HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: dougb@comm.mot.com (Doug Bank)
Subject: Re: general questions(pregnancy)
Reply-To: dougb@ecs.comm.mot.com
Organization: Motorola Land Mobile Products Sector
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 07:21:37 GMT

In article <1993Jan20.225743.18640@fcom.cc.utah.edu>, terry@cs.weber.edu (A Wizard of Earth C) writes:

|> Is HCG produced by men with thoracic and/or abdominal germ cell tumors,
|> or are such HCG-producing tumors limited to the female reproductive
|> tract (your inclusion of tumors "in the chest" seems to belie that)?

Testicular tumors too, but not all the time.  Mine didn't.
 
|> Is this a reliable means of testing for these tumors in men?  If so and
|> the frequency of such tumors was high enough, one would think a "pregnancy
|> test" would be a part of a normal physical for both men and women,
|> considering the low price of such a test.

I have to take a quantitative blood test every month to make sure that
the tumor has not come back (though it could come back without a 
corresponding rise in the HCG level).  The blood test is much more 
sensitive - and it has to be to be effective - and much more expensive.
The urine test in the stores seems to cost about $10.  The blood test
costs about $85.  It is more cost effective, and more accurate, to do
a manual self examination.  Once you've got the tumor, though, it is 
certainly a cost-effective way (but not the only way) to watch for relapse. 

-- 
Doug Bank                       Private Systems Division
dougb@ecs.comm.mot.com          Motorola Communications Sector
dougb@nwu.edu                   Schaumburg, Illinois
dougb@casbah.acns.nwu.edu       708-576-8207                    
Xref: sparky sci.med:24423 sci.skeptic:22838
From: mdebuitlear@vms.eurokom.ie
Newsgroups: sci.med,sci.skeptic
Subject: Re: Characterization of quack theories
Date: 25 Jan 93 10:34:27 CET
Distribution: world
Organization: EuroKom Conferencing Service

In article <1jr97iINN16a@gap.caltech.edu>, carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU (Carl J 
Lydick) writes:
> Nice strategy there.  When backed into a corner, plead overwhelming stupidity.
> Let's see if I can put this in words of one syllable for you:
> 	NAME A FEW OF THE THINGS THAT ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN CURED BY THE SHIT
> 	YOU TELL US WORKS.
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Carl J Lydick | INTERnet: CARL@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU | NSI/HEPnet: SOL1::CARL
> 
> Disclaimer:  Hey, I understand VAXen and VMS.  That's what I get paid for.  My
> understanding of astronomy is purely at the amateur level (or below).  So
> unless what I'm saying is directly related to VAX/VMS, don't hold me or my
> organization responsible for it.  If it IS related to VAX/VMS, you can try to
> hold me responsible for it, but my organization had nothing to do with it.

Well Carl, occasionally I have to give way to the reasoned, well-constructed  
arguements of an obviously superior intelligence - you win, well done.

Micheal.
E-mail MDebuitlear@EuroKom.ie
From: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Vertigo
Date: 27 Jan 93 19:22:52 GMT
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

In article <1j6lg8INNc9i@bnsgd245.bnr.co.uk> laurie@bnr.co.uk (Laurie Constantin) writes:
>
>	Does anyone have any info or know where I can get some info on the
>	condition known as Vertigo?

Vertigo is a symptom of disfunction somewhere (almost anywhere and for
many reasons) in the vestibular system.  There is a sensation that the
patient is moving or the environment is moving.  It is usually benign
and self-limiting, but there are some more serious causes of it.
And ENT specialist or Neurologist is the one to see if the family
doc can't handle it.


-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: fulk@cs.rochester.edu (Mark Fulk)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: "It's Going Around" - Flu & Viruses
Date: 27 Jan 93 16:20:52 GMT
Article-I.D.: cs.1993Jan27.162052.6454
Organization: University of Rochester

In article <1k6a0eINN75l@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> ar710@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (William G. Martin) writes:
>
>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?

The CDC keeps track of most of these things.  Our kid's pediatrician
always seems to know what's around lately; I suspect that he is part
of an informal network of pediatricians sharing observations.  Of course,
once a bug is in town for two weeks or so, he'll see a case in his office.

Mark
-- 
Mark A. Fulk			University of Rochester
Computer Science Department	fulk@cs.rochester.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: mdkline@rodan.acs.syr.EDU (Mark D. Kline)
Subject: Re: Depression; was: Re: Thyroid info needed
Organization: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 93 12:53:54 EST

In article <1993Jan24.122313.652@news.wesleyan.edu> RGINZBERG@eagle.wesleyan.edu (Ruth Ginzberg) writes:
>In <2445@hsdndev.UUCP> rind@enterprise.bih.harvard.edu writes:
>> 
>> Certainly it makes sense to look for physiologic problems causing 
>> fatigue, but in a primary care setting it will be rare to find any.
>> The point I was making was that rather than saying "it's depression"
>> too quickly, the evidence suggests that primary care physicians
>> are in fact far too slow to make this diagnosis.
>
>
>Are you sure this is still true, even now, with the so-called 3rd generation
>antidepressants available?  My understanding is that Prozac is now one of the
>10 most frequently prescribed drugs in the USA, & if you add that to Zoloft &
>Wellbutrin I bet ... well, I'd be surprised if all these prescriptions were
>coming from psychiatrists.  It would be interesting to know (maybe someone does
>have figures??) what %age of (e.g. Prozac or Zoloft) prescriptions come from
>psychiatrists & what percentage come from primary care physicians, & then to
>compare that against (e.g., Elavil or whatever was popular pre-Prozac).  I
>wonder if this ratio has changed since the advent of antidepressants without
>such obnoxious anticholinergic(sp?) side effects 

A colleague of mine looked into these very questions about a year ago,
and has a paper in preparation (? in press) on this.
The majority of psychotropic prescribing continues to be done by
nonpsychiatric physicians (the fact that psychiatrists may prescribe 
more individually is outweighed by the number of primary care docs and
the number of patients they see).  As to antidepressant choice, he
found that the MOST anticholinergic tricyclic antidepressants (Elavil
and doxepin particularly) were the most frequently prescribed by 
nonpsychiatrists - while the SSRI antidepressants were clearly the
1st choice agent(s) among the shrinks.  Hopefully, this pattern of
prescribing is changing as primary care docs become more familiar
with drugs like prozac, zoloft, and paxil...

A couple of family docs have told me that they didn't understand why
all the excitement about antidepressant drugs until they prescribed an
SSRI - they had never seen anyone convincingly improve on tricyclics.
It is true that the SSRI drugs are much better in mild-moderate
depression than the tricyclics.
From: time@coos.dartmouth.edu (Susan M. Kennedy)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Lyme vacine statis needed
Date: 27 Jan 93 14:05:41 GMT
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

Thanks for the info on the Lyme Disease vacine, after reading many of you posts, Ive
decided you are the voice of reason on sci.med( not that there aren't others
whose avdice I value)!

Susan
From: jsmith@unixg.ubc.ca (JR Smith)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: general questions(pregnancy)
Date: 21 Jan 93 07:46:08 GMT
Organization: The University of British Columbia
NNTP-Posting-Host: unixg.ubc.ca

In <1993Jan20.225743.18640@fcom.cc.utah.edu> terry@cs.weber.edu (A Wizard of Earth C) writes:

>In article <jsmith.727499343@unixg.ubc.ca> jsmith@unixg.ubc.ca (JR Smith) writes:
>[ ... with regards to HCG detection by pregnancy tests ... ]
>>Saying that, there are other possible sources of HCG than a normally
>>developing placenta. HCG can be detected anytime functional placental
>>tissue is present such as in blighted ova and ectopic pregnancies. Also 
>>tumours arising form placental tissue will can make HCG sometimes in 
>>very large quantities. As well a group of tumours known as germ cell 
>>tumours which can arise in the chest and abdomen often produce HCG.

>Is HCG produced by men with thoracic and/or abdominal germ cell tumors,
>or are such HCG-producing tumors limited to the female reproductive
>tract (your inclusion of tumors "in the chest" seems to belie that)?

>Is this a reliable means of testing for these tumors in men?  If so and
>the frequency of such tumors was high enough, one would think a "pregnancy
>test" would be a part of a normal physical for both men and women,
>considering the low price of such a test

Yes. HCG is frequently produced by some types of germ cell tumours in males.

No. This is not a cost-effective screening test. The tumours are extremely
rare and the test although not extremely costly on a case by case basis
would be very costly if used in the context of a screening test.

.
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Statement of President Clinton on Health Care
From: RGINZBERG@eagle.wesleyan.edu (Ruth Ginzberg)
Date: 27 Jan 93 14:32:51 EDT
Followup-To: talk.politics.medicine
Distribution: world
Organization: Philosophy Dept., Wesleyan University
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.20In-Reply-To: golchowy@alchemy.chem.utoronto.ca's message of Wed, 27 Jan 1993 12:04:23 GMTLines: 16

In <1993Jan27.120423.3671@alchemy.chem.utoronto.ca> golchowy@alchemy.chem.utoronto.ca writes:

> In article <1k578pINNn2u@news.aero.org> helfman@aero.org (Robert S. Helfman) writes:
> >
> >Yet another right-wing idiot who's too young to remember a successful
[...]
> If you consider HMO's, VA hospitals, and the way medicaid operates...
[...]

Please don't crosspost this to sci.med along with six zillion other groups. 
Those of us who want to read talk.politics.medicine or soc.culture or any of
those other things, already do.  Sci.med doesn't need the excess traffic.

------------------------
Ruth Ginzberg <rginzberg@eagle.wesleyan.edu>
Philosophy Department;Wesleyan University;USA
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Complete Physical (was Re: Thyroid info needed)
From: <DGS4@psuvm.psu.edu>
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 11:44:30 EST
 .edu><1993Jan16.183321.622@news.wesleyan.edu>,<1993Jan18.160230.19693@speedy.aero.org> <25636@suned1.Nswses.Navy.MIL>
Organization: Penn State University



In article <25636@suned1.Nswses.Navy.MIL>, laura@TASVAX.NSWSES.NAVY.MIL says:
>
>In article <1993Jan18.160230.19693@speedy.aero.org>, nadel@attatash.aero.org
>(Miriam Nadel) writes:
>
>>...I do have criticisms of our medical system, some of
>>which fall along the lines Ruth discusses (e.g. well-baby checkups are
>>probably useful and conventional insurance doesn't cover them)...
>
>>Miriam Nadel
>
>The Blue Cross Blue Shield service benefit (available to all government
>employees) includes 100% payment for well-baby and well-child care.
>
>If I am not mistaken, so do the other plans offered by Blue Cross and
>Blue Shield.

Percent of full-time employees who have the following benefits by plan type:
                       Indemnity         HMO
Well-baby care         22%                95%
Immunizations          14%                98%
Routine physicals      14%                97%

Unfortunately, most employers cannot afford Blue Cross/Blue Shield. They
are self-insured, instead.  They don't typically offer well-baby care.

The numbers above are from the most recent Business and Health, (Jan. 1993)
p. 33;  It does not state what "plans" included in "indemnity plans", but
the numbers make me suspect that it excludes PPOs, POS plans, and other
non-indemnity, non-HMO type plans.  The numbers from the most recent
HIAA survey indicate that in 1990 68% of PPOs covered well-baby, 58%
covered well-child, and 65% covered immunizations.  Note that these latter
numbers are percent of plans providing benefits, not percent of employees
that have these benefits, which is typically lower.
Dennis G. Shea, Penn State
<<DISCLAIMER>>
Ain't nobody's bizness but my own. I'll be happy to accept all
the credit for anything I've written.  It's funny, however, how
employers only acknowledge the profitable ideas.
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Need medical billing software
From: andyb@wndrsvr.la.ca.us (Andy Brager)
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 02:25:00 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Wonder Server - Public Access for SoCal


Apologies if this is the wrong group, please send email
if you know of a better group.  Thank you.

I'm looking for some medical billing software for several
MRI centers.  Radman is multi-modality and too complex for
our purposes.  We're looking for something geared to MRI 
exclusively.  Source code would be a major plus.  Does anyone 
know of any existing packages that could do this, or be 
tweaked a little to do it?  Many thanks in advance!

-  Andy
-- 
           DO NOT BUY TOUCHE COMPUTERS -email for details
     Large Packages (10K+ Total) to: cerritos.edu!swc!wndrsvr!andyb
   -I don't know but I been told; two sides to every story - Joe Walsh
[    This Space For Rent - No children, pets, or toxic waste dumps please.     ]
From: richard@tis.com (Richard Clark)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Soft contact lens problem
Date: 25 Jan 1993 19:49:12 GMT
Organization: Trusted Information Systems, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: sol.tis.com

In article <1993Jan25.181644.15199@tron.bwi.wec.com> banchy@tron.bwi.wec.com (Banchy) writes:
>
>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.
>
>

	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.



-----------------------Relativity Schmelativity-----------------------------
 Richard H. Clark				My opinions are my own, and
 LUNATIK - watch for me on the road...		ought to be yours, but under
 It's not my fault... I voted PEROT!		no circumstances are they
 richard@tis.com				those of my company...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: laura@TASVAX.NSWSES.NAVY.MIL
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Persistent skin problems
Date: 22 Jan 93 23:31:33 GMT
Reply-To: laura@TASVAX.NSWSES.NAVY.MIL
Organization: Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division

In article <9301171703.AA09098@Early-Bird.Think.COM>, RTL@siva.bris.ac.uk (Richard Lim) writes:
...
>Of course I've used the standard creams and powders for fungal infections,
>but in the past they only just managed to control the problem rather than
>helping it to go away.

>Considering that all the creams come with instructions that optimistically
>say "Keep applying to affected area for a few weeks until problem clears up",
>I'm wondering that just what I can do to be rid of this fungal infection
>once and for all - if that is indeed what it is.  I've never had any tests
>done; the original diagnoses were done just by inspection.  Would it be
>advisable to go for some tests (if they exist)?  Has anyone else had such
>experiences with minor but tenacious fungal infections?

I am at the tail end (hopefully) of one wopper of a yeast rash.  

You may ask your doctor to scrape the rash to confirm the initial diagnosis.

Also, ask about an oral antifungal.

Laura
laura@tasvax.nswses.navy.mil                      I speak only for myself.
PHD/NSWC, Port Hueneme, CA  USA
Mom to Maryrose Nadine McGovern - born 8-5-92
From: starfish@ucscb.UCSC.EDU (Smarter than the Average Blur)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: How do I get a large list of ENT specialists????
Date: 23 Jan 1993 19:05:45 GMT
Organization: University of California; Santa Cruz
NNTP-Posting-Host: ucscb.ucsc.edu


I am intersted in acquiring a large list of ENT specialists. I'd say
100 or more. Are there any refereal services that don't charge an arm
and a leg for such lists? I can't afford large amounts of my to get this.

Are there any places other than referal services that I can get this
from? 

-Alan Waterman
Newsgroups: sci.med,talk.politics.medicine
From: gld@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Gary L Dare)
Subject: Re: Healthcare "systems"
Reply-To: gld@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Gary L Dare)
Organization: Deep Space Nine (DS9)
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 02:14:56 GMT

hrubin@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Herman Rubin) writes:
>
>Allow all non-fraudulent practices and practitioners, and allow 
>those who show medical knowledge and ability to even receive 
>stamps of approval, no matter where learned, and they will 
>come down even further.

Okay, how do you get that by the doctors monopoly?  Under some
measures, Granny of "The Beverly Hillbillies" would qualify as 
a doctor (as she claims to be (-;) ... who makes the decisions?  
Who's real, and who's not?

gld
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Je me souviens ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gary L. Dare
> gld@columbia.EDU 			GO  Winnipeg Jets  GO!!!
> gld@cunixc.BITNET			Selanne + Domi ==> Stanley
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: cvafy006@vmsb.is.csupomona.edu (Daniel Rouse, Jr.)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Reflex Sympathetic Syndrome
Date: 22 Jan 93 07:02:30 GMT
Organization: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Nntp-Posting-User: cvafy006


	I'm new reading this group...what is Reflex Sympathetic Syndrome?
-- 
Signed,

Daniel Rouse, Jr.
Sophomore, Computer Engineering 
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly, Pomona)
Email: cvafy006@vmsb.is.csupomona.edu

Politically incorrect...and proud of it!  (Conservative Republicans rule! 
Always have...always will!)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Need medical billing software
From: andyb@wndrsvr.la.ca.us (Andy Brager)
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 19:13:26 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Wonder Server - Public Access for SoCal


Not too long ago, I posted the following article but received
no responses.  Since I typically get answers within a day or
two, or not at all, I'm reposting in hopes that someone who
didn't see it the first time, or passed it by will know of
something.  Thanks in advance!!!

>Apologies if this is the wrong group, please send email
>if you know of a better group.  Thank you.

>I'm looking for some medical billing software for several
>MRI centers.  Radman is multi-modality and too complex for
>our purposes.  We're looking for something geared to MRI 
>exclusively.  Source code would be a major plus.  Does anyone 
>know of any existing packages that could do this, or be 
>tweaked a little to do it?  Many thanks in advance!

>-  Andy
-- 
           DO NOT BUY TOUCHE COMPUTERS -email for details
     Large Packages (10K+ Total) to: cerritos.edu!swc!wndrsvr!andyb
   -I don't know but I been told; two sides to every story - Joe Walsh
[   This Space For Rent - No children, pets, or toxic waste dumps please.    ]
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: mwd@cray.com (Mark Dalton)
Subject: Re: Physician's incomes
Originator: mwd@snoid
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Date: 21 Jan 93 22:32:57 CST


In article <qpa3f1c@rpi.edu> whangj@vccnw04.its.rpi.edu (Junho Whang) writes:
>
>
>  It's always very puzzling (if I assume a modicum of fairness),
>why doctors always gripe about their salary?  According to the
>vilage!  The argument of having to repay med school expenses don't hold
>much water since total 4 year expenses run 100K at most, and many doctors
>make easily that much in one year.

Any doctors or med students feel free to update/correct me.
But a neurosurgeon that I new was paying $80,000 per year in
malpractice insurance.  He was a fine surgeon, with a lot of
experience.  He was grossing $200,000 /year.  After malpractice
insurance and taxes.  He was making less then many atheletes, entertainers
an most of all less than CEO's and upper "management".  All of
whom don't pay malpractice insurance.
	This was a few (8 years ago) and he was in a specialized field.

But when you consider the job that some physicians do, really think about
cutting into another person.  Think of the responsibility involved.

I think they are payed no more than they should be.

My 2 cents.
	Teachers are typically under paid.
	CEO's, atheletes, entertainers, and insurance companies (management)
are the ones be OVER paid. 

Mark
_______
These opinions are my own.
-- 
Mark Dalton
Cray Research, Inc.
Eagan, MN 55121
Internet: mwd@cray.com
From: rind@enterprise.bih.harvard.edu (David Rind)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: TB Skin Test
Date: 24 Jan 93 04:23:19 GMT
Organization: Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston Mass., USA

In article <C13B9z.ItD@panix.com> dannyb@panix.com (Daniel Burstein) writes:
>so, in short, this is a SCREENING exam.  If it is negative (i.e. no

Under the usual definition of a screening exam, this is not really
true.  A screening exam is usually a test performed on asymptomatic
individuals looking for disease.  Certainly a PPD is often used this
way, but it is also frequently used as a diagnostic test in
symptomatic individuals or those who have been exposed to Tb.

The fact that a test may have poor operating characteristics with
high rates of false negatives and/or false posititives and thus
requires confirmatory testing does not make it a screening exam
per se.
-- 
David Rind
rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: colby@oahu.cs.ucla.edu (Kenneth Colby)
Subject: Re: Blood Pressure
Organization: UCLA, Computer Science Department
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 93 20:47:01 GMT

you were right not to go on medication. The fewer medications the
better. To keep your blood pressure down, walk a mile every other day,
eat 3\4 portions of whatever you eat, eat meat 2-3x per week (preferably
turkey or chicken breast ), use Benson's relaxation response, and try
not to become enraged by the rotteness of the world. I speak from
personal and professional experience.

		    Ken Colby, M.D.
Newsgroups: sci.med,ca.earthquakes