Intragastric balloon in association with lifestyle and/or pharmacotherapy in the long-term management of obesity.

BACKGROUND: Intragastric balloon (BioEnterics Intragastric Balloon, BIB®) or pharmacotherapy are possible options for the treatment of obese patients when traditional approaches have failed. The aim of our study was to compare in obese patients the effect on weight loss and metabolic changes of lifestyle modifications associated with either BIB or pharmacotherapy or the two treatments in sequence as a maintenance strategy for weight loss. METHODS: Fifty obese patients were recruited and randomly assigned to lifestyle modifications combined with either BIB for 6 months (n = 30) or sibutramine (pharmacotherapy group) for 1 year (n = 20). After BIB removal, patients were randomly assigned to either correct lifestyle (BIB/lifestyle) or lifestyle plus pharmacotherapy (BIB/pharmacotherapy). RESULTS: At 6 months, patients treated with BIB lost significantly (P < 0.05) more weight (percent of initial weight lost, %IWL = 14.5 ± 1.2; percent of excess BMI lost, %EBL = 37.7 ± 3.2) than patients who received pharmacological treatment (%IWL = 9.1 ± 1.5, %EBL = 25.3 ± 4.1). At 1 year, the weight lost was significantly (P < 0.05) greater in patients treated with either BIB/pharmacotherapy (%IWL = 15.8 ± 2.3%, %EBL = 41.3 ± 6.7%) or BIB/lifestyle (%IWL = 14.3 ± 2.7, %EBL = 34.9 ± 6.5%) in respect to pharmacotherapy group (%IWL = 8.0 ± 1.4%, %EBL = 22.1 ± 3.9%). Moreover, patients treated sequentially with BIB/lifestyle or BIB/pharmacotherapy showed a significant (P < 0.05) improvement in insulin sensitivity and triglycerides levels. CONCLUSIONS: BIB represents an efficacious long-term obesity treatment when supplemental strategies, as lifestyle modifications or pharmacotherapy, are established for weight maintenance after its removal.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight investigation of Nylon 6 and Nylon 66 thermo-oxidation products.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI) was used to determine the structure of the molecules produced in the thermo-oxidative degradation of Nylon 6 and Nylon 66, at 180 degrees C and 250 degrees C in air. The MALDI spectra of the thermo-oxidized nylons provide information on the structure and end groups of the oligomers produced in the oxidation process. Our results show that the thermo-oxidation of both Ny6 and Ny66 proceeds through a hydrogen abstraction and subsequent formation of hydroperoxide intermediates. The latter decompose, yielding oligomers containing aldehydes, amides and methyl terminal groups. The aldehydes undergo further oxidation to produce carboxylic end groups. The formation of cyclopentanone terminal groups is also observed in the case of Nylon 66. Oligomers with structures deriving from Norrish-type degradation processes were not detected here for either Ny6 or Ny66.