Measuring Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha and Interleukin-1 Beta Levels in Mustard Gas Exposed Patients

Sulfur mustard (SM) is an alkalizing chemical which has been used mostly as a weapon all over the world. Sulfur mustard can cause damages to many organs, especially the skin, respiratory system and the eyes. Generally, many complications of mustard gas result from its alkalizing potency and reaction with cellular components like DNA, RNA, proteins and lipid membranes. The damages caused by SM will lead to many complications which persist during the lifespan of exposed subjects. Pro-inflammatory cytokines including especially TNF-α and IL-1β can cause systemic inflammatory reactions and vast changes like altered cell signaling, migration, cytokine production changes and fever. This study was designed to analyze cytokine levels in mustard-gas-exposed people’s serum in the war between Iraq and Iran, who had the chronic dry-eye symptoms compared to the normal group, 30 years after exposure. In this study, 25 veterans who were exposed to mustard gas were compared to 25 healthy people as control group. The veterans with concurrent involvement of eye, lung, and skin were selected. We used ELISA method to assess the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in serum of people in both groups. All the results analyzed with T-test in SPSS 17 statistical software. The mean levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in serum of chemical exposed veterans were 52.3 ± 1.4 pg/ml and 3.43 ± 0.3 pg/ml while in the control group were 19.5±1.3 pg/ml and 2.25 ± 0.2 pg/ml, respectively. In the control group, the serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were significantly lower than the exposed group (P < 0.05). This study showed that there is a meaningful difference between TNF-α and IL-1β serum levels in the SM exposed group compared to the control group. There are some differences between the present study and others. However, studies on local inflammatory changes in these patients are also limited and need more reviews.

Evaluation of IL-6 and IL-8 in Tear Fluid of Sulfur Mustard Gas-Exposed Patients with Eye Lesions

The purpose of this study is to compare the levels of IL-6, 8 in tear fluids of people exposed to mustard gas in the war between Iraq and Iran who had the chronic dry-eye symptoms compared to the normal group. In this study, 25 of the patients who were exposed to mustard gas and had chronic dry eye symptoms were compared to 25 patients as control group, consisting of 25 people who had common chronic dry eye symptoms with blepharitis and 25 healthy people as normal group. The levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in tear fluid of people of these three groups were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results for levels of IL-6 (P = 0.002) and IL-8 (P = 0.001) in tear fluid of patients in comparison with normal group show a significant increase. The differences were considered statistically significant at P < 0.05. The effect of exposure to mustard gas on eyes of chemical-injured veterans destroyed meibomian glands which paved the way for evaporative type of dry-eye. As a result, the cited ILs in the tear fluid of these patients increased and resulted in later eye-impairments.

Mustard Gas Massacres and Atrocities Committed by Italy in 1939 Against the Inhabitant of Menz, Merhabete, and Jamma in Amesegna Washa/Zeret Cave

Following the 1934 Wal Wal incident which was used as a pretext for the second Italo-Ethiopian war, Italy had used prohibited chemical weapons in different battles. Among the chemical warfare agents Italy had used mustard gas, the most deadly poison gas and chemical available, against Ethiopian fighters. Nevertheless, the five year Italian rule over Ethiopia was not a peaceful experience of colonial rule. They were continuously harassed by Ethiopian patriots and had to live entrenched in their isolated fortifications. Sadly, Italy had committed several crimes against humanity. In this case, Ametsegna Washa, some call it “the cave of Zeret” was one of the forgotten massacres which happened in 1939, where up to more than 5,500 Ethiopians were gassed and machine-gunned. This paper, therefore, attempted to describe and analyze the forgotten massacres of the inhabitant of Menz, Merhabete, and South Wollo provinces in Ametsegna Washa (The cave of Zeret) by Fascist Italy in 1939. In doing so, the study employed qualitative research in which empirical data were collected from primary and secondary data. Primary data were gathered through qualitative field research observation, key informant interview with direct victims and their descendants, elders and experts at Menz keya gebreal woreda tourism office. Secondary data were gathered from books, published and unpublished journals, and historical records of the patriot. In view of that, the study employed qualitative method of data analysis in particular descriptive narration. The findings of the study shows that through the approval of Badoglio to use chemical weapons, the fascist soldiers had thrown several barrel with a mustard gas through the mouth of the cave then they attacked the mouth of the cave with artillery and machine-gun fire, and as a result more than 5,500 peoples have lost their live while those escaped from the massacre had faced a number of problems. The survival of the catastrophic massacre had faced physical injury which includes blindness, skin related problem, respiratory problem and as a result they had lived their remaining age with misery. This study, therefore, calls for the need of further investigation in the area. Along this, the place is not well-protected and, therefore, the government as well as the other concerning bodies should give serious attention in preserving and memorizing the historical cave.

Sulphur Mustard Induced Oxidative Stress and Its Prevention by Sodium 2, 3-Dimercapto Propane Sulphonic Acid (DMPS) in Mice

Sulphur mustard [bis(2 chloro ethyl) sulfide] (SM), a bifunctional alkylating agent has been frequently used as a chemical warfare agent. In the present study, the effects of sodium 2 3 dimercaptopropane sulphonic acid (DMPS) on some biochemical and histological parameters in mice, exposed to 1/4LC 50 concentration of SM vapor (10.5 mg/m\+3) were examined over a period of seven days. Exposure of SM resulted in a significant loss of blood, hepatic and pulmonary glutathione (GSH) and an elevation of hepatic and pulmonary oxidized glutathione (GSSG). These biochemical changes were accompanied by a number of histopathological alterations. The most prominent was congestion and degeneration in viscera and obliteration of chromatin material. These biochemical and histopathological changes were less marked in animals pre administered with DMPS followed by DMPS exposure indicating some protective value of the thiol (DMPS) against SM induced oxidative injury in mice.

Histomorphological and Histochemical Alterations Following Short-term Inhalation Exposure to Sulfur Mustard on Visceral Organs of Mice

Toxic effects of inhaled sulfur mustard (SM) on the histology of visceral organs was investigaed by exposing mice to 84. 6mg/m3 for 1h duration, using controlled single exposure conditions. A progressive fall in body weight from third day onwards was noticed. Light microscopic examination of the pulmonary tissue of these animals at 6 h post exposure revealed that the tracheobronchial epithelium remained intact, but was infiltrated by inflammatory cells. By 24 h post exposure, the mucosecretory cells were destroyed. The indanunatory reaction was maximum at 48 h. By 7th day post exposure there was swelling and vacuolation of lung parenchymal cells and thrombi formation. In addition SM caused congestion and hemorrhage at alveolar level. SM also caused granulovacuolar degeneration with perinuclear clumping of the cytopasm of hepatocytes and renal parenchymal cells. Renallesions were chazacterized by congestion and hemorrhage. Among visceral tissues, maximum atrophywas observed in spleen. Distribution of lesions increased with post exposure period. The maximum lesions were observed at 7th day post-exposure.

高效液相色谱-电喷雾离子阱串联质谱法检测芥子气经皮肤染毒SD大鼠肺中的DNA加合物

运用高效液相色谱-电喷雾离子阱串联质谱(HPLC-E S I-M S/M S)技术,建立了快速、简单、灵敏的SD大鼠肺中N7-(2-羟乙基硫代乙基)鸟嘌呤(N7-HETEG)的检测方法。以N7-苯甲基鸟嘌呤为内标,用甲醇和水为流动相进行梯度洗脱,正离子模式检测,方法的检出限(信噪比(S/N)≥10)为300pg/m L,定量限(S/N≥20)为850pg/m L。在300pg/m L^1.28μg/m L的质量浓度范围内,N7-HETEG浓度与N7-HETEG和内标的峰面积比呈良好的线性关系(线性相关系数为0.992 9)。高、中、低3个添加水平的日内测定精密度(以相对标准偏差(RSD)计)和日间测定精密度均小于10%(n=7),回收率为100%~132%。对SD大鼠背部皮肤染芥子气,剂量分别为5.5、11、22和45m g/kg,染毒4d后检测大鼠肺脏中N7-HETEG的含量。各个不同染毒剂量下,每克组织中分别检测到(0.56±0.16)、(0.67±0.12)、(1.36±0.68)和(5.14±0.92)ngN7-HETEG,N7-HETEG的含量随着染毒剂量的增大而增大,表明N7-HETEG可用作芥子气暴露的体内生物标志物。

Long-term effects of mustard gas on respiratory system of Iranian veterans after Iraq-lran war： a review

To review long-term respiratory effects of mustard gas on Iranian veterans having undergone Iraq- Iran war. Electronic databases of Scopus, Medline, ISI, IranMedex, and Irandoc sites were searched. We accepted articles published in scientific journals as a quality criterion. The main pathogenic factors are free radical mediators. Preva- lence of pulmonary involvement is approximately 42.5%. The most common complaints are cough and dyspnea. Major respiratory complications are chronic obstructive pulmo- nary disease, bronchiectasis, and asthma. Spirometry re- sults can reveal restrictive and obstructive pulmonary disease. Plain chest X-ray does not help in about 50% of lung diseases. High-resolution CT of the lung is the best modality for diagnostic assessment of parenchymal lung and bronchi. There is no definite curative treatment for mus- tard lung. The effective treatment regimens consist of oxy-gen administration, use of vaporized moist air, respiratory physiotherapy, administration of mucolytic agents, bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and long-acting beta-2 agonists, antioxidants, surfactant, magnesium ions, thera- peutic bronchoscopy, laser therapy, placement of respira- tory stents, early tracheostomy in laryngospasm, and ulti- mately lung transplantation. High-resolution CT of the lung is the most accurate modality for the evaluation of the lung parenchyma and bronchi. The treatment efficacy of patients exposed to mustard gas depends on patient conditions （acute or chronic, upper or lower respiratory tract involvement）. There are various treatment protocols, but unfortunately none of them is definitely curable.

芥子气全身中毒对小鼠脏器细胞DNA生物合成的影响及抗毒剂的防护作用

应用[~3H]—TdR参入示踪方法,观察芥子气全身中毒对小鼠脏器细胞DNA合成的影响及抗毒剂的防护作用。结果表明,芥子气对脏器细胞DNA合成具有强烈的抑制作用(P<0.01),其抑制作用的规律相似,而程度、时相有显著差异(P<0.05)。抑制作用特点:迅速、严重、恢复迅速,且有超常水平,提示动物机体对DNA烃化损伤具有较强的代偿、再生和修复能力。抗毒剂硫代硫酸钠及其与二巯基丙磺酸钠合用对芥子气吸收中毒引起的脏器细胞DNA合成抑制作用有明显的防护作用。

Preparation of a porphyrin-polyoxometalate hybrid and its photocatalytic degradation performance for mustard gas simulant 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide

By combining 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-chlorine)phenylporphyrin(TClPP)andα-Keggin polyoxometalate H_(5)PV_(2)Mo_(10)O_(40)(H 5 PVMo)via a simple ion-exchange method,an organic-inorganic hybrid material[C_(44)H_(28)N_(4)Cl_(4)]_(1.5)[H_(2)PMo_(10)V_(2)O_(40)]·2C_(2)H_(6)O(H_(2 )TClPP-H_(2) PVMo)was prepared and thoroughly characterized by a variety of techniques.The homogeneous photocatalytic degradation of 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide(CEES)(5μL)by H_(2) TClPP-H_(2) PVMo(1×10^(−6)mol/L)was studied in methanol and methanol-water mixed solvent(v/v=1:1),in which the degradation rate of CEES reached 99.52%and 99.14%,respectively.The reaction followed first-order reaction kinetics,and the half-life and kinetic constant in methanol and the mixed solvent were respectively 33.0min,−0.021 min−1 and 15.7min,−0.043 min−1.Mechanism analysis indicated that under visible light irradiation in the air,CEES was degraded via oxidation and alcoholysis/hydrolysis in methanol and the mixed solvent.O_(2)·−and ^(1)O_(2) generated by H_(2) TClPP-H_(2) PVMo selectively oxidized CEES into a nontoxic sulfoxide.Singlet oxygen capture experiments showed that H_(2) TClPP-H_(2) PVMo(φ=0.73)had a higher quantum yield of singlet oxygen than TClPP(φ=0.35)under an air atmosphere and visible light irradiation.

From the battlefield to the bladder: The development of thio TEPA

Effective medications for the treatment of cancer were nonexistent in the early twentieth century.Ironically the widespread use of toxic chemical weapons,chlorine and sulfur mustard gas,during the"Great War"led to the first successful chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer patients.Soon after the introduction of poisonous gas on the battlefield,reports of the resulting pancytopenia in exposed combatants appeared in the medical literature.The biologic effect of chemical weaponry on rapidly dividing cells eventually was recognized for its salutary potential in the treatment of cancer.Once this potential was appreciated,hundreds of similar compounds were synthesized and evaluated as chemotherapeutic agents.One such compound,thioT EPA,would eventually open the era of intravesical treatment of urothelial cancer.

Effect of samarium and praseodymium addition on water gas shift performance of Co/CeO2 catalysts

The performance of Co supported over ceria and doped ceria(by Sm and Pr)catalysts towards the water gas shift reaction was studied for the removal of CO from syngas to produce high purity hydrogen for a fuel cell application.It is found that 1%Co/Ce-5%Sm-O yields the highest catalytic performance towards this reaction compared with undoped-Sm and doped-Pr.An addition of Sm onto ceria support reveals a small crystallite size with high surface area and well dispersed cobalt on ceria surface.Moreover,a presence of Sm increases the reducibility of cobalt species and surface oxygen.The positive effect of Sm on increasing the WGS activity of Co/CeO2 is because Sm contributes to the reduction of Ce^4+to Ce3+which gives rise to oxygen vacancies and facilitates the electron movement at the surface leading to an ease of surface reduction.

Improvement of part-load performance of gas turbine by adjusting compressor inlet air temperature and IGV opening

A novel adjusting method for improving gas turbine(GT)efficiency and surge margin(SM)under partload conditions is proposed.This method adopts the inlet air heating technology,which uses the waste heat of lowgrade heat source and the inlet guide vane(IGV)opening adjustment.Moreover,the regulation rules of the compressor inlet air temperature and the IGV opening are studied comprehensively to optimize GT performance.A model and calculation method for an equilibrium running line is adopted based on the characteristic curves of the compressor and turbine.The equilibrium running lines calculated through the calculation method involve three part-load conditions and three IGVopenings with different inlet air temperatures.The results show that there is an optimal matching relationship between IGV opening and inlet air temperature.For the best GT performance of a given load,the IGV could be adjusted according to inlet air temperature.In addition,inlet air heating has a considerable potential for the improvement of part-load performance of GT due to the increase in compressor efficiency,combustion efficiency,and turbine efficiency as well as turbine inlet temperature,when inlet air temperature is lower than the optimal value with different IGV openings.Further,when the IGV is in a full opening state and an optimal inlet air temperature is achieved by using the inlet air heating technology,GT efficiency and SM can be obviously higher than other IGVopenings.The IGV can be left unadjusted,even when the load is as low as 50%.These findings indicate that inlet air heating has a great potential to replace the IGV to regulate load because GT efficiency and SM can be remarkably improved,which is different from the traditional viewpoints.