Background: Vietnamese herbs are considered as a botanical resource, a precious medicinal source of our country, and are widely used in the residential community in general. Phu Vang district is a coastal plain and lagoon in Thua Thien Hue province, where people’s living standards are not high, health facilities lack equipment. Therefore, the needs for primary health care are necessary to be strengthened, especially in the treatment of common diseases using Vietnamese herbs to reduce costs and improve health for the people. However, the knowledge of the local residents about Vietnamese herbs preventing and treating common diseases at home has not been surveyed. Objectives: (1) To describe the knowledge, attitude and practice on the use of Vietnamese herbs used in the treatment of common diseases of residents in some communes of Phu Vang district. (2) To determine some factors related to the use of Vietnamese herbs in the treatment of common diseases among the residents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 residents representing the heads of households in three communes of Phu Vang district, Thua Thien Hue province, Thua Thien Hue province. Descriptive statistical analysis and multivariable logistic regression were performed with SPSS software. Results: Knowledge: Good: 45.2%; Fair: 30.8%; Average: 9.0%; Poor: 2.0%. Attitude: 97.0% of residents preferred using Vietnamese herbs in the treatment of common diseases, and 96.6% of residents agreed to continue using Vietnamese herbs to treat similar diseases later. Practice: Good: 7.8%; Fair: 16.7%; Average: 25.3%; Poor: 50.2%. Receiving information about Vietnamese herbs and growing them at home gardens were two factors related to the use of Vietnamese herbs to treat common diseases (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The practice of using Vietnamese herbs to treat common diseases of the residents in Phu Vang district is still low, it is necessary to strengthen educational propaganda to raise the awareness and practice among residents on the prevention and treatment of diseases with Vietnamese herbs at home.

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.

Soluble epoxide hydrolases (sEH) are enzymes present in all living organisms, metabolize epoxy fatty acids to 1,2-diols. sEH in the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids plays a key role in inflammation. In addition, the endogenous lipid mediators in cardiovascular disease are also broken down to diols by the action of sEH that enhanced cardiovascular protection. In this study, sEH inhibitory guided fractionation led to the isolation of five phenolic compounds trans-resveratrol (1), trans-piceatannol (2), sulfuretin (3), (+)-balanophonin (4), and cassigarol E (5) from the ethanol extract of the seeds of Passiflora edulis Sims cultivated in Vietnam. The chemical structures of isolated compounds were determined by the interpretation of NMR spectral data, mass spectra, and comparison with data from the literature. The soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitory activity of isolated compounds was evaluated. Among them, trans-piceatannol (2) showed the most potent inhibitory activity on sEH with an IC₅₀ value of 3.4 µM. This study marks the first time that sulfuretin (3) was isolated from Passiflora edulis as well as (+)-balanophonin (4), and cassigarol E (5) were isolated from Passiflora genus.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Epoxide Hydrolases ; Ethanol ; Fatty Acids ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated ; Inflammation ; Metabolism ; Passiflora ; Passifloraceae ; Phenol ; Vietnam

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: Many research works showed that menstruation is caused by the sudden reduction of the estrogens and progesterone to low levels of secretion at the end of the menstrual cycle. However, it should be investigated to which levels the concentration of these two hormones sharply reduces to cause menstruation. Objective: To determine estradiol concentration at the beginning of menstruation, the second day of menstruation and the ending of menstruation during the menstrual cycle. Subject and methods: 30 women with the normal menstrual cycle and 30 women with the long menstrual cycle were used as subjects to determine estradiol concentration at the day at the beginning of menstruation, the second day of menstruation and the last day of menstruation during the menstrual cycle. Result and Conclusion: In the women group with the normal menstrual cycle, the estradiol concentration: at the day at the beginning of menstruation is 159.93 \xb1 51.29 pmol/L, at the second day of menstruation is 170.58 \xb1 46.54 pmol/L and at the lastday of menstruation is 177.55 \xb1 46.42 pmol/L. In women in the group with long menstrual cycle, the estradiol concentration: at the day of beginning of menstruation is 154.55 \xb1 61.60 pmol/L and at the last day of menstruation is 154.55 \xb1 61.60 pmol/L.
menstrual cycle ; estrogen ; estradiol

Background: Recently, microplate almar blue assay has been used commonly in detecting gen related to tuberculosis drug resistance, which provides results after 5-7 days with lower cost compared to traditional methods. Objective: To evaluate the application of microplate almar blue assay for rapid detection of drug resistance of M. tuberculosis strains. Subject and Method: A microplate-based assay which uses Alamar blue reagent - an oxidation reduction dye (MABA), was used for the determination of the anti-tuberculosis drug (isoniazid-INH, rifampicine-RIF, streptomycine-STR and ethabuton=EMB) resistance of 96 M. tuberculosis strains isolated from Vietnamese patients in comparison to those obtained by conversional method. Result: MABA showed to have high sensitivity and specificity in testing the sensitivity to individual anti-tuberculosis drugs (from 82.4% for STR to 93.3% for - INH and from 82.5% for EMB to 98.4% for STR; respectively), as well as for the multi-drug resistant M.tuberculosis (86.4% of sensitivity), highly correlated with the result determined by proportion method. Conclusion: MABA reveals the advantage in shortening test time, in simple performance and lower cost compared with the conversional culture based methods.
Microplate almar blue assay ; M. tuberculosis ; drug resistance

Establishing the formulation of 0.1% diclofenac eye drops by making up solution and quantitative by High- Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Results: Natri diclofenac eye drop 0.1% mixing with phosphate buffer 0.05M get the most stability at pH=7.5. The percentage of propylene glycol and natrimetabisulfit in the formulation influenced significantly the stability of eye drop solution. The stability increased gradually if the rates of natri metabisulfit antioxygen are 0.1%; 0.2% and 0.3% or there was an increase of propylene glycol with the rate of 0%, 5% and 10%. This preparation is stable at least 5 months at temperature 50oC and protected from light. This preparation may be stable more than 20 months at room conditions 30oC and protected from light
Ophthalmic Solutions ; Diclofenac

The factors selected as an independent variable to study included antioxidant dinatri EDTA and viscosity enhancers PVP. Value of pH and percent of remained tobramycine contents after 3 months with ageing at 500C compared with primary tobramycine were selected as a dependent variable. Experimental model was designed according to model of quadratic equation including 9 formulas. The relationship between independent variables X and dependent variables Y conformed to quadratic regressive equation. Base on preliminary formulas selected, Modde 5.0 software was used to trace experimentally and deal with the results. Optimal formula of tobramycine eye drop 0.3% had stableness over 3 months at 50oC and over 12 months at normal condition
Ophthalmic Solutions ; Tobramycin

The effect of buffer system, adjustment substance pH, pH of solution, antioxygen and antiseptic on the stability of eye drop solution with vitamin B5 was studied. The result: at pH 5,5, buffer system of acetat, of citrat and of phosphat strictly influence to the stability of eye drop solution containing vitamin B5. This solution also sustained with antioxygen dinatri edetat 0,02%, combining with natri metabisulfid 0,1% -0,3% don’t make increase the stability of product. The antiseptic of benzalkonium clorid and chlorobutanol don’t influence to the stability of this solution. But benzalkonium clorid is appropriate than chlorobutanol because of it don’t absorb through PE plastic, the antiseptic efficacy increase with the presence of dinatri edetat and this make increase the bioavailability of drug
Ophthalmic Solutions ; Pantothenic Acid ; Pharmaceutical Preparations

Pharmaceuticals industry is developing over the country. In a new tendency, pharmaceutical enterprises have trained staff and workers to meet new requirements as well as invested in infrastructure and modern equipment. These enterprises have registered to produce 7,569 medical completed products including 4,000 new medications which are resulted from 401 active ingredients. Revenues in 2004 reached 4,700 billion VND. However, Vietnam’s pharmaceutical industry is still limited and Vietnam ranks in forth group in world's pharmaceutical industry. Restrictions of Vietnam’s pharmaceutical industry are presented in two factors: pharmaceutical chemistry industry and pharmaceutical biological industry. In global’s competitive market with many unprecedented changes, Vietnamese enterprises in general and pharmaceutical enterprises in particular have a few competition advantages. Therefore, competition advantages should be created in the market. Factors of human resources and science – technology is very important, which is key foundation and motivation to help the pharmaceutical enterprises stablize and develop in current integration tendency
Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Industry