The threat of domestic terrorism today looms larger than ever. Bombings at the World Trade Center and Oklahoma City's Federal Building, as well as nerve gas attacks in Japan, have made it tragically obvious that American civilians must be ready for terrorist attacks. What do we need to know to help emergency and medical personnel prepare for these attacks? Chemical and Biological Terrorism identifies the R&D efforts needed to implement recommendations in key areas: pre-incident intelligence, detection and identification of chemical and biological agents, protective clothing and equipment, early recognition that a population has been covertly exposed to a pathogen, mass casualty decontamination and triage, use of vaccines and pharmaceuticals, and the psychological effects of terror. Specific objectives for computer software development are also identified. The book addresses the differences between a biological and chemical attack, the distinct challenges to the military and civilian medical communities, and other broader issues. This book will be of critical interest to anyone involved in civilian preparedness for terrorist attack: planners, administrators, responders, medical professionals, public health and emergency personnel, and technology designers and engineers.

Despite ongoing efforts to prohibit the production, storage and use of chemical warfare agents recent world events highlight the enduring threat to the population from these agents. Research efforts in various countries have resulted in novel insights into chemical warfare toxicology that has enabled the development of new approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of chemical warfare poisoning. This book provides an up-to-date treatise on the diagnosis and verification of exposure, and the pre- and post-exposure treatment of poisoning. Focussing on the most important representative nerve and blistering agents, whilst also covering other potential chemical warfare agents, this book will give the reader a comprehensive overview of the many different aspects of chemical warfare agent toxicology. The text will appeal to toxicologists, biochemists and weapons specialists working in industry and academia, and anyone with an interest in chemical warfare toxicology or exposure.

This new book uses the unique vignette format of the Pearls Series" to explore a variety of issues that arise in the everyday practice of toxicology. The authors present individual case scenarios, physical findings, lab data, and clinical photographs of actual cases and challenge readers to formulate a diagnosis and treatment strategy based on the information provided. The correct diagnosis and a discussion of the findings follow each case presentation. Offers actual case studies in toxicology that challenge readers to formulate their own diagnoses. Reveals the actual diagnosis for each case with discussions of the relevant disorders. Distills 3-4 clinical pearls for each case-helping readers to avoid complications and achieve optimal outcomes and pitfalls. Uses illustrations to emphasize important points.

In 1989, the charismatic Joshua Boger left Merck, then America's most admired business, to found a drug company that would challenge industry giants and transform health care. Journalist Barry Werth described the company's tumultuous early days during the AIDS crisis in The Billion-Dollar Molecule, a celebrated classic of science and business journalism. Now he returns to tell the story of Vertex's bold endurance and eventual success. The pharmaceutical business is America's toughest and one of its most profitable. It's riskier and more rigorous at just about every stage than any other business, from the towering biological uncertainties inherent in its mission to treat disease; to the 30-to-1 failure rate in bringing out a successful medicine; to the multibillion-dollar cost of ramping up a successful product; to operating in the world's most regulated industry, matched only by nuclear power. Werth captures the full scope of Vertex's 25-year drive to deliver breakthrough medicines.--From publisher description.

Based on research that shows that Alzheimer's Disease results from a fuel shortage in the brain, certified nutrition specialist Amy Berger presents a multi-pronged nutrition and lifestyle intervention to combat the disease at its roots.