Objective:To obtain a polyvalent single-chain variable fragment（scFv）against West Nile virus through PEGylation in order to improve its antigen-binding ability and neutralizing activity.Methods:A scFv carrying a C-terminal cysteine residue（scFvC）was constructed by introducing Cys into the C-terminal of scFv against West Nile virus. Then the multimerization of scFvC was achieved by targeting the thiol group of Cys with maleimide-activated polyethylene glycol. ELISA was used to detect the antigen-binding activity of the multivalent scFvC. Pseudovirus-based neutralization assay was used to evaluate the neutralizing activity of the multivalent scFvC in vitro. One-way analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis. Results:The PEGylated scFvC multimers showed higher antigen-binding ability than the monomeric scFvC. In the pseudovirus-based neutralization assay，both monomeric scFvC and PEGylated scFvC multimers showed good neutralizing activity compared with the control group（ P<0.000 1）. Moreover，the PEGylated scFvC multimers showed a more effective ability to block the pseudovirus infection in target cells（ P<0.05），suggesting that the PEGylated scFvC multimers could enhance their function in vitro through avidity effect. Conclusion:In this study，a scFvC targeting West Nile virus is successfully constructed and its polyvalent form is generated through PEGylation，which improves the antigen-binding and neutralizing activity of the parental scFv.

Objective:To analyze the differences in clinicopathological features between non-elderly and elderly patients with melanoma, and to identify risk factors for prognosis in elderly patients with melanoma.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical and pathological data collected from non-elderly (aged < 60 years) and elderly (aged ≥ 60 years) patients with melanoma, who were confirmedly diagnosed according to clinical manifestations and histopathological findings at the People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from January 2008 to December 2023. The differences in clinical and pathological characteristics between the two groups were analyzed using the chi-square test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. The relationship between clinicopathological variables and overall survival was analyzed using a Cox regression model.Results:A total of 233 patients with cutaneous melanoma were included, with the age being 60.3 ± 14.7 years, and the number of patients was highest in the age group of 60 - 69 years. There were 102 cases (43.8%) in the < 60 years old group and 131 cases (56.2%) in the ≥ 60 years old group. Compared with the < 60 years old group, the ≥ 60 years old group showed a significant increase in the proportion of patients with active tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes ( P = 0.040), proportion of those with Ki-67 index ≥ 30% ( P = 0.010), and Charlson comorbidity index ( P = 0.002), but a significant decrease in the proportion of patients with BRAF/KIT/NRAS mutations ( P = 0.003), proportion of those receiving surgical treatment ( P = 0.034), and proportion of those receiving adjuvant therapy ( P = 0.042). There was a significant difference in the overall survival between the two groups (log-rank test, χ2 = 6.10, P = 0.014). The gender, metastasis status, presence or absence of ulceration, distant metastasis status, American Joint Committee on Cancer staging, Charlson comorbidity index, and Breslow thickness were important prognostic indicators affecting the overall survival in the elderly patients with melanoma. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that males ( P = 0.015, HR = 4.622, 95% CI: 1.352 - 15.798), presence of distant metastasis ( P = 0.013, HR = 9.844, 95% CI: 4.621 - 59.763), and Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 3 ( P = 0.038, HR = 3.149, 95% CI: 1.067 - 9.294) were independent risk factors affecting the overall survival in the elderly patients with melanoma. Conclusions:Compared with the non-elderly patients with melanoma, a higher Ki-67 index, a higher Charlson comorbidity index, less surgical treatment, and less adjuvant therapy were more common in the elderly patients with melanoma. Males, the presence of distant metastasis, and Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 3 appeared to be independent risk factors affecting the overall survival in the elderly patients with melanoma.

Objective:To observe the efficacy of eculizumab in children with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome.Methods:It was a single-center observational study. The clinical data of children diagnosed with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome and treated with eculizumab in Wuhan Children's Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 2023 to May 2024 were retrospectively collected. Eculizumab was used at the conventional dose based on the children 's weight. Event-free survival (no death or end-stage renal disease) rate, complete remission rate and recurrence rate of thrombotic microangiopathy in children with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome after eculizumab treatment were analyzed. The complete remission time of estimated glomerular filtration rate, hemoglobin, platelet, lactic dehydrogenase, urine routine and the adverse reactions during the treatment were observed. Whole exome sequencing was used to conduct genetic testing based on blood samples of the children and their parents.Results:There were 4 children enrolled in the study. Four children were all Han Chinese, including 3 males and 1 female. The median age of onset was 8 years (ranging from 7 to 10 years). Two patients had complement gene abnormalities, both of which were homozygous deletions of complement factor H-related 1 and complement factor H-related 3. All the patients were free of plasma exchange or perfusion after treatment with eculizumab, and the 6-month event-free survival rate and thrombotic microangiopathy complete remission rate were both 4/4. The complete remission time was 19 (14-28) days. The time for the complete recovery of platelets, lactate dehydrogenase, estimated glomerular filtration rate and hemoglobin in 4 children was 4 (1-5), 19 (14-28), 10 (5-14) and 29 (20-42) days, respectively. Except for 1 patient whose urine routine fluctuated between negative and weakly positive expression, the other 3 patients had normal urine routine. All the patients discontinued eculizumab. Two patients without gene mutations discontinued eculizumab after 7 doses, and there was no recurrence during the 1-year follow-up after drug withdrawal. Two patients with genetic abnormalities discontinued eculizumab after 26 weeks of treatment, and no recurrence was found during the 3-month follow-up after drug withdrawal. One patient developed rash approximately 7 days after receiving the third dose of eculizumab. The rash was relieved after anti-allergic treatment, and there was no recurrence after the continued use of eculizumab.Conclusion:Eculizumab is effective and safe in the treatment of children with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. Discontinuation of eculizumab can be considered in patients without gene mutations when their condition is stable, but close monitoring and follow-up are needed after drug withdrawal.

Objective:Explore the protective effect and mechanism of methyl badosolone (CDDO-Me) on rats with traumatic brain injury (TBI).Methods:A total of 72 SPF-grade SD rats aged 8 weeks were randomly (random number) divided into 4 groups ( n=18) using the random number table method: Sham, TBI, TBI+Vehicle, and TBI+CDDO-Me. The rat TBI model was established using the hydraulic impact head injury method. The TBI+CDDO-Me group was administered CDDO-Me (dissolved in 1% DMSO, at a dose of 10 mg/kg) via intraperitoneal injection 30 minutes after modeling, twice a day for a total of 3 days. On the third day after modeling, brain tissue was collected for pathological and water content detection after mNSS scoring. Immunofluorescence double staining was used to detect the expression of nuclear factor erythroid2 related factor 2 (Nrf2); immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of ionized calcium binding adapter molecule-1(Iba-1); ELISA was used to detect the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-18 in serum; kits were used to detect the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS); Western blot was used to detect the expression of the Nrf2 pathway, B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2), and BCL-2 associated X protein (BAX). Results:(1) Compared with the Sham group, the mNSS scores and water content in the injured cortex of the TBI group rats were significantly increased (both P<0.05), and both significantly decreased after CDDO-Me intervention (both P<0.05). (2) Compared with the Sham group, the proportion of Nissl-stained injured neurons and apoptotic positive cells in the TBI group rats were significantly increased (both P<0.05), and both significantly decreased after CDDO-Me intervention (both P<0.05), accompanied by a decrease in BAX protein expression and upregulation of BCL-2 protein expression (both P<0.05). (3) Immunofluorescence and Western blot results showed that compared with the Sham group, the expression of total Nrf2, nuclear Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 proteins in the TBI group were all increased (all P<0.05), and the increase was more significant after CDDO-Me intervention (all P<0.05). (4) Immunohistochemistry and ELISA results showed that compared with the Sham group, the levels of MDA, ROS, Iba-1 in brain tissue and the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-18 in serum in the TBI group rats were all significantly increased (all P<0.05), and all significantly decreased after CDDO-Me intervention (all P<0.05). Conclusion:CDDO-Me helps to reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in TBI rats, and the mechanism may be related to the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant stress pathway.

Objective:To analyze the differences in clinicopathological features between non-elderly and elderly patients with melanoma, and to identify risk factors for prognosis in elderly patients with melanoma.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical and pathological data collected from non-elderly (aged < 60 years) and elderly (aged ≥ 60 years) patients with melanoma, who were confirmedly diagnosed according to clinical manifestations and histopathological findings at the People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from January 2008 to December 2023. The differences in clinical and pathological characteristics between the two groups were analyzed using the chi-square test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. The relationship between clinicopathological variables and overall survival was analyzed using a Cox regression model.Results:A total of 233 patients with cutaneous melanoma were included, with the age being 60.3 ± 14.7 years, and the number of patients was highest in the age group of 60 - 69 years. There were 102 cases (43.8%) in the < 60 years old group and 131 cases (56.2%) in the ≥ 60 years old group. Compared with the < 60 years old group, the ≥ 60 years old group showed a significant increase in the proportion of patients with active tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes ( P = 0.040), proportion of those with Ki-67 index ≥ 30% ( P = 0.010), and Charlson comorbidity index ( P = 0.002), but a significant decrease in the proportion of patients with BRAF/KIT/NRAS mutations ( P = 0.003), proportion of those receiving surgical treatment ( P = 0.034), and proportion of those receiving adjuvant therapy ( P = 0.042). There was a significant difference in the overall survival between the two groups (log-rank test, χ2 = 6.10, P = 0.014). The gender, metastasis status, presence or absence of ulceration, distant metastasis status, American Joint Committee on Cancer staging, Charlson comorbidity index, and Breslow thickness were important prognostic indicators affecting the overall survival in the elderly patients with melanoma. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that males ( P = 0.015, HR = 4.622, 95% CI: 1.352 - 15.798), presence of distant metastasis ( P = 0.013, HR = 9.844, 95% CI: 4.621 - 59.763), and Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 3 ( P = 0.038, HR = 3.149, 95% CI: 1.067 - 9.294) were independent risk factors affecting the overall survival in the elderly patients with melanoma. Conclusions:Compared with the non-elderly patients with melanoma, a higher Ki-67 index, a higher Charlson comorbidity index, less surgical treatment, and less adjuvant therapy were more common in the elderly patients with melanoma. Males, the presence of distant metastasis, and Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 3 appeared to be independent risk factors affecting the overall survival in the elderly patients with melanoma.

Objective:To obtain a polyvalent single-chain variable fragment（scFv）against West Nile virus through PEGylation in order to improve its antigen-binding ability and neutralizing activity.Methods:A scFv carrying a C-terminal cysteine residue（scFvC）was constructed by introducing Cys into the C-terminal of scFv against West Nile virus. Then the multimerization of scFvC was achieved by targeting the thiol group of Cys with maleimide-activated polyethylene glycol. ELISA was used to detect the antigen-binding activity of the multivalent scFvC. Pseudovirus-based neutralization assay was used to evaluate the neutralizing activity of the multivalent scFvC in vitro. One-way analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis. Results:The PEGylated scFvC multimers showed higher antigen-binding ability than the monomeric scFvC. In the pseudovirus-based neutralization assay，both monomeric scFvC and PEGylated scFvC multimers showed good neutralizing activity compared with the control group（ P<0.000 1）. Moreover，the PEGylated scFvC multimers showed a more effective ability to block the pseudovirus infection in target cells（ P<0.05），suggesting that the PEGylated scFvC multimers could enhance their function in vitro through avidity effect. Conclusion:In this study，a scFvC targeting West Nile virus is successfully constructed and its polyvalent form is generated through PEGylation，which improves the antigen-binding and neutralizing activity of the parental scFv.

Objective:To observe the efficacy of eculizumab in children with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome.Methods:It was a single-center observational study. The clinical data of children diagnosed with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome and treated with eculizumab in Wuhan Children's Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 2023 to May 2024 were retrospectively collected. Eculizumab was used at the conventional dose based on the children 's weight. Event-free survival (no death or end-stage renal disease) rate, complete remission rate and recurrence rate of thrombotic microangiopathy in children with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome after eculizumab treatment were analyzed. The complete remission time of estimated glomerular filtration rate, hemoglobin, platelet, lactic dehydrogenase, urine routine and the adverse reactions during the treatment were observed. Whole exome sequencing was used to conduct genetic testing based on blood samples of the children and their parents.Results:There were 4 children enrolled in the study. Four children were all Han Chinese, including 3 males and 1 female. The median age of onset was 8 years (ranging from 7 to 10 years). Two patients had complement gene abnormalities, both of which were homozygous deletions of complement factor H-related 1 and complement factor H-related 3. All the patients were free of plasma exchange or perfusion after treatment with eculizumab, and the 6-month event-free survival rate and thrombotic microangiopathy complete remission rate were both 4/4. The complete remission time was 19 (14-28) days. The time for the complete recovery of platelets, lactate dehydrogenase, estimated glomerular filtration rate and hemoglobin in 4 children was 4 (1-5), 19 (14-28), 10 (5-14) and 29 (20-42) days, respectively. Except for 1 patient whose urine routine fluctuated between negative and weakly positive expression, the other 3 patients had normal urine routine. All the patients discontinued eculizumab. Two patients without gene mutations discontinued eculizumab after 7 doses, and there was no recurrence during the 1-year follow-up after drug withdrawal. Two patients with genetic abnormalities discontinued eculizumab after 26 weeks of treatment, and no recurrence was found during the 3-month follow-up after drug withdrawal. One patient developed rash approximately 7 days after receiving the third dose of eculizumab. The rash was relieved after anti-allergic treatment, and there was no recurrence after the continued use of eculizumab.Conclusion:Eculizumab is effective and safe in the treatment of children with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. Discontinuation of eculizumab can be considered in patients without gene mutations when their condition is stable, but close monitoring and follow-up are needed after drug withdrawal.

Objective:To explore the intolerable uncertainty level and its related factors in female patients re-ceiving in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.Methods:A total of 503 female patients receiving in vitro fertiliza-tion and embryo transfer in a tertiary reproductive hospital in Shandong province were selected.Theywere assessed with a self-designed general information questionnaire,the Intolerance of Uncertainty scale-12(IUS-12),Fertility Problem Inventory(FPI,including social concern,sexual concern,relationship concern,need for parenthood,and re-jection of childfree lifestyle),and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS).Results:The score of IUS-12 was 28(13,60).Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that having children,having anxiety symptoms,the scores of social concern,sexual concern and need for parenthood were positively associated with IUS-12 scores(β=0.11,0.19,0.21,0.13,0.25),and rejection of childfree lifestyle was negatively associated with IUS-12 scores(β=-0.18).Conclusion:It suggests that the unbearable uncertainty of women receiving in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer is related to whether they have children,social concerns,sexual concerns,need for parenthood,and rejection of childfree lifestyle.

Objective:To construct an anticipatory grief intervention scheme for family caregivers of advanced cancer patients based on narrative theory, and to provide reference for anticipatory grief nursing intervention.Methods:From October 2022 to May 2023, through literature research, semi-structured interview and brainstorming method, the first draft of nursing intervention plan was constructed, the Delphi method was used to conduct 2 rounds of correspondence consultation with 15 experts, and the indicators at all levels were modified according to the opinions of experts, and the final draft of intervention plan was formed.Results:The experts were all female, aged (49.67 ± 5.83) years old. The authority coefficient of the two rounds of experts was 0.87. The Kendall coordination coefficients of the first, second, and third level indicators after the first round of expert inquiry were 0.195, 0.113, and 0.093, respectively. The Kendall coordination coefficients of the first, second, and third level indicators after the second round of expert inquiry were 0.200, 0.119, and 0.101, respectively. The differences were statistically significant ( χ2 values were 8.76-107.21, all P<0.05).Finally, a nursing intervention plan based on narrative theory was formed, which included 4 primary indicators, 19 secondary indicators and 72 tertiary indicators. Conclusions:The anticipatory grief intervention scheme for family caregivers of advanced cancer patients is scientific, practical and feasible, and can be used for psychological nursing of family caregivers.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a dedicated neonatal-infant brain 0.35 T MRI system.Methods:A dual-center controlled clinical trial was conducted with single-arm objective performance criteria. From June to July 2020, sixty-six infants aged 0-12 (6.3±3.4) months were recruited from Children′s Hospital of Soochow University and the First People′s Hospital of Lianyungang prospectively. All infants underwent brain MRI with a dedicated neonatal-infant 0.35 T brain MRI system, using the dedicated two-channel transceiver head coil. MRI protocol included spin echo T 1WI, fast spin echo T 2WI, fluid attenuated inversion recovery, diffusion weighted imaging and 3D gradient echo sequence. MRI sequences were set with three orientations (axial, sagittal and coronal). Each case received at least two scanning planes and two scanning sequences. Five-point Likert scoring system was used to evaluate the image quality of acquired images, and the target value was set as at least 3 points per image. The temperature, heart rate and breathe of the infants were recorded before and after MRI; the acoustic noise of the MRI system was measured during the scanning process; and the adverse reactions were recorded if presented. Results:Five infants successfully completed their examination during non-sedated sleep in a single attempt, and 61 infants after sedation with chloral hydrate. Based on MRI-based five-point Likert scoring system, 41 cases achieved a score of 5, 21 cases with a score of 4 and 4 cases with a score of 3. Cases with score of 3 was due to movement of the infants during the scan, which resulted in motion related artifacts. The vital signs of all infants showed stable before and after imaging, with heart rate of (126.8±12.9) beats per minute, breathe of (38.2±6.8) times per minute. It was found that 47 cases showed no sign of temperature raise after brain MRI, 15 cases had less than 0.3 ℃ raise and 4 cases had 0.3 ℃ to 0.5 ℃ raise. The noise recorded during the scanning process was (57.5±1.8) dB(A). One case had mild diarrhea on the day of MR scan, and the symptoms disappeared on the second day without treatment; no adverse reactions were found for the rest subjects.Conclusion:Dedicated neonatal-infant 0.35 T brain MRI system allows data acquisition with high safety and excellent image quality, which has potentials in the clinical applications.