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32271993   #covid #coronavirus #overweight #obesity #ventilator  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/V0dacU6ES1I   The FDA and DSD Merchandisers Inc. of Livermore CA is recalling Roasted-Salted Deluxe Mixed Nuts 10 oz. size.  This product may contain undeclared peanuts, a risk for peanut-allergic individuals.  If you have this product, return it to the point of purchase.  For more info, reach the company at 1-925-449-2044.   https://bit.ly/3aaPVIA   #recall #nuts #peanut #dsdmerchanisers  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/0FUbP57rlco   The FDA announces 3 more Korean Enoki Mushroom recalls.  The producers involved: Sun Hong Foods of Montebello, CA;  Guan’s Mushroom Co. of Commerce, CA; H&C Food Inc. Of Brooklyn, NY.   Recall reason: contamination with Listeria.  Ingesting this organism triggers high fevers, severe headaches, stiffness, nauseas, abdominal pain and diarrhea.  Pregnant women may miscarry or have a stillborn baby.   Do not eat these mushrooms.  Throw them away and sanitize all surfaces they have touched.   Sun Hong: CA, TX, OR, WA, TX, IL, FL.  Company: 1-323-597-1112. Guan’s: CA, NY, PA.  Company: 1-323-223-1188. H&C Food Inc.   Company: 1-718-821-5188.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sun-hong-foods-inc-recalls-enoki-mushroom-because-possible-health-risk   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/guans-mushroom-co-recalls-enoki-because-possible-health-risk   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawal

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/RtDaP6MJ-xU Shells that engulf influenza viruses preventing their infectivity may someday prevent the seasonal flu without vaccines.  German researchers report successful use of this strategy in pre-clinical trials.   The researchers take phages, viruses that ordinarily attack bacteria, and empty out their genetic material.  They adapt these empty nanoshells for attachment to flu virus like Velcro® thereby preventing the virus from attacking human respiratory cells.  The non-infective phage nanoshell may also trigger a more vigorous immune elimination response against the inactivated flu viruses.   This approach isn’t ready for prime time yet, but it may also prove useful for controlling coronaviruses including our current CoVid19.  Let’s hope we don;’t have to wait till 2525.   https://www.nature.com/articles/s41565-020-0660-2   #phage #influenza #coronavirus #nanotechnology

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/b-pkrxQmsPY   Can’t believe how fast your hair is greying during the CoVid crisis?  It isn’t the cheap hair dye your stylist uses to keep you coming back often.   Turns out that relentless stress grays your hair at record speeds.  Just ask Marie Antoinette. Legend has it that her locks whitened overnight before her trip to the guillotine.   Extreme stress ramps up the sympathetic nervous system for a danger response.  The neurotransmitter norepinephrine gushes from nerve endings throughout the body including around our hair follicles.  The excess nor-ep recruits stem cells that ordinarily would become pigment producing factories.  They don’t, no pigment, no hair color.   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31969699   #stress #coronavirus #grayhair #norepinephrine

  Vidcast: https://youtu.be/APXe9NaJ-B8   Those with O positive blood are 20% less likely to test positive for the coronavirus and AB blood 44% less likely.  Those with A positive blood are 38% more likely to be positive.  The Biomedical Informatics unit at Columbia has just pre-published this data after their analysis of over 1500 patients seen at two New York City hospitals.   Various blood groups only only had statistical associations with viral positivity and not with disease severity, need for intubation, or risk of death from CoVid19 disease.   These findings are generally consistent with those I reported from Chinese studies.  The exception: Chinese with the rare AB blood had a greater risk of CoVid positivity.     https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.08.20058073v1.full.pdf   #covid19 #coronavirus #abogroup #bloodgroup  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/J0XoqkE547U   ACE inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blocking medications appear to help hypertensive patients fightCoVid19 infections.  Chinese investigators now report a series of 564 hospitalized CoVid19 patients and British researchers a series of 205.   Those Chinese on the angiotensin-related medications were 5 times less likely to develop a severe case of pneumonia. The Brits on ACE inhibitors were half as likely to require critical care support or to die of their CoVid disease.   The investigators conclude that those hypertensive patients with CoVid19 infections should not be switched off angiotensin drugs.  On the other hand, they stop short of recommending their use as therapeutic agents for infected patients with treatable high blood pressure.   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.08.20057539v1   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.07.20056788v1.full.pdf   #covid19 #coronavirus #hypertension #angiotensin #aceinhibitor #angiotensinreceptorblocke

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/LdtmtKWujfc   The viral RNA, polymerase blocker remdesivir drives better oxygenation for two-thirds of patients with life-threatening CoVid19 infections.  The drug improves survival of ventilator-dependent patients by anywhere from 40 to 84%   A global collaborative study, led by researchers at LA’s Cedar-Sinai Hospital, followed 53 patients though to completion of a 10 day iv remdesivir course at the outset of a 4 week observation period.  The drug permitted 57% of those on ventilators to be extubated and 75% of those on ECMO to come off it.  Overall, 84% of patients improved on the drug.   This preliminary study provides hope that severe CoVid19 disease may be managed to a successful outcome.   https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2007016?query=C19&cid=DM89880_NEJM_COVID-19_Newsletter&bid=181982010   #covid19 #coronavirus #remdesivir  

x Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/IbrJaVthGac   Just how well do face masks work to block the spread of virus.  Researchers from Case-Western U and Ohio State University studied the dispersion of artificially-created droplets through cloth masks of various designs mimicking an infected sneeze.   A single layered mask constructed of various fabric types reduce the droplet spread to less than 1 foot.  A double layered mask cut the droplet dispersion by a factor of two-thirds down to 4 inches.   Problem is, viruses spread in aerosols that travel further than droplets and through masks.  Multiple cloth layers offer more but not complete protection.  You must depend on physical distancing and an abundance of caution to fill the void.   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.07.20045617v1   #covid19 #coronavirus #mask #fabric #aerosol