Doctor Column
Alcohol Use Disorder in Women and the Elderly — A Worrisome Increase
November 25, 2021
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
There has been a worrisome increase in alcohol use among women and the elderly in the United States since 1999. Alcohol Use Disorder, AUD “is a chronic relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive alcohol use, loss of control over alcohol intake, and a negative emotional state when not using.” In 2017, 80,220 American deaths were associated with AUD.
Concierge Medicine in A Changing Medical Landscape
November 15, 2021
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Often, after checking into a hotel, people look for the concierge desk. The concierge is a hotel employee whose job it is to make your stay in the hotel as pleasant meaningful, and memorable as possible by improving the services the hotel offers. They arrange tours, make restaurant reservations and are helpful in obtaining tickets to the theater or sports events. People enjoy the personalized attention.
Antiviral COVID-19 Pill — Molnupiravir
November 5, 2021
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Pharmaceutical companies spend a great amount of time, effort, and money in their quest to cre-ate effective drugs to combat viral, and infectious diseases. There have been notable antibiotic successes, but less so concerning antiviral medications.
Dr. Katalin Kariko — Will the mRNA Messenger Be Awarded the Nobel Prize?
October 25, 2021
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Over time many people have received huge recognition for their life’s work posthumously. These innovators have died with neither fame nor financial gain. Nevertheless, their work is breathing and palpable today.
Bone Density: What Do the Numbers Mean?
October 15, 2021
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
The adult human skeleton has a total of 213 bones. Each bone goes through a lifelong process of making new, healthy bone tissue called bone modeling, and removing of old bone tissue labeled bone resorption. Bone loss happens when the body resorbs more bone than it makes.
Can Phytochemical (Phyto) Plant Foods Reduce Cancer Risk?
October 5, 2021
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
“One in three people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.;” reports the American Cancer Society (ACS). We can cut down on the odds of getting cancer by incorporating colorful, “phyto” foods into our diet.
Osteoporosis Revisited
September 25, 2021
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Lisa, a 73year old retired school teacher, went to a pastry shop to purchase a regular coffee and a plain donut. Before ordering, she turned around to pick up a few napkins. She slipped, fell, and landed on her buttocks.
Messenger RNA Vaccines: How Do They Protect Us Against COVD-19?
September 16, 2021
Our immune system is the strongest defense we have against disease. mRNA, or messenger Ribonucleic Acid is the breakthrough vaccine technology used by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech pharmaceutical companies to tweak our immune system to protect us against the COVID-19 virus. The companies using mRNA technology instruct the immune system to manufacture neutralizing antibodies to fight COVID. Currently, these vaccines are more than 90% effective in preventing COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths.
Get the Booster Shot — Being Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 is NOT Enough!
September 5, 2021
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
John, a construction worker, got down from his truck and his left foot landed on a rusty nail. Ouch! When he took his shoe off, the foot was bleeding, and he couldn’t put pressure on it. Fellow workers took him to a nearby hospital where X-rays showed no evidence of a fracture.
Why It Is Important to Understand the Different Stages of Cancer
August 25, 2021
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimated that in 2020 there will be 1.8 million new cancer cases diagnosed and 606,520 cancer deaths in the United States. Cancer staging and grading of these tumors are important guidelines for doctors and patients in dealing with the treatment and outcomes of this disease.
