Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen that causes a wide range of clinical infections. It is a leading cause of bacteremia and infective endocarditis as well as osteoarticular, skin and soft tissue, pleuropulmonary, and device-related infections. This review comprehensively covers the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and management of each of these clinical entities. The past 2 decades have witnessed two clear shifts in the epidemiology of S. aureus infections: first, a growing number of health care-associated infections, particularly seen in infective endocarditis and prosthetic device infections, and second, an epidemic of community-associated skin and soft tissue infections driven by strains with certain virulence factors and resistance to β-lactam antibiotics. In reviewing the literature to support management strategies for these clinical manifestations, we also highlight the paucity of high-quality evidence for many key clinical questions.

Staphylococcus aureus Infections: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Clinical Manifestations, and Management

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/cr400546e

Fluorescent Sensors for Measuring Metal Ions in Living Systems

Age-related macular degeneration: etiology, pathogenesis, and therapeutic strategies.

Ascorbic acid: Chemistry, biology and the treatment of cancer

Lipofuscin: mechanisms of age-related accumulation and influence on cell function

Blue Light Induces Mitochondrial DNA Damage and Free Radical Production in Epithelial Cells

Photocytotoxicity of lipofuscin in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Outcome of treated orbital cellulitis in a tertiary eye care center in the middle East

PURPOSE. To determine whether lipofuscin is detrimental to lysosomal and antioxidant function in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. 

METHODS. Isolated lipofuscin granules were fed to confluent RPE cultures and the cells maintained in basal medium for 7 days. Parallel cultures were established that did not receive lipofuscin. Cultures were either exposed to visible light (390â€“550 nm) at an irradiance of 2.8 mW/cm2 or maintained in the dark at 37Â°C for up to 24 hours. Cells were subsequently assessed for cell viability, lysosomal enzyme activity, and antioxidant capacity. 

RESULTS. There was no loss of cell viability during the first 3 hours of light exposure, whereas a 10% loss of viability was observed in lipofuscin-fed cultures after 6 hoursâ€™ exposure to light. Activities of acid phosphatase, N-acetyl-AŸ-glucuronidase, and cathepsin D were decreased by up to 50% in lipofuscin-fed cells exposed to light compared with either unfed cells or cells maintained in the dark. There was also a decrease in the antioxidant potential of RPE cells. Catalase and superoxide dismutase activities decreased by up to 60% and glutathione levels by 28% in light-exposed lipofuscin-fed cells compared with unfed cells or cells maintained in the dark. 

CONCLUSIONS. Lipofuscin has the capacity to reduce the efficacy of the lysosomal and antioxidant systems in RPE cells that may play an important role in retinal ageing and the development of age-related macular degeneration.

Inhibition of RPE lysosomal and antioxidant activity by the age pigment lipofuscin.

Purpose
To determine the risk factors and visual outcome of endophthalmitis associated with traumatic intraocular foreign body (IOFB) removal and its allied management.

/pdf/incidence-and-visual-outcome-of-endophthalmitis-associated-4ju8mbcazg.pdf

Farrukh A. Shamsi

Papers

Blue Light Induces Mitochondrial DNA Damage and Free Radical Production in Epithelial Cells

Photocytotoxicity of lipofuscin in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Outcome of treated orbital cellulitis in a tertiary eye care center in the middle East

Inhibition of RPE lysosomal and antioxidant activity by the age pigment lipofuscin.

Incidence and visual outcome of endophthalmitis associated with intraocular foreign bodies.