Objective:To evaluate the left atrial structure and function in patients with non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy（NOHCM）and atrial fibrillation（AF）using four-dimensional automatic left atrial quantification（4D Auto LAQ）technology，and to explore the correlation between left atrial remodeling and AF.Methods:Ninety patients with NOHCM treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from May 2023 to September 2024 were prospectively selected and divided into AF group（ n=27）and non-AF group（ n=63）according to whether they had AF. Clinical data of all enrolled patients were collected，and two-dimensional，color Doppler，and tissue Doppler ultrasound parameters were measured. 4D Auto LAQ technology was used to obtain left atrial volume and strain parameters. Inter-group comparison，univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis，and repeatability test were used to analyze the data. Results:Compared with non-AF group，left atrial maximum volume index（LAVImax），left atrial minimum volume index（LAVImin）and left atrial pre-systolic volume index（LAVIpreA）were increased in the AF group，but left atrial total ejection fraction（LAEF），left atrial passive ejection fraction（LApEF），left atrial active ejection fraction（LAaEF）and the absolute values of left atrial reservoir longitudinal and circumferential strains（LASr，LASr-c），left atrial conduit longitudinal and circumferential strains（LAScd，LAScd-c）and left atrial contraction longitudinal and circumferential strains（LASct，LASct-c）were decreased（all P<0.05）. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that LAVImin was independently associated with AF（ OR=0.837， P<0.001）. Conclusions:4D Auto LAQ can quantitatively evaluate the left atrial structure and function in patients with NOHCM and AF，and LAVImin is independently associated with the presence of AF.

Objective:To evaluate the left atrial function in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy（HCM）combined with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction（HFpEF）using four-dimensional automated left atrial quantification（4D Auto LAQ）technology，and to investigate the independent factors affecting patients with HCM combined with HFpEF.Methods:One hundred HCM patients with left ventricular ejection fraction（LVEF）≥ 50% who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from September 2023 to March 2025 were prospectively selected. There were 50 cases in the HFpEF group and 50 cases in the non-HF group. The clinical data and conventional ultrasound parameters of HCM patients were collected. The 4D Auto LAQ technology was applied to obtain the four-dimensional volume and strain parameters of the left atrium，including the minimum left atrial volume（LAVmin），the maximum left atrial volume（LAVmax），the maximum left atrial volume index（LAVImax），the pre-atrial contraction volume（LAVpreA），the left atrial emptying volume（LAEV），the left atrial ejection fraction（LAEF），the longitudinal and circumferential strains in the left atrial reservoir period（LASr，LASr-c），the longitudinal and circumferential strains in the left atrial conduit period（LAScd，LAScd-c），the longitudinal and circumferential strains in the left atrial contraction period（LASct，LASct-c），and the minimum left atrial volume index（LAVImin）. The differences in the above parameters between the two groups were compared. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the independent influencing factors in HCM patients with HFpEF. The intraclass correlation coefficient was used to test the repeatability of the 4D Auto LAQ parameters.Results:Compared with the non-HF group，LAVmin，LAVmax，LAVpreA，LAVImin，and LAVImax increased，while LAEF，LASr，LAScd，LASct，LASr-c，LAScd-c，and LASct-c decreased in the HFpEF group（all P<0.05）. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that LASr was the strongest independent influencing factor in patients with HCM combined with HFpEF（ OR=0.255， P=0.003）. The consistency test showed that the intraclass correlation coefficients of each parameters of 4D Auto LAQ were all>0.7，the consistency was good. Conclusions:4D Auto LAQ technology can be used to evaluate left atrial function in patients with HCM combined with HFpEF，and LASr is the strongest independent influence factor in patients with HCM combined with HFpEF.

Objective:To evaluate the left atrial structure and function in patients with non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy（NOHCM）and atrial fibrillation（AF）using four-dimensional automatic left atrial quantification（4D Auto LAQ）technology，and to explore the correlation between left atrial remodeling and AF.Methods:Ninety patients with NOHCM treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from May 2023 to September 2024 were prospectively selected and divided into AF group（ n=27）and non-AF group（ n=63）according to whether they had AF. Clinical data of all enrolled patients were collected，and two-dimensional，color Doppler，and tissue Doppler ultrasound parameters were measured. 4D Auto LAQ technology was used to obtain left atrial volume and strain parameters. Inter-group comparison，univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis，and repeatability test were used to analyze the data. Results:Compared with non-AF group，left atrial maximum volume index（LAVImax），left atrial minimum volume index（LAVImin）and left atrial pre-systolic volume index（LAVIpreA）were increased in the AF group，but left atrial total ejection fraction（LAEF），left atrial passive ejection fraction（LApEF），left atrial active ejection fraction（LAaEF）and the absolute values of left atrial reservoir longitudinal and circumferential strains（LASr，LASr-c），left atrial conduit longitudinal and circumferential strains（LAScd，LAScd-c）and left atrial contraction longitudinal and circumferential strains（LASct，LASct-c）were decreased（all P<0.05）. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that LAVImin was independently associated with AF（ OR=0.837， P<0.001）. Conclusions:4D Auto LAQ can quantitatively evaluate the left atrial structure and function in patients with NOHCM and AF，and LAVImin is independently associated with the presence of AF.

Objective:To evaluate the left atrial function in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy（HCM）combined with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction（HFpEF）using four-dimensional automated left atrial quantification（4D Auto LAQ）technology，and to investigate the independent factors affecting patients with HCM combined with HFpEF.Methods:One hundred HCM patients with left ventricular ejection fraction（LVEF）≥ 50% who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from September 2023 to March 2025 were prospectively selected. There were 50 cases in the HFpEF group and 50 cases in the non-HF group. The clinical data and conventional ultrasound parameters of HCM patients were collected. The 4D Auto LAQ technology was applied to obtain the four-dimensional volume and strain parameters of the left atrium，including the minimum left atrial volume（LAVmin），the maximum left atrial volume（LAVmax），the maximum left atrial volume index（LAVImax），the pre-atrial contraction volume（LAVpreA），the left atrial emptying volume（LAEV），the left atrial ejection fraction（LAEF），the longitudinal and circumferential strains in the left atrial reservoir period（LASr，LASr-c），the longitudinal and circumferential strains in the left atrial conduit period（LAScd，LAScd-c），the longitudinal and circumferential strains in the left atrial contraction period（LASct，LASct-c），and the minimum left atrial volume index（LAVImin）. The differences in the above parameters between the two groups were compared. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the independent influencing factors in HCM patients with HFpEF. The intraclass correlation coefficient was used to test the repeatability of the 4D Auto LAQ parameters.Results:Compared with the non-HF group，LAVmin，LAVmax，LAVpreA，LAVImin，and LAVImax increased，while LAEF，LASr，LAScd，LASct，LASr-c，LAScd-c，and LASct-c decreased in the HFpEF group（all P<0.05）. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that LASr was the strongest independent influencing factor in patients with HCM combined with HFpEF（ OR=0.255， P=0.003）. The consistency test showed that the intraclass correlation coefficients of each parameters of 4D Auto LAQ were all>0.7，the consistency was good. Conclusions:4D Auto LAQ technology can be used to evaluate left atrial function in patients with HCM combined with HFpEF，and LASr is the strongest independent influence factor in patients with HCM combined with HFpEF.

Clinically, it is challenging to differentiate Crohn's disease (CD) from abdominal actinomycosis due to their similar symptoms. However, cases of CD with secondary actinomycosis infection are rare. This article systematically reviews the diagnosis and treatment process of a patient with CD complicated by secondary actinomycosis infection at the Air Force Medical University Xijing Digestive Disease Hospital, to provide ideas and experience for future clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Clinically, it is challenging to differentiate Crohn's disease (CD) from abdominal actinomycosis due to their similar symptoms. However, cases of CD with secondary actinomycosis infection are rare. This article systematically reviews the diagnosis and treatment process of a patient with CD complicated by secondary actinomycosis infection at the Air Force Medical University Xijing Digestive Disease Hospital, to provide ideas and experience for future clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Objective:To evaluate the right ventricular function in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) by four-dimensional automatic right ventricular quantitative analysis (4D Auto RVQ), and compare with the right ventricular ejection fraction measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR-RVEF), and to explore the clinical application value of 4D Auto RVQ technique in evaluating the right ventricular function of patients with DCM.Methods:A prospective study was conducted to select 52 patients with DCM who were treated in Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March to October 2022 as DCM group, and 52 healthy volunteers were selected as the control group during the same period. The four-dimensional right ventricular ejection fraction (4D-RVEF), right ventricular stroke volume index (RVSVI), right ventricular end-diastolic volume index (RVEDVI), right ventricular end-systolic volume index (RVESVI), four-dimensional right ventricular basal diameter (4D-RVDd-base), four-dimensional right ventricular middle diameter (4D-RVDd-mid), four-dimensional right ventricular long axis diameter (4D-RVLd), four-dimensional tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (4D-TAPSE) and four-dimensional right ventricular fractional area change (4D-RVFAC) were obtained by 4D Auto RVQ technique. The differences of the above parameters between DCM group and control group were compared.Pearson linear correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between echocardiographic parameters and CMR-RVEF. The ROC curve was used to find the most sensitive parameters for evaluating right ventricular function, and the area under the ROC curve ( AUC ) was calculated and compared.Results:Compared with the control group, RVEDVI, RVESVI, 4D-RVDd-base and 4D-RVDd-mid in the DCM group were increased, and the absolute values of 4D-RVEF, 4D-TAPSE, 4D-RVFAC, right ventricular global longitudinal strain(RVGLS) and right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain(RVFWLS) were decreased (all P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that 4D-RVEF was positively correlated with CMR-RVEF ( r=0.711, P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that 4D-RVEF was superior to other parameters in evaluating right ventricular function in DCM patients (AUC: 0.916). Conclusions:4D Auto RVQ technique can quantitatively evaluate right ventricular function in DCM patients. 4D-RVEF has a significant correlation with CMR-RVEF, and 4D-RVEF has the best efficacy in evaluating right ventricular function in DCM patients.

Objective:To evaluate left atrial(LA) function and its value in predicting left ventricular(LV) remodeling in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) by four dimensional automatic left atrial quantitation (4D Auto LAQ).Methods:A total of 176 patients with CHD were prospectively enrolled in Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital from October 2021 to September 2022. They were divided into two groups according to left ventricular mass index: LV remodeling group (female>95 g/m 2, male>115 g/m 2, n=88) and Non-LV remodeling group (female≤95 g/m 2, male≤115 g/m 2, n=88). The 3D dynamic image of LA was analyzed by 4D Auto LAQ on machine to obtain the LA parameters, including the minimum, maximum, pre-systolic and emptying volumes of LA (LAVmin, LAVmax, LAVpreA, LAEV), LA ejection fraction (LAEF), LA reservoir longitudinal and circumferential strains (LASr, LASr-c), LA conduit longitudinal and circumferential strains (LAScd, LAScd-c) and LA contraction longitudinal and circumferential strains (LASct, LASct-c). Logistic regression models were used to analyze the value of LA parameters in predicting LV remodeling in patients with CHD. ROC curve was used to evaluate LA parameters and left atrial volume index (LAVI) to predict the diagnostic efficiency of LV remodeling. Results:Compared with the Non-LV remodeling group, LAVmin, LAVmax, LAVpreA were significantly increased and LAEF, LASr, LAScd, LASct, LASr-c, LAScd-c, LASct-c were significantly decreased in the LV remodeling group ( P<0.05). Logistic regression model showed that LASct-c was an independent risk factor for LV remodeling in patients with CHD after adjustment( OR=2.018, 95% CI=1.214-3.355). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of LASct-c for predicting LV remodeling in CHD patients was 0.844, the sensitivity was 0.784, and the specificity was 0.761. Conclusions:4D Auto LAQ can effectively evaluate LA function in patients with CHD.LASct-c can be used as a reference index to predict LV remodeling in patients with CHD, which provides a new evaluation method in prognosis evaluation of CHD patients.

Objective:To evaluate the left atrial structure and function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at different stages by four-dimensional automatic left atrial quantitation (4D-LAQ) and to explore the independent correlative factors affecting left atrial function of patients.Methods:Ninety-six patients who were diagnosed with T2DM in Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital endocrinology from December 2020 to October 2021 were selected as the case group, all cases were divided into two groups according to whether or not they have the microvascular complication: 48 patients with simple diabetes in DM1 group, 48 patients with microvascular complications in DM2 group. Forty-eight healthy volunteers during the same period were randomly recruited as the control group. Left atrial diameter (LAD), inter-ventricular septal thickness (IVST), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), peak value of early diastolic velocity of mitral inflow (E), peak value of late diastolic velocity of mitral inflow (A), peak value of early diastolic tissue Doppler velocity of septal and lateral walls of mitral annulus (septal e′, lateral e′) were routinely measured, E/A, mean e′ and mean E/e′ were calculated.4D-LAQ technique was used to obtain left atrial minimum volume (LAVmin), left atrial maximum volume (LAVmax), left atrial pre-systolic volume (LAVpreA), left atrial maximum volume index (LAVImax), left atrial total emptying fraction (LAEF), left atrial reservoir longitudinal strain (LASr), left atrial conduit longitudinal strain (LAScd) and left atrial contraction longitudinal strain (LASct). The differences of left atrial parameters among three groups were compared. The independent correlation factors affecting left atrial function were investigated by univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses.Results:Compared with the control group, LAEF, LASr and LAScd were decreased in the DM1 group (all P<0.05), there were no significant differences in LAVImax, LAVIpreA and LAVImin between the two groups (all P>0.05). Compared with the control group and DM1 group, LAEF, LASr and LAScd were decreased, LAVImax, LAVIpreA and LAVImin were increased in the DM2 group (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in LASct among the three groups (all P>0.05). Multivariate linear regression analyses showed duration of diabetes was independently and negatively correlated with LASr (β=-0.405, P<0.001); Body mass index(BMI) and E were independently and negatively correlated with LAScd(β=-0.159, P=0.049; β=-0.408, P<0.001), and duration of diabetes and E/e′ were independently and positively correlated with LAScd(β=0.399, P<0.001; β=0.253, P=0.004). Conclusions:Left atrial reservoir function and conduit function are impaired in T2DM patients, and deteriotated as the disease progresses. Duration of diabetes, BMI, E and E/e′ are the independent correlative factors affecting left atrial function.

Objective:To evaluate the distribution of diastolic left ventricular pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by relative pressure imaging (RPI) based on vector flow mapping (VFM), and to explore the clinical risk factors for the diastolic left ventricular pressure distribution.Methods:Thirty patients with T2DM and thirty normal controls were included from August 2020 to July 2021 in Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital. All selected subjects underwent conventional echocardiography.Left intraventricular pressure difference (IVPD) and left intraventricular pressure gradient (IVPG) were measured using RPI of VFM in isovolumic relaxation (IR), rapid filling (RF), atrial contraction (AC), isovolumic contraction (IC) and rapid ejection (RE) phases. The relationships between IVPD with other parameters were analyzed.Results:①Compared with the control group, E/A, e′, IVPD-IR, IVPG-IR, IVPD-RF, IVPG-RF, IVPD-AC, and IVPG-AC were significantly lower and E/e′ was significantly greater in the T2DM group ( P<0.05). ②IVPD-IR, IVPD-RF, and IVPD-AC were positively correlated with E/A ( r=0.309, P<0.05; r=0.274, P<0.05; r=0.273, P<0.05). IVPD-IR, IVPD-RF, and IVPD-AC were negatively correlated with E/e′ ( r=-0.587, P<0.05; r=-0.273, P<0.05; r=-0.415, P<0.05). IVPD-IR and IVPD-AC were positively correlated with e′ ( r=0.451, P<0.05; r=0.431, P<0.05). ③Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that hemoglobin A 1c (HbA 1c) was an independent risk factor affecting IVPD-IR, IVPD-RF, and IVPD-AC (β=-0.417, P<0.05; β=-0.451, P<0.05; β=-0.460, P<0.05). Conclusions:RPI of VFM can quantitatively evaluate diastolic left ventricular pressure distribution in patients with T2DM. HbA 1c is an independent risk factor affecting IVPD-IR, IVPD-RF, and IVPD-AC.