Background: PDA is an especially common pathological condition in premature neonates because of the anatomical structural immaturity of the cardiovascular system. There are evidence for the effectiveness of ibuprofen for closing persistent ductus arteriosus, with few adverse effects. Objectives: To determine whether oral ibuprofen treatment is effective and safe in the closure of PDA in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome. Subjects and methods: The prospective study was conducted on premature newborns with PDA who were presented at the Department of Neonatology, National Hospital of Pediatrics. Results: A total of 32 neonates were eligible for the study. Ductal closure was achieved in 22 newborns (68.6%), the ductus was persistent after 6 doses in 8 cases (25.1%), 2 newborns (6.3%) suffered from ductal reopening after closure (after 1 and 2 doses). PDA closure was achieved with 1 dose of ibuprofen in 7 cases, 2 doses in 9, 3 doses in 4 and more than 4 doses in 4 cases. The survival rate was 81.2% (26 out of 32). 6 patients (18.8%) died from severe respiratory distress and very low birth weight (2 cases), Klebsiella sepsis (4 cases). Mortality is higher in the closure failure group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Oral ibuprofen suspension can be considered as an effective and safe alternative for PDA closure in premature newborns. Larger comparative studies is required to confirm these results.
Persistent ductus ateriosus ; Premature newborn.

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is difficult to diagnose in children, especially in developing countries where non - invasive methods such as urea - breath test are often not available. Objectives: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of a new monoclonal antibody - based antigen - in - stool enzyme immunoassay (Premier Platinum HpSA PLUS) for diagnosis of H. pylori infection in Vietnamese children. Subjects and method: Sensitivity of the antigen - in - stool test was evaluated in 232 children, 3 - 15 years of age, who were positive for H. pylori infection by culture from biopsies. For evaluation of the specificity 241 children of similar age with non - gastrointestinal conditions were included with blood and stool samples. Results:Among the culture - positive children, 224 were also positive by Premier Platinum HpSA PLUS. Among the control children 98 had negative for H. pylori infection as established by serology, using two ELiSAs (in house and Pyloriset EIA - Gill) and an immunblot (Helicoblot 2.1). These 93 childrenhad H. pylori negative also in the stool test. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of Premier Platinum HpSA PLUS were thus found to be 96.6%, 94.9%, 97.8%, and 92.1 %, respectively. Conclusion: The outcome have demonstrated Premium Platinum HpSA PLUS to be a reliable method for detection of H. pylori infection in Vietnamese children.
Helicobacter pylori/ pathogenicity ; Child

Background: Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the second cause of Mental Retardation (MR) and the first cause of familiar MR. This syndrome affects up to 1/4000 men and 1/8000 women. X syndrome is often diagnosed by molecular biology technique such as RCR and Southern blot. Until now there is no study on FXS in Vietnam. Objectives: This study is aimed at: (1) Determine FXS among children with MR by technique of molecular biology. (2) Determine the mutation of FMR1 gen in families having children with FXS. Subject and Method: 214 children between 6 and 16 years of age (136 male and 78 female) with MR were analyzed FMR1 gen by PCR and Southern blot techniques. Families of children with FXS were also analyzed. Result and conclusion: This is the first study on FXS using the techniques of molecular biology in Vietnam. Identified 3 children with FXS, accounting for 1.4% of MR. Children with FXS and members with full mutation and premutation were found.
Fragile X syndrome ; FMR1 gene ; Mental retardation

Background: Mental retardation is a common pathological state in children, accounting for about 1 - 3%. Children with mental retardation should have a life of integrity and proper support. The discovery and assessment the children will help us to orient the education, assistance and early intervention for them at each location. Objectives: This study aimed at determining the prevalence of mental retardation (MR) among children in some quarters and communes of Hue city and the degrees of mental retardation in these children. Subjects and method: Screening by WHO questionnaire \u201cTen Question screen for disability\ufffd?and learning results (if possible) of children from 6 to under 16 years old in 5 quarters (urban) and 2 communes (rural) randomly selected in Hue. Diagnostics and evaluations are based on the criteria of ICD \ufffd?10. Results: The prevalence of MR in this study was 0.94% (95%CI = 0.82 \ufffd?1.07), 1.18% in rural area and 0.84% in urban area; 1.16% among boys and 0.70% among girls. Mild MR accounts for 62.67% moderate: 19.36%, severe: 11.52% and profound: 6.45%. Conclusion: The prevalence was statistically significant higher in rural area than in urban area and in boys than in girls. There were predominant percentages of severe and profound MR.
Mental Retardation/ epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Children ;

Background: Primary nephrotic syndrome in adult patients is a common sign of patients with primary glomerular disease. Objective: To evaluate the responsiveness of adult patients with primary nephrotic syndrome to corticosteroid alone or in combination with cyclophosphamid and the treatment - related complications. Subjects and method: Based on pathological findings 91 patients with primary nephrotic syndrome divided into 2 groups: group 1 (75 patients) were assigned to receive corticosteroid alone at 1 mg/kg/day, group 2 (16 patients) were assigned to receive the corticosteroid at 0.5 mg/kg/day and cyclophosphamid at 2 mg/kg/day. 11 non - responders from group 1 were switched to group 2 after 6 months of treatment by \r\n', u'corticosteroid alone. The response to therapy was assessed after 3 months and 6 months of treatment. Results:In group 1 the number of patients responding to corticosteroid alone was increasing from 38 after 3 months to 50 after 6 months. In group 2 the number of patients responding to combined protocol was increasing from 4 (14.8%) to 12 (44.4%). The most frequently seen corticosteroid - related complication was cushingoid which is reversible after reducing dose or stop treatment. Severe complications were not common. For the whole group taking cyclophosphamid leucocytopenia, was seen in 4/27 (14.8%) patients, in subgroup of women hypo - amenorrhea was observed in 3/15 (20%) of cases. Conclusions: Results of study encourage the prolongation of treatment. Sterility and if possible preventive measures should be taken into consideration when cyclophosphamid is selected for young patients in reproductive age.\r\n', u'
Nephrotic Syndrome/ therapy

Background: The multiplex polymerase chain reaction can rapidly differentiate taenia spp adults and cysticercose cysts.\r\n', u'Objective: The study aimed to identify taenia spp adults and cysticercose cysts in human by using multiplex PCR\r\n', u'Subjects and methods: The multiplex PCR was applied by using the 4 forward and one reverse primer to amplify the target gene cytochrome c oxydase subunit I (COXI) of the Taenia spp in human. T\r\n', u'Results:4 molecular sizes of PCR products were appeared: 269 bp,720 bp, 827 bp, 984 bp. Seventy six samples including 65 flat worms and 11 cysticercose cysts which collected from the patients who are living in 19 different provinces and cities of Northern part of Viet Nam and treated in the clinic of NIMPE were examined. Of 65 flat worms analyzed 35 samples were T.asiatica (58.46%), 27 were T.saginata (41.54%). All 11 cysticercose cysts were T.solium (100%). \r\n', u'Conclusion: The result also indicated that some time 3 Taenia species were found at the same area. A remarkable difference of infection rate was found between men and women, also adults and children. \r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Taenia spp adults ; cysticercose cysts ; multiplex PCR

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.

A new compound, 3β-acetoxylanosta-7,9(11),24-triene-26-al (3), and seven known compounds (1 – 2 and 4 – 8) were isolated from Ganoderma tropicum (Jung.) Bres. collected in Tay Nguyen, Vietnam. The structures of these compounds were determined by one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and high-resolution ESI-MS, and by comparison with literature data. All of the isolated compounds were tested for nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae-stimulated RAW 246.7 cells. Among them, compounds 2 – 4 and 6 – 8 enhanced the NBT reduction in a dose-dependent manner.

A new compound, 3β-acetoxylanosta-7,9(11),24-triene-26-al (3), and seven known compounds (1 – 2 and 4 – 8) were isolated from Ganoderma tropicum (Jung.) Bres. collected in Tay Nguyen, Vietnam. The structures of these compounds were determined by one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and high-resolution ESI-MS, and by comparison with literature data. All of the isolated compounds were tested for nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae-stimulated RAW 246.7 cells. Among them, compounds 2 – 4 and 6 – 8 enhanced the NBT reduction in a dose-dependent manner.

Objective: To evaluate the anti-arthritic effects of Polygonatum kingianum rhizome extract using both in vitro and in vivo models.Methods: Lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages were treated with an ethanol extract of Polygonatum kingianum rhizomes at different concentrations to determine nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. For in vivo study, Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract was further investigated for its anti-inflammatory effect in a mouse model with collagen antibody-induced arthritis. Phytochemical study of Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract was also performed. Results: Saponins (142 mg/g total yield) was the main component in the Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract. 5α,8α-ergosterol peroxide, (E,E)-9-oxooctadeca-10,12-dienoic acid and 3-(2?-hydroxy-4?-methoxy-benzyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-8-methyl-chroman-4-one were isolated from the extract. Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract exhibited potential anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting nitric oxide and PGE2 production in RAW 264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The level of arthritis in mice with collagen antibody-induced arthritis was significantly reduced (P<0.01) after treatment with Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract, particularly at a dose of 1?000 mg/kg body weight. Besides, the extract demonstrated the regulatory effects on serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10 in treated mice. Conclusions: Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract has beneficial effects on inflammatory cytokine regulation and PGE2 inhibition in an experimental mouse model with collagen antibody-induced arthritis. The phytochemical screening reveals that the saponin, as the main component, and sterols (daucosterol and 5α,8α-ergosterol peroxide) from Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract may contribute to its promising in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities.