HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: janh@hsr.no (Jan Hoeyberg)
Subject: Allergic - Moving to Texas
Keywords: Allergy, Asthma, Environment, Texas, Austin
Organization: Rogaland University Centre
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 12:25:48 GMT

In a few weeks I'll be moving to Austin, Texas, together with my wife
and 5 year old son. They are both allergic to pollen (grass, birch) and
dust, and suffer from asthma.

We are a bit worried about how the climate and environment in Texas may
affect their allergies. If anybody has any good advice or information about
pollen density, pollution, climate etc., please respond to me by E-mail or
in this newsgroup. Thanks.

Jan H\o iberg (janh@hsr.no), Stavanger, Norway
From: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Tuberculosis
Date: 4 Jan 93 16:25:02 GMT
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

In article <725297239.AA00335@f-454.fidonet.org> Doug.Platt@f595.n106.z1.fidonet.org (Doug Platt) writes:
>
>A few weeks ago, a friend told me that his girlfriend (who lives with
>him) had been diagnosed with "borderline tuberculosis."
> 
>First, I've never heard of anyone being "borderline" with this disease.
>Is that possible?
>

No.  You either have it, or you don't.  You can have an active case,
in which case you are infective, or a passive one, in which the organisms
are in the body, but are held in check by the immune system.  This is
more common.

Probably she had a borderline PPD test.  This means the test was
not diagnostic, and they aren't certain that she doesn't have
the disease.  Unless she is ill or coughing, I wouldn't worry
about getting TB from her, as long as her physicians are not
concerned and she is under medical supervision.  They will isolate
her if she is an active case.
 
>Second, since he told me this, I've been hesitant to visit them.  I'm
>running out of excuses why I can't come over.  Is it as contagious as
>I think it is.  Am I being overly cautious by not visiting there?
>
TB is not very contagious unless it is an active respiratory case.
I've seen hundreds of patients that were PPD positive and many active
cases and still have not acquired the infection.


-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: larry@mits.mdata.fi (Lasse Hero)
Subject: Re: Advice on contact lenses wanted (especially on disposable ones)
Organization: Microdata Oy
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 15:34:30 GMT

splee@pd.org (Seng-Poh Lee, Speedy) writes:

>disposable:	Wear for two weeks and throw away. This is the one she
>		is most interested in. I'd appreciate hearing from people
>		who have experience with them, both good and bad.

I have used disposable lenses that could be used for three weeks,
and the current ones that I'm using know, can be used for four weeks..

And this is what the manufacturer suggests, not an idea of my own..:)

--
--------------------------------------------------------------
! Lasse Hero, Kannelj{rventie 6 B, 02130 Espoo, Finland      !
! (90) 455 1074 ! larry@mits.mdata.fi / larry@purkki.apu.fi  !
--------------------------------------------------------------
From: rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu (David Rind)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Electrocardiogram question
Date: 4 Jan 93 14:25:41 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston Mass., USA

In article <1993Jan4.090528.1973@mr.med.ge.com> hinz@picard.med.ge.com
 (David Hinz Mfg 4-6987 ~BHOSVWZ#097) writes:
>scheme, and anything that isn't just right gets called "non-specific".
>This could be caused by lots of things....muscle movement, electrode noise,
>anything.  If the computer can't recognise it, it'll spit out whatever it
>thinks is closest.  
>The fact that it doesn't say anything SPECIFIC is wrong could be taken as

"Non-specific ST-T changes" is not similar to noise or other interference.
It is a "specific" diagnosis, meaning that there are changes in the
ST and T segments of the EKG that are not diagnostic of any specific
abnormality such as ischemia (though ischemia or even infarction can
produce such changes).  They are a relatively common finding.  A good
computerized EKG interpreter should be able to distinguish noise from
NSST-T changes.
-- 
David Rind
rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med,sci.skeptic
Newsgroups: sci.med

What is Asperger's Syndrome?  I have seen it in the context
of discussions about autism but have been unable to locate any
information on it in my family medical/disease books.

Thanks,
Jean Jasinski
From: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Questions about Reynaud's Syndrome
Date: 4 Jan 93 15:57:29 GMT
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

In article <1992Dec23.102647.12172@vms.eurokom.ie> mdebuitlear@vms.eurokom.ie writes:
>
>What does sound unreasonable is that there are many, many like examples 
>around and a lot of people are suffering unnecessarily because scientific 
>medicine hasn't 'got around' to proving that they work.
>
>In my book, if it _clearly_ doesn't do any harm and may well do some good, 
>the patient should be told about it.  They can decide themselves whether to 
>take it or not.
>

You realize, of course, that there are hundreds, if not thousands,
of substances and treatments that people have asserted are helpful
but have not been proven.  We train medical doctors in scientific
medicine, was has been proven or what should work based on scientific
principles.  Do not expect them to tell you about rumors.  They
will have no training in that, and we have no plans nor desires
to give them such.  If this is what you want, visit an herbalist,
not an MD.


-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: cam@castle.ed.ac.uk (Chris Malcolm)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Sea water consumption
Date: 12 Jan 93 06:04:02 GMT
Organization: Edinburgh University

In article <19930111092950CSMSCST@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU> CSMSCST@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU (Chris Thomas) writes:
>In article <2395@hsdndev.UUCP>, on 11 Jan 93 16:13:55 GMT,
>rind@enterprise.bih.harvard.edu (David Rind) writes:

>>This is simply a physiologic limitation.  There are mammals that can
>>live on sea water (some specied of rats, I think) by having kidneys
>>that can attain extremely high concentrations and can thus dilute
>>out saline to physiologic levels.

>Presumably all the sea-dwelling mammals (eg, whales, seals) can also
>do this.  There was a very interesting article in Scientific American
>a number of years ago on exactly this subject, for anyone interested
>in further understanding.  As I recall, a number of bird species
>which make long overwater migrations can also drink seawater.
>Seagulls may also have this ability.

Most sea mammals and birds which drink salt water use salt tears as a
salt excretion mechanism. We are unusual among land mammals in having
salt tears and subcutaneous fat rather than hair -- typical sea-going
adaptations. Hence the "aquatic ape" hypothesis of human origins.
Which raises the interesting question of whether variation in the
human race encompasses some who can drink sea water. There are a
number of shipwreck stories where the survivors ran out of fresh water
and started drinking sea water, with the result that most of them died
-- but some lived to tell the tale. Or maybe some humans can adapt to
drinking sea water. Some of those who survived by drinking sea water
claimed to have drunk sea water regularly as children.

-- 
Chris Malcolm    cam@uk.ac.ed.aifh          +44 (0)31 650 3085
Department of Artificial Intelligence,    Edinburgh University
5 Forrest Hill, Edinburgh, EH1 2QL, UK                DoD #205
From: das@canctr.mc.duke.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Migraine Medication
Date: 6 Jan 93 02:21:49 GMT
Reply-To: das@canctr.mc.duke.edu
Organization: Duke U. Med. Ctr., Durham, NC

In article <1icipcINN6q1@gazette.bcm.tmc.edu>, pburch@roc.mbcr.bcm.tmc.edu (Paula Burch) writes:
>
>In article <17943@pitt.UUCP>, geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks) writes:
>
>> In my experience, propranolol is more effective than verapamil, although
>> more people have side effects.
>
>How do these compare to taking Midren as a prophylactic against migraines?
>Side effects, cost?

          Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Midrin was taken
          only at the onset of a migraine.  It was my understanding 
          that it was not acceptable as a prophylactic.  At least,
          that's what my doctor said when we agreed I would try 
          propranolol before returning to Midrin :-)

>
>(I don't remember what drugs are in Midren--acetaminophen plus a sedative
>plus something to supposedly do something vascular.)

          It has been a couple of years since I took it, but I can
          say that for someone who had previously had NO relief
          from their migraines (doctors kept diagnosing sinus 
          infection up until this time) Midrin seemed like a miracle.
          It does have some sort of vascular component I believe -
          which is why I *think* it is not suitable as a prophylatic.
          (Again, it has been 2+ yrs since I last had reason to take it.)

>
>Paula Burch
>pburch@bcm.tmc.edu

----------
Lora M. LeMosy, Duke University, Durham, NC
71544,467 CompuServe (preferred) - or - das@canctr.mc.duke.edu
I do not speak for the university and the university does not speak for me.
----------
/
From: dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Tuberculosis
Date: 5 Jan 93 01:15:02 GMT
Article-I.D.: spdcc.1993Jan5.011502.7110
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA

In article <1993Jan4.215957.28196@maths.tcd.ie> tim@maths.tcd.ie (Timothy Murphy) writes:
>Talking of TB ...  I had TB years ago,
>when streptomycin was the magic cure.
>I noticed that streptomycin was not mentioned
>in the recent postings on this subject.  Is it no longer in use?

Streptomycin is no longer a first-line drug in the treatment of
tuberculosis; it needs to be injected, which is inconvenient,
and in sufficiently high doses (which tend not to be given anymore)
it is ototoxic (ear-toxic), causing problems with balance in a large
number of people.  It has occasionally caused hearing loss and even
permanent deafness.  However, it still might be used as part of a
multi-drug regimen for advanced cases of TB, and in situations
involving drug resistance to the more common anti-TB drugs.

-- 
Steve Dyer
dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: georgec@eng.umd.edu (George B. Clark)
Subject: Re: Peter Breggin, _Toxic Psychiatry_ (Q)
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 93 18:05:51 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland
Distribution: na

In article <145@ky3b.UUCP> km@ky3b (Ken Mitchum) writes:
>
>It should not surprise anyone that if you do a pretty good imitation of a
>schizophrenic, you may get labeled as one. Since we don't have any way of
>crawling inside your head, if you tell us you hear voices and act accordingly,
>we just might believe you.

Ken, since you work at a VA Medical Center, do you very often see veterans
faking the severity of their disabilities, when you conduct a disability
rating exam?  Tell us some good stories.  :-)

For those who don't know, a rating exam is a periodic review of a
veteran's service-connected disability. It is done to assess whether
the veteran should continue to receive disability benefits (money)
and how much.

Newsgroups: sci.med
From: szikopou@alfred.carleton.ca (Steven Zikopoulos)
Subject: Re: Prescientific Traditions, again (was: Re: Herbs...)
Organization: Carleton University
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 23:49:38 GMT

In <1993Jan6.144320.587@news.wesleyan.edu> RGINZBERG@eagle.wesleyan.edu (Ruth Ginzberg) writes:

>In <1if3auINN4qg@im4u.cs.utexas.edu> turpin@cs.utexas.edu writes:

>> I do not impugn the physicians and investigators
>> of any prescientific tradition.  They undoubtedly did as well as
>> they could given their time and place.  Unfortunately, the same
>> cannot be said for modern proponents of their now obsolete
>> theories.  At certain times and places, giving credence to the
>> four humour theory of medicine, or evil spirits infesting the
>> body, or qi, etc., made a lot of sense.  But not now. 

>OK, Russell, I'll bite this time (thought I may regret this).

>Could you please define what distinguishes prescientific traditions from
>scientific traditions, preferably without using the term 'science' redundantly?

>The reason I ask is because I am not nearly so sure as you are that there is a
>*sharp* dividing line between science & "pre-science" or between science &
>non-science.  Here is my underlying agenda:  I *think* I'd want to argue that
>where, exactly, one chooses to draw those lines is ultimately political,
>because there is a continuum between one & the other, not a sharp break.  This
>is *NOT* (no flames, please) to say that there is no difference between science
>& non-science, any more than (e.g.) to say there is no difference between poor
>and wealthy.  It is just to say that where one draws a line dividing one from
>the other is constantly contested, and ultimately political.

Without knowing the extent of the previous discussion...I just wanted
to say that I agree with you Ruth.  The dividing lines are ultimately
political are drawn to serve the purpose of ...

One can also view scientists as political pawns.  My philosophical
background is not that extensive...so I'll stop here

Steven Zikopoulos
Carleton University
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
From: nyeda@cnsvax.uwec.edu (David Nye)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Reliability in medicine and engineering  (was: .
Date: 6 Jan 93 13:39:52 -0600
Organization: University of Wisconsin Eau Claire

[reply to geb@cs.pitt.edu]
 
>Before computers can significantly aid us in routine cases, advances in
>computer technology are needed such that the computer can acquire the
>data directly without the physician having to enter it.  We are
>probably 10 years away from that, at least.
 
Doesn't that depend on how we want to keep the medical record?  If we
insist on the conventional narrative H+P, then it will take that long
for natural language processing technology to get good enough, but if we
could use something more like a database of signs and symptoms, the
technology is available today.  A nurse could go through an on-line
review of systems and past medical history with the patient.  The
physician then adds to the database coded signs and symptoms along with
some plain text for details (for the computerphobe, this could be
written out on a worksheet and entered by a secretary).

David Nye
nyeda@cnsvax.uwec.edu
From: cathye@cs.uq.oz.au (Cathy Ewald)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: potassium
Keywords: potassium
Date: 5 Jan 93 11:36:01 GMT
Reply-To: cathye@cs.uq.oz.au

1) what are the normal potassium levels ? Is there a range ? 
I have been told the patients level is "3.2" and normal is
"3.9".  Does that make sense ? I'm not clear on the units .
2) What is usually done if it is low ?
3) is it the absolute value that matters or the ratio of sodium to
potassium  ?
4) Does low potassium cause sleepiness or reduced mental interaction ? 
5) How does high blood pressure fit into the picture ?

Thanks,
Cathy 
---------------
Cathy Ewald
cathye@cs.uq.oz.au 
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: tomj@monster.apd.saic.com (Tom Johnson)
Subject: Re: Heating milk in microwave for babies??
Organization: SAIC, Reston, VA
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 13:53:48 GMT

mjk@icf.hrb.com (Michael J. Kelley) writes:

>My wife fell asleep one night while heating a bottle of milk in a soup pan. 
>She set of the smoke detector once the bottle started to burn. She now wants 
>to heat the bottle of milk in the microwave. Is it safe to do this???  

The danger here is in overheating the bottle and burning the baby's mouth.
Yes, it's safe, but you do need to take certain precautions.
Microwaves can heat unevenly, so the bottle has to be shaken very
well after it's heated.
It's also easy to overheat the formula; with practice, 
this isn't much of a problem.
With our microwave, I heat formula for 5 seconds for each ounce in the
bottle; this results in lukewarm formula.


Newsgroups: sci.med
From: dougb@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Douglas Bank)
Subject: Re: Cellular telephones and brain tumors
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston Illinois.
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 15:03:44 GMT

In article <1993Jan5.173232.4856@netcom.com> kudzu@netcom.com (Michael Sierchio) writes:

>You must not have read the post -- it refers to the hand-held variety
>of cellular phone -- which has a max. power output of 1.3 W   The very
>reason for the reduced power output (from the 3  Watt max. of the non-
>handheld variety) was because of the evidence that supports a causal
>link between the devices and brain tumors.  But even a very superficial

Wrong!!!

The reason for the reduced power is so that they don't kill the
battery in 5 minutes.


Newsgroups: sci.med
From: julien@skcla.monsanto.com
Subject: What is a Physcian Assistant?
Keywords: What are they and what can they do?
Organization: Searle, Skokie, IL
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 11:39:36 GMT

I recently heard of a position called a Physcian's Assistant. Is this fairly    
new(within the last few years)? What degree or qualifications must they have?

Newsgroups: sci.med,alt.drugs
From: aankrom@nyx.cs.du.edu (Anthony Ankrom)
Subject: Re: RU-486 soon?
X-Disclaimer: Nyx is a public access Unix system run by the University
	of Denver for the Denver community.  The University has neither
	control over nor responsibility for the opinions of users.
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 93 18:44:11 GMT


 Is RU-486 a prostaglandin-type thing? Should we expect to see black-market
production of it eventually?

St. Anthony

--
          / N \   O                   Mi vsi smo krizhani,
         |   \ |  || Ph               chlani izbrani
         |   | |_O-C-C-OH             mesarskega ceha...
BZ        \ / /      Ph                            aankrom@nyx.cs.du.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Placebo Effect, Quackery, & Science
From: RGINZBERG@eagle.wesleyan.edu (Ruth Ginzberg)
Date: 12 Jan 93 15:42:36 EDT
Distribution: world
Organization: Philosophy Dept., Wesleyan University
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.20Lines: 57

These discussions of quackery vs. science are starting to drive me nuts.

However, one error in common to all of them is the frequent misuse of the term
'placebo'.  Following is my understanding of the Placebo Effect (what it is,
and what it is not).  Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.  Meanwhile, I
think if we all can agree on a common def of 'placebo', half of these "Science
vs. Quackery" posts will evaporate.

The 'placebo effect' is what happens when a person P with condition C is given
a substance S which is alleged to be inert, or at least to have no effect on C,
and nevertheless C improves after P has taken S.

The 'placebo effect' is *not*:
	1. When a person is mistakenly diagnosed with C, and improves
	   after treatment with S.
	2. When P *believes* s/he has C (but doesn't really), and
	   *believes* s/he has improved after treatment with S.
	3. When P actually does have C, and after receiving S, *believes*
	   C has improved, although objectively, it has not.
	4. When P actually does have C, and C actually does improve, 
	   which P *mistakenly* attributes to S (perhaps C was self-
	   limiting in the first place).
	5. When P is faking condition C, and stops faking it after
	   treatment with S (for whatever reason).
	6. When a person correctly diagnosed with C is convinced by
	   someone else to *believe* (or report) that s/he feels
	   better after taking S, even though s/he really doesn't
	   notice any improvement.
	7. When P suffers from some mental or emotional problem which
	   is not C, and the mental or emotional problem improves after
	   treatment with S.

To repeat: I BELIEVE (correct me if I'm wrong) the ONLY correct attribution of
the 'Placebo Effect' is when:
	a) P *actually does* have C.
	b) P *actually does* treat C with S.
	c) S *actually does not* have any observable effect on C in vitro, or
		in any theoretically plausible way.  (E.g., even the so-called
		'sugar pill' is not a reasonable placebo if what you're testing
		is hypoglycemia medication.)
	d) Nevertheless, C *actually does* improve after P treats C with S, and
		this is the case for a statistically significant # of P.

The (actual) Placebo Effect (in my understanding) must be demonstrated
statistically, because it must *ALSO* be demonstrated that treating C with S
causes MORE improvement than does leaving C untreated.  n=1 is too small of an
n to arrive at this conclusion.  In order to demonstrate the placebo effect,
there must be an untreated control group in addition to the group treated with
the placebo.  

Is this correct?  If so, can we all agree that this is what the term 'placebo
effect' means?  If not, could somebody please clarify?  Thanks.


------------------------
Ruth Ginzberg <rginzberg@eagle.wesleyan.edu>
Philosophy Department;Wesleyan University;USA
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: gray@rsvl.unisys.com (Bill Gray )
Subject: Re: sex, menstruation, endometriosis
Organization: rsvl.unisys
Date: Mon, 04 Jan 93 17:25:13 GMT

WRT retrograde menstruation caused by menstrual flow being backed up
into the belly:

I had an old GYN book (1948 edition) that discussed treatment for imperforate
(unperforated) hymens.  There were two photographs of women having the
accumulated menstrual flow of many years draining from their vaginas after
surgical opening of the hymen.  However, I recall no discussion of any
unusual menstrual problems following treatment.  The text did refer to the
accumulated stuff being thick and tarry.  I recall no mention of odor or
infection of any kind.  One of the women had so much accumulated flow that
she could be mistaken for being pregnant.

Granted that my memory is poor and there were not enough cases to be
statistically significant.  But you'd think if there was risk from an
occasional sexual interlude with an otherwise unobstructed cervix and
vagina that there would have been definite trouble caused by maybe ten
years worth of discharge.

Bill
-- 
: gray@RSVL.UNISYS.COM                      : "There are four kinds of         :
:                                           :  homicide: felonious, excusable, :
: Unisys has enough problems without being  :  justifiable, and praiseworthy." :
: blamed for my personal opinions.          :     --Ambrose Bierce             :
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: dannyb@panix.com (Daniel Burstein)
Subject: Re: AIDS and Transplants
Organization: PANIX Public Access Unix, NYC
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 13:16:58 GMT

the qustion was asked: are AIDS patients, given their depressed immune
system, better candidates for organ transplants?

Answer: no.  the immune system components affected by AIDS are (generally,
there is some overlap) different from thos that attack transplanted organs.