1.Resolution Assessment in Super-resolution Optical Microscopy: Adaptive Methods and Recent Advances
San-Hua FANG ; Jing-Yao CHEN ; Dan YANG ; Li LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):805-825
Optical microscopy is essential for exploring biological and material structures, with resolution determining the level of observable detail. The advent of super-resolution fluorescence microscopy has broken the diffraction limit, achieving nanoscale resolution. However, traditional assessment methods, such as the Rayleigh criterion and point spread function (PSF) width measurement, rely on empirical judgments and diffraction-limited models, rendering them inadequate for modern super-resolution imaging. This review systematically traces the evolution of resolution assessment methodologies, from classical criteria to advanced strategies tailored for various super-resolution modalities. We first discuss Fourier-based quantitative methods. Fourier ring correlation (FRC) and its 3D counterpart, Fourier shell correlation (FSC), objectively determine resolution by evaluating the statistical correlation of two independent image reconstructions in frequency space. These methods offer robustness against noise and provide a global resolution metric, but they require data independence and are computationally intensive. They have become the prevailing standards in electron and super-resolution microscopy. Subsequently, we examine adaptations for specific super-resolution techniques. For single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) techniques such as PALM and STORM, the Fourier image resolution (FIRE) method extends FRC by incorporating a physical model that accounts for localization precision and labeling density. For stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy and other nonlinear techniques, assessment strategies differ. While PSF shrinkage measurements using fluorescent beads are useful for system calibration, evaluating the effective resolution directly on biological samples is more practical. This is typically performed via linewidth analysis of known structures (e.g., microtubules) or edge-spread function measurements, capturing the effects of photobleaching and sample-induced aberrations. A major paradigm shift is parameter-free resolution estimation based on decorrelation analysis. This method analyzes the autocorrelation decay of a single image’s Fourier spectrum to identify the cutoff spatial frequency without requiring dual datasets or user-defined thresholds. Its high efficiency and broad applicability have been validated across widefield, confocal, STED, SIM, and SMLM modalities. Optimized rendering strategies for SMLM data further enhance its accuracy, and it is emerging as a tool for real-time optimization of experimental parameters. The review also addresses the “gold standard” of resolution validation using well-defined nanostructures, such as DNA origami and nuclear pore complexes, which provide ground truth for verifying resolution claims and detecting artifacts. In the era of artificial intelligence, deep learning plays a dual role: it powerfully enhances image resolution but also introduces challenges, as models may generate “hallucinations” or false details. This underscores the need for new validation metrics to verify the physical fidelity of AI-generated content. Finally, we outline future directions: developing unified cross-modality standards, enabling real-time dynamic resolution monitoring for live-cell imaging, creating techniques for generating local resolution maps to capture sample heterogeneity, and integrating intelligent error correction to ensure data veracity. By providing a comprehensive overview of resolution assessment progress and challenges, this review aims to equip researchers with the knowledge to select appropriate tools, thereby fostering rigorous quantitative imaging in the life and material sciences.
2.Effect of Acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) on Improving Autism by Promoting Myelination Through The METTL14/m⁶A/PTEN Axis Based on “Xuanfu-Suiqiao” Theory
Wei-Li DANG ; Lü-Yuan LIANG ; Yu-Xin LI ; Zhi-Yao LI ; Sai-Dan LIU ; Jia-Lei CAO ; Rong-Ze MA ; Yun-Kai WANG ; Xiao-Qing YANG ; Bing-Qi WEI ; Bing-Xiang MA
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1165-1177
ObjectiveTo clarify whether METTL14 mediates the core role of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) in promoting myelination and improving behavior in young autistic rats through gene intervention technology. MethodsThe ASD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of valproic acid (VPA) in pregnant rats. Male offspring were intracerebroventricularly injected with adenovirus-packaged METTL14 shRNA (sh-METTL14) or its control (sh-NC) on postnatal day 1, with a model group set as well. Subsequently, the juvenile rats were divided into model group, acupuncture group, acupuncture+sh-NC group, and acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group. The acupuncture group received acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) from postnatal day 7, once daily for 21 consecutive days. Neurobehavioral changes were evaluated by behavioral tests; METTL14 knockdown efficiency and the expression of METTL14, METTL3, and PTEN were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB); PTEN m6A levels were measured by RNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR (RIP-qPCR); myelin ultrastructure, expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofascin 155 (NF155), and dendritic spine density were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and primary neuron culture. ResultsBehaviorally, knockdown of METTL14 significantly counteracted the beneficial effects of acupuncture in improving self-grooming, open field exploration, three-chamber social interaction, and Morris water maze learning and memory (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the acupuncture+sh-NC group, the acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group showed significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of hippocampal METTL14 (P<0.01), and the upregulating effects of acupuncture on METTL3 and PTEN expression were reversed (P<0.01). Meanwhile, knockdown of METTL14 significantly inhibited the acupuncture-induced increase in PTEN m6A levels (P<0.01). Morphologically, knockdown of METTL14 attenuated the improvement of myelin structure by acupuncture, reversed the downregulation of MBP and upregulation of NF155 induced by acupuncture, and blocked the increase in dendritic spine density (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionMETTL14 is a key molecule mediating the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Neiguan. Acupuncture at Neiguan upregulates METTL14, thereby enhancing m6A methylation modification of PTEN mRNA to stabilize its expression, ultimately promoting myelin development and improving behavioral symptoms in ASD juvenile rats. This preliminarily reveals the modern biological connotation of “opening Xuanfu and dredging myelin”.
3.Effect of Acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) on Improving Autism by Promoting Myelination Through The METTL14/m⁶A/PTEN Axis Based on “Xuanfu-Suiqiao” Theory
Wei-Li DANG ; Lü-Yuan LIANG ; Yu-Xin LI ; Zhi-Yao LI ; Sai-Dan LIU ; Jia-Lei CAO ; Rong-Ze MA ; Yun-Kai WANG ; Xiao-Qing YANG ; Bing-Qi WEI ; Bing-Xiang MA
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1165-1177
ObjectiveTo clarify whether METTL14 mediates the core role of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) in promoting myelination and improving behavior in young autistic rats through gene intervention technology. MethodsThe ASD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of valproic acid (VPA) in pregnant rats. Male offspring were intracerebroventricularly injected with adenovirus-packaged METTL14 shRNA (sh-METTL14) or its control (sh-NC) on postnatal day 1, with a model group set as well. Subsequently, the juvenile rats were divided into model group, acupuncture group, acupuncture+sh-NC group, and acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group. The acupuncture group received acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) from postnatal day 7, once daily for 21 consecutive days. Neurobehavioral changes were evaluated by behavioral tests; METTL14 knockdown efficiency and the expression of METTL14, METTL3, and PTEN were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB); PTEN m6A levels were measured by RNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR (RIP-qPCR); myelin ultrastructure, expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofascin 155 (NF155), and dendritic spine density were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and primary neuron culture. ResultsBehaviorally, knockdown of METTL14 significantly counteracted the beneficial effects of acupuncture in improving self-grooming, open field exploration, three-chamber social interaction, and Morris water maze learning and memory (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the acupuncture+sh-NC group, the acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group showed significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of hippocampal METTL14 (P<0.01), and the upregulating effects of acupuncture on METTL3 and PTEN expression were reversed (P<0.01). Meanwhile, knockdown of METTL14 significantly inhibited the acupuncture-induced increase in PTEN m6A levels (P<0.01). Morphologically, knockdown of METTL14 attenuated the improvement of myelin structure by acupuncture, reversed the downregulation of MBP and upregulation of NF155 induced by acupuncture, and blocked the increase in dendritic spine density (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionMETTL14 is a key molecule mediating the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Neiguan. Acupuncture at Neiguan upregulates METTL14, thereby enhancing m6A methylation modification of PTEN mRNA to stabilize its expression, ultimately promoting myelin development and improving behavioral symptoms in ASD juvenile rats. This preliminarily reveals the modern biological connotation of “opening Xuanfu and dredging myelin”.
4.Association between epicardial adipose parameters and microvascular obstruction following acute myocardial infarction based on CMR
Wei CHENG ; Yao LI ; Ailian SHEN ; Dan MU ; Jinxuan ZHAO
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(4):706-714
ObjectiveTo evaluate the predictive value of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) parameters for microvascular obstruction (MVO) formation in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) using cardiac magnetic resonance quantification. MethodsA total of 139 STEMI patients were included in this study, and various parameters such as EAT thickness, volume, and mass index were measured utilizing cardiac magnetic resonance. All included patients were divided into MVO group and non-MVO group according to whether MVO occurred. Differences in EAT related parameters between two groups were compared and correlation analysis was applied to evaluate the correlation between quantitative indicators of EAT and indicators such as infarct size and ejection fraction. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the relevant risk factors for MVO formation. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to assess the predictive value of the epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) quality index and other indicators for the occurrence of MVO. ResultsCompared with non MVO group, patients in MVO group presented with higher peak troponin T levels, increase of neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), larger infarct size and compromised left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (P<0.05). Total EAT volume, EAT mass index, left atrioventricular EAT volume, left atrioventricular EAT mass index and thickness of EAT in the left atrioventricular groove were significantly higher in patients with MVO. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that NLR, peak troponin T levels and left atrioventricular EAT mass index were independent predictors of MVO. The ROC curve suggested that the left atrioventricular EAT mass index had the highest predictive power for MVO formation in STEMI patients. ConclusionThe parameters of EAT quantified by cardiac magnetic resonance serve as imaging biomarkers for predicting MVO formation in STEMI patients. These metrics enable risk stratification post-myocardial infarction and facilitate early identification of high-risk individuals, thereby supporting personalized therapeutic decision-making.
5.Pharmacokinetic study of 3 blood-absorbed components of Xiangshao sanjie oral liquid in rats with hyperplasia of mammary gland
Yu ZHANG ; Jiaming LI ; Dan PENG ; Ruoqiu FU ; Yue MING ; Zhengbi LIU ; Jingjing WANG ; Shiqi CHENG ; Hongjun XIE ; Yao LIU
China Pharmacy 2025;36(6):680-685
OBJECTIVE To explore the pharmacokinetic characteristics of 3 blood-absorbed components of Xiangshao sanjie oral liquid in rats with hyperplasia of mammary gland (HMG). METHODS Female SD rats were divided into control group and HMG group according to body weight, with 6 rats in each group. The HMG group was given estrogen+progesterone to construct HMG model. After modeling, two groups were given 1.485 g/kg of Xiangshao sanjie oral liquid (calculated by crude drug) intragastrically, once a day, for 7 consecutive days. Blood samples were collected before the first administration (0 h), and at 5, 15, 30 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 hours after the last administration, respectively. Using chlorzoxazone as the internal standard, the plasma concentrations of ferulic acid, paeoniflorin and rosmarinic acid in rats were detected by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS. The pharmacokinetic parameters [area under the drug time curve (AUC0-24 h, AUC0-∞), mean residence time (MRT0-∞), half-life (t1/2), peak time (tmax), peak concentration (cmax)] were calculated by the non-atrioventricular model using Phoenix WinNonlin 8.1 software. RESULTS Compared with the control group, the AUC0-24 h, AUC0-∞ and cmax of ferulic acid in the HMG group were significantly increased (P<0.05); the AUC0-24 h, AUC0-∞ , MRT0-∞ , t1/2 and cmax of paeoniflorin increased, but there was no significant difference between 2 groups (P>0.05); the AUC0-24 h and MRT0-∞ of rosmarinic acid were significantly increased or prolonged (P<0.05). C ONCLUSIONS In HMG model rats, the exposure of ferulic acid, paeoniflorin and rosmarinic acid in Xiangshao sanjie oral liquid all increase, and the retention time of rosmarinic acid is significantly prolonged.
6.Influencing factors and clinical treatment of severe complications after unilateral pneumonectomy in treating tuberculous destroyed lung
Xiao LI ; Ning WANG ; Lei BAO ; Zhiqiang WU ; Gang LI ; Cong CAI ; Yijie SONG ; Dan LI ; Banggui WU ; Liangshuang JIANG ; Xiaojun YAO
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(05):626-633
Objective To evaluate the surgical efficacy of unilateral pneumonectomy for the treatment of tuberculous destroyed lung, analyze the causes of severe postoperative complications, and explore clinical management strategies. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients with tuberculous destroyed lung who underwent unilateral pneumonectomy at the Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu from 2017 to 2023. Postoperative severe complications were statistically analyzed. Patients were divided into a non-severe complication group and a severe-complication group, and the causes, management, and outcomes of complications were analyzed. Results A total of 134 patients were included, comprising 69 males and 65 females, with a mean age of 17-73 (40.43±12.69) years. There were 93 patients undergoing left pneumonectomy and 41 patients undergoing right pneumonectomy. Preoperative sputum smear was positive in 35 patients, all of which converted to negative postoperatively. There were 58 patients with hemoptysis preoperatively, and none experienced hemoptysis postoperatively. Postoperative incisional infection occurred in 8 (5.97%) patients, and postoperative pulmonary infection in 26 (19.40%) patients. Severe postoperative complications occurred in 17 (12.69%) patients, including empyema in 9 (6.72%) patients, bronchopleural fistula with empyema in 1 (0.75%) patient, severe pneumonia in 3 (2.24%) patients, postpneumonectomy syndrome in 1 (0.75%) patient, chylothorax in 1 (0.75%) patient, ketoacidosis in 1 (0.75%) patient, and heart failure with severe pneumonia in 1 (0.75%) patient. Perioperative mortality occurred in 2 (1.49%) patients, both of whom underwent right pneumonectomy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a history of ipsilateral thoracic surgery, concomitant Aspergillus infection, and greater blood loss were independent risk factors for severe complications following unilateral pneumonectomy for tuberculous destroyed lung (P<0.05). Conclusion Unilateral pneumonectomy for patients with tuberculous destroyed lung can significantly improve the clinical cure rate, sputum conversion rate, and hemoptysis cessation rate. However, there is a certain risk of severe perioperative complications and mortality, requiring thorough perioperative management and appropriate management of postoperative complications.
7.Study on component analysis,fingerprint establishment and anti-inflammatory spectrum-effect relationship of Yao ethnic medicine Pittosporum pauciflorum
Dan QIN ; Peng FU ; Jiajie CAO ; Qingchen TANG ; Jie GAO
China Pharmacy 2025;36(18):2244-2249
OBJECTIVE To analyze chemical components of Yao ethnic medicine Pittosporum pauciflorum, establish its fingerprint and investigate the spectrum-effect relationship of its anti-inflammatory effect. METHODS UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS technology was used to analyze the chemical components of P. pauciflorum (batch S6). The fingerprints for 10 batches of P. pauciflorum from different producing areas in Guangxi Province (batches S1-S10) were established by HPLC, and similarity assessment and chemometric pattern recognition analysis were conducted. RAW264.7 inflammatory cell model was induced by lipopolysaccharide, and the anti-inflammatory activity of P. pauciflorum was investigated. Using inhibition rates of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1β as efficacy indicators, grey relational analysis and partial least squares regression analysis were adopted to evaluate the spectrum-effect relationship of the anti-inflammatory effect of P. pauciflorum. RESULTS There were 60 chemical components, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, lipids, etc., identified in P. pauciflorum. The fingerprints for 10 batches of P. pauciflorum showed 14 common peaks,with similarity values ranging from 0.883 to 0.991. Three common peaks were assigned neochlorogenic acid (peak 5), chlorogenic acid (peak 7), and syringaldehyde (peak 10). The classification results of the systematic clustering analysis and the principal component analysis were basically consistent. Batches S1 to S10 of P. pauciflorum significantly reduced the levels of NO, TNF-α, IL-6 (except for batch S5) and IL-1β in the cell supernatant (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Inhibition rates of above inflammatory indexes were 10.26%-39.96%, 14.96%-31.36%, 1.38%-21.27%, 18.54%-28.00%, respectively. The contents of neochlorogenic acid, syringaldehyde, as well as the components corresponding to peaks 1, 3, 9, 12 and 14,exhibited a strong correlation with the anti-inflammatory effects of P. pauciflorum. CONCLUSIONS The present study has analyzed the chemical components of P. pauciflorum and established HPLC fingerprints for 10 batches of P. pauciflorum. Each batch of medicinal herbs demonstrates certain anti- inflammatory activities, among which neochlorogenic acid, syringaldehyde, and the components corresponding to peaks 1, 3, 9, 12 and 14 are likely to be the active anti-inflammatory components.
8.Effectiveness of telephone and WeChat follow-up in patients discharged from hospital with retained chest drains after stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema surgery
Ye YUAN ; Ning WANG ; Shuang JIA ; Dan LI ; Jun ZHOU ; Xiaojun YAO
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(10):1432-1437
Objective To investigate the efficacy of combined telephone and WeChat follow-up for patients discharged with an indwelling closed thoracic drainage tube after surgery for stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema. Methods Patients with stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema who were discharged with an indwelling drainage tube from the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu, between November 2021 and November 2022 were enrolled in this study. They were divided into an observation group (combined telephone and WeChat follow-up) and a control group (telephone-only follow-up). The quality of life (QoL), treatment adherence, and recovery outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 81 patients were included. The observation group consisted of 49 patients (31 males, 18 females) with a mean age of (38.63±15.86) years. The control group consisted of 32 patients (27 males, 5 females) with a mean age of (36.91±17.33) years. The observation group showed significantly better postoperative QoL outcomes in the domains of physical functioning, emotional functioning, physical symptoms, global health status, and overall QoL compared to the control group (all P<0.05). Regarding treatment adherence, the observation group demonstrated superior performance in daily activity duration, use of a respiratory trainer, and adherence to coughing exercises compared to the control group (all P<0.001). The duration of chest tube indwelling was significantly shorter in the observation group (P<0.001). Furthermore, the observation group showed better recovery in albumin and hemoglobin levels (both P<0.05). Conclusion A combined telephone and WeChat follow-up approach can significantly improve the QoL and treatment adherence for patients discharged with an indwelling drainage tube. This method effectively shortens the duration of postoperative tube drainage, promotes nutritional recovery, and accelerates overall postoperative rehabilitation.
9.Intelligent head and neck CT angiography report quality detection using large language models
Liping TIAN ; Xiaolu FEI ; Dan SONG ; Yao LU ; Jie LU
Chinese Journal of Radiology 2025;59(10):1118-1125
Objective:To assess common errors in head and neck CT angiography (CTA) image reports using four types of large language models (LLM), namely GPT-4, DeepSeek, ERNIE Bot and SparkDesk, and to assess the feasibility of using existing LLMs to support quality control of radiology reports in Chinese.Methods:The study was a cross-sectional study. Totally 1 000 head and neck CTA image reports were randomly selected using the simple random sampling method from Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University in 2023, including 500 primary reports and 500 finalized reports. Two radiologists collaboratively identified six types of errors in the reports: description errors, writing errors, left-right confusion errors, diagnostic omissions, logical sequence errors, and other errors. The overall quality of the reports was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. Subsequently, GPT-4, DeepSeek, ERNIE Bot and SparkDesk models were employed to detect the same six types of errors in the imaging reports and to provide overall scoring. The results from manual review were considered the gold standard for calculating F1 score to evaluate model performance. Intra-class correlation coefficients ( ICC) were used to assess the consistency between manual scores and the overall scores from the four LLMs. Results:In the primary imaging reports, the proportions of manually detected errors were as follows: descriptive errors 2.6% (13/500), writing errors 0.6% (3/500), left-right confusion errors 0, diagnostic omissions 6.4% (32/500), logical sequence errors 5.2% (26/500), and other errors 0. In the finalized imaging reports, the proportions of errors across the six categories were 0.2% (1/500), 0, 0, 0, 0, and 0.2% (1/500), respectively. For error detection in the primary imaging reports, the F1 scores of GPT-4 for the six error types were 0.992, 0.997, 0.997, 0.967, 0.980, and 0.992, respectively. DeepSeek achieved F1 scores of 0.980, 0.955, 0.981, 0.920, 0.995, and 0.960; ERNIE Bot scored 0.982, 0.990, 1.000, 0.956, 0.976, and 0.999; and SparkDesk achieved 0.985, 0.995, 1.000, 0.961, 0.982, and 1.000. In the detection of errors in finalized imaging reports, GPT-4′s F1 scores were 0.994, 0.995, 0.998, 0.973, 0.989, and 0.993; DeepSeek scored 0.968, 0.965, 0.985, 0.971, 0.991, and 0.983; ERNIE Bot achieved 0.996, 0.992, 1.000, 0.983, 0.999, and 0.997; and SparkDesk achieved 0.999, 0.999, 1.000, 1.000, 1.000, and 0.999. The consistency between GPT-4, DeepSeek, and SparkDesk models and human ratings was moderate, with ICC values of 0.514, 0.560, and 0.515 respectively (all P0.001); in contrast, the overall score of ERNIE Bot showed poor consistency with human ratings, with an ICC of 0.221 ( P0.001). Conclusion:LLMs demonstrate high accuracy in detecting errors in head and neck CTA imaging reports. The overall scoring of report quality shows moderate consistency with manual assessments, indicating a certain feasibility for automated quality control in reporting.
10.Real-world characteristics and treatment patterns in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed endometrial cancer.
Aijun YIN ; Dong WANG ; Yanlin LUO ; Ruifang AN ; Shuzhong YAO ; Yufei SHEN ; Li SUN ; Cuirong LEI ; Yan TIAN ; Li WANG ; Dan ZHONG ; Manman XU ; Yuanyuan JIANG ; Min ZHANG ; Binqi ZHANG ; Huirong MAO ; Fengshi DONG ; Yu ZHANG ; Beihua KONG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(13):1624-1626

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