[Glycemic variability and oxidative stress in children, with type 1 diabetes attending a summer camp]. / Variabilidad glucémica y estrés oxidativo en niños con diabetes tipo 1 asistentes a un campamento.

OBJECTIVE: To assess glycemic variability, oxidative stress and their relationship in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) attending a summer camp. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Cross-sectional study that included 54 children and adolescents with T1DM aged 7-16, attending a 7 day summer camp. Sociodemographic information, clinical data, and blood glucose values measured using an Accu-Chek Nano® glucose meter were recorded. Glucose variability markers (standard deviation [SD], low blood glucose index [LBGI], high blood glucose index [HBGI], mean amplitude of glycemic excursions [MAGE] and mean of daily differences [MODD]) were calculated. Oxidative stress was assessed by the measurement of 8-iso-prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2α) in a 24-hour urine sample collected at the end of the camp in 14 children. RESULTS: The Median SD, MAGE and MODD indexes were in the high range (61, 131 and 58 mg/dl, respectively), LBGI in the moderate range (3.3), and HBGI in the low range (4.5). The mean HbA1c was 7.6% and the median urinary excretion rate of 8-iso-PGF2α was 864.39 pg/mg creatinine. The Spearman correlation coefficients between markers of glycemic variability (SD, HBGI, MAGE, MODD) were significant. Non-significant correlations were found between markers of glycemic variability and urinary 8-iso-PGF2α. CONCLUSIONS: High glycemic variability was observed in children and adolescents attending a summer camp. However, no correlations were found between markers of glycemic variability and oxidative stress measured by urinary 8-iso-PGF2α. Further studies are needed to address the relationship between oxidative stress and glycemic variability in children with T1DM.

[New method for the early diagnosis of pregnancy]. / Nuevo método para el diagnóstico precoz del embarazo.

PIP: Performance of commercial immunoprecipitation tests for early detection of pregnancy exhibits serious limitations basically due to the excessive amounts (2000 IU) of (CG) chorionic gonadotropin that have to be cleared in the urine/day. Recent technical advances achieved by the use of solid-phase carbohydrate especific adsorbant concanavalin-A to extract human CG from different biological fluids, remarkably enhances the effective sensitivity of radioimmunoassays designed for quantitation of CG. Given the advantages of the system, a new method was conceived to extract and concentrate CG contained in 5 ml of urine. The procedure essentially requires concentration of urinary CG absorbed to agarose bound concanavalin-A; after being resuspended a fraction is collected for study in latex immunoprecipitation tests. CG levels were quantitated in a buffer solution and urine with and without concanavalin-A. Unabsorbed CG was detectable above 2000 IU/Lt, whereas extracted CG was detected above 500 IU/Lt. Crossreaction with luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone was observed up to 3000 IU/Lt. The quantitative differences of CG extracted either in buffer or urine were negligible. It is concluded that results obtained after partial purification and concentration of urinary CG and further immunoprecipitation are equally reproducible as other methods, but the sensitivity is more effective for diagnosis of early pregnancy. (author's)^ieng