Nissen Versus Toupet Fundoplication For Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease, Short And Long-term Outcomes. A Systematic Review And Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) remains one of the most commonly encountered gastrointestinal disorders. Proton pump inhibitors still show an inadequate effect on about 10% to 40% of the patients. Laparoscopic antireflux surgery is the surgical alternative for managing GERD in patients who are not responding to proton pump inhibitors. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study objected at comparing laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication and laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication (LTF) concerning the short-term and long-term outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis that evaluated the studies comparing between Nissen fundoplication and LTF for the treatment of GERD. Studies were obtained by searching on the EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and PubMed central database. RESULTS: The LTF group showed significantly longer operation time, less postoperative dysphagia and gas bloating, less pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter, and higher Demeester scores. No statistically significant differences were found between the 2 groups in the perioperative complications, the recurrence of GERD, the reoperation rate, the quality of life, or the reoperation rate. CONCLUSION: LTF is favored for the surgical treatment of GERD being of lower postoperative dysphagia and gas bloating rates. These benefits were not at the expense of significantly additional perioperative complications or surgery failure.

Albuminuria as a predictor of mortality in type II diabetic patients after living-donor liver transplantation.

PURPOSE: Diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of morbidity and mortality after liver resection. Albuminuria is associated with a higher risk for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. This study evaluated albuminuria as a predictor of the outcome of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in patients with pre-existing DM. METHODS: This retrospective study involved 103 type II diabetic patients with end-stage liver disease who received LDLT. Preoperative spot urine albumin: creatinine ratio was used to determine the degree of albuminuria. The primary outcome measure was the impact of urinary albumin excretion on the 3-year mortality rate after LDLT in this diabetic cohort. RESULTS: Hepatitis C virus infection was the main cause of cirrhosis. Albuminuria was detected in 41 patients (39.8%); 15 had macroalbuminuria, while 26 had microalbuminuria. Patients with microalbuminuria were significantly older than those with macroalbuminuria and normal albumin in urine. After 3 years, twenty-four patients (23.3%) died within 3 years after LT. Myocardial infarction was the leading cause of death (25%). Albuminuria was an independent factor affecting 3-year mortality with an odds ratio of 5.17 (95% CI: 1.86-14.35). CONCLUSION: Preoperative albuminuria is an independent factor affecting mortality within 3 years after LDLT in type II diabetic patients. Myocardial infarction was the leading cause of death in 25% of cases, followed by hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence, sepsis, and graft failure.KEY MESSAGESDiabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of morbidity and mortality after liver resection.Albuminuria is associated with a higher risk for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.Preoperative albuminuria is a significant predictor of mortality within 3 years after LDLT in diabetic patients.

Surgical Management of Perforated Peptic Ulcer: A Comparative Meta-analysis of Laparoscopic Versus Open Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Despite the widescale success of proton pump inhibitors to reducing the incidence of peptic ulcer disease, perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) remains a significant cause of severe complications and death. The implementation of open or surgical repair of PPU should be guided by reliable guidelines which are based on current systematic evidence. OBJECTIVES: To assess the comparative efficacy and safety of laparoscopic and open repair of PPU. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted based on retrospective, prospective cohort studies, and randomized clinical trials. Duration of surgery and postoperative complications and death were collected from eligible studies, and the outcomes were pooled using mean differences (MD) or relative risks (RRs) for numerical and binary outcomes, respectively. The estimated variance was expressed as 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). RESULTS: Forty-five studies were included (8456 patients, 56.08% underwent open repair, 6 prospective studies, 7 randomized clinical trials, and 32 retrospective studies). Compared with open repair, laparoscopic surgeries were associated with longer operative times (MD=8.36, 95% CI, 0.49-16.22), shorter hospital stay (MD=-2.74, 95% CI, -3.70 to-1.79), a higher risk of suture leakage (RR=1.91, 95% CI, 1.04-3.49) and lower risks of mortality (RR=0.57, 95% CI, 0.47-0.70), septic shock (RR=0.69, 95% CI, 0.49-0.98), renal failure (RR=0.38, 95% CI, 0.18-0.79), and wound infection (RR=0.26, 95% CI, 0.19-0.37). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic repair of PPU showed promising safety outcomes; however, future well-designed randomized studies are warranted to reduce the observed performance bias and possible selection bias in individual studies.

Improvement of Pancreatic Steatosis and Indices of Insulin Resistance After Metabolic Surgery.

Purpose: Obesity is associated with fat accumulation in ectopic sites such as the pancreas, the so-called pancreatic steatosis (PS). Bariatric surgery has been shown to be associated with reducing pancreatic fat. This study investigated the effect of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on pancreatic volume and its fat content and glucose homeostasis. Methods: The study enrolled 54 patients subjected to LSG. Metabolic variables and pancreatic exocrine function were assessed immediately before surgery and 12 months after. MRI of the abdomen was performed to measure pancreatic fat content and its total volume and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Results: Surgery resulted in a significant reduction in body weight and BMI. HbA1c, fasting insulin, C-peptide levels, HOMA-IR, and Hs-CRP levels decreased significantly. Surgery resulted in significant improvement in lipid profile except for HDL-cholesterol and liver function tests. Total VAT volume decreased significantly. Total pancreas volume decreased by a mean of 9.0 cm3 (95% CI: 6.6-11.3). The median change of pancreatic fat was -26.1% (range: -55.6 to 58.3%). Pancreatic lipase decreased significantly (P < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between the percentage of total weight loss and decrease in pancreatic fat volume (r = 0.295, P = 0.030). Conclusion: Weight loss after LSG is associated with a reduction of total VAT volume, total pancreatic volume, and pancreatic fat content. These changes are associated with improved glucose homeostasis, reduced systemic inflammation, and decreased pancreatic lipase secretion.

Secondary Hyperparathyroidism Before and After Bariatric Surgery: a Prospective Study with 2-Year Follow-Up.

PURPOSE: Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is linked to obesity. Bariatric surgery may be associated with calcium and vitamin D deficiencies leading to SHPT. This study aimed to detect the prevalence of SHPT before and after bariatric surgery. METHODS: This prospective study assessed the prevalence of SHPT after sleeve gastrectomy (SG, n = 38) compared to one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB, n = 86). All patients were followed up for 2 years. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Of the 124 patients, 71 (57.3%) were females, and 53 (42.7%) were males, with a mean age of 37.5 ± 8.8 years. Before surgery, 23 patients (18.5%) suffered from SHPT, and 40 (32.3%) had vitamin D deficiency. The prevalence of SHPT increased to 29.8% after 1 year and 36.3% after 2 years. SHPT was associated with lower levels of vitamin D and calcium and higher reduction of BMD in the hip but not in the spine. After 2 years, SHPT was associated with a significantly lower T-score in the hip. SHPT and vitamin D deficiency were significantly more common in patients subjected to OAGB compared to SG (p = 0.003, and p < 0.001, respectively). There is a strong negative correlation between vitamin D levels and parathormone levels before and after surgery. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of SHPT is high in obese patients seeking bariatric surgery, especially with lower vitamin D levels. Bariatric surgery increases the prevalence of SHPT up to 2 years. Gastric bypass is associated with a higher risk of developing SHPT compared to SG.

Ursodeoxycholic acid for the prevention of gall stones after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a prospective controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a risk factor for cholelithiasis. Besides, rapid weight loss after bariatric surgery upsurges the rate of cholelithiasis and acute cholecystitis. This study aimed to compare gallstone development frequency after LSG under ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) prophylaxis. METHODS: This prospective controlled study included 332 patients scheduled for LSG randomized to receive 500 mg UDCA daily for 12 months (UDCA Group) or no treatment (Control Group). Ultrasonography was done 6 and 12 months after surgery to detect gallstones. Cholecystectomy was done for complicated cases of cholelithiasis. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients were lost to follow-up, and 3 developed severe adverse effects of UDCA and excluded. Data are presented for 130 patients in the UDCA group and 128 in the Control group. Collectively, 11 patients (8.5%) of the UDCA group and 41 (32.0%) of the Control group developed gall stones during the first postoperative year (p < 0.001). Cholecystectomy was indicated in 3 patients (2.3%) of the UDCA group and 9 (7.0%) of the Control group (p = 0.072). On multivariate analysis, higher BMI, dyslipidemia, and lacking UDCA prophylaxis were the independent factors significantly associated with stone development. Also, stone development was associated with higher weight loss after 6 and 12 months. CONCLUSION: UDCA 500 mg once daily for 12 months after LSG is effective in reducing gallstone formation at 1 year. UDCA administration reduced the frequency of cholecystectomies from 7 to 2.3%. High BMI and dyslipidemia are the independent preoperative factors significantly associated with stone development.

Nutritional Complications After Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass: A Comparative Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out involving studies that compared the nutritional complications of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB); these included the incidence of malnutrition as well as deficiencies of other nutritional elements, such as total protein, albumin, calcium and iron. A comprehensive search strategy was implemented in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Effect sizes included the pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), as well as mean differences (MDs) and 95% CIs of the percentage total weight loss (%TWL) and excess weight loss percentage (%EWL). Thirteen studies were included (12,964 patients, 66.27% females, 53.82% underwent OAGB). At the longest follow-up period (≥3 years), OAGB was associated with significantly higher %TWL (MD=5.41%, 95%CI, 1.52 to 9.29) and %EWL (MD=13.81%, 95%CI, 9.60 to 18.02) compared to RYGB. However, OAGB procedures were associated with malnutrition (OR=3.00, 95%CI, 1.68 to 5.36, p<0.0001), hypoalbuminemia (OR=2.38, 95%CI, 1.65 to 3.43, p<0.0001), hypoproteinemia (OR=1.85, 95%CI, 1.09 to 3.14, p=0.022), anemia (OR=1.38, 95%CI, 1.08 to 1.77, p=0.011), and hypocalcemia (OR=1.78, 95%CI, 1.01 to 3.12, p=0.046). On subgroup analyses, the proportions of anemia and hypoalbuminemia remained significantly higher at longer follow-up periods and in studies published in Asia. Despite the favorable weight loss profile, the unfavorable nutritional consequences of OAGB merits further investigations to explore the malabsorptive element, ethnic variation, and the role of biliopancreatic limb length.

Effects of Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy on Bone Mineral Density and Bone Turnover Markers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: There is a growing interest in the post-operative bone-related effects of bariatric surgery. However, little is known about the comparative effects of the most commonly performed bariatric procedures, namely Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG). OBJECTIVES: To systematically assess the differences in areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and biochemical and hormonal markers of bone metabolism among patients undergoing RYGB and SG. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies aBMD at different sites, as well as bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), 25-OH-vitamin D, calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) after RYGB and SG. RESULTS: Fourteen studies were included (717 patients, 50.63% in the RYGB arm). Based on data collected at 1 year, 2 years and > 2 years, there were no significant differences in aBMD measurements at the total hip, lumbar spine, femoral neck, and the whole body with no statistical heterogeneity among different comparisons. Patients in the RYGB group showed significantly higher concentrations of BALP at 1 year (SMD = 0.52, 95%CI, 0.23-0.81, p = 0.0004) and PTH at > 2 years of follow-up (SMD = 0.68, 95%CI, 0.31-1.05, p = 0.0003) compared to the SG group. CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in aBMD measurements at the hip, lumbar spine, femoral neck, and the total body following RYGB and SG procedures. However, BALP and PTH concentrations were significantly higher after RYGB surgeries compared to SG. Attention should be paid to patients undergoing RYGB to prevent the expected skeletal fragility over time.

Effect of preoperative diet regimen on liver size before laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in morbidly obese patients.

BACKGROUND: Low caloric diet can reduce liver volume; however, there is no consensus regarding preoperative weight reduction before bariatric surgery. This study evaluates the effect of preoperative very-lowcalorie diet (VLCD) in patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). METHODS: This prospective study included patients scheduled for LSG stratified into two groups, Diet Group (n = 183) who followed a preoperative VLCD regimen for three weeks and underwent assessment of the liver lobes span before and after regimen, and Control Group (n = 138) who underwent sonographic assessment once before surgery and were operated upon without diet. The outcome measures were the impact of preoperative diet on the liver span, intraoperative complications, anthropometric factors affecting the liver span. RESULTS: Diet regimen resulted in a significant reduction of the right and left lobes. The percentage of the reduction of the left lobe span was significantly higher than that of the right lobe (p < 0.001). Change of the size of the two lobes was correlated positively with weight and body mass index and initial size of both lobes. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the frequency of operative complications. CONCLUSION: VLCD for three weeks before bariatric surgery effectively reduced liver size. The reduction is more in the left lobe. The changes of both lobes were correlated well with the pre- and post-regimen weight and BMI. It was also positively correlated with the initial size of both lobes.

Improvement of Coronary Calcium Scores After Bariatric Surgery in People with Severe Obesity.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a direct measure of coronary atherosclerosis. The study investigated the effect of bariatric surgery on CAC scores in people with severe obesity subjected to laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). METHODS: This prospective study included 129 people with severe obesity in two groups; the LSG group (n=74) subjected to surgery and the diet group (n=55), managed by a diet regimen and lifestyle modification. Cardiovascular risk was assessed by Framingham risk score (FRS) and coronary calcium score (CCS) measured by computed tomography initially and after 3 years. RESULTS: The two groups had a comparable CAD risk before treatment according to FRS or CCS. After treatment, CCS improved significantly in the LSG group (p=0.008) but not in the diet group (p=0.149). There was no correlation between FRS and CCS (r=0.005, p=0.952). Treatment resulted in significant weight reduction and improved fasting blood glucose and lipid profile in the two groups. The change of weight, blood glucose, and HDL, and remission of diabetes mellitus (DM) were significantly higher in the LSG group compared to the diet group. CONCLUSION: LSG may reduce the risk of developing future cardiovascular comorbidities evidenced by reducing CAC scores. Significant weight reduction and improvement of cardiovascular risk factors may recommend LSG as a cardioprotective procedure in people with severe obesity.

The Impact of Drain and Reinforcement on the Outcomes of Bariatric Surgery: A Prospective Study.

Purpose We aimed to investigate the impact of reinforcement and abdominal drains on the outcome of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Methods The present study was a prospective study that included obese patients scheduled to undergo LSG. Patients were assigned to receive drain, reinforcement, or both according to the surgeon's preference and followed up for one month after surgery. The present study's primary outcome was the identification of the association between intraoperative drain/reinforcement and the incidence of postoperative complications. Results A total of 125 (20.3%) patients received intraoperative drains. The proportion of postoperative morbidity was comparable between the drain and non-drain groups (3.2% versus 1.6%; p = 0.25). Patients in the drain group had similar incidence of blood transfusion (2.4% versus 1.7% in non-drain group; p = 0.43) and postoperative leakage (0.8% versus 0.2% in non-drain group; p = 0.36). The incidences of blood transfusion (p = 0.56) and reoperation (p = 0.98) were comparable between the drain and non-drain groups. There were no statistically significant differences between the drain and non-drain groups regarding postoperative mortality and wound infection (p > 0.05). On the other hand, 440 (71.3%) patients received reinforcement. The proportion of postoperative morbidity was comparable between the reinforcement and non-reinforcement groups (1.6% versus 2.8%, p = 0.07). Patients in the reinforcement group were less likely to develop postoperative bleeding (0.7% versus 4% in the non-reinforcement group; p = 0.004), while no significant difference was detected in terms of postoperative leakage (p = 0.33) and in-hospital mortality. Conclusion In conclusion, abdominal drainage did not reduce the complications of LSG patients. Reinforcement has some role in controlling the bleeding but not leaks. Both techniques did not significantly impact the mortality rate. In the future, additional, large randomized trials are needed to examine the gastrointestinal-related quality of life.

Correlation Between Preoperative Gastric Volume and Weight Loss After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

PURPOSE: Long-term studies reported inadequate weight loss or weight regain after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). This study investigated a possible relationship between preoperative gastric volume (GV) measured by CT volumetry and weight loss one year after LSG. METHODS: This prospective study included 120 patients scheduled for LSG. 3D CT gastric volumetry was done before surgery. The weight loss in the first year was serially recorded. The primary outcome measure was the correlation between preoperative GV and postoperative weight loss after one year. The secondary outcomes were the correlation between preoperative GV and other patients' characteristics as age and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: Weight and BMI decreased significantly up to 12 months. The percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) at 6 and 12 months was significantly higher than at three months. Preoperative GV was 1021 ± 253, ranging from 397 to 1543 mL. GV was not related to sex, age, weight, height, postoperative weight, and BMI. CONCLUSION: Preoperative gastric volume cannot predict weight loss one year after LSG. It is not correlated with age, sex, or preoperative weight, and BMI.

Impact of Hypothyroidism on Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: This work endeavored to explore the effect of hypothyroidism on mortality in subjects with HCC who underwent living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). METHODS: This prospective study included 107 patients with HCC subjected to LDLT, divided into hypothyroid group (n=53) and euthyroid group (n=54). The primary objectives were overall and disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: Euthyroid and hypothyroid groups were comparable in all baseline characteristics except the age of patients. Overall survival (OS) of the whole group at 48 months was 68.8%, while the DFS was 60.2%. On univariate analysis, OS was negatively affected by the older age of the patients (p<0.001) or the donor (p<0.001), hypothyroidism (p=0.008), HBV (p=0.029), larger tumor size (p=0.023), and defective Milan criteria (p=0.022). On multivariate analysis, the age of the patients and donors was the independent factor affecting OS. On univariate analysis, DFS was negatively affected by older age of the patients (p < 0.001) or the donor (p=0.005), hypothyroidism (p=0.005), HBV (p=0.019), larger tumor size (p=0.023), and defective Milan criteria (p=0.020). On multivariate analysis, the age of the patients, thyroid status, and Milan criteria were the independent factors affecting DFS. CONCLUSION: Hypothyroidism is a risk factor for worse outcomes in HCC patients after liver transplantation.

Antithyroid Peroxidase Antibodies and Histopathological Outcomes in Egyptian Patients Subjected to Total Thyroidectomy for Non-Malignant Nodular Goiter.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to assess antithyroid antibodies in patients with benign thyroid masses and the effect of total thyroidectomy on the antibodies titers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective work of 112 cases managed with total thyroidectomy with positive antithyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab), anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (Tg-Ab), or both. All patients were euthyroid before surgery. Thyroid function tests and thyroid antibodies levels were measured before and 6 and 12 months after surgery. RESULTS: Histopathological evaluation revealed Hashimoto thyroiditis (47.3%), colloid nodules (22.3%), and lymphocytic thyroiditis (30.4%). All patients were TPO-Ab positive, while 96 patients (85.7%) were Tg-Ab positive before surgery. There was no considerable change in TPO-Ab and Tg-Ab after surgery (p = 0.817, and p=0.560, respectively). Also, there was no significant difference between the three histopathological diagnoses in the levels of TPO-Ab (p = 0.086) or Tg-Ab (p = 0.673). CONCLUSION: Antithyroid antibodies are not valuable markers for diagnosis or prognosis of benign thyroid diseases subjected to total thyroidectomy. We do not recommend their use beyond supporting evidence of the possibility of the autoimmune nature of the illness if other criteria are confirmed.

Impact of Sarcopenia on Two-Year Mortality in Patients with HCV-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Radiofrequency Ablation.

PURPOSE: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) appears effective for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Evaluation of prognostic factors is imperative for patient selection and improving treatment efficacy. This study aimed to assess sarcopenia as a predictor of the outcome of RFA in patients with HCC. METHODS: This prospective study included all patients with HCC on top of HCV-related cirrhosis who underwent RFA and followed up for a minimum of two years. CT scan was used to determine the skeletal muscle index at the psoas, erector spinae, quadratus lumborum, transversus abdominis, external and internal obliques, and rectus abdominis muscles. Cross-sectional areas were calculated to obtain a lumbar skeletal muscle index (L3-SMI). RESULTS: A total of 97 patients were enrolled in the study. The L3-SMI was 46.2±12.1 cm2/m2. Older age was the only risk factor associated with sarcopenia (p = 0.001). The overall survival at two years for the whole group was 65.2%. Sarcopenia and MELD score were independent predictors of OS at two years with HR of 7.6 (95% CI: 3.1-18.7) and 2.2 (95% CI: 1.0-4.8), respectively. Recurrence-free survival was 84.1% at two years. Recurrence was not affected by all factors, including sarcopenia. CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia is a surrogate predictor of overall survival at two years in HCC patients after RFA. Sarcopenia assessment might be an additional prognostic indicator with conventional biomarkers to optimize the selection criteria for receiving RFA for early-stage HCC.

Changes of epicardial fat thickness after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a prospective study.

PURPOSE: Epicardial fat thickness is an interesting parameter of early atherosclerosis. We prospectively assessed whether weight loss following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) leads to a significant reduction in the epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and the correlation between the decline in the epicardial fat thickness with other clinical parameters. METHODS: A prospective analysis of 98 cases that were scheduled to undergo LSG and followed up for 12 months was conducted. EFT was assessed using two-dimensional (2 D) echocardiography. RESULTS: A total of 98 cases and 70 controls were enrolled. EFT demonstrated a significant reduction at follow-up in the whole group (median 8.9 (1.95) versus 7.65 (1.67) mm, respectively). The degree of reduction was higher in the LSG cohort compared to control cohort 1.3 (0.4) versus 1 (0.4), respectively; p < .001). The univariate regression analysis demonstrated a notable correlation of the EFT with the weight, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and creatinine with a p-value of <.0001, .001, .022, and .018, respectively while the multivariate analysis showed a strong correlation between EFT and weight and creatinine with a p-value of <.0001 and .033 respectively. CONCLUSION: LSG can have a favourable impact on metabolic syndrome aspects, namely EFT, as it can decrease it considerably.

Changes in Plasma Growth Differentiation Factor-15 After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy in Morbidly Obese Patients: A Prospective Study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the potential changes of Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in morbidly obese patients. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study on 68 patients who underwent LSG and 58 cases, who were enrolled as a control group, to whom conservative measures of weight loss were adopted. Both groups were followed for 12 months. RESULTS: At the baseline, the serum GDF15 was comparable between LSG and conservative groups (409.93±119 versus 385.8±120.2 pg/mL, p =0.246). However, at 12 months after the operation, the serum GDF15 was significantly higher in the LSG than conservative groups (699.941 ±193.5 versus 559 ±159.7; p <0.001). The degree of serum GDF15 increase was higher in the LSG group (290.01 ±189.9 versus 173.14 ±116.7; p <0.001). The degree of serum GDF15 increase correlated negatively with the final BMI (r = -0.352, p =0.001) and weight loss (r = -0.793, p =0.001) at 12 months after the operation. The correlation analysis demonstrated that the initial GFD15 did not correlate with any baseline parameters. Multiple regression analysis of change in serum GDF15 showed a statistical significance of the weight loss after 12 months. CONCLUSION: The present work confirms the impact of successful weight loss on the circulating level of GDF15. Our study demonstrated that the circulating GDF15 increased significantly after LSG and it was correlated to the degree of weight loss.

Changes of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness After Sleeve Gastrectomy in High Cardiovascular Risk Patients: a Prospective Study.

PURPOSE: There are insufficient data showing the impact of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Therefore, in the current work, we investigated the improvement of metabolic syndrome and CIMT in patients with obesity after LSG. METHODS: This study involved 120 consecutively selected Egyptian patients with a high cardiovascular risk who underwent LSG and were followed up for 12 months. RESULTS: CIMT declined from 0.95 ± 0.17 mm to 0.83 ± 0.12 (p < 0.001) after 12 months. In addition, the mean fasting blood glucose and fasting inulin level dropped significantly from 153.3 ± 63.6 to 108.8 ± 33.8 mg/dl and from 23.1 ± 7.1 mU/ml to 14.1 ± 6.4 respectively (p < 0.001). Furthermore, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) declined from 7.02 ± 1.7 to 5.5 ± 0.96 (p < 0.001). At the end of the follow-up period, metabolic parameters such as HOMA-IR, C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, AST, and ALT decreased significantly from their respective baselines (p value < 0.001). Moreover, the reduction in CIMT showed a strong positive correlation with the degree of weight loss at 6 months and 12 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: LSG led to a substantial decrease in CIMT. Moreover, it significantly impacted cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, insulin resistance, lipid profile, and inflammatory markers.

Changes of Urinary Cytokines in Non-Diabetic Obese Patients After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Adipose tissues synthesize and secrete various proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators, termed cytokines. This work aims to assess different serum and urinary cytokine levels before and 12 months after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). PATIENTS: This prospective study was performed on 61 obese non-diabetic patients who underwent LSG. All patients were followed up postoperatively at 12 months with the assessment of arterial blood pressure, microalbuminuria, urinary and serum levels of inflammatory cytokines (macrophage migration inhibitory factor "MIF," monocyte chemotactic protein "MCP"-1, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 15 (CCL-15), and CCL-18), in addition to serum creatinine, total cholesterol, and C-reactive protein (CRP). RESULTS: Mean BMI showed decreased substantially from 44.78 ± 3.59 Kg/m2 to 34.56 ± 2.45. Systolic blood pressure decreased from 147.03 ± 16.89 mmHg to 128.82 ± 12.52 and diastolic blood pressure decreased from 90.51 ± 12.71 mmHg to 79.69 ± 10.39. At one-year of follow-up, there was statistically significant decrease of mean serum creatinine, total cholesterol, CRP, CCL-15, CCL-18, MIF/creatinine ratio, MCP-1/creatinine ratio, CCL-15/creatinine ratio, and CCL-18/creatinine ratio (P value <0.001). CONCLUSION: Improvement of systemic and renal inflammatory states after LSG may positively affect obesity-related renal disease by steering the adipokine levels towards anti-inflammatory profiles.