Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/aONWORsgY5Y

When the language your employ in your social posts becomes more formal and, well irritated,  you likely have medical treatment or, worse, a hospital visit, just ahead.  This observation comes from a Stony Brook University and University of Pennsylvania study that analyzed, using artificial intelligence techniques, the Facebook posts and medical records of nearly 3,000 patients using an urban hospital.

Beginning 10 weeks before a emergency visit, social posts used less informal and jaunty language including lol and omg.  Instead, the verbiage projected anxiety, worry, and depression.

When you read your family’s and friend’s posts, watch for such changes, When you detect them, do ask and ask repeatedly “are you OK?”  

Sharath Chandra Guntuku, H. Andrew Schwartz, Adarsh Kashyap, Jessica S. Gaulton, Daniel C. Stokes, David A. Asch, Lyle H. Ungar, Raina M. Merchant. Variability in Language used on Social Media prior to Hospital Visits. Scientific Reports, 2020; 10 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60750-8

#facebook #twitter #health #anxiety #depression 

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/aONWORsgY5Y

When the language your employ in your social posts becomes more formal and, well irritated,  you likely have medical treatment or, worse, a hospital visit, just ahead.  This observation comes from a Stony Brook University and University of Pennsylvania study that analyzed, using artificial intelligence techniques, the Facebook posts and medical records of nearly 3,000 patients using an urban hospital.

Beginning 10 weeks before a emergency visit, social posts used less informal and jaunty language including lol and omg.  Instead, the verbiage projected anxiety, worry, and depression.

When you read your family’s and friend’s posts, watch for such changes, When you detect them, do ask and ask repeatedly “are you OK?”  

Sharath Chandra Guntuku, H. Andrew Schwartz, Adarsh Kashyap, Jessica S. Gaulton, Daniel C. Stokes, David A. Asch, Lyle H. Ungar, Raina M. Merchant. Variability in Language used on Social Media prior to Hospital Visits. Scientific Reports, 2020; 10 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60750-8

#facebook #twitter #health #anxiety #depression 

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/yerTUeUS_8E

Yamaha has voluntarily recalled its Line 6 Relay G10 Digital Wireless Guitar System. And its charging cable.  The lithium battery may overheat forcing off the battery cover risking both fire and injuries.  If your have the unit, stop using it and call Yamaha at 1-877-865-4636 to obtain more information about a firmware fix for the unit and a replacement charging cable.

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2020/Yamaha-Recalls-Digital-Wireless-Equipment-for-Electric-Guitars-Due-to-Fire-and-Injury-Hazards

#yamaha #guitar #g10system #lithiumbattery

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/2cAU8c-K0Cw

Even in a non-smoking theater, you breathe dangerous levels of tobacco-generated toxins carried in on clothing.  Environmental scientists at Yale measured levels of dangerous chemicals floating in the air during movies frequented by non-smokers versus flicks viewed by smokers.

Analyzing theater air by gas chromatography showed that more hazardous volatile organic gases waft off the clothing of attendees during action movies than during family movies.  Why?  Those loving action films are more often regular smokers.  The toxic emissions during a 2 hour movie were equal to smoking 2-20 cigarettes.

Keep this in mind when decide to view a particular movie in a public theater or streaming at home. 

Roger Sheu, Christof Stönner, Jenna C. Ditto, Thomas Klüpfel, Jonathan Williams, Drew R. Gentner. Human transport of thirdhand tobacco smoke: A prominent source of hazardous air pollutants into indoor nonsmoking environments. Science Advances, 2020; 6 (10): eaay4109 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aay4109

#movies #vocs #tobacco #secondhandsmoke #streaming

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/DNdn86GzpRk

WinCo Foods, LLC. of Boise, ID is recalling its Frozen Blackberries and Frozen Berry Medley.  Both products may be contaminated with Norovirus.  This highly contagious virus frequently causes cruise ship epidemics and triggers a severe gastroenteritis. The young, elders, or immunocompromised may have a critical infection.

The product was sold in WinCo stores in AZ, CA, ID, MT, NAUSEA AND VOMITING, OK, OR, WA, TX, and UT.

If you have this product, destroy it or return it to the store for a full refund.  For more info, call the company at 1-800-824-1706.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/winco-foods-llc-recalls-frozen-blackberries-and-frozen-berry-medley-because-possible-health-risk

#recall #winco #berries #blackberries

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/EGAwo-NBOzo

All tests for coronavirus look for CoVid19 genetic fingerprints in the cells captured relatively painlessly on a Q-tip from the nose or throat.  To fingerprint the genetic material from those cells, it is first multiplied and then probed using a test called reverse-transcriptase n polymerase chain reaction or PCR.  The genes in the patient material are compared against standard probe genes characteristic of the CoVid19 virus.

The first probe genes were identified by the Germans, and they code for the viral envelope E gene.  Their test was adopted by the World Health Organization and most countries. The US government was offered the ready test but said “no thank you.”  The CDC wasted time developing its own probes for the virus nucleocapsid N gene.  Then the initial batch of reagents was flawed.  

All PCR tests takes several days due to the need for genetic multiplication, probe screen, and confirmation testing.  Other, faster tests are in development using CRISPR gene splicing technology to place fluorescent probes or antibody detection tests.  Such tests can deliver results in hours or even minutes rather than days.

https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/how-sars-cov-2-tests-work-and-whats-next-in-covid-19-diagnostics-67210

https://www.mdlinx.com/otolaryngology/top-medical-news/article/2020/03/12/7616823/

#covid19test #coronavirus #pcr #epidemic #pandemic

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/52yv1vdd9K8

Homestar North America of Dallas, TX is recalling its Finch 3 drawer dresser.  These units are unstable unless anchored to the wall.  They can fall over on children or pets causing severe injuries or death.

These units have been sold through amazon.com, hayneedle.com, overstock.com, walmart.com, and other online retailers.

If you have one of these in your home, be certain to anchor it to the wall using a free Homestar tip-over restaint kit.  Homestar will provide the kit and free home installation of it if you call them at 1-877-353-5999.

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2020/homestar-recalls-dressers-due-to-tip-over-and-entrapment-hazards-recall-alert

#recall #homestar #finchdresser

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/PrZ_RedteMA

Kichler Lighting LLC of Cleveland OH is recalling its Kichler 52 inch LEDfly Ceiling Fans.  There are defective arms holding the blades, and they may spin off during use and cause injury or worse.  There have been 62 reports of the blade irons breaking and/or blues detaching.

These units have been sold at Lowe’s stores and online through lowes.com.

If you have this fan installed, stop using it immediately.  Contact Kichler at 1-866-558-5706 to arrange for a free replacement fan.

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2020/Kichler-Lighting-Recalls-Ceiling-Fans-Due-to-Injury-Hazard

#recall #kichler #fan

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/eTOJda0q0qc

The coronavirus creates  lethal multi-organ damage in part by inducing an of the immune system hyperstimulation known as a cytokine storm.  Ironically, social isolation to halt the spread of the CoVid19 epidemic may make a cytokine storm worse.

A new British meta-analysis of 30 studies found a solid connection between social distancing and a rise in circulating inflammatory mediators including c-reactive protein and fibrinogen.  Loneliness is associated with increased IL-6, another inflammatory protein.

To avoid infection, you must physically distance yourself from others.  To maintain an emotional connection, though, our current batch of video-chat apps including Facetime and Skype facilitates face-to face interactions without risk of contamination. 

Kimberley J. Smith, Shannon Gavey, Natalie E. RIddell, Panagiota Kontari, Christina Victor. The association between loneliness, social isolation and inflammation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 2020; 112: 519 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.02.002

#covid19 #inflammation #cytokinestorm #creactiveprotein #il6 #coronavirus

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/EGAwo-NBOzo

All tests for coronavirus look for CoVid19 genetic fingerprints in the cells captured relatively painlessly on a Q-tip from the nose or throat.  To fingerprint the genetic material from those cells, it is first multiplied and then probed using a test called reverse-transcriptase n polymerase chain reaction or PCR.  The genes in the patient material are compared against standard probe genes characteristic of the CoVid19 virus.

The first probe genes were identified by the Germans, and they code for the viral envelope E gene.  Their test was adopted by the World Health Organization and most countries. The US government was offered the ready test but said “no thank you.”  The CDC wasted time developing its own probes for the virus nucleocapsid N gene.  Then the initial batch of reagents was flawed.  

All PCR tests takes several days due to the need for genetic multiplication, probe screen, and confirmation testing.  Other, faster tests are in development using CRISPR gene splicing technology to place fluorescent probes or antibody detection tests.  Such tests can deliver results in hours or even minutes rather than days.

https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/how-sars-cov-2-tests-work-and-whats-next-in-covid-19-diagnostics-67210

https://www.mdlinx.com/otolaryngology/top-medical-news/article/2020/03/12/7616823/

#covid19test #coronavirus #pcr #epidemic #pandemic