Lecture Notes: Clinical Biochemistry: (Lecture Notes)

Concise yet comprehensive, Clinical Biochemistry Lecture Notes contains all the essential information for students and foundation doctors to understand the biochemical basis of disease and principles of biochemical diagnostics. It presents scientific principles in a clinical setting, with a range of case studies integrated into the text to clearly demonstrate how knowledge should be applied to real–life situations. Key features include: The fundamental science underpinning common biochemical disorders and their investigation in clinical practice Accessible flow charts of biochemical processes and the reasoning behind specific tests, making look–up and understanding easy A brand new companion website at www.lecturenoteseries.com/clinicalbiochemistry with self–assessment and downloadable summary slides for revision Clinical Biochemistry Lecture Notes is an ideal overview and revision guide for medical students, foundation doctors, general practitioners, and nurses. It also provides a core text for scientific and medical staff pursuing a career in clinical biochemistry.

Table of Contents:
Preface, vi List of abbreviations, vii How to use your textbook, x About the companion website, xiii 1 Requesting and interpreting tests, 1 2 Disturbances of water, sodium and potassium balance, 13 3 Acid base balance and oxygen transport, 30 4 Renal disease, 43 5 Disorders of calcium, phosphate and magnesium metabolism, 60 6 Diabetes mellitus and hypoglycaemia, 76 7 Disorders of the hypothalamus and pituitary, 89 8 Abnormalities of thyroid function, 102 9 Disorders of the adrenal cortex and medulla, 116 10 Investigation of gonadal function infertility, menstrual irregularities and hirsutism,134 11 Pregnancy and antenatal screening, 152 12 Cardiovascular disorders, 160 13 Liver disease, 174 14 Gastrointestinal tract disease, 188 15 Nutrition, 198 16 Trauma, infl ammation, immunity and malignancy, 213 17 Disorders of iron and porphyrin metabolism, 228 18 Uric acid, gout and purine metabolism, 238 19 Central nervous system and cerebrospinal fl uid, 245 20 Therapeutic drug monitoring and chemical toxicology, 249 21 Clinical biochemistry in paediatrics and the elderly, 261 Index, 278

Review :
The advantages of this title are that after the first few chapters which cover the basics of Clinical Biochemistry such as 'Requesting and Interpreting tests' and basic acid-base biochemistry, the rest of the text is dedicated to system disorders. From the first chapter of the book, this is a highly patient orientated title with 4 cases in the first chapter on the basics of tests putting what is said into a clinical context. The rest of the chapters are really useful if you want to get your head around specific conditions such as 'Jaundice' and how they are caused at a biochemistry level or you wish to revise the acid-base balance and how this relates to blood gasses. The disadvantages of this title are that I would have liked to have seen summaries of the key points at the end of each chapter within the print, though this is not essential as should you wish them, they are in part included in the online extras which have both questions & a few notes available for you to utilise. In conclusion if you are in the first few years of medical school then I would hazard to say that this is one of the best titles available covering clinical biochemistry as unlike many others that I have read in this area & reviewed, it is not padded out with detail that you would not be expected to know at medical school and includes many useful case examples. I would strongly encourage a medical student to see whether this title is in their university library if they don't want to purchase it straight away or look at the online resources which are freely available for the title to see whether it suites your style. (Medical Student, Lancaster University)