OBJEcTIVE AND DEsIGN: sarcoidosis has been associated with thyroid diseases. However, until today no definite conclusions have been drawn. We aimed to assess the frequency of thyroid disorders and the levels of thyroid hormones and thyroid antibodies in 68 sarcoidosis patients and 75 controls. Additionally, we performed ultrasonography and fine-needle aspiration. rEsULTs: In this prospective case control study conducted in the University Hospital of Larissa, Greece, overt thyroid disease was present in 29.4% of patients and 16.1% of patients presented clinical autoimmune thyroid disease. sarcoidosis patients had a significantly higher frequency of serological autoimmunity. Female patients had significantly increased frequency of positive TsH receptor antibodies (TrAbs) and antithyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAbs) when compared to gender-matched controls (40% vs 0%, p<0.001, and 28.8% vs 11.86%, p=0.029, respectively). The hypoechoic pattern of the thyroid was more frequent in female patients vs controls (p<0.001). Male patients had a higher frequency of TrAbs and hypoechoic pattern of the thyroid gland (43.4% vs 0%, p=0.002, and 39.1% vs 6.25%, p=0.021, respectively). Indices of thyroid autoimmune disease were significantly more frequent in sarcoidosis patients vs gender-matched controls. Increased TPOAbs were significantly associated with clinical autoimmune disease in sarcoidosis. cONcLUsIONs: Overall, the findings derived from this study suggest that thyroid disorders are frequent in sarcoidosis. This association may potentially be the result of increased thyroid antibodies.

Background and objective Mesothelial cells and cardiomyocytes have shared embryonic mesodermal origin. Cardiomyocytes release BNP under stretch. We searched whether malignant mesothelioma cells also secrete BNP and if so, this has a meaningful impact. Methods Part I: Prospectively, patients with pleural lesions on CT having malignant mesothelioma effusions (MME, n = 13) were compared to patients with malignant effusions with pleural lesions (MEa, n = 14). Age‐matched patients with ME without pleural lesions (MEb, n = 16) and non‐malignant effusions (NME, n = 25) were analysed. Part II: Retrospectively, samples from patients with mesothelioma (n = 14), lung cancer (n = 8) or heart failure (n = 9) were used. BNP was measured in pleural fluid and blood/plasma. Part III: BNP was assessed in the culture supernatants of benign (MeT‐5A) and malignant mesothelioma cell lines (M14K‐epithelioid, MSTO‐biphasic and ZL34‐sarcomatoid) (n = 10 per cell line in three different biological replicates). Results In vitro, BNP concentration was significantly higher in the supernatant of all malignant cell lines than benign ones (P < 0.01), denoting BNP's production from the former. The pleural fluid to blood BNP ratio in MME was extremely high in Part I and Part II subjects (28.3 ± 12.1 and 25.9 ± 8.6, respectively) versus 1.1 ± 0.3 and 0.4 ± 0.1 in Part I ME and NME, respectively (P < 0.0001), and 0.8 ± 0.1 and 0.4 ± 0.1 in Part II ME and NME, respectively (P < 0.0001). BNP ratio ≥2.11 in Part I had 92% sensitivity and 94.5% specificity for MME (P < 0.0001). Conclusion BNP is secreted from malignant mesothelial cells. In clinical practice, the pleural fluid to blood BNP ratio can help in the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma.

Introduction:QFT-GIT is more sensitive than TST in patients under immunosuppressive therapy, but TST detects more cases of LTBI. TST remains an inexpensive test worldwide, which does not need laboratory equipment.Material and Methods:Overall, 457 patients having autoimmune diseases were referred. Of those referred, 158 patients were screened with QFT-GIT and TST. No patient in the present study was known to be HIV positive, or had a history of tuberculosis contact the last year. Additionally, neither of the two methods distinguish latent from active TB, and neither one is better at recognizing patients with autoimmune diseases who could avail from preventive chemoprophylaxis.Results:QFT-GIT is more sensitive than TST in patients under immunosuppressive therapy, but TST detects more cases of LTBI. TST remains an inexpensive test worldwide, which does not need laboratory equipment.Conclusion:Since the literature for the economic evaluation of LTBI screening has not clearly defined which test is ultimately more cost-effective, low income countries like Greece should continue using TST as the primary method for diagnosis of LTBI.

Introduction:Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome are two diseases, which often coexist in one person. The sleep apnea is often caused by an interruption to breath when sleeping, due to an obstruction of the upper airway during inhalation, causing chronic snoring, morning headaches, increased body weight, blood pressure and sleepiness during the day.Aim:The purpose of this study is to investigate the extend of this problem among a large group of elderly people living in the Attica Basin.Material and Methods:Material of the study was 500 people aged 70 and above years old, including 274 men and 226 women. Data collection was facilitated with the use of an anonymous questionnaire with the purpose to identify patients with apnea, after a personal interview with the researcher. Data analysis was performed with the use of the statistical package SPSS 17.Results:Based on their responses to the questionnaires, it was found that 98.0% of the participants have abnormal sleepiness during the day. The 35.4% of them show no apnea, while 36.0% of the sample suffer from mild sleep apnea. It is important though, the fact that about one out of three seniors, 28.6%, shows sleep apnea in a high risk level.Conclusions:COPD is a complex disease that occurs in a large proportion of the elderly. Emphasis should be given on early diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea syndrome, in order to improve the quality of the elderly life.