Research & Treatment Innovations

Recently Answered

• 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.

• 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. 
• QHow are infant metabolic errors treated?

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  A NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital answered

  Treatment is specific to a patient's metabolic condition and may involve a variety of specialists. Treatment may include dietary management with a metabolic nutritionist, enzyme replacement therapy and, in advanced cases, transplantation for bone marrow, liver, kidney or heart.

• 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 are metabolic equivalent (MET) tables?

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  A Dr. Nasir Z. Sulemanjee, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered on behalf of Aurora Health Care

  Energy costs are presented in the form of "metabolic equivalent (MET) tables." Energy costs range from easy self-care activities to difficult industrial and recreational activities. One MET is the amount of oxygen used by the body while at rest. For example, walking on level ground at 2.5 miles per hour is about 3 METs. This is three times your resting level.
  
  MET tables can be used to prescribe activities that are safe for you to do based on your treadmill evaluation and your training heart rate. If your training heart rate represents a certain MET level, then any activity on the tables within that MET level can be performed safely.
• QWho is a candidate for 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

  To be a candidate for metabolic surgery, you have to meet certain criteria related to weight. You would have to have a body mass index (BMI) of at least 35 coupled with the development of diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. There is certainly a lot of interest in expanding these criteria because patients at a lower weight may benefit from the metabolic improvements that are afforded after the operations. 
• 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.