For the 5 years period 1994-1998, a total of 168 cases were registered in Ho Chi Minh city Cancer hospital. Malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary acoount for 15.5% of all malignant ovarian tumors and 57.6% of that in children under 15 years of age. The most common age group was between age 15 and 24 (30.4%). In this study, 5 year relative survival of malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary was relatively low (57.1%) in comparison with other study groups. This might be reflected the lacking in early detection, diagnosis and treatment of this rare ovarian neoplasm in our country
epidemiology ; Germ Cells ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; Prognosis

In 5 years (1994-1998), 168 patients with ovarian germ cell tumors were diagnosed and treated in HCM city Cancer Hospital. Ovarian germ cell tumor is a rare disease. These tumors were often detected in early stage (61.2% in stage I, among them 39.6% in stage IA). The tumor marker AFP plays an important role in diagnosis and follow-up the disease. AFP was positive in 60% cases of malignant germ cell tumors, among them 55.6% were immature teratomas, and AFP was negative in dysgerminoma. The rate of teratomas was highest: 53%, rate of dysgerminoma: 19%, endodermal sinus tumor 14.9%, embryonal carcinoma 9.5% and mixed forms 3.6%. It’s necessary to emphasize the role of preservative surgery in the treatment of these tumors
Ovarian Neoplasms ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; Dysgerminoma ; diagnosis ; therapeutics ;

Soluble epoxide hydrolases (sEH) are enzymes present in all living organisms, metabolize epoxy fatty acids to 1,2-diols. sEH in the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids plays a key role in inflammation. In addition, the endogenous lipid mediators in cardiovascular disease are also broken down to diols by the action of sEH that enhanced cardiovascular protection. In this study, sEH inhibitory guided fractionation led to the isolation of five phenolic compounds trans-resveratrol (1), trans-piceatannol (2), sulfuretin (3), (+)-balanophonin (4), and cassigarol E (5) from the ethanol extract of the seeds of Passiflora edulis Sims cultivated in Vietnam. The chemical structures of isolated compounds were determined by the interpretation of NMR spectral data, mass spectra, and comparison with data from the literature. The soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitory activity of isolated compounds was evaluated. Among them, trans-piceatannol (2) showed the most potent inhibitory activity on sEH with an IC₅₀ value of 3.4 µM. This study marks the first time that sulfuretin (3) was isolated from Passiflora edulis as well as (+)-balanophonin (4), and cassigarol E (5) were isolated from Passiflora genus.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Epoxide Hydrolases ; Ethanol ; Fatty Acids ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated ; Inflammation ; Metabolism ; Passiflora ; Passifloraceae ; Phenol ; Vietnam

Background: Dengue virus infection is a major public health problem. A hypothesis put forward for severe dengue is the cytokine storm, a sudden increase in cytokines that induces vascular permeability. Previous studies and our recent meta-analysis showed that IL-6, IL-8, IFNγ, TNFα, VEGF-A and VCAM-1 are associated with dengue shock syndrome. Therefore, in this study we aim to validate the association of these cytokines with severe dengue. Methods & Findings: In a hospital based case control study in Vietnam, children with dengue fever, other febrile illness and healthy controls were recruited. Dengue virus infection was confirmed by several diagnostic tests. Multiplex Immunoassay using Luminex technology was used to measure cytokines simultaneously. A positive association with dengue shock syndrome was found for VCAM-1, whereas a negative association was found for IFNγ. Furthermore, the multivariate logistic analysis also showed that VCAM-1 and IFNγ were independently correlated with dengue shock syndrome. Conclusion: IFNγ and VCAM-1 were associated with dengue shock syndrome, although their role in the severe dengue pathogenesis remains unclear. Additional studies are required to further investigate the function of these cytokines in severe dengue.

Background: Dengue virus infection is a major public health problem. A hypothesis put forward for severe dengue is the cytokine storm, a sudden increase in cytokines that induces vascular permeability. Previous studies and our recent meta-analysis showed that IL-6, IL-8, IFNγ, TNFα, VEGF-A and VCAM-1 are associated with dengue shock syndrome. Therefore, in this study we aim to validate the association of these cytokines with severe dengue. Methods & Findings: In a hospital based-case control study in Vietnam, children with dengue fever, other febrile illness and healthy controls were recruited. Dengue virus infection was confirmed by several diagnostic tests. Multiplex immunoassay using Luminex technology was used to measure cytokines simultaneously. A positive association with dengue shock syndrome was found for VCAM-1, whereas a negative association was found for IFNγ. Furthermore, multivariate logistic analysis also showed that VCAM-1 and IFNγ were independently correlated with dengue shock syndrome. Conclusion: IFNγ and VCAM-1 were associated with dengue shock syndrome, although their role in the severe dengue pathogenesis remains unclear. Additional studies are required to shed further light on the function of these cytokines in severe dengue.