Background: A pleural effusion is an abnormal collection of fluid in the pleural space resulting from excess fluid production or decreased absorption. It is the most common manifestation of pleural disease. Objective: To evaluate the etiological, clinical, subclinical characteristics and treatment results of patients with pleural effusions. Subjects and method: This was a retrospective, descriptive study on 768 patients with pleural effusion, who were treated in Department of Respiratory of Bach Mai Hospital, from January 2001 to October 2003. The information was taken from clinical records of patients. Results and conclusions: The causes of pleural effusion were tuberculosis 37.6%, lung cancer 23.8%, pneumonia or lung abscess 8.0%, chronic heart failure disease 7.1%, liver cirrhosis 3.5%, others causes 6.7% of cases. The patients presented with chest pain 81.6%, dyspnea 75.1%, cough 43.8%, expectoration 29.7%, and fever 54.8%, pleural effusion syndrome 92.2% of cases. On chest X-ray images, 75.3% of cases had Damoiseau curve. Pleural ultrasound demonstrated free pleural effusion in 63.8% of cases, loculated pleural effusion and pleural compartmentalization in 19.8%. Rivalta test of pleural fluid was positive in 83.7% of cases, negative in 13.7%. Malignant cells found in pleural fluid of 21.2%. Histology of pleural biopsies demonstrated malignant in 17.4% of cases; in which mesothelioma 4.0%, pleural tuberculosis 30.5%; others 52.1%. After the treatment, recovery accounted for 6.3% of cases, amelioration 58.3%, and no amelioration 37.4%. 66.9% of cases were performed therapeutic thoracocentesis, 2.7% were performed pleural lavage.
Pleural Effusion/ therapy ; pathology ; diagnosis

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: The fetus having risk for Down sydrome (DS) can be detected early by AFP, \u03b2hCG in maternal serum to detect the fetus having risk of Down sydrome. Objectives: Determining values of AFP, \u03b2hCG in maternal serum to detect the fetus having risk of DS. Subjects and method: Determining the concentration of AFP, \u03b2hCG in maternal serum of 591 pregnant with fetus \ufffd?12 weeks to detect the fetus having DS screening risk. The fetus are diagnosed DS by analysing chromosome from amniocyte and monitor up to the neonate. Then, finding out association between DS fetus and AFP, \u03b2hCG in maternal serum. Results: 75/591 of subjects screened were screen positive, 6/7 DS fetus associated withscreen positive, (cut off AFP \ufffd?0,75 MoM, \u03b2hCG \ufffd?2,2 MoM). Detection rate (DR) was 85,71%; false positive rate (FDR): 11,81%. Only base on AFP: DR was 71,43%; FDR: 11,81%. Only base on \u03b2hCG DR was 28,57%; FDR: 0,51%. Conclusion: DR base on AFP is higher than base on \u03b2hCG. If combining AFP and \u03b2hCG, DR is the highest. AFP is important role in screening DS fetus.
Down Syndrome/ diagnosis ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Pregnancy ;