Clinical Biochemistry, 2/e

Contents:

Clinical biochemistry • What is clinical biochemistry? • The role of the clinical biochemistry laboratory • What does the result mean? • Reference ranges • Clinical utility • Blood samples • Units of measurement • Suggested further reading • Self-assessment questions • Input • Nutrition and drugs • Composition of the body • Macronutrients • Micronutrients • Minerals and trace elements • Assessment of nutritional status • Toxicology • Laboratory measurement of nutrients and drugs • Spectroscopy and colorimetry • Suggested further reading • Self-assessment questions • Digestion • The food we eat • The digestive process • Gut hormones • Clinical disorders • Investigation of malabsorption • Suggested further reading • Self-assessment questions • Control • Genetic control • DNA and genetic information • Proteins from DNA • Genetic damage • Cancer and tumour markers • Genetic disease and the clinical biochemistry laboratory • Suggested further reading • Self-assessment questions • Endocrinology — chemical control • Transport of hormones • Action of hormones • Control of hormone production • The hypothalamic—pituitary axis • Endocrine disorders • Investigation of endocrine disease • Measurement of hormones • Suggested further reading • Self-assessment questions • Thyroid hormones • The thyroid gland • Thyroid hormones • Action of thyroid hormones • Thyroid hormone homeostasis • Thyroid disease • Measurement of thyroid hormones • Suggested further reading • Self-assessment questions • Control of water and electrolyte metabolism • Water balance • The importance of sodium • Control of osmolality • Disorders of water and electrolyte balance • Potassium • Disorders of potassium metabolism • Measurement of sodium and potassium • Suggested further reading • Self-assessment questions • Control of calcium metabolism • Calcium • Calcium control • Phosphate • Disorders of calcium metabolism • Measurement of calcium • Suggested further reading • Self-assessment questions • Control of carbohydrate metabolism • Glucose homeostasis • Insulin • Disorders of carbohydrate metabolism • The investigation of glucose disorders • Suggested further reading • Self-assessment questions • Processing • Enzymes • Isoenzymes and isoforms • Clinically important enzymes • Enzymes and tissue damage • Principles of enzyme measurements • Biosensors • Suggested further reading • Self-assessment questions • Inborn errors of metabolism • Inheritance • Investigation of IBEM • Prenatal diagnosis • Phenylketonuria • Cystic fibrosis • Chromatography • Suggested further reading • Self-assessment questions • Transport and storage • Plasma proteins • Total protein • Protein groups • Specific proteins • Measurement of plasma proteins • Suggested further reading • Self-assessment questions • Lipids and lipoproteins • Lipids and lipoproteins • Lipid transport • Lipid disorders • Atherosclerosis • Laboratory investigations of lipid • Suggested further reading • Self-assessment questions • Acid—base balance and blood gases • Control of pH • Normal pH • Disorders of acid—base balance • Pathophysiology • Anion gap • Blood gases • Blood gas measurements • Suggested further reading • Self-assessment questions • Defence • Immunoglobulins • Antibodies • Disorders associated with antibodies • Laboratory investigation of antibodies • Laboratory techniques in the investigation of antibodies • Suggested further reading • Self-assessment questions • Proteins of the innate immune system • Complement proteins • Acute-phase proteins • Interferons • Clinical biochemistry and the innate immune system • Suggested further reading • Self-assessment questions • Output • Kidney function • Kidney structure and function • Kidney disease • Glomerular function • Tubular function • Proteinuria • Renal stones • Suggested further reading • Self-assessment questions • Liver function • Liver structure • Bilirubin metabolism • Jaundice • Liver disease • Investigation of liver disease • Suggested further reading • Self-assessment questions • Answers to self-assessment questions • Index

About the Author: 

R. Luxton is a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Chemistry, Department of Biological and Biomedical Science, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.