Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Interaction Of High-Fat Diet And Brain Trauma Alters Adipose Tissue Macrophages And Brain Microglia Associated With Exacerbated Cognitive Dysfunction, Rebecca J Henry, James P Barrett, Maria Vaida, Niaz Z Khan, Oleg Makarevich, Rodney M Ritzel, Alan I Faden, Bogdan A Stoica

Journal Articles

Obesity increases the morbidity and mortality of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Detailed analyses of transcriptomic changes in the brain and adipose tissue were performed to elucidate the interactive effects between high-fat diet-induced obesity (DIO) and TBI. Adult male mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks prior to experimental TBI and continuing after injury. High-throughput transcriptomic analysis using Nanostring panels of the total visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and cellular components in the brain, followed by unsupervised clustering, principal component analysis, and IPA pathway analysis were used to determine shifts in gene expression patterns and molecular pathway activity. Cellular …

Chronic Glp1 Therapy Reduces Postprandial Il6 In Obese Humans With Prediabetes, Vala Hamidi, Hongyu Wang, Vi Pham, Karla Bermudez Saint Andre, Heinrich Taegtmeyer, Absalon D Gutierrez

Journal Articles

Single-dose glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) therapy increases postprandial plasma IL6 levels in prediabetic, obese humans. GLP1-IL6 interactions underly multiple antidiabetic effects, but these may differ after acute versus chronic therapy. This study examines postprandial effects of GLP1 after chronic therapy. Seven humans (six Black) with prediabetes and obesity completed 6 weeks of exenatide extended release therapy. Then subjects returned for pre- and post-meal measurements of plasma IL6, GLP1, glucagon, and related inflammatory markers. Weight, which was measured before and after therapy, did not change. Plasma IL6 decreased from baseline to postmeal state ( = 0.016), with decreases in free fatty …

Chronic Glp1 Therapy Reduces Postprandial Il6 In Obese Humans With Prediabetes, Vala Hamidi, Hongyu Wang, Vi Pham, Karla Bermudez Saint Andre, Heinrich Taegtmeyer, Absalon D Gutierrez

Journal Articles

Single-dose glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) therapy increases postprandial plasma IL6 levels in prediabetic, obese humans. GLP1-IL6 interactions underly multiple antidiabetic effects, but these may differ after acute versus chronic therapy. This study examines postprandial effects of GLP1 after chronic therapy. Seven humans (six Black) with prediabetes and obesity completed 6 weeks of exenatide extended release therapy. Then subjects returned for pre- and post-meal measurements of plasma IL6, GLP1, glucagon, and related inflammatory markers. Weight, which was measured before and after therapy, did not change. Plasma IL6 decreased from baseline to postmeal state ( = 0.016), with decreases in free fatty …

The Classification Of Obesity Based On Metabolic Status Redefines The Readmission Of Non-Hodgkin’S Lymphoma-An Observational Study, Hang Dong, Honglin Guo, Jing Du, Yiping Cheng, Dawei Wang, Junming Han, Zinuo Yuan, Zhenyu Yao, Ran An, Xiaoqin Wu, Kyle L Poulsen, Zhixiang Wang, Shanshan Shao, Xiude Fan, Zhen Wang, Jiajun Zhao

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: The relationship between obesity and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) was controversial, which may be due to the crudeness definition of obesity based on body mass index (BMI). As obesity and metabolic abnormalities often coexist, we aimed to explore whether the classification of obesity based on metabolic status can help to evaluate the real impact of obesity on the readmission of NHL.

METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, utilizing the 2018 Nationwide Readmissions Database, we identified NHL-related index hospitalizations and followed them for non-elective readmission. The patients with NHL were classified as metabolically healthy non-obese (MHNO) and obese (MHO) and metabolically …

Utilization And Predictors Of Adjuvant Metformin For Children And Adolescents On Mixed Receptor Antagonists (Second-Generation Antipsychotics), Hua Chen, Ning Lyu, Wenyaw Chan, Austin De La Cruz, Chadi Calarge

Journal Articles

OBJECTIVE: to examine utilization and predictors of adjuvant metformin among pediatric recipients of second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) (mixed receptor antagonist).

METHOD: This study used 2016-2021 data of a national electronic medical record database. Eligible participants were children aged 6 to 17 with a new SGA prescription for at least 90 days. Predictors of prescribing adjuvant metformin in general and to nonobese pediatric SGA recipients in particular were assessed using conditional logistic regression and logistic regression analyses, respectively.

RESULTS: Of 30,009 pediatric SGA recipients identified, 2.3% (n = 785) received adjuvant metformin. Among 597 participants with a body mass index z score …

Association Between Whole Blood-Derived Mitochondrial Dna Copy Number, Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol, And Cardiovascular Disease Risk, Xue Liu, Xianbang Sun, Yuankai Zhang, Wenqing Jiang, Meng Lai, Kerri L Wiggins, Laura M Raffield, Lawrence F Bielak, Wei Zhao, Achilleas Pitsillides, Jeffrey Haessler, Yinan Zheng, Thomas W Blackwell, Jie Yao, Xiuqing Guo, Yong Qian, Bharat Thyagarajan, Nathan Pankratz, Stephen S Rich, Kent D Taylor, Patricia A Peyser, Susan R Heckbert, Sudha Seshadri, Eric Boerwinkle, Megan L Grove, Nicholas B Larson, Jennifer A Smith, Ramachandran S Vasan, Annette L Fitzpatrick, Myriam Fornage, Jun Ding, April P Carson, Goncalo Abecasis, Josée Dupuis, Alexander Reiner, Charles Kooperberg, Lifang Hou, Bruce M Psaty, James G Wilson, Daniel Levy, Jerome I Rotter, Joshua C Bis, Claudia L Satizabal, Dan E Arking, Chunyu Liu

Journal Articles

Background The relationship between mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA CN) and cardiovascular disease remains elusive. Methods and Results We performed cross-sectional and prospective association analyses of blood-derived mtDNA CN and cardiovascular disease outcomes in 27 316 participants in 8 cohorts of multiple racial and ethnic groups with whole-genome sequencing. We also performed Mendelian randomization to explore causal relationships of mtDNA CN with coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiometabolic risk factors (obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia).

The Circadian Nobiletin-Ror Axis Suppresses Adipogenic Differentiation And Iκbα/Nf-Κb Signaling In Adipocytes, Eunju Kim, Kazuaki Mawatari, Seung-Hee Yoo, Zheng Chen

Journal Articles

Obesity is a known risk factor for metabolic diseases and is often associated with chronic inflammation in adipose tissue. We previously identified the polyethoxylated flavonoid Nobiletin (NOB) as a circadian clock modulator that directly binds to and activates the ROR receptors in the core oscillator, markedly improving metabolic fitness in obese mice. Here, we show that NOB enhanced the oscillation of core clock genes in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, including ROR target genes such as Bmal1, Cry1, Dec1, and Dec2. NOB inhibited lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 and SVF cells, concomitant with the dysregulated circadian expression of adipogenic …

The Effects Of Obesity And Metabolic Abnormalities On Severe Covid-19-Related Outcomes After Vaccination: A Population-Based Study, Xiude Fan, Junming Han, Enfa Zhao, Jiansong Fang, Dawei Wang, Yiping Cheng, Yingzhou Shi, Zhen Wang, Zhenyu Yao, Peng Lu, Tianbao Liu, Qihang Li, Kyle L Poulsen, Zhongshang Yuan, Yongfeng Song, Jiajun Zhao

Journal Articles

Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections of vaccinated individuals are being reported globally, resulting in an increased risk of hospitalization and death among such patients. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the modifiable risk factors that may affect the protective efficacy of vaccine use against the development of severe COVID-19 and thus to initiate early medical interventions. Here, in population-based studies using the UK Biobank database and the 2021 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), we analyzed 20,362 participants aged 50 years or older and 2,588 aged 18 years or older from both databases who tested positive for SARS-COV-2, of whom 33.1% and 67.7% …

Cross-Sectional And Prospective Associations Of Rest-Activity Rhythms With Body Mass Index In Older Men: A Novel Analysis Using Harmonic Hidden Markov Models, Brian Heckler, Miryoung Lee, Katie Stone, Cici Bauer, Qian Xiao

Journal Articles

Growing evidence supports a role for rest-activity rhythms (RARs) in metabolic health. Epidemiological studies in adolescents and young adults showed that RAR characteristics consistent with weakened rhythmicity were associated with obesity. However, studies in older adults are lacking. The objective of this study was to examine the cross-sectional and prospective associations between RAR and obesity in older men using the Harmonic Hidden Markov Model (HHMM), a novel analytical approach with several advantages over conventional methods for characterizing RAR. The analysis included nearly 3,000 participants in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men study with 5-day 24-h actigraphy data. The strength of RAR …

Genetic Effect On Body Mass Index And Cardiovascular Disease Across Generations, Chloé Sarnowski, Matthew P Conomos, Ramachandran S Vasan, James B Meigs, Josée Dupuis, Ching-Ti Liu, Aaron Leong

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Whether genetics contribute to the rising prevalence of obesity or its cardiovascular consequences in today's obesogenic environment remains unclear. We sought to determine whether the effects of a higher aggregate genetic burden of obesity risk on body mass index (BMI) or cardiovascular disease (CVD) differed by birth year.

METHODS: We split the FHS (Framingham Heart Study) into 4 equally sized birth cohorts (birth year before 1932, 1932 to 1946, 1947 to 1959, and after 1960). We modeled a genetic predisposition to obesity using an additive genetic risk score (GRS) of 941 BMI-associated variants and tested for GRS-birth year interaction …

A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial Of Automated Internet Weight-Loss Programs In Primary Care: Role Of Automated Provider Feedback, Deborah F Tate, Jennifer L Kraschnewski, Caitlin Martinez, Molly Diamond, Susan Veldheer, Kevin O Hwang, Erik B Lehman, Chengwu Yang, Christopher N Sciamanna

Journal Articles

OBJECTIVE: Despite the high prevalence of obesity and associated health risks in the United States adult population, few primary care providers (PCPs) have time and training to provide weight-management counseling to their patients. This study aims to compare the effect of referral to a comprehensive automated digital weight-loss program, with or without provider email feedback, with usual care on weight loss in patients with overweight or obesity.

METHODS: A total of 550 adults (mean [SD], 51.4 [11.2] years, BMI = 35.1 [5.5] kg/m

RESULTS: Weight changes (mean [SE]) at 12 months were -0.92 (0.46), -3.68 (0.46), and -3.58 (0.48) kg …

Synergistic Associations Of Pnpla3 I148m Variant, Alcohol Intake, And Obesity With Risk Of Cirrhosis, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, And Mortality, Hyun-Seok Kim, Xiangjun Xiao, Jinyoung Byun, Goo Jun, Stacia M Desantis, Han Chen, Aaron P Thrift, Hashem B El-Serag, Fasiha Kanwal, Christopher I Amos

Journal Articles

IMPORTANCE: Alcohol drinking and obesity are associated with an increased risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the risk is not uniform among people with these risk factors. Genetic variants, such as I148M in the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3) gene, may play an important role in modulating cirrhosis and HCC risk.

OBJECTIVE: to investigate the joint associations of the PNPLA3 I148M variant, alcohol intake, and obesity with the risk of cirrhosis, HCC, and liver disease-related mortality.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This prospective cohort study analyzed 414 209 participants enrolled in the UK Biobank study from March 2006 …

Association Of Puberty Stage And Weight Status With Cardiometabolic Risk In Children And Adolescents Living On The Texas-Mexico Border, Ee Vien Low, Miryoung Lee, Cici Bauer, Susan P Fisher-Hoch, Joseph B Mccormick, Susan Abughosh, Ekere J Essien, Jessica Rodriguez, Hua Chen

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

The 2018 World Cancer Research Fund (Wcrf)/American Institute For Cancer Research (Aicr) Score And Diabetes Risk In The Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (Dppos)., Marissa M Shams-White, Ashley H Tjaden, Sharon L Edelstein, Sarah Bassiouni, Lisa L Kahle, Catherine Kim, Xavier Pi-Sunyer, Karla A Temple, Elizabeth M Venditti, Jill Reedy, Brandy M Heckman-Stoddard

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: The 2018 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) 3rd expert report highlights up-to-date Cancer Prevention Recommendations that may reduce burdens of many chronic diseases, including diabetes. This study examined if following a lifestyle that aligns with the recommendations - assessed via the 2018 WCRF/AICR Score - was associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes in high-risk adults participating in the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS).

METHODS: The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) randomized adults at high risk for diabetes to receive a lifestyle intervention (ILS), metformin (MET) or a placebo (PLB) (mean: 3.2 years), with …

Apoptotic Brown Adipocytes Enhance Energy Expenditure Via Extracellular Inosine, Birte Niemann, Saskia Haufs-Brusberg, Laura Puetz, Martin Feickert, Michelle Y Jaeckstein, Anne Hoffmann, Jelena Zurkovic, Markus Heine, Eva-Maria Trautmann, Christa E Müller, Anke Tönjes, Christian Schlein, Azin Jafari, Holger K Eltzschig, Thorsten Gnad, Matthias Blüher, Natalie Krahmer, Peter Kovacs, Joerg Heeren, Alexander Pfeifer

Journal Articles

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) dissipates energy

Comprehensive Characterization Of Covid-19 Patients With Repeatedly Positive Sars-Cov-2 Tests Using A Large U.S. Electronic Health Record Database., Xiao Dong, Yujia Zhou, Xiao-Ou Shu, Elmer V Bernstam, Rebecca Stern, David M Aronoff, Hua Xu, Loren Lipworth

Journal Articles

In the absence of genome sequencing, two positive molecular tests for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) separated by negative tests, prolonged time, and symptom resolution remain the best surrogate measure of possible reinfection. Using a large electronic health record database, we characterized clinical and testing data for 23 patients with repeatedly positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test results ≥60 days apart, separated by ≥2 consecutive negative test results. The prevalence of chronic medical conditions, symptoms, and severe outcomes related to coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) illness were ascertained. The median age of patients was 64.5 years, 40% were Black, and 39% …

Genetic And Non-Genetic Factors Affecting The Expression Of Covid-19-Relevant Genes In The Large Airway Epithelium, Silva Kasela, Victor E Ortega, Molly Martorella, Suresh Garudadri, Jenna Nguyen, Elizabeth Ampleford, Anu Pasanen, Srilaxmi Nerella, Kristina L Buschur, Igor Z Barjaktarevic, R Graham Barr, Eugene R Bleecker, Russell P Bowler, Alejandro P Comellas, Christopher B Cooper, David J Couper, Gerard J Criner, Jeffrey L Curtis, Meilan K Han, Nadia N Hansel, Eric A Hoffman, Robert J Kaner, Jerry A Krishnan, Fernando J Martinez, Merry-Lynn N Mcdonald, Deborah A Meyers, Robert Paine, Stephen P Peters, Mario Castro, Loren C Denlinger, Serpil C Erzurum, John V Fahy, Elliot Israel, Nizar N Jarjour, Bruce D Levy, Xingnan Li, Wendy C Moore, Sally E Wenzel, Charles Langelier, Prescott G Woodruff, Tuuli Lappalainen, Stephanie A Christenson

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: The large airway epithelial barrier provides one of the first lines of defense against respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19. Substantial inter-individual variability in individual disease courses is hypothesized to be partially mediated by the differential regulation of the genes that interact with the SARS-CoV-2 virus or are involved in the subsequent host response. Here, we comprehensively investigated non-genetic and genetic factors influencing COVID-19-relevant bronchial epithelial gene expression.

METHODS: We analyzed RNA-sequencing data from bronchial epithelial brushings obtained from uninfected individuals. We related ACE2 gene expression to host and environmental factors in the SPIROMICS cohort of smokers with …

The Association Between Overnight Fasting And Body Mass Index In Older Adults: The Interaction Between Duration And Timing, Qian Xiao, Cici Bauer, Tracy Layne, Mary Playdon

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Circadian rhythms play an important role in the regulation of eating and fasting, and mistimed dietary intakes may be detrimental to metabolic health. Extended overnight fasting has been proposed as a strategy to better align the eating-fasting cycle with the internal circadian clock, and both observational and experimental studies have linked longer overnight fasting with lower body weight. However, it remains unclear if the timing of overnight fasting modifies the relationship between fasting duration and weight outcomes.

METHODS: The current study included 495 men and 499 women age 50-74 years. Dietary intake over 12 months was assessed by 24-h …

Wellness Project Implementation Within Houston's Faith And Diabetes Initiative: A Mixed Methods Study, Rebecca Wells, Ellen D Breckenridge, Stephen H Linder

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Faith-based health promotion has shown promise for supporting healthy lifestyles, but has limited evidence of reaching scale or sustainability. In one recent such effort, volunteers from a diverse range of faith organizations were trained as peer educators to implement diabetes self-management education (DSME) classes within their communities. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with provision of these classes within six months of peer-educator training.

METHODS: This study used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to identify patterns from interviews, observations, attendance records, and organizational background information. Two research team members thematically coded interview transcripts …

Coaction Between Physical Activity And Fruit And Vegetable Intake In Racially Diverse, Obese Adults, Natalia I Heredia, Maria E Fernandez, Alexandra E Van Den Berg, Casey P Durand, Harold W Kohl, Belinda M Reininger, Kevin O Hwang, Lorna H Mcneill

Journal Articles

PURPOSE: There is minimal understanding of the potential for coaction, defined as action on one behavior increasing the likelihood of taking action on another behavior, between physical activity (PA) and fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. The purpose of this study was to assess the bidirectional coaction between FV intake and PA, as well as self-efficacy for these behaviors, in a racially diverse sample of obese adults.

DESIGN: This is a secondary analysis using data collected from the Path to Health study, a randomized controlled trial. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03674229.

SAMPLE: Obese adults who completed baseline and 6-month follow-up assessments.

MEASURES: For …

Health Coaching To Encourage Obese Adults To Enroll In Commercially-Available Weight Management Programs: The Path To Health Study, Natalia I Heredia, Minjae Lee, Kevin O Hwang, Belinda M Reininger, Maria E Fernandez, Lorna H Mcneill

Journal Articles

Physicians are recommended to screen and refer obese patients to weight management programs (WMPs). There are often limited referral options for physicians, though commercially-available WMPs could be a potential solution. The purpose of this study (Path to Health) was to evaluate the efficacy of health coaching to promote enrollment in commercially-available WMPs through a two-arm, RCT with obese patients (n = 168) randomly assigned to intervention (n = 84) or control groups (n = 84). Intervention participants received phone health coaching to help them select and enroll in WMPs. We collected data on program enrollment, weight, self-reported physical activity (PA), …

Cholinergic Control Of Inflammation, Metabolic Dysfunction, And Cognitive Impairment In Obesity-Associated Disorders: Mechanisms And Novel Therapeutic Opportunities, E. H. Chang, S. S. Chavan, V. A. Pavlovh

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

A Behavioral Lifestyle Intervention Enhanced With Multiple-Behavior Self-Monitoring Using Mobile And Connected Tools For Underserved Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes And Comorbid Overweight Or Obesity: Pilot Comparative Effectiveness Trial, Jing Wang, Chunyan Cai, Nikhil Padhye, Philip Orlander, Mohammad Zare

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Self-monitoring is a cornerstone of behavioral lifestyle interventions for obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Mobile technology has the potential to improve adherence to self-monitoring and patient outcomes. However, no study has tested the use of a smartphone to facilitate self-monitoring in overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus living in the underserved community.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of and compare preliminary efficacy of a behavioral lifestyle intervention using smartphone- or paper-based self-monitoring of multiple behaviors on weight loss and glycemic control in a sample of overweight or obese adults …

Biting The Hands That Feed “The Alligators”: A Case Study In Morbid Obesity Extremes, End-Of-Life Care, And Prohibitions On Harming And Accelerating The End Of Life, Michael J. Malinowski

Journal Articles

Obesity, recognized as a disease in the U.S. and at times as a terminal illness due to associated medical complications, is an American epidemic according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), American Heart Association (“AHA”), and other authorities. More than one third of Americans (39.8% of adults and 18.5% of children) are medically obese. This article focuses on cases of “extreme morbid obesity” (“EMO”)—situations in which death is imminent without aggressive medical interventions, and bariatric surgery is the only treatment option with a realistic possibility of success. Bariatric surgeries themselves are very high risk for EMO patients. …

Metabolic Obesity Phenotypes And Risk Of Colorectal Cancer In Postmenopausal Women., G. C. Kabat, M. Y. Kim, M. Stefanick, G. Y. F. Ho, D. S. Lane, A. O. Odegaard, M. S. Simon, J. W. Bea, J. Luo, T. E. Wassertheil-Smoller

Journal Articles

Obesity has been postulated to increase the risk of colorectal cancer by mechanisms involving insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome. We examined the associations of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, the metabolic syndrome, metabolic obesity phenotypes and homeostasis model-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR-a marker of insulin resistance) with risk of colorectal cancer in over 21,000 women in the Women's Health Initiative CVD Biomarkers subcohort. Women were cross-classified by BMI (18.5-

The Role Of Genetic Variation Of Human Metabolism For Bmi, Mental Traits And Mental Disorders, J. Hebebrand, T. Peters, D. Schijven, M. Hebebrand, C. Grasemann, T. W. Winkler, I. M. Heid, J. Antel, C. U. Correll, L. Libuda, +7 Additional Authors

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Website Usage And Weight Loss In A Free Commercial Online Weight Loss Program: Retrospective Cohort Study, Kevin O Hwang, Jing Ning, Amber W Trickey, Christopher N Sciamanna

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Online weight loss programs are increasingly popular. However, little is known about outcomes and associations with website usage among members of free online weight loss programs.

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective cohort study examined the association between website usage and weight loss among members of a free commercial online weight loss program (SparkPeople).

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of a systematic random sample of members who joined the program during February 1 to April 30, 2008, and included follow-up data through May 10, 2010. The main outcome was net weight change based on self-reported weight. Measures of website usage included …

Acceptability Of Narratives To Promote Colorectal Cancer Screening In An Online Community, Kevin O Hwang, Amber W Trickey, Amanda L Graham, Eric J Thomas, Richard L Street, Jennifer L Kraschnewski, Sally W Vernon

Journal Articles

OBJECTIVE: To assess the acceptability of narratives to promote colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among members of an online weight loss community.

METHOD: Members of online weight loss community completed an Internet survey in 2010. Multiple logistic regression models examined demographic and attitudinal correlates of interest in sharing and receiving CRC screening narratives.

RESULTS: Participants (n=2386) were 92% female with mean (SD) age 58 (6) years; 68% were up-to-date with CRC screening. Among those who were up-to-date, 39% were interested in sharing their narratives with other members. African-Americans were more likely than other racial groups to be interested in sharing narratives …

Progressive Regression Of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Two Years After Bariatric Surgery, Mohamed F Algahim, Thomas R Lux, Joshua G Leichman, Anthony F Boyer, Charles C Miller, Susan T Laing, Erik B Wilson, Terry Scarborough, Sherman Yu, Brad Snyder, Carol Wolin-Riklin, Ursula G Kyle, Heinrich Taegtmeyer

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a systemic disorder associated with an increase in left ventricular mass and premature death and disability from cardiovascular disease. Although bariatric surgery reverses many of the hormonal and hemodynamic derangements, the long-term collective effects on body composition and left ventricular mass have not been considered before. We hypothesized that the decrease in fat mass and lean mass after weight loss surgery is associated with a decrease in left ventricular mass.

METHODS: Fifteen severely obese women (mean body mass index [BMI]: 46.7+/-1.7 kg/m(2)) with medically controlled hypertension underwent bariatric surgery. Left ventricular mass and plasma markers of systemic …

Comparing Clinician Knowledge And Online Information Regarding Alli (Orlistat), Stuart Nelson, Kevin O Hwang, Elmer V Bernstam

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Many consumers join online communities focused on health. Online forums are a popular medium for the exchange of health information between consumers, so it is important to determine the accuracy and completeness of information posted to online forums.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the accuracy and completeness of information regarding the FDA-approved over-the counter weight-loss drug Alli (Orlistat) from forums and from clinicians.

METHODS: We identified Alli-related questions posted on online forums and then posed the questions to 11 primary care providers. We then compared the clinicians' answers to the answers given on the forums. A panel of blinded experts evaluated …