Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/bNqVNg1RA1Y Johns Hopkins computer scientists and bioengineers have partnered to produce human stem cell-derived brain organoids capable of biological computing. These devices are representative of a novel construct known as organoid intelligence. Developed as 3D bioelectrode arrays, these myelinated organoids are capable memory storage, problem solving, and intelligent l...

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/Cx3w-nSwS5k More than half of people of all ages admit to a fear of clowns or so-called coulrophobia. A survey of 987 participants by South Wales psychologists reveals that 53.5% of us have some fear of clowns, Compare this with other phobias where 3.8% have a fear of animals, 3% have a fear of needles, 2.8% have a fear of heights, 2.3% fear weather, 2.2% fear closed spac...

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/RM21N2BuScA Nearly 1 in every 5 preteens has evidence of drug abuse. UC-San Diego psychologists studied 1390 preteens ages 9 to 13 years. Each child was asked about substance use and underwent hair analysis looking for evidence of cannabis, alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, nicotine, opiates, and fentanyl. By the end of the study, 10% of the preteens admitted to using one o...

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/kQCWZ-tM7Jg Nearly 60% of those evidencing signs of Long CoVid have significant detectable organ damage. Investigators at University College, London studied 536 subjects with a mean age of 45 years looking at the prevalence of single and multi-organ impairment 6 and 12 months following CoVid infections. Only 13% of the group had required hospitalization the majority havin...

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/cYFdbSdNRSg Those with the highest levels of omega-3s were less likely to contract CoVid or be hospitalized with it. This the conclusion of a University of South Dakota study that analyzed data from 110,584 subjects in the UK Biobank. Each person had measurement of circulating fatty acids using nuclear magnetic resonance techniques and an Omega-3 index calculated. They we...

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/h_kUcfbDXyQ Once again, a person has died after being infected by the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri. This lethal unicellular organism got into the brain of a Florida resident after that person squirted tap water, which is not sterile, into the nose and sinuses as a sinus rinse. Naegleria grows in warm fresh water including ponds, lakes, river, and hot springs. A n...

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/khZFDyp97D8 The FDA and Lidl USA are recalling Tapas Cocktail Shrimp. This product is contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. This bacterium triggers serious and life-threatening infections in the very young, in older, frail persons, and in those with weak immune systems. It causes miscarriages and stillbirths. The shrimp have been sold in Lidl US stores in Delaware, Di...

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/g6q5c0PKV1Q The FDA and Pharmedica USA LLC are recalling several lots of Purely Soothing, 15% MSM Drops. This product has been found to lack sterility with likely microorganism contamination. Use of these eyedrops may lead to eye infections and blindness. The affected lots are #2203PS01 and #1808051. If you have these eyedrops, don not put them into your eyes. Return them...

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/mNGcAF30ZAg The CPSC and TJX are recalling TJX Office Chairs. The chair back may detach from the seat leading to falls and injuries. Bout 81,700 of these office chairs were sold in the US and about 1000 were sold in Canada. If you bought these chairs return them to any Marshalls, T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods or Homesense store for a full refund. For more information about the rec...

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/_zoIPdZTAjM The CPSC and Patagonia now recall Infant Capilene Midweight Base Layer Sets. The bodysuit snaps are prone to detach and create a choking hazard for mouthy infants and toddlers. About 8000 sets were sold in the US and 217 were sold in Canada at Patagonia, REI and other stores nationwide and online at patagonia.com, rei.com, backcountry.com and other websites. D...

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/Ln-bfXod5Qg The CPSC and Primark US are recalling Primark Children’s Bamboo Plates. The plates contain elevated and unsafe levels of lead and formaldehyde both of which are toxins and especially dangerous for children. About 1665 plates were sold at Primark stores in the Northeast, Chicago, and Florida. Don’t allow your children to use these toxic plates and return them t...

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/btM5vRRq2OY The CPSC and the RELiON company are recalling RELiON InSight Series 48 volt lithium batteries. These batteries tend to dangerously overheat creating fire and burn hazards. Stop charging and using these batteries and contact RELiON At 1-803-324-6644 or by email at AMER-recall@oneasg.com to check if your battery is in the recall. The company will send you a prep...

Helly Hansen Workwear Sweats and Hoodies May Igni te Vidcast: https://youtu.be/oQZrMG_XHCg The CPSC and Helly Hansen now recall Helly Hansen Workwear Sweatshirts and Hoodies. These garments fail to meet federal flammability textile standards and create risks of burn injuries. About 13,900 of these garments were sold in the US and about 128,680 were sold in Canada at Helly Hansen stores and online...

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/bjGWk4XXF7U The CPSC and the Smocked Runway company are recalling Classic Whimsy children’s pajamas. These pjs fail to meet federal flammability standards for children’s sleepware creating risks of burn injuries. About 7200 pairs of pajamas were sold online at smokedauctions.com. If you bought these pjs, don’t allow your kids to wear them. Contact Smocked Runway at 1-833-...

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/1SZpWDV_vPI The CPSC and Ouwoer Direct are recalling Multi-Purpose Kids Bike Helmets. These helmets fail to provide positional stability and impact protection as required by the federal safety standards for children’s bicycle helmets leading to head injuries and worse. About 120 of these helmets were sold at amazon.com. Stop allowing your child to use this helmet and cont...

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/9aIrtSfoKEE The CPSC and the Active Sports company are recalling CTRL Imperial Wakeboard Bindings. The binding may partially or completely detach from the wakeboard causing the rider to lose balance and fall into the water. About 850 of these wakeboards were sold at The House in St. Paul, Minnesota and online at the-house.com, DJ's Boardshop on Amazon Marketplace, and on...

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/trVavxmVLu4 The CPSC and the DR Power Equipment have recalled DR Power PRO XL501 Chipper Shredders. This chipper shredder’s fin scroll is defective and ejects metal fragments from the hopper creating laceration hazards for the operator and bystanders. About 2100 of these shredders were sold in the US, 27 were sold in Canada, and 3 were sold in Mexico. The affected model n...

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/y3qnhiKNplU The FDA and Jan Fruits Inc. are recalling Taiwan Best Quality Enoki Mushrooms. This product is contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. This bacterium triggers serious and life-threatening infections in the very young, in older, frail persons, and in those with weak immune systems. It causes miscarriages and stillbirths. The affected lot is #3779 sold in Cali...

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/vZ5UIMQLAYY The FDA and Kawasho Foods USA are recalling one lot of GEISHA Medium Shrimp packaged in 4 oz cans. This product has likely contamination with Clostridium botulinum.   This infection causes muscle weakness and eventual paralysis that can be deadly with involvement of the muscles of respiration. The affected lot is labeled LGC12W12E22; BEST BY: MAY/12/2026....

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/ZQhBIHJ8CMY The FDA and Russell Stover Chocolates are recalling Russell Stover Sugar Free Peanut Butter Cups. This candy contains undeclared pecans. Those with pecan allergies may develop serious and life-threatening allergic reactions after ingesting this candy. The affected Lot codes: K0521, K0321, K0421, L2122, L2221, and L2321 with with Best Before dates of 01MAY23 an...

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/jn4huRqWUPM We know that human hearts and the great vessels connecting to them vary enormously. These variations can make it difficult to choose the perfect prosthetic valve replacement for any given patient. Enter MIT engineers who have developed a process for turning medical images of any individual’s heart into a three dimensional printed exact replica using polymer in...

Electric Bandage Speeds Wound Healing Vidcast: https://youtu.be/OeXA5rxBAN0 Northwestern bioengineers have developed a stretchable and naturally resorbable electrobandage that speeds diabetic wound healing by some 30% in experimental animals. The wireless system, powered by an induction coil, feeds tiny voltages through a solid state circuit that both regulates their application to the flower-shap...

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/xBGXEMVobxk Glioblastoma is the most common and most lethal form of brain cancer killing 95% of its victims within 5 years. To improve on those dismal statistics, neurosurgeons at Penn State have discovered a circulating blood marker protein that serves as a fingerprint for this killer disease. The biomarker is an antigen receptor called interleukin13 receptor alpha two o...

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/lo8k3X3sLkQ Sharks make more compact antibodies than humans, and these mini-antibodies capably locate cancer cells in zones inaccessible to larger human antibodies. Antibodies in sharks but also in camels and alpacas are smaller since they lack so-called light chains. At the University of Wisconsin, immunopathologists use nurse sharks named for James Bond villains includi...

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/uaZW01R9RLI Adding Truvia and like artificial sweeteners that contain the sweet alcohol erythritol could bump up your risk of heart attack and stroke 3 to 4-fold. This from a Cleveland Clinic study of 2149 Americans and 833 Europeans analyzing the relationship of their erythritol blood levels and their incidence of cardiovascular disease. Those with the highest erythritol...