Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/PqKyUnQe-Mc

Need more reasons not to use e-cigarettes and to convince your children to avoid them?  Besides the fact that they spew addicting nicotine and toxic flavoring chemicals?   A study from the Harvard School of Public Health now finds bacterial endotoxins and fungal cell wall remnants in 75 popular e-cigarette products from 10 top-selling US brands.

The investigators studied 37 e-cigarette cartridges and 38 e-liquid products that are used to refill cartridges.  They demonstrated that 23% of the products contained significant concentrations of gram-negative bacterial endotoxins and a whopping 81% of the products were contaminated with fungal by-products.  

Other studies have confirmed that these bacterial endotoxins and fungal glucans trigger acute and chronic respiratory problems.  Asthmatics or those with pre-existing lung disease would be particularly vulnerable.

This study joins so many others that underscore what is just common sense: don’t inhale poisons unless you have a death wish.  If the latter is the case, please get some help.

Mi-Sun Lee, Joseph G. Allen, David C. Christiani. Endotoxin and (1→3)-β-D-Glucan Contamination in Electronic Cigarette Products Sold in the United States. Environmental Health Perspectives, 2019; 127 (4): 047008 DOI: 10.1289/EHP3469

#ecigarette #bacteria #fungi #endotoxin

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/PqKyUnQe-Mc

Need more reasons not to use e-cigarettes and to convince your children to avoid them?  Besides the fact that they spew addicting nicotine and toxic flavoring chemicals?   A study from the Harvard School of Public Health now finds bacterial endotoxins and fungal cell wall remnants in 75 popular e-cigarette products from 10 top-selling US brands.

The investigators studied 37 e-cigarette cartridges and 38 e-liquid products that are used to refill cartridges.  They demonstrated that 23% of the products contained significant concentrations of gram-negative bacterial endotoxins and a whopping 81% of the products were contaminated with fungal by-products.  

Other studies have confirmed that these bacterial endotoxins and fungal glucans trigger acute and chronic respiratory problems.  Asthmatics or those with pre-existing lung disease would be particularly vulnerable.

This study joins so many others that underscore what is just common sense: don’t inhale poisons unless you have a death wish.  If the latter is the case, please get some help.

Mi-Sun Lee, Joseph G. Allen, David C. Christiani. Endotoxin and (1→3)-β-D-Glucan Contamination in Electronic Cigarette Products Sold in the United States. Environmental Health Perspectives, 2019; 127 (4): 047008 DOI: 10.1289/EHP3469

#ecigarette #bacteria #fungi #endotoxin

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Xvpv230Tovc

Starting the day with a moderate-intensity walking exercise session does help your mind function better.  The latest Australian study just published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, looked at more than 65 subjects of all genders and 55 to 80 years of age.

The morning workout was associated with improved attention, concentration, executive function, visual learning, and working memory.  The study also revealed that periodic 3 minute walking breaks during the day further improved test results when compared with those clocked by those who had no additional exercise after the morning session.

This study is additional proof that the extra exercise-driven blood flow to your brain and the exercise-induced chemical agents such as endorphins that flow in that blood fine-tune your brain to perform optimally.  Although the study was completed in middle-aged and older persons, the exercise would likely also benefit anyone of any age.

Michael J Wheeler1,2, Daniel J Green1, Kathryn A Ellis3, etal. Distinct effects of acute exercise and breaks in sitting on working memory and executive function in older adults: a three-arm, randomised cross-over trial to evaluate the effects of exercise with and without breaks in sitting on cognition. British Journal of Sports Medicine., 2019 DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-100168

#Morningexercise #cognition

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Xvpv230Tovc

Starting the day with a moderate-intensity walking exercise session does help your mind function better.  The latest Australian study just published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, looked at more than 65 subjects of all genders and 55 to 80 years of age.

The morning workout was associated with improved attention, concentration, executive function, visual learning, and working memory.  The study also revealed that periodic 3 minute walking breaks during the day further improved test results when compared with those clocked by those who had no additional exercise after the morning session.

This study is additional proof that the extra exercise-driven blood flow to your brain and the exercise-induced chemical agents such as endorphins that flow in that blood fine-tune your brain to perform optimally.  Although the study was completed in middle-aged and older persons, the exercise would likely also benefit anyone of any age.

Michael J Wheeler1,2, Daniel J Green1, Kathryn A Ellis3, etal. Distinct effects of acute exercise and breaks in sitting on working memory and executive function in older adults: a three-arm, randomised cross-over trial to evaluate the effects of exercise with and without breaks in sitting on cognition. British Journal of Sports Medicine., 2019 DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-100168

#Morningexercise #cognition

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/v1aLm03-Ujg

Neuroscientists at the University of California-San Diego’s Autism Center of Excellence now report that autism may be reliably diagnosed in babies as young as 14 months thereby permitting effective, early intervention.  The researchers studied more than 1200 toddlers who were first evaluated between their first and third birthdays and were then followed with at least one additional thorough assessment later in childhood.

The ability to reliably diagnose autism or autism spectrum diagnosis occurs by 14 months of age.  Diagnostic reliability is only 50% at 12 months, rises to 79% by 14 months, and is 83% by 16 months.  Only 2% of those first diagnosed with autism during infancy later had that diagnosis dropped.

The mean age at diagnosis for autism is currently between 3 and 4 years.  Research studies suggest that autism in its many shades develops in utero during the first or second trimesters, and this new information confirms that a reliable, earlier diagnosis is definitely possible.  

Many children are diagnosed early because of parental observation. The Autism Awareness Center lists 7 signs that your baby may have autistic tendencies:

• No social smiling.
• Lack of eye contact.
• No response to name.
• No social anticipation to being picked up or playing Peek-a-boo.
• Poor visual tracking.
• Lack of social babbling.
• Fixation on unusual objects such as parts of toys and floor/ceiling patterns.

If you notice these signs, speak with your pediatrician about a formal diagnostic evaluation.

Karen Pierce, Vahid H. Gazestani, Elizabeth Bacon et al. Evaluation of the Diagnostic Stability of the Early Autism Spectrum Disorder Phenotype in the General Population Starting at 12 Months. JAMA Pediatrics, 2019 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.0624

#Autism #ASD #earlyintervention #earlydiagnosis

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/v1aLm03-Ujg

Neuroscientists at the University of California-San Diego’s Autism Center of Excellence now report that autism may be reliably diagnosed in babies as young as 14 months thereby permitting effective, early intervention.  The researchers studied more than 1200 toddlers who were first evaluated between their first and third birthdays and were then followed with at least one additional thorough assessment later in childhood.

The ability to reliably diagnose autism or autism spectrum diagnosis occurs by 14 months of age.  Diagnostic reliability is only 50% at 12 months, rises to 79% by 14 months, and is 83% by 16 months.  Only 2% of those first diagnosed with autism during infancy later had that diagnosis dropped.

The mean age at diagnosis for autism is currently between 3 and 4 years.  Research studies suggest that autism in its many shades develops in utero during the first or second trimesters, and this new information confirms that a reliable, earlier diagnosis is definitely possible.  

Many children are diagnosed early because of parental observation. The Autism Awareness Center lists 7 signs that your baby may have autistic tendencies:

• No social smiling.
• Lack of eye contact.
• No response to name.
• No social anticipation to being picked up or playing Peek-a-boo.
• Poor visual tracking.
• Lack of social babbling.
• Fixation on unusual objects such as parts of toys and floor/ceiling patterns.

If you notice these signs, speak with your pediatrician about a formal diagnostic evaluation.

Karen Pierce, Vahid H. Gazestani, Elizabeth Bacon et al. Evaluation of the Diagnostic Stability of the Early Autism Spectrum Disorder Phenotype in the General Population Starting at 12 Months. JAMA Pediatrics, 2019 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.0624

#Autism #ASD #earlyintervention #earlydiagnosis

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/KgQBWuFn7SM

Eating walnuts instead of other sources of fat in a diet can lower your blood pressure.  This conclusion comes from a study of 45 overweight or obese subjects by nutritionists at Penn State just published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

The investigation found that eating walnuts to replace at least 5 percent of the typical 12 percent saturated fat that most Americans consume significantly lowered the body’s central diastolic or resting blood pressure. A normal diastolic pressure level is key for preventing heart disease and stroke.  The walnuts did not lower either systolic blood pressure or arterial stiffness.

The next time you’re looking for a heart healthy snack, skip the potato chips and reach instead for the can of walnuts.  For an even greater effect, replace those french fries you know you always order with walnuts and green beans.  Your heart and circulation will be glad you did.

Alyssa M. Tindall, Kristina S. Petersen, Ann C. Skulas‐Ray, Chesney K. Richter, David N. Proctor, Penny M. Kris‐Etherton. Replacing Saturated Fat With Walnuts or Vegetable Oils Improves Central Blood Pressure and Serum Lipids in Adults at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: A Randomized Controlled‐Feeding Trial. Journal of the American Heart Association, 2019; 8 (9) DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.118.011512

#walnuts #hypertension

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/KgQBWuFn7SM

Eating walnuts instead of other sources of fat in a diet can lower your blood pressure.  This conclusion comes from a study of 45 overweight or obese subjects by nutritionists at Penn State just published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

The investigation found that eating walnuts to replace at least 5 percent of the typical 12 percent saturated fat that most Americans consume significantly lowered the body’s central diastolic or resting blood pressure. A normal diastolic pressure level is key for preventing heart disease and stroke.  The walnuts did not lower either systolic blood pressure or arterial stiffness.

The next time you’re looking for a heart healthy snack, skip the potato chips and reach instead for the can of walnuts.  For an even greater effect, replace those french fries you know you always order with walnuts and green beans.  Your heart and circulation will be glad you did.

Alyssa M. Tindall, Kristina S. Petersen, Ann C. Skulas‐Ray, Chesney K. Richter, David N. Proctor, Penny M. Kris‐Etherton. Replacing Saturated Fat With Walnuts or Vegetable Oils Improves Central Blood Pressure and Serum Lipids in Adults at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: A Randomized Controlled‐Feeding Trial. Journal of the American Heart Association, 2019; 8 (9) DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.118.011512

#walnuts #hypertension

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/axAxR1HvtK8

Tadalafil, marketed as Cialis, is one of the popular drugs used for erectile disfunction (ED).  Now a study at Britain’s University of Manchester shows that cialis slows or reverses the progression of congestive heart failure.

The study, just published in the journal Scientific Reports, was carried out in sheep since their hearts are physiologically similar to the human heart.  Heart failure was induced in the sheep using pacemakers to overdrive and exhaust their hearts.

When the sheep were given Cialis at a dose equivalent to that taken by humans for ED, their heart function improved and their hearts were again capable of responding to adrenaline, a key signaling agent in both sheep and humans.  Cialis and drugs like it including Viagra work in part by dilating blood vessels, and this effect may reduce the resistance against which the heart must pump, the so-called after load, permitting it to function better.

More studies are needed to explain the exact mechanism of action, but if you or a family member experiences drug-resistant congestive heart failure, a trial of cialis may be useful.  The drug is generally well-tolerated with few side effects.

Michael Lawless, Jessica L. Caldwell, Emma J. Radcliffe, Charlotte E. R. Smith, George W. P. Madders, David C. Hutchings, Lori S. Woods, Stephanie J. Church, Richard D. Unwin, Graeme J. Kirkwood, Lorenz K. Becker, Charles M. Pearman, Rebecca F. Taylor, David A. Eisner, Katharine M. Dibb, Andrew. W. Trafford. Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibition improves contractile function and restores transverse tubule loss and catecholamine responsiveness in heart failure. Scientific Reports, 2019; 9 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42592-1

#cialis #viagra #heartfailure

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/axAxR1HvtK8

Tadalafil, marketed as Cialis, is one of the popular drugs used for erectile disfunction (ED).  Now a study at Britain’s University of Manchester shows that cialis slows or reverses the progression of congestive heart failure.

The study, just published in the journal Scientific Reports, was carried out in sheep since their hearts are physiologically similar to the human heart.  Heart failure was induced in the sheep using pacemakers to overdrive and exhaust their hearts.

When the sheep were given Cialis at a dose equivalent to that taken by humans for ED, their heart function improved and their hearts were again capable of responding to adrenaline, a key signaling agent in both sheep and humans.  Cialis and drugs like it including Viagra work in part by dilating blood vessels, and this effect may reduce the resistance against which the heart must pump, the so-called after load, permitting it to function better.

More studies are needed to explain the exact mechanism of action, but if you or a family member experiences drug-resistant congestive heart failure, a trial of cialis may be useful.  The drug is generally well-tolerated with few side effects.

Michael Lawless, Jessica L. Caldwell, Emma J. Radcliffe, Charlotte E. R. Smith, George W. P. Madders, David C. Hutchings, Lori S. Woods, Stephanie J. Church, Richard D. Unwin, Graeme J. Kirkwood, Lorenz K. Becker, Charles M. Pearman, Rebecca F. Taylor, David A. Eisner, Katharine M. Dibb, Andrew. W. Trafford. Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibition improves contractile function and restores transverse tubule loss and catecholamine responsiveness in heart failure. Scientific Reports, 2019; 9 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42592-1

#cialis #viagra #heartfailure