Biological Weapons Defense (original) (raw)
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American Journal of Therapeutics, 2009
The objective of this article is to provide updated treatment options for bioterrorism agents. This updated synopsis includes recent clinical cases and treatment recommendations that have arisen in the last 5 years. The decontamination, treatment, and disposition of these biologic and chemical agents are presented alphabetically by agent type: biologic, chemical, and radiologic/nuclear. The information provided outlines only new treatment options since 2003.
Bioterrorism is defined as the intentional use of biological, chemical, nuclear, or radiological agents to cause disease, death, or environmental damage. Early recognition of a bioterrorist attack is of utmost importance to minimize casualties and initiate appropriate therapy. The range of agents that could potentially be used as weapons is wide, however, only a few of these agents have all the characteristics making them ideal for that purpose. Many of the chemical and biological weapons can cause neurological symptoms and damage the nervous system in varying degrees. Therefore, preparedness among neurologists is important. The main challenge is to be cognizant of the clinical syndromes and to be able to differentiate diseases caused by bioterrorism from naturally occurring disorders. This review provides an overview of the biological and chemical warfare agents, with a focus on neurological manifestation and an approach to treatment from a perspective of neurological critical care.
2001
In the framework of secured significant financial support provided by the World Bank the implementation of project that will solve the problem of large quantity of unusable or outdated pharmaceutical materials, donated during the period of war, has started in March 2001 in Croatia. Expired pharmaceuticals are scattered across the country in about 250 locations, of which 25 sites contain over 70% of the total quantity. Present estimates of quantities are 3500 tones of pharmaceutical materials mixed with other medical supplies. As the large volume of waste has been currently stored in a variety of different conditions, and occupied in the unsatisfactory and disorderly manner in many storage places, the first step necessary to be undertaken is sorting and repackaging of the stockpiles to reduce the volume of waste that requires special treatment for disposal. Waste should be put into safe containers that can be sealed, and are suitable for transportation to a final disposal facility. Project implementation requires the expertise and organized human resources, time, suitable treatment facility and other resources to complete all the steps necessary to remove this onetime accumulation of unwanted materials. Pharmaceutical waste that has represented a hazard to segments of population and the environment for many years would be now disposed of using methods consistent with international environmental best practice and standards and so far gained experiences.
Advances in toxicology and medical treatment of chemical warfare nerve agents
DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2012
Organophosphorous (OP) Nerve agents (NAs) are known as the deadliest chemical warfare agents. They are divided into two classes of G and V agents. Most of them are liquid at room temperature. NAs chemical structures and mechanisms of actions are similar to OP pesticides, but their toxicities are higher than these compounds. The main mechanism of action is irreversible inhibition of Acetyl Choline Esterase (AChE) resulting in accumulation of toxic levels of acetylcholine (ACh) at the synaptic junctions and thus induces muscarinic and nicotinic receptors stimulation. However, other mechanisms have recently been described. Central nervous system (CNS) depression particularly on respiratory and vasomotor centers may induce respiratory failure and cardiac arrest. Intermediate syndrome after NAs exposure is less common than OP pesticides poisoning. There are four approaches to detect exposure to NAs in biological samples: (I) AChE activity measurement, (II) Determination of hydrolysis products in plasma and urine, (III) Fluoride reactivation of phosphylated binding sites and (IV) Mass spectrometric determination of cholinesterase adducts. The clinical manifestations are similar to OP pesticides poisoning, but with more severity and fatalities. The management should be started as soon as possible. The victims should immediately be removed from the field and treatment is commenced with auto-injector antidotes (atropine and oximes) such as MARK I kit. A 0.5% hypochlorite solution as well as novel products like M291 Resin kit, G117H and Phosphotriesterase isolated from soil bacterias, are now available for decontamination of NAs. Atropine and oximes are the well known antidotes that should be infused as clinically indicated. However, some new adjuvant and additional treatment such as magnesium sulfate, sodium bicarbonate, gacyclidine, benactyzine, tezampanel, hemoperfusion, antioxidants and bioscavengers have recently been used for OP NAs poisoning.
Biological and Chemical Weapons: Overview
Global Issues in Context. (online) Draft Copy. This is an overview article originally published in the Gale Global Issues in Context resource center and database, written by K. Lee Lerner in 2009 and updated by K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner, ca 2009-2018., 2009
This is an overview article originally published in the Gale Global Issues in Context resource center and database, written by K. Lee Lerner in 2009 and updated by K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner, ca 2009-2018. Biological warfare involves the delivery of toxins or microorganisms for the hostile purpose of inflicting disease on humans, animals, or plants. Biological warfare is as old as civilization. In early forms it involved drawing enemy troops into disease-ridden areas, using animal and plant toxins to poison arrows, spreading disease by polluting the environment (for example, catapulting the bodies of plague victims into enemy territory), or deliberately distributing items contaminated with highly infectious diseases, such as giving out blankets previously used by people infected with smallpox. Biological weapons use payloads that contain microorganisms (or the toxic components of the microorganisms) that can cause infections or exposure. Examples of microorganisms include viruses (such as smallpox, Ebola, influenza), bacteria (such as Bacillus anthracis, and protozoa. The most prominent example of a toxic component is the variety of toxins that are produced and released from bacteria, such as neurotoxins produced by Clostridium. The use of chemical weapons dates back centuries, when early combatants learned that smoke from burning sulfur caused discomfort when it drifted into enemy fortifications. The dawn of modern chemical warfare occurred during World War I (1914- 1918). On 15 April 1915, German forces released about 160 tons of chlorine gas into the wind near the Belgian village of Ypres. The clouds of the gas drifted into Allied forces, killing some 5,000 soldiers. Two days later, another chlorine attack at the same village killed 5,000 more soldiers. During the remainder of World War I, German, French, and British forces used chlorine gas and such chemicals as Mustard Gas and Phosgene with increasing frequency. An estimated 113,000 tons of chemical weapons were used from 1915 to 1918, killing some 92,000 people and injuring over one million people. The horrors of chemical warfare during World War I prompted the drafting of the Geneva Protocol of 1925, which banned chemical and biological weapons of warfare. (download to read more)
British Journal of Pharmacology, 2010
The use of biological agents has generally been confined to military-led conflicts. However, there has been an increase in non-state-based terrorism, including the use of asymmetric warfare, such as biological agents in the past few decades. Thus, it is becoming increasingly important to consider strategies for preventing and preparing for attacks by insurgents, such as the development of pre- and post-exposure medical countermeasures. There are a wide range of prophylactics and treatments being investigated to combat the effects of biological agents. These include antibiotics (for both conventional and unconventional use), antibodies, anti-virals, immunomodulators, nucleic acids (analogues, antisense, ribozymes and DNAzymes), bacteriophage therapy and micro-encapsulation. While vaccines are commercially available for the prevention of anthrax, cholera, plague, Q fever and smallpox, there are no licensed vaccines available for use in the case of botulinum toxins, viral encephalitis, melioidosis or ricin. Antibiotics are still recommended as the mainstay treatment following exposure to anthrax, plague, Q fever and melioidosis. Anti-toxin therapy and anti-virals may be used in the case of botulinum toxins or smallpox respectively. However, supportive care is the only, or mainstay, post-exposure treatment for cholera, viral encephalitis and ricin – a recommendation that has not changed in decades. Indeed, with the difficulty that antibiotic resistance poses, the development and further evaluation of techniques and atypical pharmaceuticals are fundamental to the development of prophylaxis and post-exposure treatment options. The aim of this review is to present an update on prophylaxis and post-exposure treatment recommendations and research initiatives for biological agents in the open literature from 2007 to 2009.