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Exposures of Sus scrofa to a TASER® conducted electrical weapon: no effects on 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis patterns of plasma proteins

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Abstract

In an earlier study, we found significant changes in red-blood-cell, leukocyte, and platelet counts, and in red-blood-cell membrane proteins, following exposures of anesthetized pigs to a conducted electrical weapon. In the current study, we examined potential changes in plasma proteins [analyzed via two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DGE)] following two 30 s exposures of anesthetized pigs (Sus scrofa) to a TASER® C2 conducted electrical weapon. Patterns of proteins, separated by 2-DGE, were consistent and reproducible between animals and between times of sampling. We determined that the blood plasma collection, handling, storage, and processing techniques we used are suitable for swine blood. There were no statistically significant changes in plasma proteins following the conducted-electrical-weapon exposures. Overall gel patterns of fibrinogen were similar to results of other studies of both pigs and humans (in control settings, not exposed to conducted electrical weapons). The lack of significant changes in plasma proteins may be added to the body of evidence regarding relative safety of TASER C2 device exposures.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by funds from the Air Force Research Laboratory, 711th Human Performance Wing. Authors’ contributions are as follows. JRJ: Designed and directed the overall research plan, and wrote the major portions of the paper. CZC and TYL: Prepared plasma samples and performed 2-D-PAGE. RLS: Supervised research and performed statistical analyses of the data.

Conflict of interest

The authors have not had any relationship with any manufacturers of conducted energy weapons, including employment, consultancies, stock ownership, honoraria, paid expert testimony, patent applications/registrations, and grants or other funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bio-Effects Division, Human Effectiveness Directorate, 711th Human Performance Wing, US Air Force Research Laboratory, 711 HPW/RHDR, 4141 Petroleum Road, Fort Sam Houston, TX, 78234, USA

    James R. Jauchem & Tiffany Y. Lim

  2. General Dynamics Information Technology, Fort Sam Houston, TX, 78234, USA

    Cesario Z. Cerna & Ronald L. Seaman

Authors
  1. James R. Jauchem
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  2. Cesario Z. Cerna
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  3. Tiffany Y. Lim
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  4. Ronald L. Seaman
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to James R. Jauchem.

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The views, opinions, and/or findings contained in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily state or reflect those of the US Government, and should not be construed as an official Department of Defense position, policy, or decision. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

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Jauchem, J.R., Cerna, C.Z., Lim, T.Y. et al. Exposures of Sus scrofa to a TASER® conducted electrical weapon: no effects on 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis patterns of plasma proteins. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 10, 526–534 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-014-9606-z

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