Abstract: A method for selectively or preferentially reducing the amount of Fe ions available to cancer cells involves introducing to an area of the body which contains cancer cells an effective amount of an aqueous, pH buffered composition that includes dissociation products of a soluble weak acid and a salt of a weak acid. When the amount of arriving Fe ions falls below a first threshold, the cancer cell no longer can proliferate. When the amount of arriving Fe ions falls below a second threshold, the cancer cell dies.

Abstract: A sterile, acidic liquid which has an effective solute concentration of from 0.3 to 0.6 Osm/L and a pH of from 3.7 to 4.2 can be used to treat the wound cavity of a mammalian subject. When used during surgeries performed on mammals, the liquid composition can be introduced to a surgery site wound cavity so as to reduce bioburden in that wound cavity. Advantageously, the composition need not be diluted or removed prior to approximation of the surgical wound.

Abstract: A composition, lethal to a broad spectrum of microorganisms and capable of repeated applications to hard surfaces, includes solvent and solute components. The solvent component includes water and a lesser amount of at least one organic liquid, while the solute component includes a weak acid, a conjugate base of that acid, an oxidizing electrolyte, and an ionic surfactant. The composition is acidic but has a pH of at least 2.5 and an effective solute concentration of at least 2.5 Osm/L.

Abstract: A biocompatible antimicrobial composition effective against microbial biofilms, including in vivo biofilms containing gram-positive bacteria, can be delivered to and used near the spinal column of vertebrates. Once introduced to an area colonized with a bacterial biofilm, particularly an intervertebral disc, the antimicrobial composition weakens the EPS/ECPS macromolecules of the biofilm, which makes the entire biofilm structure susceptible to being dislodged from the affected area or biosorbed. Additionally or alternatively, certain of the subcomponents of the solute component, as well as perhaps the organic liquid(s) of the solvent component, might lyse microbes, particularly gram-positive bacteria, previously protected by the EPS/ECPS macromolecules. Swelling of and around previously impacted intervertebral discs can be reduced or eliminated, often resulting in appreciable reductions in patient pain levels.

Abstract: An aqueous composition with a higher-than-neutral pH includes a significant amount of one or more surfactants and large amounts of osmotically active solutes. This composition, as well as an acidic counterpart and solid materials, can be used in a variety of applications such as wound care, oral care, medical equipment reprocessing, healthcare acquired infection and implant treatment.

Abstract: A sporicidal composition has a moderately low pH and includes at least one oxidizing acid and the dissociation product of at least one inorganic oxidizing agent. Very high effective solute concentrations can enhance the efficacy of the composition. Embodiments of the composition can be applied to a surface and allowed to absorb into the endospore, ultimately killing at least some of those bacteria in mature endospore form. The surface being treated can be an inanimate surface, particularly a hard surface, or a medical device.

Abstract: A biocompatible antimicrobial composition effective against microbial biofilms, including in vivo biofilms containing gram-positive bacteria, can be delivered to and used near the spinal column of vertebrates. Once introduced to an area colonized with a bacterial biofilm, particularly an intervertebral disc, the antimicrobial composition weakens the EPS/ECPS macromolecules of the biofilm, which makes the entire biofilm structure susceptible to being dislodged from the affected area or biosorbed. Additionally or alternatively, certain of the subcomponents of the solute component, as well as perhaps the organic liquid(s) of the solvent component, might lyse microbes, particularly gram-positive bacteria, previously protected by the EPS/ECPS macromolecules. Swelling of and around previously impacted intervertebral discs can be reduced or eliminated, often resulting in appreciable reductions in patient pain levels.

Abstract: A composition that can be used to treat a wide spectrum of gram positive and gram negative bacteria, including but not limited to those in biofilm form, can be used in cilia-containing areas such as the sinus cavities and middle/inner ear, while resulting in no, or very minimal amounts of, deciliation and/or loss of function (e.g., ability to clear material from the sinus cavity). Where such a targeted treatment area includes or might include a biofilm, the composition often can detach and assist in removing the biofilm from affected tissue.

Abstract: A composition that can be used to treat a wide spectrum of gram positive and gram negative bacteria, including but not limited to those in biofilm form, can be used in cilia-containing areas such as the sinus cavities and middle/inner ear, while resulting in no, or very minimal amounts of, deciliation and/or loss of function (e.g., ability to clear material from the sinus cavity). Where such a targeted treatment area includes or might include a biofilm, the composition often can detach and assist in removing the biofilm from affected tissue.

Abstract: A composition, lethal to a broad spectrum of microorganisms and capable of repeated applications to hard surfaces, includes solvent and solute components. The solvent component includes water and a lesser amount of at least one organic liquid, while the solute component includes a weak acid, a conjugate base of that acid, an oxidizing electrolyte, and an ionic surfactant. The composition is acidic but has a pH of at least 2.5 and an effective solute concentration of at least 2.5 Osm/L.

Abstract: A composition that can solvate biofilms and disrupt bacterial cell walls acts to both kill the bacteria by cell lysis and remove the biofilm. This solvent-containing composition is effective against a broad spectrum of microbes and can be used on a variety of surfaces, both living and inanimate. The polarity of the solvent component of the composition is lower than that of pure water so that the composition exhibits increased efficacy in solvating the macromolecular matrix of a biofilm and in penetrating bacterial cell walls.

Abstract: A topical composition can be used to treat or inhibit onset of fibrillar collagenous growths, including but not limited to keloids. The composition includes elemental iodine carried in a non-migratory vehicle. Application of the composition can result in a significant reduction in the size of such a growth or, if applied to an area of skin susceptible to such a growth, inhibit the onset thereof.

Abstract: A composition that can solvate biofilms and disrupt bacterial cell walls acts to both kill the bacteria by cell lysis and remove the biofilm. This solvent-containing composition is effective against a broad spectrum of microbes and can be used on a variety of surfaces, both living and inanimate. The polarity of the solvent component of the composition is lower than that of pure water so that the composition exhibits increased efficacy in solvating the macromolecular matrix of a biofilm and in penetrating bacterial cell walls.

Abstract: A composition that can solvate biofilms and disrupt bacterial cell walls acts to both kill the bacteria by cell lysis and remove the biofilm. This solvent-containing composition is effective against a broad spectrum of microbes and can be used on a variety of surfaces, both living and inanimate. The polarity of the solvent component of the composition is lower than that of pure water so that the composition exhibits increased efficacy in solvating the macromolecular matrix of a biofilm and in penetrating bacterial cell walls.

Abstract: A solid material adapted to kill bacteria in planktonic, spore and biofilm states is lethal toward a wide spectrum of gram positive and gram negative bacteria as well as other microbes. The solid material includes a significant amount of one or more surfactants entrained in a crosslinked polymeric network.

Abstract: A sporicidal composition has a moderately low pH and includes a glycosidase and the dissocia-tion product of at least one inorganic oxidizing agent. High effective solute concentrations can enhance the efficacy of the composition. The composition can be applied to a surface and allowed to absorb into an endospore, ultimately killing at least some of those bacteria in mature endospore form. Surfaces to be treated include inanimate (hard) surfaces via cleaning and medical devices such as endoscopes, typically via immersion.

Abstract: A composition that can be used to treat a wide spectrum of gram positive and gram negative bacteria, including but not limited to those in biofilm form, and other microbes can be used in cilia-containing areas such as the sinus cavities and middle/inner ear, while resulting in no, or very minimal amounts of, deciliation. Where such a targeted treatment area includes a biofilm, the composition often can detach and assist in removing the biofilm from affected tissue. Many embodiments of the composition are biocompatible.

Abstract: A composition that can solvate biofilms and disrupt bacterial cell walls acts to both kill the bacteria by cell lysis and remove the biofilm. This solvent-containing composition is effective against a broad spectrum of microbes and can be used on a variety of surfaces, both living and inanimate. The polarity of the solvent component of the composition is lower than that of pure water so that the composition exhibits increased efficacy in solvating the macromolecular matrix of a biofilm and in penetrating bacterial cell walls.

Abstract: A sporicidal composition has a moderately low pH and includes at least one oxidizing acid and the dissociation product of at least one inorganic oxidizing agent. Very high effective solute concentrations can enhance the efficacy of the composition. Embodiments of the composition can be applied to a surface and allowed to absorb into the endospore, ultimately killing at least some of those bacteria in mature endospore form. The surface being treated can be an inanimate surface, particularly a hard surface, or a medical device.

Abstract: A biocompatible antimicrobial composition effective against microbial biofilms, including in vivo biofilms containing gram-positive bacteria, can be delivered to and used near the spinal column of vertebrates. Once introduced to an area colonized with a bacterial biofilm, particularly an intervertebral disc, the antimicrobial composition weakens the EPS/ECPS macromolecules of the biofilm, which makes the entire biofilm structure susceptible to being dislodged from the affected area or biosorbed. Additionally or alternatively, certain of the subcomponents of the solute component, as well as perhaps the organic liquid(s) of the solvent component, might lyse microbes, particularly gram-positive bacteria, previously protected by the EPS/ECPS macromolecules. Swelling of and around previously impacted intervertebral discs can be reduced or eliminated, often resulting in appreciable reductions in patient pain levels.