Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/PfoihCpP6jY   The Consumer Products Safety Commission and Dick’s Sporting Goods have recalled 63,000 Field and Stream Safety Ropes sold at their stores or at Sportsman’s Warehouse stores.  These ropes can fail if used in freezing weather.  They are black with orange lines and were sold in one or three packs.  If you have these ropes, immediately stop using them and return them to the store for a full refund,  If you need more information, contact Dick’s Sporting Goods at 1-877-846-9997.   https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2020/DICKS-Sporting-Goods-Recalls-Safety-Ropes-Due-to-Fall-and-Injury-Hazards   #recall #ropes #dicks #cpsc

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/P4KtJMLowCk   The excess toilet paper rolls in your closet reveals that you are scared to death of CoVid.  Swiss and German investigators surveyed the buying habits and personality traits of 1029 adults from 35 countries.   The data shows that those most personally threatened by the CoVid pandemic shopped for toilet paper more frequently, bought more rolls per shop, and stocked more at home.  Toilet paper hoarding rises with age, female gender, and conscientiousness.  Americans and Europeans were no different.   Hoarding toilet paper won’t protect against CoVid unless you make toilet paper masks.  Instead buy and use one of the cotton masks with a filter insert that are now readily available online   https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0234232   #covid #toiletpaper #hoarding #masks

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/B3jYrNMx19M   Half of patients with CoVid19 infections suffer damage to their brains, spinal cords, and peripheral nerves.  This from an extensive international review by Northwestern University and University of Colorado neurologists.   When CoVid strikes, often headaches, dizziness, concentration deficits, smell and taste malfunction, and even seizures surface even before any fever or cough,  In those with the most severe infections, the virus can directly attack brain tissue producing encephalitis and meningitis, the spinal cord with myelitis, and peripheral nerves with paralysis.  CoVid triggers excessive clotting and ischemic stroke.     The lack of mask wearing and distancing is evidence that many, especially younger males, fail to take CoVid seriously.  Do so at your own peril!   https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ana.25807   #covid #brain #spinalcord #stroke #seizure #smell #taste  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/sfs_9FLNONI   As pollen counts rise in the spring and autumn, the incidence of viral respiratory disease significantly diminishes.  This from a Dutch analytic study just published online by the pre-print server medrixiv.org.   The investigators, noting that the seasonal flu incidence cannot be explained by weather alone, show that as both allergic and non-allergic pollen counts soar, the incidence of influenza and SARS decline.  They suggest that the immune activation triggered by seasonal allergies actually prevents invasion of respiratory tissues by viruses including CoVid19.   Whatever the reason, this phenomenon is yet another good reason to get out into the greenery of Mother Nature.  Put on your mask and go to the park.   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.05.20123133v2.full.pdf   #covid #pollen #influenza

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/7y_M8xSffv0   MDW, MDW, Mask, Distance, and Wash,  I can’t say it often enough.  Now a just pre-published study from Thailand’s Topical Medicine Research Unit puts numbers on the value of these critical public health measures.   Studying 1050 subjects either CoVid-infected or not, the researchers show that mask wearing reduces risk of CoVid infection by 77%.  Distancing more than one meter cuts infection risk by 85%, limiting close contact to less than 15 minutes 76%, and hand washing 67%.  On the other hand, sharing a cigarette or a dish more than tripled the risk of infection.   In order to beat CoVid, we all must follow the numbers and mask, distance, and wash.    https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.11.20128900v1.full.pdf   #covid #mask #distance #wash  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/TmkLo6M6XTM   Calls to poison control centers have more than doubled during the CoVid pandemic, and the CDC now reports that 39% of more than 500 surveyed adults are engaging in dangerous and potentially lethal practices such as washing food with bleach, applying household cleanser and disinfectants to bare skin, or intentionally inhaling or ingesting disinfectants.   The good news is that 60% are taking additional care to clean and disinfect their homes, the bad news is that 25% experienced at least one adverse effect from their efforts including nasal and sinus irritations, eye pain, skin irritation, dizziness, nausea, and breathing problems.   Keep your world clean, but don’t poison yourself. Do mask, distance, and wash.   https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6923e2.htm   #covid #disinfection #poisoning

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/cq63U-eqU98   If you want to avoid CoVid and not give it to your mother, you’d better don a mask.  Look, the overwhelming evidence is that CoVid19 spreads primarily through the air.   Data shows that masks work: they already prevented 66,000 CoVid cases in NYC.  Those in China and Japan use them every year to stop the flu.   Cases are rising where people are careless and congregating without masks.  CoVid is like Russian roulette.  Even the young and healthy may get a nothing case or end up dead with devastating lung, heart, or kidney destruction.    Wear a mask anywhere near strangers.  Multi-layered masks that filter virus are now available. Mask-it or casket!   https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/06/10/2009637117   https://www.amazon.com/Protection-Filtration-Anti-Fog-Dust-Proof-Adjustable/dp/B088CQGVMJ/ref=sr_1_33?dchild=1&keywords=face+masks&qid=1592143915&sr=8-33   #covid #mask #filter 

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/GOr3H64gQxw   The breastmilk of CoVid-infected mothers does not contain infectious virus.  Obstetricians, pediatricians, and virologists in Wuhan and Harbin China now report this finding in their study of 25 mother-infant pairs just reported online on the medrixiv.org pre-print site.   The breastmilk of the new mothers was analyzed for virus using quantitative PCR testing and for anti-CoVid19 antibodies via ELISA testing. All milk samples were  CoVid virus-negative.  IgM antibodies were detected in the breastmilk in all cases where that antibody was found in the mother’s serum.   This study confirms the safety of breastmilk from CoVid-infected mothers.  New mothers who are CoVid positive may safely breastfeed.   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.30.20033407v1.full.pdf   #covid #breastfeeding #antibodies

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/zQ4A9lO38kY   Two-thirds of children diagnosed with CoVid19 in Los Angeles had typical symptoms of a viral pneumonia.  This finding, reported by pediatricians at USC after their study of 35 children, contrasts sharply with other case series reported from China and elsewhere.   The median age of the kids was 12.5 years, and, as is typical, there was a preponderance of males.  The frequent symptoms were fever, congestion, cough, and shortness of breath.   Children under age 5 typically had more symptoms and a higher viral load in their bodies.   The western US variants of CoVid19 seem to produce more symptomatic disease in kids.  That may help prevent spread by asymptomatic carriers.   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.28.20104539v2.full.pdf   #covid #children #california

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/93kifz07DxM   Of the first 1000 New Yorkers hospitalized for CoVid19, about one-third suffered serious kidney injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome.  Clinicians at Columbia University and the New York/Presbyterian Medical Center just published details on the largest American CoVid case series to date.   Focusing on the 24% of patients requiring ICU critical care, 90% had acute respiratory distress syndrome, 78% had kidney disease, 35% required dialysis, and 44% died.    The bottom line: CoVid19 triggers a nasty disease that suffocates, damages all your vital organs, creates body-wide clotting, and hangs on and on.  You CAN avoid it with DMW: distancing, masks, and washing.   https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1996   #covid #nyc #kidneyfailure #dialysis  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/-s0aMlSb4Xc   Oriahnn, a estrogen-progestin combo pharmaceutical, may now be prescribed for management of excessive menstrual bleed caused by fibroids of the uterus.  The two clinical trials of this oral medication revealed that the drug reduced bleeding between 7 and 8 fold.  This drug provides a non-surgical alternative to removal of the uterus for those women who may not desire or qualify to have the operation.  The chief, serious complications of Oriahnn use include a reduction in bone density and an increased risk of fractures and an increased risk of excessive blood clotting with heart attack or stroke.  Women with known osteoporosis, a smoking habit, or high blood pressure should consider other avenues of therapy.  This drug will not prevent pregnancy, and non-hormonal contraception should be employed.   https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-option-treat-heavy-menstrual-bleeding-associated-fibroids-women   #approval #fda #oriahnn #fibroids #m

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/XU_CHhXXy44   Masks, eye protection and physical distancing each seem to have about equal impact on reducing your risk of a coronavirus infection.  Researchers at Canada’s McMaster University performed a global meta-analysis of 172 studies covering 25,697 patients.   While wearing face masks reduced the risk of infection the most, some 14%, eye protection reduced that risk 11% and distancing reduced the risk 9.8%. The fact that shielding your eyes helps so much emphasizes the importance of airborne virus transmission.   If you are in locations with abundant virus, do wear goggles, a face shield, or attachments to your glasses that block side entry of aerosols.   https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31142-9/fulltext   #covid #eyes #distancing #masks #goggles #faceshield  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/aOyTd1xJVy0   Not all forms of HCQ or CQ are created equal..  A Chinese study just published by the online pre-print server biorxiv.org reopens the HCQ/CQ controversy with a bit of sophisticated organic chemistry.   Clinically available hydroxychloroquine is a blend of two mirror images of the same molecule, the left and right enantiomers.  The study shows that L-HCQ inhibits CoVid replication 60% better than the R-HCQ.  L-CQ is 27% more effective than R-CQ.    The mixed HCQ and CQ does’t help CoVid patients.   If these findings are confirmed by other investigators, cautious clinical studies might show that the lefty versions do.   https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.26.114033v2.full.pdf   #covid #hcq #hydroxchloroquine #cq #enantiomers #distereoisomers  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/2EiQ8xgDXQs   Singapore’s Health Ministry, now facing a resurgence of CoVid19 cases, rejects face shields alone as insufficient protection against transmitting or contracting coronavirus.  The official guidance statement underscores the fact that air gaps around face shield permit contaminated droplets and aerosols to travel freely.   The only persons permitted to wear face shields are:  Children 12 and under who cannot wear masks.  I’ve seen kids as young as 2 wearing them well. Persons who cannot breathe through a mask. Persons speaking to a group at a safe distance from listeners.    Wearing a face shield over a mask does provide additional protection.  CoVid19 is dangerous.  Avoid it with MDW: masks, distancing, washing.   https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/guidance-for-use-of-masks-and-face-shields   #faceshields #masks #covid #pandemic #singapore

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/huM7v68jnQg   Closing schools turns out to be the single best non-pharmaceutical way to halt CoVid.  This the conclusion of an international collaborative meta-analysis by university number crunchers in the US, UK, Canada and Australia.   The data from 41 countries show that school closings have a 58% effectiveness, restricting gatherings to 10 or fewer 24%,  closing non-essential businesses 23%, closing high risk businesses 19%, testing those with respiratory symptoms 18%, and stay at home orders 17%.   We have a dilemma: kids attending school then bring CoVid home and transmit it to multiple generations including the vulnerable.   Yet closed schools equals closed workplaces.  The solution: testing all children and their contacts.   https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.28.20116129v1.full.pdf   #covid #schools #children #work #testing  

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/MC-G-qPAslw   The FDA and the Apotex Corporation announces recall of Apotex’s Metformin HCl extended release tablets. 500 and 750 mg tablets.  One lot of this medication was found to have dangerously high levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).  This agent is a probably human carcinogen.  Metformin is a medication for treatment of type 2 diabetes along with diet and exercise.  If you have this product, return it to the point of purchase.  If you purchased it online directly from Apotex, call Inmar Rx Solutions at 1-888-985-9014.  Notify your doctor to be certain that you obtain an alternative for managing your diabetes.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/apotex-corp-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-metformin-hydrochloride-extended-release-tablets   #recall #metformin #ndma #diabetes  

  xvid https://youtu.be/gC4fRvoKGo0   The USDA has announced that P&S Ravioli Company”s raw beer ravioli may contain pathogenic E. coli bacteria.  This product is no longer for sale, but you might have some of it in your home freezer.  The 13 oz. package would be labeled “P&S Ravioli Company 12 Jumbo Meat Ravioli” with a use-by date of 11/30/2020, a lot code 20121, and the mark “EST 2736” inside the USDA mark of inspection.  If you have this product in your freezer, do not consume it but return it to the store for a full refund.   https://bit.ly/2ZUhhBa   #ravioli #ecoli  

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/DSXxaY3BYdA   Women with a miscarriage history attempting to get pregnant may lose the fetus to aggressive exercising even before they know they are pregnant.  Epidemiologists at UMass-Amherst studied 785 high risk pregnancies in young women with one or two previous miscarriages.   Seven percent of the women suffered yet another miscarriage just as their pregnancy was establishing.  Those who lost their fetus at the time it would be implanting, the risk of loss was two-fold greater in those women pursuing moderate or intense exercise regimens.   If you have a history of miscarriage, avoid any excessive exercise during the first month even before you know you are pregnant.   https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(19)32497-5/fulltext   #pregnancy #miscarriage #miscarriage  

x Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/_IKYvN_pznk   Eighty-one percent of CoVid-positive passengers on an Antarctic cruise felt perfectly well yet were silently spreading virus to fellow passengers.  Australian researchers now report this finding in the BMJ-Thorax online journal.   The cruise embarked from Argentina in mid-March carrying all healthy passengers and crew with no one from the then-known CoVid endemic areas in Southeast Asia or Iran.  All 128 passengers and 95 crew were screened for symptoms and fevers before boarding.  The first passenger spiked a fever on day 8 prompting universal cabin confinement and surgical masks for all.  PPE including N95 masks were given to those in contact with febrile persons.     With this CoVid outbreak, the ship executed an emergency turnaround and returned to dock in Uruguay.  There, all passengers and crew began an on-board quarantine.  On cruise day 20, quarantine day 6, all onboard were virus tested and 59% were positive.  Of those virus positive, all but 19% were perfec

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/tzgQN_rRl-k   Johnson Sea Products and the FDA have recalled frozen Johnson Home Style Crab Cakes.  This product has undeclared wheat and soy.  They pose a risk to those with wheat and soy allergies including those with gluten intolerance and celiac disease.  If you purchased these products, return them to the point of purchase for a full refund.  Consumers may reach the Johnson Company at 1-251-824-2693.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/johnson-sea-products-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-wheat-soy-home-style-crab-cakes#recall-photos   #recall #crabcakes #wheat #soy