Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Vietnamese takeaway coffee: effects of coffee variety, roasting temperature and time.

The research goal was to estimate the level of risk to human health posed by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Vietnamese takeaway coffee. A variety of roasted coffee beans were collected and tested for the presence of PAHs in various takeaway locations throughout Vietnam. Furthermore, the effect of roasting conditions on PAH concentrations in Vietnamese Robusta coffee was also studied and demonstrated. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, a modern, accurate, and fast method, was used to determine the research results. Six PAHs, namely naphthalene, anthracene, pyrene, fluorene, phenanthrene, and benz[a]anthracene, were found in the 100 collected samples, with average concentrations (µg/kg dry weight) of 943.7 ± 40.3, 195.1 ± 4.9, 36.1 ± 1.1, 33.3 ± 2.2, 28.2 ± 1.7, and 2.0 ± 0.1, respectively. It was found that the tested samples were almost free of PAH4 contamination. The research showed that the total value of PAH quantifications in Robusta coffee increased with increasing roasting temperature and decreased with increasing roasting time. In addition, the calculated value of the total hazard quotient (THQ) was less than 1, and the obtained value of the incremental lifetime carcinogenic risk (ILCR) did not exceed 1·10-5, meaning that coffee consumers in Vietnam are safe from exposure to PAHs present in the investigated coffee beans.

Isolated arterial pulmonary malinosculation without sequestration in an adult: A case report and literature review.

Abnormal connections between systemic and pulmonary vascular systems are rare conditions and have been mostly documented in the pediatric population. We report a case of type B isolated arterial pulmonary malinosculation in an adult. The patient's chief complaint was intermittent hemoptysis during physical exertion. He had a dual arterial supply from the anomalous systemic artery and the pulmonary artery to the left lower lobe and the venous drainage was through the pulmonary vein. The bronchial connection appeared normal. The fistula was identified on chest computed tomography and was treated endovascularly. The patient remains asymptomatic at 1-year follow-up.

Oxalate Content of Taro Leaves Grown in Central Vietnam.

Leaves were harvested from four different cultivars of Colocasia esculenta and three cultivars of Alocasia odora that were growing on nine different farms in central Vietnam. The total, soluble and insoluble oxalate contents of the leaves were extracted and measured using HPLC chromatography. Total calcium determinations were also carried out on the same samples. The total oxalate content of the leaves ranged from 433.8 to 856.1 mg/100 g wet matter (WM) while the soluble oxalate ranged from 147.8 to 339.7 mg/100 g WM. The proportion of soluble oxalate ranged from 28% to 41% (overall mean 35%) of the total oxalate content of the leaves. The equivalent insoluble oxalate proportion ranged from 59% to 72% of the total (overall mean 65%). There was little difference between the Colocasia esculenta and Alocasia odora taro cultivars, although the total oxalate content was significantly higher in Alocasia odora cultivars. The overall mean total calcium content was 279.5 mg/100 WM and the percentage of insoluble calcium bound as calcium oxalate ranged from 31.7% to 57.3% of the total calcium content (overall mean 47.1%). The oxalate content in taro leaves is a major factor to consider when different cultivars of taro are recommended for human or animal consumption.

Asswss the effects of high-dose steroids in the management of traumatic optic neuropathy

This study was carried out in 47patients (47 eyes) with traumatic optic neuropathy admitted Cho Ray Hospital from March 2003 to March 2004, among them 39 cases were treated by high-dose corticoids. The percentage of traumatic optic neuropathy was 0.32% of all head trauma cases. Among 47 patients, there were 44 males, 3 females, mean age: 30 years old, lesions were in 18 right eyes and 29 left eyes, traffic accidents were in 46 cases (97.9%), mainly were motorcycle accidents. The mean duration for finding lesions is 20 hours and mean duration for treating is 37 hours. Visual acuity was severely decreased: 76.6% patients with no light perception, 85% patients with no light perception and light perception. Concomitant traumas included injuries in ear, nose and throat trauma (51.1%), teeth (40.4%), head (38.3%). CT scan finding revealed fractures of orbit in 19 cases (40.4%), of optic canal in 6 cases (15%). Treatment with high-dose corticoids (methyl-prednisolone IV 500mg-1999mg a day) for 39 cases had more effective than no treatment or low-dose corticoids (< 500mg) in 8 cases. The percentage of vision recovery in high-dose corticoid group was 38.5%, with 2 cases had complications of high glycaemia (5.1%). Early treatment within 8 hours after trauma could give higher rate of recovery. Prognostic factors for no recovery included vision acuity after trauma was no light perception, 4-grade soft tissue lacerations and no response after 48 hours of high-dose corticoids. In the optic neuropathy, the rate of vision recovery in high-dose corticoid group was 38.5%, and treating by high-dose corticoids had few complications, more effective than low-dose corticoids (p<0.05)

The application of OCT for diagnosis of central serous chorioretinopathy

In the study, 25 consecutive eyes of 25 patients (21 men, 4 women; mean age: 45 ± 8.5 years; range 30 to 58 years) with central serous chorioretinopathy were examined with optical coherence tomography (OCT) during acute phase and after the resolution of the retinal detachment. Cross-sectional retinal images through the center of the fovea were obtained from all eyes by OCT. The retinal thickness at the fovea center was measured. All of patients were conducted fluorescent angiographies. In the acute phase, neurosensory retina was thickened within the area of serous retinal detachment in all 25 eyes. The retinal thickness at the center of the fovea during the acute phase (range, 162 to 273µm; mean ± SD, 192 ±18 µm) was significantly thickened in comparison with that after resolution (range, 98 to 149 µm; mean± SD, 117±12.7µm). The retinal pigment epithelium was focally detached in five eyes