Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/sUTVOR1Ozvo

Digital breast tomosynthesis, better known as 3D mammography, provides such precise imaging that many women can be saved from needing breast biopsies.  The procedure captures multiple images of the breast from varying angles and a computer synthesizes them into a 3D image allowing the radiologist to examine each image layer by itself.  Conventional mammography captures only two images: top to bottom and side to side.

The UK’s National Health Service Breast Screening Programme surveyed nearly 31,000 women who were imaged with both conventional mammography or 3D mammography.  The data showed that use of 3D mammography along with conventional mammography would have cut the percentage of women referred for biopsy nearly in half from 69% to 36%.   This enhanced technique also reduced the percentage of biopsies that turned out benign and therefore unnecessary from 75 to 52%.

Three-D mammography is particularly helpful for women with very large, dense, or scarred breasts.  It is becoming increasingly available in most cities.

If you are facing your annual mammogram, ask your doctors if the 3-D technique might be a good fit for you.

Nisha Sharma, Michelle McMahon, Isobel Haigh, Yan Chen, Barbara J. G. Dall. The Potential Impact of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis on the Benign Biopsy Rate in Women Recalled within the UK Breast Screening Programme. Radiology, 2019; 180809 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2019180809

#Mammography #tomosynthesis #3Dmammography #breastbiopsy

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/sUTVOR1Ozvo

Digital breast tomosynthesis, better known as 3D mammography, provides such precise imaging that many women can be saved from needing breast biopsies.  The procedure captures multiple images of the breast from varying angles and a computer synthesizes them into a 3D image allowing the radiologist to examine each image layer by itself.  Conventional mammography captures only two images: top to bottom and side to side.

The UK’s National Health Service Breast Screening Programme surveyed nearly 31,000 women who were imaged with both conventional mammography or 3D mammography.  The data showed that use of 3D mammography along with conventional mammography would have cut the percentage of women referred for biopsy nearly in half from 69% to 36%.   This enhanced technique also reduced the percentage of biopsies that turned out benign and therefore unnecessary from 75 to 52%.

Three-D mammography is particularly helpful for women with very large, dense, or scarred breasts.  It is becoming increasingly available in most cities.

If you are facing your annual mammogram, ask your doctors if the 3-D technique might be a good fit for you.

Nisha Sharma, Michelle McMahon, Isobel Haigh, Yan Chen, Barbara J. G. Dall. The Potential Impact of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis on the Benign Biopsy Rate in Women Recalled within the UK Breast Screening Programme. Radiology, 2019; 180809 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2019180809

#Mammography #tomosynthesis #3Dmammography #breastbiopsy

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/WklLZeJtdEA

A green light over the salad bar and a red light over the burgers and fries triggers healthier and environmentally more responsible food choices.  Experimental psychologists at London’s Queen Mary University set up a lunchtime canteen and studied the choices of over 400 subjects.

They conducted two experiments.  In the first, one group of subjects saw traffic signals over the food reflecting its caloric content and healthfulness.  In the second experiment, two traffic signals were present: one again representing the health rating of the food; the second signal revealed the environmental friendliness and carbon emission quotient of the food.  The control groups saw no lights.

Even though the investigators presupposed that multiple lights would be confusing, the group choosing food while exposed to the one signal for calorie count but also the group exposed to indicators for both calories and carbon emissions choose healthier options.  The bonus was that the group also exposed to the environmental signals also chose meals representing fewer carbon emissions.

The traffic light is the ubiquitous signal that governs our behavior both walking and driving.  It turns out that the intuitive nature of this graphic also works at the dining room table.

Magda Osman, Katie Thornton. Traffic light labelling of meals to promote sustainable consumption and healthy eating. Appetite, 2019; 138: 60 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2019.03.015

#Trafficlight #calories #carbonemissions # dieting #graphics

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/WklLZeJtdEA

A green light over the salad bar and a red light over the burgers and fries triggers healthier and environmentally more responsible food choices.  Experimental psychologists at London’s Queen Mary University set up a lunchtime canteen and studied the choices of over 400 subjects.

They conducted two experiments.  In the first, one group of subjects saw traffic signals over the food reflecting its caloric content and healthfulness.  In the second experiment, two traffic signals were present: one again representing the health rating of the food; the second signal revealed the environmental friendliness and carbon emission quotient of the food.  The control groups saw no lights.

Even though the investigators presupposed that multiple lights would be confusing, the group choosing food while exposed to the one signal for calorie count but also the group exposed to indicators for both calories and carbon emissions choose healthier options.  The bonus was that the group also exposed to the environmental signals also chose meals representing fewer carbon emissions.

The traffic light is the ubiquitous signal that governs our behavior both walking and driving.  It turns out that the intuitive nature of this graphic also works at the dining room table.

Magda Osman, Katie Thornton. Traffic light labelling of meals to promote sustainable consumption and healthy eating. Appetite, 2019; 138: 60 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2019.03.015

#Trafficlight #calories #carbonemissions # dieting #graphics

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/-bMz1EdXGuk

As the search continues to understand why our arteries self-destruct as we age, it appears that the bacteria in our gastrointestinal systems may play a key role along with, of course, cholesterol.  Physiologists at the University of Colorado report that aging leads to more pathologic bacteria in the gut and more inflammatory metabolites like trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in the body to foster atherosclerosis-driven coronary artery disease and stroke.

The investigators used a mouse model and found that eliminating pathogenic gastrointestinal bacteria reduced circulating inflammatory substances such as TMAO and improved the health of the animals blood vessels.  

To apply this information for human benefit, they suggest that foods with beneficial bacteria such as yogurt, kefir, and kimchi as well as the consumption of fiber-rich foods will eliminate accumulations of harmful bacteria.  They also mention that olive oil, vinegar, and red wines are rich in dimethyl butanol, an agent blocks that production of the inflammatory TMAO.

Once again, we have proof that you are what you eat.  The reward at the end of the rainbow is a long, healthy life.

Vienna E. Brunt, Rachel A. Gioscia-Ryan, James J. Richey, Melanie C. Zigler, Lauren M. Cuevas, Antonio Gonzalez, Yoshiki Vázquez-Baeza, Micah L. Battson, Andrew T. Smithson, Andrew D. Gilley, Gail Ackermann, Andrew P. Neilson, Tiffany Weir, Kevin P. Davy, Rob Knight, Douglas R. Seals. Suppression of the gut microbiome ameliorates age-related arterial dysfunction and oxidative stress in mice. The Journal of Physiology, 2019; DOI: 10.1113/JP277336

#Atherosclerosis #microbiome #TMAO #yogurt #oliveoil #fiber

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/-bMz1EdXGuk

As the search continues to understand why our arteries self-destruct as we age, it appears that the bacteria in our gastrointestinal systems may play a key role along with, of course, cholesterol.  Physiologists at the University of Colorado report that aging leads to more pathologic bacteria in the gut and more inflammatory metabolites like trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) in the body to foster atherosclerosis-driven coronary artery disease and stroke.

The investigators used a mouse model and found that eliminating pathogenic gastrointestinal bacteria reduced circulating inflammatory substances such as TMAO and improved the health of the animals blood vessels.  

To apply this information for human benefit, they suggest that foods with beneficial bacteria such as yogurt, kefir, and kimchi as well as the consumption of fiber-rich foods will eliminate accumulations of harmful bacteria.  They also mention that olive oil, vinegar, and red wines are rich in dimethyl butanol, an agent blocks that production of the inflammatory TMAO.

Once again, we have proof that you are what you eat.  The reward at the end of the rainbow is a long, healthy life.

Vienna E. Brunt, Rachel A. Gioscia-Ryan, James J. Richey, Melanie C. Zigler, Lauren M. Cuevas, Antonio Gonzalez, Yoshiki Vázquez-Baeza, Micah L. Battson, Andrew T. Smithson, Andrew D. Gilley, Gail Ackermann, Andrew P. Neilson, Tiffany Weir, Kevin P. Davy, Rob Knight, Douglas R. Seals. Suppression of the gut microbiome ameliorates age-related arterial dysfunction and oxidative stress in mice. The Journal of Physiology, 2019; DOI: 10.1113/JP277336

#Atherosclerosis #microbiome #TMAO #yogurt #oliveoil #fiber

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/iFJN2LvoWjA

The knee takes a beating in many athletic contests, and anterior cruciate ligament repair is a frequent operative event in the world of sports medicine.  During recovery, though, there tends to be a loss of muscle mass and bone density despite good rehabilitation therapy.

Orthopedic surgeons at Houston’s Methodist Hospital report to the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine that precise and cyclic limitation of blood flow to the healing limbs during postoperative rehabilitation exercises reduced if not eliminated the loss of both muscle and bone mass.  An automated tourniquet was used to reduce the blood flow by about 80% on an intermittent basis.

Researchers across the country and around the world are now studying this phenomenon to better understand the underlying reasons for the benefit.  If you are contemplating an ACL repair, ask your orthopod about this tourniquet technique.

American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. "Blood flow restriction therapy may protect against bone loss following ACL reconstruction." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 16 March 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/03/190316162205.htm.

#ACL #anteriorcruciateligament #sportsmedicine #musclewasting #osteoporosis

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/iFJN2LvoWjA

The knee takes a beating in many athletic contests, and anterior cruciate ligament repair is a frequent operative event in the world of sports medicine.  During recovery, though, there tends to be a loss of muscle mass and bone density despite good rehabilitation therapy.

Orthopedic surgeons at Houston’s Methodist Hospital report to the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine that precise and cyclic limitation of blood flow to the healing limbs during postoperative rehabilitation exercises reduced if not eliminated the loss of both muscle and bone mass.  An automated tourniquet was used to reduce the blood flow by about 80% on an intermittent basis.

Researchers across the country and around the world are now studying this phenomenon to better understand the underlying reasons for the benefit.  If you are contemplating an ACL repair, ask your orthopod about this tourniquet technique.

American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. "Blood flow restriction therapy may protect against bone loss following ACL reconstruction." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 16 March 2019. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/03/190316162205.htm.

#ACL #anteriorcruciateligament #sportsmedicine #musclewasting #osteoporosis

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/UqPntXmJwHk

Pregnant women will suffer colds and may get the flu despite receiving the flu vaccines.  When that occurs, the babies they are carrying are more likely to develop excessive neural sensitivity.  That in turn leads to agitation for infants and toddlers and attention deficits and even serious psychosis such as schizophrenia later in life.

A study by University of Colorado pediatricians and psychiatrists reveals that this problem may be prevented by sufficient levels of the essential B vitamin choline.  Choline is necessary for the synthesis of the cell membranes of neurons and the sheaths of nerves.

While choline is found in some foods including eggs, red meat, and liver, 75% of pregnant women fail to consume the recommended daily 450 milligrams of this nutrient.  Unfortunately, prenatal vitamins do not contain choline.

Pregnant women should take a 500 mg choline supplement daily for at least the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.  Choline may be obtained from most drugstores and online.

Robert Freedman, Sharon K. Hunter, Amanda J. Law, Brandie D. Wagner, Angelo D'Alessandro, Uwe Christians, Kathleen Noonan, Anna Wyrwa, M. Camille Hoffman. Higher Gestational Choline Levels in Maternal Infection Are Protective for Infant Brain Development. The Journal of Pediatrics, 2019; DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2018.12.010

#Choline #neuropathy #agitation #ADHD #psychosis #schizophrenia #pregnancy

Vidcast: https://youtu.be/UqPntXmJwHk

Pregnant women will suffer colds and may get the flu despite receiving the flu vaccines.  When that occurs, the babies they are carrying are more likely to develop excessive neural sensitivity.  That in turn leads to agitation for infants and toddlers and attention deficits and even serious psychosis such as schizophrenia later in life.

A study by University of Colorado pediatricians and psychiatrists reveals that this problem may be prevented by sufficient levels of the essential B vitamin choline.  Choline is necessary for the synthesis of the cell membranes of neurons and the sheaths of nerves.

While choline is found in some foods including eggs, red meat, and liver, 75% of pregnant women fail to consume the recommended daily 450 milligrams of this nutrient.  Unfortunately, prenatal vitamins do not contain choline.

Pregnant women should take a 500 mg choline supplement daily for at least the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.  Choline may be obtained from most drugstores and online.

Robert Freedman, Sharon K. Hunter, Amanda J. Law, Brandie D. Wagner, Angelo D'Alessandro, Uwe Christians, Kathleen Noonan, Anna Wyrwa, M. Camille Hoffman. Higher Gestational Choline Levels in Maternal Infection Are Protective for Infant Brain Development. The Journal of Pediatrics, 2019; DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2018.12.010

#Choline #neuropathy #agitation #ADHD #psychosis #schizophrenia #pregnancy