Cardiac Manifestations Associated With Coronavirus Disease: A Case Report

Abstract This study presents a 47-year-old female patient, with a history of diabetes, who contracted SARS-CoV-2 and exhibited cardiovascular complications.

Effects of electroacupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) on arrhythmia during myocardial infarction in a rat model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at Neiguan (PC6) on arrhythmia during acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion and the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) in rats. Methods: A total of 40 Sprague-Dawley male rats were used. Ten rats were randomly selected as the blank group, and the remaining 30 rats were randomly divided into a model group and an EA group, with 15 rats in each group. Before modeling, rats in the EA group received one session of EA intervention at bilateral Neiguan (PC6) for 30 min; the other groups were treated with the same grasping and anesthesia for 30 min without intervention. PowerLab physiological recorder was used to record electrocardiograph within 30 min of infarction. After the experiment, cardiac tissue and serum were collected from rats. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the morphological changes of myocardial tissue in the ventricular infarction area of rats in each group. The expression of Cx43 protein in the myocardium of each group was detected by Western blotting (WB). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the activity of Na+-K+-ATPase in myocardial tissue and the serum content of endogenous digitalis-like factor (EDLF) in rats. Results: There was no statistical difference in arrhythmia score between the EA group and the model group, but the total duration and average duration of arrhythmia in the EA group were decreased (P<0.01). HE staining showed that compared with the blank group, myocardial cells in the model group were disorganized and seriously damaged. The pathological changes in the EA group were similar to those in the model group, but the damage was relatively minor. The results of WB showed that compared with the blank group, the Cx43 expression in myocardial tissue of the model group was decreased (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the Cx43 expression in the EA group was increased (P<0.01); compared with the blank group, the Na+-K+-ATPase activity in myocardial tissue of the model group was significantly decreased (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the Na+-K+-ATPase activity in the EA group was increased (P<0.01). ELISA results showed that compared with the blank group, the serum EDLF content in the model group was significantly increased (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the EDLF content in the EA group was decreased (P<0.01). Conclusion: EA at Neiguan (PC6) can delay and reduce the onset of arrhythmia during myocardial infarction in the rat model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion. Its mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of the Cx43 expression in myocardial tissue, improvement of the activity of Na+-K+-ATPase in myocardial tissue, and increase in the content of serum EDLF.

Evaluación y validación diagnóstica de las variables iQT, razón iQTRR, razón iRTRR para el diagnóstico DEQTc prolongado / Validation of iQT, iQTRR, iRT/RR ratio for estimation of QTc

ANTECEDENTES: El intervalo QT representa la despolarización y repolarización ventricular y su prolongación está asociada a un mayor riesgo de arritmias graves y muerte súbita. Depende de la frecuencia cardíaca y su rápida valoración es difícil de obtener en la práctica clínica. Una forma que facilita este proceso es medir sólo el intervalo QT pero este no siempre se relaciona con un intervalo QTc prolongado. Debido a esto, se postula que una variable compuesta debería tener mejor rendimiento diagnóstico para este objetivo. OBJETIVO: Describir la correlación de 3 variables electrocardiográficas; intervalo QT (iQT), razón del intervalo QT intervalo RR (%iQTRR) y razón del intervalo RT intervalo RR (%iRTRR), en relación a la variable QT corregido (iQTc). Se efectuó una evaluación diagnóstica y validación de las variables mencionadas para establecer el diagnóstico de intervalo QT largo y las propiedades diagnósticas de las mismas para el diagnóstico de iQTc prolongado según la fórmula Bazett. METODOS Y RESULTADOS: Se efectuó un estudio transversal descriptivo-relacional, usando una muestra no probabilística formada por 220 electrocardiogramas registrados en la base de datos del centro cardiovascular. Las mediciones provenían de ECGs registrados en reposo con medición con cáliper de los intervalos QT y RR en derivadas D2 y/o V5, expresadas en milisegundos. Se excluyó la presencia de isquemia, preexcitación y repolarización precoz. Se obtuvo como resultado que la variable razón iQTRR tiene mejor correlación, concordancia, sensibilidad y valor predictivo negativo para el diagnóstico del iQTc prolongado, versus las variables iQT y razón iRTRR, principalmente en mujeres. CONCLUSIONES: La variable razón iQTRR tiene una mejor correlación, concordancia, sensibilidad y valor predictivo negativo (VPN) para el diagnóstico del iQTc prolongado, comparado con las variables iQT y razón iRTRR, principalmente, en mujeres. Utilizando ambas variables este efecto se potencia y permite concluir que si una mujer tiene un iQT observado <470 ms, y una razón QTRR< 47,5%, esto se corresponde con un intervalo QTc normal, con un VPN de 100% .

BACKGROUND: The QT interval (QT) includes depolarization and repolarization phases of cardiac cycle. Its prolongation is associated to an increa sed risk of serious arrhythmia and sudden death. QT depends on heart rate and it is usually corrected using the Bazett formula (QTc). Prolonged QT is not usually well related to QTc. We postulate that a composite formula muy have a greater value for predicting serious arrhythmia. AIM: To correlate the predictive value of a different approach to estimate a corrected QT interval: the ratio of RT to RR intervals (QT/RR, expressed as a percentage METHODS and RESULTS: A non probabilistic sample of 220 ECGs were obtained from our data base. ECGs were recorded at rest and measurements were performed in leads Ds and/or V5 using zetcalipers, the values being expressed in ms. The presence of ischemia, pre excitation and early repolarization were excluded. The QT/RR ratio showed better correlation, concordance, sensitivity, and negative predicted value with the usual QTc interval compared to QT alone or de RT/RR ratio, especially so in women.

Newborn arrhythmia with cardiac enlargement: etiology and clinical features / 中国新生儿科杂志

Objective To study the etiology and clinical features of arrhythmia in neonates with cardiac cardiomegaly.Method A retrospective study was conducted on newborns with arrhythmia hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit of our Hospiatal from January 2016 to May 2018.The eases were assigned into arrhythmia with cardiac enlargement group and non-benign arrhythmia without cardiac enlargement group cardiomegaly.The etiology,clinical features and prognosis of newborns with arrhythmia and cardiac enlargement were analyzed.Result There were 15 newborns with arrhythmia accompanied with cardiac enlargement,all of them were non-benign arrhythmias,which accounted for 26.8％ (15/56) of all non-benign arrhythmias in the same period.The causes included infections viral myocarditis,pneumonia and digestive tract infection,electrolytes and acid-base imbalance hypocalcemia,hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis,structural cardiac abnormalities,metabolic cardiomyopathy,nodular sclerosis and indwelling central venous catheter.The median age of onset was 9 (0,19) days,and the median medical history was 2 (1,7) days,the significance of which were not different from those of non-benign arrhythmias without cardiac enlargement group (41 cases).The rate of cesarean section and ventricular rate＞160 bpm at admission were higher than those in the non-benign arrhythmias without cardiac enlargement group.12 of 15 cases began with weak responses,poor appetite and dyspnea.The common arrhythmia types were paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (6 cases),atrial tachycardia (4 cases) and atrial flutter (4 cases).The proportion of atrial flutter was higher than that of the non-benign arrhythmias without cardiac enlargement group.8 cases received respiratory support.The average length of stay was (18.4±8.6) days.The mortality rate during hospitalization was 6.7％.The echocardiographic results showed that left atrioventricular enlargement and ejection fraction of left ventricle less than 60％ during arrhythmic episode.The cardiac size and systolic functions of left ventricle reverting to normal after improvement.During the follow-up period,1 case died and 2 cases lost to follow-up,all of them were discharged against medical advice.The median follow-up time of other cases was 1.6 (1.3,2.2) years.All of them recovered well without abnormalities in cardiac size or cardiac function by echocardiography.Conclusion Most newborns with arrhythmia accompanied by cardiac enlargement had insidious onset.Tachyarrhythmia was common and infection was the main cause.Attention should be paid to screening of rare causes in clinical practice.Non-benign arrhythmias with or without cardiac enlargement have no significant difference in the overall prognosis by active treatment.

Neonatal cardiac arrhythmia: a retrospective analysis of 128 cases / 中国新生儿科杂志

Objective To discuss the clinical features,pathogenesis,diagnosis,treatment and therapeutic outcome of neonatal cardiac arrhythmia.Method The clinical data of newborns with arrhythmia admitted from May 2013 to May 2018 were analyzed retrospectively.All cases were grouped into benign and non-benign arrhythmia groups according to the severity of clinical manifestations.The clinical features,pathogenesis,diagnosis,treatment and therapeutic outcome of them were compared.Result There were 128 cases including 89 (69.5％) males,39 (30.5％) females;106 (82.8％) full-term infants,22 (17.2％) premature infants;39 (30.5％) atrial premature contraction,5 (3.9％) atrial tachycardia,10 (7.8％) atrial flutter,36 (28.1％) paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia,26 (20.3％) ventricular premature contraction,12(9.4％) atrioventricular block;65 cases (50.8％) were benign arrhythmia and 63 cases (49.2％) were non-benign.52 cases (40.6％) showed noncardiac symptoms (including 10 cases of shortness of breath,9 cases of pallor or cyanosis,5 cases of refusal to suck,3 cases of grunting,25 cases with two or more than two kinds of clinical symptoms),and 76 cases (59.4％) were asymptomatic;31 cases (24.2％) were cardiac insufficiency.The three common causes of neonatal cardiac arrhythmia were:32 (25％) cases by infection,20 (15.6％) cases by perinatal asphyxia,19 (14.8％) cases were congenital heart disease;87 (68.0％) cases were mainly treated with primary diseases.41 cases (32.0％) were treated with antiarrhythmic drugs or cardioversion.There was significant difference in gender,noncardiac symptoms,cardiac insufficiency,age of onset,days of hospitalization,cardiac troponin Ⅰ and creatine kinase isoenzyme between the two groups (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Neonatal cardiac arrhythmias should be considered and evaluated with shortness of breath,cyanosis or pallor and rejection refusal of milk.High risk factors of neonatal cardiac arrhythmias included infection,perinatal asphyxia and congenital heart disease.Benign and non-benign arrhythmia should be identified.

Research Progress of the Relationship between SUNDS and OSAHS / 法医学杂志

Sudden unexplained nocturnal death syndrome （SUNDS） is always a difficulty in forensic medicine researches. Although the development of molecular genetics promotes the etiologic study of SUNDS, the pathogenesis of most such cases is still unclear. Sleep apnea syndrome （SAS） is one of the common forms of sleep disorders, and obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome （OSAHS） is the most common. In recent years, some domestic and international researches show that OSAHS is related to the development of cardiovascular disease, which may cause cardiac arrhythmia, even sudden death. This article reviews the relationship between SUNDS and OSAHS and aims to provide new ideas for the pathogenesis of SUNDS.

Atrial Strain and Strain Rate: A Novel Method for the Evaluation of Atrial Stunning / Strain Atrial e Strain Rate: Novo Método para Avaliar Atordoamento Atrial

Abstract Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia seen in adults. Atrial stunning is defined as the temporary mechanical dysfunction of the atrial appendage developing after AF has returned to sinus rhythm (SR). Objectives: We aimed to evaluate atrial contractile functions by strain and strain rate in patients with AF, following pharmacological and electrical cardioversion and to compare it with conventional methods. Methods: This study included 41 patients with persistent AF and 35 age-matched control cases with SR. All the AF patients included in the study had transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography performed before and after. Septum (SEPsSR), left atrium (LAsSR) and right atrium peak systolic strain rate (RAsSR) were defined as the maximum negative value during atrial contraction and septum (SEPε), left atrium (LAε) and right atrium peak systolic strain (RAε) was defined as the percentage of change. Parameters of two groups were compared. Results: In the AF group, 1st hour and 24th hour LAε, RAε, SEPε, LAsSR, RAsSR, SEPsSR found to be significantly lower than in the control group (LAε: 2.61%±0.13, 3.06%±0.19 vs 6.45%±0.27, p<0.0001; RAε: 4.03%±0.38, 4.50%±0.47 vs 10.12%±0.64, p<0.0001; SEPε: 3.0%±0.22, 3.19%±0.15 vs 6.23%±0.49, p<0.0001; LAsSR: 0.61±0.04s-1, 0.75±0.04s- 1 vs 1.35±0.04s-1, p<0.0001; RAsSR: 1.13±0.06s-1, 1.23±0.07s-1 vs 2.10±0.08s- 1, p<0.0001; SEPsSR: 0.76±0.04s- 1, 0.78±0.04s- 1 vs 1.42±0.06 s- 1, p<0.0001). Conclusion: Atrial strain and strain rate parameters are superior to conventional echocardiographic parameters for the evaluation of atrial stunning in AF cases where SR has been achieved.

Resumo Fundamento: A fibrilação atrial (FA) é a arritmia mais comum em adultos. Define-se atordoamento atrial como a disfunção mecânica temporária do apêndice atrial que se desenvolve depois de reversão da FA ao ritmo sinusal (RS). Objetivos: Avaliar as funções atriais contráteis através de strain atrial e strain rate em pacientes com FA, após cardioversão farmacológica e elétrica, assim como compará-los com os métodos convencionais. Métodos: Este estudo incluiu 41 pacientes com FA persistente e 35 controles com RS e pareados por idade. Todos os pacientes com FA incluídos neste estudo foram submetidos a ecocardiografia transtorácica e transesofágica antes e após. Strain rates de pico sistólico do septo (SEPsSR), do átrio esquerdo (LAsSR) e do átrio direito (RAsSR) foram definidas como o máximo valor negativo durante contração atrial. Strains de pico sistólico do septo (SEPε), do átrio esquerdo (LAε) e do átrio direito (RAε) foram definidas como porcentagem de mudança. Resultados: No grupo com FA, os parâmetros LAε, RAε, SEPε, LAsSR, RAsSR e SEPsSR da 1a hora e da 24a hora foram significativamente mais baixos que no grupo controle (LAε: 2,61%±0,13; 3,06%±0,19 vs 6,45%±0,27; p<0,0001; RAε: 4,03%±0,38; 4,50%±0,47 vs 10,12%±0,64; p<0,0001; SEPε: 3,0%±0,22; 3,19%±0,15 vs 6,23%±0,49; p<0,0001; LAsSR: 0,61±0,04s-1; 0,75±0,04s-1 vs 1,35±0,04s-1; p<0,0001; RAsSR: 1,13±0,06s-1; 1,23±0,07s-1 vs 2,10±0,08s-1; p<0,0001; SEPsSR: 0,76±0,04s-1; 0,78±0,04s-1 vs 1,42±0,06 s-1; p<0,0001). Conclusão: Os parâmetros strain atrial e strain rate são superiores aos parâmetros ecocardiográficos convencionais para avaliar atordoamento atrial em pacientes com FA que reverteram ao RS.

Predictive value of abnormal ECG J waves for arrhythmias in patients with acute ST elevation myocar-dial infarction / 心血管康复医学杂志

Objective:To explore the predictive value of abnormal ECG J waves for arrhythmias occurred during short term in patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (ASTEMI ) .Methods :ECG and echocardio‐graphic monitoring recordings of 204 ASTEMI patients who received emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in our hospital from Jan 2007 to Dec 2012 were retrospectively analyzed .Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were performed to analyze the influencing factors of arrhythmias within one week after myocar‐dial infarction .Results:Abnormal J waves detected by ECG were found in 82 cases (40.2% ) among the 204 pa‐tients ,most of which were distributed on inferior leads of ECG .Multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that abnormal J waves (OR=14.05 , P=0.01 ,95% CI 1.70~116.40) ,J waves distributed across ≥ two locations (OR=13.38 ,P=0.01 ,95% CI 1.53~38.68) and J wave amplitude≥0.2 mV (OR=4.28 ,P=0.02 ,95% CI 1.82~16.72) were independent predictors for sustained ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) ,but they cannot be used as predictors for occurrence of all ventricular arrhythmias ,including non‐sustained VT ,sustained VT and VF (P>0.05 all) ,nor the occurrence of atrial arrhythmias , P>0.05 all .Multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that diabetes mellitus was an independent predictor for occurrence of ≥30s atrial tachycardia/fibrillation in ASTEMI patients (OR=2.29 ,P=0.047 ,95% CI 1.01~5.18) .Conclusion:Abnormal ECG J wave is an inde‐pendent predictor for occurrence of sustained ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation during short term after ASTEMI .

The correlation between the hypertrophic ventricular tissue of SHR rats and ventricular arrhythmia occurred / 重庆医学

Objective To explore the susceptibility differences of ventricular arrhythmia (VA ) in SHR rats with/without left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH) and the significance .Methods The experiments were performed on isolated hearts of 8‐week(the non‐LVH control group ,n=12) ,16 week‐old SHR(the LVH group ,n=12) and age‐matched Wistar Kyoto rats(Wistar ,the blank control group ,n=12) ,which were perfused in Langendorff mode with oxygenated Krebs‐Henseleit solution followed by a K+‐defi‐cient solution .The epicardial electrocardiogram was continuously monitored during all experiments .HE staining and collagen vol‐ume fraction(CVF)was used to evaluate the condition of LVH .Results Compared with the non‐LVH control group and the blank control group ,the low K+ induced ventricular arrhythmia occurred earlier with increased incidences and duration in the hearts of the LVH Group ,the incidences of ventricular tachycardia(VT) ,transient ventricular fibrillation(TVF) ,sustained ventricular fibrillation (SVF) and CVF were higher in the hearts of the LVH Group(P<0 .05) ,myocardial cell hypertrophy and myocardial cells intersti‐tial increased .Conclusion The ventricular arrhythmia occurred earlier with increased incidences and duration in the LVH tissue of SHR rats ,which implies that LVH is associated with VA .

Clinical effect of Wenxin granule combined with metoprolol on arrhythmia in elderly patients with coronary heart disease / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To explore the clinical effect and safety of Wenxin granule combined with metoprolol on arrhythmia in elderly patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).Methods 186 elderly CHD patients with arrhythmia were divided into 3 groups according to therapy:group A (n=62,treated with Wenxin granule),group B (n=60,treated with metoprolol) and group C (n=64,treated with Wenxin granule plus metoprolol).Clinical effect and adverse effect were retrospectively analyzed.Results The excellence rate and total efficiency rate were higher in group C than group A andB [53.1％ (34 cases) vs.32.3％ (20 cases),30.0％ (18 cases); 93.8％ (60 cases) vs.40.3％ (25 cases),40.0％ (24 cases) ; respectively,all P＜0.05].There were no significant differences in the incidence of adverse effect in the 3 groups [4.8％ (3/62),8.3％ (5/60) vs.8.3％ (5/64),all P ＞0.05].Conclusions Wenxin granule combined with metoprolol improves clinical effect,decreases premature beat and has a better safety for elderly CHD patients with arrhythmia,which is worthy of clinical application.

Single Nucleotide Deletion Mutation of KCNH2 Gene is Responsible for LQT Syndrome in a 3-Generation Korean Family

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is characterized by the prolongation of the QT interval in ECG and manifests predisposition to life threatening arrhythmia which often leads to sudden cardiac death. We encountered a 3-generation family with 5 affected family members in which LQTS was inherited in autosomal dominant manner. The LQTS is considered an ion channel disorder in which the type and location of the genetic mutation determines to a large extent the expression of the clinical syndrome. Upon screening of the genomic sequences of cardiac potassium ion channel genes, we found a single nucleotide C deletion mutation in the exon 3 of KCNH2 gene that co-segregates with the LQTS in this family. This mutation presumably resulted in a frameshift mutation, P151fs+15X. This study added a new genetic cause to the pool of mutations that lead to defected potassium ion channels in the heart.