The University of Florida College of Medicine is the medical school of the University of Florida. It is part of the J. Hillis Miller Health Science Center, with facilities in Gainesville and Jacksonville, Florida. The college grants the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Medicine-Doctor of Philosophy (M.D.-Ph.D.), and Physician Assistant (P.A.) degrees to its graduates. The University of Florida College of Medicine was awarded $349 million in annual research expenditures in sponsored research for 2018.
Complete thyroid ultrasound reporting allows appropriate risk stratification and management of patients with thyroid nodules. Our objective was to assess the completeness of thyroid ultrasound reports based on documentation of key nodule features recommended by clinical guidelines. We conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent thyroid ultrasound between 2013 and 2020, including those with at least one nodule larger than 1 cm. Using a rule-based natural language processing (NLP) pipeline, key thyroid nodule features were extracted from the reports. At the nodule level reports were classified as complete if all guideline-recommended characteristics were documented. Out of 8,855 thyroid ultrasound reports reviewed, 5,792 (65
BACKGROUND/AIM:Although hormone receptor-positive (HR+) invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is the most common breast cancer subtype, there is limited evidence describing how demographic and clinical features vary across U.S. regions. Understanding geographic disparities is essential for improving screening and treatment planning. To examine regional variations in demographic, socioeconomic status (SES), and stage-at-diagnosis characteristics among U.S. patients with HR+ IDC. PATIENTS AND METHODS:This cross-sectional study used data from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) for patients diagnosed with HR+ IDC between 2004 and 2020. Patients were categorized into 6 U.S. geographic regions: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, Mountain, and Pacific, based on the Commission on Cancer facility location. Descriptive and comparative analyses evaluated age, sex, race and ethnicity, insurance type, income, urban-rural residence, and American Joint Committee on Cancer stage. RESULTS:Among 136,280 patients (mean age, 64.4 years; 98.8% female), racial and SES composition differed significantly across regions. Black patients comprised 19.5% of the Southeast cohort and 18.1% of the Southwest cohort, compared with 2.9% in the Mountain region. The Asian population was highest in the Pacific (13.1%). Low-income households (<$63,000) were most prevalent in the Southwest (74.7%) and Southeast (69.5%), while the Pacific region had the highest proportion of higher-income households (46.4%) and metropolitan residents (94.3%). Stage III-IV disease at diagnosis occurred most often in the Southwest (17.6%) and least in the Northeast (14.0%). CONCLUSION:Significant variation exists in the demographic and SES profile of patients with HR+ IDC, corresponding to differences in stage at diagnosis, and BC-related overall outcomes. These disparities likely reflect inequities in screening access, SES, and healthcare infrastructure, underscoring the need for region-specific public health strategies. Targeted regional interventions and equitable screening expansion are warranted to reduce geographic disparities and improve overall BC-related outcomes.
The effects of armed conflict on children are devastating, with more than 520 million children and adolescents residing in conflict zones worldwide. Armed conflicts not only cause death and destruction but also lead to widespread displacement, exposing children to physical injuries, sexual violence, family separation, food insecurity, and disruption of essential services like education and health care. All pediatricians and health care providers play crucial roles in addressing the complex challenges faced by children in these settings. Pediatric professionals are called to advocate for policy reforms, ensure culturally appropriate, sensitive, and trauma-informed care and community support, and engage in research to mitigate short- and long-term harm and promote resilience. Strategic interventions include ensuring access to health care and mental health services, safeguarding education, and providing bereavement and psychosocial support during and after resettlement. In doing so, pediatricians can help protect children's rights and foster a future where every child, regardless of conflict, has the opportunity to thrive.
BackgroundWe conducted a roundtable discussion and provided evidence-based guidance on the setting and adjustment of Airway Pressure Release Ventilation (APRV) in adult patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).MethodsA panel of clinicians and basic scientists with extensive experience in lung physiology and using APRV was assembled to provide expert consensus guidance. The panel first established and agreed upon guiding principles for optimal APRV settings. To support consensus discussions, we then reviewed the literature on the physiological basis of APRV as a lung-protective ventilation strategy, as well as published APRV research. Finally, we held a one-day meeting and conducted robust, iterative consensus discussions using the Nominal Group Technique to reach agreement on the optimal APRV settings. This work represents an Expert Recommendation and Position Statement rather than a formal consensus guideline. The recommendations were developed through iterative expert discussions that integrated extensive clinical experience with supporting basic science evidence on time-controlled ventilation and alveolar mechanics. Recommendations were based on expert experience with APRV in the intensive care unit and supported by published animal and clinical studies.ResultsConsensus on initial APRV settings for acute lung injury (ALI) such as ARDS or disorders of normal or increased elstance was as follows: set the upper airway pressure (PHigh) to either plateau or peak inspiratory pressure when transitioning from volume control or pressure control/dual control, respectively; set the duration of PHigh (THigh) to match the current respiratory rate on conventional ventilation; set lower airway pressure (PLow) to 0 cmH2O; and calculate duration of PLow (TLow) using the equation Peak Expiratory Flow x 75% = Termination of Expiratory Flow. Other recommendations included titrating these settings in response to changes in lung physiology and reaching consensus on injurious APRV settings that could impair gas exchange or cause lung instability.ConclusionThe panel developed a protocol for adjusting the four APRV settings based on expert experience and solid clinical and scientific evidence for patients with ALI and ARDS, or disorders of normal or increased elastance. Optimizing the lung-protective settings in APRV mode can improve patient outcomes.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) show minimal efficacy in recurrent high-grade astrocytoma (rHGA). Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT), a minimally invasive cytoreductive approach, may prime rHGA for ICI response. A phase 1/randomized phase 2b trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02311582 ) was designed to test pembrolizumab in combination with LITT in patients with rHGA. Nine patients were enrolled in the phase I dose-escalation lead-in study. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed and 200 mg of pembrolizumab every three weeks was determined as the recommended phase 2 dose. The phase 2b study was initially designed to randomize (up to 45) patients 1:1 to either LITT followed by pembrolizumab (LITT + PEM) or non-LITT surgery followed by pembrolizumab (NLS + PEM). Phase 2's primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS); secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), safety, and immune signature. After 21 patients, based on an independent Data and Safety Monitoring Committee request of unscheduled interim review of accumulating efficacy data, randomization stopped as benefit from NLS + PEM appeared limited, and the subsequent 24 patients received LITT + PEM. The pre-specified study endpoints were achieved. Among 39 per-protocol patients, LITT + PEM (n = 33) improved median OS (11.8 versus 5.2 months) and 18-month survival (42% versus 0%) compared to NLS + PEM (n = 6) (hazard ratio [HR] 0.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.06-0.49; P = 0.0002). Median PFS was longer in LITT + PEM (4.5 versus 1.6 months; HR 0.21; 95% CI, 0.08-0.56; P = 0.0006). In an intent-to-treat sensitivity analysis (n = 21), OS (HR 0.29; 95% CI, 0.10-0.88) and PFS (HR 0.30; 95% CI, 0.10-0.87) again favored LITT + PEM (n = 13). Treatment was well tolerated. LITT activated non-classical monocytes, and pembrolizumab unleashed CD8⁺ T cell proliferation, clonal expansion, and coordinated memory T-cell responses. Overall, LITT + PEM is safe and may overcome rHGA immunosuppression to generate antitumor immunity.
