[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.

Heparan sulfate as a venostatic endothelial stabilizing factor.

A humoral transfer of a factor inducing a decrease of circulating endothelial cells (CEC) released during venostasis was demonstrated in rats. The possibility to block its activity by an in-vitro addition of protamine suggests its identity with an endogenous heparan sulfate possessing an inhibitory effect on endothelial turnover. This was supported by an analogous effect of intravenously administered heparan sulfate-related agent.

[Venomous snake bites].

Although venomous snakebites are not a serious world wide problem from the epidemiological point of view and are rare under our conditions, it is frequently a very serious and life threatening matter. The patient's prognosis depends among others also on early adequate and comprehensive therapeutic measures. The authors give a list of poisonous snakes and types of toxins and their action on man.

Antithrombotic effects of heparin and related agents.

Native heparin was very effective in models of arterial and venous thrombosis as well as in a model demonstrating the effect on endothelial stability in rats. The effect on venous thrombosis was particularly prominent. The activities of LMW-heparin were about the same in all three models, the absolute effective dose against arterial thrombosis being much lower than with native heparin.

Antithrombotic activity of an unsaturated fatty acid preparation.

An unsaturated fatty acid preparation from fish oil, "Epavit", completely prevented arterial thrombosis induced in the rat aorta by a combined stenosis, extensive endothelial perturbation and i.v. serotonin, at an optimum dose of 0.

Non-specific therapy of a hemorrhagic diathesis after a bite by a young Bothrops asper (barba amarilla): a case report.

Hemorrhagic diathesis developed 4 hr after a bite by one fang of a two-month-old specimen of Bothrops asper. Severe allergy to horse serum contraindicated the use of horse antivenom, and a substitution therapy was started 20 hr after the bite. During the following 4 days the patient was treated with infusions of 8 g human fibrinogen, 2500 U of cryoprecipitate, 1000 ml of human plasma and vitamin K in several portions.

The action of a fibrin-promoting enzyme from the venom of Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix on rat fibrinogen and plasma.

The action of a fibrin-promoting enzyme isolated from the venom of A.c.contortrix was investigated.

Conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin induced by preferential release of fibrinopeptide B.

Fibrin clot-promoting enzyme preferentially releasing fibrinopeptide B from fibrinogen was isolated from the crude venom of Agkistrodon contortrix and its mode of action was studied in detail. A purification procedure involving affinity chromatographies on immobilized lectin and arginine removed plasmin-like and kallikrein-like activities towards low-molecular-weight chromogenic substrates. Fibrin-promoting enzyme cleaved off only fibrinopeptides A and B from fibrinogen.

Cross reactivity of mono- and polyvalent antivenoms with Viperidae and Crotalidae snake venoms.

The lethal, local and defibrinating effects of two African Viperidae and four Crotalidae were assayed. Two commercial antivenoms (Behringwerke Nord Africa and Wyeth anticrotalic) and gamma-globulins from hyperimmune rabbit serum were tested for their ability to neutralize the toxic effects of the venoms. Cross neutralization of the lethal effect (antiviperidae antivenom against Crotalidae venom and vice versa) was evident with Behringwerke against Crotalidae as well as with Wyeth against Viperidae.

Fibrinopeptide-releasing enzymes in the venom from the southern copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix).

Protein fractionation techniques utilizing the different properties of the sample (size, charge, sugar moiety) were employed to characterize the crude A. c. contortrix venom.

Ecarin test in diagnosis of dicoumarol therapy, liver diseases and DIC.

The conversion of prothrombin by ecarin is independent of the presence of gamma carboxyglutamic residues on the N terminal of the molecule. Ecarin converts therefore also the acarboxylated precursor-PIVKA II. In a group of 347 patients under dicoumarol therapy of different intensity and duration PIVKA was detected in BaSO4 adsorbed PPP only in samples where prothrombin level (Quick's test) was lower than 50% of normal values.

Assessment of a complex mixture of interacting proteins in the coagulant active venom from Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix.

The crude venom of Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix was characterized by means of 2D-PAGE (using various separation principles in the respective directions) and high performance gel filtration chromatography. It was found that the venom presents a rich and remarkably stable mixture of proteins, mostly glycoproteins, which may interact each other. High stability of the venom in spite of the presence of many proteolytic enzymes, must most likely be attributed to the sugar moieties of venom proteins.

Evaluation of individual variability in the composition of Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix venom by means of HPLC and two-dimensional PAGE.

Qualitative and quantitative differences of coagulant enzymes in venom samples from individuals of the Agkistrodon c.c. were studied by means of 2D-PAGE and high performance anion-exchange chromatography.

Use of some snake venoms in the diagnostics of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).

The crude toxin of Agkistrodon piscivorus was found to produce hemolysis of PNH erythrocytes by way of complement activation, however the degree of PNH blood cell lysis was lower than in other techniques used. The crude toxins of Naja naja and Naja oxiana cause much higher hemolysis though lower hemolysis takes place in normal blood cells. In some normal persons and different blood diseases it is responsible for high hemolysis even when the complement is absent.

Intraspecific variation in content of a basic toxin in eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) venom.

Venom samples from four specimens of Crotalus adamanteus from the same litter were analyzed for the content of a basic toxin by gel filtration. Whereas the venoms of two snakes were essentially free of the toxin, two other contained about 5% and 11% toxin (w/w). The individual absence or presence of the toxin in the venom was constant, suggesting a genetically determined variation.