Abdominal pain and fever in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus: a case report.

Background: Neutropenic enterocolitis (NE), or typhlitis, a condition typically associated with severe neutropenia in the setting of chemotherapy, is highly morbid (50-100%) and benefits from early diagnosis. It has been associated with neutropenia in the setting of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but has not been described in a patient with HIV who was not neutropenic on presentation. We present the case of a patient with HIV who was not neutropenic on presentation but found to have NE.

Identification of Risk Factors for Coexisting Sinusitis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: This study aimed to analyze the association of coexisting sinusitis and IBD, establish significant factors involved in their development, and enable further biological correlation between these two diseases.

Methods: he BD and inusitis tudy at Chicago Medicin (TISSUe) is a retrospective, single-center study. We reviewed patients to confirm IBD and chronic sinusitis diagnoses.

Assessment of the Degree of Variation of Histologic Inflammation in Ulcerative Colitis.

Introduction: Treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) now includes mucosal healing. Adoption of histologic end points is hindered by a lack of evidence guiding optimal sampling, interpretation, and reproducibility of results.

Methods: We analyzed biopsy fragments from colonoscopies in 92 patients with UC.

Is Associated with Anastomotic Leak in Patients Undergoing Colorectal Surgery.

Anastomotic leak is among the most dreaded complications in patients undergoing colorectal surgery. We have discovered that in rodents, collagenase-producing bacteria, particularly , promotes anastomotic leak by degrading healing anastomotic tissue. Yet, it is unclear if these organisms play a role in humans.

Serotonin transporter untranslated regions influence mRNA abundance and protein expression.

The serotonin transporter (SERT, SLC6A4) is a Na-dependent transporter that regulates the availability of serotonin (5-HT, 5-hydroxytryptamine), a key neurotransmitter and hormone in the brain and the intestine. The human SERT gene consists of two alternate promoters that drive expression of an identical SERT protein. However, there are different mRNA transcript variants derived from these two promoters that differ in their 5' untranslated region (5'UTR), which is the region of the mRNA upstream from the protein-coding region.

Serotonin Modulates AhR Activation by Interfering with CYP1A1-Mediated Clearance of AhR Ligands.

Background/aims: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a neurotransmitter and hormone with important physiological functions in many organs, including the intestine. We have previously shown that 5-HT activates the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) via a serotonin transporter (SERT)-dependent mechanism. AhR is a nuclear receptor that binds a variety of molecules including tryptophan (TRP) metabolites to regulate physiological processes in the intestine including xenobiotic detoxification and immune modulation.