Superior Appetite Hormone Profile After Equivalent Weight Loss by Gastric Bypass Compared to Gastric Banding

The goal of this study was to understand the mechanisms of greater weight loss by gastric bypass (GBP) compared to gastric banding (GB) surgery. Obese weight‐ and age‐matched subjects were studied before (T0), after a 12 kg weight loss (T1) by GBP (n = 11) or GB (n = 9), and at 1 year after surgery (T2). peptide YY_3–36 (PYY_3–36), ghrelin, glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1), leptin, and amylin were measured after an oral glucose challenge. At T1, glucose‐stimulated GLP‐1 and PYY levels increased significantly after GBP but not GB. Ghrelin levels did not change significantly after either surgery. In spite of equivalent weight loss, leptin and amylin decreased after GBP, but not after GB. At T2, weight loss was greater after GBP than GB (P = 0.003). GLP‐1, PYY, and amylin levels did not significantly change from T1 to T2; leptin levels continued to decrease after GBP, but not after GB at T2. Surprisingly, ghrelin area under the curve (AUC) increased 1 year after GBP (P = 0.03). These data show that, at equivalent weight loss, favorable GLP‐1 and PYY changes occur after GBP, but not GB, and could explain the difference in weight loss at 1 year. Mechanisms other than weight loss may explain changes of leptin and amylin after GBP.     

CHROMOSOME NUMBERS IN CHIHUAHUAN DESERT CACTACEAE. TRANS-PECOS TEXAS

Chromosome numbers are presented for 100 collections of Cactaceae from the Trans-Pecos region of Texas. A total of 65 taxa representing 52 species and 12 genera were counted, including first reports for 45 taxa and new ploidy levels for four taxa. Notable among those listed are counts for Opuntia schottii var. grahamii (n = 11, ca. 22), O. stanlyi (n = 22), O. arenaria (n = 11), O. phaeacantha var. spinosibacca (n = 22), O. lindheimeri var. lindheimeri (n = 11), O. strigil (n = 11), Echinocereus enneacanthus var. cf. dubius (n = ca. 22), E. pectinatus var. neomexicanus (n = 22), and Thelocactus bicolor var. bicolor (n = 22). Endomitosis was found to be present in O. phaeacantha var. spinosibacca, Mammillaria pottsii, and Neolloydia intertexta var. dasyacantha. Meiotic irregularities were noted in some species belonging to the genera Opuntia and Echinocereus. Phytogeographic considerations are inferred from the chromosomal data for O. polyacantha, O. lindheimeri, and O. ficusindica. A base number of x = 11 in Cactaceae is supported.     

PINUS BUCHANANII,A NEW SPECIES BASED ON A PETRIFIED CONE FROM THE OLIGOCENE OF WASHINGTON

A silicified seed cone of Oligocene age from the Olympic Peninsula of Washington represents a new species of Pinus. The cone was about 8 cm long and 3 cm at its widest diameter in the living condition. Its scale apices are thickened and each has a dorsal umbo. Internal cone construction confirms the assignment of the new species to Pinus and suggests affinity with the subsections Australes and Ponderosae of the section Pinus, subgenus Pinus. The cone is peculiar in having a stout bract trace that is slightly concave on its adaxial side and in having resin canals that diverge from the axial secretory system toward the bract but constrict markedly and terminate before entering the bract.     

Intersphincteric Abscess

In 33 patients with an intersphincteric abscess continuous anal pain was the commonest symptom and a lump in the wall of the anal canal the commonest sign.The importance of this condition as a cause of persistent undiagnosed anal pain is stressed.