Comparative toxicity of mono- and bifunctional alkylating homologues of sulphur mustard in human skin keratinocytes.

Sulphur mustard (bis(2-chloroethyl) sulphide; agent H) is a vesicant chemical warfare (CW) agent whose mechanism of action is not known with any certainty and for which there are no effective antidotes. It has a pronounced latent period before signs and symptoms of poisoning appear which it shares with the nitrogen mustards, and that differentiates it from other classes of vesicant agents. Sulphur mustard, the sulphur mustard CW agents Q (1,2-bis(2-chloroethylthio) ethane) and T (1,1 bis(2-chloroethylthioethyl) ether), the H partial hydrolysis product hemi-sulphur mustard (2-chloroethyl 2-hydroxyethyl sulphide; HSM), and the commercially available 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulphide (CEES) were characterized with respect to their toxicity in first passage cultures of proliferating human skin keratinocytes, the target cell of H-induced skin vesication.

Ionic dependence of sulphur mustard cytotoxicity.

The effect of ionic environment on sulphur mustard (bis 2-chloroethyl sulphide; HD) toxicity was examined in CHO-K1 cells. Cultures were treated with HD in different ionic environments at constant osmolar conditions (320 mOsM, pH 7.4).

Diastereomeric Reissert compounds of isoquinoline and 6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline in stereoselective synthesis.

Chiral acid chlorides were reacted with isoquinoline and 6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinoline to form diastereomeric Reissert compounds 8-11 and 18-21, respectively. The best diastereoselectivity (80:20) was achieved in formation of the 9-phenylmenthyl derivative 20. The diastereomers of 2-l-menthoxycarbonyl-1,2-dihydroisoquinaldonitriles (S)-8/(R)-8), formed in equal amounts, were inseparable.

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of two HI-6 salts in swine and efficacy in the treatment of GF and soman poisoning.

Anesthetized pigs were injected i.m. with 500 mg HI-6 dichloride (HI-6 2Cl) (1-[[[4-(aminocarbonyl)-pyridinio]methoxy]methyl]-2[(hydroxyimino)methyl]pyridinium dichloride; CAS 34433-31-3)) or the molar equivalent of HI-6 dimethanesulphonate (HI-6 DMS) 633 mg.

Passive standoff detection of chemical warfare agents on surfaces.

Results are presented on the passive standoff detection and identification of chemical warfare (CW) liquid agents on surfaces by the Fourier-transform IR radiometry. This study was performed during surface contamination trials at Defence Research and Development Canada-Suffield in September 2002. The goal was to verify that passive long-wave IR spectrometric sensors can potentially remotely detect surfaces contaminated with CW agents.