The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (also known as UT Health San Antonio), University Health, and the Texas Biomedical Research Institute report promising results from a minimally invasive procedure that resolved belly fat in two patients. The aim of the novel procedure is to improve the health of patients and to minimize or reverse the harmful effects of their type 2 diabetes.
SAN ANTONIO, April 23, 2021 / PRNewswire-PRWeb / – First patient to have liposuction has improved health
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (also referred to as UT Health San Antonio), University Health, and Texas Biomedical Research Institute report promising results from a minimally invasive procedure that dissolved abdominal fat in two patients. The aim of the novel procedure is to improve the health of patients and to minimize or reverse the harmful effects of their type 2 diabetes.
Belly fat, the proverbial tire in the middle of so many Americans, is unhealthy. It has been linked to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, poor lipid profile, and much more.
Mesenteric visceral lipectomy (MVL) extracts fat from the mesentery, a layer of tissue attached to the intestine. The surgeon makes a small abdominal incision and uses a patented, proprietary medical device to break down the glycoproteins (or glucose) that hold the fat together. The same device sucks in the fat without affecting the blood vessels or surrounding tissues.
“This is important because the fat in our abdomen contains numerous blood vessels.” Richard PetersonSaid MD. “With this technique, the fat can be surgically removed without causing significant bleeding. Once the fat is loose, it is suctioned off.”
Dr. Peterson is the chief of metabolic and bariatric surgery at UT Health San Antonio and the bariatric surgeon at the University Medical Center. He carried out the first procedure of this kind in the university hospital in November 2019Start of a 10-person study for the first time in humans with MVL. World famous endocrinologist Ralph DeFronzo, MD, chief of diabetes at UT Health San Antonio and associate director of the Texas Diabetes Institute of University Health, is the study’s lead researcher.
The story goes on
First MVL patients
A man in his mid-30s with diabetes was the first patient to receive the MVL procedure. The Texas Diabetes Institute medical team identified him as a good candidate.
“Since he was the first subject, we only removed 30% of the visceral fat,” explained Dr. DeFronzo that the goal in future patients is to remove up to 90% of the fat. “Even so, he had a modest improvement in insulin sensitivity. His glucose tolerance and HbA1c (hemoglobin A1c) did not change, but he needed less diabetes medication.”
“People who are so young and have diabetes for the rest of their lives deserve a better chance,” said Dr. Peterson. “At the time of the first operation, I thought he was our ‘Neil Armstrong’, if you will. Nobody in the world had ever done this, and he was a game changer for the rest of the world.”
Although the COVID-19 pandemic delayed this and other elective surgeries, Dr. Peterson and his team have now performed a second MVL procedure on a patient at the Foundation Surgical Hospital of San Antonioand watch the impact it will have on their health.
The MVL studies
After the operation, patients stay in the hospital overnight for observation. Follow-up studies are being conducted at the Texas Diabetes Institute. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted an exemption for testing devices when approving the clinical trial.
The MVL technology was originally developed for the removal of eye cataracts and was adapted for this new purpose Mark Andrew, MD, an ophthalmologist in Pennsylvania and the inventor of the device. Dr. Andrew selected San Antonio Staff to develop the concept based on the reputation of Dr. Peterson in Metabolic and Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery and the expertise of Dr. To test DeFronzo.
Doctors then used the Southwest National Primate Research Center at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute (Texas Biomed) as the location for large animal studies that the FDA required prior to approving the human clinical trial.
Dr. Peterson works with co-investigators Raul Bastarrachea, MD and Patrice FrostTexas Biomed’s DVM demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of the technique in baboons, which the animals greatly benefited.
The baboon study was exciting. All four animals treated with MVL surgery survived without complications and all were in remission from type 2 diabetes.
“I do bariatric and metabolic surgeries to treat type 2 diabetes patients and I was surprised to see such a dramatic effect on lowering blood sugar,” said Dr. Peterson and was referring to a drop in blood sugar levels. “That gave us enough momentum to move this forward with the FDA and design a human clinical trial with Dr. DeFronzo and his team.”
The team believes that removing the visceral fat will improve diabetes and decrease the inflammation caused by abdominal fat, which will slow down arterial disease.
“Fat releases hormones and other substances that damage the liver, arterial system, and the beta cells that make insulin,” said Dr. DeFronzo. “When people get fat, they get fat all over their bodies, but the fat that is really dangerous is the fat that is in the stomach.”
The MVL operation is intended for obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 40.
To inquire about eligibility to study, call the Texas Diabetes Institute Research Department at 210-358-7200 and inquire Mary Samano.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, also known as UT Health San Antonio, is one of the leading health science universities in the country and is designated a Spanish-speaking institution by the US Department of Education. The Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Health Professions, and Biomedical Graduates have trained more than 37,000 alumni who are driving change, advancing their areas of expertise, and renewing hope for patients and their loved ones in families at large South texas and the world. Visit http://www.uthscsa.edu to find out how “We’re making life better”.
University Health is the only locally owned health care system in San Antonio. For more than 100 years, University Health has been here to heal, improve health, train the next generation of medical professionals, and care for the people of San Antonio, Bexar County and South texas You have access to high quality and compassionate primary and advanced specialty care near your home. In partnership with UT Health San Antonio, University Health is a center for innovation and discovery that helps develop tomorrow’s best practices today as the only academic health system in the area. To learn more about our mission, visit http://www.universityhealthsystem.com.
Texas Biomed is one of the world’s leading independent biomedical research organizations dedicated to eliminating infection and promoting health worldwide through innovative biomedical research. Texas Biomed works with researchers and institutions around the world to develop vaccines and therapeutics against viral pathogens that cause AIDS, hepatitis, hemorrhagic fever, tuberculosis, and the parasitic diseases that cause malaria and schistosomiasis. The institute has programs on host-pathogen interaction, disease intervention and prevention, and population health programs to understand the links between infectious diseases and other diseases such as aging, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. For more information on Texas Biomed, please visit http://www.TxBiomed.org.
Contact: Will sansom210-567-2579, sansom@uthscsa.edu
Shelley Kofler512-294-5224, shelley.kofler@uhs-sa.com
Lisa Cruz210-724-1691, lcruz@txbiomed.org
SOURCE UT Health San Antonio
