HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: gt4084c@prism.gatech.EDU (SRINIVASAN,K)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Info. on Liposuction
Date: 5 Oct 92 03:07:17 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology

Can anybody please direct me to sources of information on 
Liposuction and its effects (particularly on women)?  Also,
if I want to find out the qualified physicians and the 
approximate cost, what organization should I contact?

Any information, suggetsions would be very much appreciated.
-- 
SRINIVASAN,K
School of Textile Engineering   Georgia Tech.
uucp: ...!{allegra,amd,hplabs,seismo,ut-ngp}!gatech!prism!gt4084c
ARPA: gt4084c@prism.gatech.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: ghica@fig.citib.com (Renato Ghica)
Subject: floaters 
Originator: ghica@duck
Organization: Citibank IBISM
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 18:44:32 GMT



Does any one know, offhand of course, what causes "floaters" in the
eyes? Are they related to stress, injuries, cholesterol level, etc?

Can anything be done about them beside from draining/replacing the
vitrous fluid in the eyeball?

prethanks.

-- 

"I am a brain, Watson."
"These views are my own. / Mail me or Flame me"
From: rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu (David Rind)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: mitral valve prolapse and need for antibiotics?
Date: 5 Oct 92 15:55:41 GMT
Distribution: sci
Organization: Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston Mass., USA

In article <1992Oct5.082050.27991@spdcc.com> dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer)
 writes:
>In article <BONNIE.92Sep29190907@aigyptos.nmsu.edu> bonnie@nmsu.edu
 (Bonnie Hargrave) writes:
>>her inability to handle basic
>>questions (for example, would ibuprofen or acetaminophen in large
>>doses affect the uric acid level),
>
>_Basic_ question??  Um, Gordon, David and Ken: is this a basic
>question?  I'd think not.

Yeah, I was feeling somewhat inadequate when I read this post and
hoping that you would happen to relate (as you thoughtfully did
in the deleted part of your post) the effects of these drugs on
uric acid levels.

I certainly wouldn't have been able to answer this off the top
of my head, except in so far as pointing out that large doses
of ibuprofen can be nephrotoxic and so are not a good idea in
anyone longterm and particularly not a good idea in someone with
hyperuricemia.

-- 
David Rind
rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: M20614@mwvm.mitre.org (Hugh Pritchard)
Subject: Re: EYE PAIN RELIEF
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, McLean VA 22102
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1992 19:28:46 GMT

In article <7312@bigbird.hri.com.hri.com>
obrien@sparc28.hri.com (Jim Obrien) writes:
 
>I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good eye
>doctor or eye physician.
 
Two things:
 
First, do you know the distinctions among eye care people?
   a)  OPTICIAN -- A technician who manufactures (or buys from wholesalers),
       fits, and sells eyeglasses and contacts.
   b)  OPTOMETRIST -- An O.D. (Doctor of Optometry) measures refractive
       errors in the eye; prescribes glasses/contacts; screens for more
       serious eye problems; and, in some states, can prescribe some eye
       medication.  Sometimes (often?) the optometrist has opticians on-
       premises.
   c)  OPHTHALMOLOGIST -- An M.D., with additional training in ophthalmology,
       who takes care of diseases of the eye and other major eye problems.
       An ophthalmologist can also prescribe glasses/contacts, but if you
       need an invasive procedure or medications, only the ophthalmologist
       can come through for you.
   d)  OCULIST -- An archaic term, referring to ophthalmologists, and possibly
       also optometrists.
 
Second, to address your question:  The only ophthalmologist I knew in the
Boston area was Trygve Gunderson -- he's almost certainly dead by now.
You could call up a teaching hospital (specifically, one with an ophthalmology
residency and/or fellowship program) and ask the residents or fellows whom
they recommend.
 
Of course, it could always turn out to be just allergies, in which case you're
probably out of luck as far as an instant cure goes.
 
**  Hugh Pritchard,  hapritch@mitre.org,  703/883-6616
[Not a physician; only an ophthalmic patient]
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: mryan@stsci.edu
Subject: Re: SHINGLES
Organization: Space Telescope Science Institute
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 20:31:28 GMT

> 
> More circumstantial evidence on the connection between shingles and chicken
> pox...
> 
> My husband's one and only attack of shingles occurred immediately after our 
> 2-year-old son had chicken pox.  Our MD also said this was a coincidence.

My mother took care of my two kids when they had chicken pox.  She, too,
suffered a painful case of shingles immediately afterward.  

Now where did the name "shingles" come from?  It makes the disease sound
silly and trivial when it is really very painful.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mary Ryan			mryan@stsci.edu
Space Telescope Science Institute
Baltimore, Maryland
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: caf@omen.UUCP (Chuck Forsberg)
Subject: Re: low thyroid levels, but not hypothyroid
Organization: Omen Technology INC, Portland Rain Forest
Date: Fri, 02 Oct 1992 22:56:57 GMT

In article <1992Oct01.024901.0902721@locus.com> yazz@locus.com (Bob Yazz) writes:
>Gordon Banks writes:
>
>| Your doctor is right.  The right level of thyroid hormone varies
>| from person to person.  Your brain is a far better judge of what
>| it should be than any test.  If the TSH is normal, your brain
>| doesn't want you to make any more thyroid and therefore giving
>| you extra thyroid would be a mistake.  The thyroid does not just
>
>Surely it's possible that the hypothalmus (part of the brain) that's
>ultimately responsible for the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is
>capable of underproducing the hormone, isn't it?
>
>I know this is an area of controversy and I don't have an opinion
>on it myself, but is there some reason it's safe to assume that the
>TSH level is always correct?  Or is it that it's correct the great
>majority of the time?
>
>In the past "fringe" clinics have indiscriminately prescribed thyroid
>hormone, such as for weight-loss.  (The stuff rapidly rids people who
>don't need it of their lean body mass, which is absolutely unhealthy
>for most everybody.)

Any studies on the long term effects of the thyroid medications
that were widely prescribed in the 50's and 60's based on the
now discredited "basal metabolism" test?   
-- 
Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX          ...!tektronix!reed!omen!caf 
Author of YMODEM, ZMODEM, Professional-YAM, ZCOMM, and DSZ
  Omen Technology Inc    "The High Reliability Software"
17505-V NW Sauvie IS RD   Portland OR 97231   503-621-3406
From: kja@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (krista.j.anderson)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Antihistamines and Decongestants (was Re: Can somone just get over hayfever on their own?)
Summary: long-term effects of allergy medicines?
Date: 30 Sep 92 19:52:59 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T

In article <john.717774743@spssig.spss.com>, john@spss.com (John Przyborowski) writes:
> I was taking a combo of Seldane
> and pseudephirine daily for almost two months (I shudder at the
> liver damage). 

Er, that brings me to a burning question I've had but was afraid to
ask:
Are there some bad side effects of regularly taking antihistamines
and/or decongestants?

If so, what are the side effects, what level of drug usage starts
causing them and will they go away after taking a break from the
medication? 

I will save informative answers for a future FAQ.
-- 
Krista Anderson, att!ihlpf!krista
From: markr@sound.cts.com (Mark B. Reinhold)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Starting an alternative medicine newsgroup
Date: 2 Oct 92 01:49:23 GMT
Organization: SDCT 1-619-461-3415

neal@cmptrc.lonestar.org (Neal Howard) writes:
> Since the discussions of medicine and health care can get so diversified
> so quickly, wouldn't it make sense to make "med" a category of its own?
> i.e. "med.cardiology", "med.orthopedics", "med.home-remedies", "med.voodoo",
> "med.general", "med.politics",  "med.sci", "med.NOT", etc. What do y'all
> think?

I think that this is a good idea. I know that we like to think that
medicine is a science, and parts of it like anatomy, phsiology, etc are,
but medicine it self is an ART more than straight science.

I suspect trying to start a new group named med might take a while
though.
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: billmcc@seanews.akita.com (Bill McCormick)
Subject: Re: Med Supply - Mail Order?
Organization: SEANEWS - Seattle Public Access News & Mail
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 06:01:59 GMT

In article <648@swamps.UUCP> val@swamps.UUCP (Val Christian) writes:
>I'm trying to locate an otoscope for checking my kids ears.  The local
>supply house has a high quality one which is in the $150 range, and would
>be great if I were in a practice where I needed such an instrument (to 
>last for 40 years).   
>
>Does anyone have a recommendation either for a specific instrument, or
>for a mail-order medical supply house, which they can pass on?

Check veterinary supply houses.  Drs. Foster & Smith has a "Veterinary
Quality Otoscope #2967" for $16.99 (1-800-826-7206).

Woof!
-- 
SEANEWS  []  Seattle News + Mail  []  Public Access  []  +1 206 937 9529
E-mail for PGP key.                   sum -r billmcc.pub gives "33931 1"
Xref: sparky sci.med:18055 alt.desert-storm:1794
From: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med,alt.desert-storm
Subject: Re: Thyroid May Have Influenced Bush's Gulf War Decision
Date: 28 Sep 92 15:11:28 GMT
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Followup-To: sci.med
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

In article <1992Sep22.222021.29135@samba.oit.unc.edu> Nigel.Allen@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Nigel Allen) writes:
>Here is a press release from Physicians for Social Responibility.
> Thyroid May Have Influenced Bush's Gulf War Decision;
>Desert Storm or Thyroid Storm?
> To: National Desk
> Contact: Emily Green of Physicians for Social Responsibility,
>          202-785-3777
>
>   WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 -- President George Bush's decision 
>to launch the Gulf War against Iraq -- contrary to the
>advice of many of his military consultants -- may have been
>influenced by his then-undetected thyroid disease.
>   This is the view of Dr. Herbert L. Abrams, professor of radiology
>at Stanford University Medical School and member-in- residence at
>Stanford's Center for International Security and Arms Control.

Radiology?  A man of great clinical experience no doubt!  And what
are we supposed to learn from this?  That now he has been treated
he won't do it again?  That he was not to be blamed for the outcome
of the war?  That he is not to be credited for the outcome of the war?
That we'd better make all presidential candidates submit to extensive
medical tests conducted by the Physicians for Social Responsibility?
I think we should hold Bush responsible for his performance and not
blame it on his thyroid.  

-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "I have given you an argument; I am not obliged
geb@cadre.dsl.pitt.edu   |  to supply you with an understanding." -S.Johnson
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xref: sparky sci.med:18527 alt.folklore.urban:24921
From: mdkline@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Mark D. Kline)
Newsgroups: sci.med,alt.folklore.urban
Subject: Self Castration (was Re: "Problem Patient")
Date: 5 Oct 92 21:38:29 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Syracuse University

In article <Bvnp1G.Ly6@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> kelley@vet.vet.purdue.edu (Stephen Kelley) writes:
>In article <16768@pitt.UUCP> geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks) writes:
>- 
>- I saw a much more interesting case in Madison Wisconsin.  THis
>- fellow was not a Munchausen's, but had a compulsion to operate
>- on himself.  He was a genetics graduate student.  The first
>
>You actually saw this patient?!!  There was a discussion of him 
>in alt.folklore.urban, a few months ago, when Jack Campin and I 
>both remembered reading about it about the time it happened, but didn't
>have any real references beyond a hazy memory of seeing an article. 
>(at least I didn't; Jack may have).

I saw a patient in upstate New York who had "surgically" amputated 
his own testicles.  There are probably other patients around who
have done the same thing.  As I recall, there is even a reference
in the Bible to some saint or other who cut off his own testicles...

>
>I had always thought Munchausen's was rare, but this discussion
>makes it seem fairly ordinary.  Is this self-diagnosis and -treatment
>compulsion at all common?  Would you expect this person to have
>been diagnosable by a psychiatrist before he started cutting? 

I don't believe anyone has any reasonable figures on the prevalence of
Munchausen's Syndrome.   Factitious illness is believed by some to be
common but underdiagnosed.  Self mutilation has a psychiatric
differential diagnosis - that is, these people may suffer from any of a
number of psychiatric disorders. 


--
================================================================= 
mark kline                              mdkline@rodan.acs.syr.edu
suny health science center, syracuse    voice: (315) 422-1050
================ courtesy of syracuse university ================
Organization: Middle East Technical University - Computer Center
Date: Thursday, 1 Oct 1992 19:39:12 TUR
From: Fuad Enver <C48361@TRMETU.BITNET>
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Vitamin C: Anti-Cataract Therapy?

     On going thru the cover story of a recent TIME magazine
titled 'The Real Power of Vitamins' (dated April 6,'92), I came
across the following statements:

*'Vitamins-often in doses much higher than those usually recomm-
  ended-may protect against a host of ills ranging from birth
  defects and cataracts to heart disease and cancer'

*'Most of the excitement, however, is being generated by a group
  of vitamins- C, E and beta carotene, the chemical parent of
  vitamin A- that are known as antioxidants. These nutrients appear
  to be able to defuse the volatile toxic molecules, known as
  oxygen-free radicals, that are a by product of normal metabolism
  in cells'

*'Patients taking high doses of both vitamins (C and E) appear to
  reduce the risk of cataracts by at least 50%, according to a
  Canadian study. Vitamin C may be especially efficient because it
  concentrates in the eye'

*'...to get a protective effect against cataracts or cancer may
  require as much as 100mg (of vitamin C as the recommended daily
  allowance)'

*'Vitamin C -possible benefit: Retards macular degeneration in the
  eyes of the elderly.
  Vitamin E -possible benefit: May slow macular degeneration.'

     In this regard I would like to know if vitamins do really play
a part in the elimination or slow down of cataracts. How far are the
above statements true and which vitamins in particular do play a role
and in what proportions and dosages.
     Also I would like some follow-ups from those experienced in
curative diets concerning prospects of reversing cataracts thru a
stringent vegetarian diet.
     Can adherence to a strict diet composed of green vegetables and
fruits cause any degenerative effects?

Fuad Enver,
Electrical Engg. Dept.,
Middle East Technical Univ.,
Ankara 06531, TURKEY.
E-mail: C48361 at TRMETU (Bitnet)
From: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: low thyroid levels, but not hypothyroid
Date: 1 Oct 92 16:09:22 GMT
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

In article <1992Sep29.202915.291@news.wesleyan.edu> RGINZBERG@eagle.wesleyan.edu (Ruth Ginzberg) writes:

>
>there are some MDs (who do not have much respect or data to back them,
>apparently) who treat "subclinical hypothyroid",  i.e., they give pts thyroid
>pills even if their TSH levels are within normal limits.  i believe they are
>generally considered to be "quacks" my most endocrinologists.  i forget what
>the allegedly supporting reasoning behind this is...
>

There is quite a bit of data to show that excessive thyroid hormone
is dangerous.  It is true that many people feel a little better on
more thyroid that they normally produce.  It acts like a stimulant.
But they also die sooner and have more heart disease.  I'd prefer
to trust my own hypothalamus than some radioimmune assay to decide
how much thyroid I need.

-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "I have given you an argument; I am not obliged
geb@cadre.dsl.pitt.edu   |  to supply you with an understanding." -S.Johnson
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: obrien@sparc28.hri.com (Jim Obrien)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: EYE PAIN RELIEF
Date: 2 Oct 92 14:21:05 GMT
Reply-To: obrien@bigbird.hri.com
Organization: Horizon Research, Inc.

Lately my eyes have been hurting, and are usually very
red. I have tried natural tears eye drops, but it seems
to make them feel worse. 

I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good eye 
doctor or eye physician.
                                         thanx Jimm..

+-+-------------+-+----------------------------------------------------+-+
|o|    /////    |o|              Jim O'Brien (obrien)                  |o|
|o|   | @ @     |o|           Horizon Research Inc. (HRI)              |o|
|o|   c  _)     |o|        1432 Main street Waltham Ma. 02154          |o|
|o|    \ o      |o|   obrien@HRI.com (617) 466-8364 FAX (617) 466-8323 |o|
+-+-------------+-+----------------------------------------------------+-+
From: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Starting an alternative medicine newsgroup
Date: 30 Sep 92 14:28:18 GMT
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

OK, John suggests we start an alternative medicine newsgroup.
What should we call it.  I don't like sci.med.holistic because
most of the alternative systems aren't science and aren't
necessarily holistic either.  WOuld talk.alternative.medicine
be appropriate?  Alt.medicine would be ok, but the alt groups
are special (easy to create, though) and all sites don't get
them.  I really wish that one of the proponents of alternative
medicine would start the group rather than us doing it, since
the person ramrodding it should be interested in participating
in the group if it is formed, and I am not interested in
participating.  Kingsley, you out there?  David, Bob?  Anyone?
Even Lee?

I think one of the causes of flames here comes from someone
asking questions about alternative medicine here.  If there
was such a group, they would go there instead and wouldn't
set us off.

-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "I have given you an argument; I am not obliged
geb@cadre.dsl.pitt.edu   |  to supply you with an understanding." -S.Johnson
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: med50003@nusunix1.nus.sg (WANSAICHEONG KHIN-LIN)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Antihistamines and Decongestants
Date: 1 Oct 92 09:36:03 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: National University of Singapore
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]

I've used antihistamines for close to 5 - 6 years now and I find that an
every other day dose when I get a bad rhinitis clears up my problem
fairly quickly. If I use them everyday I find that I get a 'rebound' (I
use that term guardedly) when I stop.

Does anyone have experience with the non-sedating antihistamines e.g.
terfenadine, loratidine? They are too expensive for me to use regularly
and I wonder if they are as effective as they claim?

Also, if there a individual preference for one antihistamine i.e. that
one works best for you?

gervais
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: yozzo@watson.ibm.com (Ralph Yozzo)
Subject: Eye Twitch
Date: Fri, 02 Oct 1992 16:27:55 GMT
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM T.J. Watson Research Center

The question about eyes reminded me of an eye problem that I once
had but it now cured.

My eyes once twitched during the day and after a while it started
to bother me.

Many months later, it dawned on me that when I slept, I would sometimes
rest my eye directly on the pillow.  This must have caused tension in the
eyelid muscles.  This led to eyelid muscle strain, which would manifest
itself in the daytime eye twitch.

Subsequently, I do not rest my eye directly on the pillow and voila,
no more eye twitch.

-- 
Ralph Yozzo (yozzo@watson.ibm.com)  
From the beautiful and historic Mid-Hudson Valley area of NY state
From: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Starting an alternative medicine newsgroup
Date: 4 Oct 92 16:00:27 GMT
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

In article <1992Oct01.041202.0236548@locus.com> yazz@locus.com (Bob Yazz) writes:
>geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks) writes:
>
>| Kingsley, you out there?  David, Bob?  Anyone?
>| Even Lee?
>
>Gordon my good man, I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be mentioned
>next to someone who's in my kill file!
>
I was thinking of Bob Greenstein, but if you are interested...


>I reject the notion that only one medical school of thought deserves
>the label "science" as much as I reject the notion that only Jerry
>Falwell's brand of religion deserves the label "Christian".
>
It is not a question of "deserves".  It is a question of what methods
are used and accepted.  The alternative practitioners neither use
scientific methods nor publish in the scientific modes in presenting
their data.  They are secretive and proprietary or else publish anecdotal
books.  I would have no objection to people discussing things like
chelation only in scientific terms such as presenting articles on it.
Kingsley did attempt that a few years ago.  What I don't like are
bold assertions that red-dye #2 causes hyperactivity, for example.
>
>Seriously proposing that one's own school of thought can lay claim to
>the name "sci.med" while "those other people just find somewhere else
>to go" is not going to cool any flames.  And cooling flames seems to be
>the goal.
>
They were complaining that they got bashed.  If they want support,
they have to find a group without scientists.

I think contrary to the view you are trying to express, there is
a consensus among scientists about what science is and is not
and that there is an attempt to have a scientific medicine, even
if parts of medicine are not (yet) science.  This view is international
in scope.  
-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "I have given you an argument; I am not obliged
geb@cadre.dsl.pitt.edu   |  to supply you with an understanding." -S.Johnson
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: yazz@locus.com (Bob Yazz)
Subject: Re: "Problem Patient"
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 05 Oct 1992 07:16:28 GMT

dag@col.hp.com (David Geiser) writes:

| Are similar information services available for MDs?

Lifetime Medical Television has several times discussed legislative
proposals for creating a national registry of physicians.  I don't
recall what info they were going to record or who it was supposed to
be available to, but some MD's didn't much like the proposal.

== Bob Yazz ==
-- 


"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice president, and that
one word is 'to be prepared.'" -America's own Danny "Mr. Potatoe Head" Quayl
From: kingsley@hpwrce.mayfield.hp.com (Kingsley Morse)
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 20:27:05 GMT
Subject: Re: Excess Of Vitamin C?
Organization: HP Western Response Center
Newsgroups: sci.med

In sci.med, geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks) writes:

> When Pauling's book on vitamin C came out, he recommended 1 gram
> per day.  After they did studies with 1 gram per day showing no
> effect on the frequency of colds in normal volunteers, he said,
> "well, it really is 4 grams per day".  So they did those experiments,
> still no better than placebo.  

I'd like to see a reference to these studies. :-)