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.

ObjectiveType I interferon (IFN-I) signaling is essential for antiviral innate immunity, yet its sustained or excessive activation contributes to the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases and interferonopathies, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and Aicardi-Goutières syndrome. Current strategies targeting this pathway, exemplified by JAK inhibitors, act mainly on downstream signal transduction and provide limited direct control over upstream IFN-I production, while also carrying the risk of broad immunosuppression. Phyllanthus emblica L. has long been used in traditional medicine for inflammatory disorders, but the bioactive constituent responsible for its regulation of IFN-I signaling and the underlying molecular mechanism have not been clearly defined. This study aimed to identify the active anti-inflammatory component of P. emblica and to characterize its mechanism of action on the IFN-I pathway in macrophages. MethodsActive components ofP. emblica and their candidate targets were screened by network pharmacology using the TCMSP and DrugBank databases (oral bioavailability≥30%, drug-likeness≥0.18) and intersected with inflammation-related genes retrieved from public databases. The predicted interaction between EGCG and IFN-I pathway proteins (TBK1, IRF3, STAT1) was evaluated by molecular docking, with BX795 and GSK8612 used as reference TBK1 inhibitors. Mechanistic experiments were performed in THP-1-derived macrophages and primary bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM). Upstream signaling was activated by transfection of the nucleic acid analogs poly(I∶C) and poly(dA∶dT) or by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, whereas downstream signaling was activated by exogenous IFN-β. An siRNA-mediated TREX1 knockdown model was used to mimic endogenous nucleic acid-driven interferonopathy. Expression of IFN-β1 and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) was measured by RT-qPCR, protein phosphorylation by Western blot, and IFN-β secretion by ELISA. Cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) and drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) were used to probe the interactionbetween EGCG and IRF3. ResultsNetwork pharmacology identified (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) as a candidate IFN-I-suppressive constituent of P. emblica, with predicted binding to TBK1, IRF3, and STAT1. Molecular docking yielded binding energies of -9.2, -7.2, and -8.2 kcal/mol for TBK1, IRF3, and STAT1, respectively, indicating an affinity for TBK1 comparable to that of the reference inhibitors BX795 (-5.7 kcal/mol) and GSK8612 (-6.4 kcal/mol). EGCG suppressed IFN-β1 and ISG mRNA expression under poly (I∶C), poly (dA∶dT), and LPS stimulation in both THP-1 macrophages and BMDM. At the protein level, EGCG reduced the phosphorylation of TBK1 and IRF3 without affecting the levels of the upstream sensors cGAS and RIG-I, and lowered IFN-β secretion in a concentration-dependent manner. CETSA and DARTS showed that EGCG did not enhance the thermal stability or protease resistance of IRF3, indicating that its effect on IRF3 is indirect. Following IFN-β stimulation, prolonged EGCG treatment reduced STAT1 phosphorylation in a time-dependent manner without an apparent change in IRF9, and partially attenuated ISG transcription; this effect was not monotonicly concentration-dependent, and CXCL10 showed the most consistent suppression. In TREX1-knockdown cells, the elevated mRNA levels of ISG15, ISG56, and CXCL10 were reduced by EGCG. ConclusionEGCG suppresses IFN-I responses by concurrently inhibiting TBK1-IRF3-dependent IFN‑β production and JAK-STAT1-mediated downstream transcription. These in vitro findings provide a mechanistic basis for the anti-inflammatory use of P. emblica in traditional medicine and identify EGCG as a candidate for further evaluation in interferon-driven autoimmune disease models.

Body weight abnormalities, including overweight, obesity, and underweight, have become a dual public health challenge in Chinese adults: overweight and obesity lead to a variety of chronic complications, while underweight increases the risks of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and organ dysfunction. To systematically address these issues, multidisciplinary experts in endocrinology, sports science, nutrition, and psychiatry from various regions have held multiple weight management seminars. Based on the latest epidemiological data and clinical evidence, they expanded the guideline to include assessment and intervention strategies for underweight, in addition to the core content of obesity management. This guideline outlines the etiological mechanisms, evaluation methods, and multidimensional management strategies for overweight and obesity, covering key areas such as diagnosis and assessment, medical nutrition therapy, exercise prescription, pharmacological intervention, and psychological support. It is intended to provide a scientific and standardized approach to weight management across the adult population, aiming to curb the rising prevalence of obesity, mitigate complications associated with abnormal body weight, and improve nutritional status and overall quality of life.

Neonatal sepsis is a global health problem that seriously affects the body health and life safety of newborns. It has a higher incidence in preterm infants,especially for early-onset sepsis (EOS) within 72 hours of birth. The diagnosis of neonatal EOS requires a series of examinations,and early and accurate diagnosis can improve clinical outcomes and reduce antibiotic overuse in a timely manner. At present,the commonly used biomarkers and traditional blood culture methods for EOS diagnosis have certain shortcomings,so it is urgent to find new molecular diagnostic methods. This article summarizes and compares the early and novel diagnostic methods of neonatal EOS,in order to provide a reference for clinical practice.

AIM To establish the quantitative models for gallic acid,mononucleoside,loganin,resveratrol,and rhein in Yishen Xiezhuo Mixture.METHODS HPLC was adopted in the content determination of various effective components,after which the near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS)data were collected in 128 batches of samples and pretreatment was conducted,competitive adaptive reweighting sampling(CARS)algorithm was used for screening wavelength,partial least square method(PLS)regression analysis was performed.RESULTS There were no significant differences between the predicted values obtained by PLS models and measured values obtained by HPLC for various effective components(P＞0.05).CONCLUSION The quantitative models established by NIRS combined with chemometrics display good predictive performance,which can be used for the rapid determination of effective components in Yishen Xiezhuo Mixture,and provide a reference for the rapid monitoring of other traditional Chinese medicine preparations in production processes.

Objective To design an electric ice blanket system for prehospital emergency care of patients of heat sroke disease.Methods The electric ice blanket system consisted of a cooling host and cooling accessories.The cooling host had its chassis made of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene(ABS),which was equipped externally with an lithium battery and a DC power adapter,and integrated internally a cooling system,an internal circulation pump,an external circulation pump and a main control system;the cooling accessories included a cooling blanket,a cooling cap and a cooling vest,which had the inner layer made of thermoplastic polyurethane(TPU)elastomer and the outer layer made of Oxford cloth or polyester fiber.The system was compared with the existing subcooling therapeutic apparatus on the market in terms of cooling effect with a water bag simulation cooling experiment.Results The cooling experiment showed that the system was comparable to the existing subcooling therapeutic apparatus on the market in terms of cooling effect while behaved well in size and weight.Conclusion The system developed has a high cooling effect and advantages in portability and compatibility to the environment without power supply,which can be used for the early treatment of patients of heat stroke disease.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(9):16-21]

Objective:This study aims to investigate the predictive performance of serum levels of white blood cell count(WBC),D-dimer(D-D)and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)for major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)in elderly patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(ASTE-MI).Methods:A total of 70 elderly patients with ASTEMI treated in Bozhou People's Hospital between April 2020 and May 2023 were prospectively selected as observation group.Incidence of MACE during 1-year follow-up were recorded,another 50 patients with unstable angina pectoris treated in our hospital simultaneously were selected as control group.Serum levels of WBC,D-D and NT-proBNP were compared among above groups.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of serum WBC,D-D and NT-proBNP for MACE in elderly patients with ASTEMI.A nomogram was established,and calibration curve and deci-sion curve analysis(DCA)were used to evaluate the performance of model.Results:A total of 40 cases(59.70％)experienced MACE during one-year follow-up.Compared to those in control group,patients in observation group had significant higher serum WBC[(11.43±1.98)×109/Lvs.(6.30±1.99)× 109/L],D-D[(0.91±0.20)mg/L vs.(0.47±0.18)mg/L]andNT-proBNP[(192.31±63.19)pg/ml vs.(114.05±22.79)pg/ml](P＜0.001 all).Compared to participants without MACE,those with MACE had significantly higher serum WBC[(13.33±1.90)× 109/L vs.(10.27±0.98)× 109/L],D-D[(1.11±0.25)mg/L vs.(0.87±0.21)mg/L]and NT-proBNP[(238.73±50.22)pg/ml vs.(150.70±39.16)pg/ml](P＜0.001 all).ROC analysis showed that the ar-ea under the curve(AUC)of the combined detection of serum WBC(AUC=0.791,95％CI 0.677～0.879),D-D(AUC=0.767,95％CI 0.650～0.859)and NT-proBNP(AUC=0.733,95％CI 0.614～0.832)was 0.916(95％CI 0.825～0.969),which was significantly higher than those of single detections(Z=2.386,4.953,3.190,P=0.017,0.004,＜0.001).The total score of the nomogram model constructed based on the levels of WBC,D-D and NT-proBNP ranged from 70 to 126 points.The predicted incidence was basically consistent with the actual in-cidence.For the internal verification of the model,the AUC of ROC curve of the training set and the validation set was 0.863 and 0.926 respectively.The DCA curve was located above the critical curve,indicating that the model had a net benefit and good clinical effectiveness.Conclusion:Serum WBC,D-D and NT-proBNP significantly el-evated in elderly patients with ASTEMI.The combined detection of serum WBC,D-D and NT-proBNP levels has good predictive value for MACE in these patients.

Objective:To evaluate the value of noninvasive assessment of the 13C-methacetin breath test (13C-MBT) based on infrared isotope spectrometry for liver function reserve in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods:A total of 120 NAFLD patients met the diagnostic criteria,who admitted to Department of Liver Diseases of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January 2023 to January 2024,were prospectively selected. Patients were divided into three groups based on liver stiffness measurement (LSM) of FibroTouch:mild fibrosis group (LSM<7.0 kPa,n=40),moderate fibrosis group (7.0≤LSM<9.5 kPa) and severe fibrosis group (LSM≥9.5 kPa,n=40). Meanwhile,40 healthy subjects were selected as a healthy control group. All subjects underwent 13C-MBT and conventional liver function tests. The differences of 13C-MBT parameters and liver function indicators among various groups were compared,and the correlations between 13C-MBT parameters and the degree of liver fibrosis,and between liver function indexes and the degree of liver fibrosis were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the judgment ability of 13C-MBT parameters to the degree of liver fibrosis. Results:The 13C-MBT parameters in NAFLD patients were lower than those in healthy control group,and the differences were statistically significant (F=27.413,28.635,29.851,P<0.05). With the aggravation of liver fibrosis,13C-MBT parameters in NAFLD patients gradually decreased. The 13C-MBT parameters of severe fibrosis group were significantly lower than those in the mild and moderate fibrosis groups,with statistically significant differences (t=12.331,13.020,14.232,22.033,21.032,29.332,P<0.05),respectively. The 13C-MBT parameters were positively correlated with liver function indicators,and were negatively correlated with LSM,and the absolute values of the correlation coefficients were>0.5,all of them showed statistically significant differences (r=0.375,-0.875,P<0.05). The 13C-MBT parameters had higher sensitivity and specificity in judging the degree of liver fibrosis. Taking MVmax40 as an example,when the limit value was 9.5 kPa,the sensitivity was 86.3％,and the specificity was 83.8％,and the accuracy was 85.0％,and the area under curve (AUC) was 0.913. Conclusion:13C-MBT based on infrared isotope spectrometry is a non-invasive,safe,rapid and accurate detection method,which can reflect the liver function reserve and liver fibrosis degree of NAFLD patients,and has important clinical value for the diagnosis and treatment of NAFLD.

Neonatal sepsis is a global health problem that seriously affects the body health and life safety of newborns. It has a higher incidence in preterm infants,especially for early-onset sepsis (EOS) within 72 hours of birth. The diagnosis of neonatal EOS requires a series of examinations,and early and accurate diagnosis can improve clinical outcomes and reduce antibiotic overuse in a timely manner. At present,the commonly used biomarkers and traditional blood culture methods for EOS diagnosis have certain shortcomings,so it is urgent to find new molecular diagnostic methods. This article summarizes and compares the early and novel diagnostic methods of neonatal EOS,in order to provide a reference for clinical practice.