Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) in reducing the volume of cystic and mixed thyroid nodules. Materials and methods: A total of 36 patients with nodules treated with PEI and 13 individuals who declined PEI and were followed clinically or received other non surgical treatment (control group). Assessments were performed at baseline (immediately before treatment in the PEI group or evaluation of the nodule on ultrasonography in the control group) at short-term (on average 30 days after the last injection in the PEI group), and long-term (on average 14 months after baseline in the PEI group or 26 months after baseline in the control group). Results: In the PEI group, the mean baseline volume of 10.4 ± 9.8 cm³ reduced at short-term followup to 2.9 ± 3.1 cm³ (67.7 ± 19.9%, p < 0.001) and at long-term follow-up to 2.0 ± 2.5 cm³ (78.2 ± 19.5%, p < 0.01 versus baseline and p = 0.009 versus short-term follow-up). Both types of nodules showed similar degrees of reduction. In the control group, mean volume was 5.8 ± 3.4 cm³ at baseline and 6.2 ± 3.0 cm³ at long-term follow-up (p = 0.507). Compared with the control group, the PEI group showed larger reduction (p < 0.001). Conclusions: PEI is effective in reducing the volume of cystic and mixed benign thyroid nodules, with sustained long-term efficacy and better outcome when compared with conservative therapies. Treatment with PEI is a safe alternative, with minimal, transient and selflimited adverse events. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2016;60(3):211-6

Background: the aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between type 2 diabetes (T2DM), depression and depressive symptoms and their clinical impact on T2DM. Methods: the authors evaluated 214 outpatients, 105 with diabetes (T2DM group) and 109 non-diabetics (control group), with ages ranging between 50 and 75 years (T2DM group 65.1 ± 5.6 years, control group 63.4 ± 5.8 years). Use of antidepressant treatment or score ≥ 16 on the Beck depression inventory (BDI) was considered depression. Complications of diabetes and total symptom score (TSS) for peripheral neuropathy were reported by patients. Results: diabetes group had a higher frequency of depression (35.2%) compared to controls (21.1%) (p=0,021), with 2.4 times increased risk of depression. The presence of depressive symptoms was also higher in T2DM group (mean BDI 9.5 ± 8.8 versus 6.9 ± 6.2; p=0.039). Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy were higher in depressed subjects. The metabolic control and presence of complications in T2DM group were not associated with depression. Conclusion: T2DM led to an increased risk of depression, but this did not influence the metabolic control or the presence of other complications.