Background: Heart failure is a common clinical condition and is the late stage of most cardiovascular diseases. Heart rate disorder is one of the causes of deaths in patients with chronic heart failure. There is few number of studies on Heart Rate Variability (HRV) in Vietnam. Objective: To study the change of HRV time in patients with chronic heart failure. Subject and Method: A prospective, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out on 105 subjects including 73 patients with chronic heart failure and 42 normal persons as controls. Time domain measurements of HRV were calculated from 24 hour electrocardiographic Holter (Holter WIN P-V, USA) on all 105 subjects. In the chronic heart failure group, there were 51 men and 22 women with the mean age of 62.8+/-11.2, control group including 30 men and 12 women with the mean age of 61.5+/-5.7. Results and conclusion: (1) There was a decrease of time domain of HRV showed the decrease of parasympathetic tone in patients with chronic heart diseases. (2) The higher degree of heart failure, the lower the time domain of HRV.
Chronic heart disease ; heart rate variability

Background: Ha Vi poultry market is a concentrated and spontaneous poultry business place. Ensuring environmental hygiene is not respected.\r\n', u'Objectives: To evaluate infectious situation of airborne fungi at a poultry market\r\n', u'Subjects and methods: From 10/2006 to 9/2007 a survey on the profile of airborne fungi was carried out at the Havi poultry - market. Total fungal spores averaged at 2.753 \xb1 576 cfu/m3, the highest sample is 7.120 cfu/m3\u2022 More than 10 different fungi were isolated. \r\n', u'Results: The common fungi are Cladosporium (30.13%), Penicillium (26.86%), Aspergillus (20.97%, composed of A.niger, A fumigatus, A.jlavus, A.clavatus ...), Fusarium (8.15%), some rare fungi (Rhizopus, Rhizomucor, Mucor, Alternaria, Curvularia, Absidia, Bipolaris ... ) 13.89%. The concentration of airborne fungi at the market was higher than at distance of 300 and 1000 m. The concentrations of total fungi and of each species are affected by some meteorological factors: they were higher in the end of spring, early of summer and autumn, lowest in the winter. The concentrations of Cladosporium, Penicillium were found to be positive correlate with humidity, Aspergillus, Fusarium with temperature. \r\n', u'Conclusion: It is necessary to propose the methods that can reduce influence of airborne fungi pollution to health of people \r\n', u'
Airborne fungi ; Cladosporium ; Penicillium ; Aspergillus ; Fusarium.

Background: Heparansulfate Interacting Protein (HIP) is up-regulated in various human cancer cell lines at both transcript and protein levels. HIP expression is related to the differentiation status and cancer development. Objectives: To determine HIP in benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and prostate cancer tissues. Materials and method: Western blot method was used to determine HIP expression in 3 different types of prostate tissue, including 11 prostate cancer samples, 2 benign prostatic hyperplasia samples and 11 prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia samples. Results. HIP was particularly up-regulated in prostate cancer and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, indicating that up-regulation of HIP expression may be an early event in tumorgenesis. Conclusion: The expression of HIP was different between cancer, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia tissue and benign prostatic hyperplasia. HIP may serve as a prognostic marker for prostate carcinoma.
HIP expression ; Prostate cancer ; Prostatic hyperplasia.

Background: Surveys in disability are getting more and more attention from the Governments and contributes towards improve service provision for people with disabilities. Objective: To describe the prevalence of people with disabilities at The Chi Linh demographic and epidemiological surveillance system (CHILILAB), Hai Duong province in 2007. Subject and Method: The cross - cutting survey conducted in the CHILILAB which has a population of 65.438 people, the WHO questionnaire of disability screening was used. Result and conclusion: Disability prevalence in Chi Linh occurs in 28.2% of the population. It is noted that the disability prevalence increases significantly with age groups: 81.8% of those who are over 60, 58.2% those aged of 40 - 59 and only 8 - 9% of those aged under 40. In addition, the disability prevalence is higher in the rural areas, women, the poor and the illiterate. It is necessary to have more study on the prevalence of people with disabilities in wider ranges. \r\n', u'\r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Prevalence ; Disability prevalence ; Disability

Background: People with disabilities have been coping with barriers that make it difficult for them to access public services. Many of them are poor, illiterate and out of work. Objective: To describe some characteristics of disabled people living in the communities of Chi Linh district, Hai Duong province. Subject and methods: Interview all of the 18.473 disabled people living in the seven communities of Chi Linh district, Hai Duong province. The contents of the interviews includes: economic-social information (income, education, job and martial status) and disability status (disability form and cause). Results: Nearly three fourths of disabled people are at the age of 45 and over. There are more women than men, with the male/female ratio at 1:1.8. Almost all of the disabled people are the Kinh in Chi Linh and 10.8% of them belong to the poor households. One in ten disabled people are illiterate and two thirds of disabled adolescents are at lower secondary school or lower. Difficulty in seeing is the most common among the kinds of disabilities, accounting for 81.9% of disabled people and about three fourths with one disability. Among the causes of disability, aging accounts for 71.5%, this is followed by illness. Conclusion: There is the need to reduce the rate of disability at the age of 45 and over, reducing the rate of sight related difficulties and increasing the accessibility of disabled people to educational services.
disability persons ; characteristics

Background: Open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) causes haemostatic abnormalities which result in postoperative excessive bleeding. Objectives: To investigate haemostatic disorders before - after CPB and postoperative bleeding. Subjects and methods: Sixty congenital cardiac patients with and without cyanosis were recruited consecutively. Hematology and coagulation tests were done 1 day before operation, 15 minutes after protamine administration, 2 and 6 hours after the operation in the intensive care unit (lCU). Mediastinal chest tube drainage (MCTO) was measured for the first 6h in the ICU. Results: Significant differences between 2 groups could be found for red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, fibrinogen, D-dimer, fibrinogen degradation products (FOP), von Kaulla and platelet aggregation to epinephrine before operation (p < 0.05). There were not significant differences in platelets, PT, APTT, platelet aggregation to adenosine diphosphate (AOP) in the acyanotic and cyanotic patients (p > 0.05). Most hematology parameters were decreased significantly and hemostasis measurements were prolonged after operation in both groups (p < 0.05). There was also the significant difference in MCTO between 2 groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Coagulation, hemostasis and fibrinolysis disorders; thrombocytopenia and acquired transient platelet dysfunction may be responsible for bleeding complications after CBP \r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Heart Defects ; Congenital/ pathology ; epidemiology ; Hemostatic Disorders/ pathology ; diagnosis

Background: Situation of extremity injury caused by traffic accidents and occupational accidents are increasing in Vietnam. Therefore, the prevention and fight against these accidents are one of the key objectives to reduce the burden on the families of victims as well as for society. Objectives: To outline situation of extremity injury patients caused by traffic accident, treated in Viet Duc hospital from 2000-2004. Subjects and method: A retrospective study was conducted on 19.845 patients (14.562 males, 5.283 females, aged from 1-97 years old). The subjects were divided into 3 main groups: alone upper extremity injury, alone lower extremity injury and multiple fractures. Results: Extremity injury was common seen in people of working age (78.1%), men more than women (2.76/1 ratio), left foot more than right foot and it was common been in multiple fracture situation due to complex mechanisms of injury (50.3%), alone extremity injury (49.7%). The lower extremity injury was more common seen than upper extremity injury. Open fracture injury (27.3%), in which open fractures in lower extremity were more common seen. Open fractures in both 2 leg bones was the most common seen, accounted for 57.4% among total of open fractures. Amputation accounted for 8.3% among all case of open fractures and 2.3% among all case of extremity injuries. Conclusion: Extremity injury (lower extremity and upper extremity) caused by traffic accidents is common seen. The average, there are 3 emergency surgeries due to open fracture injury were performed daily in Viet Duc hospital per a total of about 11 traumatic emergency surgeries.
Fractures ; Bone ; Arm Injuries ; Leg Injuries ; Accidents ; Traffic ;

Background: Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) is a common disease in developing countries. Morbidity and mortality of ARI are high, especially among children under 15 years old. Objectives: To describe socio-graphic factors, seasonal patterns, risky areas and determine the morbidity and mortality rates of acute respiratory infections in Thai Binh province. Subjects and method: This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of 4,585 hospital admitted patients who were diagnosed with ARI including upper and lower respiratory infections such as sore throat, pharyngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia and bronchitis-pneumonia at 8 district hospitals and 1 provincial hospital in Thai Binh province during 2002-2005. The selected medical records were based on the available check list and two standard screening tests. Results:Morbidity and mortality of ARI in Thai Binh province were 61.6 and 0.52, respectively. ARI mainly occurred among children under 5 years old, of which the highest mortality was among those under 12 months of age. Male children were at higher risk of acquiring ARI, but less prone to death than female. Occupation did not significantly associate with the risk of ARI. The morbidity increased sharply during inter-season, e.g. March and October. Thai Binh city, Kien Xuong and Tien Hai district were reported with the highest morbidity in accompany of the high mortality as consequences. Conclusion: The prevention and control methods were recommended to annually focus on the male children aged less than 5 years old during March and October in Thai Binh city, Kien Xuong and Tien Hai district.
morbidity ; mortality ; acute respiratory infections

Background: Dengue virus infection is a major public health problem. A hypothesis put forward for severe dengue is the cytokine storm, a sudden increase in cytokines that induces vascular permeability. Previous studies and our recent meta-analysis showed that IL-6, IL-8, IFNγ, TNFα, VEGF-A and VCAM-1 are associated with dengue shock syndrome. Therefore, in this study we aim to validate the association of these cytokines with severe dengue. Methods & Findings: In a hospital based-case control study in Vietnam, children with dengue fever, other febrile illness and healthy controls were recruited. Dengue virus infection was confirmed by several diagnostic tests. Multiplex immunoassay using Luminex technology was used to measure cytokines simultaneously. A positive association with dengue shock syndrome was found for VCAM-1, whereas a negative association was found for IFNγ. Furthermore, multivariate logistic analysis also showed that VCAM-1 and IFNγ were independently correlated with dengue shock syndrome. Conclusion: IFNγ and VCAM-1 were associated with dengue shock syndrome, although their role in the severe dengue pathogenesis remains unclear. Additional studies are required to shed further light on the function of these cytokines in severe dengue.

Background: Dengue virus infection is a major public health problem. A hypothesis put forward for severe dengue is the cytokine storm, a sudden increase in cytokines that induces vascular permeability. Previous studies and our recent meta-analysis showed that IL-6, IL-8, IFNγ, TNFα, VEGF-A and VCAM-1 are associated with dengue shock syndrome. Therefore, in this study we aim to validate the association of these cytokines with severe dengue. Methods & Findings: In a hospital based case control study in Vietnam, children with dengue fever, other febrile illness and healthy controls were recruited. Dengue virus infection was confirmed by several diagnostic tests. Multiplex Immunoassay using Luminex technology was used to measure cytokines simultaneously. A positive association with dengue shock syndrome was found for VCAM-1, whereas a negative association was found for IFNγ. Furthermore, the multivariate logistic analysis also showed that VCAM-1 and IFNγ were independently correlated with dengue shock syndrome. Conclusion: IFNγ and VCAM-1 were associated with dengue shock syndrome, although their role in the severe dengue pathogenesis remains unclear. Additional studies are required to further investigate the function of these cytokines in severe dengue.