Is low plasma tryptophan in carcinoid patients associated with increased urinary cortisol excretion?
In a subgroup of the patients suffering from metastatic carcinoid disease the cerebral access of plasma tryptophan is impaired, thus rendering cerebral serotonin neurotransmission suboptimal and leading to hypercortisolism. The present study provides further support to the idea that low serotonergic function is a risk for developing stress-associated psychopathology.
Elevated proinflammatory cytokine transcripts in active CD may underlie disease reactivation and chronicity. Real-time PCR quantification is a simple and objective method for grading inflammation of intestinal mucosa and may be useful in identifying patients who would benefit from anti-inflammatory remission maintenance.