Pegylated interferon α-2b （PEG-IFN-α-2b） is currently a first-line drug for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection and is widely used in clinical practice. This drug has multiple effects of inhibiting viral replication， regulating immunity， and improving liver function， and some patients can achieve clinical cure. However， it often causes various adverse reactions during treatment， which are important factors for compromising treatment compliance and efficacy. This article systematically reviews the adverse reactions and their mechanisms during PEG-IFN-α-2b therapy for chronic hepatitis B， including influenza-like symptoms， peripheral blood cytopenia， thyroid dysfunction， and neuropsychiatric symptoms， and it also summarizes the monitoring and management strategies for these adverse reactions， in order to provide evidence-based guidance for clinical decision-making and emphasize the importance of individualized treatment.

Objective To investigate whether carotid artery stenting （CAS） is a protective factor against the progression of white matter hyperintensity （WMH） volume in patients with carotid artery stenosis. Methods A prospective study was conducted for the clinical， imaging， and follow-up data of patients with carotid artery stenosis who were treated in Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital from January 2021 to June 2023. A total of 99 participants were included in this study， among whom 48 received CAS treatment （CAS group） and 51 did not receive CAS treatment （non-CAS group）. The two groups were analyzed in terms of baseline data and WMH volume during the 1-year follow-up. Results There were no significant differences in baseline data between the two groups （P>0.05）. There was no significant difference in overall WMH volume after follow-up between the two groups （P>0.05）， but compared with the non-CAS group， the CAS group showed a significantly lower degree of the progression of WMH volume within one year （-0.27 ml vs 2.82 ml， P<0.001）. There was a significant difference in the proportion of patients with new-onset stroke within one year between the CAS group and the non-CAS group （18.75% vs 37.25%， P=0.041）. The binary logistic regression analysis showed that CAS was an independent protective factor against the progression of WMH volume（OR=-0.37， 95%CI -0.78 to -0.03，P=0.046） and new-onset stroke within one year （OR=0.28， 95% CI 0.09 to 0.83， P=0.022）. Conclusion CAS is a protective factor against the progression of WMH volume and can effectively reduce the risk of stroke recurrence in patients with carotid artery stenosis.

Background/Aims: Liver transplantation is the most effective treatment for the sickest patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). However, the influence of donor age on liver transplantation, especially in ACLF patients, is still unclear. Methods: In this study, we used the data of the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. We included patients with ACLF who received liver transplantation from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2017, and the total number was 13,857. We allocated the ACLF recipients by age intogroup I (donor age ≤17 years, n=647); group II (donor age 18–59 years, n=11,423); and group III (donor age ≥60 years, n=1,787). Overall survival (OS), graft survival, and mortality were com-pared among the three age groups and the four ACLF grades. Cox regression was also analyzed. Results: The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 89.6%, 85.5%, and 82.0% in group I; 89.4%, 83.4%, and 78.2% in group II; and 86.8%, 78.4%, and 71.4% in group III, respectively (p<0.001).When we analyzed the different effects of donor age on OS with different ACLF grades, in groupsII and III, we observed statistical differences. Finally, the cubic spline curve told us that the relative death rate changed linearly with increasing donor age. Conclusions Donor age is related to OS and graft survival of ACLF patients after transplanta-tion, and poorer results were associated with elderly donors. In addition, different donor ages have different effects on recipients with different ACLF grades.

β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyric acid (HMB) is widely applied in sports nutrition, disease prevention and other fields. However, chemical synthesis methods, limited by toxic reagents and violent reactions, can hardly meet the demands of green production. The biosynthesis method mainly utilizes enzymatic catalysis or metabolic engineering techniques for synthesis, and has the advantages of high efficiency, low cost, and sustainability. Therefore, the production of HMB by the biosynthesis method has a good application prospect. In this research, a biosynthesis-based production strategy for HMB was developed. By using L-leucine as the substrate and constructing a dual-enzyme co-expression system, we established an efficient catalytic process. At first, the enzymatic properties of L-amino acid deaminase (PvL-AAD) from Proteus vulgaris and 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (Rn4-HPPD) from Rattus norvegicus were characterized. Rn4-HPPD had low relative activity and required an acidic environment for catalysis. Based on the surface charge modification strategy of the enzyme protein, site-directed mutagenesis and combinatorial mutagenesis were conducted on 10 sites of Rn4-HPPD. A double mutant Rn4-HPPD^H18R/N302R was thus obtained, with the enzyme activities being 2.00 times and 2.39 times that of the wild type at pH 5.5 and pH 6.5, respectively. Subsequently, the expression of the two enzymes in Escherichia coli was optimized. After the optimal expression ratio of the two enzymes was determined as 1:3 and under the conditions of OD₆₀₀ of 70, pH 6.0, 35 ℃, Fe²⁺ concentration of 1.5 mmol/L, and feeding of the substrate in batches in a 5 L fermenter, the maximum yield of HMB reached 8.60 g/L. This study not only enhances the optimal pH and activity of Rn4-HPPD but also provides new approaches for the efficient microbial synthesis of HMB.
Escherichia coli/metabolism* ; Valerates/metabolism* ; Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis* ; Animals ; Metabolic Engineering/methods* ; Rats ; Catalysis

Objective To analyze the incidence and risk factors of central nervous system infection(CNSI)after craniotomy.Methods Clinical data from 1 432 patients who underwent craniotomy in the neuro-surgery department of the hospital from 2019 to 2021 were retrospectively collected,and the positive rates of CNSI after craniotomy in neurosurgery were analyzed.Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were adopted to identify the risk factors affecting the occurrence of CNSI.Results The positive rate of CNSI in 1 432 patients was 12.92％,and the positive rate of bacterial culture in cerebrospinal fluid samples was 2.88％.Univariate analysis showed that hypertension,length of hospital stay,preoperative length of hos-pital stay,intensive care unit(ICU)treatment,American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA)grading,surgery time≥ 3 h,blood transfusion,cerebrospinal fluid leakage,and postoperative hormone use were influencing fac-tors for the occurrence of CNSI.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension(OR=1.475),length of hospital stay higher than 30 days(OR=2.498),length of ICU treatment(OR=2.381),length of surgery(OR=1.572)higher than 3 hours and cerebrospinal fluid leakage(OR=3.062)were inde-pendent risk factors for the occurrence of CNSI.Conclusion The positive rate of CNSI after craniotomy is rel-atively high,and there are many related risk factors.Medical staff should take relevant measures to address the risk factors,continuously carry out targeted monitoring,and provide a basis for clinical treatment.

Background/Aims: Liver transplantation is the most effective treatment for the sickest patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). However, the influence of donor age on liver transplantation, especially in ACLF patients, is still unclear. Methods: In this study, we used the data of the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. We included patients with ACLF who received liver transplantation from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2017, and the total number was 13,857. We allocated the ACLF recipients by age intogroup I (donor age ≤17 years, n=647); group II (donor age 18–59 years, n=11,423); and group III (donor age ≥60 years, n=1,787). Overall survival (OS), graft survival, and mortality were com-pared among the three age groups and the four ACLF grades. Cox regression was also analyzed. Results: The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 89.6%, 85.5%, and 82.0% in group I; 89.4%, 83.4%, and 78.2% in group II; and 86.8%, 78.4%, and 71.4% in group III, respectively (p<0.001).When we analyzed the different effects of donor age on OS with different ACLF grades, in groupsII and III, we observed statistical differences. Finally, the cubic spline curve told us that the relative death rate changed linearly with increasing donor age. Conclusions Donor age is related to OS and graft survival of ACLF patients after transplanta-tion, and poorer results were associated with elderly donors. In addition, different donor ages have different effects on recipients with different ACLF grades.

Background/Aims: Liver transplantation is the most effective treatment for the sickest patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). However, the influence of donor age on liver transplantation, especially in ACLF patients, is still unclear. Methods: In this study, we used the data of the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. We included patients with ACLF who received liver transplantation from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2017, and the total number was 13,857. We allocated the ACLF recipients by age intogroup I (donor age ≤17 years, n=647); group II (donor age 18–59 years, n=11,423); and group III (donor age ≥60 years, n=1,787). Overall survival (OS), graft survival, and mortality were com-pared among the three age groups and the four ACLF grades. Cox regression was also analyzed. Results: The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 89.6%, 85.5%, and 82.0% in group I; 89.4%, 83.4%, and 78.2% in group II; and 86.8%, 78.4%, and 71.4% in group III, respectively (p<0.001).When we analyzed the different effects of donor age on OS with different ACLF grades, in groupsII and III, we observed statistical differences. Finally, the cubic spline curve told us that the relative death rate changed linearly with increasing donor age. Conclusions Donor age is related to OS and graft survival of ACLF patients after transplanta-tion, and poorer results were associated with elderly donors. In addition, different donor ages have different effects on recipients with different ACLF grades.

Background/Aims: Liver transplantation is the most effective treatment for the sickest patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). However, the influence of donor age on liver transplantation, especially in ACLF patients, is still unclear. Methods: In this study, we used the data of the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. We included patients with ACLF who received liver transplantation from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2017, and the total number was 13,857. We allocated the ACLF recipients by age intogroup I (donor age ≤17 years, n=647); group II (donor age 18–59 years, n=11,423); and group III (donor age ≥60 years, n=1,787). Overall survival (OS), graft survival, and mortality were com-pared among the three age groups and the four ACLF grades. Cox regression was also analyzed. Results: The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 89.6%, 85.5%, and 82.0% in group I; 89.4%, 83.4%, and 78.2% in group II; and 86.8%, 78.4%, and 71.4% in group III, respectively (p<0.001).When we analyzed the different effects of donor age on OS with different ACLF grades, in groupsII and III, we observed statistical differences. Finally, the cubic spline curve told us that the relative death rate changed linearly with increasing donor age. Conclusions Donor age is related to OS and graft survival of ACLF patients after transplanta-tion, and poorer results were associated with elderly donors. In addition, different donor ages have different effects on recipients with different ACLF grades.

To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in Fujian Province from the 49th week of 2022 to the 5th week of 2023,after further optimization of China's COVID-19 prevention and control measures on December 7,2022(the 49th week of 2022),this study used multi-dimensional surveillance data to dynamically assess population infection levels and their changing trends.The aim of the study was to provide a scientific basis for early warning of epidemic risk,medical resource allocation,and evalu-ation of socio-economic impact.A multi-source data surveillance system was constructed,encompassing surveillance of fever clinics at medical institutions(weekly collection of visits,positive nucleic acid and antigen test results,inpatients,and severe cases in sec-ondary or above hospitals),population nucleic acid test monitoring(weekly person-times and positivity rates of single-tube tests from the provincial system),sentinel hospital monitoring(weekly proportion of influenza-like illness visits at 18 sentinel hospitals and re-lated viral testing data),and monitoring of novel coronavirus variants(weekly systematic collection of genomic sequences of local and imported cases).Line charts were plotted weekly,and time series analysis,molecular epidemiological methods,and an improved SEIAR model were used to simulate epidemic spread.During the study period,the COVID-19 epidemic in Fujian Province exhibited three distinct stages.In the infection peak stage(52nd week of 2022),the provincial fever clinic visits reached 606 893 person-times,and a 49.2%positivity rate in population single-tube nucleic acid tests and 63.8%positivity rate in sentinel hospital monitoring were observed.In the medical load peak stage(2nd week of 2023),274 460 inpatients and 28 487 severe cases were recorded.In the epidemic decline stage(4th to 5th weeks of 2023),fever clinic visits decreased by 96.3%with respect to the peak,the single-tube nucleic acid test positivity rate decreased to 6.3%,and the sentinel hospital COVID-19 nucleic acid test positivity rate was 6.4%.All 508 sequenced local cases were Omicron variants,predominantly BA.5.2 and its sub-lineages(67.4%).Among 56 imported se-quenced cases,BA.5.2 and its sub-lineages accounted for 50.0%,and 16.1%comprised nine variants of interest including XBB and BQ.The model predicted the infection peak in the 52nd week of 2022,whereas the hospitalization peak lagged by approximately 10.6 days.Multi-source data monitoring revealed a three-stage development of the COVID-19 epidemic in Fujian.The BA.5.2 strain was dominant during the epidemic.The combination of multi-source monitoring data and modeling provides important references for epi-demic prevention and control,and highlights the need to improve the monitoring system in follow-up.

Objective:Understanding of the psychological experiences of young and middle-aged male patients with schizophrenia regarding protective restraints.Methods:This study was qualitative study. Using purposive sampling, middle-aged and young male schizophrenia patients who had undergone protective restraints in the Affiliated Brain Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University were selected as participants from September to December 2022. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi 7-step analysis method.Results:A total of 12 young and middle-aged male schizophrenic patients were interviewed, and four themes were summarized, including patients' attitudes toward protective restraints, patients' emotional experiences, patients' physical experiences, and patients' needs during protective restraints.Conclusions:Protective restraints provide patients with safety in the acute phase, as well as a variety of positive and negative psychological experiences. Psychiatric nurses should grasp the patient's condition, dynamically assess the risk level, adopt appropriate restraint devices, improve restraint care based on the patient's needs, and actively seek alternative measures to restrain simultaneously.