2020 TT HealthWatch Archive

TT HealthWatch - Friday, December 25, 2020

This week's topics include clown effectiveness for hospitalized kids, soccer and accidents, cost-effectiveness of Christmas, and how does Santa do it?

0:58 Football (soccer) and car accidents in Asia
2:12 41,000 accidents in Taiwan
3:08 Ask cab drivers in Asia
3:21 Clowns in hospitals and clusters of symptoms in kids
4:17 Might help improve psychological well-being
5:19 Mid-1980s originated in North America
6:15 Clown phobia
7:10 Harms of the Christmas season
8:14 Endoscopy to retrieve
9:17 How does Father Christmas do it?
10:20 Serve Santa water
11:57 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, December 18, 2020

This week's topics include household contact risk for COVID-19, a new AI discerned agent for COVID-19 infection, risk of rehospitalization after COVID-19, and health professionals at decreased risk for COVID-19 infection.

0:41 Readmission and death after hospitalization for COVID-19
1:42 31% treated in ICU initially
2:45 First 10 days after discharge
3:23 A new treatment for COVID-19 using AI
4:21 Half on remdesivir plus baracitinib
5:22 Genetic study identifying those at risk
6:11 Household transmission
7:12 Number of contacts impacted transmission
8:13 Just one household contact more closeness
9:02 Occupational risk for health care workers
10:05 Thirty to forty percent less likely to be infected
11:45 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, December 11, 2020

This week's topics include durability of antibodies to COVID-19 after vaccination, new asthma guidelines, firearm deaths and injuries in the U.S., and hearing aid use.

0:50 Follow-up to Moderna vaccine
1:49 Mean geometric titer higher than natural infection
2:49 Ramping up to teenagers
3:00 Rates of firearm deaths and injuries
4:00 Self-harm about 88% of deaths outside the hospital
5:00 CDC data from electronic medical records
6:01 In context of pandemic concerning
6:30 Hearing aid ownership
7:30 Actually didn't increase for some
8:30 PADs much less expensive
9:16 New asthma guidelines
10:16 Accessible in the guidelines
11:15 Specific stepwise recommendations
12:53 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, December 04, 2020

This week's topics include impacting on the incidence of gout, cannabis effects on driving, a viral super-spreader event in Argentina, and self-knowledge of overweight and obesity.

0:50 Unique super-spreader event
1:50 Isolation primarily
2:50 Model of respiratory infection
3:50 Compared to coronavirus
4:05 Cannabis products and driving
5:05 Standard deviation of lateral position
6:05 THC shown to impair driving
7:04 In conjunction with alcohol
7:44 Self knowledge of overweight and obesity
8:43 True of Blacks, more men
9:43 Idea of normal changes
10:28 Gout incidence
11:28 No diuretic use
12:30 77% of gout is avoidable
14:00 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, November 27, 2020

This week's topics include face masks in Kansas, WHO recommendations on remdesivir, rate of HIV-related death, and delirium in older folks with COVID-19.

0:44 Face masks in Kansas and COVID-19
1:44 Seven-day average decreased 6%
2:45 This study seems unlikely to change behavior
3:44 Rate of delirium in older patients with COVID-19 in the ED
4:41 Increased odds of ICU admission and death
5:41 May be only symptom
6:48 WHO recommendations about remdesivir
7:48 Does it improve survival?
8:42 Resource-rich areas
9:45 Data from AstraZeneca vaccine
10:44 mRNA vaccines more expensive
11:15 Rates of death in those with HIV
12:15 Rate decreased by 37%
13:10 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, November 20, 2020

This week's topics include inhaled interferon for COVID-19, dropping measles vaccination rates, a polypill to reduce cardiovascular disease and the utility of masks.

0:50 Antiviral therapy via inhalation
1:42 Didn't improve hospital discharge
2:46 How is it delivered?
3:00 Use of masks to reduce COVID-19 transmission
4:03 Did not result in 50% reduction in infection rates
5:01 Significant limitations to study
6:02 Will it be used to deny masks?
6:26 Polypills in those without cardiovascular disease
7:28 Higher risk of low blood pressure
8:28 Keep people from getting any therapy?
8:52 Measles vaccination rates
9:54 By 2019 rising again
10:51 Increased 567% in 2019
11:50 Trust issues in different countries
13:09 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, November 13, 2020

This week's topics include cell phone analysis of COVID-19 cases, using AI to predict patient deterioration in the hospital, telework impact on COVID-19 transmission, and psychiatric disorders following COVID-19.

1:15 Using cell phone data to model COVID-19
2:15 Fit their model to 10 metro areas
3:15 States adopting such models
4:17 Looked at points of interest
4:46 How does telework impact transmission?
5:50 Higher income allows more telework
6:50 Where were they going?
7:20 Using data to predict patient decline
8:25 Hand off to team
9:30 Access to rapid response team
9:46 New psychiatric illness following COVID-19
10:46 Anxiety disorders greatest risk
11:45 Long-term data needed
12:42 Twice the incidence
13:18 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, November 6, 2020

This week's topics include household transmission of COVID-19, monoclonal antibodies for treatment of COVID-19, kindergarten preparedness and long-term benefits, and active surveillance for Black men with low-risk prostate cancer.

0:59 Monoclonal antibodies for treatment of COVID-19
1:58 Antibody prevented hospitalization in many
2:57 Cost less than hospitalization?
3:40 Kindergarten readiness
4:40 Reduction in odds of being overweight
5:40 Need resources invested in preschool
6:44 Household transmission of COVID-19
7:44 75% of secondary infections within five days
8:42 Wear a face mask even within households
9:40 Active surveillance among Black men with low-risk prostate cancer
10:40 55% definitive treatment in Black men
11:42 More likely to have disease progression
12:59 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, October 30, 2020

This week's topics include the impact of stay-at-home orders, taking care of sequelae of mild and moderate COVID-19, giving acute health problems a miss, and cardiac complications of COVID.

1:18 Staying away from the hospital even with acute issues
2:18 Patient avoidance, lost health care insurance
3:18 Facilities are stressed
4:15 Cardiac injury in COVID
5:15 If troponin is positive
6:15 More studies in COVID heart injury
7:00 Guidelines for primary care management of post-COVID
8:00 Not necessary to test for virus
9:02 Home oxygen monitoring for breathlessness
10:05 Elderly with more severe consequences
10:20 Stay at home order impact
11:20 Would have had 220% higher case rate
12:20 Prison populations
13:22 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, October 23, 2020

This week's studies include two RNA Sars-CoV-2 vaccines, an inactivated vaccine, a look at who's willing to be vaccinated, and guidelines for managing Down syndrome manifestations.

1:06 RNA vaccines
2:00 Similar immune responses young or old
3:00 Inactivated virus
3:10 Vaccine hesitancy
4:10 Vaccine attributes multiple
5:12 Suggests ways to address hesitancy
6:13 Rigorously tested even for an EUA
6:41 An inactivated viral vaccine
7:42 Inactivated vaccines must be made properly
8:44 Not a narrow vaccine
9:12 Guidelines for managing Down syndrome manifestations
10:13 Literature survey
11:12 Congenital heart disease common
12:45 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, October 16, 2020

This week's topics include a reinfection with SARS-CoV2, excess death data on the pandemic, the benefits of bariatric surgery, and new strategies for rheumatoid arthritis.

0:44 Rheumatoid arthritis management
1:45 Looked after 12 weeks, 28 joints
2:45 Look at different pathways
2:55 Life expectancy after bariatric surgery
3:55 Three years longer life with surgery
4:56 Very large study
5:55 Deaths observed in other studies
6:10 Excess deaths relative to COVID-19
7:10 A 20% increase compared with expected deaths
8:10 Adopt best practices
9:10 Reinfection in the U.S.
10:11 Isn't the first case of reinfection
11:10 If you were asymptomatic you could spread
12:10 Could more severe disease be reinfection?
13:07 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, October 9, 2020

This week's studies include the benefits of flu vaccines for kids, a look at COVID-19 transmission in India, antibiotics versus appendectomy, and alcohol-related deaths in the U.S..

0:51 Keeping kids out of the hospital or ED with a flu vaccine
1:54 1900+ ED visits
2:56 Didn't exactly match the drift
3:54 Can result in death
4:22 Epidemiology of Covid transmission in India
5:23 2.6% transmission in the community
6:24 Alcohol related deaths in the US
7:28 Migration to rural areas instead of urban
8:28 Those over the age of 25
9:28 Habits hard to break
10:00 Antibiotics versus appendectomy
11:01 Mostly laparoscopy
12:03 Do you have an appendix stone?
13:31 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, October 2, 2020

This week's topics include a COVID-19 vaccine in older people, differences in pediatric and adult populations in COVID response, the impact of HPV vaccination, and salary differences in men and women physicians.

0:38 Salary differences between male and female physicians
1:40 Revenue, patient visits
2:40 After adjustment equal revenue generation
3:40 Look at gender equity seriously
4:01 HPV vaccination and cervical cancer
5:01 Dramatic difference between those vaccinated and those not
6:06 Shame that more young ladies aren't getting it
7:01 Boys should be vaccinated also
7:25 Difference in immune response in children and adults
8:25 Older age associated with lower inflammatory markers
9:25 Damp down in adults
10:05 An mRNA vaccine in older adults
11:06 Adenovirus elicit more broad response
12:15 Which one is best?
13:22 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, September 25, 2020

This week's topics include a look at transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in South Korea, a review of studies relative to transmission of SARS-CoV-2, inappropriate use of cardiac stents, and risk of breast cancer death after DCIS.

0:52 Cardiac stents in people with stable heart disease
1:56 Stenting rarely beneficial
2:53 Number of stents decreased by 84%
3:51 Save $6 billion avoiding stents
4:05 Risk of death from breast cancer after ductal carcinoma in situ
5:05 Looked at SEER database
6:05 DCIS thought to be contained
7:00 Review of COVID-19 transmission
8:02 Most people don't transmit
8:47 Transmission in asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic
9:47 20% never showed symptoms
10:44 13 days later still tested positive
11:44 Resistance domestically
12:55 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, September 18, 2020

This week's topics include an enzyme and risk of COVID-19 infection, transmission among child care centers, rates of antibodies to COVID in health care workers, and stimulating new white blood cells and COVID.

0:46 An enzyme and COVID infection
1:43 Nasal brushings examined
2:47 Works with spike protein and ACE receptor
3:45 Also associated with prostate cancer
4:37 Immune stimulation in COVID
5:35 Stimulates white cells
6:35 Usual care versus stimulation
7:37 Death rate of 0.2% in younger people
7:54 Three outbreaks in childcare facilities
8:54 Graphical presentation
9:54 Since kids were asymptomatic
10:54 Might mitigate spread from children
11:10 COVID among health care workers
12:10 40% went on to develop symptoms
13:49 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, September 11, 2020

This week's topics include making camps safer from COVID-19, a new mortality score relative to COVID-19 mortality, risks of bisphenol A, and hypertension management over the last decade.

0:43 Trends in hypertension management
1:45 Blood pressure control initially increased
2:46 Maybe don't need to be so tight
3:40 Risk score for mortality in COVID-19
4:40 Level of consciousness and other factors
5:40 Low, intermediate, high and very high-risk groups
6:40 Admit right away to ICU
7:27 Making overnight camps safer
8:27 Testing before arrival
9:27 Major issue is adherence
10:00 Exposure to bisphenol A and mortality
11:00 Perhaps related to obesity, CVD, diabetes
12:01 More than 90% of US population affected
13:20 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, September 4, 2020

This week's topics include COVID-19 and pregnancy, self-perceived versus objective assessments of hearing loss, behavioral intervention for obesity in low income people, and how flu vaccine behavior can inform COVID vaccination.

0:43 Flu vaccination model with COVID vaccine
1:43 Vaccination rates, states, age
2:41 Target those unlikely to get vaccinated
3:40 Now have three COVID vaccines in phase 3 trials
4:35 Pregnancy and COVID
5:35 Same risk factors for non-pregnant people
6:34 Moms with chronic illness four times more likely to need ICU
7:35 Routinely test pregnant women
7:45 Weight loss in underserved patients
8:43 Intensive lifestyle change had 5% loss
9:46 Difference between self-perceived and tested hearing loss
10:45 Corrected for multiple factors
11:41 Long-term cognitive impairment
12:36 Don't know if hearing aids correct
13:18 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, August 28, 2020

This week's topics include revascularization in people with both MI and shock, a new targeted therapy for some thyroid and lung cancers, remdesivir in moderate COVID-19 disease, and the risk of COVID-19 for those with cancer.

0:37 Cancer and COVID-19 risk
1:37 Specific type of cancer
2:33 Individualized risk category
3:33 Individual numbers were small
4:03 Use of remdesivir in moderate disease
5:03 Used an ordinal scale to assess
6:03 New targeted agent selpercatinib
7:03 Overall 2% of cancers
8:12 Valuable addition for this mutation
9:06 Effective, durable and minimal side effects
10:02 Identify the pathway and target
10:26 Heart attack, shock and revascularization
11:26 CATH-PCI registry
12:09 May need additional procedures later
13:14 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, August 21, 2020

This week's topics include the metabolic effect of bariatric surgery, atypical fractures with bisphosphonates, treatment of musculoskeletal pain, and behavioral counseling to reduce STI transmission.

1:05 USPSTF guidance on counseling for STI reduction
2:11 Increase in neonatal syphilis
3:12 Need behavioral counseling
3:45 Bariatric surgery or diet for metabolic impact?
4:49 No additional benefit to surgery
5:50 Metabolic effects the same
6:40 Atypical fractures with bisphosphonates
7:40 Asian, greater weight, glucocorticoids
8:46 Prevent many more hip fractures
9:51 Management of musculoskeletal pain
10:40 Topical nonsteroidal gels No. 1
11:37 Low possibility of deleterious effects
12:33 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, August 14, 2020

This week's topics include COVID-19 incubation period, rates of COVID-19 infection in kids, how heart attacks have been impacted by the pandemic, and antibody prevalence in health care personnel.

0:46 Novel technique to estimate incubation period for COVID-19
1:47 Total of 1000 in analysis
2:47 You left Wuhan and then became infected
3:47 95% or greater become viremic
4:02 Heart attacks during pandemic
5:02 ST elevation MI
6:00 Prevalence of antibody in NY health care personnel
7:05 Over 13% in health care workers
8:05 Bivariate and multivariate analyses
8:50 COVID-19 in kids
9:50 Deaths rare
10:50 Opening schools?
11:30 Use information on infection locally
12:21 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, August 7, 2020

This week's topics include risk of COVID infection for health care workers, reopening schools, reopening colleges, and transmission of COVID in a sleepaway camp.

0:44 Risk of Covid among healthcare workers
1:44 Three times more likely even with PPE
2:45 Use of an app
3:44 Adequate PPE protects
4:00 Two studies on reopening schools
5:01 Testing by nucleic acids or antibody
6:02 Contact tracing within 24 hours
6:23 Modeling study for college opening
7:26 Cost between $120-$1000 per student per semester
8:28 Slightly under $10 million
9:29 Israeli school had to close
10:00 Overnight camp transmission
11:00 As high as 56% in large cabins
12:37 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, July 31, 2020

This week's topics include antibody persistence after COVID-19, community prevalence of five diseases and severe COVID-19, cardiac abnormalities after COVID-19, and genetic variants and severe COVID-19.

0:46 County level prevalence of underlying medical conditions and COVID-19
1:48 Allow for allocation of resources
2:45 More in rural areas
3:49 Diabetes in 40%
4:06 COVID-19 and heart conditions
5:06 In the interstitium
6:04 Will this have long term effects?
7:04 Doesn't actively kill cells
7:22 Gene variants in young men with severe COVID-19
8:22 Impacted on interferon signaling
9:26 Two phases of infection
10:06 How long antibodies persist in mild COVID-19
11:08 Gauge half-life
12:06 Wear a mask
13:00 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, July 24, 2020

This week's topics include data on two COVID-19 vaccines, the impact of physical distancing, universal masking, and contact tracing and transmission in South Korea.

0:47 Two vaccines going to phase 3
1:43 At 28 days and 56 days
2:45 Mild to moderate side effects
3:50 Impact of physical distancing in reducing spread of COVID-19
4:50 Public transport in lockdown?
5:50 Mass gatherings
6:11 Universal masking impact
7:12 Tested those with symptoms
8:12 Provide masks for patients
8:25 Contact tracing in South Korea
9:30 Stratified according to decade of life
10:30 Very large study
12:12 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, July 17, 2020

This week's topics include persistent COVID-19 symptoms, testing for COVID in long-term care facilities, the mRNA vaccine for COVID, and perceptions of CPR.

0:37 First COVID vaccine
1:36 Same level of antibody as natural infection
2:37 Novel vaccine
3:12 Long-term symptoms of COVID
4:12 Some ventilated, some not
5:12 Neurologic and cardiac sequelae
6:16 Testing for COVID in long-term care facilities
7:18 900 received testing
8:20 Hot-spot testing
9:05 What people think about CPR
10:06 64% had done a CPR course
11:07 Talk about advance directives
12:10 Where to discuss?
13:37 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, July 10, 2020

This week's topics include excess deaths due to COVID-19 , the probability of infection after exposure to COVID-positive close contacts, falls in the elderly, and herd immunity development.

0:51 Prevalence of COVID infection in Spain
1:51 Seroprevalence across the country
2:52 As early as eight weeks, titer falls
3:20 Excess deaths due to COVID
4:20 Substantial variability in states
5:19 Other excess deaths not directly related
6:20 Reliable way of estimating
6:41 Probability of development of symptoms
7:40 Respiratory symptoms, cough or fever
8:46 Almost 3/4 under 60 had no symptoms
9:15 Fall prevention in the elderly
10:15 62% women
11:15 Very robust study no better than usual care
12:17 Awareness of falls helped?
13:15 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, July 03, 2020

This week's topics include antibody testing for COVID-19, Apgar score utility in preterm infants, triple inhaled therapy in COPD, and MIS-C following COVID-19 infection in kids.

0:42 Looking at antibody tests for COVID-19
1:45 How sensitive are they?
2:45 Point of care most unreliable
3:43 Haven't been adequately validated
4:20 Apgar scores in preterm infants
5:20 1.8% mortality
6:20 Score of 10 is perfect
7:15 MIS-C
8:15 Average eight years of age
9:15 Fever in two to four weeks
10:22 Triple inhaled therapy in COPD
11:23 Two combinations worked best
12:25 Some increase in pneumonia
13:24 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, June 26, 2020

This week's topics include colchicine for heart complications of COVID-19, black versus white patients with COVID-19 hospitalization, prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the US, and ACE inhibitors and ARBs and COVID-19.

0:45 Hospitalization and mortality among black and white patients with COVID-19
1:47 About 40% were hospitalized
2:44 More likely to be in service occupation
3:47 Chronic inflammation?
4:00 Colchicine for heart damage in COVID-19
5:00 Patients experience higher mortality with heart impact
6:02 Decrease inflammation?
7:02 Could be a stepping stone to a larger study
7:12 ACE inhibitors and ARBs in COVID-19
8:13 Increase ACE receptor?
9:10 Don't stop your medication
9:45 Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in US
10:42 Prevalence just shy of 35%
11:44 Several risk factors for severe COVID-19 infection
13:10 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, June 19, 2020

This week's topics include CDC recommendations on gatherings, testing a whole hospital for antibodies to Sars-CoV2, use of monoclonal antibodies in COVID-19, and who's at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease?

0:41 Recommendations for gatherings in light of pandemic
1:47 Highest risk in large gatherings with people outside the community
2:40 Huge public health issue
3:32 Estimates of population at increased risk for severe COVID infection
4:32 Impact of multiple comorbidities?
5:25 Monoclonal antibody use
6:25 Target spike protein
7:25 Difficulty in collection
8:25 Takes several weeks to develop antibody
9:27 Antibody testing hospital-wide in Belgium
10:25 Infection via household contacts
11:25 Not many places in the city safer than the hospital
12:00 Dexamethasone treatment
13:38 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, June 12, 2020

This week's topics include the value of large scale interventions to reduce COVID-19, the impact on convalescent sera on COVID-19 infection, use of disinfectants and cleaners in households, and asymptomatic transmission of Sars-CoV2.

0:40 Convalescent sera in treating COVID-19
1:40 Only 100 patients enrolled
2:43 Monoclonal antibodies being made
3:01 Impact of large scaled anticontagion policies
4:01 These kinds of interventions keep number down
5:01 Keep below epidemic levels
6:01 Balance things economically
6:31 Asymptomatic COVID infection
7:31 May actually have mild symptoms
8:31 Don't have longitudinal studies
8:51 Household cleaners and disinfectants and Sars-CoV2
9:52 Application of bleach to food
10:51 Was in fact harmful
11:51 Hydroxychloroquine for post-exposure
12:46 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, June 05, 2020

This week's topics include the impact of distance, eye shields and masks in reducing Sars-CoV2 transmission, mortality among people with diabetes and COVID-19, handguns and suicide, and CRP and antibiotic course.

0:45 Impact of distancing, masks and eye shields in reducing COVID-19
1:46 N95 superior
2:46 Reduced risk with N95 by 85%
3:45 Prevent from passing on the infection
4:10 CORONADO study
5:12 Try to prevent infection in people with diabetes
5:27 Suicides and handgun purchasing
6:30 Over three times higher for males with guns
7:31 Not more depression
8:31 Characteristics of those who buy guns
9:20 CRP guided antibiotic treatment duration
10:25 600 patients in three groups
11:15 Don't use CRP
12:04 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, May 29, 2020

This week's topics include remdesivir results, hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine in COVID-19, transmission of Sars-CoV2 on a cruise ship, and cloth mask use.

0:31 Remdesivir study
1:32 Quite a few discontinuations
2:31 Preliminary results
3:30 Results modest at best
4:22 Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine with or without antibiotics
5:22 Any antimalarial had increased risk of cardiac arrhythmia
6:23 Maybe not effective because it was given late
6:45 Cloth mask use
7:43 Layers of cloth add efficiency
8:45 How much does it filter coming out?
9:25 COVID-19 on a cruise ship
10:25 A week in one passenger developed a fever
11:25 May not develop symptoms
12:40 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, May 22, 2020

This week's topics include the benefits of stay at home orders, going to work when sick, mental health and coronaviruses, and proning patients with Covid-19.

0:36 Do you go to work when sick?
1:36 Most would work with minor symptoms
2:38 Don't want to burden their colleagues
3:33 Need a pool of workers to fill in
4:02 Proning patients to improve lung function
5:02 Work of breathing went down
5:50 Impact of coronavirus infection and mental health
6:54 Range of mental health symptoms
7:50 No long term impact
8:51 Physical and social isolation
9:12 Impact of stay at home orders
10:13 Same incidence for all counties beforehand
11:13 Have enough PPE
12:31 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, May 15, 2020

This week's topics include an app for identifying COVID patients, a screening tool to predict severe disease in hospitalized persons, accuracy of COVID information on YouTube, and results from azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine in COVID.

0:40 YouTube as a source of information on COVID-19
1:40 Compared to previous epidemics
2:40 Concerning information
3:42 Compared with FaceBook
4:20 Azithromycin/hydroxychloroquine treatment
5:20 Treated or not?
6:14 How to predict a risk for a poor outcome from COVID-19
7:15 Number of comorbidities
8:15 Go online and enter
9:10 An app for self-reported symptoms and COVID-19
10:10 Loss of smell and taste most predictive
11:10 Enter symptoms themselves
12:30 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, May 8, 2020

This week's topics include the impact of social distancing in Georgia, a “controlled avalanche” approach to herd immunity, the environmental and economic impact of the pandemic, and ACE2 inhibitors and SARS-CoV2 infection.

0:47 Controlled avalanche approach to herd immunity
1:47 Intentionally infect low-risk people
2:47 Either naturally or in a laboratory
3:47 Certain assumptions to infect
4:45 Does exposure increase risk?
5:33 Anti-hypertensive medicines and COVID-19
6:33 High-risk of mortality with hypertension
7:32 Coronary artery disease three-fold risk
8:04 Economic and environmental impact of pandemic
9:09 Industries impacted most
10:08 Protect existing forests
11:10 Many cities with cleaner air
11:48 Modeling of social distancing in Georgia
12:44 Less likely to exhaust hospital resources
13:40 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, May 1, 2020

This week’s topics include presymptomatic SARS-CoV2 infections in a skilled nursing facility, COVID-19 patients in New York City, COVID-19 epidemiology in China, and COVID-19 and altered sense of smell and taste.

0:45 COVID-19 epidemiology in China
1:19 91% mild or moderate disease severity
2:24 Contact tracing reduced transmission by two days
3:30 Efficacy of contact tracing
4:22 COVID-19 in the Northwell Health System
4:50 94% had comorbidities
5:20 12% received mechanical ventilation
6:25 SARS-CoV2 infections in skilled nursing facilities
6:48 64% of residents tested positive
7:30 26% mortality
8:07 40% of health care workers reported symptoms
9:15 Important to test residents and providers
9:50 Altered smell and taste
10:33 SNOT-22 test
10:50 Two-thirds had altered smell or taste
12:00 Restrictions in El Paso
12:51 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, April 17, 2020

This week's topics include the success of public health interventions in reducing COVID transmission, early results on remdesivir, air pollution and severe COVID disease, and attitudes and awareness of the novel coronavirus in people at risk for severe disease.

0:35 Remdesivir use in severe COVID-19 disease
1:35 10-day course of drug
2:32 Not a randomized trial
3:33 Right to try
4:01 Awareness of COVID-19 among at risk patients
5:01 One-third didn't know symptoms
6:01 Health literacy needed
6:15 Air pollution and severe COVID-19
7:15 Variables adjusted for
8:15 Allow self-monitoring in industry
9:15 Change after pandemic?
10:10 Impact of public health interventions
11:12 Baseline infection rate rose
12:12 Curves show rapid increase and slower decline
13:30 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, April 10, 2020

This week's topics include case series of COVID-19 ICU patients from Italy, mask performance, mental health burdens on healthcare workers from COVID-19, and treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

1:03 Psychological impact on healthcare workers
2:03 Seven percent stressed
3:03 Compared with anxiety and depression in previous SARS
4:03 Retrospective study of ICU patients in Italy
5:02 About 60% still in ICU
6:02 Do face masks prevent positive patients from spreading virus?
7:03 Some masks better than others
8:04 Do not dissuade from wearing masks
8:21 PT or injection for knee osteoarthritis
9:22 Additional PT available
10:25 PT better than steroid injection
11:35 Conditions at Texas Tech
12:35 Patients only interact with health care providers
13:45 End

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TT HealthWatch - Friday, April 3, 2020

This week's topics include a look at the Italian experience with COVID-19, a recalculation of age-specific mortality rates relative to the infection, and preparations at TTUHSC El Paso.

1:26 European Society of Anaesthesia
2:27 Designating hospitals for COVID patients
3:27 One of the most well-developed systems globally
4:15 Estimates of severity and mortality
5:14 1.4% case fatality rate
6:02 Preparations at TTUHSC El Paso
7:02 In ED who are going to be admitted
8:02 Masks continuously in hospital
9:02 Indicate to others the seriousness of the infection
10:02 Staff concerns?
11:02 Shortages?
12:02 More than one patient on a vent
13:02 Studies underway
13:40 End

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TT HealthWatch – Friday, March 27, 2020

This week's topics include perceptions of COVID-19 infection, characteristics of critically ill people from Washington State with COVID-19, steps and mortality, and diet among youth.

0:40 Knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19 infection
1:40 Less than 500 people would die
2:40 Dangerous from a public health standpoint
3:25 Steps per day and mortality
4:25 All cause mortality, CVD and cancer
5:25 Step intensity wasn't helpful after total steps
6:35 Characteristics of patients with COVID-19 from Washington
7:30 Cardiomyopathy seen
8:32 Prolonged ICU stay
9:30 Diet among American youth
10:34 Two to nineteen years of age
11:31 Poor diet decreased substantially
12:47 End

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TT HealthWatch – Friday, March 20, 2020

This week's topics include coronavirus on surfaces, treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia, surgery for chronic sciatica, and the benefits of Alcoholics Anonymous.

0:31 Coronavirus on surfaces
1:30 Cardboard less than 24 hours
2:33 No UV light or heat exposure
3:05 The benefits of Alcoholics Anonymous
4:02 High quality evidence for benefit
5:03 Cheaper than the other therapies
5:15 Surgery for persistent sciatica
6:15 Pain relief at the end of 6 and 12 months
7:15 Microdiscectomy
8:15 New agent for familial hypercholesterolemia
9:15 Inclisiran, injected
10:12 Breaks down LDL receptors
11:38 End

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TT HealthWatch – Friday, March 13, 2020

This week's topics include the COVID-19 update, measles outbreak in New York City, appropriate oxygenation in people with ARDS, and aspirin and liver cancer.

0:35 COVID-19, MedRX
1:35 Incubation period 4.8 days
2:36 80% of infections caused by 9% of cases
3:37 30% of surveillance group did not have fever
4:12 Measles in NYC in 2018-19
5:13 559 staff members involved, $8.4 million
6:14 Vaccine resistance
6:40 Appropriate level of oxygenation with ARDS
7:44 Total 205 patients, stopped prematurely
8:45 Rationale behind not giving too much
9:35 Aspirin and liver cancer
10:35 All adults with hepatitis C or B infection
11:33 Age of these participants?
12:20 Pro-inflammatory chemicals reduced
12:45 End

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TT HealthWatch – Friday, March 6, 2020

This week's topics include a COVID-19 update, a multi-drug regimen for drug-resistant TB, biopsy of the prostate, and hepatitis C screening.

0:48 COVID-19 update
1:48 1.4% died
2:50 Affects adults
3:46 No objective evidence of infection in some
4:50 Use of MRI in staging prostate cancer
5:53 Both MRI guided and systematic biopsy
6:52 Lots of news about prostate cancer
7:08 Multidrug resistant TB treatment
8:08 Totally oral for 26 weeks
9:07 Drug resistant TB has high mortality
10:13 Screening for HCV
11:12 All asymptomatic adults 18-79
12:14 Everyone must be tested
13:02 End

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TT HealthWatch – Friday, February 28, 2020

This week's topics include COVID-19 update, a video-like game for ADHD, alcohol-related deaths in the U.S., and stroke treatment with clot busting agents.

0:42 COVID-19 update
1:41 Did test positive for the corona virus
2:42 Communities need to prepare
3:00 Rate of alcohol related deaths
4:00 Certain groups had largest increase
5:00 Need a screening mechanism
6:02 Outcomes with use of higher dose clot busting drugs in stroke
7:04 Over 300 patients with stroke in a large vessel
8:04 Important to recognize signs and symptoms
8:15 A digital intervention for ADHD symptoms
9:16 Either the digital intervention or a control game
10:15 At home on your own time
11:30 End

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TT HealthWatch – Friday, February 21, 2020

This week's topics include natural killer cells and cancer, CMV vaccine in bone marrow transplant recipients, surprise medical bills, and mutations in bronchial epithelium in smokers and nonsmokers.

0:47 CAR-transduced natural killer cells
1:45 Majority responded without major toxicity
2:46 Manage with a kill switch
3:17 Bone marrow transplant and CMV infection
4:18 Reduced CMV by half
5:06 Mutations in bronchial epithelium in smokers
6:07 Driver mutations increased in smokers
7:07 Telomere length assessed
8:08 Smoking cessation benefits
8:25 Surprise medical bills
9:25 After common elective procedures
10:25 For in-hospital network
12:01 End

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TT HealthWatch – Friday, February 14, 2020

This week's topics include coronavirus update, naloxone laws and dispensing, neurologic disorders and suicide, and medications versus lifestyle changes for diabetes and high cholesterol.

0:41 Coronavirus update
1:41 Slightly elevated prothrombin time
2:41 Death of whistleblower
3:20 Rise in suicide
4:22 Central nervous system infections, others
5:20 Parkinson's about twice as likely
6:23 Can't impose constraints in US
6:49 Medications and lifestyle changes
7:50 Placed on meds and were they associated with lifestyle changes?
8:50 Hard to say medications were to blame
9:48 How does access to naloxone change when scripts aren't needed
10:50 Increased by over 2000%
11:40 May make naloxone over the counter
12:50 End

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TT HealthWatch – Friday, February 7, 2020

This week's topics include coronavirus update, treating burns in kids, CT for lung cancer screening, and primary care physician visits.

0:54 Coronavirus update
1:52 Quarantine for 14 days
2:52 Asymptomatic transmission
3:40 Immediate management of burns in kids
4:40 Almost 10% need skin graft
5:42 People put on salves, aloe vera
6:16 Volume-based CT and lung cancer
7:17 In smaller number of women
8:16 Certain size determines follow up
9:15 Spontaneous resolution of small nodules
9:34 Dropping use of primary care visits
10:35 Routine scheduled visits went down
11:35 More efficient health care?
12:10 End

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TT HealthWatch – Friday, January 31, 2020

This week’s topics include the Wuhan coronavirus, treating H.pylori and gastric cancer, human versus analogue insulin, and one marker of acute kidney injury.

0:54 The new coronavirus
1:52 Fluid from lung samples
2:50 15% died in first analysis
3:50 China making great attempts
4:04 Differences in cardiovascular outcomes in insulins
5:04 Four healthcare delivery systems
6:04 Do not change hard endpoints
7:04 The price gouging is dramatic
7:18 Treating helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer
8:18 Treatment with proton pump inhibitors and antibiotics
9:20 Acute kidney injury factor
10:20 Assessed risk at 7 days
11:22 Prove that in a mouse model
13:22 End

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TT HealthWatch – Friday, January 24, 2020

This week’s topics include blood levels of sunscreen ingredients, a new drug for heavy menstrual bleeding in women with fibroids, trying to stave off sepsis, and fish oil and sperm quality.

1:17 Vitamin C, thiamine, and hydrocortisone in sepsis
2:17 Mortality and other endpoints
3:16 Prompt use of antibiotics does help
3:36 Fish oil and sperm quality
4:36 In otherwise healthy men
5:38 Might improve sperm quality decline
6:00 Sunscreen ingredients in plasma and skin
7:00 All six of tested ingredients were in plasma surpassing FDA threshold
8:00 Doesn't indicate harm yet
8:40 Heavy menstrual bleeding and uterine fibroid treatment
9:40 Been used in endometriosis
10:40 Hot flashes associated
11:24 End

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TT HealthWatch – Friday, January 17, 2020

This week’s topics include preventing gout with a diabetes medication, physician time on EHR in outpatient visits, ageotypes, and FDA changes to the approval process and outcomes.

0:48 Personal aging markers and ageotypes
1:48 184 molecules associated with age
2:48 Clinical implications unclear
3:49 Individuals vary a lot
4:17 Physician time on the EHR
5:15 17% of time ordering
6:15 Falls on physician to enter
6:42 Two types of diabetes meds and gout risk
7:43 40% reduction with SGLT2 inhibitors
8:43 Gout affects almost 10 million people
9:06 Looked at 25 years of FDA approval process
10:06 All attempts haven’t improved overall process
11:06 Fewer studies and fewer patients
12:07 End

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TT HealthWatch – Friday, January 10, 2020

This week’s topics include arthritis and depression, AI and physician decisions in hospitalized patients, five ways for doctors to practice presence with patients, and health care hotspotting.

0:48 Healthcare hotspotting
1:45 95% of individuals did receive prescribed care
2:56 Five strategies to foster physician presence
3:58 Prepare with intention
4:56 Physicians would concur
5:58 Many barriers
6:19 Hospital based AI system
7:15 6500 patients
8:13 Guarded about such systems
9:10 Arthritis and depression
10:20 Lots in the southern states in U.S.
11:22 Results in poor compliance
12:22 End

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TT HealthWatch – Friday, January 3, 2020

This week’s topics include the impact of hospital mergers, gene therapy for hemophilia, infections and diabetes control, and alcohol consumption and atrial fibrillation.

0:44 Alcohol consumption and atrial fibrillation
1:44 70 patients in each of two arms
2:44 Almost 60% of Americans drink regularly
3:44 Lost nine or ten pounds
4:24 Gene therapy for hemophilia
5:24 Large gene that needed two procedures
6:26 Not only cost of therapy
6:44 Infections and diabetes control
7:44 Diabetes and poor control had 4X risk
8:45 Mortality as high as 20-25%
9:10 Hospital mergers and quality of care
10:09 Modest decline in patient experience
11:10 So many health systems using to remain profitable
12:13 End

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