Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CyAmmhuuETT/ Oxford University biochemists have harnessed the principal employed by electric eels to generate substantial supplies of electricity.  This novel bio-battery uses a chain of nanoliter hydrogel bubbles each containing a different ion concentration to create a chemical gradient capable of generating tiny electrical currents.  The bubble chains are created using a 3D printer and may be stacked together to generate requisite voltages.  The electron flow is controlled by varying the thickness of the insulating lipid layer surrounding each bubble.  As a proof-opf-concept, the investigators combined twenty chains of 5 droplets each and were able to generate the 2 volts necessary to successfully light an LED bulb.  This type of bioelectric battery will someday power implantable drug delivery devices and wearable sensors. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06295-y#Sec7 #electriceel #batteries #implantables #wearables #ionflux

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CyAlOE9OxO-/ The blood-brain barrier is a lipid-based protective filter that lines the blood vessels serving the brain.  It prevents the entry of harmful chemicals and microorganisms.  Now, Rice University bioengineers report the use of highly focused ultrasound to non-invasively poke multiple micro-holes in this barrier in order to admit a gene-carrying adenovirus capable of modifying brain cells in a beneficial way.  Using a mouse model, the researchers opened up as many as 105 portals and demonstrated successful gene editing in the targeted brain regions.  Multiple viral entry points are necessary since each gateway only permits access to a few millimeters of brain tissue.  This technique remains in its infancy, but this proof-of-concept opens the door for possible genetic management of degenerative brain disease ……..someday soon. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41434-023-00421-1 #brain #bloodbrainbarrier #ultrasound #genetherapy #viralvector

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CyAkTk_Oi_R/ US military immunologists have developed a human monoclonal antibody that, given as a single shot, effectively fights a rabies virus even when it has taken hold in the central nervous system.  Working in a mouse model, the researchers found that their novel antibody quickly triggers monocytes and T cells primed to kill rabies and a related Australian lyssavirus, thereby uniformly saving the infected animals.  Currently, if you’re bitten by a wild animal assumed or proven to be rabid, you’ll need a shot of anti-rabies gamma globulin followed by up to 4 injections of rabies vaccine.  Hopefully, this military rabies antibody will simplify such treatment….. someday soon. https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.15252/emmm.202216394 #rabies #antibody #lyssavirus #vaccine

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CyAjHjIudY1/ Infant girls with evidence of exposure to the CoVid virus were more than twice as likely to have antibodies against their own insulin-producing pancreatic islet cells as those without traces of CoVid in their systems.  German investigators led a multi-center collaborative cohort study of 885 female infants with a genetic predisposition to develop insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes.   The children were followed from 6 to 25 months of age and repeatedly tested for antibodies to CoVid and antibodies to their islet cells.  The data revealed that the incidence rate of islet autoantibodies was 7.8 per 100-person years in those kids with coexistent CoVid antibodies but only 3.5 per 100-person years in those without immunologic evidence of CoVid exposure. Other studies have suggested an association between CoVid infection and autoimmunity.  Another large German study revealed that CoVid patients were 42% more likely to develop autoimmune diseases including thyroid

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CyAh7KPO9QV/ Women traumatized by an unplanned caesarean section enjoy significant emotional benefit by playing just 15 minutes of the electronic game Tetris during the first 6 hours following delivery of their babies.  Swiss obstetricians and psychologists studied 146 women, and approximately half of them played Tetris while the control group was kept busy completing a journal of their activities and thoughts. All participants were surveyed for PTSD symptoms at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum by clinicians blinded as to the treatment each participant had received.  At 6 weeks, the Tetris playing group evidenced only smarginally less PTSD compared with controls.   By 6 months, the differences were significant with the Tetris players recording fewer PTSD symptoms and enjoying significantly better moods and cognitive skills. While the emergent need for a c-section is stressful for expectant mothers and fathers, nearly every childbirth is emotionally trying.  That being

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx_Y7rvx7nF/ If you think it’s your toilet, you’d be dead wrong.  The autumn is here, and we all are spending more time indoors at home and in the kitchen.  It’s also the time when more germs are flying around including not only CoVid, influenza, and RSV, but the old standbys strep staph, and e.coli.  Don’t forget too, that there’s plenty of fungus among us. This being the case, it’s a great time to review data from the National Sanitation Foundation after they determined germ counts on the items around our home that we constantly touchh.  The survey was completed to help all of us avoid contaminating ourselves by reminding us just how many germs pollute the things we love to touch. The filthiest was your dish sponge or dish rag at 362,631,038 bugs per gram.  The cleanest was your car’s steering wheel with only 4 germs per 10 m2.  Between these two were 28 items with decreasing microbiologic contamination.  Between these two were 28 items you constantly touch with decr

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx_X1VBx8Vs/ Supervised physical rehab therapy has an 85%-99% probability of improving the status of those suffering Long CoVid.  These patients enjoy reduction of physical fatigue, headaches, shortness of breath, and attention issues.  Ontario-based researchers report this finding after performing a meta-analysis of 14 clinical trials involving 1244 Canadians suffering from Long CoVid.  The subjects mean age was 50 years, and with a 45/55 female/male mix. The data revealed that professional physical rehab for these patients significantly improved their functional exercise capacities and quality of life.  The latter was chiefly due to their perception of improved physical health.  The rehab routines included breathing exercises, aerobic training, and resistance training.  The control therapy consisted of unsupervised sessions during which subjects improperly used equipment and performed breathing exercises incorrectly. The next step will be a randomized, controlled st

Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/CxsSVkMOf0L/ Recall By: FDA; David’s Cookies Problem:  Lot #BS23212 of Marketside Chocolate Chip Explosion Cake actually contains Marketside Ultimate Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake, and the product packaging fails to warn of the peanut ingredient.  Sold: At Walmart stores nationwide. Actions:  If you have this product, return it to a Walmart store for a full refund.  If you require additional information, contact David’s Cookies at 1-800-500-2800. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/allergen-alert-undeclared-peanuts-cake #marketside #walmart #chocolatechip #cake #peanut #allergy #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cxq9hR1RHSD/ Real By:  FDA; Kraft Heinz Problem:  Individual slices of Kraft Singles American Cheese have a thin wrapper film attached to them due to a malfunction of a wrapping machine.  If you ingest the slice, you could gag and choke on the film.  Affected are packages with A Best When Used By Date of 10 JAN 24 through 27 Jan 24 with an S and 72 in the manufacturing code. Actions: Do not consume these American Cheese Slices.  Return the product to the place of purchase for a refund.  For additional information, contact Kraft Heinz at 1-800-280-8252. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/kraft-heinz-issues-voluntary-recall-select-kraft-singles-american-processed-cheese-slices #Kraft #americanCheese #slices #packingfilm #gagging #choking #recall 

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cxq9hR1RHSD/ Recall by: FDA; Safeway Fresh Foods Problem:  The product is contaminated with E. Coli O45.  This pathogenic bacterium triggers a diarrheal illness.  In some people, it triggers a form of kidney failure called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome.  Affected product has a use by date of 9/19/2023. Sold:  At Costco in Washington DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virgina. Actions:  Do not consume this squash.  Return the product to your Costco store for a refund.  For more information, call Costco at 1-856-692-7200. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/safeway-fresh-foods-recalls-sunnyside-farms-organic-butternut-squash-because-possible-health-risk #costco #squash #ecoli #infection #kidxneyfailure #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cxq8R0kxac3/ Recall By: CPSC; DR Power Equipment Co, Problem:  Metal fragments may separate from the chipper shredder’s housing and spew out creating laceration hazards for the operator and bystanders.  In addition, the hopper may detach from the chipper shredder leading to injuries. Sold: About 5900 chipper shredders were sold in the US and about 90 were sold in Canada. Actions:  Do not operate these chipper shredders, and contact DR Power Equipment at 1-800-550-4845 or via email at recall@DRPower.com to arrange a full refund or a free repair with prepaid shipping. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2023/DR-Power-Equipment-Recalls-DR-Power-Chipper-Shredders-Due-to-Laceration-Hazard #DR #chipper #shredder #projectiles #fragmentation #laceration #injuries #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cxq7b48R5ZG/ Recall By: CPSC;  Make Believe Ideas Problem:  The plastic binding rings on all 7 Rainbow Road Series Board Books may detach from the books and create choking hazards for young children. Sold: About 260,000 books were sold in the US and about 12,900 were sold in Canada at Target, Barnes & Noble, Sam’s Club and other stores nationwide and online at www.amazon.com and other websites. Actions:  Immediately take these books away from your children. Register with Make Believe Ideas at www.recallrtr.com/rr to receive a refund in the form of a gift card.  You will be provided instructions for book disposal and verification.  For additional information, contact the company at 1-877-206-1091. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2023/Make-Believe-Ideas-Recalls-Seven-Rainbow-Road-Board-Books-Due-to-Choking-Hazard #rainbowroad #children #boardbooks #binding #choking #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cxq6l-BRIJS/ Recall By:  CPSC; H&M Problem:  H&M’s men’s clasp beaded bracelets contain levels of lead that exceed safe federal standards.  Lead is particularly neurotoxic if ingested by children. Sold:  About 12,290 bracelets were sold at H&M stores nationwide and online at hm.com. Actions:  Stop wearing these clasp bracelets and contact H&M at 1-855-466-7467 or via hm.com to receive a prepaid mailer in order to return the product for a refund. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2023/H-M-Recalls-Mens-Clasp-Beaded-Bracelets-Due-to-Lead-Poisoning-Hazard-High-Levels-of-Lead-Content #h&m #bracelet #lead #poisoning #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cxq4jVwRcct/ Recall By: CPSC: FXI Inc. Problem: Novaform ComfortGrande 14-inch and Novaform DreamAway 8-inch Mattresses became wet during manufacture and may contain mold. Sold: About 48,000 mattresses were sold exclusively at Costco stores in the Northwest and San Francisco Bay Area. Actions:  Do not sleep on these mattresses.  Contact FXI at 1-888-886-2057 to arrange for a free replacement mattress and pickup of your old mattress. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2023/FXI-Recalls-Novaform-ComfortGrande-and-DreamAway-Mattresses-Due-to-Risk-of-Mold-Exposure-Sold-Exclusively-at-Costco-Recall-Alert #costco #fxi #mattress #mold #infection #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cxq3eu9xaAg/ Recall By: CPSC; Shimano North America Bicycle Inc. Problem: The 11-Speed Bonded Hollowtech II Road Cranksets have bonded parts that separate and break creating crash and injury risks to riders and bystanders.  Affected are Shimano Ultegra FC-6800, Dura-Ace FC-9000, Ultegra FC-R8000, Dura-Ace FC-R9100 and FC-R9100P 11-Speed Bonded Hollowtech Road Cranksets manufactured before July, 2019.  To clarify, the crankset is the bike part to which the pedals and chain are attached. Sold:  About 680,000 cranksets were sold in the US, and about 80,000 were sold in Canada. Actions:  Stop riding on bicycles with these cranksets and contact a Shimano dealer for an inspection and repair.  For more information and to confirm that your crankset is recalled, reach Shimano at 1-844-776-0315. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2023/Shimano-Recalls-Cranksets-for-Bicycles-Due-to-Crash-Hazard #shimano #crankset #cracks #falls #injuries #recalls

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cxq1mjrRi0t/ Enlarged prostates that block a man’s urine flow and complete bladder emptying often lead to a root-router type of prostate surgery called trans-urethral resection of prostate, better known at TURP surgery.  The procedure often leads to undesirable complications such as sexual dysfunction and incontinence. The FDA has recently approved the Optilume BPH Catheter System as an alternative to surgery.  The device has dual balloons that inflate and  push back obstructing prostatic tissue, open an effective urine flow channel, and deliver a medication, paclitaxel, that shrinks the prostate and prevents a repeat obstruction. A randomized, controlled, double-blind study of the device demonstrated its effectiveness in restoring urine flow and bladder emptying while avoiding the sexual performance and incontinence issues that may complicate traditional surgery. https://www.auajournals.org/doi/10.1097/JU.0000000000003568 #prostate #bph #hypertrophy #surgery #turp

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cxqzl9DRg77/ A tiny, barely visible but steerable nickel-titanium needle can be precisely guided into lung tissue while avoiding vital structures including blood vessels.  Blending the resources at the University of North Carolina, pulmonologists, radiologists, bioengineers, and computer scientists developed the robotic needle.   The needle is attached to a catheter and introduced into the lung via a bronchoscope.  Once deep within the airways, the robotic needle is advanced forward nearly entirely guided by a computer employing navigational data obtained via prior CT scanning that precisely locates blood vessels, airways, and objects to be biopsied or injected with medication.  This miracle needle will permit injections deep in not only the lungs but, after additional studies, also within other vital organs…… someday soon. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.adf7614 #robotics #needle #CT #biopsy #chemotherapy #immunotherapy

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CxqygqQxEb2/ Are you hesitant to wolf down garlic-laden pesto or Caesar salad at lunch for fear that your rancid breath will turn off a client, your boss, or, worse, a date.  Ohio State University food scientists now report that yogurt has powerful halitosis-fighting powers.   Their studies show that two chief yogurt components, protein and fat, both have powerful capabilities to neutralize garlic’s volatile sulfur compounds that drive the bad breathy get after ingesting that so-called “stinking flower.”  Modifying the amount of fat present in the yogurt or changing the protein structure by heating or decreasing its acid level both reduced garlic deodorization. Work is underway to create a yogurt with uniformly high fat and protein that will serve as an even more effective breath sweetener……someday soon. https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/15/5714 #garlic #halitosis #yogurt #sulfur #protein #fat

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CxqxfRDR7PD/ A large multinational meta-analysis study shows that most children and teens under the age of 21 obtain vaping equipment, VE, from peers or siblings.  New Zealand researchers reviewed 17 studies covering approximately 30,000 young people from the United States, Canada, the UK, and Australia. Fourteen of the 17 studies were conducted in the US, and all were published in peer-reviewed journals. The single most prevalent source of VE was a “friend” in about 59% of those vaping for the first time or most recently and in 52% of those current or consistent users.  Nearly two-thirds of underage vapers did so by borrowing a device.  A friend was the source in 81% of cases, siblings loaned in 9.5%, and fewer than 5% borrowed VE from parents or adult relatives.  One in four enlisted someone else to buy the device for them from a vape shop, convenience store, or online. Despite minimum age laws in the US and other countries, those under 18 to 21 continue to obtain V

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CxqwcB1RAYT/ The frequency of serious medication errors in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders has nearly tripled over the past 22 years.  This according to a survey of our nation’s poison control centers by pediatric investigators at Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The data revealed that two-thirds of the most serious errors occurred in children 6 to 12 years of age, three-fourths occurred in males and half involved amphetamines.  Not surprisingly, kids under the age of 6 were twice as likely as older children to have a serious medical complication from incorrect dosing.  The most common errors involved giving children duplicate doses in 54% of cases, giving a child an incorrect medication in 13% of cases, or administering a medication prescribed for another child in another 13% of cases. It is ironic that children suffering from attention issues are the victims of sloppy medication management by caregivers who are distra