Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Ningxin decoction in treating patients with permanent atrial fibrillation(AF)of deficiency of both qi and yin type infected by coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).Methods From February to August 2023,120 patients with permanent AF of deficiency of both qi and yin type infected by COVID-19 were collected from the outpatient clinic of Guang'anmen Hospital South Campus,China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences.Patients were randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group using a random number table method,there were 60 cases in each group,and 1 case fell off in each group,leaving 59 cases in each group.The treatment group was given Ningxin decoction(drug composition:Cassia branch 15 g,Cornus officinalis 15 g,Rehmannia 15 g,Rhodiola rosea 15 g,Ginseng 6 g,Mulberry parasitica 10 g,Coptis coptis 3 g,Salvia miltiorrhiza 12 g,Ligusticum chuanxiong 10 g,Ophiopogon 12 g,and schisandra Vinegar 6 g)using formula granules to rinse with water,twice a day.The control group was given 10 mg of coenzyme Q10 twice a day,and both groups were treated continuously for 4 weeks.The improvements in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)symptoms,including chest pain,dizziness,fatigue,lethargy,palpitations,chest tightness and shortness of breath,insomnia,and excessive dreams before and after treatment in two groups,as well as changes in heart rate variability(HRV)and heart rate deceleration indicators were observed.Results The treatment group showed significant therapeutic effects in improving chest pain,fatigue,palpitations,chest tightness and shortness of breath,there were also improvements in lethargy,insomnia,and excessive dreaming,there was no significant therapeutic effect in improving dizziness.The control group showed significant therapeutic effects in improving palpitations,there were also improvements in chest pain,chest tightness and shortness of breath,while there was no significant therapeutic effect in other aspects.The treatment group showed significantly higher effective rates in improving chest pain,fatigue,lethargy,chest tightness and shortness of breath,insomnia,and excessive dreaming compared to the control group[chest pain:95.45%(42/44)vs.78.57%(33/42),fatigue:83.67%(41/49)vs.31.25%(15/48),lethargy:73.91%(34/46)vs.12.77%(6/47),chest tightness and shortness of breath:88.89%(48/54)vs.63.64%(35/55),insomnia:78.43%(40/51)vs.12.24%(6/49),excessive dreaming:76.09%(35/46)vs.43.75%(21/48),all P<0.05].The standard deviation of all normal to normal RR intervals(SDNN),root mean square of the difference between adjacent NN intervals(RMSSD),standard deviation of all 5-minute RR intervals(SDANN),and percent of NN50 in the total number of NN intervals(PNN50)in both groups after treatment were significantly increased compared to before treatment,and the RMSSD,SDANN,and PNN50 in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group after treatment[RMSSD(ms):28.96±3.59 vs.24.34±2.66,SDANN(ms):108.55±11.80 vs.100.44±13.58,PNN50:7%(6%,7%)vs.5%(5%,6%),all P<0.05].There was no statistically significant difference in heart rate deceleration between the two groups before and after treatment.Conclusion Ningxin decoction has a good effect on the improvement of TCM syndromes and heart rate variability in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation of deficiency of both qi and yin type after being infected by COVID-19.

Endodontic microsurgery is a vital treatment modality for teeth with persistent periradicular pathoses that have not responded to nonsurgical retreatment. The principle is to determine the reason for failure, completely eliminate the infection and promote periapical healing. Within recent years, endodontic microsurgery has evolved to become standardized and presents with a high success rate. However, its outcome is still influenced by many factors, including anatomy, periodontal condition, crown-to-root ratio, occlusion, the type of periradicular lesion, and prosthesis. Moreover, endodontists always concentrate on “the apex”, paying little attention to the general preoperative evaluation, accurate diagnosis, and comprehensive treatment plan. This article reviews the latest literature on these issues and the clinical experience of our research group and discusses the correlation between endodontic microsurgery and other oral disciplines, including periodontology, prosthodontics, oral implantology, oral and maxillofacial surgery and orthodontics. The oral interdisciplinary assessment should be made with comprehensive consideration of the root canal system, periradicular lesion, adjacent anatomical relationships, periodontal condition, occlusion, and esthetic rehabilitation. Based on these findings, the continuity of treatment will be optimized, and the best treatment plan will be proposed to provide clinical strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of complex periradicular diseases.

Objective To explore the value of echocardiography in the diagnosis of the criss-cross heart. Methods The echocardiographic results of 6 patients with the criss-cross heart were reviewed retrospectively. The echocardiographic characteristics were analyzed and compared with the surgery results in 4 operated cases. Results The 6 cases were interpreted as representing a criss-cross heart with solitus atria,D-loop ventricles and concordant atrioventricular connections. The ventriculo-arterial alignments of 5 cases were abnormal including double outlet right ventricle with anterior aorta in 2 and transposition of the great arteries in 3 while 1 patient had concordant connection. The following principal characteristics were tilting the transducer from posterior to anterior could demonstrate the connection of the left-sided left atrium and the right-sided left ventricle through mitral valve at first. The more anterior angulation of the transducer then showed the right-sided right atrium was connected to the left-sided right ventricle through tricuspid imaging displayed the two atrial outflows crossed each other without mixing at atrioventricular valve level.right ventricle often occured. The echocardiographic diagnosis of the criss-cross heart and its associated cardiac abnormalities were confirmed by surgery in 4 cases except 1 persistent left superior vena cava was missed. Conclusions The invisibility of a standard 4-chamber view in any cut was very characteristic in the echocardiographic diagnosis of the criss-cross heart. The definitive appearance was the separate display of the two ventricular inlets and the crossed atrioventricular connections with each atrium emptying into the contralateral ventricle by continuous subxiphoid or apical scanning. The transthoracic echocardiography can diagnose this rare heart disease and associated cardiac abnormalities accurately.

Objective To explore the value of transthoracic echocardiography in diagnosis of univentricle and analyze the sonogram typing. Methods The results of 66 patients with univentricle were reviewed retrospectively,and analayzed their typing connected with the reports in the literature. Results There were 3 ultrasonic types in 66 cases:①Type A(single left ventricle) 19 cases,single ventricle with left ventricular shape,residual cavity in front of it. ②Type B(single right ventricle) 38 cases, single ventricle with right ventricular form,and residual cavity in the rear.③Type C (solitary single-ventricle) 9 cases,there was only one ventricle. Thirty-one of them were treated surgically, 5 cases without operation had MRI or cardiac catheterization examination and the remaining 26 patients were only observed by echocardiography,the positive rate of diagnosis in type was 100%, the results were compared with cardiac catheterization or MRI examination and the operation: 1 cases of mixed type total anomalous pulmonary venous connection was misdiagnosed as heart-type total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage. But 1 case of descending aorta limitations narrow complicated patent ductus arteriosus(PDA), PDA was missed. The rest were completely correct diagnosis. Conclusions The transthoracic echocardiography can be used to evaluate types and all containing malformations of univentricle,and offers reliable information for operation.

Objective To evaluate left atrial(LA) function in patients with prophase type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) combinated with or without hypertension using left atrial volume tracking method(LAVT). Methods Thirty-one simple T2DM(T2DMI group) ,21 T2DM accompany with hypertension(T2DM2 group) and forty-five healthy subjects (control group) were enrolled in this study. Ultrasound LAVT(EUB-6500, Hitachi Medical Corporation) was applied to display and analyzed the LA volume loop imaging on the standard LV apical two and four chamber views. The maximal and the minimal LA volume (LAVmax, LAVmin) and the volume before LA contraction (LAVp) were recorded from the LA volume loop. The body surface area was used to correct these volume indexs. The LA reservoir function was assessed by calculating the total of LA filling volume (LAVItotal) and the expansion index(iLAVIe). The passive and active emptying percentage of the total emptying volume(LAVIpass, LAVIact) and the emptying index(iLAVIpass,iLAVIact) were caculated as the parameters of the LA conduit and booster pump function. Results Compared with the values in the control group, the LAVhotal,LAVIact were significantly higher and the LAVlpass,iLAVlpass were lower in the T2DM group (all P<0.05) ,while the iLAVIact was higher only seen in the T2DM2 group(P<0. 05). The LAVlact, iLAVIact were higher and the LAVIpass was lower in T2DM2 group than those in the T2DM1 group (all P<0.05). Conclusions The LA conduit hypofunction in primary in the prophase T2DM,when combinated with hypertension the LA constriction function compensatorily increased, LAVT can evaluate the function of LA in patients with T2DM accurately and rapidly.

Objective To accurately investigate the characteristic and effective of occlusive devices in ventricular septal of defect (VSD) by using stereo 3D echocardiography. Methods Six patients with VSD were included who were undergone the defect closing operation with Amplatzer occluder device. Stereo 3D echocardiography was performed to show 3DE imaging appearance after the operative procedure. Results Stereo 3D echocardiography were performed after the procedure of implanting occluder device. It was clear to show the location of the occluder and the space relationship of each parts. Conclusions The appearance,location and space relationship of occluder could be seen clearly by stereo 3D echocardiography after implanting occluder device. Compare with 2D, real-time 3D echocardiography, stereo 3D echocardiography could provide more veracious information about heart structures and the therapeutic devices for clinical use.

Objective To explore the clinical value of color Doppler flow imaging(CDFI) combined with quantitative analysis technique to evaluate renal flow perflusion. Methods Twenty patients with different renal diseases matched with healthy control subjects were examined with Philips iU22 CDFI system. CDFI system and Qlab quantitative technique were used to measure renal restrictive index(RI), vascularization index(VI), flow index(FI), vascularization-flow index (VFI). The patients all received renal single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) examination. Results The RI of 32 kidney with lower flow perfusion in SPECT were higher than in the contol group (P <0.01). VI,FI, VFI were lower than those in control(VI, VFI, P <0.01 ;FI, P <0.05). Conelusious The renal blood flow perfusion of patients with renal diseases are lower than that of healthy people. It has high clinical value using CDFI combined with quantitative analysis technique to evaluate the renal perfusion of the patients with renal diseases.

Objective To assess the characteristics of left ventricular(LV) systolic dyssynchrony in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) using two dimensional speckle-tracking imaging(2D-STI) and validate the correlation between LV systolic dyssynchrony and its ejection fraction (EF) measured by traditional two dimensional echocardiography. Methods Forty-two patients with CHF, which were divided into group CHF1 with 35% ＜EF≤50% and group CHF2 with EF≤35%, and 35 healthy subjects as control group were enrolled in this study. Two-dimensional echocardiography Simpson's method was used to measure EF of LV. The time from the onset of QRS complexes to systole peak strain rate from the longitudinal, radial and circumferential vectors(Tsrsl, Tsrsr, Tsrsc)was recorded and measured using 2D-STI, respectively. The standard deviation and the maximal temporal difference of Tsrsl, Tsrsr, Tsrsc (Tsrsl-SD,Tsrsr-SD,Tsrsc-SD,Tsrsl-diff,Tsrsr-diff, Tsrsc-diff)of 18 segments were calculated as indicator of LV systolic dyssynchrony. Results The indices of LV systolic dyssynchrony Tsrsl-SD,Tsrsl-diff, Tsrsr-SD, Tsrsr-diff,Tsrsc-SD,Tsrsc-diff in group CHF1 and CHF2 were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with group CHF1, those indices in CHF2 were significantly longer (P<0.05). Meanwhile, Tsrsl-SD, Tsrsr-SD, Tsrsc-SD(r = - 0.904～0.912, all P<0.05) and Tsrsl-diff, Tsrsr-diff, Tsrsc-diff(r = - 0.916～0.967, all P<0.01) had singnificantly negative correlations with LVEF, and the correlation coefficients between radial and circumferential 2D-STI dyssynchrony parameters and LVEF were higher than those between the longitudinal parameters and LVEF. Conclusions 2D-STI is a useful modality to evaluate the LV systolic asynchrony of the CHF and there is a good correlation between LVEF and the LV systolic dyssynchrony indices derived from 2D-STI.

Objective To assess longitudinal, radial and circumferential systolic strain of regional myocardium in patients with coronary artery disease by 2-dimensional strain echocardiography, and to explore stenosis of coronary artery impacting on regional left ventricular systolic dysfunction in quietscent condition. Methods Twenty-six patients with coronary artery disease were entrolled into this study and 26 healthy volenteers in the control group. The two-dimensional loop-einec were obtained in apical 4-chamber view,apical 2-chamber view and long axis view of left venricular, and three levels of the short axis views (mitral valve,papillary muscle and cardiac apex). According to left ventricle 18 segments divla, there were 194 affected myocardiums in 26 cases. According to stenosis degrees of coronary artery, the affected myocardiums were divided into two groups: group A (coronary stenosis degree≤70%) and group B (coronary stenosis degree>70%). Longitudinal, radial and circumferential systolic strain (SL, SR, SC) from regional myocardium were analyzed. Results Group A had 90 segments. Compared with control group,SL was decreased significantly from control group (P <0.05),while there were no significantly differences in SC and SR ( P>0.05). Group B had 104 segments. Compared with control group, SL, SC and SR were decreased significantly in group B(P <0.05). There were significant differences in SL,SC and SR between group A and group B(P<0.05). Conclusions Systolic dysfunction of left ventrieular regional myocardium in patients with coronary artery disease could be accuratly analyzed by 2-dimensional strain echocardiography. Changes of SL,SC and SR of regional myoeardium could reflect coronary stenosis severity degree.

Objective To assess the motion asynchrony of left ventricle(L V)wall in patients with chronic heart failure(CHF)by ultrasound two dimensional speckle-tracking imaging(2D-STI).Methods Thirty-seventy patients with CHF were divided into two groups:CHF1 group,22 with QRS≤120 ms;CHF2 group,15 with QRS ＞120 ms.Thirty healthy subjects(control group)were enrolled.2D-STI was applied to display and analyze the strain rate imaging on the three standard LV apical views and parasternal LV short-aix views,respectively.The time from the onset of QRS complexes to peak strain rate during systole(Tsrs)and early-diastole(Tsre)were measured from the longitudinal,radial and circumferential vector respectively(Tsrsl,Tsrel,Tsrsr.Tsrer,Tsrsc,Tsrec).The standard deviation of all above parameters(Tsrsl-SD.Tsrel-SD,Tsrsr SD,Tsrer-SD,Tsrsc-SI).Tsrec-SD)and the maximal temporal difference(Tsrsl-diff.Tsrel-diff,Tsrsr-diff,Tsrer-diff,Tsrsc-diff,Tsrec-diff)of 18 segments were calculated as indicator of dyssynchrony.Results The systolic dyssynehrony indices Tsrsl-SD,Tsrsl-diff,Tsrsr-SD,Tsrsr-diff,Tsrsc-SD Tsrsc-diff and diastolic dyssynchrony indices Tsrel-SD,Tsrel-diff,Tsrer-SD,Tsrer-diff,Tsrec-SD,Tsrec-diff were significantly higher in the CHF1 and CHF2 group than those in the control group(all P＜0.05).Compared with the values in the CHF1 group,the systolic indices of dyssynchrony and the radial and circumferential diastolic indicator of dyssynchrony in CHF2 group were longer(P＜0.05).Conclusions The longitudinal,radial and circumferential systolic and diastolic dyssynchrony of the LV were commonly existed in patients with CHF,regardless of QRS duration.2D-STI is a potientially useful tool to evaluate the systolic and diastolic synchrony of the LV wall motion in patients with CHF.