Howard G. Smith, MD, AM
PENTA Medical Network
617-488-9699
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HealthNews RoundUp - 5th Week of July 2020
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There’s An Emergency And We’re All First Responders
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/zYzhxGwPRYU
The way to fight CoVid while ensuring your health and happiness and that of your loved ones is to VOTE and compel anyone you know to VOTE. That vote must go to those who can responsibly manage us out of this pandemic both in terms of public health and economics.
Most advanced nations achieved these goals, but we Americans have failed miserably. More than 150,000 of our friends and family have died. We need a change at the top, and for the next 3 months I will suspend these reports and use all my energy to make it happen. In this CoVid emergency, the first responder is YOU, the voter.
#covid #voting #politics #publichealth
covid, voting, politics, publichealth
Mask Wearing Does Not Breed CoVid Carelessness
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/71h3KlD0Y0c
Wearing a face mask does not prompt people to omit physical distancing or hand washing. This the conclusion of a British investigation that reviewed 22 studies.
Six studies of more than 2,000 households show in the aggregate that those wearing masks are not more likely to aggregate in large crowded groups or dispense with commonsense hand washing. Three studies actually showed that people tend to move away from those with masks thereby maintaining distancing. Six studies showed mask wearing fails to negatively impact hand sanitizing.
Wearing a mask, distancing, and washing are the three keys to stopping CoVid and getting back to normal living. MDW!
https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m2913
#covid #masks #distancing #washing
covid, masks, distancing, washing
Non-CoVid Vaccines May Help CoVid
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/rRP7CxfS7XM
Administration of common vaccines are associated with lower CoVid infection rates. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic report this observation after their study of immunization records of some 137,000 individuals.
Their data show that immunizations with the commonly used vaccines including polio, HIB, pneumococcal, influenza, and hepatitis are associated with lower risks of CoVid for up to 5 years. HIB vaccine reduces the risk by 47%, polio vaccine cuts it by 43%, pneumovax by 38%, flu vaccines by 36%, and hepatitis vaccines by 20%.
The study isn’t perfect, and CoVid prevention is not the best reason for receiving these vaccines. It is is yet another incentive for getting indicated vaccinations on a timely basis.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.07.27.20161976v1.full.pdf
#covid #vaccines
covid, vaccines
CoVid Antibody Tests Not All Created Equal
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/PzA8TI7x0xc
A new CoVid antibody test is better able to detect antibodies that actually can protect you from the virus. University of North Carolina researchers now announce this test and its benefits in the journal Science Immunology.
Most commercially available CoVid antibody tests measure antibodies to the nucleocapsid or N antigens, while this test measures spike protein antibodies, the receptor-binding-domain, or RBD. These antibodies neutralize CoVid by spike protein cell attachment and viral entry and are the ones that vaccines must trigger.
This RBD antibody test, particularly if routinely used to report numeric levels of anti-CoVid antibodies, should finally tell us if an individual is CoVid immune.
https://immunology.sciencemag.org/content/5/48/eabc8413
#covid #covid #spikeprotein #nucleocapsid #vaccine
covid, covid, spikeprotein, nucleocapsid, vaccine
Have 3 Cloth Layers In Your Face Masks
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/H2aYiqRdCC0
If you make a mask, put at least 2 layers and ideally 3 in that mask. Australian researchers make that recommendation after high speed photographic studies of aerosols emanating from a subject through masks of various constructions.
The investigators used cotton fabric with a thread count of 170 to create one and two layered masks to compare with a 3 layered surgical mask. The visual recording system captured still and video images while the healthy subject was speaking, coughing, and sneezing.
The single layered mask reduced aerosol spread with speaking and coughing but not with sneezing. The 2 layered mask was better but not as good as the 3 layer surgical mask.
https://thorax.bmj.com/content/early/2020/07/24/thoraxjnl-2020-215748
#covid #mask #cotton #surgicalmask
covid, mask, cotton, surgicalmask
Children May Be COVID Super-Spreaders
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/ldB3GMmDeP4
Children younger than 5 years with an active COVID infection have from 10 to 100 times more virus in their noses and throats compared with older children and adults. This the conclusion of studies at Northwestern and Chicago’s Lurie Children’s Hospital of 145 CoVid-infected individuals of various ages.
The investigators indicate that young children could very well be important sources of CoVid spread within their own families and in the general population. Older children appear to be no more infectious virus than do adults.
Children in day care and pre-school should be carefully monitored for COVID infection, and those adults and kids in most vulnerable categories must stay away from them.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2768952
#covid #toddlers #children #superspreaders
covid, toddlers, children, superspreaders
Fido May Help Lick CoVid
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/BUzAQyrnQ2c
A group of trained Australian dogs can sniff out CoVid-infected persons with excellent and sometimes 100% accuracy. These highly-trained canines are part of an international program coordinated by France’s National Veterinary School.
The animals are conditioned to detect characteristic odors emanating from the respiratory tracts of CoVid-infected persons using the same protocols used for explosive-detection training. This work seems perfectly safe for dogs as they are resistant to CoVd-19 infection.
Cohorts of such trained animals will be deployed in airports, mass transit stations, and even in schools to permit instantaneous detection of CoVid-infected persons. CoVid infection will be confirmed by standard viral testing.
#covid #dogs #screening
covid, dogs, screening
CoVid IS Primarily Airborne
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/wF60DbdWpDE
CoVid virus is primarily spread by virus riding in mist aerosols rather than in droplets. Harvard epidemiologists draw this conclusion from their study of transmission onboard a Diamond Princess Cruise ship.
The researchers analyzed 132 individual episodes of viral spread and found that large respiratory droplets were responsible about 40% of the time while aerosols transmitted the virus in nearly 60%. Overall, 70% of transmission occurred through the air while only 30% of spread occurs via surfaces.
Bottom line: mask up to block droplets and aerosols. Use or make masks with 3 layers of high thread count cotton or, better yet, N95, KN95, FFP2, or HEPA H13-14 filters. Also distance and wash.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.07.13.20153049v1.full.pdf
#covid #aerosol #droplets #fomites #cruises
covid, masks, droplets, fomites, cruises
Silvercrest Bread Makers Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/1Ewgh7960eA
The CPSC and Lidl US have recalled the Silvercrest Bread Maker. The appliance lid may become energized leading to an electric shock. If you have this device, unplug it. You may return the device at a Lidl US store in VA, NC, SC, MD, GA, DE, PA, NJ, or NY. For more information, call the company at 1-844-747-5435.
#recall #breadmaker #lidl #shock
recall, breadmaker, lidl, shock
DaVinci Bassinets On Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/iK7KsrMO_RE
The CPSC and DaVinci announce the recall of the DaVinci Bassinet. The mattress may become accidentally disengaged that could lead to an infant fall or entrapment. If you have one of these bassinets, stop using it immediately and call DaVinci for a free repair kit. You may reach the company by calling 1-833-932-0208.
#recall #bassinet #davinci #fall #entrapment #parenting
recall, bassinet, davinci, fall, entrapment, parenting
Greenpan Simmerlite Dutch Ovens Have Been Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/H9yYXXn73Yc
The CPSC and the Cookware Company announce recall of the Greenpan Simmerlite Dutch Ovens. The lid on this pan may explode while it is inside your oven leading to injuries and burns. If you have one of these, stop using it and contact the Cookware company at 1-877-926-6526 to arrange for a replacement glass lid or a refund.
#recall #dutchoven #explosion
recall, dutchoven, explosion
Rocky Mountain Bike Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/tssOJboTCCM
The CPSC and Rocky Mountain have recalled the Non-Electric Instinct, Instinct BC, and Pipeline Bicycles. These units’ front frame triangle can crack and cause separation of the head tube from the frame leading to falls and other injuries. If you have one of these bikes, discontinue using and call Rocky Mountain at 1-877-744-1515 for more information and to arrange a repair.
#recall #bicycles #rockymountain #frame
recall, bicycles, rockymountain, frame
Manhattan Ball Activity Toys On Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/yGooUN-yn58
The CPSC sand Manhattan Toy have recalled the Manhattan Ball Activity Toys sold exclusively through Target. The toy’s plastic tubes may detach releasing small silicone tethers that pose a choking hazard to young children. Do not permit your baby to play with this toy. Return it to the nearest Target store for a complete refund. For more information, call Manhattan Toy at 1-800-541-1345.
#recall #manhattanball #choking
recall, manhattanball, choking
Hand Sanitizers With Wood Alcohol Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/lZmEgXaqgJM
The FDA and multiple companies have announced the recall of hand sanitizers due to their contamination with poisonous methanol. These include All Clean, Blumen, Optimus, Born Basic, Scent Theory, Resource Recover & Trading, Assured, Modena, and Herbacil. If you have any of these, do not use them. Return them to the place of purchase for a refund.
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts
#recalls #handsanitizer #methanol
recalls, handsanitizer, methanol
Child Iron Supplements On Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/oAgFsSJdl0c
The FDA Wellements LLC, and Upspring announce the recall of Wellements Iron Drops and Upspring Baby Iron + Immunity dietary supplements. These supplements may contain undisclosed milk allergens. If you have these products, return them to the place of purchase. Alternatively, contact Wellements by calling 1-800-255-2690 or contact Upspring by calling 1-512-828-7988 and request full refunds.
#recall #ironsupplement #milk
recall, ironsupplement, milk
Whole Food Pastries And Spinach-Artichoke Dip Have Been Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/U0J3sQJr3fM
The FDA and Whole Foods have recalled several lines of pastry and its Spinach-Artichoke Dip due to undeclared allergens. Their Kouign-amann pastry has undeclared eggs. Their Chantilly Key Lime Tartlets have undeclared almonds. The Spinach-Artichoke Dip contains undeclared egg. If you have any of these products, do not consume them but return them to Whole Foods for full refunds. For more information, call 1-844-936-8255.
#recall #wholefoods #pastries
recall, wholefoods, pastries
Hostess Raspberry Zingers On Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/6jJvA-fJJKo
The FDA and Hostess are announcing the recall of Hostess Raspberry Zingers. These pastries may contain mold. if you have any of these in your junk food cabinet, do not consume them. Return the pastry to the point of purchase for a refund. For more information, call Hostess at 1-800-483-7253.
#recall #raspberryzingers #hostess #mold
recall, raspberryzingers, hostess, mold
Cookies Have Been Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/O-eRmJ8dp_4
The FDA and Happy Colon Foods are recalling Happy Colon Yum Shortbread Cookies and Mmmmm Chocolate Chip Cookies. Both cookie types contain undeclared milk. If you have these products, return them to the point of purchase. For more information, contact Happy Colon Foods by calling 1-855-423-6637.
#recall #cookies #shortbread #chocolatechip #milk
recall, cookies, shortbread, chocolatechip, milk
Pecan Blend Trail Mix Is On Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/WsPFNyEXK08
The FDA and Flagstone Foods have recalled Wegman’s Pecan Blend Trail Mix. This product contains undisclosed almonds and walnuts that could trigger significant allergic reactions. If you have this this trail mix, don’t consume it but rather return it to the place of purchase for a refund. For additional information, call Flagstone at 1- 612-222-3857.
#recall #trailmix #walnuts #almonds #wegmans
recall, trailmix, walnuts, almonds, wegmans
KIND Granola Has Been Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/vDoF8xLuoVU
The FDA and the KIND Healthy Snacks have recalled KIND Oats & Honey Granola with Toasted Coconut pouches. A number of these contain undisclosed sesame seeds. If you have these pouches at home, do not consume them. Instead, return them to the store for a full refund. For additional information, contact KIND Snacks by calling 1-203-803-3653.
#recall #granola #sesameseeds
recall, granola, sesameseeds