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The article presents information about a research conducted for determining the surgically induced weight loss effectiveness than with conventional weight loss therapy in the management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The research employed a randomized controlled clinical trial of 60 obese patients with body mass index of greater than 35 and less than 55 with recently diagnosed OSA and an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). These patients were prescribed continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for managing OSA and were identified through accredited community sleep clinics. The trial has been conducted by university and teaching hospital-based clinical researchers in Melbourne, Victoria.

The article discusses a study which compared the outcomes of gastric banding and lifestyle intervention programs on adolescent obesity. The study included 50 adolescents from Melbourne, Victoria, who are aged 14 to 18 and with a body mass index (BMI) that is higher than 35. It found that study subjects in the gastric banding group experienced no adverse events and reported quality of life improvements. Study authors concluded that gastric banding results in greater weight loss compared to lifestyle intervention. They also noted the health and quality of life benefits of gastric banding.

Abstract Background Standard non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce the risk of colorectal cancer; however, their use as preventive agents is limited by their inherent toxicity. Drugs that selectively inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) may be useful in this setting as they are supposedly less toxic. No study has directly compared the ability of standard NSAIDs and selective COX-2 inhibitors to inhibit colorectal cancer at clinically relevant doses. Methods Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) were induced in Sprague–Dawley rats by using 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH). Test agents or vehicle were then administered for 3 weeks, twice daily through orogastric gavage. At the end of this period, the number and multiplicity of ACF were determined. The agents tested at equivalent anti-inflammatory doses were: sulindac and indomethacin (standard NSAIDs), meloxicam (selective COX-2 inhibitor), celecoxib (specific COX-2 inhibitor) and sulindac sulfone (no known COX activity). Acute gastrotoxicity of NSAID in rats was compared by using quantitative histology. Results All test agents reduced the number of ACF. There was a 42% reduction with indomethacin, 46% with sulindac, 46% with meloxicam, 22% with celecoxib and 36% with sulindac sulfone. Only the COX-2 inhibitors caused no significant gastrotoxicity in rats. Conclusions Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors are potentially ideal chemopreventive agents as they inhibit ACF and are not gastrotoxic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Standard non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce the risk of colorectal cancer; however, their use as preventive agents is limited by their inherent toxicity. Drugs that selectively inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) may be useful in this setting as they are supposedly less toxic. No study has directly compared the ability of standard NSAIDs and selective COX-2 inhibitors to inhibit colorectal cancer at clinically relevant doses. Methods Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) were induced in Sprague–Dawley rats by using 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH). Test agents or vehicle were then administered for 3 weeks, twice daily through orogastric gavage. At the end of this period, the number and multiplicity of ACF were determined. The agents tested at equivalent anti-inflammatory doses were: sulindac and indomethacin (standard NSAIDs), meloxicam (selective COX-2 inhibitor), celecoxib (specific COX-2 inhibitor) and sulindac sulfone (no known COX activity). Acute gastrotoxicity of NSAID in rats was compared by using quantitative histology. Results All test agents reduced the number of ACF. There was a 42% reduction with indomethacin, 46% with sulindac, 46% with meloxicam, 22% with celecoxib and 36% with sulindac sulfone. Only the COX-2 inhibitors caused no significant gastrotoxicity in rats. Conclusions Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors are potentially ideal chemopreventive agents as they inhibit ACF and are not gastrotoxic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare all-cause mortality in a surgical weight loss cohort with a similarly aged, obese population-based cohort., Summary Background Data: Significant weight loss following bariatric surgery improves the comorbidities associated with obesity. Improved survival as a result of surgical weight loss has yet to be clearly demonstrated using clinical data., Methods: The surgical weight loss cohort was a series of consecutive patients treated with a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band in Melbourne between June 1994 and April 2005. The Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study (MCCS) provided a community control cohort, recruited between 1992 and 1994 and followed to June 2005 to determine vital status. Height and weight were recorded at baseline in both studies. Subjects between 37 and 70 years and with a body mass index (BMI) of > or =35 were included. Vital status was determined by follow-up and searching of death registries. Survival time was compared using Kaplan-Meier estimates, and hazard of death was determined using Cox regression, adjusting for sex, age at baseline, and BMI at baseline., Results: Of 966 weight loss patients (mean age 47 years, mean BMI 45 kg/m), the median follow-up time was 4 years. Mean weight loss after 2 years was 22.8% +/- 9% (58% of excess weight). The MCCS cohort included 2119 severely obese members (mean age, 55 years; mean BMI, 38 kg/m; median follow-up time, 12 years). There were 4 deaths in the weight loss cohort and 225 deaths in the MCCS cohort. Weight loss patients had 72% lower hazard of death than the community control cohort (hazard ratio, 0.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.10-0.85)., Conclusions: Substantial surgical weight loss in a morbidly obese population was associated with a significant survival advantage.