Kožna dekontaminacija živčanoga bojnog otrova sarina s apsorpcijskim pripravkom u uvjetima in vivo

Our Institute’s nuclear, biological, and chemical defense research team continuously investigates and develops preparations for skin decontamination against nerve agents. In this in vivo study, we evaluated skin decontamination efficacy against sarin by a synthetic preparation called Mineral Cationic Carrier (MCC®) with known ion exchange, absorption efficacy and bioactive potential. Mice were treated with increasing doses of sarin applied on their skin, and MCC® was administered immediately after contamination. The results showed that decontamination with MCC® could achieve therapeutic efficacy corresponding to 3 x LD50 of percutaneous sarin and call for further research.Istraživački tim NBKO (nuklearno-biološko-kemijske obrane) radi na pronalasku i razvoju pripravka za dekontaminaciju kože od živčanih bojnih otrova. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati dekontaminacijska svojstva (adsorpcijska i/ili kemisorpcijska) pripravka MCC® rabeći živčani bojni otrov sarin kao kožni kontaminant u uvjetima in vivo. MCC® je sintetski pripravak koji je biokemijski aktivan i ima ionskoizmjenjivačka i adsorpcijska svojstva. Istraživanje u uvjetima in vivo napravljeno je na miševima aplikacijom rastućih doza sarina na kožu životinje. Pripravak MCC® uporabljen je kao kožni dekontaminant neposredno nakon kožne kontaminacije sarinom. Istraživanja su pokazala da pripravak MCC® posjeduje adsorpcijska svojstva, ujedno važna za dekontaminaciju živčanih bojnih otrova. Eksperimenti u uvjetima in vivo na miševima (NOD-soj) pokazali su da se dekontaminacijom pripravkom MCC® može postići terapijski učinak od 3 LD50 (perkutano, sarin)

Toxicological Effects of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Noxious Agents in Modern Warfare and Terorrism

Oružja za masovno uništavanje najbolji su primjer uporabe civilizacijskih tehnoloških dostignuća u štetne svrhe i protiv ljudske civilizacije. Unatoč nastojanjima oko kontrole i smanjenja njihove količine, rizik zbog samoga postojanja pa čak i širenja zahtijeva da se o njihovoj uporabi i dalje vodi računa i da se povećaju obrambene mjere – nuklearno-biološko-kemijske obrane (NBKO). Osim suvremenog vojnika koji je u vojnim i mirovnim operacijama diljem svijeta izložen raznim noksama kemijskog, biološkog i radiološkog podrijetla, nezaštićeno i uglavnom slabo educirano civilno stanovništvo može biti izloženo terorističkim napadima. Oružja za masovno uništavanje i nokse kemijskog, biološkog i radiološkog podrijetla uzrokuju razne toksikološke posljedice, a bez obzira na njihovo podrijetlo, imaju zajednički nazivnik djelovanja – poremećaj fi ziološkog stanja u organizmu. Poremećaji proizašli nakon izlaganja tim noksama nerijetko se teško determiniraju, dijagnosticiraju i liječe. U ovome su radu s biomedicinskog aspekta obrađene važnije nokse kemijskog, biološkog i radiološkog podrijetla na temelju odabranih primjera iz terorizma i suvremenog ratovanja: polonij-210, osiromašeni uran, salmonela, bedrenica (antraks), genetički modifi cirane bakterije, polimerno predivo “paučina” i bojni otrovi sarin i iperit.Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) best portray the twisted use of technological achievements against the human species. Despite arm control efforts, WMD threat continues to exist and even proliferate. This in turn calls for improvement in defensive measures against this threat. The modern soldier is exposed to a number of chemical, biological, and radiological agents in military and peace operations, while civilians are mainly exposed to terrorist attacks. Regardless of origin or mode of action, WMDs and other noxious agents aim for the same – to make an organism dysfunctional. Because their effects are often delayed, these agents are hard to spot on time and treat. This review presents a biomedical aspect of agents used in warfare and terrorism, including polonium-210, depleted uranium, salmonella, anthrax, genetically modifi ed bacteria, cobweb-like polymer fi bre, sarin, and mustard gas

Improved Prediction of Nonepileptic Seizures with Combined MMPI and EEG Measures

Purpose: Nonepileptic seizures (NESs) are frequently mistaken for epileptic seizures (ESs). Improved detection of patients with NESs could lead to more appropriate treatment and medical cost savings. Previous studies have shown the MMPI/MMPI-2 to be a useful predictor of NES. We hypothesized that combining the MMPI-2 with a physiologic predictor of epilepsy (routine EEG; rEEG) would result in enhanced prediction of NES. Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing CCTV-EEG monitoring underwent rEEG evaluation and completed an MMPI-2. Patients were subsequently classified as having epilepsy (n = 91) or NESs (n = 76) by using standardized criteria. Logistic regression was used to predict seizure type classification. Results: Overall classification accuracy was 74% for rEEG, 71% for MMPI-2 Hs scale, and 77% for MMPI-2 Hy scale. The model that best predicted diagnosis included rEEG, MMPI-2, and number of years since the first spell, resulting in an overall classification accuracy of 86%. Conclusions: The high accuracy achieved by the model suggests that it may be useful for screening candidates for diagnostic telemetry

Crises não-epilépticas: clínica e terapêutica Nonepileptic seizures: clinical features and therapeutics

Discutir as crises ou os eventos paroxísticos que simulem crises epilépticas, enfatizando as diferenças semiológicas entre elas e as perspectivas terapêuticas. Realizamos uma revisão da literatura, selecionando artigos nas bases de dados Medline e Bireme, a partir dos unitermos: "non-epileptic seizures", "psychogenic seizures". As crises não-epilépticas (CNE) podem ser classificadas em fisiológicas (síncope, migrânea, ataque isquêmico transitório) e em psicogênicas (voluntárias ou não). O padrão-ouro para a diferenciação entre as crises epilépticas e as CNE é o videoeletroencefalograma, mas vários dados semiológicos podem auxiliar esse processo. O tratamento das CNE baseia-se em psicoterapia e em farmacoterapia direcionadas aos transtornos psiquiátricos comórbidos. Apesar de a alta prevalência das CNE e de sua elevada morbidade, são escassos os estudos na literatura nacional. São muitos os desafios diagnósticos e terapêuticos. Assim, o psiquiatra atentar-se à sua ocorrência, evitando iatrogenia, como o uso desnecessário de drogas antiepilépticas.<br>To discuss paroxysmal events that mimic epileptic seizures with emphasis on their semiologic differences and therapeutic perspectives. We did a narrative review of the literature based on selected papers in Medline and Bireme after searching for the uniterms "non-epileptic seizures" and "psychogenic seizures". Nonepileptic seizures (NES) can be classified in physiological (syncope, migraine, transitory ischemic attack) and psychogenic (voluntary or involuntary). The gold-standard in the differentiation of epileptic and nonepileptic seizures is the video-electroencefalogram, but many semiologic features can contribute to this process. The treatment of NES is based mainly on psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy directed to comorbid psychiatric disorders. Despite the high prevalence and elevated morbidity of the NES, there are just few studies on this subject in the Brazilian literature. There are many diagnostic and therapeutic challenges related to NES. Hence, psychiatrists should be aware of the occurrence of NES, avoiding iatrogenic interventions such as the unnecessary administration of anti-epileptic drugs