Aims: To compare effectiveness of a 1-year weight loss program in moderately and severely obese patients. Methods: The study sample included 311 obese patients participating in a weight loss program, which comprised a 12-week weight reduction phase (low-calorie formula diet) and a 40-week weight maintenance phase. Body weight and glucose and lipid values were determined at the beginning of the program as well as after the weight reduction and the weight maintenance phase. Participants were analyzed according to their BMI class at baseline (30-34.9 kg/m²; 35-39.9 kg/m²; 40-44.9 kg/m²; 45-49.9 kg/m²; ≥50 kg/m²). Furthermore, moderately obese patients (BMI < 40 kg/m²) were compared to severely obese participants (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m²). Results: Out of 311 participants, 217 individuals completed the program. Their mean baseline BMI was 41.8 ± 0.5 kg/m².Average weight loss was 17.9 ± 0.6%, resulting in a BMI of 34.3 ± 0.4 kg/m² after 1 year (p < 0.001). Overall weight loss was not significantly different in moderately and severely obese participants. Yet, severely obese participants achieved greater weight loss during the weight maintenance phase than moderately obese participants (-3.1 ± 0.7% vs. -1.2 ± 0.6%; p = 0.04). Improvements in lipid profiles and glucose metabolism were found throughout all BMI classes. Conclusion: 1-year weight loss intervention improves body weight as well as lipid and glucose metabolism not only in moderately, but also in severely obese individuals.

J. Neurochem. (2010) 115, 1024–1034. Abstract Temporal carbohydrate expression patterns at cell surfaces are thought to be of crucial regulatory significance during developmental processes. Hitherto, however, data on individual membrane proteins undergoing development‐associated changes in glycosylation are sparsely. Here, we show that the two natriuretic peptide receptors, guanylyl cyclase‐A (GC‐A) and GC‐B are subject to pronounced size alterations in the rat brain between postnatal day 1 and adult. Comparable size changes were not detectable for GC‐A and GC‐B in peripheral tissues and for three other membrane proteins (insulin receptor, insulin‐like growth factor‐II/mannose‐6‐phoshate receptor, neutral endopeptidase) in brain, indicating remarkable specificity. As revealed by treatments with carbohydrate‐digesting enzymes, both GC‐A and GC‐B are hyperglycosylated at N‐linked glycosylation sites in the developing brain. At postnatal day 1, the vast majority of GC‐B (but not GC‐A) molecules contain additionally an O‐linked carbohydrate modification of about 1 kDa in mass and a further modification of similar size which is resistant to enzymatic removal. The glycoforms exhibited functional activity in membrane GC assays, indicating proper folding and signaling capability. These data link recently reported roles of natriuretic peptides during brain development for the first time with specific glycosylation states of their cyclic GMP‐generating receptors.

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