Category: Brief Messages or Announcements

  • Trips and Trip-Killers

    Trips and Trip-Killers

    I just read this JAMA Network article on trip-killers. It’s about using drugs to stop bad trips caused by hallucinogens. One mentioned was ketamine. When I was working as a consultation psychiatrist, I was called occasionally to evaluate patients in recovery rooms who were delirious from the ketamine that was sometimes used by anesthesiologists. I…

  • Afro-American Cultural Center Activities for Black History Month 2024

    Afro-American Cultural Center Activities for Black History Month 2024

    The Afro-American Cultural Center in Iowa City has many activities scheduled for Black History Month 2024. Check it out!

  • CDC Reports Decreasing Respiratory Virus Activity

    CDC Reports Decreasing Respiratory Virus Activity

    How about some good news? The CDC Respiratory Virus Data Channel reports decreasing respiratory virus activity as of January 26, 2024.

  • Power and Impact: African American Art Exhibit in Iowa

    Power and Impact: African American Art Exhibit in Iowa

    In the spirit Black History Month: African Americans and the Arts, Power and Impact is an exhibit of art work by notable Black artists in Iowa. It’s a partnership of the African American Museum of Iowa and the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. The exhibit runs between October 28, 2023 and March 31, 2024.

  • Black History Month Events!

    Black History Month Events!

    February is Black History Month and the University of Iowa events begins soon. There will be an inaugural Black History Ball and more!

  • Thoughts on the Passing of Artie Hicks

    Thoughts on the Passing of Artie Hicks

    Yesterday, I was thinking about Artie Hicks, one of my old English teachers at Huston-Tillotson University, which was Huston-Tillotson College back in the mid-1970s when I was a student there. I looked him up on the web, just out of curiosity—and found his obituary. That seems to happen a lot lately. Anyway, he was a…

  • FDA Issues Warning Not to Use Tianeptine

    FDA Issues Warning Not to Use Tianeptine

    There have been several warnings from the FDA and others for several years (going back to at least 2014) against using tianeptine. It’s used as an antidepressant in other countries, but “FDA is warning consumers not to purchase or use any Neptune’s Fix products, or any other product with tianeptine — a potentially dangerous substance…

  • Martin Luther King Upcoming Schedule of Events

    Martin Luther King Upcoming Schedule of Events

    Upcoming Events for Martin Luther King Celebration of Human Rights includes:

  • Iowa Update for Martin Luther King Events!

    Iowa Update for Martin Luther King Events!

    The frigid weather has led to updates in the events for the MLK Celebration. Among them is the postponement of the Unity March and Community-wide Celebration. This is planned for February.

  • CDC Reports Respiratory Virus Activity Elevated or Increasing

    CDC Reports Respiratory Virus Activity Elevated or Increasing

    The CDC on January 12, 2024 reported that respiratory virus activity is elevated or increasing across the country. The summary: “Summary Seasonal influenza and COVID-19 activity remain elevated in most parts of the country; however, the rapid increases seen over the past several weeks appear to be slowing. The U.S. continues to experience elevated RSV activity,…