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/
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/
Apparently, for minority children, self-affirmation has a significant effect on their GPA. A two-year follow-up study was published last week in Science. This study had children, starting in 7th grade, write about relationships, interests, and personal values. Students in the test group showed as much as a 0.41 increase in their GPA compared to the [...]
http://john.mn/2009/10/im-good-enough-smart-enough-and-doggoneit/
Apparently one-third of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) containing products are contaminated with mercury. The worst offender? Chocolate milk. Well, dairy products in general (60% contained mercury). Mercury was also found in every food/drink category tested, including dressings, syrups, snacks, and soups. On the bright side, only 16% of beverages (e.g. non-diet soda) contained mercury. [...]
http://john.mn/2009/10/mercury-in-hfcs/
A new study by the Kaiser Foundation found that people are becoming less concerned about HIV. The percent of respondents reporting HIV/AIDS as the top health concern in the US dropped from 44% in 1995 to 6%. While the majority of people understand how HIV is transmitted, there are still a significant handful of people [...]
http://john.mn/2009/10/what-hiv-problem/
Rabies is rather frightening to me, but it’s not nearly as freaky as viral hemorrhagic fevers. My manager recently told me that she knows the wife of Ryan Havelka, a 29 year old North Dakota man that died in September of Hantavirus. He developed Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome after doing some construction work outdoors, where he [...]
http://john.mn/2009/10/rabies-isnt-my-only-infectious-fear/