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The Syrian civil war is a shameful matter for the contemporary world. It is full of suffering for the civilian population and is one of the causes of the current huge migration of Syrian people in Europe. Suffering of people affected by the war is still escalating due to use of banned chemical weapons. The entire civilized world is appalled by the atrocities of the Syrian civil war.

Geneva, Switzerland, celebrated a most remarkable 90^th birthday jubilee. A highly respected Canadian surgeon who enjoys excellent mental and physical condition, and continues to perform the scientific and organizational work for which he has long been recognized throughout the world. A pioneer of medical emergency systems, Professor Gunn has contributed greatly to the emergence and evolution of Disaster Medicine, Humanitarian Medicine, and the expansion of surgical fields in developing and "third world" countries. He worked closely with officials for many countries and has continued this collaboration with Czech healthcare and medical educational institutions; most notably with Charles University in Prague and ...

The 1^st International Conference << CBRN Research and Innovation >> co-organized by the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), the Armament procurement Agency (DGA), the Army Health Services, the Alpes-Maritimes Fire and Rescue Services (SDIS06) and Nice Conference Association was held in the Antibes-Juan-les-Pins Congress Center (France) from March 16 to 18, 2015 (www.cbrn-conference.com).Jean Leonetti, mayor of Antibes-Juan-les-Pins, member of the French Parliament, minister in charge of the European Affairs in 2011-2012, officially opened the Conference.The involvement of the Scientific Committee, a multidisciplinary group of 27 members...

The main goal of this reaserch is an evaluatin of mental stress. The level of stress was studied in a group of nurses that spent some time on the military missions, especially in Afghanistan.We used Meister questionary for evaluation of a stress level at work, in a civilian hospital in the Czech Republic and a military work place, during the mission.In conclusion, the goal of our reaserch is classification of a stress level during the nurses' deployment in foreign mission. Based on these results, some methods convenient for managing a higher level of stress were described and mechanisms of stress adaptation are discussed.

Toxic alcohols that clinicians commonly encounter are ethylene glycol, methanol, and isopropanol. Adults ingest these either for suicidal intent or to achieve inebriation, since these substances are readily available and cheaper than alcohol. Nevertheless, assorted alcohols are used very often in many applications and any alcohol can be toxic if ingested in large enough quantities. Toxic alcohols discussed here include all saturated aliphatic alcohols containing from 1 to 6 carbons in their molecules.

Organophosphorus compounds (OPCs) are a wide group of compounds both structurally and functionally. Each OPC has a unique toxicological profile. The exposure to this type of poison is not limited only to certain occupationally exposed people but also to children, women, pregnant women; all have chances to be exposed to this poison. During the recent past years it has been reported in many poison epidemiological studies and case reports that exposure of OPCs during pregnancy caused malformed fetuses, neural tube defect (NTD) and shortening of pregnancy. The literature for animal models reveals inconclusive evidence. The generalized view is that they are neither teratogenic nor embryotoxic. But it is not true. There is a lack of systematic study and scarcity of reports on the topic. The present study was undertaken to investigate the teratogenicity induced by organophosphorus compounds in different animal models by literature review. Literature was searched by Toxicology Data NetWork (TOXNET), Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology Database (DART), Toxicology Literature Online (TOXLINE), Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB), Pubmed Central, Entrez-Pubmed, Science Direct, Directory Of Open Access Journal (DOAJ), Google Scholar and International Program on Chemical Safety (IPCS-INCHEM), Embase. The terms for literature search were teratogenicity, organophosphorus compounds; fetal toxicity, organophosphorus compounds; organophosphorus poisoning and pregnancy; organophosphorus poisoning and growth restriction; organophosphorus poisoning and IUGR; organophosphorus poisoning and reproduction; organophosphates and reproduction; pregnancy and organophosphates. The outcome of the study concludes that the work on teratogenicity induced by organophosphorus compounds was completely neglected, inconclusive, and only carried out on less than half of the OPCs available in the market. A more comprehensive and systemic study on the subject is clearly needed and its importance should not be ignored because more positive cases are being reported on the teratogenicity and embryotoxicity of OPCs.

This study was carried out to evaluate the radioprotective potential of aqueous extract of seeds of Aframomum melegueta (A.M.) against gamma radiation-induced (6Gy) liver damage in male Wistar rats. Thirty male rats were randomly distributed into six groups of five animals each and aqueous extract of A.M. was administered at a dose of 200 or 400 mg/kg b. wt., orally for 2 weeks prior to irradiation and 4 weeks after irradiation, when they were sacrificed. The hepatic antioxidant status; reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) as well as the extent of lipid peroxidation (LPO) were estimated. The activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were determined and histological examination was carried out. Exposure of animals to irradiation significantly increased LPO levels in comparison with the normal control group, reduced the level of GSH as well as CAT and GPx activity. On the other hand, there was a significant elevation in the activities of serum ALT and AST after irradiation exposure. Administration of aqueous extract of A.M. at a dose of 200 or 400 mg/kg before and after irradiation significantly decreased the elevated levels of LPO, restored GSH level near normal and enhanced CAT and GPx activities as well as significantly decreasing the elevated levels of serum ALT and AST activities. The histological examination and results from this study collectively indicate that aqueous extracts of A.M. could protect the liver from radiation-induced damage probably by enhancing the hepatic antioxidant defense mechanism in rats.

Hydrogen/deuterium exchange connected with mass spectrometry is increasingly applied for the interrogation of protein conformation, mapping protein dynamics, identification of protein-ligand interaction sites, and allosteric conformation changes. The dynamics of protein changes is determined with the m/z value of deuterated and non-deuterated protein or percentage of deuterium incorporation for the digested peptides. Hydrogen/deuterium exchange data are processed with selected software and finally quaternary structure of protein is visualized showing how different protein and ligand chains hook up with each other. Obtained results can help understand how protein interacts with its ligand and elucidate the role of this complex in a living organism. Utilization of this method is demonstrated by the amyloid-beta peptide aggregation associated with Alzheimer's disease; determination of the structure toxin-co-regulated pili Vibrio cholerae in connection with its pathogenesis or revelation of binding sites on Mouse double minute 2 homolog complex with small molecule Nutlin-3 which is important for elucidation of drug effects in cancer research.

The aim of the work is to describe the change of nutritional status and the change of physical activities in soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic during the deployment on foreign missions in Afghanistan. As for anthropometric data, body weight, body mass index and the amount of visceral fat and muscle mass were monitored. In each monitored person the measurement was performed at least twice, the first one immediately after the beginning of the mission and the control one shortly before finishing the mission. Height was measured using a calibrated measuring device and body weight was weighed using a calibrated stand-on scale. BMI was calculated as BMI = weight / height². The amount of total body fat was measured using Tanita BC-543 analyzer. After comparing individual contingents, statistically significant seems to be the Third Contingent, where a decrease of total body fat and visceral fat was observed. Similarly, statistically significant was the Fifth Contingent, where a decrease of body weight and BMI was observed. In the five monitored groups, which were measured in the Field Hospital in Kabul in the course of all four seasons of the year, some almost statistically significant changes of body composition, meaning a decrease of anthropometric characteristics, were registered. Only minimal statistical changes were registered in average values of all measured military professionals (n=251).

In April 2005, an international advanced research workshop entitled, “Preparedness of Medical Systems: Guidelines for Mass-Casualty Situations” was convened in Haifa, Israel, under the auspices of NATO. Numerous specialists from various countries addressed the management of problems that arise during the hospital and pre-hospital phases of a medical response to mass-casualty situations, as well as the issue of preparedness for potential toxicological events. Methods for evaluating the quality of care provided during such situations were also discussed (1). In November 2009, the authors and their team organized the “NATO Advanced Training Course: Best Way of Training for Mass-Casualty Situations” for specialists from countries participating in the Partnership for Peace (PfP) and Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) programs; once again, the course was held in Haifa, Israel. The aim of the course was to inform its participants (all of whom were experienced protagonists in the field of emergency medical services and hospital management, or ministry of health officials, in their respective countries) about teaching and training methods for preparation for mass-casualty situations (2)...

Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC) deals with the unintended consequences of research and development and is particularly acute in the area of drug development. The United States National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) has defined DURC as "research that, based on current understanding, can be reasonably anticipated to provide knowledge, products, or technologies that could be directly misapplied by others to pose a threat to public health, agriculture, plants, animals, the environment, or materiel" (1). One particular receptor antagonist and glycolate anticholinergic compound (BZ, QNB or 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate) was stockpiled by the United States as a non-lethal chemical weapon that incapacitates and severely degrades the capability of exposed individuals (2). Given time and medical treatment, combatants and non-combatants exposed to such incapacitating agents could recover without any long-term effects. The purpose of this review is to identify potential new and more potent incapacitating agents based on the structures of BZ or atropine using peer reviewed publications of new pharmaceutical agents. A number of peer reviewed studies have reported on compounds with effects observed at lower concentrations than or comparable to BZ suggesting that these compounds could also be developed as potential chemical incapacitating chemical warfare agents and represent good examples of the principal of Dual Use Research of Concern.

Organophosphorus (OP) is a large group of compounds with a wide variety of applications. The group comprises insecticides, pesticides and nematicides etc. in addition to deadly poison OP warfare chemicals like sarin and tabun. Thousands of casualties have been reported globally each year by the unintentional and intentional use of OP compounds. Uses of deadly poison OP like sarin by terrorists groups and irresponsible regimens have been documented as well. The threat always exists. The mainstream therapy includes administration of atropine, pralidoxime and bezodiazepines in addition to general supportive measures. Despite this standard therapy, the mortality rates of OP poisoning are still high. Different approaches and methodologies have been postulated and introduced as an alternative to standard therapy but none could replace the existing standard therapy. The present short review examined the possibility of usage of antihistamines as alternate to atropine. Pros and cons have been discussed. The study suggests that some of the first generation antihistamines like promethazine and diphenhydramine may be effectively used as antidote for OP poisoning depending upon the degree of poisoning. They may have several advantages like inexpensive, systematically and centrally acting anticholinergic antihistamines, readily crosses blood-brain barrier, and large quantities of the drug exist in most hospitals and pharmacies, providing a reservoir in the event of a mass casualty event. However, further clinical studies and evidences are warranted.

Respiratory irritants are substances which can cause inflammation or other adverse reactions in the respiratory system (lungs, nose, mouth, larynx and trachea) after being inhaled. Depending on the type and amount of irritant gas inhaled, victims can experience symptoms ranging from minor respiratory discomfort to acute airway and lung injury and even death. The lungs are susceptible to many airborne irritants. A common response cascade to a variety of irritant gases includes inflammation, edema and epithelial sloughing which, left untreated, can result in scar formation and pulmonary and airway remodeling. There are hundreds of substances that can pollute air and harm lungs. Harmful gases and chemicals are just one type of airborne pollutants that can adversely affect the lungs. Examples of respiratory irritants include, for example, chlorine, amonium, ozone, sulphur dioxide or nitrogen oxides. These substances, their sources of exposure, physical and other properties, and effects on the victim are summarized in this article.

This investigation deals with the affection of permeation of acetylsalicylic acid and paracetamol applied in the system propylene glycol-water 1:1 through full-thickness pig ear skin by alaptide that was applied in nanonized form as a potential chemical penetration enhancer. Alaptide, (S)-8-methyl-6,9-diazaspiro[4.5]decan-7,10-dione, is the original Czech compound. The application of nanonized alaptide significantly enhanced the permeation of both drugs through the skin. Enhancement ratios in the studied time interval 0.5-2.0 h varied from 1.11 to 17.70 for acetylsalicylic acid and from 6.83 to 19.83 for paracetamol.

A simple colorimetric tube detector for the detection of 2-(dialkylamino)ethanethiols and V-series nerve agents in water and in aqueous solutions is proposed. The detector is based on the reaction of the compounds with a chromogenic Folin-Ciocalteu reagent yielding a blue coloured reduction product. The detection limit of 2-(dialkylamino)ethanethiols is 2.5 mg/l, measurement range up to 250 mg/l. The detection limit of the V (VX) agent is 10 mg/l. The method allows V agents and their precursors and hydrolysis products to be easily distinguished from G-series nerve agents.

Classical chemical nerve agents are organophosphate based compounds such as Sarin, Soman, Tabun, VX and others. These compounds inhibit acetylcholinesterases in the synapses of nerve junctions. Instead of inactivating acetylcholinesterases, compounds, quaternary amines, can block nerve transmission by binding primarily to the acetylcholine receptor sites. The U.S. Patent Office has published 23 unique patents or invention registrations on the synthesis of compounds that can bind to muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. It is likely that some of these compounds could serve as either polarizing or nonpolarizing nerve agents that bind to the acetylcholine receptor and block binding of acetylcholine. This paper has systematically reviewed a series of bisquaternary amines that could be potentially deadly nerve agents. Analogous tertiary amines, based on the structure of the parent bisquaternary amines, have been proposed as compounds that might be more soluble in membranes making them more bioavailable and toxic. Finally, methods have been discussed that could identify this class of compounds using a bioassay for binding to the acetylcholine receptor. A tool in the identification of these compounds, the Hofmann elimination reaction, has been proposed as a novel method for helping to establish that quaternary or tertiary amines are functional groups of the nerve agent.

The ability of three oximes (HI-6, trimedoxime, K203) to reduce cyclosarin-induced acute neurotoxic signs and symptoms was compared with the neuroprotective efficacy of two combinations of oximes (HI-6 + trimedoxime, HI-6 + K203) using a functional observational battery. Cyclosarin-induced neurotoxicity and the neuroprotective effects of HI-6, trimedoxime or K203 alone and HI-6 combined with trimedoxime or K203 in rats poisoned with cyclosarin at a sublethal dose (80 μg/kg i.m.; 70% of LD₅₀ value) were monitored by the functional observational battery at 24 hours and 7 days following cyclosarin challenge. The results indicate that all types of antidotal treatment are able to survive cyclosarin-poisoned rats 7 days following cyclosarin poisoning while one non-treated cyclosarin-poisoned rats died within 24 hours following cyclosarin challenge. All three oximes alone as well as both oxime mixtures combined with atropine were able to slightly decrease cyclosarin-induced neurotoxicity in the case of sublethal poisoning but they did not eliminate all cyclosarin-induced acute neurotoxic signs and symptoms. Their ability to reduce cyclosarin-induced acute neurotoxicity was almost the same regardless of type of antidotal treatment. Thus, the tested combinations of oximes were not able to increase the neuroprotective effectiveness of antidotal treatment of acute cyclosarin poisoning compared to the individual oximes.

This article describes activities of the Czech Field Hospital of The Army of the Czech Republic in 2007-2008. The article briefly summarizes historical, geographical and demographic information about Afghanistan. Hospital facilities, structure of medical teams, and medical and humanitarian work of the teams are described there.

Many aldehydes are respiratory irritants which can cause inflammation or other adverse reactions in the respiratory system after being inhaled. Depending on the type and amount of irritant compound inhaled, victims can exhibit symptoms ranging from minor respiratory discomfort to acute airway and lung injury and even death. The lungs are susceptible to many airborne irritants. There are hundreds of substances that can pollute air and harm lungs. Aldehydes are just one type of airborne pollutants that can adversely affect lungs. Some of these agents may be directly toxic. They are also strong irritants for the skin, eyes, and nasal passages. The vapor is irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. Aldehydes as acrolein or glutaraldehyde are also corrosive substances.

The Institute of Molecular Pathology was founded on May 1, 1994 as a scientific centre of the Purkyne Military Medical Academy. During the twenty years of its existence the Institute has gained reputation of a qualified research centre focused on infection biology, clinical proteomic studies and biodefense. The advanced proteomics combined with cellular and molecular biology techniques and broad international collaboration have enabled the Institute to educate Ph.D. students at the highest possible level. Meetings, workshops, and conferences organized by the Institute have been attended by recognized scientists. The twentieth anniversary of the Institute foundation is a good opportunity to recap the results of its work.

Currently, Biomedicine is characterised by a growing need for processing large amounts of data in real time. This leads to new requirements for information and communication technologies (ICT). Cloud computing offers a solution to these requirements and provides a lot of advantages such as cost savings, elasticity and scalability of using ICT.The aim of this paper is to explore the concept of cloud computing. Firstly, the forms of cloud computing are described. Secondly, the potential benefits and limitations of Biomedicine technology are discussed. Finally, the current (present) situation of using this technology in Biomedicine in the Czech Republic from an economic point of view is analysed.

In this work, we focused on detection of IgG antibodies in the blood sera from Czech soldiers returning from Afghanistan against selected zoonotic diseases by commercially available ELISA kits. Samples were tested for the presence of antibodies against Brucella abortus, Coxiella burnetii, Leptospira spp., complex of Rickettsia conorii, Leishmania infantum, hantaviruses and hepatitis E virus. Except for L. infantum (all persons were negative), we found following seroreactivity rate: 10 % in B. abortus, 11 % in C. burnetii, 20 % in Leptospira spp., 10 % in R. conorii and 4 % in both hepatitis E virus and hantaviruses.

The Headquarters Joint Force Command (JFC) at Brunssum is an operational NATO headquarters located in that small town in the Limburg province of the Netherlands. The history of this HQ stems from 1967 when the Allied Forces Central Europe Command (AFCENT) was established there. In March 2000, HQ AFCENT stood down, and the new Regional Headquarters, Allied Forces Northern Europe (RHQ AFNORTH), assumed command of and responsibility for Northern Europe. As a result of the Prague Summit in November...

The beginning of participation of Czech troops in a modern history of crisis management abroad dates back to 1990, when the first 200 soldiers of the Czechoslovak anti-chemical unit deployed to Kuwait. The Armed Forces of the Czech republic (CAF) formed from the Czechoslovak Armed Forces in 1992, and from the very beginning kept sending out its troops to foreign operations. An important part of any contingent is its medical support, consisting of a physician (or physicians), field nurses and stretcher-bearers/ambulance drivers. Until the recent past, no resident physician has ever been involved in foreign operation. And there was no reason for that as the CAF used to have plenty of board-certified physicians available. A change occured in 2008 by the operation of a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) assisting in Afghan Logar. This operation commenced in parallel with the ongoing operation in Kosovo, another major operation putting high demands on medical support. At the same time, residency training was prolonged to a period of five years. Lack of board-certified physicians therefore led to an idea of dispatching...

Members of the genus Mycoplasma are parasitic bacteria that are widespread in nature. Several Mycoplasma species are important causative agents of various infections of mucosal surfaces in humans, especially in the urogenital or respiratory tracts. Pathogenetic mechanisms of mycoplasmas are intensively studied.The "gold" standard of mycoplasma detection is cultivation, which is very difficult and time-consuming. The other options for identifying mycoplasmas include direct antigen detection or molecular-biology methods, such as polymerase chain reaction, DNA-hybridization and sequencing.Mycoplasmas are naturally resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics because of lack of cell wall. Tetracyclines or fluoroquinolones are regarded as the first choice in the treatment of mycoplasma infections. Several reports have documented resistance of mycoplasmas to macrolides worldwide.This report summarizes our current knowledge of laboratory diagnosis and treatment of mycoplasma infections.

Dear Readers,this special issue of our journal, Military Medical Science Letters, is aimed at the summary of meeting abstracts presented at the 18^th Interdisciplinary Czech-Slovak Toxicology Conference - TOXCON 2013. This meeting was held in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, from 19^th to 21^st June 2013. This particular meeting was organized by Czech Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology and Slovak Toxicology Society with the support of the University hospital Hradec Kralove, Faculty of Medicine, Charles University Hradec Kralove and Faculty of Military Health Sciences, University of Defence Hradec Kralove.It brought together academic, government and third sector organisations to debate key issues in toxicology. This summary presents all oral and poster contributions which were presented within this meeting. We hope that these abstracts will be useful to those who are working in this area of research.Kamil Kuca

Brodifacoum, a commercially available, long-acting anticoagulant rodenticide, is a highly toxic compound. Structurally it is similar to warfarin, but it is many times more potent, with the ability to cause severe bleeding in humans. Most of the health hazards of brodifacoum are associated with accidental ingestion. Superwarfarin intoxication may have no signs or symptoms other than bleeding at various sites. Brodifacoum has the potential to be used as a chemical warfare agent because of its high potency and long duration of action.

The European Resuscitation Council (ERC) is an interdisciplinary council for resuscitation medicine and emergency medical care. The main goal of this organization is to save the life and on the basis of knowledge and experiences to ensure high quality of resuscitation available to all. Preparation, development and publication of resuscitation guidelines for Europe (Guidelines 2010 lastly), organization of courses for both, lay- and professional rescuers, and organization of congresses, are the key activities of the ERC. The program of this year's Congress was built with the intention to promote new technologies (especially cooling, feedback device and e.g.new application for SmartPhone, designed for Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training ...

The article summarizes the syntheses of organophosphate inhabited cholinesterase reactivators published from 1980 to I992. Synthetic procedures used and the evaluation of antidotic effectiveness are mentioned for individual types of reactivators. It follows from the specification of prepared coumpounds that the main attention was paid to reactivators derived from pyridine carbaldoxime and imidazole carbaldoxime.

The drug therapy on intoxication with organophosphoric compounds (OPC) included mainly combination of cholinesterase reactivators and cholinolytics (4). A variety 'Of bispyridinium mono- and dioximes have been synthesized over several years in order to improve the treatment of poisoning with highly toxic organophosphates. The “H” -oximes (HI-6 and HLo-7) synthesized by Prof. Hagedorn are the most popular now.
Some of the pyridine-heterocyclic oximes, synthesized in Military Medical Academy, Sofia have good protective effect against OPC intoxication. Very important is their anticonvulsive action (3)....