A new isopropyl esterification method for quantitative profiling of short-chain fatty acids in human and cow milk by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) content in milk may have been underestimated due to the neglect of the esterified SCFA content and the lack of an accurate detection method, especially for C1:0, C2:0, and C3:0 SCFA. In this study, an accurate GC-MS profiling method was established for 10 SCFA. A 2-step esterification, including alkaline saponification (60°C for 30 min) and acid-catalyzed esterification (80°C for 150 min) in water/isopropyl/hexane (1:2:1, volume ratio), was found to be the most suitable for the quantification of esterified and nonesterified SCFA analysis. The validation results demonstrate satisfactory linearity, sensitivity, matrix effects, precision, and accuracy. The recoveries of nonesterified and esterified SCFA ranged from 82.78% to 112.49%, respectively. Human milk is distinguished from cow milk by its higher C1:0 and C2:0 content and lower C4:0 and C6:0 content. This method successfully accomplished qualitative and quantitative estimation of all 10 SCFA in milk, including both nonesterified and esterified SCFA. Furthermore, whether our method is applicable for the determination of SCFA in serum, rumen fluid, and feces remains to be explored.

Species of associated bryophytes and their effects on the yield and quality of Dendrobium nobile.

BACKGROUND: Dendrobium nobile has unique growth environment requirements, and unstable yields and high management costs are the key factors restricting the development of its imitation wild cultivation industry. The present study explored the effects of different associated bryophyte species on the yield and quality of D. nobile to clarify the dominant bryophyte species associated with D. nobile and to provide a scientific basis for the rational cultivation and quality evaluation of D. nobile. RESULTS: The growth of D. nobile was closely related to the microenvironment of the Danxia stone, and the different associated bryophytes had different effects on D. nobile growth. There was a rich variety of bryophytes associated with D. nobile, with a total of 15 families, 24 genera and 31 species of bryophytes identified in the study area, including 13 families, 22 genera and 29 species of mosses and 2 families, 2 genera and 2 species of liverworts, and mosses predominated in the association with D. nobile. Usually, 3-9 species of bryophytes were growing in association with D. nobile, among which associations of 5-6 bryophytes species were more common, and the bryophytes associated with D. nobile were only related to the species to which they belonged. The dry matter accumulation, quality and mineral content of D. nobile differed significantly among different bryophyte species. The coefficients of variation of dry matter accumulation, dendrobine content and content of 11 mineral elements of D. nobile in the 35 sample quadrats were 25.00%, 21.08%, and 11.33-57.96%, respectively. The biomass, dendrobine content and mineral content of D. nobile were analysed by principal component analysis (PCA) and membership function. The results showed that each evaluation method initially screened Trachycystis microphylla and Leucobryum juniperoideum as the dominant associated bryophytes in the preliminary identification analysis, and the frequency of occurrence and coverage of the two bryophytes were significantly higher than those of the remaining bryophytes. It was determined that T. microphylla and L. juniperoideum were the dominant associated bryophytes. CONCLUSIONS: There is a rich variety of bryophytes associated with D. nobile. The yield and quality of D. nobile differed significantly among different bryophyte species. T. microphylla and L. juniperoideum were the dominant associated bryophytes, and were the two bryophytes associated with D. nobile through mixed growth.

Molecular characteristics of clinical IMP-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates: novel IMP-90 and integron In2147.

BACKGROUND: Since the first report of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in China in 2007, the prevalence of CRKP and CRE has increased significantly. However, the molecular characteristics of IMP-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (IMPKp) are rarely reported. METHODS: A total of 29 IMPKp isolates were collected from a Chinese tertiary hospital from 2011 to 2017. Clinical IMPKp were identified by VITEK®MS, and further analyzed by whole-genome DNA sequencing with HiSeq and PacBio RSII sequencer. Sequencing data were analyzed using CSI Phylogeny 1.4, Resfinder, PlasmidFinder and the MLST tool provided by the Centre for Genomic Epidemiology. The analysis results were visualized using iTOL editor v1_1. The open reading frames and pseudogenes were predicted using RAST 2.0 combined with BLASTP/BLASTN searches against the RefSeq database. The databases CARD, ResFinder, ISfinder, and INTEGRALL were performed for annotation of the resistance genes, mobile elements, and other features. The types of blaIMP in clinical isolates were determined by BIGSdb-Pasteur. Integrons were drawn by Snapgene, and the gene organization diagrams were drawn by Inkscape 0.48.1. RESULTS: Four novel ST type, including ST5422, ST5423, ST5426 and ST5427 were identified. The IMP-4 and IMP-1 were the dominant IMP type. The majority of blaIMP-carrying plasmids belonged to IncN and IncHI5. Two novel blaIMP-carrying integrons (In2146 and In2147) were uncovered. A novel variant blaIMP-90 presented in novel integron In2147 has been identified. CONCLUSIONS: IMPKp showed low prevalence in China. Novel molecular characteristics of IMPKp have been identified. Continuous monitoring of IMPKp shall also be carried out in the future.

[Discrimination of cultivation modes of Dendrobium nobile based on content of mineral elements and ratios of nitrogen stable isotopes].

This study explored the feasibility of mineral element content and ratios of nitrogen isotopes to discriminate the cultivation mode of Dendrobium nobile in order to provide theoretical support for the discrimination of the cultivation mode of D. nobile. The content of 11 mineral elements(N, K, Ca, P, Mg, Na, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, and B) and nitrogen isotope ratios in D. nobile and its substrate samples in three cultivation methods(greenhouse cultivation, tree-attached cultivation, and stone-attached cultivation) were determined. According to the analysis of variance, principal component analysis, and stepwise discriminant analysis, the samples of different cultivation types were classified. The results showed that the nitrogen isotope ratios and the content of elements except for Zn were significantly different among different cultivation types of D. nobile(P<0.05). The results of correlation analysis showed that the nitrogen isotope ratios, mineral element content, and effective component content in D. nobile were correlated with the nitrogen isotope ratio and mineral element content in the corresponding substrate samples to varying degrees. Principal component analysis can preliminarily classify the samples of D. nobile, but some samples overlapped. Through stepwise discriminant analysis, six indicators, including δ~(15)N, K, Cu, P, Na, and Ca, were screened out, which could be used to establish the discriminant model of D. nobile cultivation methods, and the overall correct discrimination rates after back-substitution test, cross-check, and external validation were all 100%. Therefore, nitrogen isotope ratios and mineral element fingerprints combined with multivariate statistical analysis could effectively discriminate the cultivation types of D. nobile. The results of this study provide a new method for the identification of the cultivation type and production area of D. nobile and an experimental basis for the quality evaluation and quality control of D. nobile.

Delayed radial head dislocation after radial shaft fracture fixation: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Ipsilateral fracture of the radial shaft with dislocation of the radial head was a rare injury, but a delayed radial head dislocation after radial shaft fracture fixation was more extremely rare. CASE PRESENTATION: A 39-year-old man fell from the height on his outstretched hand and injured his left, non-dominant forearm. Preoperative radiographs demonstrated a comminuted fracture of the proximal third of the radius but with no apparent dislocation of the distal or proximal radioulnar joints or the elbow. Seven days after the injury, the radius was fixed with a reconstruction locking plate, and the immediate postoperative radiograph revealed a satisfactory reduction. However, a radiograph done at the 4th week postoperatively showed that the radial head dislocated. Manual reduction under anesthesia was tried but failed and the patient refused to take another open surgery. The patient had an acceptable range of motion 12 months after the surgery: elbow flexion 120°, full elbow extension, forearm pronation 80°, forearm supination 80°, but he complained the pain around the elbow. CONCLUSION: In the case of radial shaft fracture especially the when occurs at the proximal third of the radial shaft, even if the radiograph does not show the injury of the proximal radioulnar joint, we should also make a thorough examination of the proximal radioulnar joint. If the radial head dislocation is not initially diagnosed or treated late, a delayed dislocation would be very difficult to manage with a poor expected outcome.

Opposite trends of glycosides and alkaloids in Dendrobium nobile of different age based on UPLC-Q/TOF-MS combined with multivariate statistical analyses.

INTRODUCTION: Alkaloids and glycosides are the active ingredients of the herb Dendrobium nobile, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine. The pharmacological effects of alkaloids include neuroprotective effects and regulatory effects on glucose and lipid metabolism, while glycosides improve the immune system. The pharmacological activities of the above chemical components are significantly different. In practice, the stems of 3-year-old D. nobile are usually used as the main source of Dendrobii Caulis. However, it has not been reported whether this harvesting time is appropriate. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the chemical characteristics of D. nobile in different growth years (1-3 years). METHODS: In this study, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS) was employed to analyze the constituents of D. nobile. The relative abundance of each constituent was analyzed with multivariate statistical analyses to screen the characteristic constituents that contributed to the characterization and classification of D. nobile. Dendrobine, a component of D. nobile that is used for quality control according to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, was assayed by gas chromatography. RESULTS: As a result, 34 characteristic constituents (VIP > 2) were identified or tentatively identified as alkaloids and glycosides based on MS/MS data. Moreover, the content of alkaloids decreased over time, whereas the content of glycosides showed the opposite trend. The absolute quantification of dendrobine was consistent with the metabolomics results. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide valuable information to optimize the harvest period and a reference for the clinical application of D. nobile.

Genetic characterization of Carbapenem-Resistant Escherichia coli from China, 2015-2017.

BACKGROUND: The molecular characteristics of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CREco) remain unclear. METHODS: We conducted a multi-center bacterial resistance monitoring project from 2015 to 2017.The minimum inhibitory concentrations ofCREco were determined bybroth microdilution method. The genome sequencing of CREcoisolates was performed, and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 144CREcoisolatescollected from 10 cities in China were involved in this study. ST167 (n = 43) is the most popular type, followed by ST410(n = 14), ST131(n = 9). There were 102 (70.83%) CREco isolates that produced various NDMs, including NDM-1 (n = 16), NDM-4(n = 1), NDM-5(n = 79), NDM-6(n = 2) and NDM-9(n = 4). In addition, 15 isolates produced KPC-2, three isolates wereIMP-4 positive, and three isolates produced OXA-48. Genetic relatedness and phylogenetic analysis showed that isolates with the same ST had a high degree of homology. Some STs (including ST167, ST410, ST131, ST46, ST405 and ST617) exhibited a trend of outbreak. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of CREco belonged to ST167, followed by ST410 and ST131, and most of them carried various NDM-coding genes. The spread of high-risk clones of CREco has occurred in different regions of China.

Strain-Relief Patterns and Kagome Lattice in Self-Assembled C60 Thin Films Grown on Cd(0001).

We report an ultra-high vacuum low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) study of the C60 monolayer grown on Cd(0001). Individual C60 molecules adsorbed on Cd(0001) may exhibit a bright or dim contrast in STM images. When deposited at low temperatures close to 100 K, C60 thin films present a curved structure to release strain due to dominant molecule-substrate interactions. Moreover, edge dislocation appears when two different wavy structures encounter each other, which has seldomly been observed in molecular self-assembly. When growth temperature rose, we found two forms of symmetric kagome lattice superstructures, 2 × 2 and 4 × 4, at room temperature (RT) and 310 K, respectively. The results provide new insight into the growth behavior of C60 films.

Nosocomial spread of OXA-232-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST15 in a teaching hospital, Shanghai, China.

BACKGROUND: The spread and outbreak of Enterobacteriaceae producing OXA-48-like carbapenemases have become more and more prevalent in China. RESULTS: A total of 62 non-duplicated OXA-232-producing K. pneumoniae (OXA232Kp) were isolated between 2015 and 2017. An outbreak of OXA232Kp was observed in burn ICU. The 62 OXA232Kp isolates were all belongs to ST15 and categorized into two PFGE types (A and B). Type A was dominated of the isolates, which contained 61 clinical isolates and divided into 10 subtypes (A1-A10). In addition, most of OXA232Kp strains exhibited low-level carbapenems resistance. All strains carried a 6141 bp ColKP3 plasmid harboring the blaOXA-232 gene which is highly homologous to other blaOXA-232-bearing plasmids involved in other studies in eastern China. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, clone transmission of OXA232Kp ST15was observed. Highly significant homology among the blaOXA-232-bearing plasmids indicated the important role of the 6.1 kb ColE-like plasmid on the prevalence of blaOXA-232 gene in China.

Extremely Large Magnetoresistance in a Topological Semimetal Candidate Pyrite PtBi_{2}.

While pyrite-type PtBi_{2} with a face-centered cubic structure has been predicted to be a three-dimensional (3D) Dirac semimetal, experimental study of its physical properties remains absent. Here we report the angular-dependent magnetoresistance measurements of a PtBi_{2} single crystal under high magnetic fields. We observed extremely large unsaturated magnetoresistance (XMR) up to (11.2×10^{6})% at T=1.8 K in a magnetic field of 33 T, which is comparable to the previously reported Dirac materials, such as WTe_{2}, LaSb, and NbP. The crystals exhibit an ultrahigh mobility and significant Shubnikov-de Hass quantum oscillations with a nontrivial Berry phase. The analysis of Hall resistivity indicates that the XMR can be ascribed to the nearly compensated electron and hole. Our experimental results associated with the ab initio calculations suggest that pyrite PtBi_{2} is a topological semimetal candidate that might provide a platform for exploring topological materials with XMR in noble metal alloys.

Molecular characterization of clinical IMP-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from a Chinese Tertiary Hospital.

BACKGROUND: IMP-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (IMPKpn) exhibits sporadic prevalence in China. The mechanisms related to the spread of IMPKpn remain unclear. METHODS: Carbapenem non-susceptible K. pneumoniae isolates were collected from our hospital. The genetic relatedness, antimicrobial susceptibility, as well as sequence types (ST) were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), VITEK 2 AST test Kit, and multilocus sequence typing (MLST), respectively. S1-PFGE, Southern blot analysis and multiple PCR amplification were used for plasmid profiling. RESULTS: Between October 2009 and June 2016, 25 non-repetitive IMPKpn isolates were identified. PFGE results showed that these isolates belonged to 20 genetically unrelated IMPKpn strains. Diverse STs were identified by MLST. Most strains carried bla IMP-4, followed by bla IMP-1. Four incompatibility types of bla IMP-carrying plasmids were identified, which included A/C (n = 2), B/O (n = 2), L/M (n = 1) and N (n = 14), while type of other one plasmid failed to be determined. CONCLUSIONS: The IMPKpn isolates exhibited sporadic prevalence in our hospital. IncN types of plasmids with various sizes have emerged as the main platform mediating the spread of the bla IMP genes in our hospital.

Variation of Circulating Inflammatory Mediators in Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli Bloodstream Infection.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the behavior of circulating inflammatory mediators and to exclude gram-positive from gram-negative bloodstream infections. Results may be helpful in selection of optimal specific antibiotic therapies. MATERIAL/METHODS: Mice (25-27 g) were randomized to 3 groups infected with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli (E. coli) ATCC 25922, or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The white blood cell count (WBC) and the concentrations of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α) were detected in blood samples at different time intervals after intravenous tail injection. RESULTS: The results showed that compared to the control mice, infected animals exhibited significantly higher levels of all mediators after bacterial infection. Moreover, compared to the mice that received S. aureus, animals with E. coli infection showed significantly greater increases in serum IL-1α, IL-1ß, IL-6, MCP-1, and MIP-1α levels. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the use of the analyzed serum markers at an early stage of bloodstream infection may give useful information for the clinician to distinguish gram-negative from gram-positive infections.

Identification of ssDNA aptamers specific to clinical isolates of Streptococcus mutans strains with different cariogenicity.

Streptococcus mutans, a Gram-positive facultative anaerobic bacterium, is considered to be a major etiological factor for dental caries. In this study, plaques from dental enamel surfaces of caries-active and caries-free individuals were obtained and cultivated for S. mutans isolation. Morphology examination, biochemical characterization, and polymerase chain reaction were performed to identify S. mutans The cariogenicity of S. mutans strains isolated from clinical specimens was evaluated by testing the acidogenicity, aciduricity, extracellular polysaccharide production, and adhesion ability of the bacteria. Finally, subtractive SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) technology targeting whole intact cells was used to screen for ssDNA aptamers specific to the strains with high cariogenicity. After nine rounds of subtractive SELEX, sufficient pool enrichment was achieved as shown by radioactive isotope analysis. The enriched pool was cloned and sequenced randomly, followed by MEME online and RNA structure software analysis of the sequences. Results from the flow cytometry indicated that aptamers H1, H16, H4, L1, L10, and H19 could discriminate highly cariogenic S. mutans strains from poorly cariogenic strains. Among these, Aptamer H19 had the strongest binding capacity with cariogenic S. mutans strains with a dissociation constant of 69.45 ± 38.53 nM. In conclusion, ssDNA aptamers specific to highly cariogenic clinical S. mutans strains were successfully obtained. These ssDNA aptamers might be used for the early diagnosis and treatment of dental caries.

Superconductor-insulator transition in quasi-one-dimensional single-crystal Nb2PdS5 nanowires.

Superconductor-insulator transition (SIT) in one-dimensional (1D) nanowires attracts great attention in the past decade and remains an open question since contrasting results were reported in nanowires with different morphologies (i.e., granular, polycrystalline, or amorphous) or environments. Nb2PdS5 is a recently discovered low-dimensional superconductor with typical quasi-1D chain structure. By decreasing the wire diameter in the range of 100-300 nm, we observed a clear SIT with a 1D transport character driven by both the cross-sectional area and external magnetic field. We also found that the upper critical magnetic field (Hc2) decreases with the reduction of nanowire cross-sectional area. The temperature dependence of the resistance below Tc can be described by the thermally activated phase slip (TAPS) theory without any signature of quantum phase slips (QPS). These findings demonstrated that the enhanced Coulomb interactions with the shrinkage of the wire diameter competes with the interchain Josephson-like coupling may play a crucial role on the SIT in quasi-1D system.

Characteristics of qacA/B-positive Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients and a hospital environment in China.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to demonstrate the characteristics of qacA/B-positive Staphylococcus aureus in China. METHODS: One hundred and forty-five MRSA and 178 MSSA from clinical specimens from seven hospitals in different regions of China, 70 MRSA from superficial sites of patients and 106 MRSA from environmental samples from an ICU were collected and screened for the presence of the qacA/B gene. The qacA/B-positive isolates and 72 randomly selected qacA/B-negative control isolates were further characterized by MLST, spa typing and detection of toxin genes, as well as antimicrobial and chlorhexidine susceptibility. SCCmec typing was conducted for MRSA. PFGE was conducted for qacA/B-positive isolates. RESULTS: Twenty-five (7.8%) of the 321 MRSA isolates harboured qacA/B, including 11 isolates from clinical specimens (7.6%), 12 isolates from patients' superficial sites (17.1%) and 2 isolates from an ICU environment (1.9%). Ten and five qacA/B-positive MRSA were identified as ST239-t030-MRSA-III and ST239-t037-MRSA-III, respectively. Six PFGE clusters and five singletons were identified among the 25 qacA/B-positive MRSA. Only one (0.6%) of the 178 MSSA isolates harboured qacA/B. qacA/B carriage in MRSA was statistically associated with spa-t037 and the presence of mupA. Compared with qacA/B-negative MRSA, the qacA/B-positive MRSA exhibited a lower susceptibility to chlorhexidine and higher resistance rates to clindamycin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. CONCLUSIONS: Carriage of qacA/B, although it had a low prevalence, might be the main reason for declining susceptibility to chlorhexidine in MRSA from Chinese patients and is probably associated with spa-t037 and the presence of the mupA gene.

Highly stable skyrmion state in helimagnetic MnSi nanowires.

Topologically stable magnetic skyrmions realized in B20 metal silicide or germanide compounds with helimagnetic order are very promising for magnetic memory and logic devices. However, these applications are hindered because the skyrmions only survive in a small temperature-field (T-H) pocket near the critical temperature Tc in bulk materials. Here we demonstrate that the skyrmion state in helimagnetic MnSi nanowires with varied sizes from 400 to 250 nm can exist in a substantially extended T-H region. Magnetoresistance measurements under a moderate external magnetic field along the long axis of the nanowires (H∥) show transitions corresponding to the skyrmion state from Tc ∼32 K down to at least 3 K, the lowest temperature in our measurement. When the field is applied perpendicular to the wire axis (H⊥), the skyrmion state was not resolvable using the magnetoresistance measurements. Our analysis suggests that the shape-induced uniaxial anisotropy might be responsible for the stabilization of skyrmion state observed in nanowires.

Thermal conductivity of a single Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 single-crystalline nanowire.

Single-crystalline Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 nanowires were fabricated by a template-assisted pulsed electrodeposition technique; the thermal conductivity of a single Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 nanowire of different diameters was characterized through a self-heating 3 ω method. The temperature-dependent resistance measurements prove the semiconductor behavior of the nanowires. The extremely low thermal conductivity of the nanowires was found compared with the corresponding bulk, and the Umklapp peaks shift to a higher temperature as the decreasing nanowire's diameter decreases, which qualitatively agrees with the theoretical calculations based on the Callaway model. The boundary scattering plays an important role in the reduction of the thermal conductivity and in the shift of the Umklapp peak of the Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 nanowires.

Exploring Trends and Gaps in Osteoarthritis Biomarker Research (1999-2024): A Citation Analysis of Top 50 Cited Articles.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to comprehensively analyze the landscape of osteoarthritis (OA) biomarker research through the citation analysis of top-cited articles, identifying trends and gaps in this field. METHODS: The Web of Science Core Collection was utilized to retrieve the top 50 cited articles on OA biomarkers. Data extraction included publication characteristics, citation metrics, and biomarker categorization. Statistical analyses were conducted to discern correlations and assess significance. RESULTS: The top 50 cited articles spanned the years 1999 to 2020, and collectively cited 4849 articles, accumulating a total of 6177 citations, resulting in an average of 123.5 citations per document. Citations per article varied between 78 and 359, with a citation density ranging from 3.9 to 23.93. Analysis of the top 50 cited articles revealed comparable impact between recent and older publications. Predominant trends included cartilage-related and blood-based biomarkers, while inflammation-related, radiomics, and multi-omics emerged as potential future research directions. In BIPEDS classification, gaps were identified in biomarkers evaluating intervention efficacy and safety. CONCLUSION: Despite significant advancements, there is no universally acknowledged biomarker for OA. Addressing gaps in biomarker exploration is crucial for enhancing OA management strategies. This study provides insights into prevailing trends and future research directions in OA biomarkers, guiding future investigations and therapeutic development.

Genome sequence-based species classification of Enterobacter cloacae complex: a study among clinical isolates.

Accurate species-level identification of Enterobacter cloacae complex (ECC) is crucial for related research. The classification of ECC is based on strain-to-strain phylogenetic congruence, as well as genomic features including average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digitalized DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH). ANI and dDDH derived from whole-genome sequencing have emerged as a reliable metric for assessing genetic relatedness between genomes and are increasingly recognized as a standard for species delimitation. Up to now, there are two different classification methods for ECC. The first one categorizes E. hormaechei, a species within ECC, into five subspecies (E. hormaechei subsp. steigerwaltii, subsp. oharae, subsp. xiangfangensis, subsp. hoffmannii, and subsp. hormaechei). The second classifies E. hormaechei as three species: E. hormaechei, "E. xiangfangensis," "E. hoffmanii." While the former is well-accepted in the academic area, the latter may have a greater ability to distinguish different species of ECC. To assess the suitability of these identification criteria for clinical ECC isolates, we conducted a comprehensive analysis involving phylogenetic analysis, ANI and dDDH value alignment, virulence gene identification, and capsule typing on 256 clinical ECC strains isolated from the bloodstream. Our findings indicated that the method of categorizing E. hormaechei into five subspecies has better correlation and consistency with the molecular characteristics of clinical ECC isolates, as evidenced by phylogenetic analysis, virulence genes, and capsule typing. Therefore, the subspecies-based classification method appears more suitable for taxonomic assignments of clinical ECC isolates. IMPORTANCE: Standardizing taxonomy of the Enterobacter cloacae complex (ECC) is necessary for data integration across diverse studies. The study utilized whole-genome data to accurately identify 256 clinical ECC isolated from bloodstream infections using average nucleotide identity (ANI), digitalized DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH), and phylogenetic analysis. Through comprehensive assessments including phylogenetic analysis, ANI and dDDH comparisons, virulence gene, and capsule typing of the 256 clinical isolates, it was concluded that the classification method based on subspecies exhibited better correlation and consistency with the molecular characteristics of clinical ECC isolates. In summary, this research contributes to the precise identification of clinical ECC at the species level and expands our understanding of ECC.

Gelatin/Dopamine/Zinc-Doped Ceria/Curcumin nanocomposite hydrogels for repair of chronic refractory wounds.

Chronic wound healing is a common clinical challenge, characterized by bacterial infection, protracted inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and insufficient neovascularization. Nanozymes have emerged as a promising solution for treating skin wounds due to their antioxidant, antibacterial, and angiogenic properties. In recent years, combining nanozymes with hydrogels to jointly promote wound healing has attracted increasing research interest. However, most of the current nanocomposite hydrogels are still not effective in simultaneously controlling inflammatory, oxidative stress and bacterial invasion in wound healing. Improving the therapeutic functional diversity and efficacy of nanocomposite hydrogels remains a problem that needs to be addressed. In this study, we prepared nanocomposite hydrogels (GelMD-Cur@ZHMCe) by combining methylacrylated gelatin modified with dopamine (GelMD) with Zinc-doped hollow mesoporous cerium oxide nanoparticles loaded with curcumin (Cur@ZHMCe). The resulting hydrogels exhibited excellent water absorption, adhesion, and biocompatibility. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that GelMD-Cur@ZHMCe has excellent antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and vasculature-promoting properties, which enable it to rapidly promote wound repair. The wound healing rate of the rat total skin defect infection model treated with GelMD-Cur@ZHMCe reached 98.5±4.9 % after 14 days of treatment. It was demonstrated that this multifunctional nanocomposite hydrogel provides a promising therapeutic strategy for skin repair.