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.

INTRODUCTION: The most recent local study on the incidence of histological subtypes of all brain and spinal tumours treated surgically was published in 2000. In view of the outdated data, we investigated the presenting characteristics, histological subtypes and outcomes of adult patients who underwent surgery for brain or spinal tumours at our institution. METHODS: A single-centre retrospective review of 501 patients who underwent surgery for brain or spinal tumours from 2016 to 2020 was conducted. The inclusion criteria were (a) patients who had a brain or spinal tumour that was histologically verified and (b) patients who were aged 18 years and above at the time of surgery. RESULTS: Four hundred and thirty-five patients (86.8%) had brain tumours and 66 patients (13.2%) had spinal tumours. Patients with brain tumours frequently presented with cranial nerve palsy, headache and weakness, while patients with spinal tumours frequently presented with weakness, numbness and back pain. Overall, the most common histological types of brain and spinal tumours were metastases, meningiomas and tumours of the sellar region. The most common complications after surgery were cerebrospinal fluid leak, diabetes insipidus and urinary tract infection. In addition, 15.2% of the brain tumours and 13.6% of the spinal tumours recurred, while 25.7% of patients with brain tumours and 18.2% of patients with spinal tumours died. High-grade gliomas and metastases had the poorest survival and highest recurrence rates. CONCLUSION This study serves as a comprehensive update of the epidemiology of brain and spinal tumours and could help guide further studies on brain and spinal tumours.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Aged ; Central Nervous System Neoplasms/pathology* ; Brain Neoplasms/pathology* ; Treatment Outcome ; Postoperative Complications ; Young Adult ; Spinal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Aged, 80 and over ; Adolescent

In this experiment, self-assembled nanoparticles(SANs) were prepared by the pH-driven method, and Her-HCP SAN was constructed by using herpetrione(Her) and Herpetospermum caudigerum polysaccharides(HCPs). The average particle size and polydispersity index(PDI) were used as evaluation indexes for process optimization, and the quality of the final formulation was evaluated in terms of particle size, PDI, Zeta potential, and microstructure. The proposed Her-HCP SAN showed a spheroid structure and uniform morphology, with an average particle size of(244.58±16.84) nm, a PDI of 0.147 1±0.014 8, and a Zeta potential of(-38.52±2.11) mV. Her-HCP SAN significantly increased the saturation solubility of Her by 2.69 times, with a cumulative release of 90.18% within eight hours. The results of in vivo unidirectional intestinal perfusion reveal that Her active pharmaceutical ingredient(API) is most effectively absorbed in the jejunum, where both K_a and P_(app) are significantly higher compared to the ileum(P<0.001). However, the addition of HCP leads to a significant reduction in the P_(app) of Her in the jejunum(P<0.05). Furthermore, the formation of the Her-HCP SAN results in a notably lower P_(app) in the jejunum compared to Her API alone(P<0.001), while both K_a and P_(app) in the ileum are significantly increased(P<0.001, P<0.05). The absorption of Her-HCP SAN at different concentrations in the ileum shows no significant differences, and the pH has no significant effect on the absorption of Her-HCP SAN in the ileum. The addition of the transporter protein inhibitors(indomethacin and rifampicin) significantly increases the absorption parameters K_a and P_(app) of Her-HCP SAN in the ileum(P<0.05,P<0.01), whereas the addition of verapamil has no significant effect on the intestinal absorption parameters of Her-HCP SAN, suggesting that Her may be a substrate for multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 and breast cancer resistance proteins but not a substrate of P-glycoprotein.
Nanoparticles/metabolism* ; Polysaccharides/pharmacokinetics* ; Intestinal Absorption/drug effects* ; Animals ; Rats ; Particle Size ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacokinetics* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Drug Carriers/chemistry* ; Drug Compounding ; Cucurbitaceae/chemistry*

The study investigated the specific mechanism by which oxocrebanine, the anti-hepatic cancer active ingredient in Stephania hainanensis, inhibits the proliferation of hepatic cancer cells. Firstly, methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay, 5-bromodeoxyuridine(BrdU) labeling, and colony formation assay were employed to investigate whether oxocrebanine inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 and Hep3B2.1-7 cells. Propidium iodide(PI) staining was used to observe the oxocrebanine-induced apoptosis of HepG2 and Hep3B2.1-7 cells. Western blot was employed to verify whether apoptotic effector proteins, such as cleaved cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease 3(c-caspase-3), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1(PARP1), B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), Bcl-2 homologous killer(Bak), and myeloid cell leukemia-1(Mcl-1) were involved in apoptosis. Secondly, HepG2 cells were simultaneously treated with oxocrebanine and the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine(3-MA), and the changes in the autophagy marker LC3 and autophagy-related proteins [eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1(4EBP1), phosphorylated 4EBP1(p-4EBP1), 70-kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase(P70S6K), and phosphorylated P70S6K(p-P70S6K)] were determined. The results of MTT assay, BrdU labeling, and colony formation assay showed that oxocrebanine inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 and Hep3B2.1-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The results of flow cytometry suggested that the apoptosis rate of HepG2 and Hep3B2.1-7 cells increased after treatment with oxocrebanine. Western blot results showed that the protein levels of c-caspase-3, Bax, and Bak were up-regulated and those of PARP1, Bcl-2, and Mcl-1 were down-regulated in the HepG2 cells treated with oxocrebanine. The results indicated that oxocrebanine induced apoptosis, thereby inhibiting the proliferation of hepatic cancer cells. The inhibition of HepG2 cell proliferation by oxocrebanine may be related to the induction of protective autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Oxocrebanine still promoted the conversion of LC3-Ⅰ to LC3-Ⅱ, reduced the phosphorylation levels of 4EBP1 and P70S6K, which can be reversed by the autophagy inhibitor 3-MA. It is prompted that oxocrebanine can inhibit the proliferation of hepatic cancer cells by inducing autophagy. In conclusion, oxocrebanine inhibits the proliferation of hepatic cancer cells by inducing apoptosis and autophagy.
Humans ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Autophagy/drug effects* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Hep G2 Cells ; Liver Neoplasms/genetics* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics* ; Caspase 3/genetics*

This study aims to investigate the polarized microscopic mineral phase characteristics, inorganic element content, and potential health risks associated with the intake of raw and calcined fossil mineral Chinese medicinal material Draconis Os. Microscopy was employed to observe the mineralogical characteristics of Draconis Os and compare the microscopic features and phase composition of raw and calcined Draconis Os under monochromatic and orthogonal polarized light. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS) was employed to determine the content of 30 inorganic elements. Health risk assessment was conducted by calculating the single pollution index(P_i), average daily intake of elements for adults(ADI), target hazard quotient(THQ), non-carcinogenic assessment method-hazard quotient(HQ), and the carcinogenic risk of elements(CR). The results indicated that under monochromatic polarized light, the Draconis Os powder sections exhibited light gray-brown to gray-brown irregular fragments, some with undulating textures that were slightly curved. Under crossed polarized light, they appeared dark gray, grayish-white, and yellowish-white. Clear apatite was visible in the ground sections of Draconis Os under crossed polarized light. P_i results indicated that Draconis Os samples were free from contamination and were of good quality. According to the maximum allowable limits of heavy metals stipulated in ISO Traditional Chinese Medicine: Determination of heavy metals in herbal medicines used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, ADI, THQ, HQ, and CR were taken as assessment indicators. Only the THQ value for As(arsenic) in raw Draconis Os was greater than 1, while the THQ values for other heavy metal elements in the Draconis Os samples were all less than 1. The study demonstrates that the primary mineral phase of raw and calcined Draconis Os is apatite, with some samples co-existing with calcite, which can serve as one of the means for quality control of Draconis Os. The elemental analysis results from ICP-MS provide scientific evidence for the safety assessment of Draconis Os, indicating that Draconis Os is safe in clinical application.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/analysis* ; Risk Assessment ; Minerals/chemistry* ; Fossils ; Humans ; Drug Contamination ; Mass Spectrometry

Poor water solubility is the primary obstacle preventing the development of many pharmacologically active compounds into oral preparations. Self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems(SNEDDS) have become a widely used strategy to enhance the oral bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs by inducing a supersaturated state, thereby improving their apparent solubility and dissolution rate. However, the supersaturated solutions formed in SNEDDS are thermodynamically unstable systems with solubility levels exceeding the crystalline equilibrium solubility, making them prone to drug precipitation in the gastrointestinal tract and ultimately hindering drug absorption. Therefore, maintaining a stable supersaturated state is crucial for the effective delivery of poorly soluble drugs. Incorporating polymers as precipitation inhibitors(PPIs) into the formulation of supersaturated self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems(S-SNEDDS) can inhibit drug aggregation and crystallization, thus maintaining a stable supersaturated state. This has emerged as a novel preparation strategy and a key focus in SNEDDS research. This review explores the preparation design of SNEDDS and the technical challenges involved, with a particular focus on polymer-based S-SNEDDS for enhancing the solubility and oral bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs. It further elucidates the mechanisms by which polymers participate in transmembrane transport, summarizes the principles by which polymers sustain a supersaturated state, and discusses strategies for enhancing drug absorption. Altogether, this review provides a structured framework for the development of S-SNEDDS preparations with stable quality and reduced development risk, and offers a theoretical reference for the application of S-SNEDDS technology in improving the oral bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs.
Solubility ; Administration, Oral ; Polymers/chemistry* ; Drug Delivery Systems/methods* ; Humans ; Emulsions/chemistry* ; Biological Availability ; Animals ; Pharmaceutical Preparations/administration & dosage*

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of Qingda Granule (QDG) in ameliorating hypertension-induced cardiac damage and investigate the underlying mechanisms involved. METHODS: Twenty spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were used to develope a hypertension-induced cardiac damage model. Another 10 Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were used as normotension group. Rats were administrated intragastrically QDG [0.9 g/(kg•d)] or an equivalent volume of pure water for 8 weeks. Blood pressure, histopathological changes, cardiac function, levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory response markers were measured. Furthermore, to gain insights into the potential mechanisms underlying the protective effects of QDG against hypertension-induced cardiac injury, a network pharmacology study was conducted. Predicted results were validated by Western blot, radioimmunoassay immunohistochemistry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. RESULTS: The administration of QDG resulted in a significant decrease in blood pressure levels in SHRs (P<0.01). Histological examinations, including hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson trichrome staining revealed that QDG effectively attenuated hypertension-induced cardiac damage. Furthermore, echocardiography demonstrated that QDG improved hypertension-associated cardiac dysfunction. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and colorimetric method indicated that QDG significantly reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory response levels in both myocardial tissue and serum (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Both network pharmacology and experimental investigations confirmed that QDG exerted its beneficial effects in decreasing hypertension-induced cardiac damage by regulating the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)/angiotensin II (Ang II)/Ang II receptor type 1 axis and ACE/Ang II/Ang II receptor type 2 axis.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Hypertension/pathology* ; Renin-Angiotensin System/drug effects* ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Male ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Blood Pressure/drug effects* ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Rats ; Inflammation/pathology*

Fe/Mn/Gd polymetallic nanooxide(FMGN)were prepared by one-step solvent thermal reaction by using Fe(acac)3,Mn(acac)2 and Gd(acac)3 as reaction precursors.Next,hyaluronic acid(HA)was used to modify FMGN to fabricate tumor-targeting T 1-T 2 dual-mode magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)contrast agent(HA-FMGN)for accurate diagnosis of prostate cancer.The structure and morphology of FMGN were observed by transmission electron microscope(TEM).It was found that FMGN exhibited a uniform nanocluster spherical structure when the feeding ratio of iron acetylacetonate,manganese acetylacetonate,and gadolinium acetylacetonate was 3:2:1.X-ray diffraction(XRD)analysis showed that FMGN had a typical inverse spinel structure of Mn doped Fe 3O 4,with Gd existing in the form of amorphous gadolinium oxide.The longitudinal relaxivity(r 1)and transverse relaxivity(r 2)of FMGN were 13.395 and 428.535 L/(mmol·s),respectively,measured by 0.5 T MRI analyzer,which proved that FMGN had excellent T 1-T 2 dual-mode MRI contrast capability.The cytotoxicity and hemolysis test found that HA-FMGN didn't damage red cells and induce toxicity for normal cells,indicating that HA-FMGN had excellent cell biocompatibility.The internalization efficacy of HA-FMGN was observed by CLSM,and the results showed that HA-FMGN possessed excellent prostate tumor-targeting ability.In vivo MRI experiment showed that HA-FMGN significantly enhanced T 1 and T 2 weighted MRI signal to noise ratio(SNR)of prostate tumor,which promoted the accurate diagnosis of orthotopic prostate cancer.

Objective To investigate the current situation of the ventilator use and management in secondary and tertiary medical institutions in Sichuan Province to provide references for management and training of ventilator users.Methods A questionnaire survey involving in 235 nurses from 13 secondary and tertiary medical institutions in Sichuan Province was conducted in terms of general information of the respondents,pipeline connection and parameter setup of ventilators,cleaning,sterilization and maintenance of ventilators,identification and treatment of ventilator alarms and hospital-acquired infection prevention and control.Results The results showed 20.4％of the respondents were nurses from critical care departments,and 79.6％of the respondents underwent the training for using the ventilator in their department;91.9％of the respondents could conduct ventilator self-testing by connecting the simulated lungs after the ventilator was switched on;66.4％of the respondents indicated that the initial parameters of the ventilator were set by the doctor;60.9％of the respondents proved that the performance monitoring and routine maintenance of the ventilator were carried out by the nurse;63.4％of the respondents showed disposable lines were commonly used in the departments.There were 89.8％of the respondents said the daily sterilization and management of the ventilator were performed by the nurse;46.0％of the respondents expressed the external surface of the ventilator was disinfected mainly with gamma disinfectant wipes;44.7％of the respondents indicated the external surface of the ventilator was sterilized every day;48.5％of the respondents said the internal airway of the ventilator was disinfected;57.0％of the respondents proved the disinfection was conducted after the expiratory flow sensors were used by any patient.There were 74.5％of the respondents that had paid attention to the ventilator waveform,and by the ventilator waveform only 21.3％were correct in determining whether there was secretion or fluid in the circuit and 22.1％in clarifying whether there was air leakage in the circuit.There were 59.1％of the respondents indicated that the closed suction tube was replaced once every 24 h;71.1％of the respondents could perform airbag pressure monitoring by the special pressure gauge.Conclusion Most of the nurses from secondary and tertiary medical institutions in Sichuan Province can use ventilators correctly,who have problems in disinfection specifications,infection prevention and control or recognition of ventilation waveform.It's suggested the training be strengthened to enhance the clinical nursing staffs in ventilator management.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(3):75-80]

Objective This study aimed to investigate natural infection of rodents with Ehrlichia and Neoehrlichia at major Chinese land-border ports along the"Belt and Road".Methods In 2022,rodents were monitored in 10 ports in northern and southern China and identified based on diagnostic morphological characteristics.The 16S rRNA genes of Ehrlichia and Neoehrlichia were detected by PCR using universal primers from rodent samples and phylogenetic analysis was performed based on the sequences of the detected positive pathogens.Results A total of 356 rodents were sampled,including 2 orders,5 families,15 genera,and 20 species.Predominantly,73,61,56,and 58 were Meriones unguiculatus(20.51%),Rattus norvegicus(17.13%),Apodemus agrarius(15.73%),and Microtus gregalis(16.29%).Only one Microtus fortis from Suifenghe Port was infected with Ehrlichia sp.Moreover,12 rodents were infected with Neoehrlichia spp.(overall positivity rate:3.37%).Conclusions Natural infections with Ehrlichia spp.and Neoehrlichia spp.were demonstrated in rodents at important Chinese land-border ports.The positivity rate of Neoehrlichia spp.was high in some ports,indicating that surveillance for ticks and their prevention and control measures should be intensified in these regions.