Hai phong University Of Medicine and Pharmacy

About: Hai phong University Of Medicine and Pharmacy is a education organization based out in Haiphong, Vietnam. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 620 authors who have published 403 publications receiving 8425 citations. The organization is also known as: Hai Phong Medical University.

Simultaneous PCR-Based Detection of Six Pathogens Inducing Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Abstract: Background: Since many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) show no noticeable symptoms immediately after the infections occur, their clinical documentation can be difficult. However, untreated infections with these pathogens may raise in time serious health problems. Conclusive identification of these pathogens is essential to limiting the spread of STD infections and other illness complications. Our study aims to test a molecular biology method based on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for the simultaneous determination in urine or vaginal samples of six pathogens that induce the most frequent STDs: Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis and Mycoplasma genitalium. Methods: Urine (men) and urine or vaginal samples (women) were collected from individuals suspected of sexually transmitted diseases. DNA was extracted, purified and amplified via PCR for simultaneous detection of the all abovementioned pathogens, and further identified in the mix using a 2% agarose gel electrophoresis, with ethidium bromide as staining agent. Results: Concentration and purity of the DNA extracted from all samples enabled proper identification of the pathogens causing STDs. Several double infections were noted. Conclusions: The method tested is accurate for simultaneous diagnosis of multiple STDs. We propose this technique to be used in population screening on the STDs incidence.

Combination antibiotic therapy versus monotherapy in the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: an open-label randomized trial.

Abstract: BACKGROUND The role of antibiotics in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations and their effectiveness in combination have not been clearly established. To determine whether using a combination of fluoroquinolones and beta-lactams improves the clinical and microbiological efficacy of antibiotics on day 20 of treatment, we conducted an open-label randomized trial based on clinical outcomes, microbiological clearance, spirometry tests, and signs of systemic inflammation in patients hospitalized with acute exacerbations of COPD. METHODS We enrolled 139 subjects with COPD exacerbations, defined as acute worsening of respiratory symptoms leading to additional treatment. Patients were divided randomly into two groups: 79 patients using beta-lactam antibiotics alone and 60 using beta-lactam antibiotics plus fluoroquinolones. Clinical and microbiological responses, spirometry tests, symptom scores, and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were evaluated. RESULTS Clinical success, lung function, and symptoms were similar in patients with or without fluoroquinolone administration on days 10 and 20. Combination therapy was superior in terms of microbiological outcomes and reduction in serum CRP value. Although equivalent to monotherapy in terms of clinical success, the combination showed superiority in terms of microbiological success and a decrease in CRP. The combination therapy group had a higher microbiological success rate with gram-negative bacteria than the monotherapy group with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (100% vs. 33.3%, respectively) and Acinetobacter baumanii (100% vs. 20%, respectively) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Concomitant use of fluoroquinolone and beta-lactam antibiotics for bacterial infections during COPD exacerbations caused by gram-negative bacteria appear to be effective and should be applied in clinical practice.

Quercetina na Melhora do Estresse Oxidativo/Nitrosativo no Cérebro de Ratos Expostos a Hipóxia Hipobárica Intermitente

Abstract: High altitude exposure is an extreme physiological oxidative/nitrosative stress and the brain is more sensitive tissue of the body. Quercetin (Que) is a natural flavonoid abundant in fruits and vegetables. The present study investigated the brain region specific changes in striatum, hippocampus and cortex on oxidative/nitrosative stress markers and the effects of Que administration in rats exposed to intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (IHH). Wistar male rats were exposed to short-term (2 days) or long-term (4 weeks, 5 days/week) IHH in a hypobaric chamber. Half of the rats received Que (30 mg/kg body weight) daily, before each IHH exposure. Control rats were kept under normobaric normoxia (Nx) and treated in a corresponding manner. After the last exposure to IHH, the brain was removed and the oxidative/nitrosative stress markers were determined in the three parts of the brain (striatum, hippocampus and cortex) tissue homogenate: the free radicals (malondialdehyde, MDA and carbonylated proteins, CP), nitrite plus nitrate (NOx) production and activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD and catalase, CAT). Results indicate an increase in free radicals and NOx production and a decrease of the antioxidant defense system in all the three regions of the brain after IHH exposure. The Que treatment significantly lower the free radicals and NOx production and significantly higher the SOD and CAT levels in all the three brain regions after IHH exposure. The observation suggests that the hypoxia differentially affects the brain regions and Que provides substantial neuroprotection against IHH-induced oxidative/nitrosative damage. DOI: 10.5935/1984-6835.20160027

Towards Targeted Interventions in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Risk Profiles of People Who Inject Drugs in Haiphong (Vietnam).

Abstract: People who inject drugs (PWID) are a dominant risk group afflicted by blood-borne viruses, mental health disorders, and social precariousness. Risk reduction interventions are administered to PWID regardless of their characteristics or specific risks. The objective of this cross-sectional analysis was to empirically identify profiles of PWID regarding their drug use, risk behaviors, and mental health in order to tailor adapted interventions taking into account limited access to comprehensive care in middle-income countries. PWID were recruited using respondent-driven sampling. PWID with urine testing positive for heroin or methamphetamine and manifesting recent skin injection marks were enrolled. Classification of participants was based on drug use, injection, risky sexual behavior, and mental health data. This was subjected to multiple correspondence analysis followed by hierarchical cluster analysis combined with K-means methodology. From October 2016 to January 2017, 1490 participants were recruited of which 1383 were eligible and enrolled. HCV prevalence was 70.5% and HIV prevalence 29.4%. The cluster analysis identified five distinct profiles: profile 1: recent injection practices and high alcohol consumption, profile 2: at-risk injection and sexual behaviors with precarious situations, profile 3: no sexual activity and older age, profile 4: frequent injections with high methamphetamine use, and profile 5: stable partnerships and less frequent injections. Our study has identified profiles of PWID at particularly high risks, and they should thus be targeted for interventions tailored to their specific risks.

Para-aminosalicylic acid significantly reduced tenofovir exposure in human subjects; mismatched findings from in vitro to in vivo translational research

Abstract: Aim Tenofovir and para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) may be co-prescribed to treat patients with concomitant infections of human immunodeficiency virus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. Both drugs are known to have remarkable renal uptake transporter-mediated clearance. Owing to the lack of clinical studies on drug-drug interaction between the two drugs, we conducted a translational clinical study to investigate the effect of PAS on tenofovir pharmacokinetics. Methods Initially, we studied in vitro renal uptake transporter-mediated drug-drug interactions using stably transfected cells with human organic anion transporters (organic anion transporter 1 and 3 [OAT1 and OAT3]). Later, we estimated clinical drug interactions using static and physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling. Finally, we investigated the effects of PAS-calcium formulation (PAS-Ca) on tenofovir disoproxil fumarate pharmacokinetics in healthy male Korean subjects. Results PAS inhibited OAT1- and OAT3-mediated tenofovir uptake in vitro. The PBPK drug-drug interaction model suggested a 1.26-fold increase in tenofovir peak plasma concentration when co-administered with PAS. By contrast, an open-label, randomized, crossover clinical trial evaluating the effects of PAS-Ca on tenofovir pharmacokinetics showed significantly altered geometric mean ratio (90% confidence intervals) of maximum plasma concentration (Cmax ) and area under the curve (AUC0-inf ) by 0.33 (0.28-0.38) and 0.29 (0.26-0.33), respectively. Conclusions Our study findings suggest that the PAS-Ca formulation significantly reduced systemic exposure to tenofovir through an unexplained mechanism, which was contrary to the initial prediction. Caution should be exercised while predicting in vivo PK profiles from in vitro data, particularly when there are potential confounders such as pharmaceutical interactions.