Indurometer vs. Tonometer: Is the Indurometer Currently Able to Replace and Improve Upon the Tonometer?

BACKGROUND

The Indurometer is a tool designed by the Flinders Biomedical Engineering Department to replace the Tissue Tonometer. It measures the resistance to an applied force to quantify the amount of fibrosis present within the epifascial compartment of tissue. The aim of the study was to compare the current model of the Indurometer with the Tonometer to determine the level of variability and repeatability between the two devices and how the variability differs when compared to an individual's ISL stage.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Data were gathered on a total of 180 participants with unilateral arm lymphedema as part of an international multicenter trial. For each participant three repeat measurements were obtained with the Indurometer and Tonometer at the anterior mid forearm and anterior mid upper arm. The Indurometer gave lower measurement values than the Tonometer. The Tonometer was found to be less variable than the Indurometer when measurements were taken from the anterior mid upper arm and the anterior mid forearm site. The Tonometer values were significantly less variable than the Indurometer values in ISL stages 1 and 2. No significant variability was found in stage 3.

CONCLUSION

The Indurometer is easier to use as compared to the Tonometer. Modification of the Indurometer needs to take place in order to improve its variability before it can be considered as a replacement for the Tonometer in the assessment of lymphedema. The lack of understanding of the ISL classification system is a significant issue.

A coordinated high-performance liquid chromatographic, capillary electrophoretic, and mass spectrometric approach for the analysis of oligosaccharide mixtures derivatized with 2-aminoacridone

Glycans derivatized with 2-aminoacridone have been analyzed consecutively by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC). The 2-aminoacridone derivatizing agent used in the present study is highly hydrophobic and is well separated from the glycan derivatives in both separation techniques, ensuring that excess reagent does not interfere with the oligosaccharide analysis. The methodology outlined uses the high resolving power of capillary electrophoresis to determine the heterogeneity of samples after collection and preconcentration by HPLC. Collected glycan samples are submitted for mass spectrometric analysis to determine molecular weight. This methodology has been applied to linear oligosaccharides derived from dextran and to N-linked mannose-rich glycans from ribonuclease B.