Dr. Howard Smith Reports
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VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/Z8EAE8M0ZRM https://youtu.be/z8eAE8M0ZRM The FDA and the Edgewell Personal Care Company have expanded the recall of the Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray SPF 30 by adding an additional batch to those in the recall announced in July of 2022. This product contains the human carcinogen benzene in the propellent used to deliver the sunscreen. The 4 lot codes involved are: 20016AF, 20084BF, 21139AF, and 20301CF. Stop using this product and contact Edgewell at 1-888-686-3988 to obtain a full refund or if you require more information about the recall. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/edgewell-personal-care-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-banana-boat-hair-scalp-sunscreen-due-0 https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/edgewell-personal-care-issues-voluntary-nationwide-recall-banana-boat-hair-scalp-sunscreen-due-0 #bananaboat #sunscreen #benzene #cancer #recall bananaboat, sunscreen, benzene, cancer, recall
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/RHXUKJ6DWMQ https://youtu.be/rhxuKj6dwmQ The FDA and Joy Joy’s Bakery are recalling Ube Spanish Bread, Ube Ensaymada, and Ube Rolls. These baked goods contain undeclared wheat. Those with wheat sensitivities, gluten allergies, or celiac disease could become seriously ill should they consume these baked goods. These products were sold at Joy Joy’s Bakery in Lakewood, Washington and Fubonn Supermarket in Oregon. If you bought any of these products, return them to the place of purchase or dispose of them. For more information, contact Joy Bakery at 1-253-507-525j9 or via email joybakeryllc@outlook.com. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/joy-joys-bakery-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-wheat-ube-spanish-bread-ube-ensaymada-and-ube-roll https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/joy-joys-bakery-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-wheat-ube-spanish-bread-ube-ensaymada-and-ube-roll #joyjoy #ube #bread #roll #esaymada #wheat #allergy #gluten #celiac #recall
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/2FTTT1CB6NG https://youtu.be/2FTtt1cB6ng The FDA and Sovos Brands Intermediate, Inc. are recalling Rao’s Made for Home Slow Simmered Soup, Chicken & Gnocchi. It turns out that the Chicken and Gnocchi cans actually contain Vegetable Minestrone soup which contains egg. Those with egg allergies could develop serious and life-threatening allergic reactions should they consume this soup. Only soup with CODE DATE 2320 MDV 046030Z009 has been recalled. The affected soup was sold in: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin in retail stores between December 8th, 2022, and January 27th, 2023. If you bought this soup, return it to the place of purchase for a refund. For more information, call Sovos at 1-800-466-3623. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sovos-brands-intermediate-inc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-egg-raos-slow-simmered-soup-labeled https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/sovos-brands-intermediate-inc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-egg-raos-slow-simmered-soup-labeled #raos #soup #chickengnocchi #vegetableminestrone #egg #allergy #recall
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/LZDFA4PCMOO https://youtu.be/lzdFa4PCMoo The FDA and Daiso California LLC announce the recall of Matsunaga Mini Shiruko Sand Biscuits. These pastries have undeclared soy ingredients and were sold in Daiso stores in California, Washington, Nevada, Texas, New York, and New Jersey. If you purchased these biscuits, return them to any Daiso store for a full refund. For additional information, contact Daiso at 1-833-888-1610. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/daiso-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-soy-matsunga-mini-shiruko-sand-biscuits https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/daiso-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-soy-matsunga-mini-shiruko-sand-biscuits #daiso #sandbiscuits #soy #allergy #recall
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/WLRXS0MRSF0 https://youtu.be/WlRxs0mrSf0 The FDA and Two Rivers Coffee are recalling single serve hot cocoa pods sold in Two Rivers Coffee, Brooklyn Bean, and Pingo variety packs. These pods are contaminated with peanut allergen. Those with peanut allergies could develop serious and life-threatening allergic reactions. Affected are all pods manufactured before January 23, 2023. If you bought any of these packs, contact the place of purchase for replacements or refunds. For more information and to check if your specific product is recalled, contact Two Rivers Coffee at 1-800-418-0689 or vial email at support@tworiversco.com. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/two-rivers-coffee-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-peanut-allergen-peanut-butter-hot-chocolate https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/two-rivers-coffee-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-peanut-allergen-peanut-butter-hot-chocolate #cocoapods #varietypacks #TwoRiversCoffee #BrooklynBean #Pingo #peanuts #allergy #recall
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/2O9L4PQ95EQ https://youtu.be/2o9l4pQ95EQ Use of 3D bioprinting can produce faux-human skin with remarkably similar anatomic features to the real thing. That’s a relief to rabbits who traditionally had their eyes and ears subjected to pre-marketing tests of cosmetics destined for human use. A new Brazilian study compared the characteristics of bioprinted and manually-reconstructed skin. Evaluated were the anatomic features but most importantly the ability of the skins to mount an inflammatory response to test substances. Although manually-reconstructed human skin has been around for nearly 40 years, the use of 3D printing provides the ability to standardize the product for more reproducible test results. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405886622000616?via=ihub https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405886622000616?via=ihub https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/product-testing-cosmetics/animal-testing-cosmetics https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/product-testing-cosmetics/animal-testing-cosmetics #bioprinting #skin #animaltesting #cosmetics #rabbits
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/7P4GJ-YNLMC https://youtu.be/7P4GJ-yNLMc As precision oncologic therapy advances, we are learning that many cancers respond only to a combination of chemotherapeutic agents. MIT, Harvard, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute investigators in collaboration with the MIT spinoffs Ceptur Therapeutics and Window Therapeutics have developed unique nanoparticles shaped like bottle-brushes. These carrier molecules capably transport multiple chemotherapeutic agents to and into cancer cells. Studies are underway to use this unique transport mechanism to also carry mRNA and therapeutic antibodies. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41565-022-01310-1 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41565-022-01310-1 #chemotherapy #cancer #nanomolecules #precisiononcology #mRNA #antibodies
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/WKD2-OCXMNY https://youtu.be/WkD2-OCxmnY Three different nasal sprays, two by American university collaborators and the other by Canadian researchers, show promise new weapons against CoVid. One American entry developed by Northwestern, UWashington, and Washington University-St. Louis utilizes a computer-designed and optimized protein to coat the spikes of virtually any CoVid variant or sub variant and prevent its entry into human cells. Used in a mouse model, the nasal spray neutralized all CoVid variants better than our best available antibody treatments. The other American entry, developed at Cornell with help from Canadian collaborators, targets the human enzyme TMPRSS2 that the virus uses to gain entry into human cells. Their identified compound, N0385, given to mice before of after CoVid exposure, substantially reduced viral proliferation and lethal toxicity. The Canadian spray, Enovid, now manufactured and sold by an Israeli pharmaceutical company, utilizes the oxidizing agent nitric oxide to destroy the RNA of CoVid or, for that matter, any virus on or in the nasal linings. Nitric oxide, a gas, is produced by components in the liquid spray. Studies should that Enovid, used repeated over days, can reduce viral loads by 99.9%. It works in the test tube on both CoVid and influenza. You can already buy Enovid on Amazon, but it’s much cheaper to order it directly from the Israeli pharmacy. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abn1252 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.abn1252 https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/nasal-antiviral-blocks-sars-cov-2-infection-mice https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/nasal-antiviral-blocks-sars-cov-2-infection-mice https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lansea/article/PIIS2772-3682(22)00046-4/fulltext https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lansea/article/PIIS2772-3682(22)00046-4/fulltext https://www.israelpharm.com/online-pharmacy/enovid/ https://www.israelpharm.com/online-pharmacy/enovid/ #nasalsprays #CoVid #spikeprotein #TMPRSS2 #nitricoxide #RNA #enovid #influenza
A IMPLANTABLE NEURAL CHIP DETECTS AND TREATS SEIZURES VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/NPICQXAIVNM https://youtu.be/nPICqxAiVnM Teams of Swiss bioengineers have developed NeuralTree, a tiny ultralow power and energy efficient machine learning microprocessor that can be paired with a 256 channel high resolution sensing array. This implantable combo capably recognizes the electrical fingerprints that foreshadow a seizure and issues timely blocking signals to prevent that seizure. The chip promises not only better seizure management, but this AI technology has applications for management of many neurologic disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9905664 https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9905664 #neuraltree #lowpower #implantable #microprocessor #sensor #seizures #parkinsons
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/YZWQGQEEJKG https://youtu.be/YzwQGQEejkg Smoking before and during a pregnancy increases by 5 fold the risk that an infant will die suddenly over the months following birth. Rutgers University’s SIDS Center of New Jersey studied over one-half million white mother-child pairs and over 83,000 black mother-child pairs cataloging maternal smoking stats and the incidence of SIDS. The data shows that smoking pre-pregnancy increases the SIDS risk about 2 fold for both groups. As smoking continued through the trimesters, the risk for white families rapidly escalated to a whopping 7 fold while the risk for black families gradually increased to about half that at 3.6 fold. This is yet another good reason to stop smoking if you expect to become pregnant, and your partner should stop as well. Certainly both should ditch the habit once you have conceived. Do it for your baby as well as for yourselves. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41372-022-01516-0 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41372-022-01516-0 #smoking #pregnancy #SIDS #rutgers #race
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/BNDUKYAGKS8 https://youtu.be/BNDUkyaGks8 Use of electronic cigarettes, compared with those containing tobacco, produces significantly more lung inflammation. This from a preliminary University of Pennsylvania study using PET imaging, that is positron emission tomography, with a novel radioactive tracer to quantitate pulmonary levels of the inflammatory enzyme nitric oxide synthetase. The investigators compared 3 groups: vapers, smokers, and never vaper/smokers. The data showed that frequent vaper’s levels of inflammatory activity were significantly higher than that of frequent smokers. This enzymatic activity correlates with lung damage. Tobacco use surprisingly failed to bump up pulmonary inflammation. Although other studies have shown that e-cigarettes contain far fewer toxic chemicals than tobacco, there are still plenty. The rapid rise of vaping has been associated with a surge of lung injuries and deaths. Much of the toxicity has been attributed to Vitamin E acetate, but there are other toxins in the THC and non-THC vapors. https://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/early/2023/01/19/jnumed.122.264529 https://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/early/2023/01/19/jnumed.122.264529 https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html #vaping #tobacco #smoking #pneumonitis #inflammation
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/NJPNFO3MCSE https://youtu.be/nJPnFO3MCsE The next time you buy glitter, face paint, hair gel, nail polish, perfume, and lip gloss for your children, think poison. That’s the message from the Columbia School of Public Health. Researchers there surveyed 207 parents of 312 children 12 years or younger regarding their use of these products. A full 70% of the children used these play cosmetics with greater use by older and female children. Though these products are regulated by FDA, the safety net is weak with no mandatory pre-market reviews except for color additives, few recalls, and inadequate reporting of adverse events. These products contain multiple toxic ingredients including: the heavy metals lead, cadmium, and chromium, the endocrine disruptors phthalates, parabens, and PFCs or perfluorochemicals. These ingredients are all toxic and particularly so if absorbed or ingested into small bodies. The sane advice to loving parents of small children and pre-teens. Don’t buy or allow your kids to use these poisons. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/3/2114 https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/3/2114 #child #parenting #cosmetics #glitter #facepaint #lipgloss #nailpolish #lead #phthalates #pfcs
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/VI_UPZEONZQ https://youtu.be/vI_upzEONZQ The long CoVid definition, continuing symptoms for more than a month after an acute case of CoVid, was the one used by George Washington University researchers as they assessed 982 university students and 356 staff. Breaking down the numbers, 39% of students and 34% of staff developed long CoVid symptoms. Only 26% of those vaccinated and boosted were affected while 44% of those who only received 2 shots and 48% of those unvaccinated were stricken. The mental issues reported by those with Long CoVid definitely impacted their academic performance including: difficulties conversing, making decisions, thinking, remembering, and driving; feelings of anxiety and depression. Their physical health was marred by: shortness of breath, insomnia, weakness, loss of smell and taste, and fatigue. You don’t want CoVid. It often does not go away. Make certain to be completely vaccinated and boosted and use protective masking when necessary https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/29/3/22-1522-t3 https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/29/3/22-1522-t3 #CoVid #longcovid #college #vaccination #boosting #cognition #strength
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/TK1XJO_VRD8 https://youtu.be/Tk1xJO_vRd8 When milk is added to coffee, it may well put a damper on destructive inflammation that turbocharged immune cells create. Food science researchers at the University of Copenhagen are investigating this possibility as they study the synergy between the anti-inflammatory agents polyphenols and protein-containing foods. Their experiments show that the anti-inflammatory properties of polyphenols are twice as powerful after the polyphenols are exposed to amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Polyphenols are found in many fruits, vegetables, and coffee beans while milk is a rich source of protein. Since out-of-control immune inflammation is the basis of Covid’s chronic, destructive effects on human vital organs, drinking coffee with milk added may well help limit the long-term impact of CoVid. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814622023688?via=ihub https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814622023688?via=ihub #inflammation #polyphenols #protein #coffee #milk #longCovid
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/DN8VLYUR3SQ https://youtu.be/dn8vLyuR3sQ The FDA and the Almondy company are recalling Almondy Chocolate cake with Daim. A metal object has been found in cakes from batch #L2140 with a Best Before Date of NOV.18.2023. These cakes were only sold at IKEA stores. Don’t consume these cakes and return the product to the IKEA store where you made the purchase. For more information or an alternative way to get a refund, contact Almondy via their website almondy.com. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/almondy-initiating-recall-limited-quantity-almondy-chocolate-cake-daim-141oz https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/almondy-initiating-recall-limited-quantity-almondy-chocolate-cake-daim-141oz #almondy #cake #foreignbody #laceration #recall
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/BEG61R9BJ0O https://youtu.be/beg61R9bj0o The FDA and Snack Innovations, Inc. now recall certain lots of Drizzilicious Mini Rice Cake Bites and Drizzled Popcorn. These products have undeclared peanut antigens. Those with peanut allergies could develop life-threatening allergic reactions should they ingest these snacks. If you bought any of these products, do not consume them until you call Snack Innovations at 1-888-445-5122 to check if your lot is affected. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/snack-innovations-inc-conducts-voluntary-recall-limited-quantity-drizzilicious-mini-rice-cakes-4oz https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/snack-innovations-inc-conducts-voluntary-recall-limited-quantity-drizzilicious-mini-rice-cakes-4oz #drizzilicious #ricecakes #popcorn #peanut #allergy #recall drizzilicious, ricecakes, popcorn, peanut, allergy, recall
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/ZTWGD9ZEBHO https://youtu.be/ZtwgD9zEBHo The CPSC and the Properly Tied company are recalling Properly Tied Children’s Lounge Pants. These garments fail to meet federal flammability standards for children’s sleepwear. About 1,960 were sold at Sweet Threads, Britches and Bows, May May’s, The Carousel, Bundle of Joy, Dragonflies, Tugboat and the Bird, Lora Belle Baby, Peach Tree Kids, Hannah B's and children’s product stores nationwide and online at properlytied.com. Don’t let your children wear these lounge pants and contacts Properly Tied at 1-855-380-5185 or via email at recall@properlytied.com for instructions regarding product returns and refunds. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2023/Properly-Tied-Recalls-Childrens-Lounge-Pants-Due-to-Violation-of-Federal-Flammability-Standards-and-Burn-Hazard https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2023/Properly-Tied-Recalls-Childrens-Lounge-Pants-Due-to-Violation-of-Federal-Flammability-Standards-and-Burn-Hazard #properlytied #childrens #loungepants #flammable #recall properlytied, childrens, loungepants, flammable, recall
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/F7I5WDUCNBC https://youtu.be/f7i5WDUCNbc The CPSC and the ZLINE company have extended their December, 2022 recall of the ZLINE 30 and 36 inch gas ranges to include their 48 inch gas ranges. The ovens on these ranges emit carbon monoxide at dangerous levels with risk of serious injury and death. About 30,000 of all these ranges including 2,000 48 inchers were sold at Best Buy, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, The Range Hood Store stores nationwide and online at bestbuy.com, build.com, costco.com, homedepot.com, therangehoodstore.com, overstock.com, and wayfair.com. Stop using the ovens on these appliances and contact ZLINE at 1-888-359-4482 or via email at ZLINEKitchen@realtimeresults.net to arrange for a free in-home repair. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2023/ZLINE-Expands-Recall-of-Gas-Ranges-to-Include-48-inch-Gas-Ranges-Due-to-Serious-Risk-of-Injury-or-Death-from-Carbon-Monoxide-Poisoning https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2023/ZLINE-Expands-Recall-of-Gas-Ranges-to-Include-48-inch-Gas-Ranges-Due-to-Serious-Risk-of-Injury-or-Death-from-Carbon-Monoxide-Poisoning #zline #gasrange #carbonmonoxide #co #poisoning #death #recall
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/OCHDHA__P90 https://youtu.be/OCHDha__p90 An adhesive dressing populated with hydrogel-anchored microneedles promises to revolutionize the on-site treatment of hemorrhaging wounds. UCLA bioengineers will be publishing this remarkable discovery in the May, 2023 edition of the Bioactive Materials journal. The tiny prongs jump-start blood clotting and quickly squelch the flow of blood. Testing the microneedle bandage in the bleeding rat liver model in comparison to a hydrogel-only dressing showed that the microneedles reduced the time till clot formation from 11.5 to 1.3 minutes and the loss of blood by more than 90%. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452199X22003607?via=ihub https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452199X22003607?via=ihub #hemorrhage #bleeding #microneedle #hydrogel #dressing #battlefield
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/G7FZJUKLMYC https://youtu.be/g7fZjuKlmYc The Danish biotechnology company AdaptVac is developing a CoVid vaccine based on technology different than the mRNA tech used for the Moderna and Pfizer vaxes, the adenovirus vector J&J and AstraZeneca vaxes, and the protein-based Novavax offering. The AdaptVac vaccine, labeled ABNCoV2 uses a viral capsid-like particle derived from an E. coli bacteriophage to present spike protein and other CoVid antigens to the human immune system. A phase 1 first human study of the vaccine tested 45 subjects with two doses of the ABNCoV2 vaccine. The data revealed healthy anti-CoVid antibody and cellular immune responses with minimal side effects. This viral capsid vaccine permits a rapid modification of the viral antigens it carries permitting manufacture of a vaccine against the latest CoVid variants. Hence the name of the company: AdaptVac. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(22)00337-8/fulltext https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(22)00337-8/fulltext #CoVid #vaccine #phagecapid #ABNCoV2 #AdaptVac
We know that dogs can detect lung cancer, but the latest evidence from Paris suggests a diagnostic role for ants. Sorbonne animal behaviorists are reporting that ants can readily differentiate tumor-bearing mice from healthy ones by detecting tell-tale volatile organic compounds in urine. Ants lack noses but do have olfactory sensory receptors on their antennae. In the French experiments, half a group of mice with weakened immune systems received grafts of human triple negative breast cancer while the other half, serving as controls, underwent a sham operation without introduction of tumor. Ants quickly recognized the difference between the two groups and then consistently picked out the those with a characteristic odor of cancer. The investigators point out that ants, being social, colony forming insects, may be able to pass on their learned behavior of cancer recognition to their peers leading to the creation of ant clusters each capable of recognizing different tumors. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2022.1962 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2022.1962 #ants #cancer #olfactory
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/F3SAHUBYEEG https://youtu.be/F3saHuBYeEg Two separate studies give us a glimpse into the future of cardiac ultrasound, better known as echocardiography. From UC-San Diego’s department of nanoengineering comes a wearable ultrasound imaging system that permits continuous visual assessment of the heart’s function in real time. The probe is exceedingly flexible permitting it to be gently bent, wrapped, poked, and twisted. Meanwhile, bioengineers at Ontario’s Western University have developed a strategy for 3 dimensional ultrasound imaging. To generate these images, the researchers created a computer-controlled robotic cradle to precisely move the ultrasound transducer across the surface of the chest and mated it with software to assemble the individual images and draw a 3D representation of the heart or other internal organs including the liver. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05498-z https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05498-z https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9800921 https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9800921 #ultrasound #wearable #3D #heart
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/YV8R-_Z2OXK https://youtu.be/YV8r-_z2OXk Blood clots in the brain trigger strokes and catastrophic back bleeding. When the blockages occur, the clock is ticking. The faster blood vessels are reopened, the better the recovery prognosis. North Carolina State mechanical engineers report that vortex ultrasound, a swirling shockwave, dissolves blood clots in critical brain blood vessels faster and more effectively that traditional chemical methods. This ultrasonic tornado is produced by a miniature ultrasonic transducer attached to a catheter that is threaded into blood vessels. This works in the lab, but animal and then human testing is in the future. https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/research.0048 https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/research.0048 #ultrasound #vortex #brain #thrombosis #stroke #hemorrhage
VIDCAST: https://youtu.be/1bFzIS-FByU https://youtu.be/1bFzIS-FByU The infamous and now convicted Elizabeth Holmes who founded the Silicon Valley startup Theranos made the same promise and utterly failed. Now, geneticists at Stanford University, where ironically Holmes once attended college and dropped out, announce the development of so-called multi-omics technologies that really can make needle-shy patients’ wishes come true. The multi-omics technology employs ether extraction to separate fatty metabolites from the non-fatty, methanol to sequester proteins, and an aqueous extraction for immunoassay of cytokines and hormones. Analysis of the thousands of compounds in each mix using mass spectrometry permits a frequent assay of them and the development of what the investigators call metabolic phenotypes. Combining this data with that from wearables will someday permit medical teams to monitor the metabolic and physical health of patients on a 24/7 basis. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-022-00999-8#Sec17 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-022-00999-8#Sec17 #multiomics #laboratories #clinicalpanels #monitoring #metabolism #theranos
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/S7V2TMK8ORG https://youtu.be/s7V2tMk8Org Eating those fries and donuts modifies your brain cells and they begin to whisper, “eat more and more.” Penn State neuroscience and behavioral scientists now report their mouse model studies demonstrating that a high-fat diet continuing even 3 to 5 days desensitizes the brain astrocytes. Astrocytes normally react to circulating fat and trigger appetite suppression by slowing stomach emptying and prolonging a feeling of being full. With astrocytes bombarded and eating suppression reduced, you eat more and more further depressing your astrocytes and completing a vicious circle leading to weight gain and obesity. https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1113/JP283566 https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1113/JP283566 #fat #astrocytes #appetite #obesity
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/LSH8-LBT2VK https://youtu.be/LsH8-LbT2Vk Suffering a head injury more than doubles your risk of dying at some time over a 30 year period. So say University of Pennsylvania neurologists who followed 13,037 adults, median age of 54, between 1987 and 2019. Head injuries were experienced by 18% of the group. The risk of death for this cohort was 2 twice that of the non-injured group. That risk depended upon the number of head injuries experienced: one bumped the risk up 66% while 2 or more injuries increased the risk 211%. Severity matters too. Those sustaining mild head injuries had a 216% higher risk of death; those with moderate, severe, or penetrating injuries had 287% rise in death risk. Don’t take chances with your head. During sports and recreational activities, DO wear protective headgear. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/article-abstract/2800331 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/article-abstract/2800331 #headinjury #death #sports
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/Gpl0vO9U9Ks https://youtu.be/Gpl0vO9U9Ks Babies developing within mothers who contract Covid suffer significant bleeds within their brains in association with evidence of CoVid virus brain infiltration. Neurodevelopmental researchers at King’s College London now report their study of 661 fetal tissue samples from CoVid infected mothers and 300 tissues from uninfected mothers. The incidence of brain bleeding in the CoVid infected group was 3.9% compared with an incidence of .04% in the uninfected, a 98 fold increase. The brain bleeding in the infected fetuses occurred in the cerebral cortex, all important for intelligent thought and action. The abundance of CoVid spike protein and immune cells fighting the virus found in the fetal brain linings is solid evidence that the virus does infect the developing brain . This study provides additional powerful reasons for pregnant women and those about to become pregnant to take all measures to avoid Covid infection. That means masking up, avoiding crowds, and restaurant dining outdoors in heated, ventilated sheds or at home with take-out. https://academic.oup.com/brain/advance-article/doi/10.1093/brain/awac372/6985751?login=false https://academic.oup.com/brain/advance-article/doi/10.1093/brain/awac372/6985751?login=false #CoVid #pregnancy #fetal #brain #bleeding
If you received the most recent bivalent CoVid booster, know that it does not induce significant or lasting antibody protection against the currently-prevalent Omicron XBB1.5 sub-variant. The good news: the booster does trigger an increase in your cellular immunity against the virus; and it reduces by half your risk of developing a symptomatic CoVid infection. Researchers at Harvard’s Beth Israel Hospital now report their studies of thirty subjects tested for both humoral or antibody immunity and cellular immunity against a panel of CoVid variants and sub-variants before boosting, 3 weeks after, and 3 months after the boost. While the bivalent vaccine triggered a significant antibody rise against the BA.5 subvariant, the bump in protective antibody against XBB1.5 was meager at best. The response of CoVid-specific cellular immunity was another story. The vaccine booster triggered an impressive rise in both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses against the virus. To underscore the point that the booster is weakly protective against CoVid XBB1.5, 43% of the subjects developed a CoVid infection after receiving the booster. Meanwhile, the CDC is out with the results of its own studies carried out over the past month as XBB1.5 is surging across the country. The bivalent booster effectiveness against so-called symptomatic CoVid was 49% for those 18-49 and 40-43% for those 50 and older. This protective effect appears to continue beyond 3 months after boosting. The bottom line: the bivalent booster won’t prevent CoVid XBB1.5 from infecting you, but it will prevent that infection from sidelining and possibly killing you. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.01.22.525079v1 https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.01.22.525079v1 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7205e1.htm?s_cid=mm7205e1_w#contribAff https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7205e1.htm?s_cid=mm7205e1_w#contribAff #CoVid #xbb15 #booster #vaccine #antibody #cellularimmunity
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/1RXQXQLSISG The FDA and the SkinnyDipped company are recalling SkinnyDipped Dark Chocolate Cocoa Almonds & Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Cashews. These candies have undeclared peanuts. Those with peanut allergies could develop serious and life-threatening allergic reactions after ingesting these candies. The dipped almonds have a Best By Date of 5/5-6/2024 and the dipped almonds have a Best By Date of 4/20-21/2024. If you bought these products, return them to the place of purchase. For additional information, contact the SkinnyDipped company at 1-866-957-9907 or via email at hello@skinnydipped.com. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/skinnydippedr-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-peanuts-limited-number-skinnydippedr-dark-chocolate #skinnydipped #chocolate #almonds #cashews #peanuts #allergy #recall
VIDCAST: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/77ARHPBZKFE The CPSC and Williams-Sonoma are recalling Williams-Sonoma Hot Chocolate Pots. These pots are mislabeled as microwave-safe but contain metallic paint that will spark and ignite if microwaved. About 2700 of these hot chocolate pots were sold in the US and about 40 were sold in Canada at Williams-Sonoma. If you bought these pots, contact Williams-Sonoma at Williams-Sonoma at 1-855-801-9416 or via email at WSIHotChocPotRecall2022@wsgc.com for information about obtaining a refund. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2023/Lifetime-Brands-Recalls-Hot-Chocolate-Pots-Due-to-Fire-Hazard-Sold-Exclusively-at-Williams-Sonoma #williamssonoma #hotchocolatepot #microwave #fire #recall
