Background: Wrist joint damage is early, common symptom and in diagnostic criteria of rheumatoid arthritis. Objective: to describe characteristics of MRI of the wrist in rheumatoid arthritis. Subjects and methods: This was a describe study. The study included 41 patients who were diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis according to the criteria of American College of Rheumatology- 1987 from January to October - 2006. Results: The average disease duration was 16.4 \xb114.71months. According to Rheumatoid Arthritis Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (RAMRIS) 2002, damages on MRI included: 100% of patients had synovitis (5.9 \xb1 2.20), 100% of patients had bone erosions (15.3 \xb1 11.06) and 90% of patients had bone edema (7.3 \xb1 5.86), total score 28.6 \xb1 16.58. The correlative coefficient between synovitis and bone edema: r=0.43, P<0.01, between synovitis and bone erosions:r=0.61, P<0.01, between bone erosions and bone edema: r=0.55, P<0.01. MRI revealed bone erosions in 100% of patients having rheumatoid arthritis less six months after symptom onset compared with 0% of patients on radiography. In patients with over 2 years of disease duration, this rate on MRI was 100% of patients compared with 87.5% of patients on radiography. Conclusions: The specific damages of the wrist on MRI have value in diagnosis of early rheumatoid arthritis. \r\n', u'\r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Arthritis ; Rheumatoid ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ;

Background: Gastric cancer is a common disease in the world. For treatment, gastrectomy is still considered as the first choice. However, recovering of postoperative gastrointestinal circulation remains a controversial issue. Objectives: To assess the early results of 2 methods as gastroduodenostomy (Billroth I type) and gastrojejunostomy (Billroth type II) in recovering of gastrointestinal circulation. Subjects and method: A descriptive, retrospective study was conducted on 98 patients (61 males, 37 females, mean aged 48.1\xb112.7), were confirmed diagnosed with gastric cancer, treated in Military Central Hospital N.108 from May, 2001 to December, 2005. Results: Tumor positions were seen in 1/3 lower and 1/3 middle of gastric organ (59.2% and 40.8%, respective). There was no significant difference for invasive level of tumor between 2 groups (P>0.05). 62.2% patients with invasive level of tumor in stage of T4 in both 2 groups. Generally, the lesion between 2 forms of ulcer and rough differed significantly. The patients with and without metastatic lymph nodes were 57 and 41 patients, respective. All of patients were conducted with lymph node dissection at the stage of DIII-DIV. The difference between 2 groups for surgical time was no statistic significant. Conclusion: Billroth type I method combined with lymph nodes dissection was a safe and feasible technique in treatment of gastric cancer.
Stomach Neoplasms/ surgery ; Gastrectomy ; Lymph Node Excision ;

Background: Paracheck F.test is rapid diagnostic test that use to determine presence of histidine rich protein 2-HPR-2, a component of Plasmodium falciparum in total blood. Paracheck F.test producted by India\r\n', u'Objective: To study the sensitivity, specificity and diagnosed conformity of Rapid Diagnosis Test (Paracheck F test) compared with microscopic method for detecting P.falciparum \r\n', u'Subject and method: The study was conducted in 5 communes of Quang Tri province and 1 commune of Quang Binh province from September to November in 2006. A total of 470 blood samples were collected and examined with 2 methods for detecting P falciparum (Microscopy and Rapid Diagnosis Test- Paracheck). \r\n', u'Results:Among these blood samples, there were 438 samples having complete conformity in both two methods. 29 samples were negative with microscopy but positive with Paracheck. 3 samples were positive with Paracheck but negative with microscopy.\r\n', u'Conclusion: the sensitivity and specificity of Paracheck is 99% and 82%, respectively. Both microscopic and Paracheck methods have a high conformity in detecting P falciparum with the Kappa index of 0.84. \r\n', u'
Sensitivity ; specificity ; diagnosed conformity ; Paracheck F test ; microscopy

Background: In 2006, the project of global fund for malaria prevention in Vietnam provided a large number of rapid diagnostic test Paracheck F for Vietnam for the purpose of rapid malaria diagnose. However, there is no study on evaluation the effect of rapid diagnostic test compared with microscopy method. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic yield and cost of paracheck F test and microscopy in malaria diagnosis and treatment. Subject and Method: The study was carried out in 6 communes belongs to Quang Tri and Quang Binh provinces from September to November - 2006. The study was divided into 3 phases. Phase 1: diagnoses and treatments are based on clinical symptoms, phase 2: diagnoses and treatments are based on the results of paracheck and phase 3: diagnoses and treatments are based on the results of microscopy. All phases, both the common patients and malarial patients and the amount of anti-malarial drugs were treated, the amount of money was spent on transport and days work off of malarial patients and their relatives were calculated. Result: The investigation data on expenditure of malaria patients showed that: the average direct cost of malaria patient in phase 1 is VND 116.100; phase 2: VND 119.400 and phase 3: VND 120.800 per 1 treatment course. There is no significant difference between direct costs in three phases (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The expense efficiency for finding out a case of malaria by paracheck and microscopy is equivalent and lower than the expense of diagnosis based on clinical symptoms.
Malaria diagnosis ; RDT Paracheck F ; microscopy

To investigated the protective potential of ethanol extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis (S. baicalensis ) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury. Methods: Dried roots of S. baicalensis were extracted with ethanol and concentrated to yield a dry residue. Mice were administered 200 mg/kg of the ethanol extracts orally once daily for one week. Animals were subsequently administered a single dose of LPS (5 mg/kg of body weight, intraperitoneal injection). Both protein and mRNA levels of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 in liver tissues were evaluated by ELISA assay and quantitative PCR. Cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nuclear factor-κB protein levels in liver tissues were analyzed by western blotting. Results: Liver injury induced by LPS significantly increased necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nuclear factor-κB in liver tissues. Treatment with ethanol extracts of S. baicalensis prevented all of these observed changes associated with LPS-induced injury in liver mice. Conclusions: Our study showed that S. baicalensis is potentially protective against LPS-induced liver injury in mice.

OBJECTIVESTwo assay methods, namely the neutral Comet assay andterminal desoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) assay, were carried out for comparison to investigate the capability of using the neutral Comet assay as an alternative for detection of apoptosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODSChinese hamster ovary-K1 (CHO-K1) cells were exposed to gamma-rays with different doses and then the frequencies of apoptotic cells were determined at given points of time using the neutral Comet assay andTdT assay.

RESULTSApoptotic frequency of CHO-K1 cells after gamma-irradiation is dependent on both time after irradiation and radiation dose using either the neutral Comet assay orTdT assay. There are differences between the data obtained using the neutral Comet assay andTdT assay (p<0.01, Student's t-test).

CONCLUSIONSThe neutral Comet assay appears to be an appropriate tool for detection of radiationinduced apoptosis at the early stage of the process. Compared to the other methods such as theTdT assay, the neutral Comet assay is a rapid, simple and economical method for detection of apoptosis.

Background: Monitoring antimalarial drug quality should be conducted regularly in locals to enhance the effect of treatment for malaria \r\n', u'Objective: to study and analyze antimalarial drug quality\r\n', u'Subjects and methods: The study was carried out in 2007 for 5 provinces supported by the Global Fund: Ha Giang, Dien Bien, Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri and Gia Lai. Material were malaria drugs: artesunat, chloroquin, quinine, mefloquin, fansidar\u2026etc\r\n', u'Results and conclusion: The strict supervision on the anti-malarial drug quality by the National Malaria Control Program was very good and no substandard antimalarial drugs were detected. Evaluation of antimalarial drug quality and control was made for finding out the counterfeit drugs through sentinel sites in both private and public sectors. A total of 268 samples were collected, of which 13 samples were found substandard drugs (8 samples collected in private and 5 samples in public sectors). No counterfeit drugs were found. \r\n', u'
Antimalarial drug ; quality ; monitoring

Papiliotrema huenov was previously reported to be highly tolerant of a range of extremely toxic heavy metals. This study aimed to identify the potential of P. huenov to remove manganese and copper from aqueous solution. Physical conditions which affect removal of Mn(II) and Cu(II) were determined. Optimal temperature for adsorption of both metal ions was 30°C, and optimal pH for maximum uptake of Mn(II) and Cu(II) were 5 and 6, respectively. Under these conditions, living cells of P. huenov accumulated up to 75.58% of 110 mg/ L Mn(II) and 70.5% of 128 mg/L Cu(II) over 120 h, whereas, the removal efficiency of metal ions by dead cells over 1 h was 60.3% and 56.5%, respectively. These results indicate that living cells are more effective than dead biomass for bioremediation, but that greater time is required. The experimental data extends the potential use of P. huenov in biosorption and bioaccumulation of toxic heavy metals to copper and manganese, two of the most common industrial contaminants.

In this report we describe a new approach in HIV sentinel surveillance that was piloted in Viet Nam in 2009 and is currently being rolled out in all provinces. It comprises a brief behavioural questionnaire added to the HIV sentinel surveillance surveys conducted routinely among people who inject drugs, female sex workers and men who have sex with men. Timely reporting of data from this system has resulted in improvements to HIV prevention efforts for most at-risk populations.

As part of our continued study on the chemical constituents of Willughbeia edulis stems, a new dimeric lignan named edulignan (1) was isolated from its EtOAc-soluble extract. Based on NMR spectroscopic interpretation, the planar structure of 1 has been suggested to have two 2-substituted 4-chromanone subunits with different stereochemical configurations. In addition, the MS/MS analysis of the products obtained by acidcatalyzed hydrolysis of 1 was supportive of its structure. Unfornatually, the new compound 1 did not show α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with an IC 50 value > 250 μM.