Plication Transoral Outlet Reduction Safely Treats Weight Regain After Gastric Bypass

Close up measuring waist with measuring tape

Endoscopists at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have conducted the first study in which plication endoscopic transoral gastric outlet reduction was combined with argon plasma coagulation to treat weight gain after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

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Blood Test Offers Better Prediction of Preeclampsia Risk

Researcher in lab setting selecting from upright plasma samples on table

Researchers have shown that a novel molecular signature from a single blood sample can identify women at risk of preeclampsia months before presentation. They also report that molecular signatures accurately track gestational age, independently of clinical factors, and could advance the study of other complications.

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Two-Way Communication Necessary to Re-engage Patients in Diabetes Care After Major Disruption

Close up of woman typing on phone with agenda book open on table

When the COVID-19 lockdown began, the Brigham’s Diabetes Management Program developed a protocol for reaching out to patients whose routine clinic visits were abruptly canceled. A study led by Marie E. McDonnell, MD, revealed two-way communication was necessary to re-engage patients in diabetes care after disruption.

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Adjustable Intragastric Balloon Permits Individualized Weight Loss Therapy

3D rendering concept of a gastric balloon inside a stomach

In October 2021, the FDA approved the Spatz3, the first adjustable intragastric balloon available in the U.S. Christopher C. Thompson, MD, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Barham Abu Dayyeh, MD, of the Mayo Clinic, and colleagues report on the manufacturer-sponsored trial that informed the FDA approval.

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Study Reveals Evidence of Peripheral Circadian Clocks in Humans

3D rendering of hypothalamus in brain where the suprachiasmatic nucleus is located

Brianne A. Kent, PhD, Steven W. Lockley, PhD, and colleagues hypothesize that peripheral clocks exist in humans. They report that the circadian rhythms of certain peripheral metabolic markers—lipids and liver proteins—differ from that of melatonin, a principal marker of central pacemaker activity.

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Exenatide Mini-Pump Demonstrates Cardiovascular Safety in Type 2 Diabetes

3D rendering of exenatide drug molecule

The FREEDOM CVO trial investigated ITCA 650, an osmotic mini-pump that delivers a continuous subcutaneous infusion of exenatide. The primary efficacy outcome met the FDA’s prespecified criterion for noninferiority to placebo in a broad population of patients with T2D.

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Study Explains Why Patients With Diabetes Are Prone to Thrombosis, Suggests New Therapeutic Target

Man puts on compression socks for thrombosis

An ion channel protein known as Piezo1 is known to facilitate thrombus formation, and researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have shown it may represent a new target for therapies to prevent thrombosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who are at high risk.

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Novel Treatment May Improve Transplant Outcomes in Patients With Obesity

Bariatric surgery in operating room with surgeon looking at monitor

In a new study, Stefan G. Tullius, MD, PhD, of the Division of Transplant Surgery, Markus Quante, MD, of University Hospital Tuebingen, and colleagues present evidence that TDCA/valine may be a noninvasive alternative to bariatric surgery for improving transplant outcomes in patients with obesity.

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Oral Drug Developed at the Brigham Replicates Metabolic Benefits of Gastric Bypass

3d Rendering of gastric bypass on red background

Since many patients with diabetes are ineligible for RYGB or decline it, researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital developed an orally administered gut barrier coating for improving glucose homeostasis.

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Diagnosis Codes Suitable for Researching Obesity Using Claims-based Databases

Physician typing on laptop with clipboard/stethoscope on table

Researchers in the Brigham’s Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, led by Elisabetta Patorno, MD, DrPH, have determined obesity-related International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes accurately identify patients with obesity in claims-based data.

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