Publications by authors named "Kristin Stephens"

Background: Achieving a healed perineal wound following chemoradiotherapy and abdominoperineal resection (APR) is challenging for surgeons and patients. Prior studies have shown trunk-based flaps, including vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (VRAM) flaps, are superior to both primary closure and thigh-based flaps; however, there has been no direct comparison with gluteal fasciocutaneous flaps. This study evaluates postoperative complications after various methods of perineal flap closure of APR and pelvic exenteration defects.

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A superenhancer at the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA) gene is associated with RARA mRNA overexpression in ∼30% of non-acute promyelocytic leukemia acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and in ∼50% of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). RARA overexpression is an actionable target for treatment with tamibarotene, an oral potent and selective RARα agonist. Sensitivity to the RARα agonist tamibarotene was demonstrated in RARA-high but not RARA-low preclinical AML models.

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Introduction: Over the past decade, the potential for drug-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) has become an increasingly important consideration in certain drug development programmes, particularly those of immunomodulatory biologics. Whether the risk of PML with an investigational agent is proven (e.g.

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Background: The efficacy of vedolizumab, an α4β7 integrin antibody, in Crohn's disease is unknown.

Methods: In an integrated study with separate induction and maintenance trials, we assessed intravenous vedolizumab therapy (300 mg) in adults with active Crohn's disease. In the induction trial, 368 patients were randomly assigned to receive vedolizumab or placebo at weeks 0 and 2 (cohort 1), and 747 patients received open-label vedolizumab at weeks 0 and 2 (cohort 2); disease status was assessed at week 6.

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