Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/MpvcfzFj7j8

Metformin, an oral drug for type 2 diabetes, enhances the therapeutic benefits of steroids while reducing their side effects.  A randomized, double blind British study just published in The Lancet looked at 53 participants taking 10-20 mg of prednisone over a 4 month period.

Those also receiving an escalating dose of metformin up to 850 mg 3 times a day, enjoyed improved anti-inflammatory steroid effects and reduced  metabolic side effects as well as fewer bouts of infection and a lower rate of hospitalization for complications.

Chronic steroid therapy is a godsend for those with arthritis, asthma, and cancer.  Adding metformin may just make it more effective and tolerable. 

The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology (2020). DOI: 10.1016/S2213-8587(20)30021-8 , http://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(20)30021-8/fulltext

#steroids #metformin #arthritis #copd #asthma

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/MpvcfzFj7j8

Metformin, an oral drug for type 2 diabetes, enhances the therapeutic benefits of steroids while reducing their side effects.  A randomized, double blind British study just published in The Lancet looked at 53 participants taking 10-20 mg of prednisone over a 4 month period.

Those also receiving an escalating dose of metformin up to 850 mg 3 times a day, enjoyed improved anti-inflammatory steroid effects and reduced  metabolic side effects as well as fewer bouts of infection and a lower rate of hospitalization for complications.

Chronic steroid therapy is a godsend for those with arthritis, asthma, and cancer.  Adding metformin may just make it more effective and tolerable. 

The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology (2020). DOI: 10.1016/S2213-8587(20)30021-8 , http://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(20)30021-8/fulltext

#steroids #metformin #arthritis #copd #asthma

Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/jMcs8Yu3fs8

Regular aspirin use lowers your risk of fractures and osteoporosis.  A just published Australian meta-analysis of 12 studies reviewed data from more than half million persons.

The analysis revealed a 17% lower risk of fracture at any site, long bones and spine, for those taking aspirin.  Aspirin users enjoyed higher bone mineral densities in their hips as well as in their lumbar spines.  The effect seemed independent of aspirin dosage though most were likely on low dose regimens.

Aspirin works this magic through its anti-inflammatory powers.  The investigators stop short of recommending a low dose regimen for osteoporosis prophylaxis, but, if your doctor agrees you can take it, it can’t hurt. 

Barker AL, Soh S, Sanders KM, et al Aspirin and fracture risk: a systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis of observational studies BMJ Open 2020;10:e026876. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026876

#aspirin #osteoporosis #fracture

Vidcast:   https://youtu.be/jMcs8Yu3fs8

Regular aspirin use lowers your risk of fractures and osteoporosis.  A just published Australian meta-analysis of 12 studies reviewed data from more than half million persons.

The analysis revealed a 17% lower risk of fracture at any site, long bones and spine, for those taking aspirin.  Aspirin users enjoyed higher bone mineral densities in their hips as well as in their lumbar spines.  The effect seemed independent of aspirin dosage though most were likely on low dose regimens.

Aspirin works this magic through its anti-inflammatory powers.  The investigators stop short of recommending a low dose regimen for osteoporosis prophylaxis, but, if your doctor agrees you can take it, it can’t hurt. 

Barker AL, Soh S, Sanders KM, et al Aspirin and fracture risk: a systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis of observational studies BMJ Open 2020;10:e026876. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026876

#aspirin #osteoporosis #fracture

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/lasjqmeLz0s

Drivers of luxury vehicles are significantly less likely to yield for pedestrians.  This is the conclusion of a new study from the University of Nevada..  The researchers studied the behavior of 461 autos as they negotiated several Las Vegas crosswalks.

Overall, only an abysmal 28% of cars yielded to crossing pedestrians.  The odds of a car yielding diminished some 3% for every $1000 escalation in its dollar value.

It gets worse. All cars yielded less often for men than women, only 24 versus 31%, and less often for non-whites than whites 25%, versus 31%.

Bottom line: get your head out of your phone when crossing. 

CourtneyCoughenourPhDaJamesAbelarBSaJenniferPharrPhDaLung-ChangChienPhDaAshokSinghPhDb.  Estimated car cost as a predictor of driver yielding behaviors for pedestrians.  J. Transport & Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2020.100831

#automobiles #crosswalks #luxury

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/lasjqmeLz0s

Drivers of luxury vehicles are significantly less likely to yield for pedestrians.  This is the conclusion of a new study from the University of Nevada..  The researchers studied the behavior of 461 autos as they negotiated several Las Vegas crosswalks.

Overall, only an abysmal 28% of cars yielded to crossing pedestrians.  The odds of a car yielding diminished some 3% for every $1000 escalation in its dollar value.

It gets worse. All cars yielded less often for men than women, only 24 versus 31%, and less often for non-whites than whites 25%, versus 31%.

Bottom line: get your head out of your phone when crossing. 

CourtneyCoughenourPhDaJamesAbelarBSaJenniferPharrPhDaLung-ChangChienPhDaAshokSinghPhDb.  Estimated car cost as a predictor of driver yielding behaviors for pedestrians.  J. Transport & Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2020.100831

#automobiles #crosswalks #luxury

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/JK_O-SRM5sg

Downing more food earlier in the day can help your weight control efforts.  Researchers at Vanderbilt University draw this conclusion from their small but detailed metabolic study of middle aged subjects eating 3 meals a day.

When the participants eat their third meal of the day later in the evening, they burned less fat and stored rather than expended calories.  Over time, this eating pattern and its metabolic consequences will trigger weight gain.

This study is bad news for those who love dining late into the evening.  One way to counterbalance this effect of your body’s biologic clock is to consume fewer total calories: particularly those in fried foods and desserts. 

Kevin Parsons Kelly, Owen P. McGuinness, Maciej Buchowski, Jacob J. Hughey, Heidi Chen, James Powers, Terry Page, Carl Hirschie Johnson. Eating breakfast and avoiding late-evening snacking sustains lipid oxidation. PLOS Biology, 2020; 18 (2): e3000622 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000622

#circadianrhythem #biologicclock #latedining #snacks

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/JK_O-SRM5sg

Downing more food earlier in the day can help your weight control efforts.  Researchers at Vanderbilt University draw this conclusion from their small but detailed metabolic study of middle aged subjects eating 3 meals a day.

When the participants eat their third meal of the day later in the evening, they burned less fat and stored rather than expended calories.  Over time, this eating pattern and its metabolic consequences will trigger weight gain.

This study is bad news for those who love dining late into the evening.  One way to counterbalance this effect of your body’s biologic clock is to consume fewer total calories: particularly those in fried foods and desserts. 

Kevin Parsons Kelly, Owen P. McGuinness, Maciej Buchowski, Jacob J. Hughey, Heidi Chen, James Powers, Terry Page, Carl Hirschie Johnson. Eating breakfast and avoiding late-evening snacking sustains lipid oxidation. PLOS Biology, 2020; 18 (2): e3000622 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000622

#circadianrhythem #biologicclock #latedining #snacks

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/--0-xO5Nnho

Those who work from home are just as likely to win promotions as those who toil daily at the office.  A new study from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute focused on survey responses from 405 full-time employees analyzing percentage of work time telecommuting, promotions, salary growth, and company telecommuting attitude.

The most important variable is a company’s acceptance of telecommuting.   Given that,  telecommuters enjoyed promotions as often as onsite workers.   To earn equal pay bumps, however, telecommuters must enthusiastically demonstrate their commitment to organizational success.  In this regard, face time with managers is a must.

Telecommuting offers better work-life balance and less time inhaling inhaling traffic and mass transit pollutants. 

Timothy D. Golden, Kimberly A. Eddleston. Is there a price telecommuters pay? Examining the relationship between telecommuting and objective career success. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 2020; 116: 103348 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvb.2019.103348

#telecommuting #promotions #raises #worklifebalance

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/--0-xO5Nnho

Those who work from home are just as likely to win promotions as those who toil daily at the office.  A new study from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute focused on survey responses from 405 full-time employees analyzing percentage of work time telecommuting, promotions, salary growth, and company telecommuting attitude.

The most important variable is a company’s acceptance of telecommuting.   Given that,  telecommuters enjoyed promotions as often as onsite workers.   To earn equal pay bumps, however, telecommuters must enthusiastically demonstrate their commitment to organizational success.  In this regard, face time with managers is a must.

Telecommuting offers better work-life balance and less time inhaling inhaling traffic and mass transit pollutants. 

Timothy D. Golden, Kimberly A. Eddleston. Is there a price telecommuters pay? Examining the relationship between telecommuting and objective career success. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 2020; 116: 103348 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvb.2019.103348

#telecommuting #promotions #raises #worklifebalance