Background Growing evidence suggests the key role of ghrelin in the onset and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The potential participation of ghrelin and the ghrelin receptor antagonist, LEAP-2, in the onset of liver fibrosis in patients with severe obesity and NAFLD through the regulation of TGF-& beta;1-induced hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation was investigated. Methods Circulating (n = 179) and hepatic expression (n = 95) of ghrelin and LEAP-2 were measured in patients with severe obesity and available liver pathology analysis undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). The effect of ghrelin isoforms and LEAP-2 on TGF-& beta;1-induced HSC activation, fibrogenic response, and contractile properties was evaluated in vitro in human LX-2 cells. Results Plasma and hepatic ghrelin were negatively associated, while LEAP-2 exhibited a positive association with liver fibrosis in patients with obesity and NAFLD. Six months after RYGB, hepatic function was improved and, although acylated ghrelin and LEAP-2 concentrations remained unchanged, both hormones were inversely related to post-surgical levels of profibrogenic factors TGF-& beta;1 and TIMP-1. Acylated ghrelin treatment reversed TGF-& beta;1-induced myofibroblast-like phenotype, collagen contractile properties, and the upregulation of factors involved in HSC activation and fibrogenesis via PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Moreover, acylated ghrelin inhibited the mild HSC activation induced by LEAP-2. Conclusions Ghrelin is an anti-fibrogenic factor blocking HSC activation induced by the most potent fibrogenic cytokine, TGF-& beta;1, and LEAP-2. The imbalance between acylated ghrelin and ghrelin receptor antagonist LEAP-2 might contribute to maintain liver fibrosis in patients with obesity and NAFLD.

Bariatric surgery has been recognized as the safest and most effective procedure for controlling type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity in carefully selected patients. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG) and Single Anastomosis Duodenoileal Bypass with SG (SADI-S) on the metabolic profile of diet-induced obese rats. A total of 35 four-week-old male Wistar rats were submitted to surgical interventions (sham operation, SG and SADI-S) after 4 months of being fed a high-fat diet. Body weight, metabolic profile and the expression of molecules involved in the control of subcutaneous white (SCWAT), brown (BAT) and beige (BeAT) adipose tissue function were analyzed. SADI-S surgery was associated with significantly decreased amounts of total fat pads (p < 0.001) as well as better control of lipid and glucose metabolism compared to the SG counterparts. An improved expression of molecules involved in fat browning in SCWAT and in the control of BAT and BeAT differentiation and function was observed following SADI-S. Together, our findings provide evidence that the enhanced metabolic improvement and their continued durability after SADI-S compared to SG rely, at least in part, on the improvement of the BeAT phenotype and function.

Background Weight loss after bariatric surgery varies among patients. Patients who do not complete long-term follow-up are considered to loose less weight than those with regular follow-up visits. Objective To evaluate the influence of patients' follow-up compliance on long-term excess weight loss (%EWL) and total weight loss (%TWL) after bariatric surgery, comparing results between gastric bypass (GB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG). Methods Patients with up to 5 years of follow-up data after bariatric surgery were included in this retrospective analysis. Patients were divided in 2 groups: those in group 1 who had attended every scheduled postoperative appointment and those in group 2 who had been lost to follow-up before 1 year and were later contacted by telephone. %EWL and %TWL were compared to determine the possible relationship between type of surgery and regularity of the follow-up. Results A total of 385 patients were included. A significant difference in EWL was observed at 5 years in the SG group (78% for group 1 versus 39% for group 2;p = 0.02) and GB group (75% for group 1 versus 62% for group 2;p = 0.01). No significant differences between surgeries were found when comparing long-term EWL in group 1 patients 77% for SG versus 75% for GB. For group 2 patients, GB achieved greater EWL than SG;p = 0.005. %TWL patients in group 2 showed significant differences in all periods of study (p < 0.05). Conclusion Bariatric surgery patients who attended all scheduled follow-up appointments experienced significantly greater long-term EWL and TWL than those who did not. GB has apparent increased benefits for weight loss in long-term follow-up when compared with SG for patients who did not attend long-term follow-up. Therefore, continued long-term follow-up of bariatric patients should be encouraged to increase postoperative weight loss results.

Purpose: to assess the long-term benefits of bariatric surgery in super-obese (body mass index [BMI] = 50) and in elderly obese (age > 60 years) populations. Methods: one hundred and twenty one patients who underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in a university hospital were retrospectively subdivided into the following groups: BMI < 50 vs = 50 and age < 60 vs = 60 years. Weight loss, body composition and comorbidity outcomes were registered after one and six months and one, two, three and five years with 100%, 93%, 89%, 80%, 75% and 60% successful follow-up. Results: the percentage of excess BMI loss (% EBMIL) was comparable between BMI groups and age groups and the difference in the long-term follow up was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Complication rates, comorbidity resolution, reduction in body fat and increase in fat-free mass were comparable between BMI groups and age groups. Gastric bypass resulted in a greater weight loss compared to sleeve gastrectomy. The % EBMIL was 65.2% vs 46.7% (p = 0.002), 65.8% vs 44.9% (p = 0.004), 64.4% vs 30.5% (p = 0.001), 55.6% vs 17.6% (p = 0.016) at one, two, three and five years postoperative, respectively. Similarly, in the super-obese group, weight loss was more pronounced after gastric bypass versus sleeve gastrectomy. Conclusions: bariatric surgery in super-obese and elderly populations is an effective and safe weight loss measure with a good comorbidity resolution in the long-term. Gastric bypass is superior to sleeve gastrectomy in terms of long-term weight loss and comorbidity resolution in all the groups investigated.