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Biomedical subjects

Ramesh Ramanathan

Publications and source records attributed to Ramesh Ramanathan.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Surgically-induced weight loss significantly improves nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and the metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of surgical weight loss on fatty liver disease in severely obese patients. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a spectrum that extends to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, is rising at an alarming rate. This increase is occurring in conjunction with the rise of severe obesity and is probably mediated in part by metabolic syndrome (MS). Surgical weight loss operations, probably by reversing MS, have been shown to result in improvement in liver histology. METHODS: Patients who underwent laparoscopic surgical weight loss operations from March 1999 through August 2004, and who agreed to have an intraoperative liver biopsy followed by at least one postoperative liver biopsy, were included. RESULTS: There were 70 patients who were eligible. All patients underwent laparoscopic operations, the majority being laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The mean excess body weight loss at time of second biopsy was 59% +/- 22% and the time interval between biopsies was 15 +/- 9 months. There was a reduction in prevalence of metabolic syndrome, from 70% to 14% (P < 0.001), and a marked improvement in liver steatosis (from 88% to 8%), inflammation (from 23% to 2%), and fibrosis (from 31% to 13%; all P < 0.001). Inflammation and fibrosis resolved in 37% and 20% of patients, respectively, corresponding to improvement of 82% (P < 0.001) in grade and 39% (P < 0.001) in stage of liver disease. CONCLUSION: Surgical weight loss results in significant improvement of liver morphology in severely obese patients. These beneficial changes may be associated with a significant reduction in the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome.

Biopsy↗
PubMed2004

Herceptin and gemcitabine for metastatic pancreatic cancers that overexpress HER-2/neu.

PURPOSE: To determine the response rate and toxicities of Herceptin and gemcitabine for patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinomas that overexpress HER-2/neu. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer with 2+/3 + HER-2/neu expression by immunohistochemistry were eligible. Patients received gemcitabine, 1 g/m2/week, for 7 of 8 weeks followed by 3 of every 4 weeks, and Herceptin, 4 mg/kg loading dose, followed by 2 mg/kg/week. RESULTS: Screening logs demonstrated the rate of HER-2/neu overexpression was 16%. Thirty-four patients were enrolled. Thirty patients (88%) had pancreatic cancers with 2+ overexpression and 4 patients (12%) had 3+ overexpression. Toxicity was similar to gemcitabine alone. Confirmed partial responses were observed in 2 of 32 patients (6%). Thirteen of 32 patients (41%) had either a partial response or a >50% reduction in CA 19-9. The median survival for all 34 patients was 7 months, and the 1-year survival was 19%. CONCLUSION: The response rate of Herceptin and gemcitabine is similar to gemcitabine alone. The 7-month median survival in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer suggests there may be a modest benefit for some patients. Infrequent HER-2/neu overexpression limits the role of targeting the HER-2/neu gene and prevents definitive conclusions on the addition of Herceptin to gemcibine for patients with pancreatic cancer.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed2003

Effect of laparoscopic Roux-en Y gastric bypass on type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pre- and postoperative clinical parameters associated with improvement of diabetes up to 4 years after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The surgical treatment of morbid obesity leads to dramatic improvement in the comorbidity status of most patients with T2DM. However, little is known concerning what preoperative clinical factors are associated with postoperative long-term improvement in diabetes in the morbidly obese patient with diabetes. METHODS We evaluated pre- and postoperative data, including demographics, duration of diabetes, metabolic parameters, and clinical outcomes, in all patients with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and type T2DM undergoing LRYGBP from July 1997 to May 2002. RESULTS: During this 5-year period, 1160 patients underwent LRYGBP and 240 (21%) had IFG or T2DM. Follow up was possible in 191 of 240 patients (80%). There were 144 females (75%) with a mean preoperative age of 48 years (range, 26-67 years). After surgery, weight and body mass index decreased from 308 lbs and 50.1 kg/m2 to 211 lbs and 34 kg/m2 for a mean weight loss of 97 lbs and mean excess weight loss of 60%. Fasting plasma glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations returned to normal levels (83%) or markedly improved (17%) in all patients. A significant reduction in use of oral antidiabetic agents (80%) and insulin (79%) followed surgical treatment. Patients with the shortest duration (<5 years), the mildest form of T2DM (diet controlled), and the greatest weight loss after surgery were most likely to achieve complete resolution of T2DM. CONCLUSION: LRYGBP resulted in significant weight loss (60% percent of excess body weight loss) and resolution (83%) of T2DM. Patients with the shortest duration and mildest form of T2DM had a higher rate of T2DM resolution after surgery, suggesting that early surgical intervention is warranted to increase the likelihood of rendering patients euglycemic.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Acute changes in renal function after laparoscopic gastric surgery for morbid obesity.

BACKGROUND: Acute renal failure (ARF) is a serious complication that contributes to patient morbidity and may result in death. To date, no data are available regarding the predictive risk of ARF or its effect on the outcome of patients who undergo laparoscopic gastric bypass. METHODS: The medical records of 1800 patients who underwent gastric bypass from July 1997 to July 2003 at a single institution were analyzed. The data collected included demographics, comorbid factors, operative details, and postoperative outcomes. Multivariant analysis was performed and the results were compared with those of 500 age-, gender-, and comorbidity-matched control patients who underwent similar operations. RESULTS: The mean age was 50 +/- 8 years; 23 were men and 19 were women. Of the 1800 patients, 42 (2.3%) developed ARF after surgery. Dialysis was required in 6 patients, 2 of whom became dialysis dependent. ARF completely resolved in the remaining patients. CONCLUSION: Primary ARF after laparoscopic gastric bypass is an uncommon complication, with an incidence of 2.3% in our institution. Patients with a body mass index >50, previous chronic renal failure, and long operating times and intraoperative hypotension are at the greatest risk of postoperative renal failure. All patients who had normal renal function preoperatively returned to normal renal function within 6 months.

Acute Kidney Injury↗