Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the total flavonoid content (TFC), vitamin C content, and the anti-hyperglycemic activities of pomelo peel extract (PPE) from the flavedo and albedo of two pomelo cultivars namely Long Co Co and Thanh Kieu in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. Thanh Kieu PPE possessed the highest TFC of 11.18 ± 0.14 mg/100 g from the albedo while the highest vitamin C content was found in its flavedo (47.74 ± 0.34 mg/100 g). PPE from the flavedo induced the mortality after 3-4 h of oral administration at a dosage of 5000 mg/kg. In the contrast, PPE from the albedo was considered a non-toxic extract. Albedo PPE from two cultivars was observed to attenuate the blood glucose level of alloxan-hyperglycemia induced mice (from roughly 350 mg/dL to 150 mg/dL) and there was no significant difference in the anti-hyperglycemic efficacy between albedo PPE and chemical drug (Glucophage). This finding showed potential in developing new functional food products or pharmaceutical alternatives from pomelo peels (an agro-waste) for anti-hyperglycemia.

Abstract The phytochemical investigation on Vitex negundo leaves has led to the isolation of one new iridoid glucoside (8α-hydroxy-4-carboxyl-5βH-9βH-iridoid-1α-O-(6′-O-(6,7-dihydrofoliamenthonyl)-β-ᴅ-glucopyranoside, 3), together with three known compounds, namely agnuside (1), 6′-O-E-caffeoylmussaenosidic acid (2), and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (4). The HPLC analytical study was also performed to quantify the content of agnuside (1) in dried leaves. The results indicated the very high content of 1 (3.04 ± 0.02%). The method was also validated by various parameters, including linearity (R2= 0.9999), precision (intra-day RSD ≤ 2.50%, inter-day RSD= 0.76%), and accuracy (recovery rates 96.58-101.86%). The animal testing data showed that the extract did not reduce pain at the doses of 9.6 and 28.8 g /kg (leaf weight/body weight) in the hot plates and pain measuring models but showed the pain reduction in the acetic acid-induced pain model. The extract at the dose of 5.6 g/kg (leaf weight/body weight) also had effects on the acute inflammation in the carrageenin-induced edema model. The extract at the dose 9.6 and 28.8 g/kg (leaf weight/body weight) also showed significant chronic anti-inflammation, comparable to methylprednisolone at the dose 10 mg/kg on the mouse peritoneal.

Abstract: This article presents the assessment of early-age cracking risk in a mass concrete footing which is cast under different construction conditions. A finite element (FE) model was developed for predicting temperature, thermal stress, and cracking potential in a concrete footing at early age. Different scenarios of concrete placement were considered to investigate the effect of construction stages on thermal cracking potential in the concrete. The analysis method in this study can help engineers optimize construction schedules to control temperature and reduce cracking risk in mass concrete structures.

Resumen: Este artículo presenta la evaluación del riesgo de agrietamiento a temprana edad en una zapata de hormigón en masa que se vierte bajo diferentes condiciones deconstrucción. Se desarrolló un modelo de elementos finitos (EF) para predecir la temperatura, la tensión térmica y el potencial de agrietamiento en una zapata dehormigón a una temprana edad. Se consideraron diferentes escenarios de colocación del hormigón para investigar el efecto de las etapas de construcción sobre elpotencial de agrietamiento térmico en el hormigón. El método de análisis de este estudio puede ayudar a los ingenieros a optimizar los programas de construcciónpara controlar la temperatura y reducir el riesgo de fisuración en las estructuras de hormigón en masa.

ResumenPosiblemente, la fiebre del dengue es la enfermedad viral recurrente más importante en los países tropicales y subtropicales que afecta cerca de 50 millones de personas cada año en todo el mundo. En las regiones del Altiplano Central de Vietman, la fiebre del dengue aun se considera como una gran preocupación de salud pública. Aunque los cuatro serotipos virales han sido identificados, el virus del dengue tipo 2 (DENV-2) estuvo involucrado en el brote más importante durante el 2010-2012, especialmente en el 2010 cuando los índices de mortalidad aumentaron considerablemente. El descubrimiento del genotipo DENV-2 proporcionó información del origen, distribución y genotipo del virus. En este estudio, el serotipo DENV-2 identificado de pacientes con dengue durante las epidemias de 2010-2012 se amplificaron y secuenciaron con E gene. Las secuencias consenso se alinearon con secuencias de referencia mundiales de E gene disponibles en GenBank. El análisis filogenético se llevó a cabo utilizando el modelo Neighbor-joining y Kimura 2-parámetros para construir el árbol filogenético. Un total de 15 cepas (siete de 2010, una de 2011 y 7 de 2012) se obtuvieron de las muestras de suero humano. El análisis filogenético reveló que el genotipo asiático 1 circula localmente en la región del Altiplano Central. Las cepas de este genotipo estan muy relacionadas con los virus de Tailandia, Laos y Camboya. El análisis también indicó que estas epidemias pudieron migrar a la región del Altiplano Central desde los países vecinos del sureste asiático. Los resultados de este estudio pueden ayudar en la planificación de la prevención y el control del virus del dengue en Vietnam. Un monitoreo contante de los genotipos DENV es necesario para confirmar los hallazgos recientes y detectar los posibles cambios del genotipo de los virus del dengue en el futuro.

AbstractDengue fever is perhaps the most important viral re-emergent disease especially in tropical and sub-tropical countries, affecting about 50 million people around the world every year. In the Central Highlands regions of Vietnam, dengue fever still remains as a major public health issue. Although four viral serotypes have been currently identified, dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2) was involved in the most important outbreaks during 2010-2012, especially, 2010 when the fatality rate highly increased. Detection of genotype of DENV2 provided information on origin, distribution and genotype of the virus. In this study, DEN-2 isolated from dengue patients during the 2010-2012 epidemics was amplified and sequenced with E gene. The consensus sequences were aligned with reference E gene sequences of globally available Genbank. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using Neighbor-joining and Kimura 2-parameter model to construct phylogenetic tree. A total of 15 isolates (seven from 2010; one from 2011 and seven from 2012) were obtained from human serum samples. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Asian genotype 1 is currently circulating locally in Central Highlands region. Isolates of this genotype were closely related to viruses from Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. It indicated that these epidemics maybe imported into the Central Highlands region from South-East Asia neighbor countries. The study results would help in planning for prevention and control of dengue virus in Vietnam. Continuous monitoring of DENV genotypes is necessary to confirm the current findings and detect possible genotype shifts within the dengue viruses in the future.

Paciente do sexo masculino, com 55 anos de idade, compareceu ao ambulatório com dores na costa e placas anulares ligeiramente sensíveis, com ulceração central na face. Uma biópsia cutânea revelou levedura disseminada, com brotos de base larga. A tomografia computadorizada do abdômen revelou uma fratura patológica da T12. Amostra de tecido obtido da coluna vertebral confirmou levedura em fase de brotamento. O paciente foi diagnosticado com blastomicose disseminada. Após tratamento com anfotericina e itraconazol, o paciente teve recuperação completa.

A 55-year-old male presented with back pain and slightly tender annular plaques with central ulceration on his face. A skin biopsy revealed scattered yeast with broad based buds. A CT scan of the abdomen revealed a pathologic T12 fracture. Tissue obtained from the spine confirmed budding yeasts. The patient was diagnosed with disseminated blastomycosis. The patient was treated with amphotericin and itraconazole and completely recovered.

Miliária é uma desordem das glândulas sudoríparas écrinas, que ocorre em condições de aumento de calor e umidade. Miliária pode ser associada com estados febris persistentes bem como com certos medicamentos. Apresentamos o caso de uma mulher de 40 anos com síndrome mielodisplásica e progressão para leucemia mielóide aguda que foi admitida no hospital para quimioterapia de indução. A paciente foi tratada com idarrubicina e citarabina. Ela se tornou pancitopênica e desenvolveu neutropenia febril. Iniciou tratamento com vancomicina e cefepime, mas a febre com sudorese noturna continou. Cinco dias depois a paciente desenvolveu vesículas difusas, não pruríticas e frágeis juntamente com a persistência de sudorese noturna. O exantema do paciente foi diagnosticado como Miliária cristalina, provavelmente induzida por neutropenia febril e exposição a idarubucin

Miliaria is a disorder of the eccrine sweat glands which occurs in conditions of increased heat and humidity. It can be associated with persistent febrile states as well as with certain drugs. We presented a 40 year-old female with myelodysplastic syndrome and progression to acute myelogenous leukemia who was admitted to the hospital for chemotherapy induction. The patient was treated with idarubicin and cytarabine. She became pancytopenic and developed neutropenic fever and was started on vancomycin and cefepime, but was persistently febrile with night sweats. Five days into her fevers, she developed diffuse, nonpruritic and fragile vesicles together with drenching nightsweats. The patient's exanthem was diagnosed as Miliaria crystallina, most probably induced by neutropenic fever and idarubucin exposure

PROBLEM: Streptococcus suis is a common cause of adult bacterial meningitis in Viet Nam, and possibly other parts of Asia, yet this disabling infection has been largely neglected. Prevention, diagnosis and treatment are relatively straightforward and affordable but, in early 2007, no national diagnostic, case management or prevention guidelines existed in Viet Nam. APPROACH: Enhanced detection of S. suis infections was established in 2007 as part of a collaborative research programme between the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, a key national hospital with very close links to the Ministry of Health, and a research group affiliated with Oxford University based in Viet Nam. The results were reported directly to policy-makers at the Ministry of Health. LOCAL SETTING: Viet Nam is a low-income country with a health-care system that has seen considerable improvements and increased autonomy. However, parts of the system remain fairly centralized the Ministry of Health. RELEVANT CHANGES: Following the improved detection and reporting of S. suis cases, the Ministry of Health issued guidance to all hospitals in Viet Nam on the clinical and laboratory diagnosis, treatment and prevention of S. suis. A public health laboratory diagnostic service was established at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and training courses were conducted for clinicians and microbiologists. Ministry of Health guidance on surveillance and control of communicable diseases was updated to include a section on S. suis. LESSONS LEARNT: Research collaborations can efficiently inform and influence national responses if they are well positioned to reach policy-makers.

PROBLEMA: Streptococcus suis es una causa común de meningitis bacteriana en adultos en Viet Nam y posiblemente en otras zonas de Asia, pese a lo cual esta infección discapacitante ha permanecido muy desatendida. La prevención, el diagnóstico y el tratamiento son relativamente sencillos y asequibles, pero a principios de 2007 no había en Vietnam ningún tipo de directrices nacionales sobre su diagnóstico, tratamiento o prevención. ENFOQUE: En 2007 se fijó el objetivo de mejorar la detección de las infecciones por S. suis como parte de un programa de investigación colaborativa entre el Hospital Nacional de Enfermedades Tropicales, un importante hospital nacional vinculado muy estrechamente al Ministerio de Salud, y un grupo de investigación afiliado a la Universidad de Oxford que trabajaba en Viet Nam. Los resultados se notificaron directamente a las instancias normativas del Ministerio de Salud. CONTEXTO LOCAL: Viet Nam es un país de ingresos bajos con un sistema de salud que se ha beneficiado de mejoras considerables y de una creciente autonomía. Sin embargo, el sistema sigue estando bastante centralizado en el Ministerio de Salud. CAMBIOS DESTACABLES: Tras la mejora de la detección y notificación de los casos de S. suis, el Ministerio de Salud transmitió a todos los hospitales de Viet Nam indicaciones sobre el diagnóstico clínico y de laboratorio, el tratamiento y la prevención de la infección por S. suis. Se creó un servicio de diagnóstico de laboratorio de salud pública en el Instituto Nacional de Higiene y Epidemiología, y se llevaron a cabo cursos de formación para médicos y microbiólogos. Las orientaciones del Ministerio de Salud sobre la vigilancia y el control de las enfermedades transmisibles fueron actualizadas para incluir un apartado sobre S. suis. ENSEÑANZAS EXTRAÍDAS: Las investigaciones en colaboración pueden fundamentar de manera eficiente las respuestas nacionales e influir en ellas si se logra situarlas adecuadamente para que lleguen a las instancias normativas.

PROBLÉMATIQUE: Streptococcus suis est une cause courante de méningite bactérienne chez l'adulte au Viet Nam et potentiellement dans d'autres parties de l'Asie, même si cette infection invalidante a été largement négligée. La prévention, le diagnostic et le traitement sont relativement classiques et abordables mais, début 2007, il n'existait, au Viet Nam, aucune directive nationale pour le diagnostic et la prévention de cette maladie, ainsi que pour la prise en charge des cas. DÉMARCHE: Un dépistage amélioré des infections à S. suis a été mis en place en 2007 dans le cadre d'un programme de recherche auquel collaboraient l'Hôpital national pour les maladies tropicales, un hôpital national important entretenant des liens étroits avec le Ministère de la santé, et un groupe de recherche affilié à l'Université d'Oxford et basé au Viet Nam. Les résultats ont été rapportés directement aux décideurs politiques au niveau du Ministère de la santé. CONTEXTE LOCAL: Le Viet Nam est un pays à faible revenu, doté d'un système de santé qui a vécu des améliorations et un accroissement de son autonomie considérables. Néanmoins, ce système reste relativement centralisé autour du Ministère de la santé. MODIFICATIONS PERTINENTES: Suite à l'amélioration du dépistage et de la notification des cas de S. suis, le Ministère de la santé a publié des directives à l'intention de tous les hôpitaux du Viet Nam sur le diagnostic clinique et analytique, le traitement et la prévention des infections à S. suis. Un service de santé publique pratiquant des diagnostics en laboratoire a été mis en place à l'Institut national d'hygiène et d'épidémiologie et des cours de formation ont été dispensés aux cliniciens et aux microbiologistes. Les directives du Ministère de la santé sur la surveillance des maladies transmissibles et la lutte contre ces maladies ont été actualisées pour inclure une partie sur S. suis. ENSEIGNEMENTS TIRÉS: Les recherches menées en collaboration peuvent étayer et influencer efficacement les réponses nationales si elles sont bien positionnées pour atteindre les décideurs politiques.