Impacts of Novel Vietnamese Government Regulations on Radiological PhD and Professorship Candidates: an Initial Report.

INTRODUCTION: In Vietnam, the successful publication of research in indexed journals is mandatory to obtain academic appointments and promotions in medical colleges and institutions, according to the current guidelines established by the State Council for Professorship and Ministry of Education and Training. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the impacts of novel Vietnamese government regulations on radiological PhD and professorship candidates. METHODS: This study evaluated freely accessible data, available online, and, therefore, did not require institutional review board approval. We assessed the numbers of radiological PhD candidates at Hanoi Medical University and the numbers of published Vietnamese radiological papers, from 2012 to 2019, indexed in the SCImago database. In addition, we evaluated the numbers of qualified radiological professors and associate professors employed at universities during the same period. We did not include nuclear medicine PhD and professorship candidates, in this study. The data are presented as bar and line charts. RESULTS: Following the enactment of 08/2017/TT-BGDDT and 37/2018/QD-TTg, we observed that the numbers of radiological PhD and professorship candidates were significantly reduced. From 2012 to 2019, only one candidate qualified for appointment as a radiological professor. However, the number of radiological papers rose dramatically during the same time period. CONCLUSION: The enactment of 08/2017/TT-BGDDT and 37/2018/QD-TTg had strong impacts on the numbers of PhD and professorship candidates. Owing to these new regulations, the number of published, international, peer-reviewed radiological papers has increased; however, some undesired consequences may have occurred, such as papers being published in predatory or suspected predatory journals, double or triple submissions, and plagiarism.

An Overview of Vietnamese Society of Interventional Radiology.

INTRODUCTION: The Vietnamese Society of Interventional Radiology (VSIR) is one of the world's youngest interventional radiology (IR) societies, with more than 150 members. During the first decade of the development phase, in addition to a number of achievements, the VSIR has continued to address problematic circumstances. AIM: This article aims to describe the current status of VSIR, to introduce VSIR to other IR societies. METHODS: We investigated VSIR, using internet sources and related academic and clinical papers. RESULTS: VSIR was founded in 2010 and has succeeded in advancing education and scientific research during the last 10 years. CONCLUSION: VSIR is widely involved and accepted in Vietnamese medicine. We recommend the launch of an IR training program and support a unified global IR platform, for the benefit of both clinicians and patients in the near future.

Vietnamese Case Series of Hirayama Disease.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Hirayama disease, a rare neurological disorder, is characterized by progressive, asymmetric muscle atrophy of the forearm and hand in young male patients. CASE REPORT: We noted two cases of Hirayama disease that appeared in the right upper limb and identified the cervical neutral and flexion position magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics. CONCLUSION: In the flexion posture, the cervical MRI allows early diagnosis of Hirayama disease and should be considered in patients with the typical clinical symptoms.

Comparing the Efficacy of Radiofrequency Ablation Versus Laser Ablation for Chronic Venous Insufficiency in the Lower Extremities: a Vietnamese Report.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a chronic condition, triggered by reflux through the saphenous vein network. AIM: To determine the efficacy of endovenous laser ablation (LA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for CVI treatment in the lower extremities, at the Bach Mai Radiology Center. METHODS: This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board of Bach Mai Hospital. The study recruited 49 people, from August 2016 to April 2018, with recurrent venous insufficiency in the lower extremities and measured 56 ablated veins. RESULTS: In this study, 8 patients (10 veins, with a mean diameter of 5.83 ± 0.96 mm) were treated with RFA, and 41 patients (46 veins, with a mean diameter of 7.96 ± 3.47 mm) were treated with LA. The occlusion rates for LA- and RFA-treated veins were very effective, at 95.7% and 90%, respectively. No significant differences in occlusion rates or clinical improvements were observed between the two ablation methods. On the first day post-treatment, the visual analog score (VAS) value for the LA group was significantly higher than that for the RFA group. Furthermore, ecchymosis, 1 day after treatment, and hyperpigmentation, paresthesia, and numbness, 1 month after treatment, were only observed in the LA group. CONCLUSION: Both LA and RFA were minimally-invasive and safe therapies. No serious complications requiring further interventions were reported and the treatment effectively improved the clinical symptoms of patients. Based on our study, we recommend that RFA should be considered for moderate dilated saphenous vein cases, whereas LA should be indicated for large dilated saphenous vein cases, with or without aneurysm.

A Case Series of Ethmoidal Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas Treated by Endovascular Embolization with Onyx.

INTRODUCTION: Ethmoidal dural arteriovenous fistulas (eDAVFs) are an unusual type of intracranial vascular lesion that commonly present with acute haemorrhage. AIM: We presented 3 cases of ethmoidal DAVFs treated effectively by endovascular embolization with Onyx. RESULTS: 3 patients hospitalized by reasons of stroke (2 cases) and vision impairment of the right eye (1 case). The digital subtraction angiography (DSA) showed the fistulas supplied by ethmoidal branches of the ophthalmic arteries (3 cases) and an additional supply from the ethmoidal branches of the internal maxillary artery (1 case). The cortical venous drainage was dilated and flowed to the superior sagittal sinus. The superselective microcatheterization through the ophthalmic artery allowed injection of Onyx sufficient plug around the distal end of the catheter without any complications. CONCLUSION: eDAVFs with neurologic complications could be treated effectively by endovascular embolization with Onyx.