Doctor Column
Leg, Foot and Ankle Edema — When is it Cause for Concern?
May 5, 2021
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Sitting at a computer all day is roughly equivalent to you sitting in an airplane that flies from New York to Paris. If you took your shoes off during the flight, you may have experienced difficulty putting them on because of swollen feet and ankles.
A Yellow Light for Gene Surgeons and Gene Surgery
April 25, 2021
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Every year millions of infants (6% of worldwide births) are born with serious birth defects. In the United States, birth defects are the leading cause of infant mortality accounting for one in every 5 infant deaths. They afflict about three per cent of the babies born in the US.
Sickle Cell Disease and CRISPR-Cas9
April 15, 2021
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disease that’s passed down from parent to child. This genetic disorder causes the body to make abnormal red blood cells (RBC’s). Hemoglobin is the protein in the RBC’s that delivers oxygen to all parts of the body and sends carbon dioxide to the lungs to be exhaled from the body.
A 21st Century Scientific Revolution? CRISPR-Case 9
April 5, 2021
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier have ignited a scientific revolution. In 2020, both shared the Nobel Prize in chemistry for their pioneering work in gene editing (also called genome editing or genetic engineering). This innovative technology, CRISPR-Cas9, allows scientists to more easily and accurately repair or enhance an organism’s faulty DNA.
Echocardiogram Stress Test
March 25, 2021
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
A cardiac stress test evaluates the health of the heart. Sometimes called a treadmill stress test, it contrasts how the heart functions at rest compared to how it functions with activity. Either a treadmill or a stationary bicycle is commonly used by the person to put the heart under increased, physical stress.
Long Term Effects of COVID-19 The Unfinished Story of “Long COVID—Long Haulers.”
March 15, 2021
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Among the several hundred coronaviruses, seven cause human disease. Four of them cause mild symptoms such as the common cold. However, three of them have emerged in this century and globally to bring about severe illness and deaths.
Fibromyalgia Lady Gaga’s Invisible Pain
March 5, 2021
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Millions heard Lady Gaga sing the national anthem at Joseph Biden, Jr’s presidential inauguration on January 20, 2021 in Washington D. C. However, how many realized she has been struggling with a disorder that has long frustrated patients and doctors?
From Treadmill to Marathon Julie’s Story — “I Did It!”
February 25, 2021
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
You don’t have to be, as if anyone could be, Haile Gebrselassie to be a good runner. Haile is considered, by many, to be the greatest distance runner in history. This 5 foot 5 inch and 119 pound dynamo, in his prime, shattered 61 Ethiopian national records ranging from 800 meters to the marathon, established 27 world records and captured two Olympic gold medals. An Ethiopian national hero recognized by New African magazine in 2011 as being one of the 100 most influential Africans.
“Is the Loss of Smell and Taste a Sure Sign of COVID-19?”
February 15, 2021
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Over the past several months, problems with a person’s ability to smell or taste has been in the news for different reasons. Increasing evidence suggest that a loss of smell or taste is an early warning sign of Covid-19.
“Is Vitamin D Deficiency a Risk Factor for COVID-19?” Know Your Vitamin D Level
February 5, 2021
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
In a previous article, I touted the benefits of Vitamin D. I wrote: “Besides helping the intestinal absorption of calcium and bone health, there are other benefits of maintaining the vitamin D level within a normal range.
