Abstract: A culture system for culturing a microaerophilic or an anaerobic microorganism is provided. The culture system can include effective amounts of i) an enzyme of an oxidoreductase family and ii) a substrate for said enzyme, a container, and a predetermined volume of aqueous medium that supports growth of said anaerobic or microaerophilic microorganism. The enzyme can be selected from a group consisting of ascorbic acid oxidase and laccase. The effective amounts are effective to deplete dissolved oxygen in the predetermined volume to a concentration that facilitates growth of a microaerophilic microorganism or an obligately-anaerobic microorganism. A method of using the system is also provided.

Abstract: A method includes applying an electrical signal to a tissue and measuring an impedance of the tissue based on the applied electrical signal. The method further includes determining information indicative of a stage of wound healing based on the impedance and outputting information indicative of the stage of wound healing.

Abstract: Provided is a method of forming a fibrin hydrogel composition, the method including providing a fibrin hydrogel or precursor thereof, comprising fibrin hydrogel forming salt. The fibrin hydrogel forming salt concentration is greater than or equal to the threshold concentration to form a fibrin hydrogel. The method further includes combining the fibrin hydrogel with a carrier material. The concentration of the carrier material typically ranges from 0.1 to about 50 wt.-%. The method further includes reducing the salt concentration below the threshold concentration to form a fibrin hydrogel.

Abstract: A method and system for tissue impedance measurement are disclosed. In examples, the system comprises electrical contacts configured to be coupled to a first tissue and a first device configured to apply a first electrical signal to the first tissue via the electrical contacts. The system further comprises a second device configured to determine a first impedance phase angle of epithelial tissue of the first tissue site based on the first applied electrical signal, determine a baseline impedance phase angle of epithelial tissue corresponding to a second tissue, determine information indicative of epithelial tissue characteristics based on a ratio of the first impedance phase angle and the baseline impedance phase angle, and output information indicative of the epithelial tissue characteristics.

Abstract: A device for culturing anaerobic microorganisms is provided. The device comprises a body comprising a waterproof base, a waterproof coversheet attached to the base, and a growth compartment disposed between the base and the coversheet. The growth compartment has a perimeter and an opening that provides liquid access to the growth compartment. A portion of the perimeter is defined by a waterproof seal. The portion includes >50% of the perimeter. A dry cold water-soluble gelling agent is adhered to the base in the growth compartment. A dry first oxygen-scavenging reagent is disposed in the growth compartment.

Abstract: A culture system for culturing a microaerophilic or an anaerobic microorganism is provided. The culture system can include effective amounts of i) an enzyme of an oxidoreductase family and ii) a substrate for said enzyme, a container, and a predetermined volume of aqueous medium that supports growth of said anaerobic or microaerophilic microorganism. The enzyme can be selected from a group consisting of ascorbic acid oxidase and laccase. The effective amounts are effective to deplete dissolved oxygen in the predetermined volume to a concentration that facilitates growth of a microaerophilic microorganism or an obligately-anaerobic microorganism. A method of using the system is also provided.

Abstract: A method of applying a two-part dental sealant is described comprising providing a syringe device (1) comprising a cartridge (10) including first and second chamber. The first chamber contains a first part of a dental sealant comprising a (meth)acrylate resin and an oxidizing curing agent. The second chamber contains a second part of a dental sealant comprising a (meth)acrylate resin and a reducing curing agent that reacts with the oxidizing curing agent of the first chamber. The first and/or second part of the dental sealant further comprise a single component or multiple components that neutralize acid and promote remineralization. The syringe device comprises a dispensing nozzle (17) comprising a static mixer and an outlet at one end of the cartridge and a plunger (20) at the opposing end of the cartridge. Also described is a kit for storing and applying the dental sealant is described.

Abstract: The invention includes a forced-air blanket for providing a profusion of air to a patient, comprising a bottom layer with a plurality of openings configured to allow a profusion of air to pass through the bottom layer and an upper layer bonded to the bottom layer around a periphery, wherein the upper layer is also bonded to bottom layer by a plurality of linear seals and a plurality of staked seals. In an embodiment, at least one of more of the linear seals have one end which is joined to a portion of the periphery. In another embodiment, the forced-air blanket may further include at least one elongated seal that is positioned proximate to the inlet. The arrangement of the plurality of staked seals, elongated seals and linear seals assists in providing a blanket that is of a low-profile with even air distribution.

Abstract: A hardenable (e.g. dental) compositions is described comprising an encapsulated material. The encapsulated material comprises a basic core material and an inorganic shell material having certain viscosity criteria. Also described are dispensing devices and kits are described comprising a hardenable (e.g. dental) composition comprising a liquid material and an encapsulated material wherein the encapsulated material comprises a basic core material and an inorganic shell material comprising a metal oxide surrounding the core. The dispensing devices and kits can facilitate the methods of applying the hardenable composition. The hardenable or hardened (e.g. cured) composition can provide various technical effects such as a delayed release of a basic core material, a delayed increase in basicity, promoting remineralization of a tooth or bone structure, and increasing the average alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of pulp cells. In some embodiments, the composition is a dental (e.g.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a device. The device includes a body comprising a waterproof base, a waterproof coversheet attached to the base, and a channel disposed between the base and the coversheet. The channel has a perimeter and an opening that provides liquid access to the channel. A portion of the perimeter is defined by a waterproof seal. A dry first oxygen-scavenging reagent and an indicator reagent for detecting sulfate reduction by a sulfate-reducing bacterium are disposed in the device between the base and the coversheet. The waterproof base comprises a plurality of open microcompartment structures facing the coversheet.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a culture device for enumerating colonies of microorganisms. The device can comprise a base, a coversheet, and a nonporous spacer member disposed therebetween. The spacer member comprises an aperture that defines a growth compartment. Disposed in the growth compartment are a cold water-soluble gelling agent, a dry oxygen-scavenging reagent, a dry buffer system, and an effective amount of a dry carbon dioxide-generating reagent. The buffer system is selected such that, when the growth compartment is hydrated with a predetermined volume of deionized water, an aqueous mixture with a pH less than or equal to 6.35 is formed.

Abstract: Provided is a method of forming a fibrinogen hydrogel composition, the method including providing a fibrinogen hydrogel or precursor thereof, comprising fibrinogen hydrogel forming salt. The fibrinogen hydrogel forming salt concentration is greater than or equal to the threshold concentration to form a fibrinogen hydrogel. The method further includes denaturing the fibrinogen hydrogel such as by heating. The method optionally further includes combining the fibrinogen hydrogel with a carrier material. When present, the concentration of the carrier material typically ranges from 0.1 to about 50 wt.-%. The method further includes reducing the salt concentration below the threshold concentration to form a fibrinogen hydrogel.

Abstract: A device for growing microorganisms is provided. The device includes a body member comprising a self-supporting, waterproof substrate, a layer of adhesive disposed on the substrate, a powder adhered to the adhesive, a cover sheet adhered to the body member, and a dry composition including a mixture of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and guar gum adhered to the cover sheet or the substrate. The powder comprises a cold-water-soluble gelling agent and one or more nutrient for growing microorganisms. The composition, when reconstituted with water, resists liquefaction by microorganisms A method of culturing microorganisms using the device is also provided.

Abstract: A method is described. The method includes mixing fibrin and collagen to form a mixture including collagen and fibrin; and reducing the salt concentration below the threshold concentration to form a fibrin. A collagen-fibrin composition is also described. The composition includes a collagen and a fibrin; wherein the composition has a salt concentration below the threshold concentration to form a fibrin.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a culture device for enumerating colonies of sulfate-reducing microorganisms. The device includes a body having a waterproof base, a waterproof coversheet attached to the base, and a growth compartment disposed therebetween. The growth compartment has a perimeter and an opening. A portion of the perimeter is defined by a waterproof seal. The portion can include >50% of the perimeter. Disposed in the growth compartment are a dry cold water-soluble gelling agent, a dry culture medium selected to facilitate growth of a sulfate-reducing bacterium or indicator reagent for detecting hydrogen sulfide production by a sulfate-reducing bacterium, and a dry first oxygen-scavenging reagent.

Abstract: A fibrin-coated wound dressing article having a flexible film layer, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer disposed on the flexible film layer, and a fibrin powder layer disposed on a surface of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer opposite the flexible film layer. Methods of making and using fibrin-coated wound dressing articles are included.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a culture device for enumerating colonies of microorganisms. The device can comprise a base, a coversheet, and a nonporous spacer member disposed therebetween. The spacer member comprises an aperture that defines a growth compartment. At least one adhesive layer is adhered to the base or the coversheet in the growth compartment. A cold water-soluble gelling agent and an effective amount of a dry carbon dioxide-generating reagent are adhered to the at least one adhesive layer. The carbon dioxide-generating reagent consists essentially of particles having a diameter of less than 106 microns.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a culture device for enumerating colonies of microorganisms. The device can comprise a base, a coversheet, and a nonporous spacer member disposed therebetween. The spacer member comprises an aperture that defines a growth compartment. Disposed in the growth compartment are a cold water-soluble gelling agent, a dry oxygen-scavenging reagent, a dry buffer system, and an effective amount of a dry carbon dioxide-generating reagent. The buffer system is selected such that, when the growth compartment is hydrated with a predetermined volume of deionized water, an aqueous mixture with a pt less than or equal to 6.35 is formed.

Abstract: Provided is a method of forming a fibrinogen hydrogel composition, the method including providing a fibrinogen hydrogel or precursor thereof, comprising fibrinogen hydrogel forming salt. The fibrinogen hydrogel forming salt concentration is greater than or equal to the threshold concentration to form a fibrinogen hydrogel. The method further includes denaturing the fibrinogen hydrogel such as by heating. The method optionally further includes combining the fibrinogen hydrogel with a carrier material. When present, the concentration of the carrier material typically ranges from 0.1 to about 50 wt.-%. The method further includes reducing the salt concentration below the threshold concentration to form a fibrinogen hydrogel.

Abstract: A method of forming a fibrin hydrogel composition including providing one or more unitary masses of a fibrin hydrogel, dividing at least one of the unitary masses of the fibrin hydrogel into a multiplicity of smaller pieces of the fibrin hydrogel, and recombining at least a portion of the smaller pieces into a cohesive mass. Dividing at least one of the unitary masses of fibrin hydrogel into a multiplicity of smaller pieces may include shearing or cutting the unitary masses to form an aqueous dispersion of the fibrin hydrogel in an aqueous medium. The aqueous dispersion of fibrin hydrogel may be applied to a substrate on a roller or an endless belt, and is optionally overlaid by a scrim. The cohesive mass of fibrin hydrogel, which may be formed by removing at least a portion of the aqueous medium from the aqueous dispersion of the smaller pieces of the fibrin hydrogel, finds uses in wound dressing articles.