Cholesterol Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.
These are the MediaLab courses that cover Cholesterol and links to relevant pages within the course.
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| Which one of the following statements about lipoproteins is false: | View Page |
| Label this lipoprotein electrophoresis scan:
Ch = Cholesterol,
Tr = Triglycerides,
Pr = Protein,
Ph = Phospholipid. | View Page |
| Chylomicrons are primarily composed of: | View Page |
| Lipemia in a serum sample is most likely caused by an increase in serum levels of: | View Page |
| Match the urine sediment or crystal to the correct description. | View Page |
| Which of the following is most responsible for increasing the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR): | View Page |
| The presence of turbidity in a patient's serum sample would be suggestive of: | View Page |
| Lipid panel Cholesterol
High density lipoprotein
Low density lipoproteinTriglycerides
Lipid profile is run on serum or plasma.
It requires a 14 hour fast prior to collection. | View Page |
| Plasma lipids Lipids are fats dispersed in plasma. They include:
Triglycerides
Cholesterol
Lipoproteins
The amount and ratios of various lipids in the blood will determine a person’s risk of getting coronary artery disease.
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| Leptocytes and target cells The peripheral blood smear of HbH disease presented before is reviewed in the upper photograph.As mentioned, these leptocytes are pale-staining with hemoglobin confined to a thin, flat, cell membrane.Illustrated in the lower photograph are target cells or codocytes (a term derived from a Greek word for hat)Membrane accumulations of phospholipids and cholesterol (particularly in obstructive jaundice) promote target cell formation.When these cells are spread out on a glass slide, a central bump of hemoglobin appears to produce the target, a manifestation of excess cellular membrane compared to the amount of hemoglobin inside.The early descriptions of thalassemias, then called hereditary leptocytosis (Mediterranean anemia, Cooley's anemia), include description of leptocyes, which may have represented HbH disease. | View Page |
| Acanthocytes Acanthocytes have 3-12 thorn-like projections irregularly spaced around the cell. Since these cells have lost their discoid shape, they are frequently smaller than normal and have little or no central pallor. Acanthocytes have an excess of cholesterol and an increased surface area. Large numbers of these cells on a smear can be of diagnostic significance. The largest percentage, 50-100% of circulating red cells, can be seen in the rare abetalipoproteinemia (hereditary acanthocytosis). Acanthocytes are easily seen as horned cells in the smear shown on the right.
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| Another Target Cell Another example of a target cell (or codocyte) is seen in the center of this slide. Notice that the hemoglobin in the center of this cell is somewhat lighter in appearance than in the previous slide. A second codocyte can be seen in the upper left portion of the slide. Codocytes appear in conditions which cause the surface of the red cell to increase disproportionately to its volume. This may result from a decrease in hemoglobin, as in iron deficiency anemia, or an increase in cell membrane.
Target cells have excess membrane cholesterol and phospholipid and decreased cellular hemoglobin. Examples of other conditions in which target cells may be present include thalassemias, hgb C disease, post splenectomy and obstructive jaundice. Since their presence can be the result of an in vitro artifact, their value in clinical diagnosis is limited. | View Page |
| Which of the following pairs of abnormal crystals may appear together? | View Page |
| Match the following: | View Page |
| Crystals of Clinical Significance Crystals of clinical significance include leucine, tyrosine, cystine, cholesterol and bilirubin. | View Page |
| Fat Droplets Fat droplets can be mistaken for red blood cells. Sudan III will selectively stain the neutral fats bright red orange. Cholesterol can be identified by Maltese cross formation under polarized light. | View Page |