Medicinal Plant, Anoectochilus: Distribution, Ecology, Commercial Value and Use in North Vietnam

Background: Anoectochilusorchids have been widely used as medicine. However, it has been overharvested in nature because of high commercial values. This study aims at identifying distribution ranges and ecological characteristics of Anoectochilusorchids serving for sustainable development and describing traditional uses by ethnic people in Lai Chau Province, North Vietnam.Methods: Twenty-one plots of 100 m2each (10 m × 10 m) were established for ecological survey and stand structures were analyzed for vegetation characteristics. While interviewing was applied to gather information on harvesting method, marketing, and medicinal uses.Results: Three Anoectochilusorchids (A. lanceolatus, A.calcareus, and A. setaceus) were found in Lai Chau Province, North Vietnam. These species distribute in both evergreen old-growth and secondary broadleaved forests, and mixed broadleaf-bamboo forest on the elevations of 996–2,134 m. They grow in forests with a high canopy cover of 67 m2canopy area/ 100 m2land and high cover (> 90% land) of low vegetation (< 2 m tall). It is believed that using the whole plant of Anoectochiluscan treat hypertension and diabetes mellitus and improve the development of underdeveloped children. The folk uses include soaking in alcohol and boiled water for daily drinks like green tea, and consuming as a vegetable. The best harvesting season is during Autumn–Winter and fresh product is mainly marketed with the price of up to 100 U$D/1 kg fresh mass.Conclusion:A. lanceolatus, A.calcareusand A. setaceusare potential forest herbs for poverty reduction to ethnic communities in North Vietnam. The natural populations have been reduced remarkably because of overharvesting. Growing techniques are an urgent need for the conservation and sustainable development of such valuable orchids

The preliminary report of occult HBV infection in Vietnamese

Background: Vietnam is located in the endemic region of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, but no data of occult HBV infection was reported at present. Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of occult HBV infection in different ethnics of people and generations. Subjects and method: 80 voluteers with HbsAg negative from five different ethnics: Kinh, Tay, Mong, Giay and Dao in a Chino \ufffd?Vietnamses border province (Lao Cai) were enrolled in the study. After HBV-DNA was extracted, nested PCR of S gene and of Core-promoter/Pre-core region were used to detect HBV-DNA. Specifying nucleotide sequence was confirmed by direct sequencing. Results:The prevalence of occult HBV infection in population study was very high 73/80 (91,3%) by nested PCR of Core-promoter/Pre-core, significantly more sensitive than nested PCR of S gene (26,3%) (p<0,0001). The prevalence of occult HBV infection was notdifferent between ethnics of people or between children, adults. Conclusion: Occult HBV infection in Vietnamese is very common; however, nationwide further studies should be carried out to confirm this preliminary results and evaluate the impact of occult HBV infection in Vietnam.

Echo- and radionucleid-ventriculographical study on the change of dimention and the regional dysfunction of left ventricle in patients with old myocardial infarction

35 cases of OMI (with an average of 12 months after acute MI) and 44 control subjects were studied by echo- and radionucleidoventriculography. Results shown a larger dilatation of the left ventricle of OMI patients in comparing with the controls. 81.1% of OMI patients had heart wall movement disorders and their location identified by echo was consistent with the MI location diagnosed by ECG. There is a positive proportional relation between WMSI and the severity of heart failure.

Assessment of left ventricular function in former myocardial infarction patients by using radionuclide ventriculography

38 participants of study were divided into two groups. There were 28 subjects (25 males, 3 females) in case group, who had former myocardial infarction (MI) and history of MI. The mean age of case group was 62.5+/-7.4 years. 10 healthy subjects were involved in the control group. It was found that radionuclide ventriculography is a reliable explorative method for evaluation of left ventricular function in the patients with former MI. Sensitivity, specificity and parameters of EFx% (40.3+/-14.0), PER (2.3+/-0.7), 1/3ER (1.9+/-0.8) all decreased significantly in comparison with those of the control group. Left ventricular dysfunction on ventriculography related to site of MI and clinical level of heart failure. In the patient with former MI, there was relative closed correlation between EFx%, 1/3ER and grade of heart failure and PER had modest negative correlation with grade of heart failure

Study on the left ventricular systolic- function in the patients with the old cardiac infarction by cardiac ultrasound

A cross-sectional discriptive, compare and control study on the 125 patients with the old cardiac infarction and 55 healthy people was carriout in the Army Central Hospital No108 from 3/1995 to 3/1998. The age and sex between 2 groups were the same. The results have shown that the EF% calculated as improved simpson and the interval from point E of the anterior leaf of mitral valve to the left side of the ventricular connection Septal eirs were 2 parameters with the sensitivity and specificity higher than other parameters of ultrasound. The patients with the old cardiac infarction had significantly reduced the left ventricular systolic function. This reduction was corelated with the cardiac infarction. The most reduced the left ventricular systolic function found in the group of the cardiac infarction in the both anterior and posterior septal.

Assessment of left ventricular systolic function in patients with old myocardial infarction by radionuclide ventriculography

This study was performed on 41 subjects including 10 control subjects aged 57.8+/-6.5 and 31 patients aged 62.5+/-7.4 with old myocardial infarction (OMI), using radionuclide ventriculography (RVG). In conclusion, RVG is a useful method to assess left ventricular systolic function in patients with OMI. Some parameters such as sensitivity, specificity, areas under ROC curve: EF% (93.55; 60.00; 0.912), PER (93.55; 70.00; 0.903) and 1/3ER (93.60; 80.00; 0.929) respectively are higher than those of RVG are. EF% (42.014.9), PER (2.30.7), 1/3ER (1.90.8) in patients with OMI decreased in comparing with the controls. There was a correlation between the classes of clinical heart failure and EF%, PER, 1/3ER respectively (r=-0.52; r=-0.56; r=0.38; p<0.05) in patients with OMI

The change of the left ventricular morphism in patients with the myocardial infarction by ultrasound

The research was carried out on 140 patients with previous myocardial infarction and history of typical myocardial infarction, currently with the signs of the previous myocardial infarction by electrocardiogram and the group control of 55 healthy people. Results: the heart beat in the group control and group patient were 73,2+/- 11 and 74,6 +/- 12,7 respectively; the systolic blood pressure in the group control and patients were 77,9+/- 6,4 and 77,8+/- 8,6; respectively. The left ventricular internal dimension and diastole in patients was 61,2+/- 5,6 (mm), the left ventricular length diastolic was 87,9+/-11,3 (mm); the left ventricular area diastole was 44,7+/-10.99 (cm3); the end diastolic volume was 197,1+/- 74,8 (ml). The extend of the left ventricular expansion was direct provisional with the cardiac failure grade and position of the deep septal myocardial infarction.

A left ventricular form change of patients with old myocardial infarction assessed by echocardiography

Echocardiography was done in 104 patients with old myocardial infarction (OMI) and 55 control subjects. Authors found out that patients with OMI accompanying with left ventricular dilation (LVIDd = 50.3+/- 8.5 mm), left ventricular mass (LVM = 187.8+/-60.9 g), and left ventricular mass index (LVMI = 118.5+/-35.7 g/m2) increased compared with control subjects. The level of left ventricular dilation relates with infarct position and quite closely correlates with heart failure class (LVIDd = 39.53 + 5.87 x heart failure; r=0.629; p<0.001). In OMI group, patients accompanying with both anterior and posterior walls, the most dilation is the left ventricular. LVM increase closely correlates with the level of left ventricular dilation (LVIDd = 30.2+0.1 x LVM; r=0.78; p<0.001) and relates lightly with interventricular Septum and diastolic wall thickness (IVSd).