Microarrow sensor array with enhanced skin adhesion for transdermal continuous monitoring of glucose and reactive oxygen species

Conventional blood sampling for glucose detection is prone to cause pain and fails to continuously record glucose fluctuations in vivo.Continuous glucose monitoring based on implantable electrodes could induce pain and potential tissue inflammation,and the presence of reactive oxygen species(ROS)due to inflammationmay affect glucose detection.Microneedle technology is less invasive,yet microneedle adhesion with skin tissue is limited.In this work,we developed a microarrow sensor array(MASA),which provided enhanced skin surface adhesion and enabled simultaneous detection of glucose and H_(2)O_(2)(representative of ROS)in interstitial fluid in vivo.The microarrows fabricated via laser micromachining were modified with functional coating and integrated into a patch of a three-dimensional(3D)microneedle array.Due to the arrow tip mechanically interlocking with the tissue,the microarrow array could better adhere to the skin surface after penetration into skin.The MASA was demonstrated to provide continuous in vivo monitoring of glucose and H_(2)O_(2) concentrations,with the detection of H_(2)O_(2) providing a valuable reference for assessing the inflammation state.Finally,the MASA was integrated into a monitoring system using custom circuitry.This work provides a promising tool for the stable and reliable monitoring of blood glucose in diabetic patients.

Semi-implantable device based on multiplexed microfilament electrode cluster for continuous monitoring of physiological ions

Modern medicine is increasingly interested in advanced sensors to detect and analyze biochemical indicators.Ion sensors based on potentiometric methods are a promising platform for monitoring physiological ions in biological subjects.Current semi-implantable devices are mainly based on single-parameter detection.Miniaturized semi-implantable electrodes for multiparameter sensing have more restrictions on the electrode size due to biocompatibility considerations,but reducing the electrode surface area could potentially limit electrode sensitivity.This study developed a semi-implantable device system comprising a multiplexed microfilament electrode cluster(MMEC)and a printed circuit board for real-time monitoring of intra-tissue K^(+),Ca^(2+),and Na^(+)concentrations.The electrode surface area was less important for the potentiometric sensing mechanism,suggesting the feasibility of using a tiny fiber-like electrode for potentiometric sensing.The MMEC device exhibited a broad linear response(K^(+):2–32 mmol/L;Ca^(2+):0.5–4 mmol/L;Na^(+):10–160 mmol/L),high sensitivity(about 20–45 mV/decade),temporal stability(>2weeks),and good selectivity(>80%)for the above ions.In vitro detection and in vivo subcutaneous and brain experiment results showed that the MMEC system exhibits good multi-ion monitoring performance in several complex environments.This work provides a platform for the continuous real-time monitoring of ion fluctuations in different situations and has implications for developing smart sensors to monitor human health.

Application and management of continuous glucose monitoring in diabetic kidney disease

Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)is a common complication of diabetes mellitus that contributes to the risk of end-stage kidney disease(ESKD).Wide glycemic var-iations,such as hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia,are broadly found in diabetic patients with DKD and especially ESKD,as a result of impaired renal metabolism.It is essential to monitor glycemia for effective management of DKD.Hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c)has long been considered as the gold standard for monitoring glycemia for>3 months.However,assessment of HbA1c has some bias as it is susceptible to factors such as anemia and liver or kidney dysfunction.Continuous glucose monitoring(CGM)has provided new insights on glycemic assessment and management.CGM directly measures glucose level in interstitial fluid,reports real-time or retrospective glucose concentration,and provides multiple glycemic metrics.It avoids the pitfalls of HbA1c in some contexts,and may serve as a precise alternative to estimation of mean glucose and glycemic variability.Emerging studies have demonstrated the merits of CGM for precise monitoring,which allows fine-tuning of glycemic management in diabetic patients.Therefore,CGM technology has the potential for better glycemic monitoring in DKD patients.More research is needed to explore its application and management in different stages of DKD,including hemodialysis,peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation.

Continuous glucose monitoring metrics in pregnancy with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Managing diabetes during pregnancy is challenging,given the significant risk it poses for both maternal and foetal health outcomes.While traditional methods involve capillary self-monitoring of blood glucose level monitoring and periodic HbA1c tests,the advent of continuous glucose monitoring(CGM)systems has revolutionized the approach.These devices offer a safe and reliable means of tracking glucose levels in real-time,benefiting both women with diabetes during pregnancy and the healthcare providers.Moreover,CGM systems have shown a low rate of side effects and high feasibility when used in pregnancies complicated by diabetes,especially when paired with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion pump as hybrid closed loop device.Such a combined approach has been demonstrated to improve overall blood sugar control,lessen the occurrence of preeclampsia and neonatal hypoglycaemia,and minimize the duration of neonatal intensive care unit stays.This paper aims to offer a comprehensive evaluation of CGM metrics specifically tailored for pregnancies impacted by type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Accuracy of FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring in patients with type 2 diabetes who migrated from highlands to plains

BACKGROUND The FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring(FGM)system entered the Chinese market in 2017 to complement the self-monitoring of blood glucose.Due to its increased usage in clinics,the number of studies investigating its accuracy has increased.However,its accuracy has not been investigated in highland populations in China.AIM To evaluate measurements recorded using the FreeStyle Libre FGM system compared with capillary blood glucose measured using the enzyme electrode method in patients with type 2 diabetes(T2D)who had migrated within 3 mo from highlands to plains.METHODS Overall,68 patients with T2D,selected from those who had recently migrated from highlands to plains(within 3 mo),were hospitalized at the Department of Endocrinology from August to October 2017 and underwent continuous glucose monitoring(CGM)with the FreeStyle Libre FGM system for 14 d.Throughout the study period,fingertip capillary blood glucose was measured daily using the enzyme electrode method(Super GL,China),and blood glucose levels were read from the scanning probe during fasting and 2 h after all three meals.Moreover,the time interval between reading the data from the scanning probe and collecting fingertip capillary blood was controlled to<5 min.The accuracy of the FGM system was evaluated according to the CGM guidelines.Subsequently,the factors influencing the mean absolute relative difference(MARD)of this system were analyzed by a multiple linear regression method.RESULTS Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that the fingertip and scanned glucose levels were positively correlated(R=0.86,P=0.00).The aggregated MARD of scanned glucose was 14.28±13.40%.Parker's error analysis showed that 99.30%of the data pairs were located in areas A and B.According to the probe wear time of the FreeStyle Libre FGM system,MARD_(1 d) and MARD_(2-14 d) were 16.55%and 14.35%,respectively(t=1.23,P=0.22).Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that MARD did not correlate with blood glucose when the largest amplitude of glycemic excursion(LAGE)was<5.80 mmol/L but negatively correlated with blood glucose when the LAGE was≥5.80 mmol/L.CONCLUSION The FreeStyle Libre FGM system has good accuracy in patients with T2D who had recently migrated from highlands to plains.This system might be ideal for avoiding the effects of high hematocrit on blood glucose monitoring in populations that recently migrated to plains.MARD is mainly influenced by glucose levels and fluctuations,and the accuracy of the system is higher when the blood glucose fluctuation is small.In case of higher blood glucose level fluctuations,deviation in the scanned glucose levels is the highest at extremely low blood glucose levels.

Effects of Continuous Non-Invasive Blood Pressure Monitoring on Intraoperative Hemodynamics and Postoperative Myocardial Injury in Craniotomy:Comparison Between Groups Based on Self-Control and Propensity Score Matching

Objective:To explore the effect of continuous non-invasive blood pressure monitoring on intraoperative hemodynamics and postoperative myocardial injury in craniotomy.Methods:120 cases of elective craniotomy were divided into the self-control group(continuous non-invasive blood pressure monitoring and intermittent cuff non-invasive blood pressure monitoring,CNAP group)and propensity score matching group(only intermittent cuff non-invasive blood pressure measurement in previous craniotomy,PSM group);Goal-directed hemodynamic management in CNAP group included heart rate(HR),blood pressure(BP),stroke volume(SV),stroke variability(SVV),and systemic vascular resistance index(SVRI).The main index is to compare the troponin level within 72 hours after operation between the CNAP group and the PSM group;The secondary indicators are the comparison of the hemodynamic conditions between the CNAP group and the PSM at 10 specific time points.Results:The incidence of postoperative myocardial injury in the CNAP group was significantly lower than that in the PSM group(12%vs.30%,P=0.01);in the CNAP group hypotensive episodes(6 vs.3,P=0.01),positive balance of fluid therapy(700 vs.500 mL,P<0.001),more use of vasoactive drugs(29 vs.18,P=0.04),more stable hemodynamics medical status(P=0.03)were recorded.Conclusion:The hemodynamic management strategy based on continuous non-invasive blood pressure monitoring can reduce the incidence of myocardial injury after elective craniotomy and maintain a more stable hemodynamic state.

Continuous glucose monitoring defined time-in-range is associated with sudomotor dysfunction in type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND Time in range(TIR),as a novel metric for glycemic control,has robust relevance with diabetic complications.Diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN)is characterized by sudomotor dysfunction.AIM To explore the relationship between TIR obtained from continuous glucose monitoring(CGM)and sudomotor function detected by SUDOSCAN in subjects with type 2 diabetes.METHODS The research enrolled 466 inpatients with type 2 diabetes.All subjects underwent 3-d CGM and SUDOSCAN.SUDOSCAN was assessed with electrochemical skin conductance in hands(HESC)and feet(FESC).Average feet ESC<60μS was defined as sudomotor dysfunction(+),otherwise it was sudomotor dysfunction(-).TIR refers to the percentage of time when blood glucose is between 3.9-10 mmol/L during 1 d period.RESULTS Among the enrolled subjects,135(28.97%)presented with sudomotor dysfunction.Patients with sudomotor dysfunction(+)showed a decreased level of TIR(P<0.001).Compared to the lowest tertile of TIR,the middle and the highest tertiles of TIR was associated with an obviously lower prevalence of sudomotor dysfunction(20.51%and 21.94%vs 44.52%)(P<0.001).In addition,with the increase of TIR,HESC and FESC increased(P<0.001).Regression analysis demonstrated that TIR was inversely and independently linked with the prevalence of sudomotor dysfunction after adjusting for confounding values(odds ratio=0.979,95%CI:0.971-0.987,P<0.001).CONCLUSION The tight glycemic control assessed by TIR is of vitally protective value for sudomotor dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Pros and cons of continuous glucose monitoring in the intensive care unit

Diabetes mellitus affects people worldwide,and management of its acute complications or treatment-related adverse events is particularly important in critically ill patients.Previous reports have confirmed that hyperglycemia can increase the risk of mortality in patients cared in the intensive care unit(ICU).In addition,severe and multiple hypoglycemia increases the risk of mortality when using insulin or intensive antidiabetic therapy.The innovation of continuous glucose monitoring(CGM)may help to alert medical caregivers with regard to the development of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia,which may decrease the potential complications in patients in the ICU.The major limitation of CGM is the measurement of interstitial glucose levels rather than real-time blood glucose levels;thus,there will be a delay in the treatment of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia in patients.Recently,the European Union approved a state-of-art artificial intelligence directed loop system coordinated by CGM and a continuous insulin pump for diabetes control,which may provide a practical way to prevent acute adverse glycemic events related to antidiabetic therapy in critically ill patients.In this mini-review paper,we describe the application of CGM to patients in the ICU and summarize the pros and cons of CGM.

Continuous Deformation Monitoring by Polymermatrix Carbon Fiber Sensitive Layer

Composite made of short-cut carbon fiber mat and vinyl ester resin was observed to be an effective sensor for tensile strain up to 6 000με. Based on its strain sensitivity, a skin-like sensitive layer which can continuously cover the structural surface to sense strain in large area was developed. The sensitive layer was applied to continuously monitor the deformation of a simply supported beam. The result indicates that the fractional change in electrical resistance of the sensitive layer reversibly reflects the beam deformation in each section and describes the distribution of the average strain of the beam. The effect of temperature change on the monitoring was studied by monitoring tests conducted at different temperatures ranging from 20 to 80 ℃, which reveals temperature sensitivity in the sensitive layer and the temperature dependence of the piezoresistive behavior when the temperature exceeds 50 ℃. By the application of differential conaection principle, a method for temperature compensation was established and the gauge factor for the monitoring was dramatically increased. This method was verified experimentally.

Review of minimally invasive continuous glucose monitoring technology & instruments

Continuous blood glucose monitoring is important for the diagnosis,treatment,and study of diabetes. many organizations have been working on this subject in recent two decades. Glucose concentration in interstitial fluid is closely related to the blood glucose levels. Minimally invasive continuous blood glucose monitoring technology based on the glucose detection in interstitial fluid develops rapidly and gets more and more attentions from the patients and the doctors,due to its instantaneous real-time display of glucose level,"24/7"coverage,and the ability to characterize glycemic variability. According to the different detection methods,most of the continuous glucose monitoring technology could be divided into two kinds: subcutaneous implantation method and transdermal extraction method. This paper review s the recent development of minimally invasive blood glucose monitoring technology and instruments. The mainly remained challenges and related research directions are presented as well.

Analysis on the noises from continuously monitoring GPS sites

In this paper, we analyze the time series of site coordinates of 27 continuously monitoring GPS sites covered by the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China over the whole country. The data are obtained in the period from the beginning of the observation to the November of 2005. On the basis of data processing, we analyze the power spectrum density of coordinate component noise at each site and calculate the spectral indexes manifesting the noise property of each component. The spectral indexes indicate that for most sites, the noise of time series of each coordinate component can be addressed by the model of white noise ＋ flicker noise; and for a small amount of sites, it can be described by the model of white noise ＋ flicker noise ＋ random walk noise. We also quantitatively estimate each noise component in the model by using the criterion of maximum likelihood estimation. The result shows that the white noise in the time series of GPS site coordinates does not constitute the main part of noise. Therefore, the error estimation of site movement parameters is usually too small, or too optimistic if we consider the white noise only. Correspondingly, if this factor is not fully considered in explaining these movement parameters, it might mislead the readers.

Preliminary prospective study of real-time post-gastrectomy glycemic fluctuations during dumping symptoms using continuous glucose monitoring

BACKGROUND Although dumping symptoms constitute the most common post-gastrectomy syndromes impairing patient quality of life,the causes,including blood sugar fluctuations,are difficult to elucidate due to limitations in examining dumping symptoms as they occur.AIM To investigate relationships between glucose fluctuations and the occurrence of dumping symptoms in patients undergoing gastrectomy for gastric cancer.METHODS Patients receiving distal gastrectomy with Billroth-I(DG-BI)or Roux-en-Y reconstruction(DG-RY)and total gastrectomy with RY(TG-RY)for gastric cancer(March 2018-January 2020)were prospectively enrolled.Interstitial tissue glycemic profiles were measured every 15 min,up to 14 d,by continuous glucose monitoring.Dumping episodes were recorded on 5 patient-selected days by diary.Within 3 h postprandially,dumping-associated glycemic changes were defined as a dumping profile,those without symptoms as a control profile.These profiles were compared.RESULTS Thirty patients were enrolled(10 DG-BI,10 DG-RY,10 TG-RY).The 47 early dumping profiles of DG-BI showed immediately sharp rises after a meal,which 47 control profiles did not(P<0.05).Curves of the 15 late dumping profiles of DG-BI were similar to those of early dumping profiles,with lower glycemic levels.DGRY and TG-RY late dumping profiles(7 and 13,respectively)showed rapid glycemic decreases from a high glycemic state postprandially to hypoglycemia,with a steeper drop in TG-RY than in DG-RY.CONCLUSION Postprandial glycemic changes suggest dumping symptoms after standard gastrectomy for gastric cancer.Furthermore,glycemic profiles during dumping may differ depending on reconstruction methods after gastrectomy.

Towards wearable and implantable continuous drug monitoring:A review

Continuous drug monitoring is a promising alternative to current therapeutic drug monitoring strategies and has a strong potential to reshape our understanding of pharmacokinetic variability and to improve individualised therapy.This review highlights recent advances in biosensing technologies that support continuous drug monitoring in real time.We focus primarily on aptamer-based biosensors,wearable and implantable devices.Emphasis is given to the approaches employed in constructing biosensors.We pay attention to sensors’biocompatibility,calibration performance,long-term characteristics stability and measurement quality.Last,we discuss the current challenges and issues to be addressed in continuous drug monitoring to make it a promising,future tool for individualised therapy.The ongoing efforts are expected to result in fully integrated implantable drug biosensing technology.Thus,we may anticipate an era of advanced healthcare in which wearable and implantable biochips will automatically adjust drug dosing in response to patient health conditions,thus enabling the management of diseases and enhancing individualised therapy.

Characteristics of glucose change in diabetes mellitus generalized through continuous wavelet transform processing:A preliminary study

BACKGROUND The continuous glucose monitoring(CGM)system has become a popular evaluation tool for glucose fluctuation,providing a detailed description of glucose change patterns.We hypothesized that glucose fluctuations may contain specific information on differences in glucose change between type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM)and type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM),despite similarities in change patterns,because of different etiologies.Unlike Fourier transform,continuous wavelet transform(CWT)is able to simultaneously analyze the time and frequency domains of oscillating data.AIM To investigate whether CWT can detect glucose fluctuations in T1DM.METHODS The 60-d and 296-d glucose fluctuation data of patients with T1DM(n=5)and T2DM(n=25)were evaluated respectively.Glucose data obtained every 15 min for 356 d were analyzed.Data were assessed by CWT with Morlet form(n=7)as the mother wavelet.This methodology was employed to search for limited frequency glucose fluctuation in the daily glucose change.The frequency and enclosed area(0.02625 scalogram value)of 18 emerged signals were compared.The specificity for T1DM was evaluated through multiple regression analysis using items that demonstrated significant differences between them as explanatory variables.RESULTS The high frequency at midnight(median:75 Hz,cycle time:19 min)and middle frequency at noon(median:45.5 Hz,cycle time:32 min)were higher in T1DM vs T2DM(median:73 and 44 Hz;P=0.006 and 0.005,respectively).The area of the>100 Hz zone at midnight to forenoon was more frequent and larger in T1DM vs T2DM.In a day,the lower frequency zone(15-35 Hz)was more frequent and the area was larger in T2DM than in T1DM.The threedimensional scatter diagrams,which consist of the time of day,frequency,and area of each signal after CWT,revealed that high frequency signals belonging to T1DM at midnight had a loose distribution of wave cycles that were 17-24 min.Multivariate analysis revealed that the high frequency signal at midnight could characterize T1DM(odds ratio:1.33,95%confidence interval:1.08-1.62;P=0.006).CONCLUSION CWT might be a novel tool for differentiate glucose fluctuation of each type of diabetes mellitus using CGM data.

Evaluation of hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery system in type 1 diabetes in real-world clinical practice:One-year observational study

BACKGROUND In 2016,the Food and Drug Administration approved the first hybrid closed-loop(HCL)insulin delivery system for adults with type 1 diabetes(T1D).There is limited information on the impact of using HCL systems on patient-reported outcomes(PROs)in patients with T1D in real-world clinical practice.In this independent study,we evaluated glycemic parameters and PROs over one year of continuous use of Medtronic’s 670G HCL in real-world clinical practice.AIM To assess the effects of hybrid closed loop system on glycemic control and quality of life in adults with T1D.METHODS We evaluated 71 patients with T1D(mean age:45.5±12.1 years;59%females;body weight:83.8±18.7 kg,body mass index:28.7±5.6 kg/m2,A1C:7.6%±0.8%)who were treated with HCL at Joslin Clinic from 2017 to 2019.We measured A1C and percent of glucose time-in-range(%TIR)at baseline and 12 months.We measured percent time in auto mode(%TiAM)for the last two weeks preceding the final visit and assessed PROs through several validated quality-of-life surveys related to general health and diabetes management.RESULTS At 12 mo,A1C decreased by 0.3%±0.1%(P=0.001)and%TIR increased by 8.1%±2.5%(P=0.002).The average%TiAM was only 64.3%±32.8%and was not associated with A1C,%TIR or PROs.PROs,provided at baseline and at the end of the study,showed that the physical functioning submodule of 36Item Short-Form Health Survey increased significantly by 22.9%(P<0.001).Hypoglycemia fear survey/worry scale decreased significantly by 24.9%(P<0.000);Problem Areas In Diabetes reduced significantly by-17.2%(P=0.002).The emotional burden submodules of dietary diversity score reduced significantly by-44.7%(P=0.001).Furthermore,analysis of Clarke questionnaire showed no increase in awareness of hypoglycemic episodes.WHO-5 showed no improvements in subject’s wellbeing among participants after starting the 670G HCL system.Finally,analysis of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index showed no difference in sleep quality,sleep latency,or duration of sleep from baseline to 12 mo.CONCLUSION The use of HCL in real-world clinical practice for one year was associated with significant improvements in A1C,%TIR,physical functioning,hypoglycemia fear,emotional distress,and emotional burden related to diabetes management.However,these changes were not associated with time in auto mode.

Japanese candlestick charts for diabetes

Continuous glucose monitoring(CGM)is a popular technology among the diabetic population,especially in patients with type 1 diabetes and those with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin.The American Diabetes Association recommends standardization of CGM reports with visual cues,such as the ambulatory glucose profile.Nevertheless,interpreting this report requires training and time for CGM to be cost-efficient.In this work it has been proposed to incorporate Japanese candlestick charts in glucose monitoring.These graphs are used in price analysis in financial markets and are easier to view.Each candle provides extra information to make prudent decisions since it reports the opening,maximum,minimum and closing glucose levels of the chosen time frame,usually the daily one.The Japanese candlestick chart is an interesting tool to be considered in glucose control.This graphic representation allows identification of glucose trends easily through the colors of the candles and maximum and minimum glucose values.

An Intelligent IEQ Monitoring and Feedback System:Development and Applications

Indoor environmental quality(IEQ)significantly affects human health and wellbeing.Therefore,continuous IEQ monitoring and feedback is of great concern in both the industrial and academic communities.However,most existing studies only focus on developing sensors that cost-effectively promote IEQ measurement while ignoring interactions between the human side and IEQ monitoring.In this study,an intelligent IEQ monitoring and feedback system-the Intelligent Built Enviroment(IBEM)-is developed.Firstly,the IBEM hardware instrument integrates air temperature,relative humidity,CO_(2),particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter no greater than _(2.5)μm(PM_(2.5)),and illuminance sensors within a small device.The accuracy of this integrated device was tested through a co-location experiment with reference sensors;the device exhibited a strong correlation with the reference sensors,with a slight deviation(R^(2)>0.97 and slopes between 1.01 and 1.05).Secondly,a wireless data transmission module,a cloud storage module,and graphical user interfaces(i.e.,a web platform and mobile interface)were built to establish a pathway for dataflow and interactive feedback with the occupants of the indoor environments.Thus,the IEQ parameters can be continuously monitored with a high spatiotemporal resolution,interactive feedback can be induced,and synchronous data collection on occupant satisfaction and objective environmental parameters can be realized.IBEM has been widely applied in 131 buildings in 18cities/areas in China,with 1188 sample locations.Among these applications,we report on the targeted IEQ diagnoses of two individual buildings and the exploration of relationships between subjective and objective IEQ data in detail here.This work demonstrates the great value of IBEM in both industrial and academic research.

Multiobjective maintenance optimization of the continuously monitored deterioration system

With the development of the monitoring technology,it is more and more common that the system is continuously monitored.Therefore,the research on the maintenance optimization of the continuously monitored deterioration system is important.The deterioration process of the discussed system is described by a Gamma process.The predictive maintenance is considered to be imperfect and formulated.The expected interval of two continuous preventive maintenances is derived.Then,the maintenance optimization model of the continuously monitored deterioration system is presented.In the model,the minimization of the expected operational cost per unit time and the maximization of the system availability are the optimization objectives.The improved ideal point method with the normalized objective functions is employed to solve the proposed model.The validity and sensitivity of the proposed multiobjective maintenance optimization model are analyzed by a numerical example.

Factors influencing the effectiveness of using flash glucose monitoring on glycemic control for type 1 diabetes in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND In 2017,35000 Saudi children and adolescents were living with a type 1 diabetes(T1D)diagnosis.Diabetic complications are minimized upon strengthened glycemic regulation.The annual cost of treating diabetic patients with complications was four-fold higher than for patients without complications.The use of flash glucose monitoring(FGM)enables better diabetes treatment and thereby improves glycemic control.Understanding the factors that affect effectiveness of FGM will help enhance the device’s use and management of hospital resources,resulting in improved outcomes.AIM To investigate factors that affect effectiveness of the FGM system for glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c)levels/glycemic control among T1D patients.METHODS A retrospective empirical analysis of T1D patient records from King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital and Prince Sultan Military Medical City was performed.T1D patients who began FGM between 2017 and 2019 were included.RESULTS The data included 195 T1D patients(70 males and 125 females)with a mean age of 23.6±8.1 years.Among them,152 patients used multiple daily injection and 43 used an insulin pump.The difference in HbA1c level from baseline and after using FGM was-0.60±2.10,with a maximum of 4.70 and a minimum of-6.30.There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the independent variables(age,duration of diabetes,level of engagement)and HbA1c.The group with the highest HbA1c mean(9.85)was 18-years-old,while the group with the lowest HbA1c mean(7.87)was 45-years-old.Patients with a low level of engagement(less than six scans per day)had the highest HbA1c mean(9.84),whereas those with a high level of engagement(more than eight scans per day)had the lowest HbA1c mean(8.33).CONCLUSION With proper education,FGM can help people with uncontrolled T1D over the age of 18 years to control their glucose level.

Noncontact Monitoring of Relative Changes in Blood Pressure Using Microwave Radar Sensors

This study aims to confirm whether noncontact monitoring of relative changes in blood pressure can be estimated using microwave radar sensors. First, an equation to estimate blood pressure was derived, after which, the effectiveness of the estimation equation was confirmed using data obtained by a noncontact method while inducing variations in blood pressure. We considered that the Bramwell-Hill equation, which contains some parameters that directly indicate changes in blood pressure, would be an appropriate reference to construct an estimation equation for the noncontact method, because measurements using microwave radar sensors can measure minute scale motion on the skin surface induced by the pulsation of blood vessels. In order to estimate relative changes in blood pressure, we considered a simple equation including the pulse transit time (PTT), amplitude of signals and body dimensions as parameters. To verify the effectiveness of the equation for estimating changes in blood pressure, two experiments were conducted: a cycling task using an ergometer, which induces blood pressure fluctuations because of changes in cardiac output, and a task using the Valsalva maneuver, which induces blood pressure fluctuations because of changes in vascular resistance. The results obtained from the two experiments suggested that the proposed equation using microwave radar sensors can accurately estimate relative changes of blood pressure. In particular, relatively favorable results were obtained for the changes in blood pressure induced by the changes in cardiac volume. Although many issues remain, this method could be expected to contribute to the continuous evaluation of cardiac function while reducing the burden on patients.