This randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study evaluated the efficacy of lamivudine in 44 Vietnamese patients with histologically documented chronic hepatitis B for one-year. The patients were randomly assigned to receive 100 mg of lamivudine (22 patients) orally once daily or placebo (22 patients). The patients underwent liver biopsies before entering the study and after completing the assigned treatment regimen. At the end of therapy, the percentage of serum HBVDNA negativation was higher in the lamivudine group (86.4%) than in the control group (22% P<0.05). The rate of HBe/antiHBe seroconversion was statistically different between 2 groups (35.2% in the lamivudine group compared to 12.5% in the controls). 95.5% of the patients received lamivudine had normal alanine aminotransferase levels (versus 18.2% in the placebo). Median change in HAI score was >2 points of improvement versus placebo. Lamivudine is less side effects, safety, and favorable
Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Lamivudine ; Hepatitis B ; Therapeutics ; drugs

44 patients of chronic B hepatitis are divided into two groups of 22 patients. The one is treated with lamivudine (Jefflix) 100 mg daily in 12 months continuously and the other with usual vitamin and liver tonics. Results showed in 72.7% patients of lamivudine group, the indices of histological activities were improved (through Knodell score), while in controlled group – 31.8% and over the half of this group these indices worsened. Thus, lamivudine has got good effect
Histological Techniques ; Hepatitis B ; Patients ; Lamivudine ; drugs ; Therapeutics

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: 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: In Vietnam, there are a number of studies on the application of ATRA in treating acute promyelocytic leukemia (AML \u2013 M3) but they have still faced with certain difficulties. Objectives: (1). Study PML/RAR alpha fusion gene on the patients diagnosed with AML \u2013 M3. (2). Study the index of hematology of the PML/RAR alpha positive group. Subject and Method: 21 patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (M3) were studied. All patients were examined with morphology, coagulation and cytogenetic tests and RNA were extracted from leukemic cells and PCR for PML/RAR alpha fusion transcript. Result and conclusion: PML/RAR alpha positive in 67% including 4 patients which were not discovered t(15; 17) by cytogenetic technique. Rates of three subtype (bcr1, bcr2 and bcr3) of PML/RAR alpha were 7 patients (50%), 3 patients (21,5%) and 4 patients (28,5%), respectively. WBC and bone marrow cells of PML/RAR alpha positive group were 5.08+/-3.87 and 155.82+/-106.21. D \u2013 Dimer level was 1954.89+/-1575.28; 93% of patients in the PML/RAR alpha positive group had DIC.
Acute promyelocytic leukemia ; M3 ; PML/RAR alpha

Background: Chromosome mutation type t(8;21) has quite a high frequency in acute myelogenous leukemia, which accounted for about 15% among adult patients. From 2001, the WHO has a new classification for acute myelogenous leukemia based on genetic mutations. Form had AML1/ETO were arranged into genetic mutation group with better prognosis and ability to fully recover after chemotherapy with a high dose of cytarabin. Objective: Study AML1/ETO fusion gene on the patients diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), as well as the clinical features and some haematologic parameters of the AML1/ETO positive group. Subject and methods: 76 patients with AML were treating in the National Institute of Hematology & Blood Transfusion and the Department of Hematology & Blood Transfusion of Bach Mai Hospital from April 2007 to July 2008. These patients were studied for clinical examination, morphology and RNA were extracted from leukemic cells and PCR for AML1/ETO fusion transcript was performed. Results and conclusions: The incidence of AML1/ETO positive in the AML patients was 24%. The incidence of AML1/ETO positive in AML-M2 was 28%. In the AML1/ETO positive group: median age was 26.94+/-9.22; rate of severe anemia, hemorrhage, fever, infection, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy and gum hypertrophy was 44%, 33%, 28%, 11%, 44%, 28%, 17% and 6%, respectively. Median hemoglobin, WBC, platelet, bone marrow cell count, % blast in peripheral blood and in bone marrow was 84.41+/-28.97 g/l, 29.42+/-31.36 g/l, 42.12+/-33.83 g/l, 215.93+/-134.42 g/l, 56.21+/-26.58% and 65.14+/-16.12%, respectively.
acute myelogenous leukemia ; AML1/ETO fusion gene

Background: In Vietnam, the HIV/AIDS pandemic is quickly spreading, almost totally in young people and among injecting drug users.The transition phase from smoking to injecting is very important for the life of injecting drug users because it is a risk factor of disease transmission. Objectives: (1) To analyze the transition phase from smoking/sniffing to injecting of the young male heroin users in Ha Noi. (2) To describe some factors related to the transition phase in these people. Subjects and method: A cross-sectional study carried out from September 2004 to September 2005 at 9 districts in Ha Noi city. The subjects were 1115 young men aged 16 to 29 years, who has been living in Ha Noi for over 6 months and smoked/sniffed heroin within the last 30 days. Results and conclusions: The average time of drug user in the 1115 subjects was 4.7 years. The majority started using drug at the age of 18.4 +/- 3.1 years. In which, 71 % consume the drugs by injection. The average time from smoking to injecting is 2.49 +/- 2.2 years. The main reasons for injecting drugs were for being faster \u2018on the height\u2019 (42%) and cheaper (40%). Some factors related to the transition phase included: age of the first heroin use, year of the first heroin use, situation for migrating into Ha Noi, knowledge level, the kind of drug used for the first time. Young people began using heroin in the year 2000 had a quicker transition phase than those using heroin before 1997 (p< 0.01).
injecting drug user ; drug user ; heroin

Background: In recent years, due to the outbreak of new infectious diseases, re-emerging diseases and bio-terrorist threats, the biological safety for laboratories is essential\r\n', u'Objectives: to evaluate knowledge and practices related to biosafety of researchers in microbiological laboratories\r\n', u'Subjects and method: The study was carried out in the period 2006-2007. Questionnaires and checklists were used for the direct interview the knowledge and observe the practices related to biological safety of 97 laboratory technicians from microbiology laboratories of 22 provincial centers for preventive medicine, which represent for all areas in Vietnam.\r\n', u'Results: The percentage of technicians defines correctly the hazardous groups of some common pathogens are 8.2-33%. The percentage of technicians define correctly the transmission routes of Bacillus anthracis, Staphylococus, Streptococcus are 1%, 15% and 19.6%, respectively. The opinion that thay can wear the laboratory blouse out of laboratories, bring personal belongings into the laboratory and pipeting by mouth are 21.6%, 50.5% and 23.7%, respectively. Regarding laboratory practices: The percentage of technicians does not use gloves is 37.8%; pipeting by mouth: 22.6%. Over 40% technicians do not disinfect working area or washing hands with alcohol after experiments\r\n', u'Conclusion: The results of this study are a basis for planning programs to train, supervise and improve the operational quality of the microbiological laboratory of the provincial preventive health care centers.\r\n', u'\r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Health Knowledge ; Attitudes ; Practice ; Biotechnology/ standards ; Safety/ standards ;

Background: Hemophilia is the most common clotting disorder in the hereditary blood clotting disorders causing harm to health and psychology. The disease can lead to disability and leave the burden on families and society as well as the development of race\r\n', u"Objectives: To study the familial characteristics of haemophiliacs treated at Regional Hematology and Blood Transfusion Center of Hue Central Hospital. Subject and method: This was a prospective study. It included 48 patients diagnosed and treated Haemophilia A and B at Regional Hematology and Blood Transfusion Center of Hue Central Hospital from 7/2005 - 8/2007. Results: In 48 patients, there were 23 patients who had obviously familial history (included 12 families). They were siblings, cousins, maternal grandfathers or mother's brothers. Among 67 haemophiliacs, 23 haemophiliacs had been studied (34.32%), 30 haemophiliacs died of the disease (44.77%). Most of them died at childhood, below age of 15 years (80.64%). Conclusion: Numbers of deaths in the family was not related to the severity of the disease. The age of clinical detection, morphology, number, site, characteristics of haemorrhage as well as the level of articuar injures were not completely the same between the haemophiliacs of the same family. \r\n", u'\r\n', u'
Hemophilia A/ history ; pathology

Background: Recently Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus type 1 has surfaced and is co-circulated with JE virus type 3 in the northern areas of Viet Nam, so a sensitivity of JE viral antigen genotype 3 to detect IgM is required. Objectives: To compare the sensitivity of JE viral antigen genotype 1 and 3 to detect IgM against the JE virus. Materials and method: 783 cerebrospinal fluid and serum samples from viral encephalitis cases from 1999-2005 were collected and examined by MAC-ELISA for JE viral antigen genotype 1 and 3. Results: The agreement on the diagnosis of these kinds of antigen was 99.7% and the sensitivity of JE viral antigen genotype 3 was higher than that of genotype 1. Thus, JE viral antigen genotype 3 could be considered as the selected antigen for JE diagnosis in Viet Nam. IgM titer determined by JE viral antigen genotype 1 was higher than that of genotype 3 in 2003 and 2005 and lower in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004. Conclusion: The dominant phenomenon of JE viral genotypes differing over the years might be due to the interaction of the virus and its vectors. Further study is required to clarify this observation.
Japanese Encephalitis ; antigen