HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: mcg2@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (Marc Gabriel)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Lyme Disease e-mail Net...
Summary: Call for subscriptions to Lyme e-mail network
Keywords: Lyme disease mailing list
Date: 15 Dec 92 22:36:12 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL7]

Introducing...

******************************************************************************
*                           ----- LDEMN ----                                 *
*                The Lyme Disease Electronic Mail Network                    *
******************************************************************************

Lyme Disease is now the fastest growing infectious disease in the United
States.  In 10 short years, this little known bacterial infection has claimed
half a million victims and the number of new patients continues to spiral
upward with no relief in sight.  It is estimated that in 1991, 100,000
Americans contracted this dangerous disease.  If left untreated, LD can cause
permanent nerve, musculoskeletal and cardiac damage.

Unfortunately, many in the medical and political arenas have not given this
epidemic much thought.  Self appointed experts in the academic community have
declared that LD can always be cured with short courses of simple antibiotics.
However, as the number of cases rise, doctors on the front lines are
discovering that LD is more serious that previously suspected, requiring longer
treatment therapies and more complex combinations of medicines.  The battle
lines have been drawn.

And the battles continue at LD conferences, and in the various State
legislatures where insurance companies, terrified at the high cost of LD, are
attempting to short change patients.  Estimates show that the average cost of
treatment for chronic LD patients ranges from $60,000 to $100,000 per patient.

MAILING LIST:
To keep up with the latest developments, including new treatment protocols,
research news and political events, we introduce the Lyme Disease Electronic
Mail Network.  The LDEMN, in association with the Lyme Disease Network of New
Jersey, Inc., with provide you with a periodic newsletter with the latest
information.  All you need is an Internet- accessible e-mail address.

INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS INCLUDE:
      * LD patients
      * Friends or family of LD patients, who may wish to forward the
        newsletter to an LD patient
      * Interested members of the medical community
      * Interested members of the press

The subscription is completely FREE of charge, and we will NOT DISCLOSE your
address without your prior written permission.

To subscribe, send a memo to Internet address  mcg2@Lehigh.EDU
In the subject, type:  ADD LDEMN
In the body indicate your preferred e-mail address.
Optionally you may include your name, snail-mail address, and synopsis of your
situation.


-- 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
             Marc C. Gabriel '93    -  U.C. Box 545  -
               (215) 882-0138        Lehigh University
              mcg2@Lehigh.EDU       Bethlehem, PA 18015
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: caf@omen.UUCP (Chuck Forsberg)
Subject: Re: Adiposity 101
Organization: Omen Technology INC, Portland Rain Forest
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 22:34:41 GMT

In article <1992Dec11.145106.19789@inmet.camb.inmet.com> mazur@bluefin.camb.inmet.com (Beth Mazur) writes:
>In <1992Dec11.000253.13795@omen.UUCP> caf@omen.UUCP (Chuck Forsberg) writes:
>>Please explain exactly how does the theory that dietary
>>nutrients are partitioned between lean tissue, adipose tissue,
>>and body function (e.g., RMR, brain operation, physical work)
>>violate the "laws of physics" ?
>
>Oh, that theory doesn't violate the laws of physics.  It's the one that's
>often implied by your posts (and that Steve recently alluded to)--you know,
>the theory that since some moderately obese people don't eat more than
>their thin counterparts (and often eat less), then obesity is due to
>how "nutrients are partitioned" and not how many nutrients are consumed. 
>
>Point blank--do you disagree that { all | many | some | few } grossly obese 
>people eat far more than moderately obese or their thin counterparts?  What
>research exists to show that grossly obese people (100% or more over ideal)
>eat what normal-weight people eat? 

I don't have energy intake data of according to morbidly obese
with weight at least twice "ideal".  For that matter nobody
seems to agree on what "ideal" is.  So we will have to make do
with the data in the study Gordon cites.

In that study, the lean women    (BMI 20.5 +- 2.2) consumed 1660 +- 785
calories per day, moderately fat (BMI 24.2 +- 2.9) consumed 1664 +- 716
and the obese                    (BMI 30.8 +- 4.7) consumed 2133 +- 982
calories per day.

Food intake of lean, weight stable women vary.  From the 1992 British Journal
of Nutrition we get 2765 +- 252 calories per day for a group of women
with BMI of 18.96 +- 0.52 and 1425 +- 194 calories for a group of women
with BMI of 23.12 +- 0.96.

About the only thing one can honestly conclude from these figures is
that they suggest everything and prove nothing.

-- 
Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX          ...!tektronix!reed!omen!caf 
Author of YMODEM, ZMODEM, Professional-YAM, ZCOMM, and DSZ
  Omen Technology Inc    "The High Reliability Software"
17505-V NW Sauvie IS RD   Portland OR 97231   503-621-3406
From: zorrilla@cattell.psych.upenn.edu (Eric Zorrilla)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Getting off Xanax
Date: 13 Dec 92 16:39:00 GMT
Organization: University of Pennsylvania

In article <Bz602J.KEJ@sdf.lonestar.org> marco@sdf.lonestar.org (Steve Giammarco) writes:

>>Have spent the past year and a half trying to get off Xanax by
>>prescribed medical solutions;i.e., cutting it down slowly.  I'd get
>>it down to a certain amount and blam, anxiety and withdrawal would
>>set in and I'd have to up the dosage again.  Because of the short
>>half-life, it's turned a good bit of my life into a living hell.
>>I can't schedule social events in advance 'cause I never know what
>>kind of shape I'm in.  I've been drinking alcohol after work (when
>>withdrawal starts to set in) to avoid having to take more Xanax.

>Hi David. Have you considered that whatever the original process causing
>the panic attacks was hasn't been resolved yet?

Not to disparage Xanax _per se_, but there is a more effective intervention
for panic disorder that the public and many psychiatrists appear unaware
of.  Cognitive therapy for panic disorder has been shown to have near 100%
success in double-blind, placebo-controlled outcome studies.  No side effects.
No withdrawal.  No need to maintain.  I suggest you look into the possibility
that there is an appropriately trained COGNTIVE therapist in your area.  For
information on some of the procedure, you should look for the name David
Clark in your nearest PsychINFO or MedLine database.

I'm not sure from your post, however, if your problem is primarily panic
attacks, social phobia or a mixed bag.


-- 
[--------------------------------------+--------------------------------------]
| Eric Zorrilla - Dept. of Psychology  | zorrilla@cattell.psych.upenn.edu     |
| University of Pennsylvania           | 3815 Walnut, Philadelphia, PA 19104  |
[--------------------------------------+--------------------------------------]
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: dixon@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Paul Dixon)
Subject: Aids therapy using DMSO and isopropyl alcohol
Organization: University of Hawaii
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 22:38:15 GMT

 A proposed therapy for H.I.V. positive patients is to conjugate DMSO,
 (dimethyl sulfoxide) with isopropyl alcohol and apply to a one or two
 square centimeter portion of the epidermis daily.
 
 In this way, the virucidal action of the isopropyl alcohol would be
 taken to all areas through the circulatory system, including the
 interior of the cells in the Helper-T cell population.
 
 Within the Helper-T cell, the virucidal action of the isopropyl alcohol
 at low concentrations is sufficient to destroy the integrity of the 
 relatively weak H.I.V.
 
 The virucidal action of isopropyl alcohol is greatest at approximately
 70% concentration. As the DMSO allows rapid transport of the isopropyl 
 alcohol to the entire circulatory system in a few seconds, the strength 
 of the isopropyl virucidal action will immediately destroy the H.I.V.
 with which it comes into contact.
 
 The desicant action of the isopropyl alcohol in the presence of oxygen 
 is parallel to cell-mediated or complement activity of antibody in this 
 instance. The antibody is of unequal solute density in the circulatory 
 plasma, yet the concentration of antibody is sufficient to lyse the viral 
 or bacterial forms which it contacts.
 
 This follows current practice in Vetinary Medicine, where DMSO is used
 to transport antibiotics into the animal's circulatory plasma. 
 
 A preliminary trial on a human experimental subject of one month's 
 duration shows no adverse side-effects.
 
 We may recall, with sympathy, the history of chemotherapeutics. One
 of the founders of this line of thinking was Paul Ehrlich (Nobel Prize,
 1908). His work with salvarsan (arsphenamine), a highly toxic arsenical,
 used in treatment of syphilis, led the way to treatments with the 
 sulfonamide drugs and modern antibiotics. The use of extremely toxic
 chemtherapeutic agents, such as the cytotoxic reagent, cyclophosphamide,
 in the treatment of cancer and for immunosuppression, are current 
 examples of this work. 
 
 Should DMSO be conjugated with a broad spectrum antibody for H.I.V., a 
 more specific virucidal action would be found.
 
 The history of science is replete with examples of those who make
 significant contributions in fields other than their own. A fresh point 
 of view is often necessary for a major breakthrough.
 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Dr. Paul W. Dixon
 Department of Psychology
 University of Hawaii at Hilo
 Hilo, Hawaii    96720 USA
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Newsgroups: sci.med
From: jgnassi@athena.mit.edu (John Angelo Gnassi)
Subject: Re: Peter Breggin, _Toxic Psychiatry_ (Q)
Organization: Massachusetts General Hospital - Lab of Computer Science
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 15:56:32 GMT

In article <Bz9Kr3.H04@unx.sas.com> sasghm@theseus.unx.sas.com (Gary Merrill) writes:
>If I decide to terminate my chemotherapy for cancer, I can simply
>do so and walk away from the hospital (suffering whatever consequences
>there may be).  If I am committed to a state psychiatric institute,
>am I free to leave when I decide (for whatever reason) to terminate
>my treatment?  (Notice that the very concept of "committed" seems
>to imply a certain degree of coercion.)  If you will assure me that I
>can terminate my psychiatric treatment under the same conditions and
>with the same freedoms that I can terminate my cancer treatment,
>I withdraw any complaint.

Time to start withdrawing.

If a patient with a psychiatric disorder is lucid, evidences
understanding of the situation, is not in immediate danger of harming
self or others, they can walk out AMA - Against Medical Advice.

If a patient with a medical disorder is lucid, evidences understanding
of the situation, is not in immediate danger of harming self or
others, they can walk out AMA - Against Medical Advice.

If either of them has recently acted on hallucinations telling them to
walk naked on I-95, then they give strong evidence of immediate danger
to self and others, and it's appropriate to hold them involuntarily
for treatment.  It doesn't matter what the cause is, whether
schizophrenia or brain tumor.

Your distinction between psychiatric and medical illness is not
relevant.  You don't treat different groups of _diseases_ the same
way, because they *are* different diseases.  You do, though, treat
different groups of _patients_ the same based on their shared
symptoms, what you believe the underlying disorder is, and what you
think they would realistically want.

And yes, in response to one of your earlier posts, as a physician, I
*would* want ECT for treatment of an involutional depression, followed
by medication and counseling.  It's the fastest way out, and short
courses of ECT have not convincingly been shown to be harmful, and
benefits are well documented.  Why should I want to be depressed
longer?

--
     John Angelo Gnassi                 Lab of Computer Science
   jgnassi@hstbme.mit.edu               Massachusetts General Hospital
     "Eternal Student"                  Boston, Massachusetts, USA
     "The Earth be spanned, connected by a Network" - Walt Whitman
From: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: "reflexology"?
Keywords: alternative medicine, quack, scam
Date: 11 Dec 92 22:36:53 GMT
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

In article <Byst5C.A89@news.cso.uiuc.edu> zig@uiuc.edu writes:
>foot!  Are these people the quacks they seem to be?  Do they have 
>any scientific basis to their method?  Are they licensed by most
>states?  My grandmother's reflexologist claims to be licensed, but
>I have to wonder.
>
There is no known scientific basis for it.  Certainly they can
make people feel better, but so can just about any quack system.
I've never heard of licensing them, but wouldn't be surprised if
they are licensed in California.
-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: thomas@mvac23.UUCP (Thomas Lapp)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: crohn's disease - help needed
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 92 18:49:45 EST
Organization: MultiVac23, Newark, DE, U.S.A.

quark@csa.bu.edu (Paul Fu) writes:
> In article <1992Dec8.085353.4765@walter.cray.com> laser@buckwheat.cray.com (Cathie Hartman 68387) writes:
> 
>    After 4 months of sickness, I was finally diagnosed with Crohn's disease in May of this year.  I haven't had a lot of luck with doctors and I am looking for information and advice. 
> 
> You should contact the Crohn's Society chapter nearest you.  THey have many
> support and other services available to persons diagnosed with Crohn's
> disease.

Sorry for the correction, Paul, but the name of the organization is
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.
                         - tom
--
internet     : mvac23!thomas@udel.edu  or  thomas%mvac23@udel.edu (home)
             : lapp@cdhub1.dnet.dupont.com (work)
OSI          : C=US/A=MCI/S=LAPP/D=ID=4398613
uucp         : {ucbvax,mcvax,uunet}!udel!mvac23!thomas
Location     : Newark, DE, USA
From: wmartin@STL-06SIMA.ARMY.MIL (Will Martin)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Leeches in medical applications
Date: 16 Dec 1992 11:00:51 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

I'd like to learn more about the current use of leeches for medical purposes.
I have heard of their use in certain specialized applications, such as to
reduce fluid accumulation in special situations (like in a reattached
severed hand or other extremity). What else are they used for?

Can they be used to reduce or eliminate bruising? Is this a reasonable
application or something considered "fringe medicine"?

Is there one specific species of leech used for medical purposes, or
are there an assortment or range of species that are so used?

Where are leeches purchased? How much do they cost? Can an individual
buy some and keep a breeding colony of them, or are they somehow 
"restricted" to be sold to medical professionals only with some form
of certification or ID required? (I suppose one could always just refer
to them as "live bait" to get around any such restriction... :-)

It seems to me that they may be a reasonable resource for wilderness
or survivalist medical applications; after all, they were used by 
relatively little-trained practicioners for many millenia in the past.
(I admit they may well have been MIS-used by many of these in many
improper applications, but that doesn't make them incorrect for
current use if indicated and appropriate... :-)

Regards, Will
wmartin@st-louis-emh2.army.mil OR wmartin@stl-06sima.army.mil
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: 880506s@dragon.acadiau.ca (James R. Skinner)
Subject: Re: post-Prozac reactions
Organization: Acadia University
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 06:05:50 GMT

mdkline@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Mark D. Kline) writes:

>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. 

I don't think you understand what some of us are trying to say.  I am not
an anti-Prozac preson and am not trying to find explanations for feelings
that were out-of-character.  I am still on Prozac and feel that it is one
of the best anti-depressants on the market.  But having said that I will
say that I have had numberous increased hostile feelings while on Prozac.
Each time I was able to realize that my reactions where abnormal and was
able to act appropritally.  These feelings occuring many months after Prozac
had lifted any depression and I was under no due stress.

>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.

Are you saying that it would be impossible for a drug to cause such
undesirable side effects?  I have been on other anti-depressants but
have never had ANY experiences like I have on Prozac.  My girlfriend
as well as my parents noticed the change in my presonality and pointed
it out.  I should note that the severe occurances where on high dosages
of 40-60mg a day while I am currenlty only talking 20mg

>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.

While I agree that the pros far outway the cons of Prozac, I do think 
that one should be watched closely for changes in character when on it.
Why are some people so determined that this is not a possible side effect?
Prozac is known to often cause insamuna and "jitters", these two things
alone can lead to one getting pretty uptight if not treated properly.
(And in the end this may actually be the cause of increased
hositlity and irritability while on Prozac....)

-- 

-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------------
        James Robie Skinner        |     Jodrey School of Computer Science        James.Skinner@dragon.acadiau.ca  |  Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada
-----------------------------------+--------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: marco@sdf.lonestar.org (Steve Giammarco)
Subject: Re: aids testing and insurance
Organization: Best lil' ol' Pubnix in Texas
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 16:25:39 GMT

In article <1992Dec10.193033.20211@athena.mit.edu> jgnassi@athena.mit.edu (John Angelo Gnassi) writes:
>In article <ByxCvJ.G2K@sdf.lonestar.org> marco@sdf.lonestar.org (Steve Giammarco) writes:
>>The question they often ask themselves is: "Why did they test in the
>>first place?" and "Maybe we better make sure of our risks!"  Future 
>>medical types might see your HIV- test results and wonder if they should
>>be asking you if you're gay or IV drug user while they ask themselves that
>>very same question of "why....?"
>
>When blood tests for syphilis first came out, I suppose that patients
>who had the test, regardless of outcome, were casually considered to
>be at high risk of future ill health.  But today syphilis hysteria is
>not a driving social force, and it is widely understood that false
>positives and false negtives occur; seeing a test for syphilis on a
>patient's chart doesn't mean much to me by itself.  I expect that HIV

All well and good for _you_, John, to believe this... As a person who is
_in_ the insurance industry, I know for a _fact_ that serotesting for
an STD revealed on an underwritten insurance app is an INVITATION to have
the rest of your medical history explored in depth.  This is where other
maladies related to risk are uncovered.

>antibody testing will one day be viewed similarly, as just one piece
>of information, subject to the same limits of interpretation as any
>other test.  Perhaps this will happen sooner rather than later, as HIV
>spreads more by heterosexual contact, risk factor catagories widen,
>prevalence increases, and testing becomes more common.
>

Quite possibly so. What does a person do in the meantime, John? Suffer?

-- 
Steve Giammarco/5330 Peterson Lane/Dallas TX 75240
marco@sdf.lonestar.org
loveyameanit.
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: MENOPAUSE self-help group
From: WCCOLR%AM%IMCLU1@mrgate.resmel.bhp.com.au (Rodney Cole)
Date: 18 Dec 92 09:46:12 +1000
Followup-To: sci.med
Distribution: world
Organization: BHP

MENOPAUSE Self-Help Group......A new self-help group is being formed in
Melbourne Australia to educate women and companions about Menopause and how
to deal with it.    I would be interested in hearing from any similar
self-help or research group with a common interest in menopause.   I would
also be interested in recent research work being conducted into womens
menopause so that up to date information can be  shared.   Medical
practioners and life style therapeutists will be invited to present the
information.
Any comments or practical experiences to help this group get established
would be very much appreciated.
From: mdebuitlear@vms.eurokom.ie
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: "reflexology"?
Date: 17 Dec 92 09:51:43 CET
Organization: EuroKom Conferencing Service

In article <1992Dec15.090724.24278@nuscc.nus.sg>, med50003@nusunix1.nus.sg (WANSAICHEONG KHIN-LIN) writes:
> The difference lies in whether anything was actually done for the
> person. If a 'healer' waved chicken feathers over your foot and said
> your kidney stones were gone and you felt better - ask yourself this -
> has anything actually been done?
> 
> You may feel better but the stone is probably still present.
> 
> gervais

Reflexologists should never claim to be able to 'cure' kidney stones (as they 
can't).  They may claim to have restored balance to the kidney energy which is 
entirely a differant matter (and a differant discussion).

Micheal.

M.De.Buitlear@Vms.EuroKom.Ie

Newsgroups: sci.med
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Composite Health Care System for U.S. Military Ne
From: RGINZBERG@eagle.wesleyan.edu (Ruth Ginzberg)
Date: 18 Dec 92 10:59:44 EDT
Distribution: world
Organization: Philosophy Dept., Wesleyan University
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.20In-Reply-To: ndallen@r-node.gts.org's message of Fri, 18 Dec 1992 08:13:56 GMTLines: 20

In <1992Dec18.081356.11455@r-node.gts.org> ndallen@r-node.gts.org writes:

>    FALLS CHURCH, Va., Dec. 16  -- The Composite Health Care 
> System (CHCS), the world's most comprehensive medical
> information system, is nearing deployment readiness, according to a
> report issued on Dec. 15 by the General Accounting Office (GAO).
>    CHCS is an automated, integrated hospital information system being
> developed and installed by Science Applications International Corp.
> (SAIC) for the Department of Defense (DOD).  When fully implemented,
> CHCS will facilitate the delivery of quality health care to all

<*giggle*>  I couldn't help chuckling over the thought of the DoD "deploying" a
computer.
		de ploy \di-'ploi\ vb:  to spread out
		(as troops or ships) in order for battle
				-Webster's ... Dictionary

------------------------
Ruth Ginzberg <rginzberg@eagle.wesleyan.edu>
Philosophy Department;Wesleyan University;USA
Newsgroups: sci.med