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Biomedical subjects

M Erhart

Publications and source records attributed to M Erhart.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Assessment of health-related quality of life with the German SF-8. A comparison of telephone and postal survey modes].

Within a comprehensive comparison of telephone and postal survey methods the SF-8 was applied to assess adult's health-related quality of life. The 1690 subjects were randomly assigned to a telephone survey and a postal survey. Comparisons across the different modes of administration addressed the response rates, central tendency, deviation, ceiling and floor effects observed in the SF-8 scores as well as the inter-item correlation. The importance of age and gender as moderating factors was investigated. Results indicate no or small statistically significant differences in the responses to the SF-8 depending on the actual mode of administration and the health aspect questioned. It was concluded that further investigations should focus on the exact nature of these deviations and try to generate correction factors.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Validation of the English version of the KINDL generic children's health-related quality of life instrument for an Asian population--results from a pilot test.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the KINDL questionnaire in an Asian population. METHODS: Consecutive patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and healthy subjects were recruited to complete the English KINDL questionnaire. The inclusion criteria for patients were age 8-16 years, English-speaking, diagnosed with DM and absence of co-morbid conditions. RESULTS: Thirty children with DM (mean age: 10.7 +/- 1.35 years; 11 M) and 39 healthy subjects (mean age: 10.6 +/- 1.23 years, 17M) completed the child version whereas 31 adolescents with DM (mean age: 14.5 +/- 1.48 years; 15M) and 32 healthy subjects (mean age: 14.3 +/- 0.87 years, 16M) completed the adolescent version. Overall, children with DM reported better HRQoL than healthy children. Although this appeared counter-intuitive, several explanations are possible: (1) the development of resilience to the disease over time, (2) our subjects are well-managed, (3) response shift, (4) the provision of high quality medical care, (5) compared to normal children, diabetic subjects and their family pay greater attention to health issues. The reliability coefficients were (overall, scales): KINDL-Kid DM (0.79, 0.44-0.65), KINDL-Kid Healthy (0.71,0.60-0.80), KINDL-Kiddo DM (0.77, 0.37-0.74) and KINDL-Kiddo Healthy (0.84, 0.21-0.79). CONCLUSIONS: The KINDL questionnaire appeared promising for use in Asian children. However, further validation in a sample more representative of the general population is required.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

In vitro potential measurement, anaesthetic and antimicrobial effects as indicators of beta-blocker toxicity of the cornea.

Three tests were utilized to determine and compare the toxicity of timolol, propranolol and two new aliphatic and alicyclic oxime ethers with beta-blocking activity (falintolol and compound POS 7). Effects on the electrical potential difference across the in vitro bovine corneal epithelium. Local anaesthesia on in vivo rabbit cornea. Antimicrobial activity on bacterial and fungal suspensions. In addition, partition coefficients were determined as physicochemical properties of the drugs. Falintolol, as well as timolol produced a minor change in electrophysiology at clinical concentration. They had neither local anaesthetic, nor antimicrobial effects. Conversely, propranolol and compound POS 7 showed acute corneal toxicity in the present models. It was concluded that changes in the potential difference across a perfused cornea in vitro, local anaesthesia and bacterial inhibition, might be a demonstration of the cytotoxicity of certain topical agents in terms of acute eye tissue reaction. They might represent a valuable model for the acute corneal toxicity evaluation of topical beta-blockers.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1983

Are local tolerance tests in animals always necessary?

The Draize test was introduced in 1944 as a toxicological standardization method to study irritation and toxicity of substances applied to the eye (and the skin). It has been considered, from that time on, as a routine toxicological protocol by most regulatory agencies to test eye-tolerance of chemicals. The authors think that for ethical and scientific reasons, this test is obsolete and should be changed or eliminated. They suggest the use of cell cultures or an in vitro technique for ocular safety assessment. The described technique uses a bovine cornea clamped in vitro between two chambers and kept alive in physiological conditions during six hours. This in vitro corneal perfusion system replaces in vivo irritation tests and enables quantitation of corneal drug uptake at the same time. This system provides reproducible results and can be used in ocular toxicological studies as well as in pharmacokinetic modeling.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Rapid colorimetric analysis of chlorhexidine in pharmaceutical preparations.

A colorimetric determination of chlorhexidine is described. The method is based on the formation of a yellow complex between the drug and bromcresol green. The absorption peak of this complex, extracted by chloroform, is at 410 nm, and linear response is obtained from 2.5 to 30 micrograms of chlorhexidine/ml. The accuracy and reproducibility of this rapid method make it useful for chlorhexidine determination in the manufacturing control of pharmaceutical mixtures.

Chlorhexidine↗