Variability of electrochemical skin conductance for screening diabetes mellitus

Electrochemical skin conductance (ESC) has been suggested as a noninvasive diabetic screening tool. We examined the relevance of ESC method for screening type 2 diabetes. A meal tolerance test (MTT) was conducted for 40 diabetic and 42 control subjects stratifi ed by age, sex and body mass index (BMI). The glucose levels and ESC were measured before the MTT and every 30 min after meal intake up to 120 min. There was no correlation between the blood glucose level and ESC (r = 0.249) or ESC variability (ESCV) (r = −0.173). ESC (ESCV) was higher (lower) in diabetic patients than in normal control (p = 0.02 for ESC and p = 0.06 for ESCV). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) values of the ESC and ESCV were 0.654 and 0.691, respectively. The novel variable, ESCV, showed 5.7% higher AUC than ESC. Contrary to some previous reports, ESC values in diabetic patients was higher than in age, sex and BMI matched control group. In our study, ESC or ESCV showed a marginal accuracy to be used as a screening tool for diabetes mellitus.

A New Liquid Embolic Agent(Embol) for Transcatheter Renal Artery Embolization: An Experimental Study in Rabbit

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a new liquid embolic agent in renal arterial embolization in the rabbit, and its clinical applicability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A new embolic agent, Embol, was obtained by partial hydrolysis of polyvinyl acetate and dissolved in a mixture of 45% ethanol and 55% non-ionic contrast medium. Its radioopacity was therefore good. An average of 0.8 cc(0.5-0.9 cc) of Embol was used to embolize the renal artery of one kidney in 15 rabbits. The immediate effect of this was examined angiographically 5 minutes after the procedure. To permit histologic examination, five rabbits in each group were sacrificed 3 days (I), 2 weeks (II), and 4 weeks (III) after embolization: prior to embolization and prior to sacrifice, one rabbit in each group underwent renal scanning, and prior to sacrifice all underwent follow-up angiography. In three rabbits, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, sodium(Na), and potassium(K) levels were measured before and 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days after embolization. RESULTS: Embol was easy to use and its radiopacity was good. Five minutes after embolization, angiography showed that total occlusion of the main renal or interlobar artery had been achieved in all rabbits. Serum BUN, creatinine, Na and K levels were within normal limits. Follow-up angiogram obtained in each group showed persistent occlusion of the renal artery in all but one rabbit in group I and one in group III. Renal scans revealed no evidence of radionuclide uptake in embolized kidneys, which were slightly enlarged in group I but became gradually smaller in groups II and III. In all animals, histologic examination showed diffuse coagulation necrosis of the embolized kidneys and in group III the cortex of these was extensively calcified. In group I the renal artery showed an apparently fresh occluding thrombosis, and in groups II and III a completely organized thrombosis was present. In group III this was calcified. CONCLUSION: Because of its good radioopacity, Embol is easy to controa, and is effective for renal artery embolization. As a permanent embolic agent, it appears suitable for clinical applications.

Histopathologic Reactions of Normal Tissues after Percutaneous Injection of Hot Saline: an Experimental Study in Pigs

PURPOSE: To determine the histopathologic changes occurring in normal pig organs after percutaneous injection of hot saline. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Under sonographic guidance, the livers, the gallbladders, kidneys, stomachs, and lungs of ten pigs weighing 15-20kg were punctured with a fine needle. Physiologic saline mixed with contrast medium and Lipiodol was heated to 100 degreeC and injected under fluoroscopic guidance. One to four weeks after injection, the animals were sacrificed and histopathologic examination was performed to investigate acute and chronic tissue responses. RESULTS: In all organs, coagulation necroses developed during the acute phase. Histopathologic changes observed four weeks after injection were as follows: in the liver, most damage was restored, though central necrosis persisted; in the kidney, parenchymal and uroepithelial damage fully recovered, and in the gallbladder and stomach, superficially located damage also fully recovered. In the lung, however, extensive pneumonic infiltration developed during the chronic phase. Fluoroscpoic examination revealed that saline in the liver or kidneys tended to leak easily into blood vessels, the bile duct, or ureter, and corresponding regions showed mild to moderate damage during the acute phase which fully recovered in the chronic phase. CONCLUSION: In normal pigs, significant chronic damage after the injection of hot saline mixture occurred only in the lungs.

Physical Properties of a New Type of Self-expandable Nitinol Stent

PURPOSE: To study the physical properties including hoop strength and flexibility of a newly developed nitinol stent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The new stent was made of a single nitinol wire 0.15 -0 . 25 mm in diameter. This was wound around a cylindrical metallic jig with a constant angle to the longitudinal direction, and stents which varied with regard to wire thickness, number of wires at a lateral cut surface, and number of longitudinal windings were constructed. Hoop strength of the stents was measured with a spring gauge and compared with that of Wallstent and Hanaro stents. The flexibility of the new stent was evaluated on the basis of changes in s-tent diameter when bent in the direction of 180 degrees. RESULTS: Hoop strength of the new nitinol stent was proportional to 3.8(+/-0.3)-th power of the wire thickness. A greater number of wires on a lateral cut surface or a greater number of longitudinal windings also resulted in increased strength. However, the former caused an increase in total wire area and the latter resulted increased stent length when compressed. Hoop strength of the new nitinol stent was superior to that of Wallstent and Hanaro stents, and stent diameter did not decrease when the stent was bent in the direction of 180 degrees. CONCLUSIONS: Hoop strength of the new nitinol stent was most significantly affected by wire thickness. The s-tent was very flexible and thus seemed suitable for an angled lumen.

Invention of a Nasolacrimal Stent Retrieval Hook

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of a nasolacrimal stent retrieval hook. MATERIALS AND METHODS:The retrieval hook consisted of two parts, a hook and pusher. The head of the hook part was made of 0.7 mm stainless steel wire and was question mark-spaped, while the body of this part was constructed by soldering together four stainless steel pipes ranging in thickness from 1.25 to 3.5 mm, serially. The pusher part was made of two plastic tubes and was designed in such a way that the hook grasped the stent tightly. The device was used to remove 46 stents in 40 patients, and tested for 1) average number of trials ; 2) success rate; and 3) average time of the procedure. RESULTS: The average number of trials, success rate, and average time taken to remove the stent was 4.7, 91%, and 1.8 minutes, respectively. CONCLUSION: In the removal of nasolacrimal stents, the retrieval hook was easy to use, useful and effective.