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Healthier World with Quest Diagnostics
Healthier World with Quest Diagnostics episodes
- 27 - Viral infections and cardiometabolic complications (12 min)
Most people recognize that acute inflammation occurs when a person experiences a viral illness. However, many people are unaware that this inflammatory response can increase risk for cardiometabolic events. In this episode, Dr Marc Penn and Maeson Latsko, PhD, discuss how viral infections such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2 trigger inflammation, which can destabilize plaque, accelerate atherosclerosis, and increase the likelihood of cardiovascular events. A cardiometabolic risk assessment is an essential tool to reduce cardiovascular events linked to viral illnesses.
This episode will
- Explain how acute and chronic viral illness increase cardiovascular risk and how vaccinations and infection prevention strategies are key for lowering viral-related cardiovascular complications (1:00)
- Highlight how metabolic dysfunction such as insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, obesity, and MASLD amplifies the cardiovascular impact of viral infections (7:00)
- Demonstrate how noninvasive screening tools such as the FIB-4, hs-CRP, and ApoB help identify high-risk patients (9:00)
To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions.
Date: December 2025
Speaker(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Marc Penn, MD
Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Trisha Winchester, PhD; Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC
Additional Resources
Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link]
Website: Cardiometabolic disease | Quest Diagnostics
Ordering information:
Cardiometabolic Disease Assessment (CMDA) Panel
References:
- Kawai K, Muhere CF, Lemos EV, Francis JM. Viral infections and risk of cardiovascular disease: Systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Heart Assoc. 2025;14(21):e042670. doi:10.1161/JAHA.125.042670
- Kobayashi E, Linden-Santangeli NJ, Chan N, et al. Longitudinal metabolic trajectories in diabetes prevention program participants reveal subgroups with varying micro- and macrovascular complication risks. Diabetes Care. 2025;48(10):1704-1712. doi:10.2337/dc25-0866
13 min - 26 - Type 1 Diabetes: From autoimmune origin to cardiometabolic consequences (15 min)
Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that remains underrecognized, especially in adults. Once thought of as a childhood condition, nearly half of new cases are now diagnosed in adulthood. T1D can lead to serious complications, including diabetic ketoacidosis, severe hypoglycemia, and eventually cardiometabolic disease. In today’s episode, Maeson Latsko, PhD and Franklin Warren discuss the T1D screening recommendation by the American diabetes Association and how this guidance gives physicians the opportunity to provide more timely, effective interventions, increasing the possibility of preventing complications.
This episode will
- Outline what T1D is and the prevalence of T1D in both children and adults (2:00)
- Recognize the risk and complications associated with delayed or missed diagnosis, including diabetic ketoacidosis and long-term organ damage (6:20)
- Review the latest ADA recommendations for screening and early detection of T1D (8:00)
To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions.
Date: November 2025
Speaker(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Franklin Warren
Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Franklin Warren; Trisha Winchester, PhD; Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC
Additional Resources
Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link]
T1D Autoantibody Panel Overview
T1D Autoantibody Panel Test Summary
FAQ: Autoantibodies and Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)
Staging presymptomatic patients using Diabetes Type 1 Autoantibody Panel
Ordering information:
Diabetes Type 1 Autoantibody Panel | Test Detail | Quest Diagnostics
References:
- Smith R, Eisenberg S, Turner-Pfifer A, et al. We are on the verge of breakthrough cures for Type 1 Diabetes, but who are the 2 million Americans who have it? J Health Econ Outcomes Res. 2024;11(2):145-153. doi:10.36469/001c.124604
- Leslie RD, Evans-Molina C, Freund-Brown J, et al. Adult-onset Type 1 Diabetes: Current understanding and challenges. Diabetes Care. 2021;44(11):2449-2456. doi:10.2337/dc21-0770
- American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. 2. Diagnosis and classification of Diabetes: Standards of care in diabetes-2025. Diabetes Care. 2025;48(1 Suppl 1):S27-S49. doi:10.2337/dc25-S002
- Roche EF, Menon A, Gill D, Hoey H. Clinical presentation of Type 1 Diabetes. Pediatr Diabetes. 2005;6(2):75-78. doi:10.1111/j.1399-543X.2005.00110.x
- Phillip M, Achenbach P, Addala A, et al. Consensus guidance for monitoring individuals with islet autoantibody-positive pre-stage 3 Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2024;47(8):1276-1298. doi:10.2337/dci24-0042
- Krishnan S, Short KR. Prevalence and significance of cardiometabolic risk factors in children with Type 1 Diabetes. J Cardiometab Syndr. 2009;4(1):50-56. doi:10.1111/j.1559-4572.2008.00034.x
- Type 1 Diabetes Complications - Breakthrough T1D (https://www.breakthrought1d.org/t1d-resources/complications/) Accessed 10.28.2025
16 min - 25 - Instant insights: Albuminuria (6 min)
In this special episode designed to give you Instant Insights, we explore how protein in the urine is a powerful marker for both kidney and cardiovascular health. We break down how albumin leaks into the urine when the kidney’s filtration barrier is damaged, review traditional cut points for albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR), and discuss emerging evidence showing that even “normal” or low-level albuminuria predicts vascular dysfunction, chronic kidney disease progression, and increased cardiovascular risk.
This episode will
- Explain how albumin appears in the urine and what this indicates about kidney damage (1:00)
- Discussed different nomenclature used for albuminuria (1:45)
- Interpret the clinical significance of uACR values (2:15)
- Describe why albumin levels in the upper end of the normal range may still represent vascular or renal dysfunction (3:00)
- Recognize that any degree of proteinuria signals increased risk for chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular events (4:30)
To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions.
Date: 11/2025
Speaker(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD
Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Trisha Winchester, PhD, Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC, Nathan Adamo
Additional Resources
Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link]
Ordering information:
Albumin, Random Urine with Creatinine
Kidney Profile
References:
Verma A, Schmidt IM, Claudel S, Palsson R, Waikar SS, Srivastava A. Association of Albuminuria With Chronic Kidney Disease Progression in Persons With Chronic Kidney Disease and Normoalbuminuria : A Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med. 2024 Apr;177(4):467-475. doi: 10.7326/M23-2814. Epub 2024 Apr 2. PMID: 38560911; PMCID: PMC12124184
7 min - 24 - Noninvasive biomarkers for MASLD: FIB4 and ELF (16 min)
One in three adults worldwide are affected by fatty liver disease, and most are unaware that they have it. Today’s conversation between Andrew Hunt and Maeson Latsko, PhD will dive into Metabolic Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), a new terminology that replaces NAFLD, emphasizing the close relationship with metabolic risk factors like obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. We focus on the importance of identifying patients at risk for advanced fibrosis early—before irreversible liver damage occurs. A key tool in this early identification is the use of a fibrosis 4 (FIB-4) score, which is a noninvasive blood-based biomarker that uses age, AST, ALT, and platelet count to estimate fibrosis risk and guide next steps in management. We discuss follow-up testing for some at-risk patients using the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) test and the need for continued monitoring of comorbid cardiometabolic conditions.
This episode will
- Explain the shift in terminology from NAFLD to MASLD (4:00)
- Highlight the importance of early identification of fatty liver disease using the FIB-4 score (5:45)
- Outline appropriate follow-up testing, including the use of the ELF test to assess liver fibrosis (9:00)
- Explore the link between MASLD and other cardiometabolic conditions (12:10)
To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions.
Date: 10/2025
Speaker(s): Andrew Hunt; Maeson Latsko, PhD
Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Andrew Hunt; Trisha Winchester, PhD, Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC
Additional Resources
Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link]
ELF test detail
FIB4 test summary
2022 AACE algorithm for fatty liver assessment
Ordering information:
CMP + Fib4
Enhanced Liver Fibrosis Score
References:
Ciardullo S, Vergani M, Perseghin G. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes: Screening, diagnosis, and treatment. J Clin Med. 2023;12(17):5597. doi:10.3390/jcm12175597
Rinella ME, Neuschwander-Tetri BA, Siddiqui MS, et al. AASLD Practice Guidance on the clinical assessment and management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Hepatology. 2023;77(5):1797-1835. doi:10.1097/HEP.0000000000000323
Cusi K, Isaacs S, Barb D, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Primary Care and Endocrinology Clinical Settings: Co-Sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). Endocr Pract. 2022;28(5):528-562. doi:10.1016/j.eprac.2022.03.010
Stern C, Castera L. Identification of high-risk subjects in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Clin Mol Hepatol. 2023;29(Suppl):S196-S206. doi:10.3350/cmh.2022.0431
17 min - 23 - Instant Insights: Decoding MASLD (7 min)
This special episode of Healthier World designed to give you Instant Insights discusses the importance of screening and managing fatty liver disease, a condition affecting 1 in 3 Americans and over 70% of patients with type 2 diabetes. The episode covers the transition from the term NAFLD to MASLD, discusses the AACE-recommended testing algorithm for MASLD using the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score and the enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) and highlights the importance of early identification and intervention for proper management of underlying metabolic conditions.
This episode will
- Review the implications of the shift in terminology from NAFLD to MASLD (1:00)
- Discuss the progression of MASLD (1:25)
- Walk through the testing algorithm for MASLD, starting with the first-line screening assessment using the FIB-4 and when the follow up with the ELF score is recommended (2:30)
- Highlight the importance of early identification and prevention in managing MASLD and comorbid cardiometabolic conditions (5:45)
To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions.
Date: October 2025
Speaker(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD
Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Trisha Winchester, PhD; Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC
Additional Resources
Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link]
ELF test detail
FIB4 test summary
2022 AACE algorithm for fatty liver assessment
Ordering information:
CMP + Fib4
Enhanced Liver Fibrosis Score
References:
Ciardullo S, Vergani M, Perseghin G. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes: Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment. J Clin Med. 2023;12(17):5597. doi:10.3390/jcm12175597
Rinella ME, Neuschwander-Tetri BA, Siddiqui MS, et al. AASLD Practice Guidance on the clinical assessment and management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Hepatology. 2023;77(5):1797-1835. doi:10.1097/HEP.0000000000000323
Cusi K, Isaacs S, Barb D, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Primary Care and Endocrinology Clinical Settings: Co-Sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). Endocr Pract. 2022;28(5):528-562. doi:10.1016/j.eprac.2022.03.010
Stern C, Castera L. Identification of high-risk subjects in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Clin Mol Hepatol. 2023;29(Suppl):S196-S206. doi:10.3350/cmh.2022.0431
7 min - 22 - Utilizing biomarkers with coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring for cardiovascular risk (19 min)
Coronary calcium scores are highly utilized to spot hidden cardiovascular risk, and new research suggests that timing is important. Today’s conversation between Maeson Latsko, PhD and Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC will break down how timing plays a role in proper assessment of calcium scoring, and how biomarker testing such as Apolipoprotein B, Myeloperoxidase, Lp-PLA2, and hs-CRP can be paired with physiological assessments like calcium scoring to help guide patient care, especially when calcium scoring doesn’t tell the full story.
This episode will
- Review what calcium scoring is (1:30)
- Discuss how timing of calcium scoring can influence interpretation of results (3:15)
- Explain why statin-treated patients should not monitor their risk using a calcium score (7:00)
- Discuss ways biomarker testing such as ApoB, MPO, Lp-pla2, and hs-CRP can reveal hidden risk outside of the window indicated for calcium scoring (11:30; 14:30)
To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions.
Date: 9/2025
Speaker(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC
Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC; Trisha Winchester, PhD; Kathryn Morales, MS
Additional Resources:
Apolipoprotein B | Test Detail | Quest Diagnostics
hs-CRP | Test Detail | Quest Diagnostics
Lp-pla2 | Test Detail | Quest Diagnostics
Myeloperoxidase | Test Detail | Quest Diagnostics
20 min - 21 - Instant insights: Inside the Center of Excellence for cardiometabolic testing at Quest Diagnostics (5 min)
In this episode of Healthier World designed to give you instant insights, we introduce the Cleveland HeartLab and its role as a Center of Excellence for cardiometabolic, endocrine, and wellness testing at Quest Diagnostics. In this episode, Dr. Maeson Latsko hosts a segment featuring various leaders from Cleveland HeartLab and Quest Diagnostics, including Marc Penn, MD, PhD, Mouris Saghir, PhD, Tim Collier, PhD and Jim Davis. They discuss their mission to improve heart disease prevention and associated metabolic conditions through cutting-edge research and personalized care.
This episode will
- Discuss the need for better chronic disease prevention (1:40)
- Review the cardiometabolic approach to healthcare (2:15)
- Highlight the technology behind Cleveland Heartlab testing (2:45)
- Introduce Cleveland Heart Lab as the center of excellence (3:30)
To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions.
Date: 8/2025
Speaker(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD
Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Trisha Winchester, PhD, Millicent Kee, NP
5 min - 20 - Actions from insight: GLP-1 receptor agonists and building healthy habits (24 min)
Obesity affects over 40% of adults in the United States. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, a class of medications initially developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, have shown significant efficacy in promoting weight loss and are increasingly prescribed for obesity management. In today’s episode, Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC, Clinical and Education Specialist, and Patty Bianchi, MS, RDN, CDCES, Clinical Educator at Quest Diagnostics Center of Excellence at Cleveland HeartLab, will discuss GLP-1 receptor agonists, their actions in the body, and the important role of nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle alongside these medications.
This episode will
- Discuss the actions of GLP-1 receptor agonists in the body (1:38)
- Discuss how GLP-1s influence appetite and hunger (3:18)
- Discuss the role of nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle while on GLP-1 therapy (6:38)
- Discuss how weight loss may also improve cardiometabolic health and lower insulin resistance utilizing a patient example (18:00)
To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions.
Date: 8/2025
Speaker(s): Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC; Patricia Bianchi, MS, RDN, CDCES
Contributor(s): Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC; Patricia Bianchi, MS, RDN, CDCES; Maeson Latsko, PhD; Trisha Winchester, PhD
Additional Resources
Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link]
References:
Neff LM, Kushner RF. Emerging role of GLP-1 receptor agonists in the treatment of obesity. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2010 Jul 20; 3:263-73. doi: 10.2147/dmsott. s6816
Stierman B, Afful J, Carroll MD, et al. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017–March 2020 prepandemic data files development of files and prevalence estimates for selected health outcomes. Natl Health Stat Report. 2021;158. doi: 10.15620/cdc:106273
Related Content:
FAQ
CardioIQ® Insulin Resistance Panel with Score | Quest Diagnostics
Additional Resources
Weight management and cardiometabolic health | Quest Diagnostics
Audio Podcast
Instant Insight: Metabolic Risk Panel | Quest Diagnostics
Action From Insight: Tackling Insulin Resistance | Quest Diagnostics
Conference Presentation
Measures of Insulin Resistance (IR) Increase with Increasing BMI in a Population of Normoglycemic Working Adults | Quest Diagnostics
On-Demand Webinar
Detecting and Managing Insulin Resistance | Quest Diagnostics
24 min - 19 - Instant insights: Streamlining cardiometabolic disease assessment (7 min)
In this special episode of Healthier World designed to give you Instant Insights, we review a panel that takes a deeper look at cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, endocrine, and metabolic health—a network of systems that work together to determine a person’s long-term health. Today we will break down what this panel includes and how it can help prevent the onset of chronic disease years before symptoms start.
This episode will
- Explain why this panel was created (1:10)
- Examine how the panel provides a comprehensive view of cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, renal, and hepatic risk (3:35)
- Discuss the clinical relevance of this panel in prevention screening and risk stratification for cardiometabolic conditions (5:30)
To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions.
Date: 8/2025
Speaker(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD
Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Trisha Winchester, PhD; Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC; Kathryn Morales; Abhi Patel
Resources
Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link]
Podcast: The Cardiometabolic approach to modern disease risk assessment
Ordering information:
Cardiometabolic Disease Assessment (CMDA) Panel | Test Detail | Quest Diagnostics
7 min - 18 - Instant insights: Myeloperoxidase uncovered (6 min)
In this special episode of Healthier World designed to give you Instant Insights, we explore a vascular-specific inflammatory marker that can indicate risk for cardiometabolic disease and all-cause mortality—myeloperoxidase. In this episode, we break down the biology and function of MPO, its contribution to vascular inflammation, and its potential as a biomarker of vulnerable soft plaque in the arteries.
This episode will
- Define myeloperoxidase (MPO) and describe its biological function (1:20)
- Explain the relationship between MPO and vascular inflammation (2:15)
- Recognize the role of MPO in cardiometabolic disease (2:55)
- Review treatment considerations for elevated MPO (3:45)
The content was current as of the time of recording. To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions.
Date: 7/2025
Speaker(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD
Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Trisha Winchester, PhD; Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC
Additional Resources
Ordering information:
MPO ordering information
MPO Test Summary
Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link]
References:
Iakoubova OA, Haji-Sheikhi F, Louie JZ, et al. Association of MPO levels with cardiometabolic disease stratified by atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk and intensity of therapy in a workforce population. Sci Rep. 2025;15(1):12244. Published 2025 Apr 10. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-89373-7
6 min
About Healthier World with Quest Diagnostics
From the publisher's feed
Healthier World with Quest Diagnostics aims to prompt action from insight as we keep you up to date on current clinical and diagnostic topics to transform lives and illuminate a path to better…
health.