Lameness is one of the most painful conditions that affects dairy cattle. This study was conducted to evaluate clinical signs and plasma concentration of several pain and stress biomarkers after oligofructose-induced lameness in dairy heifers. Lameness was induced using an oligofructose overload model in 12 non-pregnant heifers. Clinical parameters and blood samples were obtained at 48 and 24 h and at 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h after induction of lameness. Clinical parameters included heart rate, respiratory rate, ruminal frequency and lameness score. Plasma biomarkers included cortisol, haptoglobin, norepinephrine, beta-endorphin and substance P. Differences were observed in all parameters between control and treated heifers. The plasma concentration of biomarkers increased significantly in treated animals starting 6 h after induction of lameness, reaching maximum levels at 24 h for cortisol, 48 h for haptoglobin, 6 h for norepinephrine, 12 h for substance P and at 24 h for beta-endorphin. Overall, our results confirm that lameness associated pain induced using the oligofructose model induced changes in clinical parameters and plasma biomarkers of pain and stress in dairy heifers.
Animals ; beta-Endorphin ; Biological Markers ; Cattle ; Haptoglobins ; Heart Rate ; Hydrocortisone ; Norepinephrine ; Plasma ; Respiratory Rate ; Substance P

BACKGROUND: Determination of monoclonal gammopathy through conventional protein electrophoresis is sometimes difficult because of the presence of large proteins such as haptoglobin and transferrin, which may obscure the results. Ambiguity in an electrophoresis band can give rise to confusion or difficulty in interpretation. The heavy chain/light chain assay (HLC assay) using Hevylite antibody (The Binding Site, UK) has recently been developed for the accurate measurement of monoclonal proteins. We compared the immunotyping (IT) profiles to the immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy/light chain measurements obtained using the HLC assay and observed the ratios between intact Ig kappa and lambda. METHODS: We collected 35 and 28 sera from patients with suspicious and definitive monoclonal protein, respectively. Then we performed serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) and IT by Capillarys2 (Sebia, USA). Monoclonal protein production was investigated using Freelite antibody (The Binding Site) and specific Ig(G, A)kappa and Ig(G, A)lambda Hevylite antibodies. The results were analyzed using PASW 18.0 for Windows (IBM, USA). RESULTS: Direct measurement of Ig heavy/light chains showed discordant IT results for 12 (34.2%) of 35 patients' sera with suspicious SPEP pattern and identical IT results for 28 patients' sera with definitive monoclonal peak in the SPEP results. Overall, the results of the HLC assay and IT showed good agreement (kappa=0.718, P=0.000 by cross-tabulation Gamma, Kappa analysis). CONCLUSIONS: The results of direct measurement of serum Ig heavy chain/light chain pairs were comparable to those of IT and were helpful for determination of monoclonality in the case of ambiguous electrophoresis results. Measurement of the heavy chain/light chain pair ratio also allowed precise quantification of the monoclonal Igs with ambiguous electrophoresis patterns and identification or discrimination of clonality.
Antibodies ; Binding Sites ; Capillaries* ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Electrophoresis ; Electrophoresis, Capillary* ; Haptoglobins ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins* ; Multiple Myeloma ; Paraproteinemias* ; Transferrin

The purpose of this study was to investigate Na and K balances in healthy adult women. Anthropometric assessments, biochemical analysis of blood, 3-day dietary flood records and collections of 3-day food, 24-hr urine and faces were performed to evaluate intakes and excretions of Na and K in 20 college women living in Seoul. The mean BMI and blood pressure of the subjects were 21.08 and 110.25/67.50mmHg, respectively. Mean daily intake of energy was 1578.84 kcal, 79% of Korean RDA. Also, daily intakes of Na and K ware 120.86mEq and 44.20mEq. The urinary and fecal excretions of Na were 99.88 and 4.45mEq/day, and those of K were 30.41 and 8.66mEq/day, respectively. The body retention, retention rate, and apparent absorption of Na were 17.11mEq, 13.23%, and 96.31%, and those of K were 5.82mEq, 8.69%, and 80.12%, respectively. The urinary and fecal Na/K ratio were 3.48 and 0.52. There were significantly positive correlations between 1) urinary Na, K excretions and intakes of Na or K, 2) urinary K and BMI, 3) serum K and serum globulin, and 4) urinary Na excretion and serum haptoglobin level, respectively. The results of this study show that Na intake was higher and K intake was lower than those of other advanced nations. Therefore, nutrition education show instruct people to reduce Na intake and to increase K intake.
Absorption ; Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Education ; Female ; Haptoglobins ; Humans ; Potassium* ; Seoul* ; Sodium*

Animals ; Haptoglobins ; metabolism ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; metabolism ; Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion ; blood ; Rabbits ; Serum ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo determine the diagnostic value of FibroTest (FT) for liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODSOne hundred and forty-two patients with CHB were tested for the following five indicators: alpha2-microglobulin (a2-MG), haptoglobin (Hp), gamma-glutarnyl peptidase (GGT), total bilirubin (TBIL), and apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1). The resultant data, along with the age and sex of the patients, were put into an algorithm to compute the final results of the FT. During the same period of FT, all of the CHB patients underwent liver stiffness measurement by FibroScan (FS) as well as liver biopsy. Considering the liver biopsy as the gold standard, we determined receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves at different endpoints. Calculation of the area under the ROC curves (AUROC) was performed to evaluate the diagnostic importance of FT, FS towards the treatment of liver fibrosis in patients with CHB.

RESULTSSignificant fibrosis (Scheuer score (S) more than or equal to 2) was predicted with an AUROC for FS, FT of 0.827 (0.753-0.900), 0.897 (0.844-0.949). Significant fibrosis (S more than or equal to 3) was predicted with an AUROC for FS, FT of 0.883 (0.818-0.949), 0.968 (0.932-1.00). Significant fibrosis (S=4) was predicted with an AUROC for FS, FT of 0.943 (0.893-0.993), 0.991 (0.973-1.00).

CONCLUSIONs FT is a novel tool that can be used to assess the degree of fibrosis in patients with CHB.

Apolipoprotein A-I ; Area Under Curve ; Bilirubin ; Biopsy ; Haptoglobins ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; ROC Curve

Hemolytic anemia is one of the findings representative of prosthesis dysfunction after valve surgery. A 67-year-old man, who underwent mitral annular ring plasty one week ago, was admitted with shortness of breath and fatigue. Hematological studies revealed a Coombs'-negative hemolytic anemia with a hemoglobin 7.9 g/dl, hematocrit of 17.1%, haptoglobin of 1.0 mg/dl, LDH 5148 U/L, total bilirubin of 3.1 mg/dl (direct of 0.71 mg/dl), and a peripheral blood smear demonstrating mechanical hemolysis with red cell fragmentation. Transesophageal echocardiogram revealed a turbulent jet of mitral regurgitation hitting the annuloplasty ring. The patient returned to the operating room for mitral valve replacement, and thereafter which the hemolytic anemia resolved.
Aged ; Anemia, Hemolytic* ; Bilirubin ; Dyspnea ; Fatigue ; Haptoglobins ; Hematocrit ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mitral Valve* ; Operating Rooms ; Prostheses and Implants

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) after renal transplantation is infrequent but, severe complication of kidney transplantation. Cyclosporine (CyA) or Tacrolimus-induced microangiopathy may be the causative factor in posttransplant HUS. Early diagnosis of the syndrome and discontinuation of cyclosporine or tacrolimus occasionally led to reversal of the syndrome. Many therapeutic trials with variable maintenance immunosuppression protocols were proposed, but, there were no confirmed strategies to manage the posttransplant HUS. We present a case of de novo cyclosporine associated HUS occurring within first a few days after renal transplantation. Early diagnosis was done with presence of shistocytes in peripheral blood smear, thrombocytopenia, low haptoglobin, and renal dysfunction. Supportive therapy with OKT3 immunosuppression followed by mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and prednisolone (Pds) maintenance therapy led to reversal of renal dysfunction and remission of HUS. In conclusion, in transplant recipients receiving CyA who suffer from HUS, MMF-based dual therapy may be considered. Maintenance treatment with MMF and Pds may be of benefit to more transplant recipients such as those suffering from other CyA or tacrolimus-related side effects.
Cyclosporine ; Early Diagnosis ; Haptoglobins ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome* ; Immunosuppression ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Kidney* ; Muromonab-CD3 ; Prednisolone* ; Tacrolimus ; Thrombocytopenia ; Transplantation

PURPOSE: Anti-D immunoglobulin has recently emerged as a theraputic option for the treatment of patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). There is no report about anti-D treatment in our country. In this report, the efficacy and adverse reactions of anti-D immunoglobulin in children with ITP were evaluated. METHPDS: From August, 1997 to September, 1998, 7 courses of anti-D treatment were applied in 4 children who had persisting thrombocytopenia and frequent bleeding episodes despite use of intravenous immunoglobulin and corticosteroid. They were Rh-positive and non-splenectomized patients. They received 43~60 mug/kg/dose of anti-D (WinRho ) twice with 7 days interval at out patient department. To evaluate the efficacy and adverse reactions of anti-D, platelet, reticulocyte, hemoglobin, bilirubin and haptoglobin counts were observed weekly. RESULTS: Median age and pretreatment duration after diagnosis were 22 months (15~77 months) and 7 months (2~46 months), respectively. Bleeding decreased significantly after anti-D treatment. Platelet count increased median 4.11 folds (1.85~13.67 folds) and response was maximal at day 7. Duration of platelet increase more than 2 folds was 5 weeks (0~10 weeks). No significant adverse reactions other than mild hemolytic anemia was present. Hemoglobin decreased to minimal 88% (79.5~95.9%) of pretreatment value. Duration of hemoglobin lower than 90% of pretreatment value was 1 week (0~4 weeks). After 10 weeks, platelet and hemoglobin returned to pretreatment value. CONCLUSION: Although anti-D is not a curative treatment for ITP, it is safe and repeated infusions of anti-D can be used to maintain the platelet count at a level of sufficient to provide adequate hemostasis and may enable children to postpone or even avoid splenectomy.
Anemia, Hemolytic ; Bilirubin ; Blood Platelets ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Haptoglobins ; Hemorrhage ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Platelet Count ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic* ; Reticulocytes ; Splenectomy ; Thrombocytopenia

Autoimmune paraneoplastic syndromes are encountered in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes. A review of case reports suggested 10% of myelodysplastic syndrome patients may experience various autoimmune syndromes, associated with immunological-mediated hematologic abnormalities, such as Coombs' negative hemolytic anemia. In patients with myelodysplastic syndrome, Coombs' negative hemolytic anemia may be underdiagnosed due to its association with reticulocytopenia. Therefore, the findings from a peripheral blood smear and measurement of haptoglobin level are important. Autoimmune manifestations respond to immunosuppressive agents, including steroids. Herein, a case with Coombs' negative hemolytic anemia, diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome from a bone marrow biopsy, is reported, with a review of the previously reported literature.
Anemia, Hemolytic ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune* ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Haptoglobins ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes* ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; Steroids

OBJECTIVETo assess the association of haptoglobin (HP)1/2 polymorphism with coronary heart disease (CHD) in Chinese Hans.

METHODSOne hundred and eighty-nine CHD patients and 242 healthy controls confirmed with angiography were recruited. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was utilized to genotype the HP1 and HP2 alleles and genotype frequencies in cases and controls were compared.

RESULTSThe frequency of HP2-2 genotype was significantly higher in CHDs than in controls (0.54 vs.0.35, P = 0.000). The HP2-2 genotype significantly increased the risk for CHD in univariable analysis (OR = 2.166, 95%CI: 1.467-3.196). Multifactor Logistic regression analysis indicated that HP2-2 genotype is an independent risk factor to CHD (P = 0.002; OR = 2.101, 95%CI: 1.311-3.367). Similarly, the HP2 allele frequency in the CHD group was significantly higher than that in the control subjects (0.74 vs.0.61, P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONThe HP2-2 genotype is associated with CHD in Chinese. HP2-2 genotype may be an independent risk factor to CHD, and HP2 allele may be a genetic susceptibility factor to CHD in Chinese.

Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Coronary Disease ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Haptoglobins ; genetics ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic