Determination of N-Octyl Bicycloheptene Dicarboximide, Pyrethrins, and Butylcarbityl 6-Propylpiperonyl Ether in Technical Materials, Concentrates, and Finished Products by Capillary Gas Chromatography: Collaborative Study

Nineteen collaborating laboratories (including the authors') analyzed 6 blind, duplicate pairs of various technical materials, pyrethrum extracts, concentrates, and finished products by split injection capillary gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detection. This procedure simultaneously quantitates with speed, ease, accuracy, and precision all 6 insecticidal compounds in pyrethrum: pyrethrin I, jasmolin I, cinerin I, pyrethrin II, jasmolin II, and cinerin II, as well as butylcarbityl 6-propylpiperonyl ether (BPE, the predominant compound in technical piperonyl butoxide, also commonly known as piperonyl butoxide) and both the endo and exo isomers of N-octyl bicycloheptene dicarboximide (MGK 264). Repeatability ranged from 4.28 to 7.22% for total pyrethrins, from 2.41 to 7.04% for BPE, and from 2.20 to 4.91 % for total MGK 264. Reproducibility ranged from 5.22 to 9.71 % for total pyrethrins, from 4.37 to 7.04% for BPE, and from 2.66 to 6.01 % for total MGK 264. The capillary GC method for these insecticidal compounds in technical materials, concentrates, and finished products has been adopted first action by AOAC INTERNATIONAL.

Computerized assessment of self-monitored blood glucose results using a Glucometer reflectance photometer with memory and microcomputer

A microcomputer software package to receive, analyse, and present blood glucose/time information has been developed. Data input is accomplished automatically via interface to Glucometer reflectance photometer instruments which have been specially modified to retain glucose/time results by addition of a clock and electronic memory. This new development in self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) has a number of advantages. It allows the rapid and meaningful analysis of large quantities of patient generated data to assess short- and long-term trends in BG patterns, and eliminates the tedium and possible errors of manual graphing. Patients were most interested in the positive feedback provided. The system has considerable potential in patient diabetes education and management.

Reliability of blood glucose monitoring by patients with diabetes mellitus

Nineteen patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were evaluated for overall reliability of self-generated data from capillary blood glucose monitoring. For a period of 12 to 14 days, standard reflectance meters used by these subjects were replaced by meters internally modified with memory chips capable of storing all glucose readings by date and time. The subjects were not aware of this modification and were instructed to continue to test capillary blood glucose as they had been and to continue their practice of recording the meter readings in a logbook. To assess reliability of patient-generated data as recorded in the logbook, the addition, deletion, and alteration of test results were determined. A significantly lower (p less than 0.0001) mean blood glucose level was reported in the logbooks than recorded in the memory reflectance meters. Differences in logbooks and memory reflectance meters ranged from 0 to 109 mg/dl. Three fourths of the subjects had reported lower than actual mean blood glucose values. Under-reporting, or omission of memory reflectance meter readings, averaged 10 percent, whereas over-reporting or addition of phantom values averaged 40 percent. An average of 26 percent of the logbook entries were not identical to memory reflectance meter values determined at the corresponding time. Two thirds of the subjects had reported values in such a manner as to obscure hyper- and hypoglycemia, leading to misleading clinical impressions about the fluctuation in metabolic control. Previous glycemic control, patterns of logbook recording, or visits to the clinic were not found to be predictive of the reliability of patient self-monitoring regimens.