background: exposure to chemical warfare gases significantly changes the quality of life (qol) of victims and has significant chronic adverse effects. objective: this study sought to assess the health-related qol (hrqol) of chemical victims by means of a tool specifically designed for this purpose. the correlation of their qol with several demographic factors was evaluated as well. patients and...

One of the most toxic effects of organophosphate (OP) poisoning has been the paralysis of skeletal muscles that can lead to paralysis of respiratory muscles and death. However, oximes are the only antidotes available to reverse or prevent such toxic effects of OP insecticides and nerve chemical warfare agents. In the present research work, the effect of different concentrations of paraoxon (as ...

o protect personnel from hazardous materials, substances must be unambiguously detected in real time. This goal is being pursued with the application of a wide range of technologies. Most chemical sensors must strike a compromise between sensitivity and selectivity to meet the real-time goal. The sensor platform described in this article is designed to eliminate any such compromise. Thus far, w...

Rapid detection of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) in all of its forms including gas and liquid is of paramount importance to protect the warfighter or first responders in homeland defense. CWAs such as OPs and vesicants pose serious threats because these agents can be ingested with contaminated food or rapidly penetrate skin. We reported that polyurethane immobilized cholinesterases (acetyl and...

Enzyme-based Detoxification of Organophosphorus Neurotoxic Pesticides and Chemical Warfare Agents. (December 2007) Rory James Kern, B.S., Texas A&M University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. James Wild There are some 15,000 known organophosphorus chemicals. Some of these OP’s, including VX and paraoxon, demonstrate an acute neurotoxicity due to the inhibition of cholinergic enzymes. Organophos...

Leaf-cutting ants are well known for their highly complex social organization, which provides them with a strong defense against parasites invading their colonies. Besides this attribute, these insects have morphological, physiological and structural characteristics further reinforcing the defense of their colonies. With the discovery of symbiotic bacteria present on the integument of leaf-cutt...

Nuclear, biological and chemical warfare have in recent times been responsible for an increasing number of otherwise rare dermatoses. Many nations are now maintaining overt and clandestine stockpiles of such arsenal. With increasing terrorist threats, these agents of mass destruction pose a risk to the civilian population. Nuclear and chemical attacks manifest immediately while biological attac...

Organophosphorous compounds have been employed as pesticides and chemical warfare nerve agents. Toxicity of organophosphorous compounds is a result of excessive cholinergic stimulation through inhibition of acetyl cholinesterase. Clinical manifestations include cholinergic syndromes, central nervous system and cardiovascular disorders. Organophosphorous pesticide poisonings are common in develo...

Human paraoxonase 1 (PON1) has been portrayed as a catalytic bioscavenger which can hydrolyze large amounts of chemical warfare nerve agents (CWNAs) and organophosphate (OP) pesticides compared to the stoichiometric bioscavengers such as butyrylcholinesterase. We evaluated the protective efficacy of purified human and rabbit serum PON1 against nerve agents sarin and soman in guinea pigs. Cataly...