Materials and methods: Wild growing Adenosma caeruleum R.Br. (Scrophulariaceae) was collected at Dak Mil district (Dak Lak province) in July 2002 for oil preparation. The oil analysis was carried out by a combination of capillary gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Results: The essential oil was obtained from the aerial part of the plant at the yield of 0.5% compared with dried materials. 38 chemical compounds were identified. The major components were thymol (24.67%), alpha-humulene (16.44%), thymyl methylether (12.59%), gamma-terpinene (12.26%), beta-caryophyllene (5.82%), beta-bisabolene (5.67%), p-cymene (4.58%), humulene oxide (3.59%) and caryophyllene oxide (2.76%).
Scrophulariaceae ; Oils ; Oils, Volatile ; Plants ; Medicine, Traditional

Background: hepatitis due to virus B is now one of the leading concerns in the community health care throughout the world. Vietnam was a country located in high risk areas for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with rate of HBV infection in the community ranged from 11.3 to 25.5%, the rate of HBsAg positive in pregnant women from 12-16%. Objectives: to evaluate knowledge and practice on HBV prevention among pregnant women in Hanoi in 2005-2006 period; to study on some related factors of HBsAg positive rate. Subjectives and Method: a cross sectional study (with analysis on knowledge and practice about HBV prevention) was carried out on 1.300 pregnant women above 28 gestational weeks at Hanoi Obstetrics/Gynecology Hospital in 2005. Results: the rates of women with knowledge about HBV prevention were 38.5% at good level, 24.4% at acceptable level, and 37.7% at unacceptable level. The rates of practice on HBV prevention were 58.5% at satisfied level and 41.5% at notsatified level. Knowledge was likely related to practice, age, educational level, and HBV positive rate. Practice on HBV prevention was also related to HBV infection. Conclusions: the rates of women with knowledge about HBV prevention at good level were relatively high. The rates of practice on HBV prevention at satisfied level were relatively low. Related factors of HBsAg positive rate: knowledge and practice about HBV prevention.
Hepatitis B/ prevention & ; control ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Health Knowledge ; Attitudes ; Practice ; Pregnant Women ;

Background: Rotavirus is the main cause of acute viral gastroenteritis in children under 5 years old. The virus leads to over 600000 children deaths a year in the world, 80% of which occur in the developing countries. In Viet Nam, 50%-70% the children\u2019s hospitalizations for acute diarrhea were resulted from rotavirus infection. Objective: To sequence nucleotides and amino acids of VP4, VP7, NSP1, and NSP4 genes of 5 passages of human rotavirus strain G1P8. Materials and method: A study was conducted in rotavirus sample of 5 passages of human rotavirus strain G1P8: B17A3; B17.3; B17.3 pp32vero15; B17.3 pp36TKP2; B17.3 pp43.7vero in Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, United State. Methods: using NucliSen Kit for detection of ARN; RT-PCR; sequencing genes by ABI 3100 machine. Results and Conclusion: Sequencing nucleotides and amino acids of VP4, VP7, NSP1, and NSP4 genes of 5 passages of human rotavirus strain G1P8 showed that: the number of nucleotide mutations ofVP4, VP7, NSP4 genes occurring among the passages were 3 (at nucleotit 175, 419, 790), 1 (at nucleotit 644), 3 (at nucleotit 134, 254, 482), respectively. All these mutations resulted in changes in amino acid composition. No mutation was found in NSP1 gene.
Rotavirus ; Genes ; Nucleotides/ genetics ;

Introduction: Mycobacterium tuberculosis resists rifampicin (RIF) because of mutations in the rpoB (the p subunit of RNA polymerase) gene, mostly in the 81 bp region. \r\n', u'Objectives: Identify the frequency and characteristics relative to drug - resistant rpoB gene mutation in RIF - resistant M. tuberculosis strains. \r\n', u'Subjects and method: 40 M. tuberculosis strains including 11 RIF - sensitive strains and 29 RIF - resistant strains. Some bio molecular techniques were used such as extracting mycobacterial DNA, PCR, cloning, sequencing and analyzing mutation related RIF - resistance on rpoB gene. \r\n', u'Results: No mutation was found on the 81 bp region of rpoB gene of the RIF - sensitive M. tuberculosis strains. The rate of mutation on rpoB gene of 29 RIF - resistant M. tuberculosis strains is 96.6%. We found 12 mutation codon positions on the 81 bp region of the rpoB gene, and the mutation codon positions with high frequency were 531 (51.7%) and 526 (31%). The mutation position found in only one strain is codon 519 (3.4%) but not found in other reports. There are 15 types of drug resistant mutations in which TCG531 TCG is the most common with 50%. Multi - drug resistance was seen in mutable and none mutable cases, with all codon positions and mutable forms. \r\n', u'Conclusion: No mutation was found on the 81 bp region of the rpoB gene of RtF - sensitive M. tuberculosis strains. The rate of mutation on the rpoB gene of RIF - resistant M. tuberculosis strains is 96.6%. The new mutation position found is codon 519. The mutation on the rpoB gene does not determine the multi - drug resistance of M. tuberculosis. \r\n', u'
Mutation ; rpoB gene ; Rifampicin - resistant M. tuberculosis

Background: Many research works showed that menstruation is caused by the sudden reduction of the estrogens and progesterone to low levels of secretion at the end of the menstrual cycle. However, it should be investigated to which levels the concentration of these two hormones sharply reduces to cause menstruation. Objective: To determine estradiol concentration at the beginning of menstruation, the second day of menstruation and the ending of menstruation during the menstrual cycle. Subject and methods: 30 women with the normal menstrual cycle and 30 women with the long menstrual cycle were used as subjects to determine estradiol concentration at the day at the beginning of menstruation, the second day of menstruation and the last day of menstruation during the menstrual cycle. Result and Conclusion: In the women group with the normal menstrual cycle, the estradiol concentration: at the day at the beginning of menstruation is 159.93 \xb1 51.29 pmol/L, at the second day of menstruation is 170.58 \xb1 46.54 pmol/L and at the lastday of menstruation is 177.55 \xb1 46.42 pmol/L. In women in the group with long menstrual cycle, the estradiol concentration: at the day of beginning of menstruation is 154.55 \xb1 61.60 pmol/L and at the last day of menstruation is 154.55 \xb1 61.60 pmol/L.
menstrual cycle ; estrogen ; estradiol

Background: Food-born bacteria can be present in raw materials or contaminated foods during process and storage. Shrimp paste is a popular food in Viet Nam, but there are no studies on the hygiene and safety of this food. Objectives: To identify the microbial contamination of commercial shrimp paste available in Ha Noi City. Materials and method: A total of 50 shrimp paste samples were collected randomly from markets around Ha Noi City. Enumeration and isolation methods were used to determine the microbial contamination in these samples. Results: 100% of the samples were contaminated with Clostridium perfringens and Candida albicans. 10% of samples were contaminated with Coliform. Other pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio cholerae were not found in shrimp paste samples. Conclusion: Evaluation of microbial contamination in popular foods such as shrimp paste should be done regularly to prevent food-born diseases in the community.
Microbial contamination ; Food safety.

Background: Diarrhea is a leading cause of death in children under 5 years old, especially in developing countries. About 12.600 children die because of diarrhea everyday in Asia, Africa and Latin-America. Objective: To identify the main organism that causes diarrhea in children under 5 years old. Subject and Method: The etiology agents of diarrheal children under 5 years old admitted to the Pediatric Hospital in Hai Phong city were studied in the period from September 2006 to August 2007. A total of 968 children were examined for diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC), Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio, Aeromonas, Campylobacter, these pathogens as being significant bacteria associated with diarrhea. A total of 212 out of 968 cases were positive for bacteria. Result: The main pathogens were diarrheagenic Eschierichiacoli 153 (15.7%), Salmonella 12 (1.24%), Shigella 32 (3.3%). Vibirio paraheamolyticus 1(0.1%), Aeromonas 8 (0.8%), Campylobacter 6(0.6%) from rectal swabs and no Vibrio cholerae was found. The multiplex PCR assays for the identification of DEC was developed. DEC was classified into 6 categories with frequencies of EPEC 3.9%, ETEC 4.4%, EIEC 0.6%, EAggEC 6.7%, DAEC 0.1%, no EHEC was identified. Conclusion: An analysis of incidence of enteropathogens with respect to seasonal variant demonstrated that the frequencies of isolation of etiology agents mainly in July, August and September. This study also showed that diarrheagenic- Escherichia coli is the main organism causing diarrhea in children under 5 years old.
Diarrhea ; enteropathogenic bacteri ; diarrheagenic Eschierichiacoli

Background: Classification of vibriophages has been applied for epidemiological surveillance of cholera, but in Vietnam, there was virtually no knowledge about it. It is very important to determine whether the strains have common origin or different origins.Objectives: To classify vibriophages isolated from environmental surface water samples in Thai Binh in order to monitor cholera outbreaks. Subjects and method: Three vibriophages (84, 87, and 811) were collected from surface water samples in Thai Binh in 2006. Electronic microscopy was used to compare the size and morphology of Vibrio phages. Also, the structures of genomic DNA of vibriophages were compared by hind III digestion pattern and Southern blotting. Results: Vibriophages S4 and S11 isolated from Thai Binh were similar to kappa phage (a phage produced by V. cholerae 01 EI Tor strain), phage IV (a phage produced by V. cholerae 01 classical strain) in term of morphology and genome and were the same shape and DNA dimension of phage 1823 isolated from V. cholerae O139 strain in India and Bangladesh. Conclusion: Phage 84, 81 isolated from Thai Binh were new kinds of vibriophage isolated in Viet Nam. These findings were very useful for supervising and controlling cholera outbreaks in Vietnam.
Classification ; vibriophage ; environment surface water

Background: Fungal keratitis is a serious ocular infection that can cause corneal scarring and blindness. Currently, diagnosis of fungal pathogens remains a difficult problem. Objectives: To investigate the application of semi-nested PCR targeted ITS genes for detection of fungal agents causing keratitis. Material and method: Ten identified fungal strains, 4 bacterial strains, 20 scraping samples from patients with suspected fungal keratitis and 2 scraping samples from patients with suspected bacterial keratitis were tested using semi-nested PCR. Results: Semi-nested PCR showed positive results for the samples of identified fungal strains and for the 20 scraping samples from patients with suspected fungal keratitis. Neither samples of bacterial strains nor scraping samples from suspected bacterial keratitis patients gave positive PCR results. Conclusion: Semi-nested PCR is a robust tool for specific and rapid detection of fungal agents causing keratitis.
Fungal keratitis ; semi-nested PCR

Background:The kit Crystal VC is a Lateral Flow Imunochromatographic test for the qualitative determination of Lipopolysacharide (LPS) antigen of both V cholerae 01 and 0139, from stool specimens, using monoclonal antibodies specific to V. cholerae 01 and 0139 LPS. It does not include culturing the specimen and is performed without the need for sophisticated laboratory equipment. \r\n', u'Objectives: To evaluate the dipstick kit for detection of V. cholerae 01. Subjects and methods: A total of 65 stool specimens from diarrhea patients were tested to determine V. cholerae 01 by Crystal VC kit. \r\n', u'Results: The sensitivity of the 01 dipstick compared to culture was 93.7%, with a specificity of 87.7%. Crystal VC kit is simple, sensitivity, specific and does not require culturing procedures, making it suitable for direct detection of V. cholerae in clinical specimens. Also, the test only requires 10 minutes to complete.\r\n', u'Conclusions: The dipsticks test may be helpful in confirming clinically suspected cholera cases, especially during the start of an outbreak. Once a cholera outbreak has been confirmed, large scale preventive measures could be mobilized to minimize morbidity and mortality. \r\n', u'
Dipstick kit ; vibrio cholerae 01