4 ms·

Scientists Have Finally Discover the Function of the Human Appendix

5 points by napolux 13y ago

codezero 13y ago
Original article from 2007: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002251930700416X http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022519307... and more recent one: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1420-9101.2009.01809.x/abstract http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1420-9101.2009.... via reddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/1xkm1x/scientists_finally_discover_the_function_of_the/ http://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/1xkm1x/scientists_f...
x0054 13y ago
Having an inflamed appendix does not automatically mean you need a surgery, unless you live in US. In many parts of the world they give you a course of antibiotic shot first, and its effective in majority of cases. US is way too surgery happy because of fucked up incentives system. A friend of mine had her appendix pulled after going to hospital for pneumonia stomach flu. After the surgery they hushed it up, but it turned out that her appendix was fine and they misdiagnosed.
- codezero 13y ago
  Anecdotes are anecdotes. The cost/risk of removing the appendix is super low. My dad had his removed and they ended up finding a cancerous mass. That doesn't mean it's best to remove it (my point is that your anecdote doesn't provide any value in the argument for/against removal). If anything, rather than being surgery happy, the US is probably antibiotic averse. Rather than throwing antibiotics at the problem, remove what is for the most part (present article's suggestion excluded) useless, especially if it's showing signs of causing problems (inflammation, infection, what ever).
- x0054 13y ago
  As this article suggests, as well as others, appendix has a point. And US IS surgery happy. Form wily nilly appendix and tonsils surgeries, to its views on circumcision. To each his own, but I'll take a shot of antibiotic before I'll let someone poke me around with a scalpel.
CmonDev 13y ago
Scientist: "We have a theory", crappy web site journalist: "now finally confirmed and validated once and for all!"

5 points by napolux 13y ago

Original article from 2007: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002251930700416X http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022519307... and more recent one: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1420-9101.2009.01809.x/abstract http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1420-9101.2009.... via reddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/1xkm1x/scientists_finally_discover_the_function_of_the/ http://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/1xkm1x/scientists_f...

x0054 13y ago

Having an inflamed appendix does not automatically mean you need a surgery, unless you live in US. In many parts of the world they give you a course of antibiotic shot first, and its effective in majority of cases. US is way too surgery happy because of fucked up incentives system. A friend of mine had her appendix pulled after going to hospital for pneumonia stomach flu. After the surgery they hushed it up, but it turned out that her appendix was fine and they misdiagnosed.

codezero 13y ago
Anecdotes are anecdotes. The cost/risk of removing the appendix is super low. My dad had his removed and they ended up finding a cancerous mass. That doesn't mean it's best to remove it (my point is that your anecdote doesn't provide any value in the argument for/against removal). If anything, rather than being surgery happy, the US is probably antibiotic averse. Rather than throwing antibiotics at the problem, remove what is for the most part (present article's suggestion excluded) useless, especially if it's showing signs of causing problems (inflammation, infection, what ever).
x0054 13y ago
As this article suggests, as well as others, appendix has a point. And US IS surgery happy. Form wily nilly appendix and tonsils surgeries, to its views on circumcision. To each his own, but I'll take a shot of antibiotic before I'll let someone poke me around with a scalpel.

CmonDev 13y ago

Scientist: "We have a theory", crappy web site journalist: "now finally confirmed and validated once and for all!"