HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: pete@carrera.wvus.org (Pete Gregory)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: "sick" office
Date: Wed, 04 Nov 92 05:40:27 PST
Organization: Private System

hi - my wife has had "sinus infection" and "allergy" problems ever since
she started a new job three months ago.  we're beginning to suspect that
some chemical or something at work is causing or exacerbating her
condition.

specifics: 

  * three different antibiotics from ear-nose-throat dr. in a month.
    a sinus x-ray last week confirms for him that there is *no* infection.
    ergo: allergy.

  * many smokers are in this office.  some have quit, and my wife's
    symptoms have gotten somewhat better.  i'm thinking her symptoms are
	still with her because of lingering smoke in carpets/drapes/walls,
	plus there are still a few smokers around.

  * this is a less-than-fifty-employees company, so the company gets to
    make its own rules.  the owner chews, so he's not likely to force
	smokers to quit.

what can we do?  anyone else with similar experiences?  thanks...


Pete Gregory, at home

pete@carrera.wvus.org
ames!elroy!wvus!carrera!pete
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: jevans@usafa.af.mil (John A. Evans)
Subject: Re: Epstein-Barr (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
Organization: United States Air Force Academy
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 15:28:30 GMT

ja0f@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (JEANNE E. ADAMS) writes:


reply to jevans@gems.usafa.af.mil

>   I was hoping that someone could tell me what the treatment for E-B was.  I
>   heard that some people stop eating foods with yeast or molds.  Since I am
>   on a low protein diet for chronic renal failure, that leaves me only with
>   pure sugars and fats.  Does anyone know of alternative treatments?  Please
>   help.  If the E-B Titer comes back positive I don't know what I'm going to
>   do.  Thanks.
?If you could reply with a good email address, I could send you info on
my experience

>   Jeanne Adams (JA0F.NS1.CC.LEHIGH.EDU)
From: kpc@pluto.arc.nasa.gov (k p c)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Tourette's Syndrome: 5th chromosome
Date: 13 Nov 92 03:10:38 GMT
	<1992Nov12.143318.24914@porthos.cc.bellcore.com>
Reply-To: kpc@ptolemy.arc.nasa.gov
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center AI Research Branch; Sterling.

In article <1992Nov12.143318.24914@porthos.cc.bellcore.com> sll@aries.bellcore.com  writes:

   Does anyone have any experience with linking these conditions together?

tourette's syndrome and ocd are thought to be alternate expressions of
the same gene, located on the 5th chromosome.

(what does this mean genetically?  is there a cistron somewhere (also
on the 5th chromosome?) that turns on the ocd gene or the tourette's
disorder gene?  if this is true, then could the offspring of one
disorder get the other disorder if the other parent had the cistron?)

i think that people with tourette's often have ocd-like symptoms, but
that the converse is less frequent.
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: lindae@netcom.com
Subject: Baclofen - It Works!
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 16:39:45 GMT




Several months I was asking some questions on here about a medication
called Baclofen.  Now that I am taking it and IT'S WORKING, I am happy
to tell "the rest of the story".

For the past 8 years, I have suffered with a constant, ongoing problem
of dizziness and balance problems.  I am now 29 years old and this was
a 24-hour a day, 7 day a week problem.  It disrupted my entire life.
It forced me to leave my job, go on disability, and endure many other
problems which I won't even begin to outline here.

For the most part, the problem was not "vertigo", although I did
have periodic vertigo attacks.  The problem was, I always felt like
I was going to fall over.  I felt like there was no gravity.  I
would sit across a table from people and be holding on underneath the
table or wrapping my legs around the chair to keep myself feeling grounded.

Over the period of the 8 years, as you can imagine, I visited many 
so-called specialists.  I traveled to at least 4 of the top teaching
hospitals in the country and met with the "top" specialists in the
field of neurology, neuro-otology, and others.  I was given a variety
of diagnosis including Meniere's, Endolymphatic Hydrops, Perilymph 
Fistulas, and most recently Vascular Compression of the Vestibular
Nerve.  (There were also those along the way who gave up on treating
me and decided, "this was all in my head" -- I quickly found out that
when no medications work and a doctor has no answer, he often resorts
to this diagnosis).

I have been given just about any medication you can think of over these
8 years and not one thing has ever worked.  It has been miserable.
Until Now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My doctor recently put me on Baclofen and for the first time in 8 years,
I am feeling incredibly better.  Not 100%, but about 60-70% better than
I have in all of these years.  To me, it's like a miracle and I wanted
to share this information with any of you who may be suffering with
the same problem.  

I don't quite understand why it works or whether it will always
continue to work, or perhaps if it will even work better as time
goes on.  If anyone knows why this is working, I would sure appreciate
hearing from you!!!!

Anyway, I am just so thrilled about this and I am still somewhat in
shock.  I am able to get back to living a normal life again.  And, 
something in me wonders why no one, including all of these specialists,
ever recommended this medication before.  

Well, now you know "the rest of the story"....

Linda
lindae@netcom.com
From: wmartin@STL-06SIMA.ARMY.MIL (Will Martin)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Ingredients in "Natural Relaxant"
Date: 13 Nov 1992 11:09:00 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

I have a bottle of "Natural Relaxant" pills from my chiropractor due to
a back problem. I have used these same pills before. The major active
ingredient is Valerian, a herb well-known for relaxing and tranquilizing
effects for millennia. It also contains Passiflora, which I have to look
up again in our herb books, but the reason I am posting is to ask about
the third ingredient: Magnesium Carbonate.

Does anyone out there know what the function of Magnesium Carbonate would
be in this medicine? Does it have some active effect in the relaxation/
tranquilization aspect, or is it there to act as a buffer to reduce
adverse side effects (such as stomach upset, for example), or is it a
catalyst to increase the effect of the other ingredients, or what?

Thanks for input! Please e-mail answers to one of the addresses below,
as I have limited news-reading access.

Regards, Will
wmartin@st-louis-emh2.army.mil OR wmartin@stl-06sima.army.mil
From: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Migraine Help
Date: 11 Nov 92 15:02:04 GMT
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

In article <Bx7InM.CG2@apollo.hp.com> ganek@apollo.hp.com (Dan Ganek) writes:
>
>Are there any good migraine headache specialists or clinics
>in the greater Boston area?  My wife is looking for someone
>who uses "conventional"  techniques. She just got back from
>a neurologist who suggested that she basically stop eating
>everything except fresh meats and veggies, i.e no processed
>foods. She specifically told him that food does NOT trigger
>her migraines (she actually finds that coffee and chocolate 
>to reduce the pain). He also told her go to the ER for a morphine 
>or codeine shot if she gets a migraine. (Would they really 
>give her one?)

Until she goes on the tyramine-free diet, she really won't
know whether food triggers them, so I suggest she follow it
if she can for a few weeks just to give it a chance.  If
the migraines do disappear, she can gradually add back the foods
she likes until she finds the culprits.  If coffee reduces the
pain, perhaps one should investigate if these could be caffeine
withdrawal headaches.  How much caffeine does she take in normally?
Boston has some excellent neurology departments, and I'm sure
you could find several people there interested in migraine.  Try
calling neurology at Peter Bent Brigham, Mass General, and Tufts
for starters.  Ask the secretary who answers if they have any doctors
there who are especially interested in treating headache patients.
If so, book an appointment.

Morphine shots are OK for the rare migraine, but I prefer to
use something like DHE instead if possible.
-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "I have given you an argument; I am not obliged
geb@cadre.dsl.pitt.edu   |  to supply you with an understanding." -S.Johnson
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: mdiffin@crc.ac.uk (Dr. M.C. Diffin)
Subject: Re: Mortality Rate of War
Organization: MRC Human Genome Resource Centre
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 11:32:34 GMT

In article <1992Nov1.102203.392@news.wesleyan.edu> RGINZBERG@eagle.wesleyan.edu (Ruth Ginzberg) writes:
>In this week's "Northeast Magazine" (Sunday paper insert, kind of like
>"Parade") Dr. Robert Ostroff, a former VA psychiatrist, wrote an interesting
>article titled "Peace Is Hell" on suicide among war veterans.  He suggests (but
>doesn't actually claim as fact) that, "the mortality rate of war extends far
>beyond the battlefield" and that "more Vietnam veterans may have killed
>themselves since the war than the approximately 50,000 Americans who died
>there".
>
>
>Is CLINICAL mental illness higher among Vietnam vets than among veterans of
>other wars? & if so, is there a medical explanation for this?
>
I think that two points can be made with advantage regarding Vietnam .

(a) unlike many conflicts, the soldiers were not welcomed home; certain 
elements of the American population regarded them as pariahs, many others
as unfortunate reminders of a mistaken war (as they saw it).  This is bound
to have a psychological impact on (usually) young men who had endured a 
vicious campaign against a singularly ruthless enemy, not noted for its
observance of normal rules of war.  Remember also that many American soldiers
were draftees, not professionals.

(b) I have the SUBJECTIVE impression that Vietnam veterans were perhaps 
encouraged to talk too much about their experiences - the constant help 
groups and so on.  While these efforts indubitably are valuable in many cases,
I can's help feeling that some problems can be exacerbated by continuous
discussion.

The tenor of many (most?) subsequent films about the emergency cannot have 
helped much.  
-- 
___________________________________________________________________________
Michael Diffin
JANET: mdiffin@uk.ac.mrc-crc    PHONE: +44 (0)345 333111 Pager No. 0406653
INTERNET: mdiffin@mrc-crc.ac.uk
From: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com (Bill McGarry)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: fibromyalgia -- Respond by e-mail, not post
Date: 13 Nov 92 05:36:01 GMT
Organization: The Handicap News BBS (1-203-337-1607)


In a previous article, DAVIDSON@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu" wrote:
>Hello.  A colleague of mine suffers from fibromyalgia, a complex
>set of symptoms which induce fatigue and muscular pain.  I would
>like to be able to tell her of any online discussion groups on the
>topic.  If anybody knows of a fibromyalgia newsgroup or listserv/
>sendmail discussion group, please contact me directly by e-mail
>(do not post to this group since I do not read it regularly).  Thanks.


The "misc.handicap" newsgroup is also gatewayed with the
Fidonet conference on Chronic Pain so your friend might be
interested in reading that newsgroup (There are a lot of
other topics in there as well but if I ever get off my
rear end, I'll get the newsgroup split up with a separate
newsgroup just for chronic pain.

This newsgroup is also available as a mailing list known
as the Handicap Digest (L-CHAP).  If you are interested, just
let me know and I can add you to the mailing list.

(By the way, I also have fibromyalgia.)

                                Bill McGarry
                                (203) 337-1518

UUCP:       {oliveb, uunet}!bunker!wtm
INTERNET:   wtm@bunker.shel.isc-br.com
BITNET:     l-hcap@ndsuvm1.bitnet
Fidonet:    The Handicap News BBS (141/420)   1-203-337-1607
            (300/1200/2400 baud, 24 hours)
Compuserve: 73170,1064
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: fs@cs.tulane.edu (Frank Silbermann)
Subject: anxiety drugs
Organization: Computer Science Dept., Tulane Univ., New Orleans, LA
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 1992 17:31:59 GMT
Nntp-Posting-Host-[nntpd-10343]: caesar


Many stimulants have been found to relieve acute depression,
but many of them are inappropriate for long-term use
because the body develops a tolerance and a dependency.
Many sedatives effective for acute anxiety are inappropriate
for long term use for similar reasons.

Lately, I've read of new classes of drugs (e.g. tricyclics)
effective for depression which do not have these drawbacks.
In contrast, they take several weeks to become effective,
and the benefit seems to last for quite a while after the drug
is discontinued.  Are there any drugs for long term _anxiety_
(and here I am referring to a tendency towards phobia or obsessive worries,
rather than, say, a generalized malaise) with similar properties?

If so, is there a simple description of the mechanism
by which they are effective?

Please respond to: fs@cs.tulane.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: hank@well.sf.ca.us (Hank Roberts)
Subject: Has anyone compiled FAQ on sertraline?
Keywords: zoloft sertraline
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 18:26:45 GMT


An old friend just quit using Prozac after a 9-month trial due to
agitation, and is being switched to sertraline (Zoloft).  It's too
new to be in the PDR.  I've seen many comments here but now am
looking for a compilation to send to these folks; email appreciated.

Standard questions: side effects, changes in them over time, how long
til antidepressant effect is expected to appear, dosages/changes, etc.
From: nyeda@cnsvax.uwec.edu (David Nye)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: determining Hearing range
Date: 12 Nov 92 01:25:03 GMT
Organization: University of Wisconsin Eau Claire

In article <27919@castle.ed.ac.uk>, cam@castle.ed.ac.uk (Chris Malcolm) writes:

> "Normal" human hearing varies widely, and even
> allegedly first class equipment doesn't get near the capabilities of
> excellent human ears -- it's meant for assessing damage in badly
> damaged ears. The difficulty is that, unlike eyes, you can suffer
> considerable hearing loss before you have noticeable hearing problems.
 
Audiometry tests only the frequencies important in human speech.  I suspect
this is because 1) most pathologic processes affect these frequencies and
2) no one is going to need a hearing aid to hear frequencies outside of this
range.  The rolloff at very high and very low frequencies is just not of much
practical clinical significance.  Those who are interested in knowing what 
their hearing range is need to use different equipment.

David Nye
nyeda@cnsvax.uwec.edu
From: b_lmcgilve@cpvax.cpses.tu.com
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Those darn antihistamine/decongestants
Date: 10 Nov 92 16:27:41 CST
Distribution: usa
Organization: Texas Utilities, Glen Rose TX 

In article <jac1.721411275@Isis.MsState.Edu>, jac1@ra.msstate.edu (Jennifer Cox) writes:
> 
> Is there any antihistamine/decongestant that doesn't make
> you feel worse than the symptoms you are trying to alleviate?
> 
When I first tried dealing (medicating) my allergies, my doctor explained
to me that there are(were) four main classes of antihistamines.  I tried them
all.  Some of them, Tavist in particular, gave me such strange dreams that
I could not sleep and didn't help the symptoms at all.  I finally ended up
on Seldane which seems to be doing the trick.  When I get a cold/respiratory
virus I take Entex LA (rx) decongestant in the morning and a Seldane at
night.  

It will take some trial and error to find the medication that calms the
symptoms but doesn't make you absolutely wired or asleep.  Try to avoid
the ones that say "no drowsiness" at night.  Read the ingredients and avoid
all that add caffeine.  Lots of the OTC use it as an anti-drowsiness aid.
-- 
Laurel McGilvery		Not only do I not speak for the company,
CPSES (temporarily)		the company does not speak for me. 

All opinions expressed are obviously mine.  Who else would own up to them?
Xref: sparky sci.med:20824 talk.politics.misc:59542 soc.women:19323 soc.culture.african.american:10929 soc.culture.usa:8439 alt.activism:18616
From: ndallen@r-node.gts.org (Nigel Allen)
Newsgroups: sci.med,talk.politics.misc,soc.women,soc.culture.african.american,soc.culture.usa,alt.activism
Subject: Public Health Advocates Rally at Capitol for Health Issues
Date: 10 Nov 92 23:04:49 GMT
Organization: Echo Beach, Toronto

Here is a press release from the American Public Health Association.

 Public Health Advocates Rally at Capitol for Health Issues
 To: National Desk, Health Care Writer
 Contact: American Public Health Association, Annual Meeting
          Press Office, Omni Shoreham Hotel, 202-387-3401

   WASHINGTON, Nov. 10  -- Several thousand public health 
professionals rallied today at the U.S. Capitol to tell incoming 
president Bill Clinton and the new Congress that we must
take specific steps to improve our national health.
   Participants at the rally, who are attending the 120th annual
meeting of the American Public Health Association, called for
   * a universal health program with comprehensive benefits;
   * protection of the environment for future generations;
   * adequate funding to improve the nation's health; and
   * attention to women's health issues.
   Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.) spoke to a rally about a national
health program; Rep. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) made the case for aggressive
environmental protection; Rep. Patricia Schroeder (D-Colo.) called
for the recognition and elevation of women's health issues, which
have been ignored too long; Rep. Louis Stokes (D-Ohio) called for
funding critical public health programs; and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa)
looked at the future of prevention in the new Congress.
   Addressing the rally, APHA President Joyce Lashof declared that
"historic opportunities...are before us" to reform our health system
and improve our national health.
 -30-
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: shade@chdasic.sps.mot.com (Douglas Shade)
Subject: neurofibromatosis..please help
Reply-To: shade@chdasic.sps.mot.com
Organization: Motorola SPS ASIC, Chandler, AZ
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 19:11:46 GMT

Hi netters:
Sorry to say that my daughter's MRI showed several probable 
hamartoma sites consistent with the prognosis of neurofibromatosis (NF).
Bummer.

Knowledge is comfort, so here I go. Time to learn all I can about NF.
Can anyone please assist me in the following:

1) Suggested reference materials covering NF in particular.

2) On line or down-loadable reference materials.

3) GIF format MRI images of hamartomas, lesions etc in CNS consistent
with NF.

4) Support group numbers/addresses.

5) Recent recommended articles.

I have a BSEE and I am taking Grad classes in bio-engineering, so I'm not
at all afraid to crunch through the hard core neuro journals (not that I 
find them easy to understand mind you ;) )

				Thanks very much, Doug
---
shade@chdasic.sps.mot.com  602-821-4096
Motorola 1300 N. Alma School , Chandler AZ 85204
From: dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Tourette's Syndrome
Date: 13 Nov 92 00:40:14 GMT
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA

In article <1992Nov12.143318.24914@porthos.cc.bellcore.com> sll@aries.bellcore.com writes:
>What about the folks that have had great success through nutritional means
>with helping (curing) ADHD.

There are no such "folks".  Dietary "cures" of ADD don't work.  They
have no greater effect than a sham treatment.  That doesn't stop people
from keeping this nonsense alive, however.  People will grasp at anything.

>Has anyone tried nutritional approaches for people with Tourette's?  

Let's hope not.

>I would be greatful if someone could send the diet they used and got
>good results for helping ADHD.  It is worth a try for us.

It's a waste of your time, and the kid's.

-- 
Steve Dyer
dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: hank@well.sf.ca.us (Hank Roberts)
Subject: Re: Seasonal Affective Disorder - Light Treatments
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 18:25:41 GMT


The _Science_ article compares animal studies of ritalin, fenfluramine
and MDMA; no damage from ritalin was observed even at high dosage.

Fenfluramine did about 4x as much damage as MDMA, is my recollection.
Again, sorry I don't have the cite but it was Science, late 1980s.  The
study did mention the longterm weight loss study using fenfluramine that
just saw publication in May '92, as well as some other ongoing studies.

I gather the worry is that, as people age and lose brain cells in normal
aging, any damage that happens may begin to become apparent.

Since the Europeans have been using fenfluramine for 10-20 years we should
have some advance warning of such effects.
From: rwharris@unix0.ccit.arizona.edu (Robert W Harris)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: nedd help on seizures
Keywords: seizuire
Date: 9 Nov 92 18:12:14 GMT
Organization: University of Arizona UNIX Users Group

I have been asked to post a request for help in a diagnosis
that has baffled all concerned with the treatment of a young
boy.  I will forward all returned info but [lease respond by
email .

SYMPTOMS
With a bowel movement, stops breathing
Looks like toxic siezures
Turns red on half his body (extreme)
Can make him do this by stimulating the rectum

Shows no epileptic octuity on EEG
Heart rate drops down to 30 beats per minute
Has done this from birth and is now 13 months old
development has been normal
always has harlequin color change with every episode
Stops breathing and stiff for up to 2 1/2 minutes

E-mail responses to
rwharris@convx1.ccit.arizona.edu

Thanks
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: osborn@socs.uts.edu.au (Tom Osborn)
Subject: Re: Rehydrating the Human Body - Need Information
Organization: Computing Sciences, Uni of Technology, Sydney.
Date:  6 Nov 92 00:56:51 GMT

Cecilia.De.Blasi@medsys.gold.sub.org (Cecilia De Blasi) writes:

>I'm confused about something...  A few months ago, I had a major
>bout of constipation.  The pharmacist at my local store recommended
>'Citroma', which was a *very* sour beverage containing magnesium
>citrate.  I drank the whole bottle as directed, and...  let me just
>sum up the results by saying it worked amazingly well.  What I don't 
>understand is why this constipation remedy and the above rehydrating
>pedialyte formulation contain such similar ingredients.  I thought 
>that the Citroma worked by creating an osmotic pull in the colon,
>drawing water in to soften the stool.  Wouldn't similar citrates 
>then work to defeat the purpose of a rehydration formula?

>Thanks in advance! >- Cecilia De Blasi

It's the MAGNESIUM which 'cracks' the constipation. I've heard of doses
of Epsom Salts being used to prepare patients for abdominal surgery, rather
than using a 48 hr fast (ie no solids).

Newsgroups: sci.med
From: cfaks@ux1.cts.eiu.edu (Alice Sanders)
Subject: Re: Seasonal Affective Disorder - Light Treatments
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 01:36:03 GMT
Organization: Eastern Illinois University

In article <17416@pitt.UUCP> geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks) writes:
>In article <1992Nov04.041450.15925@ux1.cts.eiu.edu> cfaks@ux1.cts.eiu.edu (Alice Sanders) writes:
>
>>He also loves winter, not just the bright, sunny winter days, the gray
>>ones.  Fall is his favorite season, middle to late fall.  This is the only
>>person like that I know of for sure. 
>
>I know a lot of people who like fall and who don't like to live in
>places like California and Hawaii.  As for me, the other seasons
>should get 1 week each, leaving 49 weeks of summer!
>
>
But do you know a lot of people who love winter AND prefer gray days?  He
likes fall best because where he lived in Illinois, it rained and was gray
and murky a lot in late fall.  You are probably talking about people who
like golden leaves and football weather.  That's too cheerful for this
guy.  ;-)

Alice