ECV for Monday, December 07,2015 - University of Mississippi Medical Center

Study examines weight-loss surgery's potential effects on offspring

Women who have weight-loss surgery experience health benefits beyond lower weight, such as lower cholesterol and higher glucose tolerance. However, children born after their mother's surgery could face long-term health consequences including obesity and diabetes, says University of Mississippi Medical Center's Dr. Bernadette Grayson.

“The surgery treats obesity, but some of the post-surgery effects have not been vetted,” said Grayson, an assistant professor of neurobiology and anatomical sciences. She presented some of her recent findings as an invited talk at the American Physiological Society's conference titled Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Disease: Physiology and Gender, held in Annapolis, MD on Nov. 19.

Grayson is a neuroscientist who studies metabolic syndrome, a group of diseases including obesity, diabetes and hypertension. In the lab, she uses female rats to study the effects of vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) on reproductive biology. She looks at the long-term health of the offspring born post-surgery.

According to Grayson, changes to the maternal environment post-VSG - particularly in the placenta - may limit the pups' growth and lead to metabolic syndrome later in life.

“I don't know of any other groups who do this type of research,” Grayson said.

During VSG, a surgeon removes 75-85% of the stomach and reseals it, creating a tube-like sleeve instead of the stomach sac. This initially limits the amount of food a person can eat, so they consume fewer calories and lose weight. However, the reason for this long term weight loss is still not well known.

A typical patient loses more than half of their body weight over a three-year period. The procedure usually has few long-term complications.

Grenada, Biloxi transplant clinics enhance access to care

Walking to school earlier this year with identical twin sister Ariana, Briana Blackmon of Holly Springs found herself lagging behind.

“She told me to speed up, and I couldn't,” said Briana, who was 17 and a Holly Springs High senior at the time. “I got to school and my side started hurting, and I threw up. My auntie took me to the hospital in Southaven.”

That's where her mom, Mabel Blackmon, ironically was at the bedside of the twins' dad. “She took me to the emergency room there, and they had to send me right away to Le Bonheur,” Briana remembered.

The children's hospital in Memphis quickly gave Briana and her north Mississippi family the news: Briana, who already was being treated for high blood pressure, was in acute kidney failure and needed to immediately begin dialysis several times weekly. They also learned Briana was a candidate for a kidney transplant.

“Some days, I would just sit and cry and not talk to anyone,” remembered Briana, who's now 18 and intent on graduating in May. “I was able to go to school, but I missed a lot.”

Briana and her family were referred to the University of Mississippi Medical Center's new transplant clinic on the campus of UMMC Grenada. She was among the patients seen April 24, the first day of clinic, by abdominal transplant surgeon Dr. Mark Earl and transplant nephrologist Dr. Kenneth Kokko. Grenada abdominal transplant coordinator Michelle Crawford had already begun the process of evaluating and testing her for transplant.

Briana quickly progressed to the transplant waiting list on May 12. She received her new kidney on June 5, making her the first patient evaluated through the Grenada transplant clinic to receive the life-changing surgery.

‘Tis the season to care for our community

Got a favorite charity? Maybe more than one? It's easier than ever to get that good feeling that comes from giving to others in need through the UMMCares campaign.

Fourteen charitable groups doing community-building work in the metro area and beyond are certified to receive employee donations through payroll deduction. Deductions will take effect in 2016 and are tax-deductible as allowed by law. From the American Cancer Society to the YMCA (alphabetically speaking), these organizations count on the support they receive from our workforce to brighten the lives of others.

Visit the UMMCares website to review the participating organizations and to make your donation. The donation process only takes a minute or two. The website is open NOW through Sunday night.