What is biochemistry? Biological or physiological biochemistry is the science of chemical processes that underlie the life of the body and those that occur inside the cell. The purpose of biochemistry (the term comes from the Greek word “bios” - “life”) as a science is the study of chemicals, the structure and metabolism of cells, the nature and methods of its regulation, the mechanism of energy support of processes inside cells.
Medical biochemistry: the essence and goals of science
Medical biochemistry - what is it? This is a section of biological chemistry that studies the chemical composition of cells of the human body, the metabolism in it (including in pathological conditions). After all, any disease, even in the asymptomatic period, will inevitably leave its mark on chemical processes in cells, the properties of molecules, which will be reflected in the results of biochemical analysis. Without knowledge of biochemistry it is impossible to find the cause of the development of the disease and the path to its effective treatment.
Biochemical blood test
What is a blood biochemistry analysis? A biochemical blood test is called one of the methods of laboratory diagnostics in many areas of medicine (for example, endocrinology, therapy, gynecology).
It helps to accurately diagnose the disease and examine a blood sample by the following parameters:
- alanine aminotransferase (AlAT, ALT);
- cholesterol or cholesterol;
- bilirubin;
urea
- alpha-amylase, pancreatic amylase, diastase;
- glucose, lipase;
- aspartate aminotransferase (AST, AcAT);
- gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), gamma GT (glutamyl transpeptidase);
- creatinine, protein;
- antibodies to the Epstein-Barr virus.
For the health of every person, it is important to know what blood biochemistry is and to understand that its indicators will not only provide all the data for an effective treatment regimen, but also help prevent the disease. Deviations from normal indicators are the first signal that something is wrong in the body.
Biochemical blood test for liver examination: significance and goals
In addition, biochemical diagnostics will make it possible to monitor the dynamics of the disease and the results of treatment, to create a full-fledged picture of the metabolism, deficiency of microelements of the organs. For example, a mandatory analysis for people with impaired liver function will be liver biochemistry. What is it? So called a biochemical blood test to study the quantity and quality of liver enzymes. If their synthesis is impaired, then this condition threatens the development of diseases, inflammatory processes.
The specificity of liver biochemistry
Liver biochemistry - what is it? The human liver consists of water, proteins, enzymes, lipids, glycogen. Its tissues contain minerals: copper, iron, nickel, manganese, therefore, a biochemical study of liver tissue is a very informative and quite effective analysis. The most important enzymes in the liver are glucokinase, hexokinase. The following liver enzymes are most sensitive to biochemical tests: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP). As a rule, the study focuses on the indicators of these substances.
For a full and successful monitoring of their health, everyone should know what a “biochemistry analysis” is.
Areas of biochemistry research and the importance of the correct interpretation of analysis results
What does biochemistry study? First of all, metabolic processes, the chemical composition of the cell, the chemical nature and function of enzymes, vitamins, acids. It is possible to evaluate blood indices by these parameters only if the analysis is correctly decrypted. If all is well, then blood counts for various parameters (glucose level, protein, blood enzymes) should not deviate from the norm. Otherwise, this should be regarded as a signal of a violation of the body.
Decoding biochemistry
How to decipher the numbers in the analysis results? The following is a breakdown of the analysis of blood biochemistry according to the main indicators.
Glucose
The glucose level indicates the quality of the carbohydrate metabolism. The boundary content rate should not exceed 5.5 mmol / L. If the level is lower, then this may indicate diabetes mellitus, endocrine diseases, liver problems. Elevated glucose levels may be due to diabetes, physical exertion, hormonal drugs.
Protein
The norm of the protein content in the blood is 65-85 g / l. A low result indicates a violation of the kidneys, liver, chronic diseases, poor nutrition, dehydration. A high level of protein is a signal of an inflammatory process.
Cholesterol
The norm of cholesterol in the blood is 2.97-8.79 mmol / l. Its level even in a healthy person depends on gender, age, physical activity, sometimes the time of year. High cholesterol signals a possible vascular atherosclerosis, heart disease.
Urea
This is the name for the final protein breakdown product. In a healthy person, it should be completely excreted in the urine. If this does not happen, and it enters the bloodstream, then you should definitely check the kidneys.
Hemoglobin
This is a red blood cell protein that saturates the body's cells with oxygen. Norm: for men - 130-160 g / l, for girls - 120-150 g / l. Low hemoglobin in the blood is considered one of the indicators of developing anemia.
Biochemical blood test for blood enzymes (AlAT, AsAT, KFK, amylase)
Enzymes are responsible for the full functioning of the liver, heart, kidneys, pancreas. Without the required amount, a full exchange of amino acids is simply impossible.
The norm of the content of the liver enzyme alanine aminotransferase (AlAT, ALT) is 41 units / l for men, up to 31 units / l for women. High levels indicate abnormal functioning of the heart, liver, and possibly viral hepatitis.
The level of aspartate aminotransferase (AsAT, AST - the cellular enzyme of the heart, kidneys, liver) should not be higher than 41 and 31 units / l for men and women, respectively. Otherwise, this may indicate the development of hepatitis, heart disease.
Lipase (an enzyme that breaks down fats) plays an important role in metabolism and should not exceed the value of 190 units / liter. An increased level signals a malfunction of the pancreas.
It is difficult to overestimate the importance of biochemical analysis for blood enzymes. What is biochemistry and what it explores is required to know every person who cares about their health.
Amylase
This enzyme is found in the pancreas and saliva. He is responsible for the breakdown of carbohydrates and their absorption. Norm - 28-100 units / l. Its high blood content may indicate kidney failure, cholecystitis, diabetes mellitus, peritonitis.
The results of a biochemical blood test are recorded in a special form, which indicates the levels of substances. Often, this analysis is prescribed as additional to clarify the alleged diagnosis. When deciphering the results of blood biochemistry, keep in mind that they are also affected by the patient's gender, age and lifestyle. Now you know what biochemistry is studying and how to correctly interpret its results.
How to prepare for blood donation for biochemistry?
As a rule, they recommend taking blood biochemistry if doctors suspect the presence of:
- acute diseases of internal organs;
- intoxication;
- vitamin deficiency;
- inflammatory processes;
- for the prevention of diseases during pregnancy;
- to clarify the diagnosis.
Blood is taken for analysis early in the morning, and you can’t eat before you go to the doctor. Otherwise, the analysis results will be distorted. A biochemical study will show how correct your metabolism and salts in the body are. In addition, refrain from drinking sweet tea, coffee, milk at least an hour or two before blood sampling.
Be sure to answer your question about what biochemistry is before taking an analysis. Knowing the process and its significance will help you correctly assess your health status and be competent in medical matters.
How is blood taken for biochemistry?
The procedure does not last long and is almost painless. In a person in a sitting position (sometimes they offer to lie down on a couch), a doctor takes blood from a vein, after applying a tourniquet. The injection site must be treated with an antiseptic. The sample taken is placed in a sterile tube and sent for analysis to the laboratory.
Quality control of biochemical studies is carried out in several stages:
- preanalytical (patient preparation, analysis, transportation to the laboratory);
- analytical (processing and storage of biomaterial, dosing, reaction, analysis of the result);
- postanalytical (filling out the form with the result, laboratory and clinical analysis, sending to the doctor).
The quality of the result of biochemistry depends on the appropriateness of the chosen research method, the competence of laboratory assistants, the accuracy of measurements, the technical equipment, the purity of the reagents, and diet.
Biochemistry for hair
What is biochemistry for hair? Bio-curling is a way of long-term curling of curls. The difference between conventional perm and biowave is fundamental. In the latter case, hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, thioglycolic acid are not used. The role of the active substance is played by the analogue of cystine (biological protein). This is where the name of the hair styling method came from.
Undoubted advantages include:
- sparing effect on the hair structure;
- the washed away line between regrowth and hair subjected to bio-curling;
- the procedure can be repeated without waiting for the final disappearance of its effect.
But before going to the master, the following nuances should be taken into account:
- The technology of biowaving is relatively complicated, and you need to carefully approach the choice of a master;
- the effect is short-term, about 1-4 months (especially on hair that has not been curled, dyed, have a dense structure);
- Biohairing is not cheap (an average of 1500-3500 p.).
Biochemistry methods
What is biochemistry and what methods are used for research? Their choice depends on his goal and the tasks set by the doctor. They are designed to study the biochemical structure of the cell, examine the sample for possible deviations from the norm and thus help diagnose the disease, find out the dynamics of recovery, etc.
- Chromatography (the method consists in the distribution of substances between two phases: mobile and stationary).
- Centrifugation (the biomaterial is placed in a special centrifuge to separate the plasma from red blood cells).
- Electrophoresis (the method allows using the current to divide serum proteins).
- Determination of total protein in blood serum by a biuret reaction (proteins are subjected to a reaction with a complex compound, which colors the test substances in purple).
- Enzymatic (urease) methods for the determination of urea (the urease enzyme is used as a reagent). The essence of the method is that under the influence of urease, urea breaks down to produce ammonia, and then the laboratory assistant calculates its concentration.
- Inhibitor analysis (using enzymes, for example, superoxide dismutase (SOD), the reaction of the interaction of oxygen molecule ions with an unpaired electron is accelerated, which allows us to study cell metabolism and the concentration of enzymes in the blood).
Biochemistry is one of the most effective tests to clarify, make a diagnosis, monitor treatment, and determine a successful treatment regimen.