Aims: To isolate and characterize the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains from the “mam chua ca ro” (sour fermented fish) in the South of Vietnam and investigate their potential anti-bacterial properties. Methodology and results: Four LAB strains (MCR1, MCR2, MCR3 and MCR4) were isolated from the "mam chua ca ro" product and their anti-bacterial activity was determined using the spot assay and the paper disc diffusion method. The isolated LABs can inhibit Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Staphyloccocus aureus ATCC 25923 and Vibrio parahaemolyticus BV016 and produce bacteriocin to control the growth of E. coli ATCC 25922 and S. aureus ATCC 25923, except V. parahaemolyticus. MCR2 was chosen to sequence 16S rRNA of Pediococcus acidilactic. Conclusion, significance and impact of study On the basis of their prominent anti-pathogenic bacteria activity, LAB strains isolated from Vietnamese sour-fermented fish products were verified as prospective probiotics.
Lactobacillales--isolation & ; purification ; Pediococcus acidilactici

Conjoined twins are rare, and each set of conjoined twins has a unique conjoined anatomy. It is necessary to perform separation to increase the chance of patient survival. Tissue expansion is an advanced technique for providing sufficient soft tissue and skin for wound closure. We report the successful application of rapid tissue expansion in 10-month-old xipho-omphalopagus conjoined twins in Vietnam. A tissue expander was placed on the anterior body between the sternum and umbilicus with a baseline of 70 mL sterile saline (0.9% NaCl). The first injection into the tissue expander began on the 6th day after expander insertion, and injections continued every 2 days with approximately 30–70 mL per injection according to the expansion of the skin. The expander reached 335 mL after six injections and within 10 days. In order to prepare for surgical separation, expansion was completed on the 15th day after insertion. The expanded skin area was estimated to be 180 cm2, which was sufficient to cover both patients’ skin deficiencies. The twins presented for surgical separation 6 days following the completion of tissue expansion. Both babies were discharged in good health 1 month after separation.

Abstract Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent somatic stem/progenitor cells that can be isolated from various tissues and have attracted increasing attention from the scientific community. This is due to MSCs showing great potential for incurable disease treatment, and most applications of MSCs involve tissue degeneration and treatment of immune- and inflammation-mediated diseases. Conventional MSC cultures contain fetal bovine serum (FBS), which is a common supplement for cell development but is also a risk factor for exposure to animal-derived pathogens. To avoid the risks resulting from the xenogeneic origin and animal-derived pathogens of FBS, xeno-free media have been developed and commercialized to satisfy MSC expansion demands for human clinical applications. This review summarized and provided an overview of xeno-free media that are currently used for MSC expansion. Additionally, we discussed the influences of different xeno-free media on MSC biology with particular regard to cell morphology, surface marker expression, proliferation, differentiation and immunomodulation. The xeno-free media can be serum-free and xeno-free media or media supplemented with some human-originating substances, such as human serum, human platelet lysates, human umbilical cord serum/plasma, or human plasma-derived supplements for cell culture medium. These media have capacity to maintain a spindle-shaped morphology, the expression of typical surface markers, and the capacity of multipotent differentiation and immunomodulation of MSCs. Xeno-free media showed potential for safe use for human clinical treatment. However, the influences of these xeno-free media on MSCs are various and any xeno-free medium should be examined prior to being used for MSC cultures.

Abstract Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent somatic stem/progenitor cells that can be isolated from various tissues and have attracted increasing attention from the scientific community. This is due to MSCs showing great potential for incurable disease treatment, and most applications of MSCs involve tissue degeneration and treatment of immune- and inflammation-mediated diseases. Conventional MSC cultures contain fetal bovine serum (FBS), which is a common supplement for cell development but is also a risk factor for exposure to animal-derived pathogens. To avoid the risks resulting from the xenogeneic origin and animal-derived pathogens of FBS, xeno-free media have been developed and commercialized to satisfy MSC expansion demands for human clinical applications. This review summarized and provided an overview of xeno-free media that are currently used for MSC expansion. Additionally, we discussed the influences of different xeno-free media on MSC biology with particular regard to cell morphology, surface marker expression, proliferation, differentiation and immunomodulation. The xeno-free media can be serum-free and xeno-free media or media supplemented with some human-originating substances, such as human serum, human platelet lysates, human umbilical cord serum/plasma, or human plasma-derived supplements for cell culture medium. These media have capacity to maintain a spindle-shaped morphology, the expression of typical surface markers, and the capacity of multipotent differentiation and immunomodulation of MSCs. Xeno-free media showed potential for safe use for human clinical treatment. However, the influences of these xeno-free media on MSCs are various and any xeno-free medium should be examined prior to being used for MSC cultures.

Conjoined twins are rare, and each set of conjoined twins has a unique conjoined anatomy. It is necessary to perform separation to increase the chance of patient survival. Tissue expansion is an advanced technique for providing sufficient soft tissue and skin for wound closure. We report the successful application of rapid tissue expansion in 10-month-old xipho-omphalopagus conjoined twins in Vietnam. A tissue expander was placed on the anterior body between the sternum and umbilicus with a baseline of 70 mL sterile saline (0.9% NaCl). The first injection into the tissue expander began on the 6th day after expander insertion, and injections continued every 2 days with approximately 30–70 mL per injection according to the expansion of the skin. The expander reached 335 mL after six injections and within 10 days. In order to prepare for surgical separation, expansion was completed on the 15th day after insertion. The expanded skin area was estimated to be 180 cm2, which was sufficient to cover both patients’ skin deficiencies. The twins presented for surgical separation 6 days following the completion of tissue expansion. Both babies were discharged in good health 1 month after separation.

Background: Nonoperative treatment of blunt splenic injury in children has become routine standardization in Viet Nam. Objectives:This study aims to study the efficacy of nonoperative management (NOM) for blunt splenic injury (BSI) in children. Subjects and method: The records of all the patients treated in National Hospital of Pediatrics with final diagnosis blunt splenic injury between January 2000 and December 2006 were reviewed. The clinical signs, investigations, imaging studies, methods of treatment and results were analyzed. The splenic injuries were graded according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST). Results:There were 15 patients from one day to 12 years of age, with average injury grade 2.2. From 13 patients who were attempted NOM, only 2 patients (blunt liver injury - BLI grade 3 and 4) were operated thereafter because of continuing bleeding or worsening clinically, the remains of 12 recovered well with average hospitalized duration wasf 6 days. The NOM for BLI was successful in 11/13 (84.6%) in our series. Conclusion:NOM was highly efficient method and should be the standard initial approach for all the children with BLI. These patients must be closely monitored for prompt surgical treatment in case of NOM failure.
Spleen/ injuries ; Infant

Background:The progress of the cardiac intervention technique has been changed the doctors' viewpoint in the treatment for congenital cardiac. In the past years, treatment for congenital cardiac needed to surgery but nowadays, the cardiac intervention technique are being applied in many Cardiac Centers with very good results. This technique also helped to prevent the complication in cardiac operation. Objectives:This study aims to report the results for cardiac intervention in National Hospital of Pediatrics. Subjects and method:A prospective study was conducted on 298 children diagnosed with patent ductus arteriosus, atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect, coarctation, pulmonary stenosis (PS), aortic stenosis (AS), small patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) infant with pulmonary atresia - ventricular septal defect (VSD) and Dextro- transposition of the great arteries (d- TGA) with intact ventricular septum at National hospital of Pediatric between June 2004and October 2006. Results: Transcatheter closure of PDA, ASD by Amplatzer or Coil was safe and effective. Critically ill children diagnosed with PS, AS and Coarctation may be saved by valvuloplasty and angioplasty procedures. Catheter interventions avoided the needs for surgery without scars. Catheter interventions had low complications. Conclusion: The hospitalized duration was short so the expenditures reduced.
Heart Defects ; Congenital/ epidemiology ; therapy

Background: Nonoperative management (NOM) is presently considered the treatment modality of choice for hemodynamically stable patients sustaining blunt liver trauma, especially in children. Objective: To evaluate role of NOM of blunt liver injuries (BLI) in children at National Hospital of Pediatrics. Subjects and method: Therecords ofallthe patientstreatedin National HospitalofPediatricswithfinaldiagnosisBLI betweenJanuary2000 and December 2006 were reviewed. The clinical signs,investigations,imagingstudies, methods oftreatmentandresultswereanalysed.Theliverinjuriesweregradedaccordingtothe American AsociationfortheSurgeryofTrauma(AAST).Results: There were15patients from one dayto 12 years of age with average BLI grade 2.5; 14 patients with precise diagnosis BLI were atempted NOM, 1 neonate was operated with diagnosis intraabdominal haemorrhage (BLI grade II found intraoperatively). Two patients (BLI grade II and V) from the atempted NOM group were operated thereafter because of hemodynamical instability or continuing bleeding, the remained 12recovered well with average hospital stay of 7.5 days. The rate of succesful NOM for BLI in our series was 12/14 (85.7%). Conclusions: NOM can be applied safely for BLI in children with high successful rate. Patients\ufffd?hemodynamic status may be more important for treatment decision-making than the injury grade according to the AAST based on ultrasound or CT.
Liver/ injuries ; Child ; Role ;

A retrospective survey on 31 cases of patent ductus arterious diagnosed echocardiographically at the National Institute of Pediatrics in 2000-2003 year period. The disease occurred mainly in prematurily newlyborn infants (74.2%) continuous murmur was found in 10%, systolic murmur in 90% of case in the average age of infant of 5.1  2 days. In premature newborn, their condition was usually combined with the post natal respiratory distress, while in immature newborn infants, it was congenital abnormality and fetal malnutrition. The most common sign was respiratory distress in combining with other respiratory pathologies (58.1%). On X-ray image, 73.1% had had large left heart, proportionally with the sign of urterial duct. The increase of pulmonary arterial pressure in medium levels was common. The > 3mm diameter of arterial duct had impacted to clinical features and hemohynamics of the patients.
Diagnosis ; Ductus Arteriosus ; Infant, Newborn ; Pediatrics

The study included 20 pediatric patients with ureteral and renal duplication that were operated laparoscopically at the Surgery Department of the Central Paediatrics Hospital from July 2001 to March 2005. 40% of the patients below one year old, 50% from 1 to 5 year old and 10% from 6 to 10 year old. Clinical symptoms included: strangury 40%, urinary infections 55%, and random detection 5%. Results: the operation was performed successfully in these patients, except 1 case had to opened operation because of sticky nephritis. The average operative time was 115 minutes. The results showed that laparoscopic heminephroureterectomy was safe and feasible
Polycystic Kidney Diseases ; Laparoscopy