Untangling a taxonomy of living from the science of the continuum of life

Medical innovation and technologic advances enrich daily living and occur within our normative worlds, that are socially constructed. These advances confront society with critical questions about the nature of human life, laying bare the inadequacies of extant norms and boundaries. Yet, society has been unable to develop consensus about when life ends. Scientific studies highlight that life is best characterized by continua without natural boundaries. Thus, scientific information alone cannot be employed to justify the socially constructed health categories required for setting norms and boundaries. An iterative process that integrates a broad range of non-scientific data with advancing scientific information is needed to facilitate consensus for updating social norms and boundaries. This can lead to a new taxonomy of living across the measurable continuum of life and align our normative worlds with the dizzying pace of medical innovation and advances in technologies transforming the world in which we live.

The Changing Environment in Postgraduate Education in Orthopedic Surgery and Neurosurgery and Its Impact on Technology-Driven Targeted Interventional and Surgical Pain Management: Perspectives from Europe, Latin America, Asia, and The United States

Personalized care models are dominating modern medicine. These models are rooted in teaching future physicians the skill set to keep up with innovation. In orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery, education is increasingly influenced by augmented reality, simulation, navigation, robotics, and in some cases, artificial intelligence. The postpandemic learning environment has also changed, emphasizing online learning and skill- and competency-based teaching models incorporating clinical and bench-top research. Attempts to improve work-life balance and minimize physician burnout have led to work-hour restrictions in postgraduate training programs. These restrictions have made it particularly challenging for orthopedic and neurosurgery residents to acquire the knowledge and skill set to meet the requirements for certification. The fast-paced flow of information and the rapid implementation of innovation require higher efficiencies in the modern postgraduate training environment. However, what is taught typically lags several years behind. Examples include minimally invasive tissue-sparing techniques through tubular small-bladed retractor systems, robotic and navigation, endoscopic, patient-specific implants made possible by advances in imaging technology and 3D printing, and regenerative strategies. Currently, the traditional roles of mentee and mentor are being redefined. The future orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons involved in personalized surgical pain management will need to be versed in several disciplines ranging from bioengineering, basic research, computer, social and health sciences, clinical study, trial design, public health policy development, and economic accountability. Solutions to the fast-paced innovation cycle in orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery include adaptive learning skills to seize opportunities for innovation with execution and implementation by facilitating translational research and clinical program development across traditional boundaries between clinical and nonclinical specialties. Preparing the future generation of surgeons to have the aptitude to keep up with the rapid technological advances is challenging for postgraduate residency programs and accreditation agencies. However, implementing clinical protocol change when the entrepreneur-investigator surgeon substantiates it with high-grade clinical evidence is at the heart of personalized surgical pain management.

Uncovering the Depths of the Human Proteome: Antibody-based Technologies for Ultrasensitive Multiplexed Protein Detection and Quantification

Probing the human proteome in tissues and biofluids such as plasma is attractive for biomarker and drug target discovery. Recent breakthroughs in multiplex, antibody-based, proteomics technologies now enable the simultaneous quantification of thousands of proteins at as low as sub fg/ml concentrations with remarkable dynamic ranges of up to 10-log. We herein provide a comprehensive guide to the methodologies, performance, technical comparisons, advantages, and disadvantages of established and emerging technologies for the multiplexed ultrasensitive measurement of proteins. Gaining holistic knowledge on these innovations is crucial for choosing the right multiplexed proteomics tool for applications at hand to critically complement traditional proteomics methods. This can bring researchers closer than ever before to elucidating the intricate inner workings and cross talk that spans multitude of proteins in disease mechanisms.

Impact of scientific and technological advances

Advancements in research and technology are transforming our world. The dental profession is changing too, in the light of scientific discoveries that are advancing biological technology-from new biomaterials to unravelling the genetic make-up of the human being. As health professionals, we embrace a model of continuous quality improvement and lifelong learning. Our pedagogical approach to incorporating the plethora of scientific-technological advancements calls for us to shift our paradigm from emphasis on skill acquisition to knowledge application. The 2017 ADEE/ADEA workshop provided a forum to explore and discuss strategies to ensure faculty, students and, ultimately, patients are best positioned to exploit the opportunities that arise from integrating new technological advances and research outcomes. Participants discussed methods of incorporating the impact of new technologies and research findings into the education of our dental students. This report serves as a signpost of the way forward and how to promote incorporation of research and technology advances and lifelong learning into the dental education curriculum.

Advances in Patient Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose

In 2 articles of the present issue, Bendini et al report about performance results obtained with 2 blood glucose monitoring systems of the Contour Next platform. Using several analysis methods, the authors demonstrate a very high accuracy, which meets all actual regulatory performance criteria. With consistent MARD results < 5% under daily routine conditions, this meter platform is finally fulfilling the accuracy request as set forth by the American Diabetes Association already in the late 1980s. This meter platform is representative for the successful effort of the device manufacturers who were consequently improving the analytical performance of blood glucose meters during the Past 2 decades, starting with an MARD of 12-15% at the end of the past century and reaching an excellent accuracy < 5% today.