Objective: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of Chinese patent medicines and classic traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions were systematically reviewed from both Chinese and English journals published in 2023. A preliminary summary and evaluation were conducted on the generation and translation of clinical evidence for these treatments. This analysis aims to inform future research on clinical efficacy evaluation and guide the rational application of evidence. Methods: RCTs of Chinese patent medicines and classic traditional Chinese prescriptions published in 2023 were comprehensively retrieved from the Artificial Intelligence Clinical Evidence Database for Chinese Patent Medicine (AICED-CPM), with supplementary searches conducted in China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (SinoMed), Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. The study characteristics and methodological quality of these RCTs were systematically analyzed and evaluated. Results: A total of 1 443 RCTs of Chinese patent medicines were included, comprising 1 399 Chinese articles and 44 English articles. Additionally, 334 RCTs of classic traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions were found, with 331 published in Chinese and 3 in English. 196 567 participants were included, covering 585 types of Chinese patent medicines (487 oral, 61 injectable, and 37 topical) and 179 classic traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions. The involved studies encompassed 22 types of diseases, with research primarily focusing on diseases of the circulatory system, the respiratory system, and the genitourinary system. The sample sizes ranged from 18 to 3 777 participants, and most studies were conducted at a single center. Methodologically, the implementation of allocation concealment and blinding remained insufficiently emphasized. Conclusion Overall, compared with 2022, both the number of RCT publications and their methodological quality have improved in 2023, with heightened attention to research on diseases of the genitourinary system. However, quality control and standardized management in the design and implementation processes still require enhancement to produce more high-quality clinical evidence and accelerate the translation and application of this evidence.

Currently, transcatheter intervention is the preferred treatment for patients with anatomically suitable atrial septal defects. However, the use of nickel-titanium alloy occluders in interventional procedures results in lifelong presence of the implant in the body, leading to complications such as metal allergies and arrhythmias in some patients. To overcome the short-term and long-term complications associated with the presence of metal, and to avoid radiation exposure and metal toxicity, this paper reports a case of successful transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect in a pediatric patient with metal allergies using fully biodegradable occluder under ultrasound guidance, achieving excellent results by interventional therapy.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) in patients with non-central degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR).Methods:This retrospective study included patients with non-central DMR who underwent TEER at Fuwai Hospital between January 2021 and February 2024. Patients were categorized into two groups: the commissure-involved group and the non-commissure group, based on whether the mitral valve commissures were involved. Clinical data, surgical outcomes, and echocardiographic findings at 3 months postoperatively were collected and compared, and patients were followed up. The primary endpoint was the procedural success rate at discharge.Results:A total of 59 patients were included, aged (68.6±9.3) years, including 23 females (39%). In the overall study population, 78% (46/59) of patients had severe mitral regurgitation. Forty-two cases were in the non-commissure group, and 17 cases were in the commissure-involved group. Patients in the non-commissure group mainly had lesions in the A1/P1 region, while patients in the commissure-involved group mainly had lesions in the A3/P3 region. There was no significant difference in the procedural success rate at discharge (93% vs. 88%, P=0.95) and the incidence of postoperative complications (5% vs. 6%, P=1.00) between the two groups. Two patients in the commissure-involved group experienced single leaflet device attachment, with one of them requiring conversion to surgical mitral valve surgery; In the non-commissure group, two patients experienced single-valve clamping, and one of them was converted to surgical mitral valve surgery. The follow-up time of the entire cohort was (15.5±10.3) months. In the non-commissure group, 2 patients died and 2 were readmitted. While in the commissure-involved group, no patients died and only 1 patient was readmitted. Conclusion:TEER is an effective treatment for patients with non-central DMR involving the commissures, without increasing the incidence of postoperative complications.

Objective:To study the feasibility of design and harvest of free medial sural artery perforator flap with the "two-point and two-line method".Methods:From September 2022 to June 2023, Suzhou Ruihua Orthopaedic Hospital implemented the "two-point and two-line method" to guide preoperative perforator positioning and flap design. Thirty medial sural artery perforator flaps were successfully harvested with the method, and 21 wounds of hand and 9 of foot and ankle were reconstructed with the flaps. The size of soft tissue defects were 2.5 cm×2.5 cm-7.0 cm×14.5 cm, and the flaps size were 3.0 cm×3.0 cm-7.5 cm×15.0 cm. All donor sites were directly closed or by skin grafting. All patients were entered in 6-15 months of postoperative outpatient follow-up, and the recovery of donor and recipient sites was assessed by the comprehensive evaluation scales. The sensory function of the flaps was evaluated using the sensory function evaluation standard of British Medical Research Council (BMRC).Results:All perforators were successfully located with 47 perforators in total, and all of them were musculocutaneous perforator. It was found that there was 1 perforator in 14 flaps, 2 perforators in 15 flaps and 3 perforators in 1 flap. All 30 flaps survived after surgery, beside 2 flaps that had arterial insufficiency but survived successfully after surgical exploration. All donor sites healed in one stage. Comprehensive evaluation scale of flap was employed to evaluate the flaps and the scores were 84 points to 96 points with an average score of 92.5 points. The excellent and good grades were achieved in 27 flaps and 3 flaps, respectively, with a combined excellent and good rate at 100%. Sensation of the flaps was evaluated by BMRC with 1 flap of S 1, 17 of S 2 and 12 of S 3. Conclusion:The "two-point and two-line method" has been used in design of the perforator flap of medial sural artery. This method is simple and accurate, and is feasible and ideal in design of flaps before surgery.

This article reports the first case of percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale(PFO)using a biodegradable occluder under echocardiography guidance.The patient is a 43-year-old female diagnosed with PFO-related stroke.The procedure was successfully completed under echocardiography guidance without complications.During the 48-month follow-up period,the patient experienced no recurrent strokes,and the occluder was fully degraded.

Objectives:To explore the feasibility of zero-ray radiofrequency catheter ablation for paroxymal atrial fibrillation under the guidance of transthoracic echocardiography combined with three-dimensional mapping system.Methods:This is a single-center prospective observational study.A total of 12 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation in Fuwai Hospital,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from June 1,2024 to September 30,2024 were included.All patients underwent successful percutaneous puncture,atrial septal puncture under the guidance of transthoracic echocardiography,and all patients underwent left atrial modeling and discharge ablation under the guidance of transthoracic echocardiography combined with three-dimensional mapping system.The disappearance of pulmonary vein potential was confirmed after the ablation operation and as the ablation endpoint and successful ablation marker.The operation results and 1-month and 3-month follow-up results of the patients were observed.Results:There were 12 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation,9 males and 3 females,aged(56.8±11.2)years,with a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation(4.2±2.3)years.The mean left atrial diameter was(36.5±2.5)mm,the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was(47.8±4.1)mm,and the left ventricular ejection fraction was 55%-65%.The mean overall operation time was(102.25±14.51)min,the ultrasound operation time was(29.58±6.23)min,and the catheter operation time was(33.08±4.10)min.All patients completed circumferential pulmonary vein isolation without intraoperative complications.The hospitalization time was 2-6 days.At the 1-month follow-up after ablation,all patients showed sinus rhythm on 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram,and 2 patients had occasional atrial premature contractions without recurrence of atrial fibrillation.At the 3-month follow-up,two patients had occasional premature atrial contractions,and no recurrence of atrial fibrillation was recorded on the electrocardiogram of all patients.Conclusions:It is feasible to complete radiofrequency catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation under the guidance of transthoracic echocardiography combined with three-dimensional mapping system.

Background and Objectives: There is no dedicated occlusive device for closing coronary artery fistulas (CAFs), and specific efficacy and safety data of various off-label occlusive devices for CAFs closure are scarce. Methods: Patients undergoing transcatheter closure of CAFs from January 2011 to December 2022 were included in the single-center retrospective study. The study population was divided into 2 groups: coils group (n=35) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occluders group (n=66). Results: No significant intergroup differences were observed in demographic characteristics except age. The presence of multiple CAF origins (54.3% vs. 4.5%, p<0.001) and multiple draining sites (51.4% vs. 3.0%, p<0.001) were more common in the coils group. In contrast, the presence of aneurysm (72.7% vs. 14.3%, p<0.001), and large fistula (75.8% vs. 37.1%, p<0.001) were more prevalent in the PDA occluders group. The acute procedural success rate of the PDA occluders group was higher compared to that of the coils group (87.9% vs.62.9%, adjusted odds ratio [OR], 7.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.59–32.64; p=0.01).In addition, no significant intergroup differences were noted in both the recanalization rate (7.8% vs. 20%, p=0.107) and the reintervention rate (3.1% vs. 8.6%, p=0.342). Conclusions Transcatheter closure of CAFs using PDA occluders was associated with significantly higher acute procedural success rates compared to coil embolization with comparable late outcomes.

Background and Objectives: There is no dedicated occlusive device for closing coronary artery fistulas (CAFs), and specific efficacy and safety data of various off-label occlusive devices for CAFs closure are scarce. Methods: Patients undergoing transcatheter closure of CAFs from January 2011 to December 2022 were included in the single-center retrospective study. The study population was divided into 2 groups: coils group (n=35) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occluders group (n=66). Results: No significant intergroup differences were observed in demographic characteristics except age. The presence of multiple CAF origins (54.3% vs. 4.5%, p<0.001) and multiple draining sites (51.4% vs. 3.0%, p<0.001) were more common in the coils group. In contrast, the presence of aneurysm (72.7% vs. 14.3%, p<0.001), and large fistula (75.8% vs. 37.1%, p<0.001) were more prevalent in the PDA occluders group. The acute procedural success rate of the PDA occluders group was higher compared to that of the coils group (87.9% vs.62.9%, adjusted odds ratio [OR], 7.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.59–32.64; p=0.01).In addition, no significant intergroup differences were noted in both the recanalization rate (7.8% vs. 20%, p=0.107) and the reintervention rate (3.1% vs. 8.6%, p=0.342). Conclusions Transcatheter closure of CAFs using PDA occluders was associated with significantly higher acute procedural success rates compared to coil embolization with comparable late outcomes.

Background and Objectives: There is no dedicated occlusive device for closing coronary artery fistulas (CAFs), and specific efficacy and safety data of various off-label occlusive devices for CAFs closure are scarce. Methods: Patients undergoing transcatheter closure of CAFs from January 2011 to December 2022 were included in the single-center retrospective study. The study population was divided into 2 groups: coils group (n=35) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occluders group (n=66). Results: No significant intergroup differences were observed in demographic characteristics except age. The presence of multiple CAF origins (54.3% vs. 4.5%, p<0.001) and multiple draining sites (51.4% vs. 3.0%, p<0.001) were more common in the coils group. In contrast, the presence of aneurysm (72.7% vs. 14.3%, p<0.001), and large fistula (75.8% vs. 37.1%, p<0.001) were more prevalent in the PDA occluders group. The acute procedural success rate of the PDA occluders group was higher compared to that of the coils group (87.9% vs.62.9%, adjusted odds ratio [OR], 7.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.59–32.64; p=0.01).In addition, no significant intergroup differences were noted in both the recanalization rate (7.8% vs. 20%, p=0.107) and the reintervention rate (3.1% vs. 8.6%, p=0.342). Conclusions Transcatheter closure of CAFs using PDA occluders was associated with significantly higher acute procedural success rates compared to coil embolization with comparable late outcomes.

Background and Objectives: There is no dedicated occlusive device for closing coronary artery fistulas (CAFs), and specific efficacy and safety data of various off-label occlusive devices for CAFs closure are scarce. Methods: Patients undergoing transcatheter closure of CAFs from January 2011 to December 2022 were included in the single-center retrospective study. The study population was divided into 2 groups: coils group (n=35) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occluders group (n=66). Results: No significant intergroup differences were observed in demographic characteristics except age. The presence of multiple CAF origins (54.3% vs. 4.5%, p<0.001) and multiple draining sites (51.4% vs. 3.0%, p<0.001) were more common in the coils group. In contrast, the presence of aneurysm (72.7% vs. 14.3%, p<0.001), and large fistula (75.8% vs. 37.1%, p<0.001) were more prevalent in the PDA occluders group. The acute procedural success rate of the PDA occluders group was higher compared to that of the coils group (87.9% vs.62.9%, adjusted odds ratio [OR], 7.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.59–32.64; p=0.01).In addition, no significant intergroup differences were noted in both the recanalization rate (7.8% vs. 20%, p=0.107) and the reintervention rate (3.1% vs. 8.6%, p=0.342). Conclusions Transcatheter closure of CAFs using PDA occluders was associated with significantly higher acute procedural success rates compared to coil embolization with comparable late outcomes.