Howard G. Smith, MD, AM
PENTA Medical Network
617-488-9699
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RoundUp - 2nd Week of Oct 2024
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HEALTH REPORTS
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Congenital heart problems increased in babies born with assisted reproductive techniques
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBJ_Jf9NCph/
Children born with with IVF and other assisted reproductive strategies have a 36% higher risk of congenital heart disorders diagnosed within the first year of life. This from some a study by the University of Gothenburg just published in the European Heart Journal.
Studied were 7.7 million children born in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden between 1984 and 2015. Besides the 36% higher general risk, the risk of these heart defects was the highest for assisted multiple births with a 44% higher risk vs. a 31% risk for single births.
Now the actual number of births in the US with congenital heart defects is small, less than one in every 110 births, but those who are using IVF and other assisted reproductive techniques should be prepared for this occurrence. The good news is that most of these lesions are treatable with excellent results. You and your medical team just need to be aware of this possibility.
https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehae572/7773316
#ivf #assistedreproduction #art #congenital #cardiac #twins
ivf, assistedreproduction, art, congenital, cardiac, twins
Heart Failure On The Rise
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBJ_evWNwdh/
More than one in every four Americans will develop life-threatening heart failure during their lives, and many will develop it while they are young. Researchers at the Baylor College of Medicine and Stanford University report that 6.7 million of us older than 20 have failing hearts and that number will nearly double to 11.4 million over the next 25 years.
One-third of the US population or as many as 117 million are at risk for heart failure. The proportion of younger persons with heart failure is increasing faster than the proportion of elders suffering from it. Black Americans, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, and Hispanic Americans are at particular risk. The highest heart failure death rates occur in the Midwest and Southern states.
Since heart failure is the cause of 45% of cardiovascular deaths, you do want to prevent your heart from giving out too early. The strategies you can employ to keep your heart pumping effectively: keep your weight under control, maintain a normal blood pressure, exercise, eat healthy, and stop smoking.
https://onlinejcf.com/article/S1071-9164(24)00232-X/fulltext#app-1
#heartfailure #death #obesity #hypertension #blackamericans #alaskans #hispanicamericans
heartfailure, death, obesity, hypertension, blackamericans, alaskans, hispanicamericans
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FUTURE MED
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Novel Scanner Generates Spectacular Ultrasound Images
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBKAkn4tLIU/
University College London bioengineers have developed a new ultrasound-type scanner that employs photoacoustic tomography or PAT. This unit uses a laser to create ultrasonic waves capable of creating higher resolution images of tissues that lay up to 15 millimeters beneath the skin’s surface.
This new scanner is 100 to 1,000 times faster than previous PAT units permitting tissue imaging in a few seconds rather than the previous 5 minutes or more. This yields significantly sharper images by eliminating patient movement effects.
The unit is invaluable for imaging blood vessels in fingers, oral structures like the tongue, and vasculature in the extremities of diabetics. This remarkable photo acoustic tomography should be in clinical use… someday soon
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-024-01247-x
#photoacoustictomography #pat #bloodsvessels #ultrasound #imaging
photoacoustictomography, pat, bloodvessels, ultrasound, imaging
Smartphones Can See For The Blind
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBKCMzAssD0/
Computer scientists at the University of California-Santa Cruz have developed smartphone apps that can help the blind navigate indoors through buildings. Their Wayfinder app employs the map of an indoor space, the phones sensors, and artificial intelligence to relay verbal direction to the blind user who is moving through the space. The system does not employ the phone’s camera and the user need not hold the phone out in front while walking.
Once at an indoor destination, the Backtracking app can guide the blind user back to an initial entry point using recorded data including numbers of steps and directions of movement.
Smartphones can already be helpful for guiding the blind through outdoor spaces where satellite GPS is available. These novel apps are a first step toward providing this same mobility independence for visually challenged persons indoors so that the blind can traverse any space with confidence….someday soon.
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3696005
#blind #wayfinder #backtracker #indoorguidance
blind, wayfinder, backtracker, indoorguidance
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WARNINGS
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Arm Position Affects Your Blood Pressure Measurement Accuracy
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBKC_95vO1b/
Where your arm rests while taking your blood pressure could deliver inaccurate measures of both your peak or systolic pressure and your baseline or diastolic pressure. Inaccurate pressure measurements with your arm at your side or in your lap can adversely affect blood pressure medication dosing.
Reporting their work in JAMA Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins researchers tested 133 adults comparing pressure measurement with the cuffed arm hanging down or resting in the lap with the proper positioning resting on a surface at the heart’s level. A hanging arm overestimated the systolic pressure by 6.5 mmHg and the diastolic pressure by 4.4 mmHg. An arm in the lap yielded overestimates of about 4 mmHg for both measurements.
Everyone should be measuring their blood pressures regularly at home with relatively cheap automatic pressure cuffs. Maintaining a normal blood pressure is critical for preventing a devastating stroke and avoiding heartbreaking dementia.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2824754
#bloodpressure #armposition #overestimates #stroke #dementia
bloodpressure, armposition, overestimates, stroke, dementia
Basement Gas Could Give Your Child Cancer
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBKDzEkx1ph/
Levels of basement radon gas that are currently considered safe by the EPA are associated with significantly elevated risks of childhood cancer, both leukemia and lung cancer. So concludes a Harvard Public Health School study of nearly 42 thousand children in 14 states just published in the journal Science of the Total Environment. The study reveals an increased risk of childhood leukemia between 8 and 12 percent.
Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that seeps up through your basement floor. The EPA states that no level of radon gas is perfectly safe but recommends measures to seal the home from gas leakage when indoor levels exceed 2 pCi/L. The levels measured in these 14 states were at or below these levels yet cancer risks were increased.
A radon gas test kit is readily available for as little as $16. Isn’t your child’s health and your health worth more than the price of a pizza?
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969724064441
#radon #children #leukemia #basement
radon, children, leukemia #basement
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CPSC Recalls
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Several Brands of Multi-Grip Tub Safety Bars Can Be Unstable
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBKNUZDJRG3/
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Liberty Hardware are recalling Multi-Grip Tub Safety Bars branded as Delta, model DF585, Peerless, PL585, and Safety First, models SF585 and S1F585. The plastic stick-on grip pads and the safety bars themselves will dislodge if these bars are installed on tubs with tapered side walls leading to falls and worse.
About 174, 500 of these bars were sold at Ace Hardware, The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Menards, Walmart, and other hardware and plumbing stores and suppliers nationwide, and online at Amazon.com and FlyingBulldogs.com.
Stop using these recalled safety bars and contact Liberty Hardware at 1-844-811-4541 or via the email recall@libertyhardware.com to request a prepaid shipping label to return these safety bars for a $35 refund.
#bathtub #safetybars #delta #peerless #safetyfirst #grippads #falls #recall
bathtub, safetybars, delta, peerless, safetyfirst, grippads, falls, recall
John Deere Compact Utility Tractors have failing brakes
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBKOU4Opk4-/
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Deere & Company now recall John Deere Compact Utility Tractors. The brake linkage’s front bell crank fails leading to lost braking, crashes, and injuries to drivers, bystanders, and property. Affected are model numbers 1023E, 1025R, and 2025R.
About 147,900 of these tractors were sold in the US and about 16,800 were sold in Canada.
Stop riding these tractors and contact your John Deere dealer to arrange a free repair either at the dealership or at your residence. For additional information, contact Deere & Company at 1-800-537-8233.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2024/John-Deere-Recalls-Compact-Utility-Tractors-Due-to-Crash-Hazard
#johndeere #tractors #utility #brakes #crashes #injuries #recall
johndeere, tractors, utility, brakes, crashes, injuries, recall
Fisher-Price Snugga Swings could suffocate
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBKPQ4ystmr/
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Fisher-Price are telling consumers to modify all models of Fisher-Price Snugga Infant Swings. If this swing is used for sleep, the headrest and body support inserts can increase the risk of suffocation.
About 2.1 million swings were sold in the United States, about 99,000 swings were sold in Canada, and about 500 swings were sold in Mexico at Amazon, Toys R Us, Walmart/Sams Club, and Target stores nationwide.
Stop using this swing until you have removed the headrest and the body support insert from the start pad. Fisher Price will provide a $25 incentive for doing this. For more information contact Fisher-Price at 1-855-853-6224.
#fisherprice #infant #swing #snugga #headrest #bodyinsert #suffocation #recall
fisherprice, infant, swing, snugga, headrest, bodyinsert, suffocation, recall
Droyd Multi-Purpose Helmets fail to protect
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBKQANDJu2-/
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Reyhee Group now recall Droyd Multi-Purpose Helmets. These helmet fail to meet federal safety standards for bicycle helmets including positional stability, a retention system, impact protection, labeling and proper certification.
About 400 helmets were sold at droyd.com.
Stop wearing these helmets. Contact Reyhee Group at 1-800-333-3729 for a full refund. To obtain it, you will have to cut the straps off the helmet and submit two photos: one of the strapless helmet and another of both the straps and the helmet in the trash.
#droyd #helmet #bicycle #injury #recall
droyd, helmet, bicycle, injury, recall
Allen + Roth Lighted Bathroom Mirrors fall off the wall
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBKQn_Osrd9/
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Homewerks Worldwide are recalling .
About 3300 of these mirrors were sold at Lowe’s.
Contact Homewerks at 1-866-582-2069 or via the email MirrorRecall@Homewerks.com for mirror removal and disposal instructions for a full refund or free replacement mirror.
#homewerks #lighted #bathroom #mirror #detachment #fall #injuries #recall
homewerks, lighted, bathroom, mirror, detachment, fall, injuries, recall
Gimars Playpens are hazardous
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBKRlo1Nc6a/
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Shenzhen Jingdu Technology are recalling Gimars Playpens with Mats. These playpens violate federal safety standards since a basketball hoop accessary is an entrapment hazard and children can become entrapped beneath the mattress. Affected are playpens with model numbers GWL-01, GWL-02, GWL-03, GWL-04, GWL-05 and GWL-06.
About 6200 of these playpens were sold at amazon.com.
Do not allow your children near these playpens. Disassemble the playpen and destroy it by cutting the fabric floor, mattress pad, and basketball hoop each in half. To obtain a refund, email photos of each destroyed piece to Gimars-Aftersales@outlook.com along with an online submission found at gimars.com.
#gimars #playpens #entrapment #injury #recall
gimars, playpens, entrapment, injury, recall
Halloween Projector Flashlights can ignite
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBKSUypt4oX/
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and the NPW Group are recalling Halloween Projector Flashlights. These flashlights overheat with melting of the outer housing leading to fires and burns.
About 4700 of these projector flashlights were sold at Target stores nationwide and online at target.com.
Remove the batteries from these flashlight projectors, mark the flashlight RECALLED, and return it to any Target store for full refund. For more information, call the NPW Group at 1-888-674-3778 or email the company at technical@npwgroup.com.
#halloween #projectorflashlight #overheating #fire #burns #recall
halloween, projectorflashlight, overheating, fire, burns, recall
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FDA Recalls
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Happy Moose Tropical Roots and Strawberry Fields Juices are polluted
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBKS6QMMLSg/
The Food and Drug Administration and the Youngstown Grape Distributors Inc. now recall Happy Moose Tropical Roots Juice (Lot# H240903-E BEST BY 12/02/2024) and Happy Moose Strawberry Fields Juice (Lot# H240903-H, BEST BY 12/02/2024. These lots failed to complete high pressure processing treatment which prolongs shelf life and removes salmonella, listeria, and E. Coli. These nasty bacteria trigger serious and life-threatening disease in the very young, older persons, and those with weak immune systems.
If you bought these juices, return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. For more information, call Youngstown Grape Distributors at 1-559-797-0252.
#happymoose #juices #salmonella #listeria #ecoli #infection #recall
happymoose, juices, salmonella, listeria, ecoli, infection, recall
L&B Lone Star Dip is moldy
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBKTsVDt6PV/
The Food and Drug Administration and Lunds & Byerlys are calling L&B Lone Star Dip with Best By dates of 10/15-17/24. This dip has mold contamination.
The recalled dip was sold in and around Minnesota’s Twin Cities of Minneapolis–Saint Paul.
If you bought this contaminated dip, return it to any Lunds & Byerlys store for a full refund. For additional information, call the company at 1-952-548-1400.
#landb #lundsandbyerly #dip #lonestar #mold #infection #recall
landb, lundsandbyerly, dip, lonestar, mold, infection, recall
Jack & the Green Sprouts Alfalfa and Alfalfa & Onion Sprouts are contaminated
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBKUW-Uui6Z/
The Food and Drug Administration and Jack and the Green Sprouts, Inc. have recalled Jack & the Green Sprouts Alfalfa and Alfalfa & Onion Sprouts due to listeria contamination. This bacterium causes a severe and sometimes fatal systemic infection in the very young, older frail individuals, and those with weakened immune systems. Listeria can also trigger miscarriages and stillbirths.
These sprout products were sold in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
If you purchased these sprouts, return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. If you need more information about this recall, contact Jack and the Green Sprouts Inc. at 1-715-425-9495.
#jackandthegreensprouts #alfalfa #onion #sprouts #listeria #infection #recall
jackandthegreensprouts, alfalfa, onion, sprouts, listeria, infection, recall