Non-invasive glycaemia blood measurements by electromagnetic sensor: study in static and dynamic blood circulation

In this paper, we present the results of non-invasive blood glycaemia measurements. The blood used in the measurements was calf blood. The measurement method uses an electromagnetic sensor based on eddy currents, which allows the detection of blood glycaemia levels through the variation of the dielectric parameters of the blood. A change in blood glucose concentration causes a variation in the dielectric parameters, in particular conductivity. Detection is only possible at a resonant frequency. The measurements were taken in a static and dynamic state (with and without circulation of blood). The blood is inside a plastic tube placed within the sensor and is surrounded by gelatine, which simulates muscular tissue. The plastic tube simulates the vein where blood circulation occurs. The in vitro results in both cases (static and dynamic) are provided. Under unfavourable conditions we can detect a change of +/- 2 g/l of glucose. We present and discuss these results.     

High-throughput purification of viral RNA based on novel aqueous chemistry for nucleic acid isolation

BACKGROUND: Extraction protocols using magnetic solid phases offer a high potential for automation. However, commercially available magnetic-bead-based assays either lack the sensitivity required for viral diagnostics or are disproportionately expensive. METHODS: We developed an aqueous chemistry for extraction of viral nucleic acids from plasma samples by use of common magnetic silica beads. Nucleic acids were bound to the beads at acidic conditions in the presence of a kosmotropic salt and were eluted at a slightly alkaline pH. The method was implemented on a standard pipetting workstation for fully automated extraction of up to 48 samples of 240 muL plasma in 1 batch. RESULTS: The detection limit of the method was comparable to the spin-column-based QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit, which relies on chaotropic salts and binding to a silica membrane, as the comparison method. The 95% detection limit was 23.1 IU per PCR for HIV-1 and 10.7 IU per PCR for hepatitis C virus (HCV). Suitability for clinical routine testing was confirmed in a total of 178 HIV-1- or HCV-positive plasma samples. The method linearity (R(2)) was >0.99 for the viruses evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: Use of reagents without organic solvents allows simple and cost-effective automation of this method on common pipetting robots with low risk of contamination. Performance characteristics of the novel extraction method make it suitable for use in diagnosis of infectious diseases and viral load determinations.     

The influence of blood group differences in allogeneic hematopoietic peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation

BACKGROUND: Severe immunohematologic complications after ABO-mismatched allogeneic blood peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplantation (PBPCT), including pure red cell aplasia and immune hemolysis, have been described. Although several studies have addressed this issue, the clinical influence of blood group differences on transfusion requirements and survival is still discussed controversially, especially in the case of PBPCT. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This single-center study is based on 143 patients receiving PBPCT after standard or reduced-intensity conditioning. The influence of blood group differences in the ABO, Rh, and Kell systems on red blood cell, platelet, and plasma transfusion requirements; length of hospitalization in transplantation unit; survival; and occurrence of graft-versus-host disease was investigated. Additionally, the influence of the conditioning regimen and irregular antibodies on the measures mentioned above was analyzed. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis demonstrated that minor and bidirectional ABO mismatch (p = 0.028) and Rh difference (p = 0.020) independently led to poorer survival. The Kell difference did not show significant influences on the measures mentioned above. A clinically relevant influence of blood group differences on transfusion requirements could not be demonstrated. Irregular antibodies also did not show significant influences. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate an influence of blood group differences in PBPCT on survival and must be studied in further detail.     

Die Wirkung intracerebral injizierter biogener Amine nach Reserpin-Behandlung

Zusammenfassung In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird über die Beeinflussung der Hexobarbitalnarkose durch intracerebrale Injektion von Reserpin, sowie von Noradrenalin oder Serotonin vor und nach intraperitonealer Reserpinapplikation berichtet. Die Injektion von Reserpin in das Vorderhirn verändert die Narkosedauer nicht signifikant, nach Injektion in das Hinterhirn kommt es zunächst zu einer Verkürzung der Narkose, die dann von einer Verlängerung abgelöst wird. Die narkoseverlängernde Wirkung von Noradrenalin und die verkürzende Wirkung von Serotonin bei Injektion in das Hinterhirn wird durch Reserpin qualitativ nicht verändert. Im Gegensatz dazu wird die narkoseverlängernde Wirkung von Noradrenalin oder Serotonin bei Injektion in das Vorderhirn im Verlauf der Reserpinwirkung in einen narkoseverkürzenden Effekt umgewandelt. Dabei erweisen sich bereits 0,5 nm Noradrenalin als wirksam. Die möglichen Wirkungsmechanismen der untersuchten Substanzen werden diskutiert, wobei der Relation zwischen freiem und gebundenem Amin besondere Bedeutung beigemessen wird.Mit 5 Textabbildungen     

3-Methylglutaconic aciduria: Report on a sibship with infantile progressive encephalopathy

Choreoathetosis, spastic parapareses, dementia and optic atrophy were the main clinical features in a sibship with progressive encephalopathy of late onset. The urine contained constantly elevated amounts of 3-methylglutaric and 3-methylglutaconic acids. The identity of these metabolites was confirmed by synthesis and mass spectrometry. On leucine loading, the excretion of the metabolites was elevated.