Improved Muscle Mitochondrial Capacity Following Gastric Bypass Surgery in Obese Subjects.

Background: Weight loss resulting from low-calorie diets is often less than expected. We hypothesized that energy restriction would influence proton leakage and improve mitochondrial efficiency, leading to reduced energy expenditure, partly explaining the difficulties in weight loss maintenance.

Methods: Eleven women with a median BMI of 38.

Reduced respiratory capacity in muscle mitochondria of obese subjects.

Background/aims: The extent of weight gain varies among individuals despite equal calorie overconsumption. Furthermore, weight gain is often less than expected from energy excess. This suggests differences in metabolic efficiency and basal metabolism.

Emergency thoracic surgery for penetrating, non-mediastinal trauma.

Background: Penetrating thoracic injury is commonly found in South Africa. A review of our recent experience was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of our protocols for this type of injury.

Methods: A retrospective study of 61 consecutive patients with penetrating, non-mediastinal trauma to the chest was conducted over 32 months at a single trauma unit.

Penetrating cardiac injuries: recent experience in South Africa.

Background: Penetrating cardiac injury is a dramatic and lethal form of trauma. The majority of patients will die before reaching medical care, but for those who arrive at hospital alive, the diagnostic acumen and rapid surgical intervention of physicians and surgeons can lead to successful outcomes.

Materials And Methods: A structured diagnostic and management approach is used in our trauma unit to deal with penetrating cardiac injury.

Cyclooxygenase-2 and Bcl-2 expression in the stomach mucosa of Wistar rats exposed to Helicobacter pylori, N'-methyl- N'-nitro- N-nitrosoguanidine and bile.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and Bcl-2 have been implicated in upper gastrointestinal tract carcinomas, but the underlying mechanisms are not known. In the present study we assessed the correlation of COX-2 and Bcl-2 to known cell kinetics in the glandular stomach mucosa of 104 Wistar rats given combinations of Helicobacter pylori, MNNG ( N'-methyl- N'-nitro- N-nitrosoguanidine) and bile. COX-2 expression, Bcl-2 and cell proliferation (Ki-67) in antral and corpus mucosa were determined immunohistochemically.