Andres Herane-vives, United Kingdom
King's College London Psychological MedicinePresenter of 2 Presentations
A NOVEL EARWAX METHOD TO MEASURE ACUTE AND CHRONIC GLUCOSE LEVELS
Abstract
Background and Aims
Background: A sustained increase in bodily glucose levels is associated with several chronic illnesses, such as diabetes. Currently, no single test is globally affordable, innocuous and predictable at measuring glucose levels. We tested earwax as a viable option to measure short and long-term glucose levels in comparison with Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) in healthy individuals.
Methods
Methods: 37 participants provided standard glucose blood samples, HbA1c and earwax on two occasions, one month a part. The samples measured baseline fasting glucose, a follow-up postprandial glucose level and a between sample long term glucose concentration estimation calculated using the mean value at the two time points. The baseline earwax sample was extracted with a conventional procedure and the follow-up with earwax self-sampling device.
Results
Results: The earwax extraction time using the self-sampling device was considerably faster than the conventional method. Earwax proved to be a reliable method to measure glucose concentrations at both time points with stronger correlations compared to HbA1c which ranged in the low to moderate spectrum. Earwax methods were approximately 60% more predictable than HbA1c in measuring chronic glucose levels. Follow-up postprandial concentrations were larger than their respective fasting baseline levels. Earwax showed to be unaffected by a range of confounders contrary to glycaemic and HbA1c samples.
Conclusions
Conclusion: Earwax measurements proved to be more predictable than HbA1c in measuring fasting, postprandial and long term glucose measurements and unaffected by confounders. Earwax may be a suitable method for measuring glucose concentration by using the earwax self-sampling device .
A NOVEL CERUMEN GLUCOSE SELF-SAMPLING DEVICE
Abstract
Background and Aims
Background: Cerumen glucose may have the potential to improve the diagnosis of diabetes. Currently, cerumen extraction has to be exclusively performed by clinicians. Its extraction is not advisable for healthy ears, although it is a common practice through the use of “cotton buds”. Then, a novel cerumen sampling device should be safe, reliable, comfortable and usable by a patient.
Methods
Methods: Both external ears were cleaned on two occasions, one month apart, in 37 controls. A clinical method was used for cleaning both ears during a baseline visit. During a follow-up visit, one month later, a right cerumen sample was obtained using the novel self-sampling external ear device, and a left ear sample, using the clinical method. Both follow-up samples represented the same retrospective period of cerumen secretion. Vector of Sample Relative Dispersion (VRSD) analysis was performed for comparing the reliability between both extraction methods. Potential side-effects and novel device user experience were recorded.
Results
Results: The weight of the baseline samples were not significantly different between ear sides (both p>0.05). The self-extraction method removed 8 times more earwax than the clinical method (p<0.01). Although no VRSD was significant, left ear cerumen samples (baseline and follow-up) showed the largest variability between them (p=0.15). No side effects were reported by any method in any visit. Participants considered that the self-sampling external ear device was safer, more effective, and as comfortable as the use of “cotton buds”.
Conclusions
Conclusion: The novel device may constitute a reliable, economical, comfortable and effective option for measuring glucose level.