Howard G. Smith, MD, AM
PENTA Medical Network
617-488-9699
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HealthNews RoundUp - 4th Week of April 2020
=========================
Could BCG Fight CoVid19?
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/6pHfLHXvumo
BCG is a well-behaved version of the tuberculosis bacterium that incites a vigorous immune response to itself and appears to activate the body’s immune system to other germs as well. Studies have shown that BCG vaccination drives a 70% reduction in adult respiratory tract infections and a 30-50% reduction in childhood mortality.
The evidence that this cross-protective immune function can fight coronavirus is thin but intriguing. Dutch and Japanese investigations show that longer CoVid death toll doubling times are associated with BCG vaccination.
Several BCG vaccination studies are now underway led by researchers in the Netherlands, Australia, and Germany. The crystal ball remains cloudy!
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/928303
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.06.20055251v1.full.pdf
#covid19 #coronavirus #bcg
covid19, coronavirus, bcg
Hydroxchloroquine Ineffective Against CoVid19
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/nbwuw_LkAmg
The much touted hydroxychloroquine or HCQ does not appear to reduce infection severity or save lives. This according to a newly pre-published French study of 181 patients with CoVid19 pneumonia.
The data shows that 20% of HCQ-treated patients versus 22% of non-treated patients required ICU care or died with 7 days of admission. Twenty-seven percent of treated patients versus 24% of the untreated developed acute respiratory distress syndrome or ARDS. Three percent of HCQ-treated patients versus 4% of untreated died. Nearly 10% of HCQ-treated patients stopped the drug due to cardiac complications.
More data will be forthcoming. Just know that HCQ appears not to be a silver bullet.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.10.20060699v1.full.pdf
#covid19 #coronavirus #hydroxychloroquine
covid19, coronavirus, hydroxychloroquine
Smokers Risk More Severe CoVid Infections
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/Af4xx0Y36LQ
Smokers are more than twice as likely as non-smokers to suffer a scatastrophic progression of their CoVid19 infections. Researchers at UC-San Francisco performed a meta-analysis of 12 published studies covering more than 9,000 patients infected by the novel coronavirus.
While none of the studies included in the analysis included e-cigarette use or smoking of agents other than tobacco, the American Lung Association warns that all smoking is likely to put you at higher risk for more severe coronavirus infections.
This pandemic is driving up everyone’s anxiety. Forget smoking and find another way to calm yourself. Listen to music, practice mindfulness, socialize electronically, and ingest comforting foods.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.13.20063669v1.full.pdf
#covid19 #coronavirus #smoking #tobacco #anxiety
covid19, coronavirus, smoking, tobacco, anxiety
Generic Axid Nizatidine Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/zovNdjPYI2w
The FDA and Amneal Pharmaceuticals announce the recall of its Gemini Laboratories Nizatidine oral solution, 15 mg/ml. This product has potentially toxic levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). This agent is a probable human carcinogen. Three lots have been recalled: 06598004A, 06599001A, and 06599002A. This is a prescription product. If you have this product, return it to the pharmacy. Speak with your doctor about an alternative medication. For more information, call the company at 1-855-319-4807.
#recall #nizatidine #ndma
recall, nizatidine, ndma
Rico Tofu Breakfast Burrito Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/yORBKb5LxWA
The Rico company is recalling its Tofu Breakfast Burrito. It contains undeclared soy. Those with a soy allergy may have a severe or life-threatening reaction to ingesting the product. This product has only been sold in Utah. If you have this product, return it to the place of purchase. Direct your questions to Rico at 1-801-433-0615.
#recall #burrito #rico #soy
recall, burrito, rico, soy
Hiland Dairy Orange Juice AND Tampico Citrus Punch Are Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/92aI2BHcTLk
The Hiland Dairy is voluntarily recalling it Hiland Brand Orange Juice and Tampico Citrus Punch. Both products contain undeclared milk protein. If ingested by one allergic to milk, these product may induce a serious allergic reaction. These products have been sold in NE, IA, CO, and KS. Discard these products or return them to the local retailer. For more information, reach the Hiland Dairy at 1-402-740-2254.
#recall #hiland #hilandorangejuice #tampicocitruspunch #milk
recall, hiland, hilandorangejuice, tampicocitruspunch, milk
Palmer Is Recalling Its Sea Salt Caramel Hearts
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/PCBM32gPZcc
Palmer Candy Company is recalling its Sea Salt Caramel Hearts that were sold at Bomgaars Supply Inc. This product has a possible peanut allergy contamination. Reaction to the peanut component could product a life-threatening reaction. This product was sold at Bomgaars stores in IA, SD, NE, MN, WY, and CO. If you have these products, throw them out or return them to the point of purchase. Questions may be directed to the Palmer Candy Company at 1-712-258-5543.
#recall #seasaltcaramelhearts #palmer #peanut
recall, seasaltcaramelhearts, palmer, peanut
Tops and Purple Cow Orange Cream Bars Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/4XDxgra6tdE
The Fieldbrook Foods Corporation of Dunkirk NY is voluntarily recalling its Top Brand and Purple Cow Brand Orange Cream Bars. The products are likely contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes. Listeria causes a particularly nasty gastroenteritis and systemic infection with nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, and headache. Pregnant women may miscarry or suffer stillbirths. The Tops bars were sold in Tops retail stores in NY, PA, MA, and VT. The Purple Cow Bars were fold in Meijer stores in MI, OH, ID, IL, KY, and WI. If you have these products, return them to the store for a full refund. More information from Fieldbrook at 1-800-333-0805 x2270.
#recall #orangecreambar #tops #purplecow #listeria
recall, orangecreambar,, tops, purplecow, listeria
Rely Brand Dried Longwater Lily Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/pZ71EwssDtI
Wells Collection of Brooklyn NY is recalled its Rely Brand Dried Longya Lily. The product contains undeclared sulfites. Those who are sulfite allergic could experience life-threatening allergic reactions. This product was sold in NY and TX. If you have the product, return it to the store for a refund. Contact the company at 1-718-381-2388.
#recall #longyalily #sulfite
recall, longyalily sulfite
Recall on Chao Cafe Instant Coffee
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/5anM0FzsrXw
Hong Lee Trading Inc. is recalling its Chao Cafe Vietnamese Instant Coffee Mixed 3 in 1. There are undeclared milk allergens in the product. The product was sold in NY, NJ, and CT in plastic packages. Return the product to the point of purchase for a full refund. Questions to the company at 1-718-386-2100.
#recall #instantcoffee #chaocafe #milk
recall, instantcoffee, chaocafe, milk
Condies Foods Fresh Fruit cup Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/Bl-kpiaQqiU
Condies Foods Inc. Of Kearns, UT is recalling its Condies Foods Fresh Fruit cup. The product may contain undeclared milk and egg allergens and was mislabeled. The product contained is a veggie cup with broccoli, celery, carrot, and ranch dip. Those allergic to these agents may develop serious or life-threatening reactions. The product was distributed in AZ, CO, ID, NV, NE, UT, and WY. Return the product to the point of purchase. If you need more information, call Condies Foods at 1-801-969-1448.
#recall #fuitcup #condies #milk #egg
recall, fuitcup, condies, milk, egg
Recall on Coconut Tree Brand Frozen Shredded Coconut
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/ocBFaBL4nyA
The Evershing International Trading Company is recalling its Coconut Tree Brand Frozen Shredded Coconut. There may be contamination with salmonella. This creates a severe gastroenteritis with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. It drives sepsis with cardiac and arterial infections. The product was distributed in MA, WA, CA, and OK with secondary distribution to LA, MI, NJ, NY, PA, OR, FL, and TX. If you have the product, return it to the point of purchase for a refund. You may contact the company for more information by calling 1-408-975-9660.
#recall #coconut #evershing #salmonella
recall, coconut, evershing, salmonella
Homestead Creamy Unsalted Butter on Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/JU9KiUK3hZU
Homestead Creamery Inc of Wirtz, VA is recalling its unsalted butter. The product is likely contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. This may cause a serious gastroenteritis and sometime a fatal infection in the very young, older persons, or those with immune compromise. If you have the product, return it to the point of purchase. For more information, call the company at 1-540-721-2045.
#recall #homesteadcreamery #butter
recall, homesteadcreamery, butter
CoVid19 Aerosols Float For Hours
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/maIzGMfnYxM
New studies reveal that the new coronavirus can remain aloft and infective within aerosol clouds for 16 hours or more. Researchers at Tulane’s School of Medicine collaborated with colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Texas, and the NIH.
CoVid19 was more efficiently aerosolized than either the older SARS or MERS coronaviruses. The most dramatic and frightening studies looked at the viral stability in air for 10 -30 minutes and at 2, 4, and 16 hours.
Infectious CoVid19 with intact structures by electron microscopy was detected in aerosols up to 16 hours or more. This data says you’d better have a well-fitting, protective mask when you’re out in public.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.13.20063784v1.full.pdf
#covid19 #coronavirus #aerosol
covid19, coronavirus, aerosol
How To Make A Mask That Protects
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/dTP7zejb2ok
British engineers assess which available materials create masks that filter out coronaviruses while permitting breathing.
The best single layer micro-particle filter is HEPA vacuum cleaner cloth and paper bag material. Next best in terms of filtration are thickly felted wool, quilting cotton, cotton flannel, and nonwoven fusible interfacing material such as HTC.
Multilayers work best. Two socks or a doubled neck gaiter with a layer of HEPA vacuum cleaner bag within would be very efficient. Studies show that a mask of quilting cotton, cotton batting, and two layers of HTC will protect better than an N95 mask if tight fitting on your face.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.14.20065375v1.full.pdf
#covid19 #coronavirus #mask #hepafilter
covid19, coronavirus, mask, hepafilter
Children with CoVid19
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/IIuwg-vCQ7M
How do kids present with CoVid.? Chinese researchers have just pre-published one of the largest case series to date covering 2143 young patients.
The median age of infected kids was 7 years, and 57% were boys. Four percent had no symptoms, 51% had mild symptoms, and 39% had moderate symptoms. Severe or critical cases occurred in 6%, one-third of the incidence in adults. Only 0.6% of children developed life-threatening respiratory and multi-system failure with the largest proportion under age 5. There was only one death.
This data confirms early reports that CoVid disease is milder in children. Even so, some children do end up in ICUs on vents fighting for their lives.
https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/early/2020/03/16/peds.2020-0702.full.pdf
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.13.20064352v1.full.pdf
#covid19 #coronavirus #children #parenting
covid19, coronavirus, children, parenting
=====================================
CoVid19 May Silently Suffocate You
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/KMQTJr01C5Y
The new coronavirus can trigger an atypical pneumonia that creeps up on you before it kills you. ICU docs in Germany, Baltimore, Seattle, and New York City observe that many patients, eventually diagnosed with CoVid19, barely notice respiratory symptoms as their lungs slowly deliver less and less oxygen to their vital organs.
Even patients coming in for fractures, trauma, and falls have surprisingly low oxygen levels without complaining about shortness of breath. Their chest x-rays show advanced pneumonia but they breathe easily without chest tightness.
The reasons: CoVid halts the natural surfactant production that keeps the lung’s tiny sponge-like air chambers open. Then too, the virus seems to drive lung micro-clotting that halts oxygen transfer into the bloodstream.
Many of such patients get better without high pressure mechanical ventilation using high flow oxygen and prone positioning. Unnecessary incubation and ventilation can damage the voicebox as well as the lungs but also takes a vent from a patient who truly needs it.
So CoVid produces two types of pneumonias. The usual wet lung stiffening kind with a terrible cough, and a dry, slowly suffocating type.
A silent drop in blood oxygen levels is yet another warning sign of CoVid just as fever and a loss of smell and taste. To be on top of it, you can buy a fingertip pulse oximeter online for $30-60 dollars.
https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/86046
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/20/opinion/coronavirus-testing-pneumonia.html
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.15.20067017v2.full.pdf
#covid19 #coronavirus #hypoxia #oximeter #pneumonia
covid19, coronavirus, hypoxia, oximeter, pneumonia
How CoVid19 Kills You
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/lupZ4t-mayo
Since the novel coronavirus first emerged in mid-December, thousands of studies are beginning to define the insidiously deadly nature of this virus. An excellent review article in the magazine Science provides an alarming blueprint.
The virus enters your body through mucus-producing nasal cells, lung cells, and gut cells. It proliferates wildly and initiates fatal damage in about 5% of those infected.
In almost all CoVid patients, viral inflammation occurs in the lung’s tiny air sacs. This blocks oxygen transfer and thickens tissues preventing breathing.
The virus creates heart damage in almost 20%. It triggers body-wide blood clotting that, in turn, sends clots to the lung to further block oxygen flow.
Twenty-seven percent of us develop kidney failure but nearly 60% have signs of kidney damage. CoVid19 can trigger brain ands nerve damage including encephalitis, strokes, the paralyzing Guillain-Barre syndrome, and frequent loss of smell and taste senses.
One-third of hospitalized patients develop CoVid conjunctivitis. More than half of patients develop elevated liver enzymes indicating damage.
Then, our body’s valiant attempts to kill off the virus using hyperactivity of the immune system, a literal cytokine storm, backfires. The reaction sparks even more severe organ damage.
I’m telling you all this bad news to give you even more reasons to avoid this killing virus. Wash your hands obsessively, physically distance, and wear a mask with effective filtration.
#covid19 #coronavirus #pneumonia #cardiac #clotting #kidney #cytokinestorm #stroke
covid19, coronavirus, pneumonia, cardiac, clotting, kidney, cytokinestorm, stroke
Alpha Lipoic Acid Could Fight CoVid Cytokine Storm
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/ZyU3FEhK_5o
Alpha lipoic acid, the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, may help fight late-stage CoVid19 disease. A preliminary randomized Chinese drug trial showed ALA is associated with a 48% reduction in 30 day all-cause mortality.
The researchers studied 17 critical CoVid patients. Half received IV ALA daily for one week in addition to standard ICU care. Organ failure remained lower in the treated patients indicating a beneficial trend, not statistically significant due to the small numbers.
With each therapeutic modality tried and shown to be effective, our chances of saving lives increases. The jury’s not in yet, but the more possible treatments that appear, the better the odds.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.15.20066266v1.full.pdf
#covid19 #coronavirus #ala #alphalipoicacid #cytokinestorm
covid19, coronavirus, ala, alphalipoicacid, cytokinestorm
Kids Love “How It Works” Stories
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/q9JpJ7y6oAM
Pre-schoolers overwhelmingly choose to hear and read stories about the workings of the world around them. This from a Vanderbilt University analysis of story choices by 48 kids 3-4 years of age.
The investigators presented children two versions of 2 stories. One version was causally-rich with details about why and the minimally-causal version provided just the story line. Though the kids comprehended both versions equally, they clocked a preference for the causally-rich stories in 70% of cases.
You now have endless hours at home with your children. Please them by providing non-fiction or fictionalized science. Particular winners are books about the how and why of animals.
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00666/full
#children #parenting #reading #nonfiction #fictionalizedscience
children, parenting, reading, nonfiction, fictionalizedscience
LUS Hairdryer Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/rB6JVEfSOLo
The LUS Distribution Company of Canada is recalling it LUS Hair Dryer and Diffuser model number HD-LUS01. The product does not have an immersion protection device, posing an electrocution or shock hazard if the dryer falls into water when plugged in. If you have this device, immediately stop using it and unplug the hair dryer. LUS is contacting all known purchasers of the hair dryers and providing a choice of either a full refund of the purchase price or a $175 store credit. To contact the company, call 1-800-280-1675.
#recall #hairdryer #shockhazard #lus
recall, hairdryer, shockhazard, lus
Ocean Spray Pink Lite Cranberry Juice Drink On Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/O4ARBgps1dY
Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. is recalling a single production lot of its Pink Lite Cranberry Juice Drink, 5.5 oz. can. The lot # MH0030LPK4. The product has undeclared sulfites. If you are sulfite-allergic, you could suffer serious allergic reaction if you drink this product. If you have this product, take a picture of the “best before date” code on the bottom of the can and then destroy the product. The picture should be sent to casupport@oceanspray.com. The Ocean Spray Consumer Hotline can be reached at 1-800-662-3263 for more information.
#recall #oceanspray #cranberryjuicedrink #sulfites
recall, oceanspray, cranberryjuicedrink, sulfites