Previous studies have reported in vitro antioxidant and inhibitory activity on xanthine oxidase of Jasminum subtriplinerve Blume, Oleaceae, which suggested the potential prevention of gout and supplementary treatment. This study evaluated analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and hypouricemic effects of the 50% ethanolic extract of J. subtriplinerve (EEJS) at the oral doses of 800 and 1200 mg/kg in mice. For acute oral toxicity, after oral administration of single doses of EEJS; mortality and toxic signs in male and female mice were noticed within 72 hours and 14 days. The analgesic effect was observed in acid acetic induced writhing in mouse model within 40 minutes. The anti-inflammatory effect was determined in mice-induced edema by 1% carrageenan. The hypouricemic effect was evaluated in mice with the peritoneal injection of potassium oxonate inducing acute and chronic hyperuricemia. The results showed that there was not any toxic sign in mice given orally at the maximum dose (Dmax) of 20 g EEJS/kg. At the dose of 800 and 1200 mg/kg, EEJS did exhibit analgesic effect until 40th minute. EEJS 1200 mg/kg expressed acute anti-inflammatory effect. EEJS had no acute hypouricemic effect at the oral doses of 800 and 1200 mg/kg. When given to mice with chronic hyperuricemia, 800 mg/kg EEJS reduced 30-44% blood uric acid concentration compared to pathological group. In conclusion, EEJS did not cause any toxic sign in mice at the Dmax of 20 g/kg. This extract had analgesic and chronic hypouricemic effects at the oral dose of 800 mg/kg in mice. 

Background: The COVID-19 epidemic has spanned four waves in Vietnam, the most recent and also the most deadly of which began in April 2021.

Methods: We reported on a group of University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City patients who were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection and were suitable for mini-pulse corticosteroid therapy with 125 mg of methylprednisolone twice daily for at least three days. Demographics, clinical, laboratory, and outcome data were gathered by electronic medical report. We also compared laboratory data before and after the start of mini-pulse corticosteroid therapy, as well as between the discharged and deceased groups.

Results: We gathered data on 25 patients. The average age was 61.5 ± 11.9 years, and 52% of them were male. Dyspnea was the most prevalent chief complaint. Almost all of them had at least one co-morbidity, with hypertension being the most common; all of them were put on oxygen supplementation, and 44% were started on mini-pulse corticosteroid while using a high-flow nasal cannula. Eighty-four (21%) reacted well and were discharged, whereas sixteen (4%) worsened and died. The deceased group was older than the discharged group (69.8 ± 3.1 vs. 59.9 ± 12.4, p =.005).

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that methylprednisolone at a mini-pulse dosage might be an effective and safe treatment option for COVID-19 inpatients in the inflammatory stage. 

The flowers of Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) Britton & Rose have been reported in vitro antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities. This study screened preliminarily the triterpenoid constituents and evaluated in vitro tyrosinase inhibitory activity of H. undatus flowers. H. undatus flowers were harvested from Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam at four different flowering stages, and their five separated parts (stamen, pistil, petals, ovary, and sepals) were extracted with ethanol. Triterpenoids were identified in the extracts by thin-layer chromatography and Liebermann - Burchard reaction. Tyrosinase inhibitory activity was evaluated using the dopachrome method with L-tyrosine substrate and kojic acid as the positive control. Results showed that at the different flowering periods, there was the formation of different parts of the flowers. The triterpenoid compounds are the main constituents in the H. undatus flower extracts. The 70% ethanol extract from H. undatus flower at the stage of 2 - 3 days before blooming exhibited the strongest tyrosinase inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 266.4 μg/mL compared to that of 7.60 μg/mL of kojic acid. In the case of separation of flower parts, 70% ethanol extracts of each part inhibited weakly the tyrosinase enzyme. In conclusion, the present study provided information about the morphological characteristics of H. undatus flower collected from Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam. Triterpenoid was found as the main constituents of the ethanolic extracts of H. undatus flower. The 70% ethanol extract from whole H. undatus flower at the stage of 2 - 3 days before blooming exhibited strong tyrosinase inhibitory activity. 

Introduction: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of comorbid diseases, that worsen the course and outcomes of respiratory pathology. The study aimed to determine role of esophageal symptoms in the diagnosis of GERD in children with recurrent and chronic respiratory diseases (RCRD).

Methods: The study included 125 children (70 boys, 55 girls), median 3,75 years (interquartile range, IQR – 1,21-9,38 years), with RCRD, refractory to standard therapy. GERD was diagnosed on the basis of clinical and complex instrumental examination, including fluoroscopy esophagus with contrast, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGDS), 24-hour esophageal pH-monitoring, dual pH-multichannel intraluminal impedance (pH-MII).

Results: In children with RCRD, the frequency of GERD was 86,4%. Among children without esophageal manifestations of GERD, pathological reflux was confirmed by instrumental methods in 81% of patients; in children with esophageal manifestations - 92%, with no statistically significant differences (p = 0,0637). Nonacid reflux is more common in patients without esophageal manifestations of GERD.

Conclusions: The frequency of GERD in children with RCRD is very high. It is possible to screen GERD in children with RCRD, independent on the presence of clinical esophageal symptoms. 

Introduction: Several generic products containing simvastatin are circulating on the Vietnamese market at a more inexpensive price than that of a brand-name one. These formulations, however, have not been assessed for in vivo bioequivalence to the reference product. After oral administration, simvastatin (SIM) is extensively converted into an active metabolite, beta-hydroxy simvastatin acid (SIM-A) and a very low concentration of simvastatin can be found in plasma. Therefore, a method for quantification of simvastatin and its metabolite needs to be developed with a high specificity and sensitivity to detect these analytes in human plasma at such low concentrations. Our purpose was to develop a reliable LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) method for simultaneous determination of simvastatin and metabolite of simvastatin, beta-hydroxy simvastatin acid, in human plasma and to apply this method to evaluate the bioequivalence of a test product in comparison with the reference product.

Methods: Mass spectrometry, internal standard (IS), and chromatographic conditions were investigated to find out the suitable IS and conditions. Human plasma samples were treated by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE). The assay was validated in compliance with US-FDA (United States-Food and Drug Administration), and EMA (European Medicines Agency) guidelines.

Results: LC-MS/MS with electrospray ionization interface in positive (for SIM and lovastatin as IS) and negative (for SIM-A) ionization mode performed under the multiple reaction monitoring mode was used for detection of the analytes. The transition of m/z is 436.00 → 285.15, 435.10 → 319.15, and 404.95 → 199.10 for SIM, SIM-A, and IS, respectively. Tert-buthyl methyl ether was used for extraction of analytes from human plasma by a simple LLE followed by addition of an ammonium acetate buffer. The developed method was fully validated with acceptable selectivity, linearity and linear range, matrix effect, lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ), carryover, dilution integrity, and intra- and inter-day accuracy and precision, free-thaw stability.

Conclusions: The method can be applied for quantification of these compounds in human plasma for in vivo bioavailability and bioequivalence studies. 

Introduction: Body constitution (BC) plays an important role in preserving health and reducing risk of diseases depending on each person’s physical characteristics. Classification of BC is almost based on the Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CCMQ). In Vietnam, there is still no questionnaire survey to assess the BC. Therefore, this study aims to adapte and validate the Vietnamese version of CCMQ.

Methods: 2 phases of the study: the first phase constituted the translation with cross-cultural adaptation of CCQM into Vietnamese according to Guillemin et al; the second phase assessed the reliability and validity of the Vietnamese CCMQ version based on a cross-sectional study.

Results: Phase 1 formed the final Vietnamese CCMQ version in which face validity and content validity are incorporated. Seven traditional medicine practitioners confirmed the content validity (CVI: 57%–100%). The face validity of the scale is qualified. In phase 2, 455 participants aged 18 years old or older were enrolled in this study from 01/2021 – 06/2021 in Ho Chi Minh City. Regarding the criterion validity, the correlation coefficient between Vietnamese CCMQ and SF-36 was 0.67 for the Neutral type and -0.31 to -0.57 for the rest. The internal consistency varied from 0.70 to 0.83 measured by Cronbach’s alpha. The test-retest reliability varied from 0.63 to 0.90 for each of the 9 sub-scales and from 0.40 to 0.68 for each of the 60 questions.

Conclusions: The Vietnamese version of CCMQ has good reliability and validity, which provides a strong basis for future researches on BC of Vietnamese Traditional Medicine. 

Introduction: Well-timed contraception after delivery using effective methods protects women from unintended pregnancies and improves the quality of life of both women and their children. However, little attention has been paid on the issue in Vietnam. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the percentage of postpartum women from 0 to 6 months using contraceptive methods and associated factors in Trang Bom District, Dong Nai Province, Vietnam.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was adopted. A systematic random sampling method was used to select 355 postpartum women. Women were interviewed about sociodemographic characteristics, reproductive history, and contraceptive use after giving birth.

Results: Of the 355 women, 63.1% used at least one modern or traditional contraceptive method; 58.9% current use, 4.2% previous use, and 36.9% never use. The most selected methods were withdrawal (41.1%), male condom (28.2%), and calendar method (24.4%). Multivariable analysis showed that women who had their menstruation returned, long postpartum duration, high education level, many years of marriage, and previous caesarean section were more likely to use contraception after birth.

Conclusion: The family planning program in Vietnam should focus more on postpartum women. Postpartum contraception should be consulted at all obstetric health centers before and right after delivery. Emphasis should be placed on the initial times to adopt contraception soon and not waiting until the first menses. Women should be encouraged to use modern contraceptive methods instead of traditional ones.