Noninvasive Glucose Monitor Using Dielectric Spectroscopy.

OBJECTIVE: The Alertgy noninvasive continuous glucose monitor (ANICGM) is a novel wristband device that reports glucose levels without entailing skin puncture. This study evaluated the performance of the ANICGM compared to a Food and Drug Administration-approved glucose meter in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: The ANICGM device measures changes in the electromagnetic field generated by its sensor to produce a dielectric spectrum. The data contained within this spectrum are used in tandem with machine learning algorithms to estimate blood glucose levels. Values from the ANICGM were collected, sent to the Alertgy lab, formatted, and compared with fingerstick blood glucose levels, which were measured using the Accuchek Inform II glucometer. Fifteen patients completed three 120-minute sessions. The mean absolute relative difference (MARD) was calculated. RESULTS: MARD values were compared between study days 2 and 3. The MARD for day 2 was 18.5% (95% CI, 12.8-42.2%), and the MARD for day 3 was 15.3% (95% CI, 12.3-18.4%). The difference in the MARD between days 2 and 3 was not statistically significant (P = .210). CONCLUSION: The resulting MARDs suggest that further investigation into the use of dielectric spectroscopy for glucose monitoring should be explored.

Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia-Associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Complicated by Pneumomediastinum and Pneumopericardium in a Non-Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patient.

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia is widely known as a life-threatening opportunistic infection in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). However, with the widespread use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and effective anti-Pneumocystis antimicrobial prophylaxis, this entity has declined substantially in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Interestingly, the incidence of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia has been increasing among patients without HIV infection, mainly as a consequence of the expanding use of chemotherapy and other immunosuppressive agents. Nevertheless, Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia remains an important cause of HIV- and non-HIV-related catastrophic complications. Pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium are extremely uncommon events in patients with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia. In this report, we described a unique case of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), complicated by pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium in a non-HIV infected patient.