Doctor Column
Norovirus The Viral Invader of the Gut
March 25, 2025
Dana is a 29 y/o marketing executive who woke up one winter morning “feeling sick.” She told her husband, “I feel tired, nauseated, and have mild stomach cramps.” It wasn’t long afterwards, she suddenly experienced the onset of vomiting, and diarrhea. Her husband encouraged her to drink liquids, but it only caused her to vomit more. The miserable morning led to dehydration, and by early afternoon she was receiving intravenous fluids in the Emergency Department of her local hospital.
Diabetes Insipidus—DI Eric’s Story and the Need to Change DI’s Name
March 5, 2025
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
“Several weeks before we took Eric to the doctor, we noticed that he was thirsty, I mean he was drinking a lot more water than usual” Mom said. “Also, I would wake up in the morning at my usual time, open the refrigerator door to get milk for my coffee, and realized that he drank almost a full carton of orange juice in the middle of the night.
FDA Puts on Hold All Infant RSV Trials Due to Safety Concerns
February 25, 2025
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
On December 12, 2024, the FDA in a briefing document “put on hold” all clinical trials of vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants. The FDA said it was notified by Moderna, in July 2024 that their findings from a clinical trial signaled safety concerns in infants. The two vaccine candidates were being evaluated during Phase 1 trial which primarily evaluates the drug’s, or vaccine’s safety and dose range.
Bird Flu H5N1, Asian Influenza: Wings of Worry — The Pandemic Threat of Bird Flu
February 5, 2025
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Does Bird Flu have the potential to mutate into a more contagious and deadly version of itself just as SARS mutated into COVID19? Back in 2007, Gary Wong, and T Leung wrote, “Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and Avian influenza (bird flu) are the two newly emerged infections with pandemic potential that have arisen from Asia in the new millennium.” In 2020, COVID-19 fulfilled its pandemic potential, became a household word, and a deadly virus causing millions of deaths.
Untangling the “4 A’s” of Alzheimer’s Disease: What Are They?
January 25, 2025
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the neurons, the nerve cells in the brain. It’s a chronic, progressive disease that causes the loss of function, and structure of the nerve cells in the brain, resulting in the shrinkage of brain tissue with adverse emotional, mental, and physical effects. After the age of 60 years, the incidence of AD approximately doubles every five years.
BE FAST! Save a Life!! Recognize the Signs of Stroke and Call 911
January 15, 2025
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
More people are using the acronym “Be Fast” to recognize, and understand what to do about the signs of the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, Stroke. Once you suspect the person is having a stroke, Call 911 immediately. The sooner medical help is on the way, and treatment initiated, the greater the likelihood of survival. Minutes count!
Vaccinations .. “Stupendous Success” in Saving Lives: A Bedrock of Disease Prevention
January 5, 2025
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Vaccinations have remarkably improved the survival, and health of individuals worldwide. A landmark study published in The Lancet in May 2024 analyzed 50 years of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), and concluded that vaccinations have prevented an estimated 154 million deaths globally since 1974, with the majority occurring in children under five years old. They’ve cut infant mortality by 40 percent globally!
Alcohol and Cancer: The Myth That “Moderate” Alcohol Drinking is Healthy?
December 25, 2024
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
The number of older adults in the United states has grown significantly. Likewise, there has been a noticeable increase in drinking among senior citizens. Many of us have been under the impression that the moderate intake of alcoholic beverages has a positive health effect, in particular, on heart health. This notion has been debunked by a team of researchers who reviewed a large British study that followed 135,103 adults over a span of twelve years who were aged 60 and older.
Vitamin D3 + K2: Key Nutrients For Building Strong Bones & Healthy Hearts in Children
December 15, 2024
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Infants and children grow rapidly, and they require a proper diet to support their nutritional needs. Vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 are crucial for children to develop healthy bones, teeth, hearts, and a robust immune system. They work together, synergistically, to help build strong, healthy children.
Dr. Richard Cash How “Sugar Water With a Pinch of Salt” Saved Millions of Lives
December 5, 2024
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
I was having dinner in a restaurant when a man got up from the table gasping for air, couldn’t speak, and pointing to his mouth. In a blink of an eye, a woman ran to his table, got behind him, told him to “lean forward, open your mouth, and proceeded to perform the “Heimlick maneuver.” After the fourth attempt, out popped what appeared to be a chunk of beef from his mouth.
