An Open-Label Clinical Trial of Hypothalamic Deep Brain Stimulation for Human Morbid Obesity: BLESS Study Protocol.

Background: Human morbid obesity is increasing worldwide in an alarming way. The hypothalamus is known to mediate its mechanisms. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) may be an alternative to treat patients refractory to standard medical and surgical therapies.

Long-Term Remission of Acromegaly after Octreotide Withdrawal Is an Uncommon and Frequently Unsustainable Event.

Background: Long-term remission of acromegaly after somatostatin analog withdrawal has been reported in 18-42% of patients in studies with a relatively small number of patients using different inclusion and remission criteria. The objectives of this study were to establish the probability and predictive factors for short- and long-term remission [normal IGF-1 for age/sex: IGF-1 ≤1.00 × upper limit of normal (ULN)] after octreotide long-acting release (LAR) withdrawal in a larger population of well-controlled patients with acromegaly (normal mean IGF-1 in the last 24 months).

Prognostic value of carcinoembryonic antigen distribution in tumor tissue of colorectal carcinoma.

Context: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) can be detected in colorectal tumor tissue but its role in the survival of patients remains controversial.

Objective: To characterize the expression of tissue CEA using immunohistochemical staining in colorectal tumors and to analyze the relationship between this finding and preoperative plasmatic level of CEA, morphologic features and survival of patients operated with curative intent for colorectal carcinoma.

Method: Forty-seven patients were included in the study: 18 (38.