Neuroscience advances and future warfare

NoThis paper begins by recalling that advances in neuroscience were used for hostile purposes, for example, in the development of lethal nerve gasses, in the last century, and it is argued that in the kinds of asymmetric warfare likely to characterize coming decades, such advances could again be utilized to develop novel weapons. The paper then suggests that the idea that the problem is that bioterrorists will immediately be able to design and use advanced biological and chemical weapons is misguided and that the real question is how the wholesale militarization of the life sciences can be prevented. It is in that context that the paper examines the dangers of misuse that could arise from some current developments in neuroscience. It is argued, for example, that benignly intended civil work on transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) has to be understood in the context of modern military interests in data collection and analysis from drones and the probable development of autonomously acting systems. The difficulties that such novel weapon-related developments will cause for our present understanding of morality and international law are reviewed, and finally, it is suggested that neuroscientists trying to adjust their concepts of responsible conduct in these circumstances will need the help of neuroethicists

Epidemiology and management of infections after lung transplantation

Lung transplantation has become an accepted treatment for end-stage pulmonary parenchymal and vascular diseases. Infections still are the most common cause of early and late morbidity and mortality in lung transplant recipients. Bacterial infections comprise approximately half of all infectious complications. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections and disease have become less frequent, because of prophylaxis with ganciclovir. Because CMV is also involved in the pathogenesis of obliterative bronchiolitis, the frequency of this infection may also reduce the occurrence of this main obstacle to successful lung transplantation. Invasive fungal infections remain a problem, but they have also decreased in frequency because of better control of risk factors such as CMV disease and preemptive antifungal therapy. Nonherpes respiratory viral infections have emerged as a serious problem. Their severity may be reduced by treatment with ribavirin. Meticulous postoperative surveillance, however, is still crucial for the management of lung transplant patients with respect to early detection and treatment of rejection and infection