Research & Treatment Innovations

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• QWhen should I consult my doctor about metabolic surgery?

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  A Dr. Melissa B. Bagloo, MD , Bariatric Medicine (Obesity Medicine), answered on behalf of Columbia University Department of Surgery

  Metabolic surgery is an option to pursue if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher and are having trouble managing medical problems such as diabetes despite the medication that you are on. Even at BMI levels below 35, you may be interested in study protocols for metabolic surgery because early intervention is very rapidly becoming an area of increased focus.
• QHow soon can I return to work after metabolic surgery?

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  A Dr. Melissa B. Bagloo, MD , Bariatric Medicine (Obesity Medicine), answered on behalf of Columbia University Department of Surgery

  Patients should take two to three weeks before going back to work in order to accommodate to the new diet and lifestyle changes that are related to the operation, before returning to the stress of everyday life.
• QWhy are clinical trials important?

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  A Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF) answered

  Clinical trials are the means by which medical drugs, devices and treatments are tested to determine if they work, and if they are safe. Even if a drug or treatment looks promising in a laboratory, it cannot be used to treat patients in the general public, such as women with ovarian cancer, until several phases of the clinical trial have been successfully completed, and each stage has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Without clinical trials, the introduction of new treatments for ovarian cancer and other diseases would not be possible. Clinical trials rely on enrollment of volunteers who meet the study’s criteria. The scientists conducting the trials may solicit parties through methods such as advertising in local newspapers, television and radio stations. Clinical trials volunteers enable scientists to answer critical research questions, which leads to early detection screening tools, better treatments and ultimately a cure for ovarian cancer.
• QWhat are the benefits of metabolic surgery?

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  A Dr. Melissa B. Bagloo, MD , Bariatric Medicine (Obesity Medicine), answered on behalf of Columbia University Department of Surgery

  A number of studies have investigated which option is better for treating metabolic problems: medical management or metabolic surgery. Metabolic surgery is very rapidly proving to be a better alternative to medical managementAt a minimum, metabolic surgery may delay the long-term complications of metabolic problems by 5, even 10 years. Surgery would significantly improve the patient's quality of life. Nevertheless, it is difficult to determine if the results of metabolic surgery are permanent because data is still evolving.

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• QHow will metabolic surgery affect my diet?

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  A Dr. Melissa B. Bagloo, MD , Bariatric Medicine (Obesity Medicine), answered on behalf of Columbia University Department of Surgery

  Metabolic surgery is a treatment to help with metabolic problems as well as weight loss. You should meet with a nutritionist well before the surgery so that you can learn about nutrition as a whole and learn about what to expect before and after surgery. After surgery, you should maintain a healthy diet, eating four or five times a day, just in much smaller quantities. Patients are very satisfied with post-operative satiety. The same sensation of hunger as when you diet before the surgery is not experienced, because the gut  hormones are reset. Nevertheless, patients  will need to change their lifestyle and diet after the operation so that the maximum benefit out of the procedure is attained.
• QHow are gangliosidoses treated?

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  A Piedmont Heart Institute answered

  No specific treatment exists for the gangliosidoses. Anticonvulsants may initially control seizures. Other supportive treatment includes proper nutrition, hydration, and keeping the airway open.
  This answer is based on source information from National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
• QWhat is metabolic surgery?

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  A Dr. Melissa B. Bagloo, MD , Bariatric Medicine (Obesity Medicine), answered on behalf of Columbia University Department of Surgery

  Metabolic surgery is developed from bariatric surgery. Patients who originally had bariatric procedures, just for the treatment of obesity, also had many metabolic problems. Over time, in follow-up with bariatric patients, doctors saw that the patients' diabetes and high blood pressure improved, lipid levels normalized and patients lost weight and overall did much better. So the focus turned to seeing if bariatric surgical procedures were beneficial for patients with medical problems associated with metabolic syndrome as opposed to obesity alone. Study after study has consequently shown that there is a significant beneficial link between bariatric procedures and metabolic problems. So when experts refer to metabolic surgery, it is the application of procedures that are very similar to bariatric surgery, but for the treatment of metabolic syndrome.
• QIs metabolic surgery the same as bariatric surgery?

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  A Dr. Melissa B. Bagloo, MD , Bariatric Medicine (Obesity Medicine), answered on behalf of Columbia University Department of Surgery

  Bariatric surgery (surgery for obesity) and metabolic surgery are interrelated because the two conditions often go hand in hand. Most surgeons consider metabolic surgery as an area in itself, applying it to improve the metabolic problems that go along with metabolic syndrome. Obesity is not the focus of metabolic surgery; the focus is improvement in the comorbidities, prevention of the cardiac risk factors and the improvement in diabetes.
• QWhat is Xuriden?

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  A RealAge answered

  Xuriden (uridine triacetate) is a medication used to treat a rare inherited disease known as hereditary orotic aciduria. People with this condition are deficient in uridine, a chemical compound that is needed for carbohydrate metabolism. This can cause serious anemia, misalignment of the eyes (strabismus), cardiac malformations, developmental delays, and other complications, including death. Xuriden is a granulated form of uridine, which can be added to food like applesauce or in milk or infant formula. The medication must be measured carefully and given once a day. The patient will need frequent visits to the doctor to check progress. 
• QWhat is Strensiq?

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  A RealAge answered

  Strensiq is an injectable drug precribed for the treatment of perinatal/infantile- and juvenile-onset hypophosphatasia. This rare and inherited metabolic disorder causes bone demineralization, rickets, and bone softening in children, along with complications like weakness, seizures, pain, and even death. Strensiq (asfotase alfa) replaces the enzyme missing in these patients and helps lead to normal bone development, improving survival rates in the first year dramatically. It is given as an injection three to six times a week. Side effects include sensitivity reactions (nausea, breathing problems, fever), injection site reactions (pain, redness/discoloration, itching, etc.), and calcium deposits in the kidneys or eyes. Patients are monitored closely for these adverse reactions.