Platynosomum fastosum (Trematoda: Dicrocoeliidae) from Cats in Vietnam: Morphological Redescription and Molecular Phylogenetics

The present study was performed to reveal the morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic position of Platynosomum fastosum Kossack, 1910. A total 167 specimens of P. fastosum were collected in 8 (4.9%) out of 163 sets of gall-bladders and bile ducts of cats. The number of worms was 1–105 per infected cat. This species was characterized by having a long and slender body, slightly larger ventral sucker than the oral sucker, indistinct prepharynx, small pharynx, short esophagus, bifurcation midway between 2 suckers, and ceca extending to the posterior end of the body. The length of the partial sequences of ITS1 and 5.8S rDNA of P. fastosum were 990 bp, GC-rich. AT/GC ratio was 0.9, there were 9 polymorphic sites, and intraspecific variations ranged from 0.1% to 0.9%. Phylogenetic analyses by neighbor-joining phylogram inferred from ITS1 rDNA sequences revealed that the genetic distance between P. fastosum specimens ranged from 0.3 to 1.5% while the smallest interspecific distance among dicrocoeliid species was 20.9 %. The redescription and genetic characters of P. fastosum are taxonomically important to recognize future different species of the genus Platynosomum showing high intraspecific and morphological variability.

Study on related factors of patients with brain injury that underwent CT scanner and treated at Viet Tiep Hospital, Hai Phong

Background: Nowadays, Computed Tomography (CT) plays an important role not only in diagnosis but also in evaluating the severity of cranial lesions, especially brain injuries. Objectives: (1) To determine the related factors of brain injury. (2) To identify the rate of discovering brain injuries in CT film. (3) To propose appropriate an time for performing CT examinations. Subjects and method: The retrospective study was carried out on 413 cranial traumatic cases admitted to Viet Tiep Hospital from 1/1/2006 to 31/12/2007. All of them were taken with a CT - scanner. Results: The percentage of male - patient is 4 times higher than this of female. Most of the patients were 21-30 year olds (69%). The most common cause was motor accidents (64%). The indirect (dislocation of middle line) and direct pathogenic images can be found in CT-scanner in 210/413 cases (50.85%) and 216/413 (52.30%), respectively. 114 cases (27.60%) underwent surgical treatments. 20 patients died (4.84%) because of severe and complex injuries. Conclusion: It is necessary to closely monitor all the changes of the signs and symptoms in order to specify CT-scanner examination on time.

To evaluate the diagnostic yield and cost of rapid diagnostic test plasmodium falciparum (paracheck F test) in the malarial hyperendermic areas of the central Vietnam

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.

Study on "Information - Education and Communication (IEC)" and "knowledge - attitude and practice (KAP)" of community on malaria and its control after intervention of health education

Background: Since 1991-2000, the prevalence of malaria is reduced remarkably in Vietnam. The malaria related mortality reduced 98%. Objective: To evaluate effect of health education in malaria control for ethnic minority people. Subject and Method: The study was carried out in 4 districts: Hoang Su Phi and Quan Ba (Ha Giang); Ia grai and K'Bang (Gia Lai). Qualitative and quantitative method was used in this study. Results: The findings of the study after 2 years showed that the Information - Education and Communication (IEC) is increased in 2007. The proportion of the households have radio, TV, leaflets/pictures is higher than year 2005: 39.1 %, 60.0% and 6.3%. The number of people were communicated about malaria is increased by 61%. The most information channel that the people received is from health staff (93%); from radio and TV: 22.5 and 25.6%. People know the right cause and its prevention of malaria is increased 55% in 2005 to 80% in 2007. The proportion of bed net coverage among community is increased, the number of bed net per households is 2.8 and number of people per bed net is 2.2. Conclusion: Almost people in this study site desired to utilize bed net: 99%. About 88.3% (2005) and 87.5% (2007) of people utilized the public health service when they get sick. After two years of health education intervention, the malaria morbidity in the study site is reduced remarkably by 45 - 50%.

Situation of clonnorchis sinensis infection in workers of tea companies in Phu Tho province year 2007 and evaluating efficacy of specific intervention

Background: Phu Tho is a mountainous province in the northwest of Vietnam. People here have the habit to eat raw fish; this is the favorable conditions for small liver fluke (clonorchsis sinensis) circulation and development. \r\n', u'Objectives: 1) To determine infection rate and infection intensity in workers of tea companies in Phu Tho province. 2) To evaluate effectiveness of treatment Clonorchis sinensis by Distocid.\r\n', u'Subjects and methods: Across- sectional survey was carried out in September 2007 in the tea companies in Phu Tho province, 400 peoples (200 male, 200 female), were examined stool samples to find helminthic eggs by Kato-Katz technique.\r\n', u'Results: The cumulative infection rate Clonorchis sinensis was 22.25%, of which a significant difference of the infection rate of clonorchis sinensis was found in males: 27.4% and in females: 16.7%, respectively (p< 0.05). The cure rate by Distocid was 97.7%.\r\n', u'Conclusion: The infection rate of workers in the areas was rather high\r\n', u'Therefore, it is necessary to propagandize and educate for workers and the community understanding of the harmful effects of Clonorchis sinensis and how to prevent small liver fluke disease; changing risk behaviors such as not eating raw fish\r\n', u'

Reviews of the left ventricular hypertrophy in the elderly with hypertension

A study on 97 male patients with the hypertension ages of 64,1 +/- 14 in hospital 171 during 1993-5/1997 has shown that the hypertension was most frequently occurred in age of 60 (81,24%). The cardiac complications and large arterial complications in hypertension were common (67,01%) the cardiac complications include the left ventricular thickness (45,36% 45 cases with the left ventricular thickness were diagnosed by laparoscopy in which 30 cases with the centric thickness, 12 cases with the incentric thickness. The sensitivity and specificity of the eletrocardiography was 21/45 and 48/52, respectively. The frequent of the left ventricular thickness increased as increased age and its progress depends on the hypertension. The relation of the disorder of lipid metabolism and artherosclerosis exacerbated the hypertension and the left-ventricular thickness. The laparoscopy is valuable method diagnosis of the left ventricular thickness.