Innovative cold atmospheric plasma (iCAP) decreases corneal ulcer formation and bacterial loads and improves anterior chamber health in methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus keratitis.

Bacterial keratitis is a vision-threatening infection of the cornea that is typically treated with antibiotics. However, antibiotics sometimes fail to eradicate the infection and do not prevent or repair the damage caused directly by the bacteria or the host immune response to the infection. Our group previously demonstrated that treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis in rabbits with innovative cold atmospheric plasma (iCAP) resulted in reduced edema, ulcer formation, and bacterial load.

Synthesis and Inhibitory Activity of Machaeridiol-Based Novel Anti-MRSA and Anti-VRE Compounds and Their Profiling for Cancer-Related Signaling Pathways.

Three unique 5,6-seco-hexahydrodibenzopyrans (seco-HHDBP) machaeridiols A−C, reported previously from Machaerium Pers., have displayed potent activities against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, and E. faecalis (VRE).

Radio Frequency Heating of Washable Conductive Textiles for Bacteria and Virus Inactivation.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has increased the use of single-use medical fabrics such as surgical masks, respirators, and other personal protective equipment (PPE), which have faced worldwide supply chain shortages. Reusable PPE is desirable in light of such shortages; however, the use of reusable PPE is largely restricted by the difficulty of rapid sterilization. In this work, we demonstrate successful bacterial and viral inactivation through remote and rapid radio frequency (RF) heating of conductive textiles.

Absence of Capsule Increases Bacterial Binding, Persistence, and Inflammation in Corneal Infection.

The role of the pneumococcal polysaccharide capsule is largely unclear for keratitis, an ocular inflammatory disease that develops as a result of bacterial infection of the cornea. In this study, capsule-deficient strains were compared to isogenic parent strains in their ability to adhere to human corneal epithelial cells. One isogenic pair was further used in topical ocular infection of mice to assess the contribution of the capsule to keratitis.

Draft Genome Sequences of Viridans Streptococci Causing Bacterial Endophthalmitis in Humans.

The viridans streptococci are a group of bacteria that are commensals of the oral cavity and pharynx. These species tend to cause severe cases of bacterial endophthalmitis with poor prognoses but remain largely uncharacterized in this context. Here, we report the whole-genome sequences of 21 strains of viridans streptococci isolated from endophthalmitis in humans.

Innovation and translation efforts in wireless medical connectivity, telemedicine and eMedicine: a story from the RFID Center of Excellence at the University of Pittsburgh.

Translational research has recently been rediscovered as one of the basic tenants of engineering. Although many people have numerous ideas of how to accomplish this successfully, the fundamental method is to provide an innovative and creative environment. The University of Pittsburgh has been accomplishing this goal though a variety of methodologies.

Influence of boric acid additive size on green lubricant performance.

As the industrial community moves towards green manufacturing processes, there is an increased demand for multi-functional, environmentally friendly lubricants with enhanced tribological performance. In the present investigation, green (environmentally benign) lubricant combinations were prepared by homogeneously mixing nano- (20 nm), sub-micrometre- (600 nm average size) and micrometre-scale (4 μm average size) boric acid powder additives with canola oil in a vortex generator. As a basis for comparison, lubricants of base canola oil and canola oil mixed with MoS(2) powder (ranging from 0.

Unique collision of hodgkin lymphoma and adenosquamous carcinoma in the uterine cervix: synchronous malignant neoplasms of the cervix.

To document the first reported synchronous occurrence of Hodgkin lymphoma and adenosquamous carcinoma involving the female genital tract. Review of cytologic, histologic, and immunohistochemical studies obtained from a 50-year-old, multiparous, postmenopausal, Hispanic female who had a left inguinal mass, bilateral lower extremity pain and numbness, fatigue, anorexia, a 20- to 30-pound weight loss, and a malodorous vaginal discharge at presentation is presented. Cervical squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed by routine cytologic and histologic analysis.

Communication between functional and denervated muscles using radiofrequency.

Objective: This article focuses on establishing communication between a functional muscle and a denervated muscle using a radiofrequency communications link. The ultimate objective of the project is to restore the eye blink in patients with facial nerve paralysis.

Study Design And Setting: Two sets of experiments were conducted using the gastrocnemius leg muscles of Sprague-Dawley rats.

Mechanism of in vivo DNA transport into cells by electroporation: electrophoresis across the plasma membrane may not be involved.

Background: Recently, in vivo gene transfer with electroporation (electro-gene transfer) has emerged as a leading technology for developing nonviral gene therapies and nucleic acid vaccines. The widely hypothesized mechanism is that electroporation induces structural defects in the membrane and provides an electrophoretic force to facilitate DNA crossing the permeabilized membrane. In this study, we have designed a device and experiments to test the hypothesis.

Digital syndactylization for the treatment of interdigital squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen disease).

Bowen disease, or squamous cell carcinoma in situ, has been described as a premalignant intraepidermal lesion of the skin. Although more frequently occurring on limbs, interdigital presentation of squamous cell carcinoma in situ in the foot has been rarely reported, likely because of undetected development. Excision has been recommended as the treatment of choice; however, removal of these lesions from intertriginous skin may present few options for skin closure.

Fine-needle aspiration in PreservCyt: a novel and reproducible method for possible ancillary proteomic pattern expression of breast neoplasms by SELDI-TOF.

Proteomic profiles of tumor protein expression by the surface enhanced laser desorption-ionization time of flight (SELDI-TOF) methodology have been shown to have a potential usefulness for protein discovery as well as screening, diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic considerations of cancer from several organ systems. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specimens from tumor samples is an accepted method to diagnose the cells of interest but often can be a limited assessment due to quantity of the sample. The current use of fresh or rapidly frozen specimens for proteomic profiling can be burdensome for clinicians to collect and submit specimens.

Acute hepatic allograft rejection: a comparison of patients with and without centrilobular alterations during first rejection episode.

The histologic diagnosis of acute hepatic allograft rejection is usually based upon the identification of characteristic portal tract features. In addition to these, centrilobular alterations such as central vein endothelialitis, zone 3 inflammation, and hepatocyte necrosis may also be seen during episodes of acute rejection. The purpose of this study was to identify any differences in the subsequent clinical course of patients with and without centrilobular alterations during their first biopsy-proven episode of acute rejection.

Histologic changes resembling acute rejection in a liver transplant patient treated with terbinafine.

We present a case of histologic changes resembling acute cellular rejection in a liver transplant patient treated with terbinafine. Approximately 5 years after orthotopic liver transplantation, a 51-year-old Hispanic man developed elevated liver enzyme levels. A biopsy sample was interpreted as acute cellular rejection, and the patient was treated with increased immunosuppression.