Overall view of chemical and biochemical weapons

Biological Conversion of Agricultural Wastes into Indole-3-acetic Acid by Streptomyces lavenduligriseus BS50-1 Using a Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

Agricultural waste is an alternative source for plant growth regulator biosynthesis by microorganisms. Actinobacteria are important soil microbes that significantly impact the soil as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and biofertilizers. This study focused on developing low-cost medium based on bagasse to improve indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production by Streptomyces lavenduligriseus BS50-1 using a response surface methodology (RSM). Among 34 actinobacterial strains, S. lavenduligriseus BS50-1 produced the highest IAA level within the selected medium. An RSM based on a central composite design optimized the appropriate nutrients for IAA production. Thus, glucose hydrolysate and l-tryptophan at concentrations of 3.55 and 5.0 g/L, respectively, were the optimal factors that improved IAA production from 37.50 to 159.47 μg/mL within 168 h. This study reported a potential application of leftover bagasse as the raw material for cultivating actinobacteria, which efficiently produce IAA to promote plant growth.

A-agents, misleadingly known as "Novichoks": a narrative review

"Novichok" refers to a new group of nerve agents called the A-series agents. Their existence came to light in 2018 after incidents in the UK and again in 2020 in Russia. They are unique organophosphorus-based compounds developed during the Cold War in a program called Foliant in the USSR. This review is based on original chemical entities from Mirzayanov's memoirs published in 2008. Due to classified research, a considerable debate arose about their structures, and hence, various structural moieties were speculated. For this reason, the scientific literature is highly incomplete and, in some cases, contradictory. This review critically assesses the information published to date on this class of compounds. The scope of this work is to summarize all the available and relevant information, including the physicochemical properties, chemical synthesis, mechanism of action, toxicity, pharmacokinetics, and medical countermeasures used to date. The environmental stability of A-series agents, the lack of environmentally safe decontamination, their high toxicity, and the scarcity of information on post-contamination treatment pose a challenge for managing possible incidents.

Qualitative Analysis of Novel Flavonoid Adducts from Nerve Agent Tabun-Exposed Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Based on Quadrupole–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry

Flavonoids are a kind of secondary metabolite which widely exist in plants. They contain a lot of active hydroxyls, which can react with toxic chemicals to produce potential exposure biomarkers. In this article, the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) was exposed to the nerve agent O-Ethyl N,N-dimethyl phosphoramidocyanidate (Tabun). By comparing with the plant not exposed to Tabun, some characteristic ions were identified by quadrupole–time of flight mass spectrometry in the acetonitrile extract of the exposed leaves. These characteristic ions were selected as parent ions to produce product ion mass spectra (PIMS). Some interesting fragmentation pathways were revealed, including neutral loss of glucoside, rhamnose and ethylene. O-Ethyl N,N-dimethyl phosphoryl modified flavonoids were deduced from assignment of the PIMS. The element components and the accurate mass of the product ions from each parent ion matched well with those of the proposed fragmentation pathways. Through comparison with the PIMS of structurally closely related chemical of Isobutyl methylphosphonyl modified flavonoids, the structures and the fragmentation pathways of the O-Ethyl N,N-dimethyl phosphoryl modified flavonoids were finally confirmed. Successfully finding and identifying these three specific exposure biomarkers in plants provided a new strategy for the retrospective analysis of organophosphorus exposure and forensic analysis.

Drugs as Chemical Weapons: Past and Perspectives

The emergence of modern chemical weapons and chemical warfare is traditionally associated with World War I, but the use of poisons in the military has its roots deep in the past. The sources of these poisons have always been natural agents that also served as medicines. This relationship between poison and medicine, and nowadays between chemical warfare and medicine, or between 'military chemistry' and pharmacy, appears to be very important for understanding not only the history but also the possible future of both phenomena. This article looks at some historical examples of the use of drugs as chemical weapons and, conversely, the use of chemical weapons as medicines. It seeks to find answers to some questions that are particularly relevant to the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which aims to achieve a world without chemical warfare.

What do we currently know about Novichoks? The state of the art

Novichok is the name given to the group of nerve agents created stealthily in the later phases of the Cold War by the Soviet Union. Constitute the fourth generation of chemical warfare agents; like other nerve agents, they are organophosphorus compounds designed to be incurable and undetectable. The mechanism of action is based on the non-competitive and irreversible inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. Due to their enormous toxicity, Novichoks have become attractive targets for terrorists. However, little information is known about the identity of nerve agents. Furthermore, these compounds have never been submitted to the Chemical Weapons Convention. Our article aspires to provide a general overview of Novichoks knowledge. As part of this, we reviewed the available literature data to answer the question, what are Novichoks? In addition to the physical and chemical properties of A-agents, synthesis, mechanism of action, and toxicity of nerve agents were also reviewed. We hope that this review will highlight the tremendous threat posed by nerve agents and will inspire further studies on the interdisciplinary aspects of these compounds.

Identification of four novel flavonoid adducts in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) exposed to isobutyl S-2-diethylaminoethyl methylphosphonothiolate as potential plant exposure biomarkers

As vegetation is part of our lives, plants are good candidates as indicators of toxic chemicals. Numerous components in plants may react with toxic chemicals to produce exposure biomarkers. Plant biomarkers formed by the modification of endogenous plant components by chemical warfare agents have not been reported. In this article, the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) was exposed to the nerve agent isobutyl S-2-diethylaminoethyl methylphosphonothiolate (iBuVX). Some characteristic ions were identified by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry and their product ion mass spectra were recorded and interpreted. Some interesting fragmentation pathways were revealed including neutral loss of glucoside, rhamnose and isobutylene. Isobutyl methylphosphonyl modified flavonoids were deduced from assignment of product ions. The element components and the accurate mass of the product ions matched well with those of the proposed fragmentation pathways. The binding site of the nerve agent on flavonoids was proved to be the hydroxyl group on the benzene ring of the flavonoids by density functional theory computation and by the synthesis of the reference chemical, which was confirmed by 1H-31P HMBC NMR. The phosphonyl-modified flavonoids were evaluated for specificity in different plants. Four new flavonoid adducts as potential biomarkers were identified in the leaves of the iBuVX-exposed plant, which provided a novel strategy for the retrospective analysis of organophosphorus exposure for chemical weapon verification and forensic analysis.

Pestilence, Plague and Pandemics: A Troubled History

Humankind has lived with the danger of endemic, epidemic and pandemic disease for thousands of years. The effects of these outbreaks have often devastated human populations. Sixteen pandemic events causing an estimated 147 million deaths have occurred since the eighth century, The Black Death and the influenza pandemic of 1918-1920 probably having the greatest impact. Animal populations, both wild and domestic, have similarly suffered devastating outbreaks of disease which, on occasions, have translated into serious effects on human health. The deliberate or accidental introduction of animals into virgin areas has given rise to unforeseen disease events occasionally leading to extinction. Similarly, human intent or negligence and the vagaries of nature itself has resulted in ill health and loss of life. This paper describes the history of pandemics, epidemics and disasters, and the attempts to bring them under control.

Role of hair follicles in the pathogenesis of arsenical-induced cutaneous damage

Arsenical vesicants cause skin inflammation, blistering, and pain. The lack of appropriate animal models causes difficulty in defining their molecular pathogenesis. Here, Ptch1+/- /C57BL/6 mice were employed to investigate the pathobiology of the arsenicals lewisite and phenylarsine oxide (PAO). Following lewisite or PAO challenge (24 h), the skin of animals becomes grayish-white, thick, leathery, and wrinkled with increased bi-fold thickness, Draize score, and necrotic patches. In histopathology, infiltrating leukocytes (macrophages and neutrophils), epidermal-dermal separation, edema, apoptotic cells, and disruption of tight and adherens junction proteins can be visualized. PCR arrays and nanoString analyses showed significant increases in cytokines/chemokines and other proinflammatory mediators. As hair follicles (HFs), which provide an immune-privileged environment, may affect immune cell trafficking and consequent inflammatory responses, we compared the pathogenesis of these chemicals in this model to that in Ptch1+/- /SKH-1 hairless mice. Ptch1+/- /SKH-1 mice have rudimentary, whereas Ptch1+/- /C57BL/6 mice have well-developed HFs. Although no significant differences were observed in qualitative inflammatory responses between the two strains, levels of cytokines/chemokines differed. Importantly, the mechanism of inflammation was identical; both reactive oxygen species induction and consequent activation of unfolded protein response signaling were similar. These data reveal that the acute molecular pathogenesis of arsenicals in these two murine models is similar.

Insects as Chemical Sensors: Detection of Chemical Warfare Agent Simulants and Hydrolysis Products in the Blow Fly Using LC-MS/MS

In this work, blow flies were investigated as environmental chemical sample collectors following a chemical warfare attack (CWA). Blow flies sample the environment as they search for water and food sources and can be trapped from kilometers away using baited traps. Three species of blow flies were exposed to CWA simulants to determine the persistence and detectability of these compounds under varying environmental conditions. A liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed to detect CWA simulants and hydrolysis products from fly guts. Flies were exposed to the CWA simulants dimethyl methylphosphonate and diethyl phosphoramidate as well as the pesticide dichlorvos, followed by treatment-dependent temperature and humidity conditions. Flies were sacrificed at intervals within a 14 day postexposure period. Fly guts were extracted and analyzed with the LC-MS/MS method. The amount of CWA simulant in fly guts decreased with time following exposure but were detectable 14 days following exposure, giving a long window of detectability. In addition to the analysis of CWA simulants, isopropyl methylphosphonic acid, the hydrolysis product of sarin, was also detected in blow flies 14 days post exposure. This work demonstrates the potential to obtain valuable samples from remote or access-restricted areas without risking lives.

Aqueous suspensions of Fuller's earth potentiate the adsorption capacities of paraoxon and improve skin decontamination properties

Fuller's earth (FE) is a phyllosilicate used as a powder for household or skin decontamination due to its adsorbent properties. Recent studies have shown that water suspensions exhibit similar adsorbent capacities. FE is heterogeneous due to its composition of elementary clay aggregates and heavy metal particles. Here, FE toxicity was assessed in vitro on skin cells and in vivo on Danio rerio embryos. Among the suspensions tested (5%, 9.1% and 15% w/w), only the highest one shows weak toxicity. Suspensions were tested for ex vivo dermal decontamination into pig ear skin and human abdominal skin using diffusion cells and paraoxon as organophosphorus contaminant. After 24 h of diffusion, no difference was observed in the paraoxon concentration in the receptor compartment whether the decontamination was carried out with FE in powder or in suspension form. In presence of FE suspensions, we observed the disappearance of paraoxon from the stratum corneum, the reservoir compartment, independently of the suspensions' concentration. We suggest that water potentiates the absorbing capacities of FE powder by intercalating between clay lamellas leading to the appearance of new adsorption zones and swelling. These data support the use of FE aqueous suspensions as a safe tool for organophosphorus skin decontamination.

Supporting the fight against the proliferation of chemical weapons through cheminformatics

International frameworks have been put in place to foster chemical weapons nonproliferation and disarmament. These frameworks feature lists of chemicals that can be used as chemical weapons or precursors for their synthesis (CW-control lists). In these lists, chemicals of concern are described through chemical names and CAS Registry Numbers®. Importantly, in some CW-control lists, some entries, rather than specifying individual chemicals, describe families of related chemicals. Working with CW-control lists poses challenges for frontline customs and export control officers implementing these frameworks. Entries that describe families of chemicals are not easy to interpret, especially for non-chemists. Moreover, synonyms and chemical variants complicate the issue of checking CW-control lists through names and registry numbers. To ameliorate these problems, we have developed a functioning prototype of a cheminformatics tool that automates the task of assessing whether a chemical is part of a CW-control list. The tool, dubbed the Nonproliferation Cheminformatics Compliance Tool (NCCT), is a database management system (based on ChemAxon’s Instant JChem) with an embedded database of chemical structures. The key feature of the database is that it contains not only the structures of the individually listed chemicals, but also the generic structures that describe the entries relative to families of chemicals (Markush structures).

Utilization of Pharmaceutical Technology Methods for the Development of Innovative Porous Metasilicate Pellets with a Very High Specific Surface Area for Chemical Warfare Agents Detection

Pharmaceutical technology offers various dosage forms that can be applied interdisciplinary. One of them are spherical pellets which could be utilized as a carrier in emerging second-generation detection tubes. This detection system requires carriers with high specific surface area (SSA), which should allow better adsorption of toxic substances and detection reagents. In this study, a magnesium aluminometasilicate with high SSA was utilized along with various concentrations of volatile substances (menthol, camphor and ammonium bicarbonate) to increase further the carrier SSA after their sublimation. The samples were evaluated in terms of physicochemical parameters, their morphology was assessed by scanning electron microscopy, and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method was utilized to measure SSA. The samples were then impregnated with a detection reagent o-phenylenediamine-pyronine and tested with diphosgene. Only samples prepared using menthol or camphor were found to show red fluorescence under the UV light in addition to the eye-visible red-violet color. This allowed the detection of diphosgene/phosgene at a concentration of only 0.1 mg/m³ in the air for samples M20.0 and C20.0 with their SSA higher than 115 m²/g, thus exceeding the sensitivity of the first-generation DT-12 detection tube.

[175 years of anesthesia and narcosis-Towards a "human right to unconsciousness"]

The Ether Day, a key moment in the history of mankind, commemorates its 175th anniversary on 16 October 2021. On that day the dentist William T. G. Morton successfully gave the first public ether anesthesia in Boston. From then on it was possible to save people from pain with justifiable risk and at the same time to protect them from psychological damage by inducing unconsciousness. The German philosopher Peter Sloterdijk, one of the most renowned and effective philosophers of our times, deduced that from then on humans, to some extent, had a right to unconsciousness when in psychophysical distress. This postulate unfolded from his concept of "anthropotechnics" developed around 1997, meaning the idea of treating human nature as an object of possible improvements. According to Sloterdijk, in favorable cases a synthesis of man and technology can result in a significant improvement of human capabilities in the sense of "enhancement", i.e. an increase, an improvement or even an expansion of intellectual, physical or psychological possibilities, as it were in a transgression of the human (so-called transhumanism). Man should go into vertical tension, i.e. strive for higher aims and exploit his inherent potential, he should not dwell in the horizontal. This is not meant as an appeal but as an imperative: "You must change your life!". In this context modern anesthesia may prove helpful: be operated on by others in order to undergo an enhancement. Or, in its most extreme form, the operation in the "auto-operational curved space", a person can even operate on himself as has been dramatically demonstrated by Rogozov, a young Russian physician and trainee surgeon who successfully performed a self-appendectomy under local anesthesia at the Novolazarevskaya Antarctic Station in 1961; however, the implementation of this idea is a long way off. On the one hand, many countries lack qualified personnel in sufficiently large numbers to perform even vital operations with patients under anesthesia. On the other hand, over the decades it has become clear that anesthesia is obviously beneficial for mankind in that it offers relief from pain and psychological stress but that it can also often show its dark side: substance abuse, use of anesthetics in torture and in executions. In addition, the role of anesthetics in resuscitation, palliative care, and allaying executions is unclear or controversial. Finally, the necessary formal legal steps to acknowledge a "human right to unconsciousness" have not yet been implemented.

Review about Structure and Evaluation of Reactivators of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibited with Neurotoxic Organophosphorus Compounds

BACKGROUND

Neurotoxic chemical warfare agents can be classified as some of the most dangerous chemicals for humanity. The most effective of those agents are the Organophosphates (OPs) capable of restricting the enzyme Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which in turn, controls the nerve impulse transmission. When AChE is inhibited by OPs, its reactivation can be usually performed through cationic oximes. However, until today, it has not been developed one universal defense agent, with complete effective reactivation activity for AChE inhibited by any of the many types of existing neurotoxic OPs. For this reason, before treating people intoxicated by an OP, it is necessary to determine the neurotoxic compound that was used for contamination, in order to select the most effective oxime. Unfortunately, this task usually requires a relatively long time, raising the possibility of death. Cationic oximes also display a limited capacity of permeating the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB). This fact compromises their capacity to reactivating AChE inside the nervous system.

METHODS

We performed a comprehensive search on the data about OPs available on the scientific literature today in order to cover all the main drawbacks still faced in the research for the development of effective antidotes against those compounds.

RESULTS

Therefore, this review about neurotoxic OPs and the reactivation of AChE, provides insights for the new agents' development. The most expected defense agent is a molecule without toxicity and effective to reactivate AChE inhibited by all neurotoxic OPs.

CONCLUSION

To develop these new agents, the application of diverse scientific areas of research, especially theoretical procedures as computational science (computer simulation, docking and dynamics), organic synthesis, spectroscopic methodologies, biology, biochemical and biophysical information, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology and toxicology, is necessary.

Paper-based electrochemical sensor for on-site detection of the sulphur mustard

Herein, we report a novel paper-based electrochemical sensor for on-site detection of sulphur mustards. This sensor was conceived combining office paper-based electrochemical sensor with choline oxidase enzyme to deliver a sustainable sensing tool. The mustard agent detection relies on the evaluation of inhibition degree of choline oxidase, which is reversibly inhibited by sulphur mustards, by measuring the enzymatic by-product H₂O₂ in chronoamperometric mode. A nanocomposite constituted of Prussian Blue nanoparticles and Carbon Black was used as working electrode modifier to improve the electroanalytical performances. This bioassay was successfully applied for the measurement of a sulphur mustard, Yprite, obtaining a detection limit in the millimolar range (LOD = 0.9 mM). The developed sensor, combined with a portable and easy-to-use instrumentation, can be applied for a fast and cost-effective detection of sulphur mustards.

Counteracting poisoning with chemical warfare nerve agents

Phosphylation of the pivotal enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by nerve agents (NAs) leads to irreversible inhibition of the enzyme and accumulation of neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which induces cholinergic crisis, that is, overstimulation of muscarinic and nicotinic membrane receptors in the central and peripheral nervous system. In severe cases, subsequent desensitisation of the receptors results in hypoxia, vasodepression, and respiratory arrest, followed by death. Prompt action is therefore critical to improve the chances of victim's survival and recovery. Standard therapy of NA poisoning generally involves administration of anticholinergic atropine and an oxime reactivator of phosphylated AChE. Anticholinesterase compounds or NA bioscavengers can also be applied to preserve native AChE from inhibition. With this review of 70 years of research we aim to present current and potential approaches to counteracting NA poisoning.

Simulation exercises and after action reviews - analysis of outputs during 2016-2019 to strengthen global health emergency preparedness and response

Background

Under the International Health Regulations (2005) [IHR (2005)] Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, after action reviews (AAR) and simulation exercises (SimEx) are two critical components which measure the functionality of a country’s health emergency preparedness and response under a “real-life” event or simulated situation. The objective of this study was to describe the AAR and SimEx supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) globally in 2016–2019.

Methods

In 2016–2019, WHO supported 63 AAR and 117 SimEx, of which 42 (66.7%) AAR reports and 56 (47.9%) SimEx reports were available. We extracted key information from these reports and created two central databases for AAR and SimEx, respectively. We conducted descriptive analysis and linked the findings according to the 13 IHR (2005) core capacities.

Results

Among the 42 AAR and 56 SimEx available reports, AAR and SimEx were most commonly conducted in the WHO African Region (AAR: n = 32, 76.2%; SimEx: n = 32, 52.5%). The most common public health events reviewed or tested in AAR and SimEx, respectively, were epidemics and pandemics (AAR: n = 38, 90.5%; SimEx: n = 46, 82.1%). For AAR, 10 (76.9%) of the 13 IHR core capacities were reviewed at least once, with no AAR conducted for food safety, chemical events, and radiation emergencies, among the reports available. For SimEx, all 13 (100.0%) IHR capacities were tested at least once. For AAR, the most commonly reviewed IHR core capacities were health services provision (n = 41, 97.6%), risk communication (n = 39, 92.9%), national health emergency framework (n = 39, 92.9%), surveillance (n = 37, 88.1%) and laboratory (n = 35, 83.3%). For SimEx, the most commonly tested IHR core capacity were national health emergency framework (n = 56, 91.1%), followed by risk communication (n = 48, 85.7%), IHR coordination and national IHR focal point functions (n = 45, 80.4%), surveillance (n = 31, 55.4%), and health service provision (n = 29, 51.8%). For AAR, the median timeframe between the end of the event and AAR was 125 days (range = 25–399 days).

Conclusions

WHO has recently published guidance for the planning, execution, and follow-up of AAR and SimEx. Through the guidance and the simplified reporting format provided, we hope to see more countries conduct AAR and SimEx and standardization in their methodology, practice, reporting and follow-up.

Supplementary information

Supplementary information accompanies this paper at 10.1186/s12992-020-00632-w.

Gas sensors based on mass-sensitive transducers. Part 2: Improving the sensors towards practical application

Within the framework outlined in the first part of the review, the second part addresses attempts to increase receptor material performance through the use of sensor systems and chemometric methods, in conjunction with receptor preparation methods and sensor-specific tasks. Conclusions are then drawn, and development perspectives for gravimetric sensors are discussed.

A minimum data set of user profile or electronic health record for chemical warfare victims' recommender system

Background:

There are many people who are suffering from a variety of physical and mental illnesses due to the chemical attacks. There are various technologies such as recommender systems that can identify the main concerns related to health and make efforts to address them. To design and develop a recommender system, preparation of data source of this system should be considered. The aim of this study was to determine the minimum data set for user profile or user's electronic health record in chemical warfare victims’ recommender system.

Methods:

This applied descriptive, cross-sectional study which was conducted in 2017. A questionnaire was developed by the authors from the data elements that were collected using the data extraction form from the studied sources. Content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by using the experts. Test–retest method was used to determine the reliability of the questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire with Cronbach's alpha coefficient was confirmed as 84%. The questionnaire were submitted for related experts based on Delphi method by email or in person. Data resulting from the Delphi technique with descriptive statistics methods in SPSS software were analyzed.

Results:

Forty-seven nonclinical data elements and 181 clinical data elements were classified.

Conclusion:

Determining minimum data set of user profile or electronic health record in the recommender system for chemical warfare victims helps the health authorities to implement the recommender system which demonstrates chemical warfare victims’ needs.

Applications of Graphene and Its Derivatives in Chemical Analysis

In this review, the applications of graphene and its derivatives in the chemical analysis have been described. The properties of graphene materials which are essential for their use in chemical and biochemical analysis are characterized. The materials are used in sensors and biosensors, in electrochemistry, in chromatography and in the sample preparation techniques. Chemical and electrochemical sensors containing graphene materials are useful devices for detecting some chemical and biochemical compounds. Chromatographic columns for HPLC with graphene containing stationary phases may be used for separation of polar and nonpolar components of some specific mixtures. Graphene materials could be successfully employed during sample preparation for analysis with SPE, magnetic SPE, and SPME techniques. HighlightsThe review of the applications of graphene (G) and its derivatives, graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), in chemical and biochemical analysis is proposed.The electron donor-acceptor and proton donor-acceptor interactions for the graphene based materials - analytes systems and their impact on the analysis results are discussed, particularly:    i) in electrochemistry,ii) in chromatography,iii) in modern sample preparation techniquesiv) in sensors of different types.The essence of the thermal stability and the nomenclature of the graphene based materials in their different applications in chemical systems of different classes was discussed (and suggested).The benefits of using SPME fibers with immobilized graphene materials have been presented in detail.

Deploying Portable Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to Military Users for the Identification of Toxic Chemical Agents in Theater

The use of portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is an important capability that has been available commercially for almost 25 years. These systems have been used within a variety of different industries, including their extensive use by environmental scientists for the analysis of hazardous air pollutants. Recently, these systems were deployed to conventional military forces for use in theater to detect and identify toxic chemicals including chemical warfare agents (CWAs). The challenges of deploying such complex analytical instruments to these military users are unique. Among other things, these organizations have considerable and variable mission strains, complex and difficult logistics and coordination needs, and variability in user backgrounds. This review outlines the value portable GC-MS systems offer to these warfighters in theater, discusses some important aspects of the design of portable systems that makes their deployment to this type of end user possible, and proposes methods that can be used to overcome challenges to successful deployment of portable GC-MS to non-scientists working within hostile environments.

Perception of Preparedness of Health Care Professionals in Case of a Nuclear, Chemical, Biological Attack/Emergency in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background

With the growth of global terrorism and rapid advancements in the field of science, the threat of a nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) attack remains imminent. This study assesses perceptions of preparedness of health care professionals in case of an NBC attack/incident in a tertiary care hospital.

Patients and methods

We conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional study of 200 health care workers (including nurses and doctors) in a tertiary care hospital, from October 2018 through December 2018. Participants answered 17 yes/no questions and five 5-point Likert scale questions. We analyzed the data using chi-square tests and one-way analysis of variance.

Results

Most participants (73.6%) reported availability to an isolation facility, and a majority of participants (72%) reported they had access to ventilators. Approximately 60% of participants reported they had access to beds, and 44.6% reported access to a laundry facility. Most participants (65.3%) knew of an employee assistance program while 31.1% did not know about such a program at their institution. More than 50% of the respondents think they can deal with an emergency involving an NBC attack while 60% of the respondents did not think that their institution would be able to protect them in the event of an NBC attack/incident.

Overall, the participants were not adequately prepared for a mass scale NBC incident. The level of preparation was linked to the number of courses and training programs completed by the participants, with postgraduate medical personnel having the maximum level of preparedness, followed by medical graduates and nursing personnel.

Conclusion

Given the inadequate level of preparedness for an NBC incident as indicated by our findings, drills and seminars on large-scale emergencies such as an NBC attack should be included in the curriculum of undergraduate medical and nursing students in order to impart them the necessary training and confidence in dealing with an NBC incident.

Rational in silico design of aptamers for organophosphates based on the example of paraoxon

Poisoning by organophosphates (OPs) takes one of the leading places in the total number of exotoxicoses. Detoxication of OPs at the first stage of the poison entering the body could be achieved with the help of DNA- or RNA-aptamers, which are able to bind poisons in the bloodstream. The aim of the research was to develop an approach to rational in silico design of aptamers for OPs based on the example of paraoxon. From the published sequence of an aptamer binding organophosphorus pesticides, its three-dimensional model has been constructed. The most probable binding site for paraoxon was determined by molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) methods. Then the nucleotides of the binding site were mutated consequently and the values of free binding energy have been calculated using MD trajectories and MM-PBSA approach. On the basis of the energy values, two sequences that bind paraoxon most efficiently have been selected. The value of free binding energy of paraoxon with peripheral anionic site of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been calculated as well. It has been revealed that the aptamers found bind paraoxon more effectively than AChE. The peculiarities of paraoxon interaction with the aptamers nucleotides have been analyzed. The possibility of improving in silico approach for aptamer selection is discussed.

Tubes for detection of cholinesterase inhibitors-Unique effects of Neusilin on the stability of butyrylcholinesterase-impregnated carriers

Detection tubes are small devices for the colorimetric enzymatic detection of cholinesterase inhibitors such as sarin, soman, VX nerve agents and substances denoted as Novichok. These detectors contain carriers in the form of pellets with immobilized cholinesterase, substrate and detection reagent. Their advantages are portability, sensitivity and simplicity, enabling fast detection of such compounds from air and water in case of a terrorist attack or war. In general, maintaining the stability of an enzyme for a longer time is very problematic; therefore, its further enhancement is required for safety and financial reasons. In this study, the stability of our patented carriers in the form of pellets with immobilized butyrylcholinesterase containing an increasing amount of the unique sorbent Neusilin^® US2 was evaluated. The samples containing Neusilin maintained the stability of the immobilized enzyme for a longer time even at higher temperature and humidity than the currently commercially used carrier without Neusilin, allowing improved detection of nerve agents.

Novichoks: The Dangerous Fourth Generation of Chemical Weapons

“Novichoks” is the name given to the controversial chemical weapons supposedly developed in the former Soviet Union between the 1970s and the 1990s. Designed to be undetectable and untreatable, these chemicals became the most toxic of the nerve agents, being very attractive for both terrorist and chemical warfare purposes. However, very little information is available in the literature, and the Russian government did not acknowledge their development. The intent of this review is to provide the IJMS readers with a general overview on what is known about novichoks today. We briefly tell the story of the secret development of these agents, and discuss their synthesis, toxicity, physical-chemical properties, and possible ways of treatment and neutralization. In addition, we also wish to call the attention of the scientific community to the great risks still represented by nerve agents worldwide, and the need to keep constant investments in the development of antidotes and ways to protect against such deadly compounds.

A novel exposure system generating nebulized aerosol of sulfur mustard in comparison to the standard submerse exposure

Inhalation of the chemical warfare agent sulfur mustard (SM) is associated with severe acute and long-term pulmonary dysfunctions and health effects. The still not completely elucidated molecular toxicology and a missing targeted therapy emphasize the need for further research. However, appropriate human data are extremely rare. In vivo animal experiments are often regarded as gold standard in toxicology but may exhibit significant differences compared to the human pulmonary anatomy and physiology. Thus, alternative in vitro exposure methods, adapted to the human in vivo situation by exposing cells at the air-liquid interface (ALI), are complimentary approaches at a cellular level. So far, it is unclear whether the enhanced experimental complexity of ALI exposure, that is potentially biologically more meaningful, is superior to submerged exposures which are typically performed. Aim of our study was the evaluation of an appropriate in vitro exposure system (CULTEX^® Radial Flow System (RFS) equipped with an eFlow^® membrane nebulizer) for the exposure of cultivated human lung cells (A549) with SM under ALI conditions. Cellular responses (i.e. cell viability) and formation of SM-specific DNA-adducts were investigated and compared between ALI and submerse SM exposures. Our results proved the safe applicability of our ALI exposure system setup. The aerosol generation and subsequent deposition at the ALI were stable and uniform. The technical CULTEX^® RFS setup is based on ALI exposure with excess of aerosol from that only some is deposited on the cell layer. As expected, a lower cytotoxicity and DNA-adduct formation were detected when identical SM concentrations were used compared to experiments under submerged conditions. A distinct advantage of SM-ALI compared to SM-submerse exposures could not be found in our experiments. Though, the CULTEX^® RFS was found suitable for SM-ALI exposures.

Nurses' and Medical Officers' Knowledge, Attitude, and Preparedness Toward Potential Bioterrorism Attacks

Terrorist attacks are increasingly becoming more lethal and less discriminate. The threat of bioterrorism is increasing daily. The ease of production and the broad availability of biological agents and technical know-how have led to a further spread of biological weapons and an increased desire among nations as well as terrorists to have them. Health professionals in emergency departments are expected to play crucial roles in the management of victims of bioterrorism when bioterrorism occurs. This study explored the knowledge, attitudes, and preparedness of emergency department nurses and medical officers (MOs) toward potential bioterrorist attacks in Ghana. This qualitative study utilized focus group discussions and semistructured interviews to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and preparedness of emergency department nurses and MOs toward potential bioterrorist attacks in Ghana. Data were subjected to a qualitative content analysis in which three main thematic categories were developed. These thematic categories are as follows: (a) differences in bioterrorism knowledge between emergency department nurses and emergency department MOs, (b) unprepared emergency department nurses and MOs for care during bioterrorism attacks, and (c) positive attitudes of emergency department nurses and MOs toward bioterrorism preparedness. Although emergency MOs had better knowledge of bioterrorism than their nursing counterparts, both groups of health professionals were unprepared to respond to any form of bioterrorism. Both nurses and MOs indicated the need for staff education and infrastructure readiness to be able to respond effectively to a bioterrorist attack. A well-prepared emergency department and health professionals against bioterrorism could prevent high casualty rates in a bioterrorist attack and also serve a dual purpose of dealing with other natural disasters when they occur.

Chemical warfare agent NOVICHOK - mini-review of available data

The Cold War period is characterized by the infighting between the Western countries and the USSR in diverse areas. One of such fields was development of the weapons of mass destruction. Within various programs on both sides, a wide scale of different agents have been developed. However, information about some of them are still protected under the designation "top secret". Notwithstanding, in history several cases are known when such information beheld the daylight. One of such cases was the program FOLIANT and NOVICHOK. Both programs were developed by the USSR as a reaction to English/American invention of VX agent. If at least a part of available information is truthful, we can allege that these compounds belong among the most toxic synthetic agents ever. Within this contribution, we have reviewed available Eastern and Western data about the A-agents and their precursors, so-called NOVICHOKs, including their history, synthesis, physical-chemical properties, pharmacological characteristics and clinical manifestation.

Nerve Agents: What They Are, How They Work, How to Counter Them

Nerve agents are organophosphorus chemical warfare agents that exert their action through the irreversible inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, with a consequent overstimulation of cholinergic transmission followed by its shutdown. Beyond warfare, they have notoriously been employed in acts of terrorism as well as high profile assassinations. After a brief historical introduction on the development and deployment of nerve agents, this review provides a survey of their chemistry, the way they affect cholinergic transmission, the available treatment options, and the current directions for their improvement. As the review illustrates, despite their merits, the currently available treatment options present several shortcomings. Current research directions involve the search for improved antidotes, antagonists of the nicotinic receptors, small-molecule pretreatment options, as well as bioscavengers as macromolecular pretreatment options. These efforts are making good progress in many different directions and, hopefully, will lead to a lower target susceptibility, thus reducing the appeal of nerve agents as chemical weapons.

Human health risks related to the consumption of foodstuffs of plant and animal origin produced on a site polluted by chemical munitions of the First World War

Shells fired during World War I exhibited different explosive compounds and some of these weapons also contained a wide variety of chemical warfare agents. At the end of the war, for safety purposes, the large quantity of weapons remaining on the former front needed to be dismantled and destroyed. A large amount of the remaining shells was destroyed in specific sites which led to the contamination of the surroundings in Belgium and France. In the 1920s, 1.5 million chemical shells and 30,000 explosive shells were destroyed in a place close to the city of Verdun, in the East of France. In this paper, the risk for human health related to the consumption of foodstuffs produced on this site was assessed. To this end, food products of plant and animal origin were sampled in 2015-2016 and contaminant analyses were conducted. Human exposure was assessed using a specifically built methodology. The contaminants considered in this study were trace elements (TEs - primarily Zn, As, Pb and Cd), nitroaromatic explosives (trinitrotoluene, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, 2,6-dinitrotoluene, 2-amino-4,6-dinitroluene and 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene), phenylarsenic compounds including diphenylarsinic acid and triphenylarsine, perchlorate, tetrabromoethane and vinyl bromide. Depending on the compound, different approaches were used to assess the risk for both adults and children. Exposure to these contaminants through the consumption of foodstuffs produced locally on the considered site was unlikely to be a health concern. However, as for inorganic arsenic, given the presence of highly contaminated zones, it was suggested that cereals should not be grown on certain plots.

Chemical warfare agents. Classes and targets

Synthetic toxic chemicals (toxicants) and biological poisons (toxins) have been developed as chemical warfare agents in the last century. At the time of their initial consideration as chemical weapon, only restricted knowledge existed about their mechanisms of action. There exist two different types of acute toxic action: nonspecific cytotoxic mechanisms with multiple chemo-biological interactions versus specific mechanisms that tend to have just a single or a few target biomolecules. TRPV1- and TRPA-receptors are often involved as chemosensors that induce neurogenic inflammation. The present work briefly surveys classes and toxicologically relevant features of chemical warfare agents and describes mechanisms of toxic action.

Knowledge and Attitude of Iranian Red Crescent Society Volunteers in Dealing with Chemical Attacks

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and preparedness of Mahabad Red Crescent Society volunteers in dealing with chemical attacks.

METHODS

This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 Red Crescent Society volunteers in Mahabad City, Iran, during 2014-2015.The knowledge of the volunteers was evaluated and rated using a questionnaire as poor, moderate, and good. Also, the attitude of the volunteers towards the chemical attacks and their preparedness were rated as appropriate and inappropriate using a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 21.

RESULTS

From a total of 120 volunteers, 62.5% were males. The mean age of the volunteers was 32.0 ± 8.2 years. None of the volunteers had adequate knowledge regarding management of the consequences of chemical terrorist attacks. Only 10 volunteers (8.3%) had appropriate attitude and 7 (5.8%) stated their preparedness for being sent to the crisis zone. Also, 116 volunteers (96.7%) declared that Mahabad Red Crescent Society has an inappropriate level of preparedness to encounter chemical terrorism attacks and release of chemical agents related to petrochemical industrial chlorine resources into the water and wastewater.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the present study show poor knowledge and inappropriate attitude of Mahabad Red Crescent Society volunteers, and rescuers in encountering probable chemical attacks and industrial accidents. Furthermore, the Red Crescent Society had an inappropriate level of preparedness in the field of chemical terrorism from the viewpoint of the studied volunteers.

Forthcoming Challenges in Mycotoxins Toxicology Research for Safer Food-A Need for Multi-Omics Approach

The presence of mycotoxins in food represents a severe threat for public health and welfare, and poses relevant research challenges in the food toxicology field. Nowadays, food toxicologists have to provide answers to food-related toxicological issues, but at the same time they should provide the appropriate knowledge in background to effectively support the evidence-based decision-making in food safety. Therefore, keeping in mind that regulatory actions should be based on sound scientific findings, the present opinion addresses the main challenges in providing reliable data for supporting the risk assessment of foodborne mycotoxins.

Sarin (GB, O-isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate) neurotoxicity: critical review

Sarin (GB, O-isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate) is a potent organophosphorus (OP) nerve agent that inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE) irreversibly. The subsequent build-up of acetylcholine (ACh) in the central nervous system (CNS) provokes seizures and, at sufficient doses, centrally-mediated respiratory arrest. Accumulation of ACh at peripheral autonomic synapses leads to peripheral signs of intoxication and overstimulation of the muscarinic and nicotinic receptors, which is described as "cholinergic crisis" (i.e. diarrhea, sweating, salivation, miosis, bronchoconstriction). Exposure to high doses of sarin can result in tremors, seizures, and hypothermia. More seriously, build-up of ACh at neuromuscular junctions also can cause paralysis and ultimately peripherally-mediated respiratory arrest which can lead to death via respiratory failure. In addition to its primary action on the cholinergic system, sarin possesses other indirect effects. These involve the activation of several neurotransmitters including gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA) and the alteration of other signaling systems such as ion channels, cell adhesion molecules, and inflammatory regulators. Sarin exposure is associated with symptoms of organophosphate-induced delayed neurotoxicity (OPIDN) and organophosphate-induced chronic neurotoxicity (OPICN). Moreover, sarin has been involved in toxic and immunotoxic effects as well as organophosphate-induced endocrine disruption (OPIED). The standard treatment for sarin-like nerve agent exposure is post-exposure injection of atropine, a muscarinic receptor antagonist, accompanied by an oxime, an AChE reactivator, and diazepam.

Potentiation of hydrogen peroxide toxicity: From catalase inhibition to stable DNA-iron complexes

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is unique among general toxins, because it is stable in abiotic environments at ambient temperature and neutral pH, yet rapidly kills any type of cells by producing highly-reactive hydroxyl radicals. This life-specific reactivity follows the distribution of soluble iron, Fe(II) (which combines with H₂O₂ to form the famous Fenton's reagent),Fe(II) is concentrated inside cells, but is virtually absent outside them. Because of the immediate danger of H₂O₂, all cells have powerful H₂O₂ scavengers, the equally famous catalases, which enable cells to survive thousand-fold higher concentrations of H₂O₂ and, in combination with adequate movement of H₂O₂ across membranes, make the killing H₂O₂ concentrations virtually impractical to generate in vivo. And yet, low concentrations of H₂O₂ are somehow used as an efficient biological weapon. Here we review several examples of how cells potentiate H₂O₂ toxicity with other chemicals. At first, these potentiators were thought to simply inhibit catalases, but recent findings with cyanide suggest that potentiators mostly promote the other side of Fenton's reaction, recruiting iron from cell depots into stable DNA-iron complexes that, in the presence of elevated H₂O₂, efficiently break duplex DNA, pulverizing the chromosome. This multifaceted potentiation of H₂O₂ toxicity results in robust and efficient killing.