Background: For a long time, the domestic pharmaceutical companies have performed Public Relation (PR) activities to help their business and ensure good relations with their customers. However, the effects of the pharmaceutical companies\u2019 PR activities were not high. Objective: To discover the actual circumstances of PR for a number of pharmaceutical companies in Viet Nam in recent years. Subjects and method: Subjects were the PR activities of pharmaceutical companies through the relations with various public groups. This was a descriptive, retrospective and observational study. Results: The pharmaceutical companies were more and more interested in relations with the public through sponsorship programs. Client relations had been consolidated after health consultancies, customer conferences, workshops, trade fairs, etc\u2026 The image of domestic pharmaceutical companies has appeared more often on mass media. Internal PR activities had built the culture of business and cemented relations between the company and employees. Investment and distribution relations had lagged behind.Conclusions: The PR activities of the pharmaceutical companies appeared to be more varied through relations with various public groups, making contributions to the development of the company.
Pharmaceutical company ; Public Relation activity ; PR activity

Background: Phu Cat district, Binh Dinh province is one of the areas contaminated with Agent Orange in Wartime and now up to it still continues to affect the environmental life and health of people living there. Objectives: Investigate the factual status of mortality rate from 2002 to 2006 in Phu Cat district, Binh Dinh province and determine the burden of mortality based on the number of Years of Lost Life (YLLs). Subject and methods: A retrospective study was conducted on all deaths from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2006 in Phu Cat population. Burden of mortality was analyzed using the WHO standard method. The dead cases were causal diagnosed by Verbal Autopsy tools and update information for mortality rate. Results: Mortality rates were 3.1%o (2002), 3.3%o (2003), 4.08%o (2004) and 2.67% (2005). YLLs from 2002 to 2006 in order are: 55.87%, 57.98%, 73.82%, 48.74% and 49.01%, respectively. The number of mortality in men was higher than women and had a tendency to increase from 2002 to 2004, to decrease during 2005 and 2006. YLLs in group of ages 0-4 was highest in 2004 (150.76%o), followed by 2002 (126.28%o) and was lowest in 2005 (39.72%o). YLLs in groups of ages >60 was high, especially in non-communicable disease. Conclusions: Mortality model from 2002 to 2006 in Phu Cat district, Binh Dinh province was appropriate for the national mortality model. According to YLLs, the burden of mortality was determined as the general burden of mortality from 2002 to 2006 and burden of mortality followed disease groups: communicable disease, nutrition disease and pregnancy; non-communicable disease; poisoned and accident related diseases.
burden of mortality ; mortality

Background: In 2006, the project of global fund for malaria prevention in Vietnam provided a large number of rapid diagnostic test Paracheck F for Vietnam for the purpose of rapid malaria diagnose. However, there is no study on evaluation the effect of rapid diagnostic test compared with microscopy method. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic yield and cost of paracheck F test and microscopy in malaria diagnosis and treatment. Subject and Method: The study was carried out in 6 communes belongs to Quang Tri and Quang Binh provinces from September to November - 2006. The study was divided into 3 phases. Phase 1: diagnoses and treatments are based on clinical symptoms, phase 2: diagnoses and treatments are based on the results of paracheck and phase 3: diagnoses and treatments are based on the results of microscopy. All phases, both the common patients and malarial patients and the amount of anti-malarial drugs were treated, the amount of money was spent on transport and days work off of malarial patients and their relatives were calculated. Result: The investigation data on expenditure of malaria patients showed that: the average direct cost of malaria patient in phase 1 is VND 116.100; phase 2: VND 119.400 and phase 3: VND 120.800 per 1 treatment course. There is no significant difference between direct costs in three phases (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The expense efficiency for finding out a case of malaria by paracheck and microscopy is equivalent and lower than the expense of diagnosis based on clinical symptoms.
Malaria diagnosis ; RDT Paracheck F ; microscopy

Background: With the development of HIV/AIDS pandemic in community, amount of HIV/AIDS people more and more increase in prison. Objectives: Determine the rate of HIV/AIDS infection of prisoners at Binh Dien prison. Learning about related elements to HIV/AIDS infection. Subjects and method: Prisoners at Binh Dien prison. Method: 492 prisoners were chosen, interviewed directly and taken blood samples to HIV test. Using cross-sectional study on accidental samples. Techniques were used in this study: SERODIA-HIV and ELISA technique. Results: The rate of current HIV/AIDS infections was 21,74%, some HIV/AIDS related factors in the prison included sex, religion, income source, marrital status, common knowledge of HIV/AIDS, drug addiction history, needle sharing, sexually transmitted disease history, body tatoos and forskin inserted with metal balls, alcohol and beer drinking history, some factors such as: age and educational level were not associated with HIV/AIDS infection in prison. Conclusion: Strengthen interventional activities in prison to prevent HIV/AIDS spread between prisoners. To prisoners who were not infected HIV/AIDS: strengthen educational communication to they may prevent themselves from HIV/AIDS infection behaviors. To HIV/AIDS prisoners: Need to educate and consult especially to they have right behaviors, prevent HIV/AIDS spread for the others while they were in prison as well as they return to society.
HIV Infections/ blood ; complications ; epidemiology ;

Objective: To evaluate the anti-arthritic effects of Polygonatum kingianum rhizome extract using both in vitro and in vivo models.Methods: Lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages were treated with an ethanol extract of Polygonatum kingianum rhizomes at different concentrations to determine nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. For in vivo study, Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract was further investigated for its anti-inflammatory effect in a mouse model with collagen antibody-induced arthritis. Phytochemical study of Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract was also performed. Results: Saponins (142 mg/g total yield) was the main component in the Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract. 5α,8α-ergosterol peroxide, (E,E)-9-oxooctadeca-10,12-dienoic acid and 3-(2?-hydroxy-4?-methoxy-benzyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-8-methyl-chroman-4-one were isolated from the extract. Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract exhibited potential anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting nitric oxide and PGE2 production in RAW 264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The level of arthritis in mice with collagen antibody-induced arthritis was significantly reduced (P<0.01) after treatment with Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract, particularly at a dose of 1?000 mg/kg body weight. Besides, the extract demonstrated the regulatory effects on serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10 in treated mice. Conclusions: Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract has beneficial effects on inflammatory cytokine regulation and PGE2 inhibition in an experimental mouse model with collagen antibody-induced arthritis. The phytochemical screening reveals that the saponin, as the main component, and sterols (daucosterol and 5α,8α-ergosterol peroxide) from Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract may contribute to its promising in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities.

Objective: Understanding complex epigenetic mechanisms is necessary to fully elucidate the effects of antipsychotic drug. This study investigated DNA methylation and mRNA expression levels of dopamine D2 and D1 receptor (Drd2 and Drd1, respectively), nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 1 (Nr3c1) and stathmin 1 (Stmn1) in brain regions of mice exposed to social defeat stress (SDS) and effects of risperidone on altered methylation and mRNA expression levels induced by SDS. Methods: Following SDS for 10 days, risperidone (0.2 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered to adult mice for 7 days. Brain tissues from the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus (HIP) and amygdala (AMY) were processed to measure methylation and mRNA levels of Drd2, Drd1, Nr3c1 and Stmn1 using pyrosequencing and real time-polymerase chain reaction. Results: We found altered methylation status of Nr3c1 and Stmn1 in the HIP and AMY of mice exposed to SDS. These changes were reversed by risperidone treatment. In addition, different methylation patterns of Drd2 and Drd1 in the PFC and AMY between defeated and control mice were identified with risperidone treatment. Conclusion These findings suggest that risperidone can cause epigenetic changes in Drd2, Drd1, Nr3c1 and Stmn1 in defeated mice. These changes could be epigenetic mechanisms underlying antipsychotic efficacy.

Objective: Microtubule (MT) stability in neurons is vital for brain development; instability is associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. The present study examined the effects of social defeat stress (SDS) on MT-regulating proteins and tubulin polymerization. Methods: After 10 days of SDS, defeated mice were separated into susceptible (Sus) and unsusceptible (Uns) groups based on their performance in a social avoidance test. Using extracted brain tissues, we measured the expression levels of α-tubulin, acetylated α-tubulin, tyrosinated α-tubulin, MT-associated protein-2 (MAP2), stathmin (STMN1), phospho stathmin serine 16 (p-STMN1 [Ser16]), phospho stathmin serine 25 (p-STMN1 [Ser25]), phospho stathmin serine 38 (p-STMN1 [Ser38]), stathmin2 (STMN2), phospho stathmin 2 serine 73 (p-STMN2 [Ser73]), 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP-78), and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)-homologous protein (CHOP) using Western blot assay. The tubulin polymerization rate was also measured. Results: We observed increased and decreased expression of acetylated and tyrosinated α-tubulin, respectively, decreased expression of p-STMN1 (Ser16) and increased expression of p-STMN1 (Ser25), p-STMN2 (Ser73) and GRP-78 and CHOP in the prefrontal cortex and/or hippocampus of defeated mice. A reduced tubulin polymerization rate was observed in the Sus group compared to the Uns and Con groups. Conclusion Our findings suggest that SDS has detrimental effects on MT stability, and a lower tubulin polymerization rate could be a molecular marker for susceptibility to SDS.

Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) is a perennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family originating from the Mediterranean region. In Vietnam, there are some varieties of artichoke which are extensively cultivated and propagated in highland areas, however, there have been limited detailed scientific publications on the chemical composition and biological activity of artichoke grown in Vietnam. Therefore, this study provides a detailed description of the extraction, isolation, and structural determination of 20 natural secondary metabolites present in harvested artichoke. The antioxidant activity of the extract and the 9 isolated compounds are tested in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging and ex vivo malondialdehyde model. Among the selected compounds, 1-caffeoylquinic acid, 3-caffeoylquinic acid, chlorogenic acid, 4-caffeoylquinic acid, cynarin, 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-di-caffeoylquinic acid, cynaroside, and scolymoside exhibited strong radical scavenging activity with IC50 values ranging from 5.7 to 61.6 µM. In the malondialdehyde assay, 1,3-dicaffeoylquinic acid (or cynarin) showed the strongest activity with an IC50 value of 24.7 µM, followed by 1,5-di-caffeoylquinic acid (66.8 µM), and 4,5-di-caffeoylquinic acid (127.3 µM). This outcome contributes to establishing a database on the phytochemical and antioxidant activity of the Vietnamese artichoke.

To evaluate the anti-arthritic effects of Polygonatum kingianum rhizome extract using both in vitro and in vivo models. Methods: Lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages were treated with an ethanol extract of Polygonatum kingianum rhizomes at different concentrations to determine nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. For in vivo study, Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract was further investigated for its antiinflammatory effect in a mouse model with collagen antibodyinduced arthritis. Phytochemical study of Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract was also performed. Results: Saponins (142 mg/g total yield) was the main component in the Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract. 5a,8a-ergosterol peroxide, (E,E)-9-oxooctadeca-10,12-dienoic acid and 3-(2'- hydroxy-4'-methoxy-benzyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-8-methyl-chroman-4- one were isolated from the extract. Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract exhibited potential anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting nitric oxide and PGE2 production in RAW 264.7 cells in a dosedependent manner. The level of arthritis in mice with collagen antibody-induced arthritis was significantly reduced (P0.01) after treatment with Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract, particularly at a dose of 1 000 mg/kg body weight. Besides, the extract demonstrated the regulatory effects on serum tumor necrosis factoralpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10 in treated mice. Conclusions: Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract has beneficial effects on inflammatory cytokine regulation and PGE2 inhibition in an experimental mouse model with collagen antibody-induced arthritis. The phytochemical screening reveals that the saponin, as the main component, and sterols (daucosterol and 5a,8a-ergosterol peroxide) from Polygonatum kingianum ethanol extract may contribute to its promising in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities.

In our program to search for new AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activators from plants that exert potential anticancer property, we found that an EtOAc extract of Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) activated AMPK enzyme in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Two major diarylbutane-type lignans, macelignan and meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid (MDGA), were isolated as active principles from this extract. Treatment of breast cancer cells with two compounds induced cellular apoptosis, evidenced by cleavage of poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and Ser 15 phosphorylation of p53. Moreover, macelignan and MDGA significantly inhibited the colony formation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells on soft agar. Intraperitoneal injection of macelignan and MDGA (20 mg/kg) suppressed the tumor growth of 4T1 mammary cancer cells. These results indicate that the chemopreventive effects of two major diarylbutane-type lignans from Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) may be associated with induction of apoptosis presumably through AMPK activation.
Agar ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases* ; Apoptosis ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Lignans* ; MCF-7 Cells ; Myristica fragrans* ; Phosphorylation