Howard G. Smith, MD, AM
PENTA Medical Network
617-488-9699
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HealthNews RoundUp - 3rd Week of January 2021
5+6
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Will CoVid Vaccination Earn You An Immunity Passport
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/RFHDO5TME54
We all hope that receiving the vaccine will earn us a pass to return to our former, carefree social lives. Most doctors around the world are against issuing such a document that guarantees unlimited travel and social interactions without masks and distancing.
Investigators at Duke, UNC, and Australia’s Bond University surveyed 1004 physicians in 40 countries representing 67 specialties. Only 31% of these clinicians felt that vaccination and laboratory test proof of CoVid humoral and cellular immunity should warrant issuing of so-called immunity passports.
Why is this? Proven immunity can’t guarantee that individuals aren’t carrying infectious virus. There are concerns about test accuracy as well as fraud and discrimination.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.11.25.20234195v2.full.pdf
#vaccine #immunepassport #covid
vaccine, immunepassport, covid
Women Speak Up In College Classes Less Often
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/4Gsr9PkXWaE
Despite a predominance of women in college, men tend to monopolize classroom discussions 60% more often than women. Dartmouth sociologists analyzed 95 hours of classes covering a broad range of subject matter, and they recently published their findings in the journal Gender & Society.
Despite the fact that 55% of the classes had more women than men and were taught by women, men were 3 times more likely to speak out without raising their hands and were more likely to monopolize the conversations.
The investigators, both women, are concerned that a so-called “chilly climate” for women continues dominate the college academic scene. They encourage female students speak up and be heard.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0891243220977141
#women #college #discussions
women, college, discussions
Your Diet Could Prevent Multiple Sclerosis
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/jUScEJAweoA
Consuming foods rich in the monosaturated fat oleic acid could prevent the autoimmune attack on your central nervous system that triggers MS. This the conclusion of a Yale University study.
The immunobiologists found that fat tissues of MS patients were deficient in oleic acid. When they added it back to the fat in the test tube, they found it triggered an increase in regulatory T cells. These cells are necessary to prevent the type of damaging autoimmune reactions that are characteristic of MS.
We don’t have proof that consuming oleic acid will prevent MS. Just know that this fatty acid is found in beef, chicken, pork, cheese, nuts, eggs, milk, pasta, olives, and avocados.
https://www.jci.org/articles/view/138519
#ms #multiplesclerosis #oleicacid #autoimmunity
ms, multiplesclerosis, oleicacid, autoimmunity
COVID Reinfection Rare
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/rRY3emWBAEo
If you weather Covid-19 infection, there is a 99.3% chance that you will avoid a second infection. A collaborative study by investigators at Cornell and Qatar Universities reviewed data from 43,044 CoVid patients.
Only 0.7% of this group developed another CoVid-positive PCR test. Only 41% of that tiny group had convincing clinical evidence of a second infection. And these re-infections were less severe than the initial ones.
Immunologic testing of this group indicated persistent CoVid immunity for at least 7 months.
As more of us attain this immunity from surviving natural infections and, more importantly, via vaccination, there will be fewer new coronavirus infections and less circulating virus in our communities.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.15.21249731v1.full.pdf
#covid #reinfection #immunity
covid, reinfection, immunity
Effective PTSD Treatment
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/7vGADu0EgL4
Post-traumatic stress can be a challenge to manage, but repeated IV ketamine infusions appear to be effective. Psychiatrists at New York’s Mt. Sinai Hospital and Med School report this finding from their randomized, controlled study of 30 patients with chronic PTSD.
The experimental group received 6 infusions of ketamine at 0.5 mg/kg over 14 days while the controls received midazolam at 0.045 mg/kg. When the data were tabulated, those that received the ketamine were 3 times more likely to enjoy a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms. The ketamine responders’s response persisted for nearly one month.
More studies are underway, but this is a hopeful avenue of therapy.
https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20050596
#ptsd #ketamine #psychiatry
ptsd, ketamine, psychiatry
Rechargeable Fillet Knives Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/C2iZvBoeqQs
The CPSC and Rapala USA have recalled the Rapala Rechargeable Fillet Knives. The battery may overheat and catch fire if non-Rapala chargers are used to recharge the battery. This product has been sold at Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Fleet Farm, and other sporting goods stores nationwide. If you own one of these knives, stop using it. Remove the battery. If your knife’s battery does not have a white ETL label on it, contact Rapala USA at 1-800-878-4451 to receive a free replacement battery and a pre-paid envelope to return the defective battery for safe disposal.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/rapala-usa-recalls-rechargeable-fillet-knives-due-to-fire-hazard
#filletknife #rapala #battery #fire
filletknife, rapala, battery, fire
Topical Anesthetic Cream On Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/xS2lRzuIEAU
The CPSC and Scalpa are recalling Scalpa Numb Maximum Strength Topical Anesthetic Cream. This product contains the pharmaceutical lidocaine, also known as Xylocaine, and this agent must be sold in child-resistant packaging. Scalpa has not provided that mandated safety measure. This cream has been sold on amazon.com and scalpashop.com. If you have this product, store it in a safe location out of reach of children. Contact Scalpa by calling 1-855-424-7828 to obtain a refund.
#anestheticcream #scalpa #lidocaine #xylocaine
anestheticcream, scalpa, lidocaine, xylocaine
Recall On Lake Champlain Chocolates
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/bdtAN-Daz3Y
The FDA and Lake Champlain Chocolates are recalling a variety of products including:
Hazelnut, Fruit & Nut, Almond, Granola Five Star Bars
Organic Milk Chocolate Bar with Sea Salt & Almonds
Milk Chocolate Almond Bark
Chocolates of Vermont Green Mountain
Any or all of these products may contain plastic pieces as foreign bodies. They may trigger a choking hazard. These items may be found in gift boxes, gift baskets, and gift packages and have been sold nationwide. If you have these products, do not consume them. You should contact the company via email. The address is: info@lakechamplainchocolates.com
#chocolates #lakechamplain #foreignbodies
chocolates, lakechamplain, foreignbodies
Hiland Chocolate Milk On Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/RlApib9rLQk
The FDA and Hiland Dairy are recalling Hiland Dairy 1% low fat chocolate milk. Some of this product may contain food-grade sanitizers that would trigger illness if ingested. These products were sold in Oklahoma City and its metro area, Western Oklahoma, Dallas, San Antonio, and Tyler TX. If you bought this product, return it to the point of purchase for a refund. Those with additional questions may contact Hiland Dairy online at www.hilanddairy.com/contact-us.
#chocolate milk #hiland #contamination
chocolate, milk, hiland, contamination
Butternut Squash Is Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/mE08eGh0Y9k
The FDA, Lancaster Foods, Pero Family Farms, and Publix Super Markets are recalling a variety of butternut squash products that contain the squash from Pero Farms and Race West. These have been found to have contamination with listeria monocytogenes. This bacterium may cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in the very young, elders, and those with weak immune systems.
The Lancaster products were sold in NC, VA, DC, MD, PA, NY, NJ, CT, RI, MA, NH, and VT.
The Pero Family Farms products were sold in LA, FL, TX, NY, ME, GA, OH, VA, AL, MO,
If you have purchased any of these products or products containing it, return it to the point of purchase for a refund. For more information, contact Lancaster at 1-410-799-0010, X1530, Pero at 1-561-498-5771 X2107, and Publix at 1-800-242-1227.
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/publix-steam-bag-product-recall
#butternut #squash #listeria
butternut, squash, listeria
Recall On Ruffles Original Potato Chips
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/9atJLxiblq4
The FDA and the Frito-Lay Co. are recalling Frito-Lay Ruffles Potato Chips. There is undeclared milk in this product. Those with a milk allergy could become ill if they ingest these potato chips. This product was distributed in IA, KS, MO. NB, OK, and AK. If you have these potato chips, return them to the point of purchase. For more info, call Frito-Lay Consumer Relations at 1-800-352-4477.
#potatochips #fritolay #milk
potatochips, fritolay, milk