Correlation of the High-Resolution Computed Tomography Patterns of Intrathoracic Sarcoidosis with Serum Levels of SAA, CA 15.3, SP-D, and Other Biomarkers of Interstitial Lung Disease.

Studies on the serum biomarkers of granulomatous inflammation and pulmonary interstitial disease in intrathoracic sarcoidosis have shown conflicting results. We postulated that differences in the concentrations of serum biomarkers can be explained by the heterogenous patterns of sarcoidosis seen on thoracic HRCT. Serum biomarker levels in 79 consecutive patients, newly diagnosed with intrathoracic sarcoidosis, were compared to our control group of 56 healthy blood donors.

How to obtain good morphology and antigen detection in the same tissue section?

Most human and animal biopsy samples are routinely embedded in paraffin since this enables the pathologist or researcher to obtain excellent morphology and simplifies storage. Nevertheless, in many cases, the antigen of interest cannot be detected in paraffin section. The alternative available for good immunohistochemistry is preparation of cryosections, which usually provide decent antigen preservation and are frequently used for immunofluorescence.

β-glucan in the lymph nodes in sarcoidosis and in Kveim-Siltzbach test reagent.

Previous studies have demonstrated a relationship between biomass of fungi exposure in the home and the risk of sarcoidosis. β-glucan was present in the bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with sarcoidosis. The Kveim-Siltzbach test reagent (KSTR) induces a sarcoidosis specific, granulomatous, cutaneous response and was used to establish the diagnosis.

Fungal cell wall agents and bacterial lipopolysaccharide in organic dust as possible risk factors for pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Background: Composition of organic dust is very complex, involving particles of microbial, animal and plant origin. Several environmental exposure studies associate microbial cell wall agents in organic dust with various respiratory symptoms and diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro effects of the co-exposure of fungal cell wall agents (FCWAs) and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on inflammatory immune responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Bronchoalveolar lavage chitotriosidase activity as a biomarker of sarcoidosis.

Background: Chitotriosidase (CTO) was shown to be a good biomarker of sarcoidosis. Increased levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were reported and associated with more severe forms of the disease.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the value of CTO in BALF as a routine biomarker of sarcoidosis.

Frequency of IWOS Suggestive Ocular Signs in Slovenian Uveitis Patients with Confirmed Pulmonary Sarcoidosis.

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of suggestive signs for ocular sarcoidosis proposed by the International Workshop on Ocular Sarcoidosis (IWOS) in patients with sarcoidosis-associated uveitis.

Methods: A retrospective study included 53 patients (77% female), with uveitis, who were seen in the period of 2010-2013 at the University Eye Hospital Ljubljana, Slovenia. All patients had confirmed pulmonary sarcoidosis based on clinical presentation, imaging and lung biopsy according to the ATS/ERS criteria.

Common chitotriosidase duplication gene polymorphism and clinical outcome status in sarcoidosis.

Background: Chitotriosidase has been found to be useful as a sarcoidosis biomarker. In patients with better outcome lower values were observed. Some subjects have 24-base pair duplication in the chitotriosidase gene (CHIT1) that results in the production of inactive enzyme.

The effect of cardioprotective diet rich with natural antioxidants on chronic inflammation and oxidized LDL during cardiac rehabilitation in patients after acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Chronic inflammation, the fundamental pathogenetic process of atherosclerosis, can be modified by pharmacological and non-pharmacological measures as a part of secondary prevention after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of our study was to determine the effect of diet, rich with natural antioxidants, added to physical activity (as a part of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program) on inflammatory markers and ox-LDL, a marker of oxidative stress, closely involved in the process of chronic inflammation.

Methods: 41 male patients after AMI undergoing CR were divided into a diet group (supervised cardioprotective diet throughout the CR), and control group (CR without diet).

Sarcoidosis treatment with antifungal medication: a follow-up.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to compare treatment of sarcoidosis with antifungal or corticosteroid medication.

Methods: In patients with sarcoidosis antifungal medication (n = 29), corticosteroids (n = 21) or a combination (n = 27) was given. Nine patients allotted to antifungal medication were later given corticosteroids because of the lack of regression of the disease.

Fungal exposure and low levels of IL-10 in patients with sarcoidosis.

Background And Objectives: Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease with increased levels of inflammatory cytokines. Previous studies have shown a relation between the degree of granuloma infiltration and serum cytokine levels, except for interleukin- (IL-) 10. The aim of the study was to further investigate the serum levels of IL-10 in patients with sarcoidosis and relate them to fungal exposure in terms of the amount of fungi in the air of their homes and β-glucan in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid.

Serial chitotriosidase measurements in sarcoidosis--two to five year follow-up study.

Introduction: Chitotriosidase (CTO) is a human chitinolytic enzyme secreted by activated macrophages and polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Albeit not specific for sarcoidosis, it is increased in over 90% of patients with active disease. The aims of this study were to correlate CTO measurements with clinical assessment of sarcoidosis and to test CTO as a marker of sarcoidosis relapse.

Inflammatory markers and pulmonary granuloma infiltration in sarcoidosis.

Background And Objective: Previous studies have demonstrated increases of inflammatory mediators in sarcoidosis while epidemiological studies have also demonstrated an association with increased fungi exposure. This study measured the level of β-glucan in the lungs and of inflammatory mediators in serum, and correlated both with the extent of pulmonary granuloma infiltration.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 98 patients with sarcoidosis and 26 controls.

The effect of short-term cardiac rehabilitation after acute myocardial infarction on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.

Background: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is an important biomarker of risk for coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality. We investigated the influence of short-term cardiac rehabilitation (CR) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) on values of hsCRP and classical risk factors, including metabolic syndrome.

Methods: hsCRP and classical risk factors were measured before and after completed 2-week CR program in 30 men after AMI.

Influence of short-term cardiac rehabilitation on oxidative stress in men after myocardial infarction depends upon smoking status.

Purpose: Oxidative stress is an important nonclassical risk factor for myocardial infarction (MI), and thus, it seems extremely important to recognize factors that effectively reduce it. The aim of our study was to explore possible influences of short-term cardiac rehabilitation (CR) of only 2 weeks in duration on oxidative stress in men after MI.

Methods: Male patients (N = 21; aged 41-88 years, median 56 years), 6 to 8 weeks after acute MI, were included in our observational study using a pretest/posttest design.

Antifungal medication is efficient in the treatment of sarcoidosis.

Objectives: Fungi have been suspected of contributing to the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis. A previous intervention study demonstrated an improvement in the clinical condition in 15 out of 18 patients with a long-term history of sarcoidosis when antifungal medication was added to corticosteroids. The present study was performed to compare the effects of antifungal treatment with corticosteroid treatment in sarcoidosis.

Fungal cell wall agents suppress the innate inflammatory cytokine responses of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells challenged with lipopolysaccharide in vitro.

Exposure to high levels of fungi might lead to diseases, such as airway inflammation, hypersensitivity pneumonitis and allergy. To comprehend the mechanisms behind the exposure to fungi and a disease, we examined the in vitro innate inflammatory cytokine response of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) challenged by fungal cell wall agents (FCWAs), i.e.

Fungal exposure in homes of patients with sarcoidosis - an environmental exposure study.

Background: There is increasing evidence that exposure to moulds (fungi) may influence the development of sarcoidosis. To assess the influence of the environmental exposure, a study was undertaken to determine the exposure to fungi in homes of subjects with sarcoidosis.

Methods: Subjects were patients with clinically established sarcoidosis recruited during the period September 2007 till June 2010.

Fire-eater's lung complicated by an infectious abscess requiring surgical treatment.

We describe a case of fire-eater's pneumonia that was complicated by an infectious lung abscess with substantial haemoptysis. Conservative treatment was inadequate. Surgical resection was necessary and proved to be successful.

Chitotriosidase activity in sarcoidosis and some other pulmonary diseases.

Background: Patients with sarcoidosis have elevated levels of several markers of inflammation. Particularly high levels have been reported for chitotriosidase. In this study, we evaluate whether determining chitotriosidase in serum would be useful in the diagnosis and clinical management of patients with sarcoidosis.

Combining field imaging endoscopy with point analysis spectroscopy for improving early lung cancer detection.

We propose to combine field imaging endoscopy with point spectral analysis for improving the overall diagnostic accuracy in clinical lung cancer detection. For this purpose, we developed an integrated endoscopy system that uses autofluorescence imaging and white light reflectance imaging to obtain high diagnostic sensitivity, while at the same time uses non-contact point reflectance/fluorescence spectroscopy to reduce false positive biopsies, thus, achieve high diagnostic specificity. A pilot clinical test on 22 lung patients demonstrated that using this system the malignant lung lesions can be differentiated from the benign lesions with both diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of better than 80%.

DNA-based sputum cell image analysis for lung cancer in a clinical setting.

Objective: To measure cell nuclei characteristics, previously reported to express probability for lung cancer, in subjects with different forms ofpulmonary disease and those without disease.

Study Design: Sputum and buccal cell samples were obtained from 846 patients without pulmonary disease, with nonmalignant disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asbestosis and lung cancer, stained for DNA, scanned by cytometer and scored. This was related to specificity and sensitivity for lung cancer.

Association of angiotensin-converting enzyme/DD genotype with sarcoidosis susceptibility in Slovenian patients.

Background: Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology with multifactorial genetic predisposition. An elevated ACE serum level is considered to be the activity marker of the disease. The involvement of the ACE I/D polymorphism in sarcoidosis susceptibility has been investigated in different populations, but results have been inconclusive.

Microbial antigen treatment in sarcoidosis--a new paradigm?

Increasing evidence suggests that the risk for sarcoidosis is related to exposure to microbes, particularly molds. Microbial cell wall agents, even in the absence of clinical infection, could cause a late hypersensitivity reaction leading to the formation of granulomas. A few interventions studies using antimicrobial treatment demonstrate improvement in sarcoidosis.

Polymorphisms in genes coding for mediators in the interleukin cascade and their effect on susceptibility to sarcoidosis in the Slovenian population.

Sarcoidosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterised by granulomatous inflammation in various organs. As genetic factors have been implicated in its aetiology, in our study we investigated whether the promotor polymorphisms in three genes coding for inflammatory mediators interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-12 (IL-12), and interleukin-18 (IL-18) could be associated with susceptibility to sarcoidosis. The study sample consisted of 104 patients with sarcoidosis and 100 healthy control subjects.

Antifungal treatment in sarcoidosis--a pilot intervention trial.

Background: Sarcoidosis is generally treated with corticosteroids that are not always an effective therapy.

Objectives: To assess if treatment with antifungal drugs would improve the clinical status of patients with sarcoidosis.

Methods: Patients (n=18) with sarcoidosis grades II and III according to established criteria and without clinical and immunological signs of fungal infection, were treated with antifungal medication together with corticosteroids for 3-6 months.