In contrast to traditional HTK, NaCl, or PSS storage, TiProtec solution offers an excellent potential for prolonged cold storage of human arteries, which may close the existing gap between legal requirements for tissue banking and current cold preservation methods.

Diabet. Med. 15: 883-885 (1998)

The PROSIT (Proteinuria Screening and Intervention) Project started in 1993 in order to obtain data on the prevalence of micro- and macroalbuminuria in diabetic patients treated in primary care, to establish an easy screening programme for microalbuminuria, in which also diabetic patients can participate in self-responsibility, and to implement a specific intervention programme for incipient nephropathy. In 58 representative doctor's offices 647 diabetic patients were included, who performed at home self-tests for microalbuminuria on three days within one week using the early morning urine and a newly developed qualitative immunologic test-strip for microalbuminuria. After storage they returned the same urine samples to their doctors' offices for semiquantitative retesting with the immunologic test-strip Micral-Test II. In case of positive results the proteinuria dipstick Combur-9-Test was applied in order to exclude other causes of positive microalbuminuria (e.g. urinary tract infection). Data of 569 patients (6% Type 1, 88% Type 2 and 6% secondary diabetes) could be analysed. Both qualitative self-testing for microalbuminuria at home and semiquantitative retesting in doctors' offices were found to be feasible. Based on semiquantitative retesting the prevalences of microalbuminuria (macroalbuminuria) were 19.6% (0%) in Type 1 diabetes, 17.2% (10.8%) in Type 2 diabetes and 11.7% (7.8%) in secondary diabetes. Type 2 diabetic patients showed a clear correlation between albuminuria and diabetes duration, HbA1c, serum creatinine, triglycerides as well as micro- and macrovascular complications. 227 patients with micro- or macroalbuminuria were included into the ongoing PROSIT intervention programme.

No abstract