Description

In this issue of the CPD Bulletin we have four articles of interest to the readers. Dr Walker gives a very good account on the pathogenesis and prevention of kidney stones (page 72).
Dr Walker who runs a renal stone clinic at Southampton describes the common types of renal stones, the factors contributing to the formation of these stones, investigations required in a patient with renal stones and methods of prevention and treatment.

Respiratory chain disorders are an interesting group of disorders which can present in a variety of ways. Dr Simon Heales from the Institute of Neurology describes the biochemistry of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and its disorders (page 78). He explains the method of investigation of suspected cases and gives practical advice useful for all practising Clinical Biochemists

Acute phase response is a common phenomenon and Dr Milford Ward from the Protein Reference Unit explains the acute phase response and describes the various markers of the response and the value of measuring these in clinical practice (page 82).

Drug abuse is a major health problem throughout the world and the laboratory service required to screen for drugs of abuse is described by Dr Steven George from the Birmingham Regional Toxicology Laboratory (page 85). He describes the pitfalls of some of the commonly used screening tests and stresses the importance of confirmatory tests.

In addition to these articles we have regular features, including three case reports in this issue and two of them deal with electrolyte disturbances.

The editorial board welcome comments and contributions from readers.