Would Janus' view on HDL be useful?

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is generally considered to be pro-atherogenic and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) to be anti-atherogenic. The clinical approach to the diagnostics and treatment of clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis is the examination of the lipid spectrum. In routine clinical practice, the effects of the HDL class are measured only by determining the concentration of HDL cholesterol. It is questionable whether this clinical approach provides sufficient information to evaluate both the overall cardiovascular risk and the effect of hypolipidemic therapy. Recent studies revealed a shift from large to small HDL particles within the HDL family in the state of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This trend of lipoprotein constellation seems to be pathognomonic for dysfunctional lipoprotein profile under pathological state of the cardiovascular system. Thus, the diagnostic and therapeutic approach based on "good" cholesterol concept needs remedying (Fig. 1, Ref. 28).

The dexamethasone suppression test in panic disorder and major depressive episodes.

Dexamethasone Suppression Tests (DST) were performed on 30 patients with panic disorder and on 30 patients treated for major depressive episodes in order to seek an answer to the question of whether or not the two disorders have a common biological background. The hypothesis was based on the results of family studies known from the literature and on the favorable therapeutic response obtained with tricyclic antidepressants. Normal suppressive (i.e., negative in our terminology) DSTs were found in 16.7% of the patients with panic disorder and in 56.7% of patients suffering from major depressive episodes. The anxiety indices of the two groups differed significantly from each other. The results do not suggest the possibility of a close genetic relationship between the two conditions.