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.

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.

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)

Introduction: Diabetes is a serious metabolic disease with chronic and acute complications, especially atherosclerosis. The increase of blood homocystein level is obviously related to blood injuries\u2019 in a number of diseases including diabetes. In Vietnam, blood Homocystein in Diabetics has not been comprehensively studied. \r\n', u'Objectives: The study was conducted with two surveyed groups. Determination of blood homocystein concentration in type 2 diabetics in comparison with a group of normal people. \r\n', u'Subjects and method: The study was conducted on a sample of 57 type 2 diabetics according to WHO-2001 standards and a group of 46 normal people. Concentration of blood homocystein was assayed by a competition fluorescence immunoassay, and by other experiments according to normal biochemical methods.\r\n', u'Results: The tHcy concentration in diabetics is 12.19 \xb1 3.47 mmo/L and in the normal group is 7.87 \xb1 2.26 IJmo/L. \r\n', u'Conclusion: The tHcy concentration in the 57 type 2 diabetics group has a statistically increasing mean in comparison with the normal group for both men and women. However, there is no comparative difference in the tHcy concentration of diabetics in gender and age categories. \r\n', u'
Homocystein ; Diabetic

Two rat hepatic intoxication models by high doses CCl4 and PAR were used. The experimental results showed that the oral administration of Panax Notoginseng (aqueous extract) with the dose of 5g/kg body weight has significantly reduced the serum concentrations of SGOT and SGPT with 29.1% and 43.1% respectively in comparison with that of CCl4 - treated control . In PAR - intoxicated group, Panax Notoginseng with the dose of 5g/kg body weight resulted in a marked decrease of SGOT and SGPT serum concentration 97.0% and 75.5%, respectively, which were significantly different from that of group without Panax Notoginseng. The hepatoprotective effect of Panax Notoginseng with the dose of 5g/kg and Silymarin with the dose of 25mg/kg on both CCl4 and PAR hepatic-intoxication models is the same. In histopathological examinations, Panax Notoginseng has improved CCl4 and PAR induced hepatic injuries
Panax notoginseng ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; poisoning ; liver ; rats ; Animal Experimentation

Antioxydant effect of radix notogingseng fluid extract 1:2 was studied in mice. Experiment mice were divided randomly into 3 groups x 10 animals. Control group (group 1) was given orally with NaCl 0,9% + oliver oil infiction, group 2 was given orally with NaCl 0,9% + CCl4 infection, group 3 with notogingseng extract 5g/kg of mice. Results showed the antioxydant effect of notogingseng at moderate level. It increased the liver GSH content in comparing with intocicated group.
Antioxidants ; Animal Experimentation ; Mice

Restorative effects of Radix Notoginseng on liver damage provoked by CCl4 in experimental rats. Results showed that an oral adminitration of Radix Notoginseng (RN) 5g/kg of body weight exerted moderate effect of recovering on CCl4 induced liver damage in rats. Although the serum ASAT enzym/concentration in CCl4 – intoxicated and RN treated group was still higher than that of control group after 1 day, it was significantly lower than that of intoxicated and non treated group (p<0,01). There were no difference in ALAT concentration between these 2 groups. 4day course of treatment by RN has reduced both ASAT and ALAT serum levels to normal levels while ASAT level in CCl4 intoxicated rats was still higher
Animal Experimentation ; Mice ; Liver

The anti-inflammatory effect of Radix Notoginseng was studied on rat’s hind paw edema induced by carrageenin. Results showed that: Aqueous extract of notoginseng in dose of 15g/kg body weight exerts acute anti inflammatory effect, exhibiting through the decrease of exudation quantity and of leucocyte number in the exudation. Chronic effect of anti inflammation was exerted in dose of 2.5g/kg body weight.
Medicine, Traditional ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; Animal Experimentation