Background:Kawasaki is acute fever disease with systematic vein infection which often seen in children under 5 years old. Objectives:Describe the clinical characteristics and laboratory, echocardiography data in children with Kawasaki between early diagnosed group and late one. Subjects and method: A descriptive, prospective study was carried out on 77 Kawasaki disease patients were selected, including 50 patients were diagnosed before day 10 of illness (group 1) and 27 patients were diagnosed on or after day 10 (group 2) in the National Pediatrics hospital from June 2004 to June 2006. Results:The mean was 13.4 months. Age under 12 months was 61 %. Male/female ratio was 1.7: 1. Fever, red lips, red eyes, skin rash, extremities edema and cervical lymphadenopathy occurred in the first week. The inflammatory response was strong (CRP: 83.6 mg/I, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) after an hour: 79.1 mm. WBC: 27800/ mm3). There were no differences between patients in the group 1 and group 2 in age, gender, time to the first medical visit, C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration, white blood cell count or erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Patients in the group 1 had significantly close clustering of symptoms onset in the first few days of illness, but patients in the group 2 had onset of symptoms scattered over 4 days. A platelet count of over 500.000/mm3 occurred more often in the group 2 (60%) than the group 1 (31.3%). Coronary involvement was observed in 23 patients (29.8%) including 17 patients who had coronary dilation and 6 patients with coronary aneurysm. Conclusion:Coronary artery abnormalities in the group 2 (48.1%) occurred significantly more than the group 1 (20%).
Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome/ diagnosis ; pathology ; Child

Background: Kawasaki is an acute fever disease with systematic vein infection and often seen in children.Objectives:This study aims to determine features and risk factors of coronary artery lesion (CAL) in Kawasaki disease in children. Subjects and method:A descriptive, prospective study was conducted on 83 patients diagnosed with Kawasaki disease whom treated at National Hospital for Pediatric from January 2005 to March 2007. They were divided into 2 groups: with and without CAL. All data from clinical characteristics, laboratory and echocardiography were analyzed to evaluate the differences between 2 groups. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used. Results: Among 83 patients diagnosed with Kawasaki disease, 27 patients (32.5%) was found with CAL. 24 patients (88.9%) had both right and left coronary artery abnormalities. The CAL in left anterior descending (LAD) and in left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) was 55.6% and 25.9% respectively. Risk level II: 7 patients (25.9%). Risk level III: 14 patients (51.9%) and risk level IV: 6 patients (22.2%). 14 patients (51.9%) with CAL were resolved at 6th month of the illness. Independent risk factors of CAL in acute stage included age under 12 months (OR = 3.97, p<0.05). IVIG treatment was within the first 10 day of the illness (OR=0.25, p<0.05). Non - responsiveness to \u03b3globulin therapy (OR=7.69, p<0.01). CRP before starting initial treatment above 90mg/1 (OR = 12.81, p<0.05). Platelets before starting \u03b3 globulin therapy ~ 557 000/ mm3 with OR=4.73 and p<0.05. Conclusion:Early detection and treatment were necessary in order to decrease CAL in patients with Kawasaki disease.
Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome/ diagnosis ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels/ pathology ; Child

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the first laparoscopic surgery that was performed at Cho Ray hospital in September 1992. In 2005, Quang Tri general hospital has performed successfully the first case of laparoscopic appendectomy. Objectives: To access the preliminary results of application on endoscopic surgery in Quang Tri general hospital. Subjects and method: A prospective study was conducted on 140 patients with laparoscopic surgery or retroperitoneal surgery, was performed in Quang Tri general hospital from September, 2005 to April, 2006. Results:Among 140 patients was operated, there was only one case of postoperative intestinal obstructive complication (accounted for 0.7%), no case of death. Operative aged was between 11 and 70 years old. The average surgical time was 65 minutes for cholecystectomy, 35 minutes for appendectomy, 85 minutes for ureterolithotomy, 80 minutes for gynecological diseases. 2 cases of cholecystectomy and appendectomy changed open surgery. Conclusion: Laparoscopic surgery is a safe and effective method. It can be developed in provincial hospitals. Quang Tri general hospital has successful preliminary developed the new technique.
Laparoscopy ;

This is a report of 2 cases of human hydatidosis caused by Echinococcus ortleppi in Vietnam. The patients were a 12-year-old male (case 1) having a cyst of 10.0×9.0 cm size in the lung and a 50-year-old female with a 3.0×3.3 cm-sized cyst in the heart. Eosinophilia was 33.7% in the male and 45.8% in the female patient. C-reactive protein was increased to 16.5 mg/L in the male and 18.2 mg/L in the female. Both patients were positive for ELISA at OD=2.5 and 3.1, respectively. Echinococcus protoscolices were collected from the cysts by amniocentesis and surgery. The protoscolices were identified as E. ortleppi by morphology and analysis of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase 1 (nad1) gene sequence. Both patients were cured by surgical resection of the hydatid cyst combined with albendazole medication. The E. ortleppi infection in lung is the second report, and the other in the heart is the first in Vietnam.

Trombiculid “chigger” mites (Acari) are ectoparasites that feed blood on rodents and another animals. A crosssectional survey was conducted in 7 ecosystems of southern Vietnam from 2015 to 2016. Chigger mites were identified with morphological characteristics and assayed by polymerase chain reaction for detection of rickettsiaceae. Overall chigger infestation among rodents was 23.38%. The chigger index among infested rodents was 19.37 and a mean abundance of 4.61. A total of 2,770 chigger mites were identified belonging to 6 species, 3 genera, and 1 family, and pooled into 141 pools (10-20 chiggers per pool). Two pools (1.4%) of the chiggers were positive for Orientia tsutsugamushi. Ricketsia spp. was not detected in any pools of chiggers. Further studies are needed including a larger number and diverse hosts, and environmental factors to assess scrub typhus.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with twin pregnancy following day 3 double embryo transfer (DET). Methods: This retrospective cohort study incorporated data from 16,972 day 3 DET cycles. The participants were women aged between 18 and 45 years who underwent in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) at My Duc Assisted Reproduction Technique Unit (IVFMD), My Duc Hospital, located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Results: Of the 16,972 day 3 DET cycles investigated, 8,812 (51.9%) resulted in pregnancy. Of these, 6,108 cycles led to clinical pregnancy, with 1,543 (25.3% of clinical pregnancies) being twin pregnancies. Factors associated with twin pregnancy included age under 35 years (odds ratio [OR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32 to 1.71; p<0.001) and cycles involving the transfer of at least one grade I embryo. Relative to the transfer of two grade III embryos, the risk of twin pregnancy was significantly elevated following the transfer of two grade I embryos (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.16 to 1.69; p<0.001) or a combination of one grade I and one grade II embryo (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.55; p=0.001). Conclusion By analyzing a large number of IVF/ICSI cycles, we identified several predictors of twin pregnancy. These findings can assist medical professionals in tailoring treatment strategies for couples with infertility.

Phytochemical investigation of Kandelia candel resulted in the isolation of six triterpenes (1 - 5) and two glyceryl glycosides (6 and 7) and their structures were determined by comparing the spectroscopic data with those of reported values. In present study, we described the inhibitory effects of fractions and isolated compounds from K. candel on pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-12 p40, IL-6, and TNF-alpha) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). Results indicated that compounds 3, 6, and 7 showed potent inhibition on IL-6 production (IC50 values at less than 0.5 microM, respectively). Meanwhile, compounds 6 and 7 exhibited strong inhibitory effects on the production of TNF-alpha (IC50 values of 1.7 +/- 0.1 and 5.5 +/- 0.2 microM). Compounds 1 and 3 were also showed the inhibitory effects on IL-12 p40 production (IC50 values of 8.9 +/- 0.4 and 3.3 +/- 0.1 microM, respectively).
Cytokines ; Dendritic Cells ; Glycosides* ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-6 ; Rhizophoraceae* ; Triterpenes* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) has been widely used as an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase (Nox) to discover its function in cardiac myocytes under various stimuli. However, the effects of DPI itself on Ca2+ signaling and contraction in cardiac myocytes under control conditions have not been understood. We investigated the effects of DPI on contraction and Ca2+ signaling and their underlying mechanisms using video edge detection, confocal imaging, and whole-cell patch clamp technique in isolated rat cardiac myocytes. Application of DPI suppressed cell shortenings in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 of ≅0.17 µM) with a maximal inhibition of ~70% at ~100 µM. DPI decreased the magnitude of Ca2+ transient and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content by 20%–30% at 3 µM that is usually used to remove the Nox activity, with no effect on fractional release. There was no significant change in the half-decay time of Ca2+ transients by DPI. The L-type Ca2+ current (ICa) was decreased concentration-dependently by DPI (IC50 of ≅40.3 µM) with ≅13.1%-inhibition at 3 µM. The frequency of Ca2+ sparks was reduced by 3 µM DPI (by ~25%), which was resistant to a brief removal of external Ca2+ and Na+. Mitochondrial superoxide level was reduced by DPI at 3–100 µM. Our data suggest that DPI may suppress L-type Ca2+ channel and RyR, thereby attenuating Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release and contractility in cardiac myocytes, and that such DPI effects may be related to mitochondrial metabolic suppression.

Introduction: When Viet Nam launched the Expanded Programme on Immunization in 1981, it covered six vaccines, including measles. Subsequently, Viet Nam experienced a marked reduction in measles infections. A nationwide measles epidemic occurred in April 2014 and an investigation found that 86% of affected children aged 9 months to 10 years were not fully vaccinated; therefore, understanding the reasons for not vaccinating could improve vaccination coverage. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study to determine vaccination coverage and reasons for non-vaccination among children aged 9 months to 10 years in six districts in Ho Chi Minh City with the highest number of measles cases in 2014. Measles vaccination status of the youngest child in each household was determined and reasons for non-vaccination were investigated. A χ2 test and multiple logistic regression were used to identify independent predictors of full vaccination. Results: In total, 207 children were enrolled during the study period in 2014. Full measles vaccination coverage was 55% in these households, and 73% of parents were aware of the importance of measles vaccination to protect their children. We found that the father’s education level (under high school versus high school and above) and the site where the survey was conducted were significantly associated with vaccination status. Conclusion The vaccination coverage was lower than the coverage reported by district preventive medicine centres of the seven study wards. Lack of the second vaccination was a key obstacle to eliminating the vaccination gap. A catch-up mass vaccination campaign or health promotion of measles vaccination directed towards parents should be considered to improve vaccination coverage.

Objective: To explore the correlation of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM) parameters and cardiovascular risk factors in older adults with high-risk hypertension. Material and method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 96 older adults (≥ 60 years old) with treated high-risk hypertension. Socio-demographic and cardiovascular risk information were gathered. The patients were performed 24-hour ABPM. Results: The mean age was 70.88 ± 7.86 years, and 64.6% were women. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was as follows: dyslipidemia: 80.2%, family history of hypertension: 54.2%, diabetes mellitus: 51%, smoking: 24%, prior stroke: 11.5%. Significant differences in 24-hour, awake, and sleep systolic BP were observed between men and women. There were significant correlations between 24-hour mean systolic BP with age (r = 0.229, p = 0.025), dyslipidemia (r = 0.223, p = 0.029), family history of hypertension (r = 0.214, p = 0.036), BMI (r = 0.212, p = 0.039), waist circumference (r = 0.226, p = 0.027) and creatinine level (r = 0.207, p = 0.043). There were significant correlations between 24-hour mean diastolic BP with BMI (r = 0.289, p = 0.004) and prior stroke (r = -0.224, p = 0.029). There were significant correlations between 24-hour mean BP with BMI (r = 0.268, p = 0.009), waist circumference (r = 0.220, p = 0.032) and prior stroke (r = -0.215, p = 0.036). Conclusion: There were significant correlations between ABPM parameters and cardiovascular risk factors in older adults with high-risk hypertension.