Two-dimensional V2O5 sheet network as electrode for lithium-ion batteries.

Two-dimensional V2O5 and manganese-doped V2O5 sheet network were synthesized by a one-step polymer-assisted chemical solution method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermal-gravimetric analysis, and galvanostatic discharge-charge analysis. The V2O5 particles were covered with thin carbon layers, which remained after decomposition of the polymer, forming a network-like sheet structure. This V2O5 network exhibits a high capacity of about 300 and 600 mA·h/g at a current density of 100 mA/g when it was used as a cathode and anode, respectively.

The Bandim tuberculosis score: reliability and comparison with the Karnofsky performance score.

Background: This study was carried out in Guinea-Bissau's capital Bissau among inpatients and outpatients attending for tuberculosis (TB) treatment within the study area of the Bandim Health Project, a Health and Demographic Surveillance Site. Our aim was to assess the variability between 2 physicians in performing the Bandim tuberculosis score (TBscore), a clinical severity score for pulmonary TB (PTB), and to compare it to the Karnofsky performance score (KPS).

Method: From December 2008 to July 2009 we assessed the TBscore and the KPS of 100 PTB patients at inclusion in the TB cohort and/or at 1 or more follow-up visits; 61 baseline and 130 follow-up double assessments were obtained.

High Capacity MoO2/Graphite Oxide Composite Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Nanostructured MoO2/graphite oxide (GO) composites are synthesized by a simple solvothermal method. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analyses show that with the addition of GO and the increase in GO content in the precursor solutions, MoO3 rods change to MoO2 nanorods and then further to MoO2 nanoparticles, and the nanorods or nanoparticles are uniformly distributed on the surface of the GO sheets in the composites. The MoO2/GO composite with 10 wt % GO exhibits a reversible capacity of 720 mAh/g at a current density of 100 mA/g and 560 mAh/g at a high current density of 800 mA/g after 30 cycles.

Tuberculosis burden in an urban population: a cross sectional tuberculosis survey from Guinea Bissau.

Background: Little is known about the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in low income countries. We conducted a cross sectional survey for pulmonary TB and TB symptoms in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, in an urban cohort with known HIV prevalence. TB surveillance in the area is routinely based on passive case finding.

Vitamin D as supplementary treatment for tuberculosis: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Rationale: Vitamin D has been shown to be involved in the host immune response toward Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Objectives: To test whether vitamin D supplementation of patients with tuberculosis (TB) improved clinical outcome and reduced mortality.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in TB clinics at a demographic surveillance site in Guinea-Bissau.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in a West African population of tuberculosis patients and unmatched healthy controls.

Background: Little is known regarding vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in African populations and in tuberculosis (TB) patients. VDD has been shown to be associated with TB.

Objective: We aimed to compare the degree of vitamin D insufficiency (VDI) and VDD in TB patients and healthy adult controls in a West African population.

TBscore: Signs and symptoms from tuberculosis patients in a low-resource setting have predictive value and may be used to assess clinical course.

We developed a clinical score to monitor tuberculosis patients in treatment and to assess clinical outcome. We used the WHO clinical manual to choose signs and symptoms, including cough, haemoptysis, dyspnoea, chest pain, night sweating, anaemia, tachycardia, lung-auscultation finding, fever, low body-mass index, low mid-upper arm circumference giving patients a TBscore from 0 to 13. We validated the score with data from a cohort of 698 TB patients, assessing sensitivity to change and ability to predict mortality.

Indirect immunofluorescence and real time PCR for detection of Simkania negevensis infection in Danish adults with persistent cough and in healthy controls.

Simkania negevensis is a recently discovered intracellular organism that has been associated with respiratory tract infections. To determine the seroprevalence of the organism in adult Danes and to study the association between the organism and persistent cough, we developed an immunofluorescence assay based on S. negevensis infected Hep2 cells for antibody determination and a real time PCR assay for direct detection of the organism.

Gender differences in hospitalization rates for respiratory tract infections in Danish youth.

Overall morbidity and mortality rates in childhood are reported to be higher in males than females. As respiratory tract infections constitute the leading cause of childhood hospitalization, we examined the gender difference in rates of hospitalization due to respiratory tract infections in Danish youth (under age 25). We studied a total of 64,049 hospitalizations for otitis media, pneumonia, influenza, and other acute respiratory tract infections from 1995 to 1999, with calculation of hospitalization rates by age and gender.

The occurrence of Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and herpesviruses in otitis media with effusion.

In a previous report we found Chlamydia (C.) pneumoniae to be present in middle ear fluids (MEE) from older children with otitis media with effusion (OME). However, OME is a disease of younger children the present study was conducted in toddlers.

Activation of the respiratory burst by Pneumocystis carinii. Efficiency of different antibody isotypes, complement, lung surfactant protein D, and mannan-binding lectin.

The effect of opsonization of Pneumocystis carinii with different antibody classes, complement, mannan-binding lectin (MBL), and lung surfactant protein D (SP-D) on respiratory burst activation was studied. Antibodies were obtained by affinity chromatography, complement from a hypogammaglobulinaemic patient, and phagocytic cells from blood donors. Respiratory burst activation was measured by chemiluminescence (CL).

Chlamydia antibody response in healthy volunteers immunized with nonchlamydial antigens: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Serological analysis is often used for the diagnosis of chlamydial infections. However, an increase in Chlamydia antibodies has been reported in patients with parvovirus and Mycoplasma infections. Whether this antibody response is the result of dual infection or nonchlamydial antigen stimulation is unknown.

A review of macrolide treatment of atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Seroepidemiological studies have shown an association between Chlamydia pneumoniae and atherosclerosis, the risk of acute myocardial infarction and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Several studies have detected C. pneumoniae in atherosclerotic lesions from coronary and carotid arteries, in AAA, and in sclerotic aortic valves.

[Atherosclerosis and Chlamydia pneumoniae].

Chlamydia pneumoniae could be associated with the risk of developing atherosclerosis and an increased risk of thromboembolic complications. However, the evidence of an association seems to be declining and there is no evidence of causality. The effect of antibiotic treatment in cardiovascular disease has been explored in epidemiologic studies and in randomised controlled trials.

Chlamydia pneumoniae and cardiovascular disease.

Chlamydia pneumoniae has been detected in atherosclerotic plaques, while seropositivity to this organism confers a slightly increased risk of coronary events. However, no aetiological link has been established; a major difficulty when investigating this link is the lack of a gold standard for diagnosing chronic vessel infection. The outcomes of case-control studies and prospective trials of macrolides in treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease have been ambiguous but suggest a short-term preventive effect.