HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Medical Conditions that can Mimic Depression
From: RGINZBERG@eagle.wesleyan.edu (Ruth Ginzberg)
Date: 24 Jan 93 16:37:40 EDT
Distribution: world
Organization: Philosophy Dept., Wesleyan University
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.20Lines: 73

According to DSM-IIIR diagnostic criteria, depression can only be diagnosed
when it cannot be established that some other organic condition is the cause of
the symptoms.  Here are some of the medical conditions which can mimic
depression (or manic-depression or mania), according to Demitri Papolos, M.D.
and Janice Papolos in OVERCOMING DEPRESSION (revised edition; 1992); pp. 40-41. 
Copied here w/out permission.

HORMONAL & METABOLIC DISORDERS
     hypothyroidism
     hyperthyroidism
     Cushing's Disease
     Addison's Disease
     Wilson's Disease
     Hyperparathyroidism
     Hypoglycemia

INFECTIOUS DISEASES
     Influenzas
     Mononucleosis
     Hepatitis
     Viral Pneumonias
     AIDS
     Syphilis

CANCERS
     Pancreatic
     Central Nervous System tumors

AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE
     Systemic lupus erythematosus (& its treatment w. steroids)

NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS
     Parkinson's disease
     Alzheimer's disease or other dementia
     Temporal Lobe epilepsy
     Multiple Sclerosis
     Huntington's Chorea
     Stroke

BLOOD DISEASES
     Iron deficiency anemia
     Acute intermittent porphyria

METAL INTOXICATIONS
     Thallium
     Mercury
     Manganese

NUTRITIONAL DISORDERS
     Pellagra
     Pernicious anemia

OTHER DISEASES
     Lyme disease
     Chronic fatigue syndrome


[They go on to say: ]

     "Almost all of these medical conditions can be ruled in or out by
     physical examination coupled with appropriate clinical laboratory
     studies.  Therefore, it is extremely important that the diagnosing
     physician take a personal patient and family medical history as
     well as request that the patient have a complete physical
     examination and selected blood tests, including thyroid function
     studies.  Only then should a primary depressive (or manic) episode
     -- one that is not secondary to or caused by a primary medical
     condition -- be diagnosed."


------------------------
Ruth Ginzberg <rginzberg@eagle.wesleyan.edu>
Philosophy Department;Wesleyan University;USA
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: mhosea@seas.smu.edu (Mike Hosea)
Subject: Re: Soft contact lens problem
Organization: SMU - School of Engineering & Applied Science - Dallas
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 07:43:46 GMT

In article <1993Jan21.035129.21252@watson.ibm.com> yozzo@watson.ibm.com (Ralph Yozzo) writes:
>In article <6350023@otter.hpl.hp.com> sall@otter.hpl.hp.com (Sheelagh Lloyd) writes:
>>Can anyone help with the following soft contact lens problem, please?
>>
>>A friend of mine has been trying to get soft contact lenses recently, but 
>>has not found any that correct his vision sufficiently.  In fact, with the 
>>lenses in, his vision cannot even be corrected to acceptable levels with 
>>external lenses.  He normally wears glasses, and does not have the same 
>>problem without the contact lenses.  The glasses are about -8 and -10 
>>dioptres, and he has a very slight astigmatism (~0.25).  The optician has 
>>tried four different manufacturers but although the fit varies in terms of 
>>the lenses sliding around, and ease of taking the lenses out, none of them 
>>corrects the vision well enough.
>>
>>Does anyone know what the problem might be, or have any suggestion for 
>>solving it (apart from simply trying another optician)?

Surely you mean "optometrist" rather than "optician".  If not, DO tell your
friend to go to an optometrist since they are the most thoroughly trained
in fitting contact lenses and glasses.

>
>Your friend should consider the problem with tight fitting soft
>contact lenses.
>
>Namely, the cornea needs oxygen.  It normally gets this from the 
>tears. If the soft contact lense fits tightly, then the cornea is
>deprived of oxygen.  The eye compensates and blood vessels start to form
>in the eye.  This is all fine and good, except for the fact that you
>cannot see through blood vessels.
>
>All in all, I personally will stay away from contact lenses.  My
>eyes are too precious to be a guinea pig for medical science.
>

I thought soft contact lenses were gas permeable.  At any rate, your
friend might consider gas permeable hard lenses.  I have been wearing
hard lenses since 1977 and got gas permeable hard lenses when they 
became available.  I have not had any problems, and my corrected 
vision is fine (my correction is in the -5 diopter range).  Of course,
hard lenses are not nearly as comfortable as soft lenses.
-- 
Regards,
Mike Hosea (mhosea@seas.smu.edu)
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: yazz@locus.com (Bob Yazz)
Subject: Re: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 93 03:59:45 GMT

mdkline@rodan.acs.syr.EDU (Mark D. Kline) writes:

| At least one open trial has been reported suggesting Wellbutrin can
| be effective for SAD.

Thanks for this info, Mark.  I actually know someone in No. Cal. who
takes Wellbutrin for SAD (and whatever else he has, which complicates
the picture far beyond my understanding).  But it's good to know there
is at least some published evidence that this makes sense.

Best Wishes

== Bob Yazz ==
-- 


"The times they are a-changing."
From: starfish@ucscb.UCSC.EDU (Smarter than the Average Blur)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Dizzy since May 26. Anyone have any ideas?
Date: 23 Jan 1993 19:12:03 GMT
Organization: University of California; Santa Cruz
NNTP-Posting-Host: ucscb.ucsc.edu


I've had this problem since Tuesday May 26, 1992 in which I experience
continual mild dizzyness and light-headedness.

I have seen two general practitioners and one ENT. None of them could
diagnose my problem or give me any clues. The symptoms are:

* Slight dizzyness.
* Slight light headed sensation.
* Occasional nose bleeds from the LEFT nostril only.
* Hearing problem in which I hear my own voice in my LEFT ear.
* Feeling of pressure surrounding my LEFT ear.
* Slight occasional tingling sensation on LEFT side of scalp above LEFT ear.
* Occasional audible crackling-popping in the LEFT nostril.
* Occasional sound/flutter in my RIGHT ear which sounds like something flapping
  in the wind.

NOTES ON DIZZYNESS:
Every few months, the dizzyness becames very severe in the following way:
* I become very dizzy and my head spins.
* It comes on almost instantly within seconds.
* It is not as bad if I keep my head level.

If I look up, it becomes very severe with my field of vision spinning
counter counter-clockwise and my eyes tracking from left to right. After a few 
minutes, this subsides and becomes very mild.

If I look down, the opposite happens. My field of vision spins clockwise and
my eyes track from right to left. This also subsides after a few minutes
become more mild. If I look back up again the first thing happens all over
again.

NOTES ON HEARING PROBLEM:
I have had a complete hearing test which indicated no problems. However,
this test was not given when I was experiencing the aformentioned problem.
When the problem occures, I can hear my voice in my LEFT ear when I speak.
I can still hear normally if I don't speak so my there is no obstruction.
Something is however conducting the vibrations from my voice directly
to my ear drum.

The hearing problem seems to be in the morning only. Additionally, when
I went to Virginia for Christmas vacation for two weeks, the problem did
not occure in the morning, but rather 3 hours later, indicating to me it
is some how connected to my circadium rythms. 

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
I've had a complete physical which included an SC blood panel. I also had
a thyroid blood panel. Everything showed normal.

I was looked at by an ENT who could not diagnose the problem.
I was given an anti-hystamine which did nothing for me except make me
drowsy.

I had an MRI of the brain which looks absolutely normal. I could just die
if this keeps up.

When I went to Virginea for 2 weeks, I removed myself from my normal
environment, yet there was no change in my symptoms. My diet also
changed drastically while I was there. 

If you have any ideas I'd really appreciate hearing about them. I know
it is not really possible to make a diagnosis over this document, but I
hoping that someone out there has seen something like this. It seems to
be more than just Labrynthitis.

Please mail me if you have any ideas.
-Alan Waterman
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: galew_a@cactus.org (Andy Galewsky)
Subject: Computer Based Medical Records
Keywords: CPRI medical records
Organization: Capital Area Central Texas UNIX Society, Austin, Tx
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 16:22:22 GMT


Hi,
   Does anyone know where I can get more info on the 'Computer Based Medical
Record' project that is underway at the National Institute of Medicine(?).
Are there any mailing lists I could get on - are there any FTP sites I could
check out? Are there any others out there interested in computer based 
medical records and electronic patient charts? Please reply to dan@crs.com
because I have to borrow this account to send news...
				Thanks for any pointers
					-Dan Galewsky
					 Clinical Resource Systems
					 Austin Tx.	
					 dan@crs.com


Newsgroups: sci.med,ca.earthquakes
From: casey@well.sf.ca.us (Kathleen Creighton)
Subject: Re: earthquakes during surgery
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 03:50:52 GMT


I hate to turn myself in for this, but during one of those silly
"prediction" times I had to have an MRI.  I'm a big girl, so instead of
inserting me into one of those little GE MRI tubes, I had to go to the
UCSF medical building where there's an MRI unit that's built like a
sideways toaster.

So I got on the table and the MRI tech was trying to wedge me into the
unit and all I could think of was that if there were an earthquake, here
I was in this MRI unit in a *concrete* building on a hill in San Francisco.
Which is to say I completely freaked out :-).  Fortunately, it's not
unusual for folks to freak out over having an MRI, so while the tech was
disgusted, I finagled a referral to another MRI facility in Redwood City,
on landfill :-), but it was a unit I didn't have to get completely into.
Much better for the nerves :-).
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: yazz@locus.com (Bob Yazz)
Subject: Re: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 93 03:56:14 GMT

bwhite@oucsace.cs.ohiou.edu (William E. White ) writes:

| No, it's not, which is why it never made any sense to me to do this, but
| I know a lot of people that the doctors at OU have put on fluoxetine for
| SAD.  It works, after 3 weeks, probably by downregulation of 5HT receptors,
| but this is probably a stupid way of fixing the problem.
|
| I expect that new 5HT uptake inhibitor
| (don't remember the name -- Zoloft?) could be used.

If fluoxetine (Prozac) is a stupid way to fix the problem, why would
sertraline (Zoloft) be any smarter?  Both are 5HT reuptake inhibitors.

== Bob Yazz ==
-- 


"The times they are a-changing."
From: clarke@watson.ibm.com (Ed Clarke)
Newsgroups: sci.med,talk.politics.med
Subject: Re: Canadian healthcare system
Date: 26 Jan 93 16:57:40 GMT
Organization: IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM

|> >hrubin@pop.stat.purdue.edu (Herman Rubin) writes:
|> >>There are several things wrong with it, and it is not all that much 
|> >>cheaper than the cost in the US.  One generally agreed problem is that
|> >>many "standard" procedures are not done in Canada, and while the Canadian
|> >>plan often picks up the costs, it does not pay the travel, and it does
|> >>not help defray the development costs, which US care does.  For another,

My understanding is that some "standard" things (MRI, CAT) require very
high priced equiptment.  Canadian doctors don't have the hardware available
because their government won't pay for it.  Here, everybody and his brother
buys the hardware and then looks for patients to keep it busy.

Sort of like making your unix programmers use 110 baud teletypes in Canada, 
and using Cray Y/MP's as terminals in the US.  Both extremes are wasteful -
of people (MD training) in Canada, and equiptment (US).
From: jsmith@unixg.ubc.ca (JR Smith)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Birth Control & Antibiotics
Date: 22 Jan 93 07:39:15 GMT
Organization: The University of British Columbia
NNTP-Posting-Host: unixg.ubc.ca

In <1993Jan21.121923.643@news.wesleyan.edu> RGINZBERG@eagle.wesleyan.edu (Ruth Ginzberg) writes:

>I have heard for years that antibiotics reduce the effectivness of BC pills.

>Is this true?

>Which ones cause this effect ? 
>  All of them?
>  Only broad spectrum ?

>If they reduce the effectiveness, how long should another form of
>protection be used?  
>  As soon as  one begins taking the antibiotic? 
>  How long after one finishes the antiboiotic?

>I am presently taking Bactrim for a urinary tract infection.  The 
>pharmisist said this one would not effect my BC pills at all.  So 
>now I'm curious about which ones do and don't effect the BC pills. Not to 
>mention my husband is worried about not using another form of protection.

This is true. As the dosage of estrogen has been reduced over the years this
has become more of a worry.

One might be wise to take a never say never approach and just be overly 
cautious and use an extra method anyway. Of course everyone who isn'tt in a
mutually monogamous relationship is already using condoms. (RIGHT!?!)

Broad spectrum antibiotics which alter gut flora and antibiotics that 
increase the activity of liver enzymes that break down estrogen are 
most concerning but rather than trying to remember them all, the blanket
statement is easier. There are ins and outs of how long and when to start
and I doubt there is a right answer. Again most would recommend starting
when the antibiotic starts and stopping well... maybe one complete pack
after stopping the antibiotic. Even without the second method pregnancies
are relatively uncommon. I wonder how many caregivers actually warn 
women of this potential drug interaction. Did you ask your pharmacist or
did they volunteer the information

Bactrim has a fairly broad spectrum but it isn't often cited as an 
offender. But as Holiday Inn always says 'the best surprise is no 
surprise!'.
                                               JR

?
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: mdkline@rodan.acs.syr.EDU (Mark D. Kline)
Subject: Re: What's Lorazepam
Organization: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 93 18:27:47 EST

In article <154@ky3b.UUCP> km@ky3b.pgh.pa.us (Ken Mitchum) writes:
>Development of tolerance plus the occurrence of an abstinence syndrome
>including withdrawal symptoms is considered addiction. Seizures are a
>pretty good withdrawal symptom.

Perhaps some consider development of tolerance and abstinence effects
evidence of addiction, but I suspect many substance abuse authorities
would not.   Addiction refers to drug craving and a pattern of abusive
use, escalating doses, and continued abuse of a substance despite
adverse consequences.  Many depressives who take tricyclics develop
tolerance to the drug's sedative and anticholinergic effects - and can
experience a clear abstinence syndrome if the drug is stopped abruptly
(insomnia, nausea, etc).  Nobody craves tricyclics and tricyclics are
not considered addictive.   


Newsgroups: sci.med
From: sasjyb@unx.sas.com (John McDonald Brown III)
Subject: Re: Scleroderma
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 14:00:56 GMT
Organization: SAS Institute Inc.
Keywords: scleroderma

In <1993Jan25.013109.2835@engr.uark.edu> rat2@engr.uark.edu (Tony Taylor) writes:

>I need info on the causes and treatments for scleroderma.

Send some money to the following charitable patient organizations,
and they will shower you with pamphlets, newsletters, and
requests for more money.

Scleroderma International Foundation
704 Gardner Center Road
New Castle, Pennsylvania 16101

Scleroderma Federation Inc.
1725 York Avenue, Suite 29F
New York, NY 10128
(212) 427-7040

United Scleroderma Foundation
P.O. Box 350
Watsonville, CA 95077-0350
(408) 728-2202

-- 
John M. Brown,   SAS Institute Inc.    (919)677-8000 | sasjyb@unx.sas.com
SAS Campus Drive, Cary, NC 27513  (919)677-8123(fax) | ...!mcnc!sas!sasjyb

--
John M. Brown,   SAS Institute Inc.    (919)677-8000 | sasjyb@unx.sas.com
SAS Campus Drive, Cary, NC 27513  (919)677-8123(fax) | ...!mcnc!sas!sasjyb
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: whangj@vccnw04.its.rpi.edu (Junho Whang)
Subject: Re: Physician's Incomes
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Distribution: default
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 07:09:26 GMT

  Just an amendment to a post I made earlier, here is a more 
accurate list of wages in health industry (as of 1987).


Physicians:


Physicians held a total of 535,000 jobs in 1988.
Average income of all physicians after expenses
                    (incl. medical malpractice insurance) ---- $132,300


Average income of all physicians under 36 years of age    ---- $96,100


Average of all Surgeons        --- $187,900

               Radiologists    --- $180,700

               Ob/gynecologists--- $163,200

               Anestesiologists--- $163,100

               Pathologists    --- $124,600

               Internists      --- $121,800

               Psychiatrists   --- $102,700

               Gen/Family      --- $ 91,500

               Pediatricians   --- $ 85,300

                                  Source: American Medical Association




Other health care professionals:


Physician Assistants:

     P.A.'s held a total of 48,000 jobs in 1988.
     Middle 50% income average                  -----   $ 26,800

     Experienced P.A.'s average                 -----   $ 35,700


Registered Nurses:

     R.N.'s held a total of 1,577,000 jobs in 1988.
     Experienced staff R.N. average             -----   $ 32,100


Licensed Practicing Nurses:

     L.P.N.'s held a total of 626,000 jobs in 1988.
     Median annual earning                      -----   $ 17,500

     Experienced L.P.N. average                 -----   $ 21,400



                  Source:  Occupational Outlook Handbook 1990-1991 edition

                       U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

----------------------------------------Junho Whang (Whangj@rpi.edu)---------
Zen masters always pursue their vision of excellence, wherever they go.
They never have any fun - they work it to death & quit.

Fundamental problem of humanity - 43% love the king of BS, 38% love the
duke of BS and only 19% likes the semblence of truth or fairness.
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Birth Control & Antibiotics
From: RGINZBERG@eagle.wesleyan.edu (Ruth Ginzberg)
Date: 21 Jan 93 12:19:22 EDT
Distribution: world
Organization: Philosophy Dept., Wesleyan University
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.20Lines: 40

Forwarded Post:
****************************************************************************

For some reason our site is not allowing us to post to the net.  We are able
to send mail to other people, but not to the news groups.  Could you please
post this to sci.med for me.  I think the answers to my questions would be
of interest to many people.

Thank You
Kayleen 
lingane@i5160e.nrl.navy.mil

I have heard for years that antibiotics reduce the effectivness of BC pills.

Is this true?

Which ones cause this effect ? 
  All of them?
  Only broad spectrum ?

If they reduce the effectiveness, how long should another form of
protection be used?  
  As soon as  one begins taking the antibiotic? 
  How long after one finishes the antiboiotic?

I am presently taking Bactrim for a urinary tract infection.  The 
pharmisist said this one would not effect my BC pills at all.  So 
now I'm curious about which ones do and don't effect the BC pills. Not to 
mention my husband is worried about not using another form of protection.

Any info on this would be greatly appreciated.  I can't be the only one 
interested in this topic.

Thanks in Advance
Kay


------------------------
Ruth Ginzberg <rginzberg@eagle.wesleyan.edu>
Philosophy Department;Wesleyan University;USA
From: rind@enterprise.bih.harvard.edu (David Rind)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Sea water consumption
Date: 21 Jan 93 20:29:14 GMT
Organization: Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston Mass., USA

In article <1619@rand.mel.cocam.oz.au> twp@rand.mel.cocam.oz.au
 (Tony Payne CSD) writes:
>>>rind@enterprise.bih.harvard.edu (David Rind) writes:
>>>Seagulls may also have this ability.

I ignored this misattribution the first time, but it seems to be
propagating :-).  I didn't say this.  I don't know anything about
seagull physiology.
-- 
David Rind
rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med,talk.politics.med
From: jsb16@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Jennifer S Broekman)
Subject: Re: Canadian healthcare system
Reply-To: jsb16@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Jennifer S Broekman)
Organization: Columbia University
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 22:23:46 GMT

In article <C1FC0p.6EM@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> 
hrubin@pop.stat.purdue.edu (Herman Rubin) writes:
>There are several things wrong with it, and it is not all that much 
>cheaper than the cost in the US.  One generally agreed problem is that
>many "standard" procedures are not done in Canada, and while the Canadian
>plan often picks up the costs, it does not pay the travel, and it does
>not help defray the development costs, which US care does.  For another,

Of course, were I Canadian, I could take a year off from school without
worrying about paying for things like allergy and asthma medication.

>one must find a primary care physician, and all else must be referred
>through that doctor; I believe that changing such is difficult.  Also,

The healthcare plan I'm currently on (via my parents) also requires finding
a primary care physician, and changing such isn't particularly easy.

-jenneke

   Only Boys Accepting Feminism Get Kissed Meaningfully  -- Geoff Marcy
The only unnatural sexual act is that which you cannot perform. - Alfred Kinsey
		jenneke is: jsb16@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: mhosea@seas.smu.edu (Mike Hosea)
Subject: Re: Soft contact lens problem
Organization: SMU - School of Engineering & Applied Science - Dallas
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 22:46:49 GMT

In article <1k1g7oINNqbp@sol.tis.com> richard@tis.com (Richard Clark) writes:
>
>	As for "anticipated discomfort"... Huh? If the lenses have been
>fit properly, then you should be *completely unaware of their existence*
>within about 10 minutes... In other words, there should be *ZERO* discomfort,
>or they are not fitting correctly. You should literally forget
>that you are wearing contacts if the fit is right. No feeling the edges
>dig in, no "flare", no constant blinking to center the lens, no fuzziness,
>no anything except for beautifuly clear vision.
>
>	I have been wearing Permalens (extended wear) for years now...
>The woman (!) who fit me went through about a dozen lenses until we found
>exactly the right fit... wish there were more eye DRs like her... The last
>DR I went to tried to fit me with a different lens, with different curvature
>and diameter, and got all pissed off when I told him they didn't feel
>good, after all "He" knew how to fit contacts, I didn't. I ended up telling
>him that if the lenses irritated in the least bit during the day that I sure
>as hell wasn't going to wear them at night. So we went back to the original
>fit, and everyone was happy. Don't settle for a half-assed fit. Make 'em
>get it right.

Maybe I am behind the times here.  I didn't know there was such a 
thing as "extended wear" hard lenses (gas permeable or not).  Is the
material softer than ordinary hard lenses?  Now my lenses do not irritate 
me (in the absence of an eyelash beneath them), but I am aware of them 
like I am aware of breathing.  If I bother to think about them I can 
determine that they are there irrespective of my visual acuity.
-- 
Regards,
Mike Hosea (mhosea@seas.smu.edu)
Newsgroups: sci.med