Book excerpt: Scientific Foundations of Biochemistry in Clinical Practice, Second Edition describes the pathological aspects of general metabolic disorders. This book is organized into 10 sections encompassing 45 chapters that discuss the nature of disorders involving disturbance in hydrogen ion concentration and blood gases, as well as the disorders of fluid and electrolyte balance. Some of the topics covered in the book are the chemical analysis of urine; neonatal screening for biochemical disorders; clinical biochemistry of alcohol, in intensive and postoperative care; psychiatric disorders of biochemical origin; abnormalities of the plasma proteins; assessment of gastrointestinal function; and calcium metabolism. Other chapters examine the nature, conditions, and diagnosis of bone disorders. A chapter emphasizes the functions of hypothalamus and pituitary. Another chapter looks into the biochemistry and toxicology of metals. The final chapters are devoted to the classification of connective tissue diseases and to the examination of clinical biochemistry of the central nervous system. The book can provide useful information to doctors, biochemists, students, and researchers.