Moist heat as a promising method to decontaminate N95 masks: A large scale clinical study comparing four decontamination modalities-moist heat, steam, ultraviolet-C irradiation, and hydrogen peroxide plasma.

Background: Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a global shortage of masks. Although mask reprocessing was practiced, no clinical study has assessed systematically the impact of repeated cycles of wear and decontamination on the integrity of N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs).

Methods: We evaluated mask fit assessed by qualitative respirator fit test (QRFT) after each cycle of wear and decontamination, as well as four measures of mask integrity-bacterial filtration efficacy, particle filtration efficacy, differential pressure, and splash resistance through five cycles of wear and decontamination using one of the four modalities (moist heat, steam, ultraviolet-C irradiation, and hydrogen peroxide plasma).

Potential Protective Effects of Ursolic Acid against Gamma Irradiation-Induced Damage Are Mediated through the Modulation of Diverse Inflammatory Mediators.

This study was aimed to evaluate the possible protective effects of ursolic acid (UA) against gamma radiation induced damage both as well as . It was observed that the exposure to gamma radiation dose- and time-dependently caused a significant decrease in the cell viability, while the treatment of UA attenuated this cytotoxicity. The production of free radicals including reactive oxygen species (ROS) and NO increased significantly post-irradiation and further induced lipid peroxidation and oxidative DNA damage in cells.

Radioprotective effect of ursolic acid in radiation-induced impairment of neurogenesis, learning and memory in adolescent BALB/c mouse.

The effect of acute irradiation with 5Gy or fractionated exposure with 0.5Gy continuously for 10days (a total dose of 5Gy) was evaluated in an immature BALB/c mouse model. Radioprotective effect of ursolic acid (at 25mg/kg/daily administered 1h after acute or each of fractionated irradiations, and continuously for 30days) was also investigated.

Low-dose or low-dose-rate ionizing radiation-induced bioeffects in animal models.

Animal experimental studies indicate that acute or chronic low-dose ionizing radiation (LDIR) (≤100 mSv) or low-dose-rate ionizing radiation (LDRIR) (<6 mSv/h) exposures may be harmful. It induces genetic and epigenetic changes and is associated with a range of physiological disturbances that includes altered immune system, abnormal brain development with resultant cognitive impairment, cataractogenesis, abnormal embryonic development, circulatory diseases, weight gain, premature menopause in female animals, tumorigenesis and shortened lifespan. Paternal or prenatal LDIR/LDRIR exposure is associated with reduced fertility and number of live fetuses, and transgenerational genomic aberrations.

Des-Aspartate-Angiotensin I Attenuates Mortality of Mice Exposed to Gamma Radiation via a Novel Mechanism of Action.

ACE inhibitors and ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers) have been shown to attenuate radiation injuries in animal models of lethal gamma irradiation. These two classes of drug act by curtailing the actions of angiotensin II-linked inflammatory pathways that are up-regulated during gamma radiation in organ systems such as the brain, lung, kidney, and bone marrow. ACE inhibitors inhibit ACE and attenuate the formation of angiotensin II from angiotensin I; ARBs block the angiotensin AT1 receptor and attenuate the actions of angiotensin II that are elicited through the receptor.

Molecular mechanisms of low dose ionizing radiation-induced hormesis, adaptive responses, radioresistance, bystander effects, and genomic instability.

Purposes: To review research progress on the molecular mechanisms of low dose ionizing radiation (LDIR)-induced hormesis, adaptive responses, radioresistance, bystander effects, and genomic instability in order to provide clues for therapeutic approaches to enhance biopositive effects (defined as radiation-induced beneficial effects to the organism), and control bionegative effects (defined as radiation-induced harmful effects to the organism) and related human diseases.

Conclusions: Experimental studies have indicated that Ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM), extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phospho-c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) and protein 53 (P53)-related signal transduction pathways may be involved in LDIR-induced hormesis; MAPK, P53 may be important for adaptive response; ATM, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), ERK, JNK, reactive oxygen species (ROS), P53 for radioresistance; COX-2, ERK, MAPK, ROS, tumor necrosis factor receptor alpha (TNFα) for LDIR-induced bystander effect; whereas ATM, ERK, MAPK, P53, ROS, TNFα-related signal transduction pathways are involved in LDIR-induced genomic instability. These results suggest that different manifestations of LDIR-induced cellular responses may have different signal transduction pathways.

Development and validation of an ELISA kit for the detection of ricin toxins from biological specimens and environmental samples.

Ricin is a toxin that can be easily extracted from seeds of Ricinus communis plants. Ricin is considered to be a major bio-threat as it can be freely and easily acquired in large quantities. A deliberate release of such toxin in civilian populations would very likely overwhelm existing public health systems, resulting in public fear and social unrest.

Des-aspartate-angiotensin I attenuates ICAM-1 formation in hydrogen peroxide-treated L6 skeletal muscle cells and soleus muscle of mice subjected to eccentric exercise.

L6 skeletal muscle cells overexpressed ICAM-1 when treated with H2O2. Maximum effect was observed at 200 μM H2O2. Des-aspartate-angiotensin I (DAA-I) concentration-dependently attenuated the overexpression.

Lab-on-a-chip for rapid electrochemical detection of nerve agent Sarin.

This paper reports a lab-on-a-chip for the detection of Sarin nerve agent based on rapid electrochemical detection. The chemical warfare agent Sarin (C₄H₁₀FO₂P, O-isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate) is a highly toxic organophosphate that induces rapid respiratory depression, seizures and death within minutes of inhalation. As purified Sarin is colourless, odourless, water soluble and a easily disseminated nerve agent, it has been used as a weapon in terrorist or military attacks.

Paper-based enzyme immobilization for flow injection electrochemical biosensor integrated with reagent-loaded cartridge toward portable modular device.

Paper-based enzyme immobilization for a flow injection electrochemical biosensor integrated with a reagent-loaded cartridge toward a portable device was developed. A paper disk was immobilized with enzyme, then it was integrated in a flow cell as an electrochemical biosensor. A silicon tube reagent-loaded cartridge was integrated into the system, a complicated procedure was simplified as a one-click operation toward development for point-of-care applications.

Sulfur mustard and respiratory diseases.

Victims exposed to sulfur mustard (HD) in World War I and Iran-Iraq war, and those suffered occupational or accidental exposure have endured discomfort in the respiratory system at early stages after exposure, and marked general physical deterioration at late stages due to pulmonary fibrosis, bronchiolitis obliterans or lung cancer. At molecule levels, significant changes of cytokines and chemokines in bronchoalveolar lavage and serum, and of selectins (in particular sE-selectin) and soluble Fas ligand in the serum have been reported in recent studies of patients exposed to HD in Iran-Iraq war, suggesting that these molecules may be associated with the pathophysiological development of pulmonary diseases. Experimental studies in rodents have revealed that reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, their product peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)), nitric oxide synthase, glutathione, poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase, activating protein-1 signaling pathway are promising drug targets for preventing HD-induced toxicity, whereas N-acetyl cysteine, tocopherols, melatonin, aprotinin and many other molecules have been proved to be effective in prevention of HD-induced damage to the respiratory system in different animal models.

Protective actions of des-aspartate-angiotensin I in mice model of CEES-induced lung intoxication.

The present study investigated the protective actions of des-aspartate-angiotensin I (DAA-I) in mice that were intranasally administered 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES), a half sulfur mustard. The protection was dose-dependent, and an oral dose of 75 mg kg⁻¹ per day administered 18 h post exposure and for the following 13 days, offered maximum protection that increased survival by a third. DAA-I attenuated the early processes of inflammation seen in the CEES-inoculated mice.

Cyto-, axo- and dendro-architectonic changes of neurons in the limbic system in the mouse pilocarpine model of temporal lobe epilepsy.

While different hypotheses have been proposed to explain the mechanism of onset of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), most of them are based on structural, electrophysiological, cellular or molecular changes in one particular area. Extensive neuronal loss, axon reorganization, dendrite and dendritic spine growth make it impossible to apply one hypothesis to explain epileptogenesis for patients or animal models with different pathophysiological changes in the brain. It is therefore hypothesized that cyto-, axo- and dendro-architectonic changes at multiple brain regions may be involved in epileptogenesis in TLE.

Retrospective population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis of pyridostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor, in Chinese males.

Objectives: We have characterised the population pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics of pyridostigmine given as pyridostigmine bromide.

Methods: Over three days 50 healthy Chinese male subjects each received seven doses of 30 mg pyridostigmine bromide orally (3 x 10 mg every 8 h). Plasma concentrations of pyridostigmine and red blood cell acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity were determined at various times within the eight hours after the first and the seventh doses.

ETS2 regulating neurodegenerative signaling pathway of human neuronal (SH-SY5Y) cells exposed to single and repeated low-dose sarin (GB).

The mechanistic understanding of low-level sarin-induced neurotoxicity after single or repeated doses has yet to be explored at a cellular level. Using the microarray (Affymetrix-GeneChips) transcription profiling approach, the present study examined gene expression in human SH-SY5Y cells exposed to single (3 and 24 h) or repeated (2 x 24 h) doses of sarin (5 microg/mL) to delineate the possible mechanism. Two hundred twenty-four genes whose expression was significantly (P < 0.

Surface plasmon resonance detection of ricin and horticultural ricin variants in environmental samples.

A rapid, sensitive and robust immunoassay based on a commercial surface plasmon resonance (SPR) instrument (Biacore X) was developed for the detection of ricin in environmental samples. A total of 10 monoclonal antibodies were evaluated for their ability to recognise both a commercial ricin and horticultural ricin variants extracted from six different cultivars of Ricinus communis. Two suitable antibodies (7G12 and TFTA) were identified because of their strong affinity to all six ricin variants.

A lab-on-a-chip for detection of nerve agent sarin in blood.

Sarin (C(4)H(10)FO(2)P,O-isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate) is a colourless, odourless and highly toxic phosphonate that acts as a cholinesterase inhibitor and disrupts neuromuscular transmission. Sarin and related phosphonates are chemical warfare agents, and there is a possibility of their application in a military or terrorist attack. This paper reports a lab-on-a-chip device for detecting a trace amount of sarin in a small volume of blood.

Development of a liquid chromatography-multiple reaction monitoring procedure for concurrent verification of exposure to different forms of mustard agents.

A novel liquid chromatography-multiple reaction monitoring (LC-MRM) procedure has been developed for retrospective diagnosis of exposure to different forms of mustard agents. This concise method is able to validate prior exposure to nitrogen mustards (HN-1, HN-2, and HN-3) or sulfur mustard (HD) in a single run, which significantly reduces analysis time compared to separate runs to screen for different mustards' biomarkers based on tandem mass spectrometry. Belonging to one of the more toxic classes of chemical warfare agents, these potent vesicants bind covalently to the cysteine-34 residue of human serum albumin.

Novel neuroprotective effects with O-benzyl derivative of pralidoxime in soman-intoxicated rodents.

Pharmacological properties of oxime reactivators, not related to its ability to regenerate or reactivate nerve agent-inhibited acetylcholinesterase located at nerve synapses, have been reported to be important in protecting against poisoning by the nerve agent soman. Such non-reactivation effects have thus far been associated only with bispyridinium oximes. This study investigated the possibility of creating similar non-reactivation therapeutic effects in the mono-pyridinium ring oxime, pralidoxime (2-PAM) through attachment of alkyl groups of increasing chain length to the oxime functional group.

O-Substituted derivatives of pralidoxime: muscarinic properties and protection against soman effects in rats.

O-Substituted aldoximes of the cholinesterase reactivator pralidoxime (O-methyl 1, O-benzyl 2, O-propynyl 3 and O-butynyl 4 derivatives) were synthesized and found to exhibit strong binding affinities for muscarinic receptors in rat brain, heart and submandibulary glands. The aldoximes were noncompetitive antagonists of acetylcholine-induced contraction of the guinea pig ileum. A good correlation was observed between binding affinity and pK(B).

Quinuclidinone O-Alkynyloximes with muscarinic agonist activity.

A series of quinuclidinone O-alkynyloximes (14-19) were synthesized and evaluated in radioligand displacement assays for binding affinities to M1-M3 muscarinic receptors. Radioligand displacement assays were carried out using [3H] oxotremorine-M and [3H] pirenzepine on rat cortical tissue and [3H] N-methylscopolamine on rat heart and submandibulary glands. Two alkynyloximes 15 and 18 had pirenzepine/oxotremorine M ratios which were indicative of muscarinic agonist and partial agonist activity, respectively.