Doctor Column
Clinical Trials: Bedrock of Medical Advancements
August 15, 2025
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Many cancer patients inquire if they’re eligible to participate in clinical trials for their specific cancer. Such was the case with 47 y/o Melanie, mother of two daughters, who was diagnosed with an invasive form of breast cancer. Besides wanting the most up-to-date treatment for her cancer, Melanie was interested in the latest cancer preventive clinical trials which might apply to her daughters. Besides cancer, current clinical trials are investigating, for example, Alzheimer’s disease treatments, diabetes medications, and cardiovascular diseases.
Tick Bites: The ‘Tick List’... 13 Steps To Prevent Tick Bites
August 5, 2025
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
During the summer months, we’re likely to enjoy the outdoors more, and even consider a long weekend in rustic surroundings to escape the turmoil of city life. That’s what my wife and I did several years ago when we rented a cabin by the lake, enjoyed the peace and murmurs of nature, and leisurely walks before returning to the city.
Swimmer’s Ear: ‘External Otitis’ explained symptoms: Causes and Treatment
July 20, 2025
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Swimmer’s ear, also known as external otitis, is an inflammation, or infection of the ear canal, the area between the external ear, and the eardrum. It’s called “swimmer’s ear” because it’s often initiated by water trapped in the ear canal after swimming or bathing, which creates a friendly environment for bacteria, and fungi to grow.
Heat Stroke — A ‘Life-Threatening’ Emergency. What to know? What to do??
July 5, 2025
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Heatstroke is a life-threatening medical emergency! Call 911 immediately, and ask for medical assistance, and an ambulance.
Type 2 Diabetes: ‘Must-Know’ Lab Tests
June 15, 2025
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition where the body does not use insulin properly, or does not produce enough insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps the body effectively use glucose (sugar) from food we eat, making it possible to enter cells for energy.
Measles Snapshot: “It’s like Déjà Vu All Over Again”
June 5, 2025
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
In the year 2000, Measles was declared “eradicated” in the United States. This was a remarkable scientific achievement!
Alzheimer’s and Blood Tests: Narrowing the Gap Between Early Detection and Treatment
May 15, 2025
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
“Far more than a senior moment, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the “Long Goodbye.” The disease is not a part of normal aging. It is a gradual, deadly assault on memory, reasoning and behavior. It cripples a person’s emotional, mental and physical health.
“Subesity” — Understanding the Dangers of Being Severely Underweight
May 5, 2025
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
A severely underweight person is as worrisome as a person being morbidly obese. Extremely underweight individuals are malnourished, and when the low body weight is persistent, it can have tragic consequences. Consider the situation with Karen Carpenter.
Tumor Biomarkers and Angellina Jolie
April 25, 2025
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
“I choose not to keep my story private, because there are many women who do not know that they might be living under the shadow of cancer. It is my hope that they, too, will be able to get gene tested, and that if they have a high risk they, too, will know that they have strong options,” said Jolie.
Biomarkers Are Essential Medical Tools
April 15, 2025
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
A biomarker, in medicine, is anything that can be used to measure the health status of a person. A wide range of biomarkers is available to determine whether a person is healthy or sick. For instance, some are as simple as taking your pulse, body temperature, or measuring your blood pressure. Other biomarkers can be more complex, such as biological molecules used to identify genetic changes in cancer cells.
