[Viper (Vipera berus) snake bites].

Cases of snake bites (Vipera berus) have as compared with past years a rising trend in the Czech Republic. This ensues among other factors from a higher prevalence of snakes due to the improving ecological situation. The morbidity of snake bites is of no epidemiological importance, the frequency of snake bites amounts to several tens per year and in some clinically manifest intoxication does not develop.

Severe coagulopathy after a bite of a green bush viper (Atheris squamiger): case report and biochemical analysis of the venom.

A 34 year old male bitten by an adult Atheris squamiger snake developed symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea which were followed by drowsiness and impaired breathing. Local hemorrhage, edema and pain at the bite-site occurred, but no systemic bleeding or hemorrhagic diathesis developed. All clinical and laboratory parameters were in the normal range except for afibrinogenemia, thrombocytopenia and slight proteinuria.

Endothelial desquamating activity of rat synthetic fibrinopeptide B and its analogues "in vivo": identification of responsible sequence.

The endothelial desquamating activity of the synthetic rat fibrinopeptide B (ATTDSDKVDLSIAR-OH), and its analogues was studied "in vivo" after intravenous administration to rats. Rat fibrinopeptide B (FPB) caused a significant increase in the count of circulating endothelial cell carcasses at the dose of 100 nmol/kg. Maximal effect reaching about 270% of the normal value was achieved with the dose of 600 nmol/kg in 30 min.