Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) served as King of England from 1509 until his death in 1547. A melancholic character, Henry was known for his many marriages, his temper, his bouts of tyranny, and his break with the Catholic Church. Most authors, even those writing contemporary accounts, portray Henry as a villain. Hilary Mantel paints Henry differently. In Wolf Hall and Bringing up the Bodies, the King is as he has always been; argumentative, sardonic, and excessive. However, Mantel chooses to augment these parts of his character with some of his better traits, giving the King a softer edge that is often lost to his actions and infamy. An analysis of Mantel’s writing, as compared to the historical record, sheds new light on Henry VIII and invites readers, through the joy of historical fiction, to be more open in their interpretation of the King.

This final thesis addresses the approach of standards and software for calculation of pressure vessels loaded by external pressure and a design of own calculation software, including a demonstration on chosen geometry. The approaches of standards and software are solved in the form of research. The practical part describes the developed software, selected technologies for development and results of the demonstration. The demonstration was carried out on two geometries and was successful.

No description available.

The Tudor Reformation period represents an era fraught with religious and political controversy. It is my goal to present the crucial role the nobility played in the success of the Henrician Reformation as well as to provide a reasonable explanation for the nobility's reaction to religious and political reform. I will also seek to quantify the significance of the nobility as a social group and prove the importance of their reaction to the success of the Henrician Reformation. The nobles because of patronage, self-interest, piety, apathy, fear, or practicality were motivated to support the king's efforts. Their response was the key to the success or failure of the Henrician Reformation. Although Henry VIII started the process of reform, the Henrician Reformation would never have been successful without the enforcement, collaboration, and backing of the nobility.

Henry VIII is known as the king who changed the direction of the Chruch of England, because of not being able to divorce his wife Catherine of Aragon. Everyone who has the smallest interest in history will know who this man is, and he keeps fascinating us until this day. How are his motives to the reformation and the divorce portrayed in literature during the last 100 years? Was the divorce the only reason for the start of the English reformation? These topics will be examined in this essay written at a bachelor level.

<p>Hemophilia A and B are X-linked recessive bleeding disorders caused by the deficiency of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) and Factor IX (FIX), respectively. Current treatment involves life-long protein replacement therapy which is invasive, expensive and inaccessible to the majority of hemophiliacs worldwide. Treatment is further compromised by the development of neutralizing antibodies. Thus, the development of an alternative treatment that is safer, cost effective and non-invasive that circumvents immune response induction is desirable.</p> <p>To this end, a chitosan-mediated gene therapy strategy delivered orally was developed to provide clinically relevant plasma expression of FVIII or FIX. Hemophilia A mice that ingested chitosan nanoparticles containing FVIII DNA transiently expressed canine FVIII reaching >100 mU one day post treatment, together with partial phenotypic correction. Residual FVIII activity was detected for several days. Repeated administration of nanoparticles restored FVIII expression for 4 weeks and reduced clotting time in treated mice. Interestingly, inhibitors and non-neutralizing antibodies were not detectable throughout the experiment.</p> <p>The immunomodulatory effects of chitosan-mediated oral gene delivery was investigated in naive hemophilia A mice and mice with pre-existing inhibitors. Administration of nanoparticles containing human FVIII DNA in naive mice suppressed systemic antibody responses and provided long-term tolerance to rhFVIII protein immunizations for at least 8 weeks. This tolerance was transferable to naive mice, suggesting development of regulatory T cells. In contrast, repeated oral nanoparticle administration was unable to suppress FVIII-specific antibody responses in hemophilia A mice with pre-existing inhibitors.</p> <p>Treatment of hemophilia B is challenged by a 25-50 fold higher therapeutic threshold. Nevertheless, hemophilia B mice fed chitosan nanoparticles containing CpG-FIXi plasmid transiently expressed therapeutically relevant human FIX >14mU/mL plasma.</p> <p>Chitosan nanoparticle formulation was optimized <em>in vitro</em> for improved transfection efficiency. Nanoparticles formulated at a chitosan:DNA charge ratio of >2:1 (N:P) provided DNA protection against proton and enzymatic degradation that mimic conditions of the stomach and intestine, respectively. The inclusion of 25 mM sodium acetate-acetic acid decreased transfection of HEK 293 cells 4-fold, while 50 mM sodium sulphate increased uptake by ~40%. Optimal transfection was achieved with chitosan chloride (CL 213) formulated at a charge ratio of 3:1 in 50 mM sodium sulphate.</p> <p>These findings suggest chitosan nanoparticles can provide clinically relevant FVIII and FIX transgene expression, which is amenable to a one-tablet-a-day dosing strategy. Taken together, chitosan-mediate gene therapy delivered orally is proposed as a potential non-invasive alternative strategy for hemophilia treatment and without inducing neutralizing and non-neutralizing antibody production.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

In this thesis the author analyses the changes in the view of the British Royal Family in general public during the 20th century. Given the extensiveness of the topic, the author focuses on two crisis situations - so called "Simpson Affair" - the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936 and his relationship with divorced American Wallis Simpson, and so called "Annus Horribilis" - the divorce of the successor to the throne prince Charles and princess Diana Spencer. The author analyses changes in perception of the role of British Royal Family in life of British nation and its role within British general public. Author works with unpublished sources (mainly from the archive materials gathered from the sources of the Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and the National Archives in London - Kew, with published sources and extensive specialized literature mostly from British provenience. Keywords Great Britain, Monarchy, Royal Family, Edward VIII, Wallis Simpson, Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Diana Spencer, General Public

A Síndrome Antifosfolípide (SAF) é uma doença autoimune na qual há presença de anticorpos antifosfolípides [anticoagulante lúpico (AL), anticardiolipina (ACL), anti-beta2glicoproteína I (a-beta2GPI)]. É caracterizada por eventos trombóticos e/ou perdas gestacionais de repetição. Existe um ambiente pró-coagulante na SAF, pois os antifosfolípides (AFL) são capazes de induzir disfunção endotelial aumentando a expressão de moléculas de adesão como o fator de von Willebrand (FVW). Entre os inúmeros elementos envolvidos neste processo, o FVW e a relação com: sua principal enzima proteolítica, a ADAMTS-13, e com o FVIII são relativamente menos conhecidos. Os objetivos deste estudo foram: 1-verificar alterações no endotélio de pacientes com SAF primária (SAFP), através do marcador de lesão endotelial, o FVW, da ADAMTS-13 e do FVIII, avaliando a concentração antigênica, a atividade e a correlação entre estas proteínas; 2- Verificar se alguma destas variáveis é capaz de diferenciar os tipos de eventos trombóticos ocorridos nestes pacientes e se a presença dos AFL influenciam estas proteínas. O estudo, do tipo transversal, envolveu 39 pacientes com SAF primária, com idade mediana de 43 anos, em tratamento no ambulatório de Reumatologia do Hospital das Clínicas, e 39 controles sadios doadores da Fundação Pró-Sangue Hemocentro de São Paulo, pareados por sexo e idade com os pacientes. Os títulos de ACL e a-beta2GPI, as determinações antigênicas e de atividade das proteínas FVW, ADAMTS-13, FVIII e PF4 foram realizados por ELISA, e a atividade do FVIII foi determinada pelo método cromogênico. A análise das subunidades do FVW foi realizada por Western immunoblotting. AL foi detectado utilizando ensaios de coagulação de acordo com as recomendações da Sociedade Internacional de Trombose e Hemostasia. Os resultados foram apresentados em: 1- pacientes SAFP e controles, e 2- pacientes SAFP agrupados em relação ao tipo de evento e ao tipo de AFL presente. Os pacientes apresentaram aumento da concentração antigênica do FVW (74±6 x 69±11 UI/dL; p=0,016), ADAMTS-13 (1,3±0,34 x 0,82±0,12 Ug/mL; p < 0,0001), FVIII (106±19 x 91±15 UI/dL; p=0,0003),da ligação FVW:FVIII (144±17 x 134±20%; p=0,082) e da atividade do FVIII (117±38 x 98±30%; p=0,0021) comparado aos controles. O PF4 apresentou-se diminuído nos pacientes em relação aos controles (96±12 x 101±8 UI/mL; p=0,014). Os pacientes com trombose arterial apresentaram correlação positiva e significante entre a atividade e o antígeno do FVW (r=0,468; p=0,028) e da ADAMTS-13 (r =0,635; p=0,001); os pacientes com trombose venosa apresentaram esta correlação positiva e significante na ADAMTS-13 (r=0,635; p=0,001). Quando os pacientes foram analisados pelo tipo de antifosfolípide, não se observou diferenças nas variáveis estudadas. Os pacientes com SAFP parecem apresentar disfunção endotelial. No entanto, aparentemente existe um mecanismo de equilíbrio para evitar a formação de um novo trombo. O papel do FVW e a sua relação com a ADAMTS-13, em diferentes doenças, ainda é relativamente pouco conhecido, mas está sendo apontado como importante na patogênese de estados pró-trombóticos como os presentes em pacientes com SAF / Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease, characterized by vascular thrombosis and /or pregnancy morbidity, in association with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) (lupus anticoagulant (LA), anticardiolipin (ACL), anti-beta2glicoprotein I (a-beta2GPI). Antiphospholipid (APL) seems to induce endothelial dysfunction by increasing the expression of adhesion molecules such as von Willebrand factor (VWF). This results in a prothrombotic state in APS. Among the several elements involved in this process, some are relatively less known, such as VWF and its relationship with ADAMTS-13, its main proteolytic enzyme. The aim of this study was to evaluate endothelial dysfunctions in patients with primary APS (PAPS), by examining correlation among the soluble endothelial marker, VWF, the enzyme ADAMTS-13, and FVIII protein. The relationship of these proteins and the presence of arterial and/or venous thrombosis, and presence of APL was also evaluated. This cross-sectional study involved 39 PAPS patients, with a median age of 43 years, who have been treated in the Outpatient Clinics, Department of Rheumatology, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, and 39 healthy subjects blood donors from the Fundação Pró-Sangue Hemocentro de São Paulo, matched for sex and age with patients. Levels of APL (ACL and a-beta2GPI), concentration and activities of VWF, ADAMTS-13, FVIII and PF4 proteins were measured with ELISA. LA was detected with coagulation assays according to updated guidelines from the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, and FVIII activity was measured by chromogenic method. Analysis of VWF subunits was performed by Western immunoblotting. The results were evaluated according to:1- PAPS patients and controls, and2- PAPS patients grouped in relation to type of event and the type of APL. Patients showed higher VWF antigen concentration (74±6 x 69±11 IU/dL, p=0.016), ADAMTS-13 (1.3±0.34 x 0.82±0.12 Ug/mL, p < 0.0001), FVIII (106±19 x 91 ± 15 IU/dL, p=0.0003), VWF binding to FVIII (144±17 x 134 ± 20%, p=0.082) and activity of FVIII (117±38 x 98±30%, p=0.0021) than controls. The PF4 was decreased in patients compared to controls (96±12 vs. 101±8 IU/mL, p=0.014). VWF antigen and activity correlated well (Pearson´s r =0.468; p=0.028) as well as ADAMTS-13(Pearson´s r=0.635; p=0.001) in patients with arterial thrombosis. However, in patients with venous thrombosis only ADAMTS-13 had a good correlation (Pearson´s r =0.492; p=0.045). When patients were analyzed by the type of aPL, no differences in the studied variables were observed. Patients with PAPS seem to present endothelial dysfunction. However, apparently there is an attempt to balance mechanism to prevent a new thrombus formation. The role of VWF and its relation with ADAMTS-13 in different diseases is still relatively unknown. However it has been considered as important in the pathogenesis of prothrombotic states such as those present in patients with APS

Introdução: A terapia antirretroviral (ART) mudou o curso da Aids, porém está associada a alterações metabólicas e aumento do risco de doenças cardiovasculares. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito da suplementação com ácidos graxos ômega-3 de origem marinha no perfil lipídico, na homeostase da glicose, na distribuição de gordura corporal e nos marcadores inflamatórios de adultos com HIV em ART. Métodos: Artigo 1. Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática da literatura com metanálise. Realizou-se busca por ensaios clínicos na base de dados PubMed; 33 artigos foram localizados, seis cumpriram os critérios de inclusão e quatro apresentavam qualidade metodológica adequada. Foi realizada metanálise com efeitos fixos e descrição das diferenças de médias sumárias (DMS (IC95 por cento )). Artigos 2 e 3. Trata-se de um ensaio clínico aleatorizado e controlado. Foram recrutados 120 adultos com idade entre 19 e 64 anos, de ambos os sexos. Os indivíduos alocados no grupo intervenção foram suplementados por 24 semanas com 3g de óleo de peixe/dia (900mg de ácidos graxos ômega-3) e indivíduos alocados no grupo controle receberam placebo (óleo de soja). Resultados: Artigo 1. Após 8-16 semanas de intervenção com 900-3360mg de ácidos graxos ômega-3/dia, observou-se redução de -80,34mg/dL (IC 95 por cento : -129,08 a -31,60) nas concentrações de triglicérides. A análise agregada de estudos com média de concentração de triglicérides > 300mg/dL no baseline e intervenção com 1800-2900mg de ácidos graxos ômega-3/dia resultou em redução de -129,72mg/dL (IC95 por cento : -206,54 a -52,91). Artigos 2 e 3. Foram considerados nas análises dados de 83 sujeitos. Os modelos multinível não revelaram relação estatisticamente significante entre a suplementação com óleo de peixe e as mudanças longitudinais nas concentrações de triglicérides (p=0,335), LDL-C (p= 0,078), HDL-C (p=0,383), colesterol total (p=0,072), apo B (p=0,522), apo A1 (p=0,420), razão LDL-C/apo B (p=0,107), índice homa-2 IR (p=0,387), IMC (p=0,068), circunferência da cintura (p=0,128), relação cintura/quadril (p=0,359), PCR ultra sensível (p=0,918), fibrinogênio (p=0,148), e fator VIII (p=0,073). Conclusões: Artigo 1. Diferentes doses de ácidos graxos ômega-3 reduziram modo significativo as concentrações de triglicérides, confirmando a potencial aplicabilidade desse nutriente no tratamento da hipertrigliceridemia em pessoas que vivem com HIV em ART. Artigos 2 e 3. Uma dose relativamente baixa de óleo de peixe para pessoas que vivem com HIV em ART não alterou o perfil lipídico, a homeostase da glicose, a distribuição de gordura corporal e a concentração de marcadores inflamatórios. Recomenda-se, em estudos subseqüentes, a avaliação do efeito de doses mais elevadas, bem como a determinação de marcadores inflamatórios mais sensíveis / Background: Although the antiretroviral therapy (ART) revolutionized the care of HIV-infected subjects, it has been associated with metabolic abnormalities and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Aims: To review the effects of marine omega-3 fatty acids on lipid profile, insulin resistance and inflammatory markers in subjects living with HIV on ART. Methods: Paper 1. Thirty three articles were found in a PubMed search; six met the inclusion criteria; and four of them were considered of adequate quality and included. Meta-analysis with fixed effects was performed and weighted mean differences (WMD (95 per cent CI)) were described. Paper 2 and 3. The study was conducted in an HIV/Aids care centre affiliated to the Medical School, University of Sao Paulo. This was a randomized controlled trial that assessed the effects of 3g fish oil/day (900mg of omega-3 fatty acids) or 3g soy oil/day (placebo). A hundred and twenty subjects aged between 19 and 64 years were recruited. The statistical analyses were performed in Stata 9. Results: Paper 1. Data from 83 subjects were included in the analyses. The overall reduction on triglyceride concentrations after 8-16 weeks of treatment with 900-3360mg of omega-3/day was WMD=-80.34mg/dL (95 per cent CI: -129.08 to -31.60). The pooled result of studies with mean triglyceride > 300 mg/dL at baseline and 1800-2900mg omega-3/day was WMD=-129.72mg (95 per cent CI: -206.54 to -52.91). Paper 2 and 3. Multilevel analyses revealed no statistically significant relationships between fish oil supplementation and the longitudinal changes in triglyceride (p= 0.335), LDL-C (p= 0.078), HDL-C (p= 0.383), total cholesterol (p=0.072), apo B (p= 0.522), apo A1 (p=0.420), LDL-C/apo B ratio (p=0.107), homa-2 IR index (p=0.387), BMI (p=0.068), waist circumference (p=0.128), waist/hip ratio (p=0.359), hs-CRP (p=0.918), fibrinogen (p=0.148), and VIII factor (p=0.073). Conclusions: Paper 1. Different doses of omega-3 fatty acids reduced significantly triglyceride concentrations confirming the potential applicability of this nutrient on the management of hypertriglyceridemia in HIV-infected subjects on ART. Paper 2 and 3. A relatively low dose of fish oil for HIV subjects on ART did not change lipid profile, insulin resistance, body fat distribution, and inflammatory markers. Further investigations should considerer the assessment of higher doses and more sensitivity inflammatory markers

Pacientes envenenados pela serpente Bothrops jararaca manifestam uma tendência hemorrágica em que a plaquetopenia é um achado consistente. Manifestações clínicas sistêmicas, como sangramento de mucosas e microangiopatia trombótica em alguns pacientes, apresentam similaridades com sinais clínicos de doença de von Willebrand e púrpura trombocitopênica trombótica. Algumas proteínas do veneno - como a botrocetina (uma proteína relacionada às lectinas do tipo C) e as metaloproteinases do veneno (SVMP) - interferem direta ou indiretamente na interação entre plaquetas e o fator de von Willebrand (vWF) in vitro e in vivo. E dessa forma, podem contribuir para os sangramentos induzidos pelo envenenamento devido à importância que o vWF tem para a hemostasia primária. Pensando em compreender a participação do vWF do organismo e a botrocetina e as SVMP do veneno bruto de B. jararaca (BjV) na plaquetopenia induzida pelo envenenamento, utilizamos dois modelos experimentais: ratos Wistar heterogênicos e camundongos nocautes do gene Vwf (Vwf-/-). No modelo em ratos, o BjV foi pré-incubado com salina (controle positivo), um inibidor de metaloproteinases (Na2-EDTA), anticorpos policlonais anti-botrocetina, glicerol (veículo dos anticorpos), ou a combinação do Na2-EDTA e anticorpos anti-botrocetina; o grupo controle negativo foi injetado somente com salina. Após a administração subcutânea (s.c.) dos venenos tratados (1,6 mg/kg), amostras de sangue foram coletadas após 3, 6 ou 24 h, e analisaram-se a contagem de plaquetas, quantificação antigênica (vWF:Ag) e da atividade de ligação do vWF ao colágeno (vWF:CB), a atividade de ADAMTS13, a distribuição multimérica de vWF, e a atividade coagulante de fator VIII (FVIII). Para explorar a participação do vWF na plaquetopenia, camundongos nocautes de vWF (Vwf-/-) e camundongos controles (C57BL/6) foram injetados s.c. com BjV incubado com salina (grupo positivo do envenenamento) ou apenas salina (grupo controle negativo). As injeções dos tratamentos, bem como os períodos analisados foram idênticos aos dos ratos. Em nossos resultados, todos os ratos injetados com algum tratamento de BjV, inclusive nos animais que receberam veneno pré-tratado com anticorpo anti-botrocetina e/ou Na2-EDTA, apresentaram plaquetopenia, com maior intensidade em 6 h. Na avaliação do vWF foi encontrada uma grande variação individual nos grupos de tratamentos, porém ainda assim houve uma tendência a redução nos níveis de vWF:Ag em 3 e 6 h nos ratos que receberam BjV sem inibidores. A administração de BjV tratado somente com anticorpo anti-botrocetina promoveu uma maior redução nos níveis de vWF:Ag em 3 h, com retorno aos níveis semelhantes aos de controle negativo em 6 h e 24 h. A inibição sozinha das metaloproteinases não promoveu efeito importante, porém em 6 h, potencializou a ação do anticorpo anti-botrocetina na inibição conjunta do decréscimo de vWF:Ag e vWF:CB. A análise dos multímeros do vWF mostrou perfis bastante variáveis individualmente, porém os multímeros de alto peso molecular e intermediário tenderam a diminuir e os de baixo peso a aumentar nos animais que receberam algum tratamento com BjV, especialmente em 24 h. Na dosagem de FVIII, houve redução em 3 e 6 h em todos os ratos que receberam qualquer tratamento de BjV, sem grandes variações entre esses grupos. A atividade de ADAMTS13 apresentou uma redução dos valores em 3 e 6 h, que foi revertida pela inibição das metaloproteinases do veneno. Já nos camundongos, a plaquetopenia esteve presente em todos os animais nocautes e controles que receberam BjV, mostrando ser independente da presença de vWF. Nos camundongos controles (C57BL/6), não houve alterações evidentes em vWF:Ag durante o envenenamento, porém em 3 h houve uma tendência a sua diminuição. Em conjunto, nossos resultados mostram que a presença da botrocetina no veneno bruto não afeta a plaquetopenia desencadeada pelo envenenamento, porém influencia o vWF plasmático quantitativa e funcionalmente. As metaloproteinases do veneno têm forte efeito sobre a enzima fisiológica reguladora da atividade biológica do vWF, a ADAMTS13, que indiretamente pode afetar os níveis de vWF. Ademais, a intensidade da plaquetopenia durante o envenenamento de B. jararaca não depende da presença de vWF, e tendo em conta o caráter multifatorial do consumo plaquetário durante o envenenamento, sugerimos que outros mecanismos possam ser responsáveis pela plaquetopenia induzida pelo BjV. Com isso, concluímos que o consumo de vWF no envenenamento por B. jararaca é um fator contribuinte, porém não determinante, para as alterações da contagem plaquetária / Patients bitten by Bothrops snakes manifest a bleeding tendency in which thrombocytopenia is consistently observed. Systemic clinical manifestations, such as mucous bleeding and thrombotic microangiopathy in some patients, share similarities with symptoms of von Willebrand disease and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Some venom proteins - e.g. botrocetin (a C-type lectin-related protein) and snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMP) - disturbs, direct or indirectly, the interaction between platelets and von Willebrand factor (vWF) in vitro and in vivo, and may contribute thereby to snakebite-induced bleedings, once vWF is required for primary hemostasis. To better understand the relation between plasma vWF, and botrocetin and SVMPs from B. jararaca crude venom (BjV) in the thrombocytopenia induced by envenomation, we used two experimental models: Wistar heterogenic rats and vWF knockout mice (Vwf-/-). In the rat model, BjV was pre-incubated with saline (positive control), metalloproteinase inhibitor (Na2-EDTA), polyclonal anti-botrocetin antibodies, glycerol (antibody vehicle), or the combination of Na2-EDTA and anti-botrocetin antibodies; the negative control group was injected with saline only. After subcutaneous injection (s.c.) of treated venom (1.6 mg/kg), blood samples were collected after 3, 6 or 24 h, and platelet count, vWF antigen (vWF:Ag) and collagenbinding activity (vWF:CB), ADAMTS13 activity, vWF multimer distribution, and factor VIII (FVIII) coagulant activity were analyzed. To investigate the participation of vWF in thrombocytopenia, vWF knockout mice (Vwf-/-) and control mice (C57BL/6) were injected s.c. with saline only (negative control group) or BjV pre-incubated with saline (positive control group). The same protocols used for rats were accomplished in mice. Our results showed that all rats injected with any BjV treatment, including animals which received anti-botrocetin antibodies and/or Na2-EDTA-treated BjV, showed thrombocytopenia, with the nadir at 6h. vWF analysis exhibited a large individual variation among treatment groups, but there was a tendency to reduce vWF:Ag levels at 3 and 6 h in rats that received BjV pre-incubated with saline (without any inhibitor). Administration of BjV pre-incubated only with anti-botrocetin antibodies evoked a large reduction in vWF:Ag levels at 3 h, which returned to levels similar to those of the negative control group at 6 and 24 h. SVMP inhibition alone did not induce an important effect, but potentialized the activity of anti-botrocetin antibodies to inhibit the fall in both vWF:Ag and vWF:CB levels at 6 h. VWF multimer analysis had a large individual profile variation, although animals that received any BjV treatment tended to decrease the high and intermediate molecular weight multimers and to increase the low ones, especially at 24 h. FVIII showed diminished levels in all rats that received any BjV treatment at 3 and 6 h, without important variations among groups. Decreased levels of ADAMTS13 activity were noticed at 3 and 6 h, which were reverted by SVMP inhibition. In mice, thrombocytopenia was present in all control and knockout mice that received BjV, demonstrating independence of vWF presence. In control mice (C57BL/6), there were no relevant alterations in vWF:Ag during envenomation, although at 3 h there was a tendency to decrease it. Al together, our results showed that botrocetin present in crude venom does not affect thrombocytopenia induced by envenomation, but it changes the levels and function of plasma vWF. SVMP had a marked effect in ADAMTS13, the physiological enzyme that regulates vWF biological activity, which may affect vWF levels indirectly. In addition, thrombocytopenia during B. jararaca envenomation is independent of vWF, and considering the multifactorial features of platelet consumption during envenomation, we suggest that other mechanisms might account for BjV-induced thrombocytopenia. Therefore, we conclude that vWF consumption during B. jararaca envenomation is an ancillary mechanism, but not the main one to decrease platelet counts