Enhancing representation in radiography-reports foundation model: a granular alignment algorithm using masked contrastive learning.

Recently, multi-modal vision-language foundation models have gained significant attention in the medical field. While these models offer great opportunities, they still face crucial challenges, such as the requirement for fine-grained knowledge understanding in computer-aided diagnosis and the capability of utilizing very limited or even no task-specific labeled data in real-world clinical applications. In this study, we present MaCo, a masked contrastive chest X-ray foundation model that tackles these challenges.

Health disparities in cervical cancer: Estimating geographic variations of disease burden and association with key socioeconomic and demographic factors in the US.

Background: Despite advances in cervical cancer (CC) prevention, detection, and treatment in the US, health disparities persist, disproportionately affecting underserved populations or regions. This study analyzes the geographical distribution of both CC and recurrent/metastatic CC (r/mCC) in the US and explores potential risk factors of higher disease burden to inform potential strategies to address disparities in CC and r/mCC.

Methods: We estimated CC screening rates, as well as CC burden (number of patients with CC diagnosis per 100,000 eligible enrollees) and r/mCC burden (proportion of CC patients receiving systemic therapy not in conjunction with surgery or radiation), at the geographic level between 2017-2022 using administrative claims.

In praise of povidone-iodine application in ophthalmology.

Polyvinyl pyrrolidone or povidone-iodine (PVP-I) is a water-soluble complex formed by the combination of iodine and a water-soluble polymer, polyvinyl pyrrolidone. This complex exerts bactericidal, fungicidal, and virucidal action by gradually releasing free iodine at the site of application to react with pathogens. In ophthalmology, PVP-I is used as a disinfectant and antiseptic agent for preoperative preparation of the skin and mucous membranes and for treating contaminated wounds.

Leishmania major Strain-Dependent Macrophage Activation Contributes to Pathogenicity in the Absence of Lymphocytes.

Infection of C57BL/6 wild-type mice with Leishmania major 5-ASKH or Friedlin strains results in relatively similar pathogenicity with self-healing lesions within weeks. Parasite clearance depends on nitric oxide production by activated macrophages in response to cytokines produced mainly by CD4 Th1 cells. In contrast, C57BL/6 Rag2 knockout mice, which lack T and B lymphocytes, show distinct pathologies during infection with these strains.

Online Isha Upa Yoga for student mental health and well-being during COVID-19: A randomized control trial.

College students experienced increased stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study evaluated the effect of brief online Isha Upa Yoga modules on undergraduates' mental health and well-being. Randomized control trial (RCT) with waitlist control crossover (N = 679).

Hearing Loss in Pediatrics: What the Medical Home Needs to Know.

Screening infants for hearing loss at birth is a standard in most states in the United States, but follow-up continues to warrant improvement. Understanding the definition of hearing loss, its etiology, appropriate intervention options, and knowledge of methods to optimize an infant's outcomes through the medical home can help to maximize speech and language skills.

Expression and prognostic value of CLIC1 in epithelial ovarian cancer.

The clinical significance of the chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1) protein in ovarian cancer is yet to be determined. The present study aimed to investigate the association between CLIC1 expression, and clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. In this retrospective study, CLIC1 level was determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and immunohistochemical staining.

CD13 Neutrophil-like myeloid-derived suppressor cells exert immune suppression through Arginase 1 expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Perineural invasion and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment are the distinct features of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Heterogeneous myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are potent suppressors of antitumor immunity, posing obstacles for cancer immunotherapy. Increasing evidences have demonstrated the accumulation of MDSCs in PDAC patients.

Craving for alcohol and food during treatment for alcohol dependence: modulation by T allele of 1519T>C GABAAalpha6.

Background: Craving for alcohol and food has been studied in association with alcohol dependence and eating disorders, respectively. One subclass of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, 1519T>C GABA(A)alpha6 has been reported to be associated with both alcohol dependence and weight gain. In this study, we hypothesized that patients being treated for alcohol dependence would report decreased craving for alcohol, but an increased craving for food during a 4-week treatment period.