HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: king@reasoning.com (Dick King)
Newsgroups: sci.med,sci.bio
Subject: Re: Eliminating the need to sleep?
Date: 27 Sep 92 17:36:01 GMT
Organization: Reasoning Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA

In article <dyfl.717299453@munagin> dyfl@mullian.ee.mu.OZ.AU (Daniel Y Lam) writes:
>It occurred to me that sleep is a terrible waste of time for human
>beings.  We could work and play so much more if we could reduce our
>need to spend 1/3 of our lives doing nothing.

The folklore has it that you must be careful to get a good night's sleep the
SECOND night before a major athletic competition, but that the night before is
less important.

Is there any basis for that belief?

-dk
From: rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu (David Rind)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Medline access?
Date: 6 Oct 92 13:25:22 GMT
Organization: Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston Mass., USA

In article <1992Oct5.011128.1513@cnsvax.uwec.edu>
 nyeda@cnsvax.uwec.edu (David A. Nye MD) writes:
>Does anyone know how I can access Medline through the Internet?
>I know I can access PaperChase through Compu$erve but that is

As I mentioned here recently, PaperChase will be accessible through
the Internet in the near future (probably a few weeks assuming there
are no technical problems).
-- 
David Rind
rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu
From: brrian04@uctvax.uct.ac.za
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: QUESTION ABOUT ETILEFRINE (EFFORTIL)
Date: 30 Sep 92 14:13:54 GMT
Article-I.D.: uctvax.1992Sep30.121354.202930
Organization: University of Cape Town

Does anyone know anything about Etilefrine (Effortil) - is it relatively safe?  
does any tolerance develop from prolonged use?  is there anything more
effective and perhaps cheaper?

Thanks
Swan Wulfgur			

brrian04@uctvax.uct.ac.za	
ibarrett@casper.cs.uct.ac.za	
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: jrt@omega.kcr.uky.edu (J. Randall Thompson)
Subject: Re: "Problem Patient"
    <1992Oct1.235834.19874@athena.cs.uga.edu>
Organization: Kentucky Cancer Registry, Univ. of Ky
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 14:03:43 GMT
Distribution: usa

In article <1992Oct1.235834.19874@athena.cs.uga.edu> mcovingt@aisun3.ai.uga.edu (Michael Covington) writes:
>In article <16692@pitt.UUCP> geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks) writes:
>
>>This is really minor compared to say, a patient who has
>>pseudoseizures (phoney seizures that mimic epilepsy).
>
>Phoney seizures?
>
>Sounds like a story worth telling...
>
>

The first *real* patient I ever saw as a medical student had pseudoseizures.
My first clinical rotation was in neurology and we were asked to evaluate
a patient on the psych ward. Being young and naive, i didn't realize the
significance of being able to take a complete history from the patient
*while* she was having these 'seizures'. Needless to say, the neurology
attending made me painfully aware of the diagnosis!

-- 
[]  J. Randall Thompson                                      jrt@kcr.uky.edu []
[]  University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky                              []
From: dag@col.hp.com (David Geiser)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: nausea's cause
Date: 29 Sep 92 16:13:50 GMT
Article-I.D.: col.1992Sep29.161350.21852
Organization: HP Colorado Springs Division

Obviously, you have Lyme disease.


dag
Just kidding
-- 

 To the cat, the experimenter is problematic.
From: ron@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Ron Miller)
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 21:02:10 GMT
Subject: Re: Eliminating the need to sleep?
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Newsgroups: sci.med

Re: Less sleep

Speaking as a former Naval officer who routinely stayed up all night 3 nights
a week as a matter of "operational requirements" and has gone as much as
one week on 4 hrs of sleep more than once, I can say that I was unable to
learn to fully function on less sleep. 

I could operate at reduced capacity, I could stay awake, I could learn
how to compensate for brain fade but I never did adapt to the constant
time shifts, short sleep, interrupted sleep, lack of day/night rhythms,
wearing the red night vision goggles while on watch, and all the other stuff 
that went along with life aboard a Fast Attack Submarine.

I was most pleased to recognize that the regular schedule and predictable
and sufficient sleep schedule I returned to after I left the Navy, explained
why I'd felt like crap for most of the preceding 4 years. 

I am sympathetic to the exhaustion of the medical student on rotation.
It makes for a miserable life and stupidity.



Ron Miller
ex-Lt. USN

"One Ship, One Crew. The Black & Blue"
USS CINCINNATTI SSN-693  1979-1983

Newsgroups: sci.med
From: russ@wpg.com (Russell Lawrence)
Subject: Re: Patients rights to copies of medical records
Organization: WP Group
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 03:46:29 GMT

Russell Lawrence writes:
rl> Here's a listing of the (20) states with statutory provisions
rl> guaranteeing full patient access to medical records:  Alaska, California,
rl> Colorado, Connecticutt, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana,
rl> Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York,
rl> North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
rl> 
rl> DC guarantees access by case law, not statute.  Massachusetts, 
rl> Minnesota, Montana, and Texas have statutory guarantees with 
rl> exceptions in cases where disclosure might harm the patient.
rl> 
rl> Total: 25 states.
rl> 
rl> Source: _In Health_ (formerly _Hippocrates), March, 1989.

From article <1992Oct02.000208.31257@ux1.cts.eiu.edu>, by cfaks@ux1.cts.eiu.edu (Alice Sanders):
as> In Illinois, though, the patient is only guaranteed a 'copy' of records.

Agreed.  And this is true in many other states as well.  For the 
most part, however, it's the information that patients need --- 
not the media.  

as> When it comes to x-rays of some kinds, this can turn out to be 
as> very inadequate.  

Truly.

as> I recently needed some x-rays for a second 
as> opinion, and the second opinion doctor had to retake the x-rays 
as> because she simply could not rely on the copy.  I obtained a 
as> second copy for her, trying to avoid retaking them, and despite 
as> supposed efforts to get a very good copy, it was no better.  I am 
as> now a patient of the second-opinion doctor rather than the first 
as> one.  One of my gripes was the first doctor's reluctance to assist 
as> me in getting my second opinion by letting me at least borrow my 
as> originals;  he could have kept a copy himself until I returned the 
as> original if he had wanted to be helpful.  

I sympathize with your problem, but I also understand why the 
best of doctors with the best of intentions might be reluctant to 
allow originals to leave the premises.  As such, my major gripe
is with physicians and dentists who've lobbied against laws
aimed at guaranteeing across-the-board access.   

We can't change the past, but we can change the future.  Whenever 
I have xrays made (usually dental xrays), I demand, in advance, 
that the technician use double-film with the understanding that 
one film goes home with me.  With one exception, no one's 
declined to meet my demands.  (In the case of the one exception, 
I went someplace else.) 

-- 
Russell Lawrence, WP Group, New Orleans (504) 443-5000
russ@wpg.com   uunet!wpg!russ
From: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: MRI
Date: 4 Oct 92 16:27:45 GMT
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

In article <1992Oct2.025320.21757@news.columbia.edu> stone@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Glenn Stone) writes:
>Someone with knowledge/experience with MRI on the lower back please
>tell me: what kinds of problems is MRI best at revealing?  What
>problems does it not reveal?
>
They reveal structural abnormalities such as disc hernations, tumors,
cysts, osteophytes.  (Things that can be fixed, often, surgically).
They do not reveal tendonitis, strained muscles and ligaments, spasm,
etc. (the bulk of the causes of low back pain).  Things that can't
be fixed surgically, but medicine might help.

>Is there very much variation in the cost of an MRI (I'm in Manhattan)?
>
In Manhattan, they are probably all expensive.

>Finally, why is the lower back such a disaster area?  (I know the
>answer to that one: we're basically jerry-rigged quadrupeds).
>
-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "I have given you an argument; I am not obliged
geb@cadre.dsl.pitt.edu   |  to supply you with an understanding." -S.Johnson
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: kpc@pluto.arc.nasa.gov (k p c)
Subject: Re: American Medical Association warns of illegal drug importation
Reply-To: kpc@ptolemy.arc.nasa.gov
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center AI Research Branch; Sterling.
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 05:43:29 GMT

in that report the ama does not appear to acknowledge the existence of
competent self-prescribers.

i think the burden of proof says that many non-doctors do know what
they need, whether it be extra-strength ibuprofen, out of state
refills, or something else.  an md is not magic or in the firmament.

i think that this is a mistake which reinforces the idea that ama
members are interested more in their own power and wealth than in the
health of americans.

it would seem to be a mistake to give this impression in a year when
health care change is a topic of media discussion, since maybe a
change will be made that makes the ama less powerful!

let's put it in perspective.  imagine the following from the acm
(association for computing machinery, less powerful than the ama):

        computers are difficult to use and understand.  using them
        improperly can result in catastrophic loss of data.

        therefore, people who wish to use computers, even for their
        own use, must first obtain a prescription from a doctorate in
        computer science.
        
        if they move to a different state, they must re-register with
        a computer scientist in their new state in order to maintain
        their equipment.
                
        buying computers from overseas will not be allowed except in
        special circumstances, when the need is adequately documented
        by an american computer scientist and we are feeling very
        generous that day.

In article <CXKPV@ASUACAD.BITNET> writes:

   Among the AMA's other concerns are the reduced need for competent
   citizens to shell out a hundred bucks to have the privilige of
   being able to get a piece of paper which will allow them to buy a
   refined chemical packaged in pill form.

will we regain the freedom to get medicine we need without necessarily
making an appointment to pay a doctor to scribble his hallowed name?
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: M20614@mwvm.mitre.org (Hugh Pritchard)
Subject: Re: Eye damage from tiny print
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, McLean VA 22102
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 11:38:25 GMT

In article <1992Oct5.234227.10442@hellgate.utah.edu>
rfrazier%peruvian.utah.edu@cs.utah.edu (Robert Todd Frazier) writes:
 
>        Is there any evidence as to whether or not reading small print
>is harmful to your eyes.  Does straining (crossing eyes) cause damage. Are
>the muscles in your eye similar to other muscles (exercise=bigger).
 
Are you asking about the ciliary muscle (in a ring around the lens),
or the rectus (superior, inferior, lateral, medial) and oblique
(superior, inferior) muscles around the outside of the eyeball?  The
six muscles outside the eyeball handle pointing; the ciliary muscle
handles bunching-up/relaxing of the lens to accomodate close vision.
 
Yes, any of these muscles can become over-tired from long periods spent
contracted.  No, this is not permanently harmful.
 
See an optometrist or an ophthalmologist if you suspect a problem with your
eyes (or eyeglasses/contacts).
 
**  Hugh Pritchard,  hapritch@mitre.org,  703/883-6616
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: cease@carina.unm.edu (Cecilia De Blasi)
Subject: Re: low thyroid levels, but not hypothyroid
Date: Tue, 06 Oct 92 20:11:34 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
Distribution: sci

In article <BONNIE.92Sep28130759@aigyptos.nmsu.edu> bonnie@nmsu.edu (Bonnie Hargrave) writes:
>
>My doctor says my thyroid levels (T2 and T3, I believe she said) are
>low, but that the TSH level (the signal from the brain to the thyroid)
>is normal, which means I do _not_ have a hypothyroid condition.
>
>Then she explained that with true hypothyroids, the brain sends
>excessive signals to the thyroid in an effort to stimulate it.  This
>part makes sense to me.
>
>But can someone explain to me why, if the brain part of me is working,
>the thyroid gland part of me is not up to par?  My doctor seems to
>have no knowledge of these workings -- either your thyroid produces or
>it doesn't and no other factors affect it.  Sounds bogus to me.
>
>Comments?
>--

You might have a low amount of thyroid-binding protein.  The active
form of thyroid hormone circulates free in the blood, but much of it travels
bound to this thyroid-binding protein in the blood.  Your hypothalamus
regulates the amount of *free* thyroid hormone in the blood and induces
the anterior pituitary gland to secrete the appropriate amount of thyroid
stimulating hormone (TSH).  I believe the common lab test for thyroid hormone
(T3 and T4) measures the *total* amount of thyroid hormone in the blood, both
bound and free.  If you have low amounts of thyroid binding protein, the
total amount of thyroid hormone may be low, although the *free* amount
would be normal, and you would not be hypothyroid.  Your thyroid gland
would be behaving exactly as it should be.

- Cecilia De Blasi




-- 
| courtesy of Cease of the Not Well Defined at This Time |
|        cease@unmb.bitnet    cease@carina.unm.edu       |
|    We're only immortal for a limited time.  - Rush     |
**********************************************************
From: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: "Problem Patient"
Date: 5 Oct 92 14:16:00 GMT
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

In article <1992Oct3.135230.27052@genie.slhs.udel.edu> nancy@genie.slhs.udel.edu (Nancy Lebovitz) writes:

>
>How do you tell the difference between someone with Munchausen's and
>someone with a problem you don't know how to diagnose? (I'll take your
>word for it that Munchausen's exists, but I've also heard too many
>horror stories from people who got told their real diseases were
>delusional.)
>

The Munchausen's aren't delusional.  They are faking the diseases.
There's a difference.  You wouldn't call someone who is delusional
a Munchausen's, but more likely someone who has somatic delusions,
far more common than Munchhausen's, which is rare.  You pretty
well have to catch the Munchausen's, although you can suspect
it in someone who has excessive evidence of previous surgical
procedures.  The worst type are those who fake illness in their
children and get their jollies from having the children undergo
medical procedures.  They exist!




-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: paresthesia
Date: 4 Oct 92 15:10:39 GMT
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

In article <1992Sep29.215310.292@news.wesleyan.edu> RGINZBERG@eagle.wesleyan.edu (Ruth Ginzberg) writes:
>what could be the cause of paresthesia & weakness in thumb & 2 fingers
>following traumatic elbow injury when all xrays are normal?
>
>is "wait a week & see if it improves" a reasonable course of action?
>
>
Injury to the median nerve could do this.  The ulnar nerve is
the one likely to be injured at the elbow.  A hematoma would not
show up on an xray.  The alternative to "wait and see" is to
"hurry up and cut".  Unless things are getting serioulsy worse, or you
have a damn good idea where you are supposed to cut, cutting is
-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: hrubin@pop.stat.purdue.edu (Herman Rubin)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Sponsorship of research and other conflicts of interest
Date: 30 Sep 92 16:28:37 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Statistics Department

In article <16635@pitt.UUCP> geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks) writes:
>I've only been on one of these also.  They are now no longer offered,
>I think, due to ethical concerns which are valid.  This one was
>on anticonvulsant monotherapy sponsored by Abbott (maker of
>Depakote).  I found it the same as Ken did, very objective.
>No talks by any employees of Abbott, but by researchers in the
>field.  I think Abbott's reason for sponsoring it was that they
>had a new drug, as good as the old drugs, and they knew that
>the experts would say that.  They couldn't help but benefit
>from more widespread knowledge, since those who didn't have up
>to date knowledge would still be using the older agents.
>It was very nice.  They put us up at the Ritz in Naples,
>FL.  Paid for the food and the airfare.  In my case, I was
>grateful, but I didn't prescribe any more Depakote than I had
>been doing.  I do think it is legitimate to prohibit such junkets,
>though, since they do undoubtedly increase the costs of the drugs
>to the patients, who can ill afford it in many cases.

As for prohibiting these junkets, I doubt that they add much to the
cost of the drugs.  The other costs are massively larger.

But notice that you, and I suspect the great bulk of those attending,
were not particularly influenced.  You also admit that you were informed,
and that the information you received was properly handled.  In the case
of a drug which did much more than the old drugs, you might very well have
used that one.

But what if, say, NIH, which distributes beaucoup research funds, and whose
funding policies can make or break an investigator, holds a conference 
slanted to the viewpoint held by their top guns?  This is perfectly legal,
and does not, within the present laws, constitute any conflict of interest.
Now most of their top people do not deliberately stifle research areas, but
they have in cases.  Look at the wavering on artificial hearts, for example.
Look at page 63 in last week's _Time_.

No, it is the idealogues whose conflicts of interest are scary, not those
who want to make a few bucks.
-- 
Herman Rubin, Dept. of Statistics, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette IN47907-1399
Phone: (317)494-6054
hrubin@pop.stat.purdue.edu (Internet, bitnet)  
{purdue,pur-ee}!pop.stat!hrubin(UUCP)
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: dlb@fanny.wash.inmet.com (David Barton)
Subject: Re: Sinus Headaches
Organization: Intermetrics Inc., Washington Division, USA
	<16753@pitt.UUCP> <1992Oct5.045804.13761@netcom.com>
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1992 15:52:32 GMT

In article <1992Oct5.045804.13761@netcom.com> lindae@netcom.com
writes:

   I'm a little confused about this whole sinus vs. migraine issue.
   When I get these headaches (which are often accompanied by nausea,
   by the way) they seem to be relieved by pressing on the sides of my
   nose, just under my eyes.  I thought that indicated that the pain
   was being caused by sinuses.  If it were migraine, would pressing
   on those points relieve the pain?  Also, here's a little more info.
   The headaches generally start out the way I've just described but
   then spread to an all over head pain.

   My other question is this... if they are migraines, is it
   imperative to be seen by a neurologist as you suggested?  Or is it
   something that I can just live with as long as it's tolerable?  Is
   there a danger to letting it go on untreated?

When I get a migraine, pressure on the juncture between the nose and
the eye socket frequently brings some temporary relief.  If drugs are
ineffective (much rarer now, I am happy to say) I curl up in bed with
my thumb right up there against the pain area.

I don't know what Dr. Bands will say concerning the imperative nature
of treatment; however, it seems incredible to me that anyone would
choose to live with pain at this level.  If your migraines are of the
common type, it should not take a whole lot of appointments to get
them under control, and some of the common medications are not that
expensive for the relief you get.

					Dave Barton
					dlb@hudson.wash.inmet.com
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Starting an alternative medicine newsgroup
Date: 4 Oct 92 16:05:07 GMT
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

In article <1470200@hpwrce.mayfield.hp.com> kingsley@hpwrce.mayfield.hp.com (Kingsley Morse) writes:

>> participating.  Kingsley, you out there?
>
>Count me in. Can someone else create it and notify us here?

What I meant was, someone who is interested in sheparding the group
through the process of formation, request for discussion, call for
votes, etc., should be someone who is into alternative medicine,
like yourself.  I was hoping you would volunteer to do it.  If
you don't know the process, but would be willing to head it
up, I can try to find out the procedures for starting a group.
I don't think it is that hard.  

I think the basic process is to have a request for discussion
on news.groups (RFD), then after a month or so, a Call for Votes
(CFV).  If the group passes, it gets created.  Quite possibly,
someone would volunteer to handle the CFV.  The name of the
group is part of the discussion, I guess.  Well, I'll go ahead
and initiate the RFD today.  Be sure to read news.groups to follow
that discussion and to see if it gets formed.

-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: nyeda@cnsvax.uwec.edu (David A. Nye MD)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Attention Deficit Disorder Resources
Date: 5 Oct 92 02:16:28 -0600
Followup-To: misc.kids
Organization: University of Wisconsin Eau Claire

In article <16748@pitt.UUCP>, geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks) writes:
> In article <1992Oct3.000832.18415@jetsun.weitek.COM> nadja@jetsun.weitek.COM (Nadja Adolf) writes:
> 
>>Amen. Before accepting a prescription for ritalin, be sure that a 
>>complete physcial/neurological workup is done. Children have been
>>diagnosed with ADD when they actually suffered from such unrelated
>>disorders as pinworms and epilepsy. I think an EEG is an absolute 
>>requirement since in some cases Dilantin or other medication is 
>>indicated, not ritalin.
>> 
> 
> Certainly an EEG cannot rule out epilepsy.  It is far more important
> to have the child seen by the expert than to have notions about
> what tests are "an absolute".  The diagnosis is not made on an EEG.

Right.  Seldom is an EEG necessary for the diagnosis.  The key
is watching the kid in the office and interviewing the parents
and teachers, sometimes getting some additional neuropsych
testing.  If it was epilepsy masquerading as ADHD it would most
likely be absence which responds poorly to Dilantin.

The most important thing to consider is whether the kid feels
better and more in control on meds and whether he is doing
better in school.  Ritalin is by no means indicated in all kids
who are "off task" at school, but when the diagnosis of ADHD
can be confirmed it is cruel to the child to withhold it unless
there are significant side effects.