by Lai Wai Kai. / Thesis (M.Sc.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 70-74). / Acknowledgement --- p.iv / Abstract --- p.v / Figures and Tables --- p.vii / Abbreviations used in this study --- p.ix / Contents / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Biochemistry of cobalamin --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Biological functions of cobalamin --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Causes of cobalamin deficiency --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Significances of cobalamin deficiency --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Assessment of cobalamin deficiency --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2 --- Biochemistry of Methylmalonic acid (MMA) --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Elevation of MMA in biological fluids --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Significances of measurement of MMA --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Methods of measurement of urinary MMA --- p.13 / Chapter 2. --- Objectives of this project --- p.16 / Chapter 3. --- Materials and Methods / Chapter 3.1 --- Study subjects --- p.18 / Chapter 3.2 --- Sample collection --- p.18 / Chapter 3.3 --- Biochemical and haematological analysis --- p.18 / Chapter 3.4 --- Measurement of urinary creatinine concentration --- p.19 / Chapter 3.5 --- Measurement of serum cobalamin concentration --- p.20. / Chapter 3.6 --- GC-MS determination of urinary MMA --- p.21 / Chapter 3.7 --- Statistical analysis --- p.24 / Chapter 4. --- Results / Chapter 4.1 --- Clinical features of subjects --- p.28 / Chapter 4.2 --- General blood analysis --- p.28 / Chapter 4.3 --- Serum cobalamin analysis --- p.30 / Chapter 4.4 --- Urinary MMA analysis --- p.33 / Chapter 4.5 --- Relationship between urinary MMA excretion and age --- p.53 / Chapter 4.6 --- Relationship between urinary MMA excretion and serum cobalamin concentrations --- p.53 / Chapter 5. --- Discussions / Chapter 5.1 --- Serum cobalamin analysis --- p.62 / Chapter 5.2 --- Urinary MMA analysis --- p.62 / Chapter 5.3 --- Relationship between urinary MMA excretion and age --- p.66 / Chapter 5.4 --- Relationship between urinary MMA excretion and serum cobalamin concentration --- p.66 / Chapter 5.5 --- Relationship between urinary MMA excretion and diet --- p.68 / Chapter 6. --- Conclusions --- p.69 / Chapter 7. --- References --- p.70