Isolation of Clavispora lusitaniae from the Oral Cavity of Immunocompetent Young Adults from the North of Mexico.

The human oral cavity is normally colonized by microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, archaea, viruses and protozoa. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of Candida spp., in de oral cavity in a group of medical students from the north of Mexico. Oral sample were obtained from 240 healthy students. The specimens were analyzed by traditional microbiology cultures and DNA sequencing. Candida spp., grew in Sabouraud dextrose agar from 57 samples and subsequently were isolated and phenotyped. The definitive identification to the species level was done by sequence analysis. The yeasts were identified as follow: 28 Clavispora lusitaniae, 20 Candida albicans, 5 Pichia kudriavzevii and 4 Candida parapsilosis. Our findings revealed that 23.75% of the healthy population has a potential pathogen in their mouth. Surprisingly, C. albicans is not the predominant yeast; instead other non-Candida species are the colonizers of the oral cavity as normal microbiota. C. lusitaniae is considered an emerging opportunistic pathogen in immunosuppressive patients. This paper pretends to highlight the presence of this yeast in the oral cavity in immunocompetent young adults. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12088-023-01145-x.

The SAGES MASTERS program bariatric surgery pathway selects 10 seminal publications on adjustable gastric banding.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is one of the clinical pathways of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) Masters Program, and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is one of the three anchoring bariatric procedures. To improve surgeon lifelong learning, the Masters Program seeks to identify sentinel articles of each of the 3 bariatric anchoring procedures. In this article, we present the top 10 articles on LAGB. METHODS: A systematic literature search of papers on LAGB was completed, and publications with the most citations and citation index were selected and shared with SAGES Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Committee members for review. The individual committee members then ranked these papers, and the top 10 papers were chosen based on the composite ranking. RESULTS: The top 10 sentinel publications on LAGB contributed substantially to the body of literature related to the procedure, whether for surgical technique, novel information, or outcome analysis. A summary of each paper including expert appraisal and commentary is presented here. CONCLUSION: These seminal articles have had significant contribution to our understanding and appreciation of the LAGB procedure. Bariatric surgeons should use this resource to enhance their continual education and acquisition of specialized skills.

The relationship between female orgasmic disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and depression in Dominican women.

BACKGROUND: Female orgasmic disorder is listed in the DSM-5 and is defined as the persistent or recurrent inability to have an orgasm. Many depressed women may experience sexual dysfunction, including female orgasmic disorder. AIM: The study sought to analyze the relationship between depressive disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and their influence on the development of female orgasmic disorder. METHODS: A total of 221 Dominican women participated in this case-control study. The case group consisted of 107 women diagnosed with female orgasmic disorder, while the control group consisted of 114 women without any sexual dysfunction. OUTCOMES: The diagnosis of ADHD was obtained from the participants' medical records, previously conducted using the DSM-5-TR criteria. The Beck Depression Inventory II was used to assess the severity of depressive symptoms in both groups. RESULTS: There was a significant relationship between female orgasmic disorder and ADHD and depression. The results of multiple logistic regression indicated that the highest risk of female orgasmic disorder was observed in women with ADHD (odds ratio [OR], 4.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.46-9.20; P < .001), women with severe depression (OR, 2.50; 95% CI, 1.08-6.96; P = .04), and women who had sexual intercourse that focused on penetration (OR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.03-3.98; P = .04). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: These findings may have important implications for the prevention and treatment of sexual disorders in women. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: This design selected all diagnosed cases of female orgasmic disorder and did not select a specific subgroup. However, some limitations must be considered. This study was conducted in a single clinic, although it should be noted that it is the main clinic for the treatment of sexual dysfunction in the country. A further limitation could be that this type of study design does not allow for statements about causality to be made. CONCLUSION: There is an increased risk of female orgasmic disorder in women with ADHD, with severe depression, and who engage in penetrative sex.

Mortality Rate and Acute Kidney Injury Prevalence Reduction in COVID-19 Critical Patients Treated with Hemoperfusion.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) induces organic damage mainly through the patient's immune overreaction. Hemoperfusion (HPF) can remove inflammatory cytokines and can reduce the negative effects of cytokine storm in COVID-19. We compared the mortality rate, inflammatory response, and acute kidney injury (AKI) prevalence among patients suffering from respiratory insufficiency secondary to COVID-19 treated with and without HPF with HA330 cartridge. Methods: Mortality rate, serum creatinine, and ferritin values were compared between patients suffering from respiratory insufficiency secondary to COVID-19 who received conventional treatment and another group of patients who additionally received four sessions of HPF with HA330. Results: Of 116 patients suffering from acute respiratory insufficiency secondary to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), one group (n: 84) received support treatment and the other group (n: 32) additionally received HPF with HA330 cartridge. Both groups had no renal disease and similar age and comorbidities at admission, except for obesity and mechanical ventilation requirement, which were significantly higher in the HPF group. Mortality rate (61% vs. 31%, P: 0.008), serum creatinine (1.4 vs. 0.5 mg/dl, P < 0.001), and post-HPF serum ferritin (2868 vs. 1675, P < 0.001) were significantly lower in the HPF group. Conclusion: Mortality rate, serum ferritin, and AKI were significantly reduced in critical COVID-19 patients who received HPF with HA330 cartridge than in those who did not receive it. These results were obtained despite the HPF group risk factors, such as obesity and mechanical ventilation, worsening its prognosis.

Is Generative Artificial Intelligence the Next Step Toward a Personalized Hemodialysis?

ABSTRACT Artificial intelligence (AI) generative models driven by the integration of AI and natural language processing technologies, such as OpenAI's chatbot generative pre-trained transformer large language model (LLM), are receiving much public attention and have the potential to transform personalized medicine. Dialysis patients are highly dependent on technology and their treatment generates a challenging large volume of data that has to be analyzed for knowledge extraction. We argue that, by integrating the data acquired from hemodialysis treatments with the powerful conversational capabilities of LLMs, nephrologists could personalize treatments adapted to patients' lifestyles and preferences. We also argue that this new conversational AI integrated with a personalized patient-computer interface will enhance patients' engagement and self-care by providing them with a more personalized experience. However, generative AI models require continuous and accurate updates of data, and expert supervision and must address potential biases and limitations. Dialysis patients can also benefit from other new emerging technologies such as Digital Twins with which patients' care can also be addressed from a personalized medicine perspective. In this paper, we will revise LLMs potential strengths in terms of their contribution to personalized medicine, and, in particular, their potential impact, and limitations in nephrology. Nephrologists' collaboration with AI academia and companies, to develop algorithms and models that are more transparent, understandable, and trustworthy, will be crucial for the next generation of dialysis patients. The combination of technology, patient-specific data, and AI should contribute to create a more personalized and interactive dialysis process, improving patients' quality of life.

Tissue and subcellular localization of CycD2 and KRPs are dissimilarly distributed by glucose and sucrose during early maize germination.

In maize, immunoprecipitation assays have shown that CycD2;2 interacts with KRPs. However, evidence on CycD2;2 or KRPs localization and their possible interaction in specific tissues is lacking and its physiological consequence is still unknown. This work explores the spatiotemporal presence of CyclinD2s and KRPs, cell cycle regulators, during maize seed germination (18 and 36 h) after soaking on glucose or sucrose (120 mM). CyclinD2s are positive actors driving proliferation; KRPs are inhibitors of the main kinase controlling proliferation (a negative signal that slows down the cell cycle). Cell cycle proteins were analyzed by immunolocalization on longitudinal sections of maize embryo axis in seven different tissues or zones (with different proliferation or differentiation potential) and in the nucleus of their cells. Results showed a prevalence of these cell cycle proteins on embryo axes from dry seeds, particularly, their accumulation in nuclei of radicle cells. The absence of sugar caused the accumulation of these regulators in different proliferating zones. CyclinD2 abundance was reduced during germination in the presence of sucrose along the embryo axis, while there was an increase at 36 h on glucose. KRP proteins showed a slight increase at 18 h and a decrease at 36 h on both sugars. There was no correlation between cell cycle regulators/DNA co-localization on both sugars. Results suggest glucose induced a specific accumulation of each cell cycle regulator depending on the proliferation zone as well as nuclear localization which may reflect the differential morphogenetic program regarding the proliferation potential in each zone, while sucrose has a mild influence on both cell cycle proteins accumulation during germination. Whenever CycD2s were present in the nucleus, KRPs were absent after treatment with either sugar and at the two imbibition times analyzed, along the different embryo axe zones.

Sex Differences in Glomerular Lesions, in Atherosclerosis Progression, and in the Response to Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors in the ApoE-/- Mice Model.

This study analyzes sex-based differences in renal structure and the response to the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitor enalapril in a mouse model of atherosclerosis. Eight weeks old ApoE-/- mice received enalapril (5 mg/kg/day, subcutaneous) or PBS (control) for an additional 14 weeks. Each group consisted of six males and six females. Females exhibited elevated LDL-cholesterol levels, while males presented higher creatinine levels and proteinuria. Enalapril effectively reduced blood pressure in both groups, but proteinuria decreased significantly only in females. Plaque size analysis and assessment of kidney inflammation revealed no significant sex-based differences. However, males displayed more severe glomerular injury, with increased mesangial expansion, mesangiolysis, glomerular foam cells, and activated parietal epithelial cells (PECs). Enalapril mitigated mesangial expansion, glomerular inflammation (particularly in the female group), and hypertrophy of the PECs in males. This study demonstrates sex-based differences in the response to enalapril in a mouse model of atherosclerosis. Males exhibited more severe glomerular injury, while enalapril provided renal protection, particularly in females. These findings suggest potential sex-specific considerations for ACE inhibitor therapy in chronic kidney disease and atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanism behind these observations.

Is generative artificial intelligence the next step toward a personalized hemodialysis?

Artificial intelligence (AI) generative models driven by the integration of AI and natural language processing technologies, such as OpenAI's chatbot generative pre-trained transformer large language model (LLM), are receiving much public attention and have the potential to transform personalized medicine. Dialysis patients are highly dependent on technology and their treatment generates a challenging large volume of data that has to be analyzed for knowledge extraction. We argue that, by integrating the data acquired from hemodialysis treatments with the powerful conversational capabilities of LLMs, nephrologists could personalize treatments adapted to patients' lifestyles and preferences. We also argue that this new conversational AI integrated with a personalized patient-computer interface will enhance patients' engagement and self-care by providing them with a more personalized experience. However, generative AI models require continuous and accurate updates of data, and expert supervision and must address potential biases and limitations. Dialysis patients can also benefit from other new emerging technologies such as Digital Twins with which patients' care can also be addressed from a personalized medicine perspective. In this paper, we will revise LLMs potential strengths in terms of their contribution to personalized medicine, and, in particular, their potential impact, and limitations in nephrology. Nephrologists' collaboration with AI academia and companies, to develop algorithms and models that are more transparent, understandable, and trustworthy, will be crucial for the next generation of dialysis patients. The combination of technology, patient-specific data, and AI should contribute to create a more personalized and interactive dialysis process, improving patients' quality of life.

Experiences of Dyspareunia in Dominican Women with a History of Sexual Abuse: A Phenomenological Study.

INTRODUCTION: Dyspareunia refers to painful sexual intercourse that negatively affects a person's psychological well-being and quality of life and can also have an impact on their partner, family, and social circle. The objective of this study was to understand the experiences of women with dyspareunia and a history of sexual abuse in the Dominican Republic. METHODS: This was a qualitative study based on Merleau-Ponty's hermeneutic phenomenology. Fifteen women with a diagnosis of dyspareunia and a history of sexual abuse participated. The study was carried out in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. RESULTS: In-depth interviews were conducted for data collection. Through inductive analysis using ATLAS.ti, 3 main themes were developed that represent women's experiences of dyspareunia and sexual abuse: (1) a history of sexual abuse as a background to dyspareunia, (2) living in fear in a society that revictimizes the survivor, and (3) the sexual consequences of dyspareunia. DISCUSSION: In some Dominican women, dyspareunia stems from their history of sexual abuse, which was unknown to their families and partners. The participants experienced dyspareunia in silence and found it difficult to seek help from health care professionals. In addition, their sexual health was marked by fear and physical pain. There are individual, cultural, and social factors that influence the occurrence of dyspareunia; a better understanding of these factors is vital for planning innovative preventive strategies that reduce the progression of sexual dysfunction and its impact on the quality of life of people with dyspareunia.

Disparities in clinical trial participation in ovarian cancer: A real-world analysis.

BACKGROUND: Significant disparities exist in clinical trial participation in non-gynecologic cancers, but little is known about disparities in ovarian cancer trial participation. Our objective was to examine patient, sociodemographic (race/ethnicity, insurance), cancer, and health system factors associated with clinical trial participation in ovarian cancer. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer diagnosed from 2011 to 2021, using a real-world electronic health record derived database, representing around 800 sites of care in US academic and community practices. We used multivariable Poisson regression modeling to analyze the association of ever participating in an ovarian cancer clinical drug trial with patient, sociodemographic, health system, and cancer factors. RESULTS: Of the 7540 patients with ovarian cancer, 5.0% (95% CI 4.5-5.5) ever participated in a clinical drug trial. Patients of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity were 71% less likely to participate in clinical trials (RR 0.29, 95% CI 0.13-0.61) than non-Hispanic patients, and patients whose race was unknown or other than Black or White were 40% less likely to participate in clinical trials (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.52-0.89). Patients who had Medicaid insurance were 51% less likely (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.28-0.87) and those with Medicare were 32% (RR 0.48-0.97) less likely to participate in clinical trials than privately-insured patients. CONCLUSION: In this national cohort study, only 5% of patients with ovarian cancer participated in clinical drug trials. Interventions are needed to decrease race, ethnicity, and insurance disparities in clinical trial participation.

Ovarian morphology and follicular dynamics associated with ovarian aging in Bos indicus beef cows.

This study characterizes the ovarian volume, antral follicle count (AFC), and ovarian dynamics of cows at different ages. Nellore cows (Bos taurus indicus) were used in two experiments. In Experiment 1, 57 lactating cows ranging in age from 3 to 23 years had their estrous cycle synchronized based on progesterone/estradiol treatments. The ovaries were scanned by ultrasound to record ovarian volume and AFC prior to follicle aspiration (AFC1). A second AFC (AFC2) was performed 5 days later to count only the growing antral follicles. In Experiment 2, six long-lived (14- to 23-year-old) and three young (4- to 8-year-old) non-lactating cows were submitted to daily ovarian scanning ultrasound during an interovulatory interval. Blood samples were collected during the estrous cycle to assess serum progesterone concentration. Data were analyzed using Student's t-test, ANOVA, and regression analysis tests. In Experiment 1, there were more (P < 0.05) antral follicles in AFC1 (31.4 ± 3.5) than in AFC2 (22.6 ± 2.4). In AFC1, the volume of the right ovary (6.03 ± 0.5 cm3) was greater (P < 0.01) than that of the left one (4.53 ± 0.4 cm3), although the AFC did not differ between the two ovaries (15.3 ± 1.8 and 16.3 ± 1.8, respectively). In both AFC1 and AFC2, there was a decline in the number of antral follicles as the age of the cow increased (P < 0.01). Ovarian volume (average of both ovaries) was related (P < 0.01) with AFC (R² = 0.1499) and cow age (R² = 0.0911). In Experiment 2, young and old cows under the age of 20 had a pattern of follicular growth waves, while cows over 20 years old did not have waves of follicular growth. The progesterone profiles and corpus luteum size during the estrous cycle did not differ between the groups. In conclusion, although cows had increased ovarian volume and decreased follicular population as they age, the follicular growth pattern and corpus luteum functionality appear to be unaffected by age.

Beyond S. cerevisiae for winemaking: Fermentation-related trait diversity in the genus Saccharomyces.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the yeast of choice for most inoculated wine fermentations worldwide. However, many other yeast species and genera display phenotypes of interest that may help address the environmental and commercial challenges the wine industry has been facing in recent years. This work aimed to provide, for the first time, a systematic phenotyping of all Saccharomyces species under winemaking conditions. For this purpose, we characterized the fermentative and metabolic properties of 92 Saccharomyces strains in synthetic grape must at two different temperatures. The fermentative potential of alternative yeasts was higher than expected, as nearly all strains were able to complete fermentation, in some cases more efficiently than commercial S. cerevisiae strains. Various species showed interesting metabolic traits, such as high glycerol, succinate and odour-active compound production, or low acetic acid production, compared to S. cerevisiae. Altogether, these results reveal that non-cerevisiae Saccharomyces yeasts are especially interesting for wine fermentation, as they may offer advantages over both S. cerevisiae and non-Saccharomyces strains. This study highlights the potential of alternative Saccharomyces species for winemaking, paving the way for further research and, potentially, for their industrial exploitation.

Ligand sensitivity of type-1 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor is enhanced by the D2594K mutation.

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) and ryanodine receptor (RyR) are homologous cation channels that mediate release of Ca2+ from the endoplasmic/sarcoplasmic reticulum (ER/SR) and thereby are involved in many physiological processes. In previous studies, we determined that when the D2594 residue, located at or near the gate of the IP3R type 1, was replaced by lysine (D2594K), a gain of function was obtained. This mutant phenotype was characterized by increased IP3 sensitivity. We hypothesized the IP3R1-D2594 determines the ligand sensitivity of the channel by electrostatically affecting the stability of the closed and open states. To test this possibility, the relationship between the D2594 site and IP3R1 regulation by IP3, cytosolic, and luminal Ca2+ was determined at the cellular, subcellular, and single-channel levels using fluorescence Ca2+ imaging and single-channel reconstitution. We found that in cells, D2594K mutation enhances the IP3 ligand sensitivity. Single-channel IP3R1 studies revealed that the conductance of IP3R1-WT and -D2594K channels is similar. However, IP3R1-D2594K channels exhibit higher IP3 sensitivity, with substantially greater efficacy. In addition, like its wild type (WT) counterpart, IP3R1-D2594K showed a bell-shape cytosolic Ca2+-dependency, but D2594K had greater activity at each tested cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration. The IP3R1-D2594K also had altered luminal Ca2+ sensitivity. Unlike IP3R1-WT, D2594K channel activity did not decrease at low luminal Ca2+ levels. Taken together, our functional studies indicate that the substitution of a negatively charged residue by a positive one at the channels' pore cytosolic exit affects the channel's gating behavior thereby explaining the enhanced ligand-channel's sensitivity.

Structural Basis of the Interaction of the G Proteins, Gαi1, Gß1γ2 and Gαi1ß1γ2, with Membrane Microdomains and Their Relationship to Cell Localization and Activity.

GPCRs receive signals from diverse messengers and activate G proteins that regulate downstream signaling effectors. Efficient signaling is achieved through the organization of these proteins in membranes. Thus, protein-lipid interactions play a critical role in bringing G proteins together in specific membrane microdomains with signaling partners. Significantly, the molecular basis underlying the membrane distribution of each G protein isoform, fundamental to fully understanding subsequent cell signaling, remains largely unclear. We used model membranes with lipid composition resembling different membrane microdomains, and monomeric, dimeric and trimeric Gi proteins with or without single and multiple mutations to investigate the structural bases of G protein-membrane interactions. We demonstrated that cationic amino acids in the N-terminal region of the Gαi1 and C-terminal region of the Gγ2 subunit, as well as their myristoyl, palmitoyl and geranylgeranyl moieties, define the differential G protein form interactions with membranes containing different lipid classes (PC, PS, PE, SM, Cho) and the various microdomains they may form (Lo, Ld, PC bilayer, charged, etc.). These new findings in part explain the molecular basis underlying amphitropic protein translocation to membranes and localization to different membrane microdomains and the role of these interactions in cell signal propagation, pathophysiology and therapies targeted to lipid membranes.

Gene Content and Coding Diversity of the Growth Hormone Loci of Apes.

The growth hormone (GH) locus has experienced a dramatic evolution in primates, becoming multigenic and diverse in anthropoids. Despite sequence information from a vast number of primate species, it has remained unclear how the multigene family was favored. We compared the structure and composition of apes' GH loci as a prerequisite to understanding their origin and possible evolutionary role. These thorough analyses of the GH loci of the chimpanzee, gorilla, and orangutan were done by resorting to previously sequenced bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) harboring them, as well as to their respective genome projects data available in GenBank. The GH loci of modern man, Neanderthal, gibbon, and wild boar were retrieved from GenBank. Coding regions, regulatory elements, and repetitive sequences were identified and compared among species. The GH loci of all the analyzed species are flanked by the genes CD79B (5') and ICAM-1 (3'). In man, Neanderthal, and chimpanzee, the loci were integrated by five almost indistinguishable genes; however, in the former two, they rendered three different hormones, and in the latter, four different proteins were derived. Gorilla exhibited six genes, gibbon seven, and orangutan four. The sequences of the proximal promoters, enhancers, P-elements, and a locus control region (LCR) were highly conserved. The locus evolution might have implicated duplications of the ancestral pituitary gene (GH-N) and subsequent diversification of the copies, leading to the placental single GH-V gene and the multiple CSH genes.

Occupational Exposure to Pesticides as a Risk Factor for Sleep Disorders.

Inadequate sleep has been linked to a variety of impairments in bodily functions, including endocrine, metabolic, higher cortical function, and neurological disorders. For this reason, the aim of this study was to analyze the link between occupational pesticide exposure and sleep health among farmers in Almeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted among a population living on the coast of Almeria (southeastern Spain), where about 33,321 hectares of land are used for intensive agriculture in plastic greenhouses. A total of 380 individuals participated in the study: 189 greenhouse workers and 191 control subjects. The participants were contacted during their annual scheduled occupational health survey. Data on sleep disturbances were collected using the Spanish version of the Oviedo Sleep Questionnaire. Agricultural workers were found to be at a significantly higher risk of insomnia, especially among those who did not wear protective gloves (OR = 3.12; 95% C.I. = 1.93-3.85; p = 0.04) or masks (OR = 2.43; 95% C.I. = 1.19-4.96; p = 0.01). The highest risk of insomnia related to pesticide applicators was observed in those who did not wear a mask (OR = 4.19; 95% C.I. = 1.30-13.50; p = 0.01) or goggles (OR = 4.61; 95% C.I. = 1.38-10.40; p = 0.01). This study supports previous findings indicating an increased risk of sleep disorder in agricultural workers exposed to pesticides at work.

Independent association of preoperative Hill grade with gastroesophageal reflux disease 2 years after sleeve gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND: The sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is associated with postoperative gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Higher endoscopic Hill grade has been linked to GERD in patients without metabolic surgery. How preoperative Hill grade relates to GERD after SG is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between preoperative Hill grade and GERD outcomes 2 years after SG. SETTING: Academic hospital, United States. METHODS: All patients (n = 882) undergoing SG performed by 5 surgeons at a single academic institution from January 2015 to December 2019 were included. Complete data sets were available for 360 patients, which were incorporated in analyses. GERD was defined as the presence of a diagnosis in the medical record accompanied by pharmacotherapy. Patients with GERD postoperatively (n = 193) were compared with those without (n = 167). Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted to explore independent associations between preoperative factors and GERD outcomes. RESULTS: The presence of any GERD increased at the postoperative follow-up of 25.2 (3.9) months compared with preoperative values (53.6% versus 41.1%; P = .0001). Secondary GERD outcomes at follow-up included de novo (41.0%), persistent (33.1%), resolved (28.4%), worsened (26.4%), and improved (12.2%) disease. Postoperative endoscopy and reoperation for GERD occurred in 26.4% and 6.7% of the sample. Patients with GERD postoperatively showed higher prevalence of Hill grade III-IV (32.6% versus 19.8%; P = .0062) and any hiatal hernia (HH) (36.3% versus 25.1%; P = .0222) compared with patients without postoperative GERD. Frequencies of gastritis, esophagitis A or B, duodenitis, and peptic ulcer disease were similar between groups. Higher prevalence of preoperative GERD (54.9% versus 25.1%; P < .0001), obstructive sleep apnea (66.8% versus 54.5%; P = .0171), and anxiety (25.4% versus 15.6%; P = .0226) was observed in patients with postoperative GERD compared with those without it. Baseline demographics, weight, other obesity-associated diseases, whether an HH was repaired at index SG, and follow-up length were statistically similar between groups. After adjusting for collinearity, preoperative GERD (odds ratio [OR] = 3.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2-5.7; P < .0001) and Hill grade III-IV (OR [95% CI]: 1.9 [1.1-3.1]; P = .0174) were independently associated with the presence of any GERD postoperatively. The preoperative presence of an HH >2 cm and whether an HH was repaired at index SG showed no independent association with GERD at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: More than 50% of patients experienced GERD 2 years after SG. Preoperative GERD confers the highest risk for GERD postoperatively. Hill grade III-IV is independently associated with GERD after SG. Whether a hiatal hernia repair was performed did not influence GERD outcomes. Preoperative esophagogastroduodenoscopy should be obtained before SG and Hill grade routinely captured and used to counsel patients about the risk of postoperative GERD after this procedure. Hill grade may help guide the choice of metabolic operation.

Sleeve gastrectomy morphology and long-term weight-loss and gastroesophageal reflux disease outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between sleeve gastrectomy (SG) morphology and long-term weight-loss and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) outcomes is unknown. METHODS: All patients (n = 268) undergoing SG performed by 3 surgeons at a single academic institution from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2012 were included. Long-term weight-loss and GERD outcomes were available for 90 patients which were incorporated in analyses. SG morphology was determined from postoperative day 1 upper gastrointestinal series (UGIS) available from 50 patients. Images were independently categorized using previously published methodology as Dumbbell (38%), Lower Pouch (22%), Tubular (26%), or Upper Pouch (14%) by Radiologist and Surgeon. Radiologist categorization was used when disagreement occurred (8%). Univariable analyses were conducted to explore potential associations between SG morphology, weight loss, and GERD outcomes. RESULTS: Follow-up was 8.2 ± 0.9 years. Population characteristics included age of 45.1 ± 10.8 years, female sex in 83.3%, and hiatal hernia repair (HHR) performed at index SG in 17.8%. Surgeons did not preferentially achieve a specific SG morphology. Changes from preoperative obesity and associated diseases comprised body mass index (BMI) (49.5 ± 7.6 vs. 39.2 ± 9.4 kg/m2; p < 0.0001), diabetes mellitus (30.0 vs. 12.2%; p = 0.0006), hypertension (70.0 vs. 54.4%; p = 0.0028), hyperlipidemia (42.2 vs. 24.2%;p = 0.0017), obstructive sleep apnea (41.1 vs. 15.6%; p < 0.0001), osteoarthritis (48.9 vs. 13.3%; p < 0.0001), back pain (46.5 vs. 28.9%; p = 0.0035), and medications (4.8 ± 3.3 vs. 3.7 ± 3.5; p < 0.0001). Dumbbell SG morphology was associated with lesser reduction in BMI at follow-up (--6.8 ± 7.2 vs. -12.4 ± 8.3 kg/m2; p = 0.0196) while greater BMI change was appreciated with Lower Pouch SG shape (-16.9 ± 9.9 vs. -8.4 ± 6.8 kg/m2; p = 0.0017). GERD was more prevalent at follow-up than baseline (67.8 vs. 47.8%; p < 0.0001). GERD-specific outcomes included de novo (51.1%), persistent (27.9%), worsened (58.1%), and resolved (14.0%) disease. Ten patients underwent reoperation for refractory GERD with SG morphology corresponding to Dumbbell (n = 5) and Upper Pouch (n = 1) for those with available UGIS. Univariable analyses showed that patients with GERD experienced a larger reduction in BMI compared with patients without GERD (-11.8 ± 7.7 vs. -7.0 ± 5.1 kg/m2; p = 0.0007). Patient age, surgeon, morphology category, and whether a HHR was done at index SG were not associated with the presence of any, de novo, or worsened GERD. Female sex was associated with worsened GERD (96.0 vs. 4.0%; p = 0.0455). Type of calibration device, distance from staple line to pylorus, and whether staple line reinforcement was used were not associated with SG morphology classification. CONCLUSION: This is the first study assessing the impact of SG morphology on long-term weight loss and GERD. Our data suggest an association between SG morphology and long-term weight loss but not with GERD outcomes. Current technical standards may be limited in reproducing the same SG morphology. This information may help guide the technical optimization and standardization of SG. Surgeons did not favor a specific SG morphology (1). Our results signal to a relationship between radiographic assessment of SG morphology and long-term weight-loss outcomes with Dumbbell classification correlated with lesser reduction in BMI (2a) and Lower Pouch morphology associated with superior weight loss (2b). SG, sleeve gastrectomy; BMI, body mass index.

Putative intestinal permeability markers do not correlate with cardiometabolic health and gut microbiota in humans, except for peptides recognized by a widely used zonulin ELISA kit.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cardiometabolic diseases refer to a group of interrelated conditions, sharing metabolic dysfunctions like insulin resistance, obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. The gut microbiota has been associated with CMD and related conditions. Alterations in the intestinal epithelium permeability triggered by chronic stress and diet could bridge gut microbiota with inflammation and CMD development. Here, we assessed the relationship between intestinal permeability and circulating SCFAs with cardiometabolic health status (CMHS) and gut microbiota in a sample of 116 Colombian adults. METHODS AND RESULTS: Plasma levels of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP), claudin-3, and purported zonulin peptides (PZP) were measured by ELISA, whereas plasmatic levels of acetate, propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, and valerate were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. In addition, for further statistical analysis, we took data previously published by us on this cohort, including gut microbiota and multiple CMD risk factors that served to categorize subjects as cardiometabolically healthy or cardiometabolically abnormal. From univariate and multivariate statistical analyses, we found the levels of I-FABP, LBP, and PZP increased in the plasma of cardiometabolically abnormal individuals, although only PZP reached statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Our results did not confirm the applicability of I-FABP, LBP, claudin-3, or SCFAs as biomarkers for associating intestinal permeability with the cardiometabolic health status in these subjects. On the other hand, the poorly characterized peptides detected with the ELISA kit branded as "zonulin" were inversely associated with cardiometabolic dysfunctions and gut microbiota. Further studies to confirm the true identity of these peptides are warranted.