HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: How does Ritalin work?
Date: 2 Sep 92 13:53:18 GMT
Organization: Decision Systems Laboratory, Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA.

In article <1992Sep1.140805.1353@chpc.utexas.edu> jbyrd@chpc.utexas.edu (Jan Byrd) writes:

>up to 3 times per day.  The prescription has to be handled differently
>from other prescriptions (I have to call the doctor every time we need
>to get a refill (not the pharmacy), and then go pick it up from the doctor
>before taking it to the pharmacy; I was told the reason was because it
>can be mis-used as an appetite-suppressant), but there was no attempt to
>restrict our use of it "as needed".

The reason is that it is abused on the street by drug users who
like speed.  Ritalin probably goes for about $5 per tablet out
there.  It has nothing to do with "appetite suppression".



-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "Skepticism is the chastity of the intellect, and
geb@cadre.dsl.pitt.edu   |  it is shameful to surrender it too soon." 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: odp@ldgo.columbia.edu (carl brenner)
Subject: Re: CFIDS and Lyme
Summary: Duck noises
Organization: Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 16:40:06 GMT

In article <16322@pitt.UUCP>, geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks) writes:
> In article <1992Sep1.192843.15939@lamont.ldgo.columbia.edu> odp@ldgo.columbia.edu (carl brenner) writes:
> >
> >	I think you misunderstood what I was saying. I was not saying that
> >MS patients should be treated for Lyme. I was saying that seronegative patients
> >with a high index of suspicion for Lyme should be treated, after efforts to
> >find another cause for their symptoms have been sufficiently explored.
> >	I most certainly was not advocating that all MS patients be treated
> >for Lyme. That would indeed be a waste.
> >
> 
> Yet, there is a "lyme specialist" in these parts that will treat
> any MS patient that comes to him with IV Ceftraixone.  Any CFS
> patient also.  
> 
> Quack.

	Nice straw man argument. Makes you feel good, I bet. Doesn't have
anything to do with the medical issues we were discussing, of course, especially
since I specifically stated that I don't approve of such a practice . . .


> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "Skepticism is the chastity of the intellect, and
> geb@cadre.dsl.pitt.edu   |  it is shameful to surrender it too soon." 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carl Brenner


Newsgroups: sci.med
From: russ@wpg.com (Russell Lawrence)
Subject: Rising health care costs. Was: Mercury in fillings
Organization: WP Group
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 18:31:32 GMT


In article <Btx0Hr.3Dw@wpg.com> russ@wpg.com (Russell Lawrence) writes:
rl> BTW, did you get a chance to read the special article on the 
rl> crisis in US health care in the July issue of _Consumer Reports_?  
rl> A special insert on pg 443 explained that the AMA's chestbeating 
rl> about malpractice concerns is a "straw man", albeit widely 
rl> believed by the US public.  The conclusions of Consumer Reports 
rl> were supported by studies conducted by HHS as well as a Harvard 
rl> University study funded by the state of NY.  

From article <16319@pitt.UUCP>, by geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks):
gb> Since I am in a better position to know about that issue than
gb> the author of the article, I disagreed.  I see cases every day
gb> where physicians use the malpractice argument to justify
gb> ordering expensive tests.  Every day.  

What you're saying is that malpractice is the major problem 
because many doctors believe that malpractice is the major 
problem.  Yet the fact remains that the cost of liability 
insurance is less than 1% of the total health care budget.  Yes, 
yes, we know you're afraid of lawyers, but your fear alone
doesn't strongly support the notion that lawyers are the root 
cause of rising health care costs anymore than fear of demons 
would support the demonic causation theory of disease.

Quick question:  How much have physician's incomes and hospital
profits increased over the past 20 years?  How do these increases
compare with the changes in the earnings of individuals and 
corporations outside the health-care arena?  [This may put
the problem in perspective].

gb> I know there are those with a social agenda that doesn't allow 
gb> for that, but they are wrong.  Otherwise, the CR article was 
gb> quite reasonable.  Except for their support of the trial lawyers, 
gb> Consumer's Union is an excellent organization.  I was hoping that 
gb> now Ralph Nader is off the board that would change, but it hasn't 
gb> yet.  

You're skeptical of naive folks who think that doctors are somehow
involved in some sort of giant, evil conspiracy.  And rightly so.
Perhaps we should be just as skeptical of folks who think that
lawyers are responsible for our social ills.   Ralph Nader didn't
make exploding Pintos, Gordon.  He merely blew the whistle that
warned consumers of their lethal defects.

-- 
Russell Lawrence, WP Group, New Orleans (504) 443-5000
russ@wpg.com   uunet!wpg!russ
From: demartinib@cpva.saic.com
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: RE: Acromegaly
Date: 31 Aug 92 12:34:40 PST
Organization: Science Applications Int'l Corp./San Diego

Regarding my request for info on Acromegaly, I forgot to request EMAIL as
opposed to postings.  I don't get to read this newsgroup often.

EMAIL to DEMARTINIB@CPVA.SAIC.COM

Sorry to edit my own message after posting!

Brenda DeMartini
SAIC, San Diego CA
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Taurine
From: Robin.Salmansohn@f715.n273.z1.fidonet.org (Robin Salmansohn)
Date: 22 Aug 92 14:30:04 GMT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:273/715 - Alternative Lifesty, Wyndmoor PA


 To: ericp@VNET.IBM.COM
 
 e> What sort of problems? I have a friend who has 
 e> been prescribed 2g taurine
 e> per day. I also hear that taurine is used in Japan for improvement of
 e> HDL/LDL ratios. What is the real effect of taurine supplements ?
 e> What is the toxicity/side effects? What dosage causes problems?
 e> Thanks,
 e> Eric Pearson
 e> ERICP@VNET.IBM.COM
 
If it a prescription, do not fail to follow any MD's advice. (Perhaps ask). In 
some patients taurine suppliments can cause neurological problems. (Oja S.S., 
Ahtee, L., Kontro, P., Paasonen, M.K., "TAURINE
BIOLOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS AND CLINICAL PERSPECTIVES", (1985).
 
Nistico G., Morselli, P.L., Lloyd K.G., Fariello, R.G., Engel J.,
Neurotransmitters, Seizures and Epilepsy III, (1986)
 
Porter, R.J., Morselli, P.L., THE EPILEPSIES, (1985)).


 

--  
Internet: Robin.Salmansohn@f715.n273.z1.fidonet.org
From: mcovingt@athena.cs.uga.edu (Michael A. Covington)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: help me find article on fluoxetine
Summary: Interlibrary loan
Date: 29 Aug 92 17:50:48 GMT
Organization: University of Georgia, Athens

In article <1992Aug29.155521.28195@news.iastate.edu> tnfx1@isuvax.iastate.edu writes:
>I once read an story about people having side effects of yawns and orgasm
>from taking certain prescription drugs.  I found an index that had an article 
>about this, but our library doesn't have the journal.  I was wondering if 
>anyone could find this article at their library, would they please type it in 
>and either post or email me a copy.  

This request should be directed to the librarians at your library, who can
get the article for you on interlibrary loan.  More precisely, what you will
get is a Xerox copy, and you have to pay for the Xeroxing and postage.
-- 
+ Michael Covington - Artificial Intelligence Programs - U of Georgia - USA 
+ Unless otherwise noted, these are private opinions, not official statements.
+ VOTE NO GEORGIA LOTTERY - we need not imitate mistakes of other states.
From: nigel.allen@canrem.com (nigel allen)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: unc health care study
Date: 2 Sep 92 00:46:22 GMT
Reply-To: "nigel allen" <nigel.allen@canrem.com>
Distribution: sci
Organization: Canada Remote Systems

Here is a press release from the Clinton/Gore Campaign.
 
 Clinton Campaign Statement on University of North Carolina Health
Care Study
 To: National Desk, Political Writer
 Contact: Avis LaVelle of the Clinton/Gore Campaign, 501-399-3840

   LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Aug. 31 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Statement of George
Stephanopoulos, Clinton/Gore communications director, on a health
care study released by University of North Carolina:

   "This study has one simple conclusion: Bill Clinton's health plan
would control costs and create 2.2 million more jobs than George
Bush's approach.
   "Bill Clinton supports comprehensive health care reform that
controls costs; George Bush wants to protect the insurance companies
and stick the elderly with the bill.  George Bush's hatchet plan for
Medicare benefits and do-nothing cost control scheme would increase
costs for families, but protect profits for insurance and
pharmaceutical companies.  The study released today shows just how
costly the Bush approach is.
   "What would happen under George Bush's assault on Medicare and
Medicaid?  According to the University of North Carolina study, the
Bush Plan would result in:
   -- 2.2 million jobs lost as health care costs continue to spiral
      out of control;
   -- Health costs consuming 12 percent of the income of elderly
      Americans by 1997; and
   -- 60 million uninsured Americans by 1997.
   "We need comprehensive reform, not piecemeal cuts.  The Clinton
Health Care Plan offers an approach that will control costs
throughout the health system and increase access and affordability.
  The Bush scheme will cost jobs; comprehensive reform will create
them, as health costs get under control to the benefit of workers and
businesses alike."
    ------
   NOTE: The study was conducted by Dr. Kenneth E. Thorpe, associate
professor of health policy and administration at the University of
North Carolina-Chapel Hill, School of Public Health.  For copies of
the study contact UNC News Services at 919-962-2091.  Thorpe is
available today for interviews.  Call him at 919-966-7375 (work) or
919-408-0168 (home).
   Thorpe, who has testified before congressional committees about
several national health-care proposals, specializes in national
health insurance, financing health care and other public and private
health care cost issues.
 -30-
--
Canada Remote Systems  - Toronto, Ontario/Detroit, MI
World's Largest PCBOARD System - 416-629-7000/629-7044
From: gwr@hedonist-1.lanl.gov (Graham W. Redgrave)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Chinese Herb for Malaria
Date: 1 Sep 92 19:34:59 GMT
Article-I.D.: newshost.1992Sep1.193459.21405
Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory

In article <Btws0t.3y0@Novell.COM>, terry@thisbe.npd.Novell.COM (Terry Lambert) writes:
|> 
|> 	Has anyone involved in "Chinese Medicine" ever seen inclusion of a
|> "Western" medical treatment, regime, protocol, or substance?  This has me
|> relatively curious.  Thanks.

A friend of mine here who's got his Master's in Oriental Medicine, is a Lic. Ac.,
etc., went to China to study (or should I say "collect anecdotes"? ;-)), and told
me about how the local kidney stones expert would, by various means, diagnose 
a case, and then send them down the hall for a confirmatory ultrasound....

(I don't know whether the ultrasound machine was ever used to _treat_ anything).

I'd call my friend to ask him, but he and his SO live up in the mountains w/o
a phone...

-- 
Graham Redgrave    |    --  I don't speak for the government, 
gwr@life.lanl.gov  |        but I wish the government would speak for me ...  --
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Consumption of Green Tea
From: Maurice.Broverman@f211.n163.z1.fidonet.org (Maurice Broverman)
Date: 23 Aug 92 15:17:56 GMT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:163/211 - Ned's Opus HST/DS, Ottawa ON

Does anyone have any statistics suggesting a negative correlation between the 
consumption of green tea and stomach cancer?



 

--  
Internet: Maurice.Broverman@f211.n163.z1.fidonet.org
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: robert@unlv.edu (Robert Cray)
Subject: Re: wisdom teeth removal
Organization: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 92 22:07:07 GMT

In article <1992Sep2.201710.2688@athena.cs.uga.edu> mcovingt@athena.cs.uga.edu (Michael A. Covington) writes:
>In article <1992Sep2.165812.25685@unlv.edu> robert@unlv.edu (Robert Cray) writes:
>>pain and rode my bike 7 miles to school that day (I was told not to drive).  
>
>Yikes!  Lucky you didn't fall off...
>
>Surely riding a bike in traffic requires at least as good coordination
>as driving.
>

I should clarify - I think I could also have safely driven a car, my
coordination was fine.  But had I been in an accident things might have
been difficult from a legal point of view.  As it was I was only risking
my own neck, and I don't think I was even doing that.

                                                --robert

From: jean@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Jean Jasinski)
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 16:46:28 GMT
Subject: Chronic Vaginitis in 5 year old?
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Newsgroups: sci.med

Does anyone have any experience in dealing with chronic vaginal infections
in a 5 year old female?

My daughter has had bacterial vaginal infections (gardnerella and/or pseudomonas)
about every 8 weeks for the past 18 months.  Several of the infections have been
cultured which is how I know the names of the bacteria.  Her symptoms include
vaginal discharge (yellowish green), odor (sometimes fishy and otherwises just
unpleasant), and inflammation and reddening of her external labia and vulva,
and some minor itching.  She always responds to antiobiotics.  She has taken 
either amoxycillin or septra and once did a 10 day course of flagyl.  She has
also taken a round (30 days) of prophylactic antiobiotics.

She is not a victim of child abuse.  She is not a masturbator.  Her hygiene is
good (she wipes the right way from front to back).  We have eliminated perfumes
and dyes from our toilet paper and laundry soap and fabric softener.  Her underwear
are cotton, a size too large, and usually removed at bedtime.  

She recently underwent an internal vaginal exam (under general anesthesia), and
no foreign bodies were found.  All of her cultures (STD, aerobic and anaerobic 
bacterial) were negative.  (Good news and bad news.  Good they didn't find 
anything and bad because we don't know what's causing the infections....)

Our local doctors (family and gynecologist) are stumped.  Our choices are to 
continue as we are (vinegar baths, using sulfanilamide or acigel daily depending 
on the presence of irritation and antiobiotics when needed) and/or perhaps consult 
an infectious disease gynecologist at a university hospital.  I am reluctant to 
continue to use prescription medications on her daily and do not
really care for putting her on antibiotics 6+ times a year for this....but I also
do not think a 5 year old vagina should require this kind of daily maintenance!
I dread the idea of another doctor poking at her; partly because of the emotional
trauma but also because I am tired of having everyone assume we are either molesting
her or allowing someone else to do so.  

If you have any professional opinions, I would appreciate hearing from you.  I 
will head off for a Medline search this week as well.

Thank you for your time,
Jean Jasinski
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Calcium-fortified foods
From: Daniel.Prince@p0.f129.n102.z1.fidonet.org (Daniel Prince)
Date: 22 Aug 92 14:30:38 GMT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:102/129.0 - One World, Redondo Beach CA

To: mdf0@GTE.com (Mark Feblowitz)

 MF> I have found it very
 MF> difficult to find completely dairy-free calcium supplements that are
 MF> both high in calcium and reasonable in cost. 

There is an orange juice that is fortified with calcium.  (I 
THINK the name is "Citrus Hill".)   You can buy bone meal 
capsules and dolomite capsules at any health food store. 

... My cat types with his tail.

 

--  
Internet: Daniel.Prince@p0.f129.n102.z1.fidonet.org
Organisation: European Space Operation Centre (E.S.O.C)
Date: Wednesday, 26 Aug 1992 14:31:37 CET
From: <RFLOOD@ESOC.BITNET>
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Hernia Surgery via laparoscopy?
 <Bt6yL2.A45@ibmpcug.co.uk> <j8=nk5n.shoup@netcom.com>
 <viking.714715703@vincent1.iastate.edu>

I had two hernias done - in 1981 and 1983, right and left - & they
were so different in the amount of post op recovery needed, pain etc,
that I might have suspected different treatments, had not the same
well known surgeon done both in the same hospital. F.I., in 1981, it took
two weeks before I could hobble a few hundred yards: in 1983 I walked
several miles two days later. Can someone explain these gross differences ?
RaF
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: jcp@islay.dco.dec.com (Jolly C. Pancakes)
Subject: Re: wisdom teeth removal
Organization: Electric Otter Eel Emporium
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 20:44:13 GMT


	My husband had all four wisdom teeth removed several years ago
and his dentist gave one piece of useful advice I hadn't heard before.
If the sockets begin bleeding, take tea bags (use the cheapest variety
to get the most tannin) soaked in hot water, then allowed to cool, put
them on the sockets and bite down for 10-15 minutes. The tannin shrinks
up the socket and stops the bleeding but doesn't cause dry socket. This
can look pretty funny though, if you have the kind of bags with strings
and tails on them - rather like a big cat with mousie tails dangling out
of his mouth.


-- 

------------
jcpatilla					jcp@islay.dco.dec.com
From: jean@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Jean Jasinski)
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 16:27:19 GMT
Subject: Re: Knee Surgery - Reconstructive
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Newsgroups: sci.med

I haven't read any postings about using cadaver tendons for ACL replacements
instead of the patellar tendon.

My husband had this done 15 months ago and could not participate in "cutting"
sports for a year while his cells were populating the graft.  This method of
ACL reconstruction is theoretically better because your knee was not compromised
by using your patellar tendon (no other weakness introduced) and because they
actually use a cadaver tendon instead of a ligament (???) so that it is even
stronger....(I may be out to lunch on this point).  He can now play basketball
without his brace but he prefers to wear it for his own safety.  He began rehab
4 days after surgery and gave his crutch up at the same time.

Jean Jasinski
From: geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: UGH. (Was B12)
Date: 26 Aug 92 19:20:01 GMT
Organization: Decision Systems Laboratory, Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA.

In article <16200@pitt.UUCP> km@cs.pitt.edu (Ken Mitchum) writes:
>
>As for B12, I have 477 references to go through looking for new and
>exciting research on atrophic gastritis. Patients with pernicious
>anemia often have gastric achlorhydria, but I was not aware that
>achlorhydria was as common as has been claimed here.
>

As one who routinely is called upon to work up patients with
neuropathy (symptom of B12 deficiency), I can assure you that
most elderly patients are not B12 deficient, achlorhydria or
no.




-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "Skepticism is the chastity of the intellect, and
geb@cadre.dsl.pitt.edu   |  it is shameful to surrender it too soon." 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Mercury in dental fillings?
Date: 3 Sep 92 14:36:23 GMT
Organization: Decision Systems Laboratory, Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA.

In article <Btx0Hr.3Dw@wpg.com> russ@wpg.com (Russell Lawrence) writes:
>
>gb> The government can't enforce these well because of political
>gb> considerations.  I think a private agency (although never
>gb> tried, to my knowledge) might be able to do something here.
>
>I don't understand your point, Gordon.  Would you be in favor 
>of abolishing the existing licensing boards altogether?  
>
I would not oppose such a move.  I don't think licensing boards
accomplish anything useful, really.  The public could be much
better served by private agencies set up to rate and accredit
practitioners.  

>function in addressing quack treatment modalities, how would a 
>private agency be able to overcome their objections without
>creating lots of conflict with the local dentists?   
>
How does the Consumer's Union manage to rate products without
creating a lot of conflict with manufacturers?  

>BTW, did you get a chance to read the special article on the 
>crisis in US health care in the July issue of _Consumer Reports_?  
>A special insert on pg 443 explained that the AMA's chestbeating 
>about malpractice concerns is a "straw man", albeit widely 
>believed by the US public.  The conclusions of Consumer Reports 
>were supported by studies conducted by HHS as well as a Harvard 
>University study funded by the state of NY.  
>

Since I am in a better position to know about that issue than
the author of the article, I disagreed.  I see cases every day
where physicians use the malpractice argument to justify
ordering expensive tests.  Every day.  I know there are those
with a social agenda that doesn't allow for that, but they
are wrong.  Otherwise, the CR article was quite reasonable.
Except for their support of the trial lawyers, Consumer's
Union is an excellent organization.  I was hoping that now
Ralph Nader is off the board that would change, but it hasn't yet.
-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "Skepticism is the chastity of the intellect, and
geb@cadre.dsl.pitt.edu   |  it is shameful to surrender it too soon." 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu (David Rind)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Do Doctors Give a Damn? The Other Health Care Crisis
Date: 26 Aug 92 14:29:35 GMT
Organization: Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston Mass., USA

In article <1523@rwja.umdnj.edu> choudhri@njmsa.umdnj.edu
 (Ajay Choudhri) writes:
>providers have no choice but to charge what they do for a couple of reasons.
>1) Litigation
>2) No market driven price on low cost procedures.
>3) technology.. everybody wants the latest advance done, but nobody wants
>to foot the bill to pay for it.  
>4) No preventitive med.

I think you are correct about reasons 2 and 3 -- both symptoms of the
real problem, that insurance insulates consumers from the real marginal
cost of their health care, and so they continue to demand health care
well past where the marginal cost equals the marginal benefit.  This
leads to problem 3 where companies can compete on making marginally
better technology rather than marginally cheaper technology.

Problem 1 is likely a small portion of the problem, though it is hard
to quantify.

As for problem 4, there is probably more preventive care going on
now in the U.S. than at any other time in its history.  Do you
have any evidence that *any* type of preventive care is actually
cost saving?  By evidence, I mean the sort of evidence that you'd
expect in any other medical situation -- not just someone's opinion.
That is not to say that preventive care is not a good idea, but I'd
like to see the evidence that it will lower costs.

-- 
David Rind
rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med