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Biomedical subjects

K D Winkel

Publications and source records attributed to K D Winkel.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Spider bite. A rational approach.

BACKGROUND: Spider bite is one of the most common envenomation problems in Australia. Australia is home to two spiders of major medical importance; the Sydney funnel web spider and the redback spider. OBJECTIVE: This paper describes the features of envenomation and discusses treatment for bites by the Sydney funnel web spider and the redback spider. Bites by other spiders are also discussed, as is the problem of necrotising arachnidism. DISCUSSION: It is hoped that the information contained within this article will be of help to medical practitioners dealing with spiderbite throughout Australia. There is, as yet, a great deal to be learned about spiderbite, particularly necrotising arachnidism.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Could this be snakebite?

BACKGROUND: Australian snakes are among the most venomous in the world. Although usually obvious, the occurrence of snakebite is occasionally unrecognised by the patient and/or physician, resulting in delayed or inadequate treatment, or even in death. OBJECTIVE: This article describes the historical, clinical and pathologic features associated with envenomation by various Australian venomous snakes, and discusses the investigation and management (including first aid) of suspected snakebite. DISCUSSION: A high index of suspicion should be maintained, particularly in rural areas and in patients unable to give a history. Investigations including creatine kinase, clotting profile and venom detection kit should be performed in cases of suspected snakebite. The choice of appropriate antivenom and its indications are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Inability of Plasmodium vinckei-immune spleen cells to transfer protection to recipient mice exposed to vaccine 'vectors' or heterologous species of plasmodium.

Mice can be immunized to Plasmodium vinckei by repeated infections followed by cure. Such immunity is dependent on CD4 T cells and an architecturally modified spleen, but has little requirement for antibody. Thus, athymic mice can be exposed to P. vinckei and cured, but do not develop immunity. They are resistant to challenge with parasites, however, if they are then given spleen cells from euthymic immunized animals. Such immune spleen cells, however, cannot transfer resistance to normal mice which have been exposed to BCG, Salmonella typhimurium, or vaccinia virus, and are only partially effective in transferring resistance to mice which have been previously immunized with heterologous plasmodia, P. yoelii, P. chabaudi and P. berghei. Mice exposed to varying numbers of irradiated P. vinckei-pRBC do not develop immunity and nor are such animals protected following adoptive transfer of immune spleen cells. Cellular immunity to malaria may not only be dependent on a population of immune CD4 T cells, but may require a specifically architecturally modified spleen which may not occur following either exposure to candidate vaccine vectors, heterologous plasmodia or non-viable homologous plasmodia.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Identification of two promiscuous T cell epitopes from tetanus toxin.

Tetanus toxoid-specific T cell clones were isolated from a human donor. To determine the T cell epitopes recognized by the clones, 30 peptides representing amphipathic alpha helical regions of the tetanus toxin were screened for ability to induce proliferation of the clones. Two T epitopes were identified. These occurred within peptides 12 and 21, and had the amino acid sequences NSVDDALINSTKIYSYFPSV and PGINGKAIHLVNNESSE, respectively. An unusual feature was that both peptides could be presented to their respective T cell clones by antigen-presenting cells of many HLA specificities. Further investigation of peptide 12 showed that the epitope was only seven amino acids in length and had a very hydrophobic sequence, namely YSYFPSV. The ability of the T cell epitope-containing peptides 12 and 21 to interact with many different HLA alleles means they may potentially be very useful as "universal carrier molecules" in synthetic vaccines.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Funnel-web spider (Hadronyche infensa) envenomations in coastal south-east Queensland.

Five patients with confirmed funnel-web spider bites (Hadronyche infensa) presented to Nambour General Hospital, in south-east Queensland, between 1992 and 1998. Two patients required antivenom; low doses of antivenom were effective. Patients were bitten in spring and early summer. In areas such as this, where funnel-web spider bites are reported less frequently than in New South Wales, clinicians and the community should be aware of the risks and immediate management of these bites.

Antivenins↗