Background: Patients with beta-thalassemia major are susceptible to malnutrition, yet limited evidence exists in Vietnam. This study aims to identify factors associated with underweight status among adults with beta-thalassemia major in Vietnam. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 201 adults (≥18 years) with beta-thalassemia major. Underweight was defined as BMI < 18.5 kg/m². Logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with underweight status, including age, sex, ethnicity, place of residence, educational level, marital status, and employment status. Results: Over half of the participants (54.2%) were underweight. Female (aOR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.12–0.73, p-value=0.008) and married patients (aOR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.13–0.79, p-value=0.013) were significantly associated with lower odds of underweight status compared to male and unmarried counterparts. Underweight patients had significantly lower fat mass, muscle mass, and bone mineral content, but higher total body water percentage compared to those with normal weight. Conclusion: Underweight status is highly prevalent among adults with beta-thalassemia major in Vietnam, particularly among males and unmarried individuals. These findings underscore the need for targeted nutritional and psychosocial support strategies to improve care and quality of life for this vulnerable population. We recommend implementing tailored nutritional interventions to improve their nutritional status.

Background: Depression, anxiety, and stress have become major public health concerns among adolescents, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding their prevalence and determinants is essential to inform prevention and intervention strategies. Objectives: To describe the prevalence and associated factors of depression, anxiety, and stress among adolescents from 2022 to 2023. Methods: This is a scoping review. We synthesize scientific studies on depression, anxiety, stress in adolescents aged 10-24 years published in journals from three data bases: PubMed, Cochrane, Embase. Results: A total of 34 studies on depression, anxiety, and stress in adolescents were included in the review. This scoping review indicates that prevalence of depression ranged from 12.5% to 90.9%, that of anxiety was between 15.2% and 74.7%, and that of stress ranged from 3.2% to 75.3%. The mean age of participants across studies ranged from 14.5 to 21.9 years. Several factors have been identified in different studies as exacerbating these symptoms among adolescents, including age, gender, education related factors, family background, and risk behaviors. Conclusion: The findings of this review provide valuable insights for parents and health professionals to design effective strategies that mitigate mental health symptoms and foster adolescents’ healthy development.

Purpose: Simple virilizing congenital adrenal hyperplasia (SV-CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by pathogenic variants of the CYP21A2 gene. Children with SV-CAH often experience delayed diagnosis, presenting with pseudo-precocious puberty in males and genital virilization in females. Genotyping is essential for diagnosis, treatment, optimization, and phenotype prediction. This study describes the clinical and genetic characteristics of SV-CAH to guide treatment strategies. Methods: From November 2016 to March 2023, 79 children (accounting for 34.3% of 230 CAH cases in the overall children’s cohort) from 75 families were classified as SV-CAH due to 21-OHD at the Vietnam National Children's Hospital. Forty-three children underwent CYP21A2 mutation analysis using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification and complete gene sequencing to detect pathogenic variants. Results: Median age at diagnosis was 4.5 years (interquartile range, 1 day–22.3 years). There were 38.0% males and 62.0% females. The most common symptoms were penile enlargement in males (53.3%) and clitoromegaly (87.8%) in females; the height standard deviation (SD) at diagnosis was 1.90±1.79 SD (-2.02 to 5.43) according to the World Health Organization; and bone age advancement was 4.65±2.59 years. Genetic analysis identified 21 pathogenic variants and 22 genotypes in 43 children. The most common variant was p.I173N (47.7%); the most common genotype was p.I173N/p.I173N (16.3%). Conclusion Children with SV-CAH are often diagnosed late. To avoid that, early genetic analysis should be prioritized, especially for children diagnosed through newborn screening programs. Determining the genotype is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies, ensuring personalized management, and avoiding overtreatment.

Streptocaulon juventas, a medicinal plant traditionally used in Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries, has been previously investigated for certain biological activities of its roots; however, studies on its leaves remain limited. In this study, leaf extracts were evaluated for their in vitro anti-proliferative activity against B16F10 (murine melanoma) and HepG2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma) cell lines, as well as for their αglucosidase inhibitory potential. MTT assays revealed that the hexane (Sj-Hx) and dichloromethane (Sj-DCM) fractions exhibited the strongest cytotoxic effects on B16F10 cells, with IC₅₀ values of 36.09 µg/mL and 45.91 µg/mL, respectively. The hexane fraction (Sj-Hx) also demonstrated potent activity against HepG2 cells, with an IC50 value of 36.65 µg/mL. Notably, none of the extracts exhibited cytotoxicity toward Hs68 normal human fibroblasts, indicating favorable selectivity. DAPI staining further confirmed that both Sj-Hx and Sj-DCM induced nuclear fragmentation and chromatin condensation, consistent with apoptosis induction. Additionally, in vitro assays of anti-diabetic activity revealed that the hexane (Sj-Hx) and ethyl acetate (Sj-EA) extracts displayed the strongest α-glucosidase inhibition, with IC₅₀ values of 221.59 µg/mL and 265.73 µg/mL, respectively. Collectively, these findings suggest that S. juventas leaf extracts possess selective pro-apoptotic activity against cancer cells and represent a promising natural source for the discovery of anti-diabetic agents.

The optimal condition for Moringa oleifera root barks extraction was determined using response surface methodology and Box-Behnken Design. The actual optimal condition of the factors was 65 o C, ethanol 60%, 40 (mL/g) liquid-to-solid ratio with 240 minutes extraction time. The enrichment of phenolic compounds sharply affected the antioxidant, and inhibitions of α-amylase enzyme, as well as, the anti-inflammatory effect of the extract from M. oleifera root barks. The extract in the optimal condition exhibited better 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and α-amylase inhibitory activities than those of positive controls.Also, the extract showed weak hydroxyl free radical scavenging and nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitory effects. These revealed a simple and promising method for the preparation of bioactive products from the root bark of M. oleifera.

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 AND PURPOSE: Dravet syndrome is a rare and severe type of epilepsy in infants. The heterogeneity in the overall intellectual disability that these patients suffer from has been attributed to differences in genetic background and epilepsy severity. METHODS: Eighteen Vietnamese children diagnosed with Dravet syndrome were included in this study. SCN1A variants were screened by direct sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Adaptive functioning was assessed in all patients using the Vietnamese version of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, and the results were analyzed relative to the SCN1A variants and epilepsy severity. RESULTS: We identified 13 pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants, including 6 that have not been reported previously. We found no correlations between the presence or type of SCN1A variants and the level of adaptive functioning impairment or severity of epilepsy. Only two of nine patients aged at least 5 years had an adaptive functioning score higher than 50. Both of these patients had a low frequency of convulsive seizures and no history of status epilepticus or prolonged seizures. The remaining seven had very low adaptive functioning scores (39 or less) despite the variability in the severity of their epilepsy confirming the involvement of factors other than the severity of epilepsy in determining the developmental outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Our study expands the spectrum of known SCN1A variants and confirms the current understanding of the role of the genetic background and epilepsy severity in determining the developmental outcome of Dravet syndrome patients.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Child* ; Epilepsies, Myoclonic* ; Epilepsy ; Genetic Background ; Humans ; Infant ; Intellectual Disability ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Population Characteristics ; Seizures ; Status Epilepticus ; Weights and Measures

Introduction: Laboratory capacity is needed in central Viet Nam to provide early warning to public health authorities of respiratory outbreaks of importance to human health, for example the outbreak of influenza A(H1N1) pandemic in 2009. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedures established as part of a capacity-building process were used to conduct prospective respiratory surveillance in a region where few previous studies have been undertaken. Methods: Between October 2008 and September 2010, nose and throat swabs from adults and children (approximately 20 per week) presenting with an acute respiratory illness to the Ninh Hoa General Hospital were collected. Same-day PCR testing and result reporting for 13 respiratory viruses were carried out by locally trained scientists. Results: Of 2144 surveillance samples tested, 1235 (57.6%) were positive for at least one virus. The most common were influenza A strains (17.9%), with pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 and seasonal H3N2 strain accounting for 52% and 43% of these, respectively. Other virus detections included: rhinovirus (12.4%), enterovirus (8.9%), influenza B (8.3%), adenovirus (5.3%), parainfluenza (4.7%), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (3.9%), human coronavirus (3.0%) and human metapneumovirus (0.3%). The detection rate was greatest in the 0–5 year age group. Viral co-infections were identified in 148 (6.9%) cases. Discussion: The outbreak in 2009 of the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic strain provided a practical test of the laboratory’s pandemic plan. This study shows that the availability of appropriate equipment and molecular-based testing can contribute to important individual and public health outcomes in geographical locations susceptible to emerging infections.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) strains with positive cagA gene can induce an advanced severe condition of atrophic gastritis and a higher risk of gastric carcinoma than those without cagA gene. Objective: To carry out the full sequence of cagA gene and preliminary analysis, classify cagA protein in H. pylori strains in Vietnamese patients. Subjects and method: 5 patients with H. pylori strains from Ho Chi Minh city were enrolled in the study. H. pylori was cultured and determined by PCR before sequencing full cagA gene. Analyzing cagA gene and constructing phylogenetic tree using biometrics and bioinformatics software. Results: The length of open reading frame of cagA gene of H. pylori strains in Vietnamese patients was 3480-3588 base-pairs, the number of amino acid in relavant cagA protein was 1159-1195 amino acids and all cagA protein molecules belonged to East Asian cagA, none of them was Western cagA. Even with the same classification of East Asian cagA, the Japanese H. pylori strains and Vietnamese strains were located in different cluster in phylogenetic tree. Conclusion: The study suggested that H. pylori cagA proteins in patients from Ho Chi Minh city belonged to East Asian cagA.
Helicabacter pylori ; H. pylori ; cagA

Background: Blood is a very special product to use for patients treatment. In order to have better plan to supply enough blood and on time according to the needs of clinics, studying to explore the trend, the needs of using blood and its products in clinics are very necessary. Objective: to identify needs using blood and blood products for patients with blood-related diseases at National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion from 4/2005 - 03/2006. Subjects and methods: The retrospective study was carried out on all of the data about using blood and blood products for patients with blood- related diseases about: Name of patient, age, diagnosis. Kind of blood products, blood group, the time using blood and blood products. Result: The trend using of blood and blood products of clinics has increased (increased 1.64 times) from 2,132 units in April 2005 to 3,499 units in March 2006. Blood products are used 100%.T consumption seemed to increase during months at the end and earlier of year, especially March 2006. Red cell concentrate used mostly. 0 blood type was used most often. Conclusion: Identifying needs using blood for patients with blood-related disease in clinics are base in order to National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion has planned to collect, screen and make blood products to assure supplying blood and blood products enough and safety. \r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Blood