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Lymphocytes from 18 patients with the Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS) were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Most peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal individuals are covered with slender microvillus projections, but a large proportion of lymphocytes from WAS patients were found to be relatively devoid of microvilli. A lymphocyte morphology scoring system was developed to quantify the density of microvilli: Grade 4 classified those lymphocytes with greater than 75% of the surface covered with microvilli with progressive decrements to grade 1, which were those without microvilli. The mean lymphocyte morphology score of eight normal individuals was 3.62 +/- .22. The mean lymphocyte score of WAS patients was substantially lower (2.89 +/- .27, P less than .001). In addition, WAS lymphocytes often were qualitatively abnormal, with short, blunted microvilli. These morphological criteria were used to diagnose WAS from the cord blood lymphocytes of one “at-risk” patient. Thus, WAS is the first primary immunodeficiency in which morphological abnormalities have been identified that can aid in diagnosis.

Purpose To characterize the molecular, epidemiological, and resistance profiles of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) keratitis isolates. Patients and methods We used a combination of standard microbiological techniques and DNA microarray analysis to characterize the molecular and antibiotic resistance profiles of 75 Staphylococcus aureus keratitis isolates collected over an 11-year period (2006–2016). Results Two major USA clonal complexes (CC), CC5 (n=30, 40%) and CC8 (n=28, 37.3%), accounted for 77.3% of the collected S. aureus isolates. USA100, traditionally healthcare associated (n=18/47, 38.3%), and USA300, traditionally community associated (n=12/47, 25.5%), were the dominant MRSA strains. Four (22.2%) of the USA100 MRSA isolates were recovered from patients with no prior healthcare exposure. Eleven (91.7%) of the USA300 isolates were recovered from patients with documented healthcare risk factors. MSSA isolates were polyclonal (n=13). Ninety-three percent of MSSA infections were of healthcare origin. Thirty-seven of 61 (60.6%) healthcare- and 11 of 14 (78.6%) community-associated strains were resistant to three or more antibiotic classes. Sixty-eight percent (n=51) of isolates harbored three of more resistance determinants (genes). The Panton-Valentine Leucocidin gene was detected in 11 (14.7%) of the study isolates. The majority (72.7%) of the strains were members of the USA300 MRSA clone. Conclusion Clonal complexes CC5 and CC8 were the most frequent clones detected among both the MSSA and the MRSA keratitis isolates. USA100 and USA300 clones were the dominant MRSA genotypes. The USA300 MRSA clone has become a leading cause of healthcare-associated keratitis in South Florida. The USA100 MRSA clone has emerged as an increasing cause of community-associated corneal infections in our outpatient population. This shifting epidemiology coupled with the increasing prevalence of multidrug resistance among both MSSA and MRSA keratitis is a cause of concern.

This article focuses on findings of a two-year pilot research study focused on addressing sexual and reproductive health inequities faced by adolescent women of Puerto Rican descent living on the mainland United States. Working with three groups of young women, in the pilot study we gathered ethnographic data in and around a group-based digital storytelling process to inform the development of a larger intervention. Digital stories are short (1–3 minute), participant produced videos that synthesize still and moving image, a voiceover recording of the participant telling her story, and background music and text to document personal experiences. Based on narrative analysis of digital stories and field notes written in and around the digital storytelling workshop process, as well as follow-up individual interviews with workshop participants, our findings center on the ways that trauma has specifically shaped participants’ sexual and reproductive health experiences. We argue that digital storytelling serves as a critical narrative intervention, whereby participants’ engagement in the storytelling process enables them to collaboratively interrogate and potentially address prior trauma, bolster a sense of social support and solidarity, and potentially recalibrate stigmatizing conversations about them. We introduce our project methodology, and then present key findings on trauma as it informs sexual and reproductive health practices, with digital storytelling showcased as a modality for critical narrative intervention. We conclude by discussing implications for critical public health research and practice.

To evaluate the in vivo corneal changes after Rose Bengal photodynamic antimicrobial therapy (RB-PDAT) treatment in New Zealand White rabbits.Methods: Sixteen rabbits were divided into 5 groups. All groups underwent deepithelialization of an 8 mm diameter area in the central cornea. Group 1: balanced salt solution drops only, group 2: 0.2% RB only, group 3: green light exposure (525 nm, 5.4 J/cm 2 ) only, group 4: 0.1% RB-PDAT, and group 5: 0.1% RB-PDAT. All rabbits were followed clinically. Group 5 rabbits were followed using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and clinically. On day 35 after initial treatment, 1 rabbit from group 5 was re-exposed to green light (5.4 J/cm 2 ) to evaluate reactivation of the remaining RB dye, and terminal deoxynucleotyl transferase-mediated UTP-biotinnick-end labeling assay was performed on corneal cryosections.Results: Complete reepithelization was observed, and corneas remained clear after treatment in all groups. In group 5, AS-OCT revealed a cross-linking demarcation line. AS-OCT showed RB fluorescence and collagen cross-linking in all treated eyes of group 5 animals after 5 weeks of treatment. Photobleached RB retention in the corneal stroma was corroborated by fluorescence confocal microscopy on frozen sections. There was no evidence of a sustained cytotoxic effect through terminal deoxynucleotyl transferasemediated UTP-biotin-nick-end labeling at 5 weeks.Conclusions: RB-PDAT with 0.1% RB is a safe procedure. There was no difference clinically and on histopathology compared with control groups. In eyes where RB dye is retained in the corneal stroma after 1 month of treatment, oxidative stress is not evidenced at long term.