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.

Background: Adrenocortical hormones, particularly 11-oxygenated androgens, are pivotal in female reproductive health and fertility. Standardized detection kits and population-specific reference intervals are lacking in China, hindering related clinical applications. Methods: A HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) pipeline was developed, rigorously validated, and applied to simultaneously quantify corticosterone, cortisone, cortisol, 18-OH cortisol, androstenedione (A4), 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11-OH A4), dehydroepiandrosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in serum samples from 455 reproductive-aged women (18–45 yrs) in Guangxi, China. Age-dependent concentration trends were analyzed, and reference intervals stratified by age (2.5th to 97.5th percentiles) were established. Correlations with body-composition metrics, ethnicity, and the menstrual cycle were investigated. Results: The HPLC-MS/MS method demonstrated high precision (intra- and inter-assay CVs < 15%), accuracy, and sensitivity. All eight hormones exhibited significant age-related declines (P < 0.001 for seven hormones; P = 0.001 for 11-OH A4). Notably, 11-OH A4 levels were significantly lower in the 35–45-yr (3.05 nmol/L) and 25–34-yr (3.09 nmol/L) age groups than in the 18–24-yr (3.57 nmol/L) age group, whereas no significant difference was observed between the 35–45-yr and 25–34-yr age groups. Weak negative correlations were observed between the body mass index and corticosterone and cortisone levels, whereas ethnicity and the menstrual cycle showed no significant associations with hormone levels. Conclusions We developed an HPLC-MS/MS-based method for simultaneously quantifying eight adrenocortical hormones, including 11-OH A4, and defined age-specific reference intervals for reproductive-aged Chinese women. These findings advance the clinical utility of adrenocortical hormones in diagnosing and managing reproductive disorders.

Background and Aims:Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC)has become increasingly popular due to its minimal invasiveness and cosmetic advantages,but challenges remain in biliary identification and limited operative space.Indocyanine green(ICG)fluorescence navigation enables real-time visualization of the biliary tract and may enhance surgical safety and efficiency.This study aimed to evaluate the clinical application value of ICG fluorescence navigation in single-incision LC.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 59 patients with benign gallbladder diseases who underwent elective single-incision LC at Yixing Hospital affiliated to Jiangsu University from January 2023 to December 2024.Patients were divided into a fluorescence group(n=27)and a white-light group(n=32)according to whether ICG fluorescence navigation was applied.The two groups were compared in terms of Calot's triangle dissection time,operative time,intraoperative blood loss,surgeon satisfaction,hospital stay,and postoperative complications.Results:No significant differences were observed in baseline clinical characteristics between the two groups(all P＞0.05).In the fluorescence group,the cystic duct,common hepatic duct,and common bile duct were all successfully visualized.Compared with the white-light group,the fluorescence group had significantly shorter Calot's triangle dissection time[(25.56±3.49)min vs.(38.81±5.59)min],shorter operative time[(44.67±3.06)min vs.(61.31±4.96)min],and less intraoperative blood loss[(13.44±1.70)mL vs.(14.50±2.11)mL](all P＜0.05),with significantly higher surgeon satisfaction(P＜0.05).No intraoperative bile duct injury,conversion to three-port surgery,or postoperative complications occurred in either group.Conclusion:ICG fluorescence navigation can significantly improve biliary identification efficiency in single-incision LC,shorten operative time,reduce blood loss,and enhance surgeon satisfaction,demonstrating promising clinical application prospects.

Aim To evaluate the bioequivalence of two oral preparations of rivaroxaban tablets(test preparation T and refe-rence preparation R)in fasting/postprandibular state in healthy Chinese subjects.Methods A randomized,open,single-dose,four-cycle,completely repeated crossover experiment was used in this study.A total of 70 healthy male and female subjects were enrolled,including 38 subjects in the fasting group and 32 sub-jects in the postprandial group.Rivaroxaban tablets(2.5 mg/tablet)were taken orally once per cycle and their reference preparations were tested.The plasma rivaroxaban concentration was determined by LC-MS/MS method.The pharmacokinetic parameters of rivaroxaban tablets were calculated by WinNonlin software,and the parameters were analyzed and processed.Re-sults The PK parameters of rivaroxaban tablets and reference preparations in fasting group were as follows:Cmax was(72.48±17.08)and(66.36±15.64)μg·L-1,respectively.AUC0-t were(383.49±101.06)and(370.43±102.16)h·ng·mL-1,and AUC0-inr were(389.58±102.28)and(375.84±103.01)h·μg·L-,respectively.Main PK parameters of subjects taking rivaroxaban tablets orally after meals:Cmax were(66.48±15.64 and 60.87±13.44)μg·L-1,AUC0-t were(404.44±72.58)and(381.80±79.93)h·μg·L-1,re-spectively.AUC0_inf was(410.88±73.55)and(393.64±69.71)h·μg·L-1,respectively.Under fasting and postmeal conditions,subjects took rivaroxaban test and reference prepara-tion orally,one tablet(2.5 mg/tablet)each time.The geometric mean of the main pharmacokinetic parameters of rivaroxaban in plasma(Cmax,AUC0-t,AUC0-inf)and their corresponding values had a 90％confidence interval ranging from 80.00％to 125.00％.No serious adverse events or unexpected adverse e-vents occurred in both groups.Conclusion Rivaroxaban tablets are bioequivalent and safe in vivo under fasting and postprandial conditions.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) combined with drug treatment in patients with bipolar Ⅰ disorder (BD Ⅰ).Methods:Forty-two patients with BD Ⅰ who were admitted to the Mental Health Center Affiliated to Anhui Medical University from March 2022 to June 2023 were included in this randomized double-blind study. These patients were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group using an Excel spreadsheet. In the control group, patients received 10 sessions of sham stimulation in addition to drug treatment, while the observation group received 10 sessions of tACS along with drug treatment. All patients were treated for 2 weeks. Each patient received stimulation for 15 minutes on each of the right and left prefrontal lobes once every working day. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores and Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Scale (BRMS) scores were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. Eighteen patients from the observation group and nineteen patients from the control group were included in the final analysis.Results:Two weeks after treatment, the MoCA score in the observation group was higher than that in the control group [(27.39 ± 1.88) vs. (24.63 ± 2.39)], and the BRMS score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group [(15.89 ± 3.18) vs. (19.00 ± 3.32)]. These differences were statistically significant ( t = -3.89, 2.91, both P < 0.05). After treatment, the MoCA score in the observation group increased, while the BRMS score decreased ( t = 5.04, -4.14, both P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis indicated the change in MoCA score was negatively correlated with BRMS score in both groups ( r = -0.433, P < 0.05). Conclusions:Drug treatment combined with tACS greatly improved clinical cognitive symptoms and reduced manic symptoms in patients with BD Ⅰ. The combined therapy exhibited better efficacy than monotherapy.

High altitude heart disease(HAHD)is a chronic mountain sickness in which the body is exposed to high altitude(＞2 500 m)hypobaric hypoxia environment for a long time.HAHD has high morbidity and poor prognosis,and pulmonary hypertension is the main causative mechanism for its develop-ment.The phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor sildenafil has become a hot drug for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension.This paper reviews the progress of HAHD and discusses the mechanism of action and effectiveness of sildenafil in the treatment of HAHD,with a view to providing a basis for the treatment of HAHD with sildenafil.

Objective To explore the feasibility of endovascular intervention technology for constructing canine models of hepatic vein(HV)obstruction type Budd-Chiari syndrome(BCS).Methods HV obstruction type BCS models were established through double approaches including external jugular vein and percutaneous transhepatic vein puncture,blocking the main HV with double balloon and injecting anhydrous ethanol using 10 Beagle dogs.Laboratory indexes before and after modeling were compared.Liver ultrasound was performed 2,4 and 8 weeks after modeling,respectively,while intravascular ultrasound(IVUS)and digital subtracting angiography(DSA)were performed after the last time ultrasound to observe the obstruction degree,lumen and blood flow of left hepatic vein(LHV).The stenosis rate of LHV was evaluated based on DSA findings,and successful establishment of HV obstruction type BCS canine model was regarded as stenosis rate＞30%and incomplete occlusion of LHV,then the success rate of modeling was recorded.Results No significant difference of laboratory indexes was found before and after modeling(all P＞0.05).Ultrasound,IVUS and DSA showed that after modeling,different degrees of LHV stenosis complicated with intrahepatic collateral circulation were found in 9 dogs,while complete occlusion of LHV was noticed in 1 dog.The success rate of modeling was 90.00%(9/10).Pathological results showed the target HV lumen narrow with thickened endovascular wall,and the latter mainly composed of fibroblast and collagen fiber proliferation.Conclusion Endovascular intervention technology was feasible for constructing canine models of HV obstruction type BCS.

Objective To investigate the value of amide proton transfer(APT)imaging in evaluating lymph-vascular space inva-sion(LVSI)of cervical cancer.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of cervical cancer patients with patho-logically confirmed LVSI status.Based on the presence of LVSI,the patients were divided into LVSI positive group and LVSI nega-tive group.All patients underwent diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)and APT imaging before treatment,and the apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)and APT values of the lesions were measured.An independent sample t-test was used to compare the differences in ADC and APT values between the two groups.The sensitivity,specificity and area under the curve(AUC)of ADC,APT and ADC+APT in predicting LVSI were observed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,and the diagnostic performance of the three was compared by DeLong test.Results A total of 78 patients were included,of which 54 were LVSI negative and 24 were LVSI positive.The ADC values in the LVSI positive group were significantly lower than those in the LVSI negative group(P＜0.001),while the APT values in the LVSI positive group were significantly higher than those in the LVSI negative group(P＜0.001).The sensitivities of ADC,APT and ADC+APT in predicting LVSI were 79.17％,83.33％ and 87.50％,respectively,the specificities were 75.93％,55.56％ and 77.78％,respectively,and the AUC were 0.828,0.759 and 0.868,respectively,indicating that the diag-nostic performance of ADC+APT was better than that of ADC and APT alone(P＜0.001).Conclusion APT imaging can preop-eratively predict the presence of LVSI status in cervical cancer.When combined with ADC,its diagnostic accuracy is higher than that of APT alone,providing a new approach for evaluating LVSI in cervical cancer.

Central nervous system(CNS)degenerative disorders refer to a spectrum of pathological alterations triggered by struc-tural damage to cerebral neural tissues,clinically manifested as diverse neurological dysfunction syndromes,including multiple sclerosis(MS),neurodegenerative diseases(NDs),and ische-mic stroke.The hallmark pathological features of these disorders involve irreversible neuronal damage and decompensation of functional neural networks,ultimately leading to progressive neurological deficits.Notably,with the accelerating global popu-lation aging,the incidence of these diseases has surged signifi-cantly.According to WHO statistics,they now rank among the top three global causes of disability and mortality.Current re-search has confirmed that the pathogenesis of CNS degenerative disorders exhibits high heterogeneity,encompassing multifaceted pathophysiological processes such as genetic predisposition,oxi-dative stress,protein misfolding,and metabolic dysregulation.This intricate pathogenic network not only complicates clinical differential diagnosis but also poses substantial challenges to the development of precision therapeutic strategies.Importantly,re-cent studies have revealed that mitochondrial homeostasis disrup-tion-induced inflammatory cascades(termed mitochondrial in-flammation)play a pivotal regulatory role in neurodegenerative progression.Key molecular mechanisms include impaired mito-phagy,aberrant mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)release and NL-RP3 inflammasome activation.This review systematically deci-phers the molecular regulatory network of mitochondrial inflam-mation,with a focus on its biological effects in critical pathologi-cal events such as blood-brain barrier disruption,microglial hy-peractivation and neuronal apoptosis.The overarching aim is to provide a theoretical foundation for developing innovative thera-peutic strategies targeting mitochondrial homeostasis restoration.

Objective To investigate the effect of two treatment regimens combining Tacrolimus(TAC)with different Rituximab(RTX)dosages,and to provide clinical reference for treatment strategies.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients diagnosed with idiopathic membranous nephropathy(IMN)and treated with RTX combined with TAC regimen(RTX+TAC group and low-dose RTX+TAC group)in The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University.Propensity score matching(PSM)was performed at a 1:1 ratio,and a total of 60 patients were enrolled,with 30 in each group.In low-dose RTX(375 mg/m2 at the first and fifteenth day respectively)+TAC group,if circulating B cells(CD19?)exceeded 5 cells/μL after 3 months,a 200 mg RTX infusion was administered.In RTX(1g at the first and fifteenth day respectively)+TAC group,if complete remission(CR)was not achieved by 6 months,an additional 1000 mg RTX infusion was administered.The incidence of CR,partial remission,and adverse events were followed up for 12 months after medication in both groups.Results(1)Both groups showed significant reductions in 24-hour proteinuria,with the RTX+TAC group demonstrating a notably higher decrease compared to the low-dose RTX+TAC group.Statistical differences were observed between the two groups at the 1st and 3rd months of treatment(P<0.05).Albumin levels gradually increased,and there were differ-ences between the two groups at both the 1st and 3rd months(P<0.05).The anti-phospholipase A2 antibody levels decreased significantly after one month of treatment[3.45(1.90,22.10)vs.3.28(8.30,23.08)RU/mL],P>0.05.At 3 months of treatment,the overall clinical remission rate was 63.3％for the RTX+TAC group compared to 36.7％for the low-dose RTX+TAC group(P<0.05).At 12 months,the RTX+TAC group achieved an overall remission rate of 86.7％,while the low-dose RTX+TAC group reached 83.3％,showing no statistical significance(P>0.05).After one month of treatment,the RTX+TAC group achieved a complete serological immunological remission rate of 33.3％,significantly higher than the 3.3％in the low-dose RTX+TAC group(P<0.05).(2)The cumulative remission rate of the RTX+TAC group was higher than that of the low-dose RTX+TAC group during the first 6 months of follow-up.The remission rate in the low-dose RTX+TAC group increased significantly after 6 months.Log-rank test showed no statistical difference between the survival curves of the two groups(P=0.37).(3)Based on a multifactorial COX regression analysis of factors related to remission in patients with IMN,for every unit increase in serum immunological remission time,the risk of patients achieving remission decreased by 13.5％(HR=0.87,P=0.016).The risk of remission for patients with high titers of anti-PLA2R antibodies decreased by 60.2％(HR=0.39,P=0.018).Conclusions Different RTX dosages yielded comparable overall clinical remission rates without significantly increasing adverse events.RTX+TAC regimen achieves higher early CR rate.Serological remission time and high titer anti-PLA2R antibodies are associated with clinical outcomes.