Dr. Howard Smith Reports

FDA is compelling Medtronic to recall its MiniMed 600 Series Insulin Pumps.   This includes Models 630G and 670G and includes 342,205 devices.   The recall was initiated in November, 2019.   The reason for recalls is a missing or broken retainer ring the helps lock the insulin cartridge into place in the pump’s reservoir compartment.   If the cartridge is not properly locked in place, insulin may...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/vksM1_1l1UA   Taking the beta blocker metoprolol, Lopressor, along with aspirin for 6 weeks can prevent heart instability in association with enduring the loss of loved ones.   Australia’s University of Sydney studied 85 individuals within 2 weeks of their losses.   The treatment group received metoprolol 25 mg and aspirin 100 mg daily for 6 weeks.   The data showed t...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/N7DsCNmHUro   By definition, a good Samaritan helps anyone in distress.   A new study from psychologists at Boston College and Harvard concludes we bestow more glory on those who help strangers than on those helping family members with one notable exception.   The researchers surveyed 1300 subjects and asked them to make make value judgments about the goodness of help...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/lwVLUsXVm40   The celebratory bell ringing when a cancer patient finishes radiation, chemo, or immunotherapy fails to prompt good feelings but rather conjures flashbacks of physical and emotional pain..   Oncologists at USC now publish a study of 210 patients half of whom rang the bell.   All filled out an opinion survey to measure distress.   The bell ringers turned...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/wskxVsnbwwk   A world-wide survey conducted in 40 nations reveals that 71% of women would prefer larger or smaller breasts.   A total of 18,541 women with an average age of 34 years were surveyed in this collaborative study coordinated at Britain’s Anglia Ruskin University.   The counts show that 48% want larger breasts and 23% want smaller breasts.   The breast size...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/U9Q5tWok52g   Middle-aged women and men consuming fermented soy in miso soup and natto enjoy a 10-11% lower risk of premature death compared with those who rarely eat these foods.   A Japanese study just published in the British Medical Journal reviewed the health records of nearly 93,000 men and women 45 to 74 years of age.   The study also revealed that natto, a com...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/QLS_TMTgzPs   During a caloric restriction diet, the addition of extended sleep produced significantly greater weight loss and waist circumference reduction.   These conclusions from a Mexican study of 52 obese teens who were following a diet with their daily intake cut by 500 calories.   This study builds on one from the University of Chicago 6 years ago that undersc...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/qXe_aKmPdoY   We’ve known for years that unique and surprising stimuli foster better learning.   A Belgian study, just published in the journal Neuron now tells us how this happens.   Using a mouse model, the neuroscientists demonstrated that novel fragrances versus familiar ones trigger the brain cells that produce and release dopamine, a learning catalyst.   When th...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/eK0gG8io0SY   Your friends eating habits, known to you via Twitter, Instagram, and TicTok, profoundly influence your own.   When they eat fruits and vegetables, you will be more likely to do the same now that you know.   A study from the UK’s Aston University surveyed 369 undergrads about their eating habits and media use.   Besides the positive, the tabulated results...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/43XfUWWch4Y   The bucket seat cradling you contains the toxic organophosphate flame retardant TDCIPP.   The longer your commute, the more danger you face.   A just published study from UC-Riverside tested 90 non-residential college students traveling to their classes.   The participants wore silicone wristbands that accumulate airborne organics.   The data confirm tha...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/Sek3E-X63SM   You’ll make your best choice faster by quickly narrowing your alternatives to a pair.   Swiss psychologists now report the dynamics of this process after their study of 129 subjects attempting to finalize food choices from a menu.   The investigators unraveled the decision-making process by following the participants’ eye movements.   Those who arrived a...

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/n8Fx1Wj1qzY   Aortic valve replacement by a minimally-invasive transcatheter technique, TAVR, yields long term results equal to those of open heart surgery.   Both restore a patient’s life expectancy to normal without an undue risk of post-op stroke.     A just published multi-site study led by cardiologists at LA’s Cedar-Sinai Hospital followed more than 2,000 patien...

Touching Foods Enhances Eating Experiences Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/zHerBqSyA4w   Handling food makes it tastier for individuals who select their meals with health in mind.   Marketing researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology tested a group of 190 undergraduates half of whom ate healthy cheese cubes or unhealthy mini donuts with their fingers and half with a toothpick.   The results show...

Sun Organic Wintergreen Essential Oils recalled due to inadequate child-resistant packaging and risk of poisoning due to the methyl salicylate component.   Secure the product out of reach of children and contact company at 800-216-7295 for a replacement with safe packaging. Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/phgFpIJvc7k   #skinoil #recall #poisoning  

Star Water Systems Sump Pumps recalled due to overheating and fire risk.   Discontinue use and contact company at 800-742-5044 to obtain a full refund. Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/Uuvyfhb13Jg   #sumppump #firerisk #recall  

Juratoys Sophie la Giraffe Bead Maze Toy recalled since the toy has small parts that fail to meet federal safety standards.   Specifically the wooden triangle shape is a choking danger.   For questions, call the company at 855-665-9287 to check if your batch is being recalled..   Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/HvNJ3c60gak   #toyrecall #choking  

Country Home Products DR Walk Behind Leaf Blowers recalled since blades may break off and fly out of the unit.   Stop using produce and contact company at 800-687-6575 for instructions regarding refund. Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/PsPZKjcpVJY   #leafblower #recall  

Infantino Infant Carriers recalled due to faulty buckles that can break and create a fall hazard.   Stop using and contact company for directions to receive a replacement carrier at 800-840-4916. Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/tQ7DqXML7BA   #infantcarrier #recall  

Rawlings Catcher Helmets recalled since the back plate can fail to protect and lead to a head injury.   Sold in: US and Canada.   Return product to point of purchase or call 800-729-5464.

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/F_XOfcBOxkE   Rooms To Go #Patmos #ChaiseLounge Chair #recalled due to violation of the federal lead paint ban.   Stop using the chairs and contact company at 855-688-0919 for a replacement.  

Efficient Laboratories is voluntarily recalling lots of Rompe Pecho EX, Rompe Pecho CF and Rompe Pecho MAXliquid due to microbial contamination.   These are over the counter cold and flu medications.   Direct questions to the company at 305-805-3456.   #rompepecho #recall

Whole Foods voluntary recalling Bundt Cakes and Chocolate Dipped Cookies . Bundt Cakes (Chocolate Fudge Mini and Marble) and Chocolate Dipped Cookies (Dark Chocolate Dipped Almond Horn, Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroon) due to undeclared milk contamination.   Sold in: KY, MD, NJ, PA, OH, VA, DC. If you have a milk allergy, destroy or return the product. Bring a store receipt in for a full refund....

  Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/O1oX1gbqUJc   Numbers of infected, hospitalized, and perished continues to rise quickly.   Get the latest stats from Bloomberg:   https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2020-wuhan-novel-coronavirus-outbreak/ and bookmark the page. As of this recording, DATE: 2/7/2020, TIME: 3 PM; ConfirmedCasesWorldwide: 31,479; DeathsWorldwide: 638. Norway’s Coalition for Epidermic Prepa...

Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/5ERcQDoWI9A   Waking to a melody versus a jarring buzzer is significantly more likely to erase that groggy feeling from the first part of your day.   This conclusion stems from a study just published by communication scientists at Australia’s Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.   Fifty participants were surveyed for their preferred type of morning alarm sounds.   T...

Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/eb533qJMSyc   Kids whose mothers have pre-existing diabetes or develop it during their pregnancies are one and one-half times more likely to suffer from a hearing loss.   Investigators at the Medical University of South Carolina studied 311 children of so-called diabetic pregnancies (CDPs) and compared them with matched controls.    The CDPs had a 71% incidence of heari...