HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: pdsmith.mitre.org (Pat Smith)
Subject: Re: wisdom teeth removal
Organization: The MITRE Corporation
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 14:34:46 GMT

In article <KPC.92Sep1172935@zog.arc.nasa.gov>, kpc@pluto.arc.nasa.gov (k p c) writes:
> 
> does anybody have any wisdom to offer to a 27 year old who has to have
> all 4 wisdom teeth removed?
> 
> ideas, comments, warnings or bay area oral surgeon
> recommendations/disrecommendations would be great.
> 
> (it's actually a suggestion, by a dentist who noticed 3 cavities, to
> have all 4 teeth removed by an oral surgeon.)
> --
> i'm open to comparing research career notes with other young cogsci people.
> -- 
> i'm open to comparing research career notes with other young cogsci people.
> 
> 
Think twice about getting the bottoms ones removed and ask the doctor what
the risks are.  I had all four removed (only the top were bothering me but
heck if I was getting 2 removed - - why not all 4).  I asked about risks and
the dr failed to tell me that the bottom wisdom teeth sit right on top of the 
lingual nerve and in some instances, removal of the teeth causes nerve
damage.  Well I am one of those instances and I now have limited sensation 
in the lower quadrant of my tongue, floor of my mouth and the inside of
my gum on one side.  I was livid that this dr did not tell me of this
risk and when I demanded he show me the medical books so I could see just 
how close this nerve is he was very hesitant. I thought about taking some legal action but 
no money will bring back this nerve.  I sought out a neurologist who told
me that this happens often to some degree as these oral surgeons really
don't know where the nerve is when they start digging at the tooth (assuming
its impacted as mine were). This oral surgeon was highly recommended. I am not
mad at the dr about the nerve as I think it was accidental but I am mad
 that he failed to tell me its a risk.  I 
would never have had those teeth removed if I had known.  I really don't
think he intentionally screwed up the nerve as he seemed upset about what
happened
From: Kevin@lemoore.ati.com
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Treatment of Renal Cyst
Date: 27 Aug 92 19:36:09 GMT
Reply-To: Kevin@lemoore.ati.com
X-Mailer: ReSource - Mac Release: 1.5


I am a 35 yowf who recently had a friend perform an ultrasound of
the Gallbladder thinking i was having problems. My symptoms are consistent
with that of Gallbladder problems, are probably more due to some insignificant
long term side effects of a gastric stapling done in the past. The
most bothersome symptom has been back and flank pain almost constant
for several months from annoying to severe at times. No  Gallbladder
 problems were found so the tech fished around and did find a 4 cm.
area within the right kidney appearing to her to be a cyst. An I.V.P.
confirmed and a C.T. scan was done confirming the same. My question
is how are these usually treated. I am planning on seeing a Urologist
A.S.A.P. I would appreciate any info that would be presented about
treatment.

Kevin Kurtz
Assistant Principal
Lemoore Elementary School
100 Vine St.
Lemoore, CA 93245
(209) 924 -1224    (voice)
(209) 924 - 2274    (data/fax -- on when requested)
Kevin@lemoore.ati.com
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: ******** MICROWAVE HAZARDS *******
From: king@reasoning.com (Dick King)
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1992 16:49:48 GMT
Organization: Reasoning Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA

In article <1992Aug21.164835.14121@gateway.novell.com> terry@thisbe.Eng.Sandy.Novell.COM (Terry Lambert) writes:
>In article <8k_nd4_@dixie.com> jgd@dixie.com (John De Armond) writes:
>>terry@ithaca.Eng.Sandy.Novell.COM (Terry Lambert) writes:
>[ .. Uncle Stan who invented microwave ovens refuses to have one in house ... ]
>>Senility, perhaps?
>
>	A pacemaker would be a better reason, since apparently there are
>enough emissions from a microwave oven to fry them, but he doesn't have a
>pacemaker.  Also, he didn't say "Stops your pacemaker!", he said "Cooks your
>gonies!".  Amazing that pacemakers can be fried even with the hand dandy Tandy
>device says they're not leaking.
>

I think the problem is not that the electronics in the pacemaker are "fried".

I think the problem is that [some?] pacemakers are intended to be reprogrammed
by radio signals, and they can misinterpret a minor EM signal as a command to
stop working or to beat at 300BPM .

Other pacemakers sense "their" heart's natural pacemaker impulses and deliver
one of their own only if the natural impulse is absent.  Minor EM signals could
conceivably jam this function.



This accounts for warnings to pacemaker patients to avoid electronic metal
detecters at airports, and antitheft coils at department stores and libraries.
My microwave oven, however, doesn't have one, so they must be reasonably
confident since this would be lawsuit bait if it were a reasonable possibility. 



-dk
Xref: sparky sci.med:16644 rec.sport.triathlon:1108
From: geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med,rec.sport.triathlon
Subject: Re: Effect of glycerin taken internally?
Date: 31 Aug 92 15:03:05 GMT
Followup-To: sci.med
Organization: Decision Systems Laboratory, Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA.

In article <1992Aug28.202121.18317@spdcc.com> dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer) writes:

>
>>2) What effects does glycerin have on the body that I should be aware of?
>
>A concentrated solution of glycerin is frequently used as an osmotic
>diuretic to lower intraocular pressure before eye surgery.  I don't
>remember what its concentration is--I think it's > 20%.
>
I've used it as an osmotic diuretic to reduce cerebral
swelling, but always given IV.  Given orally, I'd think it might be just 
as likely to pull fluid out of the body into the gut and cause 
massive diarrhea!  I wouldn't advise taking p.o. glycerin.



-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "Skepticism is the chastity of the intellect, and
geb@cadre.dsl.pitt.edu   |  it is shameful to surrender it too soon." 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: M20614@mwvm.mitre.org (Hugh Pritchard)
Subject: Re: RADIAL KERATOTOMY
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, McLean VA 22102
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 18:54:11 GMT

In article <180j51INN4in@matt.ksu.ksu.edu>
kja@matt.ksu.ksu.edu (Kevin Joseph Almeida) writes:
 
>I am on the lookout for certain info. on RADIAL KERATOTOMY the surgical cure for myopia. This is for a friend in India and would appreciate any
>valuable input from those in the field.
>
>1. What are the pros and cons of this surgery ?
 
Have your friend talk to an ophthalmologist who does radial keratotomy (RK).
RK is only one of a number of techniques in "refractive surgery."
Pro: If surgery is successful, your friend will see without glasses.
Con: He might STILL need glasses.  His cornea(s) could be penetrated, leading
perhaps to infection and possible blindness.  He could even have a problem
with the anesthesia, with a small chance of DEATH.
 
>2. What are the after-effects if any ?
 
Pain.  Possible fuzzy vision.
 
>3. What are the side-effects if any ?
 
If surgery is successful, none.
 
>4. What are the risks involved ?
 
See "Con:" stuff, above.
                                                            u
>5. What is the succes rate ?
 
I don't know.  Ask an ophthalmologist.  I have the impression it's 80% or 90%.
 
>6. What is the best place(country) to do this, WHY? and most economical place too ?
I don't know.
 
>7. What are your reccomendations and advice that you might want to pass on to someone contemplating this kind of cure ?
Do not confuse RK with the still-experimental "laser" RK (photo-refractive
keratectomy, or PRK).  Read Shulman's _No_More_Glasses_ for a layman's
description of RK.  If your friend's prescription is -5 diopters or less,
RK will probably help him a great deal.
 
I'm not a physician; merely an informed patient (7 eye operations, including
cataract extractions, lens implants, and cornea replacement).
 
**  Hugh Pritchard,  hapritch@mitre.org,  703/883-6616
From: mcovingt@athena.cs.uga.edu (Michael A. Covington)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Vitamin B12; was: Re: Smart Drugs
Date: 26 Aug 92 02:49:54 GMT
Organization: University of Georgia, Athens

In article <16203@pitt.UUCP> km@cs.pitt.edu (Ken Mitchum) writes:

>I don't know if anyone has studied the placebo effect of B12 injections,
>but I would be surprised if someone hadn't. It is interesting that even
>among patients who have pernicious anemia, they report an initial
>sense of well-being and improvement after a B12 injection long before
>any known physiological effect of B12 could take place, i.e. within
>hours of leaving the doctor's office. Whether this is due to some
>unknown action of B12, or to placebo influences, it unclear, but
>very interesting.

An effect well known to those of us who keep lizards or turtles as pets
is this: even an oral dose of B12 will reliably and often dramatically
stimulate appetite in an animal that has gone off its feed.

I think that in such cases the problem is probably a diet low in B12
rather than inability to absorb it.  But admittedly I don't know offhand
the vitamin composition of mealworms.


-- 
+ Michael Covington - Artificial Intelligence Programs - U of Georgia - USA 
+ Unless otherwise noted, these are private opinions, not official statements.
+ VOTE NO GEORGIA LOTTERY - don't tie education to an unpredictable income.
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: dgren@wpi.WPI.EDU (David Gerard Grenache)
Subject: Re: wisdom teeth removal
Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 15:25:52 GMT

In article <oneil.715408343@cwis> oneil@cwis.unomaha.edu (Sharon O'Neil) writes:
>I don't mean to depress you or anything, BUT...
>
>Make sure that you have a good three or four days clear where you don't
>have ANYTHING to do because you are going to feel SICK, SICK, SICK.  I
>had two wisdom teeth pulled in January and I basically just lay in bed
>for two days afterward.  The doctor prescribed tylenol/codeine but that
>just made me even sicker.
>
Not so with me! A mere ten hours after my surgery I was up and around at home
eating scrambled eggs and felt fine....a little soreness in my jaw but that
was all.  I didn't even need the pain medication given to me.  I was also back
at work a day later. Go figure!

--David
From: alanj@dadd.ti.com (Alan Jones)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Hiccups
Date: 2 Sep 92 16:52:15 GMT
Reply-To: alanj@dadd.ti.com
Organization: Texas Instruments, Inc.

In article 16301@pitt.UUCP, geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks) writes:
>
>Both of these actions (swallowing and breath holding) increase vagal
>tone which is probably responsible for suppressing the hiccup reflex.
>
>It is food stuck in the trachea, not the esophagus, that is a threat
>and it would be handy to have a reflex other than cough, which requires
>inspiration first.  But hiccup doesn't seem to occur in these situations.

Food stuck in the esophagus is not a threat??  If the food's not going 
down, the body has a bit of a problem, although not life threatening.

Sorry, your comment on "vagal tone" has no meaning to me (my dictionary's
definition sheds no light in this context).  Like I said, I have no medical
background, but if you have the time, perhaps you could elaborate a bit.

---
sincerely,
Alan Jones  /  Texas Instruments, Dallas, TX  /  email=alanj@dadd.ti.com
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: stone@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Glenn Stone)
Subject: Re: Does masturbation reduce intelligence? 
Reply-To: stone@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Glenn Stone)
Organization: Columbia University
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1992 22:13:35 GMT


>>Last I heard, one brand of Hindu mysticism held that men who could
>>perform auto-fellatio, and thereby absorb their own vital bodily
>>fluids, derived special virtues therefrom.
>
>  Turns out there was a primitive race of early homonids that could,
                                                 try "hominid"
>  in fact, do this very feat quite easily due to some rather unique
>  spinal development.  It seems, however, that there are some rather
>  strong evolutionary pressures that selected against their producing
>  viable offspring.
>
>Bob Beauchaine bobb@vice.ICO.TEK.COM 

Oh yeah, right.  In fact, most anthropologists are taught in graduate school
that...

There once was an Australopithecus afarensis from Nantucket
Whose dick was so long he could suck it
He said with a grin,
As he wiped off his chin,
"If my ear was a cunt I could fuck it."



-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Glenn Davis Stone                                BITNET: stone@cunixf
  Columbia University            INTERNET: stone@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: lady@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Lee Lady)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Don't moderate sci.med
Summary: Skepticism should extend to the scientific orthodoxy as well.
Keywords: moderate sci.med not
Date: 23 Aug 92 18:55:04 GMT
Followup-To: sci.med
Distribution: sci
Organization: University of Hawaii (Mathematics Dept)

In article <16164@pitt.UUCP> geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks) writes:
>                       What the fringe
>people want is a soapbox where they can broadcast their ideas to
>a large audience who are tuned in to get medical information.  
>They are crusaders.  That is one of the reasons that I have countered
>them so strongly.  I've promised if they take the stuff to their
>own newsgroup, I'll leave them alone and let them spout their nonsense
>to their heart's content.  But until then, I'll be their adversary.

I think we are very lucky that the "fringe people" are willing to post
information about their ideas and beliefs in a forum where they are
subject to intelligent criticism by experts.  If there are cogent
objections to some alternative approach that sounds plausible to me, I
certainly want to hear these objections.  

Unfortunately, in my opinion many of the objections posted by orthodox
opponents of the fringes have not been very cogent.  In particular, there
often seems (to me) to be an attitude that one doesn't have to know
anything about an approach in order to criticize it.  This in particular
applies to you, Gordon.  It pains me that someone with your intelligence
and expertise, and who I admire so much, is willing to post so many
adversarial articles that have no real substance once one strips away what
is essentially just name calling.  

On the other hand, some of the "fringe people," for instance the
homeopaths recently, seem to do a perfectly fine job of making fools of
themselves without any assistance from their critics.  

As far as skepticism goes, it's easy to be skeptical of some fringe
belief that is opposed by the establishment and is based on some highly
implausible sounding theory.  For my part, my own skepticism also
extends to the pronouncements of experts.  When an expert tells me
something I want to know "How do you know that?"

I'm especially skeptical of claims that the scientific orthodoxy has a
complete lock on the truth and that anything that comes from outside that
orthodoxy can be automatically rejected without being investigated or
even listened to.  

I know that it's annoying to have to listen to a lot of alternative
fringe stuff that has no value.  I hope that the competant scientists
will continue to read it, though, both so that they can enlighten the
rest of us by making intelligent criticism, and in the hope that they may
discover that in the fringe there are some occasional kernels of real
insight which make it worthwhile sorting through all the chaff.  (Sorry
for the mixed metaphor.)  

--

Imagination is greater than knowledge.  -- Einstein 

lady@uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu         lady@uhunix.bitnet
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: georgec@eng.umd.edu (George B. Clark)
Subject: Re: Nizoral for toenail fungus
Date: Tue, 01 Sep 92 00:14:43 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland

In article <1992Aug31.170110.20676@engage.pko.dec.com> bechtler@asdg.enet.dec.com (Laurie Bechtler) writes:
>
>
>I've just started taking Nizoral, and was planning to the library and
>find some information on it.  At the same time, I wanted to look up

I recently read that the best drug by far for curing fungus infections
of the nails is Itraconazole. It has been available in Europe for
several years, and the FDA is expected to approve it for use in the
U.S.A. within a year. At the Hawaii Dermatology Seminar it was
claimed that Itraconazole can cure nail fungus in two weeks, and a
single dose cures vaginal yeast (candida) in 80% of cases.

It would be worthwhile, perhaps, to mention Itraconazole to your
doctor, just to see what he says.
From: dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Zoloft?
Date: 26 Aug 92 15:36:05 GMT
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA

In article <l9mce0INNjvq@cronkite> nate@ghidrah.Central.Sun.COM writes:
>Is this a placebo?
>

It depends on why you're being prescribed it. :-)

It appears to be an effective antidepressant, though there's no
guarantee that any particular individual will benefit from it.

-- 
Steve Dyer
dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer
From: rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu (David Rind)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Smart Drugs
Date: 25 Aug 92 15:11:34 GMT
Organization: Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston Mass., USA

In article <1992Aug25.005135.12844@seas.gwu.edu>
 sheryl@seas.gwu.edu (Sheryl Coppenger) writes:
>The question might be asked, though, when do doctors test and when
>do doctors treat?  What kind of neurological symptoms, for instance?
>
>Also, if the normal range is 200-800 (I forget the units of the test), does 
>that mean that it's valid for a doctor to see a reading of 201 and say 
>"you're normal" or 199 and say "you need shots"?

These are valid points.  People with anemia where the red blood cells
are big (macrocytic) are routinely checked for B12 deficiency.
Neurologic symptoms of peripheral neuropathy or dementia usually also
prompt checking a B12 level.

However, as suggested, the test is not perfect.  It simply indicates
a "normal" range usually defined by the numbers that encompass 95%
of normal individuals.  Most, but not all, people with B12 deficiency
have serum levels below the normal range.  Since B12 shots are
relatively innocuous, it makes sense to treat anyone with even a low
normal B12 level, if they have symptoms to suggest B12 deficiency.
This is probably a more sensible strategy than doing an extensive
workup to prove the diagnosis.

>I'm not for giving "B12 shots all around", but it seems to me unlikely that
>there is some kind of binary "pernicious anemia"/"no pernicious anemia"
>switch in people or that everyone is going to be at their best at the
>same level.

It's worth pointing out that pernicious anemia is not synonymous with
B12 deficiency.  It is a specific autoimmune disease that involves
B12 deficiency, but there are many other situations in which people
end up B12 deficient.
-- 
David Rind
rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: cash@convex.com (Peter Cash)
Subject: Re: Vegemite (Was B12)
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 03:50:02 GMT
Organization: The Instrumentality
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

In article <u734120.714800081@bruny> u734120@bruny.cc.utas.edu.au (John Lamp) writes:

>Actually Vegemite was devised by an Australian company during
>the 1930's depression as a low cost nutritious spread. Kraft entered
>the scene much later and bought out the company.

Nonsense. Vegemite is a low-order explosive composed of pureed turnips and
parsnips that was developed by the Australians during WWI. You've heard of
victory gardens, surely?
-- 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
             |      Die Welt ist alles, was Zerfall ist.     |
Peter Cash   |       (apologies to Ludwig Wittgenstein)      |cash@convex.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: eang42@castle.ed.ac.uk (L Bootland)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Hiccups
Date: 31 Aug 92 18:05:54 GMT
Organization: Edinburgh University

alanj@dadd.ti.com (Alan Jones) writes:

>1.  Does medical science understand what causes hiccups?
sortof
>2.  If so, what causes them?
spasms of the muscles in the diaphragm
>3.  What purpose do hiccups serve?
none once you are born.  Fetuses make the same movement, it seems to be
partly to swallow amniotic fluid (which is needed for something) and
partly to exercise muscles that will be needed after birth. Its just a
developmental hangover.


-- 
============================================================================
Standard disclaimer applies:   L. Bootland    eang42@castle.ed.ac.uk
                               University of Edinburgh, Genetics.
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: CANCER
From: Keith.Hitchner@f5.n3611.z1.fidonet.org (Keith Hitchner)
Date: 22 Aug 92 14:30:16 GMT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:3611/5 - Middle GA Medical F, Macon GA

A 49 year old female had breast cancer less than 2 years ago.  The doctors 
called her a miracle after her mastectomy.  She went to every appointment. 
She's already had her first part of reconstruction surgery.  Immediately 
following her reconstruction her back started hurting very badly.  Two weeks 
ago, they told her that the cancer was back, now in her lungs, bone and bone 
marrow.  They started Chemotheraphy with hope of some responce from the 
cancer.  If the cancer responds, they'll try a "Blood Stem Transplant".  What 
is that?  What happens in the procedure?  What are her chances?  

 

--  
Internet: Keith.Hitchner@f5.n3611.z1.fidonet.org
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: jil@uts.uucp (Jamie Lubin)
Subject: Re: Looking for good articles on FOODS AND MOODS
Organization: Bellcore, Piscataway, NJ
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 92 17:36:33 GMT
Keywords: food, foods, mood, moods

In article <billd.715162125@cheetah> billd@informix.com (William Daul) writes:
>This months Nutritional Newsletter has an article on Food (vitamins/amino
>acids) and moods.  Can any of you recommed other articles in this area?
>
>Thanks,  --Bill

A book comes to mind: "Psychodietetics" by Emanuel Cheraskin, D.M.D.
From: RGINZBERG@eagle.wesleyan.edu (Ruth Ginzberg)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: for those interested in mental illness...
Date: 3 Sep 92 21:32:51 GMT
Organization: Philosophy Dept., Wesleyan University
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.20Lines: 20

For those interested in mental illness, there is an absolutely fascinating
autobiographical account (177 lines long) posted to both alt.politics.bush and
alt.politics.clinton by gary stollman, the guy who forced his way into the
studio & made david horowitz read a statement on the air at gunpoint.

his post details a long history of hospitalizations & what (for all the world
*APPEAR* to be) paranoid delusions, though his hope is to convince his readers
that nazis and aliens really have taken over this country.  he claims doctors
are in on this conspiracy, too.

it doesn't look like a prank or bogus post to me; it looks authentic & it is a
fascinating 1st-person account of the experience of psychiatric disability.

just f.y.i. .....

(not reposting it here because of its length)

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