Ethanol extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis protect against lipopolysaccharide-induced acute liver injury in mice

To investigated the protective potential of ethanol extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis (S. baicalensis ) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced liver injury. Methods: Dried roots of S. baicalensis were extracted with ethanol and concentrated to yield a dry residue. Mice were administered 200 mg/kg of the ethanol extracts orally once daily for one week. Animals were subsequently administered a single dose of LPS (5 mg/kg of body weight, intraperitoneal injection). Both protein and mRNA levels of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 in liver tissues were evaluated by ELISA assay and quantitative PCR. Cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nuclear factor-κB protein levels in liver tissues were analyzed by western blotting. Results: Liver injury induced by LPS significantly increased necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nuclear factor-κB in liver tissues. Treatment with ethanol extracts of S. baicalensis prevented all of these observed changes associated with LPS-induced injury in liver mice. Conclusions: Our study showed that S. baicalensis is potentially protective against LPS-induced liver injury in mice.

Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Incidence of Acute Coronary Heart Disease and Mortality in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Study (REGARDS).

Objective: To examine the relationship between left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and the incidence of acute coronary heart disease (CHD) and mortality in the modern era. Methods: We studied 16, 390 black and white participants free of clinical CHD from a US national sample. The independent prognostic value of ECG-LVH was determined by Cornell voltage (CV) for risk of incident acute CHD and total mortality overall and by race and sex. Results: 410 incident acute CHD events and 993 deaths occurred over a median follow-up of 4.8 years. CV LVH was associated with outcomes: more common in blacks (4.1%) than whites (1.2%) and in women (3.9%) than men (1.3%). However, men with CV LVH (HR 2.12 [95% CI 1.02-4.42) had greater risk for incident acute CHD than women (HR 1.29 [95% CI 0.79-2.11]) after adjusting for demographic, behavioral and clinical variables. By contrast, CV LVH conferred similar hazards for incident acute CHD among blacks (HR 1.63 [1.00-2.68; p=0.050]) and whites (HR 1.58 [95% CI 0.76-3.28; p=0.22]). Mortality associated with CV LVH was elevated overall (HR 1.31 [95% CI 1.00- 1.71]) and for blacks (HR 1.36 [95% CI 1.00-1.86]) but not whites (HR 1.16 [95% CI 0.70-1.94]), with similar risk for women (HR 1.24 [95% CI 0.92-1.67] and for men (HR 1.30 [95% CI 0.72-2.35]). Conclusion: In this contemporary cohort, CV LVH was significantly prognostic for incident acute CHD for men but not women and there was no evidence of race differences. However, CV LVH was significantly prognostic for total mortality for blacks but not whites without evidence of sex differences.

Effect of preventive treatment of cefuroxim (zinacef) made in India and England in gynecological surgery

A randomized control clinical trial was carried out in National Obstetric and Gynecological Hospital in order to assess preventive effect of cefuroxime (Zinacef, made by Glaxo Smithline in India and England) from May to July, 2005. Results show that there was no difference about preventive effect between Indian cefuroxime and English cefuroxime. However, there was a big difference about cost between the two cefuroxime. English Zinacef had a double cost compared to Indian Zinacef. Indian Zinacef 750 mg had a good preventive effect with shorten course therapy, less hospitalization day and suitable cost

Current implementation of government policies for local health care staff

Study on the implementation of government policy for local health care staffs at Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Thua Thien-Hue in the year 2004. Results: there were medical doctors in 100% of medical stations, pharmacists in 46.1% of medical stations, and traditional physicians in 15.3% of medical stations. The services such as examinations, treatments, delivery attendance, first aid, vaccinations, preventions, and heath communications and educations were provided at 100% of medical stations. Almost local health staffs aware on government policies for commune health care. 88.2% of local health staffs knew Decision No 58 and No 131. 76.4% of local health care staffs were trained additionally.

Methods of delivery and preceding indication factors in ceasarian section at National Hospital for Obstetric and Gynecology

During July 2002 to December 2003, there were 1618 eligible pregnant women attending to delivery at National Hospital for Obstetric and Gynecology recruited for the study. The rate of CS was 32.4% (16.5% elective CS and 15.8% emergency CS). There is an increase in the rate of having minor wound infection and higher in emergency CS (9.4%). The rate of maternal death was also higher in the group of emergency CS of 3.9/1000, while those rates in elective CS and vaginal were zero. No significant difference of neonatal complications was found among three groups (p>0.08). Medical cost occupied a large part of total bill spent for a delivery (78.1%)

Health status and morbidity of the elderly at Tu Liem district Ha Noi

600 old persons in Tu Liem District – Ha Noi city including 276 male, 324 female persons youngest 60, highest 94 years old were enrolled in the study. 49.83% of elderly reported subjectively bad status of health, 69.5% though that they had had certain disease affecting daily activities: diseases of circulatory system 36.17%, respiratory system 21.14%, gastrointestinal diseases 18.74%, neurological diseases 29.53%, musculoskeletal-articular system 28.17%, ocular 14.17%, endocrinology and metabolism 5.82% and others 7.33%. 66.17% had acquired some diseases 1 month ago before the study, 43.83% of old persons had health problem, 43.50% loss the well being status, 9.33% got anxiety, 16% had a difficult to move and 1.5% had not the walking capacity, 44.67% did not make exercise, 12% used tobacco and 6.5% used alcoholic drinks

Study of the relation between environment and the mornidity model of population in some regions of Ha Noi

By modern epidemiology and sociology method, 1200 households in the districts of Dong Da, Thanh Tri, Tu Liem in Hanoi city were studied. Environment is not polluted with NO2, SO2, CO, CO2, but with high dust level and noisiness. NO2, NH3 indices in water are within standard level. Concerning the microorganisms Welchii index was high in living water. The pollution with worm eggs was considerable because all examined soil samples had worm eggs. In adult, the most morbidities were high blood pressure, bronchitis, ENT diseases, gastroenteritis; in children, the most were malnutrition, acute inflammations of respiratory tract

The indication of false fetal abortment for ectopic pregnant women

A retrospective cross sectional survey on 509 cases of ectopic pregnancy in National Institute of Protection of Mothers and Newborns in the year 2000 showed the rate of fetal abortment reached 23.6%. In 58% of cases of ectopic pregnancy the related factor is a history of abortment. In addition, some other factors are associated including the previous annexitis, surgery of perineum, genital tuberculosis is… Therefore an ultrasonic diagnosis for the site of the fetus before the indication of abortment and safe procedure of abortment are necessary

New concepts in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not only a chronic inflammation but also an autoimmune disease with large progress in the management recently. But the condition still results in reduction of living quality, leading to pain and diability. The etiology and the mechanism of evolution, the unavailability of specific therapy had limited the success of treatment. Therefore, a comprehensive treatment of must be implemented as soon as possible, safe medicines must be used even in the beginning to minimize the inability caused by the disease.

Study on clinical and paraclinical characteristics and their interrelation in HIV/AIDS patients in Hanoi

300 HIV/AIDS patients in Hanoi include mainly young persons (20-29 years old subjects account for 62%) intravenous drug user (90%) more male patients than female. Main clinical manifestations are fatigue 41.7%, swelling gland 32.5%, weight loss 22.5% … reduce of red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin level …, which have negative correlation with the reduce of CD4 cell count. There is not the change of the contains of some blood components such as albumin, glucose, but there is significant change in the activity of come enzymes – ASAT, ALAT. The increase of their activity is correlated negatively with CD4 cell number. X-ray images have not dramatical change of lung mesenchyma and bronchial image

Some factors related to drug addiction in subjects who undergone the treatment for giving up the drug

In studying 31 subjects who undergoing a treatment in the year 2001 at Hai Ba Trung Hospital for giving up the drug, results showed that all are male of the working age and a low level of education, mainly secondary school. There are in poor family, only 12.4% in the families of good living or of rich families, 80.6% of subjects have closed relation with addictive friends sharing the drug. Most of their families have concerned with these subjects after discharging from hospital.

The status of HIV transmission and the behaviors at risk among female sex workers of The 05 Center and drug users of The 06 Center in Hanoi and the suggestive interventions

The author conduct deep interviewing, team discussing for officers and drugs users and female sex workers in 2 centers, concerning the transmission of HIV, the factors influencing with the transmission of HIV at these centers. The results showed that the rate of HIV transmission at center 06 was between 20-30% and at center 05 between 40-50%. Some advantages for cross transmission such as knowledge of HIV transmission and prevention of these subjects, awareness about HIV transmission was low, and the risk behaviors were still occurred at 2 centers

Outpatient consultation and care for health insurance subscribers in district health centers and the use of health insurance service at the commune health station on trial in Hanoi

This cross-sectional and retrospective study was carried out on 1,200 outpatients who were examined and treated by health insurance at 4 suburban in Hanoi from 1998 to 1999. By interviewing health staffs and these outpatients, investigating of examination and treatment by health insurance at the commune health stations, the results showed that: about 50% of the patients had health insurance card went to district health centers, resulting in overload, so that patients had to wait for long time and pay more money, and examination and treatment at the commune health station is necessary. Health insurance officers, health staffs and patients were unanimous to deploy examination and treatment by health insurance at the commune health stations