An investigation of multidisciplinary complex health care interventions--steps towards an integrative treatment model in the rehabilitation of people with multiple sclerosis.

Background: The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Society initiated a large-scale bridge building and integrative treatment project to take place from 2004-2010 at a specialized Multiple Sclerosis (MS) hospital. In this project, a team of five conventional health care practitioners and five alternative practitioners was set up to work together in developing and offering individualized treatments to 200 people with MS. The purpose of this paper is to present results from the six year treatment collaboration process regarding the development of an integrative treatment model.

[Method and design of the Telephone Health Survey 2003].

Telephone surveys are increasingly being used in public health research, also in Germany. In 2003 the Robert Koch Institute completed the first nationwide telephone survey predominantly on conditions and prevalence of selected chronic diseases (GSTel03). Its findings are presented in this publication.

Comparison of three D-dimer assays for the diagnosis of DVT:ELISA, latex and an immunofiltration assay (NycoCard D-Dimer).

Ninety-two consecutive patients referred for suspicion of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) were analyzed for D-dimer using ELISA, latex test, and a new immunofiltration method (NycoCard D-Dimer). Contrast venography verified the diagnosis in 40, and excluded the diagnosis in 52 patients. The sensitivity, negative predictive values, specificity and positive predictive values were, for ELISA 98%, 95%, 38% and 54, for NycoCard D-Dimer 100%, 100%, 42% and 57% and for the latex test 73%, 78%, 75%, and 69%, respectively.

Assay of D-dimer based on immunofiltration and staining with gold colloids.

In this immunofiltration assay of D-dimer in plasma samples, the antigens are captured by a monoclonal antibody on a porous membrane, and labeled with the same antibody conjugated to gold colloids. The assay time is < 2 min, and a color of intensity proportional to the concentration of D-dimer is left on the membrane. The reference range (mean +/- 2 SD) was 0.

Rapid immunometric measurement of C-reactive protein in whole blood.

We examined an instrument-free test for C-reactive protein (CRP) in whole blood. The NycoCard CRP Whole Blood test uses a cell-solubilizing dilution liquid, a membrane-bound antibody that binds CRP, and a gold-conjugated antibody for making visible the bound CRP. We obtained essentially identical dose-response curves in citrate-, heparin-, and EDTA-treated blood.

Production of an international reference standard alternaria extract. I. Testing of candidate extracts.

As part of a program to establish international standards of selected allergens, 6 coded extracts of Alternaria were assessed in 6 laboratories by immunochemical, biochemical and physicochemical procedures. Direct RAST, RAST inhibition, quantitative skin tests and leukocyte histamine release were used to assign relative orders of potency to the 6 extracts. The composition and major allergen content was tested by thin-layer isoelectric focusing and quantitative immunoelectrophoresis (crossed immunoelectrophoresis and crossed radioimmunoelectrophoresis).

Partial purification and characterization of two Cladosporium herbarum allergens.

Two important Cladosporium herbarum allergens (Ag-54 and Ag-32) were partly purified by means of diafiltration, gel filtration and isoelectric focusing. Modifications of quantitative immunological techniques, including autoradiography, were used as assay systems for allergenic activity and to provide a basis for evaluation of the immunological purity of the allergens. Ag-54 appeared to have a molecular weight of approximately 25,000 daltons and an isoelectric point of 5.