The sequence of porcine apolipoprotein E (APOE) cDNA.

Porcine cDNA clones encoding apolipoprotein E (APOE) were isolated and sequenced. The porcine APOE cDNA sequence is 1122 bp in length and encodes a pre-protein of 317 amino acids. The inferred porcine amino acid sequence corresponds to the human APOE-4 isoform.

[Quality assurance in clinical trials. Problems related to patient information]. / Kvalitetssikring ved kliniske utprøvninger. Problemstillinger relatert til pasientinformasjon.

In connection with a phase-III study of cholesterol lowering agents, a questionnaire survey was carried out on information to patients' during clinical trials. The survey included 124 patients and nine team members with different professional backgrounds. The results show that, in spite of the fact that the patients had received information in accordance with the guidelines, only 47% of them had perceived that conventional treatment would be offered to those who dropped out of the study. A test of the extent of the patients' understanding about the drugs they were taking showed that only 39% knew how the drug acted and the reasons for the chosen dosing schedule. 23% of the patients would like to have received more information, but 9% of these had problems in formulating questions to the health personnel. Anxiety was a problem for 16% of patients, especially in the early phase of the clinical study. Only half of the team-members were aware of this. 45% of the patients felt that they would disappoint the team if they expressed a wish to drop out of the study. Most of the team-members would have tried to motivate the patients to continue to participate in the trial. Based on the results of the survey, we suggest some main elements of standard procedures for providing information to patients in connection with clinical trials.

Parapoxvirus papillomatosis in the muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus): genetical differences between the virus causing new outbreak in a vaccinated herd, the vaccine virus and a local orf virus.

Since 1981 a domesticated muskoxen herd had been successfully vaccinated against papillomatosis with homogenated, glutaraldehyde inactivated papilloma tissue. In the fall of 1985 a new clinical outbreak of disease occurred, affecting previously infected as well as vaccinated animals. The purification of parapox virions directly from papilloma tissue and orf scabs collected in a local sheep farm was followed by restriction endonuclease analysis of viral DNA. The morphological identity of purified virus was controlled by electron microscopy. Comparison of restriction endonuclease digests (10 different enzymes) by gel electrophoresis demonstrated that the muskoxen parapoxvirus from the new outbreak 1985 differed considerably from the 2 other isolates (muskoxen 1981 and local orf). The latter viruses demonstrated a high degree of homology, but differences were evident after digestion with the enzyme EcoRI. During metrizamide gradient purification minor bands containing morphologically intact virions were isolated in addition to the major fractions. The restriction enzyme digests indicated that the virions of the minor bands differed from those in the major bands.

[Prescription of psychopharmaceuticals. A survey of drug treatment at 10 psychiatric hospitals]. / Forskrivning av psykofarmaka. En oversikt over medikamentell behandling i ti psykiatriske sykehus.

This study describes a survey of the drugs prescribed to long-term psychiatric patients and psychogeriatric patients in ten Norwegian psychiatric hospitals. Of 1,124 patients, 12% received no psychotropic drugs and 14% were given a combination of more than three psychotropic drugs. Of 872 patients given neuroleptics, 81% received antipsychotic medication with low-dose neuroleptics and 27% received depot-neuroleptics. Hypnotics and minor tranquillizers were commonly prescribed together with neuroleptics and antidepressants. Anti-parkinsonian drugs were prescribed for 37% of those receiving neuroleptics. Neuroleptics, minor tranquillizers and anti-parkinsonian drugs were commonly given three times a day. The prescription pattern differed between the hospitals. Guidelines are suggested for more rational use of psychotropic drugs.