HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: bgeer@javelin.sim.es.com (Bob Geer)
Subject: Re: Diabetic coma
Reply-To: bgeer@javelin.sim.es.com
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 16:17:31 GMT

geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks) writes:

>In article <1992Aug12.000812.5891@javelin.sim.es.com> bgeer@javelin.sim.es.com writes:

>>Perhaps you could build yourself a little "include" file on your
>>computer that would contain all these terms & their relationship, then
>>include it with your diabetes posts.  That wouldn't take much more
>>energy than unnecessarily flaming someone disagreeing with your use of
>>"juvenile" & "adult", terms with which I am completely unfamiliar.  I
>>do know something about the distinction between Type I & Type II
>>diabetes, however.
>>
>>Stop kneejerking & communicate more carefully.

>Ken is one of the few people on this group who has any
>real knowledge of medicine, unlike you and others of your
      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Having this knowledge & imparting it to others are two very different
things.  His "impartation" is inelegant & he is defensive about that.

>ilk that can do no better than sit and bitch about the
>free information you are getting.  Put it where the sun
>don't shine.

Bend over, Gordon...
-- 
<> Bob `Bear' Geer <>   bgeer@beorn.sim.es.com     (this *should* work)   <>
<>     cola-zombie <>   speaking only for myself, one of my many tricks   <>
<> Salt Lake City, <>    "We must strive to be more than we are, Lal."    <>
<>          Ootah  <>           -- Cmdr. Data, learning schmaltz          <>
From: geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: computers in treatment of ocular diseases
Keywords: diagnosis ocular treatment computers
Date: 14 Aug 92 16:51:02 GMT
Distribution: sci.med
Organization: Decision Systems Laboratory, Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA.

In article <cssung.713648505@knuth> cssung@knuth.mtsu.edu (Dr. Sung Yoo) writes:
>Does anyone have info about the use of computers in the diagnosis
>and/or treatment of ocular diseases?  In particular, we are interested
>in visual screening of children.  Thanks!
>
One of my students programmed a visual field diagnostic program
using a backpropagation connectionist model.  It was reported
about 2 years ago in the SCAMC proceedings.  The SCAMC proceedings
would be a good place to start a search for that sort of thing
anyhow.



-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: Renee@cup.portal.com (Renee Linda Roberts)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Need info on TENS electro stimulator
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 92 21:08:53 PDT
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Distribution: na

I have a Tens unit, and it has worked wonders! Kaiser purchased it for me
(long term rental that turned into purchase in 6 mo), and I use it on my
back, and recently on my ankle (post-surgical pain control, better than
Vicodin if you want to stay awake!).

It does not take the pain away completely, but it screws up the signals
enough to make the pain easy to manage.

Renee Roberts
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: bhjelle@carina.unm.edu ()
Subject: Re: Request for Information: CMV
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 92 17:39:53 GMT
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
Keywords: Layman's terms... please.

In article <Aug.18.10.46.20.1992.20712@pilot.njin.net> birchall@pilot.njin.net (Shag) writes:
>
>	In late November of 1990, I took ill, and was tested for Mono.  The
>doctor informed me that I didn't have Mono, but _did_ have CMV.  I asked him

You may just have CMV antibodies, indicative of past infection. If
your doc stopped with a single antibody test, he may not be able to
tell any more than that.

>	Recently, I had a cold, and a friend of mine also had a cold.  We
>spend large amounts of time in each other's company, colds or not.  She now
>has some of the preliminary symptoms of a CMV infection - swollen lymph
>nodes in her neck, extreme fatigue, high fever.  She's getting tested
>tomorrow.  We are, as the song says, hoping for the best but expecting the
>worst.

CMV's not nearly as bad as you seem to think. More than half of
adults in the U.S. have antibodies. There is a good 50% chance up
front that she has the antibodies, cold or no.

CMV is bad if you are a preterm newborn (<1200g), a transplant
recipient, have AIDS, or some kinds of cancer. Also, if you catch
it during gestation from your mom.

>	I have been told in recent days that CMV has a tendency to remain
>in someone, latent or inactive, and reactivate if their immune system drops
>or if the CMV is transferred into someone else's body.  I've also been told
>that I may not be immune to CMV, and may only have an inactive case of it.

Severely immunocompromised people can probably get "superinfected" with
a second strain of CMV, but not people with good immune systems.
Recipients of organ transplants can "reactivate" latent CMV and
get severly ill, or get it from the transplanted organ.

>	Right now, as a 'CMV survivor' I have a good bit more general 
>knowledge of the critter than the average man on the street.  However, I
>don't know as much about it as the average expert.  I'd like to learn more.

"CMV survivor"? Join the other 100,000,000 adult CMV survivors in the U.S.
>
>	I'm very concerned as to what the current risk is, both to myself
>and to those around me.  I'd like to find out how it can be transmitted,
>exactly how much damage it does to what, what triggers it, and what 
>secondary infections should be guarded against.  I'd _especially_ like to
>find out whether there's any way to zap it when it's inactive.
>-- 
Secondary infections? No such thing.

It can be transmitted sexually, transplacentally during an acute
(maternal) infection, or via fomites (exact mechanism uncertain, but
probably includes saliva).

It can be transmitted to a blood recipient, but this is not of
consequence except for certain groups of recipients such as preterm
babies. Blood intended for such groups is tested for CMV antibodies
so do not hesitate to donate blood if you are OK otherwise.

There is no way to "zap" it.

Brian
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath)
Subject: Re: Beta blockers & Olympics
Organization: The Cat Factory
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 01:03:05 GMT

In article <4610025@hpcc01.corp.hp.com> loftis@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Kirk Loftis) writes:

}	I would not see any advantage for any athlete to use beta
}blockers for "athletic" activities (Shooting Guns is a skill developed
}through intense practice and ability).

I could still see an advantage to blocking adrenalin, especially in a
high-pressure competition like the Olympics.  As it is, shooters use all
kinds of tricks and disciplines to slow their heart rates and steady their
aim.  I wonder how it would affect a bi-athlete's performance (alternating
ski for speed and shoot for accuracy).

Then there's archery ...

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
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: graham@venus.iucf.indiana.edu (JIM GRAHAM)
Subject: Epidural pump..what is it?
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   
Reply-To: graham@venus.iucf.indiana.edu
Organization: Somewhere in Bloomington, Indiana
Distribution:  na
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 00:05:44 GMT

It seems that I am a candidate for either an epidural pump, or a
surgical sympathectomy.

Would someone please describe to me what an epidural pump is, how
it is "installed", and how the medication is administered?

Is it just a permanently implanted IV port, or is it really a "pump"?

Thanks for any help, 

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.                                    |
|______________________________________________________________________|
From: birchall@pilot.njin.net (Shag)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Request for Information: CMV
Keywords: Layman's terms... please.
Date: 19 Aug 92 16:24:51 GMT
Organization: Screaming in Digital, the Queensryche Net Digest

geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks) writes:

>So what?  Do you have to be aware of what it is in order to
>get it?  Listen, Brian is a virologist, you'd do well to listen
>to him rather than argue.

I won't argue that 100,000,000 people in this country have had CMV.  I will,
however, point out that the bulk of them have had it at subclinical levels.
Fairly serious cases of CMV among the non-immunocompromised adult population
are, from what I've read [in medical references] and been told [by other med
folk] pretty uncommon.

-Shag
-- 

     Freedom belongs to only those without video screens for eyes and mouth.
		- Queensryche
From: tlin@eeyore.Berkeley.EDU (Tony Lin)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: spina bifida information needed, please!
Date: 18 Aug 92 03:46:04 GMT
Organization: Dept. of Statistics, U. C. Berkeley

I'm posting this on behalf of my girlfriend ...

Her infant niece has spina bifida.  A number of complications have
developed and, even worse, more are developing.  We would like to
hear about and from people with spina bifida.  Anyone out there have
or had spina bifida?  Parents of children with spina bifida?  People
studying/dealing with cases of spina bifida?

Please contact us if you can help enlighten us.  I don't read this
newsgroup regularly, but I guess I'll start.  =)  Or, please send
e-mail to  s2@stat.berkeley.edu  or call at (510) 278-4571.  

Any and all information gladly welcomed.  Thank you.

-- Tony Lin
(s2@stat.berkeley.edu)

Newsgroups: sci.med,misc.kids
From: stanzi@media.mit.edu (Constance "Stanzi" Royden)
Subject: Re: Hepatitis vaccine
Organization: MIT Media Laboratory
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 16:15:02 GMT

In article <1992Aug14.135306.7399@spdcc.com> dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer) writes:
>
>Actually, I can understand why some people might argue that such
>prophylaxis should be reserved for high-risk groups (you know,
>DIRTY lifestyles like medical personnel have), though it might
>be interesting to hear from one of the MD's more familiar with
>this the rationale for universal childhood immunization against
>Hep B.  

I'm not an MD, but my spouse is (specializing in Infectious Disease).
My understanding from discussing this with him is that, while Hep B is
uncommon in infants, it is impossible to predict which infants will end
up in high risk groups.  While it's easy to get some of the high risk
group folks (e.g. the health care professionals) to come in and get 
vaccinated, it's very difficult to get others (e.g. IV drug users) to 
come get vaccinated once they've become high risk.  It's much easier
to vaccinate everyone when they're infants and coming in for their other
immunizations as well.  Presumably the cost of vaccinating all those
infants is less than the cost of caring for all the future Hep B cases.

There may be other good reasons to vaccinate the infants.  The above is
just one I happen to know about.
From: mailman@bhprtc.scpd.oz.au
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: antibiotic
Summary: the effect of prolonged usage of antibiotic
Keywords: antibiotic, duration
Date: 15 Aug 92 03:34:46 GMT
Organization: BHP Steel, Sheet & Coil, Research & Technology Centre

What would be the possible side-effects of taking antibiotic for a duration
of one month or more ?
From: geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Are there blood thinners that don't aggravate internal bleeding?
Date: 17 Aug 92 14:39:02 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Decision Systems Laboratory, Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA.

In article <1992Aug14.140855.15826@cbnewsj.cb.att.com> vulcan@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (patricia.m.chmiel) writes:

>Her family (in USA) is concerned that she's not on the blood thinners;
>my friend's husband insists that there are blood thinners available that
>do not cause/exacerbate internal bleeding.  So, my question is:
>is there such a drug and what company makes it?   (I will call the
>company to find out if the drug is available in Ireland.)

Unfortunately, not.  What you call blood "thinners" are in reality
anticoagulants.  They work by preventing blood from clotting.
When you do that, you risk internal bleeding and certainly exacerbate
any that is going on.  By their very nature it is impossible
to have one without the other.  
-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: John.Willis@p123.f349.n109.z1.fidonet.org (John Willis)
Sender: Uucp@blkcat.UUCP
From: uad1214@dircon.co.uk (Peter Cox)
Subject: ?? Standardized Mortality Ratio ??
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1992 17:40:29 GMT
Keywords: SMR


Would some kindly person please oblige me by giving me
an easy-to-follow explanation of what "Standardized Mortality
Ratio" (SMR) is?
For example, if one population group has a SMR of 33, does
this mean they only have one third the mortality when
compared to the universe?

Thanks!
-- 
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Peter Cox
uad1214@dircon.co.uk
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
From: turpin@cs.utexas.edu (Russell Turpin)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Smartdrugs
Date: 17 Aug 1992 12:17:48 -0500
Organization: U Texas Dept of Computer Sciences, Austin TX
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu
Summary: The real McCoy!

-*----
In article <9515.2A88B8C2@stjhmc.fidonet.org> Leon.Ubags@f211.n500.z2.fidonet.org (Leon Ubags) writes:
>>> Is there anyone who can tell me more about socalled smartdrugs or has 
>>> experience in using them e.g. Hydrazine,Phenylanaline and so on ?

In article <1992Aug15.044159.9839@spdcc.com> dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer) writes:
>> It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that you mean "Hydergine", not
>> hydrazine. :-)

In article <16081@pitt.UUCP> geb@dsl.pitt.edu (gordon e. banks) writes:
> Certainly he wouldn't want to make an ash of himself.

The University of Texas business major spent a week at the
beginning of the semester earning his tuition by selling
bottles of smart pills to the Aggies returning to College
Station.  The next semester, one of his repeat customers
comes up to him and says, "Those smart pills got me through
Reading 101, but they taste like goat droppings."  The
business major replies, "See?  You're getting smarter, fast."

Russell
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Incidence of Hemorrhage from CBZ?
From: Robin.Salmansohn@f715.n273.z1.fidonet.org (Robin Salmansohn)
Date: 14 Aug 92 12:16:32 GMT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:273/715 - Alternative Lifesty, Wyndmoor PA

What is the known incidence of hemorrhaging from Carbamazepine?


 

--  
Internet: Robin.Salmansohn@f715.n273.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: Penn State University
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 18:23:49 EDT
From: <EWN1@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: cervical/spinal stenosis

My doctor says I may have spinal stenosis.  (I have pain running down the
outside of both legs, down to the ankle in the left leg and down to the
knee in the right leg; pain in both hips; pain in all of the back, upper,
middle, and lower; and pain in the neck.  Basic rheumatoid arthritis
blood tests have shown nothing, and x rays of my hips and neck have
shown no problems.)  I'm scheduled for an MRI of my neck in 3 weeks,
but in the meantime...can anyone provide me with any information on
spinal stenosis?  Causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, etc. would
all be appreciated.  Anecdotal information from anyone who has spinal
stenosis is also welcome.  Please send e-mail if this has been
discussed before.  Thanks in advance.
*************************************************************************
 Ellen Newman                     | You can name your own salary here --
 LCS - Library Computing Services | I call mine Fred.
 ewn1@psuvm.psu.edu               |       - taken from a Ziggy cartoon
 ************************************************************************
From: clissman@ccvax.ucd.ie
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: RE: Hepatitis A Vaccine
Date: 17 Aug 92 11:56:27 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: University College Dublin

Re : Hepatitis Vaccines
VArious posters here seem to agree that no vaccine exists for Hepatitis A,
the kind of Hep that you can get from faecally contaminated water (and food).
But all the information I've got from the immunisation centre has indicated
that both Gamma Glubulin and Havrix (tm) are vaccines against Hep A. Anyone
care to comment ? Replies by E-mail especially welcome
Thanks / Ciaran Clissmann
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: fod@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov (Frank O'Donnell)
Subject: Re: Nonalcoholic beer
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 23:09:04 GMT

carl@aoa.aoa.utc.com (Carl Witthoft) writes:

>I'd like to ask a question concerning so-called nonalcoholic
>beer, which, according to the label, has less than 1% or 0.5%
>alcohol.
>Do MDs who work in substance-abuse programs consider this to be
>an alcohol drink which alcoholics should not drink?  What is
>the general position of AA on this product?
>Please note: I'd really like answers concerning the present
>position of MDs and AA.  Dialogues about whether these positions
>are "right" are sure to pop up :=), but that's not what I'm looking
>for.  TIA.

I did a story on nonalcoholic beers a couple of years ago
for the food section of a local paper.  As part of my
research I talked to a couple of MDs who were medical
directors for substance treatment programs, as well as with
a couple of people who identified themselves as alcoholics
active in AA and other recovery organizations.

The two MDs took very different positions.  One said
these "near beers" were dangerous because they maintained
a link to the alcoholic's addiction; their use was likened
to a smoker trying to quit by switching to candy cigarettes.
The other MD, however, took a more tolerant attitude, 
saying he knew several people with a number of years of
sobriety who "occasionally" drank a nonalcoholic beer at
a party.  The opinions of the alcholics were likewise
diverse, with some saying they would have nothing to do
with a near beer while others said they had one now and
then and it was no big deal.

No one seemed to make much of an issue of the 0.2% to 0.49%
alcohol in the beer (by federal tax law it has to be less
than 0.5%); as has been pointed out, this is lower than
the alcohol that occurs naturally in some organic fruit
juices on the way to the store.

I did talk to one county official concerned with alcoholism
who said her main concern was not with adult alcoholics but
rather with what messages the nonalcoholic beers convey to
teenagers who are shaping their attitudes toward drinking.

The bottom line of the advice from recovery folks seemed to
be that those in recovery have to be in touch with their
feelings and what might become dangeorus in their own
particular case; if nonalcoholic beer is too alluring, it
might be best avoided.

Frank
frank@jplpost.jpl.nasa.gov
From: rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu (David Rind)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: amnesiac drugs
Date: 16 Aug 92 01:52:12 GMT
Article-I.D.: hsdndev.1723
Organization: Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston Mass., USA

In article <1683A888A.M20614@mwvm.mitre.org>
 M20614@mwvm.mitre.org (Hugh Pritchard) writes:
>To the practitioners who administer Versed (whether by deceit or not):
>Would YOU like some Versed?  Would YOU like a 45-minute chunk cut out of
>your life, time when you're conscious and can appreciate whatever's done
>in your vicinity, but which you'll NOT REMEMBER?  It may be fine to
>reassure your patients, and watch them being in a Versed-induced trance,
>but would YOU volunteer to undergo that yourself?

Hell yes, though I wouldn't so much view it as volunteering for Versed
as demanding it.  Having a bronchoscopy creates all the sensations of
choking with its inherent fears and panics -- I remember similar
sensations from being under water and I have no desire to experience
them again.  If I can't be spared the experience, I can at least
avoid the memory of the experience.

Patients I've cared for who've been given amnestics have asked for
the same medications for the same procedures in the future, and some
have wanted to know why they couldn't be given them for more minor
procedures so that they could "miss" those discomforts as well.
I always tell people that they'll be sleepy but awake, but won't
remember the procedure afterwards, and I've never had anyone ask
to not be given the drug.  I have had people request to have sutures
placed without anesthetic, and while I go along with it, I'm always
very uncomfortable having people feeling each successive stitch, and
I sew more quickly and probably do a worse job.
-- 
David Rind
rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med,misc.kids
From: stanzi@media.mit.edu (Constance "Stanzi" Royden)
Subject: Re: Hepatitis vaccine
Organization: MIT Media Laboratory
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 12:59:37 GMT

In article <6K751XB@minnie.zdv.uni-mainz.de> korschi@wilbur.uni-mainz.de (Ralf Korschinsky) writes:

>
>There is a risk of getting Hep. (B) from the HBV-Vaccine.
>This is a known risk, w/ an incidence of ca. 2-4% !
>
>As a paramedic I was asked for vaccination and have denied, after
>a collegue got the hit from vaccination.
>

You cannot get Hep B from the vaccination.  This may have been true for
an older version of the vaccine (they used to use a vaccine made from
pooled blood products), but the current vaccine does not contain the
virus; it only has a single protein from the virus (it's a recombinant
protein, so the whole Hep B virus is never involved at any stage of
the manufacture of the vaccine).

To repeat what I said in a previous post--This vaccine is extremely safe.
Large studies have shown that it is safe and effective.  There is a small
risk to injecting anything into a person--that's the risk of an allergic
reaction.  This risk is extremely small.  You risk more by driving your
kids anywhere in the car.  Because, as mentioned in posts by others, you
cannot guarantee that your child will never be exposed, it's a good idea
to get the vaccine.

My information source is my husband, an MD Fellow in Infectious Disease
at Beth Israel Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.  He's
an expert on Hepatitus B virus--he did his PhD thesis on the virus.

--Stanzi Royden
From: dana@sybase.com (Dana Bergen)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Clinical Trials on Homeopathic Remedies
Date: 14 Aug 92 00:02:40 GMT
Organization: Sybase, Inc.

In article <713332872.F00003@blkcat.UUCP> John.Willis@f40.n109.z1.fidonet.org (John Willis) writes:
> As you dilute [you are] increasing potency.  You would not want to
> use the higher potencies, just like you wouldn't give 5,000,000 IUs
> of vitamin A to someone.  The increase in potency *does* result in
> marked increases in responses, esp. negative ones.

Can you get a *really* strong dose by just looking at the substance but
not ingesting it?  Is it dangerous to think about the substance too much?

Are people being exposed to high doses when they walk past the store that
sells this stuff?  Actually, the most dangerous situation would be to
live thousands of miles from the nearest molecule, right?  Because that
would be vastly more potent than actually drinking it.

Getting back to the question of thinking about it, I realize I had it
backwards up above. The *less* you think about it, the *more* powerful it 
is.

Dana
--
dana@sybase.com               |   We women do talk too much, but even  
{pyramid,pacbell,             |   then we don't tell half what we know.
 sun,lll-tis}!sybase!dana     |       -- Nancy Witcher, Lady Astor