NEW TEST: C-PEPTIDE

C-peptide has an important role in monitoring pancreatic therapy. Following radical pancreatectomy C-peptide should be undetectable, whilst an increased concentration should be expected after successful pancreas/islet cell transplant. C-peptide is not affected by hepatic metabolism so may provide a better indicator of β-cell function than insulin, and C-peptide measurements may be used as an alternative to insulin in this context.

For full details, please go to the dedicated Biochemistry test page.

May 16, 2012, 5:06 pm

King’s Acute Porphyria Service designated a National Commissioned Service

The Acute Porphyria Service at King’s College Hospital, London has been designated a National Commissioned Service for patients in England by the National Specialised Commissioning Team from April 2012.

There are three main Porphyria Centres designated in London, Cambridge and Cardiff to provide advice and treatment for patients with active acute porphyria. For more information see http://kingspath.co.uk/tests/biochemistry/18/. A leaflet is also available at http://www.kch.nhs.uk/Doc/PL%20-%20545.1%20-%20Porphyria%20clinic.pdf

April 16, 2012, 3:33 pm

24 Hours In A&E wins best documentary series

24 Hours in A&E won best documentary series at the Royal Television Society awards held in London last night, and was described by the judges as "a brilliant narrative and, despite so much of it being harrowing, television that was uplifting and heart-warming: love, life and death up-close and raw.”

Series 2 of 24 Hours In A&E will be broadcast on Channel 4 later this year.

March 21, 2012, 1:29 pm

King’s Cord Blood Service featured in The Guardian

In 2007 King's became the first hospital in London to collect cord blood collections.

Since then Terie Duffy, our national cord blood coordinator and pioneer of the service at King’s, has been working tirelessly to encourage and educate mums about the benefits of donating their placenta and cord blood. After birth, blood is collected from the umbilical cord and placenta and is transferred to the purpose-built processing and storage facility at the Anthony Nolan blood bank based in Nottingham.

The article in the Guardian looks at Terie’s work and the benefits of cord blood donation and how easy it is for families to donate. Prof Tony Pagliuca, Clinical Director for Haematological Medicine is also quoted in the article as well as a family who chose to donate cord blood.

Currently there are 37,000 people in the UK who desperately need a lifesaving stem cell transplant but can’t find a match.

This cord blood collection programme is fully funded by Anthony Nolan and the hope is that this programme will be adopted by other maternity units around the country in order to create the country's first public cord blood bank.

See the full article in The Guardian at http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/mar/18/magic-cells-babies-save-lives?newsfeed=true

March 20, 2012, 10:08 am