HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Xanax
Date: 3 Sep 92 14:27:36 GMT
Organization: Decision Systems Laboratory, Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA.

In article <1992Sep1.213610.14277@newshost.lanl.gov> gwr@hedonist-1.lanl.gov (Graham W. Redgrave) writes:

>
>My other question is about the future of psychiatry:  if, as Ed Francell 
>claims, more and more "mental illnesses" are being shown to be biologically, 
>i.e. neurologically, based, then what will psychiatrists' role be?  As far 
>as I can tell, psychiatrists would become caretakers for peoples' neuroses, 
>and psycho-pharmacologists on the side.  I hope I've overstated the case, 
>since of all the specialities in medicine, psychiatry is the most compelling 
>to me (a post-bac, pre-med type).  
>

Not the future of psychiatry, the present.  Most psychiatrists are
now biologically oriented and drug prescribers.  Especially
the young ones.  Psychoanalysis is practically dead except among the
elderly psychiatrists.  It is a very inefficient way of doing
psychotherapy anyway.  While there still is a great problem with
psychiatrists being sort of medically inadequate, the situation
is improving as they realize that they have to know how to take
care of patients physically also since the drugs they give can
be pretty potent.  Psychiatric training now requires more experience
in internal medicine and many psychiatrists now have had medical
internships, which is an excellent trend.  More and more, psychoanalytic
institutes are opening up to psychologists and fewer psychiatrists are
becoming analysts.  



-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "Skepticism is the chastity of the intellect, and
geb@cadre.dsl.pitt.edu   |  it is shameful to surrender it too soon." 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Mercury in dental fillings?
Date: 26 Aug 92 19:48:47 GMT
Organization: Decision Systems Laboratory, Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA.

In article <BtIM32.EGx@wpg.com> russ@wpg.com (Russell Lawrence) writes:
>
>I don't remember the title off hand, but what sticks in my mind 
>was that the publisher had printed a disclaimer at the front of 
>the volume stating that the views contained in the book were 
>solely the responsibility of the author.  Unfortunately, most 
>readers wouldn't have taken the time to comtemplate what such a 
>disclaimer might imply.  If they had believed the claims made by 
>the author, would they be guilty of some transgression, and hence 
>deserving of the treatment they might attain at the hands of an 
>anti-amalgamist?    Or would it be more appropriate to say that such
>people are simply the victims of misinformation?

It's a philosophical question, really.  Are people merely passive,
to be acted upon by evil forces (paradoxically, other people)?
Maybe the dentist himself is a victim of child abuse, poor schools,
mental illness, etc.  Under this theory, no one is a free agent
and no one is responsible for anything.  I think the only way to
go is to try to accept responsibility for your own life and actions
and not go around looking for someone to blame for everything bad
that happens to you. (Of course, people are quick to claim credit
for their successes, aren't they?)  I'm not denying fraud, but
neither should we glorify being a sucker.  I've been defrauded
myself, and I blame the crook, but I also blame myself for not
being more careful.





-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "Skepticism is the chastity of the intellect, and
geb@cadre.dsl.pitt.edu   |  it is shameful to surrender it too soon." 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: dfield@zeus.calpoly.edu (Daniel R. Field)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Smelling and Tasting
Date: 29 Aug 92 22:01:53 GMT
Article-I.D.: zeus.1992Aug29.220153.168714
Organization: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

In article <28AUG199213235528@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov> uushela@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov writes:
>Is it possible for a person to abruptly stop being able to smell and taste? 
>About 4 months ago I had a bad cold, and ever since then, I have not been 
>able to smell or taste normally.  There are 3-4 foods that I can sort of 
>taste, but they all taste the same...sort of like metal.  For the most part
>I can't taste anything.  Is this considered normal?  My GP gave me a saline 
>nasal spray 3 weeks ago, but it hasn't helped a bit.  Are there any books 
>that I could read concerning this, or should I just stop worrying?
>
>Thanks for any help you can give.
>***
>Shela Y. Vilardell
>uushela@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov

     My dad has had the same problem.  He could smell and taste while and
after he was a smoker.  After quitting, he developed some lung problems
that were determined to be microbial, for which he took penicillin, Seldane
and several other drugs; some of those he still takes after several years
into this problem.  A while into this drug regime, he lost his sense of
taste and smell, and he anecdotally attributes this to the drugs.  He's been
at least two or three years now without these senses.
     An ear, nose and throat doctor I asked said that loss of smell and
taste tends to be permanent.
     Does anyone have any information about whether these drugs are
associated with loss of smell and taste?
     Is there a genetic component to loss of these senses, and am I therefor
at risk of losing my taste and smell?  (My dad is in his mid fifties.)
     Thanks!
-- 

                                -Daniel R. Field
                                 dfield@nike.calpoly.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: russ@wpg.com (Russell Lawrence)
Subject: Re: Mercury in dental fillings?
Organization: WP Group
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 22:51:51 GMT


Russell Lawrence writes:
rl> If your dentist had told you that amalgams cause MS, and you had 
rl> reconfirmed this claim during a visit to your local library, would
rl> you really be culpable? 

From article <16261@pitt.UUCP>, by geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks):
gb> Yes, because the library work wouldn't have confirmed it.  I would
gb> have found the balance of opinion strongly against Hg as a cause
gb> for MS.  If I had then gone ahead, I would have to accept the
gb> results of my own stupidity.

As I said, the only reference that I was able to find in the New 
Orleans Public Library was written by a notorious anti-amalgamist.  

The state board of dentistry in Louisiana was aware of, and 
tolerated, anti-amalgam scare tactics used by licensed dentists.  
Moreover, the state-supported dental school sponsored a course, 
for CE-credit, that was conducted by one of the more notorious 
quacks.  Unless we're going to blame regulators and educators for 
failing to do their appointed jobs, it doesn't seem quite fair to 
blame consumers for their alleged ignorance if/when they're 
acting on the basis of misinformation.  

> ...
rl> I don't doubt that quite a few of the malefactors who promote such
rl> schemes are deliberately defrauding the public, but it seems to
rl> me that our societal purpose would be better served if we stick
rl> with the educational and scientific aspects of the problem and
rl> set aside the character judgments which, after all, are harder to
rl> prove.   

gb> Right, like I said.  Assessing blame isn't very useful.  But
gb> that's what the legal profession is all about now, isn't it?

I presume that you're in favor of higher educational and 
scientific standards.  Should these standards be strictly 
voluntary?  Or, should they be enforced by some private or 
governmental agency?  

-- 
Russell Lawrence, WP Group, New Orleans (504) 443-5000
russ@wpg.com   uunet!wpg!russ
From: geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: spina bifida information needed, please!
Date: 26 Aug 92 18:56:46 GMT
Organization: Decision Systems Laboratory, Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA.

In article <1992Aug24.200815.22447@newshost.lanl.gov> gwr@hedonist-1.lanl.gov (Graham W. Redgrave) writes:
>
>I would defer to you (or any dr. I had come to trust) on points of fact,
>but I am curious as to your opinion about "netside manner".  As I said
>before, Mr. Lin was clearly concerned about the welfare of this child,
>and _because_of_that_, your initial response seemed brutal to me.  Again,


I had thought he was not a parent, but asking for someone else.  I also
had concern for the welfare of the child and its parents.
The rest of your posting (deleted) has a tone that concerns me greatly.
Perhaps Ken and I should stop posting to sci.med, as people
are taking us far too seriously and expecting far too much.
Witness the taking Ken to task for posting something that
might be out of date and changed since he went to medical
school.  Just what obligations do you people think we owe you anyhow?
I don't want you to trust me as much or more as your doctor.
Certainly I wouldn't have told the parents about what was done
in England or used the language and examples I used here.  
What you do with your own patients when you are
acting in a professional capacity is quite different from the
net.   On the net, I am not anyone's doctor, but provider of
as complete information on a subject as I can pull out of my
head at the time and put briefly in a message.  I hope that is
understood.  I really don't like the term "netside manner" since that
implies that somehow I am forming a doctor-patient relationship
over the net.  I want to avoid that at all costs.  I accept
no professional responsibility for the opinions I post whatever.
You may note that I do not post MD after my name or explicitly
make claims of being an expert in the field.  My posts are intended
solely for your educational value and act on them
at your own risk.  If you want professional advice, I'll be
happy to see you in my office.  

I hope this doesn't offend you, but although I'm happy you
have trusted my posts, I just want to make sure you don't
take them more seriously than you should.
-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "Skepticism is the chastity of the intellect, and
geb@cadre.dsl.pitt.edu   |  it is shameful to surrender it too soon." 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: uushela@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov
Subject: Smelling and Tasting
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Date: 28 Aug 1992 13:23 EST  

Is it possible for a person to abruptly stop being able to smell and taste? 
About 4 months ago I had a bad cold, and ever since then, I have not been 
able to smell or taste normally.  There are 3-4 foods that I can sort of 
taste, but they all taste the same...sort of like metal.  For the most part
I can't taste anything.  Is this considered normal?  My GP gave me a saline 
nasal spray 3 weeks ago, but it hasn't helped a bit.  Are there any books 
that I could read concerning this, or should I just stop worrying?

Thanks for any help you can give.
***
Shela Y. Vilardell
uushela@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov
From: Jay.Hergert@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.org (Jay Hergert)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Siamese twins
Date: 25 Aug 92 13:42:40 GMT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:157/3 - Nerd's Nook, Rocky River OH

Does any body know how often Siamese twins are born and how long do they live?  
Do they live to adult hood?


 

--  
Internet: Jay.Hergert@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.org
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: russ@wpg.com (Russell Lawrence)
Subject: Re: Mercury in dental fillings?
Organization: WP Group
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 19:51:24 GMT


Russell Lawrence writes:
rl> As I said, the only reference that I was able to find in the New 
rl> Orleans Public Library was written by a notorious anti-amalgamist.  

From article <16289@pitt.UUCP>, by geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks):
gb> Did the librarian not inform you that you needed to look at
gb> medical reference books to research MS?  Few public libraries
gb> carry that.  But Tulane would have all you would need.  Perhaps
gb> the librarian needs to be sued too.

Perhaps not.

It's ludicrous to suggest that the dental knowledge of public 
librarians ought to be judged by the same standard that applies to 
licensed dentists, certified dental educators, and duly appointed 
members of the dental licensing boards.  

rl> I presume that you're in favor of higher educational and 
rl> scientific standards.  Should these standards be strictly 
rl> voluntary?  Or, should they be enforced by some private or 
rl> governmental agency?  

gb> The government can't enforce these well because of political
gb> considerations.  I think a private agency (although never
gb> tried, to my knowledge) might be able to do something here.

I don't understand your point, Gordon.  Would you be in favor 
of abolishing the existing licensing boards altogether?  

In Louisiana, the state dental board members are selected by the 
governor from a pool of candidates that are elected by the 
licensed practitioners within the state.  If the practitioners 
at-large don't wish to have the state board perform it's 
function in addressing quack treatment modalities, how would a 
private agency be able to overcome their objections without
creating lots of conflict with the local dentists?   

BTW, did you get a chance to read the special article on the 
crisis in US health care in the July issue of _Consumer Reports_?  
A special insert on pg 443 explained that the AMA's chestbeating 
about malpractice concerns is a "straw man", albeit widely 
believed by the US public.  The conclusions of Consumer Reports 
were supported by studies conducted by HHS as well as a Harvard 
University study funded by the state of NY.  

-- 
Russell Lawrence, WP Group, New Orleans (504) 443-5000
russ@wpg.com   uunet!wpg!russ
From: doyle+@pitt.edu (Howard R Doyle)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Need info on Lymphedema
Date: 3 Sep 92 12:39:01 GMT
Organization: Pittsburgh TRansplant Institute

In article <92246.113530TJ7@psuvm.psu.edu> TJ7@psuvm.psu.edu writes:
>I am interested in current information on the treatment of lymphedema (swelling
>of a limb due to poor lymphatic circulation).  When I was diagnosed with this
>condition seven years ago, the only methods of treatment seemed to be to treat
>the symptoms and not the problem.  Also, none of the doctors in my area are
>well informed about this condition.  Since some time has passed, I want to find
> out if any new work has been done in this area.  If anyone has suggestions on



Chronic lymphedema can be either acquired or congenital. The congenital type
is due to maldevelopment of the lymphatics (usually in the lower extremities), 
while the acquired type can be due to a variery of causes (streptococcal
infections, radiation therapy, surgical removal of the lymphatics, to name a
few). If your condition is of the acquired type, there is not much that can
be done, except for symptomatic treatment. In cases where this is not enough
(and symptomatic treatment means mainly elastic compression), and the patient
is disabled by the lymphedema, the only thing that I know of that will 
eliminate this problem is an old operation called the Charles procedure. This
involves removing the skin and subcutaneous tissue, down to the fibrous
tissue that envelops the muscle, and covering the extremity with a skin
graft (similar to what we would do with a third degree burn). This is pretty
radical, and the cosmetic result is not exactly great, so the patient has to
be truly disabled to resort to this.

Congenital lymphedema is divided into several types, depending on which part
of the lymphatic drainage system is undeveloped. Some people have developed
operations that attempt to correct the underlying anatomical problem, some
of them quite ingenious. Unfortunately, these operations only seem to work
in the hands of the guys that publish papers on them, and most folks I know 
will do the Charles procedure for either type of lymphedema.

So, if you can live with the condition, you may want to leave well enough
alone. On the other hand, if things are so bad that you would consider surgery
I would suggest you see either a plastic or a vascular surgeon, preferably at
a University hospital. If the place has a dedicated lymphedema clinic it's
even better. It's unusual for lymphedema to come to surgery, so you may need
to look around before you find a place with the experience and the interest
in this disease.

________________________
Howard Doyle
doyle+@pitt.edu



Organization: Doctoral student, Urban and Public Affairs, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: sci.med
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 12:50:53 -0400 
From: Lawrence Curcio <lc2b+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: Do Doctors Give a Damn? The Other Health Care Crisis

Medical costs have been justified on the basis of:
1) Insulation of the consumer by insurance from real costs;

2) Technology; and

3) Litigation

In the discussion, it has been assumed that the consumer has a real
choice in the course of treatment. I would claim that in part because of
litigation, (patients' avarice) and in part because of physicians'
avarice, the patient is given a choice between expensive and expensive
care and no care at all. It would be nice to have other choices - like
larger roles for non-physician providers.

The physicians' lobby has made non-physician providers a joke. If you
can see a NPP without first seeing a doc, then the NPP functions
primarily as referral service for docs, and you wind up paying *more*
money. Indeed, the NPP makes it possible for physicians to specialize
more rigidly, and to charge higher fees, because the generalist isn't
one of the club. On the other hand, if you can't see the NPP first, you
have to pay off the doc to do so. Either way, the doc takes his/her cut. 

I would have to argue that insulation of the consumer by insurance is
not the problem, but rather a bad fix of the real problem: not enough
bargaining power in the medical marketplace on the part of the consumer.
Insurance simply takes the consumer out of the economic decision loop.
From: Kirk.Smith@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Kirk Smith)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: wisdom teeth removal
Date: 2 Sep 92 17:18:18 GMT
Article-I.D.: samba.1992Sep2.171818.17454
Organization: Extended Bulletin Board Service

Everybody I ever knew that had their wisdom teeth out had major problems
with pain, swelling, etc.

My DDS (who I've been going to since I was about 8yrs old) noticed one
tooth that was growing sideways and crowding other teeth.  So we set it
up for him to do the extraction (note: he's not an oral surgeon, and
he left me the option of going to a specialist if I wanted to.  I
decided to stick with him, as my SO went to an oral surgeon and had
major swelling and pain, and was given only Vicodin).

I was started on a regimine of Decadron a few days before (the stepped
dose) to inhibit swelling.  I was given two scripts, one for Tylenol #4
and one for Percodan.  Also a script for PCN.  I filled everything BEFORE
the extraction date, so the stuff would be handy.  He used only Novacaine
and Nitrous Oxide for the anesthetic (no IV diazepam or other goodies the
oral surgeons use).  I was totally awake throughout the proceedure,
and brought a Walkman (as suggested by my DDS) to drown out the sound.
The proceedure was pain free, and yet I was able to watch whatever I wanted
to (being the curious pre-med student that I am).

He advised me to take a Percodan about 30mins after I got home (before
the Novocaine wore off), and another in 4 hours.  He said I'd likely
just want to lie in bed all weekend.  It ended up that I felt well
enough to clean the house, do laundry, make jello, etc.  Talked on
the phone quite a bit, and was out doing stuff the next day (no driving,
though).  I only ended up taking two of the Percodan's, and then I weaned
myself down to 2 of the Tylenol #4s and then to Advil.  I had virtually
undetectable amounts of swelling, mild bleeding the first day, which
tapered off.  The biggest problem was the bleeding the first day, as
I had a hard time eating on one side of my mouth (yes, eating).

All in all, not the most fun thing I've ever done, but I feel it was well
managed and not a big deal.  I was glad the DDS wasn't afraid of someone
abusing drugs or something lame (my SO was in excruciating pain with
her FOUR impacted extractions, and the oral surgeon flatly refused to
prescribe anything stronger than Vicodin.  And FYI, my SO isn't a wimp.
She's had more knee problems and migranes than anyone I know).

Talk it out with your DDS or Oral Surgeon in advance, and get the
facts straight.  If Tylenol #3 has never worked for you before, it's
likely it won't work for you  for this proceedure.  BTW:  It is painful
afterwards.  I forgot to take my Percodan for the second dose, and
noticed some MAJOR pain coming on.  I slammed down another pill and was
fine.

-Kirk J. Smith

--
   The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
     North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
        Technology, or the Experimental Bulletin Board Service.
           internet:  bbs.oit.unc.edu or 152.2.22.80
Organisation: European Space Operation Centre (E.S.O.C)
Date: Thursday, 27 Aug 1992 13:37:48 CET
From: <RFLOOD@ESOC.BITNET>
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject:    Turning into a Pig

A colleague of mine who wants to remain anonymous, and who is normally
quite beautiful, seems to have some form of inflammation in her face
which appeared in two days and which is making her appearance somewhat
like the late lamented Miss Piggy. Her nose is turning up at the end,
the upper lip is enlarging, and her cheeks are swelling. (No sign of
a curly little tail yet, tho !). We think she's got an inflammation of
the upper lip, or maybe in the gum above the teeth.
(Bewitchment has also been suggested but we'd like to rule out physical
ailments before turning to the supernatural).
Any comments from the doctors or dentists out there ?
RaF
From: Robin.Salmansohn@f715.n273.z1.fidonet.org (Robin Salmansohn)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Neat New Newsletter
Date: 26 Aug 92 13:36:11 GMT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:273/715 - Alternative Lifesty, Wyndmoor PA


 To: shedevil@leland.Stanford.EDU (Anne P. Mitchell, JD)
 
 APMJ> The newsletter will be a "truth in science and technology" 
 APMJ> publication.  It will concern itself with an art which, in 
 APMJ> our opinion, is well on the way to becoming extinct -- 
 APMJ> namely, telling the truth.  It will consist of short news 
 APMJ> items concerning advances (or regresses) in 
 APMJ> science and technology, 
 APMJ> the kind of items that such publications as 
 APMJ> "Science" and "Nature" 
 APMJ> would not consider publishing, either because they are too
 APMJ> controversial, or because they deal with some unpleasant truth.  
 APMJ> The latter occurance is much more common nowadays.
 
Why not post  3 sample (insection) issues and let people see it so that they 
can then decide?


 

--  
Internet: Robin.Salmansohn@f715.n273.z1.fidonet.org