Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/1v6QAtZXecw

Weill-Cornell researchers now tell us to add pancreatic cells, including those that synthesize all-important insulin, to the list of cells in tissues that are vulnerable to damage from CoVid infection.  The Cornell group just presented this warning during the virtual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes this past October.

Using an organoid model, the investigators showed that the Covid19 virus attacks multiple types of pancreatic islet cells and that CoVid-infected beta cells produce significantly less insulin and may begin production of digestive enzymes.

Other studies reported at the same meetings showed that pancreatic cells express ACE2 receptors, the attachment point for CoVid.  Meanwhile, ongoing epidemiological investigations are looking at the incidence and severity of CoVid-associated diabetes.

https://trinityhealthofne.mednewsplus.com/Topic/729/ArticleEmailed/85126?userguid=37c40ef9-7576-4d4c-92ac-ceb9c1bba4c0

#diabetes #CoVid #pancreas

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/1v6QAtZXecw

Weill-Cornell researchers now tell us to add pancreatic cells, including those that synthesize all-important insulin, to the list of cells in tissues that are vulnerable to damage from CoVid infection.  The Cornell group just presented this warning during the virtual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes this past October.

Using an organoid model, the investigators showed that the Covid19 virus attacks multiple types of pancreatic islet cells and that CoVid-infected beta cells produce significantly less insulin and may begin production of digestive enzymes.

Other studies reported at the same meetings showed that pancreatic cells express ACE2 receptors, the attachment point for CoVid.  Meanwhile, ongoing epidemiological investigations are looking at the incidence and severity of CoVid-associated diabetes.

https://trinityhealthofne.mednewsplus.com/Topic/729/ArticleEmailed/85126?userguid=37c40ef9-7576-4d4c-92ac-ceb9c1bba4c0

#diabetes #CoVid #pancreas

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/wrNvC96y3a4

The media has been heralding the development of molnupiravir, an oral anti-viral agent developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, that reduced the incidence of hospitalization and death for CoVid patients by about 50%.  Let’s look at the fine print about this drug.  

The 50% number comes from a Merck phase 3 randomized, controlled, double-blind multi-site global trial of molnupiravir which was stopped at the 90% recruitment level due to “compelling results.” Those participating had positive CoVid PCR tests, mild-to-moderate infections, at least one complicating risk factor such as obesity, diabetes, or older age and began the drug within 5 days of symptom onset.

This orally administered drug inhibits viral replication by causing local mutations in the viral RNA.  While those in the study did not have any worrisome short-term adverse effects, details of side effects of the drug have not been released and there is the possibility that molnupiravir could mutate a patient’s DNA with catastrophic results.  For this reason, those in the trial were warned to abstain from sex and to use contraception.

This drug was previously tried in hospitalized CoVid patients without a significant clinical benefit.  It does seem to work earlier in the infection cycle, but there may well be a limited number of days after infection during which it will benefit a patient.  And when it is of use, there is only a 50-50 chance you will be helped.

This drug may turn out to be safe and useful, but for now buyer beware.  If it is proven useful, it will be added to drugs such as monoclonal antibody cocktails and Remdesivir for early disease and dexamethasone and tocilizumab for later disease.  The best defense, though,  is prevention with a CoVid vaccine…. so get vaccinated.

https://www.merck.com/news/merck-and-ridgebacks-investigational-oral-antiviral-molnupiravir-reduced-the-risk-of-hospitalization-or-death-by-approximately-50-percent-compared-to-placebo-for-patients-with-mild-or-moderat/

https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-interim-analysis-of-oral-antiviral-molnupiravir/

#molnupiravir #CoVid #mutagenesis 

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/wrNvC96y3a4

The media has been heralding the development of molnupiravir, an oral anti-viral agent developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, that reduced the incidence of hospitalization and death for CoVid patients by about 50%.  Let’s look at the fine print about this drug.  

The 50% number comes from a Merck phase 3 randomized, controlled, double-blind multi-site global trial of molnupiravir which was stopped at the 90% recruitment level due to “compelling results.” Those participating had positive CoVid PCR tests, mild-to-moderate infections, at least one complicating risk factor such as obesity, diabetes, or older age and began the drug within 5 days of symptom onset.

This orally administered drug inhibits viral replication by causing local mutations in the viral RNA.  While those in the study did not have any worrisome short-term adverse effects, details of side effects of the drug have not been released and there is the possibility that molnupiravir could mutate a patient’s DNA with catastrophic results.  For this reason, those in the trial were warned to abstain from sex and to use contraception.

This drug was previously tried in hospitalized CoVid patients without a significant clinical benefit.  It does seem to work earlier in the infection cycle, but there may well be a limited number of days after infection during which it will benefit a patient.  And when it is of use, there is only a 50-50 chance you will be helped.

This drug may turn out to be safe and useful, but for now buyer beware.  If it is proven useful, it will be added to drugs such as monoclonal antibody cocktails and Remdesivir for early disease and dexamethasone and tocilizumab for later disease.  The best defense, though,  is prevention with a CoVid vaccine…. so get vaccinated.

https://www.merck.com/news/merck-and-ridgebacks-investigational-oral-antiviral-molnupiravir-reduced-the-risk-of-hospitalization-or-death-by-approximately-50-percent-compared-to-placebo-for-patients-with-mild-or-moderat/

https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-interim-analysis-of-oral-antiviral-molnupiravir/

#molnupiravir #CoVid #mutagenesis 

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/BVh3JJkfrQU

Initiating moderate aerobic exercise within 10 days following a concussion reduces an adolescent’s risk of post-concussion symptoms by 48%.  University of Buffalo researchers studied 118 adolescents who sustained concussions while playing sports.  Of them, 61 followed an aerobic exercise program and 57 received the placebo therapy of stretching exercises.

The exercisers took a median of 14 days to recover while the control stretching group recovered 35% more slowly at 19 days.  This recovery lag harms these student athletes as it interferes with their academic programs.  The individualized, sub-symptomatic aerobic program elevates pulse rates without triggering negative symptoms.

Bottom line: athletes should aerobically exercise post-concussion rather than sitting on their butts.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(21)00267-4/fulltext#relAudio

#concussion #adolescents #athletics #aerobics 

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/BVh3JJkfrQU

Initiating moderate aerobic exercise within 10 days following a concussion reduces an adolescent’s risk of post-concussion symptoms by 48%.  University of Buffalo researchers studied 118 adolescents who sustained concussions while playing sports.  Of them, 61 followed an aerobic exercise program and 57 received the placebo therapy of stretching exercises.

The exercisers took a median of 14 days to recover while the control stretching group recovered 35% more slowly at 19 days.  This recovery lag harms these student athletes as it interferes with their academic programs.  The individualized, sub-symptomatic aerobic program elevates pulse rates without triggering negative symptoms.

Bottom line: athletes should aerobically exercise post-concussion rather than sitting on their butts.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(21)00267-4/fulltext#relAudio

#concussion #adolescents #athletics #aerobics 

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/3aNsAmXBDFc

Today’s newly announced medical discoveries that point to future therapy:

Lab on a chip offers speedy heart attack diagnosis

Better vaccine immunity from a skin patch than a jab

Steerable catheters to deliver brain therapy

And finally, a tissue glue based on barnacles

It currently takes hours to confirm the heart muscle damage diagnostic of a heart attack.  Bioengineers at Notre Dame working with cardiologists at the University of Florida now report a 30 minute, ultra-sensitive membrane-based test to detect the microRNAs that confirm a heart attack diagnosis.  Their system uses tiny amounts of blood, can distinguish the cardiac muscle changes due to lack of oxygen from so-call re-perfusion changes, and is portable.  It may provide a life-saving resource to areas far from cardiac cath facilities.

A 3D printed vaccine patch invokes a 10-fold stronger immune response compared with delivery of the same vaccine into the arm muscle.  This from a University of North Carolina study that used a patch of microneedles fabricated by a 3D printing process called continuous liquid interface production or CLIP. The investigators showed that this carpet of microneedles triggers enhanced antibody production and cell-mediated immunity in a relatively non-invasive manner.

UC-San Diego investigators have developed steerable catheters tiny enough to navigate the smaller blood vessels of the deep brain.  They achieved the result by mimicking the micro-hydraulics of insect legs by casting layers of silicone with different levels of stiffness.  The catheters are bent by pressurized saline, and they have been successfully deployed during neurosurgery on pigs.

And finally, from MIT comes a novel tissue glue inspired by the sticky substances used by barnacles to attach to rocks.  This adhesive is unique since it works on surfaces covered with blood making it useful for sealing tissues with open blood vessels.  It consists of the polymer polyacrylic acid, an NHS ester, and the sugar chitosan.  The trio are mixed, frozen into sheets, ground into microparticles, and then suspended in medical grade silicon oil.  The adhesive will set and stop any bleeding within 15-30 seconds after application.

These and other cutting edge solutions are coming to your doctor’s office and our hospitals…….some day soon!

https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2021/LC/D1LC00685A

https://www.pnas.org/content/118/39/e2102595118

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819113048.htm

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-021-00769-y

#heartattack #microRNA #labonachip #microneedles #vaccination  #catheter #brain #steerable #glue #bleeding #barnacles

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/3aNsAmXBDFc

Today’s newly announced medical discoveries that point to future therapy:

Lab on a chip offers speedy heart attack diagnosis

Better vaccine immunity from a skin patch than a jab

Steerable catheters to deliver brain therapy

And finally, a tissue glue based on barnacles

It currently takes hours to confirm the heart muscle damage diagnostic of a heart attack.  Bioengineers at Notre Dame working with cardiologists at the University of Florida now report a 30 minute, ultra-sensitive membrane-based test to detect the microRNAs that confirm a heart attack diagnosis.  Their system uses tiny amounts of blood, can distinguish the cardiac muscle changes due to lack of oxygen from so-call re-perfusion changes, and is portable.  It may provide a life-saving resource to areas far from cardiac cath facilities.

A 3D printed vaccine patch invokes a 10-fold stronger immune response compared with delivery of the same vaccine into the arm muscle.  This from a University of North Carolina study that used a patch of microneedles fabricated by a 3D printing process called continuous liquid interface production or CLIP. The investigators showed that this carpet of microneedles triggers enhanced antibody production and cell-mediated immunity in a relatively non-invasive manner.

UC-San Diego investigators have developed steerable catheters tiny enough to navigate the smaller blood vessels of the deep brain.  They achieved the result by mimicking the micro-hydraulics of insect legs by casting layers of silicone with different levels of stiffness.  The catheters are bent by pressurized saline, and they have been successfully deployed during neurosurgery on pigs.

And finally, from MIT comes a novel tissue glue inspired by the sticky substances used by barnacles to attach to rocks.  This adhesive is unique since it works on surfaces covered with blood making it useful for sealing tissues with open blood vessels.  It consists of the polymer polyacrylic acid, an NHS ester, and the sugar chitosan.  The trio are mixed, frozen into sheets, ground into microparticles, and then suspended in medical grade silicon oil.  The adhesive will set and stop any bleeding within 15-30 seconds after application.

These and other cutting edge solutions are coming to your doctor’s office and our hospitals…….some day soon!

https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2021/LC/D1LC00685A

https://www.pnas.org/content/118/39/e2102595118

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210819113048.htm

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-021-00769-y

#heartattack #microRNA #labonachip #microneedles #vaccination  #catheter #brain #steerable #glue #bleeding #barnacles

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/apXMbrNIDtw

The FDA and Cuisine Innovations Unlimited, LLC now recall Vemondo Vegan Crabless Mini Crabcakes.  This product contains undeclared egg yolks.  Those with egg allergies may develop a serious or life-threatening allergic reactions after ingesting these crabcakes.  This product was sold in (Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia.  If you bought these crabcakes, return them to the place of purchase.  If you need more information, call Cuisine Innovations at 1-201-439-1036, Ext. 26.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/cuisine-innovations-unlimited-llc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-egg-yolks-vemondo-vegan-crabless

#cuisineinnovations #vemondo #crabcakes #egg #allergy #recall

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/apXMbrNIDtw

The FDA and Cuisine Innovations Unlimited, LLC now recall Vemondo Vegan Crabless Mini Crabcakes.  This product contains undeclared egg yolks.  Those with egg allergies may develop a serious or life-threatening allergic reactions after ingesting these crabcakes.  This product was sold in (Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia.  If you bought these crabcakes, return them to the place of purchase.  If you need more information, call Cuisine Innovations at 1-201-439-1036, Ext. 26.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/cuisine-innovations-unlimited-llc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-egg-yolks-vemondo-vegan-crabless

#cuisineinnovations #vemondo #crabcakes #egg #allergy #recall