Quantification of insulin in dried blood spots.

A method has been developed in which the concentrations of insulin in dried blood spots on filter paper can be estimated. The technique involves elution of blood from the paper, evaporation, and rehydration in assay buffer. The resuspended samples are then assayed by radioimmunoassay. The ratio of control plasma to control dried blood spot insulin values is used as a conversion factor for unknown samples on paper to express the dried blood spot insulin concentration in plasma equivalents. Intra-assay variability was 14%, and interassay variability was 25%, but the elution conversion factor had a variability of about 40% among individuals. This technique has substantial advantages for field studies, but elevated values should be confirmed by a venous plasma sample measurement in a conventional radioimmunoassay.

Granuloma faciale: successful treatment of nine cases with a combination of cryotherapy and intralesional corticosteroid injection.

BACKGROUND: Granuloma faciale is a rare disorder characterized by asymptomatic papules, nodules, and plaques on the face. Although the exact pathogenesis of this disease in unclear, it is considered a variant of leukocytoclastic vasculitis confined to the skin. Several medical and surgical methods have been used to treat it with variable results. CASE REPORTS: We report nine cases of granuloma faciale treated with a combination of cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen and intralesional injection of corticosteroids. RESULTS: The lesions cleared completely in all of the patients without any side-effects. No recurrences have been observed. CONCLUSIONS: Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen, followed by intralesional injection of corticosteroids, is a safe and effective method to treat granuloma faciale.