Chlorine cell inactivation

Wfe have recently carried out experiments with cell-based and animal models of inflammatory diseases. The experiments have revealed that human polymorphonuclear cells once activated with phorbol esters to cause an inflammatory response produce copious amounts of chlorinated polyphenol species. Rats treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in an in vivo model of inflammatory disease heavily nitrate polyphenols in tissues (e.g., lung and liver) where inflammatory cell invasion occurs. These modified polyphenols are better antioxidants than their parent compound. Using a luciferase reporter gene assay in COS cells, both chloro- and nitrogenistein were shown to have 1-2 orders lower estrogen receptor activation than genistein itself. In summary, metabolism of polyphenols is rampant, but not always inactivating. 

Da. The toxins are made up of two polypeptide chains (A and B) connected by a disulfide bond. The cytotoxicity of ricin is due to inhibition of protein synthesis, caused when the B chain binds to cell-surface receptors and the toxin-receptor complex is taken into the cell, and the A chain that has endonuclease activity and, at extremely low concentrations, will inhibit DNA replication and protein synthesis (USAMRICD, 2005). Ricin is stable under ambient conditions and can be detoxified by heat at 80°C for 10 min, or 50°C for an hour at a pH of 7.8. Chlorine inactivates over 99.4% by 100 mg/L FAC in 20 min. Low chlorine concentrations, such as 10 mg/L FAC, as well as iodine at up to 16 mg/L will have no effect on ricin (USAMRICD, 2005). 

Gas-activated Batteries. The gas-activated batteries were attractive because their activation was potentially simpler and more positive than liquid or heat activation. The ammonia vapor-activated (AVA) battery was representative of a system in which the gas served to form the electrolyte. (Solids such as ammonium thiocyanate will absorb ammonia rapidly to form electrolyte solutions of high conductivity.) In practice, ammonia vapor activation was found to be slow and nonuniform, and the development of the ammonia battery was directed to liquid ammonia activation which, in turn, was found to be inferior to newer developments. The chlorine-depolarized zinc/chlorine battery was representative of the gas depolarizer system. This battery used a zinc anode, a salt electrolyte, and chlorine, which was introduced into the cell, at the time of use, as the active cathode material. The battery was designed for very high rate discharge ranging from 1 to 5 min, but its poor shelf life while inactivated limited further development and use. 

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