{"title":"Trace elements in pediatrics.","authors":"G Lockitch","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This review discusses biologic roles, metabolism, and clinical aspects of three essential trace elements, zinc, copper, and selenium. Clinical situations that result in disturbed trace element metabolism, and signs or symptoms that may suggest a trace element problem are listed. Important issues for trace element assay development are emphasized, and examples of pediatric reference ranges provided.</p>","PeriodicalId":80043,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1996-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21035299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Medical education: challenges and opportunities.","authors":"M H Dominiczak, J Hooper","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>New curricula and educational methods are needed in medical education to take account of changes in the material taught, and the way in which education is delivered. We describe two approaches to these challenges--an internationally developed slide-text-based program and a multimedia clinical case-based CD-ROM project.</p>","PeriodicalId":80043,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1996-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21035253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Recommendation on mean molar activity coefficients and single ion activity coefficients of solutions for calibration of ion-selective electrodes for sodium, potassium, and calcium determination. IFCC Scientific Division Working Group on Selective Electrodes.","authors":"","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In principle, flame photometry measures substance concentration, and ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) measure ion activity. However, the situation regarding the comparison of results from the two techniques when applied to blood plasma is complex. The problem can be approached experimentally from the point of view of calibration of ISEs with concentration calibrators, and similar procedures are adopted for commercial ISE-based clinical analyzers. Nevertheless, there is interest in the evaluation of single ion activities in blood plasma and solutions simulating its ionic composition. Solutions are proposed for calibrating ISEs for the determination of sodium, potassium, and calcium. It is recommended that the values for single ion activities derived from the Pitzer treatment of mixed electrolyte solutions be adopted, because, although this has some empirical features, it has a sounder theoretical basis than the previously used Stokes-Robinson-Bates hydration approach.</p>","PeriodicalId":80043,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1996-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21035300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A strategy to promote the rational use of laboratory tests. IFCC Education and Management Division Committee on Rational Laboratory Use. International Federation of Clinical Chemistry.","authors":"P Pannall, W Marshall, A Jabor, E Magid","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The following guidelines suggest ways in which clinical chemists can promote rational laboratory use by critically evaluating the tests they offer. This may be done by documenting the clinical uses and limitations of tests in the same way that clearly written method descriptions outline analytical procedures in a particular laboratory. This information can then be disseminated on result report forms, during discussion, or through investigational protocols or clinical guidelines. For the information to be of value, it should be the result of clinical and laboratory input reflecting the local practice and facilities. The material should be clearly written, easily accessible to the users, and updated whenever there is a change in methodology or clinical practice. Much can be achieved by applying common sense to common knowledge, and laboratories of all sizes can prepare their own material. In addition, national scientific societies and other professional organizations can assist local endeavors by providing educational material on test evaluation, selection, and use.</p>","PeriodicalId":80043,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1996-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21032413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Australian health care system.","authors":"S Samman, A J Plant","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Medicare is Australia's universal system of health insurance, which is based on the principles of equity. It provides free accommodation and treatment in public hospitals and entitlement to medical services. Laboratories receive reimbursement from Medicare if they are accredited. Hospital funding may be directly funded, whereas in some States the funding is through structures such as Health Areas. There are increasing moves to determine the hospital share of funding based on the number and types of hospital cases. To lower the cost of Medicare, the Federal Government is considering reforms including those which will allow private health insurers to negotiate with doctors and hospitals. Some of the major issues facing the health care system are: (1) how best to deliver care to Aboriginal Australians, (2) overspending, particularly in high-technology medicine, and (3) provision of health care for the small but significant number of Australians who do not live in major metropolitan centers.</p>","PeriodicalId":80043,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1996-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21032415","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Laboratory cost management.","authors":"M Mayer, R Heikkinen, T Omtoft","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Laboratory cost management deals with the economical use of laboratory resources such as capital, equipment and manpower. Cost analysis is a tool for cost management, by means of which the laboratory manager can properly set priorities, choose appropriate test procedures, set personnel policies and make better investments of his resources. This article sets out some important aspects of cost analysis, such as the construction of cost curves, the factors that enter into cost analysis, the context in which cost analysis is used, and the limitations of this type of analysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":80043,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1996-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21032414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The investigation of adrenocortical disorders.","authors":"J W Honour","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article reviews effective approaches to the investigation of cortisol hypersecretion (Cushing's syndrome), adrenal failure, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency. These conditions generate most of the investigations of adrenocortical function in the clinical chemistry laboratory.</p>","PeriodicalId":80043,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21025553","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The endocrine investigation of disorders of sodium and water homeostasis.","authors":"P H Baylis, E M Phillips","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article reviews critically the investigation of polyuric states, hyponatremia with particular emphasis on the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, and primary hyperaldosteronism. Details of some essential tests are given with comments on interpretation of results.</p>","PeriodicalId":80043,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21026872","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Investigation of calcium disorders.","authors":"P J Wood","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The advent of new two-site immunometric assays for intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) measurement has enhanced the interpretation of results in many patients under investigation for hypercalcemia. The aim of this article is to give practical advice on the use of the new intact PTH methods and other tests for the investigation of the more common disorders of calcium metabolism.</p>","PeriodicalId":80043,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21026875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Endocrine investigation of gonadal dysfunction.","authors":"W Jeffcoate","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article reviews the hormone assays available for the assessment of gonadal function and some pitfalls in their interpretation. Simple strategies are suggested for the investigation of disorders of gonadal function in males and females. Emphasis is placed on relating the indications for hormone assays to the appropriate clinical context.</p>","PeriodicalId":80043,"journal":{"name":"Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1995-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21026874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}