In Africa, the most notorious of snake species is the black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis). It is feared for its potent rapid-acting venom [7] and its characteristic feature of typically striking more than once. The problem is that it always injects venom in its bite. So a bite from this species has an almost 100% fatality rate if left untreated. Other venomous African snake species that pose a ...

In this study, polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis and densitometry analysis methods were used to analyze venom extracts of Vipera xanthina specimens of different lengths (35, 47 and 88 cm) collected from the same locality. The electropherograms of the venom protein samples showed age-dependent qualitative and quantitative variations.

pital at 7-30 p.m., on the loth December, with two small punctures oil her right ankle, stating that an hour and-a-half previously, while she was moving about in her house, she trod on a snake, which turned and bit her on the ankle. A friend, who was in the room with her, then and there killed the snake. A few minutes after the -infliction of the bite, some of her neighbours tied a thick cord t...

The physiological mechanisms underlying the 'cost of reproduction' remain under debate, though oxidative stress has emerged as a potential candidate. The 'oxidative cost of reproduction' has received considerable attention with regards to food and antioxidant availability; however, the limitation of water availability has thus far been neglected. In this study, we experimentally examined the co...

Snakes of the genera Pseudocerastes and Eristicophis (Viperidae: Viperinae) are known as desert vipers due to their association with arid environments Middle East. These species have received limited research attention little is about venom or ecology. In this study, a comprehensive analysis viper venoms was conducted by visualising proteomes via gel electrophoresis assessing crude for cytotoxi...

BACKGROUND Type 2 cytokine-related immune responses associated with development of antigen-specific IgE antibodies can contribute to pathology in patients with allergic diseases and to fatal anaphylaxis. However, recent findings in mice indicate that IgE also can enhance defense against honeybee venom. OBJECTIVE We tested whether IgE antibodies, IgE-dependent effector mechanisms, and a local ...

Vipera aspis aspis (V.a.a.) is the most dangerous poisonous snake in South-Eastern France. The clinical symptoms observed after V.a.a. envenomations involve mostly local signs (pain, edema) associated in the more severe cases with systemic symptoms (gastro-intestinal and cardiovascular manifestations). Since 1992, several unusual cases of moderate and severe 'neurotoxic' envenomations by V.a.a....

This issue of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine includes a report by Pradella and colleagues regarding a cooperative multicentre study to define the upper limits of normal for several tests used in the diagnostic assessment of lupus anticoagulant (LA) [1] . In total, 200 normal samples were assessed, comprising 40 from each of five centres, for a total of six functional LA assays. Each...

In vitro experiments were conducted to determine whether the direct thrombin inhibitors argatroban and lepirudin can interfere with the results of lupus anticoagulant (LA) testing. Concentration-response curves were generated to calculate the concentration of anticoagulant that prolongs the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) to 75 seconds (2.5 times the baseline average). Correspondin...

Fluctuations of lupus anticoagulant activity and anticardiolipin antibody titres were studied in 53 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The median study time was 26 months with a median number of 12 samples. Lupus anticoagulant was measured by the kaolin clotting time (KCT) and dilute Russell viper venom time (dRVVT) assays; anticardiolipin antibodies were assayed by an enzyme lin...