Mannheim's peritonitis index in the prediction of postoperative outcome of peritonitis.

Objective: evaluate the effectiveness of MPI to predict mortality in patients with peritonitis in Santa Casa de Misericordia de Vitoria Hospital (HSCMV).

Methods: a longitudinal observational cohort retrospectively study, with a sample of 75 patients diagnosed with peritonitis between January 2010 to December 2 of 2015, in HSCMV and with all the necessary criteria for the calculation of IPM.

Results: we found a profile of the patients, 33 female and 42 male, mean age 42 years, 11 deaths and 14.

Poly(lactic acid) nanoparticles loaded with ursolic acid: Characterization and in vitro evaluation of radical scavenging activity and cytotoxicity.

The purpose of this study was to develop poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanoparticles containing ursolic acid (UA) by an emulsification-solvent evaporation technique and evaluate the radical scavenging activity over hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and cytotoxicity over erythrocytes and tumor cells. Nanoparticles were successfully obtained and presented mean size of 246nm with spherical or slightly oval morphology, negative zeta potential and 96% of UA encapsulation efficiency. Analyses of FTIR, XRD and DSC-DTG suggest interaction/complexation of UA with PLA matrix and drug amorphization promoted by nanoencapsulation process.

Assessment of D-Dimers for the Early Prediction of Complications in Acute Pancreatitis.

Objectives: Severe acute pancreatitis (AP) is characterized by early microcirculation defects causing hypercoagulability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early predictive value of D-dimers in complicated AP.

Methods: This was a prospective single-center study conducted between September 2010 and April 2012.

Anti-TNF Monotherapy for Crohn's Disease: a 13-year Multicentre Experience.

Background: Anti-tumour necrosis factor [TNF] therapy in combination with thiopurine is the most effective strategy for Crohn's disease, but raises safety concerns.

Methods: In a retrospective multicentre study, we investigated long-term outcome of patients starting anti-TNF monotherapy for Crohn's disease and investigated whether introducing an immunomodulator in patients losing response to anti-TNF monotherapy is effective for resetting immunogenicity.

Results: A total of 350 adult patients with Crohn's disease received either infliximab [n = 178, 51%] or adalimumab [n = 172, 49%] monotherapy.