HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: young@sasquatch.serum.kodak.com (Rich Young (x37176))
Subject: Re: Toxoplasmosis
Organization: Clinical Products Division, Eastman Kodak Company
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 92 12:46:12 GMT

In article <19516@suned1.Nswses.Navy.MIL> laura@TASVAX.NSWSES.NAVY.MIL writes:

>I am 5 months pregnant, and my husband and I want to get a kitten.  One
>man has offered us (for free) a calico cat that was born about six weeks
>ago in his hay stack.  I already have complications with the pregnancy.
>My placenta is right over my cervix (the doctor hopes this will correct
>itself), and I have a nasty cervical strep infection that we have treated
>4 times.  I may *still* have it - I'm getting another culture tomorrow.
>
>I intend to ask my doctor this same question, but if I take the kitten
>directly to a vet, can the vet test the kitten for toxoplasmosis?  Also,
>if we keep the kitten exclusively in the house, what are the chances of the
>kitten contracting toxoplasmosis?  Also, what are the real dangers to
>me and my child if the cat *does* have toxoplasmosis?
>
>Any advice or anecdotes?

	Just in case you hadn't read it yet, the following is from the FAQ
	list in rec.pets.cats (I merely present it, but I can't vouch for the
	accuracy):

  * Toxoplasmosis is transmitted by contact with the feces of an
    infected cat. Although it is well-known that cats can transmit
    toxoplasmosis, many do not know that humans are more commonly
    infected by eating incompletely cooked meat.

				-- and --

	F.  Toxoplasmosis (when you are pregnant and own a cat).

	Toxoplasmosis is a disease that can be picked up by handling
	contaminated raw meat, or the feces produced after ingestion of such
	meat.  This means you can catch it by cleaning the litter box, or by
	working in a garden used as a litter box.  Most commonly, people catch
	it by handling raw meat or eating undercooked meat.  Most cat-exposed
	people have had toxoplasmosis; the symptoms are similar to a mild
	cold.  (Nomenclature: Toxoplasma gondii is the organism, toxoplasmosis
	the disease, and Toxoplasma is a protozoan.)

	The problem occurs when pregnant women contract toxoplasmosis.  This
	will severely damage the fetus.  Simple precautions will prevent this
	problem; unfortunately many doctors still recommend getting rid of
	cats when the woman is pregnant.  A good idea is to get tested for
	toxoplasmosis *before* you get pregnant; once you've had it, you will
	not get it again.

	To prevent human contraction of toxoplasmosis:

	  a) Cook any meat for you or your cat thoroughly.
	  b) Use care when handling raw meat.
	  c) Wear houshold gloves when handling litter.
	  d) Use disinfectant to clean the litter pan and surrounding area.
	  e) Keep children's sandpits covered when not in use.
	  f) Wear gardening gloves when working in the garden.
	    
	Better yet, the litterbox and meat-chopping chores should go to
	someone else if you're pregnant.

I hope this helps.


-Rich (young@serum.kodak.com)
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: M20614@mwvm.mitre.org (Hugh Pritchard)
Subject: Re: MRI
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, McLean VA 22102
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 12:46:51 GMT

In article <1992Apr07.171701.650445@locus.com>
krissie@locus.com (Krissie Griffiths) writes:
 
> ...
> as for what ar they like, i far prefer them to ct scans because they do not
> use radiation.
 
CT scans use X-rays.  MRI scans use radio waves.  Radio waves are also
radiation, though at a far longer wavelength and lower energy than X-rays.
 
Moreover, MRI scans use radio waves given off by the water molecules in the
patient's own body.  [The water molecules are "aligned" by an external
magnetic field and an external field of radio waves tuned for water molecules;
when these are turned off, the water molecules emit radio waves (yes, at a
particular frequency) as they return to their random orientations.]
 
This process is called nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), because the nuclei
of the molecules are the things that actually get aligned.  The medical
profession calls it MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) because of (the
majority of) patients' fears of anything with the word "nuclear."
 
**  Hugh Pritchard,  hapritch@mitre.org,  703/883-6616
From: "fred thinhball" <fred.thinhball@canrem.com>
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: estrogen/progestin th
Date: 13 Apr 92 13:06:46 EST
Reply-To: "fred thinhball" <fred.thinhball@canrem.com>
Distribution: sci
Organization: Canada Remote Systems

IM>  Newsgroup: sci.med
IM>    Subject: Estrogen/Progestin therapy

IM>Hello,
IM>       My endocrinologist wants to put me on Estrogen/progestin
IM>replacement therapy because of my (extremely) low estrogen levels. His
IM>motivation is to prevent osteoporosis.
IM>       Does this treatment have any bad side-effects that I should know
IM>about?

basically the side-effects of The Pill (of which there are many) will
give you a good idea about the side-effects of your treatement.

-don't smoke: estrogen+smoking increases blood clotting in the coronary
 arteries.....increased risk of a heart attack

-fluid retention, avoid salt
-increased susceptibility to yeast infection
-etc. etc.
-any doctor  will give you a detailed info. booklet (only if requested).

          frog
---
  DeLuxe 1.21 #11357  
--
Canada Remote Systems  - Toronto, Ontario/Detroit, MI
World's Largest PCBOARD System - 416-629-7000/629-7044
From: john@spss.com (John Przyborowski)
Subject: Re: BLUE sebum?
Date:  8 Apr 92 14:07:33 GMT
Organization: SPSS Inc.

jwalsh@aspentec.com (Jamie Walsh) writes:

>Does anybody know what causes BLUE sebum?  The pores in my 
>cheekbone areas produce a dark blue liquid.
>Two doctors of internal medicine and one dermatogist commented
>on its oddity, but had no idea why I have blue sebum.
>The dermatologist said that the probable reason for it being
>confined to the cheekbone area is that the sebaceous glands
>are larger there.

>-- 
>--jamie
>	  "There's a seeker born every minute."

>Internet:	jwalsh@aspentec.com
>UUCP:	        uunet!aspentec!jwalsh

I also have a blue spot--this is sebaceous though, and I've had it all my
life--really weird, its royal blue and hasn't changed as I've aged.

john
From: hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Oxygen and oil... kaboom! -- was Re: O2 a "prescription-only" drug?  Why?
Date: 16 Apr 92 19:16:13 GMT
Article-I.D.: ttidca.34619
Organization: The Cat Factory

In article <1992Apr16.044233.8282@athena.cs.uga.edu> mcovingt@athena.cs.uga.edu (Michael A. Covington) writes:

}The other day a couple of people in a town near here were seriously
}injured in an explosion that occurred when they decided to inflate a
}tire from an oxygen tank.  ...
}
}... I'm guessing
}there was some oil inside the tire.   Any other guesses?

Using pressurized pure oxygen around a car is _extremely_ dangerous.
Could have been oil in the tire, as you suggest.  Could also have been
some on the ground near the tire, or a gasoline leak from the fuel line,
or brake fluid, or ... etc..  It could even have set the tire itself on
fire.  Pure oxygen is nasty stuff if mishandled.

On another note, full O2 tanks are pressurized at about 2000 psi.  If
they tried to fill the tire directly from the tank without a regulator
the tire could have blown up, dumping a blast of pure O2 in the
immediate presence of all the oil and crud under the car.

All in all, it was a really stupid maneuver -- as they discovered.

The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe, M.A., CDP, aka: hollombe@polymath.tti.com)
Head Robot Wrangler at Citicorp                   Turn the rascals out!
3100 Ocean Park Blvd.   (310) 450-9111, x2483     No incumbents in '92!
Santa Monica, CA  90405 {rutgers|pyramid|philabs|psivax}!ttidca!hollombe
Xref: sparky sci.med:8344 sci.psychology:2310
From: gaumondp@ERE.UMontreal.CA (Gaumond Pierre)
Newsgroups: sci.med,sci.psychology
Subject: Bernie S. Siegel
Keywords: anesthesia
Date: 6 Apr 92 16:34:09 GMT
Organization: Universite de Montreal

Have you read the last book of Bernie S. Siegel: "Peace, Love and Health".

He claims that while under anesthesia, the unconscious mind remains "awake",
that is, it can respond to the suggestion of the surgeon. For example, he cited 
a case where a person having an organ transplant needed only 3 units of blood
while about 200 units are usually needed. He said he suggested to the patient
under anesthesia not to bleed.

He gives other examples where he suggested the patient to modify his heart
beat and the patient responded accordingly.

Has anyone worked with Bernie or see what he claims? Has anyone else tried the
same suggestions with success?

Can we really believe in his claims?

I cross-posted this article because it concerns both surgery and psychology
aspects.

I have already posted an article asking if there exists some "hypnotic" drugs
that can help in psychotherapy. If Bernie Siegel's claims are true, the standard
anesthesics ARE precisely the best "hypnotic" drug I was looking for.

Another thing, drugs used for anesthesia are composed from more than one
substances, one having its own purpose. Can anyone give me a short description
of these substances and their purpose. Perhaps only one of them could be
necessary as an hypnotic.

Thanks for any information.

-- 
Pierre Gaumond.        gaumondp@ERE.UMontreal.CA
Services Informatiques, Universite de Montreal. 
C.P. 6128, Succursale "A", Montreal,            
Quebec, Canada.   H3C 3J7
From: dsr@chickpea.mitre.org (Douglas S. Rand)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Excessive Urination?
Date: 16 Apr 92 22:14:25 GMT
Article-I.D.: chickpea.DSR.92Apr16171425
	<1992Apr16.164747.9143@cs.mcgill.ca>
Organization: The MITRE Corporation

In article <1992Apr16.164747.9143@cs.mcgill.ca> storm@cs.mcgill.ca (Marc WANDSCHNEIDER) writes:

   I've been noticing that of late, as the day goes on, I have to urinate about
   once every half hour or something like that.

   I would have to assume that this is not quite normal.  Are there common causes
   of this...?  I have heard that prostate cancer is a cause of this, but at
   age 21...?  Could it have to do with sexual activity as well...?

   Ideas?

I think diabetes can cause what you're describing.  Can't tell you
much more then that.  If it is diabetes then you need to get checked
out right away.  As usual,  I'm no MD and therefore I'm relating
my limited knowledge.

--
Douglas S. Rand 
Internet:   <dsrand@mitre.org>
Snail:	    MITRE, Burlington Road, Bedford, MA 
Disclaimer: MITRE might agree with me - then again...
Amateur Radio: KC1KJ
From: pjs@netcom.com (Philip J. Schneider)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: MRI
Date: 6 Apr 92 22:14:35 GMT
Article-I.D.: netcom.wdpj3sm.pjs
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)

In article <69102@ut-emx.uucp> debs@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Deborah Summa) writes:
>Has anyone out there actually been for an MRI study?
>What's it like, and can anyone comment on the contrast medium
>which is sometimes employed?

I've had two done (herniated disks :-(.  The procedure itself is
extremely uneventful (boring) and painless.  The MRI device is a
large, vertically-oriented toroidal unit.  A narrow horizontal bed, upon 
which the subject rests, slides into the opening in the center of
the MRI device.  The subject enters the unit head-first or feet-first,
depending on the area of the body to be scanned.

The duration of the scanning is quite variable, depending on the
number of images to be made (which depends on the purpose of the scan,
the directions of the physician, and the procedures employed by the
MRI center).  During scanning, an audible thumping/hammering sound
is heard; the intensity varies with model of MRI unit.  It may be
somewhat loud, but not painfully so, in my experience.

The contrast medium that was used on me (the name escapes me) was
about as "inert" (sorry for the imprecise terminology) as possible.  I
was told that no special preparations on my part were necessary
(i.e., fasting, etc.), that no drug allergies were relevant, that
there were no side-effects, and that it was so "benign" (again, sorry
for the sloppy jargon) that no sort of release or warnings, etc. 
were called for.  The only drawback was that it added some cost
to this already-expensive procedure :-(  Oh, yeah, they injected
the contrast substance, so if you don't like needles . . .

There are a couple of potential "problems".  First, the opening
in the MRI unit that the subject is "installed"  :-) in is
*very* narrow (at least in the two (different) units I  was in).
A large-framed or obese person may be a *very*  tight fit.  I asked
the technician what they did with such folk, and she responded that
" . . . they just don't fit, so we can't do the MRI . . .".  
Second, since the opening is small, a person with claustraphobia
might have a problem.  My most recent scan was in a fairly new G.E.
unit, which had a lot of interior lights, a strong ventilation
system, and an intercom to the technician -- all things intended
to reduce the claustraphobic reactions in those so inclined.  The
technician responded to my query about this by saying that,
occasionally, some folks did indeed "freak out".  Finally,
the subject is required to remain motionless during the scanning;
this was no problem for me,  but I did notice that the bed
was equipped with provisions for straps :-)

Hope this answers your questions . . .

- Philip Schneider
From: geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Get Prescription Drugs Without Prescription - Mail Order
Date: 15 Apr 92 14:49:25 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Decision Systems Laboratory, Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA.

In article <6cyj7k#.sss@netcom.com> sss@netcom.com (Small Systems Solutions) writes:
>In article <14357@pitt.UUCP> geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks) writes:
>
>>Hydergine is complete bullshit and has no effect in study after study,
>>other than making money for the pharmaceutical companies.
>
>I remember reading a study that showed that Sandoz Hydergine did indeed
>have several statistically significant effects over controls in regard to
>[ad libbing here] temporal lobe activity, and also visual cortex.  The
>generics did not have the same level of activity, if any.
>
>I know, I know -- next you'll tell me that the study was comisisioned
>by Sandoz. :-)

Other studies had contrary results.  Sandoz has ceased aggressive
marketing of this drug.  Sandoz is actually one of the better
drug companies (despite having practically ruined the Rhine with
a toxic spill).



-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: km@speedy.cs.pitt.edu (Ken Mitchum)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Question on long term use of Amitryptiline
Date: 9 Apr 92 17:48:22 GMT
Reply-To: km@cs.pitt.edu (Ken Mitchum)
Organization: Computer Science Dept., University of Pittsburgh

>I've never seen any long term side effects from amitryptiline.
>I think it is very safe.

Tricyclics as a rule are safe, but may cause problems in
elderly patients and patients with cardiac problems. In general,
I think most clinicians would prefer nortryptiline to amitryptiline
because of these considerations. I am not aware of any cost
difference.

 -km
From: Robert.Ashcraft@f53.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Robert Ashcraft)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: BELL'S PALSY
Date: 15 Apr 92 13:36:40 GMT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:203/53 - The Second Opinion, Folsom CA

I have had Bell's Palsy for about a year now.  I was wondering if it would be 
possible to get a doctor's note regarding that Bell's Palsy 
made it just about impoosible to get school work done, and therefore
causing me to fail a class that I took a year ago.  


 

--  
Uucp: ...{gatech,ames,rutgers}!ncar!asuvax!stjhmc!203!53!Robert.Ashcraft
Internet: Robert.Ashcraft@f53.n203.z1.fidonet.org
From: fzjaffe@othello.ucdavis.edu (Rory Jaffe)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Flatulance
Date: 15 Apr 92 04:42:33 GMT
Organization: University of California, Davis

In article <92104.141515RFLOOD@ESOC.BITNET> RFLOOD@ESOC.BITNET writes:
>Is there an accepted (perhaps socially acceptable) level for flatulance,
>and does exceeding this depend on frequency, duration, or content ?
The acceptable level is when V/d is less than 100
	where V = volume (Liters)
	and   d = distance to an open flame (meters)
From: TOBIAS@bonnie.physik.uni-stuttgart.de
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Input section of an EKG
Date: 8 Apr 92 11:39:10 GMT
Organization: University of Stuttgart, FRG
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.21

In <9204062210.aa23657@art-sy.detroit.mi.us> chap@art-sy.detroit.mi.us writes:

> I'm looking for information on the input section of a simple
> electrocardiograph.
> 
> What's the minimum number of electrodes needed to outline a basic rhythm
> and any obvious anomalies like an extra systole?  Where on the (human) body 
> should those electrodes be placed?  Is the detected signal a voltage,
> and whatever it is, what magnitude are we talking about?  What should
> the input section's impedance be, and what kind of filtering needs to be
> done to eliminate unrelated signals?
>

The minimum number of electrodes is 2. Defibrilation devices can be used
to write a simple ECG in order to see if the patient should be
defibrilated (Asystoly ?). You can use the defibrilation-paddles as
electrodes. Normally 3 electrodes are used in simple ECG. You can get
one derrivation with it (the third electrode is only for stabilization).
Some devices have 5 electrodes for (i think) 3 derrivations.
For clinical use a lot of electodes are necessary if you want to obtain
full information. Sometimes a heart attack - for example - can only be
seen in one derrivation. Also you can get information about the
location of an asumed heart problem. 

The detected Signal is in fact a voltage (about some mV). 
Impedance: I don`t know.
No filters were normally used !
So it seems to be very easy to build up such a device. And in fact it
really is. You only need a good amplifier, a A/D Converter and a computer
(and of course a little bit Software). If you don`t want to use a
Computer the problem is to get the voltage to screen. An oscilloscope
can only used if it has a memory. 
I remember an article in a (german) book (for kids !) where it was exactly 
descdescribed how to build up the amplifier.

If you need the exact technical data (impedance ...) I could look for them.

Bye. T.Haist.
From: francis@ircam.fr (Joseph Francis)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Self tanners (was Re: Tanning Re: Lime juice...)
Keywords: self-tanning creams
Date: 17 Apr 92 11:19:33 GMT
Organization: IRCAM, Paris (France)

In article <1992Apr16.232543.772@spdcc.com> dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer) writes:
>In article <1992Apr16.180618.9946@bradley.bradley.edu> larry@bradley.bradley.edu (Larry D. Stratton) writes:
>>    The question is HOW they work.  Are they actually a dye of sorts?
>>    Since they are sold over-the-counter, they probably do not affect
>>    the melanine?
>They do not have any effect on the production of melanin.
>Dihydroxyacetone is colorless, but it appears to darken the
>superficial layers of the skin.

And after a short time, as you shed your skin normally, you get
harlequinlike mottling as different dyed bits peel of at different
rates...

>>    There was once reported that an over-the-counter drug available
>>    in Canada (?) actually does cause an increase in melanine (or is
>>    that mellanine) which is 'a tan'.  Still available?  And still
>>    very rough on the kidneys?
>
>I'm not sure.  There was a caroteinoid pigment, the name of which I
>forget--cathaxanthin or something, which concentrates in the skin.
>Apparently it has some ocular toxicity; perhaps the kidney as well.
>It doesn't increase the production of melanin either.

There are two similar ones - B-Caroteine, and Cathaxanthin;
bodybuilders use them; they are fat soluble and dye the fat layer just
under your skin (among other fat layers). Caroteine gives you a
'healthy' orange color reminiscent of Hepatitis, and the Cathaxanthin
gives you a shrimp-red color reminiscent of something between 2nd
degree sunburn (erythema? I can't remember all the words) and
heatstroke.  The combination is quite, uh, colorful. 

I took Cathaxanthin once, and after two weeks, I gradually felt
'poisoned'; not quite healthy, not quite ill. I wouldn't be surprised
if it did unspeakably horrible things to me.


-- 
| Le Jojo: Fresh 'n' Clean, speaking out to the way you want to live
| today; American - All American; doing, a bit so, and even more so.
From: francis@ircam.fr (Joseph Francis)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Girl stopped growing... :(
Date: 6 Apr 92 14:13:58 GMT
Organization: IRCAM, Paris (France)

In article <1992Apr4.185938.12501@cs.tu-berlin.de> schli@cs.tu-berlin.de (Wolfram Schlickenrieder) writes:
>
...
>       I think the little sister of my girlfriend has got a serious
>       problem:  She stopped growing 2 1/2 years ago.  She's (almost)
>       seven years old, 112 cm tall and weighs 16.9 kg (!)
>       My question is: Where can this come from, and what are the
>       possible treatments?  Is there any chance at all for sweet
>       litte Vanessa?
>       I very much hope it is... Thanks in advance...

For absolutely no reason whatsoever I read a bit of material on this
situation once. If the cause is biological, among other things she can
be treated with human growth hormone to bring her in accord with other
children of her age cohort.

If the cause is emotional... I believed that the researchers found
that having the child live with a relative (grandparent, aunt or
uncle) for some time tended to provide dramatic spurts of growth.
There was conjecture that the cause was related to possible emotional
abuse within the household, which was very difficult to elucidate.
Emotional trauma can cause an abrubt and complete cessation of growth
in children.

You might suggest coolly that Vanessa spend time with a relative in
the country for the summer, if ordinary medical examinations turn up
nothing.
-- 
| Le Jojo: Fresh 'n' Clean, speaking out to the way you want to live
| today; American - All American; doing, a bit so, and even more so.
From: kingsley@hpwrce.HP.COM (Kingsley Morse)
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 22:38:34 GMT
Subject: Rumalon (aka Condrosulf)
Organization: HP Western Response Center
Newsgroups: sci.med

A swiss doctor told me that Rumalon (aka Condrosulf) will effectively treat 
degenerative disc disease. I found several studies in Medline that concurred.

Would anyone like to add their 2 cents?
From: allanc@cs.su.oz (Restless Wanderer)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Suicide prevention; what next?
Date: 11 Apr 92 05:01:41 GMT
Reply-To: allanc@cluster.cs.su.oz (Restless Wanderer)
Organization: Basser Dept of Computer Science, University of Sydney, Australia

Okay so this maybe a stupid question,but something doesn't gel.
Someone related to me that sticking the old garden hose into the exhaust
of an UNleaded car will not kill you.
Now I assumed that it was the carbon monoxide that was the problem.Not
so said my friend but the lead content.
I find this hard to believe,but according to an ambulance paramedic it would
take longer to kill y'self if you used unleaded cf leaded.

I'm still for both being equally lethal,any other ideas.
Thanks............... allanc