Howard G. Smith, MD, AM
PENTA Medical Network
617-488-9699
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HealthNews RoundUp - 4th Week of March 2020
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Angiotensin Receptor Blocking Blood Pressure Medications May Fight CoVid19
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/AMGmbjdWo-o
The CoVid19 virus uses the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 or ACE2 as a binding site to human cells in the lungs, heart, and kidneys. The angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) used to lower blood pressure increase ACE2 levels and may be able to diminish the damage the virus creates in vital organs.
Clinicians from China and India observe that the ARB drugs losartan and telmisartan bind strongest to the angiotensin receptors and would be most effective against CoVid19. Since these drugs are already FDA-approved, drug trials using them for treating CoVid19 may be launched.
If you are on an ARB, stay on it as such studies unfold but don’t switch to it yet!
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ddr.21656
https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m406/rr-2
#covid19 #coronavirus #angiotensin #arb
covid19, coronavirus, angiotensin, arb
More Ventilators On The Way
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/0WNk_nLAHOA
London’s Smiths Group, a major ventilator manufacturer, is ramping up its own production to make an additional 30,000 over the coming months. The company is helping other companies across the globe so that other nations may ramp up ventilator manufacturing.
How about in the US? A Washington state ventilator manufacturer VENTEC will partner with GM to streamline its supply chain and multiply its manufacturing capabilities from 150/month to 10s of thousands/month..
Ford has also indicated a willingness to help. They will make not only ventilators but face masks with tiny fans to generate positive pressures within the mask to keep the virus out of the respiratory tract and eyes.
#covid19 #coronavirus #ventilator
covid19, coronavirus, ventilator
Anatomy Of A Ventilator
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/eL_nvp4v6IY
Why is a ventilator, or a vent as we docs call it, so complicated and expensive. Isn’t just a pump to drive oxygenated air into a patient’s lungs?
Its pump is electronically controlled to control the numbers of respirations per minute, the volume of air in each respiration, and the percentage of added oxygen. The ventilator can assist natural breaths or control respirations completely. For patients with severe lung infections and damage, the vent maintains some residual airway pressure between breaths.
These machines cost as much as $50, 000 each. A clever Canadian anesthetist has created plumbing so that up to 9 patients with similar respiratory requirements may be serviced by one vent.
#covid19 #coronavirus #ventilator
covid19, coronavirus, ventilator
Soap Will Save You From Coronavirus
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/gBCsEskhjLE
Soap, any kind of soap, disintegrates coronavirus by pulverizing its outer lipid-protein envelope. It’s fast, and 20-30 seconds in contact with soapy water should do it.
My routine: rubbing with bar or soft soap and water for 20 seconds (2 happy birthday songs) and then leave the soapy water for another 20 seconds. Don't forget to use soapy water on your phone, your smartwatch or fitness wearable, and let it sit for 20-30 seconds. Remember, virus lives on surfaces: cardboard 24 hrs, stainless steel 48 hrs, and plastic 72 hrs. so rewash hands if you touch them or coat them down with soapy water for 30 seconds.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2004973
#covid19 #coronavirus #soap #cardboard #plastic #stainless
covid19, coronavirus, soap, cardboard, plastic, stainless
Practical CoVid19 Prevention
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/9esH8xR_GNA
Elevators: Space on larger elevators and face the wall but don’t lean against it. If you’re the third on a smaller residential elevator, wait for the next one. Families count as one if they fit on one wall. Knuckles, elbows or probes on the buttons please.
Out and about: In a line? Space 6-10 feet away and get off the line if someone is coughing or sneezing. Breath shallowly in line or passing people on the street.
When returning: Immediately wash with soap and water or use hand sanitizer. Wipe off surfaces of purchased items with soapy sponge or Clorox wipe.
#covid19 #coronavirus #soap #elevator #purell #clorox
covid19, coronavirus, soap, elevator, purell, clorox
Organic Kudzu Root Herbal Supplement Under Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/Qh5-66RULws
Mountain Rose Herbs is voluntarily recalling its Organic Kudzu Root Herbal Supplement. This product may have Salmonella contamination. This bacterium can product a severe gastroenteritis or get into the bloodstream and induce sepsis with heart valve infection, blood vessel infection, or septic arthritis. The Lots involved are #24247-X and #24247. This product has been sold in nearly every state and in Canada. If you have this item, return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Info from the company at 1-800-879-3337.
#recall #kudzuroot #supplement #salmonella
recall, kudzuroot, supplement, salmonella
Lindt Excellence 85% Cocoa Chocolate Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/SlUff4Zowzs
Lindt and Sprüngli USA is voluntarily recalling its Lindt Excellence 85% Cocoa chocolate bars due to improper packaging and labeling. The product in the wrapper is actually Lindt Excellent Dark Carmel Sea Salt bars. This contains milk and soy. Those who have allergies to either may develop and allergic reaction that could be life-threatening. The Lot is Code L5539 with a best before date of 11/30/2020. If you have this product, return it to any Lindt store for a replacement.
#recall #lindt #chocolate #milk #soy
recall, lindt, chocolate, milk, soy
==========================
Calming The CoVid19 Cytokine Storm
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/q66mLjoY-r4
Tocilizumab, a Genentech-Roche drug marketed as Actemra for autoimmune arthritis and cytokine storms induced by CAR-T cell cancer therapy, did successfully squelch CoVid19 immune storm in a preliminary Chinese study. Researchers there treated 20 patients with severe and critical disease in risk of dying.
The patients received a 9 day course of the drug along with vent therapy. 75% showed improved oxygenation and one patient came off oxygen and 90% showed improved lung CTs. 90% of patients with discharged well.
A worldwide clinical trial coded as COVACTA will begin recruiting 330 patients in April. The drug, potentially lifesaving, does have serious side effects including gastrointestinal tears, liver toxicity, and cancer
http://chinaxiv.org/abs/202003.00026
#covid19 #coronavirus #cytokinestorm #covacta #actemra #tocilizumab
covid19, coronavirus, cytokinestorm, covacta, actemra, tocilizumab
Clot Fighter May Save CoVid19 Victims
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/98zOq9ZpG9M
TPA, the clot busting tissue plasminogen activator that rescues heart attack and stroke patients, may help ventilator-dependent CoVid19 patients in respiratory failure. Researchers at MIT, Harvard teaching hospitals, and the University of Colorado believe that TPA can prevent extensive blood clotting that exacerbates CoVid19 patients’ respiratory failure.
Clinicians on the front lines of the coronavirus battle in New York and Europe report that infected patients clot too easily and have damaging clots not only in their lungs but also in their hearts and kidneys as part of multi-organ failure.
A federally-funded clinical trial of TPA will deliver the drug intravenously and via direct airway instillation. Genentech is donating the drug.
Hunter B. Moore, Christopher D. Barrett, Ernest E. Moore, Robert C. McIntyre, Peter K. Moore, Daniel S. Talmor, Frederick A. Moore, Michael B. Yaffe. Is There a Role for Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) as a Novel Treatment for Refractory COVID-19 Associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)? Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 2020; 1 DOI: 10.1097/TA.0000000000002694
#covid19 #coronavirus #tpa #respiratoryfailure #clotting
covid19, coronavirus, tpa, respiratoryfailure, clotting
Salty Food May Kill Your Immunity
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/NQxpwpddiYs
Those pretzels, chips, and pasta sauce may weaken your immune defenses against bacteria and viruses including CoVid19. Immunologists at Germany’s University of Bonn trace the effects of your liberal self-shaking on your host defenses.
When you eat abundant salt, your kidneys seek to flush it out to maintain a safe concentration around your cells. In so doing, glucocorticoid steroid levels in your body rise, and these steroids suppress your immunity. Their studies in both mice and men confirm this effect.
Given our current coronavirus epidemic, you can’t afford to given an advantage to invading viruses or bacteria. Cut out the salty foods and gorge on fruits and vegetables as you social distance.
Katarzyna Jobin, Natascha E. Stumpf, Sebastian Schwab, etal. A high-salt diet compromises antibacterial neutrophil responses through hormonal perturbation. Science Translational Medicine, 2020 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aay3850
#covid19 #coronavirus #salt #immunity
covid19, coronavirus, salt, immunity
Tears Won’t Spread CoVid19 Virus
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/Y26LDEEM0Kg
Coronavirus infected individuals do not shed live virus in their tears. Researchers at Singapore’s National University Hospital studied 17 patients with the virus.
Their tears were disease free by both viral cultures and RP-PCR genetic tests. At the same time, their noses and throats were swarming with infectious CoVid19.
While you can’t spread virus via your eyes, you can contract disease via this route. If viral-laden droplets from an infected person’s nose or throat get into your eyes, your tears will transport live virus into your nose, throat, and respiratory tract. Then the game is lost.
Keep your hands spotless and away from your nose, mouth, and eyes.
Ivan Seah Yu Jun, Danielle E. Anderson, Adrian Eng Zheng Kang, Lin-Fa Wang, Pooja Rao, Barnaby Edward Young, David Chien Lye, Rupesh Agrawal. Assessing Viral Shedding and Infectivity of Tears in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Patients. Ophthalmology, 2020; DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.03.026
#covid19 #coronavirus #tears
covid19, coronavirus, tears
Enoki Mushroom Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/HLkdVvOkQzE
Guan’s Mushroom Co. of Calfornia is recalling its Enoki Mushrooms from Korea. These may well be contaminated with Listeria. If you eat contaminated product, you are likely to develop a severe, life=threatening gastrenteritis, and that’s particularly likely if you are very young, old, or have a weakened immune system. Even young, healthy individuals will get high fever, headache, nausea, cramps, and diarrhea. Pregnant women may miscarry.
This product was sold in CA, NY, and PA.
Return the product to the store for a full refund. Questions to the company at 1-323-223-1188.
#recall #enoki #mushroom #listeria
recall, enoki, mushroom, listeria
Huanfushanzen Huang Mountain Tea Mushrooms Are Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/caWeC8yVPFI
Tiffany Food Corporation of Brooklyn, NY is recalling its Huanfushanzen Huang Mountain Tea Mushroom dried mushrooms. This product may contain undeclared sulfites. Those will a sulfite sensitivity or allergy may develop a severe reaction after eating this product.
Product was sold in FL, OH, CA, and MA.
Return this product to the store for a full refund. If you have questions, call the company at 1-347-627-8588.
#recall #huangmountain #mushroom #sulfites
recall, huangmountain, mushroom, sulfites
Products Recalled By CPSC For Dangerous Packaging
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/JAqMDvfE6wI
A slew of products have been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission this week since they fail to meet child safety standards. These include:
— Plant Therapy’s Wintergreen Essential Oils and Essential Oil Blends with Wintergreen
— Earth Sonnets Wintergreen Essential Oil
— Earthroma Wintergreen Essential Oil
— Belle Chemical Sodium and Potassium Hydroxide Products
— Boyer. Sodium and Potassium Hydroxide Products
— Novartis Sandimmune and Neoral Blister Packs
— Numbskin Pain Relief Cream
Return these products to the point of purchase.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls?page=1
#recalls #childpackaging
recalls, childpackaging
Woom Bikes Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/cisBEkcOKHE
Woom Bikes USA is recalling its bike due to a defective front fork. It can loosen and detach leading to a fall and injury. Contact Woom for a free repair kit by calling 1-855-966-6872.
#recall #woom #bicycle
recall, woom, bicycle
Kawasaki Off-Highway Utility Vehicles Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/2S43UFK2S1Q
Kawasaki USA has two recalls on its Off-Highway Utility Vehicles.
Recall #1 is for steering shaft defect leading to excessive wear, loss of steering control, and a crash hazard.
Recall #2 is due to a fire hazard due to two defects. Debris falling on the vehicles exhaust manifold may ignite. Frozen water can block the vehicle’s breather hose permitting an oil leak. Both issues pose a fire hazard.
Consumers should stop using this vehicle and contact the company at 1-866-802-9381 to arrange free repairs.
#recall #kawasaki #offhighway
recall, kawasaki, offhighway
Children’s Tool Kits Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/5DPOPsDT6fc
Grizzly Industrial is recalling it Children’s Tool Kits for lead and toy safety violations. The tool belt, hammer, and suspenders contain excessive lead. The toy goggles and hard hats fail to meet US toy safety standards.
Stop using these toys and contact Grizzly for instructions about returning them for a full refund. Call 1-888-615-7944.
#recall #grizzly #toolkit #children
recall, grizzly, toolkit, children
Thule Car Seat Adapters Recall
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/eyzNKsNan_E
Thule is recalling its car seat adapters. The plastic brackets on this product may break and pose a fall hazard to infants. Stop using this product and contact the company for a replacement or a refund by calling 1-855-652-2688.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2020/Thule-Recalls-Thule-Sleek-Car-Seat-Adapters-Due-to-Fall-Hazard
#recall #thule #caradaplterbracket
recall, thule, caradaplterbracket
Lilly of New York Children’s Winter Boots Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/StE8YcHckFs
Kids Concepts is recalling Lilly of New York Children’s Winter Boots due to toxic lead levels in this product. This boot is sold exclusively on zulily.com. Don’t permit children to wear them, and contact the company at 1-888-359-1322 for a replacement or refund.
#recall #winterboot #lilly #zulily #lead
recall, winterboot, lilly, zulily, lead
Kids and Koalas Baby Walkers Recalled
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/4-WniVYZog4
These walkers, model number X002, fail to meet federal safety standards. They fit through a standard door but have no safeguards that enable them to stop at the edge of a stair. They also have leg openings large enough to entrap a child’s head at the neck. These deficiencies can lead to serious injuries, falls, or death.
Do not allow your baby to use this device. Dismantle it and dispose of it safely. This item was exclusively sold by Amazon. Contact Amazon for a refund.
#recall #kidsandkoalas #walker
recall, kidsandkoalas, walker
Crate and Barrel Recalls Miles Glass Pitchers, Wood Lid, 84 Oz.
Vidcast: https://youtu.be/dF2PiV88UfY
The handles on these pitcher may sudden fracture creating a laceration hazard. Stop using the pitcher and contact the company at 1-800-451-8217 for a full refund.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2020/Crate-and-Barrel-Recalls-Glass-Pitchers-Due-to-Laceration-Hazard
#recall #crateandbarrel #pitcher #glass #laceration
recall, crateandbarrel, pitcher, glass, laceration