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Biomedical subjects

K D Winkel

Publications and source records attributed to K D Winkel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Wasp sting mortality in Australia.

Wasp sting fatalities have rarely been reported in Australia. We used data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and State coronial authorities to investigate deaths from wasp stings in Australia from 1979 through 1998. Seven cases were identified, all involving men in rural settings. Five of the seven victims had prior histories of wasp or bee venom allergy, or both, but none carried injectable adrenalin. All patients with a history of systemic Hymenoptera sting allergy should undergo assessment for immunotherapy and carry adrenalin.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Acute and recurrent skin ulceration after spider bite.

We reviewed the records of the Australian Venom Research Unit and The Alfred Hospital Department of Hyperbaric Medicine from January 1992 to July 1998 and found 15 cases of skin ulceration after spider bite that could be followed up with the patient and the treating physician. Fourteen patients had skin ulceration attributed to white-tailed spider bites but in only three was this confirmed. One patient had skin necrosis after a confirmed black house spider bite. Recurrent skin ulceration occurred in nine of the 15 patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

RelB is essential for the development of myeloid-related CD8alpha- dendritic cells but not of lymphoid-related CD8alpha+ dendritic cells.

The transcription factor RelB had been shown to be important for dendritic cell (DC) development, but the type of DC involved was not clear. Here, we report that RelB mRNA is expressed strongly in CD8alpha- DEC-205- DC but only weakly in CD8alpha+ DEC-205+ DC. In addition, CD8alpha+ DEC-205+ DC are present and functional in RelB null mice, the DC deficiency being mainly in the CD8alpha- DEC-205- population. By constructing bone-marrow chimeric mice, we demonstrate that the partial deficiency in RelB null thymic DC is a secondary effect of disrupted thymic architecture. However, the deficiency in splenic CD8alpha- DEC-205- DC is a direct, stem cell intrinsic effect of the RelB mutation. Thus, RelB selectively regulates a myeloid-related DC lineage.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

The nature of the signals regulating CD8 T cell proliferative responses to CD8alpha+ or CD8alpha- dendritic cells.

The CD8alpha(-)-expressing dendritic cells (DC) of mouse spleen have been shown to be poor inducers of interleukin (IL)-2 production by CD8 T cells when compared to the CD8- DC. As a consequence, CD8 T cells give a more prolonged proliferative response to CD8- DC than to CD8+ DC. The possible mechanisms underlying these functional differences in DC subtype have been investigated. Inadequate co-stimulation did not underlie the poor T cell response to allogeneic CD8+ DC. Equivalent levels of B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86) were found on the two DC subtypes and co-stimulator assays did not reveal any functional differences between them. Although CD8+ DC were found to die more rapidly in culture than CD8- DC, this did not explain their reduced stimulatory ability. Neither prolonging DC survival in culture nor renewing the stimulator cells by repeated addition of freshly isolated DC had any significant effect on the T cell responses. Furthermore, later addition to the cultures of DC of the opposite type to the initiating DC did not reverse or eliminate the differential response to the initiating DC. The role of DC-derived soluble factors was examined by addition to the cultures of supernatants derived from freshly isolated or stimulated DC of the opposite type. This neither enhanced the poor stimulatory capacity of CD8+ DC nor inhibited the stimulation by CD8- DC. Furthermore, addition of a series of cytokines that might have been produced by the DC did not eliminate the differences in T cell proliferation. Only the addition to the cultures of the growth factors IL-2 and IL-4 overcame the stimulatory difference between the two DC populations, confirming that the difference in T cell proliferative responses was a consequence of differences in induced cytokine production. The difference in the response of CD8 T cells to CD8+ and CD8- DC is therefore determined by direct DC-T cell contact during the earliest stages of the culture and involves an undetermined and possibly new signaling system.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Venomous marine creatures.

BACKGROUND: Many venomous marine creatures inhabit Australian waters, causing significant morbidity and occasional fatalities. No antivenom is available for most of these creatures. Little is known about the venom or syndromes produced by many of these creatures. OBJECTIVE: This article discusses the features of envenomation by some of the more commonly encountered venomous marine creatures, and the recommended first aid and medical management of such envenomations. DISCUSSION: The information contained within this article is intended to provide the reader with an overview of some of the more common marine envenomations, and hopefully with the knowledge to effectively manage such problems.

Animals↗
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↗