Key Points The clinical chemistry metabolic profile gives important quantitative information for over 25 serum analytes, often facilitating diagnosis of disease. Serum electrolyte concentrations for sodium, potassium, chloride, and sometimes calcium are most commonly assayed using ion-selective electrodes. Assays for…
Key Points Vitamins and trace elements are grouped because of the very small amount required to satisfy their extensive metabolic activity. Vitamins are essential organic substances that the body cannot synthesize or does not consistently synthesize sufficient for the metabolic…
Key Points Reproductive function and pregnancy are regulated by the complex interaction of a variety of hormones. They are synthesized and secreted by the testis (testosterone), ovary (estradiol and progesterone), pituitary (follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH] and luteinizing hormone [LH]), hypothalamus (gonadotropin-releasing…
Key Points The endocrine system is finely integrated—the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and target glands continually communicate through feedback inhibition and stimulation to control all aspects of metabolism, growth, and reproduction. By understanding this interplay and carefully manipulating these systems via…
Key Points Testing for the presence of drugs in the blood and other body fluids of patients has undergone a vast increase over the past 20 years. Testing for the presence of drugs of abuse and/or poisons in patients has…
Key Points Almost all patients with duodenal ulcers and most with chronic gastritis have demonstrable Helicobacter pylori infection. H. pylori stool antigen assays and urea breath tests are useful in diagnosis and in monitoring for eradication after treatment. Acute pancreatitis…
Key Points The liver is composed of three systems: the hepatocyte, concerned with metabolic reactions, macromolecular (especially protein) synthesis, and degradation and metabolism of xenobiotics (e.g., drugs); the biliary system, involved with the metabolism of bilirubin and bile salts; and…
Key Points Enzymes are protein catalysts utilized by essentially all mammalian cells in specific biochemical reactions in different organs of the body, which may also be physically located in different organelles and structures within a cell. Enzymes lower the activation…
Key Points The primary structure of a protein is its linear sequence of amino acids with different side groups, which determine how the protein folds on itself (secondary and tertiary structures) and how it reacts with other molecules and cells…
Key Points The most important disease affecting the heart is atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), caused by plaque in the coronary arteries. ASCVD can lead to thrombotic occlusion of coronary blood flow, causing an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). ACS with frank…