Dr. Howard Smith Reports

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/x__bMilMWNY   Inventive bioengineers at Georgia’s Kennesaw State College of Computing and Software Engineering are developing a finger probe to   measure blood glucose levels without a blood draw, fingerstick, or even a microneedle in the subcutaneous tissue.   Named GlucoCheck, the system shines visible laser light through either finger or ear tissues and uses a smar...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/AkpQ47lvXPg   Clothing with AI-controlled and air-driven actuators will help kids coping with cerebral palsy fine-tune their arm and leg motions.   Bioengineers at UC-Riverside working with clinicians at California’s Children’s Hospital of Orange County, better known at CHOC, are developing shirts and pants with air bladders and control sensors.   Then a child intends...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/zoUGgY0ZH44   Canadian bioengineers have developed the technology for diagnosing and analyzing cancers in the brain using a 3D printed ultrasensitive nanosensor capable of detecting tumor-specific proteins in at little as 5 ul of blood using surface-enhanced Raman scattering methodology.   This liquid biopsy system can detect a primary or secondary tumor with nearly 1...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/Ejhc3gnADLc   Stem cells are the precursors for all cells in our bodies.   Australian researchers announce the development of a microfluidic blood stem cell incubator.   The system on a plexiglass block mimics the pulsatile circulation of the embryo that is a key factor in driving the generation of blood stem cells.   It seems that general stem cells recognize pulsing...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/8qyNd-Is8Ts   Those wearing reusable contact lenses were nearly 4 times more likely to develop microbial keratitis, a corneal infection, in comparison to those using disposable lenses.   Ophthalmologists at University College London reviewed the cases of 205 contact lens wearers.   Compared with those using disposable lenses, the risk of amoeba-driven keratitis was 3....

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/qyWOT6uIGsU   This graph says it all. The pediatric deaths due to CoVid are nearly 5-fold higher than those due to influenza during a typical winter respiratory disease season. The numbers were tabulated by Boston’s Brigham snd Women’s ER Dr. Jeremy Faust from CDC data.     The kids reflected in these statistics are your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and,...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/vbnUSpg07wc   Complete CoVid vaccination plus a booster reduces the chance that a pregnant woman will develop a moderate to severe Omicron infection 3.5-fold.   This study by the UK’s National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit reviewed the cases of 3699 women admitted to 94 British hospitals with test positive Omicron.   Even more striking was the fact that 76.7% of symptom...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/uBnr6Gi4saA   A purple tomato containing 10 fold more antioxidants could someday be sitting on your grocery store shelves.   These tomatoes appear like giant blueberries and, in many ways, are just that.   Using bioengineering, genes from the antioxidant rich purple snapdragon plant are added to the tomato’s own genetic complement to increase its production of anthocy...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/IK711__1grk   The general intravenous anesthetic ketamine quickly induces a reversal of depression in even the most medication-resistant persons.   Problem is that the relief can be fleeting.     Pittsburgh psychiatrists now show that pairing the single ketamine injection with a 4 day digital positivity training program extends the drug’s positive effects for more tha...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/IOHSxlBSvMM   The vaccines against CoVid have prevented 8 million cases of the disease in the US, prevented at least 120 thousand American deaths, and kept 700 thousand of our friends and relatives out of the hospital.   These statistics come from the Columbia School of Public Health.   The CoVid vaccines received emergency use authorizations in December of 2020 for f...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/Av2ePEF8L3w   For the first time, a biologic drug relieved the nagging itch of moderate-to-severe eczema for babies and preschoolers.   The monoclonal antibody dupilumab, better known to TV audiences as Dupixent, drives a 75%+ reduction in eczematoid itch and better sleeping in at least half the children 6 months through 5 years who took it for 4 months.   These findi...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/-ev0aQ5N8ks   Teens with higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids have longer attention spans and reduced impulsivity.   Spanish epidemiologists measured the levels of fish-based DHA and plant-based ALA score in the red blood cells of 332 teens with a mean age of nearly 14 years.   Their data revealed that those with the highest levels of DHA scored best on tests of atten...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/w_9x9A6OJ1k   The FDA and Salon Technologies have recalled Antica Farmacista Ocean Citron Hand Sanitizer alcohol gel 65%. This product has contamination with benzene.   The affected lot is 1166A with an expiration date of 6/18/2023.   Benzene is a carcinogen that can trigger leukemia.   This product has been sold in the Seattle area.   If you purchased it, return it t...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/aZf5IGg37QI   The FDA and GHGA are recalling multiple ready-to-eat vegetable products due to contamination with listeria monocytogenes.   The bacterium can trigger serious and sometimes fatal infections in the very young, frail elders, and in those with weak immune systems.   Listeria can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths.   The affected products include: Aspara...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/srC7xK-j9ek   The FDA and World Variety Produce, Inc. are recalling Melissa’s Dutch Red Potatoes with Dijon Mustard Sauce.   This food product contains undeclared egg.   Those with an egg sensitivity could develop a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction should they consume these potatoes in mustard sauce.   The affected product has best by dates from 8/15/2022...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/ZP9SnAFRaQ4   The FDA and Arcade Snacks have recalled Arcade Snacks Candy Corn, 15 ounce packages.   This product contains undeclared egg.   Those with egg allergies could develop serious or life-threatening allergic reactions should they consume this candy corn.   This product has been sold in Massachusetts and Connecticut at the following retail establishments:   Jo...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/IhQOcOxhMgQ   The FDA and Van Law Food Products Inc. are expanding the recall of Whole Foods Market 365 Organic Creamy Caesar Dressing.   The recall is being expanded to include product with a BEST IF USED BY DATE of SEP 21 22 through JUN 06 23.   The initial recall only only involved dressing with   a Best By Date of 04/06/2023.   This product contains undeclared soy...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/P3gXL4u8MHE   The FDA and TreeHouse Foods, Inc. are recalling Tuscan Garden Restaurant Style Italian Dressing.   Some of these bottles may contain Asian Sesame Dressing.   The label for the Italian dressing warns of egg and dairy but the Sesame dressing contains soy and wheat.   Those with soy or wheat allergies or Celiac Disease could develop serious and life-threate...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/dZnqEjTAk4g   The CPSC and Mr. Maria are recalling Miffy First LED Lights.   These lights may overheat and create a burn hazard.   About 1400 of these lights were sold at baby boutiques, gift shops and children’s stores nationwide, including the MoMA Store, the Clic Gallery, and Albee Baby all in New York City; Aldea Home, San Francisco; Modern Art Museum, Fort Worth,...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/0m_Mqo4Bm8M   The CPSC and Spaulding are recalling Spaulding Momentous EZ Portable Basketball Goals.   The welds in this device’s arm attaching the backboard to the pole may fracture causing the backboard to fall and injure bystanders.   About 13,400 of these basketball nets were sold in the US and 62 were sold in Canada.   Immediately stop using these portable basket...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/wXGQLKHs8jo   The CPSC and Accompany USA are recalling Accompany Black Ceramic MugsWith Cork Bottoms.   These coffee cups may crack and break when hot liquids are poured into them creating burn hazards.   About 25,000 of these cups were sold online at accompanyusa.com, logomark.com, vision1usa.com, nccustom.com/brand/lanco, infinityiwc.square.site, and admartproducts....

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/6YJQICGjuEg   The CPSC and Angzhili, Goetas, Wadoy Pool and Spa, Chyir Myd are recalling 8 inch pool drain covers.   These covers fail to conform to the mandated entrapment protection standards proscribed by the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act and pose a hazard to swimmers and bathers.   About 7100 of these covers were sold online at amazon.com.   If you...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/oWG4pQzfkrw   The CPSC and Rooms To Go are recalling Canyon Lake and Cottage Colors Bunk Bed and Hutch Sets.   The ladders sold with these beds have a flawed geometry leading to possible entrapment and strangulation should body parts slip into the space above the second rung from the top snd below the bunk bed hutch cross-member.   About 2100 of these beds and hutches...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/pKozJBDZ12E   There is so many “middleman” costs in today’s US health care system, at least one startup is succeeding by offering consumers FDA-approved generic pharmaceuticals at out-of-pocket prices as low or lower than those offered by their health insurance companies as copays.   The online pharmacy DiRx, based in East Brunswick NJ, buys drugs directly from manufa...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/r2Op7LBY5h8   An international collaborative research group has demonstrated that a commercially-available breathalyzer, the TERA.Bio system, can diagnose CoVid.   It does so by detecting the spectral signature of CoVid19-specifiic volatile organic compounds in the exhaled breaths of the infected.     Testing a group of 70 CoVid-infected and 700 uninfected persons, th...