Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Hopefully you or someone you love will never require a limb amputation.  One of the chief side effects of losing an arm or leg is so-called phantom limb pain, and it occurs in some 75% of amputees.  This is a painful sensation that seems to be coming from the portion of the limb that is no longer there.   Reconstructive surgeons at Ohio State now announce a fix for this problem, and its called targeted muscle reinnervation or TMR.  This procedure involves rerouting the cut nerve ends into surrounding muscle, and it was first used to enhance use of prosthetic limbs, but patients also noticed an absence of any limb pain. A study of 22 patients with below the knee amputations shows that, after nerve rerouting, only 13% rather than 75% had any pain sensations.  At Ohio State, this procedure is now done at the time of amputation in all patients, but it is possible to perform it after the fact with beneficial results. If you or yours have phantom limb pain or are facing an amputation, ask the surgeon about TMR. Vid

The FDA has just approved the newest vaccine for kids combining the 6 most common immunizations for childhood illnesses: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis or whooping cough, hemophilus influenza type B, hepatitis B, and polio.  In the past, children would receive the DTaP vaccine, but then separate vaccines for polio, hemophilus influenza, and hepatitis.  Called Vaxelis, the vaccine is a 3 dose series to be given at 2, 4, and 6 months of age.  An additional booster shot for pertussis must be given to complete the immunization against that disease. The addition of this vaccine should improve immunization rates by simplifying the schedule of shots for any given child.  It will be only somewhat simpler.  In addition to the Vaxelis series, children will still require separate shots for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), chickenpox (varicella), pneumococcal disease (Prevnar 13 and 23), human papilloma virus (HPV), hepatitis A (HepA), rotavirus (Rotarix), and the flu. Vidcast: https://youtu.be/qVQd9e7Un_g https://www.fda

Food scientists at the University of Georgia report that cottonseed oil outperforms olive oil in terms of blood lipid normalization during a 5 day trial diet of each.  The scientists studied 15 men using a crossover design study in which each subject followed a diet rich in one oil or the other for 5 days, enjoyed a break, and then followed a diet with the other oil. When the data was tabulated, those eating the cottonseed oil-rich diet had higher HDL cholesterol values but lower total cholesterols, LDL cholesterols, and triglycerides than when eating the olive oil-rich diet.  It appears that cottonseed oil will be the new oil of choice in your diet. Vidcast: https://youtu.be/j1WI4x9lSI8 Kristine R.PolleyaNatalie J.OswellbRonald B.PeggbChad M.PatonabJamie A.Cooper.   A 5-day high-fat diet rich in cottonseed oil improves cholesterol profiles and triglycerides compared to olive oil in healthy menhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2018.09.001 #Cottonseedoil #oliveoil #cholesterol #HDL #LDL  #triglycerides  #radion

It’s no blarney when I tell you that ancient Irish soil may contain the key to more powerful antibiotics in the future.  Folk medicine has identified regions of Ireland, the Boho Highlands, where the soil is known to have medicinal properties.     Microbiologists from Swansea University, Wales, have identified a novel strain of bacteria in that soil that produces secretions which effectively kill 4 of the 6 most common currently antibiotic-resistant bacteria including MRSA, enterococci, klebsiella, and acinetobacter.  This new strain of Strepomyces bacterium is unique since it kills a wide variety of pathogens, both gram positive and gram negative. Work is now ongoing to identify and purify the chemical byproducts of this bacterium that can be artificially synthesized and repurposed as prescription antibiotics. Luciana Terra, Paul J. Dyson, Matthew D. Hitchings, Liam Thomas, Alyaa Abdelhameed, Ibrahim M. Banat, Salvatore A. Gazze, Dušica Vujaklija, Paul D. Facey, Lewis W. Francis, Gerry A. Quinn. A Novel Alka

At least one in 5 new mothers experience postpartum depression, but, wait, new fathers may experience it too.  A study from University of Cambridge sampling more than 3000 British families just published in JAMA Psychiatry shows that one in 20 fathers may suffer from it too.  Most interesting was the finding that 18 year old girls whose father did have confirmed postpartum depression were themselves at a greater risk for depression.  This was not the case for male offspring. Studies continue to ferret out the causes for this observation.  Meanwhile, though, it is important that new fathers as well as new mothers be monitored for the signs of depression.  If found, all should be aggressively treated in an effort to prevent untoward effects of their emotional challenges on their mates and offspring.  Girls with a family history of maternal or paternal postpartum depression should themselves be watched and treated.  Leticia Gutierrez-Galve, Alan Stein, Lucy Hanington, Jon Heron, Glyn Lewis, Christine O’Farrelly,

If you want to be more approachable, you might try tilting your head slightly.  Psychologists at UC-Santa Cruz studied this phenomenon using eye tracking equipment.  They found that a head tilt of as little as 11 degrees makes your eyes less threatening.  Their studies show that the tilt makes your conversational companion focus only on the upper eye, and a single eye tends to be more inviting than both eyes. The researchers plan to extend their studies, and they have a particular interest in whether head-tilting will enhance communications with autistic persons.  If a family member or someone you know is autistic or on the spectrum or if you just want to try having smoother communications, try tilting your head just a tiny bit when speaking with them.  It might just aid in breaking a barrier. Vidcast: https://youtu.be/cGa4ob4THog Nicolas Davidenko, Hema Kopalle, Bruce Bridgeman. The Upper Eye Bias: Rotated Faces Draw Fixations to the Upper Eye. Perception, 2018; 030100661881962 DOI: 10.1177/0301006618819628

With the dark days of winter ahead for all of us, here’s a way to beat the boredom.  Try doing the things that you normally do but in a different way.  For example: Eat popcorn with chopsticks. Drink water in a champagne glass, a shipping envelope, or lapping it out of a bowl like a dog. Write and draw with your “other” hand. Watch a video with finger goggles. Do a random walk: at each intersection, flip a coin to decide whether to go left or right. Eat a slice of pizza in different ways: fold it over, eat the crust first, eat from the sides, make pizza into different shapes. Bet you can think of a slew of other things to try.  If you come up with really great ideas, email me at drhowardsmith.reports@gmail.com, and I’ll pass them along to everyone. By the way, a study done at Ohio State University shows that these novel ways of doing things are most enjoyable the first time. VidCast: https://youtu.be/ijv5aY8jxr8 #Boredom  #winter  #variety  #wronghand  #popcorn  #walking  #pizza  #radionews

A dramatic and shocking demonstation posted on Twitter by Isu-Isu Semasa and his mechanical smoking machine.  Here is Semasa’s time-lapse photography that shows you what is left in your throat and lungs after smoking 600 cigarettes. YouTube: https://youtu.be/vHXq99BU--I https://mobile.twitter.com/homopoliticoos #Smoking  #tar  #lungcancer  #copd  #quitsmoking  #radionews    

On the subject of moderating alcohol intake, let’s review a study from the University of Oregon that looked at heavy drinkers and smokers who were trying to moderate both habits.  They studied a group of 22 smoking and drinking subjects who reduced their alcohol consumption from an average of 29 down to 7 drinks per week.   As drinking diminished, their nicotine metabolite ratios dropped as well.  Those with lower nicotine metabolite ratios had an easier time kicking the smoking habit.  Unfortunately, this phenomenon only occurred in men. Vidcast: https://youtu.be/o8HyOBhmurc  #Smoking  #drinking   #smokers #cigarettes #tobacco #vaping  #healthnews  #radionews Sarah S Dermody, Christian S Hendershot, Allyson K Andrade, Maria Novalen, Rachel F Tyndale. Changes in Nicotine Metabolite Ratio among Daily Smokers receiving Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 2018; DOI: 10.1093/ntr/nty265  

Every year since 2014, Great Britain has hosted a campaign called “Dry January.”   For at least this month, participants abstain from alcohol for 30 days.  Psychologists at the University of Sussex now report findings from a study of over 800 persons participating in last year's annual post-holidays drying out fest.  The month off alcohol has lasting effects: less drinking over many months, weight loss, better sleep, an energy burst, and healthier appearing skin.  Six months after the month off alcohol, 80% were in better control of their drinking, 70% were enjoying better health and sleeping better, 67% had more energy, 58% lost weight, and 54% had better skin.  A national survey showed that one in every ten British drinkers plan to do Dry January, 2019 this month. Anyone anywhere can participate.  There is a smartphone app you can download to help you through the month and encourage you to control your drinking from then on. #smoking  #quitting #annuals #alcohol #booze #healthier #healthnews  #radionews Uni

Stories and features: Britain's “Dry January.” Less drinking helps stop smoking efforts. VIDEO: What smoking 30 packs of cigarettes looks like. HELP: Beat winter boredom. A head tilt makes you more approachable. FUTUREMED: Irish bogs may yield stronger antibiotics. Cottonseed oil better lipid chaser than olive oil. New comprehensive child vaccine. HEALTHTECH: heart attack risk calculator from Mayo Clinic. Surgery to stop phantom limb pain. TRY A LITTLE KINDNESS: a brave driver is rewarded. References and show notes: https://www.drhowardsmith.com/jan-2019-health-news-roundup VidCast:https://youtu.be/Di_LcSE03Xk  

Today’s topics: A trick for comforting babies. Marijuana damages sperm DNA. Exercise is better than medication for reducing blood pressure. Milk cereal drinks will make your child fat. There is no such thing as a harmless concussion. Alcohol triggers migraine headaches. Then some SHORT SHORTS......... Compression stocking may turbocharge you. Marijuana could hurt your eyes. Supermarket impulse buying will fatten your family. New FDA guidelines for preventing narcotic overdoses. Getting the most from spinach. VidCast:https://youtu.be/iLXuDV-ppdk    

This is Health News You Should Use, the latest medical discoveries that you can use in a practical way to keep yourself and your family healthy.  Let’s run down a list of today’s topics:  Obesity breeds cancer. Eye blinks are conversational cues. Your doctor’s stethoscopes are filthy. Teen bullying produces brain damage. Subway travel triggers colds and flu. Your body weight through life predicts chances of heart failure. A better way to manage teen stress. Evening exercise doesn’t harm sleep. Timely physical therapy prevents need for narcotics. In addition: special features: HELP to sharpen your brain activity; FUTURISTIC ways of finding new antibiotics, and a LITTLE KINDNESS in the form of a heart-warming story for this holiday season. You’ll find all the references to that I discuss as well as a copy of show notes on my website at www.drhowardsmith.com Vidcast:https://youtu.be/mTsy8qi8koo  

Scoped broadcast of Dr. Howard Smith hosting David Hubel, MD, Harvard Medical School Professor and Nobel Laureate in Medicine/Physiology and Neil Barnard, MD, Physicians' Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Today's topics include: PREGNANT WOMEN’S COSMETICS SKEW DAUGHTERS DEVELOPMENT; PICTURES OF YOUR ROTTING BLOOD VESSELS DRIVES HEALTHIER BEHAVIOR; VAPING MARIJUANA MAY BE DANGEROUS; TEAM CHEMISTRY OUTFLANKS STAR PLAYERS; LIVING IN GREEN SPACES REDUCES HEART DISEASE; STOMACH ANTACIDS REDUCE BLEEDING FROM BLOOD THINNERS; IBD MAY PREDISPOSE TO PROSTATE CANCER; HOW THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET PREVENTS HEART DISEASE; DRAWING BESTS WRITING FOR MEMORY RETENTION; FDA APPROVES A MOBILE APP FOR OPIOD WITHDRAWAL; RECALL OF KOTEX TAMPONS. References AND a copy of show notes on my website at: https://www.drhowardsmith.com/copy-of-november-2018-health-news VIDCAST: https://youtu.be/Vlq6mgGwraQ  

Dr. Howard Smith sifts through mounds of medical news to bring you Health News Should Should Use including: Height and cancer, Dad fitness impact on offspring, Pancreatic cancer early warning, biofeedback therapy for constipation, maternal hypothyroidism impacts child intelligence, grow new spinal disks, last resort for migraines, organic food benefits, macular degeneration treatment simplified, omega 3 fatty acids, reduce miscarriages, pacifier licking reduces allergies, preventing nosebleeds, medical hypnosis for IBD, sport brain injury, weight-lifting and aerobic exercise, family meals, kid fun ideas, soy baby food dangers, smoking fathers and fertility, teaching speech to infants, narcotics overprescribing, screen time depression, hookah dangers, coffee prevents dementia, farmer’s market dangers, Apple Watch heart-health. Complete show notes: https://www.drhowardsmith.com/november-2018-health-news VidCast:https://youtu.be/a0u6v6xAkL0  

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Health capsules from the first part of October, 2018 including: flu shots; prevention of non-fatal injuries; FDA approvals of Gardasil 9 and a Bose hearing aid, a drug to prevent diabetes, prevention of macular degeneration, how to avoid raising a bratty child, danger of gastric reflux medications, pediatricians boot unvaccinated kids, sports and bone density, pre-eclampsia association with dementia, how to avoid raising bullies, calorie counts on menus. PLUS bonus: using body aromas to review movies; why we shiver, checklist for winterizing your home, and why Stephen King is a nice guy! VidCast: https://youtu.be/mVx74gdi96Q _________________ Kirsty R. Short, Katherine Kedzierska, Carolien E. van de Sandt. Back to the Future: Lessons Learned From the 1918 Influenza Pandemic. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 2018; 8 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00343 Mark R. Zonfrillo, Rebecca S. Spicer, Bruce A. Lawrence, Ted R. Miller. Incidence and costs of injuries to children and adults in the United States. I