Medical Breakthroughs

Couch Potato Pill

What if you could gain the benefits of exercise without moving a muscle? Sounds impossible, right? But scientists are conducting research into a drug that could make that a reality.

In research results reported in the journal Cell, sedentary mice that took the drug called AICAR for four weeks burned more calories and had less fat than untreated mice. When tested on a treadmill, they could run about 44 percent farther and 23 percent longer than untreated mice.

Study author Ron Evans, of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Calif., and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, says it’s not known how those results might translate to people. He notes that if the drug is proven effective and safe in humans, it could help treat obesity, diabetes and people with medical conditions that keep them from exercising.

Evans says AICAR’s possible physiological benefits were discovered as an offshoot of ongoing advanced human tests of the drug related to its possible use to prevent complication from heart bypass surgery.

Researchers noted that in mice that did exercise, a second drug made their workout more effective at boosting endurance. After a month of taking that drug and being subjected to exercise, mice could run 68 percent longer and 70 percent farther than other mice that exercised but didn't get the drug.

Previous experiments suggest that AICAR might be effective in protecting against weight gain on a high-fat diet, which might make it useful for treating obesity, Evans says. But its safety in people would have to be determined.

Surgeon Performs Landmark Procedure

Dr. Sherman Yu, medical director for Park Plaza Hospital and Medical Center's bariatric program, recently performed the first single-incision lap band weight loss surgery in Houston.

“This is a significant advancement for patients undergoing weight loss surgery,” said Dr. Yu. “Because only one incision is involved–as opposed to the traditional five–we are reducing the amount of scarring, which improves patient satisfaction with this procedure.”

The patient, a 42-year-old Houston woman, had her surgery on a Thursday and by the weekend was out working in her garden.

To perform the surgery, often referred to as SILS or single-incision laparoscopic surgery, Dr. Yu made one incision through the abdominal wall. The entire procedure took about an hour to perform.

“The single-incision lap band surgery definitely has cosmetic appeal,” said Dr. Yu. “Because only a handful of these surgeries have been performed, it's difficult to definitively say that patients experience less pain, but eventually we may be able to conclude this as more research is performed in the field.”

Dr. Yu says not every overweight or obese patient is a candidate for SILS. People with lower body mass indexes (BMIs) are better candidates as opposed to those patients with higher BMIs. “We can't determine if someone will be a good candidate for the surgery until we get into the operating room,” said Dr. Yu.

As with all surgeries, SILS lap band does have its risk of complications, including band slippage, bleeding, band erosion, blood clots and failure to produce weight loss.

“A patient must be dedicated to changing their lifestyle after bariatric surgery,” said Dr. Yu. “This includes a commitment to a bariatric program like ours, which includes routine follow-up, eating healthier and exercising more. The surgery is a tool for weight loss; it's not a cure-all.”

As surgical technologies continue to evolve, Dr. Yu said bariatric surgeries eventually will be incisionless. Referred to as NOTES (natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery), this involves going through a patient's outer canal, whether that be the mouth, colon or vagina.

Dr. Yu, who practices at the Texas Laparoscopic Consultants (TLC) located on the Park Plaza Hospital campus, says he entered the field of bariatrics because with weight loss surgery, he can cure patients of the co-morbidities associated with obesity.



Couch Potato Pill What if you could gain the benefits of exercise without moving a muscle? Sounds impossible, right? But scientists are conducting research into a drug that could make that a reality. In research results reported in the journal Cell, sedentary mice that took the drug called AICAR for four weeks burned more calories and had less fat than untreated mice. When tested on a treadmill, they could run about 44 percent farther and 23 percent longer than untreated mice. Study author Ron Evans, of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Calif., and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, says it’s not known how those results might translate to people. He notes that if the drug is proven effective and safe in humans, it could help treat obesity, diabetes and people with medical conditions that keep them from exercising. Evans says AICAR’s possible physiological benefits were discovered as an offshoot of ongoing advanced human tests of the drug related to its possible use to prevent complication from heart bypass surgery. Researchers noted that in mice that did exercise, a second drug made their workout more effective at boosting endurance. After a month of taking that drug and being subjected to exercise, mice could run 68 percent longer and 70 percent farther than other mice that exercised but didn't get the drug. Previous experiments suggest that AICAR might be effective in protecting against weight gain on a high-fat diet, which might make it useful for treating obesity, Evans says. But its safety in people would have to be determined. Surgeon Performs Landmark Procedure Dr. Sherman Yu, medical director for Park Plaza Hospital and Medical Center's bariatric program, recently performed the first single-incision lap band weight loss surgery in Houston. “This is a significant advancement for patients undergoing weight loss surgery,” said Dr. Yu. “Because only one incision is involved–as opposed to the traditional five–we are reducing the amount of scarring, which improves patient satisfaction with this procedure.” The patient, a 42-year-old Houston woman, had her surgery on a Thursday and by the weekend was out working in her garden. To perform the surgery, often referred to as SILS or single-incision laparoscopic surgery, Dr. Yu made one incision through the abdominal wall. The entire procedure took about an hour to perform. “The single-incision lap band surgery definitely has cosmetic appeal,” said Dr. Yu. “Because only a handful of these surgeries have been performed, it's difficult to definitively say that patients experience less pain, but eventually we may be able to conclude this as more research is performed in the field.” Dr. Yu says not every overweight or obese patient is a candidate for SILS. People with lower body mass indexes (BMIs) are better candidates as opposed to those patients with higher BMIs. “We can't determine if someone will be a good candidate for the surgery until we get into the operating room,” said Dr. Yu. As with all surgeries, SILS lap band does have its risk of complications, including band slippage, bleeding, band erosion, blood clots and failure to produce weight loss. “A patient must be dedicated to changing their lifestyle after bariatric surgery,” said Dr. Yu. “This includes a commitment to a bariatric program like ours, which includes routine follow-up, eating healthier and exercising more. The surgery is a tool for weight loss; it's not a cure-all.” As surgical technologies continue to evolve, Dr. Yu said bariatric surgeries eventually will be incisionless. Referred to as NOTES (natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery), this involves going through a patient's outer canal, whether that be the mouth, colon or vagina. Dr. Yu, who practices at the Texas Laparoscopic Consultants (TLC) located on the Park Plaza Hospital campus, says he entered the field of bariatrics because with weight loss surgery, he can cure patients of the co-morbidities associated with obesity.