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Reduction of catheter-related colonisation by the use of a silver zeolite-impregnated central vascular catheter in adult critical care.

Central vascular catheters (CVC) are used extensively in critical care for monitoring and therapy. They can become colonised with viable micro-organisms within 24 h of insertion, which can rapidly form biofilm. This colonisation is a precursor of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSI), which are associated with substantial morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospital stay and increased cost. Antimicrobials have been incorporated into the bulk material of CVC or applied to their surfaces as a coating in an attempt to reduce the incidence of CVC colonisation and infection. This study examines the effect of a silver zeolite-impregnated catheter on catheter-related colonisation and infection in adult critical care patients. The study was conducted in adult Intensive Care Units (ICU) at three acute hospitals over 14 months and involved 246 CVC insertions (122 silver-impregnated and 124 non-impregnated). CVC tip colonisation was detected by the Maki Roll culture and CR-BSI by differential time-to-positivity of blood cultures. Overall colonisation rate was significantly lower in the silver zeolite-impregnated CVC tips (58%) as compared with the control CVC tips (73%) (p<0.025). In addition, there was a lower rate (34%) of tip colonisation by coagulase negative staphylococci in the silver zeolite-impregnated CVC tips as compared with the control CVC tips (47%) (p<0.05). Four episodes of CR-BSI were detected in each arm by differential time-to-positivity in a subset of patients. This study indicates that the silver zeolite-impregnated catheter is superior to non-impregnated catheter in reducing the rate of CVC colonisation but it showed no difference in the rates of CR-BSI in the two arms. Larger prospective randomised control studies are required to evaluate its role in the prevention of CR-BSI.

Aged↗

Synthesis, X-ray structure and antimycobacterial activity of silver complexes with alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acids.

In this paper, synthesis, characterization and antimycobacterial properties of a new water-soluble complex identified as silver-mandelate are described. Elemental and thermal analyses are consistent with the formula [Ag(C(6)H(5)C(OH)COO)](n). The polymeric structure was determined by single X-ray diffraction and the two-dimensional structure is based on the bis(carboxylate-O,O') dimer [Ag-O, 2.237(3), 2.222(3) Angstrom]. The structure is extended along both the b and c axes through two oxygen atoms of a bidentate alpha-hydroxyl-carboxylate residue [Ag-OH(hydroxyl), 2.477(3) Angstrom; Ag-O(carboxylate), 2.502(3) Angstrom; O-Ag-O, 63.94(9) degrees]. A strong d(10)-d(10) interaction was observed between two silver atoms. The Ag - Ag distance is 2.8307(15) Angstrom. The NMR (13)C spectrum in D(2)O shows that coordination of the ligand to Ag(I) occurs through the carboxylate group in solution. Potentiometric titration shows that only species with a molar metal:ligand ratio of 2:2 are formed in aqueous solution. The mandelate complex and the silver-glycolate, silver-malate and silver-hydrogen-tartarate complexes were tested against three types of mycobacteria, Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium kansasii, and their minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined. The results show that the four complexes are potential candidates for antiseptic or disinfectant drugs for discharged secretions of patients affected with tuberculosis.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Spectroscopic studies on 2,3,4,5-tetraphenylpyrylium salts with and without silver (I)-bridged structures.

Two novel phenylated pyrylium compounds, silver (I)-bridged 2,3,4,5-tetraphenylpyrylium perchlorate (P1) and its silver (I)-free pyrylium ligand (P2) were prepared from 1,2,3,4-tetraphenylcyclopentadiene to examine their spectroscopic behaviors. The UV/vis absorption and fluorescent emission spectra of P1 and P2, measured in three solvents (acetonitrile, dichloromethane and toluene), reveal that the photophysical behaviors are closely related to silver (I) fragment, and strongly dependent on solvent polarity. In polar acetonitrile, P1 displays longer absorption wavelength and much lower fluorescent emission intensity than P2, although they exhibit much similarity in shape. In contrast, in nonpolar toluene, while P2 shows an apparent absorption band at 338 nm, P1 displays a tail-like line without absorption band observed. All the spectra obtained indicate a better coplanarity and a stronger intra-molecular charge transfer in P1 due to the effect of silver (I) fragment. Additionally, the 1H NMR spectra of P1 and P2, which were recorded under the same conditions, indicate that the silver (I) fragment reinforces pyrylium ring's capacity to localize the formal positive charge within the heterocyclic ring.

Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring↗

A simple method to synthesize triangular silver nanoparticles by light irradiation.

We describe a simple method to synthesize triangular silver nanoparticles by photoreducing the silver ions by citrate. A noteworthy difference of the present method as compared with the previous photo-induced methods is that good shape control over the nanoparticles can be realized in the absence of soft templates or polymer directing agents. The formation process of the silver nanoparticles was investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that the concentration of reactant plays important role in the morphology control of produced silver nanoparticles. As one of the applications of these nanoparticles, they were used as surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates and 1,4-bis[2-(4-pyridyl)ethenyl]-benzene (BVPP) was used as a Raman probe to evaluate the enhancement ability of the triangular silver nanoparticles.

Chemistry↗

Effect of silver nitrate on pregnancy termination in cynomolgus monkeys.

The effect of intrauterine injection of 1% silver nitrate on pregnancy was studied in 13 cynomolgus monkeys. The monkeys received, in a random manner, intrauterine injections of 1 ml of either 1% silver nitrate (n = 7) or 0.9% NaCl solution (n = 6) between days 27 and 43 of pregnancy. Silver nitrate injection resulted in vaginal bleeding, beginning 1 or 2 days after treatment, that lasted for an average of 5.3 days. In all of these cases, pregnancy was terminated. Injection of normal saline had variable sequelae, but four of six monkeys were delivered of healthy offspring. All of the silver nitrate-treated animals recycled and, after remating, two of the seven subsequently became pregnant again and were delivered of normal healthy infants. This study demonstrates the efficacy of intrauterine injection of 1% silver nitrate in terminating early pregnancy.

Abortifacient Agents↗

Copper and silver ions more effective against legionellae than against mycobacteria in a hospital warm water system.

We studied the influence of electrolytically released copper and silver ions on the microbiological quality in a warm water system of a hospital. The concentration of nontuberculous mycobacteria was followed for three, and that of legionellae and other heterotrophic bacteria in the water for four years. The highest concentrations of copper and silver ions were 220 and 68 microg/l, respectively. Silver ion concentration of about 3 microg/l was sufficient to control the growth of legionellae in circulating warm water. The results showed that it is more difficult to eradicate legionellae from taps and showers: these points were colonized by a small number of legionellae after the metal ion concentrations were increased in the circulating water. A regular use of water eradicated legionellae from the shower. One tap was still used irregularly, and this may be a reason why it still contained small concentrations of legionellae also in the last years of the study. Mycobacteria were occasionally isolated from the circulating water and repeatedly from the shower, even when the metal concentrations were high. To control legionella bacteria in warm water systems, silver concentrations of only 3 microg/l are needed if all taps and showers of the system are regularly used. Such low copper and silver concentrations, however, are not efficient against nontuberculous mycobacteria or other heterotrophic bacteria.

Copper↗

In vitro tarnish and corrosion of a consolidated silver material for direct filling applications.

OBJECTIVES: A consolidated silver (CS) material, composed of acid activated silver particles has been developed for direct filling applications. The hypothesis to be tested was that the tarnish discoloration and immersion corrosion of CS was similar to that of a dispersed phase amalgam (DA). METHODS: Disk-sized samples of CS and DA were prepared. CS contained a volume porosity of 25%, comparable to the material prepared for clinical uses. CIE L(*)a(*)b(*) colorimetry was used to evaluate tarnish discoloration, while solution analysis was used to evaluate corrosion susceptibility. Surfaces following tarnish and corrosion were characterized with SEM-EDS and X-ray diffraction. Fusayama solution, defined as an artificial saliva composed of NaCl, KCl, CaCl(2).2H(2)O, NaH(2)PO(4).H(2)O, Na(2)S.9H(2)O, and urea at component concentrations of (6.8, 5.4, 5.4, 5.0, 0.021 and 16.7mmol/l, respectively, was used with controlled variations in sulfide-content. Clinically relevant sulfide contents below, equal to, and above the original Fusayama concentration were used. Intermittent exposures to air and saliva and continuous immersions were performed for tarnish discoloration, and agitated continuous immersions in 0.1mol/l NaCl+0.1mol/l lactic acid were performed for corrosion testing. The effects on tarnish discoloration by adding mucin and other salivary proteins to saliva were studied. RESULTS: The total color vector change (DeltaE(ab)(*)) for CS was significantly greater than for DA. Intermittent air and saliva exposures significantly increased DeltaE(ab)(*) for CS relative to continuous immersions. The rate of tarnish discoloration for CS increased with sulfide concentration. With adding protein to saliva, DeltaE(ab)(*) for CS significantly decreased. Mucin partly inhibited the discoloration from sulfide. The morphology of the tarnished products depended upon the testing method. For CS continuously immersed in sulfide- and protein-free saliva, a porous AgCl layer intermixed with black corrosion products, taken to be Ag(2)O, formed, while intermittent exposures to air and sulfide-containing saliva formed a continuous, dense and adherent layer identified as Ag(2)S. The concentrations of released silver from CS and DA were similar. However, DA also dissolved concentrations of copper and tin, changed solution pH, and grossly affected solution color, none of which occurred with CS. SIGNIFICANCE: CS is most susceptible to tarnish discoloration in protein-free, sulfide-containing saliva under alternating wet and dry conditions. The release of silver from CS is not significantly different to the release of silver from DA.

Analysis of Variance↗

Electrochemical characterization and immersion corrosion of a consolidated silver dental biomaterial.

A consolidated silver (CS) material, an alternative to dental amalgam, was studied for corrosion. Chemically precipitated silver particles were acid activated and pressure consolidated to a volume porosity of 25%. In selected tests comparisons were made between CS and melted and cast silver particles (MS), silver with a known mass fraction purity of 99.998% (FS), a silver-palladium alloy (SP). and a dispersed-phase amalgam (DA). Fusayama artificial saliva was used with controlled variations in pH, sulfide content, mucin content, and absorbed oxygen content. Electrochemical polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and immersion methods were used. Results revealed differences in the zero current potentials E(I = 0) from forward polarization between CS and MS (or FS) in deaerated solution. By superposition of the cathodic polarization curves, the area for CS was increased by 7.3 times and was enclosed within an outer shell of material 5.5 microm thick. Polarization resistance was significantly the highest for SP, followed in order by MS (or FS) and CS or DA. With scanning electron microscopy, CS was shown to be significantly more susceptible than MS to long-term immersion corrosion. The modeled equivalent electrical circuits for CS and DA involved a double layer capacitance, a charge transfer resistance, and an element attributed to adsorption. The active pore depth for CS from the transmission line model for porous solids revealed satisfactory agreement with polarization results. It is concluded that the corrosion susceptibility of CS in Fusayama solution, while similar to that for DA, is greater than it is for MS.

Biocompatible Materials↗

Biological efficacy of electroless-deposited silver on plasma activated polyurethane.

Silver coating of catheters has been shown to have inhibitory effects on bacterial growth and adhesion to catheter surfaces. In this study, plasma-modification was used to enhance the adhesion of an electroless silver coating on polyurethane. Both the antibacterial and antiadhesive properties of these coatings were investigated. Bacterial growth was inhibited in cultures exposed to silver-treated polyurethane compared to unmodified polyurethane. Higher growth inhibition was observed for polyurethane surfaces with lower silver coverage. Bacterial adhesion was completely inhibited on all silver-coated surfaces.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Sustained release of silver from periodontal wafers for treatment of periodontitis.

Periodontal wafers intended to treat the underlying infections in patients with periodontitis have been developed. The wafers consist of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) as a primary bioerodible polymeric component, poly(ethylene glycol) as a plasticizer and encapsulation aid, and silver nitrate as the antimicrobial agent. The wafers are capable of sustained in vitro release of bioactive silver for at least 4 weeks. The wafers exhibit silver release that follows erosion kinetics, confirming a bulk erosion/release mechanism. In clinical evaluation, sustained release of silver at bactericidal levels for at least 21 days is observed. Staining of hard and soft tissues due to the released silver is minimal and reversible.

Administration, Buccal↗

Neuronal damage after the injection of aminooxyacetic acid into the rat entorhinal cortex: a silver impregnation study.

In rats, most neurons in layer III of the medial entorhinal cortex are exquisitely vulnerable to prolonged seizure activity. These neurons have also been shown to die preferentially in the entorhinal cortex of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. This lesion can be duplicated in rats by a focal injection of the indirect excitotoxin aminooxyacetic acid into the entorhinal cortex. The present study was designed to examine the neuropathological consequences of an intra-entorhinal aminooxyacetic acid injection at various time-points with a sensitive silver staining method for the visualization of damaged neurons. After 3 h, affected cells with prominently stained processes were readily observed in the transition zone of the hippocampal CA1 field and the subiculum, but no silver-stained neurons were seen in the entorhinal cortex. Less consistently, damaged neurons were observed in the presubiculum, in the temporal and perirhinal cortices and in the lateral amygdaloid nucleus. At 6 h after an aminooxyacetic acid injection, numerous silver-stained neurons, which were typically devoid of processes, were also seen in layer III of the medial entorhinal cortex. This pattern of neurodegeneration remained similar at 12 and 24 h following the aminooxyacetic acid injection, though many silver-stained neurons were noted in layer II of the lateral entorhinal cortex as well. Notably, at five days, silver-stained neurons had disappeared. Instead, dendritic arbors, debris of degenerated neurons and reactive glial cells were present in lesioned brain regions. These data demonstrate the chronology and the extent of neuronal damage following an intra-entorhinal injection of aminooxyacetic acid. The results suggest that a detailed examination of the temporal sequence of neuronal death in the entorhinal cortex and in extra-entorhinal areas is likely to benefit our understanding of the pathophysiology of temporal lobe epilepsy.

Aminooxyacetic Acid↗

Fluoro-Jade and silver methods: application to the neuropathology of scrapie, a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy.

Traditional methods for evaluating neurodegeneration include variations of Nauta's selective silver-staining techniques. The Fluoro-Jade (FJ) method applies a novel fluorescent, anionic stain for localizing degenerating neurons. FJ has produced comparable results to the silver methods, when both have been applied to detect neurodegeneration in animals treated acutely with a variety of neurotoxins, including kainic acid (KA), ibogaine (IBO), 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NPA), domoic acid and others. The potential value of methods selective for neurodegeneration in elucidating the pathophysiology of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), such as the prion disease 'scrapie', has not yet been investigated. Using frozen or paraffin sections stained with FJ or silver, we evaluated the brains of hamsters inoculated with either the 263K or the 139H strains of scrapie, originally passaged from sheep into mice and then into hamsters. As a positive control, we also examined sections from IBO-treated rats, which experience degeneration restricted to small clusters of Purkinje neurons located in the paravermal region of the cerebellum. As expected, both FJ and silver methods delineated this identical pattern of neurodegeneration, characteristic of IBO exposure. Surprisingly, only a small number of FJ or silver-labeled cortical neurons were observed in scrapie-infected hamsters evaluated near the end of their incubation period but before obvious spongiform pathology. Instead, there was intense fluorescent staining of astrocytes in scrapie-infected hamsters, especially in the cortex, corpus callosum, and hypothalamus. Detailed protocols describing the application of the degeneration-selective methods we utilized are presented and compared.

Animals↗

Surface-enhanced raman spectra of dyes and organic acids in silver solutions: chloride ion effect.

We have recorded surface-enhanced Raman (SER) spectra of two different classes of compounds, cationic dyes and organic acids, and studied their chloride ion effects on the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activities of the silver solution. For the positive charge dyes, rhodamine 6G (R6G) and 1,1'-dimethyl-2,2'-cyanine iodide (DECI), no SERS could be observed without the addition of chloride ions because of lack of the electrostatic interaction between the dye species and the silver particles in the silver solution. The chloride ions served to enlarge silver particles and to contribute the existence of the surface active sites, making the silver solution SERS active to the dye samples. Surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) intensity of the dye molecules increased with the chloride ion concentration. After reaching a maximum intensity, a Cl- quenching effect on the intensity took place. For the organic acids, benzoic acid and p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), SERS could be observed without the coexistence of chloride ions. The intensity of the Raman scattering did not vary significantly in the presence of small amount of chloride ion. At high Cl- concentration, quenching SERS intensity began to take effect.

4-Aminobenzoic Acid↗

Assignment of charge transfer absorption band in optical absorption spectra of the adsorbate-silver colloid system.

In this paper we reported the UV-visible-NIR optical absorption properties of silver colloid, employed as a high efficient substrate in surface-enhanced Raman spectra (SERS), under various conditions. Experimental results revealed that the new absorption band, usually appearing in the longer wavelength region due to the addition of molecules, was related to the direct adsorption of molecules on colloidal silver surface. When the adsorption occurred, this new band would appear. Once the molecules were desorbed from silver surface, the new band could not be observed. Some evidences inferred that the new absorption band was associated with the effect of charge-transfer transition between adsorbates and colloidal silver particles, while not with the effect of the surface plasma resonance due to the silver particles aggregation which was usually attributed to in previous research work.

Colloids↗

Mass spectrometric sequencing of proteins silver-stained polyacrylamide gels.

Proteins from silver-stained gels can be digested enzymatically and the resulting peptide analyzed and sequenced by mass spectrometry. Standard proteins yield the same peptide maps when extracted from Coomassie- and silver-stained gels, as judged by electrospray and MALDI mass spectrometry. The low nanogram range can be reached by the protocols described here, and the method is robust. A silver-stained one-dimensional gel of a fraction from yeast proteins was analyzed by nano-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. In the sequencing, more than 1000 amino acids were covered, resulting in no evidence of chemical modifications due to the silver staining procedure. Silver staining allows a substantial shortening of sample preparation time and may, therefore, be preferable over Coomassie staining. This work removes a major obstacle to the low-level sequence analysis of proteins separated on polyacrylamide gels.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Decadal trends of silver and lead contamination in San Francisco Bay surface waters.

Over the past decade, San Francisco Bay surface waters have remained enriched with dissolved (<0.45 microm) silver and lead concentrations (decadal means of 5.7 ng kg(-1) Ag[filtered] and 31 ng kg(-1) Pb[filtered]) compared with those (0.26 ng kg(-1) Ag[filtered] and 2.7 ng kg(-1) Pb[filtered]) of adjacent oceanic surface waters of the northeast Pacific, despite efforts to reduce pollutant loadings to the Bay during that period. While time series models show that there has been a 40% decline in total lead concentrations in the southern reach of the estuarine system between 1989 and 1999, the filtered lead fraction has not changed significantly during that time. That persistence is attributed to (i) the ongoing input from previous atmospheric depositions and industrial lead to its drainage basin, which are slowly being advected into the estuary and (ii) the internal recycling of lead between the surface sediments and the water column within the Bay. In contrast, both filtered and total silver concentrations in the southern reach have declined by 70% and 40%, respectively, within the past decade. These temporal declines are attributed to a 2-fold decrease in silver loadings from publicly owned treatment works and a comparable decline in the silver concentration of surficial sediments within that region during the past decade. In the northern reach, silver and lead concentrations have remained essentially constant between 1989 and 1999, reflecting invariable anthropogenic input of these elements to this embayment over that decade.

California↗

Determination of strong ligand sites in sewage effluent-impacted waters by competitive ligand titration with silver.

A competitive ligand titration, employing Ag+, is used to determine the binding capacity of the small amounts of strong ligands (SL) in natural water samples. Strong ligands are defined here as high-affinity binding sites for group 11 and 12 metals such as Cu(I), Hg(II), and Ag(I). In addition, the conditional binding strength (log K') is determined for Ag- and SL. Diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDC) is the competitive ligand employed. The system is set at constant pH (8.1), ionic strength (0.1 M), and excess-fixed DEDC (10 microM) to determine SLs with log K' for Ag+ of >10. Silver was chosen as the titrant metal because it binds predominantly with S(-II) versus other ligands and reduced sulfur is thought to comprise the majority of SLs in natural waters. A two-phase system, water and 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE), is required due to the insolubility of Ag-DEDC in water. Added silver partitions into Ag+ and Ag-SL in the aqueous phase and into Ag-DEDC in the DCE phase. An automated system is used to add aliquots of silver and measure Ag-DEDC by UV absorbance in the DCE phase and [Ag+] by specific ion electrode in the aqueous phase. Excess addition of silver and a "Gran's" analysis gives the binding capacity of SL. The stability constant can also be determined for each addition of silver for an overall one-site SL assumption. Cysteine was used to test the method, and urban waters revealed SL capacities from about 50 to 150 nM and log K'(Ag) of 11-12. An independent analysis of chromium-reducible sulfide correlates well with the SL capacity.

Binding Sites↗

Influences of changes in multitopic tris(pyrazolyl)methane ligand topology on silver(I) supramolecular structures.

The reactions between silver tetrafluoroborate and the ligands 1,2,4,5-C(6)H(2)[CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](4) (L1, pz = pyrazolyl ring), o-C(6)H(4)[CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2) (L2), and m-C(6)H(4)[CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](2) (L3) yield coordination polymers of the formula (C(6)H(6)(-)(n)[CH(2)OCH(2)C(pz)(3)](n)(AgBF4)(m))( infinity ) (n = 4, m = 2, 1; n = 2, ortho substitution, m = 1, 2; meta substitution, m = 2, 3). In the solid state, L2 molecules dimerize by a pair of C-H.pi interactions, forming an arrangement that resembles the tetratopic ligand L1. In the solid-state structure of 1, each silver atom is kappa(2)-bonded to two tris(pyrazolyl)methane units from different ligands with the overall structure a polymer made up from 32-atom macrocyclic rings formed by bonding tris(pyrazolyl)methane groups from nonadjacent positions on the central arene rings to the same two silver atoms. In 2, each silver is bonded to two tris(pyrazolyl)methane units in the same kappa(2)-kappa(2) fashion as with 1, forming a polymer chain. The chains are organized into dimeric units by strong face-to-face pi-pi stacking between the central arene rings making bitopic L2 act as half of tetratopic L1. The chains in both structures are organized by weak C-H.F hydrogen bonds and pi-pi stacking interactions into very similar 3D supramolecular architectures. The structure of 3 contains three types of silvers with the overall 3D supramolecular sinusoidal structure comprised of 32-atom macrocycles. Infrared studies confirm the importance of the noncovalent interactions. Calculations at the DFT (B3LYP/6-31G) level of theory have been carried out on L2 and also support C-H.pi interactions. Electrospray mass spectral data collected from acetone or acetonitrile show the presence of aggregated species such as [(L)Ag(2)(BF(4))](+) and [(L)Ag(2)](2+), despite the fact that (1)H NMR spectra of all compounds show that acetonitrile completely displaces the ligand whereas acetone does not.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗