Glucose Infancy

Certain biomolecules can be added into the bead or be attached to its surface. These mostly include such recognition elements as antibodies, oligonucleotides or other receptors such as conconovalin A. Enzymes can be used to design biosensors (e.g., for glucose) on a microscale but this research is still in its infancy. Finally, fluorescent proteins can be used as alternative to the dyes. The same refers to quantum dots which can also be used in principle. 

The goal of diet treatment after infancy is to distribute the sources of carbohydrate throughout the day to prevent low glucose concentrations. Fasting time is limited. For children, carbohydrate should be consumed every 4-6 h, and for adults every 8 h or sooner, depending on blood glucose concentrations. 

In evaluating food requirements in infancy, one must consider that the infant s enzymic arsenal is not equivalent to that of the adult. We have already mentioned that in guinea pigs and rats, glucose-6-phospha-tase is practically nonexistent until shortly before term, but after term it rises rapidly. In humans, phenylalanine hydroxylase is absent from liver until several weeks after term. If the formation of the enzyme molecules is completely inhibited because of a genetic defect, an inborn error of metabolism develops. In rats, tyrosine transaminase increases immediately after birth and reaches a maximum 12 hours after birth. 

Patient condition prolonged fasting, depending on age. In infancy the test is carried out for 15-20 h, in childhood 24 h, adolescents take 30-48 h, and adults may require up to 72 h. Close monitoring of blood glucose and the clinical condition of the patient is essential. The test should be interrupted when the blood glucose drops below 3.0 mmol/1. 

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