Objective: Diagnosis of hyperbilirubinaemia may rely on direct bilirubin (DBIL) measurement. Specimen suitability for DBIL depends on the degree of haemolysis present and method specifications. Our study reassesses the empiric, syncretised haemolysis guidance for DBIL measurement.Methods: Diazo and vanadate-oxidation assays for DBIL are compared, using sera from adults and neonates. Subsequent data analyses and statistics guide our conclusions on the clinical utility of haemolysed sera.Results: 48% Patients' specimens had haemolysis exceeding the diazo-DBIL assay's specified haemolysis limit, thus generating 'specimen unsuitable' comment on clinical reports. Our linearity study shows a diazo-DBIL bias of up to 21 mu mol/L in diluted specimens, regardless of grade of haemolysis. Haemolysed patients' serum gives unpredictably biased diazo-DBIL results relative to results from vanadate-oxidation method. The pleiotropy of effect includes negative, negligible, and positive bias; a greater bias is apparent when albumin is <37 g/L. Predominant unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia is defined as the 90th percentile D/TBIL limit of <36%, mixed hyperbilirubinaemia by D/TBIL 36-60%, and mainly conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia when D/TBIL is >60%.Conclusions: Haemolysed diazo-DBIL result is unsuitable for clinical use, due to unpredictability of observed bias. Our data shows that current haemolysis guidance is inaccurate and in need of revision. There is no direct association between haemolysis and diazo-DBIL results. Notwithstanding haemolysis, type of assay, and low albumin concentration, our study show D/TBIL% facilitates detection of the nature of hyperbilirubinaemia present. In addition, laboratories have an option to select a more befitting assay, such as the vanadate-oxidation method as it is unaffected by haemolysis. Crown Copyright (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. All rights reserved.

Drivers considered by the police for prosecution for driving with blood alcohol concentrations in excess of the legal limit are assessed by a battery of psychological and biochemical tests (N = 1,046). These were evaluated against police and medical records, and self reports. A perception-of-risk test devised by the authors prove the most effective means of detecting individuals with drink related problems in a bus-sample (n = 169) . The test does not follow conventional lines in requesting information about drinking habits, past or present; it is a test of various "risky" activities, of which only 3 out of 20 relate to drink. The means by which the test is effective, other than that it seems difficult to fake good performance, have yet to be determined but a number of implications seem evident. Most important, the test may have predictive ability and, therefore, preventive and educational potential. Also, it is a generally applicable test, correlating highly with social problems.

Gamma-glutamyl transferase in serum is a better indicator of problem drinking than other liver enzymes or blood alcohol. Moreover, the stability of this enzyme makes it easier to analyze, and the analysis is inexpensive. However, interpretation of the data requires knowledge of previous medical history and drugs prescribed concurrently that may affect the serum levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase.

"Talking glucose meter for the visually impaired diabetic patient: the effect of haematocrit on glucose measurement." British Journal of Biomedical Science, 69(1), pp. 41–42

When attempts are made to predict alcohol consumption using blood level of alcohol, it is usually assumed that the rate of breakdown of alcohol in the body is invariable. With such assumptions nomograms are constructed by some workers to provide a simple desk-top solution to estimate either the blood alcohol concentration or the amount of alcohol ingested by an individual. Use of one such nomogram, as proposed by Cassidy, was examined in this study. The results were found to be too inaccurate in providing data for legal considerations. Only limited useful information was obtained. It is therefore concluded that such a nomogram may prove useful in some circumstances only; and, is probably too imprecise for extrapolation of data that no individual case can be considered accurate for legal proceedings.

This work deals with the microstructural features, hardness, case depth, and wear characteristics of laser heat-treated 52100 bearing steel. For this purpose, the steel samples were laser transformation hardened at two scan speeds and were examined and tested for the above characteristics. The results were compared to conventionally quenched and tempered 52100 bearing steel. It was concluded that the laser heat treatment resulted both in improved surface hardness and sliding wear resistance over conventionally quenched and tempered steel. In addition, the material removal mechanism during sliding contact varied from abrasion and delamination to fatigue, depending on the treatment the steel had received previously.

In healthy male subjects, intake of alcohol is not closely related to body weight although there is a significant correlation between consumption and body weight in the younger age group. No association was observed between age and alcohol consumption. Age did show a significant association when expressed in terms of intake per weight. Eight hours after consumption blood alcohol did not vary significantly in people with different body weight; total body water is probably the key factor. This study raises doubts about experimental designs and calculations of blood alcohol whereby assumption is made that correcting alcohol dose for body weight would give precise information. Conclusions from such studies could in fact be misleading.

It is a fairly common practice to issue biochemical results of multichannel analysers containing many analytes, irrespective of the number of tests requested by the physician. Abnormal results in such profiles may occur from presentation of artefacted blood samples; it is sometimes not possible to differentiate the abnormality arising as a result of pathological process from that due to a poor sample quality. In this study normal volunteers were studied to examine changes occurring when centrifugation was delayed for a few hours to a few days. Analyses on stored serum samples over the same period were also studied. If haemolysis is present, lactate dehydrogenase (hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase), aspartate transaminase, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, phosphate and creatinine estimations are not valid. Accurate data, however, can be obtained on sodium, urea, proteins, albumin, alkaline phosphatase and gammaglutamyl transferase. The very concept of efficient and cost-effective testing by multichannel profiles may generate further unnecessary investigations with a consequent waste of health service resources if pre-analytical factors are not taken into consideration.

This work outlines the fracture properties of partially annealed low carbon mild steel and attempts to predict them using X-ray diffraction techniques. For this purpose sheets 2.5 mm thick with cold reductions of 0%, 28% and 50% were used to produce partially annealed samples (610 °C for 0, 60 and 300 s), the zero condition being the initial condition in each case. For each combination of percentage cold reduction and time of annealing, duplicated tests were performed to determine X-ray line broadening, microstructure, static tensile fracture properties and fatigue crack growth rates. From the results obtained it can be concluded that there is a definite relationship between the line broadening and the fracture characteristics of partially annealed low carbon mild steel. Furthermore, these relations can be used to predict fracture properties from the line broadening results.

Vitreus biochemistry is useful in subjects dying with uraemia, dehydration, hyponatraemia; and in the presence of osmotically active substances such as alcohol and drugs. Useful tests include sodium, potassium, chloride, urea, creatinine, osmolality, osmolar gap estimation and ethanol. The significance of calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, pH, phosphate and urate is still not clear. Transaminases and lactate dehydrogenase are found to be significantly raised; these may be associated with sudden release of hyalocyte contents at death.

Serum gamma glutamyltranspeptidase activity was measured in 440 drivers at the time of arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol. The results were compared with information gathered by the arresting police officer. One third of drivers over the age of 30 had abnormal gamma glutamyltranspeptidase activities at the time of arrest. Among drivers who required a driving license for their work, and older drivers, a disproportionately high number had raised gamma glutamyltranspeptidase activities indicating problem drinking. In drivers over the age of 30 a strong association was found between gamma glutamyltranspeptidase activities and road traffic accidents but not alcohol concentrations or previous convictions. These findings argue against the Department of Transport's criteria for high risk offenders and indicate a clear need for new measures against problem drinkers among drinking and driving offenders.

Acute alcohol consumption has no effect on the levels of enzymes in serum. Regardless of the amount consumed, no significant changes in serum enzymes were observed. Age-related differences in gamma-glutamyltransferase were not apparent. Peak blood alcohol concentration and consumption are not related to the body mass. Screening of drunk drivers for detecting problem drinkers could be undertaken by performing biochemical measurements of serum enzymes, especially gamma-glutamyltransferase.

A small survey was undertaken to assess the usefulness of measuring gamma-glutamyl transferase in vitreous. The results show that this enzyme may not be a sensitive test to predict the mortality due to chronic abuse of alcohol in road traffic deaths.

We read with interest the publication by Evans and co-workers. I A similar study has been carried out by us involving the identification of problem drinkers amongst drunk drivers (Tayside Safe Driving Project). Using gammaglutamyl transferase (GGT) as I one of the tests, we have found that GGT can be a useful indicator in this population.F We disagree with some of the points in their article. Dr Evans and his co-workers' conclusion is drawn partly on the basis of a low (but nevertheless statistically significant) correlation between selfreports of alcohol consumption and GGT. In our experie~ce, drivers at the time of arrest show a strong correlation between blood alcohol concentration and GGT; indicating a clear relationship between alcohol intake and enzyme level. Their main explanation put forward is however 'the large differences in enzyme responses of individuals to similar (self reported) alcohol intakes'. Despite the sophistication of their statistical analyses the validity of their conclusions thus rely largely upon having obtained valid self-report measures of alcohol consumption. The collection of self-reported alcohol consumption is notoriously suspect' except when obtained under the most rigorous conditions." High consumers are usually the most unreliable in providing such informanon? and under-reporting would tend to attentuate correlations and possibly sensitivity measures. Insufficient weight is given to this aspect in their study. The authors also neglected to inform the readership of the nature of drugs (if any) taken by their subjects, over the last month and in the recent past. This could have been accomf,lished to some extent by scrutiny of medical records. It is well established that drugs and diseases can alter liver enzymes, especially GGT. 7 Important differences in enzyme levels could have been obscured by these factors. Also, similar intake of alcohol by different subjects does not mean that a similar enzyme response should be sought. Different rates of elimination, age and time period over which consumption takes place are all important. Also, different patterns of consumption are evident in different age groups and a strong correlation between GGT and consumption cannot readily be obtained in populations containing young drinkers or individuals whose heavy consumption has been of recent origin. An extensive period of heavy consumption is generally required before GGT induction increases; alcohol history of the previous month may well be unrepresentative. One other major factor often overlooked is total body water (TBW). TBW can vary significantly in people of the same age, therefore volume of distribution of alcohol and its concentration can be significantly different when similar levels of alcoholic beverages are consumed. Contrary to the conclusion of Evans et al. we

Journal Article ALCOHOL AND BODY WEIGHT Get access MICHAEL J. WORLD, MICHAEL J. WORLD Reprints available from: Editorial Office, 64 Lee Park, Blackheath, London SE3 9HZ, UK Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar PETER R. RYLE, PETER R. RYLE Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar OLIVER E. PRATT, OLIVER E. PRATT Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar ALLAN D. THOMSON ALLAN D. THOMSON Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Alcohol and Alcoholism, Volume 19, Issue 1, 1984, Pages 1–6, https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.alcalc.a044395 Published: 01 January 1984

There are many types of sun-beds, sun-benches and sun-panels containing fluorescent tubes which, because of their predominantly UV-A emission, are advertised to the public as a means of obtaining a tan without sunburn. This study reports the effects of a sun-bed on skin colour, on the protection afforded against sunburn, and on vitamin D formation. Side-effects are also recorded. It was shown that the sun-bed emits mainly UV-A but very little UV-B and some tanning occurred in most subjects. However, no correlation was observed between the subjects' stated ability to tan and the degree of pigmentation achieved at the end of the treatment. Most subjects also had itching and erythema, and three had polymorphic light eruption. Although very little UV-B irradiation was present, a significant increase in serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D occurred, and possible explanations of this surprising finding are discussed. While the sun-bed proved popular with the subjects, only a modest tan was achieved and the incidence of side-effects appeared to limit the value of this type of appliance, especially with regard to the prevention of vitamin D deficiency.