Editor's Note, Volume 9 Issue 2

D’Arcy Little, MD, CCFP, FRCPC Medical Director, JCCC and HealthPlexus.NET

I am pleased to introduce the Spring edition of the Journal of Current Clinical Care.

Dr. Aly Abdulla and Robert Caratun present Time to Chew on Temporomandibular Disease. Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are one of the most common non tooth-related chronic orofacial pain conditions that involve the muscles of mastication and/or the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and associated structures. The article reviews the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of this chronic pain condition.

In their article, The Role of Screening and Brace Management for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, Drs. Kedar Padhye and Fábio Ferri-de-Barros from the Alberta Children's Hospital and Dr. Reza Ojaghi, from the University of Ottawa review Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS). AIS is defined as curvature of spine in the coronal plane with a Cobb angle of more than 10°. AIS affects 1-3% of children younger than 16 years of age. Less than 20% of those children will progress to severe deformity requiring interventions. Screening with clinical examination and selective radiographic assessment seems to be a cost-effective approach to filter specialist referrals but current literature is controversial. Evidence supports brace management of AIS for skeletally immature patients with primary scoliosis measuring 25°–40. The risk reduction for progression to the surgical range (deformity greater than 50 degrees) is 56%. Timely diagnosis and evidence-based brace management of AIS seem likely to reduce the surgical burden. The implementation of screening guidelines at the primary care level is a critical step.

Dr. Yoni Freedhoff from the University of Ottawa offers insights on a Groundbreaking New Study on Ultra-Processed Foods that Provides Possible Causal Smoking Gun for Our Global Obesity Struggles. The reason why weights rise in the industrialized world remains unclear, but most agree that diet plays a crucial role. The endless list of fad diets from paleo to keto to low-carb has led to public mistrust and confusion. The results of a new study titled "Ultra-processed diets cause excess calorie intake and weight gain: A one-month inpatient randomized controlled trial of ad libitum food intake" strongly suggests that regardless of diet, ultra-processed foods should be avoided.

I hope you enjoy this latest edition. Please consider commenting or submitting an article of your own.