Unmasking Bias in AI: A Systematic Review of Bias Detection and Mitigation Strategies in Electronic Health Record-based Models.

OBJECTIVES: Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) in conjunction with electronic health records (EHRs) holds transformative potential to improve healthcare. Yet, addressing bias in AI, which risks worsening healthcare disparities, cannot be overlooked. This study reviews methods to detect and mitigate diverse forms of bias in AI models developed using EHR data. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, analyzing articles from PubMed, Web of Science, and IEEE published between January 1, 2010, and Dec 17, 2023. The review identified key biases, outlined strategies for detecting and mitigating bias throughout the AI model development process, and analyzed metrics for bias assessment. RESULTS: Of the 450 articles retrieved, 20 met our criteria, revealing six major bias types: algorithmic, confounding, implicit, measurement, selection, and temporal. The AI models were primarily developed for predictive tasks in healthcare settings. Four studies concentrated on the detection of implicit and algorithmic biases employing fairness metrics like statistical parity, equal opportunity, and predictive equity. Sixty proposed various strategies for mitigating biases, especially targeting implicit and selection biases. These strategies, evaluated through both performance (e.g., accuracy, AUROC) and fairness metrics, predominantly involved data collection and preprocessing techniques like resampling, reweighting, and transformation. DISCUSSION: This review highlights the varied and evolving nature of strategies to address bias in EHR-based AI models, emphasizing the urgent needs for the establishment of standardized, generalizable, and interpretable methodologies to foster the creation of ethical AI systems that promote fairness and equity in healthcare.

A ng/L Level LC-MS Method Using Membrane SPE as Sampling Technology: Determination of Nine Halobenzoquinones in Potable Water.

A promising method was established for the determination of nine halobenzoquinones (HBQs) in potable water by membrane solid-phase extraction (MSPE) pretreatment and the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method. A 500 mL water sample was taken for enrichment by the SDB-RPS membrane, which was previously activated by methanol and ultrapure water. The sample was eluted with methanol and re-dissolved with the initial mobile phase after nitrogen blowing. Then, it was detected in negative ion mode using the working curve, and HBQs were quantified by the external standard method. The linearity was satisfactory in the concentration range of 4-1000 ng/L, with correlation coefficients of 0.9963~0.9994. The recoveries were 73.5~126.6% at three spiked levels, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 6.8~15.5%. The limits of detection (LOD, S/N = 3) values were 0.1~0.7 ng/L. The results demonstrate that the MSPE-LC-MS method is reliable, rapid, and sensitive for the simultaneous analysis of nine HBPs in potable water.

Knowledge framework of intravenous immunoglobulin resistance in the field of Kawasaki disease: A bibliometric analysis (1997-2023).

BACKGROUND: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an autoimmune disease with cardiovascular disease as its main complication, mainly affecting children under 5 years old. KD treatment has made tremendous progress in recent years, but intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) resistance remains a major dilemma. Bibliometric analysis had not been used previously to summarize and analyze publications related to IVIG resistance in KD. This study aimed to provide an overview of the knowledge framework and research hotspots in this field through bibliometrics, and provide references for future basic and clinical research. METHODS: Through bibliometric analysis of relevant literature published on the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database between 1997 and 2023, we investigated the cooccurrence and collaboration relationships among countries, institutions, journals, and authors and summarized key research topics and hotspots. RESULTS: Following screening, a total of 364 publications were downloaded, comprising 328 articles and 36 reviews. The number of articles on IVIG resistance increased year on year and the top three most productive countries were China, Japan, and the United States. Frontiers in Pediatrics had the most published articles, and the Journal of Pediatrics had the most citations. IVIG resistance had been studied by 1889 authors, of whom Kuo Ho Chang had published the most papers. CONCLUSION: Research in the field was focused on risk factors, therapy (atorvastatin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors), pathogenesis (gene expression), and similar diseases (multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, MIS-C). "Treatment," "risk factor," and "prediction" were important keywords, providing a valuable reference for scholars studying this field. We suggest that, in the future, more active international collaborations are carried out to study the pathogenesis of IVIG insensitivity, using high-throughput sequencing technology. We also recommend that machine learning techniques are applied to explore the predictive variables of IVIG resistance.

Spexin ameliorated obesity-related metabolic disorders through promoting white adipose browning mediated by JAK2-STAT3 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Spexin, a 14 amino acid peptide, has been reported to regulate obesity and its associated complications. However, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanism. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of spexin on obesity and explore the detailed molecular mechanisms in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks to induce obesity, and mice fed a standard fat diet were used as controls. Then, these mice were treated with SPX or Vehicle by intraperitoneal injection for an additional 12 weeks, respectively. The metabolic profile, fat-browning specific markers and mitochondrial contents were detected. In vitro, 3T3-L1 cells were used to investigate the molecular mechanisms. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of treatment, SPX significantly decreased body weight, serum lipid levels, and improved insulin sensitivity in HFD-induced obese mice. Moreover, SPX was found to promote oxygen consumption in HFD mice, and it increased mitochondrial content as well as the expression of brown-specific markers in white adipose tissue (WAT) of HFD mice. These results were consistent with the increase in mitochondrial content and the expression of brown-specific markers in 3T3-L1 mature adipocytes. Of note, the spexin-mediated beneficial pro-browning actions were abolished by the JAK2/STAT3 pathway antagonists in mature 3T3-L1 cells. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that spexin ameliorates obesity-induced metabolic disorders by improving WAT browning via activation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Therefore, SPX may serve as a new therapeutic candidate for treating obesity.

Unmasking bias in artificial intelligence: a systematic review of bias detection and mitigation strategies in electronic health record-based models.

OBJECTIVES: Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) in conjunction with electronic health records (EHRs) holds transformative potential to improve healthcare. However, addressing bias in AI, which risks worsening healthcare disparities, cannot be overlooked. This study reviews methods to handle various biases in AI models developed using EHR data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines, analyzing articles from PubMed, Web of Science, and IEEE published between January 01, 2010 and December 17, 2023. The review identified key biases, outlined strategies for detecting and mitigating bias throughout the AI model development, and analyzed metrics for bias assessment. RESULTS: Of the 450 articles retrieved, 20 met our criteria, revealing 6 major bias types: algorithmic, confounding, implicit, measurement, selection, and temporal. The AI models were primarily developed for predictive tasks, yet none have been deployed in real-world healthcare settings. Five studies concentrated on the detection of implicit and algorithmic biases employing fairness metrics like statistical parity, equal opportunity, and predictive equity. Fifteen studies proposed strategies for mitigating biases, especially targeting implicit and selection biases. These strategies, evaluated through both performance and fairness metrics, predominantly involved data collection and preprocessing techniques like resampling and reweighting. DISCUSSION: This review highlights evolving strategies to mitigate bias in EHR-based AI models, emphasizing the urgent need for both standardized and detailed reporting of the methodologies and systematic real-world testing and evaluation. Such measures are essential for gauging models' practical impact and fostering ethical AI that ensures fairness and equity in healthcare.

Multi-omics reveal the effects and regulatory mechanism of dietary neutral detergent fiber supplementation on carcass characteristics, amino acid profiles, and meat quality of finishing pigs.

This study aimed to reveal the effects and regulatory mechanism of dietary NDF on the performance of pigs by multi-omics analysis. Results showed that 16 % dietary NDF significantly improved meat quality, increased flavor amino acid content, and reduced backfat thickness and the feed-to-gain ratio. 16S rDNA sequencing showed that 16 % NDF significantly increased the abundance of Akkermansia, Lachnoclostridium, and Ruminococcus. Transcript analysis showed that genes related to muscle development and lipid metabolism were significantly modified. Metabonomic analysis showed that 16 % NDF significantly increased amino and fatty acid related metabolites. Correlation analysis suggested that 16 % NDF treatment may alter the gut microbiota and metabolites, regulate the expression of genes related to lipid and amino metabolism, and ultimately affect the flavor and performance of pigs. This study provides a novel understanding about the effect and regulatory mechanism of NDF supplements on the finishing pigs and a relevant reference for the improvement of diet formulation.

Development of plasma technology for the preparation and modification of energy storage materials.

The development of energy storage material technologies stands as a decisive measure in optimizing the structure of clean and low-carbon energy systems. The remarkable activity inherent in plasma technology imbues it with distinct advantages in surface modification, functionalization, synthesis, and interface engineering of materials. This review systematically expounds upon the principles, classifications, and application scenarios of plasma technology, while thoroughly discussing its unique merits in the realm of modifying electrode materials, solid-state electrolytes, and conductive carbon materials, which are widely used in lithium-ion batteries, sodium ion batteries, metal air batteries and other fields. Finally, considering the existing constraints associated with lithium-ion batteries, some application prospects of plasma technology in the energy storage field are suggested. This work is of great significance for the development of clean plasma technology in the field of energy storage.

LncRNA STAT3-AS regulates endometrial receptivity via the STAT3 signaling pathway.

Endometrial receptivity is critical for the successful establishment of pregnancy in ruminants. Interferon tau (IFNT) plays a key role in promoting embryo attachment by activating the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway, which induces the expression of a series of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). In our previous study, sequencing analysis of goat endometrial epithelial cells (gEECs) treated with 20 ng/mL IFNT revealed a differentially expressed long non-coding RNA located on the STAT3 antisense chain, which we designated STAT3-AS. The aim of this study was to investigate the role and mechanism of STAT3-AS in establishing endometrial receptivity in goats. The results showed that STAT3-AS was expressed in both the nucleus and cytoplasm of gEECs, and its expression increased significantly in the uterus on day 15 of pregnancy. STAT3-AS expression was upregulated in gEECs treated with IFNT alone or in combination with progesterone and estradiol. Knockdown of STAT3-AS using specific short interfering RNA significantly inhibited the expression of classical ISGs such as interferon-stimulated gene 15 and 2',5'-oligodenylate synthetase 2, as well as uterine endometrial receptivity-related genes including homeobox gene A11, integrin beta 3, and vascular endothelial growth factor. Moreover, gEEC proliferation and the STAT3 pathway were suppressed in the absence of STAT3-AS. However, pretreatment with the STAT3 activator RO8191 restored the effect of silencing STAT3-AS on endometrial receptivity. Overall, these results suggest that STAT3-AS is an important regulator of endometrial receptivity in goats and that it regulates endometrial receptivity through the STAT3 pathway.

PDGF-AA loaded photo-crosslinked chitosan-based hydrogel for promoting wound healing.

Chitosan-based hydrogels are considered to be ideal materials for promoting wound healing due to their nontoxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible properties. However, the weak mechanical strength, hemostatic properties, and adhesive properties of chitosan hydrogels limit their potential applications. In this study, we synthesized methacrylimide-chitosan (MAC)-4-arm polyethylene glycol (PEG)-dopamine (DMA) (MAC-PEG-DMA) hybrid hydrogels containing A-chain homodimers of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-AA) through one-pot photo-crosslinking. The resulting hydrogel exhibited improved mechanical strength and hemostatic properties as demonstrated by both in vitro blood clotting assay and rat liver hemorrhage assay. Furthermore, The PDGF-AA loaded hydrogel was also able to accelerate cell migration and proliferation. Data from skin wounds treated with this hybrid hydrogel showed faster wound closure and collagen maturation. Therefore, MAC-PEG-DMA (PDGF-AA) has great potential as a dressing to promote wound healing.

Efficient one-pot syntheses of secondary amines from nitro aromatics and benzyl alcohols over Pd/NiTi-LDH under visible light.

Solar energy-induced cascade/tandem reactions in one-pot are sustainable and green. Herein, the Pd/NiTi-LDH nanocomposite, with Pd nanoparticles (NPs) (∼3-6 nm) deposited on NiTi-LDH nanosheets, was obtained and was applied in the reaction between nitro aromatics and alcohols to synthesize secondary amines under visible light. The superior performance observed over the as-obtained Pd/NiTi-LDH nanocomposite for this reaction can be attributed to a successful merging of Pd-based hydrogenation and LDH-based photocatalysis, in which consecutive light-induced hydrogenation of nitro compounds to amines, dehydrogenation of alcohols to aldehydes, condensation between the in situ formed aldehydes and amines to imines and the hydrogenation of final imines to generate the desired secondary amines were realized in one pot over Pd/NiTi-LDH under visible light. This work shows an effective and green strategy in the synthesis of secondary amines. This study also demonstrates the high potential of using metal/LDH nanocomposites for light-initiated organic syntheses.

Recent advances in anxiety disorders: Focus on animal models and pathological mechanisms.

Anxiety disorders have become one of the most severe psychiatric disorders, and the incidence is increasing every year. They impose an extraordinary personal and socioeconomic burden. Anxiety disorders are influenced by multiple complex and interacting genetic, psychological, social, and environmental factors, which contribute to disruption or imbalance in homeostasis and eventually cause pathologic anxiety. The selection of a suitable animal model is important for the exploration of disease etiology and pathophysiology, and the development of new drugs. Therefore, a more comprehensive understanding of the advantages and limitations of existing animal models of anxiety disorders is helpful to further study the underlying pathological mechanisms of the disease. This review summarizes animal models and the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders, and discusses the current research status to provide insights for further study of anxiety disorders.

Identification of hub biomarkers and immune-related pathways participating in the progression of Kawasaki disease by integrated bioinformatics analysis.

BACKGROUND: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis that commonly affects children and its etiology remains unknown. Growing evidence suggests that immune-mediated inflammation and immune cells in the peripheral blood play crucial roles in the pathophysiology of KD. The objective of this research was to find important biomarkers and immune-related mechanisms implicated in KD, along with their correlation with immune cells in the peripheral blood. MATERIAL/METHODS: Gene microarray data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) was utilized in this study. Three datasets, namely GSE63881 (341 samples), GSE73463 (233 samples), and GSE73461 (279 samples), were obtained. To find intersecting genes, we employed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Subsequently, functional annotation, construction of protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression were performed to identify hub genes. The accuracy of these hub genes in identifying KD was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Furthermore, Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) was employed to explore the composition of circulating immune cells within the assessed datasets and their relationship with the hub gene markers. RESULTS: WGCNA yielded eight co-expression modules, with one hub module (MEblue module) exhibiting the strongest association with acute KD. 425 distinct genes were identified. Integrating WGCNA and DEGs yielded a total of 277 intersecting genes. By conducting LASSO analysis, five hub genes (S100A12, MMP9, TLR2, NLRC4 and ARG1) were identified as potential biomarkers for KD. The diagnostic value of these five hub genes was demonstrated through ROC curve analysis, indicating their high accuracy in diagnosing KD. Analysis of the circulating immune cell composition within the assessed datasets revealed a significant association between KD and various immune cell types, including activated dendritic cells, neutrophils, immature dendritic cells, macrophages, and activated CD8 T cells. Importantly, all five hub genes exhibited strong correlations with immune cells. CONCLUSION: Activated dendritic cells, neutrophils, and macrophages were closely associated with the pathogenesis of KD. Furthermore, the hub genes (S100A12, MMP9, TLR2, NLRC4, and ARG1) are likely to participate in the pathogenic mechanisms of KD through immune-related signaling pathways.

Natural and anthropogenic factors regulating fluoride enrichment in groundwater of the Nansi Lake Basin, Northern China.

Excess fluoride (F-) in groundwater can be hazardous to human health of local residents who rely upon it. Beside natural sources, anthropogenic input may be an additional source to be considered. Twenty surface water and 396 groundwater samples were collected from the Nansi Lake Basin, with hydrogeochemical and isotope techniques employed to clarify the spatial variability, source, and the natural and anthropogenic factors regulating the occurrence of high F- groundwater. The factors responsible for elevated F- levels in surface water and deep confined aquifers are discussed based on their hydraulic relationship. Also a conceptual model of F- enrichment with different aquifer systems is put forward based on the geomorphic units of the basin. The results show that F- concentration is between 0.1 and 6.9 mg/L in the west of Lake, while ranged from 0.03 to 1.74 mg/L in the east of Lake. The hydrogeological setting and lithology are the primary factor determining the provenance of high-fluoride groundwater in the basin. Fluoride mainly originated from the dissolution of fluorine-bearing minerals, and is affected by the alkaline groundwater environment, cation exchange, adsorption, and evaporation. The landforms on the east side of Nansi Lake are low hills and piedmont sedimentary plains, where the aquifers consist of karst fissure water and overlying porewater. High F- groundwater is not observed in this area due to its rapid flow and Ca2+-enriched hydrochemical characteristics. The anthropogenic input (such as fertilizer application on farms and illegal industrial pollutant discharge), contribute F- to groundwater in varying degrees, especially in the shallow aquifers east of the lake and in some parts west of the lake. This work is a clear example of how natural processes together with human activities can affect the chemical quality of groundwater, which is essential to safeguard the sustainable management of water resources in semi-arid areas.

Super Enhancer-Associated Circular RNA-CircKrt4 Regulates Hypoxic Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cell Dysfunction in Mice.

BACKGROUND: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been implicated in pulmonary hypertension progression through largely unknown mechanisms. Pulmonary artery endothelial cell (PAEC) dysfunction is a hallmark in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension. However, the specific role of circular RNAs in PAEC injury caused by hypoxia remains unclear. METHODS: In this study, using the Western blotting, RNA pull down, Dual-luciferase reporter assay, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence, we identified a novel circular RNA derived from alternative splicing of the keratin 4 gene (circKrt4). RESULTS: CircKrt4 was upregulated in lung tissues and plasma and specifically in PAECs under hypoxic conditions. In the nucleus, circKrt4 induces endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition by interacting with the Pura (transcriptional activator protein Pur-alpha) to promote N-cadherin gene activation. In the cytoplasm, increased circKrt4 leads to mitochondrial dysfunction by inhibiting cytoplasmic-mitochondrial shuttling of mitochondrial-bound Glpk (glycerol kinase). Intriguingly, circKrt4 was identified as a super enhancer-associated circular RNA that is transcriptionally activated by a transcription factor, CEBPA (CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha). Furthermore, RBM25 (RNA-binding-motif protein 25) was found to regulate circKrt4 cyclization by increase the back-splicing of Krt4 gene. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that a super enhancer-associated circular RNA-circKrt4 modulates PAEC injury to promote pulmonary hypertension by targeting Pura and Glpk.

Selective IgA Deficiency with Multiple Autoimmune Comorbidities: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Case: Individuals with Selective Immunoglobulin-A Deficiency (SIgAD) are often asymptomatic, and symptomatic SIgAD patients often have autoimmune comorbidities. A 48-year-old Han Chinese man presented with abdominal discomfort, hematochezia, and a large tumor in the anogenital region. The primary diagnosis of SIgAD was based on the patient's age, serum IgA concentration (0.067 g/L), and the evidence of chronic respiratory infection. No other immunoglobulin deficiency or evidence of immunosuppression was present. The primary diagnosis of giant condyloma acuminatum was based on human papilloma virus-6-positive laboratory results and histological characteristics. The tumor and adjacent skin lesions were resected. Hemoglobin concentration fell to 5.50 g/dL, and an emergency erythrocyte transfusion was performed. The body temperature increased to 39.8 ºC, suggesting a transfusion reaction, and 5 mg dexamethasone was administered intravenously. Hemoglobin concentration stabilized at 10.5 g/dL. The clinical signs and laboratory results indicated autoimmune hemolytic anemia, systemic lupus erythematosus, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Abdominal discomfort and hematochezia subsided. Though uncommon, the manifestation of multiple autoimmune comorbidities can occur in SIgAD patients. Further research is needed regarding the causes of SIgAD and the autoimmune disorders that often occur as comorbidities.

Observation of Anomalous Orbital Angular Momentum Transfer in Parametric Nonlinearity.

Orbital angular momentum (OAM) conservation plays an important role in shaping and controlling structured light with nonlinear optics. The OAM of a beam originating from three-wave mixing should be the sum or difference of the other two inputs because no light-matter OAM exchange occurs in parametric nonlinear interactions. Here, we report anomalous OAM transfer in parametric upconversion, in which a Hermite-Gauss mode signal interacts with a specially engineered pump capable of astigmatic transformation, resulting in Laguerre-Gaussian mode sum-frequency generation (SFG). The anomaly here refers to the fact that the pump and signal both carry no net OAM, while their SFG does. We reveal experimentally that there is also an OAM inflow to the residual pump, having the same amount of that to the SFG but with the opposite sign, and thus holds system OAM conservation. This unexpected OAM selection rule improves our understanding of OAM transfer among interacting waves and may inspire new ideas for controlling OAM states via nonlinear optics.

USP18 promotes endometrial receptivity via the JAK/STAT1 and the ISGylation pathway.

Interferon-tau (IFNT), a pregnancy recognition signal in ruminants, promotes the establishment of endometrial receptivity by inducing the expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) via the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STATs) signaling pathway. However, the precise mechanisms remain largely unknown. Ubiquitin-specific protease 18 (USP18) acts specifically on the ISGylation modification system to exert deubiquitination and participates in the regulation of the type I IFN signaling pathway. The purpose of this study was to determine the role and mechanism of USP18 on endometrial receptivity in goat. USP18 was mainly localized in the uterine luminal and glandular epithelium, and its expression levels were significantly increased from days 5-18 of early pregnancy. Progesterone (P4), estradiol (E2), and IFNT significantly stimulated USP18 expression in goat endometrial epithelial cells (gEECs) cultured in vitro. Meanwhile, the markers of endometrial receptivity HOXA11, ITGB1, ITGB3, and ITGB5 were significantly upregulated after USP18 overexpression in gEECs. However, USP18 interference significantly inhibited the expression of HOXA10, ITGB1, ITGB3, and ITGB5 in gEECs. In addition, both the phosphorylation levels of STAT1 and the expression of ISGylation-modified proteins were significantly increased after USP18 silencing in gEECs. Furthermore, pretreatment with the STAT1 inhibitor Fludara markedly restored the effect of USP18 interference in gEECs. In summary, USP18 may play an important role in promoting goat endometrial receptivity by regulating the JAK/STAT1 pathway and ISGylation.

Fully Integrated Line Array Angular Displacement Sensing Chip.

The angular displacement sensor is a digital angular displacement measurement device that integrates optics, mechanics, and electronics. It has important applications in communication, servo control, aerospace, and other fields. Although conventional angular displacement sensors can achieve extremely high measurement accuracy and resolution, they cannot be integrated because complex signal processing circuitry is required at the photoelectric receiver, which limits their suitability for robotics and automotive applications. The design of a fully integrated line array angular displacement-sensing chip is presented for the first time using a combination of pseudo-random and incremental code channel designs. Based on the charge redistribution principle, a fully differential 12-bit, 1 MSPS sampling rate successive approximation analog-to-digital converter (SAR ADC) is designed for quantization and subdivision of the incremental code channel output signal. The design is verified with a 0.35 µm CMOS process and the area of the overall system is 3.5 × 1.8 mm2. The fully integrated design of the detector array and readout circuit is realized for the angular displacement sensing.

TouchRoller: A Rolling Optical Tactile Sensor for Rapid Assessment of Textures for Large Surface Areas.

Tactile sensing is important for robots to perceive the world as it captures the physical surface properties of the object with which it is in contact and is robust to illumination and colour variances. However, due to the limited sensing area and the resistance of their fixed surface when they are applied with relative motions to the object, current tactile sensors have to tap the tactile sensor on the target object a great number of times when assessing a large surface, i.e., pressing, lifting up, and shifting to another region. This process is ineffective and time-consuming. It is also undesirable to drag such sensors as this often damages the sensitive membrane of the sensor or the object. To address these problems, we propose a roller-based optical tactile sensor named TouchRoller, which can roll around its centre axis. It maintains being in contact with the assessed surface throughout the entire motion, allowing for efficient and continuous measurement. Extensive experiments showed that the TouchRoller sensor can cover a textured surface of 8 cm × 11 cm in a short time of 10 s, much more effectively than a flat optical tactile sensor (in 196 s). The reconstructed map of the texture from the collected tactile images has a high Structural Similarity Index (SSIM) of 0.31 on average when compared with the visual texture. In addition, the contacts on the sensor can be localised with a low localisation error, 2.63 mm in the centre regions and 7.66 mm on average. The proposed sensor will enable the fast assessment of large surfaces with high-resolution tactile sensing and the effective collection of tactile images.