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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Spontaneous regression of HCC is rare with few documented cases in literature. The mechanism of this phenomenon is unknown, but tumor hypoxia and systemic inflammatory response have been suggested as possible etiologies. This article aims to shed more light on this rare phenomenon and provides an opportunity to review the proposed pathophysiology of spontaneous HCC regression. In this case report, we describe an interesting case of a 39-year-old male with HCC who underwent spontaneous regression.
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Background Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic antigen-mediated esophageal disease characterized by infiltration of the esophageal mucosa by eosinophils. The prevalence of EoE continues to rise worldwide. However, certain aspects of the epidemiology and pathogenesis remain unclear. Methods This study examined the hospitalization trends of EoE using an extensive inpatient database in the United States, the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample (NIS), to identify hospitalizations between 2010 and 2019. We assessed patient demographics as well as hospital-specific variables using the NIS. We obtained the prevalence rate of EoE for each year and used joinpoint regression analysis to obtain trends after adjusting the rate for age and gender. We also sought to characterize the outcomes of these hospitalizations by obtaining the mortality rate, length of stay (LOS), and total hospital charges (THC). Results Of 305 million hospitalizations included in the study, 33,878 were for EoE. The prevalence rate per 100,000 hospitalizations of EoE increased from 6.6 in 2010 to 15.5 in 2019. The annual percentage change obtained from the joinpoint regression analysis was 13.3% from 2010 to 2014 and 7.2% from 2014 to 2019. Most of the hospitalizations were among the male gender and young adults. Almost 95% of hospitalizations across the study period were seen in urban hospitals. We did not notice any significant trend in the mortality rates or length of stay over the study period. The THC increased significantly across the study period. Conclusion There has been an upward trend in the average prevalence rate of EoE over the decade from 2010 to 2019 which almost parallels that of inflammatory bowel disease. This represents a significant burden of disease for a condition that was initially recognized in the late 20th century.
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Cannabis, commonly known as marijuana, is used by at least 18% of the United States (US) population, which makes it the most commonly used federally illegal drug in the United States. It is widely used for recreational purposes, while its therapeutic benefits have been extensively explored in the US. For several years, cannabis has been used for the treatment of diverse health conditions, including pain management, anti-inflammatory effects, and spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases. However, cannabis use has been associated with some acute and chronic adverse effects. This review sheds light on gastrointestinal disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease, pancreatitis, and peptic ulcer disease that have been associated with cannabis use.
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OBJECTIVES: A large number of people cannot afford healthcare services in the United States. Researchers have studied the impact of lack of affordability of health care on the outcomes of various physical conditions. Mental health disorders have emerged as a major public health challenge during the past decade. The lack of affordability of health care also may contribute to the burden of mental health. This research focuses on the association between financial barriers to health care and mental health outcomes in the US state of Tennessee. METHODS: We used cross-sectional data contained in the 2019 US Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). We extracted data for the state of Tennessee, which included 6242 adults aged 18 years or older. Multinomial regression analyses were conducted to test the association between not being able to see a doctor with the number of mentally unhealthy days during the past month. We coded the outcome as a three-level variable, ≥20 past-month mentally unhealthy days, 1 to 20 past-month mentally unhealthy days, and 0 past-month mentally unhealthy days. The covariates examined included self-reported alcohol use, self-reported marijuana use, and other demographic variables. RESULTS: Overall, 11.0% of participants reported ≥20 past-month mentally unhealthy days and 24.0% reported 1 to 20 past-month mentally unhealthy days. More than 13% of study participants reported they could not see a doctor because of the cost in the past 12 months. The inability to see a doctor because of the cost of care was associated with a higher risk of ≥20 past-month mentally unhealthy days (relative risk ratio 3.18; 95% confidence interval 2.57-3.92, P < 0.001) and 1 to 19 past-month mentally unhealthy days (relative risk ratio 1.94; 95% confidence interval 1.63-2.32, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Statistically significant associations were observed between the inability to see a doctor when needed because of cost and increased days of poorer mental health outcomes. This research has potential policy implications in the postcoronavirus disease 2019 era with healthcare transformation and significant financial impact.
