Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/tVWdIgOWwEs

So you have celiac disease, the most severe form of gluten sensitivity, and exposure to the wheat protein can make you terribly sick.  You avoid any wheat products at home, and you carefully choose restaurants that certify their food to be gluten-free.  Just how good is their certification.

Not very good say studies just published by gastroenterologists at Columbia med school and the NY Presbyterian Hospital.  Their data comes from users of the Nima Gluten Sensor that diners can use to self-test food labeled as gluten free.  In a review of more than 5600 tests by some 800 users over 18 months, gluten was detected in 53% of gluten-free pizza, 51% of gluten-free. pasta, 27% of breakfasts, 29% of lunches, and 34% of dinners.

Here’s the catch: the device is extremely sensitive detecting gluten levels as low as 5 to 10 parts per million (ppm).  In the US, food certified as gluten-free can contain up to 20 ppm, and less than that may not be clinically significant.

Still, the data is sobering, and the byword is buyer beware.  If you have celiac disease and dine out, be certain that your server and also the manager know you must have gluten-free food, check that the restaurant has separate fryers for gluten-free foods, and keep your order simple trying to avoid foods that may be contaminated with gluten.

Benjamin A. Lerner, Lynn T. Phan Vo, Shireen Yates, Andrew G. Rundle, Peter H.R. Green, Benjamin Lebwohl. Detection of Gluten in Gluten-Free Labeled Restaurant Food. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2019; 1 DOI: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000000202

#Celiac #gluten #glutenfree #wheat

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/tVWdIgOWwEs

So you have celiac disease, the most severe form of gluten sensitivity, and exposure to the wheat protein can make you terribly sick.  You avoid any wheat products at home, and you carefully choose restaurants that certify their food to be gluten-free.  Just how good is their certification.

Not very good say studies just published by gastroenterologists at Columbia med school and the NY Presbyterian Hospital.  Their data comes from users of the Nima Gluten Sensor that diners can use to self-test food labeled as gluten free.  In a review of more than 5600 tests by some 800 users over 18 months, gluten was detected in 53% of gluten-free pizza, 51% of gluten-free. pasta, 27% of breakfasts, 29% of lunches, and 34% of dinners.

Here’s the catch: the device is extremely sensitive detecting gluten levels as low as 5 to 10 parts per million (ppm).  In the US, food certified as gluten-free can contain up to 20 ppm, and less than that may not be clinically significant.

Still, the data is sobering, and the byword is buyer beware.  If you have celiac disease and dine out, be certain that your server and also the manager know you must have gluten-free food, check that the restaurant has separate fryers for gluten-free foods, and keep your order simple trying to avoid foods that may be contaminated with gluten.

Benjamin A. Lerner, Lynn T. Phan Vo, Shireen Yates, Andrew G. Rundle, Peter H.R. Green, Benjamin Lebwohl. Detection of Gluten in Gluten-Free Labeled Restaurant Food. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2019; 1 DOI: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000000202

#Celiac #gluten #glutenfree #wheat

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/CbOcuLIEkkw

The debate continues!  The latest multi-country study of nearly 18,000 kids in England, Ireland, and the US analyzed the effect of screen time on adolescent well-being.  When the data were tabulated, no negative effects could be found.

The University of Oxford investigators looked at the duration of screen time and its proximity to bedtime.  They scrutinized the impact of time with digital devices on adolescent overall well-being, self-esteem, psychosocial functioning, mood, and frank depressive symptoms.

Using best practice methodological and statistical techniques, the conclusion is that screen time is not harmful to teens.  Even this conclusion does not invalidate the universal advice that moderation is always the best policy.  Overwhelming numbers of screen time hours rob children of other opportunities in the real world, and they limit vital time for physical activity.

 Amy Orben, Andrew K. Przybylski. Screens, Teens, and Psychological Well-Being: Evidence From Three Time-Use-Diary Studies. Psychological Science, 2019; 095679761983032 DOI: 10.1177/0956797619830329

#Screentime #adolescence #teens #bedtime #activity

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/CbOcuLIEkkw

The debate continues!  The latest multi-country study of nearly 18,000 kids in England, Ireland, and the US analyzed the effect of screen time on adolescent well-being.  When the data were tabulated, no negative effects could be found.

The University of Oxford investigators looked at the duration of screen time and its proximity to bedtime.  They scrutinized the impact of time with digital devices on adolescent overall well-being, self-esteem, psychosocial functioning, mood, and frank depressive symptoms.

Using best practice methodological and statistical techniques, the conclusion is that screen time is not harmful to teens.  Even this conclusion does not invalidate the universal advice that moderation is always the best policy.  Overwhelming numbers of screen time hours rob children of other opportunities in the real world, and they limit vital time for physical activity.

 Amy Orben, Andrew K. Przybylski. Screens, Teens, and Psychological Well-Being: Evidence From Three Time-Use-Diary Studies. Psychological Science, 2019; 095679761983032 DOI: 10.1177/0956797619830329

#Screentime #adolescence #teens #bedtime #activity

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/C3A3taMtQIg

Medical marijuana now legalized in 33 states and the District of Columbia, and many of you probably have questions about its uses.  I came cross this excellent article published this week in the British Medical Journal, and I want to pass it on.   

The article reviews the available types of medicinal but also non-medicinal cannabis products and by-products, both natural and synthetic.  It reviews how these products may be helpful or harmful to you and for which illnesses they may be effective.

Just to give you a taste of the information, one table lists detailed information about the prescription medicinal products including the natural derivatives Sativex, Epidiolex, Bedrocan, Tilray, the synthetics Dronabinol, Nabilone, and the non-medicinals CBD oil, White Widow, and Spice.  Another table reviews the evidence for effectiveness of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting.

If you have an interest in the medical uses for weed, do check this reference.

Freeman Tom P, Hindocha Chandni, Green Sebastian F, Bloomfield Michael A P. Medicinal use of cannabis based products and cannabinoids BMJ 2019; 365 :l1141. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l1141

#Cannabis #medicalmarijuana #Sativex #Epidiolex #bedrocan #tilray #dronabinol #nabilone #CBD oil #whitewidow #spice #pain #epilepsy #cancer #MS

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/C3A3taMtQIg

Medical marijuana now legalized in 33 states and the District of Columbia, and many of you probably have questions about its uses.  I came cross this excellent article published this week in the British Medical Journal, and I want to pass it on.   

The article reviews the available types of medicinal but also non-medicinal cannabis products and by-products, both natural and synthetic.  It reviews how these products may be helpful or harmful to you and for which illnesses they may be effective.

Just to give you a taste of the information, one table lists detailed information about the prescription medicinal products including the natural derivatives Sativex, Epidiolex, Bedrocan, Tilray, the synthetics Dronabinol, Nabilone, and the non-medicinals CBD oil, White Widow, and Spice.  Another table reviews the evidence for effectiveness of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting.

If you have an interest in the medical uses for weed, do check this reference.

Freeman Tom P, Hindocha Chandni, Green Sebastian F, Bloomfield Michael A P. Medicinal use of cannabis based products and cannabinoids BMJ 2019; 365 :l1141. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l1141

#Cannabis #medicalmarijuana #Sativex #Epidiolex #bedrocan #tilray #dronabinol #nabilone #CBD oil #whitewidow #spice #pain #epilepsy #cancer #MS

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/MCs-vrn_2io

Keeping your gums healthy may help you maintain a sharp mind as well as a full set of teeth throughout your life.  A study from the University of Louisville’s dental school shows that a bacterium that frequently causes gingivitis and periodontitis can travel to your brain and help to trigger your mental decline.

The nasty bug in question is Porphyromonas gingivalis.  The researchers demonstrated the genetic fingerprints of the bacterium and its characteristic toxin in the brains of deceased Alzheimer’s patients.  In a parallel mouse experiment, they showed that migration of this bacterium from gum to brain can be halted with agents that block the bacterium’s toxins.   When this blockage is successful, the rodents fail to develop mental deterioration.

The investigators start that studies are now underway to test such blocking drugs in Alzheimer’s patients to see if their disease progression may be stopped or slowed.  Even before such a drug is available, you can help yourself now by eliminating the P. Gingivalis bacteria from your gums.  

That task is as simple as brushing, flossing, or water flossing regularly and by having professional dental cleanings once or twice a year.

Experimental Biology. "Gum bacteria implicated in Alzheimer's and other diseases: Scientists trace path of bacterial toxins from the mouth to the brain and other tissues." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 7 April 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190407144231.htm.

#Gingivitis #periodontitis #dementia #Alzheimers

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/MCs-vrn_2io

Keeping your gums healthy may help you maintain a sharp mind as well as a full set of teeth throughout your life.  A study from the University of Louisville’s dental school shows that a bacterium that frequently causes gingivitis and periodontitis can travel to your brain and help to trigger your mental decline.

The nasty bug in question is Porphyromonas gingivalis.  The researchers demonstrated the genetic fingerprints of the bacterium and its characteristic toxin in the brains of deceased Alzheimer’s patients.  In a parallel mouse experiment, they showed that migration of this bacterium from gum to brain can be halted with agents that block the bacterium’s toxins.   When this blockage is successful, the rodents fail to develop mental deterioration.

The investigators start that studies are now underway to test such blocking drugs in Alzheimer’s patients to see if their disease progression may be stopped or slowed.  Even before such a drug is available, you can help yourself now by eliminating the P. Gingivalis bacteria from your gums.  

That task is as simple as brushing, flossing, or water flossing regularly and by having professional dental cleanings once or twice a year.

Experimental Biology. "Gum bacteria implicated in Alzheimer's and other diseases: Scientists trace path of bacterial toxins from the mouth to the brain and other tissues." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 7 April 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190407144231.htm.

#Gingivitis #periodontitis #dementia #Alzheimers

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/GF0b2eu17dM

Young people and adults with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder suffer from flashback-induced anxiety attacks that send the entire body into orbit.  Controlling the breathing rate using an electronic device helps those with PTSD relax, suppress anxiety, and better manage their symptoms.

Clinical researchers from Atlanta’s Emory University reported their success with just such a gadget to the American Physiological Society’s spring meeting this week.  A stand-alone device called the RESPeRATE was used in a group of subjects with verified PTSD, and control subjects were given sham devices to use.  The working device produces tones to help the user pace the breathing to ever slower rates while the sham device maintained a normal rate of 14 breaths per minute.

The PSTD subjects with most severe symptoms showed significant improvements in their heart rates, blood pressures, and sympathetic nervous system activity when they used the device.  This translates into relief from the effects of their flashbacks and anxiety attacks,

The RESPeRATE device is pricey at over $300 on Amazon.  If you feel that you would benefit from this type of self-help, I’d suggest trying an smartphone/pad app called Breathe2Relax.   It has not only breathing exercises but also other relaxation coaching.

American Physiological Society. "Device-guided breathing lowers heart rate, sympathetic activity in people with PTSD: Study finds greatest improvements in those with severe symptoms." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 7 April 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190407144213.htm.

https://www.amazon.com/RESPeRATE-Ultra-Pressure-Hypertension-Reduction/dp/B0022NI1NG/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=RESPeRATE&qid=1554750866&s=gateway&sr=8-1

https://breathe2relax.soft112.com

#PTSD #posttraumaticstress #breathing #anxiety #flashbacks

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/GF0b2eu17dM

Young people and adults with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder suffer from flashback-induced anxiety attacks that send the entire body into orbit.  Controlling the breathing rate using an electronic device helps those with PTSD relax, suppress anxiety, and better manage their symptoms.

Clinical researchers from Atlanta’s Emory University reported their success with just such a gadget to the American Physiological Society’s spring meeting this week.  A stand-alone device called the RESPeRATE was used in a group of subjects with verified PTSD, and control subjects were given sham devices to use.  The working device produces tones to help the user pace the breathing to ever slower rates while the sham device maintained a normal rate of 14 breaths per minute.

The PSTD subjects with most severe symptoms showed significant improvements in their heart rates, blood pressures, and sympathetic nervous system activity when they used the device.  This translates into relief from the effects of their flashbacks and anxiety attacks,

The RESPeRATE device is pricey at over $300 on Amazon.  If you feel that you would benefit from this type of self-help, I’d suggest trying an smartphone/pad app called Breathe2Relax.   It has not only breathing exercises but also other relaxation coaching.

American Physiological Society. "Device-guided breathing lowers heart rate, sympathetic activity in people with PTSD: Study finds greatest improvements in those with severe symptoms." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 7 April 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190407144213.htm.

https://www.amazon.com/RESPeRATE-Ultra-Pressure-Hypertension-Reduction/dp/B0022NI1NG/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=RESPeRATE&qid=1554750866&s=gateway&sr=8-1

https://breathe2relax.soft112.com

#PTSD #posttraumaticstress #breathing #anxiety #flashbacks