Background: Asbestos exposure is related to serious adverse health effects. However, there is disagreement about the relationship between chrysotile exposure and mesothelioma or lung cancer. Objectives: Our aim was to investigate the mortality rate among workers exposed to relatively pure chrysotile in an asbestos cement factory. Patients and Methods: In an asbestos cement plant opened in 1968, we prospectively studied all 317 workers. A quantity of 2,000 tons of chrysotile, with minimal amphibole contamination, was used annually until 1 January 2005. Asbestos fiber concentration was measured regularly. Date and cause of death were recorded among active and retired workers. Results: Asbestos fiber concentration was always below permissible levels. Fifty-two workers died during the study. The cause was cancer in 28 subjects; lung cancer was diagnosed in 16 of them. No case of mesothelioma was reported. Death was attributed to cardiovascular diseases in 23 subjects and to liver cirrhosis in 1. Overall mortality rate was significantly lower than that of the Greek general population, standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was 0.71 (95% CI 0.53–0.93). Mortality due to cancer was increased (SMR 1.15, 95% CI 0.77–1.67), mainly due to lung cancer mortality (SMR 1.71, 95% CI 0.98–2.78), but not significantly. Conclusions: Occupational exposure to relatively pure chrysotile within permissible levels was not associated with a significant increase in lung cancer or with mesothelioma. Decreased overall mortality of workers indicates a healthy worker effect, which – together with the relatively small cohort size – could have prevented small risks to be detected.

The bronchodilator effect of salbutamol inhalation was compared with the oral administration of the drug in 10 patients with bronchial asthma. The study consisted of treating each patient for 4 consecutive days with: (1) a combined regimen consisting of a 2-mg tablet of salbutamol and 10 puffs of salbutamol inhalation (100 μg in each puff) given in pairs of two puffs every 20 min (regimen 1); (2) salbutamol inhalation (regimen 2); (3) salbutamol tablet (regimen 3), and (4) placebo, tablet and inhalation (regimen 4). The bronchodilator effect was assessed measuring the forced expiratory volume in 1 s, the forced vital capacity and the peak expiratory flow rate. The bronchodilator response was significantly greater on the inhalation alone and the combined regimen than on the oral and placebo regimens. The combined regimen showed a better although not significant bronchodilatory response than the inhalation regimen. We conclude that the inhalation treatment with salbutamol is superior to the oral route of administration in treating bronchial asthma and that the oral treatment has an added effect.

BackgroundLung cancer is the second commonest malignant tumour, with its splenic metastasis being a rare event.Case PresentationWe report an exceedingly rare case of a moderate-to-low differentiation squamous cell lung carcinoma in a middle-aged man with a large solitary splenic metastasis detected simultaneously with the primary tumour. Surgical removal of both the primary tumour and the solitary splenic metastasis offered the patient the best treatment option.ConclusionThe significance of the present case lies on the one hand in the appearance of a large solitary splenic metastasis from a squamous lung cancer at the time of its initial presentation and on the other in the successful excision of both lesions simultaneously.

The results of our study do not support an association between the development of chronic diseases of the lower respiratory system and pollutants associated with the processing of dried tobacco leaves. In contrast, an association between disorders of the upper airways and tobacco dust in work sites is postulated.

Behcet’s disease (BD) is a vasculitis of unknown etiology. It is often correlated with thrombophilic factors such as V Leiden. Pulmonary involvement is reported in 1-10% of patients. The most common manifestations are pulmonary aneurysms while pulmonary embolism is a rare complication. A 41-year old man with BD and V Leiden heterozygosity complained of pleurodynia and fever. Pleurodynia deteriorated in the following days and PE was confirmed by CT angiography, without the presence of aneurysms. After the exclusion of the antiphospholipid syndrome, a therapeutic dose of apixaban was initiated. Two weeks later, pleurodynia relapsed in combination with pleural effusion unilaterally. These findings were attributed to disease exacerbation. For this reason, we decided to enhance the immunosuppressive therapy. Six months later, CTPA showed complete remission of the clots. Vasculitis predisposes to thrombosis with or without coexisting thrombophilia. Clinicians should include them in their differential diagnosis and provide personalized treatment, based on immunosuppressants.