HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: morlan@afit.af.mil (Bruce W. Morlan)
Subject: Re: Circumcisions (Are they ever performed on adults ?)
Organization: Air Force Institute of Technology
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 19:34:27 GMT

oispeggy@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Peggy Brown) writes:
>> 
>>Well considering that wives of uncircumcised men are much more likely to
>>contract cancer of the cervix, and all the other problems previously
>>mentioned, leaving it alone doesn't sound like the best advice.

>Question 1:  What are your sources?  (I have heard of this, but 
>so often studies are flawed or make incorrect conclusions.)

Good question - I thought I just read that this was 
recently found to be not true, that is, there was not 
evidence to support the circumcism based on preventing 
cervical cancer.
-- 
Bruce W. Morlan, Major, USAF             Air Force Institute of Technology
Dept. Department Head                    AFIT/ENC
Department of Mathematics                WPAFB  OH  45433
From: bennett@merak.cs.unc.edu (Robert Bradley Bennett)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Publicly available patient information available?
Date: 18 Nov 92 18:16:18 GMT
Distribution: usa

Does anyone know if there are any public repositories of patient information
available, for statistical analysis purposes? Computerized records, perhaps
available via FTP, would be ideal.

Thanks alot.


--bennett@cs.unc.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: jil@uts.uucp (Jamie Lubin)
Subject: Re: Summary of evidence for homeopathy
Organization: Bellcore, Piscataway, NJ
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 92 15:19:05 GMT

>In article <1992Nov16.211637.29491@sr.com> dks@srhqla.UUCP (Dave K. Sprow) writes:
>>Ok, let me say I don't *know* homeopathy works but I had the flu last
>>week and bought a flu hom. remedy that's been on the market for years.
>>It's a weird name that I forget how to spell, starts with an Occ I think.
>>
>>Anyway, I took the stuff as directed as was over in within 24 hours.
>>
>>Now, I know this doesn't prove anything.  You could say, well it couldn't
>>have been the flu then or it was a minor bout or whatever. And all that
>>could be true.  I do know how sick I felt before I started taking it,
>>and when I felt *that* bad with the flue before, it never went away 
>>that quickly.  And it couldn't have been placebo as far as I know, 'cause
>>I don't see how a placebo effect could amke the flu go away.  I feel like
>>I'm going to die when I have the flu.

Oscillococcinum (Bernie Simon can correct my spelling :-).  I've used it a
couple of times & found it to be helpful too.
From: rollo@xylogics.com (Dena Rollo)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Summary of evidence for homeopathy
Date: 20 Nov 1992 12:04:42 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu


I have resisted getting involved in this
discussion, simply because I don't think
most of the participants are capable of
real discussion of anything that conflicts
with their very narrow vision.

But I've had it.  I think there is plenty
of evidence for homeopathy working, and
for certain ailments responding especially
well to homeopathic treatment.

This month's -Parenting- magazine mentions
homeopathy in an article on ear infections
in young children, as something that's been
found to be effective against them. My
own MD (allopathic) gave me some referrals
to local homeopaths for my daughter's recurring
ear infections a while ago. I didn't follow up,
mostly because I just don't have the time, but
I may do it soon, as we've just been through
the third infection in as many months :(

But for all of you trying to convince certain
people that homeopathy may have merit - give it
up - you're arguing with a couple of brick walls.


It's scary to think that some of these people actually
practice medicine and deal with people on daily basis.

-Dena
From: dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Summary of evidence for homeopathy
Date: 16 Nov 92 22:02:35 GMT
Article-I.D.: spdcc.1992Nov16.220235.2406
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA

In article <1992Nov16.170512.3418@island.COM> green@island.COM (Robert Greenstein) writes:
>It is not a question of fairness. It is a question of cost. Such trials 
>costs a tremendous amount of money. Where is it going to come from? Upjohn
>isn't going to pay for it. In an ideal world, clinical trials such as
>you propose would be great. But in this society, the allopaths control
>the pursestrings, so it ain't gonna happen.

Well, it's rather quaint to imagine that these homeopathic drug companies
are small cottage industries, but they're usually not--they're quite large
firms, often European-based.  If they were forced to prove efficacy, they'd
undoubtedly have to spend the money do so, which would mean fewer profits
(as well as little guarantee of success.)  None of this is in the interest
of the homeopathic drug firms, however much good it will do for the consumer.
What Robert is saying is that researchers are unlikely to get a lot of NIH
funds to perform studies.  However, that ignores the role the drug manu-
facturers themselves can and should play, as beneficiaries of the public's
gullibility.

As it is, at least in the US, the sale of homeopathic medicines is allowed
by being grandfathered in the Pure Food and Drug Act, and is unlikely to
change anytime soon.

-- 
Steve Dyer
dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer
From: turpin@cs.utexas.edu (Russell Turpin)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Hippocratic Oath
Date: 23 Nov 1992 10:07:40 -0600
Organization: CS Dept, University of Texas at Austin
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: peaches.cs.utexas.edu

-*----
I wrote:
>> It is not clear to me how the Hippocratic Oath applies to this
>> circumstance.

In article <7146.466.uupcb@travel.com> carl.camurca@travel.com (Carl Camurca)  writes:
> Isn't it, that the doctor must do all reasonable to save the patients
> life? The doctor is a servant, first!

You might convince me if the surgery in the circumstances
described was needed to save the patient's life and if it was
still the case that the surgeon concerned was a reasonable person
to perform it.  Nothing in the original post suggested the
*reasons* the surgeon backed out.  HIV infection *is* a medical
complication.  Too often, people entering these discussion write
as if it should be treated otherwise.

>> ... Regardless, Carl Camurca's suggestion that a
>> doctor can be sued on its basis is pretty silly.

> ... I didn't know, there were things in the US where you could
> _not be sued for.

True, one can bring suit on any grounds.  But to prevail is a 
far different matter.

Russell
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: trwagner@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu (Ted Wagner)
Subject: Male Birth Control Pill
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 21:29:14 GMT






	Hi.  I just subscribed to sci.med...please be patient.
I am not sure if this has been discussed previously...but, I have
a few questions.

	There was a report on the news the other day that the FDA was
testing the Male Birth Control Pill that comes from, I believe, France.
Here are my questions:

	How long has the testing gone on, or has it just started?
	When, if it is approved by the FDA, is the expected release date?

	What are the chemical components of this pill?
	How effective has this pill been in other countries?
	Are there any side effects?
	What are the long term effects of the drug if any?

	And, what is the theory behind the pill? (i.e., what is
		the intended manner in which this pill
		does its business?  What is its main
		function...etc).


	Thanks

Ted
-- 
         Swallowing your pride rarely leads to indigestion.
         A hard thing about business is minding your own!
-trwagner@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu   &    trwagner@kiwi.ucs.indiana.edu-
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: gdavis@griffin.uvm.edu (Gary Davis)
Subject: Circumcision as Medical Scams
Summary: med
Keywords: med
Organization: University of Vermont -- Division of EMBA Computer Facility
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1992 23:01:47 GMT

 Just a couple of closing thoughts on circumcision. It is not
at all unusual to me to suspect folks who have circumcised their
sons would wish to rationalize it. If I had mine,I believe I would too.
The point is that there is nothing inherently dirty,diseased or
pathological with a foreskin. The structure evolved for well over a
million years without being disguarded. I have always thought the Jewish
people would be the most intolerant to any challenge of the practice.
I have found this to be (at least in USA) to be wrong. Dr. Dean Edell
and Ed Wallerstein are good examples. Even my boss,who is culturally
Jewish confided that son number two will most likely decide the bris
question for himself!

I am very disturbed by many MDs such as the out rageous ARRON FINK
who have gone over board to keep the medical issues charged in FAVOR
of routine circumcisions.

I suspect if I were an opponent of circs in ISLAM I would loose my
feet,but in Israel probably just be considered reformist. :*)

While in the mean time the American Press so tilted the AAP
statement toward a dire compulsion in 1989, that our local
hospital which was circing 43% of newborns now does 98%.
That is medical scam by any definition!
And by the way, in Kentucky the circs are done by green interns
to get snipping experience so one hospital told me. Maybe thats why
the fee of 60 bucks is cut rate?!

By the way my son is 13, never had a problem and never even had to
wash his penis much. Smegma is a normal secretion,but it is almost
unheard of in 60% of men not circed. Apparently its production is
something like ear wax. In some it is copious and appears to have a
genetic relationship.

--
I               Gary Davis Dpt. of Electrical Engineering
                University of Vermont
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: oneil@cwis.unomaha.edu (Sharon O'Neil)
Subject: Re: O+ Father + O- Mother = ? Childs Health.
Organization: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 02:11:02 GMT

slzh9@cc.usu.edu writes:

>I have a question. Not being a student of biology or medicine, I am wondering
>what the significance of blood types is when determining the health of children
>if the father is O+ and the mother is O-. What are the potential health 
>problems of offspring and what can be done to ensure healthy children. Mostly,
>is this any thing that I should worry about.

Well, I lived.  :-)  But I was the first child.  My mom miscarried the 
second baby because of this.  She did carry my younger sister to term without
any problems.  I believe it is important for your doctor to be aware of 
the situation since there are potential problems.  I think its called Rh 
Negative factor, where the woman's blood type can conflict with the baby's.

>Any information will be greatly appriciated and will help me resolve my
>concerns.

Have your wife/female partner talk to her obstetrician.

>			Eric Winsor
>			slzh9@cc.usu.edu

Sharon 
oneil@cwis.unomaha.edu
`
From: turpin@cs.utexas.edu (Russell Turpin)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: What homing device does a virus use?
Date: 18 Nov 1992 08:40:23 -0600
Organization: CS Dept, University of Texas at Austin
NNTP-Posting-Host: im4u.cs.utexas.edu
Summary: So much for cutesy subject lines.

-*---
In article <lgilbnINN61a@news.bbn.com> levin@bbn.com (Joel B Levin) writes:
> Now -- if you are asking why the viruses grow in certain areas and 
> not in others, that is a different question. ...

I thought I had made it pretty plain.  Maybe the subject line
fooled people.  (So much for my humor.) I didn't really think
that viruses carry around a homing device. 

But as I wrote originally, they clearly exhibit specificity in
the tissue they infect, and it was this specificity that puzzled
me when the tissues concerned seemed identical.  Does skin on the
cheek by the mouth really have different cell receptors than skin
on the cheek over by the ear?  And if not, how does the herpes
virus "know" to infect one place and not the other? 

Russell
Newsgroups: sci.med,sci.med.nutrition
From: acc4636@tamsun.tamu.edu (Anthony C.)
Subject: Re: Eating spoiled food reduces lifetime?
Organization: Texas A&M University, College Station
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 02:02:15 GMT

In article <1992Nov11.150608.10763@genie.slhs.udel.edu> nancy@genie.slhs.udel.edu (Nancy Lebovitz) writes:
>In article <1992Nov11.025957.0910647@locus.com> yazz@locus.com (Bob Yazz) writes:
>>Helge.Kosuch@arbi.informatik.uni-oldenburg.de (Helge Kosuch) writes:
>>
>I've dealt with this by keeping oil in the refrigerator after I open it--
>this certainly keeps it from _tasting_ rancid. Does anyone know if that's
>sufficient evidence that it isn't oxidizing, or at least not oxidizing
>enough to matter? 
>
>Nancy Lebovitz
>nancy@genies.slhs.udel.edu

Another thing you can do is add water to the bottle so that the oil 
goes all the way to the top.  Doing this reduces the amount of oil
that comes into contact with air by reducing the air in the bottle.
The water sinks to the bottom by the way.  Someone may have posted
this in a later part of the thread but I am just reading the
thread now so sorry in advance!
From: rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu (David Rind)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: herpes virus
Date: 20 Nov 92 18:13:39 GMT
Organization: Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston Mass., USA

In article <41267@sdcc12.ucsd.edu> wsun@jeeves.ucsd.edu (Fiberman) writes:
>Can the herpes virus infect the brain?  What kind of damage can
>it do to the CNS?

If by herpes virus you mean herpes simplex, then the answer is yes --
it can cause an often fatal encephalitis.  Those who survive may
well have permanent brain damage of various sorts.  The virus seems
to have a preference for the temporal lobes of the brain.

-- 
David Rind
rind@binoc.bih.harvard.edu
From: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Baclofen - It Works!
Date: 16 Nov 92 14:12:25 GMT
Reply-To: geb@cs.pitt.edu (Gordon Banks)
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh Computer Science

In article <1992Nov6.163945.28458@netcom.com> lindae@netcom.com writes:
>
>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.  
>
Baclofen is helpful in cases where ephaptic transmission is the
cause.  It is a rare cause of chronic vertigo.  I would not be
expected that Baclofen would help more than 5% of vertigo sufferers.



-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: nyeda@cnsvax.uwec.edu (David Nye)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Deprenyl
Date: 17 Nov 92 20:29:06 -0600
Organization: University of Wisconsin Eau Claire

In article <1992Nov17.181034.13282@spdcc.com>, dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer) writes:
> 
> Isn't there an ongoing study (whatitsname? DATATOP?) which is looking
> at the efficacy of l-deprenyl (selegiline) and Vitamin E in slowing the
> progression of the disease?  I understood that intermediate analysis of
> the data showed a modest difference in the selegiline group, but that
> it wasn't obvious yet whether this was due to a therapeutic effect as
> opposed to a disease-modifying effect.  Gordon is probably undoubtedly
> more up to date on this than I would ever be.

Yes, the DATATOP study is ongoing, with more results to be presented in 
the near future, I understand.  The trouble is that the results could
well have represented a mild dopaminergic effect.  The researchers just
assumed that it didn't have any symptomatic effects, even though one
would expect this (MAO-B blocade should raise levels of endogenous
dopamine), and didn't provide a sufficient washout period.  

> There are a couple of issues here.  _Which_ has a 1/2 life of over a
> month?  MAO-B?  I'm pretty sure that selegiline is metabolized and
> excreted much more quickly.  Still, it is common even in antidepressant

I meant that the effect of selegiline has a half-life of over a month
because it is an irreversible inhibitor, and MAO-B turnover is slow.

Selegiline is only one of several new medications of dubious or marginal
worth which are likely to be promoted heavily, demanded by patients, and
very expensive.  Tacrine (sp?) for Alzheimer's is another.  This raises
some troubling ethical issues as healthcare costs continue to increase, 
particularly as regards rationing.

David Nye
nyeda@cnsvax.uwec.edu
Newsgroups: sci.med
From: bgeer@javelin.sim.es.com (Bob Geer)
Subject: Informatics?
Reply-To: bgeer@javelin.sim.es.com
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp.
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 14:56:39 GMT

Does anyone know the outcome on the suggested informatics newsgroup?

I would like to hear from people interested in informatics, as I am
interested & would like to learn more about what it really means.

TIA, Bob

-- 
<> Bob `Bear' Geer | bgeer@beorn.sim.es.com                        |_______| <>
<>      lift-holic |  (this *often* works)        _O_    |___O___| | |_O_| | <>
<> Salt Lake City, | speaking only for myself, |_|_|_|_| | `'|`' |     |     <>
<>          Ootah  | one of my many tricks     |  / \  |    / \       / \    <>
Newsgroups: sci.military
From: wwo@vax5.cit.cornell.edu (Thomas Schoene)
Subject: Re: Marine Aircover <was New Carrier Plan>
Organization: Cornell University
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1992 16:26:01 GMT


From wwo@vax5.cit.cornell.edu (Thomas Schoene)

In article <BxvFFE.8M0@law7.DaytonOH.NCR.COM>,
"david.r.wells" <drw@cbnewsg.cb.att.com> writes: 
>>don't overlook just the manpower cost (1500 people to crew the ship versus
>>how many to crew 12 strike aircraft for 2-hour flights?), but also
>>the fuel costs, maintainence, ordinance, more limited range (a big
>>benefit in some ways, less so in others).  To be honest, I wasn't
>>thinking of carriers here, I was thinking of land-based aircraft
>>flying sorties from nearby air bases.  The expense of a carrier blows
>>the cost to the moon and back for those aircraft, and the loss factor
>>should the carrier be hit would be astronomical.  Total agreement there.
>>
> You should be thinking of carriers for this comparison. You can't always count
> on a nearby airbase, especially in these days of base closings! Even if
> you could, aircraft are even worse fuel hogs than BBs. Keeping them in
> the air 24 hours a day would be a maintainence nightmare. I doubt you 
> could keep 24 hour a day flights going for very long, especially with only
> 12 aircraft. You'll run out of pilots real fast. That doesn't even begin
> to figure in any combat losses.

> The 1500 man crew of the BB is looking better all the time!
Apparently not to the Navy.  Seriously, the BBs are wonderful to have IF you
can afford them.  For coastal bombardment they are probably the best system
ever produced.  However, they are also one of the most specialized and least
flexible systems the Navy has.  Comparing them to an aircraft carrier is just
rediculous.  Sure, in cost per pound of explosive delivered a BB is probably
cheaper.  But if your target is 30+ miles inshore the BB must use Tomahawk 
cruise missiles, easily carried by other ships (especially as VLS is brought 
into service).  If the troops ashore are under air attack there isn't anything
the BB can do.  The BB can't come close to the anti-ship range offered by
carrier aircraft, the surveillence capability of Hawkeyes, etc.  If the USN had
all the money it wanted the BBs would still be around but it doesn't.  The BBs
are very expensive for the very limited number of missions they can perform. 
Admittedly, carriers are very expensive too but they are much more flexible and
can accomplish almost all of the BB's missions plus a whole range of other,
equally vital missions.  Keeping the BBs just doesn't make sense in a period of
limited funds.
 
-- 
Tom Schoene
wwo@cornella.cit.cornell.edu  -or- wwo@vax5.cit.cornell.edu
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Back off man.  I'm a political scientist!

Newsgroups: sci.military
From: fiddler@concertina.Eng.Sun.COM (steve hix)
Subject: Re: Horten-9
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mt. View, Ca.
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 17:33:11 GMT


From fiddler@concertina.Eng.Sun.COM (steve hix)

>From cvalj001@vmsb.is.csupomona.edu (Daemon Hobbs)
>
>     I can't verify the accucracy of this but I heard from a friend that Chino
>Air Museum has it and is restoring it to flying condition.  > 

Sounds like they're pretty busy...I had heard that they were restoring one of
the early Northrop flying wing designs (the N9M?, maybe N1M), though.

--
-------------------------------------------------------
| Some things are too important not to give away      |
| to everybody else and have none left for yourself.  |
-------------------------------------------------------

Newsgroups: sci.military
From: eriks@lin.foa.se (Erik Svensson FOA2)
Subject: Re: RPG Combat Rules & Reality
Keywords: rpg
Organization: FOA, Linkoping, Sweden
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 17:42:57 GMT


From eriks@lin.foa.se (Erik Svensson FOA2)

>From a2husek@rzdspc23.informatik.uni-hamburg.de (Carsten Husek)

>How effective are kelvar jackets or similar armour? In one Game I play nothing
>but Assault Rifles (or heavier weapons) could penetrate kelvar jackets and
>even then the target got only a light wound !

That depends on the caliber of the weapon and the ammunition fired. A shotgun
firing shot will not penetrate while magnum loaded .44 magnum shells w. copper
nosed teflon bullets will (I know, we tried). The question is really to general
to be answered easily.

>How important is personal toughness ('constitution') in surviving wounds?
>Is it more difficult to kill 'tough guys' than a whimp?

Don't know.


--
Erik Svensson			Research Officer
Guided Weapons Division		National Defense Research Establishment (FOA)
Stockholm			Sweden

net.address: 	eriks@fenix.lin.foa.se

"Another casualty of applied meta-physics!" -- Hobbes

Newsgroups: sci.military