I co-authored a letter to the editor that ran in the Star Tribune yesterday regarding the urgent need to modernize HIV prevention efforts. This sparked a handfull of comments on the strib website about how preventable HIV is (just like the flu, which kills ~36k people per year), and how we’re wasting money on AID’s[sic] [...]
http://john.mn/2010/06/modernize-hiv-prevention/
There was a recent outbreak of Salmonella subspecies IV among attendees of a scout troupe potluck in Minnesota. Human cases of Salmonella are normally caused by subspecies I… this type is typically associated with contact with reptiles. This led the investigators to the home of the potluck’s gravy-preparer: She reported having two pet bearded dragons [...]
http://john.mn/2010/04/dont-eat-the-gravy/
As I’m sure you’re well aware, Minnesota saw an 83% increase in HIV cases among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in 2009. This prompted the Department of Health, Hennepin County (Part A), and the Department of Human Services (Part B) to plan a YMSM Provider’s Summit. Someone at the summit made a [...]
http://john.mn/2010/03/how-long-have-we-known/
There’s a definite and urgent need to adapt our HIV prevention strategy to reflect the needs and styles of adolescents and young adults. This is clear from the 9 year history of increasing newly diagnosed HIV cases among young men who have sex with men (YMSM), including the 83% increase in the last year. I [...]
http://john.mn/2010/03/hiv-prevention-2-0/
A new study, set to be released in the March issue of Social Psychology Quarterly, suggests that people with higher IQs are more likely to favor atheism, liberalism, and monogamy (at least among males). “Smart” people are also more likely to align with unconventional philosophies, and demonstrate elitism. Go figure. These beliefs don’t have a [...]
http://john.mn/2010/03/a-case-for-monogamy/
I attended the Minnesota YMSM Provider Summit yesterday, and that (alcohol, hormones) emerged as one theme partially attributable to the increase in HIV infections in men under 24. Honestly, I’m just trying hard to find a legitimate and professional excuse to say “horny” in a blog title… We received an epidemiology update, with additional information [...]
http://john.mn/2010/02/drunk-and-horny/
I completed my first home project: installing track lighting in my office area. The lighting before looked like, as my agent said, “something from the suburbs or the projects.” It was cheap overhead lighting that looked quite dated. So, I went to IKEA, and bought the Radium light system. I’ve been putting off installing it for a [...]
http://john.mn/2010/02/who-said-track-lighting-died-in-the-90s/
The Minnesota Department of Health released initial 2009 HIV epidemiology data last week — something that they normally wait until April to do. MDH saw an urgent need to release the information due to the dramatic rise in incidence over the past year, particularly the 83% increase in young men who have sex with men [...]
http://john.mn/2010/02/minnesota-hiv-rates/
I started my new job yesterday, so I’ve spent yesterday and today in the new employee orientation (also known as “on-boarding”). This involves leaders from just about every administrative department coming to talk about what they do. The patient safety person showed us a video that I thought was interesting. When you watch it, count [...]
http://john.mn/2010/01/awareness-test/
You’re looking at an x-ray of the abdominal area, and there’s something in there that shouldn’t be…can you guess what it is? I found this in a journal (Surgical Rounds) that we get at work. It details a case of an 85 year old man who showed up in the ER complaining of acute abdominal [...]
http://john.mn/2010/01/grand-rounds/