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Early experience with customized, meal-triggered gastric electrical stimulation in obese patients.
Miras, M, Serrano, M, Durán, C, Valiño, C, Canton, S
Obesity surgery. 2015;(1):174-9
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Abstract
BACKGROUND We report our initial gastric electrical stimulation experience using the abiliti® system for the treatment of obese patients followed for 1 year. METHOD Between March 2011 and June 2013, 27 obese patients (BMI 30 to 46 kg/m(2)) were enrolled in a prospective open label study and implanted with a gastric stimulator. The patients were provided with nutritional support, and sensor-based behavioral feedback. RESULTS At 12 months, percent excess weight loss (%EWL) obtained was 49.3 ± 19.2 % with no significant differences between gender or age sub-groups. The %EWL data were segmented into two groups according to BMI 30-40 kg/m(2) patients (obesity grade I and II) and BMI >40 kg/m(2), with the results of weight loss being significantly higher for the lower BMI group (59.1 ± 19.5 vs. 46.7 ± 13.4, respectively, p < 0.01). One subject requested to have his device explanted, and the minor postoperative adverse events were resolved without hospital admission. All patients experienced early satiety and reduced their intake. CONCLUSIONS After 12 months of follow-up, gastric electrical stimulation treatment appears to be a safe and effective option for weight loss in obese subjects. Long-term follow-up and further studies are warranted.
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Engineering regulable Escherichia coli beta-galactosidases as biosensors for anti-HIV antibody detection in human sera.
Ferrer-Miralles, N, Feliu, JX, Vandevuer, S, Müller, A, Cabrera-Crespo, J, Ortmans, I, Hoffmann, F, Cazorla, D, Rinas, U, Prévost, M, et al
The Journal of biological chemistry. 2001;(43):40087-95
Abstract
The activity of engineered, peptide-displaying enzymes is modulated by binding to specific anti-peptide antibodies. This new concept of a quantitative antibody detection system allows test kits to be set up for fast diagnosis of infectious diseases. To develop a quick and homogeneous assay for the detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, we have explored two acceptor sites of the bacterial Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase for the accommodation of HIV antigenic peptides. Two overlapping epitopes (namely P1 and P2) from the gp41 envelope glycoprotein, contained in different sized peptides, were inserted in the vicinity of the enzyme active site to generate a set of hybrid, enzymatically active beta-galactosidases. Regulable enzymes of different responsiveness to monoclonal antibody binding were generated with both acceptor sites tested. These biosensors were also sensitive to immune sera from HIV-infected patients. Modeling data provide insight into the structural modifications in the vicinity of the active site induced by peptide insertion that strongly affect the responsiveness of the engineered proteins through different parameters of their catalytic properties.