Background: Osteoporosis in the elderly is now a pressing issue in the world as well as in Vietnam. Objective: To survey the proportion of osteoporosis in patients visited to the hospital, To search some factors related to the osteoporosis proportion in the elderly. Subjects and method: From April to June 2007, 344 patients aged 50 years or more visited to National Institute of Gerontology were surveyed, examined and measured the bone mineral density. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Results: Osteoporosis proportions according to age were 28.2% at the age of 50 to 59 years; 42.85% at the age of 60 to 69 years; 66.6% at the age of 70 to 79 years and up to 100% at the age of over 80. The osteoporosis proportion in women increased substantially after menopause in comparison with men (45.5% compared to 33.1%). 50.9% of people working inactively and rarely done exercises had osteoporosis while this rate in people who had active work is 38.5%. After 10 years of menopause, there were 24.7% of people had osteoporosis and that number after 10 - 20 years was 52.7%, after more than 20 years was 61.9%. 50% of men with smoking had osteoporosis in comparison with 35.7% in non-smoking group. Conclusions: The proportion of osteoporosis increased with age. Acting regularly helped reduce osteoporosis. The longer the period of menopause was, the higher the rate of osteoporosis was. Using corticoid and smoking cigarettes increased the rate of osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis/ therapy ; Aged

Background: Levels of Apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) and Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) had changed more significantly than that of other serum lipids in patients with Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA). Objectives: The study aims to determine the value of ApoA1 and ApoB contents and other serum lipid indices in a group of old people with CVA. Subjects and method: 40 healthy people at the age of over 60 years old and 40 patients with computer tomography-diagnosed CVA at the same age were involved in the study. Both groups were analysed for serum lipid indices, including total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C, ApoA1 and ApoB levels. Results: There was no significant difference in serum lipid parameters such as total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C; LDL-C levels and the total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio between the control and the case groups. The rate of ApoA1/Apo B changed most significantly, followed by ApoA1 and ApoB levels in the case group. The people having ApoA1 level less than 110mg/dl was 2.5 times more likely to have CVA. The people having apoB level more than 90mg/dl was 6.9 times more likely to have CVA. The people having apoA1/ApoB ratio less than 1.2 may be at risk of CVA 9.8 times higher than others. Conclusion: The reduction in ApoA1 level, the increase in apoB level and the decrease in ApoA1/ApoB ratio had statistic significance in the groups of patients with CVA.
Apolipoprotein ; Vascular cerebral accident.

Background: In postmenopause women, the amount of Estrogen is reduced; Bone Mineral Density (BMD) is also reduced, leading quickly to losing bones condition. Objectives: 1. To describe the decreased ratio in the bone mineral density and osteoporosis proportion in postmenopause women. 2. To research the risk factors related to the osteoporosis proportion. Subject and method: 1224 patients that visited the National Institute of Gerontology were surveyed, examined and the bone mineral density was measured using the double - energy X - ray absorbing method. Results: Decreased ratio in the bone mineral density and osteoporosis proportion according to age: 25.7% at the age of 50 to 59, 53.5% at the age of 60 - 69, 71.8% at the age of 70 - 79, and up to 95.9% at the age of over 80. The comparison between early and normal postmenopause groups shows that the first group have higher osteoporosis rate. 77.96% of people working inactively and rarely do exercises have osteoporosis, while this rate in people who have active work is 32.16%. People with low BMI score, given birth many times have high-risk of reducing the bone mineral density and osteoporosis proportion. Conclusion: The ratio of low bone mineral density and osteoporosis increases specifically with age. Regular exercise helps reduce osteoporosis proportion. The longer the period of postmenopause, the lower the BMI and the more times people give birth, the higher the osteoporosis proportion is.
Osteoporosis ; Risk factors ; Postmenopause

Benign Prostate Hypertrophy (BPH) is often met in men of age 40 and over and its prevalence increases with age. 128 patients with BPH diagnosis have been included in study. Diagnosis has been based on: urinary disturbances scored by American Urinary Scale, rectal examination, volume measured by ultrasound exploration, serum PSA, post-surgical gland mass weighing and pathological evaluation. Results have shown: - There is linear relationship between 2 methods of gland mass definition with r= 0.736. Thus ultrasound method can be considered as good tool for gland mass definition.- 46.8% of BPH patients have PSA value in normal range but the rest of patients have elevated PSA value. With threshold of PSA at 15ng/ml value 120/128 patients have result above that threshold. This phenomena has relation with gland mass. The average volume of those with PSA< 5ng/ml is 40.1 cm3 but reached as high as 92.5cm3 on those with PSA>15ng/ml. This correlation is very close with r=0.458.
Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Antigens

Background: Prostatic Specific Antigen (PSA), a helpful tumor maker in the diagnosis of prostate cancer, may rise due to many causes such as Digital Rectal Examination (DRE), Acute Urinary Retention (AUR), ect. Objective: To evaluate on the influences of some factors on the serum PSA level in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Subjects and method: This study included 122 men who were diagnosed BPH with a mean age of 71.18 +/- 7.19 years (ranged 54-92). The patients were divided into 3 groups: DRE group included 60 patients, their blood samples were obtained before and after 24 hours; catheterization group included 35 patients who presented with AUR, their PSA values were determined before 48 hours and 2 weeks after elevation; the inflammation group consisted of 27 patients with symptoms of acute urinary tract infections, the PSA levels were evaluated before 48 hours and 4 weeks after anti-inflammatory therapy. Results: The PSA levels increased significantly in patients with larger prostate sizes (p<0.01, r = 0.492). PSA level tended to increase with age (p<0.05, r = 0.29). The PSA values changed 14.72 +/- 10.85% after DRE (p<0.05). After relief of urethral catheterization, PSA levels decreased 50.77 +/- 20.42% (p<0.05). After anti-inflammatory therapy, 51.59 +/- 21.87% (p<0.05). Conclusions: These results suggested that it may be the best way to perform DRE after obtaining serum PSA for analysis. Serum PSA concentration should not be determined when AUR and acute urinary tract infection.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia ; PSA

Background: Interstitial Laser Coagulation (ILC) Indigo 830e system is the first technique that is used in Viet Nam for the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) patients. Objectives: (1) To evaluate the effects of treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia by ILC Indigo 830e system. (2) To describe peri- and post-proceduce complications. Subjects and method: The study consisted of 106 BPH patients who treated by ILC Indigo 830e system. This was a cross-section, descriptive study. Results: Overally, good and moderate outcomes was 94.8%, unsatisfactory was 5.2%. The peri- and post-proceduce complications were: urethral irritability 20.8%, prolonged catheterization 4.7%, urinary tract infections 4.7% and hematuria 0.94%. Conclusion: The treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia patients by ILC Indigo 830e system was an effective and safe therapy, especially in elderly patient group who had multiple diseases.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia ; interstitial laser coagulation