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Howard G. Smith, M.D. is a former radio medical editor and talk show host in the Boston Metro area. His "Medical Minute" of health and wellness news and commentary was a regular weekday feature on WBZ-AM, WRKO-AM, and WMRE-AM. His popular two-way talk show, Dr. Howard Smith OnCall, was regularly heard Sunday morning and middays on WBZ.

Dr. Smith has adopted audio and video podcasting as conduits for HEALTH NEWS YOU SHOULD USE. Based on the latest medical, health, and wellness literature these reports provide practical information you can use to keep yourself and your family healthy. Many reports have video versions, and Dr. Smith’s YouTube Channel may be found at: http://bit.ly/2rNw6XQ

Trained at Harvard Medical School and a long-time faculty member at Boston Children’s Hospital, he practiced Pediatric Otolaryngology for 40 years in Boston, Southern California, and in central Connecticut.  He is now based in New York City.

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Please note that the news, views, commentary, and opinions that Dr. Smith provides are for informational purposes only. Any changes that you or members of your family contemplate making to lifestyle, diet, medications, or medical therapy should always be discussed beforehand with personal physicians who have been supervising your care.

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  2. Actemra-Tocilizumab May Not Quell Cytokine Storms

Actemra-Tocilizumab May Not Quell Cytokine Storms

May 23, 2020

 

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/7Weu0XfSb3c

 

The monoclonal antibody tocilizumab that is designed to reduce IL-6 and cytokine storms apparently doesn’t for critically ill CoVid19 patients. This the conclusion of a preliminary case series from the University of North Carolina.

 

Eleven patients with confirmed CoVid19 infections were treated with Actemra.  These patients were either severe or critical and had multiple medical issues including obesity and high blood pressure.  

 

Despite Actemra treatment, all patients experienced significant IL-6 level increases without improvements in their fevers or a reduction in their oxygen requirements.  Two other inflammatory indicators did diminish.

 

The conclusion: randomized, controlled trials of Actemra must occur before this drug can be widely used.

 

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.05.13.20100404v1.full.pdf

 

#covid #actemra #tocilizumab #il6 #cytokinestorm