Description

Acid base disorders are common in hospital practice.
Understanding acid base disorders is important for clinical
biochemists. Most clinical biochemists, medical undergraduates
and sometimes even post graduates find acid base a difficult and confusing subject. The role of the kidney in acid base balance is vital and to understand how acid base balance is maintained we need to understand how the kidney handles acid- base transport. In the first of the articles in this issue Prof Stanley White describes the mechanism involved in the secretion of hydrogen ions by the renal tubules and the transporters involved in the movement of ammonium ion, bicarbonate and hydrogen ions.

Measurement of thyroid hormones forms a major part of the workload in most laboratories. Although thyroid disease is common in general population interpretation of thyroid function tests in ill patients is difficult. In acutely ill patients a number of abnormalities in thyroid functions tests are seen and this is described as non-thyroidal illness or sick euthyroid syndrome. The mechanism involved is complex and there is ongoing debate about the usefulness of treating such patients with thyroid hormones. In the second article in this issue Dr Beckett describes the changes in thyroid function tests in ill patients and discusses the various mechanisms responsible for these changes.

Obesity is an increasing problem in many countries and the
consequences of obesity are many including development of type 2 diabetes. A recent survey found that about 25% of adults are obese in England and Wales. In the past decade there has been rapid progress on how appetite and satiety are controlled. Many peptides have been found to have an effect on satiety and appetite. One such gut peptide is peptide YY (PYY). In the third article Drs Vincent and le Roux describe the physiology of PYY, its relationship to food intake, energy homeostasis and the possible contribution of PYY in the understanding of obesity. They also discuss the possible therapeutic implications of this peptide.

Finally, we would like to invite readers to submit interesting case reports that have a particular educational message. The Bulletin will become more lively and interesting with more contribution from readers.