There are serious systemic infections associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and several other types of bacteria leading to the deaths of millions of people globally. This type of mortality is generally caused by the increasing number of antibiotic-resistant organisms, a consequence of evolution via natural selection. After the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) by wet chemistry, bio-functionalization with IgG molecules was performed. Following administration of IgG-GNPs to MRSA cultures at various concentrations and various incubation time laser irradiation was performed. To assess the selectivity and specificity of the proposed treatment the following methods were used: flow cytometry, contrast phase microscopy, and by fluorescence microscopy. The results in our study indicate that following administration of IgG-GNPs biomolecule an extended and selective bacterial death occurs following laser irradiation in a dose dependent manner. Therefore, the new findings might impel studies on these antibacterial nanomaterials and their biological and medical applications.

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Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of transpupillary diode laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) at one institution in Romania.Methods: This retrospective case series included all infants who received indirect diode laser photocoagulation for ROP between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2012. Results:The 160 eyes of 83 infants were classified into two categories: 136 eyes (85%) with classic disease (stage III ROP in zones 1 or 2) and 24 eyes (15%) with aggressive posterior ROP (AP-ROP). ROP regressed in 141 eyes (88.12%). The success rate was significantly better in the classic ROP group (94.11%) compared to the AP-ROP group (54.16%) (P < .001). Conclusions:The ROP regression rate after the laser treatment was 88% in this series.

BackgroundRetinopathy is a serious complication related to prematurity and a leading cause of childhood blindness. The aggressive posterior form of retinopathy of prematurity (APROP) has a worse anatomical and functional outcome following laser therapy, as compared with the classic form of the disease. The main outcome measures are the APROP regression rate, structural outcomes, and complications associated with intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) versus laser photocoagulation in APROP.Material/MethodsThis is a retrospective case series that includes infants with APROP who received either IVB or laser photocoagulation and had a follow-up of at least 60 weeks (for the laser photocoagulation group) and 80 weeks (for the IVB group). In the first group, laser photocoagulation of the retina was carried out and in the second group, 1 bevacizumab injection was administered intravitreally. The following parameters were analyzed in each group: sex, gestational age, birth weight, postnatal age and postmenstrual age at treatment, APROP regression, sequelae, and complications. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS (version 23.0).ResultsThe laser photocoagulation group consisted of 6 premature infants (12 eyes) and the IVB group consisted of 17 premature infants (34 eyes). Within the laser photocoagulation group, the evolution was favorable in 9 eyes (75%) and unfavorable in 3 eyes (25%). Within the IVB group, APROP regressed in 29 eyes (85.29%) and failed to regress in 5 eyes (14.71%). These differences are statistically significant, as proved by the McNemar test (P<0.001).ConclusionsThe IVB group had a statistically significant better outcome compared with the laser photocoagulation group, in APROP in our series.

Our study suggests the role of maternal/fetal VEGF-CT936 polymorphism as a modulating factor in preeclampsia, which affects the angiogenic balance in preeclamptic mothers, as well as their pregnancy outcome.