ABSTRACT
Animal models are employed to investigate mechanisms of injury and to evaluate protective measures against sulfur mustard (HD) exposure. The ability to detect and quantify HD enables the researcher to follow safe procedures in handling skin samples. We designed an experimental procedure to measure HD offgassing from animal models. A Minicams--a portable gas chromatograph equipped with a flame photometric detector and on-line sorbent collection and desorption--was used to monitor the HD concentration. Confirming measurements were made using a two-step process that trapped HD on a Tenax sorbent off-line and then transferred the sample by means of an ACEM 900 to a gas chromatograph equipped with either a flame photometric detector or a mass spectrometer. Sulfur mustard offgassing data are presented from three experiments in which weanling pigs were exposed to saturated HD vapor via vapor caps containing 10 microl of HD. The HD concentration was measured in time-weighted-average (TWA) units at a specific HD application site. The current 8-h maximum exposure limit for HD is 3-ng l(-1), (1 TWA unit). The largest TWA value measured near a 3 h time point was a Minicams measurement of 0.48 TWA at 2 h and 53 min after removal of a vapor cap containing HD from a single exposure site on an animal that had 24 concurrent dorsal exposure sites. Gas chromatography/flame photometric detection and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry were used to confirm the Minicams data and to provide greater sensitivity and selectivity down to 0.1 TWA. The gas chromatography/mass spectrometry data confirmed that HD concentrations fell below 0.1 TWA in <5 h for a specific site. These measurements of HD concentrations provided information on the expeditious and safe handling of HD-exposed tissue.
Subject(s)
Dermatologic Agents/pharmacokinetics , Mustard Gas/pharmacokinetics , Animals , Chromatography, Gas , Dermatologic Agents/adverse effects , Dermatologic Agents/analysis , Inhalation Exposure , Male , Mustard Gas/adverse effects , Mustard Gas/analysis , Photometry , Reference Values , Safety , Sensitivity and Specificity , Specimen Handling , Swine , Toxicity Tests , VolatilizationABSTRACT
The hairless guinea pig (HGP) is used by our laboratory to model the human cutaneous response to sulfur mustard (HD), bis(2-chloroethylsulfide), exposure. We determined the HD content in the skin of HGP after a 7-min exposure to vapors saturated with a mixture of HD and 14C-HD. Concentration/time (CT) values in the range of 2 micrograms/cm2/min were determined by counting skin 14C disintegrations per min (dpm) in animals euthanized immediately after exposure. These values are similar to human penetration rates obtained by other investigators. A rate curve monitoring the reduction in skin 14C dpm was developed for animals euthanized between 0 and 24 hr post- exposure. This curve showed the greatest change after 1 hr. The epidermal (62%) to dermal (38%) ratio of 14C at 24 hr was measured for two animals. We saw no site preference for HD penetration among the 8 sites used. The 14C content of template adhesive tape was determined to follow HD distribution. These results contribute to a better understanding of the cutaneous response to HD in the HGP model.
Subject(s)
Carcinogens/pharmacokinetics , Chemical Warfare Agents/pharmacokinetics , Dermatologic Agents/pharmacokinetics , Mustard Gas/pharmacokinetics , Skin Absorption , Skin/metabolism , Animals , Carbon Radioisotopes , Carcinogens/toxicity , Chemical Warfare Agents/toxicity , Dermatologic Agents/toxicity , Gases , Guinea Pigs , Male , Mustard Gas/toxicity , Skin Absorption/drug effectsABSTRACT
An antibody that binds bis(2-chloroethyl) sulfide (sulfur mustard) was developed. The immunizing antigen was prepared from the hapten 4-(2-chloroethyl)benzoic acid covalently bound to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). The antibody was monitored by a solid phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The test antigen consisted of a second hapten, 8-chlorocaprylic acid, covalently bound to bovine serum albumin (BSA). The test antigen was absorbed to the wells of 96-well plates. The immunizing and test antigens contain a common chloroethyl moiety. Thiodiglycol, the principal hydrolysis product of sulfur mustard, does not react with the antibody. This antibody, because of its specificity, has the potential to be a valuable tool for mustard research and forensic detection.
Subject(s)
Antibodies/immunology , Mustard Gas/chemistry , Animals , Antibody Specificity , Antigens/chemistry , Drug Stability , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Haptens , Immunization , Molecular Structure , RabbitsABSTRACT
Surface areas of the septum pellucidum, corpus callosum and the brain were measured from mid-saggital slices obtained with magnetic resonance imaging in 18 patients with schizophrenia and an equal number of normal volunteers. The patients showed larger septa and septo-brain ratios. These indices correlated with age in both patients and controls. In the patients, septal area also correlated with duration of illness. Changes in the septum pellucidum were unrelated to the intensity of positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The patients had significantly longer corpora callosa, but the two groups did not differ on its size or the ratio between the latter and the mid-saggital slice area. Dimensions of the corpus callosum did not correlate with age, duration of the illness or positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The anteroposterior elongation of the structure seemed to accompany enlargement of the septum pellucidum.
Subject(s)
Corpus Callosum/anatomy & histology , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Schizophrenia/diagnosis , Septum Pellucidum/anatomy & histology , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Anthropometry , Brain/anatomy & histology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Schizophrenic PsychologyABSTRACT
With the use of chlorpromazine, a 56-year-old man had significant relief of severe phantom limb pain, which had been essentially intractable for 30 years.
