Health status and physical fitness of mines rescue brigadesmen.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess health status of regular and part-time mines rescue brigadesmen. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A group of 685 mines rescue brigadesmen was examined within the preventive testing - a basic internal, biochemistry and anthropometric examination, physical fitness testing. RESULTS: The average age of the subjects was 41.96±7.18 years, the average exposure in mining was 20±8.1 years, out of that 11.95±7.85 years as mines rescue brigadesmen. Elevated levels of total serum cholesterol (T-CH) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-CH) were found in over 1/2 of the subjects. Systolic hypertension (systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mm Hg) was confirmed in 34%, overweight (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25) in 62.3% and obesity (BMI ≥ 30) in 20.4% of the examined mines rescue brigadesmen. The metabolic syndrome was found in 15.2% of persons. The highest physical fitness was found in mines rescue brigadesmen and the lowest in mine officers. Limit values of maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 max/kg) determined by the management of the mine rescue station were not reached by every 3rd of all mines rescue brigadesmen. Compared with the control group of the Czech and Slovak population, the rescuers are taller, have greater BMI, higher percentage of body fat in all age categories and proportionally to that they achieve a higher maximum minute oxygen uptake; however, in relative values per kg of body weight their physical fitness is practically the same as that of the controls. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and VO2 max/kg in the group of the mines rescue brigadesmen is comparable with that in the general untrained Czech population.

Dietary intake and ghrelin and leptin changes after sleeve gastrectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical intervention in obesity is today the most effective treatment method in high level obesity management. Bariatric interventions not only ensure body weight reduction, but may influence dietary habits. AIM: To assess changes in adipose hormones and dietary habits in obese patients after sleeve gastrectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study set comprised 37 subjects (29 females and 8 males) 24 to 68 years old with body mass index 43.0 ±4.9 kg/m(2). Pre-operative examination included baseline measurements of body composition. Dietary habits and intake frequency were monitored by a questionnaire method. Follow-up examinations were carried out in a scope identical to the pre-operative examination, 6 and 12 months after surgery, respectively. RESULTS: The average patient weight loss 12 months after surgery was 31.7 kg. Excess weight loss was 55.2 ±20.6%. Patients reported reduced appetite (p < 0.001), increasingly regular food intake (p < 0.001), intake of more meal portions per day (p = 0.003) and a decrease in consuming the largest portions during the afternoon and evening (p = 0.030). Plasma levels of fasting glucose, leptin and ghrelin significantly decreased (p = 0.006; p = 0.0.043); in contrast, the level of adiponectin significantly increased (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Sleeve gastrectomy and follow-up nutritional therapy resulted in a significant body weight reduction within 1 year after surgery. An improvement of certain dietary habits in patients was registered. At 12 months after surgery, there were no statistically significant differences in decreases in ghrelin and leptin concentrations between patients without changed appetite and those reporting decreased appetite.

Effects of sleeve gastrectomy on parameters of lipid and glucose metabolism in obese women - 6 months after operation.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical intervention in obesity is today the most effective treatment method in high level obesity management with long-term clinical results and satisfaction of operated patients. Bariatric interventions not only ensure body weight reduction, but may influence lipid and saccharide metabolism as well. AIM: To monitor the dynamics of changes in selected lipid and glucose metabolism parameters after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in obese women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During the period from September 2010 to June 2011, 35 women, operated on by sleeve gastrectomy, were monitored within a pilot open study. Parameters of lipid and glucose metabolism were measured, and body composition was evaluated, using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Laboratory parameters were assessed prior to LSG and at 3 and 6 months after the surgery. RESULTS: Data of the 35 study subjects are presented. Average age was 41.9 years (27-68 years). Six months after LSG, body weight reduction was achieved from 117.7 ±17.1 kg to 91.2 ±17.2 kg (p < 0.001). The body mass index (BMI) dropped from 42.7 ±4.7 kg/m(2) to 33.0 ±4.9 kg/m(2) (p < 0.001). The excess weight loss (EWL) was 49.01%. High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increased from 1.29 mmol/l to 1.39 mmol/l (p < 0.025). Triacylglycerols dropped from 1.97 mmol/l to 1.31 mmol/l (p < 0.001). Glycated hemoglobin dropped from 4.03% to 3.59% (p < 0.001), and C-peptide decreased from 1703 pmol/l to 1209 pmol/l (p < 0.002). The observed changes of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, total cholesterol or fasting glucose levels were not significant. Six months after LSG, both weight and BMI significantly decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Six months after the operation, glucose homeostasis was improved. Despite the rather short-term monitoring period, our study did confirm LSG to influence not only total weight loss and fat tissue reduction but to improve risk factors, mainly glucose homeostasis and dyslipidemia, as well.