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PubMed1998

Objective interpretation of bovine clinical biochemistry data: application of Bayes law to a database model.

With the advent of animal-side biochemistry analysers in veterinary practice, the requirement for ready access to reliable means for interpretation of the results is of increasing importance. At the University of Glasgow Veterinary School (GUVS), a large computerised hospital database containing extensive clinical, laboratory, and pathological information has been maintained. A retrospective study was undertaken to investigate plasma biochemistry results and corresponding post mortem diagnosis data from 754 unwell cattle which had presented to GUVS over the study period. Initial analysis of the clinical biochemistry data from this unwell population revealed that the parameters did not follow a normal distribution. This finding suggested that the accepted reference range method for the interpretation of clinical biochemistry data may provide limited information about the unwell animal. By applying a combination of percentile analysis and conditional probability techniques to the hospital data, the development of a means of clinical biochemistry interpretation was developed whereby a clinician could determine whether a value was abnormal, the degree of abnormality, and the most likely associated diseases. For example, a urea value of 30 mmol/l lay within the top 5% of results, and one of the most common diseases associated with this urea value was pyelonephritis. Furthermore, a Bayesian approach allowed the quantification of the relationship between any plasma biochemistry value and disease through the generation of a ratio termed the 'biochemical factor'. Using the same example, given a urea value of 30 mmol/l, pyelonephritis was eight times more likely than before any biochemistry information was known. The results from the study were used to form the basis of a software system which may ultimately be used by the clinical to aid in the recognition, treatment and prevention of disease in the veterinary domain.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Association of biochemistry grades with performance in pharmacology and anatomy in a Saudi Arabian medical college.

The College of Medicine, King Khalid University of Abha, Saudi Arabia currently accepts 100 students a year, up from 50 to 70 students four years ago. The first-year students take four science courses (Biology,Chemistry, Physics, and Statistics) in addition to some general university requirement courses. Biochemistry is offered in the second year, Anatomy in the second and third year and Pharmacology in the fourth year. This study was carried out to determine the correlation between the performance of medical students in Biochemistry and their performance in Anatomy and Pharmacology. Data were obtained from two groups of students (Group 22 and 23) of the years 1995 and 1996 who had already taken Biochemistry, Anatomy and Pharmacology. Performance was equal in Pharmacology but in biochemistry performance of group 23 was clearly lower than group 22. Scores of students in Biochemistry course strongly correlated with the basic Pharmacology course (r=0.714, P<0.0001). Scores in Anatomy also correlated with those in Biochemistry (r=0.616, P<0.001) but much less with scores in Pharmacology (r=0.345, P<0.01).

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Basis for the historical stages for studying the biochemistry of vitamins. Noncoenzymatic mechanisms of vitamin B1].

Biochemistry of vitamins is one of the leading trends in the fundamental researches of A. V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry from the moment of its foundation in 1925. The Laboratory of Vitamins Biochemistry was organised in 1994, it was reorganized into the Department of Vitamins Biochemistry in 1966, and later it was renamed as the Department of Coenzymes Biochemistry. Now the investigations at the Coenzymes Biochemistry Department headed (from 1986) by G. V. Donchenko, Corr.-Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, are directed to estimation of vitamins A, E, B1 and PP action molecular mechanisms. Investigation of specific protein-acceptors of vitamins and their biologically active derivatives is a contemporary and effective methodological approach to the estimation of some molecular mechanisms of vitamins action on cellular metabolism. Considering the challenging theoretical and practical aspects of the further fundamental investigation development in the molecular vitaminology the following items are currently being worked in the Department last time: 1. Study of some molecular mechanisms of thiamine and vitamin PP neurotropic action. These investigations are oriented to clearing some new aspects of noncoenzymic mechanism of its influence on the nervous cell functioning both in the norm and at some nervous diseases. 2. Study of some molecular mechanisms of regulation by means of fat-soluble vitamins A, E and their specific proteins-acceptors of DNA, RNA and protein biosynthesis in the nuclei and mitochondria of actively proliferous cells. These investigations are aimed to the estimation of molecular mechanisms of fat-soluble vitamins participation in the regulation of DNA-dependent synthesis of RNA, RNA-polymerase activity, mechanism of their anticancerogenous effect, vitamin E participation in the realisation of nuclear genetic information. 3. Study of intracellular protein-receptors, which take part in realisation of vitamins and their biologically active derivatives functions in the human and animals' organism. The investigations, directed to study of a role of retinol-binding proteins in exchange of the vitamin A and in biosynthesis of DNA, RNA and proteins, the role of tocopherol-binding proteins in realisation of biological action of vitamin E in cells and thiamine-binding proteins in realisation of neurotropic action of vitamin B1 are actively developed. 4. Investigation of mechanisms of antioxidizing and antiradical biological action of vitamin D3, ecdisterone and related biologically active compounds. Basing on the fundamental researches some vitamins preparations have been created, such as "Carotin-M", "Cardiovit", "Evit-1", "Soevit", "Metovit", "Caratel'ka" and others. The results of fundamental investigation of noncoenzymic thiamine function led us to elaboration of a new hypothesis about molecular mechanism of vitamin B1 neurotropic action. According to the hypothesis the thiamine high neuroactivity is a result of existence in the nervous ending a specific mobile thiamine pool and connection thiamine metabolism with nervous cell membrane potential and acetylcholine metabolism.

Academies and Institutes↗
PubMed2000

From bacteriology to biochemistry: Albert Jan Kluyver and Chester Werkman at Iowa State.

This essay explores connections between bacteriology and disciplinary evolution of biochemistry in this country during the 1930s. Many features of intermediary metabolism, a central component of biochemistry, originated as attempts to answer fundamental bacteriological questions. Thus, many bacteriologists altered their research programs to answer these questions. In doing so they changed their disciplinary focus from bacteriology to biochemistry. Chester Hamlin Werkman's (1893-1962) Iowa State career illustrates the research perspective that many bacteriologists adopted. As a junior faculty member in the Bacteriology Department in the late 1920s, Werkman faced a powerful professional dilemma: establishing a research identity that distinguished him from his colleagues with flourishing national and international reputations. His solution was to radically alter his research program from traditional bacteriology to a biochemistry program, which reflected the influence of the Dutch microbiologist/biochemist, Albert Jan Kluyver (1888-1956). Werkman was extremely successful in this career change. His laboratory made significant contributions to biochemistry, and Werkman achieved a notable degree of personal success. His career began in the shadow of his departmental bacteriological colleagues; within a decade he became the department's dominant research figure, as a biochemist. Werkman's personal success, however, had profound consequences for the disciplinary future of bacteriology at Iowa State.

Bacteriology↗
PubMed2003

Liverpool: the early years of biochemistry.

The first Chair and department of biochemistry in the U.K. were founded at the University of Liverpool in 1902, thanks to a generous donation by William Johnston, a Liverpool shipowner. The first holder of the Johnston Chair, Benjamin Moore, was a dynamic man, who set up an active research centre. In 1906, he and Edward Whitley founded The Bio-Chemical Journal as a private venture, and in 1912, they sold it to the Biochemical Society. Moore also initiated the first Honours School of Biochemistry in the country before moving to London in 1914 and being succeeded by Walter Ramsden. The development of the department was stopped by World War I, and there was little expansion in the 1920s. After Ramsden's retirement in 1931, the third Johnston Professor, Harold Channon, increased staff numbers, ran a successful research school and re-established the Honours course. World War II brought that to an end, and Channon moved into industry. After the war, biochemistry expanded from a niche subject in a small number of British universities into one that was strongly represented in most universities, but the penetration of biochemistry into wide areas of functional biology has blurred conventional subject boundaries, so in many universities (including the University of Liverpool), departments of biochemistry have been incorporated into large more general schools.

Biochemistry↗
PubMed1978

Toward a clinical orientation in the basic medical biochemistry curriculum.

A re-evaluation of biochemistry in medical school curricula is presented, with reference to designing more effective courses. Responses to a survey conducted among 103 medical students enrolled in two general biochemistry courses indicated that basic biochemistry would be considered more relevant to the medical curriculum if clinical applications were emphasized over basic principles. A majority of students (91%) expressed interest in applying biochemical principles to pathological conditions. They recommended that the biochemistry curriculum should include lectures on the significance of biochemistry in medical practice and its role in the life processes, laboratory comparisons of normal and pathological specimens, and course titles that reflect a more clinical orientation.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1980

The role of biochemistry in drug research.

The present and the future role of biochemistry in the search for a new therapeutic agent is reviewed. It is stated that the great importance of the various disciplines of biochemistry, including pathobiochemistry and pharmacological biochemistry, is presently recognized, and the involvement of biochemistry in drug research is increasing. Biochemistry at the present time and in the future will utilize the already known basic biological principles for the new development of new and more useful medicines. It is emphasized that the limiting factor in new drug discovery today, however, is the lack of new basic discoveries in biology.

Biochemical Phenomena↗
PubMed2001

Medical biochemistry in Macedonia: a profession for physicians and natural scientists.

Medical biochemistry or clinical chemistry in its roots is an interdisciplinary science between natural sciences and medicine. The largest part of medical biochemistry is natural science (chemistry, biochemistry, biology, physics, mathematics), which is very well integrated in deduction of medical problems. Medical biochemistry throughout the world, including Macedonia, should be a professional field open to both physicians and natural scientists, according to its historical development, theoretical characteristics and applied practice. Physicians and natural scientists follow the same route in clinical chemistry during the postgraduate training of specialization in medical biochemistry/clinical chemistry. However, in Macedonia the specialization in medical biochemistry/clinical chemistry is today regulated by law only for physicians and pharmacists. The study of clinical chemistry in Europe has shown its interdisciplinary character. In most European countries different professions, such as physicians, chemists/biochemists, pharmacists, biologists and others could specialize in clinical chemistry. The question for the next generation of specialists in Macedonia is whether to accept the present conditions or to attempt to change the law to include chemists/biochemists and biologists as well. The latter used to be a practice in Macedonia 20 years ago, and still is in many European countries. Such change in law would also result in changes in the postgraduate educational program in medical biochemistry in Macedonia. The new postgraduate program has to follow the European Syllabus, recommended by EC4. To obtain sufficient knowledge in clinical chemistry, the duration of vocational training (undergraduate and postgraduate) for all trainees (physicians, pharmaceutics, chemists/biochemists and biologists) should be 8 years.

Biochemistry↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Division of Regulatory Systems of Cells of the Institute of Biochemistry of the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences (L'viv). History, achievements and perspectives].

A short review presented deals with the history of biochemistry development in the western regions of Ukraine. Two principal biochemical schools were founded here by J. Parnas (1884-1949) and S. Gzhytskiy (1900-1976). While most of the students and collaborators of Prof. J. Parnas left for Poland and other western states, those ones of Prof. S. Gzhytskiy stayed in Lviv and other scientific centers of Ukraine. In 1979 Prof. S. Kusen (one of Gzhytskiy's former students and collaborators) and Prof. G. Shavlovsky headed two scientific departments founded in Lviv at O. V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry. This event could be considered as the beginning of modern biochemistry development in the western regions of Ukraine. Since 1992 in Lviv there exists the Division of Regulatory Cell Systems of O. V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine headed since 1995 by Prof. R. Stoika. Four Departments work in the structure of this Division: 1) the Department of Biochemistry of Cell Differentiation headed in 1979-1997 by S. Kusen and since 1997 by L. Drobot; 2) the Department of Regulation of Cell Proliferation created in 1993 and headed by R. Stoika; 3) the Department of Biochemical Genetics created in 1988 and headed by A. Sibirny; 4) the Department of Regulation of Synthesis of Low Molecular Compounds headed in 1979-1996 by G. Shavlovsky and since 1996 by D. Fedorovych. Division of Regulatory Cell Systems is presently the leading scientific center in Ukraine in the study of the biochemical mechanisms of proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of normal and tumour cells and in the development of effective biotechnological processes for obtaining the biologically active substances using yeast. Numerous publications of its collaborators in the high impact factor scientific magazines as well as the realisation of the international grants confirm this statement. Taking into account the high level of scientific research and availability of highly skilled scientists at the Division in 1999 the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine took a resolution to transform the Division into the Institute of Cell Biology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, which was founded in 2000 on the basis of the Division.

Academies and Institutes↗
PubMed2000

Need for bringing in a change in biochemistry curriculum to make it clinically oriented?

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to (a) assess the views of medical students and doctors regarding relevance of biochemistry training, (b) explore if they have any suggestion to bring in any improvement in contents of biochemistry curriculum and mode of teaching. METHODS: In 1997-98, a structured questionnaire was filled up by 114 medical students and 118 doctors. RESULTS: As many as 62/114 (55%) medical students and 40/118 (34%) doctors believed that it is not important to remember minute details of biochemical reactions (p value < 0.0001). Among medical students, 108/110 (98.2%) agree that a clinician should be invited to seminars for developing skills of interpretation of laboratory investigations; whilst 110/118 (93.2%) doctors expressed similar view, p value ns. Approximately 92% responders favored that departments biochemistry and physiology should co-ordinate on the topics of common interest in order to save time and effort. What is the most informative and effective way of teaching biochemistry?' in response to this question only 0.9% responders opted lecture as the best option. Seminars with active participation of medical students was preferred by 93.2% responders. About 6.9% responders reckoned that symposium prepared by a more than one teacher. In response to the question whether it is possible to cover pre-clinical subjects in 12 months so as to allow spiral mode of curriculum, 73% of all the responders agreed that it would be good idea, there was no difference of opinion among the doctors and medical students. On the other hand, 27% were strongly opposed to this suggestion. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that there is a need to modify the contents, methods of teaching, and curriculum organization of training in clinical biochemistry. How best the curriculum can be made problem oriented needs to be debated among medical educationists.

Biochemistry↗
PubMed1989

[Laboratory centralization and the development of pathological and clinical biochemistry at the Charité hospital].

The development of the discipline "Pathological and Clinical Biochemistry" at the Charité hospital from 1963-1983 was described. In the beginning of the sixties new structures for the clinical chemistry were necessary. The role of biochemical diagnostics increased due to the rapid development of the mechanization and automation of clinical chemical analysis. The centralization period of the laboratories of the clinics of the university hospital Charité included two phases: 1963 - foundation of the department of clinical biochemistry of the clinic of internal medicine and 1971 - foundation of the department of clinical biochemistry of the Charité. The main stimulus for the centralization of the laboratories and the foundation of the department of Clinical Biochemistry of the Charité hospital was the increased requests for medical care of the patients. With the new building and the reconstruction of the Charité hospital (1979-1983) the prerequisite were given to establish the discipline as Pathological and Clinical Biochemistry and in form of an institute (1983). The main stimuli for this development were demands to meet all requirements of research, teaching, biochemical diagnostics and pathobiochemical interpretation of biochemical findings of patients.

Berlin↗
PubMed2006

Serum biochemistry correlates with the size of tubal ectopic pregnancy on sonography.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether there is a correlation between serum biochemistry (human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), CA 125, progesterone and estradiol) and the common sonographic findings (blob sign, bagel sign or extrauterine gestational sac with cardiac activity) or size of a tubal ectopic pregnancy, and whether there is a difference in serum biochemistry between women with a tubal ectopic pregnancy who are hemodynamically unstable (tachycardia, hypotension, falling hemoglobin levels and/or acute severe abdominal pain) and those who are hemodynamically stable. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of 106 women with a tubal ectopic pregnancy. We noted transvaginal ultrasound examination findings including adnexal mass size, and the serum levels of hCG, CA 125, progesterone and estradiol. The data were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean maternal and gestational ages were 30.7+/-5.7 years and 44+/-4.2 days, respectively. There was no correlation between serum markers and common sonographic findings. However, in the presence of the bagel sign on ultrasound, hemodynamic stability was more common (P=0.03). The mean serum hCG concentrations in tubal ectopic pregnancies<20 mm, 20-40 mm and >40 mm in size were 2225.3+/-3166.9, 4124.8+/-6121.4, and 11 011.8+/-12 670.1 IU/mL, respectively (P<0.001). Serum hCG, CA 125 and estradiol values were well correlated with adnexal mass size; for CA 125 this correlation was linear. There was no difference in serum biochemistry between hemodynamically stable and hemodynamically unstable women. CONCLUSION: Common sonographic findings of tubal ectopic pregnancy do not correlate with serum biochemistry. High levels of CA 125, hCG or estradiol may suggest a larger adnexal mass in women with uncomplicated tubal pregnancies. Hemodynamically stable and hemodynamically unstable women do not differ in their serum biochemistry.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Prospective evaluation of a first trimester screening program for Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities using maternal age, nuchal translucency and biochemistry in an Australian population.

BACKGROUND: A combination of maternal age and ultrasound assessment of the nuchal translucency (NT) has been used in the first trimester to screen for chromosomal abnormality. In the United Kingdom, the addition of NT screening was shown to be beneficial. AIMS: To report the sensitivity of combined first trimester biochemistry and ultrasound screening for Down syndrome in an Australian private practice specialising in obstetric ultrasound. METHODS: A prospective study in a private obstetric ultrasound practice. Over 22 months, 2121 patients were screened and data was analysed for sensitivity (detection) and false positive rates for all chromosome abnormalities. RESULTS: There were 17 chromosomal abnormalities, five of which were Down syndrome. Using maternal age alone or age and biochemistry, four of the Down syndrome cases were detected for a 29 and 19% false positive rate, respectively. Using age and NT or age, NT and biochemistry, all the Down syndrome cases were detected, for a false positive rate of 5.7 and 7.2%, respectively. The difference in detection rates for Down syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities, using the four screening methods, did not reach statistical significance. However, the false positive rates in screening methods without ultrasound to assess the NT was significantly higher (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: A combination of maternal age, NT and maternal serum biochemistry gives a high detection rate for both trisomy 21 and other chromosomal abnormalities. Down syndrome screening using either maternal age alone or age in combination with first trimester biochemistry conferred screen positive rates significantly higher than when combined with NT.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Routine biochemistry in suspected vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D deficiency, which continues to be widespread amongst persons of Asian descent in the UK, is often detected from abnormal results on routine biochemistry. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of abnormal results from routine baseline tests of serum calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase in patients who subsequently proved to have vitamin D deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism. A retrospective examination was undertaken to assess these baseline indices in a cohort of 84 such patients seen in Bradford-5 male; 80 of Asian descent; median age 46 years (range 16-82); serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D<10 microg/L; parathyroid hormone >54 ng/L. Calcium was normal in 55 patients (66%), phosphate in 68 (81%) and alkaline phosphatase in 24 (29%). In only 5 patients were all three indices outside the normal range. The median parathyroid hormone concentration was significantly greater in patients with abnormal routine biochemistry (145 [range 55-1662] ng/L) than in patients with normal routine biochemistry (88 [59-322] ng/L) but the median 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels did not differ (3.1 [1.3-9.9] and 3.0 [1.5-7.3] microg/L). Routine biochemistry was normal in 20% of cases. If routine biochemistry is relied upon to detect vitamin D deficiency and osteomalacia, a substantial minority of cases will be missed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

The integrative nature of biochemistry: challenges of biochemical education in the USA.

The intricate interplay of Biochemistry with well-established disciplines often blurs the identity of the subject. The issues are many. What is biochemical education? Who should be educated? What should be taught? What should the requirements be for Biochemistry major? What is a career in Biochemistry? The curriculum, course syllabus and application of Biochemistry are ever-evolving concerns. The challenges are particularly keen in the USA due to the diversity in its teaching modes, and in the composition of the student body. The constant changes in technologies also shift the needs of skill and knowledge of the graduates. This presentation is to examine the Biochemistry degree programs in the USA, particularly the curricula of private and public research universities, contrasting them with those of the liberal arts colleges. The goal is to sense the trends of changes, probing how the challenges are met, and to solicit and formulate recommendations as we approach a new millennium.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

A course director's perspectives on problem-based learning curricula in biochemistry.

Knowledge of the applications of biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetics in the practice of medicine has been and continues to be a vital part of medical students' and continuing education. The technical background and the rapid expansion of information and new applications have made it an arduous task to learn and teach this material within the already crowded medical school curriculum. Problem-based learning (PBL) formats are rapidly being adopted at all levels of education as not only a major paradigm shift in education but also a solution for the instruction of biochemistry in medical school. Designing an effective biochemistry curriculum with PBL-based or lecture-based formats requires an appreciation for their strengths and weakness. The author's experiences in the Double Helix Curriculum at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (which employs PBL cases and complementing lectures) has shown that students are excited about learning in the PBL environment and explore in depth ways of integrating biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, and molecular biology into the practice of medicine. At the same time, complementary lectures greatly enhance uniformity in the quality and, importantly, the accuracy of the students' learning.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2001

Problem-based learning (PBL) as an approach in the teaching of biochemistry of the endocrine system at the Angeles University College of Medicine.

INTRODUCTION: Biochemistry is a basic science subject introduced in the first year of the medical curriculum. At the Angeles University College of Medicine, the approach used in teaching biochemistry has always been the conventional lecture-based strategy. This study described the factors involved in the development of modules and the use of problem-based learning (PBL) as an innovative strategy in teaching the biochemistry of the endocrine system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four PBL modules consisting of clinical problems, student's and facilitator's guides and a list of learning objectives were developed and used by 68 first year medical students under the supervision of a tutor during small group tutorial sessions. A 5-point Likert scale questionnaire was employed to ascertain the perceptions of the students on the influences of the components of PBL on the learning process. RESULTS: The respondents affirmed that the PBL approach motivated them to actively control the direction of their learning needs and encouraged them to acquire self-learning skills. Ninety per cent of the students found the PBL approach to have inspired them to take charge of their own learning of the biochemistry of the endocrine system. CONCLUSION: The study showed that the students found this alternative method acceptable particularly in motivating to clarify biochemical concepts that facilitated their understanding of selected endocrine problems.

Biochemistry↗
PubMed2001

[Evidence-based use of clinical biochemistry].

Evidence-based use of clinical biochemistry integrates into clinical decision-making the best research evidence with the clinical expertise of the physician and the expectations and concerns of the patient. The best research evidence for the clinical use of a biochemical test should be appraised in close collaboration between clinicians and specialists in clinical biochemistry, as familiarity with both the clinical problem and the analytical performance of the test is necessary. At present, it is difficult to ensure an evidence-based use of biochemical tests. More and methodologically better studies of the clinical value of biochemical tests are needed, and methods should be developed that make it possible to assess the results of such studies by systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Clinical biochemistry is an interdisciplinary specialty, and papers on the clinical value of biochemical tests are published in a vast number of journals of different clinical specialties as well as those of clinical biochemistry. It is thus almost impossible to keep abreast of the subject. The establishment of a system for literature surveillance focusing on methodologically sound studies of the clinical value of biochemical tests would be advantageous. Lastly, training and education on how to find and assess the existing evidence for the clinical use of biochemical tests are needed.

Biochemistry↗