Pharmacological Perspectives of Toxic Chemicals and Their Antidotes

The book provides up-to-date pharmacological and toxicological information on chemical warfare agents, industrial chemicals, environmental toxins, metalloid and array of miscellaneous agents including their mechanism of toxicity. Chemical warfare is becoming a major force due to the fact that these agents can provide a substantial psychological edge to the military establishments. It covers topics of current interest like pharmacology of nitric oxide, oxidative stress, modulation of brain cytochrome p450s by environmental chemicals, modalities of nociception and the underlying molecular mechanisms including areas of pharmacology and toxicological interest never discussed in detail like capsaicin, cyanide, arsenic toxicity and cyanobacterial toxin etc. A number of antidotes, which are being used, or currently being investigated, for the treatments of the above toxicants are also discussed in this book. This volume with contributions from leading experts from the USA, Germany and India is a valuable source of information on many areas of pharmacology and toxicological significance for military personnel, scientific professionals in pharmacology, toxicology, biochemistry and environmental sciences.

Table of contents Chemical and Biological Weapons.-

Physiological and Neurophysiological Sequelae of Chemical Terrorism. Six Current or Potential Skin Decontaminants for Chemicals Warfare Agent Exposure. Prophylaxic Efficacy of Amifostine and DRDE-07 Against Sulfur Mustard Administered by Various Routes. Detection, Decontamination, and Detoxification of Chemical Warfare Agents Using Polyurethane Enzyme Sponges. In Search of an Ideal Bioscavenger for Organophosphate Chemical Warfare Agent Toxicity. Biomarkers in Detection of Sulfur Mustard. Bacterial Enzymes – Potential Applications for Personnel/Casualty Decontamination Against G, V, and HD Chemical Agents. Toxicity Evaluation of Thiodiglycol. Insights on Cyanide Toxicity and Methods of Treatment. The Virulence Components of Plague Bacilli: A Potent Biological Weapon. Anthrax: Bacteriology, Clinical Presentations and Management. Cyanobacterial Toxins: Effects and Control Measures. Toxicology and Pharmacology of Brevetoxins.


Toxic Chemicals and Their Mode of Action.-

Non-Cholinesterase Actons of Anticholinesterases. Toxicological Review of Capsaicin as a Weapon. Modalities of Nociception and the Underlying Molecular Mechanisms. Chronic Arsenic Poisoning: Target Organ Toxicity, Diagnosis and Treatment. Mechanisms Involved in the Regulation of Free Radical Generation from Neutrophils. Toxicological Consequences of Modulaiton of Brain Cytochrome P450s by Environmental Chemicals.


Pharmacology of CBW Antidotes.-

Development of Treatments for Intoxication by Botulinum Neurotoxin. Human Butyrylcholinesterase: A Future Generation Antidote for Protection Against Organophosphate Agents. Management of Commonly Encountered Drug Poisonings. a-ketoglutarate: A Promising Antidote to Cyanide Poisoning. Oxidative Stress in Alzheimer´s Disease and Cerebral Ischemia: Implications for Antioxidant Treatment. Succimer and its Analogues: Antidotes for Metal Poisoning. ECGs and Metabolic Networks: An in silico Exploration of Cyanide-Caused Cardiac Toxicity.-