Study on 41 pharmaceutical companies in Hanoi city from March 1999 to February 2000. The results: there was an average of 46 pharmaceutical companies of sixteen countries bought the biding documents and about 43% of those companies submitted the bid documents. At each International Competitive Bids, the average of prices of pharmaceutical drugs were correlative with that announced by UNICEF, however, there was still a case of the mean prices of pharmaceutical drugs were higher than that announced by UNICEF. The prices of pharmaceutical drugs were considered lowest, lower than the average of prices of similar products, which were imported into the Vietnam market and announced by UNICEF
Pharmacy ; Pharmaceutical Preparations

The objectives of this study were to 1) compare shelf lives of imported versus domestically produced drugs, both as filed with the Drug Administration of Vietnam and as recorded on the drug labels in the market; and 2) review the compliance with expiry dates in 30 selected pharmacies in Hanoi. This retrospective study included 3480 imported and 4519 local drugs in the register files together survey of 1069 local and 1089 imported drugs in private pharmacies in Hanoi. The results showed that 1) frequency of local drugs expiry date in register files was higher than those in real market (97.32% vs. 88.44%, respectively) and 2) the imported drugs on the average have a shelf life twice as long as domestically produced ones. There were still an average of 2.18% of the above mentioned drugs list found in the pharmacies that was out of shelf life. The findings suggest that domestic producers tend to indicate shelf lives that are significantly shorter than those of the foreign manufacturers, and that there may be a need for more close supervision of the regulations concerning shelf life of pharmaceutical products at the pharmaceutical sector.
Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Health Care Sector

In the pharmaceutical Branch, drug quality is always the first concern. For last years, the enterprises have been continuously invested for manufacturing facilities to attain GMP standard. However, Only GMP standard is not enough, one of factors related with drug quality is conservative condition, which have not properly noted.
diagnosis ; Pharmaceutical Preparations

Over 3 years, the number of pharmaceutical drugs suspended from distribution system by the Drug Administration of Vietnam is 142 drugs in 1997, 103 drugs in 1998, and 11 pharmaceuticals in 1999. Analyzing the list of these pharmaceuticals reveals that:* About 70% drugs suspended from existing distribution system have a long remained time in expiry date, meaning that these products could not meet technical specifications after manufacturing date. More than 75% suspended pharmaceuticals do not meet quality standards, especially those related to quantitative assay. Therefore, the instability of quality remains the major reason for pharmaceutical drug suspension. *Vitamin and traditional drugs are of the two pharmaceutical groups, which have low stability of quality. In 1999, most of drugs contained Vitamin B12 were under rank of the technical specification. Traditional medicines were suspended for not reaching standards on microbiology, on taking a look of outward appearance, and for containing chemicals that do not register in the formulation. There should have some recommendations for manufactures and managers to improve quality of pharmaceuticals distributed in the market
Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Drug Stability

The research was done to monitor the stability of quality, which are currently distributed in the market. The sample size is of 136 drugs with expiry date, which are selected from retail pharmacies in Hanoi. These 136 drugs represent both domestic-made and imported products, different kinds of pharmaceutics and various groups of pharmacology. Results show that 11.0% of 136 studied pharmaceuticals do not meet the technical specifications. Among this, 7.4% fail to meet standards on quantitative assay. The rate of domestic made pharmaceuticals under its quantitative assay is twice higher than imported ones. Vitamin and traditional products are of the two drug groups having low stability. Almost drugs currently sold in the market have long expiry. However, there remains a considerable ratio of pharmaceuticals drugs under the quality standards.
Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Drug Stability ; Marketing

Background: Aging leads to sarcopenia, which is characterized by reduced muscle mass and strength. Many factors, including altered muscle protein turnover, diminished neuromuscular function, hormonal changes, systemic inflammation, and the structure and composition of muscle fibers, play a crucial role in age-related muscle decline. This study explored differences in muscle fiber types contributing to overall muscle function decline in aging, focusing on individuals with hip fractures from falls. Methods: A pilot study at Chungnam National University Hospital collected muscle biopsies from hip fracture patients aged 20 to 80 undergoing surgical treatment. Muscle biopsies from the vastus lateralis and gluteus maximus were obtained during hip arthroplasty or internal fixation. Handgrip strength, calf and thigh circumference, and bone mineral density were evaluated in individuals with hip fractures from falls. We analyzed the relationships between each clinical characteristic and muscle fiber type. Results: In total, 26 participants (mean age 67.9 years, 69.2% male) were included in this study. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 53.8%, and that of femoral and lumbar osteoporosis was 19.2% and 11.5%, respectively. Vastus lateralis analysis revealed an age-related decrease in type IIx fibers, a higher proportion of type IIa fibers in women, and an association between handgrip strength and type IIx fibers in men. The gluteus maximus showed no significant correlations with clinical parameters. Conclusion This study identified complex associations between age, sex, handgrip strength, and muscle fiber composition in hip fracture patients, offering insights crucial for targeted interventions combating age-related muscle decline and improving musculoskeletal health.

Although the antioxidant and cardioprotective effects of NecroX-5 on various in vitro and in vivo models have been demonstrated, the action of this compound on the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation system remains unclear. Here we verify the role of NecroX-5 in protecting mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity during hypoxia-reoxygenation (HR). Necrox-5 treatment (10 microM) and non-treatment were employed on isolated rat hearts during hypoxia/reoxygenation treatment using an ex vivo Langendorff system. Proteomic analysis was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and non-labeling peptide count protein quantification. Real-time PCR, western blot, citrate synthases and mitochondrial complex activity assays were then performed to assess heart function. Treatment with NecroX-5 during hypoxia significantly preserved electron transport chain proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation and metabolic functions. NecroX-5 also improved mitochondrial complex I, II, and V function. Additionally, markedly higher peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC1alpha) expression levels were observed in NecroX-5-treated rat hearts. These novel results provide convincing evidence for the role of NecroX-5 in protecting mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity and in preserving PGC1alpha during cardiac HR injuries.
Animals ; Anoxia ; Blotting, Western ; Citric Acid ; Electron Transport ; Heart ; Mitochondria ; Oxidative Phosphorylation* ; Peroxisomes ; Rats ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spectrum Analysis