HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: etxmow@garboc34.ericsson.se (Mats Winberg)
Subject: Re: Myeloma Information?
Organization: Ericsson
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 14:35:36 GMT

hamish@netcom.com (Just Another Deckchair on the Titanic) writes:

>A relative has been diagnosed as having "Myeloma". My medical
>references do not say very much (in one case, nothing at all) about
>this disease; other sources suggest it's some form of bone cancer with
>immune system implications (vague, that...).

>So can anyone help - what's the prognosis? What *is* myeloma?

     I don't know if I should answer this, I'm no physician but I have
     experienced the same thing as you do now,  a relative with
     myeloma. As you wrote, it is a disease of the bones in the body,
     but I'm not sure if it really is considered a cancer (Someone more
     knowing can surely fill me in on this). It is very rarely seen in
     ages below 55-60. It is not evenly distributed over mankind. I
     think certain "races" are more prone to get it (blacks and whites
     I think, whereas Asians don't). It is a treacherous disease, since
     it often isn't discovered until late when the skeleton has
     spontaneous fractures and the disease has spread throughout the
     skeleton. Then it's called (at least here in Sweden) "multiple
     myeloma". The prognosis should the responsible doctor be able to
     tell you. It is of course better the earlier the disease has been
     discovered. The treatment includes blood transfusions and X-ray
     radiation (I think X-rays slow down the process). In one case I
     heard of, the physicians managed to cure the patient by removing the
     rib where the myeloma had its center (apparently it hadn't spread)

     Recently I read in a newspaper here in Sweden about a remarkable
     woman, she was diagnosed with myeloma 7 years ago and the prognosis
     was bad, but she surprised the doctors with her tests that showed
     that the disease was somehow kept under control by her own body. It
     seems that there is something in her immune system that keeps the
     disease in check. Researchers are now trying to find out what it
     is.

     Since I have been through the same thing that you are going through
     now, I can imagine your situation now and wish you and your
     relative all the best. 

    Mats Winberg
    Stockholm, Sweden 

>Thanks,
>	Hamish
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>Hamish Reid   +1 510 596-3917   hamish@netcom.com   hamish@sybase.com
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: clw@hprnd.rose.hp.com (Carl Wuebker)
Subject: Re: Physician's Incomes
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 00:15:45 GMT
Organization: HP Roseville Networks
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.8 PL6]

Devesh Bhatt states:

> And I think that these computer industry jobs are equally demanding (50+ hrs
> a week) as those of normal physicians, and probably more stressful because of
> recent downsizings and daily changes in the technology and business goals.  I
> have several friends with MD wives that work less, have much less job stress,
> and earn much more than their husbands.

     Bzzt.  I don't agree.  Comp Sci & EE types work to design & fix *things*.
Physicians fix people.  When I make a mistake, the consequence is usually time
(if I'm lucky, it doesn't cost much & takes a few hours to fix).  If, on the
other hand, a physician makes a mistake, it can cost a life (or perhaps the
quality of life) for somone.  I believe that the extra pay (and limited medical
school slots, and careful screening after training) has a lot to do with the 
responsibility a physician bears for human life.

     I don't have any illusions about physicians -- I know a few, they aren't
perfect.  But my friends do struggle with the "what ifs" a lot more than I 
do -- what if I had prescribed the other treatment?  Would the patient have 
lived?

> It is not sour grapes, but a question of perennial demand and an AMA-
> regulated supply.  In a market-driven society, you have all the right to 
> enjoy this privilege---I would have too, had I chosen the medical line. 
> But please don't try to justify it on other grounds.

     Some aspects of AMA regulation (i.e. quality) are good for the patient.
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer)
Subject: Re: AIDS therapy using DMSO and isopropyl alcohol
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 20:57:33 GMT

In article <BzErHr.Bro@unx.sas.com> sasghm@theseus.unx.sas.com (Gary Merrill) writes:
>I have nothing to say on this topic, but feel compelled to respond
>in some way to the following childish personal attack which was
>brought to my attention by another reader.

Childish personal attack?  My God, I'd hate to think what you consider
a compliment!

>|> I recommend wearing a hat when you go out into the sun from now on.
>|> You might also consider making an appointment with the eminent
>|> compiler expert and student of humanistic psychiatry, Gary Merrill,
>|> who will be happy to listen to your theories.
>
>Mr. Dyer, who knows neither my background nor my experience, appears

OK, I take it back.  You're not an eminent student of humanistic
psychiatry, and your C compiler has bugs in it.

>unable to deal with anyone who disagrees with him except by assiduously
>avoiding issues in favor of name calling.

What name did you have a problem with?

>It's even more effective,
>of course, if such attacks are posted in a thread or newsgroup you
>think your target won't read.

Since the article was posted to sci.med, it was at least a possibility
that you would see it, although whether you would or not was never
very important to me.

>I have restricted my response to sci.med since I share neither Mr.
>Dyer's access to or interest in alt.sex and soc.motss.

How dare you accuse me of reading alt.sex!  Here's a man who appears
to be the master of the well-placed insult!  Harrumpf!

Oh yeah: :-)

-- 
Steve Dyer
dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: mcovingt@aisun3.ai.uga.edu (Michael Covington)
Subject: Re: Dominant vs non-dominant eyes
Organization: AI Programs, University of Georgia, Athens
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 02:19:54 GMT

Your eyes work the same way as mine, which I've always thought was
perfectly normal.

-- 
:-  Michael A. Covington     internet mcovingt@uga.cc.uga.edu :   Verbum caro
:-  Artificial Intelligence Programs       phone 706 542-0358 :    factum est
:-  The University of Georgia                fax 706 542-0349 :  et habitavit
:-  Athens, Georgia 30602-7415 U.S.A.     amateur radio N4TMI :   in nobis...
From: nyeda@cnsvax.uwec.edu (David Nye)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Immunotherapy for prostate cancer?
Date: 20 Dec 92 02:24:04 GMT
Organization: University of Wisconsin Eau Claire

[reply to mdtaylor@apple.com]
 
>My grandfather was diagnosed two years ago as having prostate cancer...
>Over the past two months, his doctor has detected a rise in the levels
>of the indicator (antibodies in the bloodstream?) that his cancer has
>returned.
 
Prostate-specific *antigen*
 
>My aunt, a psychiatrist, has mentioned to him that there might be some
>kind of immunotherapy that would be appropriate for him to try.
 
The use of "designer antibodies" in the treatment of cancer is a very
exciting development but is still in its infancy.  I read in a recent
issue of Science News that here have been some apparent cures of
metastatic melanoma.  I don't have any information about its use in
other cancers, although someone must be trying it.  The antibodies
aren't available commercially, so you would have to find someone who is
enrolling patients in a study.  I don't have any leads for you, but your
grandfather's oncologist might.  There might be a name mentioned in the
Science News article (look in the index issue which just came out).

David Nye
nyeda@cnsvax.uwec.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Getting off Xanax
Date: 14 Dec 92 07:00:47 GMT
Article-I.D.: spdcc.1992Dec14.070047.14911
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA

In article <1992Dec12.101155.45579@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu> 1k1mgm@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (Christopher Gunn) writes:
>Both alcohol and benzodiazepines are inhibitors at the NMDA subtype
>of glutamate/excitatory amino acid receptor (although probably
>through different mechanisms).  That's why benzodiazepines are
>useful in alcohol withdrawal.  The cause of this *aspect* of
>alcohol addiction is upregulation of the NMDA receptors;  I have
>no idea whether this happens in benzodiazepine addiction.

I always understood that benzodiazepines, barbiturates and alcohol acted
to enhance the actions of GABA at the GABA-A receptor, though each thru
slightly different mechanisms.  I don't think they have any activity at
NMDA receptors, unless there's been new research which I haven't read
in the past few years.

-- 
Steve Dyer
dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer
From: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Coma
Date: 17 Dec 92 16:02:21 GMT
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

In article <1992Dec9.223017.29368@erg.sri.com> seidel@erg.sri.com (Craig Seidel) writes:
>Does anyone know of recently discoverred techniques for bringing
>people out of comas?
>

If the coma is caused by a metabolic or toxic cause, there are
various means, depending on the exact cause.  If it was caused
by ischemia, hypoxia, or trauma, there are no ways to bring them
out.  They either will come out on their own if the brain heals
sufficiently, or not.  Playing music or talking to them won't
do anything unless the cause of the coma is psychiatric.



-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: djh@osc.edu (David Heisterberg)
Subject: Kellogg and Moral Medicine (was: circumcision)
Organization: The Ohio Supercomputer Center
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 19:03:06 GMT

In article <17794@pitt.UUCP> geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks) writes:
>Actually, I've seen this only in old books on morality and such.
>I've never seen it in any of the reputable text books like
>Osler's textbook, etc.  What reputable doctors of the time
>advocated it to prevent masturbation?

I'd like to use this to segue into a question I've been meaning to
ask.  In the late 1800s to early 1900s there were quite a few books
of "medicine for the common man", but which really seemed to be a
quack justification of somebody's morality.  Probably the best known
was written by Dr. Kellogg (of Corn Flakes fame).  My question is,
to what extent was any of this accepted by the medical community?
And, what kind of reaction was there to it?

Kellogg's book is a hoot.  He was really hung up on masturbation.
I have another book from the late '10s (can't recall the author)
which claimed that hysterectomies invariably led to insanity.
-- 
David J. Heisterberg (djh@osc.edu)       Hoeren Sie gut zu,
The Ohio Supercomputer Center            und wiederholen Sie!
Columbus, Ohio                             -- ALM German
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: hank@well.sf.ca.us (Hank Roberts)
Subject: Re: post-Prozac reactions
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 00:36:37 GMT


If there have been longer-term studies reported on prozac, zoloft and
any other 5-HT reuptake inhibitors, I'd be real curious to hear about them.
I haven't come across any longterm, large-population studies; what I've
seen about prozac and zoloft was for studies of about 4-months' duration.

Quite likely I've missed something; just an interested observer here.
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: mazur@bluefin.camb.inmet.com (Beth Mazur)
Subject: Re: Adiposity 101
Organization: Intermetrics, Inc.
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 02:38:08 GMT

In <1992Dec14.224957.11233@omen.UUCP> caf@omen.UUCP (Chuck Forsberg) writes:
>The incidence of morbid obesity is very much greater in the US than in France.
>Energy intake is about the same, and fat consumption is greater in France.

I think I asked this question before--I don't remember if you answered it
or not.  Energy intake is about the same between who?  The morbidly obese in
the US and normal weight people in France?  Reference please.

Beth Mazur                   "...life is more than a vision.  The sweetest
mazur@inmet.inmet.com         part is acting after making a decision."
...!uunet!inmet!mazur                                  -- The Indigo Girls
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: aids testing and insurance
From: RGINZBERG@eagle.wesleyan.edu (Ruth Ginzberg)
Date: 18 Dec 92 20:46:09 EDT
 <1992Dec11.104956.517@news.wesleyan.edu> <BzCqso.Gr2@sdf.lonestar.org> 
 <1992Dec17.195035.543@news.wesleyan.edu> <24441@alice.att.com>
Distribution: world
Organization: Philosophy Dept., Wesleyan University
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.20In-Reply-To: ark@alice.att.com's message of 18 Dec 92 20:28:24 GMTLines: 19

In <24441@alice.att.com> ark@alice.att.com writes:
>In article <1992Dec17.195035.543@news.wesleyan.edu> RGINZBERG@eagle.wesleyan.edu (Ruth Ginzberg) writes:
>>Interesting.   Wasn't there a Privacy Act in about 1969 or something like that
>>which guarantees me access to any database information kept by some third party 
>>about myself?  I oughta look it up.
> 
> I'd appreciate hearing what you find.  I suspect that any such act
> specifically exempts medical records.

Could be, but my declining to issue an invitation to some insurance
phlebotomist, that he or she should come to my house to polk my veins or spy on
my lifestyle (or whatever) hardly constitutes a *medical* record.  It is a
record of my perfectly legal and not-at-all threatening, dangerous, or even
socially deviant behavior. I decline to invite someone I don't know into my
home.  That is not a medical event.

------------------------
Ruth Ginzberg <rginzberg@eagle.wesleyan.edu>
Philosophy Department;Wesleyan University;USA
From: rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu (David Rind)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Peter Breggin, _Toxic Psychiatry_ (Q)
Date: 14 Dec 92 21:21:27 GMT
Organization: Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston Mass., USA

In article <Bz9Kr3.H04@unx.sas.com> sasghm@theseus.unx.sas.com
 (Gary Merrill) writes:
>|I write:
>|> can be mistaken for schizophrenia (as TSS can be mistaken for
>|> scarlet fever), but there clearly are people whom schizophrenia

>It is possible to make a mistake in initial diagnosis for something
>like scarlet fever based on the gross symptoms.  But subsequent tests
>yield the appropriate diagnosis.

Are you sure of this?  What tests are you referring to?

>What is the analog of the blood test and
>the identification of the micro-organism?

There is an entity called streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (quite
similar to staphylococcal TSS).  The organism that causes scarlet
fever is strep.  How will identifying the microorganism help?
Further, staph and strep are normal skin flora -- what site are
you planning on culturing? (I once cared for someone who developed
TSS that seemed to be due to staph growing in a pimple.)

|> The reason you have been getting the responses you've gotten is
|> that you are truly posting out of ignorance.  Why don't you see if
|> you can get a tour of your local state psychiatric institute and
|> try to find people who you think are being held against their
|> will just because they don't fit some psychiatrist's view of
|> "normal".

>If I decide to terminate my chemotherapy for cancer, I can simply
>do so and walk away from the hospital (suffering whatever consequences
>there may be).

You are ducking the question.  You posted stating that schizophrenia
was not a well-defined illness, and I suggested that you might
want to see some people with schizophrenia.  I am not suggesting
that state mental patients have the option to leave -- rather
that you might not be so sure that schizophrenia is just a poorly
defined variant of normal if you actually met some people with
severe cases.
-- 
David Rind
rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: cfthb@ux1.cts.eiu.edu (Howard Black)
Subject: Re: Aids therapy using DMSO and isopropyl alcohol
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 00:07:55 GMT
Organization: Eastern Illinois University

In article <1992Dec15.223815.20489@news.Hawaii.Edu> dixon@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Paul Dixon) writes:

    [another copy of the ridiculous proposal]

    Please stop posting this stupid thing.  Steve Dyer, others, and I have
all debunked it in the various newsgroups you've posted it to.  Steve gave
a good point-by-point rebuttal, posted 12/14, and you just posted another
copy of the original today (12/15)!  What is it with you?

    A ridiculous idea posted multiple times is still ridiculous.

-- 
   ******************************************************************
     Howard Black                             cfthb@ux1.cts.eiu.edu
     Department of Chemistry                  Eastern Illinois Univ. 
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: mdkline@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Mark D. Kline)
Subject: Re: post-Prozac reactions
Organization: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 92 22:03:42 EST

In article <724028452.AA00000@blkcat.UUCP> Diane.Mayronne@p99.f349.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Diane Mayronne) writes:
>Does anyone know of any studies that have been conducted on people once they're
>no longer taking Prozac?  Are there any after-effects?

No adverse consequences of long term Prozac administration or discontinuation
are known.  There are no "after effects."  There is substantial risk of 
recurrent illness for many patients successfully treated with Prozac.  
The recent literature on treatment of depressive disorders suggests longer
periods of treatment with full dose (as opposed to lower, "maintainence"
doses) and broader acceptance of indefinite (potentially lifelong) treatment
with medications when a person has had several or very severe depressive
episodes. 

================================================================= 
mark kline                              mdkline@rodan.acs.syr.edu
suny health science center, syracuse    voice: (315) 422-1050
================ courtesy of syracuse university ================
From: cholette@JSP.UMontreal.CA (Cholette Martin)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: **************INFO ON AIDS NEEDED ************
Date: 20 Dec 92 18:10:25 GMT
Organization: Universite de Montreal

Hello everyone!

I am curious as to exactly what is dangerous behaviour and what is not whith
regards to the aids virus, I hear a lot of hear-say but I am never sure what
is real scientific knowledge and what is just junk. Last week some friends
and I had this discussion about AIDS, we are all fairly well educated
university students but to my amazement non of us could come to a consensus
as to what kind of behaviour is "dangerous" and which isn't. Here are some
questions that we came up with and we would appreciate it if some of you out
there who know more about the subject as we do would be kind enough to
send un some answers via e-mail, I will post the answer's to this group once
I get enough reply's.

Questions :

1) Can you catch AIDS (or HIV) from kissing (French style) where there is an
   exchange of saliva.?

2) A person *RECEIVING* oral sex : is this person in danger of contracting
   the virus?

3) A person *GIVING* oral sex : is this person in danger of contracting the
   virus?

--- We believe that if saliva is not contaminated, then there is a difference
    in risk for a person giving or a person receiving oral sex.  ------------

4) What are the differences in risk in giving or receiving anal sex ?
   ( with and without condom )

5) Clearly a woman is protected from HIV if her partner wears a condom during
   intercourse and they are careful to avoid spillage. But what about a man,
   some women seem to produce more vaginal fluids than others and this fluid
   might find it's way onto her male partner either in the pubic region or
   even on his legs in extreme cases, what is the risk for the man in these
   instances.

6) A lot of people practice what is called "fingering" which is the stimulation
   of a female vagina with a finger. What are the risks of contraction of the
   HIV virus for the person performing the act ( the on fingering )? And for
   the one receiving?

Also if there are some practices that I have forgotten to mention please feel
free to add anything at all.


******* REMARK : I am truly sorry if this post has offended anyone, it was
                 not intended to do so, but AIDS is a fact of life, and as
                 such, wee must be prepared to talk about it and it's means
                 of transmission, after all education is the best way to avoid
                  contamination.

Thank you all for you time and help!

Martin Cholette
cholette@jsp.umontreal.ca
From: amigan@cup.portal.com (Mike - Medwid)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Cystic fibrosis & gene therapy
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 92 19:24:49 PST
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Distribution: world

The article I read on the AP newsfeed said the therapy would not be generally
available for six years.  It's thought likely to cure the debilitating
and life-threatening aspects of CF.  Cost was not mentioned.  

One research group will be introducing the altered cold virus to the
the lungs and nasal passages.  Another will be directing the material
to the nasal passages.  There was some concern about sending a cold
virus purposely and directly into the lungs.  However the former 
research group feels there is no risk in that approach due to the
way in which the cold virus is altered.  

In the meantime..Genentech is in final phase clinical trial of a 
drug DNase which is purported to greatly improve the symptoms of CF.
They are also hoping for a chronic bronchitis indication as well.  
Genentech expects approval for DNase in '93.  But with the FDA..
you never really can say for sure.
From: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Unexplained seizures
Date: 14 Dec 92 16:39:58 GMT
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

In article <1992Dec8.002942.2691@cnsvax.uwec.edu> nyeda@cnsvax.uwec.edu (David Nye) writes:

> 
>From your description, it sounds like they reached the correct diagnosis.
>These are unlikely to be seizures if the EEG was normal during one
>(syncope != seizure).
>

Of course, that doesn't mean there couldn't be a problem with
the heart that might need further attention.  I'd have him
seen at a good civilian clinic when he gets out.





-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: pwageman@visual.spk.wa.us (Peggy Wageman)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Body Temperature
Date: 16 Dec 92 09:49:19 GMT
Organization: The Visual Market - Spokane, WA

What is the normal body temperature?  I had always thought it was 98.6, but
I heard recently that there is a range, and that 98.6 was merely in the range.
Could anybody explain this to me.  Thanks,  Peggy Wageman
Xref: sparky sci.med:22774 sci.bio:4617