The oral disposition index calculated from a meal tolerance test is a crucial indicator for evaluating differential normalization of postprandial glucose and triglyceride excursions in morbidly obese patients after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

To determine the normalization of postprandial blood glucose (PG) and triglyceride (TG) excursions in 30 morbidly obese patients with or without diabetes mellitus (DM) 1-year after they underwent a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) vs. their pre-surgery data, we administered the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and a meal tolerance test (MTT) using a 75-g glucose-equivalent carbohydrate- and fat-containing meal. The results were as follows; (i) Postoperative body-weight reduction was associated with DM remission and reduced multiple cardiometabolic risks. (ii) OGTT data showing postprandial hyper-insulinemic hypoglycemia in many post-surgery patients were associated with overdiagnosis of improved glucose tolerance. However, postoperative MTT data without hypoglycemia showed no improvement in the glucose tolerance vs. pre-surgery data. (iii) The disposition index (DI) i.e., [Matsuda index] × (Glucose-induced insulin secretion) was progressively worsened from normal glucose tolerance to DM patients after LSG. These post-surgery DI values measured by the MTT were correlated with 2h-plasma glucose levels and were not normalized in DM patients. (iv) The baseline, 2h-TG, and an increase in 2h-TG values above baseline were correlated with the insulin resistance index, DI, or HbA1c; These TG values were normalized post-LSG. In conclusion, the glucose tolerance curve measured by the MTT was not normalized in T2DM patients, which was associated with impaired normalization of the DI values in those patients 1-year after the LSG. However, the baseline TG and a fat-induced 2h-TG values were normalized postoperatively. The MTT can be used to assess normalization in postprandial glucose and TG excursions after LSG.

Effects of a new 75 g glucose- and high fat-containing cookie meal test on postprandial glucose and triglyceride excursions in morbidly obese patients

A new meal tolerance test (MTT) using a 75 g glucose- and high fat-containing meal was applied to classify glucose intolerance in morbidly obese patients. According to the MTT data, the concordance rate of diagnosis was 82.5% compared to the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in patients with normal glucose tolerance (NGT, n = 40). In the NGT patients, the insulinogenic index (r = 0.833), Matsuda index (r = 0.752), and disposition index (r = 0.845) calculated from the MTT data were each significantly (p < 0.001) correlated with those derived from the OGTT data. However, in patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT, n = 23) or diabetes mellitus (DM, n = 17), the postprandial glucose levels post-MTT were significantly lower than those post-OGTT, without increases in the postprandial insulin levels post-MTT. Thus, the severity of glucose intolerance measured by the MTT was milder than that indicated by the OGTT. Plasma levels of both glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) were increased at the postprandial state, but only the GIP levels post-MTT were significantly higher than those post-OGTT. The enhancement of glucose disposal rates in patients with NGT or IGT after the MTT was associated with increased GIP levels. The postprandial hypertriglyceridemia induced by the MTT was associated with insulin resistance, but it was not associated with the impaired insulinogenic index or the disposition index. These results indicate that the new MTT is clinically useful to evaluate both abnormal glucose and triglyceride excursions caused by abnormal insulin sensitivity and secretions of insulin and gut hormones in morbidly obese patients.

The influences of a novel anti-adhesion device, thermally cross-linked gelatin film on peritoneal dissemination of tumor cells: The in vitro and in vivo experiments using murine carcinomatous peritonitis models

To create anti-adhesive materials to be more effective and safer, we developed a thermally cross-linked gelatin film that showed superior anti-adhesive effects with excellent peritoneal regeneration. However, it may act as a convenient scaffold for tumor cell growth, thereby accelerating peritoneal dissemination when used in surgery for abdominal tumors. In this study, we tried to clarify this issue using mouse carcinomatous peritonitis models. First, we examined the in vitro tumor cell growth of mouse B16 melanoma or Colon26 cells on the gelatin film or the conventional hyarulonate/carboxymethylcellulose film. Tumor cell growth on each film was significantly lower than that of the control (no film). Next, we conducted the following in vivo experiments: After the parietal peritoneum was partially removed and covered with each film or without any film, mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with B16 melanoma or Colon26/Nluc cells expressing NanoLuc luciferase gene. At 7 days after the operation, we measured the weight of B16 melanoma tumors or the NanoLuc activity of Colon26/Nluc cells using in vivo imaging at the injured sites. There were no significant differences in the weight of the tumors and the NanoLuc activity among the three groups. We also observed the survival time of mice receiving the same operation and treatments. There was no significant difference in the survival time among the three groups. These results suggest that the gelatin film will likely not accelerate peritoneal dissemination as a convenient scaffold for tumor cell growth when used in surgery for abdominal tumors. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 2122-2130, 2018.

Anti-adhesive effects of a newly developed two-layered gelatin sheet in dogs

Aim

Adhesion after pelvic surgery causes infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and ileus or abdominal pain. The materials currently available for clinical use are insufficient. The purpose of this study was to develop an anti‐adhesive material that overcomes the limitations of conventional anti‐adhesive agents.

Methods

The adhesion prevention effects of three methods – a two‐layered sheet composed of gelatin film and gelatin sponge, Seprafilm and INTERCEED – were evaluated in 37 dogs. Anti‐adhesive effects were investigated macroscopically and microscopically in a cauterized uterus adhesion model. Cell growth on the materials in vitro using human peritoneal mesothelial cells, fibroblasts and uterine smooth muscle cells were also evaluated.

Results

The two‐layered gelatin sheet had significantly superior anti‐adhesive effects compared to the conventional materials (Seprafilm and INTERCEED). A single‐cell layer of mature mesothelium formed three weeks after surgery in the gelatin group. Peritoneum regeneration in the Seprafilm and INTERCEED groups was delayed and incomplete in the early phase. Little inflammation around the materials occurred and cell growth was significantly proliferated with the gelatin sheet.

Conclusion

The anti‐adhesive effects of a two‐layered gelatin sheet were superior to conventional agents in a cauterized canine uterus model, demonstrating early regeneration of the peritoneum, little inflammation and material endurance. The newly developed two‐layered gelatin sheet is a useful option as an anti‐adhesive agent for deeply injured and hemorrhagic sites.

New polyglycolic acid fabric for the prevention of postoperative pancreatic fistulas

BACKGROUND

The incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after distal pancreatectomy is approximately 30%. The most serious complications of pancreatic resection, such as mortality and prolonged hospitalization, are unresolved despite the proposal of various surgical procedures. We developed a new polyglycolic acid (PGA) fabric composed of fine diameter fibers to prevent POPF, and macroscopically and microscopically evaluated the effects of applying it to the pancreatic remnant.

METHODS

The ventral pancreatic surface was cauterized to create the experimental model of POPF in 33 female Wistar/ST rats. The injured sites were wrapped with nonwoven PGA fabrics of different fiber diameters and porosities in the treated rats; one group of rats remained untreated. Survival, incidence of generalized peritonitis, and microscopic findings around the pancreas were investigated.

RESULTS

The PGA fabrics acted as a scaffold for tissue repair and resulted in superior survival. Generalized peritonitis was milder in the PGA treated groups. With the new PGA fabric, abundant fibroblast infiltration and a uniformly-developed, self-organized barrier wall prevented both pancreatic leak and spread of inflammation.

CONCLUSION

Application of the newly developed PGA fabric to the pancreatic remnant prevented POPF, and the essential factor for preventing pancreatic leak was the early formation of a self-organized barrier.

Emphasizing mesenteric blood vessels in laparoscopic colon cancer surgery video images

This study aims to reduce surgeon burden by emphasising mesenteric blood vessels buried in the mesentery using image processing techniques.We have developed an image processing system that can be connected to a laparoscope. The first step of the method is superficial vessel deletion using an opening process. Next, the mesenteric blood vessels are extracted by multiple regression analysis using hue, saturation, and value color space information in the image. Finally, the enhanced regions are determined by areas obtained by a labeling process. Although examples with both true and false positives are observed, the proposed technique demonstrates sufficient accuracy.

[A case of gastric adenosquamous carcinoma with peritoneal dissemination in which treatment with S-1 plus paclitaxel therapy resulted in improved long-term survival]

Gastric adenosquamous carcinoma is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis. We recently performed palliative gastrectomy for a gastric adenosquamous carcinoma with peritoneal dissemination and provided a course of systemic chemotherapy with S-1 plus paclitaxel(PTX)after the surgery. No serious adverse events were observed, and treatment with S-1 plus PTX was continued for 1 year before being switched to adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 alone for another year. The tumor maker levels normalized within 2 months of the initial treatment, and the peritoneal dissemination could no longer be detected by abdominal computed tomography(CT). The patient remained in clinical remission and maintained long-term survival of over 8 years.

Primary intestinal follicular lymphoma and premature atherosclerosis in a Japanese diabetic patient with atypical familial partial lipodystrophy

We experienced a case of primary intestinal follicular lymphoma and premature atherosclerosis in a diabetic patient with familial partial lipodystrophy (FPL) that was detected when the patient was evaluated for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). As FPL is generally considered to be rare, FPL is often underdiagnosed, especially in obese patients. Therefore, the prevalence of FPL is higher than previous estimates. Our case illustrates that clinicians should perform screening for atherosclerosis and malignancy at the preoperative evaluation and may need to perform metabolic surgery earlier to prevent the development of excess truncal fat, complicated diabetes and atherosclerosis in patients with FPL.