ICESsuHN105, a Novel Multiple Antibiotic Resistant ICE in Streptococcus suis Serotype 5 Strain HN105

Streptococcussuis serotype 5, an emerging zoonosis bacterial pathogen, has been isolated from infections in both pigs and humans. In this study, we sequenced the first complete genome of a virulent, multidrug-resistant SS5 strain HN105. The strain HN105 displayed enhanced pathogenicity in zebrafish and BABL/c mouse infection models. Comparative genome analysis identified a novel 80K integrative conjugative element (ICE), ICESsuHN105, as required for the multidrug resistance phenotype. Six corresponding antibiotic resistance genes in this ICE were identified, namely tet (O), tet (M), erm (two copies), aph, and spc. Phylogenetic analysis classified the element as a homolog of the ICESa2603 family, containing the typical family backbone and insertion DNA. DNA hybrids mediated by natural transformation between HN105 and ZY05719 verified the antibiotic resistant genes of ICESsuHN105 that could be transferred successfully, while they were dispersedly inserted with a single gene in different genomic locations of ZY05719(HN105) transformants. To further identify the horizontal transfer of ICESsuHN105 as a whole mobile genetic element, a circular intermediate form of ICESsuHN105 was detected by PCR. However, the effective conjugation using serotype 2 S. suis as recipients was not observed in current assays in vitro. Further studies confirmed the presence of the complete lantibiotic locus encoded in ICESsuHN105 that effectively inhibits the growth of other streptococci. In summary, this study demonstrated the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in ICE that are able to transfer between different clinical isolates and adapt to a broader range of Streptococcus serotype or species

Development and evaluation of two control methods for MOVit: An exercise-enabling driving interface for powered wheelchair users

The sedentary lifestyle of powered wheelchair users has a deleterious effect on their health. If they could exercise while driving their chair, they could potentially improve their health through integrated daily exercise. This dissertation presents the development of MOVit, a novel, arm exercise-enabling, wheelchair driving interface. MOVit consists of two custom-made, instrumented mobile arm. Instead of using a joystick to drive the wheelchair, the design goal was that the user moves the arm supports with his arms through a cyclical motion to drive the chair, like a “virtual lever drive” chair. We developed and studied two different methods for driving and clutching, compared to driving performance with a Standard Joystick. In the Squeeze and Height Clutch methods, the driver clutched the virtual levers by squeezing a handle or moving the arm support above a line, respectively. A total of 24 unimpaired subjects were randomized to one of the three control methods and performed a series of driving tests across two consecutive days in a 3D wheelchair simulator and in reality. The results showed that, after learning, the MOVit driving performance with Squeeze and or Height Clutch control was comparable to Joystick control. We also found that subjects exhibited good overnight retention of learned driving abilities and transferred their abilities readily from the virtual training environment to the real environment. These results show for the first time the feasibility of a maneuverable, exercise-enabling powered wheelchair driving interface

Development and evaluation of two control methods for MOVit: An exercise-enabling driving interface for powered wheelchair users

The sedentary lifestyle of powered wheelchair users has a deleterious effect on their health. If they could exercise while driving their chair, they could potentially improve their health through integrated daily exercise. This dissertation presents the development of MOVit, a novel, arm exercise-enabling, wheelchair driving interface. MOVit consists of two custom-made, instrumented mobile arm. Instead of using a joystick to drive the wheelchair, the design goal was that the user moves the arm supports with his arms through a cyclical motion to drive the chair, like a “virtual lever drive” chair. We developed and studied two different methods for driving and clutching, compared to driving performance with a Standard Joystick. In the Squeeze and Height Clutch methods, the driver clutched the virtual levers by squeezing a handle or moving the arm support above a line, respectively. A total of 24 unimpaired subjects were randomized to one of the three control methods and performed a series of driving tests across two consecutive days in a 3D wheelchair simulator and in reality. The results showed that, after learning, the MOVit driving performance with Squeeze and or Height Clutch control was comparable to Joystick control. We also found that subjects exhibited good overnight retention of learned driving abilities and transferred their abilities readily from the virtual training environment to the real environment. These results show for the first time the feasibility of a maneuverable, exercise-enabling powered wheelchair driving interface

3D printed elastic hydrogel conduits with 7,8-dihydroxyflavone release for peripheral nerve repair

Nerve guide conduit is a promising treatment for long gap peripheral nerve injuries, yet its efficacy is limited. Drug-releasable scaffolds may provide reliable platforms to build a regenerative microenvironment for nerve recovery. In this study, an elastic hydrogel conduit encapsulating with prodrug nanoassemblies is fabricated by a continuous 3D printing technique for promoting nerve regeneration. The bioactive hydrogel is comprised of gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and silk fibroin glycidyl methacrylate (SF-MA), exhibiting positive effects on adhesion, proliferation, and migration of Schwann cells. Meanwhile, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) prodrug nanoassemblies with high drug-loading capacities are developed through self-assembly of the lipophilic prodrug and loaded into the GelMA/SF-MA hydrogel. The drug loading conduit could sustainedly release 7,8-DHF to facilitate neurite elongation. A 12 ​mm nerve defect model is established for therapeutic efficiency evaluation by implanting the conduit through surgical suturing with rat sciatic nerve. The electrophysiological, morphological, and histological assessments indicate that this conduit can promote axon regeneration, remyelination, and function recovery by providing a favorable microenvironment. These findings implicate that the GelMA/SF-MA conduit with 7,8-DHF release has potentials in the treatment of long-gap peripheral nerve injury

Characterization and virulence clustering analysis of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from swine in China

Abstract Background Swine extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) is an important pathogen that leads to economic and welfare costs in the swine industry worldwide, and is occurring with increasing frequency in China. By far, various virulence factors have been recognized in ExPEC. Here, we investigated the virulence genotypes and clonal structure of collected strains to improve the knowledge of phylogenetic traits of porcine ExPECs in China. Results We isolated 64 Chinese porcine ExPEC strains from 2013 to 14 in China. By multiplex PCR, the distribution of isolates belonging to phylogenetic groups B1, B2, A and D was 9.4%, 10.9%, 57.8% and 21.9%, respectively. Nineteen virulence-related genes were detected by PCR assay; ompA, fimH, vat, traT and iutA were highly prevalent. Virulence-related genes were remarkably more prevalent in group B2 than in groups A, B1 and D; notably, usp, cnf1, hlyD, papA and ibeA were only found in group B2 strains. Genotyping analysis was performed and four clusters of strains (named I to IV) were identified. Cluster IV contained all isolates from group B2 and Cluster IV isolates had the strongest pathogenicity in a mouse infection model. As phylogenetic group B2 and D ExPEC isolates are generally considered virulent, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis was performed for these isolates to further investigate genetic relationships. Two novel sequence types, ST5170 and ST5171, were discovered. Among the nine clonal complexes identified among our group B2 and D isolates, CC12 and CC95 have been indicated to have high zoonotic pathogenicity. The distinction between group B2 and non-B2 isolates in virulence and genotype accorded with MLST analysis. Conclusion This study reveals significant genetic diversity among ExPEC isolates and helps us to better understand their pathogenesis. Importantly, our data suggest group B2 (Cluster IV) strains have the highest risk of causing animal disease and illustrate the correlation between genotype and virulence

Temperature-gated nanocellulose membrane for enhanced and controllable osmotic energy harvesting

Reverse electrodialysis system (REDs) based on nanochannels membrane has been widely investigated for high- performance osmotic energy harvesting. However, restricted by the non-renewable, low power density, and uncontrolable ion transport of membrane materials, the existing membrane-based REDs are usually unregulated and unintelligent, which greatly prohibits their practical applications. Herein, a temperature-gated nanochannels membrane is constructed by the functionalized Cladophora nanocellulose for controllable osmotic energy har- vesting, in which the thermo-responsive nanocellulose is obtained by grafting with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) brushes via the atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) method. Based on this membrane, the output from the osmotic energy harvesting system can be regulated and boosted by alternating the temperature switches reversibly and stably. A maximum power density up to approximately 10.1 W/m2 is achieved under a 50-fold salinity gradient at 50 degrees C, which is remarkably superior to most of the reported cellulose-based nano - fluids. Besides, the REDs based on this membrane is designed as a self-powered flexible and wearable ther- mometer, which can be employed to detect human health. Overall, this strategy first develops cellulose-based nanochannels membrane with both intelligent response and enhanced energy output, which anticipates the wide potential for pushing the osmotic energy into real-world applications

Additional file 2: Table S1. of Characterization and virulence clustering analysis of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from swine in China

Statistical analysis of associations between virulence-associated factores(VFs). P values by Fisher’s exact test, shown only where < .10. P < .10 reflects statistical significance ;P values between .01 and .05 reflect possible statistical significance. (DOCX 19 kb

Additional file 4: Table S3. of Characterization and virulence clustering analysis of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from swine in China

The information of isolates identified as ExPEC with Johnson et al’s criterion (DOCX 15 kb

Efficacy and safety of flurbiprofen cataplasms versus loxoprofen sodium cataplasms in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract. Background:. Clinical trial evidence is limited to identify better topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for treating knee osteoarthritis (OA). We aimed to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of flurbiprofen cataplasms (FPC) with loxoprofen sodium cataplasms (LSC) in treating patients with knee OA. Methods:. This is an open-label, non-inferiority randomized controlled trial conducted at Peking University Shougang Hospital. Overall, 250 patients with knee OA admitted from October 2021 to April 2022 were randomly assigned to FPC and LSC treatment groups in a 1:1 ratio. Both medications were administered to patients for 28 days. The primary outcome was the change of pain measured by visual analog scale (VAS) score from baseline to day 28 (range, 0-10 points; higher score indicates worse pain; non-inferiority margin: 1 point; superiority margin: 0 point). There were four secondary outcomes, including the extent of pain relief, the change trends of VAS scores, joint function scores measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and adverse events. Results:. Among 250 randomized patients (One patient without complete baseline record in the flurbiprofen cataplasms was excluded; age, 62.8 ± 10.5 years; 61.4% [153/249] women), 234 (93.6%) finally completed the trial. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the decline of the VAS score for the 24-h most intense pain in the FPC group was non-inferior, and also superior to that in the LSC group (differences and 95% confidence interval, 0.414 (0.147-0.681); P <0.001 for non-inferiority; P = 0.001 for superiority). Similar results were observed of the VAS scores for the current pain and pain during exercise. WOMAC scores were also lower in the FPC group at week 4 (12.50 [8.00-22.50] vs. 16.00 [11.00-27.00], P = 0.010), mainly driven by the dimension of daily activity difficulty. In addition, the FPC group experienced a significantly lower incidence of adverse events (5.6% [7/124] vs. 33.6% [42/125], P <0.001), including irritation, rash and pain of the skin, and sticky hair uncovering pain. Conclusions:. This study suggested that FPC is superior to LSC for treating patients with knee OA in pain relief, joint function improvement, and safety profile