The prospective, controlled Swedish Obese Subjects study enrolled 4047 subjects who either underwent bariatric surgery or received conventional treatment. The results of follow-up for up to 15 years suggest that bariatric surgery for severe obesity is associated with long-term weight loss and decreased overall mortality.

This study examined long-term total mortality after gastric bypass surgery in severely obese subjects, as compared with severely obese controls who did not have surgery. Mortality was significantly reduced in subjects in the surgery group, particularly death from diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. However, the risk of non–disease-related death (including accidents and suicide) was higher in the surgery group than in the control group. Gastric bypass surgery appears to reduce long-term mortality in severely obese patients.

This survey of a large population of adults 57 to 85 years of age showed that rates of sexual activity decline with age but that many older adults are sexually active. Women were less likely than men to report having a partner and being sexually active. Many older adults reported sexual problems; few had discussed sexuality with a physician. These cross-sectional data inform our understanding of sexual activity and problems in older adults.

A genomewide analysis of sporadic ALS suggests that a variant of FLJ10986, a gene of unknown function expressed in the spinal cord and other tissues, may confer susceptibility to the disease. This study also provides provisional identification of other candidate genes, variants of which may underlie susceptibility.