HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: carl.pedersen@dartmouth.edu (L. Carl Pedersen)
Newsgroups: sci.med.occupational
Subject: Re: reading and hand pain
Date: 28 Dec 92 17:31:17 GMT
Followup-To: sci.med.occupational
Organization: Dartmouth College

In article <ljhm8pINNipk@appserv.Eng.Sun.COM>,
deborah@gallifrey.Eng.Sun.COM (Deborah Bennett) wrote:
> 
> <EWN1@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
> 
> >I have bilateral CTS and ulnar nerve compression at both wrists (I'm a
> >computer programmer).  I also read a lot, and I've noticed that reading
> >(holding the book) hurts my hands and arms a good deal, too.  To try to
> >lessen the strain on my hands, I've tried sitting at a table with the book
> >on the table (but this isn't good for the back).  I've also tried sitting
> >with pillows in my lap to prop up the book.  What do other people do?
> >Are there any nifty gadgets out there that help with this kind of thing?
> 
> There's a mail-order outfit called "Levenger" which sells several
> items you might like. They have a roll-around table which tilts and
> has a ledge on the bottom (like the meal tables at a hospital,
> except most of the table part tilts). They also have an inclined
> desk-top table, and a lap desk. I've never ordered from them, but
> the stuff looks good quality. I'm at work and don't have the
> address, but they advertise in upscale magazines (like the New Yorker,
> Smithsonion, Scientific American, etc). I'll try to post
> the info after the holidays.

I've ordered from Levenger.  Their stuff seems OK, but the table you speak
of is tricky to assemble and not as stable as I would really like.

A company called BackSaver sells a "Rolling Desk Mate" that *appears* to be
a sturdier, larger, version of the same thing.  A little more $, too.

BackSaver has an interesting catalog.  Their # is 1-800-251-2225.  Call 800
information (555-1212) to get Levenger's #.

I have not actually ordered anything from BackSaver.  Would be interested
in hearing from anyone who has.
From: tsf@CS.CMU.EDU (Timothy Freeman)
Newsgroups: sci.med.occupational
Subject: Mail order catalogs; Forearm rests?
Date: 31 Dec 92 21:58:17 GMT
Article-I.D.: cs.C05918.IKt.1
Distribution: sci
Organization: Carnegie Mellon University
Originator: tsf@U.ERGO.CS.CMU.EDU

I recall reading somewhere a list of catalogs that sell equipment to
make typing more comfortable, like wrist pads and forearm rests and
adjustable furniture.  If you have the list, please send me a copy; in
a few days I'll post the relevant mail I receive to this newsgroup
(Maybe the list of mail order places should be added to the typing
injury FAQ?)

In particular, I'm looking for something that I can clamp to my desk
to rest my forearms on.  It seems that holding my forearms up by
myself creates a lot of tension.

Thanks!
--
Tim Freeman <tsf@cs.cmu.edu>    CompuServe ID 71045,2267 checked occasionally.
When they took the fourth amendment, I was silent because I don't deal drugs.
When they took the sixth amendment, I kept quiet because I know I'm innocent.
When they took the second amendment, I said nothing because I don't own a gun.
Now they've come for the first amendment, and I can't say anything at all.
Newsgroups: sci.med,talk.politics.medicine
From: szikopou@alfred.carleton.ca (Steven Zikopoulos)
Subject: efficacy of antidepressant agents
Summary: want feedback on people's successes or failures using antidepressants
Keywords: antidepressant agents
Organization: Carleton University
Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1992 17:38:56 GMT


          I have been suffering from chronic depression and as a last
resort decided to seek some neurochemical help so that I could finish
my degree.  I've given fluoxetine (Prozac) a chance twice--without
success.  

          I would like people to share their experiences with me.
More specifically
1) have you tried an antidepressant? Do you feel it helped?
2) Do you deal with depression in other perhaps 'unorthodox' ways
3) anything elxe you wish to say

I have posted something similiar on sci.psychology and recently found
out about sci.med--so I'm doing the same

Please reply email

Steven Zikopoulos
Carleton University
Ottawa, Ontario

email: szikopou@ccs.carleton.ca
From: "eliot gelwan" <eliot.gelwan@channel1.com>
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: pathological intoxica
Date: 2 Jan 93 00:20:12 EST
Reply-To: "eliot gelwan" <eliot.gelwan@channel1.com>
Distribution: sci
Organization: Channel 1 Communications

On 12-27-92 PEGGY WAGEMAN wrote:

PWI saw a movie where they made reference to a disorder called
PWpathological intoxication where small amounts of alcohol
PWproduced a psychotic episode.  I've never heard of this
PWdisorder, does it exist?  Is it like an allergic reaction?

Yes, it exists. The person doesn't actually get "psychotic," but
rather becomes violent, agitated, impulsive, and is amnesic for
the events. This happens with a small amount of alcohol (not
usually enough to be intoxicating) and the person, between such
episodes, is not by nature violent. It usually occurs to people
with a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders, i.e. the brain
substrate is made vulnerable by an underlying condition to the
pathological reaction to alcohol. The movie was Final Analysis,
right? I was giving a lecture the other day that made reference
to pathological intoxication and one of the students asked me if
that was what they were trying to portray in that film. Not
having seen it, I couldn't comment.

...eliot  [Eliot Gelwan M.D.]                            |
Internet: eliot.gelwan@channel1.com [home]              -*-
          eg%psych%umass@banyan.ummed.edu [office]       |
Postlink: ->CHANNEL1 [R/O okay]

---
EZ 1.39 #178 [in Brookline MA 10:24 pm, Friday 01/01/93]
--
Channel 1 (R)   Cambridge, MA
From: green@island.COM (Robert Greenstein)
Subject: Re: evidence for homeopathy - who pays?
Organization: Strawman Incorporated
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 00:37:13 GMT

In article <17915@pitt.UUCP> geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks) writes:
>In article <1992Dec14.233525.5441@island.COM> green@island.COM (Robert Greenstein) writes:
>>This is a distorted explanation of what happened. In fact, the AMA was
>>launched for the purpose of driving the homeopaths out of business. They
>>succeeded in this endeavor by conning the government into accepting
>>the Johns Hopkins medical school as *the* model, by which all other 
>>schools had to measure up, or lose funding. One by one, the homeopathic
>>schools closed down, until there were none left. 
>
>This is a really distorted view of what happened.  First, the government
>didn't fund medical schools until after world war II, long after
>homeopathy had died out almost.  The Johns Hopkins model was for
>medical schools, not homeopathy schools.  It had nothing to do with
>funding but with accreditation.

You are correct in your assertion that the Johns Hopkins model had to do
with accreditation. I probably should have been clearer in my post. 
However, loss of accreditation ultimately meant loss of funding. I also
maintain that homeopathy schools were held to the Johns Hopkins standard.
-- 
******************************************************************************
Robert Greenstein           What the fool cannot learn he laughs at, thinking
green@srilanka.island.com   that by his laughter he shows superiority instead
                            of latent idiocy - M. Corelli
From: nyeda@cnsvax.uwec.edu (David Nye)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Women Doctors
Date: 1 Jan 93 00:02:03 -0600
Organization: University of Wisconsin Eau Claire

[reply to tknudsen@ics.uci.edu]
 
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 19:22:53 GMT
 
>>Does anyone else think
>>that it is more likely that female gender is an advantage to gaining
>>acceptance to medical school, than a disadvantage? (I don't think
>>that this is necessarily bad, in case anyone cares. Viva diversity!)
 
>First: I think it should be an advantage to be female for gaining
>acceptance at medical schools. We need more females in this profession
>to break the dominating positivistic natural science paradigm which
>still is dominating western medicine, and it is likely that women will
>be more able to bring in other values then men.
 
You are insulting women in medicine to suggest that they are less
capable of discriminating, scientific thought than men.  You might think
they would bring maternal values which will improve the doctor-patient
relationship, but the women physicians I know do not seem to have either
better or worse bedside manners than men.

David Nye
nyeda@cnsvax.uwec.edu
Organization: Central Michigan University
Date: Wednesday, 23 Dec 1992 21:31:17 EST
From: <3423YKN@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU>
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject:    Prostaglandin E1- Experiences?

I would greatly appreciate exchanging email with anyone who has
firsthand knowledge/experience with Prostaglandin E1 (Prostin VR).

Thanks much.
From: stpeters@crd.ge.com (Dick St.Peters)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Reliability in medicine and engineerin
Date: 25 Dec 92 19:37:57 GMT
Reply-To: stpeters@crd.ge.com
Organization: GE Corporate R&D, Schenectady, NY

In article 3000@cnsvax.uwec.edu, nyeda@cnsvax.uwec.edu (David Nye) writes:
> [reply to hrubin@pop.stat.purdue.edu]
> I share your concern about the loss of thinkers in medicine.  The
> average GPA of applicants to medical school has fallen almost every year
> for over a decade.

There was a similar decline following the first Sputnik in 1957.  As
the space race made educating scientists and engineers a national
priority, these fields attracted the top students that previously would
have become physicians.  I can remember a lot of concern about this at
the time.  If there was equivalent attention in following decades to an
actual occurrence of the anticipated decline in physician quality, I
missed it.

--
Dick St.Peters
GE Medical Systems, New Berlin, WI  stpeters@med.ge.com (temporary)
GE Corporate R&D, Schenectady, NY   stpeters@crd.ge.com (permanent & forwarded)
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: graham@venus.iucf.indiana.edu (JIM GRAHAM)
Subject: Osteoporosis...its outcome
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   
Reply-To: graham@venus.iucf.indiana.edu
Organization: Indiana University Cyclotron Facility, Bloomington, Indiana
Distribution:  world
Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1992 04:44:18 GMT


I recently learned that I had significant osteoporosis in my foot and
lower leg, due to an advanced case of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.

I understand that it will eventually become "diffuse" rather than
"spotty".

What I would like to know are the possible final outcomes of the 
condition (osteoporosis).

In other words, does it reach a stage where, after it becomes diffuse,
no further degeneration of the bone occurs, or do the bones continue
to degenerate until they are no longer solid?


Thanks,
Jim Graham 

        -> ->Disclaimer: I do not speak for my company. <- <-
                          Neither do they speak for me.
 ______________________________________________________________________
| Internet: graham@venus.iucf.indiana.edu                              |
|           dolmen!jgraham@moose.cs.indiana.edu                        |
| BBS:      The PORTAL DOLMEN BBS/ParaNet ALPHA-GAMMA (sm) (9:1012/13) |
|            (812) 334-0418, 24hrs.                                    |
|______________________________________________________________________|
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: caf@omen.UUCP (Chuck Forsberg)
Subject: Re: Adiposity 101
Organization: Omen Technology INC, Portland Rain Forest
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 11:26:25 GMT

>I've dropped about 45 lbs since the Summer Solstice.  The ongoing
>discussions of weight-loss here on sci.med have given my brain much to
>chew on, so to speak.  I opted for the Dr. Atkins diet (lo on carbohydrate,
>hi on heresy).  It works incredibly well for me.  (We'll see about long-
>term after more time goes by, of course.)

One note for "Atkinites":  Apparently citric acid bollixes ketosis in
40-50% of dieters on a ketogenic low carbohydrate diet.   And guess what,
that stuff is in just about every diet soda except Dr. Pepper according
to the labels I've read.  Film at 11, details in next Adiposity 101.

Note I am not endorsing the Atkins diet, just sharing some info.
As far as I can discern, Atkins isn't worse than other
weight loss diets given the same smount of weight loss.

-- 
Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX          ...!tektronix!reed!omen!caf 
Author of YMODEM, ZMODEM, Professional-YAM, ZCOMM, and DSZ
  Omen Technology Inc    "The High Reliability Software"
17505-V NW Sauvie IS RD   Portland OR 97231   503-621-3406
From: rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu (David Rind)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Nicotine Withdrawal Help Needed
Date: 30 Dec 92 14:34:48 GMT
Organization: Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston Mass., USA

In article <72611@cup.portal.com> mmm@cup.portal.com (Mark Robert Thorson)
 writes:
>Are you not using the patch for this reason?  You can cut the patch dosage
>in half by taking a scissors and cutting the patch in half.  Just use half
>of it at a time (or whatever you feel the correct dosage is).

Are you sure of this?  I was under the impression that it was not
generally safe to cut transdermal patches (whether nicotine or anything
else).  Two people have posted this as a possible solution.  Nicotine
overdose can be fairly serious, so I wouldn't suggest anyone try this
unless someone can confirm that it's safe.



-- 
David Rind
rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: caf@omen.UUCP (Chuck Forsberg)
Subject: Re: Adiposity 101
Organization: Omen Technology INC, Portland Rain Forest
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 06:38:44 GMT

In article <1992Dec30.223323.14284@netcom.com> sue@netcom.com (Sue Miller) writes:
>In article <DLB.92Dec30155641@fanny.wash.inmet.com> dlb@fanny.wash.inmet.com (David Barton) writes:
>>I can't resist one tidbit.
>>
>>After being diagnosed as diabetic in August, I went on a *VERY* strict
>>low-fat diet.  Now, it has controlled my blood sugar famously, which
>>is what it was supposed to do.
>>
>>On the other hand, I have not lost a damn pound.  Nor have I gained.
>>Rock steady.
>>
>>My wife just informed me that through *sometimes* eating my low fat
>>diet, she has dropped eight pounds.  She often eats what she wants,
>>rather than what I am eating.  About half of our dinners together, she
>>eats what I am cooking (I have gotten very good at low-fat cooking, if
>>I do say so myself).  The rest of the time, she gorges on lasanga,
>>quiche, and ice cream bars.
>>
>>And she loses eight pounds.  Do I lose squat?  No.
>>
>>Life really sucks, sometimes.
>>
>
>Yeah, it's weird.  When I was living in England, I drank fresh
>milk (straight from the cow, via the cooling tank), lots of butter,
>cheese, and beef beef beef.  I also had sausage & chips
>(& peas & beans), fish & chips, doner kebabs, you get the picture.
>Salad?  I ate some, but not much.  Pies and cakes!  Fried food,
>bacon butties.  Yummm.
>
>I lost ~10 pounds.  I'm back in Healthful California, sitting on my
>butt many hours a day in front of my workstation, but eating less
>fattening food (by a mile).  The weight is right back on.
>I guess I'm going to have to try to make myself exercise.  And
>get my cholesterol checked.  :-)

Also check your carbohydrate consumption, esp. sugar including
corn starch, etc.
-- 
Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX          ...!tektronix!reed!omen!caf 
Author of YMODEM, ZMODEM, Professional-YAM, ZCOMM, and DSZ
  Omen Technology Inc    "The High Reliability Software"
17505-V NW Sauvie IS RD   Portland OR 97231   503-621-3406
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: bhjelle@carina.unm.edu ()
Subject: Re: Deodorants Harmful?
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 92 15:26:24 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque

In article <memo.832185@cix.compulink.co.uk> dbailey@cix.compulink.co.uk writes:
>
>
>
>It was reading the homoeopathic proving of alumina that first
>alerted me to the dangerous properties, and then realising how
>
>I'd like to know the epidemiological history of Alzheimers
>(balanced for the increasing numbers living to greater age) in
>relation to the introduction of aluminium cookware (1920s?),

>introduced.  And is there an increased incidence of Alzheimers
>amongst those that have been around aluminium casting or
>soldering processes - since solder contains the metal, in
>addition to lead, usually.
>
These "links" have been difficult to prove. And, in a recent
issue of Science, someone finally showed why the proof has
been difficult. It seems that the rather ancient studies
showing that Alzheimer's plaques (in the brain) contain
aluminum were badly flawed by contamination with aluminum
from external sources; there is, in fact, NO ALUMINUM in
Alzheimer's brain lesions.

I'm hoping that repeated mention of this new finding will
sway those who have been avoiding aluminum cookware for
the last 20 years to turn their attention to some much
greater, more immediate threat. Something like the
radioactivity in smoke detectors, for instance  :-).

Brian
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer)
Subject: Re: Herbs for Menopause
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 07:55:22 GMT

In article <1992Dec31.013309.3018@cnsvax.uwec.edu> nyeda@cnsvax.uwec.edu (David Nye) writes:
>>I would like to learn about herbs which women can take for menopausal
>>symptoms.
>If you don't get an answer here, ask over in talk.health.alternative, a
>new newsgroup split off from sci.med just for these sort of questions.
>Most of the folks remaining here are advocates of scientific as opposed
>to folk or alternative medicine.

Yeah, I'm sure the crackpots there will be happy to recommend junk for
her to take.  It might be a bit more helpful for someone to point out
to her that there aren't any "herbs which women can take for menopausal
symptoms"; these things will either turn out to be worthless or toxic
or both.

You gave the wrong name for the other newsgroup, too.

-- 
Steve Dyer
dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer
From: rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu (David Rind)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Adiposity 101
Date: 3 Jan 93 16:44:30 GMT
Organization: Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston Mass., USA

In article <1993Jan3.063107.9871@spdcc.com> dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer) writes:
>Let me just that that I wouldn't want to be the first to volunteer
>for any kind of immunological attack on fat cells.  The potential
>for disaster seems almost limitless.

This certainly seems like a reasonable concern.  Various collagen
vascular diseases such as lupus can have an associated panniculitis,
which I assume is due to an autoimmune attack on fat cells.  This can
be fatal.
-- 
David Rind
rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: hrubin@pop.stat.purdue.edu (Herman Rubin)
Subject: Problems of studies  Was: Re: Generic drug store brands.
Organization: Purdue University Statistics Department
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 16:31:17 GMT

In article <C04L0w.3rB@monster.apd.saic.com> tomj@monster.apd.saic.com (Tom Johnson) writes:
>dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer) writes:

>>  What we do know is that Robaxin and placebo
>>both seem to work equally well against back pain in controlled studies,
>>making the measurement of any drug effect virtually impossible.

>For what it's worth, this same question came up on yesterday's local
>RadioDoc talk show.  The RadioDoc confirms what Steve's been saying:
>Oral muscle relaxants aren't distinguishable from placebos in 
>controlled studies. 

The typical controlled study is to have n_E subjects get the experimental
treatment and n_P get the placebo, and observe how many in each group are
changed.  It is rare that subjects will get the experimental treatment
sometimes and the placebo at other times.  Now a drug can be effective
on only a few, and this is unlikely even to be suspected on the first
kind of study.  However, if some benefit from the treatment but not the
placebo, only the second kind of study will reveal it if the proportion
is small and the placebo effect is present.
-- 
Herman Rubin, Dept. of Statistics, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette IN47907-1399
Phone: (317)494-6054
hrubin@snap.stat.purdue.edu (Internet, bitnet)  
{purdue,pur-ee}!snap.stat!hrubin(UUCP)
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: cfthb@ux1.cts.eiu.edu (Howard Black)
Subject: Re: Generic drug store brands.
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 16:52:06 GMT
Organization: Eastern Illinois University

In article <b7prn+b@dixie.com> jgd@dixie.com (John De Armond) writes:
>
>Dyer can say what he likes but for me there will never be another 
>generic substitute for a serious drug in my life if I can help it.  
>Generic aspirin and tylenol is one thing; drugs for serious problems 
>is another.

    Steve was responding to specific questions about a specific drug -
acetaminophen - and made no remarks about "serious drugs".  The equivalency
of generic vs. name-brand medications depends on the drug, as some recent
lawsuits against generic drug manufacturers attest.
    Robaxin, the "serious drug" being discussed, is a mild muscle relaxant
whose efficacy vs. placebo is questionable (this is true for most oral
skeletal muscle relaxants).  I suspect there was a placebo effect operating
in your case if you perceived a difference between the generic and name
brand formulations.
 

-- 
   ******************************************************************
     Howard Black                             cfthb@ux1.cts.eiu.edu
     Department of Chemistry                  Eastern Illinois Univ.