Project description:This project mainly aims to characterize the complex toxic components present in the venom of Trimeresurus malabaricus (Malabar pit viper). Since Trimeresurus malabaricus (Malabar pit viper) species are mainly inhabited to plantation crop areas, its envenomation is a serious threat to the human population thriving in these zones, especially to the plantation workers. Therefore, exploring the venom proteome of Malabar pit viper is decisive to develop and design new antivenom and therapeutics against its envenomation. As described in this study, applying various orthogonal separation strategies helped in dissecting venom constituents of Trimeresurus malabaricus and is the first comprehensive attempt in revealing the complex venom profile of Malabar pit viper through proteomics approaches incorporating multiple database searches. In order to achieve this the crude venom components were resolved on a 12% SDS page. Further each of the bands were subjected to in-gel trypsin digestion. The crude venom was also subjected to ion-exchange chromatography separation. The obtained fractions were subjected to in-solution trypsin digestion. All the digested peptides were then subjected to Q-TOF LC-MS/MS analysis.
Project description:Primary objectives: The primary objective is to investigate circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) via deep sequencing for mutation detection and by whole genome sequencing for copy number analyses before start (baseline) with regorafenib and at defined time points during administration of regorafenib for treatment efficacy in colorectal cancer patients in terms of overall survival (OS).
Primary endpoints: circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) via deep sequencing for mutation detection and by whole genome sequencing for copy number analyses before start (baseline) with regorafenib and at defined time points during administration of regorafenib for treatment efficacy in colorectal cancer patients in terms of overall survival (OS).
Project description:Trimeresurus gracilis is a pit viper inhabiting the high mountains of Taiwan. No specific antivenom against T. gracilis is available, and we did not find any prior published case reports on its clinical envenomation. We present two patients with T. gracilis envenomation who were both bitten on the index finger and were administered bivalent hemotoxic antivenom against Trimeresurus stejnegeri and Protobothrops mucrosquamatus. In case 1, the patient was administered seven vials of antivenom within 2 days of envenomation. She received surgical intervention on day 26 and recovered from the wound 3 months after envenomation, but her left index finger was slightly and irreversibly bent. In case 2, the patient was administered 12 vials of antivenom within 10 hours after envenomation, received surgical intervention on day 1, and underwent debridement and reconstruction surgery on day 7 after envenomation. The wounds healed 1.5 months after envenomation, and no deformity occurred. Laboratory data showed elevated D-dimer levels and prothrombin times. The cross-neutralizing ability of bivalent hemotoxic antivenom against T. stejnegeri and P. mucrosquamatus appeared insufficient to treat the local effects of T. gracilis envenomation. The deformity of the finger of the patient in case 1 might have been caused by the lower dose, later administration of antivenins, and a delay in the necessary surgery.