Comparison study between fasting total serum bile acid and post prandial bile acid in hepatic diseases: a preliminary study.

Fasting bile acid, two-hour post prandial bile acid and other liver function tests (Bili, AST, ALT, ALB, Glob, ALP) were measured in 22 normal and 28 liver diseased patients. In normal volunteers, the mean value of fasting total serum bile acid (FTBA) and postprandial serum bile acid (PTBA) were 3.08 mumole/L (S.D. 1.65) range 0.21-6.26 mumol/L, and 8.07 mumole/L (S.D. 2.99) range 4.06-15.65 mumole/L. Comparison between FTBA, PTBA and other liver function tests in various liver diseases from this study the PTBA was not statistically significant superior to FTBA. Therefore, it is not necessary to do the PTBA at this time until more data is available.

Red cell and plasma calcium, copper and zinc in beta-thalassemia/hemoglobin E.

Beta-thalassemia/Hb E is a genetic disease prevalent in Thailand. This study has used atomic absorption spectroscopy to evaluate red cell and plasma calcium, copper and zinc in patients with beta-thalassemia/Hb E, both splenectomized and non-splenectomized. The levels of these trace elements in both red cells and plasma were different between the non-thalassemic controls and the disease patients. The most prominent result was that calcium concentration in red cells increased significantly in thalassemia subjects, particularly in splenectomized cases. These results might reflect the abnormal trace element metabolism and defects in the calcium transport system of the red cell membrane in thalassemia.