Shine and Lal’s discrimination functions MCV2 x MCH x 0.01 was tested for its utility in diagnosing thalassemia trait. A2 and F determination on all samples with MCV2x MCHx0.01<1530. A value of more than 1530 rules out beta thalassemia trait. Ferritin quantitation were done on all samples to detect iron deficiency anemia. We have collected 103 samples with MCV2x MCHx0.01<1530. In this study, this method detected 91 cases as beta thalassemia trait (95%), 8 cases as HbE heterozygote, 1 case as iron deficiency anemia and 3 cases as normal.
Thalassemia ; diagnosis

Background: Salmonella typhi (S.typhi) is the major cause of human typhoid fever outbreaks. In fact, there were various typhoid fever outbreaks that occurred in China, and India that was caused by S.typhi strain without Vi antigen. Objective: To determine whether the S.typhi strains with mutation of gene encoding Vi antigen exists in Vietnam and the rate of mutation (if they exists). Subject and methods: 450 S.typhi isolates were collected in the Northern, Central and Southern Region of Vietnam during 1995 and 2005. The isolates were analyzed by the PCR method in order to detect mutants by using 2 primer pairs of tviB and DE. Results and Conclusion: There was no clear evidence on the relationship between the widely used Typhi Vi vaccine in Vietnam and the existence and spread of the mutation of gene encoding Vi antigen of S.typhi. 30 out of 450 isolates mutated losing the gene encoding of Vi antigen, making it 6.67%. These isolates were spread out between 1995 and 2005 throughout the Northern, Central and Southern Regions of Vietnam, with a peak in 1999. A noteworthy point was the rate of mutation of S.typhi losing the gene encoding of Vi antigen in Vietnam during the period of study. However, the mutation rate of S.typhi in Vietnam was still higher than the ratio of similar mutations being published in the other countries worldwide and higher than the recommended level of the World Health Organization.
gene mutation ; Salmonella typhi

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

Background: Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is common in the plains and mountainous areas in Asia \u2013 Pacific. Japanese encephalitis vaccine shows effectiveness in protecting children from JE in some countries such as Japan and Korea. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccination in Thai Binh province during 2003-2007. Subject and Method: Prospective, retrospective and sero-epidemiological methods were carried out on 329 samples collected from viral encephalitis patients and tested by JE MAC-ELISA, the positive average was 41.6% (137/329). Result: It had dramatically dropped from 85.2% in 2003 to 8.5 % in 2007 related to the rate of JE vaccination for children from 1 to 5 years old increasing from 49 % in 2003 to 77 % in 2007. Most of JE confirmed cases were un-vaccinated. Conclusion: JE etiology cause viral encephalitis in children in Thai Binh province was reduced thanks to JE vaccination in EPI program for 1 to 5 year old children. But more than 96% (131/136) of viral encephalitis in 15 years old upward was unknown etiology, the need for further study of the etiology cause viral encephalitis in adults.
Japanese encephalitis ; virus encephalitis ; MAC-ELISA ; Vaccine

The 5th outbreak of trichinosis occurred in a mountainous area of North Vietnam in 2012, involving 24 patients among 27 people who consumed raw pork together. Six of these patients visited several hospitals in Hanoi for treatment. Similar clinical symptoms appeared in these patients within 5-8 days after eating infected raw pork, which consisted of fever, muscle pain, difficult moving, edema, difficult swallowing, and difficult breathing. ELISA revealed all (6/6) positive reactions against Trichinella spiralis antigen and all cases showed positive biopsy results for Trichinella sp. larvae in the muscle. The larvae detected in the patients were identified as T. spiralis (Vietnamese strain) by the molecular analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit III (cox3) gene.
Adult ; Animals ; Antigens, Helminth/analysis/immunology ; *Disease Outbreaks ; Electron Transport Complex IV/genetics ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Larva ; Male ; Meat/*parasitology ; Mitochondria/genetics ; Muscles/parasitology/pathology ; Swine ; Trichinella spiralis/genetics/immunology/*isolation & purification ; Trichinellosis/*epidemiology/parasitology/pathology ; Vietnam/epidemiology

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.

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.

The aim of this study is to delineate ‘admixed hybrid’ and ‘introgressive’ Fasciola genotypes present in the Fasciola population in Vietnam. Adult liver flukes collected from ruminants in 18 Provinces were morphologically sorted out by naked eyes for small (S), medium (M) and large (L) body shapes; and human samples (n=14) from patients. Nuclear ribosomal (rDNA) ITS1 and ITS2, and mitochondrial (mtDNA) nad1 markers were used for determination of their genetic status. Total 4,725 worm samples of ruminants were tentatively classified by their size: 6% (n=284) small (S)-, 13% (n=614) medium (M)-, and 81% (n=3,827) large (L)-forms. All the representative (n=120, as 40 each group) and 14 human specimens, possessed maternal mtDNA of only F. gigantica and none of F. hepatica. Paternally, all (100%) of the L-(n=40) and 77.5% (n=31) of the M-flukes had single F. gigantica rDNA indicating ‘pure’ F. gigantica. A majority (90%, n=36) of the S- and 15% (n=6) of the M-worms had single F. hepatica rDNA, indicating their introgressive; the rest (10%, n=4) of the S- and 7.5% (n=3) of the M-flukes had mixture of both F. gigantica and F. hepatica rDNAs, confirming their admixed hybrid genetic status. Fourteen human samples revealed 9 (64%) of pure F. gigantica, 3 (22%) of introgressive and 2 (14%) of admixed hybrid Fasciola spp. By the present study, it was confirmed that the small worms, which are morphologically identical with F. hepatica, are admixed and/or introgressive hybrids of Fasciola spp., and able to be the pathogens of human fascioliasis.
Adult ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Fasciola hepatica ; Fasciola ; Fascioliasis ; Genotype ; Humans ; Liver ; Ranunculaceae ; Ruminants ; Vietnam

Objective: To document the evolution and optimization of the Zika virus (ZIKV) disease surveillance system in southern Viet Nam in 2016 and to describe the characteristics of the identified ZIKV-positive cases. Methods: We established a sentinel surveillance system to monitor ZIKV transmission in eight sites in eight provinces and expanded the system to 71 sites in 20 provinces in southern Viet Nam in 2016. Blood and urine samples from patients who met the case definition at the sentinel sites were tested for ZIKV using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction at the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City (PI-HCMC). We conducted descriptive analysis and mapped the ZIKV-positive cases. Results: In 2016, 2190 specimens from 20 provinces in southern Viet Nam were tested for ZIKV at PI-HCMC; 626 (28.6%), 484 (22.1%), 35 (1.6%) and 1045 (47.7%) tests were conducted in the first, second, third and fourth quarters of the year, respectively. Of these tested specimens, 214 (9.8%) were ZIKV positive with 212 (99.1%) identified in the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, the highest positivity rate was those in age groups 30–39 years (30.0%) and 40–59 years (31.6%). Of the 214 ZIKV-positive patients, 210 (98.1%) presented with rash, 194 (90.7%) with fever, 149 (69.6%) with muscle pain, 123 (57.5%) with joint pain and 66 (30.8%) with conjunctivitis. Discussion The surveillance system for ZIKV disease underwent several phases of optimization in 2016, guided by the most up-to-date local data. Here we demonstrate an adaptable surveillance system that detected ZIKV-positive cases in southern Viet Nam.