Introduction: Recent researches have determined that decreased arterial elasticity by age is one of the Cardiovascular risk factors. The modification of arterial elasticity can be evaluated accurately by measuring PWV.\r\n', u'Objectives: To determine the age - related change in the arterial stiffness in healthy people and factors that change the arterial stiffness. \r\n', u'Subjects and methods: The study group consisted of 123 normotensive subjects, including 65 men and 58 women (mean age 51.2 \xb1 13.9 years). Aortic elasticity was assessed by measuring carotid - femoral pulse PWV using a Complior Colson device with 2 pressure transducers.\r\n', u'Results: The mean PWV in both gender groups was 10.2 \xb1 1.6 m/s. There was no significant difference in both the right and the left side of the body, as well as genders regarding PWV calculation. PWV was correlated with age (r = 0.56) and mean blood pressure index (r = 0.6). If PWV was measured on the left side, subjects with plaques in common carotid artery (proved by echo) had a higher PWV than those without carotid plaque presence. In returns, there was no significant difference in terms of PWV, if it was measured on the right side. The arterial PWV in normal subjects with CT/HDL index of more than 5 is higher than those with CT/HDL index of less than 5. There was no correlation between arterial PWV and hyper - cholesterolemia. \r\n', u'Conclusions: 1. Mean arterial PWV in the healthy subjects was. 10.2 \xb1 1.6 m/s. 2. Arterial PWV had a positive correlation with age, mean blood pressure index and CT/HDL index.\r\n', u'
Arterial stiffness ; Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV)

A cross-sectional study examined 132 pregnant women of Huong Long commune, Hue city about prenatal care, inoculation and enhancing nutrition, working and rest of pregnant women. This study was determined some factors impact on antenatal examination and newborn status. The results: 22.0% of pregnant women had rather good knowledge level in need of prenatal care, 29.5% had average level and 48.5% had poor level of knowledge. 72% of pregnancies were previously planned, 66.6% had full pregnant care, 22.7% had pregnant care during first trimester, 83.3% received full dose of tetanus, 14.4% used acid folic and iron pills, 60.6% ate more during pregnant period, 78.0% did light or average work loads during pregnant period, 43.2% stopped working, 67.4% had full weight increasing during pregnancy. The abnormal babies rate after delivery was 18.3%. There was a relationship between newborn status and the following factors: frequency of pregnant care, work loads and weight increasing level during pregnant period
Prenatal Care ; Pregnant Women ; Knowledge

Objective: Since the late 1980s, Vietnam has seen numerous social changes, likely leading to changes in adolescent sexual awareness. Adolescents are currently exposed to a plethora of sexual information without adequate sex education and knowledge. Globally, researchers have identified sexual knowledge and self-esteem as determinants of adolescent sexual awareness and behavior, but little is known about the role of social capital, especially in rural areas. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between sexual awareness and cognitive social capital among high school students in rural Vietnam.Materials and Methods: We conducted a questionnaire-based survey assessing sexual knowledge, sexual awareness, perceptions of peers’ sexual experience, structural and cognitive social capital, and self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale) in March 2017 among 1,583 11th graders at four public high schools in Hai Duong Province, Vietnam.Results: The final sample comprised 1,517 students (95.8% of total responses): 609 boys (40.1%) and 908 girls (59.9%). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed with intolerance toward premarital sex as the dependent variable. In the first model, the independent variables were self-esteem, knowledge of proper timing for condom use, and perception that many peers are sexually experienced. The second model added an indicator of cognitive social capital. In the first model, self-esteem, knowledge of proper timing for condom use, and perception that many peers are sexually experienced were all significantly associated with intolerance toward premarital sex for both boys and girls. In the second model, for both boys and girls, only cognitive social capital was significantly associated with intolerance toward premarital sex.Conclusion: The results of this study regarding the effect of social capital in rural Vietnam are consistent with previous findings in urban areas. Social capital should be emphasized in efforts to improve sexual awareness and, in turn, sexual and reproductive health among adolescents in rural areas.

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.

Objective: 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-kB 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 LPSinduced liver injury in mice.

Objectives: The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has increased, particularly among individuals who have recovered from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Health literacy is considered a “social vaccine” that helps people respond effectively to the pandemic. We aimed to investigate the association between long COVID-19 and PTSD, and to examine the modifying role of health literacy in this association. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at 18 hospitals and health centers in Vietnamfrom December 2021 to October 2022. We recruited 4,463 individuals who had recovered from COVID-19 infection for at least 4 weeks. Participants provided information about their sociodemographics, clinical parameters, health-related behaviors, health literacy (usingthe 12-item short-form health literacy scale), long COVID-19 symptoms and PTSD (Impact Event Scale-Revised score of 33 or higher). Logistic regression models were used to examine associations and interactions. Results: Out of the study sample, 55.9% had long COVID-19 symptoms, and 49.6% had PTSD.Individuals with long COVID-19 symptoms had a higher likelihood of PTSD (odds ratio [OR], 1.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.63–2.12; p < 0.001). Higher health literacy was associated with a lower likelihood of PTSD (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97–0.99; p = 0.001). Compared to those without long COVID-19 symptoms and the lowest health literacy score, those with long COVID-19 symptoms and a 1-point health literacy increment had a 3% lower likelihood of PTSD (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96–0.99; p = 0.001). Conclusion Health literacy was found to be a protective factor against PTSD and modified the negative impact of long COVID-19 symptoms on PTSD.