Introduction: Hepatitis C is a dangerous disease and if left untreated can have serious consequences to the patients. While hepatitis C is difficult to treat, its vaccine is still unavailable. Previous studies have showed that there is a low rate of drug users having HCV tests. This means HCV infections does not have any great importance attached to it amongst the drug user group.\r\n', u'Objectives: To discover the status of HCV infection among drug users in Hanoi and to analyse the associated factors. \r\n', u'Subjects and methods: This crossover descriptive study was conducted in Hanoi. Research objects consisted of only men within the 16 - 25 years old age group, who used heroin from 09/2005 to 12/2006. These participants were interviewed and tested for HIV, HCV and HBV.\r\n', u'Results: HCV prevalence is 35.1 %. Especially, the research has indicated that 100% of HIV infected cases have also contracted HCV. This co - infectious status can be a challenge to subjects when they experience ARV treatment. The mean age of surveyed participants is 19. 83.6% of them have attended secondary school. 30.1 % have taken part in illegal earning activities. \r\n', u'Conclusion: HCV infection was discovered in the early drug injection stage. The proportion of HIV infection among injecting drug users is 28.24 times compared to the smoking drug users.\r\n', u'
HeV ; HIV ; Injecting drug user

Background: Pediatric emergency at the inter-hospital transfer lines is a serious problem in the care and treatment of children. 24 hours mortality after admission rose higher than previously.\r\n', u'Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the 24 hours mortality and to analyze the causes of 24 hours mortality.\r\n', u'Subjects and methods: The study was carried out on 189 patients, who died during 24 hours after admission at Nghe An Pediatric hospital from July 2002 to June 2004.\r\n', u'Results: The results showed that the 24 hour mortality consisted of 77% of all deaths in the hospital. The neonatal mortality rate among the admitted patients was the highest. The most common causes of deaths were: respiratory and neurological diseases with 48% of the total (24% each) followed by injury (15%). Asphyxia/premature ranked third (9%). Surgical diseases consisted of 8.5% and infectious diseases contributed 6% of all deaths. \r\n', u'Conclusion: The interventions at hospital should prioritize the improvement of knowledge and skills on neurological, respiratory, trauma and surgical emergency care. The urgent need is also to train staff and to supply equipment for neonatal care. \r\n', u'
Mortality ; children

Background: Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus is a leading cause of encephalitis in children with high mortality and complication. JE is a dangerous infectious disease via Culex mosquitoes. Objective: To identify the density of some mosquitoes and vectors that transmit JE virus in Ha Nam province. Subject and Method:There were 30.333 mosquitoes including 05 genera and 15 species which were collected at night from April 2006 to March 2007 in the following communes: Tanson (midland area) Hungcong (plain area) and Liemchinh (suburban area). Results: A total of 06 Culex species, the highest rate is Culex tritaeniohychus (41.20%); Culex annulus (15.56%); other Culex species occupied around 0.15% -2.49%. In these communes, the density of Culex tritaeniohychus was higher than Culex annulus. They were found to be active all year round, but the highest density of Culex tritaeniohychus and Culex annulus is 5.86 and 2.15, respectively in April and fall to 4.35% and 1.71% in July. The collected mosquitoes during April, May, June and July includes 133 and 28 Culex tritaeniohychus and Culex annulus pools, respectively; all were to be processed for the isolation of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus. There were 12 Culex tritaeniohychus and 2 Culex annulus pools which were collected in Tanson commune yielding positive. Conclusion: The results were confirmed that Culex tritaenioohychus and Culex annulus are the major vectors that transmit JE virus in Ha Nam, 2006 - 2007. All 14 JE virus strains were isolated from collected mosquito pools during April, May and June; whereas JE virus strain was not yet isolated from collected mosquito pool in July. Thus, in order to control JE disease, it is necessary to control JE vectors in April, May and June.
Vector ; Culex tritaenioohychus ; Japanese encephalitis ; Ha Nam

Background: This study aimed to identify the location of the optic foramen in relation to the anterior sphenoid sinus wall, which is essential information for surgeons in planning and performing endoscopic transnasal surgery. Methods: Computed tomography scans of 200 orbits from 100 adult patients with no abnormalities were examined. The results included the location of the optic foramen in relation to the anterior sphenoid sinus wall and the distance between them, as well as the distance from the optic foramen and the anterior sphenoid sinus wall to the carotid prominence in the posterior sphenoid sinus. Results: The optic foramen was anterior to the anterior sphenoid sinus wall in 48.5% of orbits, and posterior in the remaining 51.5%. The mean distance from the optic foramen to the anterior sphenoid sinus wall was 3.82 ± 1.25 mm. The mean distances from the optic foramen and the anterior sphenoid sinus wall to the carotid prominence were 7.67 ± 1.73 and 7.95 ± 2.53 mm, respectively. Conclusion The optic foramen was anterior to the anterior wall of the sphenoid sinus in approximately half of the orbits examined in this study, and posterior in the remaining half. The mean distance from the optic foramen to the anterior sphenoid sinus wall of the sphenoid sinus was 3.82 ± 1.25 mm.

Background: HIV/AIDS pandemic really become danger to mankind on the earth. Objectives: Description epidemiological characteristics of HIV/AIDS patients. Studying clinical expression, learning aboutdemands of infected patients and community care for infected patients. Subjects and method: 71 HIV/AIDS people in Thua Thien Hue were studied in 2006. Using descriptive method to give epidemiological characteristics and behaviour of HIV/AIDS people. People were determined HIV/AIDS infection based on the criteria of Ministry of Health. The information were collected by target study. Results: HIV/AIDS people mainly from the age of 20 to 39 (83,10%), males were 52,10% and in various levels of education and all kinds of occupation. The rate of sexually transmitted infection was 84,5% and infection transmission was 15,5%. The rate of sexually transmitted infection within the last 12 months was 57,7%. 63,4% of infected people used condom while having sex with their spouses or partners. 1,4% of infected people using drug infection within the last month. 38% of the infected people had manifestations of AIDS, 77,8% of HIV/AIDS were treated with antiviral drugs. Families and communities had positive attitudes and behaviors to the HIV/AIDS people. Infected people being remoted from the society was 12,7%, 88,7% of them receiving supports from their communities such as disease treatment, spirit and material supports and job opportunities. Conclusion: Strengthen communication activities to change behavior of HIV/AIDS people and in communitiy to reduce alienation, discrimination for infected people. Execute socialization in care and support for HIV/AIDS people.
HIV/ immunology ; isolation & ; purification ; pathogenicity ; Community Health Services/ organization & ; administration ; Epidemiologic Methods ;

Background: With the development of HIV/AIDS pandemic in community, amount of HIV/AIDS people more and more increase in prison. Objectives: Determine the rate of HIV/AIDS infection of prisoners at Binh Dien prison. Learning about related elements to HIV/AIDS infection. Subjects and method: Prisoners at Binh Dien prison. Method: 492 prisoners were chosen, interviewed directly and taken blood samples to HIV test. Using cross-sectional study on accidental samples. Techniques were used in this study: SERODIA-HIV and ELISA technique. Results: The rate of current HIV/AIDS infections was 21,74%, some HIV/AIDS related factors in the prison included sex, religion, income source, marrital status, common knowledge of HIV/AIDS, drug addiction history, needle sharing, sexually transmitted disease history, body tatoos and forskin inserted with metal balls, alcohol and beer drinking history, some factors such as: age and educational level were not associated with HIV/AIDS infection in prison. Conclusion: Strengthen interventional activities in prison to prevent HIV/AIDS spread between prisoners. To prisoners who were not infected HIV/AIDS: strengthen educational communication to they may prevent themselves from HIV/AIDS infection behaviors. To HIV/AIDS prisoners: Need to educate and consult especially to they have right behaviors, prevent HIV/AIDS spread for the others while they were in prison as well as they return to society.
HIV Infections/ blood ; complications ; epidemiology ;

Background: Mosquitoes and pigs play important roles in maintaining and increasing the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus in nature and which is then transmitted to humans. Thus, surveillance of the JE infection frequency in the pig population may predict the human JE cases. \r\n', u'Objectives: The study aimed to determine IgG antibody against the JE virus in the pig population in Hanam province \r\n', u'Subjects and methods: The study included 1791 pig serum samples collected from 3 districts of Hanam province from Apr 2006 to Mar 2007. GAC-ELISA technique was used to determine the JE virus infection in the swine population.\r\n', u'Results: The average positive rate in pig population was 34.9 % (626/1791); with the highest frequency occurring in the summer (37.7%- 84.0 %), co-incident with the JE season in Northern Vietnam. On the contrary, in winter JE case are rare, frequency of IgG antibody against JE virus in the swine population was low, ranging from 9.2% to 22.0.%. \r\n', u'Conclusions: These results have shown the ecologically close relationship between the amplification of the JE virus in the swine population, vector and JE cases in northern Vietnam. \r\n', u'
Japanese encephalitis ; pig population ; GAC-ELISA.

Background: Recently, microplate almar blue assay has been used commonly in detecting gen related to tuberculosis drug resistance, which provides results after 5-7 days with lower cost compared to traditional methods. Objective: To evaluate the application of microplate almar blue assay for rapid detection of drug resistance of M. tuberculosis strains. Subject and Method: A microplate-based assay which uses Alamar blue reagent - an oxidation reduction dye (MABA), was used for the determination of the anti-tuberculosis drug (isoniazid-INH, rifampicine-RIF, streptomycine-STR and ethabuton=EMB) resistance of 96 M. tuberculosis strains isolated from Vietnamese patients in comparison to those obtained by conversional method. Result: MABA showed to have high sensitivity and specificity in testing the sensitivity to individual anti-tuberculosis drugs (from 82.4% for STR to 93.3% for - INH and from 82.5% for EMB to 98.4% for STR; respectively), as well as for the multi-drug resistant M.tuberculosis (86.4% of sensitivity), highly correlated with the result determined by proportion method. Conclusion: MABA reveals the advantage in shortening test time, in simple performance and lower cost compared with the conversional culture based methods.
Microplate almar blue assay ; M. tuberculosis ; drug resistance

Objectives: This study was conducted to measure financial toxicity (FT) among patients with cancer in Vietnam using the COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (COST) and to describe the cost management strategies employed by these patients. Methods: This comprehensive cross-sectional study enrolled 634 patients from 2 specialized oncology hospitals in Vietnam. Using COST cut-off scores, FT was classified as none/mild (≥26), moderate (14-25), or severe (≤13). Cost management strategies, or coping mechanisms, were classified into 4 groups: lifestyle changes, financial resource strategies, treatment modifications, and support seeking. Results: The prevalence of FT was 91.8%, with 51.7% of participants demonstrating severe and 40.1% exhibiting moderate FT. Severe FT was significantly associated with female, low education level, unstable employment, low household economic status, and advanced cancer stage. The most common coping strategies were as follows: among lifestyle changes, reducing spending on basic items and leisure activities (78.7%) and cutting back on essential household expenses (66.4%); among financial resource strategies, borrowing money from relatives or friends (49.1%) and withdrawing funds from retirement or savings accounts (34.1%); within treatment modifications, switching treatment facilities or doctors due to cost concerns (9.3%); and within support seeking, obtaining help from welfare or community organizations (18.8%). All strategies were significantly more likely to be used by patients with severe FT. Conclusions FT was highly prevalent among patients with cancer. Most patients relied on lifestyle adjustments and coping strategies, underscoring the need for improved financial support systems to alleviate the economic burden associated with cancer care.

Ischemic colitis (IC) is an underreported chronic disease characterized by the hypoperfusion of the bowel mucosa. The diagnosis and treatment may be challenging because its clinical course resembles other colitis or even colorectal malignancies. This paper reports an untypical case to underline the diversity of IC manifestation. A 68-year-old man with several comorbidities was admitted because of abdominal pain with a 6-month duration and a mass in the left lower quadrant. Colonoscopy revealed erosive pseudomembranous colitis narrowed colon segments with ulcerated mucosa mimicking colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. The stool cultures and Clostridium difficile toxin tests were negative. After the failure of conservative therapy, the Hartmann procedure with temporary ileostomy was performed uneventfully. The histological results of the surgical specimens revealed IC with focal pseudomembranous areas.