Quantitative measure of self-perceived gender relations in young women in the mekong delta of vietnam

Background: The conceptualization and measurement of gender-based relations and equity are still challenging to researchers worldwide. Given a growing number of health studies which want to take into account the roles of gender relations, there is a need for quantitative measures of this determinant

Objectives: Based on the theory of gender and power and results from our previous qualitative work, this analysis aims to examine the applicability, reliability, and validity of a set of self-perceived gender-relation measures in the Mekong delta of Vietnam

Methods: Data came from a cross-sectional survey of 1181 undergraduate female students from two universities. Second-order latent variable modeling was used to examine applicability of theoretical structures and validity of measuring items. Single-factor modeling was employed to screen for the most relevant dimensions of self-perceived gender relations

Results: The second-order modeling showed good fit, suggesting that the theory well explained self-perceptions of gender relations. The consistency of models across 500 hypothetical bootstrapping samples further substantiated factorial validity of measures. Students who ever had a boyfriend held slightly different perceptions of gender relations compared to those who never had a boyfriend

Conclusions: The final parsimonious set of measures which had best loadings onto perceived subordination consisted of ten dimensions; this provides a practical application to measure self-perceived gender relations in other health research

Anticancer effects of saponin and saponin-phospholipid complex of Panax notoginseng grown in Vietnam

Objective: To evaluate the antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo of saponin–phospholipid complex of Panax notoginseng. Methods: The in vitro cytotoxic effect of saponins extract and saponin–phospholipid complex against human lung cancer NCI-H460 and breast cancer cell lines BT474 was examined using MTS assay. For in vivo evaluation of antitumor potential, saponin and saponin–phospholipid complex were administered orally in rats induced mammary carcinogenesis by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, for 30 days. Results: Our data showed that saponin–phospholipid complex had stronger anticancer effect compared to saponin extract. The IC50 values of saponin–phospholipid complex and saponin extract for NCI-H460 cell lines were 28.47μg/mL and 47.97μg/mL, respectively and these values for BT474 cells were 53.18μg/mL and 86.24μg/mL, respectively. In vivo experiments, administration of saponin, saponin–phospholipid complex and paclitaxel (positive control) effectively suppressed 7,12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene-induced breast cancer evidenced by a decrease in tumor volume, the reduction of lipid peroxidation level and increase in the body weight, and elevated the enzymatic antioxidant activities of su-peroxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase in rat breast tissue. Conclusions: Our study suggests that saponin extract from Panax notoginseng and saponin–phospholipid complex have potential to prevent cancer, especially breast cancer.

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.

Thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy for control pancreatic pain

Background: Intractable pain is the most distressing symptom in patients suffering from unresectable pancreatic carcinoma and chronic pancreatitis and thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy is an emerging method in the past decade for pain control. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy in controlling pain due to pancreatic diseases. Subjects and method: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out between May 2004 and August 2006, on 29 patients with unresectable pancreatic carcinoma and chronic pancreatitis, treated by thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy. Their subjective pain was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS). Intra- and post- operative complications and mortality, operative time and hospital length also so have been evaluated. Results: Among 29 patients, there were 21 cases of pancreatic carcinoma (11 males and 10 females) and 8 cases of chronic pancreatitis (100% were male). The average operative time was 133.27 \xb1 8.32 min (range 90-270 min). 27 cases (93.1%) underwent bilateral thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy and 2 cases (6.9%) underwent unilateral procedure. There was no death due to procedure. The mean hospital stay was 4.86 \xb1 0.56 days (range, 1\ufffd?3 days). Pain relief was most effective in the 1st week after operations. Conclusion: Thoracoscopic splanchnicectomy is a safe and effective procedure of treating malignant and benign intractable pancreatic pain. It is needed to study long-term efficacy of pain relief for chronic pancreatitis.

Primarily using fine needle aspiration for diagnosis of liver tumor at the Huu Nghi Hospital

Fine needle aspiration under the ultrasound has been applied for the first time at the H÷u NghÞ Hospital on 25 patients with liver tumors. The results showed that number of patients with liver carcinoma, abscess and cysts were 18, 2, and 1, respectively; 4 patients were unable to be diagnosed because the samples could not be collected. Only 6 patients felt mild pain during aspiration. No complication happened

Clinical and paraclinical features of primary liver cancer

Primary liver cancer occurs frequently in male. It has a fatal outcome within the first 6 months and deaths are mainly due to coma and cachexia. 3 initial symptoms are often seen: anorexia, pain under the right costal margin and diarrhea. Liver cancer occurs frequently on a cirrhotic liver. Mass cancer and nodular cancer are the prevailing forms. Microscopically, hepatocellular carcinoma is the predominant picture. Metastasis to the liver pedicle nodes is often noted and distant metastasis is uncommon

Review of 41 deaths due to the primary bronchial cancer

Basing on the data of 41 patients who died due to primary carcinoma of the bronchus and all underwent necropsy, the authors note the clinical and paraclinical features of the diseases as follows: 1/ the modes of onset can be ranged in 3 groups: a/ respiratory symptoms (cough, chest pain, etc...): 29/41 (70.7%); b/ General symptoms (anorexia, tiredness, etc.): 9/41 (21.9%); c/ Radiological abnormalities only 3/41 (7.3%). 2/ The physical signs are seen in most patients: 40/41 (97.5%), among them diminished breath sounds are often noted: 27/41 (65.8%) and before pleuritic syndrome: 8/41 (19.5%). 3/ The radiological abnormalities are limited in 6 groups, three of which are the most common appearances: hilar and medicastinum shadows: 10/26(30.4%). 4/ History: adenocarcinoma: 21/41 (51.2%); epidermoid carcinoma: 16/41 (39%); oat cell carcinoma: 4/41 (9.8%).