BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A treatment gap for dyslipidemia can occur during the early phase of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) because the baseline low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) level during this period rapidly decreases physiologically. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients who were admitted with AMI from December 2004 to July 2007 and their baseline LDL-C levels were less than 100 mg/dL. We analyzed the baseline lipid profiles and its serial changes in these patients. The initial LDL-C value, which can be expected to increase to over 100 mg/dL of LDL-C after discharge, was estimated statistically. RESULTS: Among the 298 AMI patients, 94 (31.5%) patients showed a LDL-C level below 100 mg/dL. The LDL-C level increases between baseline and within 2 weeks, 2-6 weeks and 6 weeks after discharge were 11.8+/-22.5, 24.4+/-23.8 and 26.6+/-16.6 mg/dL, respectively. We made a receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve of the LDL-C level at baseline and within 2 weeks after discharge for predicting the increment of the LDL-C level. Using the cutoff value 74 mg/dL for the initial LDL-C level, the sensitivity and specificity were 83% and 50%, respectively. With using an 81 mg/dL cutoff value at 2 weeks, the sensitivity and specificity were 83% and 62%, respectively. CONCLUSION: A significant portion of AMI patients with an LDL-C level less than 100 mg/dL and who were not prescribed statin in the early phase of infarction showed an elevated LDL-C level over 100 mg/dL at 2 weeks after the infarction. The early administration of statin should be considered for treating an LDL-C=74 mg/dL during the initial period of AMI or an LDL-C=81 mg/dL at 2 weeks after AMI because their LDL-C level will increase to over 100 mg/dL during the subsequent follow-up period.
Dyslipidemias ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; Infarction ; Medical Records ; Myocardial Infarction ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical value of human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid(HPV DNA) testing by polymerase chain reaction(PCR), specifically to examine whether HPV testing could identify the women with Pap smears read as mostly atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance(ASCUS) or more. METHODS: HPV DNA testing by PCR for 3 high-risk cancer associated genotypes(HPV 16, 18, 33), repeat Pap smears and colposcopically directed punch biopsies were performed concurrently on 169 women referred for cervical cancer screening test with a previous Pap smear read as ASCUS or more. RESULTS: HPV DNA testing positivity was significantly associated with abnormal cytology and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion(HSIL) and squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) in histology(P=0.034). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value(PPV), negative predictive value(NPV) of Pap smear and HPV testing for identifying 38 cases of histologically confirmed HSIL and carcinoma by different triage protocols(HPV positive or HSIL or SCC) among 169 women were 65.8%(25/38), 85.5%(112/131), 56.8%(25/44) and 89.6%(112/125), respectively. Also sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were varied by ages and more higher in older. CONCLUSION: HPV DNA testing by PCR appears to offer an effective means by which women whose cervical Pap smears have been read as ASCUS or more could be triaged for colposcopically directed biopsy. The sensitivity for HSIL could be maintained in high and specificity markedly improved by HPV genotypes 16, 18, 33.
Biopsy ; Chromosome Aberrations* ; Female ; Genotype ; Human Papillomavirus DNA Tests ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Triage ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms