Clinical Chemistry Podcast

High-density lipoproteins, or HDLs, are macromolecular assemblies that play a key role in lipid transport, but also exert effects in endothelial function, thrombosis, and inflammation.  A recent focus by several groups on HDL function rather than HDL cholesterol revealed that efflux capacity was inversely associated with coronary artery disease.  Traditionally, cholesterol efflux is measured using a cell-based assay where cultured microphages are treated with radioactively-labeled cholesterol and subsequently exposed to a cholesterol acceptor. A recent study that appeared in the February 2019 issue of Clinical Chemistry took a completely different approach and assessed the lipoprotein proteome by using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry to measure 21 lipoprotein associated proteins.

Machine learning involves the study of algorithms and mathematical models so that computer systems can progressively improve their performance on solving a specific task. A recent application of machine learning through the interpretation of urine steroid profiles appears in the November 2018 issue of Clinical Chemistry.

A recent study appears in the September 2018 issue of Clinical Chemistry, an assessment of digital PCR as a primary reference measurement procedure to support advances in precision medicine.

In almost all high-income countries, the U.S. included, women live longer than men.  As we enter a new era in which biomedical data are increasingly ubiquitous, current and future research may help us understand the fundamental issues that drive differences in longevity and other health outcomes between men and women.  Our ability to measure the entire spectrum of information about the human biological, environmental, and behavioral condition will become both routine and relatively inexpensive from genes to genomics.  From clinical data to the electronic health record in insurance claims.  From digital information about behavior and social interaction to geospatial referencing. The January 2019 issue of Clinical Chemistry is devoted to topics of men’s health and in that issue, an article examined differences in health outcomes between men and women and underlying biological, behavioral, and societal factors. 

The unintended pregnancy rate in the United States is approximately 45% despite of variety of contraceptive options available to women.  Today, male condoms and withdrawal are the only reversible contraceptive methods available to men with typical failure rates between 10% and 20%.  But what about a male contraceptive pill?  Studies indicate that more than half of men would be interested in using a reversible method if it was available.  And many women would be willing to rely on their partner to use such a contraceptive.  Unplanned pregnancy rates could improve if both partners use a contraceptive method or if men had more options to control their own fertility. The January 2019 issue of Clinical Chemistry is devoted to topics of men’s health.  And in that issue, an article examined developments in male contraceptives with an update on both novel hormonal and non-hormonal methods.

The January 2019 issue of Clinical Chemistry is devoted to the area of men’s health.  Aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States.  It is remarkable that even though the introduction of prostate specific antigen, or PSA, into U.S. clinical practice occurred over three decades ago, researchers and clinicians are still debating its value for prostate cancer screening. In that special issue, Dr. Andrew Vickers published an Opinion article titled, “Redesigning Prostate Cancer Screening Strategies to Reduce Overdiagnosis.”