Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/ZhRZAnOkg7c

Taking music instruction and playing an instrument boosts high school students’ scores in their academic courses.  This study of some 112,000 Canadian high school students just published in the Journal of Educational Psychology is a biting indictment of local school boards that frequently vote to eliminate music programs in favor of taxpayer-supported sports.

The data also showed that children who learned to play a musical instrument in elementary school and continued to play into high school scored one academic year ahead in all subjects when compared with their non-playing peers.  This superiority in math, science, and literary studies was independent of socioeconomic level, ethnicity, or prior academic performance.

Musical training enhances eye-hand-mind coordination, listening skills, and discipline all of which have impact on general academic studies.  Playing in an ensemble perfects the same teamwork skills that derive from sports.

If you want your children to excel in school, be certain that music is a part of their lives.  Lobby your school officials for music programs, and spend money on music lessons instead of toys.

Martin Guhn, Scott D. Emerson, Peter Gouzouasis. A population-level analysis of associations between school music participation and academic achievement.. Journal of Educational Psychology, 2019; DOI: 10.1037/edu0000376

#Music #math #science, literature #education

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/ZhRZAnOkg7c

Taking music instruction and playing an instrument boosts high school students’ scores in their academic courses.  This study of some 112,000 Canadian high school students just published in the Journal of Educational Psychology is a biting indictment of local school boards that frequently vote to eliminate music programs in favor of taxpayer-supported sports.

The data also showed that children who learned to play a musical instrument in elementary school and continued to play into high school scored one academic year ahead in all subjects when compared with their non-playing peers.  This superiority in math, science, and literary studies was independent of socioeconomic level, ethnicity, or prior academic performance.

Musical training enhances eye-hand-mind coordination, listening skills, and discipline all of which have impact on general academic studies.  Playing in an ensemble perfects the same teamwork skills that derive from sports.

If you want your children to excel in school, be certain that music is a part of their lives.  Lobby your school officials for music programs, and spend money on music lessons instead of toys.

Martin Guhn, Scott D. Emerson, Peter Gouzouasis. A population-level analysis of associations between school music participation and academic achievement.. Journal of Educational Psychology, 2019; DOI: 10.1037/edu0000376

#Music #math #science, literature #education

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/i340ytno-fs

Giving kids ibuprofen, that is Advil or Motrin, rather than acetaminophen, Tylenol, after tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy more than doubles a child’s risk of serious bleeding that requires a return to the operating room.  This conclusion comes from a multi-center study of some 741 children aged 2-18 years coordinated by pediatric ENT specialists at Harvard’s Mass. Eye and Ear Infirmary.

For years, use of platelet-inhibiting, blood-thinning drugs such as aspirin after tonsil surgery was an absolute no-no.  Then, more recently, ibuprofen and other non-aspirin NSAIDs became available, and they were touted as being safe despite the fact that they too inhibit platelet function, interfere with blood coagulation, and slow healing.  A few small studies suggested that their use was safe after throat surgery.

For those of us pediatric surgeons operating on the highly vascular tonsils, recommending any blood-thinning medications made absolutely no sense not matter what preliminary studies suggested.  Tylenol, administered appropriately 4 times a day at a dose of 6 mg per pound, has been more than adequate for pain control in most children, and I refused to recommend use of ibuprofen or other NSAIDS for my patients.

Now that this large and well controlled study shows that the first instinct was the proper one, I would recommend that you do not give your child ibuprofen in place of Tylenol after tonsillectomy.  I’d extend that recommendation to other surgical procedures and other age groups.

Diercks GR, Comins J, Bennett K, et al. Comparison of Ibuprofen vs Acetaminophen and Severe Bleeding Risk After Pediatric Tonsillectomy: A Noninferiority Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Published online April 04, 2019145(6):494–500. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2019.0269

#Tonsillectomy #bleeding #ibuprofen #acetaminophen

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/i340ytno-fs

Giving kids ibuprofen, that is Advil or Motrin, rather than acetaminophen, Tylenol, after tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy more than doubles a child’s risk of serious bleeding that requires a return to the operating room.  This conclusion comes from a multi-center study of some 741 children aged 2-18 years coordinated by pediatric ENT specialists at Harvard’s Mass. Eye and Ear Infirmary.

For years, use of platelet-inhibiting, blood-thinning drugs such as aspirin after tonsil surgery was an absolute no-no.  Then, more recently, ibuprofen and other non-aspirin NSAIDs became available, and they were touted as being safe despite the fact that they too inhibit platelet function, interfere with blood coagulation, and slow healing.  A few small studies suggested that their use was safe after throat surgery.

For those of us pediatric surgeons operating on the highly vascular tonsils, recommending any blood-thinning medications made absolutely no sense not matter what preliminary studies suggested.  Tylenol, administered appropriately 4 times a day at a dose of 6 mg per pound, has been more than adequate for pain control in most children, and I refused to recommend use of ibuprofen or other NSAIDS for my patients.

Now that this large and well controlled study shows that the first instinct was the proper one, I would recommend that you do not give your child ibuprofen in place of Tylenol after tonsillectomy.  I’d extend that recommendation to other surgical procedures and other age groups.

Diercks GR, Comins J, Bennett K, et al. Comparison of Ibuprofen vs Acetaminophen and Severe Bleeding Risk After Pediatric Tonsillectomy: A Noninferiority Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Published online April 04, 2019145(6):494–500. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2019.0269

#Tonsillectomy #bleeding #ibuprofen #acetaminophen

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/2-t7Mb_teLA

Drinking coffee will help you lose weight.   A new British study just published in Scientific Reports shows for the first time that the caffeine in coffee triggers a mitochondrial uncoupling protein which in turn increases calorie-burning brown fat cell activity in both cultured cells and in human volunteers. 

More brown fat cell tissue versus white fat cells is beneficial since it optimizes both lipid and carbohydrate biochemistry thereby revving up your body’s overall metabolic activity.  And even better news:  the caffeine in chocolate, cocoa, and other caffeinated beverages including tea will also have beneficial effects.

So... drink up and slim down!

Ksenija Velickovic, Declan Wayne, Hilda Anaid Lugo Leija, etal.  Caffeine exposure induces browning features in adipose tissue in vitro and in vivo.  Scientific Reports

volume 9, Article number: 9104 (2019)

#Coffee #caffeine #Dieting #brownfat #obesity

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/2-t7Mb_teLA

Drinking coffee will help you lose weight.   A new British study just published in Scientific Reports shows for the first time that the caffeine in coffee triggers a mitochondrial uncoupling protein which in turn increases calorie-burning brown fat cell activity in both cultured cells and in human volunteers. 

More brown fat cell tissue versus white fat cells is beneficial since it optimizes both lipid and carbohydrate biochemistry thereby revving up your body’s overall metabolic activity.  And even better news:  the caffeine in chocolate, cocoa, and other caffeinated beverages including tea will also have beneficial effects.

So... drink up and slim down!

Ksenija Velickovic, Declan Wayne, Hilda Anaid Lugo Leija, etal.  Caffeine exposure induces browning features in adipose tissue in vitro and in vivo.  Scientific Reports

volume 9, Article number: 9104 (2019)

#Coffee #caffeine #Dieting #brownfat #obesity

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/lAf8hPSrMqw

Imagine that you’re waiting for a biopsy report, a job offer, a college or grad school acceptance, or a colonoscopy.  You’re on pins and needles anxious. Just how do you cope?  A new study from UC-Riverside gives you a novel strategy: watching an awe-inducing or heart-tugging movie.

The researchers studied a total of 729 subjects all stressed awaiting important test results.  Groups were exposed to various videos including one of an awe-inducing sunrise with orchestral accompaniment, one of cute animals playing, and the third a rather boring documentary about padlock manufacture.  Those who experienced awe reported more positive emotions and significantly less anxiety while waiting than the the subjects who screened the less inspiring selections.  

So just what is awe?  The psychologists define it as a “transportive mindset” of the sort often triggered by a tear-jerking movie.  I have a few of those that work every time: It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle On 34th Street, and Mr. Holland’s Opus.

The take home point from this study is to load a few of these videos on my phone so that next time I’m awaiting some anxiety-provoking news, I’ll be prepared.  You should do the same!

Kyla Rankin, Sara E. Andrews, Kate Sweeny. Awe-full uncertainty: Easing discomfort during waiting periods. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2019; 1 DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2019.1615106

#Anxiety #waiting #biopsy #awe

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/lAf8hPSrMqw

Imagine that you’re waiting for a biopsy report, a job offer, a college or grad school acceptance, or a colonoscopy.  You’re on pins and needles anxious. Just how do you cope?  A new study from UC-Riverside gives you a novel strategy: watching an awe-inducing or heart-tugging movie.

The researchers studied a total of 729 subjects all stressed awaiting important test results.  Groups were exposed to various videos including one of an awe-inducing sunrise with orchestral accompaniment, one of cute animals playing, and the third a rather boring documentary about padlock manufacture.  Those who experienced awe reported more positive emotions and significantly less anxiety while waiting than the the subjects who screened the less inspiring selections.  

So just what is awe?  The psychologists define it as a “transportive mindset” of the sort often triggered by a tear-jerking movie.  I have a few of those that work every time: It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle On 34th Street, and Mr. Holland’s Opus.

The take home point from this study is to load a few of these videos on my phone so that next time I’m awaiting some anxiety-provoking news, I’ll be prepared.  You should do the same!

Kyla Rankin, Sara E. Andrews, Kate Sweeny. Awe-full uncertainty: Easing discomfort during waiting periods. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2019; 1 DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2019.1615106

#Anxiety #waiting #biopsy #awe

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/EQ7EgP1MNSM

It’s an old saw, but a French study just published in the journal Stroke puts yet another black mark next to the concept of overwork.  Working long hours, defined as 10 hours a day for at least 50 days a year will increase your risk of stroke by 29%.  If you consistently work long hours for 10 or more years, your risk of a stroke rises to 45%.

You’re probably saying, “I’ll bet those statistics are for old people.”  You’d be wrong.  The study tabulated data from nearly 144,000 people aged 18 to 69 years, and the risk of stroke for those working the long hours over a 10 year period was greater if the individual was under the age of 50.  

The risks were lower among farmers, business owners, professionals, and managers suggesting that the stress of having less control over your work life may well be a key factor.  We should all take these results to heart and play as hard as we work.

Marc Fadel, Grace Sembajwe, Diana Gagliardi, Fernando Pico, Jian Li, Anna Ozguler, Johannes Siegrist, Bradley A. Evanoff, Michel Baer, Akizumi Tsutsumi, Sergio Iavicoli, Annette Leclerc, Yves Roquelaure, Alexis Descatha. Association Between Reported Long Working Hours and History of Stroke in the CONSTANCES Cohort. Stroke, 2019; DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.119.025454

#Work #overwork #stroke

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/EQ7EgP1MNSM

It’s an old saw, but a French study just published in the journal Stroke puts yet another black mark next to the concept of overwork.  Working long hours, defined as 10 hours a day for at least 50 days a year will increase your risk of stroke by 29%.  If you consistently work long hours for 10 or more years, your risk of a stroke rises to 45%.

You’re probably saying, “I’ll bet those statistics are for old people.”  You’d be wrong.  The study tabulated data from nearly 144,000 people aged 18 to 69 years, and the risk of stroke for those working the long hours over a 10 year period was greater if the individual was under the age of 50.  

The risks were lower among farmers, business owners, professionals, and managers suggesting that the stress of having less control over your work life may well be a key factor.  We should all take these results to heart and play as hard as we work.

Marc Fadel, Grace Sembajwe, Diana Gagliardi, Fernando Pico, Jian Li, Anna Ozguler, Johannes Siegrist, Bradley A. Evanoff, Michel Baer, Akizumi Tsutsumi, Sergio Iavicoli, Annette Leclerc, Yves Roquelaure, Alexis Descatha. Association Between Reported Long Working Hours and History of Stroke in the CONSTANCES Cohort. Stroke, 2019; DOI: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.119.025454

#Work #overwork #stroke