Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CtvlCX9JloY Nearly half (49.1%) of those using ketamine nasal spray called it “very effective and more than a third (35.5%) described their lives as “much better.”    Neurologists at Philadelphia’s Thomas Jefferson University’s headache center screened 242 subjects, 80% of whom were women with a mean age of 44 years.  Their descriptive study found that the par...

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/kjX9rfH12LI Bariatric surgery in the form of sleeve gastrectomy leads to a significant reduction in bone strength associated with decreased bone density and increased bone marrow fat.  Harvard Medical School radiologists report these findings after a 2 year prospective study of 54 subjects 15 to 21 years of age. Of the group, 25 underwent surgery and  29 received dietary...

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CtvjF5MLG0N/ You might say: Doc….We’ve heard over and over that charcoal grilling produces carcinogenic compounds that might later trigger cancer.  Now, though, Stanford University chemists have uncovered yet another genetic risk associated with cooking foods at high temperatures. We know that our food comes from plants and animals, but we never think about th...

Vid: https://www.instagram.com/p/CtviHYxMNOn/ Those who use drugs like methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine, branded as Ritalin and Dexedrine, to think faster, work longer, and get better test scores can actually handicap their performance.  University of Melbourne neuroscientists report this finding after testing 40 subjects, ages 18 to 35 years, in a randomized, double-blinded trial. There tabu...

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cta-8UcRK_B/ Recall By: FDA; Cricket Creek Farm Sold: Sophelise and Tobasi were distributed in Massachusetts and New York at Wild Oats, Williamstown, MA; Provisions Williamstown, Williamstown, MA; McEnroe Organic Farm Market, Millerton, NY; New Lebanon Farmers Market; New Lebanon, NY, at restaurants, and farmers markets. Affected are Sophelise cheese with prod...

Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cta90YpMT7c/ Recall By: FDA; Tillamook Problem: Cartons of this ice cream actually contain Tillamook Waffle Cone Swirl ice cream that contains wheat and soy.  The product in question is packaged with a Tillamook Chocolate Peanut Butter carton sidewall but with a Tillamook Waffle Cone Swirl lid. The affected lot codes TL-41-80 and BB041324. Action: If you have a...

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cta7mkhJseL/ Recall By: FDA; Rudolph Foods Problem: This product has undeclared wheat and food colorings yellow 6, yellow 6 lake, blue 2 lake, blue 1 lake, and red 40 lake.  Those with wheat allergies, gluten allergies, celiac disease, and allergies to these food colorings should avoid this product. Sold: This product was sold in select Dollar Tree Stores in 1...

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cta6ywCOmlB/ Recall By:  FDA; Regal Health Food International Affected product labeled as Regal Gourmet Snacks Milk Chocolate Raisins with Best By 04/07/24. Sold: Dollar General stores in Scottsville, KY, Jonesville, SC, Blair, NE, South Boston, VA, and Ardmore, OK, Dollar General Distribution Centers.   Action: Dispose of product or return to the store where...

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cta6AGnrN2X/ Recall By: CPSC; Textron Specialized Vehicles Problem: The fuel rail dampener snap ring can become loose and leak fuel, posing fire and burn hazards. Sold: About 8,350 were sold in the US and about 4,630 were sold in Canada. Actions: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled snowmobiles and contact Textron Specialized Vehicles at 1-(888...

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cta5SREMf84/ Recall By: CPSC; Ashley Furniture Industries Problem: The power loveseats, sofas, and recliners’ cupholders with LED lighting can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard. Sold: About 253,000 were sold in the US and about 9,450 were sold in Canada. Remedy: Consumers should immediately unplug the loveseats, sofas, and recliners and contact Ashley Fu...

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cta4nZdP9Zp/ Recall By: CPSC; Bell Sports Problem: The recalled helmets do not comply with the U.S. CPSC federal safety standard for bicycle helmets. The helmets can fail to protect in the event of a crash, posing a risk of head injury. Sold: About 15,000 were sold in the US and about 1,465 were sold in Canada at Epicenter Cycling, Freewheel Bike West Bank, Ve...

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cta36UtvC-l/ Recalled By:  CPSC; TJX Problem: The legs can break or detach when you are seated on the bench leading to falls and injuries. Sold: About 10,850 were sold at Marshalls and T.J. Maxx stores nationwide. Actions: Consumers should immediately stop using these recalled benches and contact TJX at 1-833-408-0502 for instructions on how to participate in...

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cta3IABOQ7o/ Recall By: CPSC; Allied Air Enterprises Problem: A component inside the furnace was improperly assembled, causing the furnace to produce high levels of carbon monoxide (CO) under certain operating conditions, which poses a risk of CO poisoning to the consumer. Sold: About 9,255 sold at ARMSTRONG and AIREASE authorized HVAC dealers nationwide. Acti...

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cta2Lxot9ao/ Recall by:  CPSC; John Deere Problem: Fuel can leak from under the fuel cap, posing a fire hazard. Sold: About 1,600 in the US and about 60 in Canada. Actions: Consumers should stop using the recalled XUV590 Gator utility vehicles immediately and contact an authorized John Deere dealer at (800) 537-8233 for a free inspection, and if necessary, fre...

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cta2Lxot9ao/ The FDA has just approved Nalmefene, branded as Opvee, an opioid-antagonist with a 5 fold longer half life, 11 vs. 2 hours,  compared with the standard product naloxone.   This nasal spray, an Opiant  Pharmaceutical product, will be available for use in children and adults 12 yrs and older. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2805739...

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CtVkao6LrCL/ Newly approved is a fully automatic Bionic Pancreas developed by the Beta Bionics company for use by insulin-dependent Type 1 diabetics 6 years and older.  Unlike already available insulin pumps, the iLet Bionic Pancreas control software requires only the input of a patient’s weight and an estimate of carbohydrate meal contents as low, medium, or...

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CtViqHetMQv/ The FDA ha just approved a Pfizer RSV vaccine.  Branded Abrysvo, it joins The GlaxoSmithKline’s Arexvy vaccine.  Both are indicated for use in those over 60 yrs.  Someday, though, they may be given to pregnant women and babies.  The CDC will meet in June to draw up specific recommendations governing use of these vaccines. https://medicalxpress.com...

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CtVhwZbLy_N/ Canadian biochemical engineers have developed a biopolymer wound dressing that may be shaped using 3D printers to conform to a burn victim’s face or other body parts.  The hydrogel material combines a seaweed-based biopolymer, a heat-sensitive polymer, and cellulose crystals.  The dressing will not only provide protective coverage for burned skin...

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CtU3icjNLuz/ Those who have lost a hand or foot can now sense temperature changes on surfaces they touch with their prosthetic replacements.  Swiss bioengineers have developed a temperature sensor that, when attached to say a prosthetic finger, transmits signals to thermal electrodes attached to the healthy arm or forearm.  Touching a hot or cold surface immed...

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CtU2u4WLUWk/ Any of us can snap home expert-quality ultrasound images using a handheld device attached to an iPad.  So say Harvard Brigham and Women’s radiologists after comparing lung ultrasounds captured by 30 volunteers following short training sessions with those images captured by expert sonographers.  The quality and interpretability of ultrasound images...

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CtU1_8JuYaA/ Sucralose, marketed as Splenda, triggers production of a DNA-toxic chemical.  A North Carolina State University study not only points out that Splenda can trigger the generation of the toxic sucralose-6-acetate after ingestion but also finds small quantities of the toxin already present as impurities in sucralose-containing products on your shelf....

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CtU1FQ6L-v7/ After administering nearly a quarter million doses of bivalent CoVid mRNA vaccines manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer to babies as young as 6 months, not one case of the cardiac complications myocarditis or pericarditis occurred.  This the conclusion by Kaiser-Permanente researchers who vaccinated and monitored more than a half million children wi...

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CtU0Rljs7PJ/ Babies breastfed for at least 4 months perform significantly better on their English and Math achievement tests at age 16 than those never breastfed.  This from a British study of 5000 kids born between 2000 and 2002. Tabulating the teen’s scores on the British General Certificate of Secondary Education or GCSE tests, those breastfed for 4-6 month...

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CtUzjZeJKyl/ With CoVid waning, we now have another respiratory virus on the rise.  The RNA paramyxovirus, named human metapneumovirus or hMPV, produces cold-like symptoms.  Like colds, it can lead to secondary bronchitis and pneumonia.   There or no drugs to treat it or vaccines to prevent it.  The very young, elders, and those with immune issues best avoid g...

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CtUyWBltdN9/ Diet drugs containing semaglutide are in great demand but….short supply.  The FDA is now warning that the approved products including Rybelsus tablets, Ozempic injection, and Wegovy injection are being improperly spoofed, that is mimicked, by compounding pharmacies.  The problem seems to be that some pharmacies are using salt forms of semaglutide...