The current study reveals that there is a significant difference in the prevalence of hyperlipidemia and its risk factors between Hei Yi Zhuang and Han, which might result from different demographic characteristics, dietary habits and other lifestyle factors.

Randomized controlled trials of exercise training in patients with HF and symptoms of depression were identified. The depression data were pooled using meta-analysis, and 19 studies were identified, with a total of 3447 patients, of which 16 (3226 patients) provided data for the meta-analysis. Exercise training demonstrated significant reductions in the symptoms of depression [standardized mean difference (SMD) -0.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.55 to −0.21], and its antidepressive effect was consistent in a number of HF groups, such as in ages under and over 65 years (SMD −0.14, 95% CI −0.22 to −0.07 vs. SMD −0.44, 95% CI −0.61 to −0.27) and EFs of <50% (SMD −0.38, 95% CI −0.56 to −0.20), as well as in a range of interventional strategies, including the aerobic mode (SMD −0.40, 95% CI −0.61 to −0.19), centre, home, or combined setting (SMD −0.61, 95% CI −0.95 to −0.27 vs. SMD −0.25, 95% CI −0.44 to −0.07 vs. SMD −0.13, 95% CI −0.21 to −0.05), and short or longer training programmes (≤12 weeks, SMD −0.50, 95% CI −0.73 to −0.27; 12-26 weeks, SMD −0.47, 95% CI −0.82 to −0.11; >26 weeks, SMD −0.12, 95% CI −0.20 to −0.04). The beneficial effects were preserved when blind design trials were considered (SMD −0.14, 95%

This study aims to investigate the preventive effect of oral nicorandil on contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients with renal insufficiency undergoing elective cardiac catheterization. A total of 240 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 60 mL/min or less, who were undergoing elective cardiac catheterization, were randomly assigned to nicorandil group (n = 120, 10 mg nicorandil, three times daily from 2 days before to 3 days after procedure) or control group (n = 120, matching placebo as the same method). The primary endpoint was the incidence of CIN defined as 25 % increase in serum creatinine (SCr) from baseline or 44 μmol/L (0.5 mg/dL) increase in absolute value within 72 h after exposure to contrast medium. The secondary endpoints were: (1) the changes of SCr, Cystatin-C (Cys-C) and eGFR within 72 h; (2) major adverse events (MACE) occurring within 30 days. Baseline characteristics of the patients in the two groups were similar. The incidence of CIN was significantly lower in nicorandil group compared with control group (6.67 vs. 17.5 %, P = 0.017). Compared with the control group, nicorandil group tended to have a lower SCr and Cys-C levels as well as a higher eGFR at 48 h after the procedure (all P < 0.05). There was no difference about the incidence of MACE within 30 days between nicorandil group and control group (4.16 vs. 5.83 %, P = 0.767). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that nicorandil was an independent protective factor against CIN (OR = 0.260, 95 % CI = 0.1-0.676, P = 0.006). Therefore, we concluded that oral nicorandil was associated with a decline in the incidence of CIN in patients with renal insufficiency undergoing elective cardiac catheterization.

Han is the largest nationality and Zhuang is the largest minority among the 56 nationalities in China. Geographically and linguistically, Zhuang can be classified into 43 ethnic subgroups, with the Hei Yi Zhuang Chinese, who live in Napo County bordering northeast Vietnam and comprise a population of 51,655, having the most conservative culture and customs (Hei Yi means "black-clothing" and the Hei Yi Zhuang revere and wear the color black). The determinants of hypertension and its risk factors in this population have not been well-defined. To obtain some of this information, a cross-sectional study of hypertension was carried out in 1,166 Hei Yi Zhuang Chinese (aged 7-84; mean, 44.00+/-17.54 years) and 1,018 Han Chinese controls (42.95+/-17.11; range, 6-89 years) in the same area. Information on demographic characteristics, health-related behaviors and lifestyle factors was collected by questionnaire. The overall prevalence rates of hypertension and isolated systolic hypertension in Hei Yi Zhuang were higher than those in Han (23.2% vs. 16.0% and 11.5% vs. 3.7%; p<0.001 for each). The levels of systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure in Hei Yi Zhuang were also higher than those in Han (p<0.001 for each). The prevalence of hypertension was positively correlated with triglycerides, male gender, and age in Hei Yi Zhuang, whereas it was positively correlated with total cholesterol, male gender, age, and alcohol consumption in Han. The rates of awareness, treatment and control in Hei Yi Zhuang were lower than those in Han (8.5% vs. 20.9%, 4.4% vs. 15.3%, and 1.9% vs. 10.4%; p<0.001 for each), which may have been due to unique geographical characteristics, unwholesome lifestyles, greater sodium intake, lower education levels, and genetic risk factors in the former group.