How to use… iron studies.

Iron studies are frequently requested in paediatric practice. They are useful both as a diagnostic tool and as a way of monitoring certain conditions, particularly those causing iron overload. This article outlines the physiology of iron metabolism and discusses laboratory aspects of performing iron studies, including factors influencing interpretation.

Hyponatraemia in Hospitalised Adults: a Guide for the Junior Doctor.

Hyponatraemia is common and often a source of confusion for junior doctors. It is infrequently dangerous, but when it is, is a medical emergency and requires urgent treatment to avoid life-threatening cerebral oedema. Treatment of acute hyponatraemia is also potentially hazardous; it is therefore important to be able to recognise when urgent management is indicated, and to investigate appropriately.

Audit of acute hypoglycaemia in children: re-audit of procedures for diagnosis.

Background: A protocol exists for the collection of samples to investigate unexplained hypoglycaemia, termed the 'hypopack'. These packs are kept in Accident and Emergency departments and neonatal special care baby units throughout Northern Ireland and most wards of the Regional Children's Hospital. A retrospective audit of 107 hypopacks received between July 2001 and December 2003 highlighted a number of problems: samples collected when the patient was receiving dextrose, incomplete clinical history provided, insufficient and haemolysed samples received and poor filing of reports in charts.

Sodium measurement: effects of differing sampling and analytical methods.

Background: It is recommended that children receiving intravenous fluids should have frequent biochemical monitoring, in some situations 4-6 hourly. Small changes in sodium must be detected, requiring very high precision from sodium analyses. Some children are monitored using venous blood analysed by indirect ion-selective electrode (ISE) interchangeably with capillary blood analysed by direct ISE.

High prevalence of metabolic syndrome among young women with nonfatal myocardial infarction.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if the metabolic syndrome (MetS) or other risk factors might be common among young women with nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: A matched case-control study using a structured interview and questionnaires, plus analysis of conventional and nonconventional risk factors for MI in serum or plasma was carried out at a teaching hospital. Subjects were 40 women with nonfatal MI at or before age 45 and an equal number of age-matched, ethnicity-matched, and smoking-matched female control subjects.