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Purpose: The present study aims to determine the impact of previous bariatric surgery (BS) on the length of hospital stay; the incidence of mortality, re-transplantation, and re-hospitalization after LT; and the related economic costs, through the analysis of the French National Health Insurance Information System., Materials and Methods: All patients aged > 18 years who underwent LT in France in the period from 2010 to 2019 were included. Thirty-nine patients with a history of BS (study group) were compared with 1798 obese patients without previous BS (control group)., Results: At the time of LT, patients with a history of BS were significantly younger than those of the control group and had lower Charlson comorbidity index. Female sex was significantly more represented in the study group. No significant differences were detected between the two groups regarding the postoperative mortality rate after LT (10.3% in the study group versus 8.0% in the control group), long-term mortality (0.038 versus 0.029 person-year of follow-up, respectively), re-transplantation (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 2.15, p = 0.2437), re-hospitalization (adjusted analysis, IRR = 0.93, p = 0.7517), and costs of LT hospitalization (73,515 € in the study group versus 65,878 € in the control group). After 1:2 propensity score matching, the duration of the LT hospital stay was significantly longer in the study group (58.3 versus 33.4 days, p = 0.0172)., Conclusion: No significant differences were detected between patients with previous BS versus obese patients without history of BS undergoing LT concerning the rates of mortality, re-LT, re-hospitalization after LT, and costs of hospitalization and re-hospitalizations., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: The impact of bariatric surgery (BS) on the sexual functioning of patients is poorly studied. Our aim was to analyze the sexual function, depressive symptoms, and self-esteem of morbidly obese women (MOW) undergoing BS., Patients and Methods: Quality of sexual life was prospectively evaluated in 43 consecutive MOW (18-50 years) who underwent BS. Female sexual function index (FSFI), Beck depression inventory (BDI), and Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES) questionnaires were administered to evaluate sexual satisfaction, depressive symptoms, and self-esteem, respectively. A control group of 36 healthy, non-obese, female patients (HW) was recruited for comparison. Results of questionnaires were compared between three periods (before BS and at 3- and 6-month follow-up) and between MOW and HW., Results: Before BS, the FSFI score was significantly lower in MOW compared to HW (17 ± 12 vs 27 ± 8, p = 0.0001) while at 3- and 6-month post-BS, a significant amelioration (p = 0.01) occurred. In particular, after BS, all components of the FSFI score (sexual desire, excitement, lubrification, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain) were ameliorated. The pre-BS BDI score was higher in MOW than in HW (8 ± 6 vs 5 ± 5, p = 0.004) while at postoperative months 3 and 6, a significant amelioration was found (p = 0.025 and 0.005, respectively). Before BS, no significant differences occurred in the RSES score between MOW and HW (30 ± 7 vs 32 ± 6, p = 0.014), whereas the MOW RSES scores at 6-month post-BS were improved when compared with the HW RSES scores., Conclusions: BS results in a significant improvement in the quality of sexual life, depressive symptoms, and self-esteem in MOW.

Background: Overweight and obesity dramatically increased in the last years. Hepatic complication of obesity, integrated in the term of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a spectrum of abnormality ranging from steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), potentially leading to cirrhosis. Liver biopsy remains the gold standard to evaluate the stage of NAFLD; however, the procedure is invasive. The indocyanine green (ICG) clearance test is performed since years to assess hepatic function before partial hepatectomy, or after liver transplantation. This study was designed to detect liver complications with the ICG clearance test in a population of obese patients scheduled for bariatric surgery., Methods: In a prospective cohort study, morbidly obese individuals receiving bariatric surgery with scheduled hepatic biopsies were investigated. Liver function was determined by the ICG test preoperatively, and blood samples were collected. Liver biopsy specimens were obtained for each patient and classified according to the NAFLD activity score (NAS) by a single pathologist that was blinded to the results of the ICG test., Results: Twenty-six patients were included (7 male and 19 female). The mean age of participants was 45.8 years; the mean body mass index was 41.4 kg/m 2 . According to the NAS, 6 (23.1%) patients revealed manifest NASH, and 5 patients were considered borderline (19.2%). A closed correlation was observed between the ICG clearance test and hepatic steatosis (r = 0.43, p = 0.03), NAS (r = 0.44, p = 0.025), and fibrosis (r = 0.49, p = 0.01)., Conclusions: In obese patients, non-invasive evaluation of liver function with the indocyanine green clearance test correlated with histological features of NAFLD. This may detect non-invasively hepatopathy in obese population and could motive biopsy.

Background: In this study, we explored in a prospective cohort of morbidly obese women undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGP) correlations between baseline anthropometrics, metabolic parameters, resting energy expenditure (REE), body composition, and 1-year % excess body mass index loss (%EBMIL). We also investigated risk factors for insufficient %EBMIL., Methods: One hundred three consecutive women were prospectively evaluated at baseline (age 40.6 ± 11.2, weight 113.9 kg ± 15.3, BMI 43.3 ± 4.9 kg/m 2 ) and 1 year after LRYGP. Weight, excess weight, brachial circumference, waist circumference, fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) (measured with bioelectrical impedance analysis), REE, inflammation, insulin resistance, and lipid disturbances were determined before and 1 year after LRYGP., Results: At 1 year, mean weight loss was 39.8 kg ± 11.7 and mean EBMIL was 15.2 kg/m 2  ± 4.2. Mean %EBMIL was 86% ± 21% (range 30-146%). Baseline brachial circumference, waist circumference and triceps skinfold thickness decreased significantly at 1 year (P < 0.001). Blood glucose and insulin levels, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and CRP also decreased significantly (P < 0.001). The mean loss of initial FFM and FM was 9.1 kg ± 8.2 (15%) and 30.7 kg ± 11.8 (53%), respectively. REE on body weight ratio (REE/BW) increased from 15.3 kcal/kg ± 2.8 to 18.4 kcal/kg ± 2.5 (p < 0.0001) and REE on FFM ratio decreased from 31.2 to 28.7 kcal/day/kg (p < 0.001). Preoperative waist circumference (r = -0.3; P < 0.001), blood glucose level (r = -0.37; P < 0.001), and CRP (r = -0.28; P = 0.004) were negatively correlated with EBMIL% 1 year after surgery. Among baseline body composition parameters, only preoperative FM was negatively correlated with %EBMIL (r = -0.23; p = 0.02). One year after surgery FM change was negatively correlated with EBMIL% (r = -0.49; P < 0.001) while FFM/BW ratio was positively correlated with %EBMIL (r = 0.71; P < 0.001). Increase in REE/BW at 1 year was positively correlated with %EBMIL (r = 0.47; p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, baseline blood glucose level (OR = 1.77; CI 95%: [1.3-2.4]) was the only predictive factor of EBMIL <60% at 1 year., Conclusion: LRYGB has beneficial effects on clinical, biological parameters, and body composition. Increasing the proportion of FFM on total BW and REE/BW is associated with better results in terms of weight loss. Baseline glucose level may be helpful in identifying poor responders to LRYGBP., Trial Registration: NCT02820285y ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02820285?term=Characterization+of+Immune+Semaphorin+in+Non-Alcoholic+Fatty+Liver+Disease+and+NASH&rank=1 ).

Background and Aims: A deficiency in vitamin D could be deleterious during chronic liver diseases. However, contradictory data have been published in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The aim of the study was to compare the blood level of 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH vitamin D) with the severity of liver lesions, in a large cohort of morbidly obese patients., Patients and Method: Three hundred ninety-eight morbidly obese patients had a liver biopsy. The non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) Clinical Research Network Scoring System Definition and Scores were used. 25-OH vitamin D was evaluated with a Diasorin®Elisa Kit. Logistic regression analyses were performed to obtain predictive factors of the severity of liver histology., Results: 20.6 % of patients had NASH. The stage of fibrosis was F0 12.9 %, F1 57.36 %, F2 25.32 %, F3 (bridging fibrosis) 3.88 %, and F4 (cirrhosis) 0.52 %. The 25-OH vitamin D level inversely correlated to the NAS (r = 0.12 and p = 0.01) and to steatosis (r = 0.14 and p = 0.007); however, it was not associated with the presence of NASH. The level of vitamin D was significantly lower in patients with significant fibrosis compared to those without (15.9 (11.1-23.5) vs 19.6 (13.7-24.7) ng/ml, p = 0.02). There was an inverse correlation between the severity of fibrosis and the values of 25-OH vitamin D (r = 0.12 and p = 0.01). In a logistic regression analysis, no parameters were independently associated with the severity of fibrosis except the presence of steatohepatitis (1.94 (1.13-3.35) p = 0.017)., Conclusion: Low levels of 25-OH vitamin D were not independently associated with liver damage in morbidly obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD).

Background: Only a few recent reports have suggested a correlation between obesity and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of IBS in a prospective cohort of obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery in Nice Hospital (France)., Methods: One hundred obese patients were included prospectively before bariatric surgery. A diagnosis of IBS and each subtype was performed according to Rome-III criteria using a Bristol scale for stool consistency. Patients provided information on IBS-related comorbidities, including chronic fatigue, migraine, lower back pain, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), genitourinary problems, and dyspepsia. Patients completed questionnaires to assess the severity of IBS, GERD, psychological factors (anxiety, depression), fatigue, and quality of life., Results: Thirty patients fulfilled the Rome-III criteria for IBS. There was no difference in age, gender, or BMI between obese patients with or without IBS. Obese patients with IBS reported a significantly higher prevalence of GERD, migraines, lower back pain, genitourinary problems, chronic fatigue, and dyspepsia. Obese patients with IBS had significant higher scores of fatigue, anxiety, depression, and poorer quality of life. Obese patients that had both IBS and GERD had significantly higher IBS severity scores than those without GERD. In a logistic regression model including BMI, anxiety, depression, gender, and GERD score, only anxiety was significantly and independently associated with IBS., Conclusions: Thirty percent of obese patients had IBS: its severity was not correlated with BMI. However, anxiety was independently associated with IBS, suggesting that psychological factors are key features of IBS, whatever the presence of obesity.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a very common condition among obese patients that may lead to the enlargement of the liver, that in turn impairs the access to the gastro-esophageal junction during laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (Ω-3 PUFAs) supplementation has been shown to reduce nutritional hepatic steatosis. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a 4-week course of oral Ω-3 PUFAs supplementation on the volume of the liver., Methods: 20 morbidly obese patients were administered oral Ω-3 PUFAs (1,500 mg daily) for 4 weeks before undergoing the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) without any dietary restriction. The volume of the left hepatic lobe was estimated by liver ultrasonography at baseline and at the end of treatment. The degree of difficulty to access the gastro-esophageal junction was appreciated subjectively by the operating surgeon., Results: All patients completed the study and no side effect was reported. The mean volume of the left hepatic lobe decreased by 20% from 598 ± 97 to 484 ± 118 cm(3) after the treatment (p = 0.002). The access to the gastro-esophageal junction was reported as simple, with easy retraction of the left hepatic lobe by the operating surgeon in all cases., Conclusions: This study demonstrates that a 4-week course of oral Ω-3 PUFAs supplementation results in a significant reduction in liver size that facilitates the LRYGBP.

Background: Although Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) is one of the preferred bariatric procedures in obese individuals, the efficacy of this procedure in the setting of super-obesity [body mass index (BMI) >/=50] is unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of laparoscopic (L) RYGBP to reverse metabolic syndrome, inflammation, and insulin resistance in super-obese women compared to morbidly obese women., Methods: Seventy-three consecutive women were enrolled in this prospective study. Anthropometric, metabolic, and inflammatory biological parameters were assessed in 18 super-obese and 55 morbidly obese women before LRYGBP and 1 year after surgery. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the International Diabetes Federation definition., Results: Before surgery, super-obese women had a higher BMI, fat mass, blood insulin, and HOMA1-IR than morbidly obese women. Both groups had similar serum levels of C-reactive protein and orosomucoid. The incidence of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and increased liver enzymes was comparable in the two groups. One year after LRYGBP, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, metabolic and inflammatory biological parameters were improved in the whole study population. A similar degree of improvement was observed in super-obese and morbidly obese women, although BMI and fat mass were persistently higher in super-obese patients., Conclusions: One year after surgery, LRYGBP was equally effective at reversing metabolic syndrome, inflammation, and insulin resistance in morbidly obese and super-obese women.

Background: Obesity is associated with a chronic and low-grade inflammation which may cause hypoferremia as seen in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between iron status and markers of inflammation in morbidly obese women and the effect of bariatric surgery., Methods: Our cohort of patients consisted of 178 morbidly obese females selected for bariatric surgery. Clinical and biochemical data were recorded before surgery, and histopathological studies were carried out on preoperative liver biopsy samples. Fifty-five patients have been followed up after bariatric surgery., Results: A high prevalence of iron depletion was present in this cohort, with 53% having a transferrin saturation ratio below 0.20. Iron depletion was significantly correlated with raised levels of indices of inflammation, C-reactive protein (CRP), orosomucoid and haptoglobin), and with the white blood cell count. In multivariate analysis, orosomucoid and CRP were independently associated with iron depletion. Moreover, 6 months after bariatric surgery, inflammation level decreased, which was inversely correlated with the increase in transferrin saturation., Conclusions: Iron depletion is common in morbidly obese women. Low-grade chronic inflammation associated with obesity could be a modulator of iron uptake and utilization. Bariatric surgery may reduce chronic inflammation and improve iron status.