Disease-related variations of the glycosylation of haptoglobin in the dog.

Haptoglobin phenotypes have been shown in human medicine to be related to the prevalence of various diseases. Furthermore, abnormal glycosylation of haptoglobin has been reported as a consequence of liver disease, cancer and immunological disorders in man. To our knowledge, similar findings have not, so far, been reported in canine disease. The present paper describes a method for investigation of canine haptoglobin phenotypes and of microheterogeneity caused by altered glycosylation. The method consisted of isoelectric focusing (IEF) of dog serum, followed by immunoblotting. The results indicated the existence of only one canine haptoglobin phenotype with a characteristic microheterogeneity pattern in healthy dogs. Changes in this pattern were found in serum from dogs with liver disease, predominantly chronic progressive hepatitis, and with different kinds of anaemia. Pretreatment of serum with neuraminidase or glycopeptidase F (PNGase F) resulted in identical IEF patterns of haptoglobin from healthy and diseased dogs. Moreover, a fucose-specific lectin was capable of binding to some of the abnormal haptoglobin fractions, mainly those found in association with anaemia. The changes described were interpreted as alterations of the carbohydrate content, with or without fucosylation, of some haptoglobin fractions.

Elastase inhibitory capacity of purified canine alpha-1-antitrypsin.

In a previous study, isoelectrofocusing of serum from liver-diseased and healthy dogs revealed three different types of the acute phase protein, alpha-1-antitrypsin: Pi (protease inhibitor) F, Pi I and Pi S. Moreover, accumulated alpha-1-antitrypsin was found immunohistochemically in liver sections from dogs with chronic liver disease, predominantly in association with Pi I in serum. The present study was made to further the relationship between alpha-1-antitrypsin and the pathogenesis of chronic liver disease in dogs. Aliquots of samples of purified canine Pi F, Pi I and Pi S were examined for elastase inhibitory capacity, the main function of alpha-l-antitrypsin, and for polymerization tendency, a possible cause of accumulation of alpha-1-antitrypsin in the liver. These parameters were studied after incubation of the proteins at different temperatures (4, 37 and 42 degrees C) and pH values (6.8, 7.8 and 8.5) and for different periods (< or = 24 h and 5 days). In contrast to findings with Pi Z, the human alpha-1-antitrypsin variant associated with liver disease, polymers of canine Pi F, Pi I or Pi S could not be detected under any of the conditions tested. However, Pi I was sensitive to pH, as was demonstrated by reduced elastase inhibitory capacity after incubation at pH 6.8 for < or = 24 h or 5 days, or at pH 8.5 for 5 days. However, after incubation at pH 7.8 for < or = 24 h or 5 days at 4, 37 or 42 degrees C, Pi I was completely stable. Pi F retained its elastase inhibitory capacity, even after prolonged incubation, at all pH values and temperatures tested. Due to low yield, Pi S was tested only after incubation for < or = 24 h at pH 6.8 and at 4 degrees C; under these conditions its elastase inhibitory capacity was equal to that of Pi F. Taken together, these findings indicate molecular and functional differences between Pi I and Pi F and further support a role for alpha-1-antitrypsin in the pathogenesis of canine liver disease.

[Can the use of hypnotics be reduced? Systematic influence on attitudes and prescription practice in a psychiatric department]. / Kan vi redusere hypnotikaforbruket? Systematisk påvirkning av holdninger og forskrivningspraksis i en psykiatrisk sengeavdeling.

Because of frequent use of hypnotics to treat insomnia in the population in general and in institutions especially, an alternative programme of treatment has been developed at the psychiatric hospital, Modum Bads Nervesanatorium. The programme includes different components and levels of treatment, wherein use of hypnotics is the last choice. The main focus is on sleep hygiene, which consists mainly of working on the patients' own attitude towards and experience of sleep problems. The pre-requisite for running such a programme is a systematic approach to these attitudes among the staff, and the prescribing patterns by physicians.