Lipoprotein-cholesterol analysis during screening: accuracy and reliability

Article Abstract:

The role of high blood cholesterol levels in heart disease has been more appreciated in recent years. Blood levels can be measured for total cholesterol and some of its components, such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides. Having too much LDL and not enough HDL cholesterol has also been associated with increased risk of heart disease. Efforts to increase public awareness of the dangers of high cholesterol have included screening programs, in which small amounts of a person's blood, such as can be obtained by pricking the finger, are analyzed immediately to determine cholesterol levels, rather than drawing blood from a vein and sending it to a laboratory for formal analysis. Screening procedures have come under criticism, both for being inaccurate and for not analyzing enough of the components of cholesterol to be truly useful. A study was performed in which patients had blood analyzed by both the screening and laboratory methods for levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL. Knowing these three values can permit a calculation of LDL. The total cholesterol levels as determined by the screening method were about 4.5 percent lower than those measured by the laboratory, the triglycerides were 10 percent lower, and the HDL values were 11 percent lower. Because of the peculiarities of the method of calculating them, LDL values calculated from these numbers were comparable to those obtained by measuring the levels in the laboratory. Measuring total cholesterol by the screening method was considered close enough to the values obtainable through laboratories as to justify the use of screenings, although the measurements of the other components by means of screening methods are too unreliable. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Analysis, Cholesterol, Lipoproteins

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The effectiveness of ovarian cancer screening: a decision analysis model

Article Abstract:

The use of a screening program for ovarian cancer incorporating transvaginal sonography and a monoclonal antibody assay is limited because of the rarity of the disease. Ovarian cancer occurs in slightly less than 14 out of 100,000 women annually. Early diagnosis of ovarian cancer is difficult. It is most often diagnosed in its later stages when it is most resistant to treatment. Transvaginal sonography has been shown to be very effective in detecting ovarian cancer. Analysis of blood samples for reaction to a tumor-specific antigen known as CA 125 is also a promising screening method. Nonetheless, positive results from both these tests would require verification by laparoscopy. This invasive procedure is not used for diagnosing cancer for fear of spreading a malignancy. Using a model to predict the different life expectancies between women who were screened for ovarian cancer and women who were not screened yields the result that the average gain in life expectancy from random screening is less than one day.

Usage, Ovarian cancer, Monoclonal antibodies, Diagnosis, Ultrasonic, Diagnostic ultrasonography

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Screening for asymptomatic heart failure

Article Abstract:

It may be premature to begin screening large numbers of people for asymptomatic heart failure. This means a person has heart failure but has no symptoms. Therefore, doctors would have to use expensive tests to detect it. But this should only be done if there are effective treatments for asymptomatic heart failure that can slow the progression of the disease.

Heart failure

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