Emotional functions in transsexuals after the first step in physical transformation.

Transsexuals have to face multiple medical, social and bureaucratic problems. These problems are not only encountered before the transformation, but also during and after medical procedures. In the search for improvement of transsexual individuals' quality of life during therapy, it seems desirable to supplement hormonal treatments with psychological explorations.

Patients with chronic hepatitis type C and interferon-alpha-induced hyperthyroidism in two-years clinical follow-up.

Objectives: Interferon-α (IFN-α) is a gold standard in the therapy of viral chronic hepatitis type C (CHC). However, such treatment might lead to thyroid dysfunction. Patients usually present hypothyroidism, but rarely also hyperthyroidism may develop.

Smoking and endocrine disorders.

Patients suffering from endocrine disorders, which affect the function of central nervous system, need a special care and approach in the process of smoking cessation. The process of informing about negative effects of smoking addiction, including potential aggravation of the disease, has to be specially tailored to the need of the patient and the type of the disease. The informing physician should also serve as a model by not smoking and try to confirm the patient about positive benefits of quitting smoking.

[The problem of cigarette smoking in the workplace].

European countries take various actions to reduce smoking, including an introduction of appropriate legislation. In Poland, the main piece of legislation is the Act of 9 November 1995 on protection of health against the consequences of tobacco use and their products. Among the places where smoking is prohibited, the document mentions all indoor areas of workplaces, among others.

[Effect of amiodarone on the thyroid function and safety of the therapy--what's new].

This paper presents the current state of knowledge on the effects of amiodarone (AM) on the thyroid gland function, including the question of epidemiology, pathogenesis and prognostic factors. Of all the antiarrhythmic drugs hitherto used, AM has the most adverse effects on the thyroid gland. In patients receiving AM, it may lead to a development of a full- symptomatic hyperthyroidism (AIT-Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis) and hypothyroidism (AIH - Amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism).

Medical errors - not only patients' problem.

Introduction: Medical error is often a traumatic experience not only for patients but also for doctors. However, patients as victims get much more publicity than those responsible for actual errors. The authors of the study conducted research to learn about Polish doctors' opinions on and reactions to medical errors and how they affect their further professional activity and psychological status.

[Permission for providing health care service. Do the doctors knows their obligation and patients their right?].

The basis of the medicine doctor actions legality is the receipt of permission from patient upon providing him with health care service. A goal of this article was to learn more about knowledge and practical implementation of this requirement among doctors as well as their patients. Based on poll research conducted on group of 40 doctors of various specialties and 56 patients the conclusion was drawn that knowledge of both groups is fragmented and ambiguous.

Subclinical hyperthyroid patients' knowledge about radioiodine therapy--the key role of medical information.

Objectives: Many patients with a chronic disease are dissatisfied with the information they are given. A brief questionnaire completed by patients would assist health professionals to identify areas of information needed to be provided, tailored to the patient's mental condition.

Aim: The aim of our study was to assess how often thyroid patients report being adequately informed about iodine treatment in connection with their real need thereof, emotional state and acceptance of the disease.

Psychological and legal aspects of quitting smoking in thyroid patients.

Finally, our study describes observations related to psychological and legal aspects of smoking quitting in Poland. It has been noticed that quitting of smoking needs individual therapeutic approach. The intensity and period of addict has to be consider the same as coexistence of somatic illness.

Smoking and thyroid diseases--what is new?

Cigarette smoking has multiple effects on the thyroid gland, which is associated with important clinical implications such as increased risk and severity of autoimmune thyroid disorders, especially Graves' ophthalmopathy. The influence of cigarette smoking is mainly associated with the pharmacological action of nicotine and also with toxins such as thiocyanate. The present review of relevant literature concentrates on the effect of smoking on the Graves' ophthalmopathy and other autoimmune thyroid disorders (such as Hashimoto's disease).

[Legal regulations knowledge among active and passive smokers].

In the recent years smoking problem is more visible in Europe as well as in Poland. European countries tried to limit smoking in different ways including suitable legal regulations. There came international legal documents.

Smoking and thyroid disease--review of literature.

Smoking has multiple effects on the thyroid gland, which is associated with important clinical implications such as the increased risk and severity of autoimmune thyroid disorders especially Graves disease. The influence of tobacco smoking is mainly associated with pharmacological action of nicotine and also with toxins such as thiocyanate. The present review of the relevant literature concentrates on the effect of smoking on the Graves ophthalmopathy and autoimmune thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto disease.