Oncological Impact of the Level of Inferior Mesenteric Artery Ligation in Low Rectal Cancer Surgery.

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical impact of the level of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) ligation in patients with advanced low rectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All enrolled patients (n=350) underwent curative resection of rectal cancer with D3 lymph node dissection, with either IMA (high-tie) or superior rectal artery (SRA) (low-tie) ligation. RESULTS: There were 27 and 65 patients in the high-tie and low-tie groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in the postoperative complication rate. Postoperative anastomotic leakage developed in five patients in the low-tie group and none in the high-tie group. The overall recurrence rates were 37.0% (n=10) and 40.0% (n=26) in the high-tie and low-tie groups, respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.748). Local recurrences and lymph node metastases developed in five and no patients in the high-tie group and in 13 and one patient in the low-tie group, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, pathological T4 and pathological N2 and N3 were independent poor prognostic factors for overall survival (OS), whereas left colic artery (LCA) preservation was not significant. CONCLUSION: No significant difference in oncological outcomes was observed in advanced low rectal cancer surgery with respect to the level of the IMA ligation. Thus, the less complicated high-tie procedure should be adopted as a standard procedure.

Surgical outcomes of totally extraperitoneal repair for inguinal hernia: A retrospective multicenter propensity score-matched study.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgical approaches, including total extraperitoneal repair (TEP), have been widely accepted for inguinal hernia repair in Japan. However, there are limited data regarding recurrence after TEP in Japan, given the limited versatility of this procedure. This study retrospectively evaluated the rates of hernia recurrence after TEP and open mesh repair at multiple Japanese centers. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated 1917 patients who underwent inguinal hernia repair at 32 institutions in the Oita prefecture between January 2014 and December 2015. Eligible patients were grouped according to whether they underwent TEP (1011 patients) or open mesh repair (636 patients). Propensity score matching was performed 1:1 (total: 1076 patients, 538 patients from each group). The outcomes of interest were recurrence, morbidity, and postoperative recovery. RESULTS: The TEP and open mesh repair groups had similar baseline characteristics. After propensity score matching, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of recurrence rate (TEP: 0.5% vs open mesh repair: 1.0%, P = .375). However, the TEP group had significantly longer operating times (median: 70.2 min vs 65.0 min, P < .001), significantly less blood loss (0-5.1 mL vs 0-20.4 mL, P < .001), and significantly shorter postoperative hospital stays (median: 5.0 days vs 6.4 days, P < .001). The overall incidences of morbidity were 6.2% in the TEP group and 7.2% in the open mesh repair group (P = .535). CONCLUSION: This multicenter retrospective study with propensity score matching revealed that the recurrence rates were similarly low for TEP and open mesh repair of inguinal hernia. Thus, a well-trained surgical team could use TEP as a standard procedure.

Prognostic Nutritional Index Considering Resection Range Is Useful for Predicting Postoperative Morbidity of Hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Poor preoperative nutritional and immunological status are major risk factors for postoperative complications in patients with various malignancies. Lower preoperative prognostic nutrition index (PNI) is associated with higher rates of postoperative complications and poorer prognosis in those patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the predictive value of the PNI for post-hepatectomy complications in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and evaluate its utility in the surgical procedure. METHODS: This retrospective study included 510 patients who underwent open hepatectomies for HCC. The predictive value of the preoperative nutritional and immunological status for postoperative complications was assessed using the PNI. Postoperative complications were defined as grade II or higher per the Clavien-Dindo classification. Postoperative complication rates were compared according to surgical procedure (major hepatectomy vs minor hepatectomy). RESULTS: Patients with postoperative complications had significantly lower PNIs than those without (43.1 ± 5.5 vs 47.0 ± 5.7, P < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, low preoperative PNI (< 45) was an independent risk factor for postoperative complications after hepatectomy (hazard ratio, 3.85). When patients were classified per their PNI (high vs low) and extent of surgical procedures (major vs minor), there were more complications among patients with low PNI than those with high PNI, regardless of the extent of surgical procedures. Specifically, the group of patients with low PNI who underwent major hepatectomy had significantly higher rates of postoperative complications than the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Adding the resection range to the PNI is useful for predicting the postoperative morbidities of hepatectomy patients.

A phase I/II study of S-1 and irinotecan (IRIS) combined with cetuximab in patients with RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (KSCC1401).

PURPOSE: This study was designed to assess the tolerability, efficacy, and safety of tri-weekly irinotecan plus S-1 (IRIS) and weekly cetuximab in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). METHODS: The main eligibility criteria were RAS wild-type mCRC with no prior chemotherapy. S-1 was given orally at a dose of 40 mg/m2 (40-60 mg) twice for 2 weeks, followed by a 1-week rest. Irinotecan was given on day 1 of each cycle at a dose of 150 mg/m2. Cetuximab was administered on days 1 (400 mg/m2), 8 (250 mg/m2), and 15 (250 mg/m2), and then once weekly (250 mg/m2) thereafter. A standard 3 + 3 phase I dose de-escalation design was used to determine the maximum tolerated dose and the recommended dose (RD) of irinotecan. The primary end point of the Phase II study was overall response rate (ORR). RESULTS: Between December 2014 and September 2017, 4 and 54 patients were enrolled in phase I and phase II studies, respectively. No dose-limiting toxicity was observed in the phase I study, and the RD of irinotecan was 150 mg/m2. In the phase II study, the ORR was 56.9% (90% confidence interval 44.4%-68.7%). The safety profile revealed that the most common grade 3/4 adverse events were neutropenia (31.4%), appetite loss (27.5%), hypokalemia (11.8%), and diarrhea (11.8%). Grade 3/4 hand-foot skin syndrome occurred in nine patients (9.8%). CONCLUSION: This study showed that the efficacy and safety of IRIS combined with cetuximab were comparable to those for other first-line treatments. This regimen is a good candidate for first-line treatment of RAS wild-type mCRC.

Successful Conversion Surgery Following Chylous Ascites After Nivolumab for Advanced Gastric Cancer.

CASE REPORT: A 75-year-old man who underwent nivolumab as the third-line chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer had chylous ascites (CA) after the primary tumor shrank remarkably. Total parenteral nutrition and subcutaneous octreotide were initiated, and CA disappeared. Nivolumab was continued for a total of 23 courses. Computed tomography showed lymph node swelling; however, staging laparoscopy showed that peritoneal metastasis had disappeared. Therefore, conversion surgery and distal gastrectomy with D1+ dissection were performed. RESULTS: The pathological diagnosis was type IV, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (por2) with signet ring cells, ypT2 (muscularis propria), without lymphatic or venous invasion, and no involvement of the proximal and distal margins. After the operation, no recurrence was observed over 7 months with no adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Nivolumab has the potential to lead to R0 resection for patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis gastric cancer. To our knowledge, this is the first report of successful conversion surgery after nivolumab-related chylous ascites.

Mesenteric venous thrombosis as a rare complication of decompression sickness.

BACKGROUND: Decompression sickness (DCS) induced by extravascular and intravascular gas bubbles during decompression can present with varying manifestations, such as joint pain, numbness, cutaneous symptoms, and cardiopulmonary dysfunction. However, mesenteric venous thrombosis (MVT) is a rare complication of DCS. To the best of our knowledge, only a few cases have been reported, and surgical cases of MVT secondary to DCS have not yet been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 59-year-old man who was a fisherman and recreational diver dived to a depth of 100 feet. After diving, he noted abdominal and postcervical pain and visited a community hospital. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a large amount of intravenous gas, so he was diagnosed with DCS. He was then transferred to a previous hospital, where hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) was performed. HBOT reduced the amount of venous gas, but his abdominal pain worsened, so he was transferred to our hospital. CT showed pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis. Because of the possibility of intestinal necrosis, a laparoscopic examination was performed, which revealed necrosis of the transverse colon. We therefore performed a transverse colon resection. He was discharged 36 days after the surgery and followed an uneventful postoperative course. CONCLUSIONS: DCS is likely to cause MVT. If intestinal necrosis is suspected, a laparoscopic examination may be useful for determining the diagnosis and treatment. MVT should be included as a differential diagnosis of abdominal pain that persists after HBOT.

A prospective study of XELIRI plus bevacizumab as a first-line therapy in Japanese patients with unresectable or recurrent colorectal cancer (KSCC1101).

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of XELIRI plus bevacizumab for the treatment of Japanese patients with unresectable or recurrent colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: This was a multicenter, single-arm, open-label prospective study. The major inclusion criteria were previously untreated unresectable or recurrent CRC, presence of measurable lesions, ≥20 years of age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 or 1, and adequate organ function. Patients received bevacizumab (7.5 mg/kg on day 1) and XELIRI (irinotecan 200 mg/m2 on day 1 plus capecitabine 800 mg/m2 b.i.d. on days 1-14) every 3 weeks. The primary endpoint was the objective tumor response rate. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients were enrolled in this study from July 2011 to September 2012. One patient did not fulfill the eligibility criteria and one patient withdrew their consent before the start of the treatment protocol. The confirmed objective response rate was 58.8% (95% CI 35.1-70.2%). The median progression-free survival was 9.6 months (95% CI 5.1-11.1 months) and the median overall survival was 23.1 months (95% CI 11.3-36.7 months). The grade ≥3 adverse events that were frequently encountered in this study were neutropenia (31.4%), leukopenia (22.9%), diarrhea (22.9%), anemia (20.0%), anorexia (20.0%) and febrile neutropenia (17.2%). The frequency of grade 3/4 adverse events, such as neutropenia and leukopenia, was much higher in patients with a UGT1A1 polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS: A first-line therapy comprising XELIRI plus bevacizumab yielded a promising response rate. However, careful attention should be given to adverse clinical events in Japanese patients receiving treatment with unresectable or recurrent CRC.

Initial Japanese experience with the LAP-BAND system.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic bariatric surgery has gradually spread in Japan since it was introduced in 2000. In 2005, we introduced laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) with the LAP-BAND system into Japan. Here, we evaluate our intermediate-term results with the LAP-BAND system. METHODS: Between August 2005 and June 2010, 27 Japanese patients with morbid obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m(2) ) underwent LAGB with the LAP-BAND system in our institution. Our patients' average weight was 111 kg and BMI was 41 kg/m(2) . All LAGB procedures were performed through the pars flaccida pathway with band fixation using gastric-to-gastric sutures. The average follow-up period was 48 months. RESULTS: All procedures were completed laparoscopically. One early complication (sudden cardiac arrest due to postoperative bleeding) and three late complications (port trouble, megaesophagus, and band slippage) were experienced, and reoperations were performed in three of the patients. Weight loss and percentage of excess weight loss on average were 26 kg and 53% after 3 years and 22 kg and 53% after 6 years, respectively. In line with this good weight loss, comorbidities, especially those of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome were frequently resolved or improved. CONCLUSION: LAGB with the LAP-BAND system appears to be beneficial in obese Japanese patients.

Operative timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis in a Japanese institute.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In patients with acute cholecystitis who cannot undergo early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (within 72 hours), 6 weeks to 12 weeks after onset is widely considered the optimal timing for delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, there has been no clear consensus about it. We aimed to determine optimal timing for delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. METHODS: Medical records of 100 patients who underwent standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy were reviewed retrospectively. Patients were divided into group 1, patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy within 72 hours of onset; group 2, between 4 days to 14 days; group 3, between 3 weeks to 6 weeks; group 4, >6 weeks. RESULTS: No significant differences existed between groups in conversion rate to open surgery, operation time, blood loss, or postoperative morbidity, and hospital stay. However, total hospital stay in groups 1 and 2 was significantly shorter than that in groups 3 and 4 (P<.01). In addition, the total hospital stay in group 3 was also significantly shorter than that in group 4 (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS: Best timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis may be within 72 hours, and the delayed timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients who cannot undergo early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is probably as soon as possible after they can tolerate laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Implications of portal vein thrombosis after splenectomy for patients with idiopathic portal hypertension.

PURPOSE: Idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH) is considered to be closely related to portal vein thrombosis (PVT). The aim of this study was to clarify the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of PVT in patients with IPH after splenectomy. METHODS: We investigated the rates, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of PVT in 18 patients who underwent splenectomy for IPH, during a mean follow-up period of 152 ± 83 months. RESULTS: Seven of the 18 patients (39%) experienced gastrointestinal bleeding, which was from the varices in 4. Eight patients (44%) had PVT, and the mean interval until its detection after splenectomy was 22 ± 41 months. The cumulative gastrointestinal bleeding rates 5, 10, and 15 years after surgery were 24%, 31%, and 41%, respectively. The cumulative survival rates 5, 10, and 15 years after surgery were 94%, 74%, and 65%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the cumulative gastrointestinal bleeding and survival rates between patients with and those without PVT. CONCLUSION: Despite the high incidence of PVT in IPH patients postsplenectomy, it may not be related to their gastrointestinal bleeding or prognosis.

Long-term surviving patient with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus and extrahepatic metastasis after spontaneous ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma.

We present a case of long-term survival in a patient with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus (IVCTT) and extrahepatic metastasis after resection for spontaneous ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The patient was a 73-year-old Japanese man previously diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B. He was referred to our emergency room and diagnosed with spontaneous ruptured HCC. The patient was immediately treated with transcatheter arterial embolization, and we then performed second-stage hepatic resection 50 days later. Although des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin was reduced to a normal level after hepatectomy, it gradually increased and computed tomography showed a disseminated tumor in the diaphragm near S2 of the liver with IVCTT and right atrium tumor thrombus. Recurrent HCC was treated with monthly transcatheter arterial infusion chemotherapy (TAI) and conformal radiotherapy (RT) of 40 Gy. After TAI and RT procedures, the disseminated tumor and IVCTT completely disappeared. Four years after TAI and RT procedures, the tumors were well controlled with no local recurrence. About 6-7 years after spontaneous ruptured HCC, lung metastasis and spleen metastasis were detected and resected, respectively. The patient is still alive and doing well over 7 years after spontaneous ruptured HCC.

[Current status of laparoscopic bariatric surgery].

During recent years, obesity has emerged as a major public health problem in the world. It is generally agreed that non-surgical therapies do not solve the problem of morbid obesity (BMI > or =35 kg/m). Therefore, bariatric surgery has been frequently performed for treatments of morbid obesity in American and European countries. In 2008, more than 340,000 bariatric surgical operations (> or =90% laparoscopically) were done, and the typical procedures were laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy. Bariatric surgery certainly reduces weight and improves comorbidities and survival in morbidly obese patients. Recently, several bariatric procedures have been also introduced into Japan, and their excellent results in Japanese patients have been already reported.

A comparative study of the long-term outcomes after laparoscopy-assisted and open left lateral hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic hepatectomy was initially reported in 1992. However, the reported experiences are scarce, and this operation has not been a standard procedure until now. The aims of this study were to assess our results of laparoscopy-assisted left lateral hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to compare them with those of open conventional procedures. METHODS: From 1984 to 2002, left lateral hepatectomy for HCC less than 5 cm in diameter was carried out in 21 patients. Ten patients received a laparoscopy-assisted procedure, and remaining 11 patients received an open procedure. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the operation time, blood loss, resected liver weight, and resection margin between the 2 groups. The total time that analgesics were given, body temperature on postoperative day 1, weight loss on postoperative day 7, and postoperative hospital stay in the laparoscopic group were significantly better than in the conventional group. With regard to the long-term prognosis, there were no differences in patient survival or disease-free survival rates between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy-assisted left lateral hepatectomy for HCC is superior to the conventional open surgery in terms of its short-term results and does not cause the long-term survival to deteriorate. Therefore, laparoscopic hepatectomy may be an alternative choice for treatment of HCC.

Ampullary cancer and preoperative jaundice: possible indication of the minimal surgery.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Obstructive jaundice is common symptom of carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater. In the present study we evaluated association between preoperative jaundice and prognosis and possible indication of the minimal surgery. METHODOLOGY: Clinicopathological features of 50 patients who underwent curative resection were examined retrospectively and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-two of the 50 patients (64%) had preoperative jaundice, and these patients had poorer survival compared with these without jaundice (5 year survival 57.2% vs. 100%, p < 0.01). Preoperative jaundice, serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level, pancreatic invasion, lymphatic invasion, venous invasion, perineural invasion, duodenal invasion, margin status, lymph node metastasis, and T stage were shown to be significant prognostic factors. In the 18 patients without preoperative jaundice, lymphatic invasion was significantly related to lymph node metastasis. In addition, 12 of the 14 patients without jaundice and lymphatic invasion were diagnosed as T1N0 (stage IA) disease, and all the tumors were papillary or well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative jaundice may reflect advanced-stage in case of ampullary cancer. Radical surgery may not be necessary in patients without preoperative jaundice if the tumor is diagnosed as a papillary or well-differentiated adenocarcinoma without lymphatic invasion.

Increased levels of both carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and duke pancreatic monoclonal antigen type 2 reflect postoperative prognosis in patients with pancreatic carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: It is important to identify useful tumor markers for the prediction of postoperative outcomes in patients with pancreatic carcinoma (PC). METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in 87 patients who underwent surgical resection for PC. Preoperative levels of tumor markers such as carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and duke pancreatic monoclonal antigen type 2 (DUPAN-2) were estimated and analyzed in relation to disease-specific survival (DSS). RESULTS: The CA19-9 level did not correlate with the DUPAN-2 level (R=-0.057). Prognosis correlated with CA19-9 levels, and patients with 185 U/mL or lower CA19-9 level showed significantly better DSS than patients with 186-U/mL or higher CA19-9 level (P=0.015). Patients with 151- to 800-U/mL DUPAN-2 level showed significantly worse DSS than patients with 801-U/mL or higher DUPAN-2 level (P=0.0023), so the prognosis was reversely related to the DUPAN-2 level. Patients with increased levels of both CA19-9 and DUPAN-2 showed significantly worse DSS than the patients without elevated levels (P

Increased heat-shock protein 90 expression contributes to impaired adaptive cytoprotection in the gastric mucosa of portal hypertensive rats.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Portal hypertensive (PHT) gastropathy results in an increased susceptibility to damage. Adaptive cytoprotection against ethanol-induced damage is impaired in the gastric mucosa of rats with portal hypertension. Excessive nitric oxide (NO) production occurs in portal hypertension and is mediated in part via heat-shock protein (Hsp)90 production. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between adaptive cytoprotection after exposure to ethanol and gastric expression of Hsp90 in PHT rats. METHODS: Portal hypertension was induced in rats by staged portal vein occlusion. Adaptive cytoprotection to 70% ethanol was evaluated by assessing the injury index of the gastric mucosa with or without pretreatment with 10% ethanol. Expression of Hsp90 mRNA was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction, and expression of Hsp90 protein was evaluated by western blotting. The effect of Hsp90 inhibition in PHT rats was evaluated by administration of geldanamycin. RESULTS: Gastric Hsp90 mRNA expression in PHT rats was significantly less than that in sham-operated (SO) controls. However, after 10% ethanol pretreatment, Hsp90 mRNA expression was significantly greater in PHT rats than in SO controls. In PHT rats, gastric Hsp90 protein expression after 10% ethanol pretreatment was significantly greater than that without the pretreatment. However, the pretreatment had no effect on the injury index compared to SO rats. Administration of geldanamycin prior to 10% ethanol pretreatment significantly decreased the injury index in response to 70% ethanol in the PHT rats. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that 10% ethanol pretreatment markedly increases gastric Hsp90 expression in PHT rats. Excessive production of Hsp90 may contribute impaired adaptive cytoprotection.

[Endoscopic and laparoscopic treatments for morbid obesity--endoscopic intragastric balloon placement and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding].

We have introduced intragastric balloon placement (IGB) and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) into Japan since 2004. We performed IGB in 23 morbidly obese patients with 40 +/- 9 kg/m2 (BMI). When the balloon were removed after 5 months, the averaged weight loss and percent excess weight loss (%EWL) were 12 kg and 27%, respectively. Twenty-seven patients with 45 +/- 9 kg/m2 underwent LAGB in our institute, and after 12 and 24 months, the average weight loss were 25 kg and 35 kg, and %EWL were 40% and 54%. There was no serious complication after both the treatments. IGB and LAGB are safe and effective treatments for Japanease patients with morbid obesity.

Lymphatic invasion: an important prognostic factor for stages T1b-T3 gallbladder cancer and an indication for additional radical resection of incidental gallbladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is being performed with increasing frequency worldwide. This has led to more frequent discovery of incidental gallbladder cancer (IGBC) and in turn to the need for an independent prognostic factor for stages T1b-T3 gallbladder cancer so that is can be determined clinically which cases of IGBC are indicated for additional radical resection (ARR). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted that included 72 patients who underwent macroscopically curative surgical resection (R0, R1) at our center for stages T1b-T3 GBC. Survival analysis was performed, and the usefulness of ARR was analyzed in 15 patients with IGBC. RESULTS: Univariate analysis of disease-specific survival showed stage T3, histologic grade II-IV, lymphatic invasion, vessel invasion, perineural invasion, lymph node metastasis, and a positive resection margin to be factors indicative of poor prognosis. Independent predictors of poor disease-specific survival were stage T3 (hazard ratio, 2.33 [95% CI, 1.10-4.95]), lymphatic invasion (5.97 [1.29-27.6]), and a positive resection margin (3.17 [1.51-6.63]). Among the 15 IGBC patients, 4 of 5 patients without lymphatic invasion were cured, 2 of whom underwent cholecystectomy alone; 4 of 10 patients with lymphatic invasion did not undergo ARR, and the cancer recurred in all 4 patients; the other 6 patients underwent ARR, and 4 of them were cured by reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: Lymphatic invasion well reflects the malignant phenotype of stages T1b-T3 GBC. We advocate ARR for IGBC patients with lymphatic invasion.

Additional effect of visceral fat resection in an obese rat model of gastric banding.

BACKGROUND: There is accumulating agreement that bariatric surgery is currently the most efficacious and enduring treatment for clinically severe obesity, and as a result, the number of bariatric surgeries performed worldwide has increased in recent years. Although the function of visceral fat has gradually become clear, the effect of visceral fat resection is still unknown. The aim of this study was to clarify the additional effect of visceral fat resection in an obese rat model of gastric banding. METHODS: Forty male Zucker fatty rats were divided into four groups: the control group, visceral fat resection group, gastric banding group, and gastric banding with visceral fat resection group. They were followed for 8 weeks after surgery, and their body weight change, cumulative food intake, metabolic parameters, and adipocytokines were measured. RESULTS: The gastric banding rats either with or without visceral fat resection showed significant decreases in weight gain, cumulative food intake, and levels of metabolic parameters compared to the control rats. There were no significant differences in weight gain and cumulative food intake between gastric banding with and without visceral fat resection. However, gastric banding with visceral fat resection resulted in lower plasma levels of free fatty acid and TNF-alpha compared to gastric banding alone, and expression of adiponectin mRNA in the adipose tissue was significantly decreased with the addition of visceral fat resection compared with banding alone. There were no significant differences in any parameters between controls and rats receiving visceral fat resection alone. CONCLUSION: Visceral fat resection may improve adipocytokines and free fatty acid in an obese rat model of gastric banding. However, further studies are necessary before the procedure can be considered an option on bariatric surgery.

Initial Japanese experience with intragastric balloon placement.

BACKGROUND: We introduced intragastric balloon placement in Japan and evaluated the initial data. METHODS: Between December 2004 and March 2008, intragastric balloons [BioEnterics Intragastric Balloon (BIB) system] were placed in 21 Japanese patients with obesity [six women, 15 men; mean age 40+/-9 years; mean body mass index (BMI) 40+/-9 kg/m2]. The inclusion criteria were morbid obesity (BMI>or=35 kg/m2), the presence of obesity-related disorders, and failure with conventional treatments for at least 6 months. The balloon was routinely removed under endoscopy after 5 months. RESULTS: No serious complications occurred, but in two of the 21 patients (9.5%), early removal (within 1 week) of the balloon was required due to continuous abdominal discomfort. Two other patients (9.5%) could not control their eating behavior and were considered unresponsive to the treatment, and their balloons were also removed before 5 months. Seventeen of the 21 patients (81%) finished the treatment, and the average weight loss and percent excess weight loss (%EWL) at the time the balloons were removed were 12+/-5 kg and 27+/-9%, respectively. Eight patients were followed for 1 year without intervention of consecutive bariatric surgery, and at that time, four of these patients had kept more than 20% of %EWL. The other patients regained their weight in the first year. CONCLUSIONS: Intragastric balloon placement is a safe and effective procedure in obese Japanese patients, and about half of the patients will maintain their weight loss after the balloon is removed.