Background: Sodium bicarbonate is highly alkaline and may be helpful in relieving symptoms of gout. Sodium bicarbonate helps to adjust your body's pH level, slightly creating an alkaline-forming state that lessens the likelihood of gout attacks. We can prepare sodium bicarbonate in several ways to treat gout symptoms. Objective: To examine the efficacy of sodium bicarbonate for treatment of gout. Subjects and method: A study was conducted in 54 patients with gout at Department of Rheumatology of Bach Mai hospital, from September 2006 to March 2007. Patients were divided into two groups, group 1 included 29 patients treated with intravenous sodium bicarbonate and group 2 included 25 patients treated with oral sodium bicarbonate. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Results: No significant changes showed between serum uric acid level, 24-hour urine uric acid level at before and after treatment in 2 groups. Gout patients with renal failure had increased level of 24-hour urine uric acid after treatment (p < 0.05). There were significantly increased level of urine volume, urine pH and decreased level of urine specific gravity after treatment. The effect of sodium bicarbonate was not different between intravenous usage and oral usage. Conclusion: Sodium bicarbonate could change urine environment, limit crystallization of urine uric acid of gout patients.
Gout/ therapy

Background: Recently Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus type 1 has surfaced and is co-circulated with JE virus type 3 in the northern areas of Viet Nam, so a sensitivity of JE viral antigen genotype 3 to detect IgM is required. Objectives: To compare the sensitivity of JE viral antigen genotype 1 and 3 to detect IgM against the JE virus. Materials and method: 783 cerebrospinal fluid and serum samples from viral encephalitis cases from 1999-2005 were collected and examined by MAC-ELISA for JE viral antigen genotype 1 and 3. Results: The agreement on the diagnosis of these kinds of antigen was 99.7% and the sensitivity of JE viral antigen genotype 3 was higher than that of genotype 1. Thus, JE viral antigen genotype 3 could be considered as the selected antigen for JE diagnosis in Viet Nam. IgM titer determined by JE viral antigen genotype 1 was higher than that of genotype 3 in 2003 and 2005 and lower in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004. Conclusion: The dominant phenomenon of JE viral genotypes differing over the years might be due to the interaction of the virus and its vectors. Further study is required to clarify this observation.
Japanese Encephalitis ; antigen

Background: In recent year, Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) genotype 1 has been detected among isolates from mosquitoes and pig\u2019s blood samples in northern Viet Nam, but there has been no information on the presence of this genotype in the Central, Southern and Highland regions. Objectives: This study aims to detect the Japanese encephalitis genotype 1 in various different geographic regions of Viet Nam. Material and method: Sequence analysis\u2019s of whole E gene of 18 strains isolated from human, mosquitoes and pig\u2019s blood during 2001-2007. Results: 7 strains isolated from pig\u2019s blood and mosquito samples in the Northern, Central, Southern and Highland fell into genotype 1, but 11 others isolated from humans in the Northern and Central regions belonged to genotype 3. Conclusion: This is the first time that JEV genotype 1 was detected in the central, northern, highland Viet Nam and further studies on genotype 1 causing human diseases needs to be carried out.\r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Virus ; Japanese Encephalitis ; genotype 1 ; E gene.

Background: Mosquitoes and pigs play important roles in maintaining and increasing the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus in nature and which is then transmitted to humans. Thus, surveillance of the JE infection frequency in the pig population may predict the human JE cases. \r\n', u'Objectives: The study aimed to determine IgG antibody against the JE virus in the pig population in Hanam province \r\n', u'Subjects and methods: The study included 1791 pig serum samples collected from 3 districts of Hanam province from Apr 2006 to Mar 2007. GAC-ELISA technique was used to determine the JE virus infection in the swine population.\r\n', u'Results: The average positive rate in pig population was 34.9 % (626/1791); with the highest frequency occurring in the summer (37.7%- 84.0 %), co-incident with the JE season in Northern Vietnam. On the contrary, in winter JE case are rare, frequency of IgG antibody against JE virus in the swine population was low, ranging from 9.2% to 22.0.%. \r\n', u'Conclusions: These results have shown the ecologically close relationship between the amplification of the JE virus in the swine population, vector and JE cases in northern Vietnam. \r\n', u'
Japanese encephalitis ; pig population ; GAC-ELISA.

Background: IgM antibody capture ELISA (MAC-ELISA) technique has been widely applied for Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) diagnosis. So far rare internationally commercial kits are available. Thus, the international evaluation of the kit is required as per the recommendation of the WHO. Objectives: To evaluate the quality of the IgM antibody capture ELISA diagnostic kit for JEV produced by the Vietnam National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE). Subjects and method: In this study, NIID kit was used as control to check the kit from NIHE. Both NIHE and NIID kits were used to detect JEV IgM among 38 serum and 6 CFS samples, which belongs to 5 sample groups (JE patients group, dengue patients group, other viral encephalitis patients group, Tick Born Encephalitis (TBE) patient group and healthy JE vaccinated donors group). Results: The detection of JEV IgM by NIHE kit was concurrent with the NIID kit. There is no positive with the JE in the groups of Dengue patients, TBE, other virus encephalitis patients and JE vaccinated donors. Conclusion: MAC-ELISA kit of NIHE can be used for different diagnosis of JEV and Dengue virus (both viruses are in Flavivirus genus), as well as other viruses caused by encephalitis.
IgM antibody ; ELISA diagnostic kit ; Japanese encephalitis virus

Background: Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is common in the plains and mountainous areas in Asia \u2013 Pacific. Japanese encephalitis vaccine shows effectiveness in protecting children from JE in some countries such as Japan and Korea. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccination in Thai Binh province during 2003-2007. Subject and Method: Prospective, retrospective and sero-epidemiological methods were carried out on 329 samples collected from viral encephalitis patients and tested by JE MAC-ELISA, the positive average was 41.6% (137/329). Result: It had dramatically dropped from 85.2% in 2003 to 8.5 % in 2007 related to the rate of JE vaccination for children from 1 to 5 years old increasing from 49 % in 2003 to 77 % in 2007. Most of JE confirmed cases were un-vaccinated. Conclusion: JE etiology cause viral encephalitis in children in Thai Binh province was reduced thanks to JE vaccination in EPI program for 1 to 5 year old children. But more than 96% (131/136) of viral encephalitis in 15 years old upward was unknown etiology, the need for further study of the etiology cause viral encephalitis in adults.
Japanese encephalitis ; virus encephalitis ; MAC-ELISA ; Vaccine

Background:\r\n', u'There are two virus known as Nam Dinh Virus, and Colti group B be found in Viet Nam. These viruses have appeared in the South, the Middle and the Highland. They haven\u2019t been reported in the Southern provinces and Can Thoas well. \r\n', u'Objectives: \r\n', u'To identify the circulation of Nam Dinh virus strain, and coltivirus group B strain in Can Tho, Southern Viet Nam, and their existence in nature.\r\n', u'Subjects and method: \r\n', u'Thirty-four mosquito samples (7, 453 individual mosquitoes) from Culex quinque faciatus and Culex pseudovishnui were collected in Can Tho provice, southern Vietnam 2005.\r\n', u'Isolatingviruses on Aedes albopictuc clone C6/36, Vero cells, and using PT- PCR and ELISA Sandwich for identification. \r\n', u'Results:\r\n', u'2 Nam Dinh virus strains, 2 coltivirus group B strains and 1 flavivirus strain (insect flavivirus) were isolated from Culex quinque faciatus, and no virus was isolated from Culex pseudovishnui.\r\n', u'Conclusion: \r\n', u'The identification of the transmission of Nam dinh Virus, and coltivirus group B in Can Tho province by isolating virus from Culex quinque faciatus has shown the evidence for natural vertical transmission of these viruses.\r\n', u'
Viruses ; Coltivirus ; Flavivirus ; Arboviruses ; Culex ;

The uterocervical angle (UCA) has recently been studied as a parameter to identify women at risk for spontaneous preterm birth (PTB). Objective: This study aimed to investigate the distribution of UCA values by transvaginal sonography (TVS) at gestational age (GA) 16 - 24 weeks of singleton pregnancy. Study design: TVS was performed in 1.039 singleton pregnancies, viable fetuses at gestational age (GA) 16 - 24 weeks, at the Department of Pregnancy Management & Prenatal Diagnosis, Hai Phong Obstetric and Gynecology Hospital from September 2019 to June 2020. The UCA distribution by GA was visualized using a scatter plot. The range of UCA values and their relationship with GA were assessed using quantile regression analysis. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The normal range of UCA (5th and 95th percentiles) was from 46.99 degrees (95% CI: 35.45o - 44.31o) to 125.38 degrees (95% CI: 128.92o – 139.32o) with significant changes during this GA period (2.0 degrees per week, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The value of the UCA increases significantly with gestational age from 16-24 weeks, so it is advisable to monitor and evaluate the UCA, especially in pregnant women at high risk for PTB.

As authorities braced for the arrival of the Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), infrastructure investments and government directives prompted action in central Viet Nam to establish capacity for genomic surveillance sequencing. From 17 November 2021 to 7 January 2022, the Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang sequenced 162 specimens from 98 150 confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases in the region collected from 8 November to 31 December 2021. Of these, all 127 domestic cases were identified as the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant, whereas 92% (32/35) of imported cases were identified as the B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant, all among international flight passengers. Patients were successfully isolated, enabling health-care workers to prepare for additional cases. Most (78%) of the 32 Omicron cases were fully vaccinated, suggesting continued importance of public health and social measures to control the spread of new variants.

Background: Lung cancer is a common cancer with a high mortality rate. The identification of prognostic factors in lung cancer patients in Vietnam is still limited and inconsistent in clinical practice. Objectives: To describe the clinical, paraclinical characteristics and m-LCPI index in patients with primary non-small cell lung cancer and evaluate the factors affecting overall survival in patients with primary non-small cell lung cancer. Methods: Prospective study of 210 cases of non-small cell lung cancer diagnosed with primary non-small cell lung cancer at the Oncology Department of Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital and Hue Central Hospital from February 2020 to February 2023. Results: The majority of hospitalizations were at late stages, from stage IIIA (89%), group 3 and 4 in m-LCPI grading scale constituted the majority (80%). Average overall survival at 3 years was 20.0 ± 14 months, and gradually decreased to 54.8%, 40%, and 38.6% after 1 year, 2 years and 3 years, respectively. Regression analysis of COX model between m-LCPI and OS showed statistical significance with m-LCPI 4 (HR = 3.9, 95%CI = 1.57 - 9.69, p = 0.003), while m-LCPI 3 (HR = 2.44, 95% CI 0.97 - 6.13), p = 0.058) had a weak correlation. Conclusion: Our study shows that 38.6% of patients were still alive after 3 years of diagnosis. m-LCPI index is a good predictor of the patients’ overall survival.