Glycaemic rises after waking up in response to an alarm clock in type 1-diabetic patients analysed with continuous glucose monitoring (GlucoDay® S).

AIMS: Waking up in response to an alarm-clock may evoke a stress reaction that leads to rising glucose concentrations. METHOD: 30 type 1-diabetic patients participated in 3 overnight conditions: (a) with an alarm-clock set at 2 h intervals for glucose self monitoring, (b) with a nurse performing blood glucose determinations, and (c) with the patients left undisturbed. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) was performed with a GlucoDay® S device. RESULTS: After waking up in response to an alarm-clock, CGM-determined glucose concentrations rose by 18±6 mg/dl at 4 a.m. (p=0.0003), whereas negligible increments were seen with nurse assistance (e. g., 0±4 mg/dl at 4 a.m.). CONCLUSIONS: Waking up in response to an alarm-clock leads to an arousal reaction that causes significant elevations in glucose concentrations. Continuous glucose monitoring is a suitable method to detect such short-lived increments in glucose concentrations. But at the moment the CGMS is not able to substitute for inpatient glucose profiles.

A fast and sensitive HPLC method for sulfite analysis in food based on a plant sulfite oxidase biosensor.

A reliable and sensitive analysis of sulfites in food is essential in food monitoring. However, the established methods exhibit deficiencies in the very low concentration ranges (below 10 mg/L SO(2)), especially with more complex food matrices. With a focus on these challenges, an HPLC method with immobilized enzyme reactor (HPLC-IMER) for the analysis of sulfites in food was optimized and compared to a standard method. A modulated sample preparation procedure and the use of a novel sulfite oxidase from Arabidopsis thaliana were explored to make the method applicable for most food samples. The plant sulfite oxidase turned out to be superior to the commercially available animal sulfite oxidase in terms of detection limit (0.01 mg/L SO(2)), linear range (0.04-20 mg/L SO(2)) and stability. In a small scale comparison within our laboratory, as well as in a standardized proficiency testing, the HPLC-IMER was compared to an established distillative method. The enzyme-based method is not only more sensitive and specific, it also yields higher sulfite recoveries in almost all samples while exhibiting better statistic method parameters.

[Carboxyhemoglobin concentration in carbon monoxide poisoning. Critical appraisal of the predictive value]. / Carboxyhämoglobinkonzentration bei Kohlenmonoxidvergiftung. Kritische Betrachtung der prädiktiven Aussagekraft.

In cases of unclear depression of conciousness, arrhythmia and symptoms of cardiac insufficiency inadvertent carbon monoxide intoxication should always be taken into consideration. Rapid diagnosis of acute carbon monoxide intoxication with mostly unspecific symptoms requires an immediate supply of high dose oxygen which enables a distinct reduction of mortality and long-term morbidity. Levels of carboxyhemoglobin, however, should not be used as a parameter to decide whether to supply normobaric or the more efficient hyperbaric oxygen. There is no sufficient coherence between carboxyhemoglobin blood levels and clinical symptoms. Increased carboxyhemoglobin concentrations help to diagnose acute carbon monoxide intoxication but do not allow conclusions to be drawn about possible long-term neuropsychiatric or cardiac consequences.

[Expression und function of the ORL-1 receptor on human leukocytes]. / Expression und Funktion des ORL-1-Rezeptors auf humanen Leukozyten.

BACKGROUND: The ORL-1 receptor is expressed by human leukocytes. Limited knowledge exists about the function and interaction between the nervous and immune systems. The aim of our study was to investigate the expression of the nociceptin-ORL-1 receptor system on different leukocyte subsets and the influence of the ORL-1 receptor on the intracellular production of cytokines. METHODS: Blood from healthy volunteers of different age and sex was analysed for the expression of the ORL-1 receptor by PCR and flow cytometry and the influence of nociceptin on the LPS-induced production of intracellular cytokines by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The ORL-1 receptor mRNA is expressed by granulocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes. We could also show the expression of the ORL-1 receptor protein on the cell surface of all types of white blood cells. Nociceptin has no influence on LPS-induced cytokine production in human monocytes. There was neither a difference between young and old nor between male or female volunteers. CONCLUSION: The ORL-1 receptor is expressed by all subtypes of leukocytes. The function of this receptor is not the modulation of cytokine production and requires further studies.