The connotation of the "four-dimensional pivot-earth" qi transformation mode is a dialectical system of the ascending and descending of yin-yang qi movement， which presented as "the middle Jiao showing earth qi mediating， the left wheel showing water and wood ascending， and the right wheel showing fire and metal converting and descending". Based on this dialectical thinking， it is believed that the core pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis is deficiency of center qi and transportation failure to pivot-earth； the middle-stage characteristics of the disease progression are the loss of mediation of the central qi， resulting in water coldness and wood constraint， and clear yang failing to ascend； the final outcome of this disease is the loss of astringeing of lung metal and qi sinking. The treatment should be based on the rule of qi movement， so for the start-stage， Buzhong Yiqi Decoction （补中益气汤） should be used as the basis to nourish the earth and consolidate the root， and restrengthen the middle qi； for the middle-stage， herbs like Yingyanghuo （Epimedium brevicornu Maxim.）， Bajitian （Morinda officinalis How） could be combined to warm the water and soothe the wood， raise yang and boost qi； for the final stage， plus Sini Decoction （四逆汤） to astringe metal to stop collapse， and powerfully supplement original qi. All these medicinals can promote pivot-earth re-transportation， four-dimensional transformation， and regular circulation of qi movement， so as to provide thoughts for improving the clinical effectiveness of myasthenia gravis.

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.

In Vivo Dosimetry ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiometry/methods* ; Electronics ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated/methods* ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Algorithms

Berberine is a natural isoquinoline alkaloid extracted from Rhizoma Coptidis and other Chinese herbal medicines. Since berberine has a variety of biological effects, such as bacteriostasis, anti-inflammatory, anti-bone resorption and blood sugar-lowering effects, and is associated with few side effects, studies are increasingly discovering its potential application in the prevention and treatment of periodontitis. This review summarizes the relevant research progress of berberine in the prevention and treatment of periodontitis in recent years, aiming to provide a new strategy for the clinical prevention and treatment of periodontitis. The results of the literature review showed that berberine could prevent the occurrence and development of periodontitis by inhibiting periodontal pathogens, reducing periodontal tissue inflammation and inhibiting alveolar bone resorption. However, the mechanism of periodontitis is complicated, and current research remains limited. In the future, more in vivo and in vitro studies are needed to further explore the mechanism of berberine in inhibiting the occurrence and development of periodontitis, and more large-sample prospective clinical studies should be conducted to confirm the effect of berberine on the prevention and treatment of periodontitis.

Objective : To explore the effect on children's occlusion and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) after placement of preformed metal crowns and provide a reference for the restoration of defective primary molars. Methods : A total of 39 children who underwent all primary molar metal crown restorations under general anesthesia were enrolled. The participants underwent occlusal contact area, percentage of total occlusal force, asymmetric ratio of occlusal force and occlusal contact time examinations with the T-scan computerized occlusal analysis system. Vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO) was measured using a dental vertical dimension gauge. TMJ dysfunction signs were recorded using the modified clinical dysfunction index (Di), and TMJ dysfunction symptoms were recorded using questionnaires. All data were collected at pretreatment, 1-week, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up visits. Results: The occlusal contact area at the 3-month and 6-month follow-up visits returned to the occlusal contact area of pretreatment, and the difference was statistically significant (P>0.05). Compared with pretreatment, the percentage of total occlusal force at the 3-month and 6-month follow-up visits increased significantly, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The asymmetric ratio of occlusal force and the occlusal contact time were significantly decreased at the 6-month follow-up visit (P<0.05). The vertical dimension of occlusion recovered after one month of treatment (P>0.05). The final statistical analysis of the TMJ assessment showed that there was no significant difference in the clinical disorder index and TMJ dysfunction symptoms before and after treatment (P>0.05). Conclusions After undergoing all primary molar metal crown restorations, occlusal re-equilibrations were attained after approximately one month. The percentage of total occlusal force and occlusal stability were significantly increased after six months of treatment, without significant temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

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.

Periodontal disease is among the most prevalent oral diseases. As viruses that may infect bacteria, bacteriophages constitute an important component of the oral microbiome. With the advances in bioinformatics and genomics, the relationships among the bacteriophages, oral microbiome and periodontal disease is gradually being elucidated. As a result, phage therapy has become an emerging approach in the fight against super bacteria and has flourished in recent years. This review article discusses the mechanisms involved in the microbial interactions associated with oral phages and periodontal disease, the role of phages in maintaining a normal periodontal environment, the relationship between the imbalance of phages and the occurrence of periodontal disease, and the use of phage in the treatment of periodontal disease in order to provides references for in-depth research on the mechanisms of phage effects on periodontal disease, as well as the further clinical application of phage therapy.

Objective:To quantitatively evaluate the global myocardial work of left ventricle in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) by left ventricular pressure-strain loops (PSL).Methods:Forty patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from February 2019 to October 2019 were chosen as case group.According to the decreased level of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), CKD patients were divided into CKD 2-3 stage group( n=20) and CKD 4-5 stage group( n=20), and 20 healthy volunteers were selected as control group.The working parameters of the global left ventricular myocardium including the global work index (GWI), the global constructive work (GCW), the global wasted work (GWW), the global work efficiency (GWE) were measured by the left ventricular PSL, and the differences of the parameters among the three groups were compared. Results:Compared with the control group, the GWI, GCW, GWW in the CKD 2-3 stage group and CKD 4-5 group were significantly higher and the GWE was lower than those in the control group differences were all (all P<0.05). Compared with the CKD 2-3 stage group, the GWI and GCW of the CKD 4-5 stage group were increased (all P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in GWW and GWE ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Left ventricular PSL provides a new method for evaluating the changes of left ventricular systolic function in patients with CKD.

Objective To investigate the related factors for the survival of the patients with pancreatic cancer.Methods A total of 1 620 patients confirmed as pancreatic cancer admitted in Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital affiliated with Sun Yat-sen University,Tumor prevention and treatment center affiliated with Sun Yat-sen University and People's Hospital of Guangdong Province from 2004 to 2016 were retrospectively analyzed,and the effects of TNM staging,surgical treatment,palliative chemotherapy and postoperative assisted chemotherapy on the survival of the patients with pancreatic cancer were examined by life table and Log-rank test.Results The median survival time of all 1 620 cases was 7.15 months.The median survival time of TNM stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ was 12.50 months,10.12 months,9.56 months and 5.43 months,and there was statistically significant difference (P =0.001).The median survival time of cases who did not undergo surgery was 6.10 months,which of patients who underwent radical surgery was 13.67 months,and the difference was statistically significant (P =0.001).The median survival time of cases without chemotherapy was 5.55 months,which of patients who underwent palliative chemotherapy was 7.58 months,and the difference was statistically significant (P =0.001).The median survival time of cases with pure radical surgery without chemotherapy was 12.38 months,which of patients who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy was 14.50 months,and the difference was no statistically significant (P =0.561).Conclusions Early diagnosis followed closely by radical surgery is the key to prolong the survival of pancreatic cancer patients.And adjuvant chemotherapy for patients who lose surgery opportunity may improve clinical prognosis to a certain extent.

Mechanical instrumentation preparation alone is insufficient to completely remove root canal infection, and chemical irrigation is essential to eliminate infected remnants. An ideal root canal irrigant should completely remove the smear layer, lubricate the root canal, efficiently kill bacteria, induce mild or no inflammatory response in the tissues, and avoid damaging the dentin structure. However, a commercial irrigant that meets all these requirements is currently lacking. QMix is a root canal irrigation mixture of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), chlorhexidine (CHX) and surfactant. This mixture can remove the smear layer efficiently, and it possesses strong antibacterial effect and good biocompatibility with minimal cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the influence of QMix on the color and micro-hardness of dentin is low, and it can improve the wettability of root canal sealant without affecting its adhesive properties. This review compares the efficiencies of QMix with other irrigants (sodium hypochlorite, CHX, EDTA, SmearClear, and MTAD) in term of smear layer removal, dentine and root canal sealing, cell cytotoxicity, and bacterial growth inhibition.