Facile formulation and fabrication of the cathode using a self-lithiated carbon for all-solid-state batteries.

We propose a innovative concept to boost the electrochemical performance of cathode composite electrodes using surface-modified carbons with hydrophilic moieties to increase their dispersion in a Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC) cathode and in-situ generate Li-rich carbon surfaces. Using a rapid aqueous process, the hydrophilic carbon is effectively dispersed in NMC particles followed by the conversion of its acid surface groups (e.g. -COOH), which interact with the NMC particles due to their basicity, into grafted Li salt (-COO-Li+). The solid-state batteries prepared using the cathode composites with surface-modified carbon exhibit better electrochemical performance. Such modified carbons led to a better electronic conduction path as well as facilitating Li+ ions transfer at the carbon/NMC interface due to the presence of lithiated carboxylate groups on their surface.

El uso del propóleo al 5 por ciento en el tratamiento de la alveolitis

La alveolitis es una de las complicaciones dental más frecuentes. Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo de carácter retrospectivo con el propósito de determinar la efectividad del uso del propóleos al 5 por ciento en la evolución de los pacientes con alveolitis pertenecientes a los Consultorios Médicos de la Familia (CMF ) 8 y 9 del Área Olivos 1 de Sancti Spíritus en el período comprendido desde febrero del 2005 a marzo del año 2006. El total de pacientes incluidos en el estudio fue de 40, a los cuales se les aplicó propóleos al 5 por ciento en el alveolo y se observó la evolución de estos hasta su curación. Para ello se evaluó el comportamiento de diversas variables, concluyendo que este producto es efectivo en el tratamiento de la patología que se analizó.(AU)

The optimal dose of radiation in Hodgkin's disease: an analysis of clinical and treatment factors affecting in-field disease control.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of radiation dose, as well as other clinical and therapeutic factors, on in-field disease control. PATIENTS AND MATERIALS: The study population comprised 232 patients with Stage I and II Hodgkin's disease (HD) treated with curative intent at the University of Florida with radiotherapy (RT) alone (169 patients) or chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CMT) (63 patients). Sites of involvement and radiation doses were prospectively recorded and correlated with sites of disease recurrence. RESULTS: Freedom from relapse and absolute survival rates at 10 years were as follows: 76% and 77%, entire group; 76% and 80%, RT group; 79% and 70%, CMT group; 85% and 78%, Stage I; and 71% and 77%, Stage II. Treatment failure occurred in 50 patients (22%) including in-field failure in 22 patients (9%). In-field failure was rare in electively treated sites. Multivariate analysis of clinical factors (tumor size, number of sites involved, B-symptoms, gender, histology, age, and site of involvement) and treatment factors (use of chemotherapy, number of cycles of chemotherapy, radiation dose, radiation treatment volume, and radiation treatment time) showed only tumor size (p = 0.0001) to be significantly correlated with in-field disease control. In RT patients, the in-field failure rate according to tumor size was as follows: 0% for < or = 3 cm; 4% for > 3 cm and < or = 6 cm; 23% for > 6 cm and < or = 9 cm; and 36% for > 9 cm. In CMT patients, the in-field failure rate was as follows: 0% for < or = 3 cm; 0% for > 3 and < or = 6 cm; 5% for > 6 cm and < or = 9 cm; and 26% for > 9 cm. In-field recurrence was not a predominant pattern of failure in RT patients with small tumors (< or = 6 cm); thus, the difference in in-field control in tumors < or = 6 cm between doses < or = 35 Gy (6%) and doses > or = 36 Gy (0%) was not statistically significant. In larger tumors (> 6 cm), in-field recurrence was a predominant pattern of failure; the in-field failure rate in RT patients with tumors > 6 cm of 30% for doses < or = 35 Gy was not significantly different from 25% for doses > 35 Gy. In moderately bulky tumors (> 6 cm and < or = 9 cm), the addition of chemotherapy did appear to increase in-field disease control; the in-field failure rate was 23% with RT and 5% with CMT (p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: Our data do not demonstrate statistically significant evidence of increasing tumor control in HD with doses > 30 Gy. The data do show that increasing tumor size is associated with increased rates of in-field failure, and the addition of chemotherapy may improve in-field disease control in tumors > 6 cm. In-field recurrence in large tumors remains a predominant pattern of failure, however, and the role of radiation doses higher than 30-35 Gy in this high-risk subset warrants further study.

Comparison of the proportions of oral bacterial species in BALB/c mice from different suppliers.

In order to assess the influence of the origin of mice on their oral bacteria, the proportions of bacterial species found in the oral cavity of BALB/c mice from 5 suppliers were determined. The results indicated that mice from different origins harboured different oral bacterial populations upon arrival at our animal facilities and the differences persisted for at least one week after arrival. Except in one case, the oral bacteria did not differ from one shipment to another from each supplier and remained similar after one week at our animal facilities. The results thus indicate that the composition of the oral bacterial population is influenced by the origin of the mice.

Randomized, surgical adjuvant clinical trial of recombinant interferon alfa-2a in selected patients with malignant melanoma.

PURPOSE: We conducted a randomized prospective trial in selected patients with fully resected high-risk stage I and II malignant melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Interferon alfa-2a (IFN-alpha 2a) 20 x 10(6) U/m2 was administered three times each week for 12 weeks by the intramuscular route. Both the treatment group (n = 131) and the control group (n = 131) were evenly balanced with regard to relevant prognostic discriminants. RESULTS: The median disease-free survival (DFS) time was 2.4 years for the IFN-alpha 2a group and 2.0 years for the observation group (log-rank P = 0.19). The median survival times were 6.6 years for IFN-alpha 2a and 5.0 years for observation (log-rank P = .40). For stage I patients (n = 102), there was no apparent therapeutic advantage from IFN-alpha 2a therapy. The DFS for stage II patients was a median of 10.8 months in the control group versus 17 months in the treatment group. The overall survival time was 4.1 years for the treatment group versus 2.7 years for the control group. The differences in DFS for stage II patient were significant in a Cox model. These results must be interpreted cautiously because of subset analysis. A severe flu-like toxicity occurred in 44% of patients, 13% lost at least 10% of their baseline weight, and 45% experienced a worsening of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate trends that suggest a possible benefit for selected patients with high-risk malignant melanoma. The results will require further study in a larger patient population for confirmation.

Colonization of the oral cavity of mice by an unidentified streptococcus.

While studying the oral bacterial biota of mice, we observed an unidentified streptococcus (TG) that eventually became the dominant species of the oral cavities of all other mice in our animal facility. We found that the strain is indigenous to Jackson Laboratory mice but is absent in animals from Charles River Laboratories. TG was also transmitted from artificially contaminated BALB/c mice to the oral cavities of 4 other mouse strains. Streptococcus sp. TG stimulated the secretory and systemic immune systems of artificially contaminated Charles River BALB/c mice but did not provoke clinical symptoms. The increase in antibody level to TG did not prevent its colonization and persistence in these mice. In mice from Jackson Laboratory, the secretory and systemic immune response to TG was significantly lower. In vitro, Streptococcus sp. TG inhibited murine oral lactobacilli and staphylococci, probably due to the production of hydrogen peroxide.

Bacterial colonization of the oral cavity of the BALB/c mouse.

The acquisition of the human oral bacterial flora follows a relatively well known sequence of succession that can be influenced by various host factors. These factors have not been studied in the mouse. In the present work, we followed the bacterial colonization of the oral cavity of mice from birth, and tested our mouse model for its suitability in studying the influence of weaning and puberty on the indigenous oral bacterial flora. We observed that the first colonizers were staphylococci, followed by lactobacilli. The proportions of these two predominant bacteria fluctuated for a period of 30-50 days, but evolved towards the proportions previously observed among the indigenous bacterial species of 6-8 week-old BALB/c male mice (predominantly Lactobacillus murinus and Staphylococcus aureus). The weaning period significantly altered the equilibrium among the oral bacterial flora. This equilibrium was not significantly modified during puberty.

Comparison of different membranes for use in the colony-immunoblot technique.

We compared five different supports (Whatman paper filters Nos. 1, 5, and 40, nitrocellulose, and Nylon 66) for their suitability in the colony-immunoblot (CIB) technique. Results indicate that Whatman No. 5 filter paper recovered 94-98% of the bacterial colonies tested, were more resistant to tearing than the other Whatman papers tested, and showed reduced cross-reactions as compared with nitrocellulose membranes. Whatman No. 5 filters are 20 times less expensive than the nitrocellulose membranes usually used in the CIB technique. We thus adopted the former for our ecological studies of the murine oral cavity.

Effect of nutritional constraints on the biosynthesis of the components of the phosphoenolpyruvate: sugar phosphotransferase system in a fresh isolate of Streptococcus mutans.

A procedure for the purification of enzyme I (EI) and the protein HPr, the general components of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system, from Streptococcus mutans serotype c is presented. The method was also applied successfully to the purification of EI and HPr from Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sobrinus, and Streptococcus sanguis. Using specific antibodies obtained against the proteins purified from S. mutans DR0001, we determined quantitatively by rocket electrophoresis the cellular levels of EI and HPr in a freshly isolated strain of S. mutans grown under various conditions in continuous culture. The activity of a few specific EIIs was also determined by an in vitro phosphorylation test. Results indicated that maximum EII activities for glucose, mannose, and 2-deoxyglucose were obtained under conditions of glucose limitation, at pH 7.0 and low dilution rate (D = 0.057/h). Increasing the amount of glucose or the dilution rate (D = 0.40/h) or decreasing the pH from 7.0 to 5.5 resulted in a 1.4- to 24-fold decrease in these activities. The EII activity for fructose was not influenced by the growth conditions in the same way as the other EIIs. The fructose EII was highest at pH 5.5 and at high dilution rate under conditions of glucose or nitrogen limitation and was always repressed at pH 7.0 and at low dilution rates. The intracellular levels of EI were also dependent on the growth conditions. The highest concentration (0.65 nmol/mg of protein) was observed in cells grown under glucose limitation at pH 7.0 and high dilution rate, and the lowest concentration (0.12 nmol/mg of protein) was found in cells grown under glucose excess at pH 7.0 and high dilution rate. The other general component of the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system, the protein HPr, was not influenced significantly by varying growth conditions.