Dr. Howard Smith Reports

    Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/fy0jzs0mCFI   Over the past 15 years, Medicare Advantage membership has increased 2.5 fold.   Now, 48% of Medicare is delivered through the HMO-like Advantage programs vs. traditional fee-for-service Medicare.   The shift from Classic to Advantage Medicare has been escalating in the past 2 years with 8-10% of subscribers shifting per year.   The vast majority of mem...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/q_phfosci4Q   This tech giant has announced that its Google Maps will now label healthcare facilities that are verified as offering reproductive services to women as “provides abortions” and those so-called “crisis pregnancy centers” that do not as “might not provide abortions.”   A Bloomberg News study showed that online searches by women seeking abortion services of...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/M9RmHgFuiLw   In the future, your electric toothbrushes and waterflossers may be obsolete.   Precision dentistry researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a nano robotic system using iron oxide nanoparticles that can be assembled into bristles and motorized by computer-controlled magnetic fields to roll over your teeth and gums and remove all debris...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/BuTi67hB7HY   The biomedical researchers at Georgia State University have designed a universal flu vaccine containing less variable proteins from both Influenza A and B virus including the multi-neuraminidase proteins and the universally present M2 ectodomain protein.   This vaccine has, to date, only been tested on mice but it was found to protect them from infection...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/Q4BqJZxSoQg   We all view most viruses as “bad guys” as we go through our 3 rd year trying to avoid and survive CoVid.   Some viruses known as oncolytic viruses are “good guys” that can turbocharge the immune system to more effectively kill cancer cells that spread and threaten to kill us.   Immunologists at North Carolina’s Wake Forest School of Medicine and the Univ...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/yfZYkQtd1V8   The inhaled vapors from electronic cigarettes significantly increase the numbers of the ACE2 CoVid-binding sites and the TMPRSS2 protease that helps the virus infect human cells.   UC-Riverside molecular biologists report these worrisome findings following their assessment of the effects from genuine JUUL aerosols as well of the individual aerosol compon...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/tG60v5wIJk0   To better understand this rapidly spreading disease, French infectious disease researchers reviewed the records of 264 PCR-confirmed monkeypox patients.   99% were men with a median age of 35 years, 29% were HIV-positive, 71% were taking PrEP, and 11% were smallpox-vaccinated.   In 53%, there were no symptoms such as fever or lymph node swelling prior to...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/6DAezBcY28c   High dose flu vaccine reduces the risk of hospitalization by 64% and the risk of death by 49% for older persons.   From the University of Copenhagen comes this study of 12,477 participants.   Half received the high dose vaccine containing 4 times the dose of each flu antigen.   The other half served as controls and received the standard dose vaccine.   P...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/01gypflxR3M   The reactivated poliovirus that first spread from Israel to upstate New York State’s Rockland and then Orange Counties, has now spread to the adjacent Sullivan County.   No surprise, since the virus was already been detected downstate in the New York City’s wastewater systems.   Many people contract the poliovirus without becoming symptomatic, but, once...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/-pfL3WYF3cI   When home antigen tests for CoVid were first FDA approved, many of them had expiration dates in 4 to 6 months.   As additional shelf life data has been accumulated, the FDA has extended those expirations dates in some cases to one year or as long as 18 months.   Problem is: the expiration date extension situation is different for each test kit brand and...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/XVIrDcxqcms   When persons who survived a heart attack take a daily triple agent polypill, their risk of a second heart attack, stent placement or revascularization surgery, or stroke drops by 24% and their risk of death drops by 33%.   Cardiac researchers from New York’s Mt. Sinai School of Medicine just reported these results in the New England Journal and presented...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/UcfaUTBHshM   Omicron BA.5 is now beginning to wane, and we’re breathing a collective sigh of relief.   Some bad news comes from Japan which is characterizing the next likely variant BA.2.75.   India was the site where BA.2.75 first popped up last spring and quickly eclipsed the BA.5 subvariant there. BA.2.75 is more transmissible than even BA.5 and has been detected...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/874VfupQy_I   Pfizer has developed two Omicron-targeting boosters: one is their Omicron BA.1 adapted vaccine and the other is their Omicron BA.4/BA.5 adapted vaccine.   The former has been tested in humans while the latter has only been tested in mice and human studies are expected to begin soon.   Pfizer has applied to the FDA and the European Medicines Agency for EU...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/5ZPn2thh3yw   The CoVid Omicron booster that Moderna will release in the fall, called mRNA1273.214, is a bivalent shot containing mRNA that triggers production of antigen from the original CoVid and antigen from the B1.1.529 Omicron sub variant.   This from data the company has submitted to the FDA for an EUA to cover use in those 12 years and older.   A 4 th dose usi...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/iPOs3UxmnVI   The FDA and Epicurean Butter LLC are recalling Wegman’s Lemon Dill Finishing Butter.   This product is contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes with an origin in the frozen dill from SupHerb Farms.   Listeria may cause a serious or life-threatening infection in the very young, older and frail persons, or in those with weak immune systems.   The bacterium...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/ApYhptqDeNU   The FDA and Rushdi Food Industries are recalling Mighty Sesame 10.9 Oz Organic Tahini in squeezable packaging.   This product is contaminated with salmonella.   This bacterium causes a severe gastroenteritis that may progress to a fatal systemic infection in the very young, frail older persons, and those with a weak immune system.   The lot involved has...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/djCIanwPa1o   The FDA and the South Georgia Pecan Co. are recalling Great Value Walnut Chopped 4 oz. Pouches.   These containers are filled with pecans rather than walnuts as labeled.   Those with a pecan allergy could develop a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction should they ingest the nuts in these pouches.   The affected lot is #29329 with a Use by date o...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/RVv-I_RQo8M   The CPSC and Asus Computer International are recalling ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero computer motherboards.   These motherboards have a capacitor installed incorrectly and this leads to a short circuit, overheating, melting, and possible fires creating burn hazards.   About 10,000 of these motherboards were sold at Best Buy and Micro Center stores nationwid...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/NfRD50kCs-U   The CPSC and Hard Rock are recalling Hard Rock Cafe Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts.   These children’s sweatshirts have hood drawstrings that easily catch on objects creating a strangulation hazard.   About 1550 of these hoodies have been sold at Hard Rock Cafes nationwide and online at www.hardrock.com.   If you bought these hoodies for your kids, don’t...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/9-lazVXOuYI   The CPSC and Agit Global North America are recalling Agit Global Wave Storm Paddles that are frequently sold with stand-up paddleboards.   These paddles may unexpectedly crack mid-shaft exposing sharp edges with a laceration risk to the user or any bystander.   About 124,000 of these paddles were sold at Costco, Home Depot, REI, Amazon, Walmart.com, Sam’...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/h0exlSK7sJ8   The CPSC and Polaris Industries are recalling Polaris Snowmobiles, Model Year 2022 PATRIOT BOOST RMK KHAOS and PATRIOT BOOST PRO RMK.   The primary clutch bolt may fracture allowing the clutch assembly parts to separate from the vehicle creating dangerous projectiles and injury hazards to riders and bystanders.   About 2300 of these snowmobiles were sold...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/Gle7Wb-EpXs   The CPSC and Epoch Everlasting Play are recalling Kidoozie My First Activity Desk Toys.   The toy’s protruding knob could become entangled with a child’s clothing when the toy is attached to a crib.   The toy’s handle could entrap an infant’s jaw.   About 8200 were sold in the US and about 1830 were sold in Canada at Learning Express, Marshalls, and inde...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/1EfdGN1dh_s   The CPSC and DOM Sports are recalling Big Game Hunters Mud Kitchens.   The brass water taps on these play kitchens contain lead levels above the save federal standards.   Lead if a neurotoxin for young children, and exposure to it should be minimized.   About 190 of these play kitchens were sold online at Amazon.com.   If you bought one of these toys for...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/4Zf7zAvvlJQ   The CPSC and Trek are recalling Trek Model Year 2022 Speed Concept SLR and MY 2021-2022 Emonda SLR bicycles and MY 2020-2021-2022 aftermarket Bontrager Aeolus RSL VR-C handlebar/stems.   These bicycles and aftermarket handlebars may crack leading to crashes and falls.   About 3200 bikes and 900 aftermarket handlebars were sold in the US and about 530 bik...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/HKY-NJY_UQM   The CPSC and the Huffy Corporation are recalling Blue's Clues Foot to Floor Ride-on Toys.   These ride-on units may tip forward creating fall and injury hazards for the child rider.   About 28,550 of these ride-on were sold at Walmart Stores.   The affected model number is 55061.   Take these ride-ons away from your children, and contact the Huffy Corpor...