Platelet serotonin 5-HT2A receptor binding in patients with carcinoid tumor.

Background: As carcinoid tumors produce and secrete serotonin, various serotonin markers in blood, plasma and urine have been used as diagnostic tools, and quantification of the urinary excretion of the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) is the method most frequently used.

Methods: [3H]lysergic acid diethylamide ([3H]LSD) binding to the platelet serotonin 5-HT2A receptor was investigated in nine patients with carcinoid tumors. The possible effect of serotonin-rich food on the receptor binding was also investigated.

Effective of pneumoperitoneum induced by carbon dioxide and air on tumor load in a rat model.

Laparoscopic surgery for malignant disease is highly controversial mainly due to the large number of abdominal wall metastases being reported. Previous experimental studies have particularly studied CO2 pneumoperitoneum and its effect on tumor development. The purpose of this study was to compare CO2- and air-induced pneumoperitoneum with regard to intraperitoneal tumor growth.