HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: nyeda@cnsvax.uwec.edu (David A. Nye MD)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Don't Bring Lists (was Re: mitral valve prolapse and need for antibiotics?)
Date: 9 Oct 92 07:56:28 GMT
Distribution: sci
Organization: University of Wisconsin Eau Claire

In article <BvroBw.2tK@apollo.hp.com>, betsyp@apollo.hp.com (Betsy Perry) writes:
> In article <16791@pitt.UUCP> km@cs.pitt.edu (Ken Mitchum) writes:
>>We were taught very early in medical school to be extremely wary of
>>patients who bring in lists of symptoms or questions. I only pay
>>attention to things patients can tell me myself.
> 
> Aiiieee!  My primary care physician belongs to an HMO; my obstetrician
> is clearly working at capacity, and his practice is scheduled very
> tightly.  When I come to visit either, I have about a thirty-second
> window at visit's end in which to ask questions; after that, the
> doctor disappears.  I occasionally prepare short lists of questions as
> a reminder ("Do you do routine episiotomies?  Is it normal to
> have symptom X during the first trimester?  Did you get the results of
> test Y from my last visit?")  If I don't prepare the list, I may miss
> my chance to get information simply because I'm still flustered
> from the pelvic examination, ultrasound, or whatever.

This sign of hypochondriasis with the lovely name of "mal du  
petite papier" only applies to lists of symptoms, the supposition
being that if the patient has to write all his symptoms down to
remember them, they must not be all that bothersome.  No one will
look askance if you bring only a list of questions.
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: bhjelle@carina.unm.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Violence Epidemiologists vs the Gun Lobby
Date: 16 Oct 92 19:27:58 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

In article <1992Oct16.164203.9485@pixel.kodak.com> young@serum.kodak.com writes:
>In article <llrpp_d@lynx.unm.edu> bhjelle@carina.unm.edu () writes:
>
>>Some choice tidbits from reviews of the medical literature:
>>
>>"...when women killed with a gun, 'the victim was five times
>>more likely to be their spouse, an intimate acquaintance,
>>or a member of their family than to be a stranger or a
>>person of undetermined relationship' ".
>
>	What percentage of gun-related homicides are perpetrated by women?
>	Is this the major cause of violence in our streets or simply a
>	peripheral issue?

All homicides are important. That is why this is a medical issue.

[cross-cultural comparisons of suicide rates deleted]
>
>>My congratulations to Science for having the courage to publish
>>this article. They will catch flak, but I think they can
>>take it!
>
>	I, too, will congratulate them if they collect unbiased data and
>	present it in an unbiased manner.  [Please note that I'm not making
>	any assumptions about the portions quoted here, there's not enough
>	to work with to make any valid and global judgements.]

The article was mainly about the value of studying this subject,
and the newfound realization that it is a valid discipline.
Rather than go through the nitty-gritty numbers with those whose
main motivation is to make sure that recreation gun usage
is not threatened, I'll just say how refreshing it is that
this subject is finally being addressed in the medical literature
as a medical subject.

>	NOTE: I've set followup to talk.politics.guns, which is where
>		this should probably be.
>
Wrongo! I've redirected them to sci.med. This is a medical issue.
Let's keep politics out of it.

Brian
From: km@cs.pitt.edu (Ken Mitchum)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Patients rights to med. records - long
Date: 7 Oct 92 12:58:55 GMT
Reply-To: km@cs.pitt.edu (Ken Mitchum)
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

In article <3878@unisql.UUCP> collene@unisql.UUCP (Collene Pearce) writes:
>
>Do you honestly think that these people wouldn't know my voice?  Do you 
>honestly think that there wouldn't have been enough personal exchange 
>during the request that they wouldn't have been able to determine that 
>it was me?

>If the office staff isn't able to determine whether or not they are talking
>with the real patient, then why do they routinely transfer the records to 
>other doctors (after much argument), based on telephone requests?  Sorry, 
>the argument just doesn't hold water.  

The argument holds a lot of water because what you just stated is
illegal, at least in Pennsylvania. The patient or his/her representative
MUST sign a written release for records to be transferred, even
between doctors. There are exceptions to this, such as when one physician
consults another - the consultant can send the report of the 
consultation to the requesting physician without a release. In this
case, the consultant is acting with the requesting physician in
one episode of patient care. If the requesting physician wanted the
results of a consultation from years past, it would require a
release. In an emergency, emergency room records may be transferred
without specific consent, for obvious reasons. 

If you really think that people should simply identify you over
the phone by your voice, and follow your requests for such potentially
sensitive information, you are being extremely naive. What is to
protect a potential employer from checking out your medical history
before hiring you, or deciding to limit your insurance benefits based
on what it finds? There would be a great market for voice imitators
who could listen in to your employment interview, then call up your
doctor for records!

If one of my patients asks for records to be transferred, he/she must
sign a release, even if they are standing in front of me when they
make the request. This is only logical, for the protection of
everyone. What if you change your mind tomorrow, and state that
you never asked for your records to be sent?

>In my opinion, doctors will not accept phone requests for records release
>(to the patient, to be sent to home addresss), because they think that if 
>they "make" them write and send a certified letter, that the patient will
>think that is too much trouble and just drop it.  And, unfortunately, this
>is often the case.

There are doctors who are asses just like there are patients who are
asses, but that is not the reason for the laws. They are actually
there for your protection, if you would think about it.

Hard to believe, but not everything a doctor does is dictated by
personal greed, arrogance, or animosity to patients.

 -km
From: James_S._Bright.wbst129@XEROX.COM
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Von Willebrand's disease explained
Date: 16 Oct 92 14:47:46 GMT
Reply-To: JBright.Wbst129@xerox.com


For those who may be interested, here's a little of what I found:

Von Willebrand's disease is caused by a defective gene and is usually inherited
in an autosomal dominant pattern. A person needs to inherit only one copy of
the defective gener to suffer from the disease. As many as 1 in 1,000 (more
than I thought!) is believed to have the gene, but it's effects are variable.
Both men and women are can be effected.

The gene defects leads to a *reduced* concentration in the blood of Willebrand
factor. Willebrand factor helps platelets plug injured blood vessel walls, and
it forms part of factor VIII (which helps explain why one would have a hard
time clotting -- if you don't have much Willebrand factor, you won't have much
factor VIII).

Symptoms may include excessive bleeding from the gums and from cuts, nosebleeds
and, in women, menorrhagia (excessive menstrual bleeding). In most severe forms
deep bleeding into joints (I was afraid that this was happening to my friend --
bleeding into her knee) and muscles may be a problem.

Most of the information above I was able to get from a couple of complete
medical dictionaries. (they gave a lot of information in an easy to read
format, now I can go and get more detailed). These dictionaries were at a local
library, and I think it would benefit anyone trying to research a disease to
start there.

If anyone is interested, I'll post what I find on thromocytopenia. (I'm not
going to post anymore about Von Willebrand's disease. If anyone is interested,
I'll email).

disclaimer: These views are strictly my own, are not meant to represent
Xerox, its associates, my parents, my school, nor my pet snake.
From: jpennell@axion.bt.co.uk (John Pennell)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Forced kidney donations
Date: 15 Oct 92 09:31:29 GMT
Reply-To: jpennell@axion.bt.co.uk (John Pennell)
Organization: British Telecom Research Labs



This is not a lunatic raving, just someone interested.

I recently read the posts regarding the use of pig's livers in humans.  Recently,
there has been a rumour close to my home town of young people being sold
"drugs" at parties which have later turned out to be tranquilisers.  The young
people disappear for 3-4 days and when they return, a very professional job has been
made of the removal of a kidney.

Until now, I have dismissed this has a stupid rumour, but the post got me
thinking.  If the operation is possible, would this make the "scam" described
lucrative.  I have heard that so far, the local police are aware of this happening
in Chelmsford and Hertford and a two other places in the Herts and Essex area of 
England.  Any observations or comments on the practicalities of this would be welcome.

Please, no flames, I am asking out of interest.

Jon
From: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Starting an alternative medicine newsgroup
Date: 7 Oct 92 16:04:44 GMT
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

In article <1992Oct5.205204.5875@island.COM> green@island.COM (Robert Greenstein) writes:
>
>It seems that you're putting an awful lot of energy into trying to
>create a newsgroup that you're not even interested in. Save it for your
>patients. 

Well, 2 or 3 postings is hardly much energy.  As I suspected, one
of the advocates of alternative medicine has taken over the 
drive on news.groups, so I won't have to devote much more energy
to it. 

>It is hard for me to fathom what it is about non-conventional
>medicine that sets your blood boiling. Admittedly, a lot of what you
>like to call "alternative" medicine is bunk, but at least its relatively
>harmless bunk, as opposed to much of what is accepted as part of



Well, just yesterday one of my MS patients came into the VA to see
me.  He looked pretty bad.  He just got out of his local hospital
after he became septic from a central line he had put in so he
could receive some special calcium treatments that were being sent
to him from this famous MS quack in Germany.  He had almost died.
Now the line is pulled (he decided not to go back to Germany
to have one put in again) he has to take the special calcium
(I guess it is some secret formula) orally to the tune of $600/month.
It is draining his families finances.  Last week I saw another
MS patient who asked me if I thought she should go to Germany
for these treatments.  She's already had all her amalgams drilled
out by a quack dentist (no, she didn't go dancing the next day).
Today I read that some poor kid has ADD and is not going to get
treatment that might make an enormous difference in his life because
his mother took him to a quack naturopath.  I could go on and on.
*That* my good fellow, is what sets my blood boiling.

-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: yozzo@watson.ibm.com (Ralph Yozzo)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Peroxide and the bubbling reaction?
Date: 12 Oct 92 16:56:35 GMT
Organization: IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM

In article <1992Oct9.155745.14045@kestrel.edu> king@reasoning.com (Dick King) writes:
>In article <1992Oct08.152150.96426@watson.ibm.com> yozzo@watson.ibm.com (Ralph Yozzo) writes:
>>Why is it that peroxide bubbles when it is placed on a cut?
>>
>>(I've been told that it is a sign that it is killing germs,
>>but I think that it is a reaction with the blood.)
>>
>
>Some component of blood, probably hemoglobin, catalyzes the breakdown of
>2(H2O2) -> 2(H2O) + O2.
>
>-dk

As a followup question, (I realize that there is probably no ironclad rule.)
how much peroxide should one pour on a cut?  
And how often should it be done?  For example, should it be done once
or every day for the first few days while the cut heals.

And also what are the consequences of putting both iodine and peroxide
on a cut?

-- 
Ralph Yozzo (yozzo@watson.ibm.com)  
From the beautiful and historic Mid-Hudson Valley area of NY state
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: dlb@fanny.wash.inmet.com (David Barton)
Subject: Re: Cluster Migraines
Organization: Intermetrics Inc., Washington Division, USA
	<1992Oct9.172248.27163@hellgate.utah.edu>
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 16:52:00 GMT

I second the call that I am sure others will make, to have your aunt
under the care of a neurologist who specializes in headache care.  I
have tried most of the items on your list (I think all).  When I was
having my severe episode of cluster headaches (I think that is what
you mean by cluster migraines), oxygen had some symptomatic effect.
Nothing else did.  Eventually, I tried hypnotherapy (at the point
where my neurologist was going to send me to Houston for surgery), and
that proved remarkably effective in my case.

But all of this is beside the point, as it only covers one case.
Cluster headaches respond differently to different medications in
different people.  What worked for me may not work for her.  A
competant neurologist is WELL worth the money.

					Dave Barton
					dlb@hudson.wash.inmet.com
From: nyeda@cnsvax.uwec.edu (David A. Nye MD)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: More Eyeball Woes
Date: 11 Oct 92 03:20:15 GMT
Organization: University of Wisconsin Eau Claire


In article <7540099@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM>, jean@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Jean Jasinski) writes:
> Might anyone be able to help with an elusive, poorly-defined problem
> my husband is experiencing with his eye?       
> 
> He complains that at times his left eyeball "gets stuck" on something
> in his eye socket.  His best guess is that it feels like there might be
> a small growth on his upper eyelid because if he presses on his top eyelid,
> the eye seems to free up.  But if there is a "growth", it must be high up
> because a cursory exam of the eyelid finds nothing.  There is no difference
> in dryness between his two eyes; his vision is not affected.

Does he get double vision when his eye gets "stuck"?
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: m23364@mwunix (James Meritt)
Subject: Re: Flame wars on sci.med
Organization: MITRE Corporation, McLean VA
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 16:27:22 GMT

In article <16915@pitt.UUCP> geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks) writes:
}In a very nice way he said he appreciated the information that
}Steve, Ken, and other of the professional posted to sci.med.
}However, he felt that we detracted from the professionality
}of the information by getting into debates with the lunatic
}fringe.  This is something that some people like Ray Dunn have
}been saying also, although not in such a nice way.  
}
}Thinking about it, he is probably right.  Most people who read 
}sci.med are capable of telling nonsense without us having to
}counter each posting, which merely lowers us to their level.

Very good.  Now if only the OTHER profanity-bound posters figure it
out.  Odd, though, but when I complained about this before they were
DEFENDED in their use of misc. profanities.  As though that were
suppose to add to their presteige.

}So I'm going to attempt to stop debating these people.  I will
}still answer questions and post information, but will try very
}hard to avoid responding to nonsense and getting drawn into
}flame wars with medical hobbyists.  

EXCELLENT!  BZ!

}Occassionally I may still respond, when I think I might have some
}chance of influencing someone who needs to be influenced.

Why not email (if you are aiming at someONE)?
From: James_S._Bright.wbst129@XEROX.COM
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Hypothesis on Thrombocytopenia and Von Willebrand's disease
Date: 16 Oct 92 17:13:47 GMT
Reply-To: JBright.Wbst129@xerox.com


What I found and have posted on the Thrombocytopenia and Von Willebrand's
disease was pretty much the same thing that Steve and Brian posted. Now my
hypothesis is to what is going on in my friend's body is as follows:

Rosie has a reduced number of platelets. This means that she bruises easier,
etc, as stated in previous posts. Not only that, but Von Willebrand's disease
means that she doesn't have Willebrand's factor to help the platelets clot.
This makes clotting twice as hard (figuratively speaking). Von Willebrand's
disease is the disease which inhibits her clotting (a disease that she
inherited from one of her parents), and thrombocytopenia is a symptom. I'll
check with Rosie to she if any of her doctor's have explained to her why she
has a low platelet count (I've been trying to figure out some connection
between Von W's disease and thrombo, but I don't see any reason why Von W's
would cause thrombo).

Rosie also gets sick easy. She explained it to me that her white blood cells
(?) were busy killing off her platelets, so consequently, they spend less time
fighting infection. I need to double check that with her, because it seems to
me that may be what's going on in respect to thrombocytopenia (her platelets
are being killed off by "friendly fire").

Anyway, that was what I found out playing doctor. Thanks Steve and Brian for
helping me get started. Any other comments, anyone?

disclaimer: These views are strictly my own, are not meant to represent
Xerox, its associates, my parents, my school, nor my pet snake.
Xref: sparky sci.med:18813 sci.med.occupational:117 news.answers:3349
From: john@physiol.su.OZ.AU (John Mackin)
Subject: Not a Twit
Organization: Department of Physiology, University of Sydney, Australia
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 03:50:47 GMT

In article <1992Oct10.054617.29835@cis.uab.edu>,
	sloan@cis.uab.edu (Kenneth Sloan) writes:

[Quoting Steve Dyer:]
>>... I'll let off steam as (well-deserved) sarcasm if I wish;
>>goodness knows I provide enough of value that people will just have to
>>be satisfied with the whole package.
>
> At one time, this might have been true.  It isn't now.

Incorrect.  It certainly is still true.

Just another data point.

-- 
John Mackin <john@civil.su.oz.au>
We can't shut up.  We're going out.
From: carl@aoa.aoa.utc.com (Carl Witthoft)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Treatment for Mononucleosis
Date: 6 Oct 92 18:26:50 GMT
Organization: Adaptive Optics Associates

In article <1992Oct2.180118.14436@cbfsb.cb.att.com> kja@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (krista.j.anderson) writes:
>When I had mono as a college freshman, the doctor gave me some
>little white pills that he said were a "miracle drug".  I never did 
>find out what they were but suspect they were some kind of steroid.
x
Doctors (or anyone) who gives out medication w/o telling what it is
and why you should take it are very high on my Shoot On Sight list.

Back to mono: funny thing about viruses: nobody's got a cure for
any of them yet.  You gotta wait it out.  In the case of mono, 
pain killers and steroids are often prescribed (or were, at my
college :=( ) to make it easer to deal with sore throat & other
pains.


-- 
Carl Witthoft @ Adaptive Optics Associates
aoa!carl@bbn.com  carl@aoa.utc.com
54 CambridgePark Drive, Cambridge,MA 02140 617-864-0201
"My Karma just ran over my Dogma!"
From: km@cs.pitt.edu (Ken Mitchum)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: "Problem Patient"
Date: 9 Oct 92 13:24:20 GMT
Reply-To: km@cs.pitt.edu (Ken Mitchum)
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

In article <1992Oct7.125545.310@news.wesleyan.edu> RGINZBERG@eagle.wesleyan.edu (Ruth Ginzberg) writes:
>literally dozens of surgeries and hospitalizations & disabilities.  However, it
>was only after she died (at age 35) of pneumonia that anyone discovered that
>she had severe COPD (surely she MUST have known), when she had never mentioned
>pulmonary problems to ANYONE. 

I don't mean to contradict you here, but it is very unlikely that she
would have COPD and her physicians not know. COPD of any severity beyond
the mildest form causes numerous physical findings which are impossible
to ignore unless you never examine the patient. In most moderate and
severe
 cases you can simply look at the patient and realize they have
COPD. Not to mention its obvious appearance on a chest xray.

35 is also very young for COPD, unless she had some rare condition
predisposing to it. Are you sure she didn't have asthma, which would
be a much more common cause for respiratory problems at her age,
and which may have had few or no physical findings in between attacks?

 -km
From: cjross@testament.bbn.com (Chris Ross)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Need info on Wellbutrin and Somatostatin
Date: 10 Oct 1992 20:14:14 GMT
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
Distribution: world
Reply-To: cjross@bbn.com (Chris Ross)
NNTP-Posting-Host: bbn.com

These have been recommended to me by a gastroenterologist attempting
to treat a condition which has resisted conventional approaches.  (In
brief, I'm starving to death because of a continuously upset stomach.)

For Wellbutrin: what reasons exist for choosing it over the tricyclics
or MAO inhibitors, besides adverse reactions to the latter two?  Does
anyone have experience with long-term use?

For Somatostatin: what is it, and what are its side effects?  My PDR
doesn't list it, and my pharmacist couldn't dig up anything on it.

thanx,


chris ross   <cjross@bbn.com>   BBN Advanced Simulations   (617) 873-3272
	     To see a secret message, print this .signature
		  at 300dpi and hold it over a candle.
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer)
Subject: Re: Starting an alternative medicine newsgroup
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 08:02:39 GMT

In article <BvuAAp.7ny@wpg.com> russ@wpg.com (Russell Lawrence) writes:
>I truly don't wish to offend you, Steve,

Snort.

>but I can't help wondering
>why you seem to think that "nastiness" is tolerable if/when you're
>the one who's dishing out the insults.

I have nothing against a sharp tongue; I hone it regularly.
But I despise whiners; people who just can't shut up if
someone stepped on their toes months ago.  This is what
Ray Dunn has reduced himself to, at least in sci.med.
He should get over it, at least if he cares at all about
carving out a reputation as anything other than a whiner.

>This newsgroup would be far more attractive to the net-at-large if 
>we could stick to the facts and dispense with the invective.

What did my dear grandmother used to say?  "Butter would melt in his mouth."
Disingenuous pleas for civility from one of the major sci.med ankle-biters
when it comes to his favorite hotbuttons do not carry much moral weight with
me.  It's dishonest and hypocritical.  But typical.

This newsgroup would be far more attractive to the net at large if
buffoons like Idler and Yank-whatshisname-ovich (God help their children),
crazies like Sternlight and Kingsley Morse, and the varied and sundry
medical conspiratorists gave it a rest.  I only have so much patience
for nonsense.  I'll let off steam as (well-deserved) sarcasm if I wish;
goodness knows I provide enough of value that people will just have to
be satisfied with the whole package.

-- 
Steve Dyer
dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer
Newsgroups: sci.med