Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/WH-Mgs6TIWo Macrolide antibiotics like erythromycin, Zithromax, and clarithromycin, if taken during the first trimester, can trigger major cardiovascular malformations in a baby.  A just published British study reviewed a national database of 100,000 children.   Those women who took one course of macrolide antibiotic during their first 3 months of pregnancy were 1.5 times more likely to have fetal heart malformations and 1.6 times more likely to have genital problems when compared to those prescribed penicillin antibiotics.  Although macrolides produced  no increased risk for heart problems later in pregnancy, risk of genital malformations remained.   If you’re pregnant, avoid all medications during the first trimester but these macrolide antibiotics until after you deliver.    Fan Heng, Gilbert Ruth, O’Callaghan Finbar, Li Leah. Associations between macrolide antibiotics prescribing during pregnancy and adverse child outcomes in the UK: population based cohort study BMJ 2020; 368

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/gtAVS7YgiuE   Saratoga Potato Chips is voluntarily recalling Kroger Sweet & Mesquite BBQ Potato Chips.   They may contain undeclared milk..  There is a risk of a life-threatening reaction if you have a milk allergy.  Sold in Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin.  This came to light when some consumers found cheddar cheese flavored chips in this product.  Return this product to your point of purchase at Kroger, Mariano’s, Roundy’s stores.  Contact company at 1-905-669-6072 X 227.   https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/saratoga-potato-chips-llc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-milk-kroger-sweet-mesquite-bbq-potato   #recall #potatochips #milk #kroger  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/bU_zL3FqcRU Teleflex Medical has been compelled by the FDA to recall four Comfort Flo Humidification System Nebulizer Kits.   The kit for the standard unit, the unit with a remote temperature port, the corrugated humification system, and the corrugated system with the remote temperature port.  This system is used for children and adults to provide heated, humidified air.  These units are dangerous since there is a risk of water entering directly into the nose and lungs of the patient.  There have been 102 complaints and 8 injuries.  Do not use these products. If you as a patient have one of these, you can contact the company at Teleflex Customer Service at 1-866-396-2111. \ https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/medical-device-recalls/teleflex-medical-recalls-comfort-flo-humidification-systems-due-malfunction-may-cause-water-enter   #recall #humidifier  

• Vaccines overall 45% effective overall.  50% effective against influenza B.  55% effective in kids.   https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6907a1.htm   #influenza #vaccine  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/k7UKYmubi4c   Bloomberg News: As of 2/21/2020, 2:15 PM: Infected: 77,264 Deaths: 2250. Alternative name for CoVid-19: SARS-CoV-2.  South Asian Respiratory Syndrome due to a second coronavirus. %age critically ill from the disease in Wuhan has dropped from 38% to 18%.  Most patients have mild disease with only 20% progressing to severe disease. $  CoVid-19 a stronger virus than expected: transmissibility number of 3.28, higher than the WHO estimate of 1.4 to 2.5. Infected persons have more coronavirus in their noses than in their throats.     https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-nhc/new-coronavirus-is-preventable-and-treatable-china-health-official-idUSKBN20B0PV?il=0   https://www.mdlinx.com/infectious-disease/top-medical-news/article/2020/02/17/7608944/   https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30308-1/fulltext   https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/publichealth/84988   #covid19 #coronavirus  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/ccc7HI9g-gE   One breast milk oligosaccaride, thats a complex sugar named 2FL, appears to be the driver for better brain development in new babies. It works best the earlier it’s ingested.    Pediatricians at UC-San Diego and Children’s Hospital-LA studied 50 mother-baby pairs analyzing breast milk composition, feeding patterns, and cognitive development at 24 months.     Higher levels of the human milk oligosaccaride 2FL in breast milk at one month were associated with enhanced neurodevelopment.   Higher levels of this sugar at 6 months had no such effect.   2FL has been synthesized and is now used to enrich baby formula.  Breast milk is best, but do make sure your child receives it.    Paige K. Berger, Jasmine F. Plows, Roshonda B. Jones, Tanya L. Alderete, Chloe Yonemitsu, Marie Poulsen, Ji Hoon Ryoo, Bradley S. Peterson, Lars Bode, Michael I. Goran. Human milk oligosaccharide 2’-fucosyllactose links feedings at 1 month to cognitive development at 24 months in infants of normal

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/5rTC9x7Rics   Female nurses are nearly 40% more likely to die of suicide than women in the general population.  The rate for male nurses is half that but still worrisome.  Several just published studies from UC-San Diego reviewed more than 154,000 records from the CDCs National Violent Death Database.   The overwhelming drivers for nurse suicide are job-related stress, burnout, and depression.  The causes: over-regulation and digital paperwork, overbearing managers, violent patients and their visitors, and inadequate staffing.   We need nurses to effectively and affectionately deliver quality individual health care and community preventive efforts.  Be kind and grateful to your family’s nurses.  Help them demand support from indifferent hospital and healthcare system bosses.    Davidson, J.E., Proudfoot, J., Lee, K., Terterian, G. and Zisook, S. (2020), A Longitudinal Analysis of Nurse Suicide in the United States (2005–2016) With Recommendations for Action. Worldviews on Evidence

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/_BuvLprMqjg   When blood pressures first rise, guidelines tell doctors to prescribe chlorthalidone.  A just published multi-site study from Columbia, Cornell, Yale, and UCLA warns that drug is not the safest choice.   Comparing the outcomes of chlorthalidone with the more traditional anti-hypertensive hydrochlorthiazide in more than 730,000 treated patients, both drugs prevent heart attacks, heart failure, and stroke equally well.   But chlorthalidone has nasty side effects.  It increases the incidence of kidney failure by up to 37%, diabetes by 21%, sodium depletion by 31%, and critical potassium depletion more than 250%.   The investigators warn against routine use of chlorthalidone.  If you are taking it, speak with your doctors about an alternative.    Hripcsak G, Suchard MA, Shea S, et al. Comparison of Cardiovascular and Safety Outcomes of Chlorthalidone vs Hydrochlorothiazide to Treat Hypertension. JAMA Intern Med. Published online February 17, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamainternm

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/VXiQqpMRrxc   ResMed company has issued a compulsory recall of its Stellar 100 and 150 Non-invasive and Invasive Ventilators.  The sound alarm on the devices may not operate properly risking patient safety.     The alarm will not work if the ventilator plugged in with the power switch already on.   It should be plugged in with the switch off and then powered up.  The alarm will also not sound if the device has been stored without AC power for more than 1.5 days.   If you are a respiratory-dependent patient, obtain a different respirator from your home health supply.  If not, test the alarm by flipping the power switch.  Contact the company at 1-855-245-4640.   https://bit.ly/38IEwQj   #ventilator #resmed #stellar #alarm  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/8uSNSFtyP3k   Bilingual individuals appear to possess greater cognitive or thinking reserve and appear more resistant to the scourges of mental decline.  This is the conclusion of Canadian research just published in Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders.   The investigators studied 75 bilingual and 83 monolingual individuals.  Those whose brains were stimulated with a second language had fewer symptoms of dementia at a time when their brains were already affected by advancing Alzheimer’s disease.   Memory and problem-solving prove over and over again to be governed by the “use it or lose it” principle.  To keep your thinking sharp throughout life, read, think outside the box, and embrace mental challenges of all types.    Matthias Berkes, Ellen Bialystok, Fergus I.M. Craik, Angela Troyer, Morris Freedman. Conversion of Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer Disease in Monolingual and Bilingual Patients. Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders, 2020; 1 DOI: 10.1097/WAD.

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/5QYhhM7LxNQ   Gamers new to virtual reality will have less dizzying nausea playing games with an immersive storyline.  Researchers at Canada’s University of Waterloo studied 198 VR newbies 8 to 60 years of age.  Half were provided with a rich, emotionally stimulating narrative before gaming, and the controls received only sketchy plot details.   After the experience, those given extensive story info reported less unnerving spacial disorientation and eye strain.  Wrapping the visual experience around a riveting story focuses the brain reducing the impact of unfamiliar sensory input.  Veteran VR gamers, wrapped up in the scoring, don’t develop cybersickness.   When trying VR, select an experience that will draw you in rather than to the toilet.    University of Waterloo. "Storytelling can reduce VR cybersickness." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 13 February 2020. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213090724.htm.   #vr #virtualreality #gaming #cybersickness  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/_PKesQW6gcM   A just-published study from Columbia University now connects the dot for us.  Low quality sleep leads to overeating and poor eating, and those unhealthy food choices clog the arteries.   The sleep researchers studied 495 women 20-76 years of age tabulating their sleep quality and food intake.  Those taking longer to fall asleep had higher caloric intake in the form of sugar.  Those with the most severe insomnia consumed more saturated fats.   Lack of good sleep appears to trigger hunger and suppress a woman’s feeling of fullness.  The investigators also implicate a vicious circle with overeating and accompanying gastrointestinal discomfort exacerbating insomnia.    Poor sleep demands a fix. Don’t ignore it!.    Faris M. Zuraikat, Nour Makarem, Ming Liao, Marie‐Pierre St‐Onge, Brooke Aggarwal. Measures of Poor Sleep Quality Are Associated With Higher Energy Intake and Poor Diet Quality in a Diverse Sample of Women From the Go Red for Women Strategically Focused Resear

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/EHNeRhSTW-c   Adolescent sedentary behavior increases the risk of depression by as much as 28%. Even light activity reduces that risk by 20%.  Psychiatrists from University College London studied 4257 teens looking at the effects of their activity levels at ages 12, 14, and 16 on their incidence of depression at 18.   The study showed a general trend toward more couch time and less physical activity as teens get older.  When adolescents fought that trend with even light activity, depression scores at age 18 were significantly lower than average.   To keep your teens happy as well as physically fit, motivate them to MOVE!  Support their sports participation, and link their allowances to physical activity.    Aaron Kandola, MSc , Gemma Lewis, PhD , David P J Osborn, PhD, Brendon Stubbs, PhD, Joseph F Hayes, PhD.  Depressive symptoms and objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour throughout adolescence: a prospective cohort study.  The Lancet.  DOI:https://doi.org

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/xFf9OKNt6t4   Sleeping with your significant other’s unlaundered shirt on your pillow will give you better quality sleep.  Psychologist’s at Canada’s University of British Columbia studied 155 participants who were given two identical shirts to use as pillowcases on two consecutive nights.  Their sleep was quantitated with actigraphy and a questionnaire surveyed their subjective views of the night’s rest.   Breathing in the scent from their lover’s shirt all night significantly reduced tossing and turning and created the impression of more restful sleep.  Sleep improved even if the sleeper couldn’t identify which shirt had the love scent.   The bottom line: have a significant other to share your bed.  You’ll sleep better and be healthier.  University of British Columbia. "Smelling your lover's shirt could improve your sleep." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 13 February 2020. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200213091723.htm   #sleep #lovescent #undershirt

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/uPhXjtP6PNE   Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram make it nearly impossible to put a broken relationship in your past.  University of Colorado-Boulder information scientists now explore the nuances of social media flashbacks with in-depth interviews of 19 subjects experiencing online suffering after a relationship disintegration.   Facebook’s Newsfeed is a prime offender.  Even if you unfriend and block your ex, new loves, new digs, and new victories may still hit you in the face from other linkages in your social network.  Then, mysterious eerie techno-burps repost bygone echoes from your ex.   Your defenses include unfriending, untagging, using Facebook’s Take-A-Break feature, setting up new accounts, and going cold turkey for awhile.    Anthony T. Pinter, Jialun Aaron Jiang, Katie Z. Gach, Melanie M. Sidwell, James E. Dykes, Jed R. Brubaker. "Am I Never Going to Be Free of All This Crap?". Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 2019; 3 (CSCW): 1 DOI: 10.1145/3359172

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/-BvAR_AAevE CJ Foods, Inc., a division of CJ America, Inc., of La Palma, CA, is voluntarily recalling Annie Chun’s Japanese-Style Teriyaki Noodle Bowls.  This product may contain undeclared peanuts. There is a risk of a life-threatening allergic reaction for children and adults allergic to peanuts.  The pad thai noodles may have peanut contamination. Destroy the product or return it to place of purchase for a refund.  Contact company at 1-800-459-3445.    https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/cj-foods-voluntarily-recalls-annie-chuns-japanese-style-teriyaki-noodle-bowls-due-undeclared-peanuts   #recall #noodlebowl #anniechun #teriyaki #peanuts

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/c35S05K_eIY   Those carrying certain genetic variants have a 2.5 fold higher risk of developing thyroid cancer.  This from a Yale study of more than 900 subjects half of whom had developed thyroid cancer.   In those with 4 particular genetic variants, the risk of developing thyroid cancer was proportional to cell phone use.  The study did use data from 2010 to 2011 when more smartphone users were phoning than texting or web surfing.  Other studies, though, have linked cell phones to brain cancer.   Routine testing won’t reveal if you are genetically susceptible, so keep your handset away from your head by using wired earphones when phoning regularly.    Jiajun Luo, Hang Li, Nicole C. Deziel, Huang Huang, Nan Zhao, Shuangge Ma, Xin Ni, Robert Udelsman, Yawei Zhang. Genetic susceptibility may modify the association between cell phone use and thyroid cancer: A population-based case-control study in Connecticut. Environmental Research, 2020; 182: 109013 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.1090

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/q51DURWmSY8   Those high velocity blowers that force streams of warm air onto your hands release 23 times more germs into the air you’re breathing than paper towels.  Now this study was published 2 years ago, but it’s critical now as we face the CoVid-19 pandemic.   The British researchers also found that the airborne bacteria remain aloft for up to 15 minutes and that the driers and other surfaces are covered with deadly bacteria including antibiotic-resistant MRSA.   How to protect yourself?  Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before drying.  That’s Happy Birthday twice.  Minimize breathing while in the bathroom.  Use paper towels if you can.  Avoid touching surfaces after you wash.    E.BestaP. ParnellaJ. CouturierbF. BarbutbA, etal. Environmental contamination by bacteria in hospital washrooms according to hand-drying method: a multi-centre study.  Journal of Hospital Infection. Volume 100, Issue 4, December 2018, Pages 469-475.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2018

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/CScRRgmfaDA Walking ten thousand steps a day, the so-called gold standard for good health, will not prevent first year college students from piling on those pounds.  Exercise scientists at Utah’s Brigham Young University studied 92 young women during their first 6 months of college.   Taking nearly 11,000, 13,000 or even 14,000 steps a day did not prevent weight gains of 7 up to 13 pounds for the freshman year.  There was no correlation between steps and weight gain.    The secret to weight loss is simple: burn more calories than you consume, and make sure you’re not biking or running to the donut shop.    Bruce W. Bailey, Ciera L. Bartholomew, Caleb Summerhays, Landon Deru, Sharla Compton, Larry A Tucker, James D. LeCheminant, Joseph Hicks. The Impact of Step Recommendations on Body Composition and Physical Activity Patterns in College Freshman Women: A Randomized Trial. Journal of Obesity, 2019; 2019: 1 DOI: 10.1155/2019/4036825   #steps #exercise #freshman #college

Fanim Industries is recalling is Harbor Breeze Santa Ana Ceiling Fan due to an injury hazard.  The blade holders can break permitting the blade to be ejected from the fan.  Stop using the fan and contact company for replacement blades at 1-888-434-3797.   #recall #fan #ceilingfan