A study aimed at application of the radio-immunological technique to monitor the changes of markers of HBV in the natural progress of the chronic HBsAg from which to find persons having the risk of severe complication. 50 patients carrying the chronic HBsAg without the clinical menifestation were tested four times every 10 months to evaluate the changes of markers of HBV. The results have shown that the patients had the antibody immunological response during the chronic HBsAg carrage.. The anti-HBc IgG was possitive in 100% patients through 4 times of tests.
Hepatitis B ; Immunologic Techniques

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: Currently, tracking, monitoring insecticide resistance of mosquitoes transmitting disease is an urgent need.\r\n', u'Objectives: To evaluate resistance to insecticide of three mosquito species: Aedes Aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus and culex tritaenyorhynchus in Ha Noi\r\n', u'Subject and method: Aedes Aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus culex tritaenyorhynchus mosquito species was collected from some districts of Ha Noi city. These mosquito species was tested sensitivity with 4 insecticides: permethrin 0.75%, lambda-cyhalothrin 0.05%, alpha-cypermethrin 30mg/m2 and DDT 4.0%.\r\n', u'Results: Three main vectors of Dengue fever, Japanese Encephalic and Filariasis mosquitoes were found in a very high density in some areas of Ha Noi City. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the districts of Thanh Xuan (TX), Dong Da (DD) and Hoang Mai (HM) was found highly resistant to permethrin, alpha - cypermethrin, lambda - cyhalothrin and DDT with the mortalities rates of 51 % (TX) and 59%(DD); 70%(HM); 90%, 82% and 96%; 74%, 54% and 59%; 1 %, 8% and 32%, respectively. \r\n', u'Culex tritaenyorhynchus was found also highly resistant to permethrin with the mortality rate of 29%, alphacypermethrin - 18%, lambdacyhalothrin - only 3% and DDT x36%. Culex quinquefasciatus was found also highly resistant to those insecticides. \r\n', u'Conclusion: Other insecticides should choose to replace the chemicals used in this experiment to control, kill mosquitoes when epidemics occur.\r\n', u'
Insecticides ; resistance ; Aedes Aegypti ; Culex quinquefasciatus ; culex tritaenyorhynchus

Background: Dyslipidemia is an important risk factor of atherosclerosis. The endothelia can be injured by plaque that advantages for platelet adheadsion, aggregation and produces thrombosis. Objectives: (1) To evaluate the changes of platelet aggregation induced by ADP and collagen in hyperlipidemic patients; (2) To identify the relationship between platelet aggregation and various types of dyslipidemia. Subjects and methods: A descriptive cross sectional non-randomised control trial method was employed in this study. A total of 128 hyperlipidemic patients (in which 40 patients were type IIa, 36 were type lib, and 52 were type IV), and a control group of 88 people were measured the aggregation in platelet - rich plasma (PRP) induced by ADP and collagen. Results: There was no significant difference about the platelet counts in both intervention and control groups (p>0.05). ADP and collagen induced platelet aggregation increased significantly (p<0.01) in intervention group when compared to control group. A significant correlation was found between the plasma triglyceride concentration and platelet aggregation induced by ADP and collagen with r = 0,335 and 0,332 respectively, while that of cholesterol and ADP was 0,304. Conclusion: Platelet aggregation increased in hyperlipidemic patients and had a significant correlation with plasma triglyceride concentration. \r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Dyslipidemias/ pathology ; therapy ; Platelet Aggregation

Background: Statin and its derivate (simvastatin, autorvastatin, etc...) are used for dyslipidemia treatment and preventing thrombose. However, the mechanism of the antithrombotic action is still being studied. Objectives: (1) To study coagulation parameters in dyslipidemia. (2) To evaluate the effects of simvastatin on coagulation parameters in dyslipidemia patients. Subject and Method: A prospective study was carried out in a sample of 22 patients with primary hypercholesterolemia (type IIa), who were treated with simvastatin 20mg/d for 1 month. The lipid parameters (cholesterol, triglycerid, HDL, LDL) and coagulation parameters (PT, APTT, fibrinogen, factor II, V, VII, X, VIII, IX, XI) were compared between pre and post therapy, and to the control group (59 healthy people). Results: Most of coagulation parameter values (except factor VIII and X) of the pre treatment group were significantly change towards hypercoagulation (p<0.05%) when compared to the control group. After treatment, PT rate, APTT, APTT rate, fibrinogen, factor VII and IX were significantly changed towards coagulation when compared to pre treatment (p<0.05%). The plasma coagulation and lipid parameters of more than 50% of the hypercholesterolemia patients returned to normal values after treatment. Conclusions: Simvastatin therapy on dyslipidemia patients can reduce not only the level of serum lipid, but also coagulation, and proved its effectiveness in the prevention of thrombosis.
Simvastatin ; coagulation ; dyslipidemia

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.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most frequent mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. Management of GIST patients is currently based on clinicopathological features and associated genetic changes. However, the detailed characteristics and molecular genetic features of GISTs have not yet been described in the Vietnamese population.METHODS: We first identified 155 patients with primary GIST who underwent surgery with primary curative intent between 2011 and 2014 at University Medical Center at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. We evaluated the clinicopathological features and immunohistochemical reactivity to p53 and Ki-67 in these patients. Additionally, KIT genotyping was performed in 100 cases.RESULTS: The largest proportion of GISTs was classified as high-risk (43.2%). Of the 155 GISTs, 52 (33.5%) were positive for Ki-67, and 58 (37.4%) were positive for p53. The expression of Ki-67 and p53 were correlated with mitotic rate, tumor size, risk assessment, and tumor stage. Out of 100 GIST cases, KIT mutation was found in 68%, of which 62 (91.2%) were found in exon 11, two (2.9%) in exon 9, and four (5.8%) in exon 17. No mutation in exon 13 was identified. Additionally, KIT mutations did not correlate with any clinicopathological features.CONCLUSIONS: The expression of Ki-67 and p53 were associated with high-risk tumors. Mutations in exon 11 were the most commonly found, followed by exon 17 and exon 9. Additionally, KIT mutation status was not correlated with any recognized clinicopathological features.
Academic Medical Centers ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Exons ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Molecular Biology ; Risk Assessment ; Vietnam

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 investigate the osteoblastogenic activity of the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of Smilax glabra Roxb roots and its major active compound astilbin. Methods: Astilbin was isolated from EtOAc extract using silica gel chromatography combined with fraction crystallization. Chemical structure of astilbin was determined by analysis of the spectroscopic data in comparison with the literature. MTT method was used to detect the toxicity. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was determined by the spectrophotometric method at 405 nm using p-nitrophenyl phosphate as a substrate. Calcium deposition was stained with alizarin red-S, distained with cetylpyridium chloride, and quantified at 562 nm. In silico model for astilbin-ALP interaction was analyzed using AutoDock 4.2.6. The changes in expression of osteoblast differentiation related genes were determined using quantitative real-time PCR. Results: Both the EtOAc extract and astilbin had no toxicity toward osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells at 5.0, 10, 25, and 50 μg/mL. At 25 μg/ mL, they enhanced ALP activity and mineralization of osteoblasts up to 30% and 55% for the EtOAc extract and 22% and 41% for astilbin, respectively. Molecular docking analysis of astilbin-ALP interaction revealed Arg167, Asp320, His324, and His437 were key residues participating in hydrophobic interaction; meanwhile, His434 and Thr436 residues were involved in hydrogen bond formation in the active site of human tissue-nonspecific ALP. Moreover, the expression level of genes opn, col1, osx, and runx2 were up-regulated in astilbin treated samples with the fold changes as 2.2; 3.7; 4.1; 2.3, respectively at 10 μg/mL (P<0.05). Conclusions: The EtOAc extract and its major compound astilbin exhibit osteoblastogenic activity by up-regulating important markers for bone cell differentiation. It could be a new and promising osteogenic agent with dual actions for therapeutic applications.

Soluble epoxide hydrolases (sEH) are enzymes present in all living organisms, metabolize epoxy fatty acids to 1,2-diols. sEH in the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids plays a key role in inflammation. In addition, the endogenous lipid mediators in cardiovascular disease are also broken down to diols by the action of sEH that enhanced cardiovascular protection. In this study, sEH inhibitory guided fractionation led to the isolation of five phenolic compounds trans-resveratrol (1), trans-piceatannol (2), sulfuretin (3), (+)-balanophonin (4), and cassigarol E (5) from the ethanol extract of the seeds of Passiflora edulis Sims cultivated in Vietnam. The chemical structures of isolated compounds were determined by the interpretation of NMR spectral data, mass spectra, and comparison with data from the literature. The soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitory activity of isolated compounds was evaluated. Among them, trans-piceatannol (2) showed the most potent inhibitory activity on sEH with an IC₅₀ value of 3.4 µM. This study marks the first time that sulfuretin (3) was isolated from Passiflora edulis as well as (+)-balanophonin (4), and cassigarol E (5) were isolated from Passiflora genus.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Epoxide Hydrolases ; Ethanol ; Fatty Acids ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated ; Inflammation ; Metabolism ; Passiflora ; Passifloraceae ; Phenol ; Vietnam