Analytical validation of the new plasma calibrated Accu-Chek (R) Test Strips (Roche Diagnostics)

peer reviewedBackground: The Accu-Chek Inform glucose monitor is a point-of-care system for testing blood glucose. New test strips, calibrated to deliver glucose plasma-like values, were launched on the market in May 2005. The aim of our study was to perform analytical validation of these new strips. Methods: We compared the new plasma strips with whole blood strips; results for the plasma strips with plasma values obtained using a clinical analyzer and with whole blood values given by the glucose electrode of a blood gas analyzer; and the influence of the type of blood (capillary or venous) on the results obtained by the glucose monitor with the plasma calibrated strips. Results: Plasma strips give on average 7% higher results than the previous whole blood strips. However, the results given by the plasma strips on capillary whole blood, even if well correlated, are not completely comparable with those given by an analyzer for venous plasma. Nevertheless, these plasma strips and the glucose electrode of a blood gas analyzer give comparable results. Conclusions: Accu-Chek Inform plasma strips are a good method for monitoring of blood glucose values in patients with diabetes

Cellular localization and associations of the major lipolytic proteins in human skeletal muscle at rest and during exercise

Lipolysis involves the sequential breakdown of fatty acids from triacylglycerol and is increased during energy stress such as exercise. Adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) is a key regulator of skeletal muscle lipolysis and perilipin (PLIN) 5 is postulated to be an important regulator of ATGL action of muscle lipolysis. Hence, we hypothesized that non-genomic regulation such as cellular localization and the interaction of these key proteins modulate muscle lipolysis during exercise. PLIN5, ATGL and CGI-58 were highly (>60%) colocated with Oil Red O (ORO) stained lipid droplets. PLIN5 was significantly colocated with ATGL, mitochondria and CGI-58, indicating a close association between the key lipolytic effectors in resting skeletal muscle. The colocation of the lipolytic proteins, their independent association with ORO and the PLIN5/ORO colocation were not altered after 60 min of moderate intensity exercise. Further experiments in cultured human myocytes showed that PLIN5 colocation with ORO or mitochondria is unaffected by pharmacological activation of lipolytic pathways. Together, these data suggest that the major lipolytic proteins are highly expressed at the lipid droplet and colocate in resting skeletal muscle, that their localization and interactions appear to remain unchanged during prolonged exercise, and, accordingly, that other post-translational mechanisms are likely regulators of skeletal muscle lipolysis