HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: wleckie@bnr.ca (Wayne Leckie)
Subject: Re: Soft contact lens problem
Reply-To: wleckie@bnr.ca (Wayne Leckie)
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd.
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 93 21:49:03 GMT

|> In article <6350023@otter.hpl.hp.com> sall@otter.hpl.hp.com (Sheelagh Lloyd) writes:
>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.

Sheelagh,

I can sympathize with your friend.  My eyes are very similar to what
you describe.  BUT, I've now been wearing contacts successfully for
about 5 years.  Sure beats using the bottoms of coke bottles.
Finding someone experienced with fitting us "poor eyesight" types
was my biggest problem.

I first tried an "optician" (basically through the local discount
glasses & contact lens retailer).  Then I tried an "optometrist".
Both were dismal flops: major problems with fit and visual clarity. I
finally tried the contact lens specialist who is partnered with my
opthalmologist.  Bingo.  From talking with him, I've learned that
fitting contacts becomes more & more tricky with # of diopters of
correction.  For the -8 or worse range, see someone who SPECIALIZES in
fitting contacts to people with poor vision.  My contact lens
specialist sees 20-50 people like me PER WEEK.

Your friend should ask his opthalmologist for a referral.  If he
hasn't seen an opthalmologist recently (not "optician", not
"optometrist"), carry him there.  People with eyesight in our range
need yearly checkups by an opthalmologist due to high potential for
development of some major eye problems.

Good luck.

Wayne

-- 
/----------------------------------------------------------------\
| Wayne Leckie		       PHONE   : (613)763-5871		 |
| Bell-Northern Research, Ltd. INTERNET: wleckie@bnr.ca 	 |
| Ottawa, Ontario, Canada      UUCP    : ...uunet!bnrgate.bnr.ca |
|					    !bmerh357!wleckie	 |
| "Mothers are the necessity of invention"			 |
|			       - Calvin & Hobbes		 |
\----------------------------------------------------------------/
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: pprior@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Paul A Prior)
Subject: Re: X-rays as Lung Cancer detector?
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 23:35:15 GMT

In article <1j43tkINNk7u@transfer.stratus.com> amy@vineland.pubs.stratus.com (Amy McNulty) writes:
>In article <2405@hsdndev.UUCP> rind@enterprise.bih.harvard.edu (David  
>Rind) writes:
>> In article <1ivgapINNdv4@athena.sdsu.edu> mccurdy@bestsd.sdsu.edu  
>writes:
>> >	Is this the "company line" for the medical establishment and is  
>it 
>> >generally the optimal way to go? Are there scans or tests other than  
>x-rays 
>> >that would indicate smaller or microscopic tumors in the lungs?
>> 
>> Yes, this is the "company line."  Both chest x-ray and sputum  
>cytology
>> have been evaluated as screening tools for lung cancer.  Neither
>> one turns up many cases or has particularly good sensitivity or
>> specificity.  Neither has been shown to reduce mortality.  Both can
>> lead to unnecessary invasive procedures from false positive tests.
>
>
>So is there currently a reliable way to look for early lung cancer  
>(before it advances and other symptoms appear)?
>
>I'm concerned about someone who was exposed to very heavy secondhand  
>smoke (both parents) for over 20 years of childhood. He moved out of  
>the smoky household almost 12 years ago, and I've heard that something  
>like 10 years is enough time to reverse the effects of the secondhand  
>smoke and pretty much eliminate the increased risk. Is that true?
>
It really doesn't matter much.  Screening for lung cancer isn't done
because there isn't much to do once/if it is found.  20 years of
post-smoking exposure is, I believe, the standard for risk baselining.
After 10 years you are close.


-- 
--------pprior@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu----(614) 621-8240----------------
Paul A. Prior    Ban anchors, not reef tanks    Nuke Gay Whales for Jesus  
3rd year medical student 		        
The Ohio State U. College of Medicine   Tobacco Kills- Please don't smoke!
From: lsnow@ncrclm.ClemsonSC.NCR.COM (Linda Snow)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Eye Glass Frames
Date: 25 Jan 93 18:20:34 GMT
Reply-To: lsnow@ncrclm.ClemsonSC.NCR.COM (Linda Snow)
Organization: NCR E&M CLEMSON Liberty, SC

>Does anyone know why eye glass frames are so expensive? They
>are mostly plastic and surely, there's not as much technology
>involved as in a calculator which costs $5.00. 
>Most eye glass frames now cost well over $100!!! WHY?????

There's a time-honored principle called "charging what the traffic
will bear".  Also a thing called price elasticity of demand.  Ask any
economics student to explain these to you.

The price has also probably been influenced by the number of people
who have glasses coverage with their health insurance.
.
.
.
From: ar710@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (William G. Martin)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: "It's Going Around" - Flu & Viruses
Date: 27 Jan 1993 15:33:34 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: ar710@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (William G. Martin)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


Every now and then, some sorts of "24-hour flu" or short-term virus
assails a large number of people in a metro area. I was wondering --
do any public-health organizations keep track of these short-term minor
illnesses in some way, or do these all come and go with little
visibility to the medical profession?

-- 
Will Martin
wmartin@stl-06sima.army.mil OR wmartin@st-louis-emh2.army.mil
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: Joel A. Weiner <weineja1@jhuapl.edu>
Subject: Paget's Disease
X-Xxmessage-Id: <A789CBE2300122BE@tee-jaw-ether.jhuapl.edu>
X-Xxdate: Mon, 25 Jan 93 08:54:58 GMT
Organization: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1.1d12
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 21:51:19 GMT

Looking for information regarding causes (hereditary vs. environmental),
current treatment procedures, centers-of-excellence, and long-term
prognosis, regarding Pagets disease. A close member of my family was
diagnosed, and we are trying to do everything we can.
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: russ@pmafire.inel.gov (Russ Brown)
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 93 04:24:23 GMT
Organization: WINCO
Subject: Re: Re: Cellular telephones and brain tumors
Summary: 
Followup-To: 
Distribution: usa
Organization: WINCO
Keywords: 

In article <1993Jan28.012310.24738@netcom.com> kudzu@netcom.com (Michael Sierchio) writes:
>In article <4126@hpwala.wal.hp.com> joes@hpwarbz.wal.hp.com writes:
>>
>>Also, has anyone ever  noticed the large  number of people that live  directly
>>under TV  transmitter  towers?  I'm told the field is so  strong  that one can
>>cause  a  fluourecent  bulb  to  glow  slightly  just  by  holding  it.  These
>>transmitters  emit roughly  100KW.....I  haven't heard of any anomalies  among
>>people under them......
>
>So, they must not exist, huh?  
>
>1 watt 2" from head is the issue. 
>-- 

Before everyone gets too excited about an anecdotal (anecdotal evidence
ranks even lower than case-control analysis!) case of brain cancer,
remember that some regions of the country, namely Mississippi, northern
Alabama, and parts of Tennessee have had brain cancer mortality excesses
for the past 40 year.  Other scattered excesses exist elsewhere.

Memphis (Shelby County, TN) had a 35.7% mortality excess for the 1953-87
interval.  Odds of this being a chance occurrence are less than 1 in a
million.  While these observations do not constitute a proof that using
a cellular phone can't have some negative effect, they do suggest that
major etiologic factors exist...and, whatever they are, we don't know
them.

Absent such knowledge, attribution of a case of brain cancer to a
particular "cause" doesn't make much sense.  Unfortunately, we have
difficulty in accepting the fact that bad things happen for no good (or,
more precisely, known) reason.  




Newsgroups: sci.med
From: rbkatz@cc.bellcore.com (Bob Katz)
Subject: Veins on cornea (Q)
Followup-To: sci.med
Organization: Bellcore
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 93 14:34:46 GMT

A friend recently learned from an optometrist that some veins have appeared
on the periphery of one of her corneas.  The cause was reduced oxygen to
the cornea due to contact lenses.  She has daily wear, gas permeable lenses
(which she now wears 16 hours a day, 7 days a week), but apparently the
oxygen permeability of gas permeable lenses can be as low as 14%.

The optometrist felt that she can continue to wear contacts, but should
give her eyes a rest by using glasses more often.  He felt that the
increase in oxygen could cause the veins to recede.  Even after receding,
however, he thought they might leave thin, white lines on the cornea.

Any opinions on this matter and the accuracy of the optometrist's
information?

Thanks.

bob
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: hinz@bonfire (David Hinz (hinz@picard.med.ge.com))
Subject: Re: CT scan vs. other tests for sinuses
Organization: GE Medical Systems, Magnetic Resonance
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 93 07:10:44 GMT

k p c (kpc@pluto.arc.nasa.gov) wrote:
: i'm wondering whether somebody can tell me the relative information
: gained and risks associated with CT scans vs. MRI, ultrasound, etc.

: the goal is to learn something about sinus problems.

: if one has had a lot of dental x-rays, would a CT scan be risky?

: thanks a lot.
: -- 
: i'm open to comparing research career notes with other cogsci/cogneuro people.

I've seen MRI scans of a patient with severe sinus infection, and we were
able to take the images & do a 3D rotation scheme and see exactly where the
infection/swelling was.  The inflamed area showed up as a very bright
area, with the air passage being black (no signal from air).  It turned out
that one side was fine, the other was badly infected with about a  5mm diameter
passage for the air, max.

MRI scans can be 'tuned' to look for different things, and different types
of contrast.  Write me if you'd like more details.  I'm not an applications
person (with direct patient contact), but I'm on the technical side of the
fence, and have access to a lot of information.

Dave Hinz

--

Dave Hinz  -  Opinions expressed are mine, not my employer's.  Obviously.
From: lcarros@pyrtech.mis.pyramid.com (Leo Carros)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Eye Glass Frames
Date: 25 Jan 93 20:51:52 GMT
Reply-To: lcarros@pyrtech.mis.pyramid.com (Leo Carros)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Pyramid Technologies, Mt. View, California.

In article <1993Jan23.224823.2262@radford.vak12ed.edu>,
mmatusev@radford.vak12ed.edu (Melissa N. Matusevich) writes:
|> Does anyone know why eye glass frames are so expensive? They
|> are mostly plastic and surely, there's not as much technology
|> involved as in a calculator which costs $5.00. 
|> 
|> Most eye glass frames now cost well over $100!!! WHY?????
|> 
This reminds me of a "60 Minutes" program back in the sixties.

        The program was about the cost of glasses.

        In one section where they asked an optomitrist how he priced glasses
        he said" I try to wait until I am placing the frames on their face.

        I then tell them that these cost $25. If their pupils do not dilate
        I say "for the frames". I then say the lenses are $25 and again if
        their pupils do not dilate I tell them each.

Leo...
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: young@clpd.kodak.com (Rich Young)
Subject: Re: Need Source for Empty Capsules
Originator: young@sasquatch
Reply-To: young@clpd.kodak.com
Organization: Clinical Diagnostics Division, Eastman Kodak Company
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 93 16:01:04 GMT

In article <1k695cINN6u7@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> ar710@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (William G. Martin) writes:

[...]

>So is there a place I can mail-order empty capsules from? I suppose they
>are made of gelatin -- some substance that dissolves after you take it. I
>fear the "war on drugs" may have made this a difficult item to purchase,
>though -- I guess the majority of people wanting empty capsules intend to
>put various illegal substances into them...
>
>So can they be easily bought now, or not? I've never seen them advertised
>in the mail-order vitamin catalogs I get... Also, is there a simple way
>to fill such capsules that doesn't require expensive machinery? I
>have visions of spending hours trying to dribble powder from a teaspoon
>into these things...

	This is emphatically NOT a plug for GNC, but I do know (because I
	know someone who works at the local franchise) that GNC sells, or
	at least can order, empty capsules.  The ones I've seen were size 0
	and made from non-animal components (if that's important).  Of course,
	you can also buy just plain gelatin (often sold as "nail hardener")
	in capsules, dump the contents, and fill the empties with anything
	you like (I use this process to "pill" my cat).

	As for filling them. try folding a relatively smooth piece of
	paper in half, pouring the filler into the crease, and then tapping
	the paper gently while you hold the end of the fold in the open end
	of the capsule.


-Rich Young (These are not Kodak's opinions.)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: DES vs. Dexatrim
From: RGINZBERG@eagle.wesleyan.edu (Ruth Ginzberg)
Date: 21 Jan 93 20:54:39 EDT
Distribution: world
Organization: Philosophy Dept., Wesleyan University
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.20Lines: 27

There is a discussion going on in rec.pets.dogs right now about safety of drugs
used to treat urinary incontinence in spayed female dogs. (Sorry, I know this
isn't a veterinary group, but I thought I'd try, since both drugs in question
are also used in humans...)

The 2 drugs usually used for this condition in female dogs are DES and Dexatrim
(phenylpropanolamine ... or whatever that stuff is).  The general consensus
among dog folks seems to be that PPA is a very dangerous drug and that DES is
much safer.  This does not sound correct to me, at least not w.r.t. humans
(although since we're talking about <this is the correct term...sorry> bitches
who've had their uterus & ovaries removed, perhaps that removes all the anatomy
upon which DES can have adverse effects(???)).  Anyway, just wondering if
anyone here had any insights or opinions...

While I'm at it -- another question that has come up in r.p.d is:  why is the
Beagle such a commonly used experimental animal?  Is there any reason why this
breed is a better subject than other breeds (like, does its drug metabolism
resemble that of humans more closely than, say, the Chihuahua -- which would
eat less & take less space in the laboratory)?  Also, does one order up batches
of dogs from a bio supply house (like ordering up batches of rats or mice), or
do they come from breeders or from the humane society or whatever?

Thanks for info...

------------------------
Ruth Ginzberg <rginzberg@eagle.wesleyan.edu>
Philosophy Department;Wesleyan University;USA
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: banchy@tron.bwi.wec.com (Banchy)
Subject: Re: Soft contact lens problem
Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Baltimore MD.
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 18:16:44 GMT

In article <1993Jan23.052441.10105@seas.smu.edu> mhosea@seas.smu.edu (Mike Hosea) writes:
>Unless
>you have had or expect to have serious eye problems, there is no reason
>to receive yearly checkups by a specialist--as long as you receive yearly
>checkups by an (good) optometrist (even one that doesn't specialize in
>fitting contact lenses).
>
I'll add my .02 worth here.  I personally feel that the minor additional
cost of an opthalmologist eye exam ($10 or $20, in my experience, over
a reputable optometrist) is worth it.  However, I do agree that an
optometrist can do a good job fitting lenses.  It seems, though, that
those optometrists who see the "tough" cases usually get a lot of
referrals from the M.D.'s.

One other point: I got my first contacts a year ago (at age 24) from
an M.D. who recommended gas permeable lenses for my high correction
(-13 sphere, -2 cylinder).  The improvement over glasses was 
phenomenal, and that's an understatement.  I think anyone with
a strong prescription would be well-advised to at least consider
the gas perms, rather than rejecting them out of hand over 
anticipated discomfort during the first week or so.  It's quite
an experience seeing 20/20 for the first time in your life.


Tom
-- 
===========================================================================
Tom Banchy             | banchy@tron.bwi.wec.com | "babble, burble, banter,
Software Engineer      | (410) 993-9255 (W)      |  bicker..bicker..bicker"
Westinghouse Electric  | (410) 461-2216 (H)      |        - King Crimson
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: jep@miles.com (Joseph Perry)
Subject: Re: HL7
Keywords: hl7
Organization: Miles Inc., Diagnostics Division, Elkhart, IN
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 18:32:26 GMT

In article <1993Jan20.220640.27435@iplmail.orl.mmc.com> natd@iplmail.orl.mmc.com (Natalie Day) writes:
>
>   Hi,
>    I was wondering where I could get more information about the protocol, called
>HL 7 (which I think means hospital language 7).  I need to use this protocol and
>am therefore seeking any manuals, writeups, books etc about this protocol.  
>
>  Any help would be appreciated!
>
>                                              Nathalie Day : )

For more information on HL7 contact:
  Mark McDougall
  900 Victors Way
  Suite 122
  Ann Arbor, MI 48108
  ph: (313)665-0007

This is from a description of ASTM Standard E 1238 "Standard Specification
for Transferring Clinical Observations Between Independent Computer
Systems" in the ASTM Publication "Medical Computing Standards ASTM
Committee E-31, A Review of Published Standards and Current Projects",
February 1992.

ASTM Standard E 1238 was developed by ASTM Subcommittee E-31.11 on Data
Exchange for Clinical Observations.  For more information on this 
subcommittee, you can contact the chair:
  Clement J. McDonald, M.D.
  Indiana University School of Medicine
  1001 W. 10th Street
  Indianapolis, IN 46202
  ph: (317)630-7070

For information on joining ASTM Committee E-31 on Computerized Systems,
contact the ASTM Staff Manager:
  Terri L. Mecholsky
  ASTM
  1916 Race Street
  Philadelphia, PA 19103-1187
  ph: (215)299-5485
 
I'm the membership secretary for ASTM Committee E-31 on Computerized
Systems, but Clem McDonald is your best source for information on E 1238
and Terri Mecholsky is the best contact at the ASTM to purchase standards
or information on the ASTM.


-- 
Joseph Perry                        Miles Inc., Elkhart, IN 46515 USA
Internet: jep@miles.com             Voice: (219) 262-7406
UUCP: ...!gator!miles!jep           Fax:   (219) 262-6309
--
From: CCMG@MUSICA.MCGILL.CA (CCMG000)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: vitiligo
Date: 28 Jan 93 06:13:54 GMT
Organization: McGill University


I have VITILIGO, is it dangerous? How does it occur?
Also is there a cure?



Thank You

Giovanni
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
From: uschukle@arts.cc.monash.edu.au (Mr Udo Schuklenk)
Subject: New AIDS Definition
Note: Copyright 1992, Dan R. Greening. Non-commercial reproduction allowed.
Archive-Number: 17
Organization: Monash Uni Arts Faculty
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 06:43:50 GMT

I'm still trying to track the new CDC AIDS definition down.  Thanks to those 
of you who answered to my earlier postings.  Sofar I's luck to get 
background information abt the new definition but I's unable to get the 
piece itself.  Colleagues of mine in several Australian hospitals failed as 
well to get it.  If anyone out there has the new definition (not just a 
summary from anewspaper) PLEASE e-mail it to me or post it with regular mail 
to U Schuklenk. Monash University Ctr for Human Bioethics. Clayton. Vic 
3168. Australia. Tel. +61/3/565-4274. Fax +61/3/565/3279.
Thanks so much
Udo
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
From: jfh@netcom.com (Jack Hamilton)
Subject: Re: CMV info needed
Note: Copyright 1992, Dan R. Greening. Non-commercial reproduction allowed.
Archive-Number: 23
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 22:17:17 GMT

In article <1993Jan23.135058.3708@cs.ucla.edu> Phillip Pink  <ppink@metronet.com> writes:
>I was wondering if anyone had heard of a treatment for CMV Retinitis where
>the antiviral was directly injected into the eye.

Yes.  I know someone who is going through that treatment.  It seems to
work, and eliminates some of the systemic toxicity of the drug. 

Unfortunately, I don't remember which drug it is that's being used.  There
are only two choices, gancyclovir (Cytovene) from Syntex and the one from
Astra whose name I have forgotten.

>I do not know if I read this in an ATN or just dreamed it up. If anyone
>can help refresh my memory I would greatly appreciate it.

I had dinner last night with someone who works for one of the AIDS Clinical
Trial Groups, with CMV retinitis in particular.  He said that there are
still only the two drugs, and that there didn't seem to be much else coming
down the pipeline.  There are working on new deliovery methods, however.
One is a slow-release which is implanted into the eye.  It will probably
last about a year.  

-- 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jack Hamilton   jfh@netcom.com   P. O. Box 281107   SF, CA   94128-1107
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids