HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer)
Subject: Re: LES strengthening drugs...
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1992 05:29:31 GMT

In article <1992Apr10.124851.1497@larouch.uucp> jparnas@larouch.uucp (Jacob Parnas) writes:
>It seems that I've developed a reflux problem due to a weakened LES
>(Lower Esophageal Sphincter) muscle.  I've read/heard of two drugs
>that are supposed to sometimes strengthen the LES.  I think one
>is cisapride/prepulsed and another is Metaclopramide/Raglan.  If 
>anyone out there has any knowledge/experience with either of these drugs,
>I'd really appreciate it if you could email me some information on them.
>In particular I'm interested in their effectiveness and side effects and
>which one is best to try.

If you're overweight, weight loss often works wonders.  Avoiding
late-night eating and lying in bed with your head raised also
helps avoid bedtime heartburn.  Also, there are some recent studies
which help support the claim that Gaviscon, an antacid with alginic
acid, a substance which is said to create a viscous foam in the stomach,
works well in mild reflux disease.

Metoclopramide is an interesting drug.  It is a relative of procainamide,
the antiarrhythmic drug, which is itself a relative of the local anesthetic
procaine.  However, metoclopramide doesn't have any significant anti-
arrhythmic or anesthetic actions.  It has a number of unique actions on
the gastrointestinal tract.  It increases the tone of the esophageal
sphincter and hastens gastric emptying.  This reduces the symptoms of
heartburn by preventing acid from entering the esophagus and speeds the
transit of a meal into the small intestine.  At somewhat higher doses,
it's a potent antinauseant/antiemetic which works in a manner similar
to the phenothiazine antiemetics.  That is, it has central antidopaminergic
activity similar to the major tranquilizers used to treat schizophrenia
(though it appears to be a poor antipsychotic drug.)  There is a small
chance that it can cause some of the acute and chronic side effects
characteristic of the major tranquilizers, such as restlessness or pseudo-
Parkinsonism, and there have been rare cases of tardive dyskinesia reported
after prolonged, high dose use.  Its tradename is Reglan.

Cisapride isn't approved yet in the US (again, unless something has changed
recently--I'm not a clinician.)  It seems to have similar effects on the
esophagus and stomach, though its mechanism of action isn't clear.
It doesn't seem to have any antidopaminergic actions, however.
I understand that it also tends to increase the mobility of the
lower gut, and sometimes causes diarrhea.

Yet another drug in the metoclopramide class, also not marketed in the US,
is domperidone.  It has antidopaminergic activity, but penetrates the
blood-brain barrier poorly, which at least has a theoretical benefit towards
avoiding some side effects.

-- 
Steve Dyer
dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer
From: brian@ucsd.edu (Brian Kantor)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Sources of Used/Antique Medical Equipment
Date: 16 Apr 1992 22:51:16 -0700
Organization: The Avant-Garde of the Now, Ltd.
NNTP-Posting-Host: ucsd.edu

>....  I find Gordon's posts to be quite educational ....
>Keep up the good work, geb!

I have no doubt that Gordon's posts are straight, as supportive as they
are intended to be, and indeed they are probably handsome, as posts go.
I don't know that I'd call them educational, and I've yet to find out
whether these posts are round, square, oblong, or any of the other
assorted shapes that posts can be made in.  I'm also at a loss as to
whether they're made of wood, steel, plastic, or glass.

On the other hand, Gordon's POSTINGS, the writings which flow from him
over the net, are always a joy to read.

Yours for more gooder English.
	- Brian
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: bg055@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Stewart Rowe)
Subject: Re: Lime juice and lots of sun
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, (USA)
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 92 18:09:43 GMT


It seems as if there are TWO possible culprits: the lime juice, and/or
the terpene-containing peel oil, to which you surely were also
exposed. Probably would need at least a literature search to be sure
which was responsible (or both together?).
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: eepee@polaris.utu.fi (Esa-Pekka P{lvim{ki)
Subject: Re: carpul tunnel synd-food for thought
Organization: University of Turku, Finland
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 92 16:08:08 GMT

In article <14209@pitt.UUCP> geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks) writes:
>In article <1992Apr3.110246.11872@phillip.edu.au> k8908259@phillip.edu.au writes:
>>my time on you. But let me give you something to think about.
>>Why don't people like you start a newsgroup called med.phenatics or 
>
>That is a real puzzler.  Phenatics.  Is that like phonetics?  Phenacetin?
>I give up.

Phenatics I think is Chiropractor talk and means fanatics.

-ep
From: tsf@CS.CMU.EDU (Timothy Freeman)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Class action against FDA
Date: 15 Apr 92 19:40:18 GMT
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University
Originator: tsf@U.ERGO.CS.CMU.EDU

In article <DSR.92Apr15122410@chickpea.mitre.org> dsr@chickpea.mitre.org (Douglas S. Rand) writes:

   There are a couple
   million people who have access to this nonsense and maybe even know
   about the LEF and it's, IMHO misguided, effort.  That still leaves the
   100 signatories as a pretty small representative part.  Don't you
   think this shows a rather dismal level of support?

No.  Let's enumerate the things that would have to happen for Joe Blow
to legitimately sign the affidavit:

1. Joe needed drugs that are forbidden in this country by the FDA.
2. Joe tried to mail order these drugs from another country.
3. The company he ordered from didn't correctly guess the behavior of
   the FDA, and it tried to send him the drugs.
4. The drugs were confiscated by the FDA.
5. Joe heard about the affidavit.
6. Joe overcame his natural laziness and signed the affidavitt.

Notice that the companies have a strong financial motive to correctly
guess the FDA's behavior, so the number of companies that will do step
3 is small. 

Tim
From: agilbert@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (ann.gilbert)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Is baloon angioplasty safe?
Date: 6 Apr 92 15:30:46 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T



	I might have the term incorrect for this procedure. Its
the one that is supposed to open arteries. 
	Does anyone know if this is a safe procedure for a 79 year
old woman? Is it effective? She has had an echo cardiogram and her 
doctor recommended the procedure.

	Thanks.


Ann Gilbert  AT&T
8300 E. Maplewood Ave.
Englewood, CO 80111
(303)488-6107                 ..!att!ncsc8!asg
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: storm@cs.mcgill.ca (Marc WANDSCHNEIDER)
Subject: Excessive Urination?
Organization: McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 16:47:47 GMT



I've been noticing that of late, as the day goes on, I have to urinate about
once every half hour or something like that.

I would have to assume that this is not quite normal.  Are there common causes
of this...?  I have heard that prostate cancer is a cause of this, but at
age 21...?  Could it have to do with sexual activity as well...?

Ideas?

-- 
  storm@cs.mcgill.ca           McGill University         C program run.  Run  
  Marc Wandschneider           Montreal, CANADA          Program run! PLEASE!
Ever wonder how Worf got to be Security Officer on the Enterprise when the 
Capt gets kidnapped from the bridge every two episodes and Troy Beats him up?
From: tjfeue@bb1t.monsanto.com
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Effects of Prozac et al.
Date: 15 Apr 92 13:22:40 CST
Organization: Monsanto Company, St. Louis, MO

In article <1992Apr14.183413.5052@ac.dal.ca>, fairbro@ac.dal.ca writes:
> I would like to hear from people who have been treated for depression with 
> drugs like Prozac, from what I've read it takes about 2-6 weeks for these
> anti-depressants to take effect. Do you just wake up one day and feel great 
> or do you just realize that your not depressed any more? Or is it more gradual
> so that you can start to feel yourself improve day after day?

Welllllllll,  Prozac has a very long serum half life.  The build up will
be slow at the recommended dosages, but since it has a cumulative effect 
in the blood stream it will also will leave the system very
slowly after it is withdrawn.  This helps the body get used to being 
without it.  Also, depression becomes a "habit" after
a while so it won't change over night.  *IF* Prozac *WILL* work for a
particular patient the change is usually very gradual.  There will
be good days and bad days, but the trend will be upward.  A noticable
day to day improvement is probably unlikely except possibly at very 
high dosage levels (Physicians usually don't start out with a
high dose but work up to it if necessary).  Once the patient feels
"normal", the therapy is usually continued for a while to let them
get used to feeling "normal" and let that become habit.  Concurrent 
behavioral counseling is usually recommended for the best results
as are followups after the therapy to insure that it took hold.

Hope this helps.  For further information see your Physician or read
the entry for it in the PDR.

  TED FEUERBACH   Scientific Systems Consultant  Trilogy Consulting, Inc. 
  Lake St. Louis, MO        (314) 537-6603       tjfeue@bb1t.monsanto.com
  Disclaimer:  The opinions expressed herein are MY OWN and obviously not
  the opinions of Trilogy, Monsanto or either of my two ex-wives.
From: brd@images1.Waterloo.NCR.COM (Barry Drodge)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Question on long term use of Amitryptiline
Date: 6 Apr 92 19:28:55 GMT
Organization: NCR Canada Ltd, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

does any one know what the possible effects of long term use of
Amitryptiline are?  By long term I mean in the five to ten year range, with
a dosage of 75mg per day for the first five years tapering to 10mg over the nect
five years.

Thanks

--
Barry.R.Drodge@Waterloo.NCR.COM
Imaging Systems Engineering, NCR Canada LTD. 580 Weber ST. N, Waterloo, Ontario
Voice: 519-884-1710 FAX:519-884-0610
"My job is so top secret that it keeps me from knowing what I am doing!"
Xref: sparky sci.med:8680 misc.kids:13007
From: root@cpp.uucp (Rich Bauer)
Newsgroups: sci.med,misc.kids
Subject: Re: Lime juice and lots of sun
Keywords: lime juice
Date: 15 Apr 92 11:42:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: cpp.1992Apr15.114200.29514
Organization: Critical Path Project, Philadelphia

There is a psoralens compound in lime juice and in figs.  When this
chemical is present and the body is exposed to intense sun light
blotches will come up on the skin.

The Egyptians used to gather a certain weed which contained 
psoralens and used it for medicine purposes.  They always got
large white blotches all over their bodies from it.

Today it is being looked at as an AIDS treatment and as a means
to non-toxically "purify" blood.  The compound is able to 
destroy many different kinds of viruses, including Hepatitis and
HIV.  I once read that the American Red Cross has been doing
some studies with psoralens for quite some time.

 
-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------
| Rich Bauer - Critical Path Project Inc.                 |
| UUCP...!dsinc!jabber!phlpa!cpp!rich  or rich@cpp.UUCP   |
----------------------------------------------------------- 
From: sude@hpbbi4.BBN.HP.COM (#Susanne Denninger)
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 10:10:20 GMT
Subject: Re: Chronic congested sinus relief drug help sought
Organization: Hewlett-Packard GmbH
Newsgroups: sci.med

In sci.med, georgec@eng.umd.edu (George B. Clark) writes:

    stuff deleted ...                                                     

    > One last comment. Sometimes I find it helpful to boil water over the
    > stove and breath the steam. Sometimes I put some Vicks VaporRub in
    > the boiling water, as well.

Put 2-3 teabags of camomile tea into the boiling water. Put a towel over your
head so that the steam cannot "escape". Breath the steam for 5 to 10 minutes. 
Stay in a warm place for a while after this.

This is an old home remedy for colds here in Germany. And it helps me when I
get sinus problems. 

Susanne Denninger
Hewlett-Packard GmbH
Boeblingen, Germany
From: Steve.Bernstein@f61.n369.z1.fidonet.org (Steve Bernstein)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Physical Therapy
Date: 15 Apr 92 13:38:09 GMT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:369/61 - Med-Talk BBS!, Lauderhill FL


            ** P H Y S I C A L   T H E R A P I S T **
               ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I am trying to make a database of Physical Therapists
that use telecommunications. Please reply with your
name, phone number and address so I may contact you.

Thanks
Steven R. Bernstein, P.T.
Fidonet 1:369/61 - Med-Talk BBS (305) 749-2395 16,800 bps



 

--  
Uucp: ...{gatech,ames,rutgers}!ncar!asuvax!stjhmc!369!61!Steve.Bernstein
Internet: Steve.Bernstein@f61.n369.z1.fidonet.org
From: dionysia@netlink.cts.com (Dionysia Marqueza)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: SYSTEMIC MASTOCYTOSIS
Date: 11 Apr 92 01:06:30 GMT
Organization: NetLink Online Communications, San Diego CA

> 
> I don't know anything about this and can't help. But I have a few questions.
> 
> Since the problem seems to be an overactive immune system, maybe one way
> to treat it is to give the immune system something else to do. For example,
> try infecting the person with some disease that will cause the immune
> system to fight the disease instead of the body itself.
> 
> Since it seems to be acceptable medical practice to cure one disease by
> causing another one that will take longer to kill you (e.g. some cancer
> treatments, which themselves cause cancer), one might ask, for example,
> whether it takes longer to die of AIDS than it does to die of this disease.
> AIDS must do wonders to cure an overactive immune system.
> 
> I realize these are people's lives we are talking about. But we also have
> to ask naive questions in order to learn anything.
> 
> I hope these questions don't offend anyone.
> 
> Allan Adler
> ara@altdorf.ai.mit.edu

        I think your answer is based on an incomplete understanding of how 
the immune system works. Immunobodies are to various degrees specialized by
function. As such, the immunobodies that go out of control in a disease such 
as this one may have absolutely -no- effect upon a pathogen such as AIDS. 
Generally, the immunbodies and immune systems that cause such diseases as 
this and arthritis and lupus are responsive only to tissues within the body, 
rather than pathogens that cause changes within those tissues. The problem 
seems to be due to the portion of the immune system that functions this way
has failed to recognize healthy, functional tissue as "self" - the chemical 
process by which this takes place has gone awry, and the immunobodies attack 
and destroy healthy tissues... cellular aphasia, of a sort. 
        The most likely course of therapy I can forsee would be aggresive 
use of immunosuppresants, such are used in organ transplant patients.
        *A note to all- if this seems over-simplistic, or technically 
muddled, I am not very good at discussing this topic without use of very 
specific concepts that are not a regular part of most folks working 
vocabulary. I felt that it needed answering, because it represents to me a  
common and fundemental misunderstanding of human biology.

        Dionysia

--                    
INTERNET:  dionysia@netlink.cts.com (Dionysia Marqueza)
UUCP:   ...!nosc!ryptyde!netlink!dionysia
NetLink Online Communications * Public Access in San Diego, CA (619) 435-6181
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: yazz@locus.com (Bob Yazz)
Subject: Re: Using INTERFERON against hepatitis (?)
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1992 03:21:57 GMT

rudi@salyko.doit.sub.org (Rudi Gaul) writes:

| treating hepatitis with prednisolon is on ly a so-called white-maker,
| that means it has no effects on the infection. 

I'm not familiar with the phrase "white-maker", but I believe the reason
an immune supressing steroid hormone like prednisone would be used to
treat a chronic HBV infection is for the bounce-back effect upon abrupt
discontinuation of the medication.

== Bob Yazz ==
-- 
Ever cautious, Motives pure; Safe and effective, Who could demur?
Lead, follow or get out of the way.  Unless, of course, you're the FDA.
From: laura@TASVAX.NSWSES.NAVY.MIL
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: How do you calc eyesight  20/200??
Date: 15 Apr 92 18:04:44 GMT
Reply-To: laura@TASVAX.NSWSES.NAVY.MIL
Organization: Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division

In article <1992Apr15.014158.18205@Arco.COM>, dlc@arco.com (Dane Cantwell) writes:
>in the form 20/20.  That is, if someone has a correction of -3.0 what does that
>equate to???  Thanks.

Please don't take this as gospel truth.  I think that -3.0 correlates to
20/300.

Laura  McGovern
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
laura@tasvax.nswses.navy.mil		|   Naval Surface Warfare Center
(Baby due in August - our first!)	|   Port Hueneme, CA 
* My husband doesn't always share my opinions, so why should my employer? *
From: geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Brainless legal decisions about newborns.
Date: 15 Apr 92 15:06:18 GMT
Organization: Decision Systems Laboratory, Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA.

In article <19496@suned1.Nswses.Navy.MIL> laura@TASVAX.NSWSES.NAVY.MIL writes:
>
>I also belive that unborn babies are human.  My child's heart has
>been beating since day 25.  This was about the time I found out
>I was pregnant (and no one could believe that the pregnancy tests
>were positive this early.)  I am now just over half way through this
>pregnancy.  My baby responds to warmth and sound, and has even
>started to explore his environment.  He has all of the same ssystems
>that I have, but he's not big enough and not strong enough to live
>outside of me.  He has distinctly human DNA, and has great potential.
>Sounds pretty human to me.  

If I were to cut off your little toe and culture the cells from it,
they would all have exactly the same DNA you do, and are thus human.
But they would not be a person.  It takes more than a heart beating
to make a person.  There is no argument that anencephalics are
human, the question is are they persons.  And I would answer no.
Obviously when you get near to where you draw the line between
person and non-person, it may get difficult, but I don't have
philosophical difficulty excluding anencephalics.  
-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: kingsley@hpwrce.HP.COM (Kingsley Morse)
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 18:53:13 GMT
Subject: Re: TENS
Organization: HP Western Response Center
Newsgroups: sci.med

In sci.med, <EWN1@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:

> Can anyone tell me how TENS works?

My understanding is that it depends on the waveform, frequency, amplitude, 
etc... of the tens unit. Dr. Robert Becker has done the best research that
I'm aware of. He stimulated fibroblast (sp?) cells to "dedifferentiate" (ie:
regress to an embrionic state) and start dividing again into bone, muscle, 
etc...., what ever is needed. He's regrown amputated limbs in amphibians and
mammals. He used a very small current, much smaller than most TENS units, and
silver electrodes. Different electrodes deposit different ions in tissue.

The effects of the electromagnetic spectrum on living tissue aren't well
understood yet. Researchers have discovered isolated examples of cause and
effect, but the big picture remains to be seen.
From: laura@TASVAX.NSWSES.NAVY.MIL
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Chronic congested sinus relief drug help sought
Date: 6 Apr 92 23:17:19 GMT
Article-I.D.: suned1.19230
Reply-To: laura@TASVAX.NSWSES.NAVY.MIL
Organization: Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division

In article <1992Apr4.031719.14550@athena.cs.uga.edu>, mcovingt@athena.cs.uga.edu (Michael A. Covington) writes:
>[Two people write:]

(about chronic nasal congestion, asking for names of good decongestants.)

>Surely the proper thing to do is get it evaluated by an ear-nose-throat
>specialist. 

Agreed.

>If you just want a decongestant, my impression
>is that the ones you can get over the counter (e.g., extended-release
>Sudafed) are not much different from what you get on prescription.

I disagree.  I am a chronic sufferer.  I use Vancenase-AQ twice a day every
day to keep me breathing under the best of conditions.  I can still use
it even though I've become pregnant.  I don't think there is any OTC spray
that I could safely use on a daily basis during pregnancy. 

To the original posters, you should also check out Nasalcrom.

When I'm not pregnant, and the desert winds come in, I use UR-LA, which I
believe is generic for Dura-Vent.  It does not make me drowsy, and it does
not leave that heavy feeling that many OTC decongestants give.  I'm not
sure if this is perfectly safe, but I have even used it while drinking with
no adverse reactions.

I am *NOT* a doctor, I'm just a sufferer.  Ask your regular physician to 
recommend as ear-nose-throat specialist, and check out all of your options.

Hope this helps,

Laura  McGovern
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
laura@tasvax.nswses.navy.mil		|   Naval Surface Warfare Center
(Baby due in August - our first!)	|   Port Hueneme, CA 
* My husband doesn't always share my opinions, so why should my employer? *
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: insomnia
From: macridis_g@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz (Gerry Macridis)
Date: 14 Apr 92 14:50:53 GMT
Organization: Wellington City Council, Wellington, NZ
Keywords: Imipramine, tricyclic antidepressants, Halcion, alcohol

In article <1992Apr08.084503.21521@phlpa.UUCP>, scott@phlpa.UUCP (Scott
Scheingold) writes:

> I am writing this at 4:30AM because I can not sleep. I have not had
> a good nights sleep in about 4 days. I am about at the end of my rope.
> I go through these phases and they last one to two weeks. Each time it
> happens it get harder and harder. I will explain below. 
> 
> Case history (brief)
> 
> I suffer from AIDS
> Meds: Imipramine (Anti-depressent) 200MG at bed time.
>       DDI and zantac.
> Disabled
> Smoker
> 
> I am not that active due to cronic fatigue and tire very easily but
> have not been sleeping even when tired. I get about an hour of sleep
> every 5hrs or so. I am here phyiscly but my mind is not here do to the
> lack of sleep. I have tried warm milk, cold milk and even some
> alcohol. (Just one drink. I know itis not good but I will try anything)
> I have taken sleeping pills but the only one that does not make me a zombie
> for days is halcion. All others seem to stay in my system for a couple of
> days.
> 
> I am sorry if this post is wierd but I don't think straight these days.

Your post isn't weird.

Imipramine isn't a very sedative antidepressant and some patients find
it somewhat stimulating.  You can try taking it in divided doses during
the day rather than as a single dose at night, but I don't guarantee
this will help your insomnia and it will probably increase your
experience of side-effects during the day, depending on how long you
have been taking it for.  A more sedative tricyclic antidepressant, such
as doxepin, would probably be quite effective for your insomnia,
although it may increase your daytime fatigue.  Alcohol isn't a very
good hypnotic and its diuretic effect may interfere with sleep later on
in the night.  I see no reason why you shouldn't take Halcion for your
insomnia, but use it in short courses rather than long-term continuous
treatment.  Above all, keep in contact with your doctor regarding your
insomnia and any other problems you have.

-- 
Gerry Macridis,      /\/\     .... Email: macridis_g@kosmos.wcc.govt.nz
Private Box 3929,   ( oo )    :... Voice: +64 4 3899444
Wellington,           \/......:
New Zealand.                       Learn first aid; it saves lives.
Newsgroups: sci.med,sci.electronics