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REPORT THE WELLNESS
January 2019
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NEW FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
I may be speaking for myself, but I really do love this time of year. After closing out 2018, we have the prospect of an entire new year upon us. This is so exciting for me, as I find every new year brings countless amounts of “new.” With four children under 10, each year is another milestone be to reached. From a first Christmas to first steps, or even a first time in the sand or surf, every new year is an adventure in our house. Professionally, I’m equally excited about the new advances in technology another year will bring. Today, we use technology and equipment that was not even thought of yet just a few years ago. Below, you can read more directly from the Cleveland Clinic about some of the advances coming to medicine in the new year that I find most exciting. I hope it comes as a welcome break from all the articles about more sleep and exercise, less fried food, and the annual cost of a coffee habit! I wish each of you a very happy new year full of health, wellness, and prosperity! –Dr. Jones The opioid crisis has been declared a public health emergency. Today, chronic pain is the leading cause of opioid prescriptions. Though several clinically validated alternative therapies for chronic pain exist, none have curtailed the crisis. Now, innovation and a potential for hope are possible by way of pharmacogenomic testing, which uses a patient’s genetic makeup to predict their individual metabolism of drugs, including some opiate-based drugs. Pharmacogenomic testing can be used to avoid adverse reactions, eliminate unnecessary and ineffective prescriptions, and replace them with more effective medications. Pharmacogenomics can also predict who may have little or no pain relief from some opiate- based analgesics. Without these predictions, such patients might finish Alternative Therapy for Pain: Fighting the Opioid Crisis
their prescription quickly and return for a new one
earlier than expected. Pharmacogenomics can reduce or eliminate the stigma of “drug-seeking” that might
be unfairly ascribed to such patients while providing the opportunity to tailor medication therapy. In 2019, with increased access to genetic testing, pharmacogenomics is poised to make significant progress in precision medicine and potentially put an end to the crisis.
The Advent of AI in Healthcare
Once thought of as a futuristic threat to humankind, artificial intelligence (AI) is now a part of everyday life. In healthcare, AI is changing the game with its applications in decision support, image analysis, and patient triage. Today, AI is helping physicians make smarter decisions at the point of care, improving the ease and accuracy of viewing patient scans, and reducing physician burnout. For instance, machine learning algorithms have the ability to highlight problem areas on images, aiding in the screening process and quickly making sense of the mountains of data within a physician’s EMR system. With AI’s continued integration into healthcare, caring for patients has become a matter of working smarter, not harder.
Advances in Immunotherapy for Cancer Treatment
Cancer immunotherapy, or biologic therapy, is a technique that uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. While immunotherapies for cancer have existed for some time, the worldwide work toward a cure for cancer continues to highlight new and novel immunotherapeutic targets. Scientists are creating life-changing new cancer treatments
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Innovation in Robotic Surgery
through the concepts of joint therapy and engineered T-cells. With the near-daily discovery of new immunotherapeutic targets and biomarkers, hopefully effective therapies will soon exist for all tumor profiles.
Most surgeries performed today are the shortest and least invasive that science will allow. This adaptation in surgical methodology is brought about in part by the integration of robotics. Robots in the operating room provide surgeons with guidance for extreme precision in surgery. Today, surgical platforms are highly advanced and are used in many procedures from spine to endovascular. Shortened recovery time and limited pain after surgery are just a few of the patient benefits seen with minimally invasive robotized surgery. Continued advancement in the field has led to more precise and effective surgeries with improved surgical outcomes. Akin to DNA-based gene therapies, RNA-based therapies are the newest innovation in labs nationwide and have shown immense potential. Interfering with genetic data at the ribonucleic acid (RNA) level gives scientists the ability to intercept a patient’s genetic abnormality before it is translated into functioning — or nonfunctioning — proteins. Today, the most popular and successful mechanisms of RNA therapy include antisense nucleotides and RNA interference. These new therapies are being explored in a variety of rare genetic diseases such as Huntington’s disease — as well as in cancer and neurologic diseases — with the hope of treatment by way of alternate genetic data. These new mechanisms of action are opening more windows for innovation in therapeutics. RNA-Based Therapies
Patient-Specific Products Achieved With 3D Printing
Utilizing 3D printing technology, medical devices can now be matched to the exact specifications of a patient. Designed to be more compatible with an individual’s natural anatomy, devices modeled from patient-specific dimensions have shown greater acceptance by the body, increased comfort, and improved performance outcomes. The versatility provided by 3D printing gives medical practitioners the ability to provide patients with the most advanced care while simultaneously minimizing the risk of complication in patients that meet specific medical requirements. Currently, the most significant work includes external prosthetics, cranial and orthopedic implants, and customized airway stents for diseases narrowing the airway. Work in prosthetics and other bodily implants is also gaining speed with some cleared for the commercial market. The technology has also been found helpful in surgical planning. To date, the technology has been used for many complicated heart surgeries, as well as the Cleveland Clinic’s most recent total face transplant. With its widening healthcare applications, 3D printing is increasing the attention to detail in patient care.
“First visit to Dr. Jones. So glad I chose this office. The staff was so welcoming and friendly. My hygienist, Amy, was great and informed me everything we were doing and why. The office had all the latest technology. Dr. Jones has a great bedside manner. You feel very comfortable here.” –BEVERLY N. “Saw Angela and Dr. Jones today as a new patient and they are SUPER. I am a very anxious patient, and Angela was personable, listened to all my concerns, and was thorough yet gentle with my exam and cleaning. She put me at ease immediately, and I wanted to be friends with her. I am so thankful that I found this practice. They have experience with chronic pain and were comfortable with the treatment plan I already had from the dentist in my previous city.” –M. R. WHAT OUR PATIENTS ARE SAYING
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Double Trouble
CLEAN YOUR SMILE AND ENJOY YOUR FAVORITE FOODS
Who says multitasking is impossible? Well, brain science does. But dental science says you can enjoy a snack and get some dental cleaning done at the same time. Check out some of these treats that pull double duty as both yummy snacks and superfoods for your smile. CHEESE, PLEASE (AND OTHER DAIRY TOO) In addition to providing your bones and teeth with calcium, cheese, yogurts, and other dairy products can be low in sugar. Dairy lowers the acidity level in your mouth and creates an unfavorable environment for bacteria looking to ruin your perfect smile. Plus, chewing cheese promotes saliva production, which is effectively nature’s toothbrush. As long as you don’t go overboard, dental experts say there’s nothing wrong with cutting the cheese. A FEAST FIT FOR RABBITS Few people get excited about bland treats like celery or carrots, but your teeth just might. The physical action of eating carrots and celery stimulates your mouth to produce more saliva. Plus, the textures of these vegetables can help brush gunk off your gums and pearly whites, aiding your saliva in its mission. As a bonus, the vitamins these veggies contain are great for your gums and bone
health. (Though teeth are not bones, they are very similar in composition.) So, follow Peter Rabbit’s lead and get in a daily serving of teeth-brushing vegetables.
SMILE-FRIENDLY RECIPES The best way to get the perfect smile is with regular dental cleanings, brushing, and flossing, but if you’re craving a treat, you can’t beat one that multitasks for you. THINK ABOUT YOUR GUMS Since the purpose of gum is to be mashed between our teeth for long periods of time, it’s natural to produce buckets of saliva while enjoying a piece. But dentists warn that in order to get the full benefits for your gums and teeth, you should be chewing sugar- free gum to avoid caking your mouth in enamel-gnawing sugars. Although the sugar content in most gum flavors isn’t high enough to completely outweigh the pros of the chewing motion and saliva production, it’s still wise to be mindful of the sugars your favorite gum contains.
WORD SEARCH
CITRUS AND AVOCADO SALAD
Winter is the height of citrus season, so it’s a perfect time to experiment with oranges and lemons. Roasting the fruits concentrates their flavor and makes the skins edible, creating a blast of flavor for this winter salad.
Ingredients
• 1 blood, cara cara, or navel orange, sliced 1/8-inch thick and deseeded • 1 Meyer or regular lemon, sliced 1/8-inch thick and deseeded • 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. In a rimmed baking sheet, toss citrus slices with 1 tablespoon oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast citrus until lightly charred and caramelized, about 10–15 minutes. Let cool. 3. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine onion and Directions
• 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice • 1 bunch arugula
• 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves • 1 avocado, cut into wedges • Salt and pepper, to taste
lemon juice. Season with salt and let sit for 5 minutes. 4. Add citrus, arugula, and mint to onion mixture. Drizzle with remaining oil, season with salt and pepper to taste, and toss thoroughly. 5. Add avocado, combing very gently to not crush avocado.
Aquarius Capricorn Celebrate Champagne Fireworks
Freezing January Midnight New Year Party
Pig Resolution
Snow Toast Winter
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Advancements In Medicine In 2019 PAGE 1
What Our Patients Are Saying PAGE 2
Foods That Clean Your Teeth Citrus and Avocado Salad PAGE 3
The Best Skiing Destinations in the World PAGE 4
3 of the World’s Greatest Winter Sport Destinations WHO’S READY FOR SOME POWDER?
The sound of the first carve through fresh powder is the anthem of all winter sports enthusiasts. Here are three of the world’s best places to experience that powder you’ve been craving all year. BRECKENRIDGE, COLORADO John Denver’s anthem “Rocky Mountain High” is about the freedom he felt here. Where there are great mountains, there’s even better snow. The ski resort boasts five peaks, 187 trails, 34 lifts, four terrain parks, and a renowned cross-country trail. After a day on the slopes, head into the town of Breckenridge for dining and activities that ditch the glitz and glamour of Vail or Aspen and take you straight to the heart of fun. WHISTLER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA A destination that looks like a cross between a Nordic paradise and Olympic-level runs, Whistler is filled with true magic, winter activities, and a town that captivates the senses. When you see the mountains of British Columbia, you’ll understand why they
hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics. The location’s beauty is only part of your stimulating experience, because every curve of fresh powder makes your pupils dilate. Once you’re done flying down the hill where Bode Miller took the bronze, head over to the winter wonderland of the old Olympic Village for a cozy night in a picturesque town. ST. ANTON, AUSTRIA If you want a great location for next year’s Christmas card photo, there’s no better place than the Tyrolean Alps. Nestled in a valley between perfectly molded mountains, the Austrian landscape provides a beautiful backdrop for your winter excursions. The densely wooded areas and the bright reflection of the snow frame the vibrant town that’s just waiting to be explored. When you’re ready for world-class runs, hop in one of the 11 gondolas and zip down the hills that hosted the 2001 Alpine World Ski Championships.
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