Publications by authors named "Kristen Stephenson"

Cannabis is the most commonly consumed recreational drug in the world. As more states legalize cannabis use in some form, the incidence of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is expected to rise. CHS is a constellation of symptoms including severe cyclical nausea and vomiting and epigastric or periumbilical abdominal pain as a result of long-term cannabis use.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study looked at how well patients followed up with colorectal cancer screenings and whether it was worth the money spent.
  • Out of 94 patients, most (68%) got or were offered a follow-up procedure called a colonoscopy, which checks for cancer.
  • The screenings helped save a lot of healthcare costs, but if more patients got follow-ups, it could have saved even more money and improved health.
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Cholestatic liver injury is characterized by damage induced on the biliary tree and cholangiocytes, the cells lining the biliary tree, thus they are termed "cholangiopathies". Cholangiopathies include diseases such as Primary Biliary Cholangitis, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, Biliary Atresia and Cholangiocarcinoma. These pathologies lack viable therapies and most patients are diagnosed during late stage disease progression (with the exception of Biliary Atresia, which is found shortly after birth).

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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a disease of increasing interest, as its prevalence is on the rise. NAFLD has been linked to metabolic syndrome, which is becoming more common due to the Western diet. Because NAFLD can lead to cirrhosis and related complications including hepatocellular carcinoma, the increasing prevalence is concerning, and medical therapy aimed at treating NAFLD is of great interest.

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The depth of our knowledge regarding mast cells has widened exponentially in the last 20 years. Once thought to be only important for allergy-mediated events, mast cells are now recognized to be important regulators of a number of pathological processes. The revelation that mast cells can influence organs, tissues, and cells has increased interest in mast cell research during liver disease.

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