Laparoendoscopic Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy in Adults.

Background: Since its introduction, the placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) has been increasing in the Western countries. Nevertheless, it is not always possible to perform this operation. Laparoscopic-assisted endoscopic gastrostomy (LAPEG) is an effective alternative solution.

HLA-G 3'UTR Polymorphisms Impact the Prognosis of Stage II-III CRC Patients in Fluoropyrimidine-Based Treatment.

An important hallmark of CRC is the evasion of immune surveillance. HLA-G is a negative regulator of host's immune response. Overexpression of HLA-G protein in primary tumour CRC tissues has already been associated to worse prognosis; however a definition of the role of immunogenetic host background is still lacking.

Local excision after preoperative chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer: results of a multicenter phase II clinical trial.

Background: Transanal local excision has been suggested as an attractive approach for patients with rectal cancer who show a major clinical response after preoperative chemoradiotherapy.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of transanal local excision on the local recurrence of rectal cancer in patients who had a major clinical response after preoperative chemoradiotherapy.

Design: Sequential 2-stage phase II study for early efficacy.

Protein pathway activation mapping of colorectal metastatic progression reveals metastasis-specific network alterations.

The mechanism by which tissue microecology influences invasion and metastasis is largely unknown. Recent studies have indicated differences in the molecular architecture of the metastatic lesion compared to the primary tumor, however, systemic analysis of the alterations within the activated protein signaling network has not been described. Using laser capture microdissection, protein microarray technology, and a unique specimen collection of 34 matched primary colorectal cancers (CRC) and synchronous hepatic metastasis, the quantitative measurement of the total and activated/phosphorylated levels of 86 key signaling proteins was performed.

Multiplexed protein signal pathway mapping identifies patients with rectal cancer that responds to neoadjuvant treatment.

Background: Currently there is no reliable technique for predicting clinical or pathologic complete tumor response after radiochemotherapy (RCT) in patients with rectal cancer. We applied reverse phase protein microarray (RPMA) technology to find a signal pathway that may predict the response to preoperative treatment.

Patients And Methods: Fifteen rectal cancer samples were collected during preoperative RCT.

Long-term outcome of patients with complete pathologic response after neoadjuvant chemoradiation for cT3 rectal cancer: implications for local excision surgical strategies.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by radical surgery including total mesorectal excision (TME) is standard treatment in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Emerging data indicate that patients with complete pathologic response (ypCR) after CRT have favorable outcome, suggesting the possibility of less invasive surgical treatment. We analyzed long-term outcome of cT3 rectal cancer treated by neoadjuvant CRT in relation to ypCR and type of surgery.

Protein pathway biomarker analysis of human cancer reveals requirement for upfront cellular-enrichment processing.

Tissues are complex structures composed of different cell types, each of which present specific functions and characteristics. To better understand and measure the effect of tumor cell enrichment on protein pathway profiling and drug target activation measurements, the signaling activation portraits of laser capture microdissected (LCM) cancer epithelium and tumor stroma were compared with patient-matched whole-tissue specimens from 53 primary colorectal cancer samples. Microdissected material and whole-tissue lysate from contiguous cryostat sections were subjected to reverse-phase protein microarray analysis to determine the level of phopshorylation and expression of 75 different proteins known to be involved in cancer progression.

Multiplexed cell signaling analysis of metastatic and nonmetastatic colorectal cancer reveals COX2-EGFR signaling activation as a potential prognostic pathway biomarker.

The identification of prognostic determinants of colorectal cancer (CRC), including prediction of occult metastasis, is of urgent consideration, based on the tremendous differences in outcome and survival between patients who present with metastasis or develop metastasis versus those patients with organ-confined or nonrecurrent disease. Currently, a great deal of attention has been focused on using gene expression profiles of tumor specimens as a launch point for prognostic biomarker discovery. In our study, we chose to focus on functional protein-based pathway biomarkers as a new information archive because it is these proteins that form the functional signaling networks that control cell growth, motility, apoptosis, survival, and differentiation.

Multiplexed Cell Signaling Analysis of Metastatic and Nonmetastatic Colorectal Cancer Reveals COX2-EGFR Signaling Activation as a Potential Prognostic Pathway Biomarker.

The identification of prognostic determinants of colorectal cancer (CRC), including prediction of occult metastasis, is of urgent consideration, based on the tremendous differences in outcome and survival between patients who present with metastasis or develop metastasis versus those patients with organ-confined or nonrecurrent disease. Currently, a great deal of attention has been focused on using gene expression profiles of tumor specimens as a launch point for prognostic biomarker discovery. In our study, we chose to focus on functional protein-based pathway biomarkers as a new information archive because it is these proteins that form the functional signaling networks that control cell growth, motility, apoptosis, survival, and differentiation.

Huge renal cyst with parietal renal cell carcinoma, osseous metaplasia and a papillary adenoma: a case report with unique clinicopathological features and literature review.

The unique clinicopathological features of a giant solitary renal cyst with a parietal clear cell carcinoma in contiguity with a focus of osseous metaplasia and a papillary adenoma are reported. Ultrasonography and computed tomography showed a single cyst with a focal wall irregularity. During surgery, a frozen section revealed the presence of a renal cell carcinoma of clear cell type, so a nephrectomy was performed.

Gene expression profile of primary gastric cancer: towards the prediction of lymph node status.

Background: The identification of gastric tumors associated with a higher risk of lymph node metastasis could help surgeons select patients who may benefit from extended lymph node dissection. The aim of this study was to screen the genome in the search of primary gastric cancer gene expression profiles that might predict lymph node status.

Methods: The gene expression profile was evaluated in frozen tumor samples obtained from 32 patients with primary gastric adenocarcinomas.

Late gastric pouch necrosis after Lap-Band, treated by an individualized conservative approach.

Late band slippage has occurred in nearly 3-10% of patients after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) with an average delay of 13 months. Band slippage can rarely lead to necrosis of the enlarged pouch, a potentially life-threatening condition. We report a female (BMI 39.

Weight loss and postoperative complications in morbidly obese patients with binge eating disorder treated by laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.

Background: The authors investigated the outcome of morbidly obese patients with binge eating disorder (BED) treated surgically with laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.

Methods: The 5-year outcomes of 130 patients with BED and 249 patients without BED are described. The diagnosis of BED was made preoperatively and all patients with BED were supported with psychological therapy.

Short-term effects of weight loss on the cardiovascular risk factors in morbidly obese patients.

Objective: To analyze the short-term effects of weight loss on the cardiovascular risk factors in morbidly obese patients.

Research Methods And Procedures: Five metabolic cardiovascular risk factors (blood glucose, blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, and triglycerides) were determined before and 15.3 +/- 2.

Radiology for laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding: a simplified follow-up examination method.

Background: The aim of this study was to identify factors which allow a reliable, standardized and simplified approach for the radiologic follow-up of obese patients who have undergone surgery for laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) placement.

Methods: A study was made of 370 consecutive single-contrast upper gastrointestinal series in 159 consecutive patients (122 women, 31 men; mean age 40.6 years; mean body weight 135.

Postoperative management of laparoscopic gastric banding.

Background: The authors investigated the postoperative management of morbidly obese patients treated by laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) with the Lap-Band System.

Methods: The 3-year postoperative band management is presented in 379 morbidly obese patients, divided according to intra-operative band filling and quartiles of maximum postoperative band filling.

Results: LAGB resulted in a 40.

An adjustable silicone gastric band for laparoscopic treatment of morbid obesity--technique and results.

The laparoscopic application of an adjustable silicone gastric band (Lap-Band System, Bioenterics, Carpinteria, CA) (Fig. 1), based on a similar device introduced by Kuzmak in 1986, is gaining widespread acceptance as a gastric restrictive procedure in treatment of morbid obesity. The advantage of an operation that does not open the gastrointestinal tract and can be performed laparoscopically is obvious.

Liver volume and visceral obesity in women with hepatic steatosis undergoing gastric banding.

Objective: To investigate the relationships between visceral obesity and hepatic steatosis in obese patients undergoing adjustable silicone gastric banding with the LAP-BAND.

Research Methods And Procedures: Six premenopausal, morbidly obese women with an ultrasonographic diagnosis of liver steatosis were evaluated before surgery and 8 and 24 weeks after surgery. Liver volume and body fat distribution were simultaneously analyzed by total-body multislices magnetic resonance imaging.

Outcome predictors in morbidly obese recipients of an adjustable gastric band.

Background: The authors investigated the outcome predictors in obese patients who underwent laparoscopic adjustable banding with the Lap-Band.

Methods: The 3-year excess weight loss (EWL) and rate of band-related complications (pouch dilatation and port leakage) were analyzed in 260 morbidly obese patients, according to several possible predictive characteristics. Success rate (EWL > 50%), failure rate (EWL < 20%) and weight regain rate (regain of > 10% EWL between 1 and 3 yrs) were considered.