Structural Characterization and Thermoelectric Properties of Br-Doped AgSnm[Sb0.8Bi0.2]Te2+m Systems.

Herein, we report the synthesis, structural and microstructural characterization, and thermoelectric properties of AgSnm[Sb0.8Bi0.2]Te2+m and Br-doped telluride systems. These compounds were prepared by solid-state reaction at high temperature. Powder X-ray diffraction data reveal that these samples exhibit crystal structures related to the NaCl-type lattice. The microstructures and morphologies are investigated by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Positive values of the Seebeck coefficient (S) indicate that the transport properties are dominated by holes. The S of undoped AgSnm[Sb0.8Bi0.2]Te2+m ranges from +40 to 57 µV·K-1. Br-doped samples with m = 2 show S values of +74 µV·K-1 at RT, and the Seebeck coefficient increases almost linearly with increasing temperature. The total thermal conductivity (κtot) monotonically increases with increasing temperature (10-300 K). The κtot values of undoped AgSnm[Sb0.8Bi0.2]Te2+m are ~1.8 W m-1 K-1 (m = 4) and ~1.0 W m-1 K-1 (m = 2) at 300 K. The electrical conductivity (σ) decreases almost linearly with increasing temperature, indicating metal-like behavior. The ZT value increases as a function of temperature. A maximum ZT value of ~0.07 is achieved at room temperature for the Br-doped phase with m = 4.

Cost-utility analysis of the use of the 20-valent anti-pneumococcal vaccine (PCV20) in adults older than 60 years in Spain.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A cost-utility analysis was conducted to assess the efficiency of implementing a PCV20 vaccination strategy in the Spanish adult population older than 60 years, for the prevention of non-bacteremic pneumococcalpneumonia (NBP) and invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). METHODS: A Markov model, with annual cycles and a time horizon of 10 years was used. The analysis population was stratified by age and risk groups. The comparator was the sequential vaccination with the 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15) followed by one dose of the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23). The base case analysis was performed from the National Healthcare System (NHS) perspective including direct costs (€2018) and applying a discount of 3% to future costs and outcomes. Alternative scenarios explored a shorter time horizon (5 years), the societal perspective and other available vaccination strategies. All the parameters and assumptions were validated by a panel of experts. To evaluate the robustness of the model, deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA) were carried out. RESULTS: The results of the study showed that the vaccination strategy with PCV20 is a dominant option compared to the sequential regimen (PCV15 + PPSV23), resulting in direct cost savings of €85.7 M over 10 years, with a small increase in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). PCV20 vaccination avoided 2,161 cases of IPD, 19,470 of NBP and 3,396 deaths and according to the PSA, the probability of PCV20 being cost-effective compared to a sequential regimen (PCV15 + PPSV23) was 100%. CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS: In the Spanish adult population older than 60 years, the vaccination strategy with one dose of PCV20 is more effective and less expensive (dominant) than vaccination with a sequential schedule with PCV15 and PPSV23.

Pneumococcal Serotype Evolution and Burden in European Adults in the Last Decade: A Systematic Review.

Pneumococcal disease is a major cause of morbidity/mortality worldwide, and vaccination is an important measure in its prevention. Despite European children being vaccinated with pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs), pneumococcal infections are still a major cause of morbidity/mortality in adults with risk conditions and their vaccination might be an important prevention strategy. New PCVs have been approved, but information is lacking on their potential impact in European adults. In our review, we searched PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase for studies on the additional PCV20 serotypes (concerning incidence, prevalence, disease severity, lethality, and antimicrobial resistance) in European adults, between January 2010 and April 2022, having included 118 articles and data from 33 countries. We found that these serotypes have become more prevalent in both invasive and non-invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD and NIPD), representing a significant proportion of cases (serotypes 8, 12F, 22F) and more serious disease and/or lethality (10A, 11A, 15B, 22F), showing antimicrobial resistance (11A, 15B, 33F), and/or affecting more vulnerable individuals such as the elderly, immunocompromised patients, and those with comorbidities (8, 10A, 11A, 15B, 22F). The relevance of pneumococcal adult carriers (11A, 15B, 22F, and 8) was also identified. Altogether, our data showed an increase in the additional PCV20 serotypes' prevalence, accounting for a proportion of approximately 60% of all pneumococcal isolates in IPD in European adults since 2018/2019. Data suggest that adults, as older and/or more vulnerable patients, would benefit from vaccination with higher-coverage PCVs, and that PCV20 may address an unmet medical need.

(Cu)tet(Cr2-xSnx)octS4-ySey Spinels: Crystal Structure, Density Functional Theory Calculations, and Magnetic Behavior.

A new series of (Cu)tet[Cr2-xSnx]octS4-ySey compounds was prepared by solid-state reaction at high temperature. Determination of the crystal structures by single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that CuCr1.0Sn1.0S2.1Se1.9, CuCr1.2Sn0.8S2.1Se1.9, CuCr1.3Sn0.7S2.2Se1.8, and CuCr1.5Sn0.5S2.2Se1.8 crystallize in a normal spinel-type structure (cubic Fd3m space group). The powder X-ray diffraction patterns and Rietveld refinements of nominal CuCr2-xSnxS2Se2 (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0) were consistent with single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Raman scattering analysis revealed that the A1g, Eg, and three F2g vibrational modes were observed in the spectra. The signal at ∼382 cm-1, corresponding to the A1g mode, is attributed to symmetrical stretching of the chalcogen bond with respect to the tetrahedral metal. The samples with x = 0.2 and 0.4 exhibited ferromagnetic behavior, characterized by large positive θ values of +261 and +189 K, respectively. In contrast, antiferromagnetic (AF) behavior was observed for CuCrSnS2Se2 with a Néel temperature (TN) of 18.8 K and a θ value of -36.0 K. Density functional theory (DFT) and effective magnetic moments (µeff/µtheo) experimentally measured showed that the Sn ion is in oxidation state of 4+, i.e., diamagnetic behavior. DFT calculations revealed that the most stable magnetic state of CuCr1.0Sn1.0S2Se2 was AF with exchange constants for first- and second-neighbor interactions of J1 = 56.22 cm-1 and J2 = -33.88 cm-1. Thus, the AF interactions between ferromagnetic chains in CuCr1.0Sn1.0S2Se2 originate from the presence of diamagnetic Sn cations.

Presencia de microorganismos en cepillos dentales utilizados en higiene oral habitual / Presence of microorganisms in toothbrushes used in habitual oral hygiene

Los cepillos dentales se han utilizado ampliamente para el control mecánico de la placa bacteriana; sin embargo, las interacciones entre éstos y las distintas poblaciones celulares de la placa bacteriana son motivo de estudio. Para demostrar la hipótesis de que cepillos dentales utilizados en higiene bucal habitual, son posibles reservorios de poblaciones bacterianas, se realizó un estudio en 15 pacientes portadores de enfermedad periodontal moderada, los cuales realizaron su higiene bucal habitual durante 15 días utilizando cepillos dentales Oral-B I. Aleatoriamente se seleccionaron filamentos de cada muestra experimental y control, las que fueron procesadas para microscopía electrónica de barrido. Nuestras observaciones preliminares demuestran la presencia de poblaciones bacterianas cocáceas y bacilares en todas las muestras analizadas. Las bacterias se visualizaron formando placa bacteriana adherida a los extremos de los filamentos. Estos resultados sugieren claramente que los cepillos dentarios podrían constituir un vector de transmisión de bacterias. La supervivencia de dichas poblaciones bacterianas en los filamentos de los cepillos utilizados es desconocida

Manifestaciones orales en niños VIH+ / Oral lesions in HIV+ children

Las manifestaciones bucales en la infección por VIH en niños son diversas y frecuentes. La vía de contagio más importante es la transmisión vertical del virus, es decir, de madre a hijo. La lesión más frecuente en estos niños fue la cadidiasis bucal y la parotidomegalia. La tumoración de la glándula parótida uni o bilateral, parece ser una lesión común en niños, lo que es muy poco frecuente en adultos VIH+. Es necesario reconocer las manifestaciones bucalaes en niños infectados por VIH, tratarlos y evitar complicaciones