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Objective: Very-low-calorie diets (VLCDs) are used to promote short-term weight loss in obese patients. However, long-term maintenance of weight loss is generally poor. We assessed the efficacy and safety of sibutramine in maintaining weight loss achieved in obese patients by means of a 3-month VLCD. Design: A multicenter double-blind, parallel-group trial conducted over 18 months, following a 3-month open label VLCD run-in. Setting: Eight hospital centers in The Netherlands, with subsequent follow-up in general practice. Subjects: A total of 221 obese subjects, of whom 189 were randomized (mean screening BMI 36.6 kg/m[sup.2]; mean age 42.6 y). Measurements: Patients were given a 3-month VLCD and were required to lose 10% or more of their initial weight. A total of 189 patients completed this phase (mean percentage weight loss 14.5[plus or minus]3.2%) and were randomized to sibutramine 10 mg/day (n=94) or matching placebo (n=95). All patients received a recommended diet and exercise program. The primary analysis was outcome in terms of achieving 80% weight maintenance of the VLCD period at month 18. Secondary analysis was percentage of initial weight loss maintained at months 6, 12, 18 and end point. Results: At month 18, the odds ratio for achieving successful weight maintenance was 1.76 (95% CI 1.06, 2.93) in favor of sibutramine (P=0.03). In intention-to-treat analysis, more than 80% of the weight loss achieved during the VLCD phase was maintained by 70, 51 and 30% of sibutramine-treated patients at months 6, 12 and 18, respectively, compared to 48, 31 and 20% of placebo-treated patients. The differences between the treatment groups were significant (P[less than or equal to]0.03) at all time points. Conclusion: Weight loss achieved with a VLCD is more effectively maintained with sibutramine in combination with a recommended diet and exercise program than with placebo over a follow-up period of 18 months. Sibutramine is well tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with that seen in other previous trials. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2005) 59, Suppl 1, S31-S39. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602172 Keywords: very-low-calorie-diet (VLCD), sibutramine, weight loss treatment, weight loss management, general practice, Author(s): E M H Mathus-Vliegen [1]; for the Balance Study Group Introduction Obesity is a common problem that predisposes patients to hypertension and cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, hormone-related cancers, gallbladder [...]

OBJECTIVES:Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is characterized by gastrointestinal hamartomas. The hamartomas are located predominantly in the small intestine and may cause intussusceptions. We aimed to assess the characteristics, risk, and onset of intussusception in a large cohort of PJS patients to determine whether enteroscopy with polypectomy should be incorporated into surveillance recommendations.METHODS:All PJS patients from two academic hospitals were included in this cohort study (prospective follow-up between 1995 and July 2009). We obtained clinical data by interview and chart review. Deceased family members with PJS were included retrospectively. Cumulative intussusception risks were calculated by Kaplan-Meier analysis.RESULTS:We included 110 PJS patients (46% males) from 50 families. In all, 76 patients (69%) experienced at least one intussusception (range 1-6), at a median age of 16 (3-50) years at first occurrence. The intussusception risk was 50% at the age of 20 years (95% confidence interval 17-23 years) and the risk was independent of sex, family history, and mutation status. The intussusceptions occurred in the small intestine in 95% of events, and 80% of all intussusceptions (n=128) presented as an acute abdomen. Therapy was surgical in 92.5% of events. Based on 37 histology reports, the intussusceptions were caused by polyps with a median size of 35 mm (range 15-60 mm).CONCLUSIONS:PJS patients carry a high cumulative intussusception risk at young age. Intussusceptions are generally caused by polyps >15 mm and treatment is mostly surgical. These results support the approach of enteroscopic surveillance, with removal of small-intestinal polyps >10-15 mm to prevent intussusceptions. The effect of such an approach on the incidence of intussusception remains to be established in prospective trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Hyperplastic polyposis syndrome (HPS) is characterised by the presence of multiple colorectal hyperplastic polyps and is associated with an increased colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. For first-degree relatives of HPS patients (FDRs) this has not been adequately quantified. Reliable evidence concerning the magnitude of a possible excess risk is necessary to determine whether preventive measures, like screening colonoscopies, in FDRs are justified. AIMS AND METHODS: We analysed the incidence rate of CRC in FDRs and compared this with the general population through person-year analysis after adjustment for demographic characteristics. Population-based incidence data from the Eindhoven Cancer Registry during the period 1970–2006 were used to compare observed numbers of CRC cases in FDRs with expected numbers based on the incidence in the general population. RESULTS: A total of 347 FDRs (41% male) from 57 pedigrees were included, contributing 11 053 person-years of follow-up. During the study period, a total of 27 CRC cases occurred among FDRs compared to five expected CRC cases (p<0.001). The RR of CRC in FDRs compared to the general population was 5.4 (95% CI 3.7 to 7.8). Four FDRs satisfied the criteria for HPS. Based on the estimated HPS prevalence of 1:3000 in the general population the projected RR of HPS in FDRs was 39 (95% CI 13 to 121). CONCLUSIONS: FDRs of HPS patients have an increased risk for both CRC and HPS compared to the general population. Hence, as long as no genetic substrate has been identified, screening colonoscopies for FDRs seem justified but this needs to be prospectively evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES:Peutz–Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is an autosomal dominant inherited disorder associated with increased cancer risk. Surveillance and patient management are, however, hampered by a wide range in cancer risk estimates. We therefore performed a systematic review to assess cancer risks in PJS patients and used these data to develop a surveillance recommendation.METHODS:A systematic PubMed search was performed up to February 2009, and all original articles dealing with PJS patients with confirmed cancer diagnoses were included. Data involving cancer frequencies, mean ages at cancer diagnosis, relative risks (RRs), and cumulative risks were collected.RESULTS:Twenty-one original articles, 20 cohort studies, and one meta-analysis fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The cohort studies showed some overlap in the patient population and included a total of 1,644 patients; 349 of them developed 384 malignancies at an average age of 42 years. The most common malignancy was colorectal cancer, followed by breast, small bowel, gastric, and pancreatic cancers. The reported lifetime risk for any cancer varied between 37 and 93%, with RRs ranging from 9.9 to 18 in comparison with the general population. Age-related cumulative risks were given for any cancer and gastrointestinal, gynecological, colorectal, pancreatic, and lung cancers.CONCLUSIONS:PJS patients are markedly at risk for several malignancies, in particular gastrointestinal cancers and breast cancer. On the basis of these elevated risks, a surveillance recommendation is developed to detect malignancies in an early phase and to remove polyps that may be premalignant and may cause complications, so as to improve the outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:Obesity management is focused at weight loss to obtain health, psychological and social benefits. Outcomes from controlled trials, however, do not reflect the everyday routine practice. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the results from surgically induced weight loss in patients devoid of a protocol-wise follow-up, who were visited at home.Patients and methods:Patients who underwent a vertical banded gastroplasty or a gastric bypass between 1980 and 1997 were eligible. Body weight and height were measured. Patients filled out questionnaires on health status (Nottingham Health Profile (NHP)), psychological symptoms (Symptom Check List (SCL-90-R)), personality traits (Dutch Personality Questionnaire (DPQ)) and eating behaviour (Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ)).Results:Out of 451 operated patients the addresses of 313 subjects could be traced and 236 (75%) agreed to participate. They maintained a mean (s.d.) loss of 32.1 (22.6) kg and 45.2 (29.3) % of excess weight, 8.2 (4.5) years after the operation, about two-third of the largest weight loss they achieved after 17 months postoperatively. The NHP and SCL-90-R conformed to norm values in males except for energy, sleep and emotional reactions. Females differed from norm values in every aspect and even women achieving a BMI<30 kg/m2 did not catch up to norm values. Weight loss was inversely related to physical immobility and pain. Personality traits (DPQ) showed a higher grievance and dominance and a lower rigidity and self-esteem compared to norm values. Females scored higher in inadequacy and lower in social inadequacy. Eating patterns (DEBQ) showed mainly emotional eating and restrained eating. Effect sizes of 0.8 s.d. were chosen to reflect the clinical relevance of statistically significant findings. Pain, disturbances in sleep, energy and mobility and emotional and restrained eating proved to be clinically relevant. In subjects operated >5 years ago, a higher sensitivity, a higher inadequacy and a lower social inadequacy were observed compared to more recently operated subjects. A more restrained eating pattern was related to an operation of recent date.Conclusions:Surgically induced weight losses are satisfactory in the long-term, even in patients not attending a strict follow-up protocol. Health, psychological symptoms, personality traits and eating behaviour were related to weight loss and time lapse since the operation and did not return to reference normal-weight subject values.International Journal of Obesity (2007) 31, 299–307. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803404; published online 6 June 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]