Evaluation of the Three Glucometer Devices Performance in Comparison with the Cobas Integra 400 Plus Autoanalyzer in Measuring Blood Glucose Levels: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the performance of the three glucometers compared to standard the laboratory method (Cobas Integra 400 Plus) in measuring blood glucose levels. Patients and Methods: A total of 100 Yemeni diabetic patients were randomly recruited into a comparative cross-sectional study. Venous and finger-pricked blood samples were obtained from all participants and used for blood glucose levels measurement following the standard procedures. Results: The mean blood glucose levels for one-hundred diabetic patients using the Gluco Contour TS and Gluco SD Codefree were not significantly different compared with the Cobas Integra 400 Plus (12.14 ± 6.89 mmol/L vs. 12.85 ± 8.83 mmol/L, P = 0.159;12.50 ± 7.18 mmol/L vs. 12.85 ± 8.83 mmol/L, P = 0.490), respectively. However, there is a significant difference using the Gluco Alert device from that of the Cobas Integra 400 Plus (11.83 ± 6.94 mmol/L vs. 12.85 ± 8.83 mmol/L, P = 0.046). Furthermore, using the ROC curve at a 95% confidence interval, the Cobas Integra 400 Plus showed a significant agreement with the Gluco Contour TS (51.4%), Gluco SD Codefree (50.4%), and Gluco Alert (39.3%), respectively. For determining accuracy, the sensitivity of the glucometer devices was the following: Gluco SD Codefree (87.3%), Contour TS (85.9%), and Gluco Alert (78.9%). In this regard, the highest specificity was related to Gluco Contour TS (65.5%). Conclusion: The correlation between both methods was good, with high sensitivity and specificity in measuring blood glucose levels as indicated by the ROC curve. Thus, we suggest using these glucometers at homes and hospitals as a point of care for diabetic patients.

Real-time Quantitative RT-PCR for CT9 Level in Human Cancer

CT9 is a recently cloned cancer-testis antigen, which is a member of the bromodomain and extraterminal family. Each member of this protein family contains two N-terminal bromodomain motifs. We investigated the distribution of CT9 in different tissues and the possibility for it to be used as a potential therapeutic target in cancer treament. By using the real-time RT-PCR method and 18SrRNA as an internal standard, we analyzed the CT9 expression in several normal human tissues and in the tissues of patients suffering from cancer. The result of this study shows that the highest level of mRNA is only present in testis tissue because the CT9 expression has not been detected in other normal tissues. In 6 of 10 cases of gastric adenocarcinoma, in 3 of 10 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, in 2 of 9 cases of endometrial carcinoma and only in 1 of 12 cases of brain cancer, the low level expression of CT9 was detected. In none of the 12 cases of cervical squamous cell carcinoma, the expression of CT9 was detected. Since the high level expression of CT9 is only found in the normal testis tissue, but the low expression in cancer tissues, for example tissues of cervical squamous cell carcinoma, brain cancer, endometfial adenocarcinoma, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, we conclude that CT9 cannot be used as a cancer therapeutic target molecule for cervical squamous cell carcinoma, brain cancer, endometrial adenocarcinoma, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.