Research and Clinical Trials
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, a leading academic medical center, continually investigate the correlation between excess weight and various health risks. Studies about the mechanics of metabolism and the emotional components of eating have important implications for people who are trying to lose weight. UPMC is home to many of these kinds of studies. Our research studies range from laboratory bench science to clinical outcomes. We are pioneers in many areas of obesity research, which have direct impact on the health and well-being of the community.
Following is a list of research findings by UPMC experts. To search a database of current weight loss-related research studies at the University of Pittsburgh, visit the University of Pittsburgh's
Office of Clinical Research.
Recent Research Findings
Raftopoulos I, Schuchert M, Luketich J, Courcoulas A. (2004). Does Advanced Age or Gender Predict Adverse Outcome Following Gastric Bypass Surgery? Journal of the Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons.
Acaturk O, Wachtman G, Heil B, Landecker A, Courcoulas A, Manders E. (2004, October). Panniculectomy as an Adjuvant to Bariatric Surgery. Annals of Plastic Surgery, 53(4), 360-366.
Fernstrom M. (2004). Practical Treatment of Obesity – Part 2. Allegheny County Medical Society Bulletin, 93(7), 340-356.
Fernstrom M. (2004). Practical Treatment of Obesity – Part 1. Allegheny County Medical
Society Bulletin, 93(6), 286-290.
Coates P, Fernstrom, J, Fernstrom M, Schauer P, Greenspan S. (2004, March).
Gastric Bypass Surgery for Morbid Obesity Leads to an Increase in Bone
Turnover and a Decrease in Bone Mass. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and
Metabolism, 89(3), 1059-1060.
Perry Y, Courcoulas A, Fernando H, Buenaventura P, McCaughan J, Luketich J. (2004, February). Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass For Recalcitrant Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Morbidly Obese Patient. Journal of the Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons, 8(1), 19-23.
Fernstrom J, Fernstrom M. (2004). Brain and Nervous System: Biology, Metabolism and
Nutritional Requirements. In Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition. 4th ed. Oxford: Elsevier
Courcoulas A, Schuchert M, Gatti G, Luketich J. (2003, October). The Relationship of Surgeon and Hospital Volume to Outcome Following Gastric Bypass Surgery in Pennsylvania: A Three-Year Summary. Surgery, 134(4), 613-623.
Courcoulas A, Perry Y, Buenaventura P, Luketich J. (2003, June). Comparing the Outcomes After Laparoscopic Versus Open Gastric Bypass: A Matched Paired Analysis. Obesity Surgery, 13(3),
341-346.
Breum L, Rasmussen M, Hilsted J, Fernstrom J.(2003, May). Twenty-four hour plasma
tryptophan concentrations and ratios are below normal in obese subjects and are
not normalized by substantial weight reduction. The American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, 77(5), 1112-1118.
Kaye W, Barbarich, Putnam K, Gendeall K, Fernstrom J, Fernstrom M, McConaha C,
Kishore A. (2003, April). Anxiolytic Effects of Acute Tryptophan Depletion in
Anorexia Nervosa. The International Journal of Eating Disorders, 333, 257-267.
Fernstrom J, Fernstrom M. (2003). Nutrition and the Brain. In Nutrition and Metabolism
(pp. 145-167). Oxford: Blackwell Science Ltd.
Fernstrom M, Fernstrom J. (2002, November). The New Role of Pharmacotherapy for
Weight Reduction in Obesity. International Journal of Family Practice, 56(9),
683-686.
Choi S, Jonak E, Simpson L, Patil V, Fernstrom J. (2002, February). Intermittent, chronic
fenfluramine administration to rats repeatedly suppresses food intake despite
substantial brain serotonin reductions. Brain Research, 928(1-2), 30-39.
Frank G, Kaye W, Sahu A, Fernstrom J, McConaha C. (2001, June). Could reduced
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) galanin contribute to restricted eating in anorexia
nervosa? Neuropharmacology, 24(6), 706-709.
Blackburn G, Fernstrom M. (2001, March). Toward Optimal Health: The Experts Discuss
Weight Control Drugs: Interview by Jody Godfrey Meisler, Journal of Women’s
Health and Gender Based Medicine, 10(2), 101-107.
Fernstrom J, Fernstrom M. (2001). Diet, Monoamine Neurotransmitters and Appetite
Control. Nestle Nutrition Workshop Series. Clinical & Performance Programme,
(5), 117-131, Discussion 131-133.
Breum L, Fernstrom M. (2001). Drug-Induced Obesity. In International Textbook of
Obesity (pp. 269-281). Chichester: Wiley.
Fernstrom J, Fernstrom M. (2001, August) Monoamines and protein intake: Are control mechanisms designed to monitor a threshold Intake or a set-point? Nutrition Reviews 59 (8, (Part II), S60-S65.
Fernstrom J. (2000, June). Can nutrient supplements modify brain function? The
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 71 (6 Supplement), 1669s-1675s.
Kaye W, Gendall K, Fernstrom M, Fernstrom J, McConaha C, Weltzin T. (2000
January). Effects of Acute Tryptophan Depletion on Mood In Bulimia Nervosa.
Biological Psychiatry, 47(2), 151-157.
Fernstrom J. (2001, January) Diet, Neurochemicals, and Mental Energy. Nutrition Reviews, Volume 59(1, (Part II)), pp. S22-S24.
Raftopoulos I, Gatti GG, Luketich JD, Courcoulas AP. (2005, July-September) Advanced Age and Sex as Predictors of Adverse Outcomes Following Gastric Bypass Surgery. Journal of the Society of Laproedoscopic Surgeons, Volume 9 (3), pp. 272-276.
Raftopoulos I, Ercole J, Udekwu AO, Luketich JD, Courcoulas AP. (2005, January) Outcomes of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Stratified by a Body Mass Index of 70 kg/m^2: A Comparative Analysis Of 825 Procedures. Journal Of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Volume 9 (1), pp. 44-53.
Raftopoulos I, Awais O, Courcoulas AP, Luketich JD. (2004, November-December) Laparoscopic Bypass After Antireflux Surgery for the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux in Morbidly Obese Patience: Initial Experience. Obesity Surgery, Volume 14 (10), pp. 1373-1380.
Raftopoulos I, Vanuno D, Khorsand J, Ninos J, Kouraklis G, Lasky P. (2002, December) Outcome of Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair in Correlation with Obesity, Type Of Hernia, and Hernia Size. Journal Of Laparoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques. Part A. Volume 12 (6), pp. 425-429.
Acarturk TO, Wachtman G, Heil B, Landecker A, Courcoulas AP, Manders EK. (2004, October) Panniculectomy as an Adjuvant to Bariatric Surgery. Annals of Plastic Surgery. Volume 53 (4), pp. 360-367.
Hurwitz DJ, Rubin JP, Risin M, Sajjadian A, Sereika S. (2004, October) Correcting the Saddlebag Deformity in the Massive Weight Loss Patient. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Volume 114 (5), pp. 1313-1325.
Rubin JP, Nguyen V, Schwentker A. (2004, October) Perioperative Management of the Post-Gastric Bypass Patient Presenting for Body Contour Surgery. Clinics in Plastic Surgery. Volume 31 (4), pp. 601-610, vi.
Dallal RM, Mattar SG, Lord JL, Watson AR, Cottam DR, Eid GM, Hamad G, Rabinovitz M, Schauer PR. (2004, January)) Results of Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass in Patients with Cirrhosis. Obesity Surgery. Volume 14 (1), pp. 47-53.
Eid GM, Mattar SG, Hamad G, Cottam DR, Lord JL, Watson A, Dallal RM, Schauer PR. (2004, February) Repair of Ventral Hernias in Morbidly Obese Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Should Not Be Deferred. Surgical Endoscopy. Volume 18 (2), pp. 207-210.
Schauer PR, Ikramuddin S, Hamad G, Eid GM, Mattar S, Cottam D, Ramanathan R, Gourash W. (2003, August) Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Surgery: Current Technique. Journal of Laparoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques. Part A. Volume 13 (14), pp. 229-239.
Schauer PR, Burguera B, Ikramuddin S, Cottam D, Gourash D, Hamad G, Eid GM, Mattar S, Ramanathan R, Barinas-Mitchel E, Rao RH, Kuller L, Kelley D. (2003, October) Effect of Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass On Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Annals of Surgery. Volume 238 (4), pp. 467-484.
Schauer P, Hamad G, Ikramuddin S. (2001, December) Surgical Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Obese Patients. Seminars in Laparoscopic Surgery. Volume 8 (4), pp. 256-264.
Hamad, G. (2004, October) The State of the Art in Bariatric Surgery for Weight Loss in the Morbidly Obese Patient. Clinics in Plastic Surgery. Volume 31 (4), pp. 591-600.