Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Cotija Cheese (Quesa Cotija) by Quesos La Ricura LTD recalled due to E. Coli contamination.  The bug has the dangerous shiga toxin that causes severe diarrhea but also hemolytic uremic syndrome with kidney damage especially in young children.  Sold in NY, NC, PA, GA, FL.   Return to point of purchase or call company (516) 932-5756.  Vidcast: https://youtu.be/g8lr6Gbkx5g

Cotija Cheese (Quesa Cotija) by Quesos La Ricura LTD recalled due to E. Coli contamination.  The bug has the dangerous shiga toxin that causes severe diarrhea but also hemolytic uremic syndrome with kidney damage especially in young children.  Sold in NY, NC, PA, GA, FL.   Return to point of purchase or call company (516) 932-5756.  Vidcast: https://youtu.be/g8lr6Gbkx5g

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/dLeTpUalcco

Fluctuating and diminishing hormones in association with menopause trigger word-finding challenges.  A preliminary multisite study directed by neuroscientists and gynecologists at the University of Illinois studied 14 menopausal women with verbal memory tests, symptom diaries, and functional MRIs.

The data confirm previous observations that menopausal women with hot flashes demonstrate verbal memory reduction.   The MRI findings of altered hippocampal and prefrontal cortical function during reported hot flash symptoms now demonstrate the causes of these verbal inadequacies.

Word-retrieval brain fades occur for us all, but increase with age.  Coping strategies include:

• Continue expressing your thought without the specific word.
• Use humor to defuse your anxiety.
• Consult a thesaurus. 

Maki PM1,2,3, Wu M4, Rubin LH5, Fornelli D6, Drogos LL2,7, Geller S3, Shulman LP8,9, Banuvar S8, Little DM10, Conant RJ11.  Hot flashes are associated with altered brain function during a memory task. Menopause. 2020 Jan 6. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001467. [Epub ahead of print]

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/high-octane-brain/201702/5-tips-tame-word-finding-difficulties

#hotflashes #wordfinding #anomia #menopause

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/dLeTpUalcco

Fluctuating and diminishing hormones in association with menopause trigger word-finding challenges.  A preliminary multisite study directed by neuroscientists and gynecologists at the University of Illinois studied 14 menopausal women with verbal memory tests, symptom diaries, and functional MRIs.

The data confirm previous observations that menopausal women with hot flashes demonstrate verbal memory reduction.   The MRI findings of altered hippocampal and prefrontal cortical function during reported hot flash symptoms now demonstrate the causes of these verbal inadequacies.

Word-retrieval brain fades occur for us all, but increase with age.  Coping strategies include:

• Continue expressing your thought without the specific word.
• Use humor to defuse your anxiety.
• Consult a thesaurus. 

Maki PM1,2,3, Wu M4, Rubin LH5, Fornelli D6, Drogos LL2,7, Geller S3, Shulman LP8,9, Banuvar S8, Little DM10, Conant RJ11.  Hot flashes are associated with altered brain function during a memory task. Menopause. 2020 Jan 6. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001467. [Epub ahead of print]

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/high-octane-brain/201702/5-tips-tame-word-finding-difficulties

#hotflashes #wordfinding #anomia #menopause

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/BmPJ8Abr5uY

Only 5% of children and teens with chronic fatigue syndrome, technically known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, ever receive a proper diagnosis.  Investigators from DePaul University and the Lurie Chicago Children’s Hospital studied a random group of over 10,100 kids 5 to 17 years.

The reasons affected children aren’t identified includes poor healthcare access but also provider misconception that this disease is not a genuine condition.  With an estimated 51 million children and teens in the US this year, 3.8 million have this disorder but 3.6 million go undiagnosed.

A child with sleep problems and lightheadedness when standing for 6 months or more should be evaluated.

Leonard A. Jason, Ben Z. Katz, Madison Sunnquist, Chelsea Torres, Joseph Cotler, Shaun Bhatia. The Prevalence of Pediatric Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in a Community-Based Sample. Child & Youth Care Forum, 2020; DOI: 10.1007/s10566-019-09543-3

https://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/tables/pop1.asp

https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/me-cfs-children/children-symptoms-diagnosis.html

#chronicfatiguesyndrome #pediatrics #underdiagnosis #myalgicencephalitis

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/BmPJ8Abr5uY

Only 5% of children and teens with chronic fatigue syndrome, technically known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, ever receive a proper diagnosis.  Investigators from DePaul University and the Lurie Chicago Children’s Hospital studied a random group of over 10,100 kids 5 to 17 years.

The reasons affected children aren’t identified includes poor healthcare access but also provider misconception that this disease is not a genuine condition.  With an estimated 51 million children and teens in the US this year, 3.8 million have this disorder but 3.6 million go undiagnosed.

A child with sleep problems and lightheadedness when standing for 6 months or more should be evaluated.

Leonard A. Jason, Ben Z. Katz, Madison Sunnquist, Chelsea Torres, Joseph Cotler, Shaun Bhatia. The Prevalence of Pediatric Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in a Community-Based Sample. Child & Youth Care Forum, 2020; DOI: 10.1007/s10566-019-09543-3

https://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/tables/pop1.asp

https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/me-cfs-children/children-symptoms-diagnosis.html

#chronicfatiguesyndrome #pediatrics #underdiagnosis #myalgicencephalitis

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/FJjR42mC2iU

The trick to avoiding bloat when eating a high fiber diet is to reduce protein in favor of carbs in the form of whole grains and other healthy carbs.  This the conclusion of a Johns Hopkins study of some 164 subjects consuming high fiber, heart-healthy diets.

Their data reveals 40% less bloating when a high-fiber diet is carb-rich versus protein-rich.  Sources for those carbs include whole grain oats, bananas, sweet potatoes, and blueberries.  Most of these foods also provide extra anti-oxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

Bloating impacts at least 20% of Americans, and it deters many from adhering to healthy diets.  Don’t let that happen to you.

Mingyu Zhang, Stephen P. Juraschek, Lawrence J. Appel, Pankaj Jay Pasricha, Edgar R. Miller, Noel T. Mueller. Effects of High-Fiber Diets and Macronutrient Substitution on Bloating. Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology, 2020; 1 DOI: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000122

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-healthy-high-carb-foods

#fiber #carbohydrates #protein #bloating 

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/FJjR42mC2iU

The trick to avoiding bloat when eating a high fiber diet is to reduce protein in favor of carbs in the form of whole grains and other healthy carbs.  This the conclusion of a Johns Hopkins study of some 164 subjects consuming high fiber, heart-healthy diets.

Their data reveals 40% less bloating when a high-fiber diet is carb-rich versus protein-rich.  Sources for those carbs include whole grain oats, bananas, sweet potatoes, and blueberries.  Most of these foods also provide extra anti-oxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

Bloating impacts at least 20% of Americans, and it deters many from adhering to healthy diets.  Don’t let that happen to you.

Mingyu Zhang, Stephen P. Juraschek, Lawrence J. Appel, Pankaj Jay Pasricha, Edgar R. Miller, Noel T. Mueller. Effects of High-Fiber Diets and Macronutrient Substitution on Bloating. Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology, 2020; 1 DOI: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000122

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-healthy-high-carb-foods

#fiber #carbohydrates #protein #bloating 

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/h4g91zw2wLw

Breathing in diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) can increase your chances of pneumococcal pneumonia.  A study from Britain’s University of Liverpool shows that DEPs engorge and inactivate respiratory macrophages, the scavengers that protect our bodies from germs.

The researchers report that animals and tissue cultured cells are more susceptible to pneumococcal infection in the presence of DEP macrophages.  Germs that normally live peacefully in the nasal passages become emboldened once the macrophage police are sidelined.

About 37% of the world’s population is exposed to excessive air pollution, and DEPs including carbon, ash, metallic particles, and sand are major contributors to the pollution.  Protect yourself by avoiding these nasty diesels.

Rebecca K. Shears, Laura C. Jacques, Georgia Naylor, Lisa Miyashita, Shadia Khandaker, Filipa Lebre, Ed C. Lavelle, Jonathan Grigg, Neil French, Daniel R. Neill, Aras Kadioglu. Exposure to diesel exhaust particles increases susceptibility to invasive pneumococcal disease. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2020; DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.11.039

#diesels #dieselexhaustparticles #deps #pneumonia #pneumococci #macrophages

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/h4g91zw2wLw

Breathing in diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) can increase your chances of pneumococcal pneumonia.  A study from Britain’s University of Liverpool shows that DEPs engorge and inactivate respiratory macrophages, the scavengers that protect our bodies from germs.

The researchers report that animals and tissue cultured cells are more susceptible to pneumococcal infection in the presence of DEP macrophages.  Germs that normally live peacefully in the nasal passages become emboldened once the macrophage police are sidelined.

About 37% of the world’s population is exposed to excessive air pollution, and DEPs including carbon, ash, metallic particles, and sand are major contributors to the pollution.  Protect yourself by avoiding these nasty diesels.

Rebecca K. Shears, Laura C. Jacques, Georgia Naylor, Lisa Miyashita, Shadia Khandaker, Filipa Lebre, Ed C. Lavelle, Jonathan Grigg, Neil French, Daniel R. Neill, Aras Kadioglu. Exposure to diesel exhaust particles increases susceptibility to invasive pneumococcal disease. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2020; DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.11.039

#diesels #dieselexhaustparticles #deps #pneumonia #pneumococci #macrophages