Category: Iowa

  • Wonderful Windy Day

    Wonderful Windy Day

    Well, the forecast was for a very windy day, more windy than we’d like. On the other hand, it was bearable on the Terry Trueblood Trail. However, the forecast is for high winds and hail and we’re not looking forward to that. The highlight was seeing a leucistic Canadian Goose for the first time. They’re…

  • Rounding@Iowa Podcast: “Advances in the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer”

    Rounding@Iowa Podcast: “Advances in the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer”

    This episode of Rounding@Iowa is about important medical advances in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. As you listen to Dr. Clancy interview Dr. Joseph Cullen about what’s new, you’ll hear a lot about high-dose intravenous Vitamin C. This can enhance treatment and improve response to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Dr. Cullen’s most recent study about…

  • The Zamboni Effect

    The Zamboni Effect

    I was walking around the mall today doing ordinary old guy things: watching the Zamboni machine resurface the ice rink, which I’ve never seen before, by the way. The surface was pretty dull before the Zamboni team started. There were two kids in the seat, one young lady driving and the other young man pointing…

  • Iowa Bills to Ban Vaccines and Require Vaccine Manufacturers to Waive Immunity Die

    Iowa Bills to Ban Vaccines and Require Vaccine Manufacturers to Waive Immunity Die

    This week was what the Iowa Legislature calls funnel week. Today determined what bills stay alive and which one die. The bills opposing vaccines died for this legislative session: “mRNA vaccines: Senate File 360 proposed a ban on health care providers administering gene-based vaccines, like the COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna. Under the proposal, health care…

  • What Does “Design Defect” of a Vaccine Mean In the Iowa Bill to Require Vaccine Manufacturers to Waive Immunity from Lawsuits?

    What Does “Design Defect” of a Vaccine Mean In the Iowa Bill to Require Vaccine Manufacturers to Waive Immunity from Lawsuits?

    Beats me. Sorry, just kidding. I’m just a little bleary from looking at the web sites about the definition of “design defect” related to vaccines as it applies to the Iowa bill to make vaccine manufacturers waive their immunity from lawsuits about vaccine related injuries. I am sympathetic to anyone who in fact has suffered…

  • New Wrinkle on Iowa Bill to Oppose mRNA Vaccines in Iowa

    New Wrinkle on Iowa Bill to Oppose mRNA Vaccines in Iowa

    This is a follow up to yesterday’s post about the Iowa legislature’s proposition of a new law that would essentially ban mRNA vaccines in Iowa. I don’t understand the numbers and codes on the new sections, but the new one proposes that manufacturers of vaccines would have to waive immunity from lawsuits arising from “a…

  • Proposed Bill Would Ban mRNA Vaccines in Iowa

    Proposed Bill Would Ban mRNA Vaccines in Iowa

    Sena just alerted me to a bill in the Iowa legislature right now that proposes mRNA vaccines (like the Covid vaccine for example) be banned in Iowa. Part of it says that any person who provides or administers such a vaccine would be guilty of a simple misdemeanor and subject to a $500 fine. I…

  • More on the Focused Practice Designation in Emergency Psychiatry

    More on the Focused Practice Designation in Emergency Psychiatry

    This post just provides further information (in addition to what was in yesterday’s post) on the evolution of the Focused Practice Designation (FPD) for consultation-liaison psychiatrists who might be interested in certifying to work in emergency departments. I use the word “certifying” because it seems clear that the FPD pathway has been intended to follow…

  • Girl Scout Cookies Are Safe!

    Girl Scout Cookies Are Safe!

    We were out the other day and tried the new Girl Scout Thin Mint Frosties. Sena got chocolate and I got vanilla. We thought they were delicious. Wendy’s partnered with Girl Scouts of the USA to serve them up and it’s a great idea. They’re swirled and topped with a mint-flavored cookie crumble sauce. We…

  • Bluebirds Fly on the Terry Trueblood Trail

    Bluebirds Fly on the Terry Trueblood Trail

    We got out today on the Terry Trueblood Trail because it was sunny and 60 degrees. It felt like early spring, although Punxsutawney Phil put the kibosh on that. The ice was giving way on Sand Lake. The birds were waking up and hungry. And I can’t remember the last time we saw bluebirds at…