ObjectiveTo summarize the progress of research on the interaction between bariatric surgery and intestinal flora at home and abroad in recent years, in order to provide new ideas for promoting recovery after bariatric surgery. MethodThe domestic and international literature of intestinal flora changes after bariatric surgery was searched and reviewed. ResultsThe main changes of the intestinal flora after bariatric surgery showed that the abundance of thick-walled bacteria was decreased and the numbers of Bacteroides and Aspergillus were increased. Some common complications after bariatric surgery such as anastomotic fistula, nutritional deficiencies, and inflammation were related to the intestinal flora imbalance. Supplementation with probiotics, prebiotics, dietary interventions, or fecal microbial transplantation were expected to reduce the incidence of complications after bariatric surgery. ConclusionsBariatric surgery is a durable and effective method for treating obesity and its comorbidities. Changes in individual intestinal flora after bariatric surgery have an impact on both weight loss outcomes and postoperative complications, and it is important to find ways to reduce postoperative complications after bariatric surgery by improving intestinal flora.
Sleeve gastrectomy with transit bipartition (SG-TB) was a novel bariatric and metabolic surgery that had received preliminary approval for its effectiveness and safety in reducing weight, improving diabetes, and other metabolic diseases. It showed promising prospects in clinical applications. However, SG-TB also faced some challenges including a small number of cases, insufficient clinical evidence, issues with anastomotic stoma and common channel design, bile reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and malnutrition. Further research is needed to enhance the standardization of SG-TB procedures and provides reference for its wider implementation.
ObjectiveTo observe the changes of body composition in patients with obesity after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and know the factors affecting the effective weight loss. MethodsThe obese patients who received SG treatment at the Affiliated Huaian No.1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from October 2019 to October 2022 were included according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The anthropometric parameters, lipid metabolism indexes, and body composition data were collected before surgery (1 d) and at 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month after surgery. The risk factors affecting the effective weight loss were analyzed. ResultsA total of 170 patients were included in the study. ① The anthropometric parameters such as body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio at different time points after surgery as compared with the baseline (1 day before surgery) values were decreased (P<0.05) and showed continuous downward trends after surgery (P<0.05), meanwhile the percentage total weight loss and percentage excess weight loss (%EWL) indicators showed continuous upward trends (P<0.05). ② The lipid metabolic indexes such as triglyceride, total cholesterol, and uric acid, except for the total cholesterol indexes at the 6th and 12th month had no statistical differences as compared with the baseline value (P>0.05) and the uric acid was increased at the 1st month after surgery (P<0.05), the other indexes at different time points after surgery showed continuous downward trends as compared with the baseline values (P<0.05). ③ All the body composition parameters except percentage fat-free mass of the left and right lower limbs (P>0.05) at different time points after surgery as compared with the baseline values were decreased (P<0.05), and some body composition indicators, such as fat mass, percentage fat mass, visceral fat area, and obesity degree continued to decrease within 1 year after surgery (P<0.05). ④ There were 93 patients with reaching the standard of effective weight loss (%EWL was 50% or more). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the lower fat mass of right lower limb, the higher probability of effective weight loss [OR (95%CI)=0.452 (0.290, 0.703), P<0.001]. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the fat mass of the right lower limb was 0.782 [95%CI=(0.672, 0.893), P<0.001], its sensitivity and specificity were 0.679 and 0.792, respectively, and the cut-off value was 7.35 kg. ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that SG can markedly improve the anthropometric and lipid metabolism indicators of patients with obesity, and achieve effective weight loss in a short-time. The body composition from the whole body to limbs and trunk might be changed. The fat mass of the right lower limb is closely related to the short-term effective weight loss after surgery and it has a moderate ability to distinguish achieving effective weight loss.
Objective To review the changes of gut microbiota after bariatric surgery and the related mechanisms of improving metabolism. Method Domestic and international literatures in recent ten years on the changes of gut microbiota in bariatric surgery and the mechanisms of improving metabolism were collated and summarized. Result The common bariatric procedures performed to date were vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). The changes of gut microbiota vary in different surgical procedures, which were related to the changes of diet habits, gastrointestinal anatomy, gastrointestinal hormone levels and metabolic complications. The gut microbiota might improve the body metabolism by regulating the levels of short chain fatty acids, branched chain amino acids and bacterial endotoxin in the intestinal lumen. Conclusions Significant changes are found in gut microbiota after bariatric surgery, which may be involved in the improvement of body metabolism by regulating the level of bacterial endotoxin and microbial metabolite. However, more in-depth mechanisms need to be further clarified.
ObjectiveTo investigate the difference of DNA methylation before and after bariatric surgery.MethodThe relevant literatures of the research on the changes of DNA methylation level and gene expression regulation in blood and tissues before and after bariatric surgery were retrieved and reviewed.ResultsDNA methylation was an important method of epigenetic regulation in organisms and its role in bariatric surgery had been paid more and more attention in recent years. Existing studies had found that there were changes of DNA methylation in blood and tissues before and after bariatric surgery. The degree of methylation varies with different follow-up time after bariatric surgery and the same gene had different degrees of methylation in different tissues, and some even had the opposite results.ConclusionsDNA methylation levels before and after bariatric surgery are different in different tissues. And studies with larger sample size and longer follow-up time are needed, to further reveal relationship among DNA methylation, obesity, and bariatric surgery.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of single-incision plus one-port laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SILS+1) for patients with obesity. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on obese patients undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) from January 2023 to November 2024. Patients were stratified into two groups: SILS+1 and conventional multi-port LSG (MPLSG). Comparative parameters included operative time, postoperative hospital stay, complication rates, weight loss outcomes, and improvement in metabolic indicators [including hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)]. ResultsA total of 95 patients with obesity were enrolled, including 40 in the SILS+1 group and 55 in the MPLSG group. The SILS+1 group had significantly lower preoperative BMI, HbA1c, and TC levels compared to the MPLSG group (P<0.05), and a significantly higher proportion of female patients (P<0.05). Other baseline characteristics, such as age, TG, and HDL-C levels, showed no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). Operative time was significantly longer in the SILS+1 group than in the MPLSG group [(100.16 ± 17.53) min vs. (93.82 ± 20.83) min, P<0.001]. The proportion of patients requiring drainage tube placement was significantly lower in the SILS+1 group [55.0% (22/40) vs. 76.4% (42/55), P=0.049]. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the need for additional trocar sites, change in Hb level from preoperative to postoperative day 1, postoperative hospital stay, or incidence of postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade I) (P>0.05). No 30-day readmissions occurred in either group. One patient in the SILS+1 group required an additional trocar site. Gastrointestinal patency was normal in all patients, with no signs of contrast agent leakage or stricture observed. Both SILS+1 and MPLSG procedures demonstrated equivalent efficacy in weight loss outcomes (P>0.05) and in their effects on HbA1c, TG, and TC levels (P>0.05). The SILS+1 procedure showed a significant advantage in improving HDL-C levels (F=6.221, P=0.015), with significantly higher postoperative HDL-C levels observed at 6 months postoperatively compared to the MPLSG group (F=2.500, P=0.027). ConclusionsFor selected obese populations, SILS+1 represents a feasible and safe alternative to MPLSG. This technique demonstrates equivalent efficacy to MPLSG in early-stage weight loss and metabolic improvement, serving as a transitional approach toward pure single-incision laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.
Obesity is a disease state characterized by the accumulation of abnormal or excessive fat that threatens human health. With the rapid development of the economy and society and the change in lifestyle, obesity is highly prevalent in our country and has become an important disease that threatens the health of the population. Different from traditional non-surgical treatments, metabolic and bariatric surgery has a definite curative effect, is not easy to rebound, has good safety, and has sufficient evidence of clinical benefit, which can make many obese patients, especially those with moderate to severe obesity, fully recover. The treatment of obesity has become an important means in the comprehensive treatment of obesity. This article intends to describe the application of bariatric metabolic surgery in the comprehensive treatment of obesity from three aspects: bariatric surgery indications, surgical method selection, and perioperative multidisciplinary intervention.
Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) was recommended as the gold standard procedure for metabolic and bariatric surgery by the National Institutes of Health in the 1990s and then had been adopted till now, which could effectively control excess weight and treat metabolic diseases relevant to obesity in a long term. The current LRYGB procedure had been performed more than half a century of development and update, and is still constantly evolving. Standardized and precise surgical procedures are of great significance in ensuring treatment effect and reducing the incidence of complications. Thus, the author reviewed the development process of LRYGB, further understanding and emphasizing the importance of standardized and precise surgical procedures.
Both bariatric surgery and pharmacotherapy, particularly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), are effective interventions for obesity, yet each has its own advantages and limitations. Drawing on the “bridging” concept from cancer therapy, this commentary explores an innovative obesity management strategy that involves the combined application of GLP-1RA and bariatric surgery during the perioperative period, with the aim of optimizing treatment outcomes. The present analysis focuses specifically on the potential value of this approach: preoperatively, GLP-1RAs serve as a “bridging therapy” to promote weight loss and reduce surgical risks in severely obese patients; postoperatively, they might be used to manage weight rebound or insufficient weight loss. This multimodal integrated strategy is designed to overcome the inherent limitations of single therapies and offer patients more comprehensive treatment options. Emphasizing that future research must urgently focus on optimizing treatment parameters (e.g., timing, dosage), evaluating long-term safety and efficacy, and establishing patient selection criteria for combination therapy. Integrating surgical and pharmacological treatments, this comprehensive strategy based on the oncological “bridging” concept represents a highly promising paradigm shift in obesity management.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of stomach intestinal pylorus sparing surgery in metabolic surgery for weight loss.MethodThe literatures about stomach intestinal pylorus sparing surgery were reviewed by searching domestic and foreign literatures.ResultsIn recent years, stomach intestinal pylorus sparing surgery had been gradually applied in clinical practice. Compared with other weight-loss surgeries, it had better clinical effects in weight reduction and blood glucose control. It not only provided a new surgical treatment for patients with severe obesity, but also promoted the development of weight-loss metabolic surgery.ConclusionAs a new metabolic surgery, stomach intestinal pylorus sparing surgery is safe and feasible for weight loss.