This randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study evaluated the efficacy of lamivudine in 44 Vietnamese patients with histologically documented chronic hepatitis B for one-year. The patients were randomly assigned to receive 100 mg of lamivudine (22 patients) orally once daily or placebo (22 patients). The patients underwent liver biopsies before entering the study and after completing the assigned treatment regimen. At the end of therapy, the percentage of serum HBVDNA negativation was higher in the lamivudine group (86.4%) than in the control group (22% P<0.05). The rate of HBe/antiHBe seroconversion was statistically different between 2 groups (35.2% in the lamivudine group compared to 12.5% in the controls). 95.5% of the patients received lamivudine had normal alanine aminotransferase levels (versus 18.2% in the placebo). Median change in HAI score was >2 points of improvement versus placebo. Lamivudine is less side effects, safety, and favorable
Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Lamivudine ; Hepatitis B ; Therapeutics ; drugs

This paper presented a study on the dynamic of essential oil accumulation in Japanese mint SK33 (M. arrvensis L.) and the influence of storage time on its quantity and quality. This mint was cultivated at Co Nhue experimental station, Tu Liem district, Ha Noi City between 2000 and 2002. The results showed that during the vegetation and development process, the essential oil content in the plant gradually increased and achieved maximum at first branch flowering stage and reduced to minimum at the end of flowering stage. The menthol content in essential oil of Japanese mint SK33 reached the highest value at full flowering stage (81.79%). The best harvest time for this mint is from the beginning flowering stage to full flowering period. After harvesting the whole plants can be stored during 20 days without the change in content and quality of essential oil
oils ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Oils, Volatile

44 patients of chronic B hepatitis are divided into two groups of 22 patients. The one is treated with lamivudine (Jefflix) 100 mg daily in 12 months continuously and the other with usual vitamin and liver tonics. Results showed in 72.7% patients of lamivudine group, the indices of histological activities were improved (through Knodell score), while in controlled group – 31.8% and over the half of this group these indices worsened. Thus, lamivudine has got good effect
Histological Techniques ; Hepatitis B ; Patients ; Lamivudine ; drugs ; Therapeutics

Effects of artesunate in the combination of other antimalarial drugs (primaquine, mefloquine or chloroquine) on activities of some murine plasma enzymes were studied: (1) The combination of artesunate with primaquine induced significantly plasma activities of GOT, GPT, LDH, - HBDH, CK and CK- MB in comparison with artesunate alone; (2) The combination of artesunate with mefloquine also induced significantly plasma activities of GOT, GPT, LDH, -HBDH, CK and CK- MB in comparison with artesunate alone; (3) The companation of artesunate with chloroquine reduced slightly plasma activities of GOT, GPT, LDH, -HBDH, CK and CK-MB. The results obtained in the study suggest that the combination of artesunate with primaquine or mefloquine on murine cellular damage is synergistic, while the combination of artesunate with chloroquine is probably antagonistic
Malaria ; artesunate ; drug therapy ; therapeutics ; Pharmaceutical Preparations

A study on 77 cases of primary ovarian carcinoma in Tu Du Hospital during 1999-2000 has shown that 83,12% of patients with primary ovarian carcinoma had an increase of preoperative blood CA-125 at level of 35 U/ml and 55,84% of patient with level of 65 U/ml. There was a difference of increase of preoperative blood CA-125 between patients with malignant primary ovarian carcinoma and para malignant primary ovarian carcinoma. All patients with primary ovarian carcinoma had the level of CA-125 more than 65 U/ml experienced the tumors with transplant fluid.
Carcinoma ; Ovarian Neoplasms

In order to manage and safely and rationally use the drug, the Ministry of Health promulgates the regulations for management of toxic drug, stupefacients and psychotrope such as the toxic drug regulation accopanying the Dicision No 278BYT-QD; The addictive drug regulation and the list of addictive drug; the psychotic drug regulation and list of psychotropes. Concurrently, there have many texts of government, criminal law, inter-ministry circular letter, decree of president, the programs of ministry of health.
Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Drug Toxicity

Among adverse drug reactions, the anaphylactic shock is most severe and easily causes death. The cause of anaphylactic shock can be drugs (especially antibiotics), intravenous solution, and allergy, poison and microbial, the data of the anaphylactic shock in hospitals throughout the country has been reported. In order to limit the adverse drug reactions, it should know the medical history as well as have ready the drugs and equipment for timely management.
adverse effects ; hospitals

This paper presents the study on Japanese mint SK-33 (M.arvensis L.) and its essential oil. After 3 years cultivated and observed this mint at CoNhue - TuLiem-Hanoi, we have some following notes: its essential oil content at full flowering stage is about 0.64-0.71% in fresh aerial part of plants, 1.38-1.55% in fresh leaves and flowers, 5.13-5.29% in absolute dry leaves and flowers. The chemical composition of this oil was analyzed by GC/MS, 32 constituents were identified. The main constituents are menthol (81.79%), menthone (7.86%), isomenthone (4.95%). Japanese mint SK-33 has rather high content of essential oil, good quality and can create a large quantity of underground stems. It is prospective new mint form for cultivation at large area in our country.
Plants, Medicinal ; Oils, Volatile

Berberine and Palmatine were extracted from the powdered Huong Lien pills with a mixture of methanol and hydrochloric acid (100:1) and subjected to HPLC to simultaneously determine the alkaloids. The HPLC technique was carried out on a Lichrosorb RP-8 (10 m, 250x4 mm) column using a UV detector at =345 nm and a mixture of 3,4g potassium dihydrogen phosphate and 1,7g sodium lauryl sulfate dissolved in 1000 ml of water-acetonitrile (1:1) as a mobile phase. The experimental results proved that the proposed HPLC method was rapid, specific, accurate and precise.
Berberine ; Medicine, Traditional ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Biochemistry ; Berberine Alkaloids

A clinical trial was performed to evaluate the tocolytic possibility of nifedipin and to propose a treatment regimen for preterm labor in the National Hospital of Gynecol-Obstet from July 2003 to December 2003. There were 40 cases of preterm labor with gestational age 31 weeks and 3 uterine contractions per minute on average. Patients received a 10 mg sublingual loading dose every 20 minutes (maximum dose 40mg), and followed by 20 mg oral dose every 6- 8 hours. Result: the effectiveness in tocolysis of nifedipin is very fast. It took 60-80 minutes to arrest uterine contraction (70- 80%) (including contractions of high frequency and intensity), especially in urgent tocolysis. The lower the frequency and intensity is, the higher and sooner the effectiveness is. 92.5% of delivery were delayed for 48 hours. 82.85% were postponed until 36 weeks, and the mean time of prolonged pregnacy was 39 days. Side-effects were mild and transient and in normotensive pregnant women blood pressure was almost unaffected. This treatment regimen of nifedipin showed the effectiveness in preterm labor. In brief, nifedipin is an effective, safe, convenient and economic tocolytic agent. It may well represent the best suitable tocolytic alternative currently available and can be used widely in Viet Nam.
Obstetric Labor, Premature, Nifedipine, Tocolysis