1.Compact Fundus Imaging System Using Shack-Hartmann Wavefront Sensing for High-speed Auto-focus
Zhe-Kai LIN ; Long CHEN ; Geng-Yong ZHENG ; Jin-Tian HUANG ; Jia-Xin DONG ; Shang-Pan YANG ; Wen-Zheng DING ; Ding-An HAN ; Xue-Hua WANG ; Ya-Guang ZENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):1076-1086
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.
2.Whole genome sequencing and analysis of multidrug resistant ST314 Salmonella Kentucky from a broiler slaughterhouse
Jia-rui LI ; Rui-yuan SUN ; Pei-jie HE ; Hao-tian LIU ; Ru-yi KUANG ; Jing XIA ; Min CUI ; Yong HUANG ; Li-kou ZOU ; Xin-feng HAN
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(5):537-543
This study investigated the potential pathogenicity and genetic characteristics of ST314 Salmonella Kentucky(S.Ken-tucky)isolates from a broiler slaughterhouse.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing(WGS)were used to determine antimicrobial resistance,virulence factors,and the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes(ARGs)and mobile genetic elements(MGEs)among the isolates.The three multidrug resistant(MDR)isolates exhibited high resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents.The F4-2S strain exhibited resistance to 14 drugs across seven categories,whereas the F4T strain showed resistance to 13 drugs in the same number of categories.In contrast,the Y23 strain was resistant to nine drugs in six categories.Notably,F4-2S dem-onstrated high homology with F4T:both possessed 13 ARGs distributed across nine categories,in addition to a wide range of virulence factors,including secretion systems and effector proteins.The presence of IncR and IncX1 plasmids significantly enhanced both the antimicrobial resistance and pathogenicity of the isolates.The genome map of Y23 revealed a chromosome alongside two plasmids.The chromosome containedonly one resistance gene but several virulence factors,including the type III secretion system(T3SS),which is crucial for bacterial invasion.The plasmid pY23-1 contained eight types of 19 ARGs.Comparative analysis indicated that pY23-1 ex-hibited high homology with pZ1323SSL0055 and pSAL-045,all of which contained multiple ARGs,thus suggesting critical roles of these genes in the evolution of bacterial resistance.In conclusion,ST314 S.Kentucky demonstrated a complex mechanism of resis-tance coupled with significant pathogenic potential.The ARGs and MGEs in the plasmid contributed to the emergence and dissemina-tion of antimicrobial resistance.The multiple virulence factors present in the chromosome may be key factors driving the increasing virulence of ST314 S.Kentucky.
3.Application progress of yttrium-90 selective internal radiation therapy in colorectal liver metastases
Guangbin WU ; Xiaolei XU ; Miaolong HE ; Xin HUANG ; Lin ZHANG ; Yong LIAO ; Xiaobin FENG
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2025;24(2):266-270
In recent years, the incidence of liver metastasis from colorectal cancer has continued to rise, posing a significant threat to human health and life.Although traditional treat-ments such as surgery and chemotherapy have shown some efficacy in certain patients, options remain limited for those who are not surgical candidates or are resistant to chemotherapy.Yttrium-90 microsphere selective internal radiation therapy, as an innovative local treatment, has fully demons-trated its effectiveness and safety in treating colorectal cancer liver metastasis patients. The authors review the research background, mechanisms, and principles of yttrium-90 microsphere selective internal radiation therapy in the field of colorectal cancer liver metastasis, and to explore its applica-tion progress in clinical practice, aiming to provide clinical doctors with more comprehensive and detailed reference information, with the goal of improving treatment outcomes and quality of life for colorectal cancer liver metastasis patients.
4.Effects of total flavonoids of Dracocephalum moldavica L.on ox-LDL-induced inflammatory response of RAW264.7 macrophages via NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway
Yun-li ZHAO ; Chuan-sheng HUANG ; Xin-hong GUO ; Wen-jiang CAO ; Yong YUAN ; Xin-chun WANG
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(2):413-420
AIM To study the effects of total flavonoids of Dracocephalum Moldavica L.(TFDM)on reducing the inflammatory response of RAW264.7 macrophages induced by ox-LDL via the nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)/NOD-like receptor 3(NLRP3)signaling pathway.METHODS The RAW264.7 macrophages cultured in vitro were divided into the normal group,the model group(50 μg/mL ox-LDL),the TFDM group(100 μg/mL TFDM+50 μg/mL ox-LDL),the NF-κB inhibitor group(10 μmol/L Bay11-7821+50 μg/mL ox-LDL)and the TFDM+NF-κB inhibitor group(100 μg/mL TFDM+10 μmol/L Bay11-7821+50 μg/mL ox-LDL).The cells had their viability assessed by CCK-8 method;their ROS expression detected by the ROS kit;their mRNA expressions of NF-κB p65,NLRP3,Caspase-1,IL-18 and IL-1β detected by RT-qPCR;their protein expressions of NF-κB p65,IκBα,NLRP3,pro-Caspase-1,Caspase-1,IL-18 and IL-1β by Western blot;their protein expressions of NF-κB p65 and NLRP3 detected using immunofluorescence method.RESULTS Compared with the normal group,the model group showed increased ROS expression(P<0.01);increased mRNA expressions of NF-κB p65,NLRP3,Caspase-1,IL-18 and IL-1β(P<0.05,P<0.01);decreased protein expressions of IκBα and cytoplasmic NF-κB p65(P<0.01);increased protein expressions of nuclear NF-κB p65,NLRP3,Caspase-1,IL-1 β and IL-18(P<0.01);and increased fluorescence intensity of NF-κB p65 and NLRP3(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the groups intervened with either TFDM or TFDM+inhibitor displayed decreased ROS expression(P<0.01);the groups administrated with TFDM or NF-κB inhibitor,or TFDM+inhibitor showed decreased mRNA expressions of NF-κB p65,NLRP3,Caspase-1,IL-18 and IL-1β(P<0.05,P<0.01),increased protein expressions of IκBα and cytoplasmic NF-κB p65(P<0.05,P<0.01),decreased protein expressions of nuclear NF-κB p65,NLRP3,Caspase-1,IL-1β and IL-18(P<0.05,P<0.01),and decreased fluorescence intensity of NF-κB p65 and NLRP3(P<0.01).There existed no significant group difference between the TFDM group and the NF-κB inhibitor group(P>0.05).The TFDM+inhibitor group demonstrated decreased mRNA expressions of IL-1βand IL-18(P<0.05),increased IκBα protein expression(P<0.05),decreased protein expressions of nuclear NF-κB p65,NLRP3,Caspase-1,IL-1 β and IL-18(P<0.05),and decreased fluorescence intensity of NLRP3 protein(P<0.05).CONCLUSION TFDM can inhibit the ox-LDL-induced inflammatory response of RAW264.7 macrophages,and the mechansism may be associated with the reduced ROS expression and inflammatory factors due to the inhibited activation of the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.
5.Textual Analysis of Relevant Policies on Children's Medicines in China Based on the Perspective of Policy Tools
Xin LU ; Yong YANG ; Jian HUANG ; Xueguo XIAN ; Zhengrong YAO
Herald of Medicine 2025;44(6):1010-1016
Objective To analyse China's policies related to children's medicines based on the perspective of policy tools,explore their multidimensional characteristics,and provide reference for the formulation and optimisation of China's policies related to children's medicines.Methods A two-dimensional analysis framework of policy tools-policy objectives was constructed,and the policies related to children's medicines issued at the national level from 2011 to 2023 were selected,and the policy texts were coded,classified and statistically analysed.Results Thirty-five policy texts were included and 117 units of analysis were obtained through coding.Of these,52.14%were environment-based policies,38.46%were supply-based policies and 9.40%were demand-based policies.The policy objectives were categorised as ensuring the safety of medicines for children,improving the level of paediatric diagnosis and treatment and increasing the accessibility of medicines for children,and the policy instruments applied to the above policy objectives accounted for 35.7%,13.5%and 50.8%respectively.Conclusion The distribution of policy instruments is not reasonable,the structure of policy objectives is unbalanced,environmental policy instruments dominate and demand-oriented policy instruments are missing.
6.Whole genome sequencing and analysis of multidrug resistant ST314 Salmonella Kentucky from a broiler slaughterhouse
Jia-rui LI ; Rui-yuan SUN ; Pei-jie HE ; Hao-tian LIU ; Ru-yi KUANG ; Jing XIA ; Min CUI ; Yong HUANG ; Li-kou ZOU ; Xin-feng HAN
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(5):537-543
This study investigated the potential pathogenicity and genetic characteristics of ST314 Salmonella Kentucky(S.Ken-tucky)isolates from a broiler slaughterhouse.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing(WGS)were used to determine antimicrobial resistance,virulence factors,and the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes(ARGs)and mobile genetic elements(MGEs)among the isolates.The three multidrug resistant(MDR)isolates exhibited high resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents.The F4-2S strain exhibited resistance to 14 drugs across seven categories,whereas the F4T strain showed resistance to 13 drugs in the same number of categories.In contrast,the Y23 strain was resistant to nine drugs in six categories.Notably,F4-2S dem-onstrated high homology with F4T:both possessed 13 ARGs distributed across nine categories,in addition to a wide range of virulence factors,including secretion systems and effector proteins.The presence of IncR and IncX1 plasmids significantly enhanced both the antimicrobial resistance and pathogenicity of the isolates.The genome map of Y23 revealed a chromosome alongside two plasmids.The chromosome containedonly one resistance gene but several virulence factors,including the type III secretion system(T3SS),which is crucial for bacterial invasion.The plasmid pY23-1 contained eight types of 19 ARGs.Comparative analysis indicated that pY23-1 ex-hibited high homology with pZ1323SSL0055 and pSAL-045,all of which contained multiple ARGs,thus suggesting critical roles of these genes in the evolution of bacterial resistance.In conclusion,ST314 S.Kentucky demonstrated a complex mechanism of resis-tance coupled with significant pathogenic potential.The ARGs and MGEs in the plasmid contributed to the emergence and dissemina-tion of antimicrobial resistance.The multiple virulence factors present in the chromosome may be key factors driving the increasing virulence of ST314 S.Kentucky.
7.Textual Analysis of Relevant Policies on Children's Medicines in China Based on the Perspective of Policy Tools
Xin LU ; Yong YANG ; Jian HUANG ; Xueguo XIAN ; Zhengrong YAO
Herald of Medicine 2025;44(6):1010-1016
Objective To analyse China's policies related to children's medicines based on the perspective of policy tools,explore their multidimensional characteristics,and provide reference for the formulation and optimisation of China's policies related to children's medicines.Methods A two-dimensional analysis framework of policy tools-policy objectives was constructed,and the policies related to children's medicines issued at the national level from 2011 to 2023 were selected,and the policy texts were coded,classified and statistically analysed.Results Thirty-five policy texts were included and 117 units of analysis were obtained through coding.Of these,52.14%were environment-based policies,38.46%were supply-based policies and 9.40%were demand-based policies.The policy objectives were categorised as ensuring the safety of medicines for children,improving the level of paediatric diagnosis and treatment and increasing the accessibility of medicines for children,and the policy instruments applied to the above policy objectives accounted for 35.7%,13.5%and 50.8%respectively.Conclusion The distribution of policy instruments is not reasonable,the structure of policy objectives is unbalanced,environmental policy instruments dominate and demand-oriented policy instruments are missing.
8.Discovery of FAM3 A-targeting Small Molecule Agents Using Integrated Virtual Screening and SPR Technology
Zi-Shuo XU ; Chao SHI ; Zhang-Xin CHEN ; Zhe-Yong XUE ; Li-Xin HUANG ; Zhen-Zhan CHANG
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(11):1711-1718
Family with sequence similarity 3 member A(FAM3A),a novel mitochondrial protein,plays a pivotal role in hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism by enhancing ATP synthesis and secretion and mod-ulating the ATP-P2 receptor-Akt signaling pathway.Dysregulation of FAM3A is closely associated with the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).In this study,targeting FAM3A as a therapeutic candidate,we conducted virtual screening to identify 47 small-molecule compounds with potential binding activity.Surface plasmon resonance(SPR)analysis re-vealed three compounds exhibiting high binding affinity to FAM3 A.Further structural characterization of the FAM3A-compound complexes,combined with intermolecular interaction analysis,elucidated the binding mode of the lead compound Index 2(taxifolin)to FAM3A at atomic resolution.These findings provide critical insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying ligand-FAM3A interactions and deliver valuable chemical scaffolds for the development of therapeutics targeting NAFLD and T2DM.This work establishes a foundation for advancing drug discovery efforts focused on FAM3A-mediated metabolic disor-ders.
9.Diffusion tensor imaging study of intracerebral glymphatic system function and white matter microstructure in type 2 diabetes patients with peripheral neuropathy
Xin WANG ; Jin XU ; Meng WANG ; Cheng LI ; Zhimin HUANG ; Yong XIAO
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(3):223-228
Objective:To investigate the glymphatic system dysfunction and white matter microstructural damage in type 2 diabetic mellitus patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), and to identify the early diagnostic imaging biomarkers.Methods:Thirty-one DPN patients and 31 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients who attended the First People's Hospital of Yancheng from March 2022 to October 2023 were included. In addition, 40 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. All subjects underwent 3.0T MRI scan with diffusion tensor imaging and 3D-T1WI sequences, and the diffusion tensor imaging analysis along the perivascular space(DTI-ALPS) index, perivascular space volume fraction in white matter(PVSVF-WM) and peak width of skeletonized mean diffusivity (PSMD) were calculated. SPSS 26.0 software was used to perform one-way ANOVA, t-tests, and Chi-square tests to compare clinical data and imaging indicators among the three groups. Partial correlation analysis was used to explore the relationships between DTI-ALPS index, PVSVF-WM, PSMD and clinical indicators in DPN patients. Finally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to evaluate the diagnostic value of DTI-ALPS index, PVSVF-WM, and PSMD for DPN. Results:The DPN group(1.46±0.19)had considerably lower DTI-ALPS index than the T2DM group (1.59±0.14) and HC group (1.60±0.17) (both P<0.05, Bonferroni correction). The DPN group (1.44±0.11) had significantly higher PVSVF-WM than both the T2DM group (1.35±0.14) and HC group (1.26±0.13) (both P<0.05, Bonferroni correction). The DPN group (1.84±0.31) and the T2DM group (1.83±0.25) had higher PSMD than HC group (1.60±0.24) (both P<0.05, Bonferroni correction), but the difference between the DPN group and the T2DM group was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). The DTI-ALPS index in the DPN group were negatively correlated with PSMD ( r=-0.379, P=0.035). The DTI-ALPS index was negatively correlated with the Toronto clinical scoring system (TCSS) score ( r=-0.456, P=0.01), while PSMD was positively correlated with TCSS scores ( r=0.686, P<0.001) in DPN group. The ROC curves showed that the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.777 ( P<0.001) for the combined diagnosis of DPN with the DTI-ALPS index, PVSVF-WM and PSMD. Conclusion:DPN patients exhibit glymphatic system dysfunction and white matter microstructural damage. The DTI-ALPS index and PSMD can serve as objective markers for assessing DPN severity. The combination of glymphatic system function indicators and white matter microstructural damage markers has moderate diagnostic value for peripheral neuropathy in T2DM patients.
10.Application progress of yttrium-90 selective internal radiation therapy in colorectal liver metastases
Guangbin WU ; Xiaolei XU ; Miaolong HE ; Xin HUANG ; Lin ZHANG ; Yong LIAO ; Xiaobin FENG
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2025;24(2):266-270
In recent years, the incidence of liver metastasis from colorectal cancer has continued to rise, posing a significant threat to human health and life.Although traditional treat-ments such as surgery and chemotherapy have shown some efficacy in certain patients, options remain limited for those who are not surgical candidates or are resistant to chemotherapy.Yttrium-90 microsphere selective internal radiation therapy, as an innovative local treatment, has fully demons-trated its effectiveness and safety in treating colorectal cancer liver metastasis patients. The authors review the research background, mechanisms, and principles of yttrium-90 microsphere selective internal radiation therapy in the field of colorectal cancer liver metastasis, and to explore its applica-tion progress in clinical practice, aiming to provide clinical doctors with more comprehensive and detailed reference information, with the goal of improving treatment outcomes and quality of life for colorectal cancer liver metastasis patients.

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