From 1999 to 2004, 6 pregnant women with lasting symptoms of ureteral calculi underwent therapeutic ureteroscopy in the Hospital of Hanoi Post and Telecommunication. The length of gestation ranged from 3 to 28 weeks (median length is 9 weeks). The calculi were detected by ultrasonogrphy, however 1 patient by an X-ray plain film because she was unaware of her pregnancy. In 5 patients, the calculi were removed successfully. There was no complication. The outcome of gestation was satisfactory: the deliveries were normal in 5 patients. 1 patient was stone free and had elective termination unrelated to ureteroscopy. Conclusion: diagnosis and treatment of ureteral calculi in pregnant women is difficult because of some physiological and anatomical changes, and the need of ensuring mother and child's safety. Assessment of gestational development and damage of kidneys are needed for proper treatment
Ureteroscopy ; Pregnancy ; women ; Ureteral Calculi

On 1014 cases of useteral lithotriptoscopy carried out at Buu Dien Hospital from October 1999 to November 2002, observation showed that lithotriptoscopy is a non-invasive surgical intervention of high efficacy (91.6%). The results were well depended on the site, the size and the density of the stone and the level of water stasis in the kidney and especially to the skill of the surgeons and proper indication for each case depend on them.
Ureterolithiasis ; Ureter ; Disease ; diagnosis

Background: Untill now, many minimal invasive methods have been applied in treating ureteral stones such as the endoscopic ureterolithotripsy technique of Perez-Castro and Martinez-Pinero (1980), the tetroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy technique of Wickham (1979) and so on. Retrograde endoscopic ureterolithotripsy with holmium laser has been applied in management of ureteral stones at the Post hospital I Hanoi since 2003. Objective: To show results of retrograde endoscopic ureterolithotripsy with holmium laser in management of ureteral stones at the Post hospital I Hanoi. Subjects and method: A retrospective study was conducted in 183 patients who underwent retrograde endoscopic ureterolithotripsy with holmium laser at the Post hospital I Hanoi, from July/2003 to July/2005. Results:In 183 patients, female was more than male (54.7% versus 45.4%); the mean age was 45.4 (range 14-77). There were total 212 lithotrity stones, of which the rate of left, right, upper-third, middle-third and lower-third ureteral stone was respectively 51.9%, 48.1%, 43.2%, 22.4% and 34.4%. The mean size of ureteral stone was 15.1mm x 11.17mm and the average time of ureterolithotripsy was 48.1 minutes (range 15 -120). Conclusion: The rate of success for etrograde endoscopic ureterolithotripsy with holmium laser was high (92.9%), especially the success rate for lower-third ureteral calculi (100%) and the success rate for upper-third ureteral stones (84.8%). However, 5/165 patients (3%) who had follow-up examination for 2-4 years after surgery had ureteral stenosis. This complication was resulted from burned mucous membrane during endoscopic ureterolithotripsy with laser.
Ureterolithiasis/ surgery ; therapy ; Endoscopy/ methods ; Lasers

OBJECTIVE: In frozen and thawed embryos, the zona pellucida (ZP) can be damaged due to hardening. Laser-assisted hatching (LAH) of embryos can increase the pregnancy rate. This study compared thinning and drilling of the ZP before frozen embryo transfer (FET). METHODS: Patients were randomly allocated into two groups for LAH using thinning or drilling on day 2 after thawing. Twenty-five percent of the ZP circumference and 50% of the ZP thickness was removed in the thinning group, and a hole 40 µm in diameter was made in the drilling group. RESULTS: A total of 171 in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection FET cycles, including 85 cycles with drilling LAH and 86 cycles with thinning LAH, were carried out. The thinning group had a similar β-human chorionic gonadotropin-positive rate (38.4% vs. 29.4%), implantation rate (16.5% vs. 14.4%), clinical pregnancy rate (36.0% vs. 25.9%), miscarriage rate (5.8% vs. 2.4%), ongoing pregnancy rate (30.2% vs. 23.5%), and multiple pregnancy rate (7.0% vs. 10.6%) to the drilling LAH group. There were no significant differences in pregnancy outcomes between subgroups defined based on age (older or younger than 35 years) or ZP thickness (greater or less than 17 µm) according to the LAH method. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that partial ZP thinning or drilling resulted in similar outcomes in implantation and pregnancy rates using thawed embryos, irrespective of women's age or ZP thickness.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Chorion ; Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Methods ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Spermatozoa ; Zona Pellucida

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with twin pregnancy following day 3 double embryo transfer (DET). Methods: This retrospective cohort study incorporated data from 16,972 day 3 DET cycles. The participants were women aged between 18 and 45 years who underwent in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) at My Duc Assisted Reproduction Technique Unit (IVFMD), My Duc Hospital, located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Results: Of the 16,972 day 3 DET cycles investigated, 8,812 (51.9%) resulted in pregnancy. Of these, 6,108 cycles led to clinical pregnancy, with 1,543 (25.3% of clinical pregnancies) being twin pregnancies. Factors associated with twin pregnancy included age under 35 years (odds ratio [OR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32 to 1.71; p<0.001) and cycles involving the transfer of at least one grade I embryo. Relative to the transfer of two grade III embryos, the risk of twin pregnancy was significantly elevated following the transfer of two grade I embryos (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.16 to 1.69; p<0.001) or a combination of one grade I and one grade II embryo (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.55; p=0.001). Conclusion By analyzing a large number of IVF/ICSI cycles, we identified several predictors of twin pregnancy. These findings can assist medical professionals in tailoring treatment strategies for couples with infertility.

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.