Outline of the report on cardiovascular diseases in China, 2014.

The risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are more prevalent in the Chinese population, and therefore, increase the incidence of CVD. In general, CVD morbidity and mortality will remain an upward trend in the next 10 years. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in China, which accounts for >40% of deaths from any cause. The burden of CVD is substantial and has become an important public health issue. Measures for the prevention and treatment of CVD in China should be further enforced without delay. Since 2005, the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases has organized experts of cardiology, neurology, nephrology, diabetes, epidemiology, community health, health economics, biostatistics, and other related fields to compile the annual Report on Cardiovascular Diseases in China. The report aims to provide a timely review of the trend of the epidemic of CVD and to assess the progress of prevention and control of CVD. We present an abstract from the Report on Cardiovascular Diseases in China (2014), including trends in CVD, morbidity and mortality of major CVD, up-to-date assessment of risk factors, as well as health resources for CVD, and a profile of medical expenditure, with the aim of providing evidence for decision making in CVD prevention and control programmes in China, and of delivering the most authoritative information on CVD prevention and control for all citizens.

Effect of l-lysine-assisted surface grafting for nano-hydroxyapatite on mechanical properties and in vitro bioactivity of poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid).

It is promising and challenging to study surface modification for nano-hydroxyapatite to improve the dispersion and enhance the mechanical properties and bioactivity of poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid). In this paper, we designed an effective new surface grafting with the assist of l-lysine for nano-hydroxyapatite, and the nano-hydroxyapatite surface grafted with the assist of l-lysine (g-nano-hydroxyapatite) was incorporated into poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) to develop a series of g-nano-hydroxyapatite/poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) nano-composites. The surface modification reaction for nano-hydroxyapatite, the mechanical properties, and in vitro human osteoblast-like cell (MG-63) response were characterized and investigated by Fourier transformation infrared, thermal gravimetric analysis, dispersion test, electromechanical universal tester, differential scanning calorimeter measurements, and in vitro cells culture experiment. The results showed that the grafting amount on the surface of nano-hydroxyapatite was enhanced with the increase of l-lysine, and the dispersion of nano-hydroxyapatite was improved more, so that it brought about better promotion crystallization and more excellent mechanical enhancement effect for poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid), comparing with the unmodified nano-hydroxyapatite. Moreover, the cells' attachment and proliferation results confirmed that the incorporation of the g-nano-hydroxyapatite into poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) exhibited better biocompatibility than poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid). The above results indicated that the new surface grafting with the assist of l-lysine for nano-hydroxyapatite was an ideal novel surface modification method, which brought about better mechanical enhancement effect and in vitro bioactivity for poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) with adding higher g-nano-hydroxyapatite content, suggesting it had a great potential to be used as bone fracture internal fixation materials in future.

Minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy: experience of 200 cases in a single center.

INTRODUCTION: Minimally invasive techniques in thyroid surgery including video-assisted technique originally described by Miccoli have been accepted in several continents for more than 10 years. AIM: To analyze our preliminary results from minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) and to evaluate the feasibility and effects of this method in a general department over a 4-year period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Initial experience was presented based on a series of 200 patients selected for MIVAT at the General Surgery Department of Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital affiliated with Qingdao University during the period from May 2008 to June 2012. The enrolling criteria were rigorously observed. An above sternal incision with average length of 2.5 cm (1.5-3.0 cm) was made. Clinicopathologic characteristics, postoperative pain, length of hospital stay, cosmetic results and complications were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: All patients received general anesthesia. Thyroid unilateral lobectomy was successfully accomplished in 108 cases, total thyroidectomy in 84, and partial lobectomy in 8. Conversion to standard conventional thyroidectomy was required in 6 patients (3%) because of thyroiditis and bleeding. The mean lymph node yield of the cancer specimens was 3.6 per patient. Permanent unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy occurred in 1 case (0.5%), transient unilateral RLN palsy in 6 patients (3.0%, complete recovery after 1-6 months), and transient hypocalcemia in 7 patients (3.5%). No definitive hypocalcemia was observed. No postoperative hematomas occurred. Postoperative pain was endurable. The cosmetic result was excellent in most cases. CONCLUSIONS: The MIVAT is feasible and safe in selected patients, with better results comparable to conventional thyroidectomy. The MIVAT can also be performed in a general surgery department.

Sonographic diagnosis features of Zenker diverticulum.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the image of the lesion and give the sonographic diagnosis features of Zenker diverticulum. METHODS: Sonography was performed with a high-frequency linear array probe. The location, size, shape, and echogenicity of the Zenker diverticulum were recorded. To find the lesion whether to be connected with the adjacent esophageal wall. During compressing with a probe, to detect the changes of the lesion shape and echogenicity. As swallowing or drinking water, to detect the fluid whether to enter into the lesions. All patients were given barium swallow test. RESULTS: All nine Zenker diverticulum were all located at the posterolateral aspect of the left lobe. The long diameters of all Zenker diverticulum measured by sonography ranged from 9.6mm to 45 mm (average 16.4±11 mm). There were four types of sonogram features of Zenker diverticulum in our study: (1) The lesion was isoechoic mass with boundary hypoechoic rim and internal small, punctuate, echogenic foci. (2) The lesion contained a central hyperechoic area associated with a comet-tail artifact. (3) The lesion was hyperechoic and heterogeneous, with stronger echoes anteriorly, but there was no acoustic shadowing or reverberation artifacts. (4) The lesion was oval-shaped mixed nodule, with unclear border and relatively multiple punctuate strong echoes. During the patient's ingestion of water, an increase in the lesion's size, a reduction in the definition of the margins, and heterogeneous echogenicity of the lesion's contents are observed. Barium-swallow images of the upper esophagus demonstrate an out-pouching at the posterior aspect of the pharyngoesophageal junction. CONCLUSION: The sign of air in the Zenker diverticulum is the most important sonographic feature for differential diagnosis from thyroid nodules. It was useful to diagnosis and prevents patients from invasive procedure such as aspiration and unnecessary operation.