[Utility of biomarkers in abdominal pain management].

Abdominal pain conditions that fall into the category of acute abdomen (AA) are the most important ones to identify quickly. Diagnostic delay can lead to death or significant complications. Biological markers have the potential to improve the diagnostic and prognostic capacity of clinical assessment and the conventional complement of tests.

[Value of plasma C-reactive protein and lactate dehydrogenase levels in the diagnosis of intestinal obstruction in an emergency department].

Background: Intestinal obstruction is one of the most frequent surgical emergencies. Its diagnosis is essentially based on clinical history, physical exploration and image tests. The aim of this study was to analyze the diagnostic value of acute phase reactants in patients with benign versus malign intestinal obstruction.

Validation in colorectal procedures of a useful novel approach for the use of C-reactive protein in postoperative infectious complications.

Aim: Our aim was to validate a novel use of C-reactive protein (CRP) measurement to identify postoperative infectious complications in patients undergoing colorectal surgery, and to compare the predictive value in this setting against white blood cell (WBC) count and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR).

Method: This was a retrospective study of CRP, NLR and WBC measurements in patients undergoing colorectal surgery. CRP, NLR and WBC were recorded on the second postoperative day and on the day of infectious complication (patients who developed infectious complications) or within 3 days prior to discharge (subjects with no complications).

Does fecal calprotectin predict relapse in patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis?

Background And Aims: An evaluation is made of the utility of fecal calprotectin in predicting relapse in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The possible differences in its predictive capacity in Crohn's disease (CD) versus ulcerative colitis (UC), and the different phenotypes, are also examined.

Methods: This is a prospective study with 135 patients diagnosed with IBD in clinical remission for at least 3 months.

IL-6 and IGF-1 are independent prognostic factors of liver steatosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in morbidly obese patients.

Background: Lipid accumulation and other histological liver markers characterize patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The identification of non-invasive prognostic factors of liver steatosis and NASH are relevant for the unravelling of the mechanisms of this disease, as well as for the clinical diagnoses of these patients.

Methods: 36 patients with morbid obesity and 12 healthy subjects were consecutively enrolled in this cross-sectional study to determine the serological parameters associated with the degree of hepatic steatosis and NASH.

Obstruction in patients with colorectal cancer increases morbidity and mortality in association with altered nutritional status.

Intestinal obstruction aggravates the prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. The aim of this study was to carry out a comparative analysis of nutritional status and inflammatory response in CRC patients with or without intestinal obstruction. The study was carried out on 43 patients with CRC.

[Evaluation of body fluid compartments and their relationship with water-electrolyte changes in obstructive jaundice].

Background: The alteration of the mechanisms of water and sodium preservation may be an important factor in the development of acute postoperative renal failure in obstructive jaundice (OJ). Experimental OJ has been associated with a depletion of the extracellular volume and alteration of the mechanisms of regulation of hydrosaline metabolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of the body volumes and the regulating hormones of hydrosaline metabolism in human OJ.