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A Erath

Publications and source records attributed to A Erath.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Examples of migrant-related health education. Experiences in the development of materials by the German Federal Centre of Health Education].

Migrants in Germany are a very heterogeneous population. This has to be taken into account when developing and distributing materials. Linguistic and cultural barriers lead to the conclusion that personal communication is the best way to approach some of the migrant groups--especially in sensitive fields like HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. The German Federal Centre of Health Education (BZgA) supports multipliers with special material for prevention and counselling. New methods for translation and distribution were developed for a family planning brochure in Turkish. Furthermore, a newsletter provides a forum for exchange of information and experiences among those working in the field of migration and health.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Proposed reference method for peripheral-blood monocyte counting using fluorescence-labelled monoclonal antibodies.

Flow cytometry using fluorescence-labelled monoclonal antibodies has been proposed as a possible new reference method to evaluate the monocyte counting performance of automated hematology analyzers. Since in previous studies only one such technique was applied, we investigated how different flow cytometric techniques compared to the manual differential and a hematology analyzer. Relative monocyte counts of 60 samples of the daily routine were determined on a Coulter Profile II flow cytometer after incubation with two different CD45-FITC/CD 14-PE antibody combinations and subsequent preparation with two whole-blood lysis techniques, including one no-wash technique. Results were compared to those of a 600-cell manual differential and to those of the Coulter STKS hematology analyzer. All flow cytometric methods correlated very well with the manual differential (r > or = 0.925) and none showed a significant bias. The Coulter STKS relative monocyte counts were slightly higher than those of the manual differential (8.76% vs. 8.18%). The correlations between the methods employing monoclonal antibodies were excellent (r > or = 0.995) and the mean monocyte counts identical although a small, non-systematic influence of sample preparation techniques was noted. An influence of the antibody clones was not observed. The precision of the Profile II results was far superior to that of the manual differential and the STKS. Our data show that flow cytometry employing fluorescence-labelled monoclonal antibodies is a potentially ideal new reference method for monocyte counting. However, they also show that establishing a new reference method will require extensive investigation and exact definition of the sample preparation procedure to be used.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of automated basophil counting by using fluorescence-labelled monoclonal antibodies.

The shortcomings of current methods of basophil enumeration detract from the clinical value of the basophil count. Moreover, sophisticated and costly techniques of automated basophil counting hardly can be validated for lack of a suitable reference method. We investigated whether a flow cytometric technique using double staining with fluorescence-labelled monoclonal antibodies (mAb) CD45-FITC and CD14-PE on a Coulter Epics Profile II could be used to evaluate basophil counting performance of hematology analyzers. The technique was compared with the 800-cell manual differential, the Coulter STKS, and the Cobas Argos 5 Diff. Precision: STKS, Argos and Profile II showed a precision analogous to a 2,173, 2,250-, and 14,705-cell differential, respectively, illustrating the superiority of automated methods. Accuracy (150 normal and abnormal samples): Using the Profile II as reference the STKS showed a notably weaker correlation than the Argos (r = 0.581 and 0.718, respectively), although this difference was nearly concealed when the imprecise manual differential served as reference (r = 0.517 and 0.562, respectively). The Profile II correlated relatively well with the manual differential (r = 0.730). Analyzing 137 healthy adult subjects, we obtained a reference range of 0.33 to 1.35% (0.020 to 0.102 x 10(9) basophils/L) for the mAb-based method. These data would recommend mAb-based basophil counting as a valuable tool for instrument evaluation. However, an observed bias of 0.09% against the manual differential suggests that modifications are necessary before this technique can be considered as new reference method.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Peripheral blood monocyte counting: towards a new reference method.

Flow cytometric enumeration of monocytes stained with fluorescence-labelled monoclonal antibodies has been proposed as a possible reference method for monocyte counting. We compared precision and accuracy of monocyte counting of the Coulter STKS, the Cobas Argos 5 Diff, the 800-cell manual differential, and the Coulter Epics Profile II flow cytometer using double-staining with fluorescence-labelled monoclonal antibodies (CD45-FITC and CD14-PE). Precision: STKS, Argos and Profile II achieved a precision analogous to a 3423-, 1298-, and 11089-cell differential, respectively, confirming the superiority of automated methods. Accuracy (136 normal and abnormal samples): Correlation of automated methods with the manual differential was good (STKS: r = 0.934, Argos 5 Diff: r = 0.808, Profile II: r = 0.924; Spearman's rank correlation coefficient). The mean relative STKS monocyte result was 0.52 +/- 1.63% (mean +/- SD) higher than the manual differential, whereas the Argos 5 Diff results were 1.22 +/- 2.51% lower (p < 0.001). Profile II results showed a small bias against the manual differential (-0.18 +/- 1.44%, p < 0.05). Analysing 135 healthy adult subjects on the Profile II, males were found to have a higher mean monocyte count (relative count: 6.95 +/- 1.43% vs. 5.86 +/- 0.98%; absolute count: 0.48 +/- 0.15 x 10(9)/l vs. 0.39 +/- 0.11 x 10(9)/l, p < 0.001) and a higher and wider normal range than females (relative count: 4.97 to 9.78% vs. 4.26 to 7.81%, absolute count: 0.30 to 0.84 x 10(9)/l vs. 0.25 to 0.65 x 10(9)/l). Flow cytometry based on fluorescence-labelled monoclonal antibodies for monocyte enumeration seems an efficient tool to evaluate the monocyte counting performance of haematology analysers and an ideal successor to the manual differential as reference method for monocyte counting.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Nitrates and calcium antagonists for silent myocardial ischemia.

Continuous Holter monitoring of patients with coronary heart disease can show transient ischemic episodes occurring spontaneously with or without angina throughout the day. A controlled double-blind trial was conducted comparing the effects of isosorbide-5-mononitrate (IS-5-MN) and nifedipine in patients with documented transient ischemic episodes. Seventy-five percent of the ischemic episodes were not accompanied by pain. Twenty patients with documented coronary heart disease were included; 15 finished the 4-week study (1 patient had headaches, 1 thyrotoxicosis, 1 hypertensive crisis and 2 unstable angina). On a dual-channel FM-recorded electrocardiogram, ischemic episodes were counted when ST deviation was greater than 1 mm for greater than 1 minute. Patients received IS-5-MN (20 mg 3 times a day or 50 mg in a sustained-release tablet) or nifedipine (20 mg in a sustained-release tablet 3 times a day) in random order over four 1-week periods. At the end of each week, Holter monitoring was repeated and showed reductions of episodes by 67% and 67% after weeks of IS-5-MN therapy and 56% and 58% after weeks of nifedipine therapy (all p less than 0.05). Painful and painless episodes were reduced to a similar extent. Individual responses showed great variability, and in all treatment periods not more than half of the patients were completely free of ischemic episodes. One of the 12 patients did not respond to either way of treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1988

Isosorbide-5-mononitrate and nifedipine can reduce ischaemic ST-segment changes during Holter monitoring in patients with spontaneous angina pectoris.

Ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring is as yet the only method to document ischaemia occurring in patients with coronary artery disease during their normal daily activities. We conducted a controlled double-blind trial comparing the effects of isosorbide-5-mononitrate (IS-5-MN) 3 X 20 mg, sustained release IS-5-MN 50 mg once daily and sustained release nifedipine 3 X 20 mg in patients with documented coronary heart disease and transient ischaemic episodes. 20 patients were included, 15 finished the four-week study period. Two developed unstable angina, one headache, one thyreotoxicosis, one a hypertensive crisis and were thus withdrawn. On dual-channel FM recorded ECG ischaemic episodes were counted when ST-deviation was more than 1 mm for more than 1 min. 70% of the ischaemic episodes were asymptomatic. Patients received IS-5-MN and nifedipine in 4 weekly periods in random order. At the end of each weekly period, ambulatory monitoring was repeated and showed reduction of episodes by 68% and 68% for IS-5-MN weeks and 56% and 60% for nifedipine weeks all P less than 0.05 vs. pretreatment. The reduction in number and duration of episodes was similar for painful and painless episodes. Individual responses were very variable and in all treatment periods only around half of the patients became completely free of ischaemic episodes. Two of the 15 patients did not respond to either way of treatment. In conclusion--treatment effects for a group of patients with transient--predominantly silent--ischaemia can be documented with ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1985

[Arrhythmias in relation to transient ST elevations in Prinzmetal angina: induction by occlusion and reperfusion].

To study the temporal relationship of occlusion and reperfusion we examined 16 patients (14 m, 2f) with variant angina for the occurrence and time course of arrhythmias with episodes of ST-elevation (n = 82). The patients underwent frequency-modulated ambulatory ECG recording, episodes of ST elevation were defined, and the arrhythmias were counted before, during and after each episode. In 10 patients (group A) no or only infrequent extrasystoles occurred. Of the other 6 patients (group B), one had a-v block II degree, 5 had frequent (greater than 2/min) ventricular or supraventricular premature beats, 3 with couplets or runs of VPB. Patients of group A and B did not differ in age, severity of fixed coronary stenoses and ventricular ejection fraction. There was a tendency towards a greater incidence of higher ST-elevations (greater than 2 mm) in group B (4 of 6 patients versus 2 of 10 in group A, p = 0.09). The relationship of arrhythmias and ST changes showed different patterns: the maximum of arrhythmias occurred during the episode in 3 patients, during and after the episode in 2 patients and only after the episode in 1 patient. Potentially dangerous arrhythmias are frequent in patients with variant angina and persist beyond the ST segment changes in one half of the affected patients.

Aged↗