Aberrant cholesterol metabolic signaling impairs antitumor immunosurveillance through natural killer T cell dysfunction in obese liver.

Obesity is a major risk factor for cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that develops from a background of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Hypercholesterolemia is a common comorbidity of obesity. Although cholesterol biosynthesis mainly occurs in the liver, its role in HCC development of obese people remains obscure.

Design of Synthetic Mammalian Promoters Using Highly Palindromic Subsequences.

To express transgenes in specific cell types and states, promoters for endogenous genes are commonly created by truncating the sequence upstream of the transcriptional start site until the promoter is no longer functional. In this paper, we developed a method to design shorter synthetic mammalian promoters for endogenous genes by concatenating only its highly palindromic subsequences with a minimal core promoter. After developing metrics for palindromic density, analysis across all the human and mouse promoters showed higher palindromic density than expected by random.

A prospective 5-year study on the use of transient elastography to monitor the improvement of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease following bariatric surgery.

Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by transient elastography (TE) is a non-invasive assessment for diagnosing and staging liver fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Evidence on its role as a longitudinal monitoring tool is lacking. This study aims to evaluate the role of TE in monitoring NAFLD improvement following bariatric surgery.

The effect of bariatric surgery on the improvement of lower urinary tract symptoms in morbidly obese male patients.

Background: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are strongly linked with obesity. Whether bariatric surgery can effectively alleviate LUTS in morbidly obese men is unknown. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of bariatric surgery in reducing the prevalence and severity of male LUTS in obese patients.

Bariatric surgery for Prader-Willi syndrome was ineffective in producing sustainable weight loss: Long term results for up to 10 years.

Background: Obesity control in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is notoriously difficult. The role of bariatric surgery in PWS remains controversial as long-term data are lacking.

Objectives: To evaluate the 10-year outcomes of bariatric surgery in PWS.

Synthetic Biology Approaches in Immunology.

Breakthroughs in gene synthesis has allowed synthetic biologists the ability to design any DNA sequence of interest, enabling the possibility to create complex systems inside cells with novel functions to tackle problems in immunology. Synthetic immunology of mammalian cells expressing natural or synthetic genes can guide and induce immune responses in patients. Through recent developments in engineering chimeric receptors, it is now feasible to customize control over engineered cells to target the disease sites with specificity.

Health-Related Quality of Life after Bariatric Surgery and its Correlation with Glycaemic Status in Hong Kong Chinese Adults.

Background: To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) following bariatric surgery and its correlation with different glycaemic status in Hong Kong Chinese adults.

Materials And Methods: In 2002-2008, obese Chinese adults were recruited for bariatric surgery, undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Patients were invited to complete the Chinese Hong Kong Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) at baseline and at 1-year post operation.

Long-term Results on Weight Loss and Diabetes Remission after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy for A Morbidly Obese Chinese Population.

Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is an effective stand-alone bariatric procedure with favorable short-term results on weight reduction and comorbidity resolution. This study aims to evaluate the long-term results of LSG to see if weight reduction and diabetic improvement are sustainable.

Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study on patients receiving LSG as an index stand-alone bariatric operation in our unit.

Endoscopic suturing is superior to endoclips for closure of gastrotomy after natural orifices translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES): an ex vivo study.

Background: Closure of gastrotomy remains a major barrier to clinical application of NOTES. Full-thickness closure of gastrotomy using endoscopic suturing device is presumed to be safer than that by endoclips. We evaluated the safety and feasibility of closing gastrotomy by Eagle Claw VIII, endoclips, and surgical suturing.

Recognition of goblet cells upon endocytoscopy indicates the presence of gastric intestinal metaplasia.

Background: Gastric intestinal metaplasia (IM) is considered precancerous and is difficult to differentiate upon endoscopy. Endocytoscopy enables observation at a cellular level for focused biopsy. The present study examined the use of endocytoscopy for recognition of gastric IM.

Peroral endoscopic myotomy for treatment of achalasia: from bench to bedside (with video).

Background: Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is a novel approach to performing esophageal myotomy through a long submucosal tunnel.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and safety of POEM for treatment of achalasia.

Design: Preclinical animal study and prospective clinical study.

Ghrelin level and weight loss after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and gastric mini-bypass for Prader-Willi syndrome in Chinese.

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a chromosomal disorder characterized by the presence of hyperghrelinemia, hyperphagia, and obesity. The optimal treatment for PWS patient remains controversial. Here, we present our experience of treating PWS with laparoscopic mini-gastric bypass (LMGBP) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) compared with gastrectomy for treatment of early gastric neoplasia: a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: This study aims to compare perioperative outcomes and oncological clearance of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) versus gastrectomy for treatment of early gastric cancer (EGC).

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study including all cases of EGC or severe dysplasia treated at a university-affiliated hospital from 1993 to 2010. Preoperative endoscopic ultrasound and image-enhanced endoscopy were employed to determine depth of invasion.

Transgastric endoluminal gastrojejunostomy: technical development from bench to animal study (with video).

Background: Gastrojejunal anastomosis is commonly performed for palliative management of malignant gastric outlet obstruction and bariatric surgery. Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery revolutionized the surgical approach to intra-abdominal surgery. This study explored the possibility of performing gastrojejunostomy (GJ) by using a hybrid natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery approach.

Closure of a gastrotomy after transgastric tubal ligation by using the Eagle Claw VII: a survival experiment in a porcine model (with video).

Background: Transgastric access to the peritoneal cavity presents new opportunities for novel endoscopic surgery. Secure closure of the gastrotomy site is critical to the success of transgastric endoscopic surgery.

Objective: To study the safety and efficacy of closure of a gastrotomy by using the Eagle Claw VII endoscopic suturing device after transgastric bilateral tubal ligation.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in ethnic obese Chinese.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) for the treatment of obesity in ethnic Chinese in Hong Kong.

Methods: Seventy consecutive Chinese patients (49 females; mean age 34.7+/-8.

Effects of long-term rofecoxib on gastric intestinal metaplasia: results of a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: Gastric cancer and its premalignant gastric lesion, intestinal metaplasia (IM), frequently express cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) at high levels. We tested whether long-term use of specific COX-2 inhibitors regress gastric IM.

Experimental Design: This is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Helicobacter pylori infection in 1st degree relatives of Chinese gastric cancer patients.

Objective: Familial aggregation of gastric cancer has been linked to familial clustering of Helicobacter pylori infection. Patterns and risk factors associated with H. pylori infection were investigated in 1st degree relatives of Chinese gastric cancer patients.

Risk factors associated with the development of intestinal metaplasia in first-degree relatives of gastric cancer patients.

Family relatives of gastric cancer patients have a higher risk of gastric cancer and premalignant gastric lesions. We sought to determine the risk factors associated with the presence of intestinal metaplasia in a large cohort of gastric cancer relatives. First-degree relatives of gastric cancer patients were invited for screening gastroscopy.