The anterior interosseous artery (AIA) plays an essential role in designing the posterior interosseous forearm flap (P.I.F.F). Understanding about anatomy of this artery permit us to find us to find out new solutions to design the P.I.F.F. in situations at which there are variations of the PIA. Objectives: (I) to evaluate the role of the anterior interosseous artery in the blood supplying to the posterior forearm region; (II) assessing the importance of anterior interosseous artery in designing the posterior interosseous forearm flap. Methods: 27 forearms of adults obove 25 years old, including 25 forearms fixed in formalin 4% and 2 fresh forearms, are objects for us to expose the AIA and PIA by different techniques. Results: There are 2-5 perforating branches of the AIA to the deep muscular layer of posterior. They connect to each other and to the muscular branch of the PIA, and their diameter becomes much larger in two cases of absence of the PIA. Branches from this series of arterial anastomoses distribute also to the skin of inferior half of posterior forearm. The posterior terminal branche of the AIA divides into the medial and recurrent branch. These two branches ascend and anastomose with the PIA and the muscular branch of the PIA, respectively. The medial branch of the posterior terminal branch is absent or disconnected with the PIA at two other cases. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the AiA supplies the inferior half and the deep muscular layer of the posterior forearm. The posterior interosseous forearm flap can still be raised in situations at which the posterior terminal branch of AIA communicates with the dorsal carpal arcus but not with the PIA and the PIA is absent.
Surgical Flaps, Surgery , Arteries

Introduction: Smoking amongst medical students is rather common practice. According to a WHO report in 1989, the rate of smoking among the students of Hanoi Medical University was 38.3%. However, there has not been any investigation aimed at reevaluating the smoking situation among students of this university.\r\n', u'Objectives: To understand the smoking situation and factors that influences the students of Hanoi Medical University. \r\n', u'Subjects and methods: A questionnaire on tobacco use among youths, which was documented by the Institute of Global Tobacco Control, is used to collect the data. \r\n', u'Results: The smoking rate is 23.6%, (43.4% in men versus 1.3% in women). Average age of first use is about 19 years of age. Smoking trend increases across the age groups and academic years, while the intention of quitting cigarette decreases across age cohorts. 4 factors affecting smoking are belief, attitude to cigarette control, exposure to family and friends that smoke. The relationship between knowledge and smoking is not statistically significant. \r\n', u"Conclusion: Smoking among medical students in Hanoi Medical University is relatively prevalent. Early impaction is necessary to promote quitting cigarettes. Impact on knowledge is not enough; it also needs to focus on the surrounding environment of students through their family members and friends. Like direct interventions on the students' family and friends as both receivers and providers of intervention. Consolidating beliefs and attitudes to tobacco control also plays a critical part. \r\n", u'
Students ; medical students ; Hanoi Medical University ; Cigarette ; smoking cigarettes

Background: Smoking is a well-known cause of many diseases. The rate of smoking in Vietnam was 38.8%. Smoking among medical students is also common, although they have to set an example for ordinary people. Objectives: To describe the smoking situation among the students of Hue Medical University (HMU) and determine some of the factors relating to their smoking behaviour. Subjects and method: A cross-sectional study was carried out from January to October 2004 on 1470 medical students of HMU in the academic year 2003-2004, using a questionnaire of the Institute of Global Tobaco Control on tobaco use among youth. Results: Overall smoking rate was quite high (35%), predominantly in men (58.4% in men vs. 13.4% in women). The mean age of first use was nearly 19 years old. The trend and extent of smoking increased with age groups and academic years. Older students tended to display a higher intension rate of quitting cigarette. The 5 factors related to smoking behaviours were as followed: knowledge of socioeconomic hazards of smoking; attitudes when a cigarette offered by close friends; attitudes when exposed to a smoking person; having close relatives smoking; and having close friends smoking. Conclusion: Smoking among Hue medical students was prevalent. It is necessary to have early interventional impacts on the environment around them through their friends and relatives, and to encourage the positive attitude of medical students in the cigarette prevention and control. It is also needed to conduct a longitudinal study to assess the trend of smoking and quitting over the time of these students.
Smoking ; medical student

Background: There is an increase in HIV/AIDS among rehabilitation practitioners in Centers of social labor education. Objective: (1) to evaluate prevalence of HIV and morbidity model of rehabilitation practitioners with HIV(+). (2) To describe knowledge of HIV-infection and health of rehabilitation practitioners with HIV(+). (3) To determine need of counseling related to test, treatment and care of rehabilitation practitioners with HIV (+). Subjects and methods: 297 rehabilitation practitioners in Centers of Social Labor Education No.1 surveyed using structured questionnaire, group discussion, in-depth interview. Results: There were 103 rehabilitation practitioner with HIV(+) accounting for 36%. Morbidity patterns among HIV(+) carriers: 36.2% had combined diseases; HCV 74%; co-infected with HBV (18%); recurrence of one disease 11.%; still good immunology response (74.3% hadTCD4>500 cells/mm3). \r\n', u'49.5% perceived AIDS conversion time, about 30% understood on preventing HIV transmission. Common practice was self-treatment (46%) or checking in local general hospitals (38.5%). There was a great need of drug users in Centers of Social Labor Education No.1 for counseling, testing, providing information, ARV treatment and referral system, connecting them to their relatives. Conclusion: HIV-CTR (counseling, testing and referrals services) model should be soon developed in the Center)\r\n', u'\r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Counseling ; Animal Testing Alternatives ; Therapeutics ;

Background: Smoking in health staffs is a essential issue to be concerned. In Europe, the rate of smoking in male and female doctors were 30 - 54% and 40%, respectively. Because of the high rate of smoking in health staffs, the prevention programs should focus on promoting interventions to reduce smoking rate in healthstaffs because they are people who cause negative effects to patients and community. Objectives: To investigate smoking patterns, compare knowledge, beliefs and attitudes and identify predictors of smoking status among health staffs in Bach Mai hospital. Subjects and method: This was a cross-sectional described epidemiological study by using the questionnaire of a global survey (modified accordance with Vietnam's conditions) on tobacco use among health staffs was adapted for data collection on a sample of 656. Data was analyzed by SPSS 10.0 software. Results and Conclusion: Overall smoking rate is fairly high (~21%), dominantly among males. Physicians and dentists display a greater smoking proportion than nurses, in among over \ufffd?30 \ufffd?year \ufffd?old cohort than among less \ufffd?30 \ufffd?year \ufffd?old cohort. One main predictor of smoking is belief of health staffs on their role as non \ufffd?smoking exemplary.
Medical Staff ; Hospital ; Smoking ;

Background: The phenomenon of smoking in health workers is rather common. In Vietnam, data on smoking in different demographics is quite rich, but research on the medical staff is sparse.\r\n', u'Objectives: To discover the smoking behavior and to identify predictors of smoking status among health workers in Hue Central hospital. \r\n', u'Subjects and methods: The questionnaire of a global survey on tobacco use among health professionals was adapted for data collection on a sample number of 749. \r\n', u'Results: Research participation rates reached 83.2% (65.6% female compared with 34.4% male). Overall smoking rate is just 14.7%, but much more prevalent among male subject (over 20-fold vs female), among physicians than nurses, among over-30-year old cohorts than among under 30 year old cohorts. One main predictor of smoking is the belief of health professionals on their role as non-smoking exemplary.\r\n', u'Conclusion: The results highlight the importance of promoting the belief of health professionals about the no-smoking atmosphere as a good model for patients.\r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Smoking ; health professional

Background: Health professionals set important examples through their behavior to their patients, so they need to have enough knowledge on the harmful effects of smoking. Some studies already exist on smoking among the health professionals in Bach Mai Hospital and Hue Central Hospital, but there were no such studies in the Can Tho Central Hospital. Objectives: To investigate the smoking status and identify several factors relating to cigarette use among health professionals at Can Tho Central Hospital. Subjects and method: Cross-sectional descriptive study using adapted questionnaire from a global survey on tobacco use among health professionals. Results: Overall, the smoking rate was approximately 6%, no higher than the results from other studies. It was predominant among men. Physicians display a greater smoking proportion relation to nurses, with the highest rate in the group aged 30 to 39 years of age. People who do not smoke are more likely to demonstrate a better knowledge base, belief and attitude to smoking than those who smoke. One major predictor of smoking is attitude towards tobacco control; however, a no smoking policy inside the hospital is not significantly associated with the practice of smoking. Conclusion: The smoking rate among health professionals from Can Tho Central Hospital is much lower than that among other professions and among health professionals in Bach Mai and Hue Central Hospital. The findings highlight the importance of promoting a positive attitude towards tobacco control initiatives in order to reduce smoking among health professionals at hospital settings.
Health professionals ; Smoke ; Tobacco control

Background The metabolic syndrome (MS) is characterized by a specific clustering of risk factors, including dyslipidemia, central adiposity, systemic hypertension, insulin resistance, and dysglycemia. It is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Accurate data on prevalence and characteristics of MS will facilitate the development of preventive strategies for CVD. Objective To estimate accurately the prevalence of MS among Vietnamese adults with the usual criteria or with the criteria modified for Asian populations. Design and methods We studied a representative, cross-sectional, population-based sample of 856 subjects (mean age 52.82 ± 16.36) classified in three age groups from 15-34 years, 35-54 years and ＞ 54 years of age, living in Khanh Hoa Province, Viet Nam. MS was diagnosed according to the criteria defined by the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expect Panel on Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel Ⅲ) (NCEP-ATP Ⅲ) and by the modified criteria for some Asian populations in which the waist circumference (WC) is considered abnormal if it is ＞ 90 cm for males and ＞ 80 cm for females.Results Using the NCEP-ATP Ⅲ criteria, the prevalence of MS in the studied population was 10.0％ (CI 95 ％:8.1-12.3). It was 2.4 ％ in the 15-34 age group (men 4.5％ and women 1.2％),5.2％ (men 6.3％,women 4.5％ ) in 35-54 age group and 15.8％ (men 9.7％, women 21.7％) in over 54 age group, respectively. And it was more common in women than in men (11.7％ vs 8.0％, P ＜0.001). Using 2001 population census data of the whole province over 15 years (695 218 habitants) we estimated that about 35 193 people suffered from the MS.The WC was the least common feature of MS (2.1％ for men and in 6.1％ for women).Overall,45.2 ％ of the studied population had one feature of MS, 23.1％ had two features, 8.2％ had three features, 1.6％ had four features, and 0.2％ had all five features. No feature of MS was identified in 21.7％.Using the modified criteria,the prevalence of MS in the studied population was 15.7％. It was 4.0％ in the 15-34 age group, 12.5％ in the 35-54 age group and 21.5％ in the＞54 age group. Prevalence of modified WC feature was 10.9％ for men and 23.6％ for women.Conclusions MS is more accurately identified among Vietnamese adults using the modified criterion of the WC for some Asian populations. Its prevalence is similar to that in the developed countries. ( J Geriatr Cardiol 2004;1(2) :95-100.)

Background: Flu and avian flu in humans are events in a number of countries all over the world. In Vietnam, there were some investigations on knowledge, attitude and practice for preventing flu and avian flu on several groups of the population and pharmacists in Tra Vinh province. However, there is no research for this issue in Hanoi city while the evident need for the planning of public health programs is required. Objective: To describe knowledge and identify the requirement of flu and avian flu information among pharmacists in Hanoi city. From that, some recommendations for intervention programs are proposed. Subject and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 143 pharmacists in Hanoi city with a structured questionnaire of knowledge and requirement of flu and avian flu information from October, 2007 to January, 2008. Results and Conclusion: Generally, knowledge on flu and avian flu is not yet comprehensive and sufficient. Requirement for flu and avian flu information was quite in demand, especially via television, capacity building training, having more communication materials and experience exchange workshops. Several interventions need to be directed towards: comprehensive communication on flu and avian flu to pharmacists, which aims to help them understand sufficiently and comprehensive about flu and avian flu; capacity improvement for pharmacists should pay attention to several channels such as television broadcasting communication, short-term training, disseminating relevant materials and perhaps experience exchange through seminars.
avian flu ; drug-sellers ; information needs

Background: The method of immunoelectron microscopy has been found more than 20 years. It is widely applied to detect and identify some types of virus in medical waste samples.\r\n', u'Objectives: To identify antigen location of Rota virus in organelle of the Vero cell and primary monkey kidney cells after infecting and to study the interaction between the virus and host cells.\r\n', u'Subjects and methods: The study was conducted on Rota virus G1P8 (KH0118) isolated from patients with symptoms of acute diarrhea, primary monkey kidney cells collected from Macaca mulatta monkey and the Vero cell of WHO. \r\n', u'Results: Gold particles (10nm) coated protein A and polyclonal antibodies were used to interact directly with Rotavirus proteins \r\n', u'These gold particles with high electron density revealed the antigen location of the Rota virus in the lysosome, pouch and other compartments of the cytoplasm.\r\n', u'Newly assembled viral particles could be identified only after 18-20hours post-infection. It is also noteworthy that viral particles and empty capsides (virus like particles) were comprised into cytoplasmic vesicles associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Golgi system.\r\n', u'Conclusion: In order to better understand the interaction mechanism of virus and host cells, the use of this method together with specific monoclonal antibodies for each protein component of viruses and cells is essential.\r\n', u'\r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Rotavirus ; Vero Cells ;