Bariatric Surgery in Cebu, Philippines: Current Status and Initial Experience With Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Background The prevalence of obesity in the Philippines has increased more than three-fold over the last two decades. However, bariatric surgery has not been widely adopted yet in the country. Local data mainly on laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) are limited as well.

Mitochondrial dysfunction as a mediator of hippocampal apoptosis in a model of hepatic encephalopathy.

In this study, we describe the presence of apoptosis, associated with a mitochondrial dysfunction in the hippocampus of animals in an experimental model defined as minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). This experimental model was studied after 10 days of induced portal vein calibrated stricture, leading to portal hypertension and to a moderate hyperammonemia, without the presence of other evident central nervous system changes. The molecular mechanisms here proposed indicate the presence of apoptotic intrinsic pathways that point to hippocampal mitochondria as an important mediator of apoptosis in this experimental model.

Glutamine synthetase activity and glutamate uptake in hippocampus and frontal cortex in portal hypertensive rats.

Aim: To study glutamine synthetase (GS) activity and glutamate uptake in the hippocampus and frontal cortex (FC) from rats with prehepatic portal vein hypertension.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into sham-operated group and a portal hypertension (PH) group with a regulated stricture of the portal vein. Animals were sacrificed by decapitation 14 d after portal vein stricture.

Reyes's syndrome, encephalopathy, hyperammonemia and acetyl salicylic acid ingestion in a city hospital of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Twelve cases of Reye's syndrome are presented with different degrees of encephalopathy, hyperammonemia and hypoglycemia; associated to acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) ingestion. The aim of the present retrospective study was to describe our experience in selected patients with Reye's syndrome associated to the ASA ingestion and to underline the influence of hyperammonemia on Reye's encephalopathy. All the cases presented moderate hyperbilirubinemia, elevated alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase with an average of 302+/-205 UI/L and 285+/-149 UI/L respectively.

Oxidative stress and hippocampus in a low-grade hepatic encephalopathy model: protective effects of curcumin.

Aim: The present study was performed on prehepatic portal hypertensive rats, a model of low-grade hepatic encephalopathy, designed to evaluate whether oxidative stress was a possible pathway implicated in hippocampal damage and if so, the effect of an anti-oxidant to prevent it.

Methods: Prehepatic portal hypertension was induced by a regulated portal vein stricture. Oxidative stress was investigated by assessing related biochemical parameters in rat hippocampus.