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.

In this paper， by referring to ancient and modern literature， the textual research of Inulae Flos has been conducted to clarify the name， origin， production area， quality evaluation， harvesting， processing and others， so as to provide reference and basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this herb. After textual research， it could be verified that the medicinal use of Inulae Flos was first recorded in Shennong Bencaojing of the Han dynasty. In successive dynasties， Xuanfuhua has been taken as the official name， and it also has other alternative names such as Jinfeicao， Daogeng and Jinqianhua. The period before the Song and Yuan dynasties， the main origin of Inulae Flos was the Asteraceae plant Inula japonica， and from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the present， I. japonica and I. britannica are the primary source. In addition to the dominant basal species， there are also regional species such as I. linariifolia， I. helianthus-aquatili， and I. hupehensis. The earliest recorded production areas in ancient times were Henan， Hubei and other places， and the literature records that it has been distributed throughout the country since modern times. The medicinal part is its flower， the harvesting and processing method recorded in the past dynasties is mainly harvested in the fifth and ninth lunar months， and dried in the sun， and the modern harvesting is mostly harvested in summer and autumn when the flowers bloom， in order to remove impurities， dry in the shade or dry in the sun. In addition， the roots， whole herbs and aerial parts are used as medicinal materials. In ancient times， there were no records about the quality of Inulae Flos， and in modern times， it is generally believed that the quality of complete flower structure， small receptacles， large blooms， yellow petals， long filaments， many fluffs， no fragments， and no branches is better. Ancient processing methods primarily involved cleaning， steaming， and sun-drying， supplemented by techniques such as boiling， roasting， burning， simmering， stir-frying， and honey-processing. Modern processing focuses mainly on cleaning the stems and leaves before use. Regarding the medicinal properties， ancient texts describe it as salty and sweet in taste， slightly warm in nature， and mildly toxic. Modern studies characterize it as bitter， pungent， and salty in taste， with a slightly warm nature. Its therapeutic effects remain consistent across eras， including descending Qi， resolving phlegm， promoting diuresis， and stopping vomiting. Based on the research results， it is recommended that when developing famous classical formulas containing Inulae Flos， either I. japonica or I. britannica should be used as the medicinal source. Processing methods should follow formula requirements， where no processing instructions are specified， the raw products may be used after cleaning.

In this paper， by referring to ancient and modern literature， the textual research of Inulae Flos has been conducted to clarify the name， origin， production area， quality evaluation， harvesting， processing and others， so as to provide reference and basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this herb. After textual research， it could be verified that the medicinal use of Inulae Flos was first recorded in Shennong Bencaojing of the Han dynasty. In successive dynasties， Xuanfuhua has been taken as the official name， and it also has other alternative names such as Jinfeicao， Daogeng and Jinqianhua. The period before the Song and Yuan dynasties， the main origin of Inulae Flos was the Asteraceae plant Inula japonica， and from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the present， I. japonica and I. britannica are the primary source. In addition to the dominant basal species， there are also regional species such as I. linariifolia， I. helianthus-aquatili， and I. hupehensis. The earliest recorded production areas in ancient times were Henan， Hubei and other places， and the literature records that it has been distributed throughout the country since modern times. The medicinal part is its flower， the harvesting and processing method recorded in the past dynasties is mainly harvested in the fifth and ninth lunar months， and dried in the sun， and the modern harvesting is mostly harvested in summer and autumn when the flowers bloom， in order to remove impurities， dry in the shade or dry in the sun. In addition， the roots， whole herbs and aerial parts are used as medicinal materials. In ancient times， there were no records about the quality of Inulae Flos， and in modern times， it is generally believed that the quality of complete flower structure， small receptacles， large blooms， yellow petals， long filaments， many fluffs， no fragments， and no branches is better. Ancient processing methods primarily involved cleaning， steaming， and sun-drying， supplemented by techniques such as boiling， roasting， burning， simmering， stir-frying， and honey-processing. Modern processing focuses mainly on cleaning the stems and leaves before use. Regarding the medicinal properties， ancient texts describe it as salty and sweet in taste， slightly warm in nature， and mildly toxic. Modern studies characterize it as bitter， pungent， and salty in taste， with a slightly warm nature. Its therapeutic effects remain consistent across eras， including descending Qi， resolving phlegm， promoting diuresis， and stopping vomiting. Based on the research results， it is recommended that when developing famous classical formulas containing Inulae Flos， either I. japonica or I. britannica should be used as the medicinal source. Processing methods should follow formula requirements， where no processing instructions are specified， the raw products may be used after cleaning.

BACKGROUND:Many recent studies have shown a close relationship between inflammatory cytokines and osteoporosis and bone mineral density(BMD).However,the causal relationship between inflammatory cytokines and BMD has not been fully revealed. OBJECTIVE:To explore the potential causal relationship between inflammatory cytokines and BMD using a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis. METHODS:The single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with 41 circulating inflammatory cytokines were selected from the open database of genome-wide association studies(GWAS)as instrumental variables.The GWAS data about BMD were from the Genetic Factors for Osteoporosis Consortium,involving a total of 32 735 individuals of European ancestry.Inverse variance weighting was used as the primary analysis to evaluate the causal effect.Weighted median,MR Egger regression,simple mode,and weighted mode methods were used to supplement the explanation.We used the MR-Egger intercept and MR-PRESSO method to conduct a pleiotropy test,the Cochran's Q test was used to determine whether there was heterogeneity in the results,and the leave-one-out method was used to evaluate the stability of the results.In addition,to more accurately assess the causality,the Bonferroni-corrected test was used to identify inflammatory cytokines that have a strong causal relationship with BMD. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)According to the results of the inverse variance weighting method,we found a positive causal relationship between interleukin-8 and lumbar spine BMD[β=0.075,95%confidence interval(CI):0.033-0.117,P=0.000 5),while a negative causal relationship between interleukin-17 and lumbar spine BMD(β=-0.083,95%CI:-0.152 to-0.014,P=0.018).There might be a negative causal relationship between tumor necrosis factor b and femoral neck BMD(β=-0.053,95%CI:-0.088 to-0.018,P=0.003),while a positive causal relationship between basic fibroblast growth factor and femoral neck BMD(β=0.085,95%CI:0.016-0.154,P=0.015).There might be a negative causal relationship between macrophage inflammatory protein-1a and total body BMD(β=-0.056,95%CI:-0.105 to-0.007,P=0.025).There was a negative causal relationship between interleukin-5(β=-0.019,95%CI:-0.031 to-0.006,P=0.004),stromal cell-derived factor-1a(β=-0.022,95%CI:-0.038 to-0.005,P=0.010),hepatocyte growth factor(β=-0.021,95%CI:-0.041 to-0.002,P=0.030),interleukin-4(β=-0.016,95%CI:-0.032 to-0.001,P=0.034)and heel BMD,while a positive causal relationship between nerve growth factor(β=0.019,95%CI:0.002-0.036,P=0.033),granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(β=0.011,95%CI:0.000-0.022,P=0.050),and heel BMD.Meanwhile,after the Bonferroni-corrected test,there was a strong positive causal effect between interleukin-8 and lumbar spine BMD(P=0.000 5).And consistent directional effects for all analyses were observed in MR Egger,weighted median,simple mode,and weighted mode methods.(2)Sensitivity analyses revealed no heterogeneity,pleiotropy,or outliers for the causal effect of circulating inflammatory cytokines on BMD.

Colorectal cancer is one of the common malignant tumor in China. However, cases of colorectal cancer with synchronous bone marrow metastasis are extremely rare in clinical practice, and there are few reports on its treatment worldwide. Due to the destructed hematopoietic function caused by tumor cells occupying the bone marrow, the efficacy of chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy is very poor. As a result, colorectal cancer with bone marrow metastasis has a very high mortality and very short survival, resulting in a very poor prognosis. The authors review the epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis methods, treatment options and prognosis of this disease.

Objective Under the theory guidance of the Fuxingjue and the Tang-Ye-Jing-Fa map,this study aims to explore the common patterns and unique characteristics of five-flavor combinations in formulas for treating different syndromes of cough.Methods Chinese herbal formulas for cough treatment were collected from traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)clinical practice guidelines,consensuses,and textbooks,and their flavor combinations and distribution were clarified.Based on the theory of the Tang-Ye-Jing-Fa map regarding the five flavors for lung diseases(sour for tonifying,salty for purging,and pungent for transforming),the dominant flavors in each formula were statistically analyzed.Further classification was conducted according to the cold-heat properties and the amount of phlegm,and the characteristics and five-flavor combination patterns of formulas for different syndromes were analyzed.Results A total of 21 formulas for treating different syndromes of cough were statistically analyzed,among which 85.7%of the formulas had dominant flavors of"sour,salty,and pungent".For hot cough(9 formulas),sour was mainly used to tonify the lung and bitter to purge the heart(e.g.,Sangxing Tang and Qingjin Huatan Tang);for cold cough(4 formulas),pungent was mainly used to tonify the liver and warm yang(e.g.,San'ao Tang combined with Zhike San and Xiaoqinglong Tang);for cough with abundant phlegm(7 formulas),the focus was on using pungent to purge the spleen and eliminate dampness(e.g.,Erchen Tang combined with Sanzi Yangqin Tang);for cough with little or no phlegm(6 formulas),sour was used as the core to tonify the lung and nourish yin(e.g.,Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang).Conclusion From the perspective of the Tang-Ye-Jing-Fa map,the flavors of"sour,salty,and pungent"play an important role in the composition of formulas for treating cough.Although the five-flavor combinations of formulas for different syndromes of cough vary,they share common characteristics when classified according to cold-heat properties and phlegm amount.These findings provide a theoretical basis for optimizing the combination of Chinese herbal formulas for cough treatment by adjusting the proportion of the five flavors in clinical practice.

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum levels of microRNA(miR)-489-3p and miR-214-3p in patients with Psoriasis and the severity of disease.Methods From March 2022 to January 2024,138 Psoriasis patients who visited Zhangjiakou First Hospital were regarded as the study subjects(disease group).According to the psoriasis area and severity index(PASI)score,the 138 Psoriasis patients were separated into mild group(n=46),moderate group(n=54)and severe group(n=38).112 healthy individuals who underwent physical examinations in Zhangjiakou First Hospital during the same period were included in the control group.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)method was applied to determine the serum levels of miR-489-3p and miR-214-3p in the subjects.The serum levels of miR-489-3p and miR-214-3p were compared between the disease group and the control group,and among patients with different degrees of disease.Spearman correlation analysis was applied to explore the relationship between serum miR-489-3p,miR-214-3p levels and disease severity in Psoriasis patients.Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the related factors affecting the severity of Psoriasis.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was applied to investigate the diagnostic value of serum miR-489-3p and miR-214-3p levels for severe Psoriasis.Results The serum levels of miR-489-3p(0.81±0.23)and miR-214-3p(0.79±0.22)in the disease group were lower than those in the control group(1.05±0.28,1.02±0.25),and the differences were statistically significant(t=7.441,7.732,all P<0.05).Serum miR-489-3p in mild,moderate and severe Psoriasis groups(0.93±0.24,0.80±0.23,0.69±0.22),miR-214-3p levels(0.91±0.24,0.77±0.22,0.66±0.21)decreased gradually,and the differences were statistically significant(F=12.423,13.168,all P<0.05).Spearman's results showed that serum levels of miR-489-3p and miR-214-3p were negatively correlated with the severity of Psoriasis in patients(r=-0.490,-0.463,all P<0.05).Serum miR-489-3p and miR-214-3p were independent protective factors for the severity of Psoriasis patients(Wald χ2=5.751,8.753,all P<0.05).ROC curve results showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of serum miR-489-3p and miR-214-3p for diagnosing severe Psoriasis alone was 0.785 and 0.792,with sensitivity of 78.9%and 73.7%,specificity of 49.9%and 54.7%,respectively.The AUC of the combined diagnosis for severe Psoriasis was 0.931,the sensitivity and specificity were 71.7%,71.1%,respectively,and the combined diagnostic efficacy of the two was better than that of miR-489-3p and miR-214-3p alone,and the differences were statistically significant(Z=3.018,2.773,all P<0.05).Conclusion The serum levels of miR-489-3p and miR-214-3p in patients with Psoriasis are both reduced,and both are negatively correlated with the severity of the disease in Psoriasis patients.The combined determination of the two has high efficacy in the diagnosis of severe Psoriasis.

Objective:To systematically evaluate the efficacy, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and safety of hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers and collagen stimulators (PCL/PLLA) for various facial aesthetic indications.Methods:This study focused on facial fillers approved and widely used in China, including HA fillers such as Juvéderm?, Restylane?, Belotero?, Fillmed?, and PCL/PLLA such as Ellansé?, L?viselle?, and CureWhite?. A systematic literature search was conducted across both English and Chinese databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, and Wanfang Data, covering the period from database inception to August 24, 2023, to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The characteristics and outcomes of the included RCTs were summarized and analyzed, including efficacy indicators by injection site, patient satisfaction, and safety profiles. Network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed using R software to compare efficacy outcomes, including the 6-month improvement response rate for nasolabial folds (NLF) and the global aesthetic improvement scale (GAIS).Results:A total of 38 articles were included. Among them, Juvéderm? was most frequently used as the treatment group (17 out of 38 articles), while Restylane? was the most common comparator (17 out of 38 articles), particularly in studies involving NLF injections (15 out of 16 articles). For collagen stimulators, only 2 studies on Ellansé? were included, both focusing solely on NLF treatment. Quality assessment showed that 34 studies were of medium to high quality, with Juvéderm? accounting for the majority of high-quality studies (11 articles). Based on injection sites, NLF was the most studied area (16 articles), followed by the midface (8 articles), and the remaining 14 articles covered other regions including lips, nose, chin, and infraorbital area. In the NLF region, the 6-month improvement response rate assessed by blinded investigators showed that Juvéderm? showed better outcomes than Restylane? ( RR=1.07, 95% CI: 0.89-1.32), while Belotero? was slightly inferior to Restylane? ( RR=0.97, 95% CI: 0.65-1.44), although the differences were not statistically significant. Subject-reported outcomes showed consistent trends with investigator assessments. For 6-month GAIS improvement, Juvéderm? and Restylane? showed comparable result within the HA filler category ( RR=1.01, 95% CI: 0.71-1.43). The collagen stimulator Ellansé? demonstrated numerically higher values than HA fillers ( RR=1.32, 95% CI: 0.86-2.08). However, none of these differences reached statistical significance. In midface treatments, Juvéderm? had more long-term evidence, with follow-up periods extending up to 24 months. Four studies reported numerically greater volume enhancement with Juvéderm? compared to Restylane?. For other facial areas, Juvéderm? had the most comprehensive clinical evidence, covering the widest range of injection sites. No relevant RCTs were available for collagen stimulators in these regions. Regarding patient satisfaction, 19 studies reported patient-reported outcomes, with Juvéderm? contributing 16 of them, and showing higher satisfaction in 6 head-to-head comparisons with Restylane?. In contrast, collagen stimulators currently lack such evidence. Safety result indicated that HA fillers were generally safe and well tolerated, while safety data for collagen stimulators remain limited due to insufficient high-quality evidence. Conclusion:Among the HA fillers, Juvéderm? has a large quantity and highest quality of clinical studies, and NMA result shows its superior efficacy in NLF. In comparison, the current evidence is still not sufficient to draw a clear conclusion for the PCL/PLLA due to a lack of adequate high-quality clinical evidence regarding its clinical efficacy, PROs, and safety.

Objectives:Comparative analysis of the beagles acute-phase electrocardiographic,hemodynamic,left ventricular flow field status,and energy consumption characteristics of pacing at different sites of conduction system may help to elucidate the scientific mechanism of left bundle branch pacing(LBBP)as a option of physiological pacing therapy.Methods:Eight healthy adult beagles were used in this study.Initially,an active fixation lead was implanted in the right atrial appendage,followed by implantation of another active fixation lead at the right ventricular apex,distal His bundle,and left bundle septal branch,respectively.After connecting a dual-chamber pacemaker,electrocardiographic and acute phase hemodynamic parameters under sinus rhythm,right ventricular apex pacing(RVAP),distal His bundle pacing(DHBP),and LBBP states were collected and analyzed.Three complete cardiac cycles of standard apical three-chamber color Doppler dynamic images were acquired under vector flow mapping(VFM)mode.Offline analysis was performed on obtained parameters including isovolumic contraction period,rapid ejection period,isovolumic relaxation period,rapid filling period,atrial contraction period,and left ventricular intracavitary energy consumption.These parameters were compared under pacing at different sites and the linear correlations of major parameters were analyzed.Results:The QRS duration of baseline intrinsic sinus rhythm,RVAP,DHBP and LBBP were(45.0±4.0)ms,(98.4±6.2)ms,(50.0±4.5)ms and(62.0±4.7)ms,respectively.The LBBP-QRS duration was significantly wider than intrinsic sinus rhythm and DHBP,but significantly narrower than RVAP(all P<0.01).Compared with baseline AOO mode(the pacing rate was performed at 10 beats/min above the intrinsic heart rate),the change of acute phase maximum left ventricular pressure rise rate(LVdP/dtmax)in RVAP,DHBP and LBBP was([-7.89±5.67]% ),([0.74±2.05]% )and([-0.14±3.59]% ),respectively.There was no significant difference in LVdP/dtmax changes between DHBP and LBBP(P=0.667),but both pacing modalities were significantly better than RVAP(all P<0.01).The average energy consumption of the left ventricle under RVAP was significantly higher than that of intrinsic sinus rhythm,DHBP,and LBBP in isovolumic contraction period,rapid ejection period,isovolumic relaxation period,rapid filling period,and atrial contraction period(all P<0.01).However,there was no statistically significant difference in energy consumption among intrinsic sinus rhythm,DHBP,and LBBP during the above five phases(all P>0.05).DHBP and LBBP did not show a significant increase in the number of left ventricular vortices,vortex area,and circulation intensity compared to intrinsic sinus rhythm,and LBBP did not show a significant increase in vortex area and circulation intensity compared to DHBP.Conclusions:Although LBBP canines significantly prolonged the paced QRS duration,it showed no significant differences in acute phase left ventricular hemodynamics,left ventricular flow field status,and energy consumption compared to intrinsic sinus rhythm and DHBP.Performance of LBBP was superior to RVAP.This study may contribute to revealing the theoretical basis of LBBP as a feasible physiological pacing therapy.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and prognosis of hepatectomy via Laennec membrane approach in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:The data of 98 patients with HCC who underwent hepatectomy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2016 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, including 76 males and 22 females, aged 61.0 (55.0, 66.0) years. Forty-eight patients treated with Laennec membrane approach hepatectomy were included in the study group and 50 patients treated with traditional approach hepatectomy were included in the control group. The age, gender, combined hypertension and diabetes, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, albumin, total bilirubin, prealbumin, platelet, alpha-fetoprotein, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 and carbohydrate antigen 125 were compared between the two groups. The surgical bleeding, operation time and complications (abdominal bleeding, bile leakage, poor incision healing, etc.) were compared between the two groups. The prognosis of the two groups was compared.Results:There were no significant differences in gender, age, underlying diseases, preoperative biochemical and tumor serological indexes between the two groups (all P>0.05). The operation time of the study group was 180.0 (141.3, 227.3) min, which was lower than that of the control group 221.5 (187.5, 256.3) min ( Z=-0.41, P=0.002). The intraoperative blood loss in the study group was 295.0 (127.5, 350.0) ml, which was lower than that in the control group 300.0 (200.0, 500.0) ml, and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=-1.97, P=0.003). The levels of aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase 1 week after surgery in the study group were 33.4 (24.0, 43.8) U/L and 64.5 (38.3, 119.1) U/L, respectively, which were lower than those in the control group 41.3 (29.7, 63.0) U/L and 102.8 (50.1, 140.7) U/L, the differences were statistically significant ( Z=-2.09, -2.38, P=0.035, 0.028). Postoperative complications occurred in 8 cases (16.7%) in the study group and 10 cases (20.0%) in the control group, with no significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=0.18, P=0.670). The median overall survival was 16 months in the study group and 18 months in the control group, respectively. There was no significant difference in cumulative survival between the two groups ( χ2=1.41, P=0.130). Conclusion:Laennec membrane approach hepatectomy can not only shorten the operation time and reduce the amount of blood loss, but also promote the recovery of liver function.