HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: cease@carina.unm.edu (Cecilia De Blasi)
Subject: Re: Peter Breggin, _Toxic Psychiatry_ (Q)
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 92 07:19:09 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

In article <1992Dec17.224442.26486@microsoft.com> siobhan@microsoft.com (Siobhan Harper) writes:
>
>Your point about antibiotics is not as obvious as it appears, though--
>can antibiotics be said to "work" if a person doesn't trust Western
>medicine and therefore does not go to a doctor, or if the person starts
>the medication and gives it up upon feeling better, rather than con-
>tinuing it through the course of the medication? Certainly the bio-
>chemical aspect of the antibiotic has not changed, yet the treatment
>is not working like you would expect, either.
>

If a patient, no matter of what culture, ceases taking antibiotics
as directed, then the antibiotic would work *exactly* as I would
expect it to for any non-compliant patient; it *wouldn't* work.  
If the patient doesn't "trust" Western medicine and fails to follow
a physician's suggested drug regimen, then the failure of said therapy
was a direct result of the patient's *choice* and not a reflection of
the validity of Western medicine.  Physicians cannot control the 
behavior of their patients; they can only express concern and encourage
the patient to adhere to their treatment while the patient is in the 
office.

- Cecilia De Blasi


-- 
| courtesy of Cease of the Not Well Defined at This Time |
|        cease@unmb.bitnet    cease@carina.unm.edu       |
|    We're only immortal for a limited time.  - Rush     |
**********************************************************
Xref: sparky sci.med:22691 sci.med.occupational:177 news.answers:4592
From: morlan@afit.af.mil (Bruce W. Morlan)
Subject: Cystic fibrosis & gene therapy
Summary: What is the latest on gene therapy for cystic fibrosis patients?
Keywords: gene therapy cf cystic fibrosis
Organization: Air Force Institute of Technology
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 18:40:14 GMT

Title says it all - I've heard that tests are to begin in Jan 93.
Obvious questions include:  (1) is this a more or less permanent fix for
the lung problems, or is it necessary to repeat treatment as the treated
cells are sloughed off (surface vs deep cure), (2) what are some of the
anticipated risks, (3) who will be eligible (including cost data).
Thanks in advance.

-- 
Bruce W. Morlan, Major, USAF             Air Force Institute of Technology
Deputy Department Head (Military)        AFIT/ENC
Department of Mathematics                WPAFB  OH  45433
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: cmriggin@iastate.edu (C. Marie Riggins)
Subject: Re: Asthma Inhalers
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 00:37:28 GMT

In article <1992Dec12.205131.1995@netcom.com> jfh@netcom.com (Jack Hamilton) writes:
>In article <1992Dec12.111750.10337@visual.spk.wa.us> pwageman@visual.spk.wa.us (Peggy Wageman) writes:
>>Could somebody explain to me the difference between an inhaler by the name
>>of Maxair and an inhaler by the name of Ventolin?  Thanks,  Peggy Wageman
>
>Ventolin is albuterol and Maxair is pirbuterol acetate.  They both perform the
>same function in more or less the same way.  I haven't used Ventolin, but
>I've used Proventil, another albuterol preparation. 
>
>Of the two, I prefer Maxair because it makes me less jumpy and tastes
>better, but you may reach a different conclusion.  I think choosing one
>over the other is just a matter of personal preference for you and your
>doctor. 
>
I use Proventil and Azmacort and I was wondering why 1) Proventil makes me so
shaky or as Jack put it jumpy and 2) why Azmacort tends to make my throat sore
and "shred" my vocal cords (I can't explain it much better, Vocal Music people
will know what I mean)?  Both of the inhalers do what their supposed to do, but
the side effects are rather annoying and with Azmacort are getting in the way 
of my studies at college.  (Engineering Science major, Music minor).
Thanks,
Marie :)


-- 
| C. Marie Riggins         | "There is no such thing as a bad boy.  There is 
| Iowa State University    | only bad environment, bad training, bad example,
| cmriggin@iastate.edu     | bad thinking."    --Fr. Edward J. Flanagan
| imyself@cwis.unomaha.edu |                     founder: Boys Town, NE
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: cliff@suns.chinalake.navy.mil (Cliff )
Subject: Re: Physician's Incomes
Keywords: income
Organization: NAWS, China Lake, CA
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 22:27:35 GMT

In article <BzCy4J.1KH@acsu.buffalo.edu> oispeggy@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Peggy Brown) writes:
>In article <BzBrD5.D5x@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, magdi@uxh.cso.uiuc.edu (Magdi N Azer) writes...
>>While I agree with Peggy's general comments, that same logic should mean
>>that Ph.D's should get even more than MD's because we go to scho
>>achool 6 to 7 years post B.S or B.A.  Unfortunately, this isn't the case
>> 
>>Just a thought
>> 
>>Magdi
>> 
>>P.S. before I get flamed for my inability to spell, excuse me, my editor 
>>is not working.`
>
>Maybe they do if they work in research, I don't know.  I've 

Nope.  We don't.  Twelve intense years at the University of California
and my income is less than half of the average MD.  Average number of
hours worked per week is 50+.

>worked on university campuses since 1979 and sorry, but PH.Ds  
>working at universitys seem to have it made in the shade. :)  I 
>don't think their stress and workload can be compared to a 
>doctor's.
>
>- Peggy -


Newsgroups: sci.med
From: mdkline@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Mark D. Kline)
Subject: Re: post-Prozac reactions
Organization: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 92 21:30:35 EST

In article <1992Dec17.201838.5426@dragon.acadiau.ca> 880506s@dragon.acadiau.ca (James R. Skinner) writes:
>werner@dewey.soe.berkeley.edu (John Werner) writes:
>
>>In article <1992Dec15.172745.27468@newstand.syr.edu> Mark D. Kline writes:
>>>I have started more than 600 people on prozac since 1987.  I have seen no
>>>unusual discontinuation effects, and I have seen no unusual suicidality
>>>or violent behavior.  
>
>>This reminds me of a question I've been meaning to ask for a while.
>>All of the medical professionals here say that there have been no
>>reports Prozac causing suicidal or violent behavior.  But occasionally
>>people will post anecdotal evidence: "It happened to me!"
>
>>So my question is: what gives?  Did these people not report the
>>reactions to their doctors?
>
>I reported it immediatly but was told about the same as the above..
>(ie  I have seen no violent behavior when prescribing prozac..)
>
>> Did the doctors think it had nothing to
>>do with Prozac?  
>
>Yep, he didn't have any explanation for the feelings though.

People struggle to find explanations for behaviors and feelings which
seem out of character -- e.g., bursts of irritability, lapses in
judgment, increased need for reassurance, as well as physical 
symptoms -- which arise during periods of stress or in the context of a
depressive illness.  It is always something - if it's not Prozac, it's
PMS, it's not running enough, eating too much, or too little, or too
much or too little of this or that.  Sometimes these explanatory models
are right, or may be right, and sometimes they are very flakey.
Sometimes people overlook the writing on the wall and round up the
usual suspects, so to speak.  "The Prozac made me do it." Well, problem
is, many people feel suicidal or homocidal who aren't taking Prozac.
Large numbers of people taking Prozac don't seem to be any more violent
or suicidal than large numbers of people taking other antidepressant
medications.
From: dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Physician's Incomes
Date: 17 Dec 92 01:08:15 GMT
Article-I.D.: spdcc.1992Dec17.010815.18836
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA

In article <92351.154021DGS4@psuvm.psu.edu> <DGS4@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
>Even when you compare within specialties, U.S. physician incomes are
>much higher.

So?

>>        2. $120K/year doesn't sound like all that much, considering
>>           the amount of training required.  It's not far off what
>>           airline pilots make, for example, or even good system
>>           administrators on Wall Street.  (Seriously!)

It's true.  It's fairly easy to make this much as a competent
computer person.  Sounds like sour grapes to me.

-- 
Steve Dyer
dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: jimkent@well.sf.ca.us (Jim Kent)
Subject: Re: Getting off Xanax
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 04:54:13 GMT

In <1992Dec10.224613.0457875@locus.com> yazz@locus.com (Bob Yazz) writes:

>The unsolicited testimonies about what a wretched drug Xanax is
>continue unabated here on sci.med.  And notice that none of the
>other benzodiazepines seem to be generating the same kind of stories.

>I hope any prescribing docs reading out there who might still have
>the "a benzo is a benzo is a benzo" attitude will take heed.  With
>other drugs useful in treating panic disorder, are there any indications
>left for Xanax for which other pharmaceuticals are not available?  I'm
>wondering if it's correct to say that Xanax is NEVER the right drug to
>prescribe first.


>I speculate that what the doc meant when he said that alcohol and
>Xanax "are the same" is that both affect the GABA neurotransmitter
>system.

>Best WIshes

>== Bob Yazz ==
>-- 

>Welcome to Sci.med -- where-school-of-thought bashing is as old as
>sickness itself.


I'm one who has felt that way for the past eight years.  I was absolutely
alone at first, now my whole department seems to have figured ot out too.

jim
From: mdkline@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Mark D. Kline)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: post-Prozac reactions
Date: 20 Dec 92 18:30:28 GMT
Organization: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

In article <1go0liINNt66@agate.berkeley.edu> werner@dewey.soe.berkeley.edu (John Werner) writes:
>In article <1992Dec15.172745.27468@newstand.syr.edu> Mark D. Kline writes:
>>I have started more than 600 people on prozac since 1987.  I have seen no
>>unusual discontinuation effects, and I have seen no unusual suicidality
>>or violent behavior.  
>
>This reminds me of a question I've been meaning to ask for a while.
>All of the medical professionals here say that there have been no
>reports Prozac causing suicidal or violent behavior.  But occasionally
>people will post anecdotal evidence: "It happened to me!"

There HAVE been reports of suicide and violent behavior attributed to
Prozac in the medical literature.  In one local case, a desperately 
depressed woman killed her two children before killing herself while
taking Prozac.  This was probably not due to Prozac, but due to her
illness.  The situation was reminiscent of Euripides' Medea, who killed
her children, then herself, after Jason deserted her.  But they didn't
have Prozac back then...

Results of large scale reviews - involving thousands of cases - suggests
that the risk of suicidal or violent behavior is not different between
patients taking Prozac and patients taking other antidepressant medications.

>So my question is: what gives?  Did these people not report the
>reactions to their doctors?  Did the doctors think it had nothing to
>do with Prozac?  Did the doctors not want to deal with reporting it to
>the FDA?  Would anyone like to speculate?

Both doctors and "consumers" have forwarded case reports to the FDA.
The FDA has reviewed the allegations - including those advanced by the
"Church" of Scientology, and found them without merit. 

>
>Another aside: I was amazed at how easy it was for me to get the
>Prozac.  I didn't even see my doctor (a Family Practicioner); I saw
>her "physician's assistant", whatever that means.  He asked the usual
>checklist "are you depressed?" questions and then gave me a week's
>supply.  When I asked about side-effects the only two he mentioned
>were insomnia and a high-strung "wired" feeling.  I got the impression
>that I knew more about antidepressants (just from reading sci.med)
>than he did.  A bit scary.

One reason its easy to get prozac is that the drug is really quite
nontoxic and there is rather little "down side" to trying it to see
if it helps or not.  This is not meant as an excuse for lax prescribing,
however...


================================================================= 
mark kline                              mdkline@rodan.acs.syr.edu
suny health science center, syracuse    voice: (315) 422-1050
================ courtesy of syracuse university ================
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: seanna@bnr.ca (Seanna Watson)
Subject: Re: Chapped lips and Vaseline
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Ottawa, Canada
Distribution: na
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 01:19:17 GMT

In article <habersch.724195300@husc9> habersch@husc9.harvard.edu (Oren Haber-Schaim) writes:
>sfm@manduca.neurobio.arizona.edu (Stephen Matheson) writes:
>
>>I was told recently that it's not a good idea to apply petroleum jelly
>>to my perennially chapped lips because the petroleum jelly effect is
>>only temporary and ultimately leaves my lips in a worse state.  My
>>experience seems to confirm this, although I had always assumed it
>>was because the condtions leading to the chapping were ongoing.
>
>>Comments?

Well, I have used petroleum jelly for chapped lips for some time, and
I find it works well, both to promote the healing, and to protect from 
further chapping.  Which is why I find the following response somewhat
disturbing...
>>--
>I hadn't heard that criticism, but would avoid chronic use
>of petrolatum in any case.  It is a poorly characterized mixture
>of zillions of hydrocarbons which are foreign to the body.
>It is absorbed below the epidermis even in fully keratinized skin.
>Various associations with cancer have been known for a long time. 
>
Isn't petrolatum used as a base for many different kinds of topical
preparations?  Do you really get more hydrocarbons from a petrolatum
application than you would if you went for a drive in heavy traffic?
Are there proven associations with cancer?

>Tried USP lanolin?   That is what I now use every winter to avoid
>disaster on the skin on the back of my hands.
>
Isn't lanolin likely to contain fat-soluble toxins (eg pesticides,
PCBs, etc) that the sheep has been exposed to?

-- 
Seanna Watson   Bell-Northern Research, 
(seanna@bnr.ca) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Opinions, what opinions?  Oh *these* opinions. | It's hard to seize the
No, they're not BNR's, they're mine.           | day when you must first
I knew I'd left them somewhere.                | grapple with the morning.
Organization: Penn State University
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 18:04:06 EST
From: <DGS4@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Physician's Incomes
 <92351.154021DGS4@psuvm.psu.edu> <1992Dec17.010815.18836@spdcc.com>

In article <1992Dec17.010815.18836@spdcc.com>, dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer) says:
>
>In article <92351.154021DGS4@psuvm.psu.edu> <DGS4@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
>>Even when you compare within specialties, U.S. physician incomes are
>>much higher.
>
>So?

Someone asked a question and I answered.  Why does that bother you?



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
From: hrubin@pop.stat.purdue.edu (Herman Rubin)
Subject: Bashing, truth, etc.
Organization: Purdue University Statistics Department
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 1992 15:41:34 GMT

In article <1gvpgsINNm32@im4u.cs.utexas.edu> turpin@cs.utexas.edu (Russell Turpin) writes:
>-*----
>In article <1992Dec18.095951.12166@vms.eurokom.ie> mdebuitlear@vms.eurokom.ie writes:
>> But you [Ken Mitchum] also assume that anyone 'unqualified' 
>> who 'challenges' you is part of this conspiracy of people
>> who 'embrace every quack theory that is out there, and who
>> believe that physicians are all part of some gigantic 
>> conspiracy to rob everyone blind while killing them as a 
>> sidelight.'

>Those who embrace quack theories (including most conspiracy
>theories) are not themselves a conspiracy; they are merely less
>than well educated or lacking in the skills for critical thought
>in the area concerned.  A conspiracy implies some level of
>coordinated intent and understanding of purpose.  Quack theories
>are merely memes that appeal to those who are susceptible.  

>I don't think Ken Mitchum was implying a conspiracy among those
>who embrace quack theories.

Much of present established medicine was at one time considered
quackery, or at least ridiculous.  The conspiracy as stated in the
first paragraph is not a deliberate conspiracy, but it is not that
far from what is happening.  The conspiracy is there to keep people
from deciding what is appropriate for them, and part of it is the
acts of moralists and bureaucrats to keep substances from us "because
we cannot act intelligently", those physicians who do not provide the
patient with information, but TELL the patient what to do, etc.  Few
physicians have the ability to put widely separated information together,
and unfortuantely this is almost gone from our sorry excuse for an
educational system.

But the problems we face are often far more complex than our physicians
have learned to handle, and a bureaucrat is usually even worse.  There
is, in effect, a massive conspiracy to keep those of us who must use
medical process from acquiring the information, and in many cases from
making intelligent choices.  If anything, the situation is getting much
worse, and if the regulation mania gets worse, we will only get such
medical care as the bureaucrats are willing to permit.
-- 
Herman Rubin, Dept. of Statistics, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette IN47907-1399
Phone: (317)494-6054
hrubin@snap.stat.purdue.edu (Internet, bitnet)  
{purdue,pur-ee}!snap.stat!hrubin(UUCP)
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: gdavis@griffin.uvm.edu (Gary Davis)
Subject: Physician's Incomes
Keywords: income
Organization: University of Vermont -- Division of EMBA Computer Facility
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 15:39:58 GMT

 According to the December Scientific American,American physicians
are among the best paid in the world.
The lead article,which describes problems and policies concerning
the control of health-care costs,cites USA MDs making a 120,000
per year salary which equates to 5.1 times the salary of the average
professional wage. Switzerland and Germany compensate physcians at
approximately 3.5 to 4.5 times the average professional wage.
I was surprised to see physicans in Australia compensated at only
twice the average. The average international compensation seems to be
about 2.5 to 3 times the average professional wage.

I was somewhat disappointed that the article did not cite which nations
have national healthcare and what qualifications are required to practice
medicine. In the USA educational requirements are quite extensive and in
some cases expensive. As well USA MDs must complete at least two years
of post graduate internship and I believe if a speciality is sought,
this requirement becomes even more extensive.

I have a cousin who just completed his requirements in a surgical
area and has put in no less than five years post graduate training.

Perhaps some physcians could give us an approximate picture of
how long neophyte MDs must be trained after they acquire their
academic degrees.

In any event 120,000 per annum
--
                       Gary E. Davis /WQ1F/
              Dpt. Electrical Engineering and Com Sciences
              University of Vermont @ Burlington
From: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: What causes toenails to die and what is the cure?
Keywords: toenails
Date: 17 Dec 92 16:07:57 GMT
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

In article <1992Dec10.072409.28440@ucc.su.OZ.AU> mikef@dph1.health.su.oz.au writes:
>I guess this is podiatry but can anyone tell me what it is that causes
>toenails to become darkened, irregularly shaped and pretty close to
>death. It appears as if there is some growth underneath the nail, perhaps
>a fungus? 
>
It is a fungus and is very difficult to get rid of.  Often you have
to take medicine systemically that can be toxic.  It shouldn't harm
you any, though, to have the fungus, it is just cosmetic in most
cases.

-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
Subject: Re: Adult male circumcision.  Info request.
From: RGINZBERG@eagle.wesleyan.edu (Ruth Ginzberg)
Date: 13 Dec 92 17:13:49 EDT
Distribution: world
Organization: Philosophy Dept., Wesleyan University
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.20In-Reply-To: x92paszek@gw.wmich.edu's message of 13 Dec 92 14:52:11 ESTLines: 16

In <1992Dec13.145211.6942@gw.wmich.edu> x92paszek@gw.wmich.edu writes:

> Does anyone know ANYTNHING about male adult curcumcision?

I believe that we just had an extended discussion of this subject here quite
recently.  However, I did not capture it for the FAQ files because I didn't
realize that this would, in fact, be a FAQ.  If anyone captured & saved the
text from the last discussion of this topic, I'd appreciate it if you could
repost it, & then I'll capture & save it for the FAQ files this time.

Thanks.
-ruth

------------------------
Ruth Ginzberg <rginzberg@eagle.wesleyan.edu>
Philosophy Department;Wesleyan University;USA
From: cb147@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (David Barzilai)
Newsgroups: sci.med.occupational
Subject: National Health Care
Date: 19 Dec 1992 20:01:26 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: cb147@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (David Barzilai)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


Hello.  I will be going Pre-med next year and was wondering....

Does anyone in this forum mind emailing me about your thoughts
regarding how National Health Care will impact my profession
(aside from the obvious: more demand, slightly lower salaries)?

Thank you, Sincerely,

David.
Organization: Penn State University
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 11:38:51 EST
From: <EWN1@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: sci.med.occupational
Subject: reading and hand pain

I have bilateral CTS and ulnar nerve compression at both wrists (I'm a
computer programmer).  I also read a lot, and I've noticed that reading
(holding the book) hurts my hands and arms a good deal, too.  To try to
lessen the strain on my hands, I've tried sitting at a table with the book
on the table (but this isn't good for the back).  I've also tried sitting
with pillows in my lap to prop up the book.  What do other people do?
Are there any nifty gadgets out there that help with this kind of thing?
*************************************************************************
 Ellen Newman                     | You can name your own salary here --
 LCS - Library Computing Services | I call mine Fred.
 ewn1@psuvm.psu.edu               |       - taken from a Ziggy cartoon
 ************************************************************************
Newsgroups: sci.med.occupational