Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DN05tuXXix_/

In the search for ever more effective and selective ways to fight cancer, researchers at Columbia University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science in collaboration with those at Rockefeller University have bioengineered a bacterium that selectively ferries a cell-killing virus into cancer cells.  They call this system CAPPSID which stands for Coordinated Activity of Prokaryote and Picornavirus for Safe Intracellular Delivery.

The prokaryote in question is a salmonella species and the picornavirus is the Senecavirus.  This salmonella selectively invades tumor cells and delivers not only the virus but also an enzyme necessary to activate the virus once inside the tumor cell.  This permits the virus to slip past the immune system, sneak into cancers, and attack tumor cells from the inside.

Using a preclinical mouse model, the bacteria successfully homed in on their tumors, delivered the virus, and then self-destructed to release it. To prevent the virus from killing normal mouse cells, the virus can only proliferate in the presence of the protease enzyme supplied by the cancer-homing bacterium.

This is the first example of directly engineered cooperation between bacteria and viruses with the goal of cancer eradication.  , and it may open the door to a new class of living medicines for solid tumors. Clinical studies are now in the planning stages making it possible that this technology could be added to existing cancer therapy…..someday soon

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-025-01476-8

#cancer #bacteria #viruses #salmonella #picornavirus #trojanhorse

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DN04xTN2nvK/

Blah, blah blah you’re thinking.  Yea, yea, yea Dr. Smith I’ve heard this all before.  PLEASE don’t click off and give me a couple minutes to help you save your own life or the lives of those you love.

An astounding 77% of Americans do not know that blood pressures greater than 130/80 are a significant risk for heart attack and stroke as well as dementia, kidney failure, and blindness.  One in 4 still think the numbers are the old cutoffs 140/90.  So discovered University of Pennsylvania public health researchers after they they surveyed 1653 of our friends and neighbors this past April.

Among their key findings:

-24% don’t know the blood pressure levels that are considered high.  The cutoff is now 130/80, not 140/90.

-37% assume incorrectly that high blood pressure always has noticeable symptoms like dizziness and shortness of breath; they don’t know that high blood pressure is a silent illness.

-39% think that your blood pressure is fine if you are calm and relaxed. Not so.

-35% of survey respondents had diagnosed high blood pressure, while the CDC estimates that 48% of all Americans have hypertension. 

-88-92% of those with high blood pressure know how to maintain a normal blood pressure: regular exercise, only 26% do; limiting salt intake, only 31% do; maintaining a healthy weight, only 21% do; take prescribed medications regularly, only 51% do; monitor blood pressure daily, only 18% do.

The researchers conclude that better public education is the key to improving these statistics.  In that spirit, let’s review the American Heart Association’s current definitions regarding blood pressure levels.  Normal blood pressure is less than 120 or less than 80, elevated blood pressure is less than 120-129/less than 80, high blood pressure-stage 1 is 130-139 or 80-89, high blood pressure-stage 2 is 140 or higher or 90 or higher, and a hypertensive crisis is higher than 180 or higher than 120. 

I urge you to share this information with your friends and family.  Blood pressure monitors are dirt cheap, and every household, EVERY HOUSEHOLD should have one. Does yours?

https://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/many-americans-unaware-high-blood-pressure-usually-has-no-noticeable-symptoms/

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2837834

#bloodpressure #hypertension #exercise #diet #monitoring

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DN038nZ3AWE/

Even a mild case of CoVid will age your vital arteries 5 years.  This from a study by French cardiologists recently published in the European Heart Journal.

 The cardiovascular researchers studied data from 2090 individuals in 16 countries from late 2020 through early 2022.  Arterial aging was estimated by measuring the degree of vessel stiffness using pulse wave propagation measurements.  The negative effects of a CoVid infection were more significant in women and in those reporting lingering, long CoVid symptoms.

On the positive side, those vaccinated against CoVid suffered less arterial stiffening following a CoVid infection.  Add this to the other benefits of vaccination including a less severe infection with a significantly lower risk of death.

It’s important to note that vascular aging, when “natural” or prodded along by CoVid, can be reduced by exercise, blood pressure control, healthy eating, and cholesterol-lowering medications.  Just to repeat, If unchecked, this blood vessel aging will increase your risks of a heart attack and stroke.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-covid-infection-ages-blood-vessels.html

https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf430/8236450?login=false

#CoVid #coronary #vessel #stiffening #heartattack #stroke

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DN023UfWjJq/

So-called “clear e-cigarettes that contain synthetic cooling agents trigger greater blood pressure and heart rate increases than menthol flavored e-cigarettes.  Yale and Boston University researchers issue this warning following their study of 200 young adult vapers and non-vapers.  They analyzed 3 groups: 23 clear-ecig vapers; 111 non-clear vapers; and 73 non-vapers. Their paper appears in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

These “clear” vapes contain WS-23 or WS-3, both synthetic coolants that mimic menthol’s cooling effects but impart no flavor to the vapor. The data revealed that these agents were associated with greater heart strains than e-cigs containing menthol itself. The investigators suggest that these synthetic cooling agents have been introduced to circumvent bans against flavorings in vaping products, such as the ones in Massachusetts, California, New York State, Delaware, and elect cities around the country,.

While this study only looked at the short term effects of these synthetic cooling agents, it’s not unreasonable to believe that “clear” e-cigs create greater risks of heart failure and stroke over time than other e-cigs. As usual..buyer beware.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-cigarettes-linked-greater-acute-blood.html

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.124.036106

#ecigarettes #vaping #clear #cooling #menthol #hypertension #heartfailure #stroke 

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DNrzfRnaKSG/

This bacteria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. It can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. Affected is Lot Number 615.

About 12 cases of this cheese was sold at Cheese Plate Brooklyn – Park Slope and Cheese Plate Brooklyn – Carroll Gardens between July 24 and August 13, 2025.

Return this cheese to the place of purchase for a full refund.   For questions, contact Fromi USA at 1-212-583-4920 or via the email [email protected].

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/fromi-usa-recalls-brie-royal-faucon-1kg-because-possible-health-risk

#fromi #brie #cheese #listeria #infection #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DNrymjdWsfn/

This bacterium causes a severe and sometimes fatal systemic infection in the very young, older frail individuals, and those with weakened immune systems.  Listeria can also trigger miscarriages and stillbirths.  The affected items include 100% Grass-Fed Pepper Jack Cheese with Lot Code 251661; Copia Collective 100% Grass-Fed Pepper Jack Cheese with Lot Code 251661; Horseradish Flavored Cheese with Lot Code 2524061; Monterey Jack Cheese with Lot Code 251672 and s dated 7-16-25B; and Farmers Cheese in the same sizes and codes.

About 5,433 pounds of cheese were sold in Ohio between July 14 and August 7, 2025. The products were shipped to manufacturers, distributors, and sold in retail stores across the state.

Do not not eat these cheeses. Return them to the place of purchase for a refund. For questions, contact Middlefield Original Cheese Co-Op at 1-440-632-5567 or via the email [email protected].

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/middlefield-original-cheese-co-op-recalls-100-grass-fed-pepper-jack-cheese-and-horseradish-flavored

#middlefield #cheese #listeria #infection #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DNq6jI3M-Yh/

These frozen shrimp are contaminated with the radionuclide Cesium-137. Cesium-137 is a man-made radioisotope, and long-term, repeated low-dose exposure may increase the risk of cancer. Affected products include raw and cooked frozen shrimp with lot numbers including 087305, 095944, 111154, 095946, 109562, 109540, 109541, 109542, 125143, 130632, 128267, 134010, and 128275. 

The frozen shrimp were sold in Alabama, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and Washington state between July 17 and August 8, 2025. 

Do not eat this recalled frozen shrimp. Return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. For questions, contact Southwind Foods at 1-323-262-8222.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/southwind-foods-llc-recalls-frozen-shrimp-because-possible-health-risk

#southwind #frozen #shrimp #radioactive #cesium137 #Cancer #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DNq54scp_T2/

These hair dryers lack an immersion protection device thereby creating a risk of death or serious injury from electrocution or shock if the hair dryers fall into water while plugged in. Affected is model number D3190DCDN

About 56,300 hairdryers were sold in the US at Walmart Marketplace, Target Marketplace, and Amazon from March 2024.

Immediately unplug and stop using these dangerous hair dryers. To receive a full refund, submit a photo of the hair dryer with its power cord cut in half through the recall registration portal at remingtonproducts.com/product-recalls and follow the disposal instructions provided on the website. For more information, contact Empower Brands at 1-844-695-2134 or via the email [email protected].

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Empower-Brands-Recalls-Remington-Hair-Dryers-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death-from-Electrocution-and-Shock-Hazards

#remington #hairdryer #electrocution #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DNq5RgHJ50p/

The locking mechanisms on these ladders jam and fail to fully lock into place creating fall hazards. The recalled ladders are model numbers ALMP-20IAA and ALMP-24IAA.

About 122,250 ladders were sold in the US at Home Depot stores nationwide and online at HomeDepot.com from November 2021 through February 2024.

Stop climbing on these recalled ladders and contact Werner at 1-888-624-1907 or via email [email protected] to obtain a full refund. Register at wernerco.com/recalls to receive disposal instructions. Once disposal is confirmed, Werner will issue a refund by check.

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Werner-Recalls-20-and-24-Multi-Max-Pro-Multi-Purpose-Ladders-Due-to-Fall-Hazard

#werner #ladders #collapse #falls #injuries #recall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DNq4nTJp4gJ/

This fuel bottle’s nozzle applicator is not child-resistant creating a deadly poisoning hazard since these bottles contain volatile hydrocarbons that cause chemical pneumonias and fatal lung damage. The bottles are also incorrectly labeled as “Non-Toxic.”

About 11,275 fuel bottles were sold in the US at Amazon.com, Walmart.com, and Fireflyfuel.com from August 2019 through May 2025.

Immediately remove the nozzle applicator and reinstall the original child-resistant closure. If the child-resistant closure is not available, secure the fuel bottles out of the reach of children. Contact Firefly Fuel at 1-888-472-6740 or via email [email protected] to obtain a free corrected label and a free child-resistant lid if the original is missing.

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Firefly-Fuel-Recalls-Firefly-Safe-Green-32-oz-Fuel-Bottles-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death-from-Poisoning-to-Young-Children-Violates-Multiple-Mandatory-Standards

#firefly #fuelbottle #nozzle #children #poisoning #recall