Background: In Vietnam the juxta-articular soft tissue diseasesare very popular, but they have not been studied yet. Objectives: (1) Describe clinical feature of some juxta-articular soft tissue diseases (tendinopathy) (except periarthritis of the shoulder). (2) Determine the risk factors of these diseases. Subjects and method:118 patients with juxta-articular soft tissue diseases. Diagnosed following the standard criteria and treated in Rheumatology Department Bach Mai hospital (Hanoi - Vietnam) in the period from December 2005 to August 2006 There was a prospective descriptive method of study.Results:(1) Clinical feature of some juxta-articular soft tissue diseases: average age: 50.2 \xb1 10.4 years, female/male ration: 4:1, the most frequent clinical forms: Tendinosis of the Elbow (Tennis Elbow) (25.4%), de Quervain\u2019s tenosynovitis (22.9%), trigger finger (17.8%), Pes Anserine Bursitis (23.7%). Clinical symtoms: pain intensity: average VAS score: 5,8 \xb1 1,3 mild and moderate limitation of movement, inflammatory signs were not evident: Mild swelling (55%), redness, increase of local temperature (4-5%), pain character: Tendinosis of the Elbow and Pes Anserine Bursitis: permanent mild pain (73.6% and 68%), de Quervain\u2019s tenosynovitis and trigger finger: pain with irrdiation along the tendon (100%). (2)The risk factors ofthese diseases: manual and repetitive work, care of children (74%), middle age (73%), female (80,5%), osteoarthritis (21.2%), diabetes associated with trigger finger (19%).Conclusion: (1) The juxta-articular soft tissue diseases were seen at middle age, with feminine preponderance, moderate pain, not evident inflammation. Clinical forms: the prevalence of each group odd diseases (Tendinosis of the Elbow, de Quervain\u2019s tenosynovitis, trigger finger, Pes Anserine Bursitis) are quite eqiuvalent. (2) The risk factors of these diseases: manual and repetitive work, care of children, middle age, female, osteoarthritis, diabetes.
Soft Tissue Neoplasms/epidemiology ;

Background: Wrist joint damage is early, common symptom and in diagnostic criteria of rheumatoid arthritis. Objective: to describe characteristics of MRI of the wrist in rheumatoid arthritis. Subjects and methods: This was a describe study. The study included 41 patients who were diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis according to the criteria of American College of Rheumatology- 1987 from January to October - 2006. Results: The average disease duration was 16.4 \xb114.71months. According to Rheumatoid Arthritis Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (RAMRIS) 2002, damages on MRI included: 100% of patients had synovitis (5.9 \xb1 2.20), 100% of patients had bone erosions (15.3 \xb1 11.06) and 90% of patients had bone edema (7.3 \xb1 5.86), total score 28.6 \xb1 16.58. The correlative coefficient between synovitis and bone edema: r=0.43, P<0.01, between synovitis and bone erosions:r=0.61, P<0.01, between bone erosions and bone edema: r=0.55, P<0.01. MRI revealed bone erosions in 100% of patients having rheumatoid arthritis less six months after symptom onset compared with 0% of patients on radiography. In patients with over 2 years of disease duration, this rate on MRI was 100% of patients compared with 87.5% of patients on radiography. Conclusions: The specific damages of the wrist on MRI have value in diagnosis of early rheumatoid arthritis. \r\n', u'\r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Arthritis ; Rheumatoid ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ;

Background: Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a group of metabolic risk factors in one person but not a real disease. For this reason, metabolic syndrome is underestimated by clinicians and individuals. Metabolic syndrome that was not detected and treated timely can cause serious diseases. Objectives: 1) To investigate the abnormal blood biochemical parameters related to metabolic syndrome. 2) To determine the abnormal ratio of these parameters. 3) To screen the metabolic syndrome among the staffs of Ha Noi Medical University. Subjects and method: 229 staffs underwent laboratory tests to diagnose for the metabolic syndrome. Abnormal blood biochemical parameters were defined as follows: Fasting blood glucose level increased 6.1mmol/l or more. Triglycerides level is 2.3mmol/l or more, HDL-cholesterol decreased to less than 1.03mmol/l for men and less than 1.24mmol/l for women. Total cholesterol level is 5.2mmol/l or more. CT to HDL-C ratio is more than 3.63 and LDL cholesterol level is 3.5mmol/l or more. Results. Rate of subjects with glucose intolerance or blood fasting glucose higher than 6.1mmol/L is 20.09%. Rate of subjects with dyslipidemia is 61.14%. Average levels of blood glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol increase with age. Number of staffs of Ha Noi Medical University have metabolic syndrome in 2007 are 32 persons (14%). M/F rate is equal and most common in persons over 45 years of age. Conclusion:There are significant number of staffs at the Ha Noi Medical University that had abnormal blood glucose and cholesterol levels related to metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome ; blood biochemical parameters.

Background: Identifying the factors which affect the invasion and metastasis process takes a vital role in the treatment of cancer. This is the first study on the relationship between the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP \u2013 9), invasion and metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in Vietnam. Objectives: To evaluate the significance of matrix metalloproteinase \u2013 9 in predicting the metastasis potential of NPC. Subject and Method: The expression of MMP \u2013 9 was studied by immunohistochemical analysis in 33 nasopharyngeal carcinoma sections and the associations of MMP-9 with lymph nodes metastasis and clinical features. Results: Positive immunostaining for MMP-9 was observed in 94.94% of the NPCs, 39.4% of the cases being extensively positive (+++). The expression of MMP-9 correlated significantly with cervical lymph nodes metastasis (p<0.05). 5/16 cases (31.25% of the cases) without cervical lymph nodes metastasis expressed MMP-9 with 2+ or 3+ level, non-significant of MMP-9 expression with T classification and clinical stage. Conclusions: The expression of MMP-9 often goes along with lymph nodes metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
MMP-9 ; Nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Endophytic fungi are promising sources for the production of podophyllotoxin-an important anticancer compound, replacing depleted medical plants. In this study, the endophytes associated with Dysosma difformis-an ethnomedicinal plant species were isolated to explore novel sources of podophyllotoxin. Fifty-three endophytic fungi were isolated and identified by morphological observation and ITS-based rDNA sequencing, assigning them to 27 genera in 3 divisions. Fusarium was found the most prevalent genus with a colonization frequency of 11.11%, followed by Trametes (9.26%) and Penicillium (7.41%). Phylogenetic trees were constructed for the endophytic fungi community in two collection sites, Ha Giang and Lai Chau, revealing the adaptation of the species to the specific tissues and habitats. Cytotoxic activity of endophytic fungal extracts was investigated on cancer cell lines such as SK-LU-1, HL-60, and HepG2, demonstrating strong anti-cancer activity of six isolates belonging to Penicillium, Trametes, Purpureocillium, Aspergillus, and Ganoderma with IC 50 value of lower than 10 10 µg/mL. The presence of podophyllotoxin was indicated in Penicillium, Trametes, Aspergillus and for the first time in Purpureocillium and Ganoderma via high-performance liquid chromatography, which implied them as a potential source of this anticancer compound.

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is rapidly increasing in Vietnam, particularly among adults aged over 45 years. This study estimated trends in diabetes and prediabetes prevalence and determined risk factors in Vietnamese adults (over 45 years). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted based on data from an annual diabetes screening program among people aged 45-69 years in an urban city in central Vietnam (Da Nang). Joinpoint regression analyses were performed to calculate the annual percentage change and ptrend-values. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to determine risk factors. RESULTS: In total, 3,765 men and 9,149 women were included in this analysis. The age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in 2017 was 11.4% and 52.9%, respectively. The prevalence of diabetes was higher in men (15.1%) than in women (10.3%), but that of prediabetes was similar in both genders (53.4% vs. 52.8%). The prevalence of prediabetes significantly increased during the study period, whereas no upward or downward trend for diabetes was observed. The prevalence of obesity, abdominal obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia showed no obvious trend. Obesity, a high waist-to-hip ratio, hypertension, more severe abdominal obesity, and dyslipidemia were significantly associated with a higher risk of diabetes and prediabetes. CONCLUSIONS Diabetes and prediabetes were more prevalent among people aged over 45 years than in the general population. Da Nang has experienced a marked increase in the prevalence of prediabetes. These findings have significant implications regarding the need for nationwide public health interventions and management aiming at diabetes prevention and control.

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is rapidly increasing in Vietnam, particularly among adults aged over 45 years. This study estimated trends in diabetes and prediabetes prevalence and determined risk factors in Vietnamese adults (over 45 years). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted based on data from an annual diabetes screening program among people aged 45-69 years in an urban city in central Vietnam (Da Nang). Joinpoint regression analyses were performed to calculate the annual percentage change and ptrend-values. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to determine risk factors. RESULTS: In total, 3,765 men and 9,149 women were included in this analysis. The age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in 2017 was 11.4% and 52.9%, respectively. The prevalence of diabetes was higher in men (15.1%) than in women (10.3%), but that of prediabetes was similar in both genders (53.4% vs. 52.8%). The prevalence of prediabetes significantly increased during the study period, whereas no upward or downward trend for diabetes was observed. The prevalence of obesity, abdominal obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia showed no obvious trend. Obesity, a high waist-to-hip ratio, hypertension, more severe abdominal obesity, and dyslipidemia were significantly associated with a higher risk of diabetes and prediabetes. CONCLUSIONS Diabetes and prediabetes were more prevalent among people aged over 45 years than in the general population. Da Nang has experienced a marked increase in the prevalence of prediabetes. These findings have significant implications regarding the need for nationwide public health interventions and management aiming at diabetes prevention and control.

Following the first report of Opisthorchis viverrini infection in a domestic duck in Phu My District of Binh Dinh Province, Central Vietnam, many other cases were observed in the province. We determined the infection rate and intensity of O. viverrini infection in ducks in 4 districts of the province. A total of 178 ducks were randomly selected from 34 farms for examination of flukes in the liver and gall bladder. An infection rate of 34.3% (range 20.7-40.4% among districts) was found; the intensity of infection was 13.8 worms per infected duck (range 1-100). These findings show the role of ducks as a host for O. viverrini, duck genotype, which is sympatric with the human O. viverrini genotype in this province. It also stresses the need for investigations on the zoonotic potential and the life cycle of this parasite.
Agriculture ; Ducks* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Life Cycle Stages ; Liver ; Opisthorchis* ; Parasites ; Prevalence* ; Trematoda* ; Urinary Bladder ; Vietnam*

Sphaeranthus africanus is commonly used as a traditional remedy for sore throats and pain treatment in Vietnam. The aerial parts have been studied for its anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties. However, the antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of the plant has not been explored. In this work, hydrophilic extracts of the plant's aerial parts were prepared in order to investigate its antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties. Also, the cytotoxicity of the root was evaluated and compared to that of the aerial parts. All of the extracts inhibited lipid peroxidation with IC 50 values ranging from 2.05 to 3.56 µg/mL, indicating substantial antioxidant activity. At an IC 50 value of 4.80 μg/mL, the 50% ethanol extract exhibited the most potent inhibition of α-glucosidase. The cytotoxic activity of root extracts is 2 to 5-fold less than that of the aerial parts. Nevertheless, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts of the root demonstrated a selective effect on leukemia cells, with no harm towards the normal HEK-293 cell line. This work provides a scientific support for the antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of the plant. Hence, it may find a promising material for the development of novel antioxidant and antidiabetic agents. More research can be conducted on the phytochemistry and anticancer activities of the plant’s root.

Background: The evidence for the efficacy and safety of balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) in treating the Vietnamese patients is sparse. There is no convincing evidence regarding BKP’s efficacy in Vietnamese patients, especially in the patients with thoracic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). This article aims to evaluate the outcomes of restoring the body height of the compressed thoracic vertebrae in patients undergoing BKP. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 65 consecutive patients with thoracic VCFs (73 vertebrae) due to osteoporosis who were treated with BKP between June 2018 and May 2019. Results: A trocar was inserted through the pedicle in 84.9% (62/73) and beside the pedicle in 15.1% (11/73). The mean amount of mixed cement injected was 4.1 ± 1.1 mL (range, 1.5–7 mL). Cement leakage was radiographically confirmed in 30.8% of 65 patients. Among patients with complications caused by cement extravasation, the leakage was through the anterior margin of the vertebrae in 15.4%, through the vertebral disc in 12.3%, and through the posterior margin of the vertebrae in 3.1%. In the last 3.1% of patients, there was no clinically notable lesions of the nerve roots or spinal cord. The mean visual analog scale score decreased significantly from 7.3 ± 1.1 preoperatively to 3.3 ± 0.6 at 24 hours after surgery, and then to 1.2 ± 1.1 at 3 months after surgery (p < 0.01). The mean reduction in Cobb angle measured on standing radiographs after treatment was 3.7°, showing statistical significance (p < 0.01). Conclusions BKP is a minimally invasive treatment effective for immediate pain relief, early motor rehabilitation, and humpback correction. The present study provided convincing evidence to support the use of BKP by spine surgeons and clinical specialists in treating osteoporotic thoracic VCFs in Vietnamese patients.