Background The risks of bariatric surgical procedures must be balanced against their benefits and require further characterization. Methods Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery-1 (LABS-1) was a prospective, multi-center observational study of 30-day outcomes in consecutive patients undergoing bariatric surgical procedures at 10 clinical sites in the United States (2005-2007). A composite endpoint of 30-day major adverse outcomes (death; venous thromboembolism; percutaneous, endoscopic, or operative reintervention; no discharge) was evaluated among patients undergoing first-time bariatric surgery. Results There were 4776 patients (mean age 44.5 years, 21.1% male, 10.9% non-white, median BMI of 46.5 kg/m2) who had a first-time procedure. Over half had at least two comorbid conditions. Roux-en-y gastric bypass was performed in 3412 (87.2% laparoscopic) and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding in 1198. The 30-day mortality rate for Roux-en-y gastric bypass or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding was 0.3%; 4.3% of participants had at least one major adverse outcome. A history of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolus, obstructive sleep apnea, and functional status were each independently associated with increased risk of the composite endpoint. Extreme values of BMI were significantly associated with an increased risk of the composite endpoint, while age, sex, race, ethnicity and other co-morbid conditions were not. Conclusion The overall risk of death and adverse outcome after bariatric surgery was low, varying considerably with patient characteristics. In helping patients make appropriate choices, short-term safety should be considered in conjunction with both the longer term effects of bariatric surgery and the risk of living with extreme obesity.

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Objective Morbidly obese patients frequently present with mood and anxiety disorders, which are often treated with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs). Having observed that patients treated with SRIs frequently relapse after Rouxen-Y gastric bypass surgery, the authors sought to assess whether SRI bioavailability is reduced postoperatively. Method Twelve gastric bypass candidates treated with an SRI for primary mood or anxiety disorders were studied prospectively. Timed blood samples for SRI plasma levels were drawn for pharmacokinetic studies before surgery and 1, 6, and 12 months afterward. Maximum concentration, time to maximum concentration, and area under the concentration/time curve (AUC) were determined. Results In eight of the 12 patients, AUC values 1 month after surgery dropped to an average of 54% (SD=18) of preoperative levels (range=36%–80%); in six of these patients, AUC values returned to baseline levels (or greater) by 6 months. Four patients had an exacerbation of depressive symptoms, which resolved by 12 months in three of them. Three of the four patients had a reduced AUC level at 1 month and either gained weight or failed to lose weight between 6 and 12 months. Normalization of the AUC was associated with improvement in symptom scores. Conclusions Patients taking SRIs in this study were at risk for reduced drug bioavailability 1 month after Rouxen-Y gastric bypass. The authors recommend close psychiatric monitoring after surgery.

Background: Morbid obesity (MO) is a risk factor for congestive heart failure (CHF). The presence of MO impairs functional status and disqualifies patients for cardiac transplantation. Bariatric surgery (BAS) is a frontline, durable treatment for MO; however, the safety and efficacy of BAS in advanced CHF is unknown. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that by utilizing a coordinated approach between an experienced surgical team and heart failure specialists, BAS is safe in patients with advanced systolic CHF and results in favorable outcomes. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 12 patients with MO (body mass index [BMI] 53±7 kg/m 2 ) and systolic CHF (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] 22±7%, New York Heart Association [NYHA] class 2.9±0.7) who underwent BAS, and then compared outcomes with 10 matched controls (BMI 47.2±3.6 kg/m 2 , LVEF 24±7%, and NYHA class 2.4±0.7) who were given diet and exercise counseling. Results: At 1 y, hospital readmission in BAS patients was significantly lower than controls (0.4±0.8 versus 2.5±2.6, p = 0.04); LVEF improved significantly in BAS patients (35±15%, p = 0.005), but not in controls (29±14%, p = not significant [NS]). The NYHA class improved in BAS patients (2.3±0.5, p = 0.02), but deteriorated in controls (3.3±0.9, p = 0.02). One BAS patient was successfully transplanted, and another listed for transplantation. Conclusions: Bariatric surgery is safe and effective in patients with MO and severe systolic CHF, and should be considered in patients who have failed conventional therapy to improve clinical status.

OBJECTIVEThe goals of this study were to determine baseline and postbariatric surgical characteristics associated with type 2 diabetes remission and if, after controlling for differences in weight loss, diabetes remission was greater after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) than laparoscopic gastric banding (LAGB).RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSAn observational cohort of obese participants was studied using generalized linear mixed models to examine the associations of bariatric surgery type and diabetes remission rates for up to 3 years. Of 2,458 obese participants enrolled, 1,868 (76%) had complete data to assess diabetes status at both baseline and at least one follow-up visit. Of these, 627 participants (34%) were classified with diabetes: 466 underwent RYGBP and 140 underwent LAGB.RESULTSAfter 3 years, 68.7% of RYGBP and 30.2% of LAGB participants were in diabetes remission. Baseline factors associated with diabetes remission included a lower weight for LAGB, greater fasting C-peptide, lower leptin-to-fat mass ratio for RYGBP, and a lower hemoglobin A1c without need for insulin for both procedures. After both procedures, greater postsurgical weight loss was associated with remission. However, even after controlling for differences in amount of weight lost, relative diabetes remission rates remained nearly twofold higher after RYGBP than LAGB.CONCLUSIONSDiabetes remission up to 3 years after RYGBP and LAGB was proportionally higher with increasing postsurgical weight loss. However, the nearly twofold greater weight loss–adjusted likelihood of diabetes remission in subjects undergoing RYGBP than LAGB suggests unique mechanisms contributing to improved glucose metabolism beyond weight loss after RYGBP.

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The earliest signaling pathways responsible for initiating the systemic response to hemorrhagic shock (HS) remain poorly characterized. We have investigated the involvement of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase C-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) and its activation in the liver as an early response to tissue hypoxia soon after the initiation of hemorrhage. In the present studies, hemorrhage of mice to 25 mmHg for 30 min resulted in a significant (2.1-fold) increase in JNK phosphorylation within the liver. Results were similar in rats hemorrhaged to 40 mmHg for 1 h. Hypoxia alone, replicated by warm isolated hepatic ischemia in vivo or hepatocytes cultured under 1% oxygen, also resulted in JNK phosphorylation. Finally, preservation of tissue perfusion and oxygenation by pretreatment with a blood-soluble drag-reducing polymer (DRP) in the rat HS model prevented phosphorylation of JNK in the liver. These results identify tissue hypoxia as a key factor in activating early signaling events in the liver following hemorrhage, as measured by JNK phosphorylation.

Gene transfer of IkappaBalpha super-repressor inhibited development of intimal hyperplasia in vivo and SMC proliferation in vitro. The antiproliferative activity may be related to cell cycle arrest through upregulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21 and p27. Overexpression of IkappaBalpha may be a future therapeutic option in treatment of vascular diseases.