(FYI: I'm a pediatric oncologist, but you should talk to yours in depth):

First, I'm sorry to hear that your niece was diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia). It's the most common childhood cancer, but fortunately, the most likely to be cured.

The treatment for ALL is long (1.5-2 years), and depending on what regimen is being employed, can be uncomfortable at different periods of time, but typically results in a high remission rate, a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 6:13 PM on July 15, 2008

Yes, but the point of my question is: how was that data derived? If it was originally derived in the 1970s with big, less-aerodynamic cars, is it not valid for today's modern aerodynamic car?
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 7:31 AM on July 11, 2008

You should have a listen to the first part of this episode of This American Life. It's a short story called Lieland by Etgar Keret.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 8:04 AM on July 2, 2008

I suppose that you could lightly bread them and fry them up in a little olive oil ... truth be told, however, I enjoy them the most standing over the sink, eating them out of the tin with a small fork, while the cats stare at me with great envy.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 7:35 PM on July 1, 2008

Speaking as a physician, I have to say that if you're intelligent enough to turn to AskMeFi for advice, you're probably intelligent enough to know that the more you try to "coax" your physician, the more suspicious of your intent he/she will become. As DecemberBoy points out, this could be more of a problem for you than it's worth.

You're also probably smart enough to know that your doctor has an obligation (legal and moral) to balance risk and benefit in... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 6:12 PM on July 1, 2008

scblackman: I'm looking for answers to my question not life lessons. As a physician, under what conditions have you been prompted to administer narcotic medication. When does a patient need it? Under what circumstances is it necessary?

You know what -- I have a few minutes, so I'll address this.

Pain medication is necessary when patients have pain. The choice of pain medication depends on a large number of factors: severity,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 6:49 PM on July 1, 2008

Let me refine the 2nd sentence in my statement above: Pain medication is necessary when patients have pain that won't abate with non-medical treatment. Which pain medication to use is based on the factors I describe, and then some.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 6:51 PM on July 1, 2008

Take the Red Line to Lawrence and walk to Broadway to go to the Green Mill, or even better, catch the Sunday night poetry slam with Mark Smith (so what!).
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 7:29 PM on June 18, 2008

For what it is worth (without having examined you or seen your "tamping" movement myself), it sounds like you have tendonitis, which may be causing some ulnar nerve irritation/entrapment. You should: a.) definitely tell your employer, b.) probably see your primary care physician, and most importantly, c.) take a break from tamping. If this is a tendonitis, it can take weeks to fully resolve.

Non-steroidals (e.g., ibuprofen) and rest will probably make you... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 7:37 PM on June 11, 2008

For what it is worth, I wouldn't really worry about exercise right now. In fact, if your symptoms are as you describe, I would really focus on finding a good cardiologist and getting a clear diagnosis as soon as possible. Really. Seriously. And don't push any more cars.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 4:43 PM on February 21, 2008

The rebound is horrible, isn't it? It can last for 24-48 hours. It's why I never prescribe/recommend Afrin for kids. Unfortunately, there's nothing that you can do except wait it out (as far as I know ... but then, I'm an oncologist and not an ENT).
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 10:27 AM on February 17, 2008

In our 3br flat, we have two Abyssinian cats (the border collies of the cat world) who clearly do a fine job of keeping each other company and they're not too cramped. We don't spent anything extra (time/effort) in terms of cat waste, since you should be cleaning the litter boxes out dailly anyway. It will cost you 2x in terms of food, of course, but this is a marginal cost.

I think that your argument about one keeping the other company is extremely important,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 10:24 AM on February 17, 2008 marked best answer

FWIW, I'm a pediatrician, so I hope this helps.

Most of the answers above are spot-on.

Ideally, a transition would be best (e.g., mixing formula and breastmilk). However, if the mother is not interested in pumping to elaborate some breast milk to do this, then the two choices are cows milk based formulas and soy formulas. Eventually, the child will drink something. Most small children aren't particularly interested in self-starvation or... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 10:41 AM on January 3, 2008

Caucusfilter?
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 10:33 AM on January 3, 2008

For what it's worth, I feel that "being ready" to have children is not dissimilar to "being ready to fall in love" or "being ready to get married". I don't think that it's easy to (successfully) make oneself fall in love, or make oneself ready to be married. Similarly, I don't think that it's easy to make oneself ready to have children, no matter how much practice you have.

Hell, I'm a pediatrician, and I make my living taking care of... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 2:00 PM on December 25, 2007

Something about pictures and thousands of words ....
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 1:42 PM on November 21, 2007

I'd be shocked if medical schools were allowed to discriminate against people with mental illness.

Maybe they're not, but medical boards are. If you have significant problems that need to be addressed, perhaps a leave of absence is in your best interest right now (and the interests of your future patients). You could return to medical school when you have your psychiatric issues fully addressed. This seems to me to be a better alternative then... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 6:52 AM on November 21, 2007

I recommend the favorite tool of left-handed, acrophobic, Jewish nerds: the yellow pages.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 6:43 AM on November 21, 2007

I don't fall asleep during the taxi part of the flight, but I almost always get sleepy once in the air, at least for the first 30 minutes or so. I always thought that it was due to the fact that the cabin is pressurized to 8000 ft. meaning that as a sea-level dweller, not being used to the lower PaO2, that I'm feeling the effects of mild hypoxia by falling asleep.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 4:03 AM on November 19, 2007

I strongly second rob511's suggestion of Vieques. I went to a wedding there 2 years ago and it was phenomenal. It was wonderfully uncrowded and untouristed, affordable, and fun. We stayed at the Hix Island House, which is where the wedding was held. It's also quite a sight.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 3:01 PM on November 16, 2007

Bubbalah - for those who are shomer shabbos crockpots make life much easier. Meals can be set-up before sundown on Friday, and then enjoyed for dinner on Friday and lunch on Saturday!
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 7:46 AM on November 11, 2007

At my local co-op grocery it's more like $4 (and it's $3.89 at drugstore.com), but whatever the case, it's still a super-nice donation. I'd love to be able to turn it into more usable currency.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 6:32 PM on September 9, 2007

FWIW:

One great experience: I met a Moroccan ex-pat who had been living in Canada before moving back home to Marrakech to be with his family. He overheard me speaking English in Place Djeema el-Fna one night and started to talk to me. I ended up hanging out at his sister's house with their family and went to the hammam with his brother-in-law. It was amazing to be hanging out with all non-English-speaking Moroccans having a hammam and enjoying life without a word of... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 6:21 PM on September 9, 2007

This is a terrific question. My father (a former pediatrician) used to come home around holidays with gift baskets galore, but this was 20-30 year ago. Needless-to-say, relationships between physicians and patients aren't the same, nor are the standards with regard to gift-accepting.

I've received a number of unexpected gifts, and while the policy of my institution is such that we're not supposed to accept gifts, it's hard to say no to very personal and personalized... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 6:09 PM on September 9, 2007

Lillies of the Field. Best East German nun movie out there.

Bonus: you'll be singing 'Amen' for days.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 6:49 PM on September 3, 2007

I guess my one concern would be whether or not this streaking erythema represents a cellulitis (soft tissue infection). I've seen these from spider bites, although not within the time frame that you describe.

It's probably not 'a' and it's likely not 'b'. To avoid 'c', see your doctor. You may need some antibiotics.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 10:17 AM on August 30, 2007

Depends on who you are and what you do, but for general interest sites: I use PubMed constantly, I occasionally look at Sermo if I have time to waste (you have to be a physician to join), and blog-wise, I read Kevin, MD. I also use Medscape from time-to-time.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 4:46 PM on August 14, 2007

There's a terrific product that we use at the hospital called Detachol. Here's the MSDS that lists the ingredients. You can get it at Amazon or at your local medical supply store.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 4:44 PM on August 14, 2007

I like joe's_spleen's explanation. As far as I know, you don't shut off your proteolytic enzymes after years of vegetarianism. You probably don't want to -- it would make digesting all of that plant protein difficult.

Perhaps it's supratentorial in nature.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 3:57 PM on August 11, 2007

May not be the case in LA, but there was a huge box o' Wii when I walked into Costco this morning (on Tax-Free Weekend here in MA, no less!).
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 3:54 PM on August 11, 2007

Kurt Elling. He's brilliant. Best male jazz vocalist I've ever heard.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 4:20 PM on August 2, 2007

I'm not patient enough to weed through all of this green, but has anyone mentioned this product in development from Compellis Pharmaceuticals? It seems to be exactly what lizzicide is asking about.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 6:35 AM on July 30, 2007

I was at my barber and saw the huge vats of green goo made by the same people who make the wonderful smelling Pinaud talcum powder they dust you with after your haircut. I asked how much and was told $6.00. Six dollars. For a tub of hair gel that lasted me over a year, and left me smelling with that just-left-the barber smell.

Well worth it, and it lasts the day.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 11:37 AM on July 23, 2007

Looks like he's Chief of Patholog at OSU. Have no idea what makes him so good since I've never heard his lectures (available on BitTorrent). I assume he's a good teacher.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 7:00 AM on July 23, 2007

IAAD. Early in my training I was taught that it is preferable to be referred to in writing as [firstname] [lastname], MD and not Dr. [Firstname] [Lastname]. The reason for this convention, I was told, was that "anyone can call themselves 'Doctor'".
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 4:35 AM on July 13, 2007

Don't buy a manual if you're absent-minded, like me.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 3:16 AM on June 10, 2007

Hands down: Danica McKellar. Ex-Wonder Years star, math geek, celebrity tutor.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 2:13 PM on June 9, 2007

Freebird!
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 9:16 AM on June 1, 2007

By far, the coolest thing to do on a Sunday afternoon (late afternoon/early evening) is the Uptown Poetry Slam at the Green Mill.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 7:41 AM on May 28, 2007

I agree - as a member of the older/married set, my wife no longer is willing to go to a show where the headliner starts at 11pm. So I go alone. No big deal. The only problem is often I go right from work which means that at Tuesday's Black Rebel Motorcycle Club show I'll be the only one wearing a sweatervest. Sigh.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 7:50 AM on May 27, 2007

Unlikely. Swallowed toothpaste is a bigger problem for small children because of the potential renal toxicity of fluoride. For smaller kids, the dose per kilogram of body weight will be higher.

For an adult it's unlikely to cause problems. And if you're kidneys are fine now, they're likely to continue to be fine.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 3:35 PM on May 19, 2007 marked best answer

FYI: ringing in the ears (tinnitus) can be caused by things other than exposure to loud noise. Meniere's disease (which usually also includes hearing loss and vertigo) can cause tinnitus, as well as a number of medications (it's a classic symptom of aspirin toxicity). More info in this review article.

IMHO, 3 days of tinnitus is about 2 days too many. If you have a long history of loud noise exposure, I'd recommend a hearing test. Hi-frequency hearing loss is... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 2:33 PM on May 19, 2007

There seems to be no reason for general anesthesia for this particular procedure, and it's a good thing to avoid if it's not necessary.

I strongly disagree. Circumcision is a painful procedure, period. Trust me. I've done them. Trying to sew up a small chin laceration on an 18 month old under local anesthetic is a nightmare. Imagine manually taking down the adhesions between the foreskin and the glans of the penis, cutting the foreskin, using... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 2:49 PM on May 17, 2007 marked best answer

How about the equivalent of a giant FoodSaver? Food seems to survive, and bodies are just large lumps of meat, after all.

The problem with this is the ongoing activity of bacteria within the body that will produce gases. Yuck.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 8:00 AM on May 7, 2007

I am a doctor.

The ciclesonide is a corticosteroid. The salbutamol is a beta-agonist that is modified to be long-lasting. The combination of the two drugs should fight the two main aspects of asthma: bronchoconstriction (broncial smooth muscle constriction) and inflammation. People often forget that asthma has a large inflammatory component to it. It's much more than just tightend airway muscle.

This is why steroids are part of the treatment... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 7:55 AM on May 7, 2007

Most dishwasher liquids have fairly mild agents in them (although the Costco brand seems to have bleach), so I doubt that it hurt the granite.

I bet what is more likely to have happened is that there was some clear coat or sealer on the surface of your counter that was applied to make the granite look shiny, and that the coat was damaged.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 7:44 AM on May 7, 2007

I'm fairly certain that you don't have to on the US. It is certainly more convenient for the hospital to fill out the birth certificate with the name of the child while you're actually there. If you don't, then changing the baby's name to their chosen name will have to be done later, through your state's Secretary of State office (which will cost, I'm sure, money and time).

You may want to check with your state Secretary of State's Office of Vital Statistics.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 4:30 AM on April 4, 2007

This is a nice, thought-provoking question. Like ikkyu2, I'm going to take the two questions that you asked separately. To frame what I'm saying, know that I mostly deal with pediatric oncology patients.

First, in terms of organizing large amounts of material, that for me has come with the years of training and practice. Most of the first couple of years of medical school are devoted to assimilating and organizing large amounts of information. I found, for myself,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 3:26 PM on April 2, 2007

Many of our stem cell transplant patients complain of altered tastes or absent taste. In fact, the thing that most crave once their mouth sores heal are McDonald's fries. Apparently the combination of salt, grease and beef tallow (with three or four milligrams of natural potato extract) seem to register on chemo-blunted taste buds.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 4:06 PM on April 1, 2007

My cats seem to love the plastic rings that come off of gallon- or half-gallon-sized milk containers. They play fetch with them. They also love the little cloth/elastic bands my wife uses to hold her hair back. I've seen them climb up onto her dresser and root around in a container to get them.
posted to Ask Metafilter by scblackman at 2:18 PM on March 15, 2007