Episode 10 - Snakes on the (Clinical) Brain | Venoms in Clinical Use

07/16/24 • 35 min

Echis carinatus, Daboia russelii, Uxyuranus scullatellas. Never has so much been owed by so many humans to so few... snakes. In this split episode, For the first time the Bloody Minded Crew is delighted to welcome guests! Join our coagulation experts Dr Maeve Crowley and Kent Chapman for a tour of the wonderful world of exotic clotting times.
This episode was so big we split it in half! In Part 2 of this episode we step out of the lab and chat with consultant haematologist Dr Maeve Crowley about the clinical uses of snake based testing and the subtleties of lupus anticoagulant testing.
Timestamps
1:43 - Introductions
05:07 - The DRVVT
06:57 - LA Testing in Practice
09:00 - Mixing Studies
13:33 - Testing and Anticoagulation
19:27 - Significant LAs
21:20 - RAPS, TRAPS and Decision Making in LA
27:20 - Taipan and Echis Times

Check out show notes, additional references and (sometimes) extra content at www.bloodyminded.com.au

Check out show notes, additional references and (sometimes) extra content at www.bloodyminded.com.au

Previous Episode

Episode 9 - Snakes on the (Laboratory) Brain | Venoms in the Coagulation Lab

Echis carinatus, Daboia russelii, Uxyuranus scullatellas. Never has so much been owed by so many humans to so few... snakes. For the first time the Bloody Minded Crew is delighted to welcome guests! Join consultant haematologist Dr Maeve Crowley and senior hospital scientist Kent Chapman for a tour of the wonderful world of exotic clotting times.

This episode was so big we had to split it in two! In this first half of the episode we interview Kent Chapman, senior hospital scientist in haemostasis at John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle regarding the variety of snake venom testing available in the lab.

Kent has over 20 years of experience in laboratory haemostasis and coagulation with a special interest in von Willbrand factor, ADAMTS13 testing and complement interactions with the coagulation cascade
Timestamps:
00:59 - Interview Overview
03:46 - Introductions
08:12 - What's in the snake drawer?
10:39 - Dilute Russell Viper Venom Time
15:05 - DOAC interference
19:20 - Echis Time
24:02 - Taipan Time
26:14 - Pathological Envenomation
33:15 - Sandflies?!

Check out show notes, additional references and (sometimes) extra content at www.bloodyminded.com.au

Next Episode

Episode 11 - What is Blood ft. Erythrocytes | Haematopoiesis & Haematinics Overview

What is blood (Baby don't hurt me)? Rejoice as we escape the land of coagulation and look at some of the questions we have all asked during our medical training- what is blood? Does everybody have blood? Why is there so much of it on this floor? Who are you and how did you get in here? Join us as we we answer all these questions and more this episode with a focus on red cells.
Timestamps
1:33 - Blood - What is it (good for)?
3:49 - Differentiation of blood cells (my progenitors would be proud)
6:29 - Where did blood come from? Where did blood go? Where did you come from cotton blood Joe?
07:47- White cell summary is here. Basophils still a mystery.
10:30 - Finally the red cell talk I've been waiting for
12:07 - Four ingredients to make a red cell. Prep time 5 min, cleanup 120 days
13:26 - Iron (in more detail than anyone could possibly want)
16:34 - B12 and folate. Don't do nangs, kids (despite this bit here)
21:28 - MCV - Why haematologists care about cell size (I mean it's more about how you use it)
25:18 - Take home messages, predominantly nang based

Check out show notes, additional references and (sometimes) extra content at www.bloodyminded.com.au