Prospective, multicenter, 3-year trial of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding with the MIDBAND™.

Background: Although laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is a popular metabolic/bariatric procedure, few prospective studies have assessed its outcomes. This study aimed to prospectively assess LAGB safety and effectiveness outcomes using the MIDBAND™ (MID, Dardilly, France).

Methods: Between May 2005 and September 2006, 262 morbidly obese patients underwent primary gastric banding with pars flaccida technique in 13 French medical centers.

Effects of fasting and refeeding on energetic metabolism of cold acclimated rats.

In rats acclimated at 5 degrees C or 28 degrees C (thermal neutrality), overnight fasting induced decreases in body and brown adipose tissue (BAT) weights and led to a larger decrease in resting metabolism (RM) in the 5 degrees C rats than in the 28 degrees C group. Refeeding significantly enhanced RM (diet-induced thermogenesis) in a greater extent in 5 degrees C than in 28 degrees C rats. This effect was inhibited by propranolol (beta adrenergic receptor antagonist) in 28 degrees C but was only halved in 5 degrees C rats.

Effects of partial sympathectomy of brown fat or of adrenomedullectomy on catecholamine metabolism in cold-reared rats.

1) The aim of this work was to study the effects of surgical denervation of the interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) and of bilateral adrenal demedullation on cold adaptation of rats. 2) After sympathectomy in the 28 degree C rats, there were substantial decreases in the IBAT NE basal level and turnover rate but no modifications in the heart and adrenals. In the 16 degree C rats there were also decreases in the basal level and turnover rate of the IBAT NE but, in addition, significant increases in levels and turnover rates of NE in the heart and of epinephrine in the adrenals.

Spatial navigation of staggerer and normal mice during juvenile and adult stages.

Staggerer mutant mice were compared to normal mice of two different ages (2-6 mo) in two tasks requiring navigational skills in a circular maze visible platform condition and a T-maze. Staggerer mutants had higher latencies than normal mice in both tests. The performance of normal mice worsened with age for both tests.