Treatment of morbid obesity in inner-city women.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the use of the very-low-calorie formula diet (VLCD) in the indigent population of Newark, NJ, with the goal of achieving 10% weight loss within a relatively short period of 10 weeks. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: We accepted 131 morbidly obese indigent women into our study program. The study was limited to women only and the average starting weight was 292.3 +/- 5.9 lbs (+/- SE; 50.3 +/- 0.9 body mass index [kg/m(2)]). We used three treatment paradigms: total cost-free program for 10 weeks; cost-free, but compliance requirements; and a weekly charge of $25. The results obtained were compared with two control populations: women enrolled during the same recruitment period in a comparable suburban VLCD program and a historical control population of suburban women treated from 1985 through 1995. RESULTS: In group A (total cost-free), 79% of patients completed the 10-week program, but only 18% of patients achieved the goal of 10% weight loss. In group B when attendance and weight loss requirements were imposed, the dropout rate accelerated such that only 37% of patients completed the 10-week course, and 16% of the women were successful with their weight loss. In group C, imposing $25/wk financial outlay also accelerated dropouts but had little effect on weight loss success, which was 10% of the starting group. By comparison, the suburban patients and the historical control group exhibited 67% and 76% attendance rates after 10 weeks, and 33% and 55% success rates, respectively, in achieving the weight loss goal. DISCUSSION: We conclude that inner-city patients exhibit great interest in weight loss when financial barriers are removed. Successful weight loss was achieved in 10% to 18% of patients using the VLCD approach, approximately one-half of that obtained in affluent suburban women. Imposing financial or compliance restrictions to the inner-city patients served only to enhance dropouts.

Leptin, insulin and TNF-alpha in weight loss.

Forty-eight morbidly obese patients were placed on a very low calorie (800 kcal) formula diet (OPTIFAST) for a 10-week period with the goal of achieving 10% weight loss within this time. Weekly serum leptin measurements were performed to determine whether changes in this adipose protein would serve as a useful marker of acute and chronic weight loss compliance. In the basal state, serum leptin averaged 56.9 +/- 5.8 ng/ml (SE) in the 24 successful (S) patients, and 67.7 +/- 6.7 ng/ml in the non-successful (N-S) group. During the first week of weight loss there was little change in leptin despite an average weight loss of 2.2%, but after 4 weeks serum leptin decreased by 36% in the S group, and 20% in the N-S group. After 10 weeks, the S group averaged 13.6% weight loss and the serum leptin decreased to 50% of starting levels. In the 24 N-S patients, the mean weight loss was 7.0%, and serum leptin decreased by 22%, remaining unchanged in the final 6 weeks despite a weight loss of 3.6% in this time. On a week-to-week basis serum leptin changed concordantly with weight loss only two-thirds of the time. In a subgroup of 14 patients (8 S+6 N-S), serial assessments of serum leptin, insulin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were performed. Serum insulin levels decreased with weight loss similar in magnitude to that noted for leptin; however, the insulin changes occurred more rapidly. Serum TNF-alpha also decreased with weight loss, but the weekly changes were more erratic, with a concordance rate of only 48%. In summary, serum leptin, insulin and TNF-alpha all decreased during a rapid weight loss program but at differing rates and variability, precluding their usefulness as markers of week-to-week weight loss compliance.

Evaluation of cyropreserved internal thoracic artery as an alternative coronary graft: evidence for preserved functional, metabolic and structural integrity.

The internal thoracic artery (ITA) is the conduit of choice for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study, utilizing a canine model, evaluates cryopreserved ITA. Sixteen ITAs were harvested and cryopreserved according to United CryoInstitute protocol. Test conduits, 5 cm long and 4 mm mean diameter, were anastomosed to the ligated carotid artery of an unmatched mongrel recipient, above and below the site of native artery ligation. Graft patency was assessed by angiography at 14 days (early) and 980 days (late) postoperatively. Catheterization of the 16 vessels identified three (18%) early and one (6%) late graft occlusion. Ninety days postoperatively, each dog was killed and the graft harvested for histopathological and functional evaluation. Morphologic evaluation, using conventional staining, showed preserved cellular structure, decrease in smooth muscle cells and distorted endothelial layer. Immunocytochemistry, using an antibody against prostacyclin (PGI2), detected PGI2 immunoactivity in the ITA smooth muscle cells. An in vitro assay performed on the arterial rings confirmed preserved functional integrity of the vascular endothelium and smooth muscle. These findings suggest that cryopreserved ITA may have potential as a substitute graft, in devising conduit strategies for primary or reoperative coronary bypass surgery.