Abstract Background A complex yet elegant system of chemical buffers together with highly specialized mechanisms of the lungs and kidneys continuously work in tandem to ensure a precise balance of water, electrolytes, and pH in both the intracellular and extracellular…
Abstract Background The kidneys play a central role in homeostasis, and reduced renal function strongly correlates with increasing morbidity and mortality. Laboratory investigations are central to the diagnosis and management of kidney disease and investigations of kidney function constitute a…
Abstract Background Increases in cardiac biomarkers of myocardial injury and particularly cardiac troponin (cTn), in the absence of analytical confounders, define the presence of myocardial injury which in the proper clinical situation can lead to the diagnosis of acute myocardial…
Abstract Background Diabetes mellitus is a common disorder in which patients develop hyperglycemia due to inadequate insulin secretion, defective insulin action, or both. There are two major forms of diabetes, namely type 1 and type 2. The estimated global prevalence…
Abstract Background Nutrition is relevant to every specialty within overall medical practice. Adequate nutrition, both qualitatively and quantitatively, is essential for normal development, growth, function, and health. Both excessive and insufficient intake of individual nutrients can have adverse consequences. Also,…
Abstract Background Body fluids are collected and analyzed either to gain insight into the processes that contribute to the accumulation of that fluid within a body compartment or to provide diagnostic information to investigate pathophysiologic processes. Content In the preanalytical…
Abstract Background Elements have been recognized as toxins for centuries. Many elements are essential for life but if an individual’s exposure exceeds a certain threshold, toxicity may develop. When identified early, disease caused by elemental exposure is readily treatable with…
Abstract Background Toxicology is a broad, multidisciplinary science where the goal is to determine the effects of chemical agents on living systems. Innumerable potential toxins can inflict harm, including pharmaceuticals, herbals, household products, environmental agents, occupational chemicals, drugs of abuse,…
Abstract Background Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is the traditional term used for the activity of measuring drug concentrations to tailor the dose of the medication to an individual. The use of monitored drug therapy is generally reserved for drugs with…
Abstract Background The porphyrias are a group of rare, mainly inherited metabolic disorders that result from decreased or, in one rare form of erythropoietic protoporphyria, increased, activities of the enzymes of heme biosynthesis. Each porphyria is defined by the association…