Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DKQ8f_ttODO/These cucumber slices include recalled whole cucumbers supplied by Bedner Growers, Inc. This bacterium can cause serious and sometimes fatal gastrointestinal and systemic infections in young children, elderly persons, and others with weakened immune systems. Affected are 1.5-pound packages with all date codes up to May 24, 2025. These cucumber slices have been sold at Walmart stores located in Texas between May 13 and May 20, 2025.Do not eat, serve, or sell these cucumber slices. Return them to the Walmart store where they were purchased for a full refund. Surfaces that have come in contact with the cucumbers should be cleaned and sanitized thoroughly to avoid cross-contamination. For questions or concerns, contact Walmart’s Customer Care Team at 1-800-925-6278.https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/walmart-inc-recalls-marketside-fresh-cut-cucumber-slices-select-texas-stores-because-possible-health#cucumber #slices #marketside #wal

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DKQ8ARquUDi/Affected is the 16-ounce size with instructions touse or freeze by June 2, 2025. This could lead to serious or life-threatening allergic reactions for those with a soy allergy.These packages of salmon have been sold at Aldi stores in California, Nevada, and Arizona.Do not consume this salmon if you have a soy allergy. Return the product to Aldi for a full refund. For more information, consumers may contact Santa Monica Seafood at 1-800-969-8862.https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/santa-monica-seafood-voluntarily-recalls-atlantic-salmon-portions-seafood-stuffing-due-undeclared#aldi #santamonicaseafood #salmon #soy #allergy #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DKQ7dzqgiS3/There is no specific lot number provided. The restraint system is not directly attached to the high chair and its locks and latches can fail leading to infant falls. In addition, the opening between the seat and tray is large enough for a child to become trapped.About 5,400 high chairs were sold exclusively online at Amazon.com between October 2023 and November 2024.Stop using these recalled high chairs.  Contact Boyro Baby at boyrobaby@outlook.com for instructions regarding disassembly and obtaining a full refund. You will be asked to cut the restraint system and seat cushions, take photos of the destroyed components, and email those photos to the same email.https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Boyro-Baby-Recalls-High-Chairs-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death-from-Fall-and-Entrapment-Hazards-Violations-of-Federal-Regulations-for-High-Chairs-Sold-Exclusively-on-Amazon-com#boyrobaby #highchairs #restraints #falls #entrapment #injuries #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DKQ667WNRK8/The light’s remote control contains a CR2032 lithium button battery that can be easily accessed by children and ingested leading to severe internal injuries, chemical burns, or even death.About 1,150 units were sold exclusively online through Amazon.com between May 2024 and August 2024.Stop using this recalled product’s remote, remove the button battery, and store it safely out of your children’s reach. To receive a free and safe replacement remote, contact Nicrew at nicrew@support.com with Amazon order number and a photo showing that you have destroyed your remote.  You can obtain more recall information using the same email.https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/NICREW-Submersible-RGB-LED-Lights-Recalled-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death-from-Ingestion-Hazard-Violations-of-Federal-Regulations-for-Consumer-Products-with-Coin-Batteries-Sold-on-Amazon-by-Nicrew#nicrew #ledlight #remote #buttonbattery #ingestion #injuries #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DKQ6X-6tM_g/This recalled clock is shipped with a remote that contains a lithium button battery easily accessible by children. Ingestion of these button cell batteries can cause severe internal injuries, chemical burns, or death.   Affected is model number PH-05.About 2,016 units were sold exclusively through Amazon.com from November 2024 through January 2025.Stop using the remote control for these recalled wall clocks and keep it away from children. Remove the coin battery and dispose of or recycle it at a local hazardous waste center. Write “RECALLED” on the remote in permanent marker and email a photo of it being discarded to recall@lianaocoltd.com. Once submitted, you will receive a full refund for the clock. You can obtain more information about this recall at the same email.https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Leon-Rading-Recalls-Digital-Wall-Clocks-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death-from-Ingestion-Hazard-Violations-of-Federal-Regulations-for-Consumer-Products-with

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DKQ5vqotCBJ/These cycles have front brake calipers that crack and brake ineffectively creating crash hazards.  The recall includes multiple model years from 2022 through 2025. About 19,310 of these cycles were sold in the United States and about 3,870 units sold in Canada through authorized GASGAS and Husqvarna dealers from January 2022 through August 2024.Stop riding these recalled motorcycles immediately and contact an authorized GASGAS or Husqvarna dealer to schedule a free inspection and, if needed, a free repair. For more information, call GASGAS and Husqvarna Motorcycles at 1-888-985-6090.https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/KTM-Recalls-Off-Road-Motorcycles-Due-to-Crash-Hazard-Recall#gasgas #husqvarna #offroad #motorcycles #brakes #crash #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DKQ45dqNwwF/This toy contains a small, high-powered magnet that creates an ingestion hazard for children. If swallowed, they can attract inside the digestive system causing perforations, twisting, and blockages of the bowels leading to infection, blood poisoning, and even death.About 5,100 units were sold in the United States and an additional 380 units were sold in Canada at specialty toy, book, and educational stores as well as online at fatbraintoys.com between July 2024 and November 2024.Immediately stop using these roller tile toys and contact Fat Brain Toy Co. at 1-800-590-5987 or via the email recall@fatbraintoys.com for disposal instructions, a replacement toy, or a refund. That refund is a $10 credit toward a future purchase at fatbraintoys.com.https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Fat-Brain-Recalls-Rollers-Tile-Toys-Used-in-PlayTab-Modular-Activity-Boards-Due-to-Magnet-Ingestion-Hazard-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death-Violation-of-Federal-Regulations-for-Toy-Magnets#

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DKQHuz1PWMz/These gates, sold on Amazon under various names and sizes, violate federal safety regulations. A child’s body easily passes through gaps in these gates, the locking mechanisms fail, and the gates do not resist a child pushing out creating risks of entrapment, falls, and potentially fatal injuries.About 1,800 units were sold exclusively on Amazon.com between June 2021 and March 2025.Stop using these gates around your children. Wait for Amazon to contact you with instructions regarding item returns and refunds.  Since each gate was sold by a variety of companies through Amazon, the contact information for each company may be found at the CPSC link listed below.https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Child-Safety-Gates-Recalled-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death-from-Entrapment-and-Fall-Hazards-Violations-of-Federal-Regulation-for-Gates-and-Enclosures-Imported-by-Yiwu-Baili-Import-and-Export-Sold-on-Amazon-com#amazon #children #gates #entrapment #falls #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DKQG6TIP0AZ/These dressers create tip-over and entrapment hazards if not anchored to the wall, and they can injure or kill children.  Affected is model number DC006-BK130-1-RR.About 1,293 dressers were sold exclusively online at Amazon.com from September 2023 through March 2025.Immediately stop filling these recalled dressers if they are not securely anchored and move them to a location out of children’s reach. To obtain more information or to receive a full refund, contact Areson at 888-864-7995 or via the email support@Areson.shop and submit a photo showing proof of disposal.https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Areson-Recalls-Rolanstar-6-Drawer-Dressers-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death-from-Tip-Over-and-Entrapment-Hazards#areson #rolanstar #dresser #6drawer #wallanchor #entrapment #crush #death #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DKQGIlRsAJy/The zipper pull on the back of these plush bags can detach creating choking and ingestion risks for children.About 2,900 of these bags were sold in Primark stores in the northeast United States, Florida, Maryland, and Illinois, between March 2024 and October 2024.Stop using the recalled plush bags and keep them out of reach of children. Return the bags to any Primark store for a full refund in the form of the original payment.  For more information, contact Primark at 1-617-946-3236.https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Primark-Recalls-DTR-Plush-Bag-Stitch-and-DTR-Plush-Bag-Angel-Due-to-Choking-and-Ingestion-Hazards#primark #plush #bags #zipper #ingestion #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DKQFdWJtvvS/These swings pose a risk of suffocation and potential death because they exceed the legal incline angle for infant sleep.  They also fail to meet federal warning label requirements and include a remote control with a lithium button battery that creates an ingestion risk.  Affected model number S0008.About 1,420 units were sold exclusively online through Amazon.com between September 2024 and February 2025.Stop putting your infants in these swings immediately. To receive a full refund, take a photo of the swing cover cut in half with the word “Recalled” written on the base using permanent marker. Then email the photo to Nezmdi at yingpengds@163.com and then dispose of the swing.  Use the same email to request more information about the recall.https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Nezmdi-Infant-Swings-Recalled-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death-from-Suffocation-Hazard-Multiple-Federal-Safety-Violations-Sold-Exclusively-on-Amazon-com-by-Nezmdi#nezmdi #infant #swin

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DKQEM0lNeCh/The elastics on the ankles of these pajamas are excessively tight and restrict blood circulation.  Affected are style numbers 100189404, 100191005, 100189223, 100196695, and 100180930.About 16,300 units were sold exclusively at Macy’s stores nationwide, including Macy’s Backstage, and online at macys.com, between March 2024 and January 2025.Stop putting your infants in these recalled pajamas and keep them out of reach of children. Do not return the pajamas to the store. Instead, visit www.recallrtr.com/footedpajamas to fill out a recall form. Once completed, you’ll receive a prepaid return envelope. Macy’s will issue a $26.50 refund by check after receiving the product.  For more information, contact Macy’s at 1-833-408-0501 or via the email footedpajamas@realtimeresults.net.https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Macys-Recalls-Holiday-Lane-Infant-Footed-Pajamas-Due-to-Injury-Hazard-Sold-Exclusively-by-Macys#macys #infant #pajamas #legconstriction #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ999nUxZtX/Catching up on social media, answering your emails, and tweaking your phone apps may increase your risk of developing hemorrhoids by some 46%.  This the conclusion of a survey by Harvard gastroenterologists at Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital presented at Digestive Diseases Week 2025.The study polled 125 participants using a standard questionnaire covering gastrointestinal symptoms.  Of the group, two-thirds used their phones while toileting and more than half of those, 55%, were on the device at every sitting.  This phone use resulted in significantly more time spent on the toilet.You can’t totally blame your smartphone.  Those same hemorrhoids would develop should you sit longer on the “throne” reading a book or completing your daily crossword puzzle.https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/using-smartphones-toilet-increases-hemorrhoid-risk-2025a1000asx#smartphones #toilet #hemorrhoids 

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ99O5AtU8W/Loss of vision due to retinal degeneration is a devastating complication of diabetes.  Now Johns Hopkins research ophthalmologists report in the journal Science Translational Medicine preclinical studies that demonstrate how low blood sugar episodes, known as hypoglycemia, that are experienced by diabetics trigger the development of the blinding retinal damage known as diabetic retinopathy.Studying diabetic mice, the investigators discovered that levels of the protein hypoxia-inducible factor or HIF increase as blood sugar levels decline.  HIF, in turn, initiates harmful retinal blood vessel leaks with exposure of retinal cells to toxic circulating elements.  This leads to the retinal degeneration characteristic of diabetic retinopathy.  Low blood sugar levels fail to induce this toxic chain reaction in non-diabetic mice.The best news is that a drug labeled as 32-134D capably blocks the production of HIF and the increase in retinal blood vessel permeability re

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ98ltlM100/The poisoning of pets, particularly cats, by a common over-the-counter topical drug has surged nearly 1000% over the past decade.  The drug is minoxidil, better known by its brand name Romaine.  This medication is often applied as a foam or as a liquid by many men and some women in an effort to regrow hair on their balding scalps.  It turns out that minoxidil is toxic to animals, particularly cats, since they lack the liver enzymes to properly metabolize it.  Most animals are exposed to minoxidil by licking off human skin or absorbing it through their own skin after resting on contaminated surfaces.Dematologists at New York’s Weill Cornell Medical College have performed a meta-analysis of literature studies reporting the adverse effects of this drug on cats and some dogs.The review found 94 animals were poisoned by minoxidil, and that number included 65 cats and 26 dogs.  Nearly all, 98% of the animals exposed to minoxidil required hospitalizations.  This drug

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ973rkpYqU/When your hairdresser carefully looks at your scalp while styling your locks, there is a good chance that a funky looking mole or growth they notice could turn out to be a skin cancer.  So conclude researchers from from the UK’s University of Portsmouth in a study published in the journal Skin Health and Disease.They surveyed 37 hair stylists and barbers in the city of Portsmouth, England.  Only 5% of the group had any formal training and only one in four were actively looking at clients’ skin for the purpose of detecting lesions.  Even so, 35% had told clients to check in with their medical teams for inspection of suspicious lesions.  When they did, 39% of these clients were diagnosed with skin cancer.The hair professionals overwhelming embraced the idea of screening for skin lesions, and 92% of them wanted skin cancer awareness training.   Nearly two-thirds of the group stated that the lack of formal training was the reason they weren’t probing their clients

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ97JnMM5vF/Diabetics with type 1 disease, that is insulin-dependent, must receive insulin injections for the rest of their lives since their own pancreatic tissue fails to produce sufficient quantities of this vital hormone. Efforts to solve this problem include whole organ pancreas transplants and transplants of the insulin-producing beta pancreatic islet cells.One problem is a large enough supply of these beta islet cells.  Enter endocrinologists and regenerative medicine researchers at the Netherland’s Leiden University who have developed methods to better isolate large numbers of stem cells that have been transformed into the insulin-producing beta islet cells.  Their studies are now published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.Their technique employs density gravity centrifuges to optimally isolate just those stem-cell derived islet cells that will capably produce insulin once transplanted into their human recipients.  Their system has undergone successfu

Tap Water SprayVidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ96O8gO8oN/Irrigating and cleansing your nasal linings with saline can resolve nasal congestion, help manage or even prevent nasal allergies, prevent nosebleeds, and hasten your resolution of the common cold.  To reap these benefits, you must use the proper water.  Making the all too common mistakes of using tap water and not properly cleansing the irrigation devices can lead to brain infections and death.Though tap water in most communities is filtered and purified to kill harmful germs and remove toxic impurities, some treacherous microorganisms like brain-eating amoebae and or molds, fungi, can slip through.  Stomach acid kills these bugs, but the nasal linings have no such protective device.  Worse still, when you spray tap water into your nose, openings in the roof of the nasal cavity provide ready access for these germs into your brain resulting in a life-threatening infection called encephalitis.The companies that market irrigators whether the simpl

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ95dMcNFoP/Twice as many Americans have developed the whooping cough or pertussis this year as last year, and four have died.  Half of them were little children.  There are two reasons: ONE — vaccinations have fallen off due to misinformation and bad medical advice; and TWO — the latest vaccines provide protection for shorter periods of time.Keep in mind that whooping cough protection is provided by the so-called DTaP and Tdap vaccines that guard against diphtheria and tetanus as well as pertussis.  The newest vaccines are so called partial-cell vaccines, and their beneficial effects wear off as quickly as 3 years.Know that children should receive 5 doses of these vaccines by age 4.  Teens require a booster by age 12 and adults also require boosters every 10 years.  Pregnant women should receive a booster during their third trimester in order to protect their newborns.These vaccines are safe and 98% effective.  A temporarily sore arm or a mild fever is a small price to p

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ94uS2xc3A/Bladder control is about to go high tech. When a man loses his ability to control his urine flow, technically called incontinence, which is often a complication of prostate cancer surgery, a variety of strategies come into play.  One of these is a mechanical valve has been used for years to help him prevent embarrassing accidents.  Manufactured by the Boston Scientific Company and named the AMS 800, the device uses an implanted squeeze ball pump to control an air-powered valve.Just reported to the American Urological Association’s 2025 Annual Meeting are the very promising results of pilot study using a wirelessly controlled artificial urinary valve called the UroActive.  Manufactured by the UroMems company, the implantable control device is activated by a patient remote button.  The electronically activated valve around the ureter then controls urine flow.The UroActive can also bring relief to women suffering from significant stress incontinence problems. Wor