Re: Report: Pentagon Asks for Anti-Radiation Drug

[SAFarberMSPH@CS.COM]

Radsafe:

Regarding this news item,  I recall seeing a translated Russian research paper included in a document published long ago by the old AEC, that involved mice given high doses of Vit. E [I can't recall if it was in their diet or by injection].  This research was part of biological research published only in Russian which the AEC had assembled into a publication circa 1972. The "high" Vitamin E mice dramatically had  approximately twice the LD-50 to whole body Co-60 gamma as the control group.


Is anyone familiar with any more recent research on Vit. E regarding its potential ability to protect mammals against the acute effects of whole body gamma? If Vit. E works this well why would a new experimental steroidal hormone be the potential future treatment of choice for extreme situations?


Stewart Farber

email: SAFarberMSPH@cs.com

In a message dated 12/7/01 9:23:50 AM Eastern Standard Time, bcradsafers@HOTMAIL.COM writes:



> NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Defense Department is pressing for the approval of 
>
> a new drug that could help against radiation amid worries that Osama bin 
>
> Laden (news - web sites) and his al Qaeda network may have radioactive 
>
> weapons in their possession, The New York Times reported on Friday.
>
>
> So far the drug, a steroid hormone known as 5-androstenediol that appears to 
>
> strengthen the immune system, has been tested as a radiation protectant only 
>
> in mice, the newspaper said in its online edition.
>
>
> In one test, an injection protected 70 percent of mice from a level of 
>
> radiation that killed all the mice in the control group, it said.