White-tailed deer are prevalent on Long Island. METRO photo
By Matthew Kearns, DVM
Dr. Matthew Kearns
I recently saw an article that researchers in Canada were concerned with transmission of COVID-19 from deer (white-tailed deer) to a human, as well as deer. I thought that we only had to worry about white-tailed deer as a reservoir for Lyme disease. Now COVID? Ugghhh!!!
The Canadian scientists that performed this study did not have definitive proof that the individual that tested positive was infected directly from a deer. However, this individual had the same strain of COVID as the deer in the area and the individual did spend a considerable amount of time around deer.
The good news is a human has a much higher chance of catching COVID from another human than from a deer. Also, the symptoms this individual had were not more severe than a human to human infection. Canadian health officials do caution hunters to take additional precautions such as washing hands thoroughly, wearing goggles, and wearing a well-fitted mask when handling the respiratory tissues of a deer.
Previously, the only documented cases of animals passing the virus to humans were in mink. Six countries — Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Italy and the United States — have reported cases of farmed mink infected with the coronavirus to the World Health Organization. Danish authorities also documented over 200 humans that contracted the virus from mink. Unfortunately, many of these minks were required to be culled to prevent further spread.
The main concern with any animal reservoir is the ability of the COVID, or any coronavirus for that matter, to mutate so easily.
The good news? Of the 31 species of animals that have been documented infected with COVID, current data shows that dogs and cats are terrible reservoirs of the virus. Although there are documented cases of both dogs and cats testing positive for COVID-19, there is no evidence that a human has been infected directly from a dog or cat. The CDC advises all pet owners to avoid contact with their pets when isolating with an infection (if possible). If a pet is exposed, symptoms are usually very mild or none at all.
Dr. Kearns practices veterinary medicine from his Port Jefferson office and is pictured with his son Matthew and his dog Jasmine.
Allied Pediatrics celebrated their grand opening on Feb. 16. Photo from Allied Pediatrics
Allied Physicians Group, an independent provider of high-quality comprehensive family health care services for both children and adults, recently held their grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for its new office, Allied Pediatrics of Rocky Point, at 346 Route 25A, Rocky Point, on Feb. 16. The new office is the 24th Allied location on Long Island, bringing the total number of pediatric offices in the New York Metropolitan Area to 36, and is also Allied’s first office that has been constructed from the ground up.
The 5,500 sq. ft., state-of-the-art pediatric office has eight employees, with three pediatricians Dr. Nubia Vargas-Chen, Dr. Eric Levene and Dr. Daniel Freidman. With an urgent need for Pediatricians in the area, these physicians will provide the highest quality of care to all patients in the Rocky Point and surrounding communities.
The event was attended by Councilwoman Jane Bonner on behalf of the Town of Brookhaven.
Councilwoman Jane Bonner presents Dr. Kerry Fierstein, CEO of Allied Physicians Group, with a Certificate of Congratulations from the Town of Brookhaven on Feb. 16.
“I am very happy to welcome Allied Physicians Group’s to the Rocky Point community. This is an important new business in our community and I wish Dr. Fierstein and her staff the best of luck. We have a growing number of families with young children in the area who will be well served. This new office will be convenient for families living here in Rocky Point and the surrounding area,” said Councilwoman Bonner.
The Rocky Point office has health safety protocols in place to protect patients from the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses. Design elements include separate sick and well areas and a state-of-the-art HVAC system with UV lighting to improve air quality. Services for patients and families includes wellness care, vaccinations, sick care, a new parent helpline, breastfeeding support, telehealth services, nutrition assistance, asthma control education (ACE) and community education (webinars, CPR classes).
“Our experienced pediatricians and clinicians are committed to providing high quality care and exceptional service to families and children of the Rocky Point community,” said Dr. Kerry Fierstein, CEO of Allied Physicians Group. “With a growing number of children in the community, this new office is convenient for families in Rocky Point and the surrounding areas.”
Pictured in top photo are, from left, Lauren Diguisieppe, Angela Holdorf, Ariele Alon, Angela M. Noncarrow, District Office Director for Senator Palumbo, Pat Athanasakes, Nicole Mann, Dr. Gregson Pigott, Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, Dr. Nubia Vargas-Chen, lead physician at Allied Pediatrics of Rocky Point, Town of Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner, Dr. Kerry Fierstein, CEO of Allied Physicians Group, Andrew Phillips, Kevin Edwards, SVP of Business Development, Patricia Martin-Quinn, Allen Wirtenson, David Baskin, Jennifer Colamartino, Sylvia DaCunha, Heather Edwards, Executive Director of Allied Foundation, Tina Colangelo, Mary Ellen LaSala, Cathryn Mackie, Margaret Galatioto, Jack Rosebery, Josh Klinger, Brianne Chidichimo, Director of Marketing for Allied Physicians Group.
For more information, call 631-315-7747 or visit www.alliedphysiciansgroup.com.
Studies suggest the microbiome may influence weight loss or gain
By David Dunaief, M.D.
Dr. David Dunaief
Each of us carries trillions of microorganisms in our bodies. These make up each individual’s microbiome. It includes bacteria, viruses and single-cell eukaryotes. Our relationship to these organisms is complex, and much of it is still only loosely understood. What we do know, however, is that these microbes have key roles in our healthy functioning.
While the microbiome is found throughout our bodies, including the skin, the eyes and the gut, we’re going to focus on the gut, where the majority of the microbiome resides.
Why do we care? The short answer is it may have a role in diseases — preventing and promoting them. These include obesity, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s, and infectious diseases, such as colitis.
Human Microbiome Project
Like the Human Genome Project, which mapped our genes, the Human Microbiome Project, funded by the National Institutes of Health from 2007 to 2016, sought to map and sequence the composition and diversity of these gut organisms and to spur future research. There have been some enlightening preliminary studies already.
What affects the microbiome? Drugs, such as antibiotics, can wipe out the diversity in the microbes, at least in the short term. Also, lifestyle modifications, such as diet, can have an impact. Microbiome diversity also may be significantly different in distinct geographic locations throughout the world.
Microbiome’s role in obesity
Obesity can be incredibly frustrating; most obese patients continually struggle to lose weight. Obese and overweight patients now outnumber malnourished individuals worldwide (1).
I know this will not come as a surprise, but we are a nation with a weight problem; about 70% of Americans are overweight or obese (2) (3). For the longest time, the paradigm for weight loss had been to cut calories. However, extreme low-caloric diets did not seem to have a long-term impact. It turns out that our guts, dominated by bacteria, may play important roles in obesity and weight loss, determining whether we gain or lose weight.
The results from a study involving human twins and mice are fascinating (4). In each pair of human twins, one was obese and the other was lean. Gut bacteria from obese twins was transplanted into thin mice. The result: the thin mice became obese. However, when the lean human twins’ gut bacteria were transplanted to thin mice, the mice remained thin.
By pairing sets of human twins, one obese and one thin in each set, with mice that were identical to each other and raised in a sterile setting, researchers limited the confounding effects of environment and genetics on weight.
The most intriguing part of the study compared the effects of diet and gut bacteria. When the mice who had received gut transplants from obese twins were provided gut bacteria from thin twins and given fruit- and vegetable-rich, low-fat diet tablets, they lost significant weight. But they only lost weight when on a good diet; there was no impact if the diet was not low in fat. The authors believe this suggests that an effective diet may alter the microbiome of obese patients, helping them lose weight. These are exciting, but preliminary, results. It is not clear yet which bacteria may be contributing these effects.
This definitely suggests that the diversity of gut bacteria may be a crucial piece of the weight-loss puzzle.
Possible role for gut bacteria in rheumatoid arthritis development
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that can be disabling, with patients typically suffering from significant morning stiffness, joint soreness and joint breakdown. What if gut bacteria influenced RA risk? In a study, the gut bacteria in mice that were made susceptible to RA by deletion of certain genes (HLA-DR genes) were compared to those who were more resistant to developing RA (5). Researchers found that the RA-susceptible mice had a predominance of Clostridium bacteria and that those resistant to RA were dominated by bacteria such as bifidobacteria and Porphyromonadaceae species. The significance is that the bacteria in the RA-resistant mice are known for their anti-inflammatory effects.
Counteracting antibiotics’ gut effects
Many experience gastrointestinal upset while taking antibiotics. This is because antibiotics don’t differentiate between good and bad bacteria when they go to work. One way to counteract the negative effects is to take a probiotic during and after your course of antibiotics. I recommend Renew Life’s 30-50 billion units once a day, two hours after an antibiotic dose and continuing once a day for 14 days after you have finished your prescription. If you really want to ratchet up the protection, you can take one dose of probiotics two hours after every antibiotic dose.
Although nobody can say what the ideal gut bacteria should consist of, we do know a few things that can help you. Diet and other lifestyle considerations, such as eating and sleeping patterns or their disruptions, seem to be important to the composition and diversity of gut bacteria (6). Studies have already demonstrated prebiotic effects of fiber and significant short-term changes to the microbiome when eating fruits, vegetables and plant fiber. The research is continuing, but we’ve learned a lot already that may help us tackle obesity and autoimmune disorders.
References:
(1) “The Evolution of Obesity”; Johns Hopkins University Press; 2009. (2) cdc.gov (3) nih.gov (4) Science. 2013;341:1241214. (5) PLoS One. 2012;7:e36095. (6) Nutrients. 2019 Dec;11(12):2862.
Dr. David Dunaief is a speaker, author and local lifestyle medicine physician focusing on the integration of medicine, nutrition, fitness and stress management. For further information, visit www.medicalcompassmd.com.
The percentage of positive COVID-19 tests in Suffolk County continues to plummet, raising expectations of more mask-optional or mask-free options for businesses and public places in the weeks and months ahead.
The percentage of positive tests, which the Omicron wave caused to crest in the mid to high twenties in the first few weeks after the start of the year, continues to plunge into the low single digits.
Indeed, as of Feb. 20, the seven-day average for positive tests was down to 2.2%, which is considerably lower than the mid to high 20% tests in the first few weeks of January, according to public information from the New York State Department of Health.
“The data are very promising and supportive of the idea that masks may not be necessary in social settings,” Sean Clouston, associate professor in the Program in Public Health and the Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, explained in an email.
A spring and summer that lifted some pandemic rules would relieve the strain of a public health threat that claimed the lives of community members, shut down businesses, altered school learning environments and created a mental health strain.
Dr. Gregson Pigott, commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, explained that the decline in positive tests was “expected” and that it was “reassuring that the predictions held.”
The Health Service Commissioner is hoping, unless new, more virulent variants develop that “we will enter into a period of respite from COVID-19.
Pigott, however, added that Suffolk County hospitals still had COVID patients. People over 65 have seen the greatest decrease in hospitalizations. The senior age group had accounted for 65 to 70% of hospitalizations last January.
That rate has steadily declined amid a high rate of vaccinations and boosters.
The most recent surge caused by the Omicron variant has elevated the levels of hospitalizations among younger age groups, especially for those who are not vaccinated, Pigott explained.
On the positive side, hospital stays have likely generally been shorter than in the earlier days of the pandemic as the “medical profession has learned over the course of time what interventions work best,” Pigott added.
Monoclonal antibodies and antiviral medications such as remdesivir have reduced the likelihood of significant illness when people with positive tests receive these treatments soon after diagnosis, Pigott explained.
As for boosters, Pigott didn’t anticipate the broad need for additional shots in the immediate future.
“Recent studies are showing the booster shot to hold up quite well over time, so perhaps a booster will not be needed, at least not for a while,” he wrote.
Although doctors have identified a new subvariant of Omicron called BA.2 that the county is monitoring carefully, the World Health Organization has not classified it as a variant of concern.
Mental health
Even as the physical threat from COVID-19 may be receding, health care professionals suggested that the mental health toll from the pandemic may require continued monitoring and support.
Pigott cited two new CDC studies that indicated the children’s mental health crisis has gotten worse during the pandemic.
Adam Gonzalez, associate professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, explained that young adults, in particular, have been struggling with increased rates of anxiety and depression.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Household Pulse Survey, which is a 20-minute online survey, 39.2% of people nationally aged 18 to 29 had indicators of anxiety or depression between Jan. 26 and Feb. 7 of this year.
The group with the lowest percentage of such indicators was 80 years and above, with 9.3% of that age experiencing these indicators.
“The elevated rates of mental health problems highlight the need for mental health screening, referral and treatment — incorporating mental health as part of one’s overall health and well-being,” Gonzalez added.
Stony Brook Medicine is screening for depression throughout its practices to identify people who need mental health care support, Gonzalez wrote.
Cognitive behavioral therapy in particular is effective in helping improve mental health, with a group format proving just as effective as individual therapy, Gonzalez explained.
Gonzalez added that even a single session can help improve mental health, putting people back on a healthier path.
Gonzalez has been partnering with Jessica Schleider, assistant professor in Clinical Psychology at Stony Brook University, to teach people “how to break down problems into manageable steps. Our overall goal is to help get people the skills they need to effectively manage their mental health.”
Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, 120 Main St., Setauket will host a Health and Hygiene Drive from Saturday, Feb. 26 to Sunday, March 13.
Many of us take basic personal care items for granted, but they are essential for day-to-day health. The cost of these necessities can add up and may be inaccessible to some individuals. Thus, to support the community, the library will be collecting new toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, shampoo, mouthwash, razors, shaving cream, feminine hygiene products, baby wipes, diapers, and more.
These personal care items will be distributed to various local organizations that help those in need of supplies. A box will be located in the Library lobby and all (residents or nonresidents) are welcome to donate. Call 631-941-4080 for more information.
What do we know about the brain? Startlingly little.
Certain drugs, head injuries and lifestyle choices have negative effects. Also, numerous disorders and diseases affect the brain. Among these are neurological, infectious and rheumatologic disorders. These can include dementia, Parkinson’s, strokes, meningitis, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Cancer, psychiatric mood disorders, diabetes and heart disease also have potential long-term effects.
Although this list is long, it’s not exhaustive. And while these diseases vary widely, they generally have three signs and symptoms in common: they cause either altered mental status, physical weakness or change in mood — or a combination of these.
Cognitive loss, or mental decline, is a common fear and potential side effect of many of these disorders and diseases. Of course, addressing the underlying disorder is critical. Fortunately, several studies also suggest that we may be able to help our brains function more efficiently and effectively with rather simple lifestyle changes: sleep, exercise and possibly omega-3s. Let’s look at the evidence.
Clearing brain clutter
How many of us believe the stereotype that those in their 20s are sharper and quicker-witted than older folks? Are they really?
In a study, German researchers found that educated older people tend to have a larger mental database of words and phrases to pull from since they have been around longer and have more experience (1). When this is factored into the equation, the difference in terms of age-related cognitive decline becomes negligible.
This study involved data mining and creating simulations. It showed that mental slowing may be at least partially related to the amount of clutter or data that we accumulate over the years. The more you know, the harder it becomes to come up with a simple answer to something. We may need a reboot just like a computer. This may be possible through sleep, exercise and omega-3s.
Sleep removes brain waste
Why should we dedicate a large chunk of our lives to sleep? Researchers have identified a couple of specific values we receive from sleep: one involves clearing the mind, and another involves productivity.
For the former, a study done in mice shows that sleep may help the brain remove waste, such as those all-too-dangerous beta-amyloid plaques (2). When we have excessive plaque buildup in the brain, it may be a sign of Alzheimer’s. When mice were sleeping, the interstitial space (the space between brain gyri, or structures) increased by as much as 60 percent.
This allowed the lymphatic system, with its cerebrospinal fluid, to clear out plaques, toxins and other waste that had developed during waking hours. With the enlargement of the interstitial space during sleep, waste removal was quicker and more thorough, because cerebrospinal fluid could reach much farther into the spaces. A similar effect was seen when the mice were anesthetized.
In another study, done in Australia, results showed that sleep deprivation may have been responsible for an almost one percent decline in gross domestic product for the country (3). The reason? People are not as productive at work when they don’t get enough sleep. They tend to be more irritable, and their concentration may be affected. While we may be able to turn on and off sleepiness on short-term basis, we can’t do this continually.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.2 percent of respondents reported having fallen asleep in the prior 30 days behind the wheel of a car during a 2009-2010 study (4). Most commonly, these respondents also reported getting usual sleep of six hours or fewer, snoring, or unintentionally falling asleep during the day. “Drowsy driving” led to 91,000 car crashes in 2017, according to estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (5).
Make time for exercise
How can I exercise when I can’t even get enough sleep? Well, this study may inspire you.
In the study, rats that were not allowed to exercise were found to have rewired neurons in the area of their medulla, the part of the brain involved in breathing and other involuntary activities. There was more sympathetic (excitatory) stimulus that could lead to increased risk of heart disease (6). In rats allowed to exercise regularly, there was no unusual wiring, and sympathetic stimuli remained constant. This may imply that being sedentary has negative effects on both the brain and the heart.
This study suggests that a lack of exercise causes unwanted new connections. Human studies should be done to confirm this impact.
Omega-3 fatty acids may affect brain volume
In the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study, results showed that those postmenopausal women who were in the highest quartile of omega-3 fatty acids had significantly greater brain volume and hippocampal volume than those in the lowest quartile (7). The hippocampus is involved in memory and cognitive function.
Specifically, the researchers looked at the levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in red blood cell membranes. The source of the omega-3 fatty acids could have been either from fish or from supplementation.
It’s never too late to improve brain function. Although we have a lot to learn about the functioning of the brain, we know that there are relatively simple ways we can positively influence it.
Dr. David Dunaief is a speaker, author and local lifestyle medicine physician focusing on the integration of medicine, nutrition, fitness and stress management. For further information, visit www.medicalcompassmd.com.
If you have prediabetes, you can take control and reduce your risk of developing diabetes. St. Charles Hospital, 200 Belle Terre Road, Port Jefferson will be conducting a free Diabetes Prevention series starting Tuesday, March 8 from 6 to 7:15 p.m. The program will provide atrained lifestyle coach, CDC approved curriculum and group support during the course of the year. Pre-registration is required by calling 631-853-2928.
A paper published this week in Immunity, a leading research journal highlighting discoveries in immunology by Cell Press, lays the groundwork to better understand and treat Crohn’s disease, a type of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Beneficial interactions among intestinal cell types limit the harmful effects of a dysregulated gut microbiota, which is comprised of trillions of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. These cell-cell interactions are essential to maintain a healthy gut and dysregulation of this cellular “crosstalk” can predispose the development of IBD.
Pawan Kumar
Led by Pawan Kumar, BVSc, PhD, of the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, the research identified a new role for Interleukin-17A (IL-17A), an immune cell-derived cytokine, in promoting selective epithelial cell development as well as limiting inflammation during colitis.Although drugs that target IL-17A are highly effective against psoriasis, an autoimmune condition, the same drugs result in adverse effects when used to treat the inflammatory responses of Crohn’s. While targeting IL-17A may reduce the pathogenesis of certain inflammatory responses, it is unclear why these treatments had opposing effects in Crohn’s patients. The research team has addressed this underlying question.
“We identified a new role for IL-17A in the intestinal inflammatory process by regulating a type of stem cell (Lgr5+) and progenitor cell function,” said Kumar, Senior Author and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. “We found that IL-17A acts on intestinal stem cells to promote secretory cell lineage commitment. In addition, impaired IL-17A signaling to secretory cells (ATOH1+) exacerbates colitis.
”The research team tested their findings in different murine models. Upon collaborating with Ken Cadwell of New York University, they confirmed their results in human organoids. They found that IL-17A stimulated secretory cell differentiation in cystic human intestinal organoids.“Our data suggest that there is a ‘cross talk’ between immune cells and stem cells that regulates secretory cell lineage commitment and the integrity of the mucosa,” summarizes Kumar.
The authors believe their findings will help further research and lay the groundwork for future clinical studies that investigate the therapeutic potential of IL-17A and/or its downstream effector proteins.This research is supported in part by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, the SUNY Research Foundation and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
The Town of Smithtown successfully distributed over 2000 at-home Covid test kits to the most vulnerable population within the township. On Wednesday, Feb. 9, Town staff picked up 2,552 test kits from Suffolk County at the Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services. On Thursday, Feb. 10, Smithtown Officials delivered approximately 2000 tests to seniors and at-risk individuals within the community, and at the Senior Center. On Monday morning, Feb. 14, the Department of Public Safety orchestrated a distribution event, where residents could collect their at-home tests outside of the Maple Avenue building.
“I’m extremely grateful to our partners in government at Suffolk County for arranging the much needed supply to be distributed to our residents, especially those who need it most. Our community members who are retired or living on a fixed income have certainly felt the cost of inflation, and this pandemic, in ways that have severely reduced quality of life. No one should have to sacrifice nutrition or grocery budgets to purchase PPE like face masks and covid tests. We owe it to our most vulnerable to provide the resources necessary to keep everyone healthy. While I hope the latest wave of the omicron variant was the last peak of Covid-19; these test kits will go a long way towards keeping people safe while cases are on the decline,” said Supervisor Ed Wehrheim.
The At-Home Covid-19 Antigen test kit (made in the USA) which includes two tests per box, were delivered to senior living communities throughout the township, at the Senior Center and at Public Safety. Supervisor Wehrheim’s office worked alongside Legislators Kennedy and Trotta to ensure locations were not replicated with the Legislators drop off locations and distribution events, to maximize the reach. When supplies ran out late on Monday morning at Public Safety, Legislator Robert Trotta generously allotted additional kits for the remaining residents.
Suffolk County will continue to work with the Town of Smithtown to provide additional Covid-19 related resources & PPE supplies for anyone in need. Residents who may be homebound, or are unable to obtain at-home test kits may email the Supervisors office at [email protected] with requests. For additional information on future at-home test kit distribution events within the township, residents can download the Town of Smithtown Mobile App, available for free on Google Play and the App Store.
Did You Know?
Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of four (4) free at-home tests through the US Postal Service. You can obtain a free at-home test kit by visiting covidtests.gov or by calling 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).
Organic Krush, an organic eatery with locations in Connecticut, New York and Virginia, has announced a partnership with Stony Brook University Athletics which includes a unique opportunity to fuel the athletes within the athletic arena, giving them direct access to healthy organic meals pre-and post workout.
Krush worked directly with George Greene, Associate Athletic Director of High Performance and Competitive Success at SBU, to create the program, working together to select dishes based on macro-micro nutritional value, satiety and calories as well as variety, ultimately providing the athletes fueling options that reduce their body burden and allow then to train efficiently.
“Healthy clean eating is the wave of the future for athletes” said Michelle Walrath and Fran Paniccia, co-founders of Organic Krush. “As moms and parents of college athletes, we know the importance of food as fuel. Access to great tasting organic and plant based food can be difficult for college athletes. We started Organic Krush to make healthy food accessible to all. Our partnership with SBU Athletics gives us the opportunity to showcase the benefit of healthy eating to young athletes!”
“Organic Krush is the perfect partner for our athletes” said Greene. “Our goal is to keep our athletes healthy and strong on the field, court, track, and pool. Giving our athletes healthy balanced meals and uniting the passionate fans of SBU with the power of Organic Krush is a slam dunk for us! We are excited to welcome a partner that shares our commitment to improving the lives of our student-athletes as well as in the local community.”
Krush recently opened its 10th store around the corner from the Stony Brook University campus at 1111 Route 25A.
The partnership will kick off with a “Fuel Up with Krush” campaign echoing the importance of eating well for performance. Digital activations and event integrations spotlighting Organic Krush during games and events as well as a community-based summer fun run are planned.
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