-
Total Lunar Eclipse Starts May 15, 2022
We’ve never seen a total lunar eclipse, but it’ll happen May 15-16, 2022. It happens over several hours. For us in Iowa City, Iowa it starts at around 8:30 PM on May 15, 2022 and ends at around 2:00 AM on May 16, 2022. You don’t need any special eclipse glasses and you can see…
-
COVID-19 Transmission Level Medium in Johnson County, Iowa
The CDC has reported that the level of COVID-19 transmission in Johnson County, Iowa is Medium. It’s recommended to adopt appropriate safety precautions accordingly. The Swiss Cheese Model is an easy way to remember: Learn more about how to keep yourself and others safe.
-
University of Iowa Participating in COVAIL Trial on Covid-19 Vaccine Boosters
University of Iowa Health Care is participating in a multi-center Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating various additional COVID-19 vaccine boosters. It’s the COVID-19 Variant Immunologic Landscape (COVAIL) trial, sponsored by the National Institute of Allery and Infectious Disease (NIAID). The trial “will test new and existing booster vaccines in various combinations to see which ones…
-
Iowa City Nature Challenge Begins!
The Iowa City Nature Challenge began on April 29, 2022. It’s sponsored by the University of Iowa Office of Sustainability and the Environment. According to their web site: “From April 29th to May 2nd, find and photograph plants and animals in your backyard, in parks, along city streets, on school grounds—anywhere you find nature in…
-
ACIP Meeting on Covid-19 Vaccines and Boosters Held on April 20, 2022
I got to listen to some of the presentations yesterday during the ACIP meeting on Covid-19 vaccines and boosters. My impression is that there seems to still be some discussion about what the most important goals of the vaccination program. Is it to prevent severe disease, hospitalization, and death? Or is it to prevent infection…
-
Looking Back on Gunslingers and Chess Masters
I was looking at an early version of the handbook of consultation-liaison psychiatry that eventually evolved into what was actually published by Cambridge University Press. I wrote virtually all of the early version and it was mainly for trainees rotating through the consult service. The published book had many talented contributors. I and my department…
-
Will A Stone Float On Water?
I told the little story about a postop nurse asking me a CAM-ICU question (Will a stone float on water?) after I got back to the recovery room following my retinal detachment surgery last week. I got that one right by answering “No.” But for a split second—I had to think about it. Sena was…
-
To Boost or Not to Boost?
To boost or not to boost? That is the question. I’m still thinking about whether or not it’s important for me to get the second booster for the COVID vaccine. What might help me decide is a little bit more information from University of Iowa Hospital epidemiologist Dr. Daniel Diekema, MD. The Omicron subvariant, BA.2,…
-
The Path to Asapiprant: Perspiration or Inspiration?
I just found a University of Iowa Health Care announcement about a potential novel treatment to protect older patients from the ravages of Covid-19 infection. According to the announcement: “An experimental drug that counters immune aging, effectively prevents death in older mice with severe COVID-19, suggesting it may have potential as a therapy to protect…
-
Third Video in the Uncovering Hawkeye History Series: “Endless Innovation: An R1 Research Institution (1948-1997)”
Here’s the video recording of the third session in the Uncovering Hawkey History Series: Endless Innovation: An R1 Research institution (1948-1997).” Enjoy!
Go Retire Psychiatrist 