The increasing prevalence of obesity in both developed and developing countries is one of the most serious public health problems and has led to a global epidemic. Obesity is one of the greatest risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is found in 60 to 70% of obese patients mainly due to the buildup of fat tissue in the upper portion of the thorax and neck. The aim of the present randomized clinical trial is to assess daytime sleepiness, sleep architecture and pulmonary function in patients with severe obesity before and after bariatric surgery.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most frequent disease associated with abnormal liver tests that is characterized by a wide spectrum of liver damage, ranging from simple macro vesicular steatosis to steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis or liver carcinoma. Liver biopsy is the most precise test to differentiate NASH from other stages of NAFLD, but it is an invasive and expensive method. This study aimed to create a clinical laboratory score capable of identify individual with NASH in severely obese patients submitted to bariatric surgery. Methods: The medical records from 66 patients submitted to gastroplasty were reviewed. Their chemistry profile, abdominal ultrasound (US) and liver biopsy done during the surgical procedure were analyzed. Patients were classified into 2 groups according to liver biopsy: Non-NASH group - those patients without NAFLD or with grade I, II or III steatosis; and NASH group - those with steatohepatitis or fibrosis. The t-test was used to compare each variable with normal distribution between NASH and Non-NASH groups. When comparing proportions of categorical variables, we used chi-square or z-test, where appropriate. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: 83% of patients with obesity grades II or III showed NAFLD, and the majority was asymptomatic. Total Cholesterol (TC)≥200 mg/dL, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≥30, AST/ALT ratio (AAR)≤ 1, gammaglutaril-transferase (γGT)≥30 U/L and abdominal US, compatible with steatosis, showed association with NASH group. We proposed 2 scores: Complete score (TC, ALT, AAR, γGT and US) and the simplified score, where US was not included. The combination of biochemical and imaging results improved accuracy to 84.4% the recognition of NASH (sensitivity 70%, specificity 88.6%, NPV 91.2%, PPV 63. 6%). Conclusion: Alterations in TC, ALT, AAR, γGT and US are related to the most risk for NASH. The combination of biochemical and imaging results improved accuracy to 84.4% the recognition of NASH. Additionally, negative final scores exclude the presence of an advanced illness. Using this score, the severity of fatty liver infiltration would be predicted without the risks associated with hepatic biopsy.

Background Obesity is a worldwide disease related to genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors, and it is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Recently, obesity has been characterized by a low-grade inflammatory state known as inflammome indicated by chronic increases in circulating concentrations of inflammatory markers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of weight loss induced by surgery for obesity and weight-related diseases on pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory adipokine (adiponectin) levels, and on an adipose-derived hormone (leptin) in severely obese subjects. Methods This randomized, controlled trial involved 55 severe obese patients (50 women, age 18–63 years, and body mass index of 35.7–63 kg/m²) who underwent bariatric surgery (BS). Patients with a BMI > 65 kg/m² and clinical and mental instability, or significant and unrealistic expectations of surgery were excluded. Blood samples were collected during the fasting period to analyze tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), adiponectin, and leptin levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results At baseline, no significant difference was observed in the anthropometric, demographic, clinical characteristics and biochemistry and inflammatory markers between the control group (CG) and bariatric surgery group (BSG). The same finding was also observed when we compared the baseline variables to those at the 6-month follow-up in the CG. However, the same variables in the BSG group were significantly different between baseline and the 6-month follow-up after BS. Conclusions Weight loss induced by surgery for obesity and weight-related diseases reduced the inflammome state in severely obese patients.

RACIONAL: No Brasil, o câncer gástrico é o quarto tumor maligno mais frequente entre os homens e sexto entre as mulheres. A causa é multivariada e os componentes de risco conhecidos. Ele tem seu prognóstico e tratamento definidos pela localização e estadiamento do tumor e número de linfonodos ressecados e acometidos. OBJETIVO: O Consenso Brasileiro sobre Câncer Gástrico foi idealizado pela ABCG com o intuito de emitir diretrizes que possam orientar os profissionais médicos no atendimento aos pacientes portadores desta afecção. MÉTODOS: Foram respondidas e resumidas 43 questões refletindo consenso ou não sobre diagnóstico e tratamento que poderão ser empregadas como orientação para sua abordagem multiprofissional. O método envolveu três etapas. Inicialmente 56 cirurgiões do aparelho digestivo e médicos de especialidades correlatas reuniram-se para formular as perguntas que foram enviadas aos participantes para embasarem as respostas em evidências científicas e na experiência pessoal. Resumos aos temas foram apresentados, discutidos em plenário e votados em duas outras reuniões. Os temas abrangeram 53 perguntas envolvendo: diagnóstico e estadiamento (seis questões); tratamento cirúrgico (35 questões); quimioterapia e radioterapia (sete questões); e anatomopatologia, imunoistoquímica e perspectivas (cinco questões). Considerou-se consenso a concordância de mais de 70% dos votos em cada tema. RESULTADOS: Todas as respostas foram apresentadas e votadas, e em 42 delas houve consenso. CONCLUSÃO: Pôde ser elaborado consenso na maior parte das questões que acompanham o atendimento dos pacientes com câncer gástrico, permitindo a elas serem encaminhadas para a confecção de Diretrizes sobre o tema.