Obesity

Symptoms suggestive of dumping syndrome after provocation in patients after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy Tzovaras, G. et al. Obes. Surg. doi:10.1007/s11695-011-0461-7

This study evaluated the presence, incidence and severity of dumping syndrome after oral glucose challenge in 31 nondiabetic morbidly obese patients before and 6 weeks after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). None had dumping symptoms before LSG, but afterwards 29% had definite symptoms and 16% had suggestive symptoms. The authors suggest, therefore, that LSG “might be an option for heavy sweeters by changing their food tolerance patterns.”

Liver transplantation

Early trajectories of depressive symptoms after liver transplantation for alcoholic liver disease predicts long-term survival DiMartini, A. et al. Am. J. Transplant. doi:10.1111/j.1600-6143.2011.03496.x

The likelihood of dying (of all-cause mortality) is more than two times higher in patients with increasing or persistently high depression levels in the first year after transplantation for alcoholic liver disease, compared with those who have consistently low depression levels. The authors highlight the need to research whether treatment of depression could improve survival rates.

Nutrition

Dietary fiber intake and risk of cardiovascular disease in the Japanese population: the Japan Public Health Center-based study cohort Kokubo, Y. et al. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. doi:10.1038/ejcn.2011.100

In nonsmoking Japanese people, higher levels of total dietary fiber are inversely associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease—defined as stroke or coronary heart disease in the first study to look at this association in Asia.

Colorectal cancer

Addition of cetuximab to oxaliplatin-based first-line combination chemotherapy for treatment of advanced colorectal cancer: results of the randomised phase 3 MRC COIN trial Maughan, T. S. et al. Lancet doi:10.1076/S0140-6736(11)60613-2

1,630 patients with advanced colorectal cancer were randomly assigned to oxaliplatin and fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy (capecitabine or infused fluorouracil plus leucovorin) with or without cetuximab. Cetuximab increased the response rate, but not progression-free or overall survival in KRAS wild-type patients. In patients with widespread metastases, the authors conclude that adding cetuximab to first-line chemotherapy with oxaliplatin and capecitabine cannot be recommended.