Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

A study just published by NYU shows that hemoglobin A1C testing in neighborhood barbershops can effectively screen black men for diabetes.  A total of 900 black men in Brooklyn were offered free testing at their trusted black-owned barbershops.  One-third consented to participate, and 9% of those were found to have undiagnosed diabetes and 28% more had pre-diabetes.  A disproportionate number of black men with diabetes suffer complications when compared with other racial and ethnic groups.  Community barbershops have also successfully screened their customers for high blood pressure.   https://www.jwatch.org/fw116286/2020/01/28/black-barbershops-could-id-undiagnosed-diabetes

Clostridium difficile is a nasty bacterium that pops up in the gut after antibiotic therapy for other infections.  This highly contagious germ can trigger life-threatening colitis.  The treatment for seven infections has been the powerful antibiotic vancomycin and for milder infections metronidazole.  The first additional antibiotic be developed for this dangerous condition in 30 years, fidaxomicin (Dificid), was approved for adults, 9 years ago.  Now the FDA announced its approval for use in children 6 months of age or older.  This drug gave significantly higher sustained cures than vancomycin after a randomized trial at the Children’s Hospital of Chicago.  Its available as an oral suspension or tablets.   https://www.mrknewsroom.com/news-release/prescription-medicine-news/fda-approves-mercks-dificid-fidaxomicin-treat-clostridioides   Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/2UKbc2aYWYc

  A British cobbler who accidentally demolished his right thumb had it replaced surgically with his big toe.  The surgeons took 10 hours to complete the operations needed for this transformation.  He has returned to repairing shoes.  Magical piece of good news.

  Numbers of infected, hospitalized, and perished continues to rise quickly.  Get the latest stats from Bloomberg:  https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2020-wuhan-novel-coronavirus-outbreak/ and bookmark the page. As of this recording, DATE, TIME: ConfirmedCasesWorldwide: X; DeathsWorldwide: X. Official name to date 2019-nCoV Genetically similar to SARS coronavirus and thought to have originated in bats.  The originally report snake may have been an intermediate host. The WHO has declared a global health emergency. Risk of spread highest: 1. Bangkok Thailand, 2. Hong Kong, 3. Taipei China followed by 6. USA, 10. Australia,  12 Sydney Australia, 16.New York City, 17. UK. Cloth masks are not proven barriers to spread.  While they can catch large liquid droplet containing infected material, most cannot filter out fine viral particles in the air.  Spread is often from hand to mouth, masks do remind you to keep your hands from your face.  Frequent hand washing is effective.  The FDA has cleared more effective N95

Purell Warned By FDA to stop making unproven marketing claims.  Boasts that it improves school attendance and can prevent flu, norovirus, MRSA, and even Ebola are BS.  The manufacturer says that the CDC and WHO recommend using alcohol hand sanitizer to prevent infection spread.  In reality, this recommendation only holds if soap and water aren’t available since hand washing is more effective than sanitizers. Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/7wd4ZWUgF5g

Beepa’s Goulash being recalled by Beeps of Beloit, WI. Undeclared milk that could cause allergic reaction.  Sold in WI and northern IL. Return to point of purchase or call company at 860-362-1703.  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/10Z8JeCAGuM

Harris Teeter’s Fresh Food Market Mushroom Barley Soup is being recalled by Bakkavor Foods USA.  May contain undeclared milk and a danger if you’re milk allergic.  Turns out some Chicken Wild Rice Soup containing milk was packaged as Mushroom Barley soup.  Sold in Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington DC.  Return to point of purchase or call company at 855-312-7504.  Vidcast: https://youtu.be/Lemuc9y7RI8

Cotija Cheese (Quesa Cotija) by Quesos La Ricura LTD recalled due to E. Coli contamination.  The bug has the dangerous shiga toxin that causes severe diarrhea but also hemolytic uremic syndrome with kidney damage especially in young children.  Sold in NY, NC, PA, GA, FL.   Return to point of purchase or call company (516) 932-5756.  Vidcast: https://youtu.be/g8lr6Gbkx5g

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/dLeTpUalcco Fluctuating and diminishing hormones in association with menopause trigger word-finding challenges.  A preliminary multisite study directed by neuroscientists and gynecologists at the University of Illinois studied 14 menopausal women with verbal memory tests, symptom diaries, and functional MRIs.   The data confirm previous observations that menopausal women with hot flashes demonstrate verbal memory reduction.   The MRI findings of altered hippocampal and prefrontal cortical function during reported hot flash symptoms now demonstrate the causes of these verbal inadequacies.   Word-retrieval brain fades occur for us all, but increase with age.  Coping strategies include: Continue expressing your thought without the specific word. Use humor to defuse your anxiety. Consult a thesaurus.      Maki PM1,2,3, Wu M4, Rubin LH5, Fornelli D6, Drogos LL2,7, Geller S3, Shulman LP8,9, Banuvar S8, Little DM10, Conant RJ11.  Hot flashes are associated with altered brain

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/BmPJ8Abr5uY   Only 5% of children and teens with chronic fatigue syndrome, technically known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, ever receive a proper diagnosis.  Investigators from DePaul University and the Lurie Chicago Children’s Hospital studied a random group of over 10,100 kids 5 to 17 years.   The reasons affected children aren’t identified includes poor healthcare access but also provider misconception that this disease is not a genuine condition.  With an estimated 51 million children and teens in the US this year, 3.8 million have this disorder but 3.6 million go undiagnosed.   A child with sleep problems and lightheadedness when standing for 6 months or more should be evaluated.   Leonard A. Jason, Ben Z. Katz, Madison Sunnquist, Chelsea Torres, Joseph Cotler, Shaun Bhatia. The Prevalence of Pediatric Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in a Community-Based Sample. Child & Youth Care Forum, 2020; DOI: 10.1007/s10566-019-09543-3   https://www.childstats.gov/

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/FJjR42mC2iU   The trick to avoiding bloat when eating a high fiber diet is to reduce protein in favor of carbs in the form of whole grains and other healthy carbs.  This the conclusion of a Johns Hopkins study of some 164 subjects consuming high fiber, heart-healthy diets.   Their data reveals 40% less bloating when a high-fiber diet is carb-rich versus protein-rich.  Sources for those carbs include whole grain oats, bananas, sweet potatoes, and blueberries.  Most of these foods also provide extra anti-oxidants, vitamins, and minerals.   Bloating impacts at least 20% of Americans, and it deters many from adhering to healthy diets.  Don’t let that happen to you.   Mingyu Zhang, Stephen P. Juraschek, Lawrence J. Appel, Pankaj Jay Pasricha, Edgar R. Miller, Noel T. Mueller. Effects of High-Fiber Diets and Macronutrient Substitution on Bloating. Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology, 2020; 1 DOI: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000122   https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-healthy-hig

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/h4g91zw2wLw   Breathing in diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) can increase your chances of pneumococcal pneumonia.  A study from Britain’s University of Liverpool shows that DEPs engorge and inactivate respiratory macrophages, the scavengers that protect our bodies from germs.   The researchers report that animals and tissue cultured cells are more susceptible to pneumococcal infection in the presence of DEP macrophages.  Germs that normally live peacefully in the nasal passages become emboldened once the macrophage police are sidelined.   About 37% of the world’s population is exposed to excessive air pollution, and DEPs including carbon, ash, metallic particles, and sand are major contributors to the pollution.  Protect yourself by avoiding these nasty diesels.   Rebecca K. Shears, Laura C. Jacques, Georgia Naylor, Lisa Miyashita, Shadia Khandaker, Filipa Lebre, Ed C. Lavelle, Jonathan Grigg, Neil French, Daniel R. Neill, Aras Kadioglu. Exposure to diesel exhaust particles increase

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/A-fBIfKZUjM   Yes, we have a coronavirus pandemic.  And yes, the counts of those stricken is rising exponentially with deaths sadly climbing as well.  Currently there are nearly 4600 cases with 106 deaths worldwide.   But wait, we already have a serious pandemic, and we have it every year.  Influenza infects one BILLION around the world every year, and it kills as many as half a million.  For the US this season, the CDC estimates 140,000 hospitalizations and 8200 deaths.  We control influenza only somewhat with vaccines and antivirals.   Like influenza, coronavirus is most dangerous for the young, old, frail, or immunocompromised.  It’s estimated mortality rate is 4%.  That for influenza is 6%.  Relax.   https://www.ifpma.org/global-health-matters/flu-can-cause-up-to-650000-deaths-a-year-globally/   https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm   https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2020-wuhan-novel-coronavirus-outbreak/   #coronavirus #influenza #pandemic  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/sEWgKmC3dC8   Now that green is good, University of Michigan environmental engineers report that year-old urine contains nutrients growing plants require but is free of environmentally dangerous micro-organisms and genetic material.   They studied the urine of more than 100 men and women after 12-16 months of aging in sealed containers.  During that time, the rising ammonia levels lower urine acidity, kill any bacteria, and destroy any extracellular DNA.  This aged urine is safe and contains levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that effectively nourish plants.   Aged urine will be an excellent alternative to industrial fertilizers that often stimulate algae blooms.  Green is good; yellow may be better.   Heather E. Goetsch, Nancy G. Love, Krista R. Wigginton. Fate of Extracellular DNA in the Production of Fertilizers from Source-Separated Urine. Environmental Science & Technology, 2020; DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b04263   #urine #fertilizer #plants  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Tgk12aBsrSo   Different type fonts and styles appeal to different generations and philosophies.  You say:  “what the hxxx is he talking bout.  A Virginia tech study of political yard signs, logos, and websites concludes that a candidate’s chosen fonts and use of bold, italic, or regular type can help target a message with greater precision.   Analyzing 987 subjects, 37 years on average, the researchers report that elaborate fonts likes Times New Roman appeal to older and more conservative minds while younger and progressive individuals like streamlined san serif fonts such as Century Gothic.  In type styles italic is the most liberal followed by regular and finally a more conservative bold.   This has application beyond politics.   Katherine Haenschen, Daniel J. Tamul. What’s in a Font?: Ideological Perceptions of Typography. Communication Studies, 2019; 1 DOI: 10.1080/10510974.2019.1692884   #typography #fonts #bold #italic #conservative #liberal  

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/MBqNURsBkRg   Kids of regular smokers who continued puffing while pregnant were at least 40% more likely to develop scaly, psoriatic skin by age 11.  Children of smokers using nicotine replacement instead of cigarettes still had a 36% higher risk.   Public health researchers at the University of Copenhagen tabulated data on about 26,000 children.  The risk of psoriasis was related to the numbers of cigarettes smoked rising to nearly 300% for women smoking 16 or more each day.   The investigators feel that nicotine as well as other chemicals in smokes may trigger that autoimmune process that leads to those thickened, itchy patches on children’s heads and extremities.  Ladies considering motherhood: stop now!   Groot, Jonathan et al.  Prenatal, infantile, and childhood tobacco exposure and risk of pediatric psoriasis in the Danish National Birth Cohort offspring.  Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Volume 0, Issue 0. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2019.09.038   #sm

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/OmBtKu6rAc4   More than 70% of us watch at least one horror movie every 6 months and we love exercising our brain’s fight or flight centers as well as its emotional regions.  This from a Finnish analysis of some 216 subjects watching a collection of the 100 highest-rated horror movies.   The overwhelming sensation triggered was excitement followed by fright, anxiety, nervousness, and disgust. Nearly 35% derived pleasure!  The movies that evoked the strongest responses depicted psychological horror followed by real disaster, supernatural phenomena, menacing criminals, torture, and gore.   MRI analysis of the viewer showed that slowly escalating threats trigger sensory centers, visual and auditory.  Sudden horror triggers executive evaluation and rapid decision-making.   Matthew Hudson, Kerttu Seppälä, Vesa Putkinen, Lihua Sun, Enrico Glerean, Tomi Karjalainen, Henry K. Karlsson, Jussi Hirvonen, Lauri Nummenmaa. Dissociable neural systems for unconditioned acute and sustained fear.

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/qKHCTsn6kFo   A new, more sensitive anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) blood test can accurate predict a woman’s last cycle.  Reproductive biologists at the University of Colorado and Harvard studied 1537 women from 42 to 63 years.   The new AMH testing doubled the investigators’ accuracy in pinpointing a woman’s last menstrual cycle compared with the conventional methods using bleeding patterns or less sensitive tests.   An accurate menopause determination tells women when they may stop birth control and permits better timing for uterine fibroid surgery.  The more sensitive AMH determination also fine-tunes the estimate of remaining eggs allowing women, postponing motherhood, a measure of freedom from that ticking clock in their minds.   Joel S Finkelstein, Hang Lee, Arun Karlamangla, etal. Anti-Mullerian Hormone and Impending Menopause in Late Reproductive Age: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2020; DOI: 10.1210/cline

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/S8btzVNZkdQ   High protein diets like the Adkins, Stillman, and Scarsdale drive weight loss but could also trigger life loss.  Washington University-St. Louis researchers now show why high protein diets foster atherosclerotic heart attacks and strokes.   The researchers found in mice that increasing daily protein intake from a normal 15% to 46% of calories blocked normal macrophage arterial plaque cleansing activity.  Free to accumulate, the plaques tend to break off and plug vital downstream coronary and cerebral arteries.   We’ve known that high protein diets poison arteries, but now we know why.  Lose weight with a meal plan such as Turbocharged that shuns calorie counting and is easily continued for life, a long life.   Xiangyu Zhang, Ismail Sergin, Trent D. Evans, etal. High-protein diets increase cardiovascular risk by activating macrophage mTOR to suppress mitophagy. Nature Metabolism, 2020; 2 (1): 110 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-019-0162-4   https://www.freedieting.com/turbocharge

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/CFzqNunX8z8   PFAS, polyfluoroalkyl substances, the forever chemicals used to make Teflon cookware, cosmetics, and other consumer products, contaminates your drinking water.  These chemicals are unregulated and have been linked to thyroid disease, cardiovascular problems, infertility, obesity, and cancer.     The Environmental Working Group, EWG, compiled data on tap water from 44 locations in 31 states.  The definition of a safe level keeps dropping.  Fifteen years ago when the Dupont West Virginia poisoning dramatized in the movie Dark Waters  came to light, the EPA said 500 ppt but WVA went with 150,000.  Now the EPA says 70, VT says 20, but NJ wants 14.  The EWG says 1.  Many far northern and southern states never dropped their limits.    The most polluted water was from NC, IA, NJ, Phillie, Louisville, New Orleans, Charleston, Decatur, and DC.  The safest came from Meridian, Tuscaloosa, Seattle, Memphis, LittleRock, CO, and here in New York City.  Look for the summary charts