Hematology

Question 1

What is the action of B12? What is a more sensitive test than B12?

Answer 1

B12 converts homocysteine to methionin. It is also involved in the formation of THF.

Homocysteine elevation is more sensitive.

Question 2

Demographics of men most affected by Prostate Cancer?
Screen offers what time of benefit of reducing chances of dying?
Other factoids about screening European Men.

Answer 2

African American.
1:1000 may avoid death from Prostate Cancer.
Potential harm of screening; false positive PSA and overtreatment.
Men of European Descent age > 70, USPSTF recommends against PSA screening.
Man of European Descent age 55:
If choose to not screen his chances of dying from prostate cancer is 0.6%. If he chooses to screen, he reduces the changes of dying from prostate cancer to 0.5% - about 20% relative reduction
If he chooses to be screened, he has a 25% chance of having a positive PSA test result, which will require a biopsy.
If chooses to be screened, he will have a 10% chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer (with 20-50% of these cancers unlikely to grow or spread)
65% of men diagnosed with prostate cancer are treated with surgery or radiation after being diagnosed.
An additional 15% have surgery or radiation treatment later after their cancer if found to have progressed under active surveillance.
75% of all treated experience impotence, incontinence or both secondary to treatments offered.