HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: john@spss.com (John Przyborowski)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: The dangers of a low cholesterol level
Date: 2 Sep 92 13:48:52 GMT
Organization: SPSS Inc.

seiler@amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov (Ed Seiler) writes:

>  A friend of mine in Phoenix, AZ told me he read an article in the
>newspaper about the results of a study that showed a number of afflictions
>statistically associated with persons who have cholesterol levels below
>150. The article stated that the medical community was reluctant to
>publicize the findings for fear that the general public would perceive
>a risk in lowering their cholesterol levels. Is anyone familiar with
>this study, or any others on this subject, and willing to provide a
>critical assessment?

>Ed Seiler
>seiler@amarna.gsfc.nasa.gov
>"If puns are outlawed, only outlaws will have puns."ll

A NY Times article from August 19 outlined some research that was being 
done with "low" cholesterol levels.  Researchers claimed that they have 
founds links between low cholesterol levels and violent death, ie. suicide,
murder, accidents.  These folks were also supposed to be subject to violent
mood swings and liver problems.  I happen to have a low cholesterol level
(145) and do not, I REPEAT DO NOT HAVE VIOLENT OUTBURSTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:):):):):):)

This research team's conclusion strikes me as so much skewed horseshit.  

JOHN
SPSS
From: dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Effect of glycerin taken internally?
Date: 31 Aug 92 16:12:42 GMT
Article-I.D.: spdcc.1992Aug31.161242.9363
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA

In article <16266@pitt.UUCP> geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks) writes:
>>>2) What effects does glycerin have on the body that I should be aware of?
>>A concentrated solution of glycerin is frequently used as an osmotic
>>diuretic to lower intraocular pressure before eye surgery.  I don't
>>remember what its concentration is--I think it's > 20%.
>I've used it as an osmotic diuretic to reduce cerebral
>swelling, but always given IV.  Given orally, I'd think it might be just 
>as likely to pull fluid out of the body into the gut and cause 
>massive diarrhea!  I wouldn't advise taking p.o. glycerin.

Neither would I, and that's a reasonable assumption in the absence
of any hard facts.  On the other hand, it was absolutely routine
before cataract surgery when I had the opportunity to observe it,
and cataract surgery is a time when massive diarrhea is rather
inconvenient.  It was given iced, either before the patients were
brought to the OR, or while they were in the pre-op waiting area.

-- 
Steve Dyer
dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer
Organization: Penn State University
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1992 02:54:38 EDT
From: <RFB3@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Seeking Info. on Angiogram

 I am kindly requesting information concerning the angiogram procedure as a dia
 gnostic tool.  More specifically, I would like to know the risk(s) associated
 with, and the possible complications resulting from, this exam. Furthermore,
 I am interested in finding out the popularity of using the angiogram as a di
 agnostic test among the medical profession. Any statistical information regard
 ing complications directly attributable to angiograms will also be useful.
   Reply:By e-mail [userid=RFB3, INTERNET name=PSUVM.PSU.EDU] OR in this news-
   group. Thank you.                                          -Borghese-
From: berger@cs.uchicago.edu (Jeff Berger)
Newsgroups: sci.med.physics
Subject: Re: Gymnastics and growing up
Date: 25 Aug 92 14:07:45 GMT
Article-I.D.: pride.BERGER.92Aug25080745
Organization: University of Chicago Computer Science

STUDY SAYS YOUNG GYMNASTS AT RISK

Vancouver--Canadian researchers say young female gymnasts pay too high
a price in their intense training for Olympic gold.

University of British Columbia specialists who recently completed a
40-month study of 100 top female gymnasts in the province say their
injuries and hours of training compare to the hardships suffered by
children working in coal mines in the 19th century.

"They were also putting in long hours and were subject to injuries
that could be lifelong." said Robert Woollard, an associate professor
in medicine.

"We are looking at a very similar situation, but because we're talking
about Olympic gold medals instead of wages, we tend to look the other
way."

The study found an alarming number of skeletal injuries--broken bones,
sprains, back injuries, and joint problems.

A gymnast competing nationally averaged one injury for every 1,000
hours of training; they train more than 1,500 hours a year.

Most injuries--56 percent--resulted from accidents. Of those, 31
percent were fractures.

On former gymnast had to have her hip replaced at 23, said Dr. Jack
Taunton, co-director of the Allan McGiven Sports Medicine Centre at
the University of B.C.

A study of U.S Olympic gymnasts showed 25 percent had "a permanent
arrest in the growth plate ... on the long bone in your arm. That bone
doesn't grow anymore."

CHICAGO TRIBUNE, AUGUST 25, 1992
(Sports Section, page 3)

Homero,

That's the entire article. No citation for the U.S study, but it
sounds like your sister may be right.

-Jeff 
--
Jeff Berger			|USmail:	Ryerson 256
berger@cs.uchicago.edu	        |		Artificial Intelligence Lab
PH: (312) 702-8584		|		1100 East 58th Street
FX: (312) 702-8487              |               Chicago, IL  60637
From: jmoulder@mis.mcw.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med.physics
Subject: Co60 teletherapy unit wanted
Date: 3 Sep 92 15:26:21 GMT
Organization: Medical College of Wisconsin

Tired of paying the NRC for a Co-60 teletherapy unit that you're not using
anymore?

We're looking for a Cobalt-60 teletherapy unit to replace a Keleket-Barnes that
has a burned out clutch.  This will be for research rather than clinical use.

Preferred models are Eldorado 6 or 8, since we need long SSD (beam stops are a
problem).  

Contact:  John Moulder (jmoulder@mis.mcw.edu)
          Medical College of Wisconsin
          414-266-4670
Newsgroups: sci.med.physics
From: trevorc@uwovax.uwo.ca
Subject: Re: FDA just discovered Radiation Therapy Simulators
Organization: Nuclear Medicine, U. Western Ontario, Canada
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 00:23:56 GMT

In article <3SEP199213230275@rover.uchicago.edu>, frank@rover.uchicago.edu (Frank - Hardware Hacker - Borger) writes:
> 
> 	Anybody catch the latesst issue of the center for Devices and radio-
> logical health Radiological Health Bulletin? Their lead article is:
> 
> FDA Draws Attention to Concerns about Radiation Risk from Fluroscopy
> 
> The article says in part...
> 
> As noted in the Letter to the Editor, a number of unverified, but disturbing,
> anecdotal reports have reach FDA regarding extremely large radiation exposures
> allegedly received by patients undergoing fluoroscopic procedures. ... Several
> recent trends have increased the potential for such high-exposure events. These
> trends include the increased use of fluoroscopic visualization to guide the
> condeuct of therapeutic procedures, and the greater operational complexity and
> radiation output capacity of some fluoroscopic x-ray systems.
> 
> Later it says in part...
> 
> adequate or appropriate attention may not always be given to the potential
> radiation exposures and associated risks. ... Because these procedures are 
> theraputic in nature, the risk-benifit evaluation may be different than for
> diagnostic proceedures...
> 
> 	From the above, I get a feeling that the writer didn't know much about
> 	simulators, in that:
> 
> 	a/ Simulator fluro is often modified to have 4 or 5 times the maximum
> 	   output of conventional units, but only because the units are oper-
> 	   ated at about twice the normal target-patient and target-film dis-
> 	   tances. Patient exposure is no different than diagnostic use.
> 
> 	b/ Simulation procedures are NEVER THERAPUTIC IN NATURE. They are only
> 	   done to precisely locate the tumor for precise treatment.

I am not sure that I read "radiation therapy" into the above.  Aren't the 
"therapeutic" procedures that are being referred to things like angioplasty?
-- 

Trevor Cradduck,                |  Voice: (519) 667-6574     
Department of Nuclear Medicine, |  FAX: (519) 667-6734
Victoria Hospital,              |  
University of Western Ontario,  |  E-mail: cradduck@uwo.ca
LONDON,  Ontario,               |  
Canada,  N6A 4G5                |  
Newsgroups: sci.med.physics
From: sem@eris.cs.wayne.edu (Rekha Manjakuppam)
Subject: MAXIMUM INTENSITY PROJECTION
Keywords: Magnetic Resonance
Organization: Wayne State University, Detroit
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 22:21:47 GMT

Has anyone heard of MIP(Maximum Intensity Projection). This is
technique used in medical area wherein images are obtained from
magnetic
resonance scanners. These 3D data sets(a.k.a.volumes) are processed 
to obtain 3D projections of the blood vessel system. 
This method probably got its name from the fact that the contrast of 
the vessels and other tissues is good in the set of images. 
I did have some luck with the 3D data sets but along with the blood
vesels i also get other data (ventricles) which i would like it to be
in the background. Also i am only able to manipulate slices at zero
degrees. What if i wanted to see the blood vessels from all  possible
directions.
I would appreciate it if some information could be passed on as to
how this works or the details of the algorithm.

My e-mail add : sem@artemis.cs.wayne.edu.

Thanks in advance.

Rekha.

Newsgroups: sci.med.physics
From: edw@max.stdavids.picker.com (Eddie Wyatt)
Subject: MIP
Organization: Picker International, St. Davids
Distribution: sci
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 17:03:17 GMT

To: sem@eris.cs.wayne.edu (Rekha Manjakuppam)
In-reply-to: sem@eris.cs.wayne.edu's message of Mon, 31 Aug 1992 22:21:47 GM
Subject: MAXIMUM INTENSITY PROJECTION
--text follows this line--


>Has anyone heard of MIP(Maximum Intensity Projection). This is
>technique used in medical area wherein images are obtained from
>magnetic
>resonance scanners. These 3D data sets(a.k.a.volumes) are processed 
>to obtain 3D projections of the blood vessel system. 
>This method probably got its name from the fact that the contrast of 
>the vessels and other tissues is good in the set of images. 
>I did have some luck with the 3D data sets but along with the blood
>vesels i also get other data (ventricles) which i would like it to be
>in the background. Also i am only able to manipulate slices at zero
>degrees. What if i wanted to see the blood vessels from all  possible
>directions.
>I would appreciate it if some information could be passed on as to
>how this works or the details of the algorithm.

  Maximum Intensity Projection (MIP) gets its name from the rendering 
technique used to view the data.  The value you see on the screen
is the result of casting a ray from the view point through the volume
of data scanned by the scanner.  The value you see on the screen is
the maximum intensity found while casting the ray through the volume.
The projection of the data can either be perspective or orthogonal
(most people use orthogonal).

  This rendering technique is usually used in conjunction with "time of
flight" scanning protocols which tends to enhance the blood flow in a slice
while de-emphasizing the surrounding tissue.

  Unfortunately the MIP technique suffers some problems.  In particular,
the value seen of the screen is strictly a function of the intensity
of the voxel in the data set.  There is no depth information.  This
means that it is very hard to determine which vessels occluded others.

  There are some techniques where depth is incorporated into the end picture
to adjust for the lack of depth information. However without some
form a surface shading it is still hard for the viewer to determine the
geometry of the seen.  BTW surface shading isn't usually used because of 
the point wise noise that is picked up by the MIP and the fact the the
sufaces pick up by MIP are usually not very smooth.

  The fact that you can only view the data volume from certain orientations
is strictly a limitation of the implementation of the technique by your
vender.  The algorithm does not prevent you from viewing the data from
any orientation.  The fact that some orientation are restricted is probably
do to performance concerns.

							Eddie Wyatt


Newsgroups: sci.med.physics
From: bourland@roentgen.radonc (Dan Bourland)
Subject: Re: FDA just discovered Radiation Therapy Simulators
Reply-To: bourland@roentgen.radonc
Organization: Mayo Clinic, Div. of Radiation Oncology
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 92 14:23:58 GMT


I believe the FDA is really referring to the use of fluoro
in cardiac catheterization and other interventional procedures.
Their caution is that high output fluoro (15 R/min) can deliver
high doses.  Interventional procedures are often performed by
non-radiologists who may have lower training regarding rad-
iation effects and who are "heavy" with the fluoro pedal.

But I do believe the caution applies to therapy simulators
where the field size is large, the simulation complex, and
the patient is pedicatric with possible exposure to the
gonads.

But, by far (no numbers on this), the higher exposures will be
occuring in interventional procedures, not therapy simulation.
-------------------------------------------------------------
J. Daniel Bourland, PhD	      
Div. of Radiation Oncology
Mayo Clinic, Desk R 
Rochester, MN 55905            
(507) 284-3551                  Internet:   bourland@mayo.edu
-------------------------------------------------------------
From: wrg@bohr.physics.purdue.edu (William R. Geisler)
Newsgroups: sci.med.physics
Subject: Survey of med. phy. schools
Summary: Opinion from those who know
Date: 31 Aug 92 18:42:09 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Physics Department


		{I sent this out about 2 months ago and only received
		 1 response (thanks Carl).  Hoping with fall semesters
	 	 starting up a greater input will be obtained.}

Survey sezs.....

	I would like to take a survey of the people who attended schools
 with a medical/health physics area of specialization.  The particular
 questions I would like to address are:

		-  Institution you attended/your degree/highest degree 
                   offered

		-  What specialities your school has (radiology, imaging 
                   [MRI, PET, CT, ...], nuclear medicine, etc.)

		-  Type and availability of support (T.A. in particular 
                   department,  possibility of T.A. in another department
                   [physics, if phy. dept. is separate], some fellowships, 
                   no guaranteed support,... 
		
		-  Availability of a residency program at a hospital or
                   teaching hospital
		
		-  YOUR impression of the school, area school is located
                   in; assistance placement office gave in acquiring a 
                   job/did most graduates from program obtain offers 
                   (rather qualitative here, I know)

		-  Would you be willing to have your name associated 
                   with the description of your school so that others 
                   interested in med. phy. could contact you directly 
                   (anonymous responses are allowed; I'll assume 
                   anonymous unless otherwise informed)

		-  Any other information you think in pertinent

	Of course, current and past students are encouraged to
respond.  I will make a summary of the requested information and post
it in a few weeks.

Thanks one and all,

Bill Geisler
wrg@bohr.physics.purdue.edu


Newsgroups: sci.med.physics
From: bourland@roentgen.radonc (Dan Bourland)
Subject: Re: FDA just discovered Radiation Therapy Simulators
Reply-To: bourland@roentgen.radonc
Organization: Sun Microsystems
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 92 14:17:08 GMT


I read the article, and I really believe the FDA is referring
to therapeutic procedures such as cardiac catheterization and
other interventional procedures which use fluoro to guide
various catheters and dyes into the body.  The high output
fluoro units give 15 R/min or more and are used for many
minutes. 

But I also agree that this use can be relevant for therapy
simulators where fluoro is used to help position the patient
during a complex simulation and where the field size may
include the gonads, especially for pediatric patients.

But, by far (no numbers on this) the larger exposures are
received by patients undergoing interventional procedures.
Often, the physicians are not radiologists, and may have less
training related to radiation effects, and be "heavy" with
the fluoro pedal.

-------------------------------------------------------------
J. Daniel Bourland, PhD	      
Div. of Radiation Oncology
Mayo Clinic, Desk R 
Rochester, MN 55905            
(507) 284-3551                  Internet:   bourland@mayo.edu
-------------------------------------------------------------
From: akbar@fnalo.fnal.gov (MOKHTARANI, AKBAR)
Newsgroups: sci.med.physics
Subject: medical physics
Date: 1 Sep 92 21:19:14 GMT
Reply-To: akbar@fnalo.fnal.gov
Organization: FNAL
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.4-a4


 Hi everyone,
   I just discovered this news group and am hoping to get some answers to 
my question. I have a Ph.D in physics (particle physics, experimental) and
am considering to switch fields to medical/health physics. I like to know the 
options available to make this transition.  Any suggestion/lead is greatly 
appreciated. BTW, is there a FAQ file for this news group? 

	Thanks,
     AM
Newsgroups: sci.med.physics
From: berger@cs.uchicago.edu (Jeff Berger)
Subject: Re: Gymnastics and growing up
Organization: University of Chicago Computer Science
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 20:21:36 GMT

In article <1992Aug25.162519.19140@kestrel.edu> king@reasoning.com (Dick King) writes:

	[deleted, an argument aimed at debunking the idea that
exercise induced stress is harmfull to children.]

   If jumps damaged your growth plates than kids who grow up on basketball would
   grow up to be short basketball players.  Runners would have short legs but
   normal-length arms. 



   -dk

In fact, there was a recent thread on rec.running about the negative
effects excessive running has on children's bone growth. The original
poster might want to repost his query there.

-Jeff
--
Jeff Berger			|USmail:	Ryerson 256
berger@cs.uchicago.edu	        |		Artificial Intelligence Lab
PH: (312) 702-8584		|		1100 East 58th Street
FX: (312) 702-8487              |               Chicago, IL  60637
Newsgroups: sci.med.physics
From: frankm@resonex.com (Frank Muennemann)
Subject: Re: MAXIMUM INTENSITY PROJECTION
Keywords: Magnetic Resonance
Organization: Resonex Inc., Sunnyvale CA
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 08:02:21 GMT

In article <1992Aug31.222147.23742@cs.wayne.edu> sem@eris.cs.wayne.edu (Rekha Manjakuppam) writes:
>Has anyone heard of MIP(Maximum Intensity Projection).

MIP has been discussed extensively in the MRI literature (SMRM,
JMRI, etc.).  Have a look around in your medical library--- you
should be able to find a lot of material discussing data set 
acquisition and processing.

>I did have some luck with the 3D data sets but along with the blood
>vesels i also get other data (ventricles) which i would like it to be
>in the background...

Three general ways to do this:

1) start with data obtained from pulse sequences which suppress 
   static tissue
2) Manually remove the unwanted data from each data set slice
3) "automatically" remove the unwanted data (much harder!)

>               ... Also i am only able to manipulate slices at zero
>degrees. What if i wanted to see the blood vessels from all  possible
>directions.

I'm not sure I understand the difficulty.  Have you only done MIP in the
principal axes' directions?  You can use straightforward trigonometry to
get arbitrary directions:  Interpolate your original (presumably
rectangular grid) data set onto a new data set such that the desired
projection angle is a principal axis of the new set.  You'll probably
want to zero out data points in the derived set that correspond to
points outside the original data set.  Unless you have an array
processor handy, expect to spend oodles of CPU time to accomplish this.

MIP's diagnostic utility is greatly enhanced if you can present a "live"
image which rotates.  This makes it much easier for the eye to see
smaller vessels or vessels with slow flow which might be obscured by
larger ones with higher flow rates.
From: alexm@nmr-z.mgh.harvard.edu (Alex Milshteyn)
Newsgroups: sci.med.physics
Subject: test
Date: 31 Aug 92 21:25:07 GMT
Organization: Mass General Hospital CIPR

Test
am
Newsgroups: sci.med.physics
From: bourland@roentgen.radonc (Dan Bourland)
Subject: Sorry for repost
Reply-To: bourland@roentgen.radonc
Organization: Mayo Clinic, Div. of Radiation Oncology
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 92 14:30:53 GMT

Sorry if there is a pseudo-duplicate repost.  Tried to
cancel the first to correct the header.

-------------------------------------------------------------
J. Daniel Bourland, PhD	      
Div. of Radiation Oncology
Mayo Clinic, Desk R 
Rochester, MN 55905            
(507) 284-3551                  Internet:   bourland@mayo.edu
-------------------------------------------------------------
From: traveja@wkuvx1.bitnet
Newsgroups: sci.med.physics
Subject: Need info on Med Phys programs
Date: 3 Sep 92 03:47:19 GMT
Organization: Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY

I am interested in talking with other Medical Physics students here in
the United States. I have attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison
for one year. The courses I have taken include:
			Diagnostic Radiology
			Nuclear Medicine
			Dosimetry (photon interactions/ cavity theory)
			Diagnostic Ultrasound
			Radiation Therapy
			Radiobiology.

I am interested in finding out about other Med Phys programs,
especially an candid comments about university policies, profs, access
to research tools, or other Med Phys politics. Please send me a line
e-mail if you do not want to post. 

Thanx^3

Jeff Travelstead
From: terry@thisbe.Eng.Sandy.Novell.COM (Terry Lambert)
Newsgroups: sci.med.physics
Subject: Re: How to measure EEG ?
Keywords: EEG
Date: 28 Aug 92 20:11:56 GMT
Distribution: sci.med.physics
Organization: Novell NPD -- Sandy, UT

In article <1992Aug20.180252.14906@jyu.fi> tola@jyu.fi (Teemu Olavi Lahteenmaki) writes:
>Does anyone know how exactly is EEG ('brain waves' or whatever) measured ?
>What kind of (minimum) equipment installation do you need etc.. ?
>Medicine is not one of my study subjects, but I really would like to 
>experiment analyzing these signals with computer..

I believe Radio Electronics magazine published a 3 part "how to build"
article on EEG's between 1991-1992.  Check back issues in your local
library's periodical section.


					Terry Lambert
					terry_lambert@gateway.novell.com
					terry@icarus.weber.edu

---
Disclaimer:  Any opinions in this posting are my own and not those of
my present or previous employers.