Studying retrospectively 117 cases of atherosclerosis in the Hospital of Hematology and Blood Transfusion in Ho Chi Minh city showed that: atherosclerosis is very common in elderly and the form of calcified plaque accounts for highest rate. Atherosclerosis is usually associated with other pathological status such as CHA, blood lipid disorder, diabetes and obesity
Blood Coagulation Factors ; Arteriosclerosis ; Blood

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: HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. This virus is passed from one person to another through blood-to-blood and sexual contact. In addition, infected pregnant women can pass HIV to their baby during pregnancy or delivery, as well as through breast-feeding. Objectives:To study the CCR5- 32 and SDF 1-3 A allelic frequence in the HIV -1 infected mothers and their children. Subjects and method: Amplificated on CCR5 and SDF1 gene by PCR and restriction of this fragment length polymorphisme (RLFP) assay for detection of the mutated gene by EcoR1 and Hpall. Results: No mutation of CCR5 was found but only mutation identified at the SDF1 gene. Mutation identified at the SDF1 gene of the mother was: homozygote 2.7% (accounted for 2/37 cases), heterozygote 40.54% (accounted for 15/37 cases) and at the children: homozygote 5.4% (accounted for 1/37 cases), heterozygote 45.95% (accounted for 17/37 cases). The CCR5 chemokin receptor is a co-receptor for M trofic HIV-1 strains, which predominate in the early stage of the HIV disease and SDF-1 natural ligand for the CXCR4 reception. The mutation of these genes protect from HIV-1 infection (slow progression).\r\n', u'Conclusion: It\u2019s necessary to find the mutation of CCR5 and CCR2b related the progression of HIV patients. \r\n', u'
HIV-1/ metabolism ; Receptors ; CCR5

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: Nucleic acid testing (NAT) has been widely used for transfusion - transmitted infection screening at blood banks all over the world to reduce window period, yet the assay has not been implemented in Vietnam. Objective: Using and evaluating cost - effectiveness of NAT in screening HIV, HCV, HBV in blood \r\n', u'donors. Subjects and methods: The study was carried out on 9392 blood donors at National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion from Jan to May 2007 who were HIV, HCV, HBV negative with ELISA. Plasma from donors was pooled (pool size of 8) and tested with UItrio Procleix HIV - 1, HCV, HBV (Chiton). Results: These 9392 plasma samples were pooled into 1174 pool samples to perform NAT. Among 1174 pooled samples, there was only 1 case with negative ELISA - Reactive NAT. The sample was determined as response with probe HCV. From there, one of eight pool samples was identified responding to probe HCV and it was more likely to have been missed in the window period when screened by ELISA.Conclusion: The sample should be further tested with HCV qualitative and quantitative testing to confirm the status of infection. \r\n', u'\r\n', u'
HIV ; Hepatitis B virus/drug effects ; Hepacivirus ; Blood Donors

Background: Plasma lipids are affected not only by dietary intake and life style but also by genetic factor. Objective: To discover the relationship between plasma lipids and the presence of LPL S447X and PAF-AH V279F in the bodies of rural Vietnamese population. Subject and Method: One hundred and ninety three subjects were randomly selected from rural areas in Ho Chi Minh city. The presence of LPL S447X and PAF-AHV279F polymorphism was determined using an Invader assay, and the plasma lipid levels were measured by an enzymatic method. A profile regarding the dietary intake was also made for each subject. Result and Conclusion: The frequency of LPL 447SX/XX (12.2%) polymorphism, PAF-AH Val279Phe mutation allele frequency (5.4%) in the Vietnamese was closely similar to that of other Asian populations. LPL447X polymorphism was found to be significantly associated with a higher HDL-C level in comparison to LPL 447S. LPL S447X affects plasma HDL-C and TG concentration in Vietnamese rural population.
Genetic factors ; plasma lipids ; rural area

Background: With the help of Japan, the Center for Research and Production of vaccines and biologicals, Hanoi has received a WHO standard measles vaccine production technology, including techniques in the examination of vaccine quality. Therefore, it is needed to be initiative on production of measles antibody. Objective: Study on production of measles antibody in rabbits and selecting the appropriate antibody for production of high titre antibody, which meets the standard of vaccine quality control in Vietnam. Subject and methods: Using the measles antigen from Edmonston and AIK-C strains, which were provided by the Kitasato Institute, to produce measles antibody. Making immunoreaction in rabbits and determination of neutralization antibody titre. Results and Conclusion: Measles antigen of Edmonston Vero 7/P2 strain used in the production of measles antibody in rabbit created the highest antibody titre in comparison with AIK-C strain from vero cell and FL cell supplied by the Kitasato Institute of Japan. Antibody titre of Edmonston Vero 7/P2 strain reached up to 1/8192 and met the sera standard required for measles vaccine quality control, it is similar to the measles sera to be produced from the Kitasato Institute.
measles antibody ; antibody titre

PURPOSE: This study aimed to create a Vietnamese version of both the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS) and Areas of Worklife Scale (AWS) to assess the burnout state of Vietnamese clinical nurses and to develop a causal model of burnout of clinical nurses. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive design using a cross-sectional survey. The questionnaire was hand divided directly by nursing departments to 500 clinical nurses in three hospitals. Vietnamese MBI-GS and AWS were then examined for reliability and validity. We used the revised exhaustion +1 burnout classification to access burnout state.We performed path analysis to develop a Vietnamese causal model based on the original model by Leiter and Maslach's theory. RESULTS: We found that both scales were reliable and valid for assessing burnout. Among nurse participants, the percentage of severe burnout was 0.7% and burnout was 15.8%, and 17.2% of nurses were exhausted. The best predictor of burnout was “on-duty work schedule” that clinical nurses have to work for 24 hours. In the causal model, we also found similarity and difference pathways in comparison with the original model. CONCLUSION: Vietnamese MBI-GS and AWS were applicable to research on occupational stress. Nearly one-fifth of Vietnamese clinical nurses were working in burnout state. The causal model suggested a range of factors resulting in burnout, and it is necessary to consider the specific solution to prevent burnout problem.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Classification ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Nursing ; Reproducibility of Results ; Vietnam* ; Weights and Measures

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.

Objective: The purpose of this survey was to estimate the prevalence of viral load (VL) suppression and emergence of HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) among individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) for 36 months or longer in Viet Nam using a nationally representative sampling method. Methods: The survey was conducted between May and August 2014 using a two-stage cluster design. Sixteen ART clinics were selected using probability proportional to proxy size sampling, and patients receiving ART for at least 36 months were consecutively enrolled. Epidemiological information and blood specimens were collected for HIV-1 VL and HIVDR testing; HIVDR was defined by the Stanford University HIVDR algorithm. Results: Overall, 365 eligible individuals were recruited with a mean age of 38.2 years; 68.4% were men. The mean time on ART was 75.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 69.0–81.9 months), and 93.7% of the patients were receiving non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based regimens. Of the 365 individuals, 345 (94.7%, 95% CI: 64.1–99.4%) had VL below 1000 copies/mL and 19 (4.6%, 95% CI: 2.8-–7.5) had HIVDR mutations. Discussion Our nationally representative survey found a high level of VL suppression and a low prevalence of HIVDR among individuals who received ART for at least 36 months in Viet Nam. Continued surveillance for HIVDR is important for evaluating and improving HIV programs.