Background: Pesticides have been used widely in not only around the world but also Vietnam; however, their misuse can cause many serious health problems. For this reasons, it is necessary to closely monitor the use of pesticides and their effects on the health of farmers. Objectives: To describe the kinds of pesticides, the symptoms and related factors of acute pesticide poisoning among flowers planters. Subjects and method: A cross-sectional analytic design was applied with a sample of 107 households in the Hong Ha 1 and Hong Ha 2 village of My Tan commune, My Loc district, Nam Dinh province from November 2005 to February 2006. \r\n', u'Results: There were various types of pesticide that were being sprayed in the flower planting villages. Almost all types were moderately hazardous. 85% of farmers experienced at least 1 symptom of acute poisoning after spraying pesticides. The most common symptoms were headache, dizziness, rash (accounting for 45-58%), followed by red eyes and musculoskeletal symptoms (approximate 40%). The effects of pesticides to the farmer\u2019s health were proved with the typical symptoms of toxicity, especially headache, irritation of the face, red eyes. The percentages of self-reported toxicity symptoms were associated with sex, age groups, following manual and pesticide exposure. Conclusion: The results suggested that various interventions is required in order to change the knowledge, attitude and practice of pesticide use among farmers in general and flowers planters in particularly.\r\n', u'
pesticide ; acute pesticide poisoning ; flowers planter

Background: Pesticides safety, plant protection chemicals are widely used around the world, especially in agriculture to protect crops. \r\n', u'Objectives: To describe the real statute of knowledge and practice of safe pesticide use among flowers planters and various other related factors. \r\n', u'Subjects and method: The cross sectional analytic study was carried out in 2006 to evaluate the current situation of knowledge and practice of safe pesticide use in 2 flower planting villages: Hong Ha 1 and Hong Ha 2, My Tan commune, My Loc district, Nam Dinh Province. Results:The results showed that knowledge on determining toxicity levels and the absorption routes of pesticides to the human body through land and water is insufficient. As for pesticide use practice, the percentage of planters fully utilizing safety work clothes and other equipments was low. Multivariate analysis found that there was a significant correlation between good practice and knowledge. In addition, some predictors of good knowledge were: highly educated, male and age. Conclusion: The findings also discovered the priority of improving direct communication on safe pesticide use among planters. \r\n', u'
safe pesticide use ; flowers planters

Background: The genus Alpinia is one of the diverse genera in Thua Thien Hue province, in which many species have been used as medicine. But until now, studies on A. vietnamica have rarely been reported. Objectives: The present study was aimed at the determination of microscopic characteristics and chemical compositions as well as evaluating the antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of A. vietnamica. Materials and methods: A. vietnamica was collected in Phong Dien district, Thua Thien Hue province. Anatomic structures and powder properties were determined by the microscopic method. Phytochemical screening was conducted by specific chemical reactions. The Folin-Ciocalteau method and the aluminum chloride-flavonoid assay, respectively, were used to quantify the total polyphenol (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC). Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH assay, while acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity was evaluated using the Ellman method. Results: The microscopic characteristics of this species have been described. Phytochemical analysis results revealed the presence of flavonoids, coumarins, and tannins in A. vietnamica. The ethanol extract from the aerial part of A. vietnamica had higher polyphenol and flavonoid contents than the underground part extract. Moreover, this extract also displayed a stronger DPPH radical scavenging and exhibited AChE inhibitory activities. Conclusion: This is the first report on the microscopic characteristics, chemical compositions, and biological activities of A. vietnamica.

Background: Lung cancer is a common cancer with a high mortality rate. The identification of prognostic factors in lung cancer patients in Vietnam is still limited and inconsistent in clinical practice. Objectives: To describe the clinical, paraclinical characteristics and m-LCPI index in patients with primary non-small cell lung cancer and evaluate the factors affecting overall survival in patients with primary non-small cell lung cancer. Methods: Prospective study of 210 cases of non-small cell lung cancer diagnosed with primary non-small cell lung cancer at the Oncology Department of Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital and Hue Central Hospital from February 2020 to February 2023. Results: The majority of hospitalizations were at late stages, from stage IIIA (89%), group 3 and 4 in m-LCPI grading scale constituted the majority (80%). Average overall survival at 3 years was 20.0 ± 14 months, and gradually decreased to 54.8%, 40%, and 38.6% after 1 year, 2 years and 3 years, respectively. Regression analysis of COX model between m-LCPI and OS showed statistical significance with m-LCPI 4 (HR = 3.9, 95%CI = 1.57 - 9.69, p = 0.003), while m-LCPI 3 (HR = 2.44, 95% CI 0.97 - 6.13), p = 0.058) had a weak correlation. Conclusion: Our study shows that 38.6% of patients were still alive after 3 years of diagnosis. m-LCPI index is a good predictor of the patients’ overall survival.

Background: Viet Nam confirmed its first case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on 23 January 2020 among travellers from Wuhan, China, and experienced several clusters of community transmission until September. Viet Nam implemented an aggressive testing, isolation, contact tracing and quarantine strategy in response to all laboratory-confirmed cases. We report the results of SARS-CoV-2 testing during the first half of 2020 in northern Viet Nam. Methods: Between January and May 2020, 15 650 upper respiratory tract specimens were collected from 14 470 suspected cases and contacts in northern Viet Nam. All were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time RT-PCR. Individuals with positive specimens were tested every three days until two tests were negative. Positive specimens from 81 individuals were cultured. Results: Among 14 470 tested individuals, 158 (1.1%) cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were confirmed; 89 were imported and 69 were associated with community transmission. Most patients (122, 77%) had negative results after two tests, while 11 and 4 still tested positive when sampled a third and fourth time, respectively. SARS-CoV-2 was isolated from 29 of 81 specimens (36%) with a cycle threshold (Ct) value <30. Seven patients who tested positive again after testing negative had Ct values >30 and negative cultures. Conclusion Early, widespread testing for SARS-CoV-2 in northern Viet Nam identified very few cases, which, when combined with other aggressive strategies, may have dramatically contained the epidemic. We observed rapid viral clearance and very few positive results after clearance. Large-scale molecular diagnostic testing is a critical part of early detection and containment of COVID-19 in Viet Nam and will remain necessary until vaccination is widely implemented.

Backgroud: The aim of this study is to update on antibiotic resistance of common pathogenical bacteria isolated in Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital (Hue UMP Hospital). Methodology: Use of the agar disk diffusion method to test the susceptibility to antimicrobial agents of 3709 bacterial strains from infected patients hospitalized in Hue UMP Hospital in 2020 - 2022. Results: Among 3709 strains of pathogenical bacteria isolated, S.aureus was found with the rate of 29.9%, followed by E. coli (24.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginasa (17.8%), Enterococcus spp. (11.8%), Klebsiella spp (9.7%) and Acinetobacter spp (4.1%). The proportion of bacterial isolates has changed, but Staphylococcus aureus is still highest rate. S.aureus is resistant to many antibiotics, but MRSA strains have decreased significantly, from 73.3% in 2020 to 62.5% in 2022. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was resistant to some of the group A recommended antibiotics such as ceftazidime, piperacillin-tazobactam with the rate of 56.6% and 48.7%. The percentage of E. coli with ESBL strains (+) was at 28.2% - 30.3%. Enterococus spp strains are still sensitive to vancomycin (83.1% - 91.9%). The rate of Klebsiella ESBL (+) is only 6.9% to 8.2%. The strains of Acinetobacter spp were highly resistant to Piperacillin (100%) and Ceftriaxone (96.5%) but they are still sensitive to imipenems 70 - 71%, highly sensitive to Doxycillin (95.2%) and Cefotaxime (88.4%). Conclusion: Many bacterial strains are resistant to many commonly antibiotics. Providing timely, regular, and effective management of antibiotic resistance patterns for common pathogenic bacteria in hospitals, will help reduce the risk of bacterial resistance.

Aims: The objective of the study was to isolate bacteriophages and conduct a comprehensive analysis of their potential against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) strains in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Methodology and results: Twelve Xoo strains were isolated from rice fields located in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Among these strains, three strains Xoo L019, L020 and L024, showed the highest disease index of bacterial blight. Four phages specific to Xoo were isolated from soil, water and leaf samples, and their morphologies were determined. In a test against 12 Xoo strains, phage L541, MLA23 or W41 could infect 10 of the 12 Xoo strains, while phage LBH01 could infect 8 of the 12 Xoo strains. The stability of the phages to pH, organic solvents, UV-A and UV-B was also evaluated. Conclusion, significance and impact of study The initial characterization of the phages indicates their potential as biocontrol agents against bacterial blight in rice. The study is one of the very first studies about Xoo phages in rice in Vietnam.