The "specificity" (whether it responds to thermal, chemical or mechanical features of its environment) of a nociceptor is determined by which ion channels it expresses at its peripheral end. Dozens of different types of nociceptor ion channels have so far been identified, and their exact functions are still being determined.The pain signal travels from the periphery to the spinal cord along A-delta and C fibers. Because the A-delta fiber is thicker than the C fiber, and is thinly sheathed in an electrically insulating material (myelin), it carries its signal faster (5–30 m/s) than the unmyelinated C fiber (0.5–2 m/s). Pain evoked by the A-delta fibers is described as sharp and is felt first. This is followed by a duller pain, often described as burning, carried by the C fibers. These A-delta and C fibers enter the spinal cord via Lissauers tract and connect with spinal cord nerve fibers in the central gelatinous substance of the spinal cord. These spinal cord fibers then cross the cord via the anterior white commissure and ascend in the spinothalamic tract. Before reaching the brain, the spinothalamic tract splits into the lateral, neospinothalamic tract and the medial, paleospinothalamic tract. The neospinothalamic tract carries the fast, sharp A-delta signal to the ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus. The paleospinothalamic tract carries the slow, dull, C-fiber pain signal.
Anthrax immune globulin, tradename Anthrasil, is a human immune globulin that is used in combination with antibiotics to treat anthrax. It was developed by Cangene and purchased in 2011 by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) under Project Bioshield. On 24 March 2015 it was granted approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration for use in treating inhalation anthrax in conjunction with antibiotics. Preparation
Anthrax immune globulin is prepared from the plasma of donors who have been vaccinated against anthrax. Safety and efficacy testing
Due to the ethical and feasibility concerns with testing the efficacy of anthrax immune globulin in humans, it was tested in rabbits and monkeys under the FDAs animal efficacy rule. Following efficacy testing, anthrax immune globulin was tested for safety in human volunteers, where the most common side effects were headache, back pain, nausea and infusion site pain and swelling. == References ==