1.Compact Fundus Imaging System Using Shack-Hartmann Wavefront Sensing for High-speed Auto-focus
Zhe-Kai LIN ; Long CHEN ; Geng-Yong ZHENG ; Jin-Tian HUANG ; Jia-Xin DONG ; Shang-Pan YANG ; Wen-Zheng DING ; Ding-An HAN ; Xue-Hua WANG ; Ya-Guang ZENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):1076-1086
ObjectiveThe widespread adoption of portable fundus cameras for primary care and community screening is hindered by limitations in current autofocus(AF) technologies. Image-based methods relying on sharpness evaluation require iterative searches, resulting in slow convergence, while projection-based techniques are susceptible to optical artifacts and calibration errors. To address these challenges, this study introduces a novel AF system based on direct wavefront sensing, designed to deliver simultaneous high speed, high precision, and operational robustness within the compact form factor essential for portable ophthalmic devices. MethodsOur approach fundamentally reimagines the AF process by directly measuring the ocular wavefront aberration. We developed a custom portable fundus camera integrating a miniaturized Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor (SHWS) into the optical path. An 850 nm laser diode projects a point source onto the retina via oblique illumination to minimize corneal reflections. Light scattered from this spot carries the eye’s refractive error through the imaging optics and is directed to the SHWS, positioned at a plane optically conjugate to the primary color CMOS imaging sensor. A microlens array within the SHWS samples the incident wavefront, generating a pattern of focal spots on a CCD. Real-time centroid analysis of these spots provides a map of local wavefront slopes. These measurements are processed through a singular value decomposition (SVD) algorithm to fit a Zernike polynomial basis set, enabling real-time reconstruction of the wavefront phase. The defocus component (S) is extracted from the second-order Zernike coefficients, providing a direct, quantitative measure of the refractive error in diopters. This value serves as a precise error signal in a closed-loop control system, which commands a voice-coil actuated focusing lens to its null position in a single, deterministic step, eliminating the need for iterative search algorithms. ResultsComprehensive evaluation demonstrated the system’s high performance. Testing on a calibrated model eye (OEMI-7) established a highly linear relationship between the computed defocus S and the focusing lens position across a ±20 Diopter (D) compensation range, achievable within a 5 mm mechanical travel. The system achieved a focusing precision of 0.08 D, corresponding to an 18-fold improvement over a conventional projection spot-size method tested under identical conditions. The total focus acquisition time, encompassing wavefront measurement, computation, and lens actuation, averaged under 0.5 s. Clinical validation with 25 human volunteers (50 eyes, refractive range -15 D to +10 D) confirmed practical efficacy. The wavefront-sensing AF succeeded in 92% of attempts with a mean time of 0.5 s, substantially outperforming a projection-based benchmark which achieved only a 32% success rate with an average time of 4.25 s. The system provided instantaneous directional guidance and maintained stability during minor ocular movements. Objective assessment of image quality, via amplitude contrast of retinal vasculature, showed consistent and significant enhancement following AF correction across the entire tested diopter range. ConclusionThis work successfully implements and validates a direct wavefront-sensing autofocus paradigm for portable fundus cameras. By directly quantifying and compensating for the optical defocus aberration, this method bypasses the fundamental limitations of image-processing and projection-based techniques, enabling rapid, precise, and deterministic diopter compensation. The developed system delivers an exceptional combination of a wide operational range (±20 D), high accuracy (0.08 D), fast convergence (0.5 s), and a compact physical footprint. This technology provides a practical and high-performance focusing solution capable of enhancing the reliability, throughput, and diagnostic utility of portable retinal imaging in large-scale screening applications. Future efforts will be directed towards system cost optimization and performance adaptation for diverse ocular conditions.
2.Research advances in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating immune cells
Lijuan LONG ; Zongyu WANG ; Yali ZHAO ; Chuanfu QIN ; Hua QIU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(2):349-358
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor with a high mortality rate, an insidious onset, and complex pathological mechanisms. In the tumor microenvironment, tumor-promoting immune cells protect tumor cells from immune attacks, while dysfunction of anti-tumor immune cells causes the inhibition of immune response, thereby leading to the continuous deterioration of cancer. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine has shown good efficacy in the treatment of HCC, and it can inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells by regulating immune cells. By analyzing related articles in China and globally, this article summarizes how immune cells affect the progression of HCC through the immunosuppressive pathway and how traditional Chinese medicine exerts an anti-HCC effect by regulating immune cells, in order to provide theoretical basis and reference for optimizing the treatment of HCC.
3.Experience and enlightenment of safety reporting and learning system for radiotherapy
Xujun YIN ; Ruting ZHANG ; Hua JIANG ; Songbin QIN ; Long CHEN
China Medical Equipment 2025;22(4):155-160
Radiotherapy,as one of the important means of treating cancer,is more prone to medical errors than other treatment methods due to its involvement of a wide variety of equipment,high demands for personnel collaboration,and relatively complex treatment processes.Therefore,the establishment of an effective reporting and learning system for adverse events of radiotherapy is of great significance for ensuring patients'safety and improving healthcare quality.The International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA)has established the Safety Reporting And Learning System For Radiotherapy(SAFRON),which constructed comprehensive database and formulated standard procedures of reporting event and analytical methods through collected and analyzed the worldwide cases of adverse event of radiotherapy.At the same time,the SAFRON system emphasizes the cultivation for safety culture,and encourages healthcare professionals to actively report adverse events,and creates a non-punitive learning environment to learn from mistakes and prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.This review introduced the structure and usage method of reporting and learning system of adverse event of SAFRON radiotherapy,so as to understand the using processes,system architecture and security culture of that,which can provide references for the establishment and use of reporting and learning system of adverse event of department,and promote continuous improvement of healthcare quality.
4.Research progress of microglia regulation of synaptic plasticity in depression
Hua-qing LAI ; Ping-long FAN ; Zhen-zhen WANG ; Nai-hong CHEN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(7):1201-1205
Depression,characterized by high incidence,high re-lapse rate and high suicide rate,is an affective disorder mainly characterized by low mood and often accompanied by suicidal tendency,which seriously endangers human health.In recent years,more and more evidence suggests that microglia regulate synaptic plasticity and play an important role in depression.Here we outline the recent research progress of microglia regula-ting synaptic plasticity to exert antidepressant effects,focusing on three main types of molecular signals regulating synaptic pruning in microglia,including"Find Me"signaling,"Eat Me"signaling and"Don't Eat Me"signaling.By reviewing recent studies on how microglia regulate synaptic plasticity in depression,hopeful-ly,the understanding of microglia-mediated synaptic plasticity can be strengthened,which can help to provide new strategies for the treatment of depression by targeting microglia or microglia-associated signaling pathways.
5.Endurance exercise alleviates cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats by activating Mas/PKA/CREB/UCP2 signaling pathway
Hui-sheng WU ; Hua-xun WU ; Wen-long DAI ; Jun CHENG ; Pei-pei GUO
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(6):1079-1085
Aim To investigate the effects of endur-ance exercise(EE)on rats following cerebral ischemi-a/reperfusion injury(CI/RI)and to explore its rela-tionship with the Mas signaling pathway.Methods Seventy-two adult male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups(n=18 each):sham group,model group,EE group(group E),and A779 pretreatment group(group A).The CI/RI model was established u-sing middle cerebral artery occlusion method Rats in both group E and group A underwent regular running for four weeks before model preparation,while rats in group A were injected with A779 30 minutes before model preparation.The cognitive function of rats was evaluated using the Neurological Disability Score(NDS)and Morris water maze test.After intravenous injection of Evans blue(EB)for one hour,the rats were euthanized,and brain tissues were collected to measure the infarction volume,EB content,ROS con-tent,and the percentage of apoptotic neurons of the hippocampal CA1 region.The protein expression relat-ed to the Mas pathway was detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the model group,the learning and memory ability as well as the neurological function in group E exhibited a significant improvement(P<0.05).Both the cerebral infarction volume and the ap-optotic neuron percentage in the ischemic hippocampal CA1 region showed a significant reduction in group E(P<0.05).The ROS content along with the EB con-tent in the brain tissue significantly decreased in group E(P<0.05).Furthermore,the expressions of Mas/PKA/CREB/UCP2 pathway related proteins were sig-nificantly enhanced in group E(P<0.05).However,the Mas receptor antagonist A779 significantly inhibited these neurological effects(P<0.05).Conclusion EE may inhibit oxidative stress and alleviate CI/RI in rats by activating the Mas/PKA/CREB/UCP2 signaling pathway.
6.Locoregional therapeutic strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma
Hua XIANG ; Lin LONG ; Yongjin ZHANG ; Jumei ZHOU ; Yang ZHAO ; Muzi LI ; Rengeng LIU ; Shixiong SHI ; Rongrong WANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(8):1497-1503
The incidence and mortality rates of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)remain high in China,and the application of surgical resection is often limited due to the fact that most patients are in the advanced stage at the time of confirmed diagnosis.This article reviews commonly used advanced locoregional therapies for HCC and the advances in mainstream techniques such as local ablation(radiofrequency ablation,microwave ablation,irreversible electroporation,and cryoablation),intravascular intervention(transcatheter arterial chemoembolization,hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy,and Y90 hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy),and radiotherapy(CyberKnife,proton therapy,and heavy-ion therapy),and a multidimensional decision-making framework is constructed for HCC locoregional therapy by comparing treatment principles,indications,limitations,and clinical data of these techniques.This article aims to provide evidence-based support for persistent dilemmas in clinical decision-making,promote the role of locoregional therapies in clinical practice,and propose the directions for future research and clinical application.This article also establishes a comprehensive clinical roadmap for HCC locoregional therapy,which helps to address current challenges regarding technique selection and delineate future directions for innovation,in order to reshape the treatment of HCC through technological integration and paradigm innovation.
7.Clinical diagnosis and treatment of subglottic cysts in 12 infants
Hua WANG ; Fengzhen ZHANG ; Ting LONG ; Hongbin LI ; Jing ZHAO ; Shengcai WANG ; Guixiang WANG
Chinese Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2025;32(9):590-594
OBJECTIVE To summarize the clinical features and treatment methods of subglottic cysts in infants.METHODS A single-center retrospective study was conducted,enrolling twelve pediatric patients with subglottic cysts who were treated at Beijing Children's Hospital,Affiliated to Capital Medical University,between December 2016 and October 2024.Clinical data were collected and analyzed,including patient age,body weight,perinatal history,presenting symptoms,findings from flexible laryngoscopy and imaging studies,as well as surgical treatment modalities.RESULTS Among the 12 patients,8 were male and 4 were female,with a median age of 7 months.Preterm infants accounted for 83.3%(10/12),low birth weight was observed in 58.3%(7/12),and 75%(9/12)had a history of tracheal intubation.The primary clinical manifestations included stridor,respiratory distress,and feeding difficulties.All patients were diagnosed by laryngoscopy and imaging studies,which confirmed the presence of subglottic cysts.Among these,9 were located on the right side and 3 on the left.All patients underwent subglottic cyst excision under general anesthesia using suspension laryngoscopy combined with endoscopy.Among them,two cases experienced recurrence and required a second surgical procedure three months postoperatively.Histopathological examination revealed a cyst wall lined by stratified squamous epithelium and pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium.All patients were followed up for a period ranging from 6 months to 6 years,with no recurrence observed during this time.CONCLUSION Infants presenting with stridor and dyspnea should undergo prompt laryngoscopy for definitive diagnosis.Subglottic cysts should be highly suspected in preterm,low-birth-weight infants with a history of intubation who develop stridor or respiratory distress during development.Once diagnosed,surgical intervention should be performed promptly to avoid the need for a tracheostomy.Surgical excision under general anesthesia using suspension laryngoscopy combined with endoscopy is an effective treatment for subglottic cysts.
8.High-sensitivity Ratio-type Surface-enhanced Raman Substrate for Rapid Quantitative Determination of 6-Thioguanine in Serum
Yan-Bin LIU ; Yi-Chao HAN ; Rong WANG ; Xiao-Mei WU ; Qin WANG ; Yuan-Yuan YAO ; Yue-Liang WANG ; Long-Hua GUO
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(8):1300-1310
6-Thioguanine(6-TG)is an antineoplastic agent used in treatment of acute leukemia.However,significant interindividual variability in dosing regimens and frequent clinical manifestations of hepatotoxicity and myelosuppression as adverse effects have affected its therapeutic efficacy.Consequently,the development of rapid analytical methods for 6-TG in clinical samples,enabling continuous therapeutic drug monitoring of plasma concentrations,holds substantial significance in optimizing dosage regimens,mitigating adverse reactions,and investigating drug metabolism mechanisms.In this study,multi-tipped gold nanostars(AuNSs)were prepared.With bis-(p-sulfonylphenyl)phenylphosphine molecule as the protecting agent and internal standard molecule,the AuNSs were assembled onto a highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman(SERS)substrate for developing a ratio-based SERS quantitative analysis method for 6-TG in serum.The AuNSs containing multiple tips and gaps exhibited strong local surface plasmon resonance effect and SERS activity,ensuring the sensitivity of the analytical method.Furthermore,the introduction of internal standard molecules could improve the reproducibility,which guaranteed this method suitable for rapid analysis of drug molecules in complex samples.Quantitative analysis of 6-TG was achieved with linear detetion range of 1.0×10?4-1.0 mmol/L.In the spiked recovery experiments of serum,the RSD was less than 5.32%,and the recoveries were 94%-104%,which proved that this method could be used for rapid quantitative determination of 6-TG in serum.This method provided a powerful tool for studying drug pharmacokinetics,which could promote the optimization of the usage methods of anti-cancer drugs,and it was expected to further enhance the clinical efficacy and safety of 6-TG,enabling it to achieve the best therapeutic effect.
9.Construction of a Competency Evaluation Model for Forensic Practitioners
Jing-Chun BAO ; Jing-Jing ZHAO ; Jiao-Yong LI ; Jing-Hua MENG ; Xiao-Long WANG ; Xiao-Ni ZHAN ; Jun YAO ; Xu WU
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2025;41(4):371-379
Objective To construct a competency evaluation model for forensic practitioners,providing a reference for their training and assessment.Methods Based on the iceberg and onion models of com-petency,and with reference to Spencer's Competency Dictionary,literature research was conducted and focus group interviews were employed to preliminarily construct core indices and measurement items for evaluating the competency of forensic practitioners.The Delphi method was applied for two rounds of expert consultation to further refine the competency evaluation index system.The analytic hierarchy process(AHP)was used to calculate the weights of the indices.Results A competency evaluation model for forensic practitioners was constructed,consisting of 7 core indices,encompassing forensic skills,identification service capabilities,and the ability to apply relevant legal knowledge and 49 mea-surement items.The weights of the core indices and measurement items were determined.Conclusion The constructed competency evaluation model for forensic practitioners is scientifically sound and inno-vative,and has unique characteristics of forensic medicine compared with other medical models.
10.Development and validation of nomogram and neural network prediction models for stroke-associated pneumonia in patients with acute stroke
Fengchen GAO ; Haimei SUN ; Fuqiang ZHOU ; Weixiang LI ; Siting HUA ; Xuejun LONG ; Ruifei WANG
International Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2025;33(3):173-179
Objectives:To investigate the predictive factors of stroke associated-pneumonia (SAP) in patients with acute stroke, develop nomogram and neural network prediction models and verify their predictive performance.Methods:Patients with acute stroke admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University and Zhenxiong County People's Hospital were included retrospectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictive factors of SAP, and develop nomogram and neural network prediction models. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curves were used to validate and compare the predictive performances. Results:A total of 450 patients with acute stroke were enrolled, including 286 males (63.6%), aged 64.28±13.24 years; 344 patientss (76.4%) had ischemic stroke and 106 (23.6%) had hemorrhagic stroke; 128 patients (28.4%) experienced SAP. According to the random number method, they were divided into a modeling cohort ( n=300) and a validation cohort ( n=150). Multivariate logistic regression analysis in the modeling cohort showed that a higher baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, gastric tube placement, use of proton pump inhibitors, heart failure, and higher neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were the independent predictive factors of SAP. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve of the nomogram model for predicting SAP in the modeling cohort and validation cohort was 0.841 (95% confidence interval [ CI] 0.795-0.880) and 0.863 (95% CI 0.798-0.914), respectively. The sensitivity for predicting SAP were 75.00% and 70.45%, respectively, and the specificity was 81.94% and 92.45%, respectively. The area under the ROC curve of the neural network model for predicting SAP in the modeling cohort and validation cohort was 0.847 (95% CI 0.802-0.866) and 0.862 (95% CI 0.796-0.913), respectively. The sensitivity for predicting SAP were 76.19% and 72.73%, and the specificity was 79.17% and 89.62%, respectively. Conclusions:Higher NIHSS score, gastric tube placement, use of proton pump inhibitors, heart failure, and higher NLR are the independent risk factors for SAP in patients with acute stroke. The nomogram and neural network prediction model developed using the above risk factors have higher predictive value for SAP.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail