Thyroid hormones and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) laboratory tests are commonly used worldwide, and their results have an important influence on decisions about treatment and further diagnostic processes. Any discrepancies between symptoms and laboratory results or between results of different tests should be closely investigated to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment. Inconsistencies in hormone tests might be a result of physiological changes in hormonal balance, a disease, drug intake, or laboratory interference. Major factors that interfere with thyroid function tests are: heterophilic antibodies, macro TSH, biotin, thyroid hormones autoantibodies, anti-streptavidin, and anti-ruthenium antibodies. In this paper we discuss the influence of different factors on the procedures of hormonal immunoassays, as well as methods to minimise the risk of false results and misdiagnoses.

Background. According to the Polish National Cancer Registry, bladder cancer is the 4 th most common cancer in the male population (7.0%), while prostate cancer takes 2 nd place (14.0%). In the case of both cancer types, prognoses are precarious and depend on many factors, such as the size of the primary tumor, infiltration of regional lymph nodes, histological grade and occurrence of distant metastases. Objectives. The objective of this work is to verify the coincidence of prostate cancer and bladder cancer in patients who underwent radical cystoprostatectomy in Wroclaw Medical University, Department of Urology and Oncological Urology, as well as to indicate factors that may influence the peri-and post-operative course. Material and Methods. We have retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent radical cystoprostatectomy for muscular-invasive bladder cancer between 2009 and 2014, which comprised of 116 male patients. We managed to establish telephone and personal contact with the patients. Results. Seventeen of the 116 patients were diagnosed with coincidental prostate cancer in post-operative histological examination (14.6%). This result is lower than in other series of cystoprostatectomy cases (range 23-68%). The mean age of patient was 68.9 years and the median was 69.5 years. Factors influencing the peri-and post-operative periods were not statistically significant. Conclusions. Serum PSA level and DRE should be performed more often on patients prepared for radical cystoprostatectomy. An accurate pre-operative assessment of cancer infiltration is required for both types of tumors. Complete resection of prostate prevents residual neoplasm infiltration. It is important to take into account the possibility of primary prostate tumor occurrence in patients qualified for radical cystectomy. The post-operative supervision should be focused not only on bladder carcinoma but on the prostate carcinoma, too (Adv Clin Exp Med 2015, 24, 4, 657-662).

Glucocorticoids are widely used in the treatment of many diseases. They have multiple therapeutic applications mainly because of their anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive and antiproliferative activity. Glucocorticoids are broadly used in the therapy of dermatological diseases. Various routes of glucocorticoids administration are known. In the treatment of skin disorders, glucocorticoids are often administered topically. It must be noted that glucocorticoid-induced complications may occur not only as a result of systemic treatment, but also topical application of glucocorticoids to the skin. Commonly reported cutaneous adverse effects resulting from glucocorticoid therapy include changes in facial appearance – rounded appearance of the face, redness, development of stretch marks, difficulty in wound healing, and easy bruising. It needs to be highlighted that glucocorticoids also affect metabolism, water and electrolyte balance, and bones. Therefore, in addition to dermatological disorders, they may also cause many other types of complications. As a result, a degree of caution is advised in the use of drugs of this class. In order to reduce the risk of adverse effects, glucocorticoids should be used at the smallest effective dose for the shortest possible time.

Glikokortykosteroidy (GKS) są powszechnie stosowane w leczeniu różnych chorób dzięki ich działaniu immunosupresyjnemu i przeciwzapalnemu. Dobrze poznany został ich wpływ na wystąpienie powikłań metabolicznych, zwiększenie ryzyka sercowo-naczyniowego czy zmian w wyglądzie zewnętrznym. Glikokortykosteroidy mogą jednak również prowadzić do różnych powikłań w zakresie funkcjonowania układu rozrodczego oraz zaburzać prawidłowy przebieg ciąży. Z drugiej strony należy też pamiętać, że GKS znajdują zastosowanie w zapobieganiu niektórym powikłaniom położniczym. Większość powikłań steroidoterapii wynika z wpływu glikokortykosteroidów na funkcjonowanie osi podwzgórze-przysadka-gonady. Do działań niepożądanych ze strony układu płciowego związanych z przyjmowaniem steroidoterapii należą: zaburzenia miesiączkowania, zaburzenia płodności, obniżenie libido, rozwój hirustyzmu i powikłania związane z ciążą, jak: zahamowanie wzrostu płodu, wtórna niedoczynność nadnerczy płodu czy rozwój stanu przedrzucawkowego u kobiety ciężarnej. GKS są jednocześnie stosowane w stymulacji dojrzewania płuc płodu przy zagrażającym porodzie przedwczesnym czy w zapobieganiu maskulinizacji zewnętrznych narządów płciowych przy ryzyku wystąpienia wrodzonego przerostu nadnerczy. Podczas doboru terapii należy pamiętać, że poszczególne stosowane w terapii glikokortykosteroidy różnią się między sobą profilem działania, w tym stopniem przechodzenia przez łożysko, co ma istotne następstwa kliniczne.

Glucocorticoids are widely used as anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and immunosuppressive agents in many diseases. Their use is often long-term, which is associated with the risk of adverse effects from various systems. In this paper, we pay particular attention to the effects of steroid therapy on cardiovascular diseases as long-term steroid therapy increases the risk of cardiovascular death. The risk of complications depends on the dose and therapy duration. Complications may also occur when steroids are used locally. According to literature data, glucocorticoids may contribute to the development of hypertension, myocardial ischaemia, heart failure and, according to some studies, stroke. The use of steroid therapy can lead to the development of disorders that are part of the metabolic syndrome. The pathogenesis includes the effects of glucocorticoids on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, the autonomic system, stimulation of the mineralocorticoid receptor, and effects on the synthesis of factors regulating the width of blood vessels. Other disorders that may develop in the course of this therapy include osteoporosis, myopathy, electrolyte and metabolic disorders. However, it is difficult to determine to what extent the complications are caused by the therapy itself and to what extent by the treated disease. It is also worth noting about the negative impact of anabolic steroids, the use of which is usually not a part of therapy.