Background: \u03b2-thalassemia is a hereditary disease caused by disorder in \u03b2-globin chain synthesis process. In this research, multiplex-PCR was used in combination with blood chemistry assays and clinical symptoms to detect \u03b2-globin mutations. Objectives: (1) to identify the \u03b2-thalassemia mutation spectrum in the North of Vietnam; (2) to determine the relation between biochemistry values and types of mutations. Subject and methods: Blood samples collected from 60 pediatric patients were used in screening assays (hemoglobin counting, red blood cell counting, hematocrit\ufffd? and multiplex-PCR to detect 6 point mutations with high prevalence in the region. Results: \r\n', u'(1) Of 60 blood samples collected from pediatric patients, 30 (50%) had mutation in codon 17 (A\u2192T), 6 (10%) had a frameshift mutation in codons 41/42 and 4 (6%) had both types of these mutations; (2) The average onset time in patients with FS 41/42 mutation was earlier than that of patients with codon 17 (A\u2192T) mutation, whereas transfusion interval did not differ significantly among these patients; (3) Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was lower in patients with homozygous mutations (\u03b2o) (average 64.8) than in those with heterozygous mutations (\u03b2+) (average 72.7). Conclusions: (1) multiplex-PCR is an effective technique in identifying the mutation spectrum of \u03b2-globin gene in the North of Vietnam; (2) Biochemistry assays should be associated with molecular techniques in diagnose of \u03b2-thalassemia\r\n', u'\r\n', u'\r\n', u'
beta-Thalassemia ; Thalassemia ; Genetic Diseases ; Inborn ; Mutation

Background: Patients who received multiple transfusions of blood and blood products may produce antibodies against antigens of erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets etc, resulting in many clinical implications. Objectives: To detect frequencies of antineutrophil antibodies in multitransfused patients at National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT). Subjects and methods: The study was conducted on 30 multitransfused patients. Among them there were 12 with thrombocytopenia and 18 with aplastic anemia. Results: 6 cases had anti - neutrophil antibodies, of which 5 had more than 5 times of transfusion, 4 with aplastic anemia and 2 with thrombocytopenia. The sera were further tested with neutrophil panel, revealing 4 samples with anti - NA 1 (13.3%) and 1 sample with anti - NA2 (3.3%). The frequency of anti - neutrophil antibodies in multitransfused patients at IHBT in the study is 20%. Conclusion: Frequency of anti-NA1 was higher than anti-NA2 in multitransfused patients at NIHBT and directly proportional by frequency of NA1 and NA2 antigens in this group. The technical process to identify and classify antineutrophil antibodies in this study can be applied for patients who received multiple transfusions of blood and blood products in Viet Nam
Anemia ; Aplastic/ blood ; complications ; pathology ; Neutrophils

Background: Bcr/abl fusion gene plays an important role in diagnosing and treating chronic myelogenous leukemia. Objective: to detect fusion genes: b3a2, b2a2, b3a3, b2a3 and e1a2 in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia by using Nested RT - PCR technique. Subjects and methods: Peripheral blood samples were analyzed by Nested RT - PCR assay from 30 adult patients. Results: 28/30 patients showed bcr/abl fusions gene; among them 20/30 patients showed b3a2 fusions gene, 5/30 patients showed b2a2 fusions gene, 2/30 patients showed co-expression of the b3a2 and b2a2. 1/30 showed e1a2; 2/30 patients showed negative fusion gene. Count of leukocytes and platelets of patients with b3a2 fusion genes were 311.3 G/l and 597.5 G/l, respectively and of patients with b2a2 fusion genes were 136.7 G/l and 333 G/l, respectively. Conclusion: Most of patients showed b3a2 fusion gene, while remaining showed b2a2 transcripts or the co-expression of the b3a2, only one case showed e1a2 fusion gene, two patients showed negative fusion gene. There was no case which showed b3a3 or b2a3 fusion gene. Nested RT assay should be used to determine bcr/abl fusion genes for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia\r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Leukemia ; Myelogenous ; Chronic ; BCR-ABL Positive/ blood ; pathology

Background: Nucleic acid testing (NAT) has been widely used for transfusion - transmitted infection screening at blood banks all over the world to reduce window period, yet the assay has not been implemented in Vietnam. Objective: Using and evaluating cost - effectiveness of NAT in screening HIV, HCV, HBV in blood \r\n', u'donors. Subjects and methods: The study was carried out on 9392 blood donors at National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion from Jan to May 2007 who were HIV, HCV, HBV negative with ELISA. Plasma from donors was pooled (pool size of 8) and tested with UItrio Procleix HIV - 1, HCV, HBV (Chiton). Results: These 9392 plasma samples were pooled into 1174 pool samples to perform NAT. Among 1174 pooled samples, there was only 1 case with negative ELISA - Reactive NAT. The sample was determined as response with probe HCV. From there, one of eight pool samples was identified responding to probe HCV and it was more likely to have been missed in the window period when screened by ELISA.Conclusion: The sample should be further tested with HCV qualitative and quantitative testing to confirm the status of infection. \r\n', u'\r\n', u'
HIV ; Hepatitis B virus/drug effects ; Hepacivirus ; Blood Donors

Background: In recent years, Vietnam has applied four methods (morphology, cell chemistry, immune marker classification, cyto genetic) in diagnosis and used multi-chemotherapy in treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)\r\n', u'Objectives: To initially determine some fusion gene transcripts in the acute myelogenous leukemia patients by applying PCR technique. Subject and method: The study included 19 patients with acute myelogenous leukemia treated in National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion and Bachmai Hospital from April 2007 to August 2007. RNA were extracted from leukemic cells and PCR for AML1/ETO, CBFP/MYH11, PMR/RARa fusion transcript was done. Results: Number of male patients was 6 (32%), female patients was 13 (68%). The average age of these patients was 32.67 \xb113.62. There were three M4, M4eo patients with AML1/ETO gene (accounting for 16%), two M2, M4 patients with CBF/MYH1 gene and type F of genetic modification accounting for 11%), two M3 patients with PMR/RAR\u03b1 and Bcr3 of genetic modification (accounting for 11%). Conclusion: Results of the study did not differ significantly from other researches in the world. This study showed the need of applying the PCR technique in determining fusion gene transcript together with traditional cyto-genetic method.\r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Leukemia ; Myeloid ; Acute/ blood ; pathology ; complications ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Background: Detection of BCR/ABL fusion gene has important significance in diagnosing and monitoring response to therapy in chronic myeloid leukemia. Objective: Application of FISH (Fluorescence In Situ Hybrydization) technique for detection of abl/bcr fusion gene in chronic myelogenous leukemia. Subjects and methods: The study included 10 patients of chronic myelogenous leukemia diagnosed by methods of morphology and cell chemistry. Peripheral blood and bone marrow samples of them were analyzed Philadelphia (Ph1) chromosome by cytogenetic technique. Among them, 5 patients were tested by FISH technique on the slide of interphase and remainders were tested by FISH technique on the slide of metaphase cell. Results: Results of analyzing chromosome of 10 patients showed that 8 patients had Ph1 chromosome. 2 patients without Ph1 chromosome were patients who had not high of leukocyte count: 28x109leukocyte/l and 36x109leukocyte/l, respectively. In the FISH on the slide of interphase, all 5 patients had Ph1 chromosome and abl/bcr fusion gene. In the FISH on the slide of metaphase cell, 3 patients had Ph1 chromosome and abl/bcr fusion gene. Conclusion: FISH technique has been applied successfully to detect ABL/BCR gene in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia.\r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Leukemia ; Myelogenous ; Chronic ; BCR-ABL Positive/ pathology

Soluble epoxide hydrolases (sEH) are enzymes present in all living organisms, metabolize epoxy fatty acids to 1,2-diols. sEH in the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids plays a key role in inflammation. In addition, the endogenous lipid mediators in cardiovascular disease are also broken down to diols by the action of sEH that enhanced cardiovascular protection. In this study, sEH inhibitory guided fractionation led to the isolation of five phenolic compounds trans-resveratrol (1), trans-piceatannol (2), sulfuretin (3), (+)-balanophonin (4), and cassigarol E (5) from the ethanol extract of the seeds of Passiflora edulis Sims cultivated in Vietnam. The chemical structures of isolated compounds were determined by the interpretation of NMR spectral data, mass spectra, and comparison with data from the literature. The soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitory activity of isolated compounds was evaluated. Among them, trans-piceatannol (2) showed the most potent inhibitory activity on sEH with an IC₅₀ value of 3.4 µM. This study marks the first time that sulfuretin (3) was isolated from Passiflora edulis as well as (+)-balanophonin (4), and cassigarol E (5) were isolated from Passiflora genus.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Epoxide Hydrolases ; Ethanol ; Fatty Acids ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated ; Inflammation ; Metabolism ; Passiflora ; Passifloraceae ; Phenol ; Vietnam

Objectives: The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has increased, particularly among individuals who have recovered from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Health literacy is considered a “social vaccine” that helps people respond effectively to the pandemic. We aimed to investigate the association between long COVID-19 and PTSD, and to examine the modifying role of health literacy in this association. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at 18 hospitals and health centers in Vietnamfrom December 2021 to October 2022. We recruited 4,463 individuals who had recovered from COVID-19 infection for at least 4 weeks. Participants provided information about their sociodemographics, clinical parameters, health-related behaviors, health literacy (usingthe 12-item short-form health literacy scale), long COVID-19 symptoms and PTSD (Impact Event Scale-Revised score of 33 or higher). Logistic regression models were used to examine associations and interactions. Results: Out of the study sample, 55.9% had long COVID-19 symptoms, and 49.6% had PTSD.Individuals with long COVID-19 symptoms had a higher likelihood of PTSD (odds ratio [OR], 1.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.63–2.12; p < 0.001). Higher health literacy was associated with a lower likelihood of PTSD (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97–0.99; p = 0.001). Compared to those without long COVID-19 symptoms and the lowest health literacy score, those with long COVID-19 symptoms and a 1-point health literacy increment had a 3% lower likelihood of PTSD (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96–0.99; p = 0.001). Conclusion Health literacy was found to be a protective factor against PTSD and modified the negative impact of long COVID-19 symptoms on PTSD.

Introduction: When Viet Nam launched the Expanded Programme on Immunization in 1981, it covered six vaccines, including measles. Subsequently, Viet Nam experienced a marked reduction in measles infections. A nationwide measles epidemic occurred in April 2014 and an investigation found that 86% of affected children aged 9 months to 10 years were not fully vaccinated; therefore, understanding the reasons for not vaccinating could improve vaccination coverage. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study to determine vaccination coverage and reasons for non-vaccination among children aged 9 months to 10 years in six districts in Ho Chi Minh City with the highest number of measles cases in 2014. Measles vaccination status of the youngest child in each household was determined and reasons for non-vaccination were investigated. A χ2 test and multiple logistic regression were used to identify independent predictors of full vaccination. Results: In total, 207 children were enrolled during the study period in 2014. Full measles vaccination coverage was 55% in these households, and 73% of parents were aware of the importance of measles vaccination to protect their children. We found that the father’s education level (under high school versus high school and above) and the site where the survey was conducted were significantly associated with vaccination status. Conclusion The vaccination coverage was lower than the coverage reported by district preventive medicine centres of the seven study wards. Lack of the second vaccination was a key obstacle to eliminating the vaccination gap. A catch-up mass vaccination campaign or health promotion of measles vaccination directed towards parents should be considered to improve vaccination coverage.