Search

The prevalence of obesity in Western countries has increased at a much greater pace than the development of new efficient and safe drugs, beyond mere lifestyle changes, for the treatment of overweight. Numerous different types of drugs which had been used in the past for the treatment of obesity have currently been withdrawn due to undesirable long-term side effects. The only available drug in Europe is orlistat, which serves only as an aid for the treatment of obesity. In the USA, however, a few central adrenergic-mediators, for instance, diethylpropion and phentermine, have been available for decades to treat obesity during a short-term period (less than 12 weeks). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved lorcaserin and the combination phentermine/topiramate for the treatment of obesity. The first one is a selective serotonin 2C receptor agonist that works by decreasing food intake with few side effects. Its outcomes on weight are modest, but may be helpful in certain selected patients. The phentermine/topiramate combination has proved to be highly effective, achieving a 10% reduction in weight in the majority of patients, although attention must be drawn to the possible development of side effects in both the short and the long-term follow-up. Further investigation regarding the mechanisms involved in weight balance will anticipate the development of new expectations for the treatment of obesity in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: the ultimate cause for the increased incidence of gastric ulcer following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) remains unclear. Treatment of HP infection is recommended before surgery in countries with high prevalence such as Spain in other to diminish the risk. However, the current regimens used might not be adequate in view of the high failure rate for HP eradication.Methods: we reviewed 243 patients retrospectively undergoing RYGB and found 111 patients (45%) with HP infection. Therefore, we compared the eradication rate between 2 different regimens.Results: 70 patients received OCA(Omeprazole:20 mg/12h, Clarithromycin 500 mg/12h and Amoxicillin 1 gram/12h for 10 days) while 41 patients received OLA (Omeprazole 20 mg/12 hours, Levofloxacin 500 mg/12hours and Amoxicillin 1 gram/12h for 10 days) for HP eradication. In 56/70 (80%) patients receiving OCA therapy HP was eradicated compared to 37/41 (91%) receiving OLA as first line therapy (p = 0.283). When used as second line therapy, in 13/14 (92%) patients receiving OLA HP was eradicated.Conclusion: clarithromycin resistance remains a matter of concern in this population while OLA seems to be a good alternative therapy for HP eradication, especially when OCA regimen fails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]