Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/0WNk_nLAHOA   London’s Smiths Group, a major ventilator manufacturer, is ramping up its own production to make an additional 30,000 over the coming months.  The company is helping other companies across the globe so that other nations may ramp up ventilator manufacturing.     How about in the US?  A Washington state ventilator manufacturer VENTEC will partner with GM to streamline its supply chain and multiply its manufacturing capabilities from 150/month to 10s of thousands/month..   Ford has also indicated a willingness to help.  They will make not only ventilators but face masks with tiny fans to generate positive pressures within the mask to keep the virus out of the respiratory tract and eyes.   #covid19 #coronavirus #ventilator  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/AMGmbjdWo-o   The CoVid19 virus uses the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 or ACE2 as a binding site to human cells in the lungs, heart, and kidneys.  The angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) used to lower blood pressure increase ACE2 levels and may be able to diminish the damage the virus creates in vital organs.   Clinicians from China and India observe that the ARB drugs losartan and telmisartan bind strongest to the angiotensin receptors and would be most effective against CoVid19.  Since these drugs are already FDA-approved, drug trials using them for treating CoVid19 may be launched.   If you are on an ARB, stay on it as such studies unfold but don’t switch to it yet!   https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ddr.21656   https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m406/rr-2   #covid19 #coronavirus #angiotensin #arb

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/5E2waVcfjJg   The pain killer Ibuprofen, Advil and Motrin, along with angiotensin blood pressure lowering drugs may allow CoVid19 to more easily infect and possibly kill you.    Ibuprofen and other NSAIDS are anti-inflammatory drugs that increase the angiotensin enzyme that facilitates virus binding to human respiratory lining cells.  Patients with severe CoVid infections frequently have high blood pressure and diabetes.  Diabetes itself and the blood pressure drugs ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers also increase this same angiotensin viral latching enzyme.   Researchers recommend using acetaminophen and not ibuprofen or NSAIDS for pain and fever.  They suggest switching blood pressure medications to the calcium channel blockers than don’t aid viral invasion.   https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30116-8/fulltext   https://www.sciencealert.com/who-recommends-to-avoid-taking-ibuprofen-for-covid-19-symptoms   #covid19 #coronavirus #ang

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/IHwvx_cgwDQ   Genetic analysis of the novel coronavirus CoVid19 conclusively shows it was not genetically engineered to become a biological agent in a political or economic war.  The evidence just published in the journal Nature is compelling enough to convince all but the most stubborn science deniers.   Studying longitudinal samples of the virus, the virus’ overall structure and outer coat spike protein are not compatible with genetic manipulation of a known dangerous coronavirus such as those that caused the previous SARS and MERS epidemics.  CoVid19 evolved from a bat virus, and the previous coronaviruses originated in civets and camels.     Unwarranted conspiracy theories are divisive and block our efforts to live through  CoVid19.   Kristian G. Andersen, Andrew Rambaut, W. Ian Lipkin, Edward C. Holmes, Robert F. Garry. The proximal origin of SARS-CoV-2. Nature Medicine, 2020; DOI: 10.1038/s41591-020-0820-9   #covid19 #coronavirus #sars #mers #geneticengineering #biowarfare  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/3Gtw86u2CcY   We must band together to flatten the CoVid19 curve, and most of us will be working from home if work is possible.  My son Dave, Business Insider’s Front Page Editor, offers these 5 tips to his BI colleagues and through me to you.  His credentials: he has been working remotely and successfully for 3 years.   Don’t forget to eat.  At the office, you have a set lunchtime.  At home, you can eat whenever, but you won’t.  Carve out a fixed lunch time.  Better yet, also plan morning and afternoon snack breaks. Over-communicate.  Let your managers and colleagues know that you are working and turning out product.  These connections will make you and others happier.  Your ‘over-communicating” is still likely less than what you’d do at the office. Move your body.  Stand, stretch, and walk periodically.  Listen to your smart wearable’s  nagging.  Ask Alexa to play dance music and embarrass yourself. Use distractions strategically.  When you’re on deadline, avoid them by turning

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/WtD2ata8B7k   American Honda is recalling its Portable Generators.  The inverter assembly may short circuit if salt water leaks in.  Should that happen, the unit will smoke and may catch fire.   About 340,000 units were sold in the US.   Immediately stop using those generator.  Contact a local authorized Honda Power Equipment service center to schedule a free repair.  For more information, call 1-888-888-3139.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2020/American-Honda-Recall-of-Portable-Generators-Due-to-Fire-and-Burn-Hazards   #honda #generator #firehazard  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Pe8zlg-Y_sc   Once infected with the coronavirus, a patient could shed live and infectious virus for nearly 3 weeks.  Vietnamese researchers studied a 73 year old man admitted with a dry cough and difficulty breathing and diagnosed with a CoVid19 pneumonia.   Over an 8 day period, he improved clinically with what turned out to be a mild case.  Even so, longitudinal testing of his throat and gastrointestinal tract revealed persistently positive CoVid19 RT-PCR tests.  His throat tests finally turned negative by hospital day 11- illness day 16.  His rectal swabs remained positive until hospital day 18 - illness day 23.   Many of us will become infected.  Be prepared for a long quarantine.    https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.07.20032052v1.full.pdf   #covid19 #coronavirus #shedding #quarantine

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/qocFgfKcPIc   If you’re one of the 44% with type O blood, you are significantly less likely to become seriously infected with coronavirus.  If you have type A blood, you are much more likely to contract it.   Chinese investigators studied infected persons in Wuhan and in Shenzhen.  Type O persons had a 33% lower infection risk.   Type A persons had a 21% higher infection risk. The AB group fared a bit worse than the A group, but the B group had no greater risk or benefit.   You can’t change your blood group, but you can avoid infection.  Those with A or AB groups should be even more obsessive about avoiding exposures.   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.11.20031096v1.full.pdf   #covid19 #coronavirus #abogroups #bloodgroups

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/-cTZbHQgBfI   CoVid19 remains viable in contaminated spray for up to 3 hours.  It can live on surfaces for up to 3 days.  This data, just reported in the New England Journal, comes from the NIH infectious disease unit in Montana.   The researchers tested the virus in 10 experimental scenarios.  The virus lived longest on plastics, 72 hours, and stainless steel, 48 hours.  No significant virus lived on cardboard after 24 hours or on copper after only 4 hours.   Keep this information in mind as you protect yourself from the virus.  Clean all surfaces frequently, including your phone.  Soap is an excellent virus killer  destroying its outer shell protein coat.   https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2004973?query=RP   #covid19 #coronavirus #aerosols #plastic #steel #cardboard #copper  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/8FGEP8dTIAY   AFC Distribution Corp. of Rancho Dominguez, California is voluntary recalling Cooked Butterfly Tail-On Whiteleg Shrimp, Lot #2019.10.02.  This shrimp may be found in various prepared sushi and other foods with sell-by dates ranging from 02/19/2020 to 03/13/2020.  The shrimp may be contaminated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus. This organism causes a severe gastroenteritis with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and chills.   The shrimp have been sold in products prepared at retail AFC sushi counters and distributed in some 40 states.  If you have a product containing these shrimp, discard it or return it to the point of purchase for a refund.  For more information, contact the AFC Recall Team at 1-866-467-8744.    https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/cooked-butterfly-tail-whiteleg-shrimp-sushi-ebi-lot-20191002   #recall #afc #shrimp #sushi #vibrio

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/y45ok4Y3Lig   The good ole nausea drug, Compazine or prochlorperazine, prevents tumor cells from hiding surface receptors that immunotherapy drugs require for the kill.  Oncologists at Australia’s University of Queenland studied this receptor hiding process called endocytosis in both human cells and a mouse model.   Studying human squamous cell carcinoma cells, they observed less endocytosis and more antibody binding sites in cells from patients responding better to cetuximab, an anticancer antibody to skin growth factor.  The endocytosis inhibitor Compazine demonstrably helped cancer immunotherapy in mice.  The drug turbocharged tumor cell killing by both the anti-tumor antibody cetuximab and the check point inhibitor avelumab.   Compazine may well be an effective antidote to immunotherapy failures.    Hui Yi Chew, Priscila O. De Lima, Jazmina L. Gonzalez Cruz, etal. Endocytosis Inhibition in Humans to Improve Responses to ADCC-Mediating Antibodies. Cell, 2020; 180 (5): 895 DOI: 10

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/O3ptZogfbiU   A simple lab test, the serum ferritin level, can help diagnose a deadly hyper-stimulation of the immune system triggered by coronavirus.  Each hospitalized CoVid19 patient should have the test, but some docs aren’t aware of it.   Chinese investigators, treating CoVid19 patients in Wuhan, found that the 13 most severely affected compared with 27 having milder disease had an overpowering  burst of immune system mediators associated with elevated ferritin levels.   Immunologists report that ferritin is elevated in auto-immune disease. A cytokine storm is the most extreme form of it.  Since a coronavirus-corrupted, raging immune system attacks all vital organs, recognizing and treating a cytokine storm is vital and lifesaving.   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.02.16.20023671v2   #ferritin #cytokinestorm #coronavirus  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/aONWORsgY5Y     When the language your employ in your social posts becomes more formal and, well irritated,  you likely have medical treatment or, worse, a hospital visit, just ahead.  This observation comes from a Stony Brook University and University of Pennsylvania study that analyzed, using artificial intelligence techniques, the Facebook posts and medical records of nearly 3,000 patients using an urban hospital.   Beginning 10 weeks before a emergency visit, social posts used less informal and jaunty language including lol and omg.  Instead, the verbiage projected anxiety, worry, and depression.   When you read your family’s and friend’s posts, watch for such changes, When you detect them, do ask and ask repeatedly “are you OK?”     Sharath Chandra Guntuku, H. Andrew Schwartz, Adarsh Kashyap, Jessica S. Gaulton, Daniel C. Stokes, David A. Asch, Lyle H. Ungar, Raina M. Merchant. Variability in Language used on Social Media prior to Hospital Visits. Scientific Reports, 2020; 10

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/eTOJda0q0qc   The coronavirus creates  lethal multi-organ damage in part by inducing an of the immune system hyperstimulation known as a cytokine storm.  Ironically, social isolation to halt the spread of the CoVid19 epidemic may make a cytokine storm worse.   A new British meta-analysis of 30 studies found a solid connection between social distancing and a rise in circulating inflammatory mediators including c-reactive protein and fibrinogen.  Loneliness is associated with increased IL-6, another inflammatory protein.   To avoid infection, you must physically distance yourself from others.  To maintain an emotional connection, though, our current batch of video-chat apps including Facetime and Skype facilitates face-to face interactions without risk of contamination.    Kimberley J. Smith, Shannon Gavey, Natalie E. RIddell, Panagiota Kontari, Christina Victor. The association between loneliness, social isolation and inflammation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroscienc

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/PrZ_RedteMA   Kichler Lighting LLC of Cleveland OH is recalling its Kichler 52 inch LEDfly Ceiling Fans.  There are defective arms holding the blades, and they may spin off during use and cause injury or worse.  There have been 62 reports of the blade irons breaking and/or blues detaching.   These units have been sold at Lowe’s stores and online through lowes.com.   If you have this fan installed, stop using it immediately.  Contact Kichler at 1-866-558-5706 to arrange for a free replacement fan.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2020/Kichler-Lighting-Recalls-Ceiling-Fans-Due-to-Injury-Hazard   #recall #kichler #fan  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/52yv1vdd9K8   Homestar North America of Dallas, TX is recalling its Finch 3 drawer dresser.  These units are unstable unless anchored to the wall.  They can fall over on children or pets causing severe injuries or death.   These units have been sold through amazon.com, hayneedle.com, overstock.com, walmart.com, and other online retailers.   If you have one of these in your home, be certain to anchor it to the wall using a free Homestar tip-over restaint kit.  Homestar will provide the kit and free home installation of it if you call them at 1-877-353-5999.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2020/homestar-recalls-dressers-due-to-tip-over-and-entrapment-hazards-recall-alert   #recall #homestar #finchdresser  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/EGAwo-NBOzo   All tests for coronavirus look for CoVid19 genetic fingerprints in the cells captured relatively painlessly on a Q-tip from the nose or throat.  To fingerprint the genetic material from those cells, it is first multiplied and then probed using a test called reverse-transcriptase n polymerase chain reaction or PCR.  The genes in the patient material are compared against standard probe genes characteristic of the CoVid19 virus.   The first probe genes were identified by the Germans, and they code for the viral envelope E gene.  Their test was adopted by the World Health Organization and most countries. The US government was offered the ready test but said “no thank you.”  The CDC wasted time developing its own probes for the virus nucleocapsid N gene.  Then the initial batch of reagents was flawed.     All PCR tests takes several days due to the need for genetic multiplication, probe screen, and confirmation testing.  Other, faster tests are in development using CRISPR

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/DNdn86GzpRk   WinCo Foods, LLC. of Boise, ID is recalling its Frozen Blackberries and Frozen Berry Medley.  Both products may be contaminated with Norovirus.  This highly contagious virus frequently causes cruise ship epidemics and triggers a severe gastroenteritis. The young, elders, or immunocompromised may have a critical infection.   The product was sold in WinCo stores in AZ, CA, ID, MT, NAUSEA AND VOMITING, OK, OR, WA, TX, and UT.   If you have this product, destroy it or return it to the store for a full refund.  For more info, call the company at 1-800-824-1706.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/winco-foods-llc-recalls-frozen-blackberries-and-frozen-berry-medley-because-possible-health-risk   #recall #winco #berries #blackberries  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/2cAU8c-K0Cw   Even in a non-smoking theater, you breathe dangerous levels of tobacco-generated toxins carried in on clothing.  Environmental scientists at Yale measured levels of dangerous chemicals floating in the air during movies frequented by non-smokers versus flicks viewed by smokers.   Analyzing theater air by gas chromatography showed that more hazardous volatile organic gases waft off the clothing of attendees during action movies than during family movies.  Why?  Those loving action films are more often regular smokers.  The toxic emissions during a 2 hour movie were equal to smoking 2-20 cigarettes.   Keep this in mind when decide to view a particular movie in a public theater or streaming at home.    Roger Sheu, Christof Stönner, Jenna C. Ditto, Thomas Klüpfel, Jonathan Williams, Drew R. Gentner. Human transport of thirdhand tobacco smoke: A prominent source of hazardous air pollutants into indoor nonsmoking environments. Science Advances, 2020; 6 (10): eaay4109 DOI: 1

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/yerTUeUS_8E   Yamaha has voluntarily recalled its Line 6 Relay G10 Digital Wireless Guitar System. And its charging cable.  The lithium battery may overheat forcing off the battery cover risking both fire and injuries.  If your have the unit, stop using it and call Yamaha at 1-877-865-4636 to obtain more information about a firmware fix for the unit and a replacement charging cable.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2020/Yamaha-Recalls-Digital-Wireless-Equipment-for-Electric-Guitars-Due-to-Fire-and-Injury-Hazards   #yamaha #guitar #g10system #lithiumbattery