Iron overload in the Asian community.

Hereditary hemochromatosis is an iron overload disorder that can lead to the impairment of multiple organs and is caused by mutations in one or more different genes. Type 1 hemochromatosis is the most common form of the disease and results from mutations in the HFE gene. Juvenile hemochromatosis (JH) is the most severe form, usually caused by mutations in hemojuvelin (HJV) or hepcidin (HAMP).

Clinical biochemistry guidelines in Wales: their impact on laboratory services.

Background: Evidence of significant variations in clinical biochemistry practice in Wales led to the formation of the All Wales Clinical Biochemistry Audit Group (AWCBAG) in 1993, with the aim of auditing laboratory services to ensure that they are optimally used. As part of this process, clinical guidelines are produced and circulated to all clinical biochemistry departments in Wales. The current aim of the AWCBAG is to assess the extent and impact of adoption of these guidelines across Wales.

Provision of laboratory services for lipid analysis in the United Kingdom.

Background: National guidelines have been developed in the UK to reduce coronary heart disease mortality. This audit assesses provision of lipid analyses by UK Clinical Biochemistry services to support their implementation.

Methods: Audit standards were derived from published guidelines.

Recommended standards for biochemical markers of myocardial damage: All Wales Clinical Biochemistry Audit Group.

The effective use of cardiac-specific troponin estimations in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is clouded by the imprecise definition surrounding the decision limits. This has led to a wide variation of criteria for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction. A survey of troponin measurements in Welsh laboratories, undertaken in 2003 under the auspices of the All Wales Clinical Biochemistry Audit Group, revealed significant variations in laboratory and clinical practice.

A study to determine plasma antioxidant concentrations in patients with Barrett's oesophagus.

Background: Dietary questionnaire studies have suggested that patients with oesophageal adenocarcinoma are deficient in antioxidants. It is not known whether the same holds true for patients with the precursor lesion, Barrett's oesophagus.

Aims: To evaluate the hypothesis that patients with Barrett's oesophagus are deficient in antioxidants compared with patients without evidence of Barrett's oesophagus.