Prevalence of Elevated Liver Stiffness Among Potential Candidates for Bariatric Surgery in the United States.

PURPOSE: Obesity represents a well-known risk factor for metabolic-dysfunction associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and its progression towards cirrhosis. The aim of this study is to estimate the proportion of potential candidates to a bariatric surgery intervention that has an elevated liver stiffness on vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study performed using data obtained during the 2017-2018 cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Potential candidates for a bariatric surgery intervention from the general US population were identified by applying criteria from international guidelines. All included participants were evaluated by VCTE. A controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) value ≥ 288 dB/m was considered indicative of steatosis while liver stiffness measurement (LSM) was considered elevated if ≥ 9.7 kPa. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to identify independent predictors of both outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 434 participants were included (mean age 42.9 ± 0.6 years; 54.4% women). Among them, 76.7% (95% CI 71.7-81.0) had steatosis, while 23.1% (95% CI 17.8-29.3) had an elevated LSM. Male sex, older age, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase levels, and body mass index (BMI) were independent predictors of steatosis, while BMI was the only independent predictor of elevated LSM. Non-Hispanic black participants were protected from both outcomes, while other ethnicities were not. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of elevated LSM is high in potential candidates for a bariatric surgery intervention. Accurate screening for occult advanced liver disease might be indicated in this patient population.

Metabolic and Psychological Features are Associated with Weight Loss 12 Months After Sleeve Gastrectomy.

CONTEXT: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is a recognized effective procedure of bariatric surgery, but a poor response in weight loss may still represent a clinical problem. To date there are no validated predictors useful to better perform patient selection. OBJECTIVE: To establish the association of baseline anthropometric, metabolic, and psychologic features with the percent total weight loss (%TWL) and percent excess weight loss (%EWL) 12 months after surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective longitudinal analysis of a set of data about obese patients attending the outpatient service of a single obesity center from June 2016 to June 2019. PATIENTS: A total of 106 obese patients underwent LSG with presurgery evaluation and follow-up at 12 months after surgery. MAIN OUTCOME: Weight loss 12 months after LSG. RESULTS: Patients who achieved a %TWL higher than the observed median (≥34%) were younger, with a lower fasting plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin, with a lower prevalence of hypertension and with a lower score in the impulsiveness scale, compared with patients with a %TWL < 34%. Similar findings were found when %EWL was considered. Multivariable stepwise regression analysis showed that younger age, lower impulsiveness, higher-than-normal urinary free cortisol, and lower HbA1c were associated with higher %TWL, explaining about 31.5% of the weight loss. CONCLUSION: Metabolic and psychologic features at baseline were independently associated with weight loss and explained a non-negligible effect on the response to LSG. These data suggest that careful metabolic and psychologic profiling could help in sharper indications and personalized pre- and postsurgical follow-up protocols in candidates for LSG.

Hypercortisolism and altered glucose homeostasis in obese patients in the pre-bariatric surgery assessment.

AIMS: Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity was suggested to be associated with the metabolic syndrome (MS), obesity and diabetes. The aim of this study was to test whether hypercortisolism was associated with altered glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance, hypertension and dyslipidemia in a homogeneous population of obese patients. MATERIALS/METHODS: In retrospective analysis of a set of data about obese patients attending the outpatient service of a single obesity centre between January 2013 and January 2020, 884 patients with BMI >30 kg/m2 were segregated in two subgroups: patients with urinary free cortisol (UFC) higher than normal (UFC+; n = 129) or within the normal range (UFC-; n = 755). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of UFC+ was 14.6% and double test positivity (morning cortisol >1.8 mcg/dL following overnight dexamethasone suppression test, ODST) was detected in 1.0% of patients. Prediabetes (OR 1.74; 95%CI 1.13-2.69; p = 0.012) and diabetes (OR 2.03; 95%CI 1.21-3.42; p = 0.008) were associated with higher risk of UFC+ when analysis was adjusted for confounding variables. Conversely, hypertension and dyslipidemia were not related to UFC+. Within the individuals with normal FPG and HbA1c, those with higher estimated insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) maintained a higher risk of UFC+ (OR 2.84, 95%CI 1.06-7.63; p = 0.039) and this relationship was weakened only when the body fat percentage was included into the model. CONCLUSIONS: In obese patients, hypercortisolism was more frequent across the entire spectrum of altered glucose homeostasis including the very early stages; this relation could not be detected for the other criteria of the MS, as waist, hypertension and atherogenic dyslipidemia.

Baseline TSH levels and short-term weight loss after different procedures of bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is a valuable therapeutic option in the treatment of obesity but the outcomes show a large subject-to-subject variability yet to be explained. Thyroid function may represent an involved factor and we have only few controversial data about its influence. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We retrospectively assessed using a longitudinal approach the relation between baseline TSH levels and short-term (6 and 12 months) weight loss in 387 euthyroid patients who underwent laparoscopic gastric banding (LAGB; n = 187) or sleeve gastrectomy (SG; n = 200). RESULTS: After LAGB, patients with low-normal TSH levels (0.40-1.40 mUI/L) had higher percent total weight loss, ∆BMI and percent excess weight loss when compared to patients with normal (1.41-2.48 mUI/L) and high-normal (2.49-4.00 mUI/L) TSH (p < 0.05). Conversely, no association was detected after SG (p = 0.17). The multivariable regression analysis showed that also baseline BMI (6-12 months) and HOMA2-IR (only at 6 months) were independently associated with the outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: TSH levels may influence the short-term weight loss response after LAGB. The lack of association after SG suggests that the influence of baseline endocrine and metabolic factors may not be relevant for procedures with greater and more immediate calorie intake restriction.

Resting Whole Body Energy Metabolism in Class 3 Obesity; from Preserved Insulin Sensitivity to Overt Type 2 Diabetes.

CONTEXT: Insulin resistance and diabetes may influence separately or in combination whole body energy metabolism. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of insulin resistance and/or overt type 2 diabetes on resting energy expenditure (REE) in class 3 obese individuals. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of a set of data about individuals attending the outpatients service of a single center of bariatric surgery between January 2015 and December 2017. PATIENTS: We screened 382 patients in which abnormal thyroid function was excluded, and segregated them in three groups of subjects: patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM; n=70), non-diabetic insulin-resistant patients with HOMA-IR ≥ 3 (n=236), non-diabetic insulin-sensitive patients with HOMA-IR < 3 (n=75). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Resting energy expenditure (REE), body composition and insulin resistance assessed using indirect calorimetry, bioimpedance and HOMA-IR. RESULTS: Non-diabetic insulin-sensitive patients resulted to be younger, with lower BMI and higher prevalence of female subjects; meanwhile, non-diabetic but insulin-resistant patients and T2DM patients were not different in terms of anthropometric parameters. REE was higher in T2DM than in non-diabetic insulin-resistant and insulin-sensitive individuals when expressed as percent of the predicted REE (based on Harris Benedict equation) (p<0.0001) or when adjusted for kg of free fat mass (p<0.0001) and was found to be higher also in insulin-resistant vs insulin-sensitive patients (p<0.001). The respiratory quotient was different between groups (0.87±0.11, 0.86±0.12 and 0.91±0.14 in T2DM, insulin-resistant and insulin-sensitive patients, respectively; p<0.03). Regression analysis confirmed that HOMA-IR was independently associated with the REE (R2=0.110, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Class 3 obese patients with normal insulin sensitivity are characterized by reduced fasting REE in comparison to insulin-resistant obese patients and obese patients with short duration of diabetes supporting the hypothesis that down-regulation of nutrients' oxidative disposal may represent an adaptation of energy metabolism in obese individuals with preserved insulin sensitivity.

[Successful management of severe unremitting chylothorax after thoraci trauma]. / Trattamento efficace di chilotorace grave e persistente dopo trauma toracico.

Post-traumatic chylothorax needs surgical approach when conservative treatment is not successful to reduce chyle leakage. Thoracic duct ligation requires thoracoscopic or thoracotomic access. The authors report on a surgical thoracotomic approach to a severe and unremitting thoracic duct lesion after IX and X ribs and vertebral fractures.

[Inflammatory colitis: classification and surgical treatment]. / Le coliti infiammatorie. Classificazione e trattamento chirurgico.

The development of clinical and histopathological criteria for the diagnosis of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), pushed the scientists to identify a new category: the indeterminate colitis (CI). This term is used when definitive diagnosis of UC or CD has not been made by colonoscopy, colonic biopsy or colectomy. The distinction between these forms has major implications including the choice of medical treatment, timing of surgery, prognosis and disease course. The role of surgery in inflammatory bowel disease differs between the three main forms: in CD is primarily to treat complications of the disease process; in UC surgery is curative for intestinal manifestations and nearly eliminates the risk of future malignancy; in IC is actually discussed: the current guidelines identify in surgery the best treatment for fulminate disease, intractability of disease symptoms or failure of medical therapy. Although there is a few number of studies in the literature, selective criteria for the diagnosis and successful treatment must be revisited. The term CI should be used as a pending tray diagnosis, representing diagnostic inadequacy and not as specific nosological entity. Evidence emerging from the studies of serological markers (ASCA and P-ANCA) suggests that a subgroup of patients initially diagnosed as IC maybe identified as a separate group, and so they need a specific treatment for their disease.