(Press-News.org) Bariatric surgery has positive effects not only on weight loss but also on diabetes and heart disease. Researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy and University of Cincinnati have shown that the health benefits are not caused by a reduction in the stomach size but by increased levels of bile acids in the blood. These findings, reported in Nature, indicate that bile acids could be a new target for treating obesity and diabetes.
Previous research from the Sahlgrenska Academy has demonstrated that obesity surgery is the only effective treatment for obesity and obesity-related diabetes.
However, the mechanisms that cause the positive effects have been unclear.
Positive effects caused by bile acids
Professor Fredrik Bäckhed, in collaboration with Randy Seeley and coworkers from the University of Cincinnati in the US, has shown that the positive effects of bariatric surgery are likely caused by the surgery-induced increase in bile acids. The study, which is published online in the leading science journal Nature, focuses on a specific receptor called FXR, which is involved in bile acid signaling.
"Our study shows that signaling through FXR is essential for the beneficial effects of the surgery to be achieved. This is a major breakthrough in understanding how bariatric surgery affects metabolism and in the development of new treatment strategies", says Fredrik Bäckhed.
Important future complement
The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide and it is not realistic to operate on all obese subjects. Furthermore, bariatric surgery is associated with a risk of complications. Treatment strategies based on the FXR receptor could therefore be an important future therapeutic approach.
Improves glucose metabolism
In this study, mice with or without the FXR gene underwent an operation termed vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) in which approximately 80 percent of the stomach was removed. The surgical procedure is the same as that performed in humans.
The researchers observed that the operation promoted weight loss and improved glucose metabolism in mice with FXR while the operation had no effect in mice that lacked FXR.
Alters intestinal bacterial flora
This study also showed that VSG resulted in changes in the gut microbiota, a potentially important finding given that Fredrik Bäckhed's research group has previously demonstrated that the intestinal bacterial flora is altered in obesity and diabetes.
"These additional findings suggest that an altered gut flora together with signaling through FXR may contribute to improved metabolism. This means that future treatments based on the intestinal flora could help in the treatment of diabetes."
INFORMATION:
The article FXR is a molecular target for the effects of vertical sleeve gastrectomy was published online in Nature on 26 March.
Link to the journal: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature13135.html
Contact:
Fredrik Bäckhed, Professor at the Sahlgrenska Academy and Director of the Wallenberg Laboratory, University of Gothenburg
+4631-342 7833
+4670-2182355
fredrik.backhed@wlab.gu.se
http://www.wlab.gu.se/backhed
Researchers identify a mechanism linking bariatric surgery to health benefits
2014-04-22
[Attachments] See images for this press release:
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
NeuroPhage discovers GAIM-changing molecules to combat Alzheimer's and related diseases
2014-04-22
Cambridge, MA, April 22, 2014 – Researchers from NeuroPhage Pharmaceuticals, Inc. have engineered a series of molecules with the potential to treat most neurodegenerative diseases that are characterized by misfolded proteins, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. These molecules are based on what the Company calls a general amyloid interaction motif, or GAIM, which recognizes a characteristic common to many toxic, misfolded proteins, not just one type of misfolded protein. This approach provides NeuroPhage with an array of therapeutic targets, so that ...
Sleep disorder linked to brain disease
2014-04-22
Researchers at the University of Toronto say a sleep disorder that causes people to act out their dreams is the best current predictor of brain diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
"Rapid-eye-movement sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) is not just a precursor but also a critical warning sign of neurodegeneration that can lead to brain disease," says associate professor and lead author Dr. John Peever. In fact, as many as 80 to 90 per cent of people with RBD will develop a brain disease."
As the name suggests, the disturbance occurs during the rapid-eye-movement (REM) ...
Mysteries of a nearby planetary system's dynamics now are solved
2014-04-22
Mysteries of one of the most fascinating nearby planetary systems now have been solved, report authors of a scientific paper to be published by the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society in its early online edition on 22 April 2014. The study, which presents the first viable model for the planetary system orbiting one the first stars discovered to have planets -- the star named 55 Cancri -- was led by Penn State University graduate student Benjamin Nelson in collaboration with faculty at the Center for Exoplanets and Habitable Worlds at Penn State and ...
Protein expression gets the heart pumping
2014-04-22
HOUSTON – (April 22, 2014) – Most people think the development of the heart only happens in the womb, however the days and weeks following birth are full of cellular changes that play a role in the structure and function of the heart. Using mouse models, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have now been able to categorize the alternative splicing (the process in which genes code proteins, determining their role) that takes place during these changes and what mechanisms they affect.
The findings, which appear in Nature Communications, also helped to identify a ...
First brain images of African infants enable research into cognitive effects of nutrition
2014-04-22
Brain activity of babies in developing countries could be monitored from birth to reveal the first signs of cognitive dysfunction, using a new technique piloted by a London-based university collaboration.
The cognitive function of infants can be visualised and tracked more quickly, more accurately and more cheaply using the method, called functional near infra-red spectroscopy (fNIRS), compared to the behavioural assessments Western regions have relied upon for decades.
Professor Clare Elwell, Professor of Medical Physics at University College London (UCL), said: "Brain ...
Scientists discover a new way to enhance nerve growth following injury
2014-04-22
New research published today out of the University of Calgary's Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI) uncovers a mechanism to promote growth in damaged nerve cells as a means to restore connections after injury. Dr. Doug Zochodne and his team have discovered a key molecule that directly regulates nerve cell growth in the damaged nervous system. His study was published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications, with lead authors Drs. Kim Christie and Anand Krishnan.
"We made the surprising discovery that a protein called Retinoblastoma (Rb) is present in adult neurons," ...
Trio @ Sam Leong Road Preview 2nd Preview 2nd Quarter 2014
2014-04-22
Trio @ Sam Leong is a 4 story commercial development that consists of retail shops, entertainment outlets and restaurants. Developed by Singapore listed developer Tee Land, this development is strategically located behind Mustafa and is expected to draw traffic with its city fringe location.
The nearest MRT is Farrer Park MRT station within a 5 minute walk. A Central Business District (CBD), Orchard Road, Marina Bay Sands is only 10 minutes via train or drive.
Trio @ Sam Leong road has a good unit mix of retails shops and restaurants targeted to individual business ...
Alexsyss K. Tylor, host of the Vagina Power Show Debuts New Rap Artist, Dinero RED
2014-04-22
Alexsyss K. Tylor, better known for hosting the controversial Vagina Power Show and featured appearances on the Maury Povich Show and Comedy Central's Tosh 2.0, branched out into the music industry today by signing Dinero Red, debuting new video.
"Dinero RED is an amazing artist and lyricist, whose music is in alignment with my brand. I couldn't be happier to launch this new arm of my business; having Diner RED on board is a dream come true," said Tyler.
"This has honestly been such a huge turning point in my music career," announced Dinero RED, " we all know I'm ...
Best Western Aku Tiki Inn in Daytona Beach, Florida Announces Easter Events For Registered Guests
2014-04-22
The Daytona Beach Best Western Aku Tiki Inn announces special Easter weekend activities for registered guests. On Saturday April 19th and Sunday April 20th the Best Western Aku Tiki Inn will host a variety of family activities to celebrate the holiday. Events include their annual giant Easter Egg hunt, a Jelly Bean contest, kids will enjoy a visit from the Glitter Tattoo Lady and Benson for his awesome scavenger hunts. On Saturday April 19th families will enjoy creating a beach memory with Magic Milk Sand Art from 11am - 3pm EST and face painting from 5pm - 8pm EST.
Travelers ...
Book Marketing Announcements: The Authors Show Lineup For The Week Of April 21, 2014
2014-04-22
Don McCauley of the Free Publicity Focus Group and Danielle Hampson, Executive Producer of The Authors Show, founders of The Authors Marketing Powerhouse, have announced The Authors Show radio and broadcast schedule for the week of April 21, 2014. The new show schedule is available at the Authors Marketing Powerhouse site.
For those who hope to sell books on the Internet, the challenge can be daunting. It can be confusing difficult, time consuming and expensive. Book Marketing, branded as The Authors Marketing Powerhouse, helps authors overcome these challenges by providing ...