my ($dbh);

sub Connect
{
     $dbh = DBI->connect('DBI:ODBC:sybase_timallen','foo','bar')
       or die "Couldn't connect to database: " . DBI->errstr;
     $dbh->{LongReadLen} = 20000;
}

sub IS4_SQL_execute
{
    #accept the SQL, then a list containing the bind values
    my $sql = shift;
    my @bind_values = @_;
    my $sth; #statement handle
    $sth = $dbh->prepare_cached($sql);
    $sth->execute(@bind_values)
      or die "Couldn't execute statement: " . $sth->errstr;
    return ($sth);
    # I count on the calling sub finishing the statement
    # and disconnecting
}

sub Disconnect
{
    $dbh->disconnect();
}

# -- Do your stuff now

Connect();

my $sql = 'SELECT count(*) FROM products WHERE nr = ?';

my ($sth) = IS4_SQL_execute($sql,$nr);

while (my @data = $sth->fetchrow_array())
{
    $count = $data[0];
}
$sth->finish();

Disconnect();