Molecular analysis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus dissemination among healthcare professionals and/or HIV patients from a tertiary hospital.

Introduction: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a nosocomial pathogen in community settings. MRSA colonized individuals may contribute to its dissemination; the risk of MRSA infection is increased in human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients, although the prevalence of colonization in this group is not well established. The present study addressed this issue by characterizing MRSA isolates from HIV/AIDS patients and their healthcare providers (HCPs) to determine whether transmission occurred between these two populations.

Spatial mapping of juxtacrine axo-glial interactions identifies novel molecules in peripheral myelination.

Cell-cell interactions promote juxtacrine signals in specific subcellular domains, which are difficult to capture in the complexity of the nervous system. For example, contact between axons and Schwann cells triggers signals required for radial sorting and myelination. Failure in this interaction causes dysmyelination and axonal degeneration.

New laser soldering-based closures: a promising method in natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery.

Background: Complete closure of gastrotomy is the linchpin of safe natural orifice transgastric endoscopic surgery.

Objective: To evaluate feasibility and efficacy of a new method of gastrotomy closure by using a sutureless laser tissue-soldering (LTS) technique in an ex vivo porcine stomach.

Design: In vitro experiment.

Nanoshell assisted laser soldering of vascular tissue.

Background And Objectives: Laser tissue soldering (LTS) is a promising technique for tissue fusion but is limited by the lack of reproducibility particularly when the amount of indocyanine green (ICG) applied as energy absorber cannot be controlled during the soldering procedure. Nanotechnology enables the control over the quantitative binding of the ICG. The aim of this study was to establish a highly reproducible and strong tissue fusion using ICG packed nanoshells.