Doctor Column
Exosomes — Extracellular Vesicles: What Are They? Could the “Cargo” Onboard Be Dangerous?
June 25, 2024
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Exosomes are microscopic, round, or oval sac-like structures that contain proteins, lipids, RNA, and DNA. They’re produced inside the cell by almost all cell types, and are released into the extracellular space, the space outside the cell. They’re about one 100th the size of a human cell and are also known as Extracellular Vesicles (EVs). A vesicle is a small sac-like structure.
Green Tea: From Leaves to Teacup to Good Health? The Science of Green Tea
June 15, 2024
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Aside from water, green tea ranks as the world’s second most popular beverage. People have been drinking green tea for thousands of years and in almost the same fashion. It all started, according to one legend, when the Chinese Emperor Shennong in 2737 BC was sitting under a tea tree.
Snapshot of Mouth Sores, and Mouth Cancer
June 5, 2024
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Mouth sores are tender or painful lesions that appear on the inside of your mouth. They can appear on the tongue, gums, inner cheeks, roof of the mouth, or be found on the inside of the lip. The lesions damage the mucous membrane, a delicate tissue that lines the inside of the mouth making it difficult to swallow, eat, and talk.
Dialysis: Beyond Needles, Tubes, and Filtration
May 25, 2024
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
I was saddened when a close friend and colleague informed me that he was diagnosed with lung cancer. He was advised of the treatment choices, and opted for a combination of radiation treatment and chemotherapy. After four months of treatment, I received another call from Daniel letting me know that his kidneys completely shut down due to the chemotherapy drugs. What’s remarkable is how he dealt with these two crushing blows.
Chronic Kidney Disease Insights — Unraveling the Five Stages of CKD
May 15, 2024
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Chronic kidney disease (CKD causes a gradual loss of kidney function over time. CKD happens when the kidneys are unable to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood causing a buildup of toxic material in the bloodstream. You may have ongoing kidney damage for many months to years without symptoms until the kidneys are almost ninety percent non-functional. Besides kidney disease, this condition can lead to hypertension, coronary artery disease. stroke and other problems.
Glaucoma: “Thief of Sight”
April 25, 2024
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Glaucoma is a chronic eye disease that progresses slowly over time causing loss of eyesight. There is a buildup of pressure within the eye, because the eye’s drainage system is malfunctioning. A narrowing or complete blockage of the drainage system prevents fluid from flowing out of the eye in a normal fashion. This causes an excessive buildup of pressure within the eye that damages the optic nerve resulting in vision loss. It takes months to years before you notice eye problems, and the vision that has been lost cannot be restored.
Fentanyl and the Chinese Conspiracy — A Public Health Epidemic
April 15, 2024
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Several years ago, I spoke with a parent and his son, Adrian, who excelled in the classroom and was a star football athlete. In his junior year of high school, he was on top of the world sifting through scholarship offers from first-rate universities. He was upbeat and confident about the future. That all changed in his senior year at school.
In Vitro Fertilization — From Petri Dishes to Parenting Nine Basic Steps: “We Just Want To Have a Family”
April 5, 2024
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a medical procedure used to help couples have a baby who are dealing with fertility issues. It is the most common form of assisted reproductive technology (ART) which involves combining an egg and sperm outside the body in a laboratory. Couples are evaluated to understand the reason(s) for the infertility and treatment strategies using IVF
CLL What You Need To Know About Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
March 25, 2024
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a type of blood cancer that grows slowly, more commonly in men and typically diagnosed after the age of 60 years. It is rarely seen in children. The cancer particularly damages B lymphocytes which are white blood cells. The lymphocytes develop from stem cells in the bone marrow. The cancer interferes with B lymphocyte production of antibodies that help your body fight infections.
How Puberty Changes Your Child’s Voice
March 15, 2024
Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD
Puberty is the time of life when boys and girls transition from childhood into adulthood. During this period of development, their bodies go through physical, hormonal and psychological changes. It happens typically for boys between 9 to 14 years of age and for girls between 8 to 13 years of age.
