Mid-Term Remission of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus After Laparoscopic Roux En-Y Gastric Bypass

Alteration of the Condylar Oral Bone in Obese and Gastric Bypass Mice

Obesity is the main cause of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery is an effective treatment for this obesity-related health problem. However, the adverse effects of T2DM on bone tissue persist or even aggravate after this surgical procedure. As studies on the mandibular condyle bone are scarce, the aim of the present study was to assess its compositional characteristics in T2DM and RYGB conditions. Thirty-two male C57BL/6 mice at 8 weeks of age were randomly assigned to receive either a high-fat or low-fat diet. After 14 weeks of high-fat diet intake, seven obese mice were subjected to RYGB surgery. All animals were euthanized at the age of 30 weeks. Mandibular bones were removed and the trabecular condyle region was assessed using Raman spectroscopy. A decreased mineralization was observed for both T2DM and RYGB condyle bones when compared to controls, with elevated carbonate substitutions for the RYGB group. No compositional differences in crystallinity and presence of advanced glycation end products were found between the groups, with the exception of an increased presence of N-carboxymethyl-lysine in RYGB bone compared to their T2DM counterpart. Site-specific measurements revealed a non-uniform bone composition, with increasing mineralization and carbonate substitutions towards the centre of the mandibular condyle. T2DM and RYGB surgery affect the mandibular condyle bone quality, as investigated at compositional level. Assessment of bone structural properties and remodelling should be carried out to further explore the effects of T2DM and RYGB surgery on this skeleton area.

An Extended Pouch in a Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass Reduces Weight Regain: 3-Year Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Although the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is considered a standard procedure, many variations exist in the basic design. In order to achieve more pronounced and sustainable results after RYGB, factors such as diameter of the gastroenterostomy, limb length, and pouch size are gripping points for improvement of design. Extending the pouch could improve results by altering food passage through the pouch.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effect of an extended pouch RYGB (EP-GB) and standard pouch RYGB (S-GB).

METHODS

In total, 132 patients were randomized in two groups: 68 patients received an EP-GB (pouch length 10 cm) and 64 a S-GB (pouch length 5 cm). Subsequently, weight loss, remission of comorbidities, nutritional status, complications, quality of life, and GERD-symptoms were assessed during a follow-up of 3 years.

RESULTS

During the first 2 years of follow-up, no significant differences in terms of weight loss were observed. In the third year of follow-up, the S-GB group regained 3 kg, while in the EP-GB group no weight regain was observed. The mean TBWL after 36 months in the EP-GB group was 31% versus 27% in the S-GB group (p = 0.023). Additionally, besides a better remission rate of hypertension in the EP-GB group, no differences in complications, quality of life, and GERD-symptoms were found.

CONCLUSION

Creation of an extended gastric pouch is a safe and effective modification in RYGB design. An EP-GB improves mid-term weight loss, potentially driven by a lower occurrence of weight regain.

Influence of Patient Choice on Outcome of Bariatric Surgery

BACKGROUND

The "perfect" bariatric procedure remains the topic of debate. The aim of this study is to compare the safety and outcome of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) to those of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and adjustable gastric band (AGB) in a single centre, amongst those patients who made their own choice of which procedure they prefer.

METHODS

After the multi-disciplinary team's assessment, the patients could make their own choice of procedures (self-selected, SS), unless medical/surgical conditions limited this (medically restricted, MR). All consecutive primary bariatric procedures were involved and reviewed between June 2010 and September 2014. The primary outcomes included 30-day complication and readmission rates, excess weight loss (%EWL) and co-morbidity resolution at 24 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

A total of 303 patients were included and 271 of them made their own choice (SS 90%). One hundred eighty-three chose LRYGB (60.4%), and 57 underwent LSG (SS 45 and MR 12; overall 18.8%), with the initial BMI of 50.7 and 52.5 kg/m², respectively. Sixty-two patients (SS 43, MR 19, overall 20%) underwent AGB, with a BMI of 52.1 kg/m². Thirty-day complication rates for LRYGB and LSG were 10.2 and 2.9% (p < 0.05), and the readmission rates were 4.7 and 2.9%, respectively. %EWL for LRYGB was significantly higher than that of other procedures at 24 months (67.8 vs SS-sleeve 43.9%, MR-sleeve 47%, SS-band 33.8% and MR-band 36%; FU rate 94%). Diabetes remission was achieved in 31/50 patients in the LRYGB group (62%) and 2/9 patients (22%) in the LSG group.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-selected bariatric procedures yield excellent weight loss and metabolic outcome. Providing an information-dense environment augments the choice of the right operation and could improve patients' compliance with weight loss surgery programmes.

Unraveling the compromised biomechanical performance of type 2 diabetes- and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass bone by linking mechanical-structural and physico-chemical properties

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder associated with obesity and hyperglycemia. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery is a common treatment for severely obese patients and T2DM. Both RYGB and T2DM are linked to increased skeletal fragility, though the exact mechanisms are poorly understood. Our aim was to characterize the structural, mechanical and compositional properties of bones from diet-induced obese and RYGB-treated obese (bypass) mice to elucidate which the exact factors are contributing to the increased skeletal fragility. To achieve this, a combinatory approach including microfocus X-ray computed tomography, 3-point bending, finite element modeling and Raman spectroscopy, was used. Compared to aged-matched lean controls, the obese mice displayed decreased cortical thickness, trabecular bone loss, decreased stiffness and increased Young’s modulus. For the bypass mice, these alterations were even more pronounced, and additionally they showed low mineral-to-matrix ratio in the cortical endosteal area. Accumulation of the advanced glycation end-product (AGE) pentosidine was found in the cortex of obese and bypass groups and this accumulation was correlated with an increased Young’s modulus. In conclusion, we found that the increased fracture risk in T2DM- and post-RYGB bones is mainly driven by accumulation of AGEs and macro-structural alterations, generating biomechanical dysfunctionality.