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The liver is the largest solid vital organ in mammals that supports other organ in the body in some facet. This book synthesizes all the primary and relevant metabolic information that one needs to review to understand the complex and diverse role of the liver in metabolism. With the current epidemic of metabolic diseases, it is of immediate importance to understand the contribution of the liver in health and its role in the development of impaired metabolic regulation. This book covers the many studies that have unmasked important roles that proteins expressed in the liver play in the development of or protection from metabolic diseases. One of the major metabolic functions of the liver is to carry out de novo lipogenesis, which is the metabolic pathway that allows the conversion of excess carbohydrates into fatty acids. The process of de novo lipogenesis is covered in depth within this volume. The book is an important contribution to the vast literature and ongoing research on liver function.

Defined as red blood cell break down and the release of hemoglobin and intracellular contents into the plasma, hemolysis can seriously impact patient care as well as the laboratory's reputation through its affect on test results. Therefore, the European Preanalytical Scientific Committee, in collaboration with the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry Working Group on Patient Safety, have designed a questionnaire to collect data on prevalence and management of hemolytic specimens referred to the clinical laboratories for clinical chemistry testing. This book will help identify the areas where hemolysis occurs most frequently, which can, in turn, guide further analysis about why it is occurring. Once these elements are known, practices and procedures can be implemented to dramatically reduce hemolysis and avoid erroneous laboratory results affecting patient care and increasing laboratory costs.