Mustard protection against

Other products of Porton Down s research and development at the end of the 1930s included eye shields to protect against high-altitude liquid mustard gas attack, the oil-skin anti-gas cape, impregnated battle dress, protective dubbing for boots, detectors and detector paints, decontamination procedures, gas identification sets for service units, respirators and anti-gas covers for horses and dogs. Protection for camels was also studied a prototype respirator still exists in the establishment at Porton Down. 

ATSDR (2008). ToxFAQs for nerve agents. Retrieved May 5, 2008 from http //www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfactsl66.html Babin, M.C., Ricketts, K. (2000). Systemic administration of candidate antivesicants to protect against topically applied sulfur mustard in the mouse ear vesicant model (MEVM). J. Appl. Toxicol. 20, Suppl. 1 S141-4. 

Mustard exposure causes depletion of ATP in cells. Better outcomes after exposure have been demonstrated when mitochondrial substrates were provided to offset this depletion. CEES-exposed rabbit corneas have been treated after exposure with a mix of taurine, pyruvate, a-keto glu-tarate, and pantothenic acid. Analysis showed reduced necrosis of the cornea. Electron microscopic and other analyses showed protection against membrane damage and oxidative damage (Varma et al, 1998a, b). 

Contractor, S.F. (1963). Protection against nitrogen mustard hy cysteine and related substances, investigated using [3H] methyl-DI-(2-chloroethyl) amine. Biochem. Pharmacol. 12(8) 821-32. 

Koper, O., Lucas, E., Klabunde, K.J. (1999). Development of reactive topical skin protectants against sulfur mustard and nerve agents. J. Appl. Toxicol. 19 (Suppl. 1) S59-70. 

Lindsay, C.D., Gentilhomme, E., Mathieu, J.D. (2007). The use of doxycycline as a protectant against sulphur mustard in HaCaT cells. J. Appl. Toxicol. 28 665-73. 

Callaway, S., Pearce, K.A. (1958). Protection against systemic poisoning hy mustard gas di (2-chloroethyl) sulfide hy sodium thiosulphate and thiocit in the albino rat. Br. J. Pharmacol. 13 395-8. 

Gross, C.L., Nealley, E.W., Nipwoda, M.T., Smith, W.J. (2006). Pretreatment of human epidermal keratinoc des with D,L-sul-foraphane protects against sulfur mustard c)dotoxicity. Cutan. Ocul. Toxicol. 25 155-63. 

From the foregoing summary, it may be seen how close mustard ga.s approaches the ideal battle gas in most of the important requirements. For this reason and the fact that it is extraordinarily difficult to protect against, mustard gas is assured of a woure position in the future, and it i.s safe to predict that mustard gas will play a dominant role in future chemical warfare until replaced by a more effective agent which has not 08 yet made iU appearance. 

Like mustard gas, lewbite b almost immediately decompo.scd in the presence of alkalies, such as caustic soda (5 per cent solution) or ammonia, and by active oxydants, such as chloride of lime and the hyiiochloritcK. the rea< tion being greatly accelerated by heat. Hence terrain and material contaminated with lewbite are decontaminated with the same materials as mustard gas. Abo, like mustard, lewisite readily penetrates clothing, leather, rubber, and the tissues of the body, and hence is just ai difficult to protect against. 

FIGURE 1.5 Rider and horse protected against mustard agent during World War I U.S. Army. 

Lewisite is the only vesicant with a proven antidote—British anti-lewisite (2,3-dimercaptopropa-nol). Increasing antioxidant levels have been found to be protective against the mustards analog, NAC. NAC, which we have used in our studies with CEES, is immediately clinically available. It is most commonly used for acetaminophen overdose. NAC has a long history of several gram quantities administered in several doses and has minimal adverse reactions. In the case of acetaminophen overdose, it is administered via the oral-gastric route, which increases hepatic GSH levels, and in turn, suppresses inflammatory cytokines (Dambach et al., 2006). Liposome encapsulation of both water- and fat-soluble antioxidants was proven to be more effective in the suppression of OS than the free molecule of NAC. 

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