Characterization of Smallholder Beef Cattle Production System in Central Vietnam –Revealing Performance, Trends, Constraints, and Future Development

The objective of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of smallholder beef cattle production in Central Vietnam. A total of 360 households were interviewed by using semi-structured questionnaire; a total of 606 beef cows were investigated for evaluating calving interval (CI). Thirty-two fattening cattle were monitored for the estimation of diet structure. Results showed that the cattle herd size was 4.32-4.45 cattle/household. In North Central (NC), 55% of surveyed farmers kept local cattle, 45% kept crossbreeds, and none of surveyed farmers keeping exotic breeds. In South Central (SC), 63% of surveyed farmers kept cross cattle, 32% kept local cattle, and 5% kept exotic breeds. In the breeding method, 70% of surveyed farmers used artificial insemination (AI), 20% used natural mating (NM), and only 10% used both AI and NM in SC, whereas in NC 40% of farmers used AI, 40% used NM, and 20% used both AI and NM. The variety of feedstuffs fed to cattle including roughages and concentrate. The concentrate in the diet for fattening cattle was 25%-35% and protein level was 11%-13%, and the average daily gain of cattle was 0.51-0.63 kg/day. The CI of cows was 12-13 months in SC, whereas in NC it was 13-14 months. There were numerous constraints to cattle production in surveyed households including diseases, lack of good quality feed sources, breeds, knowledge, and lack of capital. In conclusion, cattle production in Central Vietnam is small scale and still largely extensive. There are constraints that must be solved to improve livestock systems in the near future, especially when shifting towards semi-intensive and/or intensive cattle production systems.

Epidémiologie et prophylaxie de la mélioïdose, zoonose tropicale

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Development of a new biochemical test to diagnose and monitor neuroblastoma in Vietnam: Homovanillic and vanillylmandelic acid by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Objectives<br> The aim of this study was to develop an accurate robust testing method to simultaneously measure urine levels of HVA and VMA using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) and to establish age-specific reference intervals of HVA and VMA in random urines for Vietnamese children.<p></p>Design and methods<br> The assay for urinary HVA and VMA was developed based on a classical urinary organic acid profiling method. Briefly, this incorporated 3-phenyl butyric acid as the internal standard and liquid–liquid extraction with ethyl acetate followed by derivatization with BSTFA. The Agilent 7890A GC and 5975C Mass Selective Detector in single ion monitoring mode was used for analysis.<p></p> Reference intervals were developed from random urine samples collected from 634 disease free Vietnamese children and compared to 50 known neuroblastoma patient samples. Results were reported relative to creatinine concentration. Age related 95% reference intervals for urinary HVA and VMA were estimated from sample quantiles. The analytes (expressed as analyte/creatinine ratios) diagnostic values were determined by calculating the related sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratios.<p></p> Results<br> HVA and VMA were linear to at least 193 and 221 μmol/L, respectively. The limit of quantitation for both analytes was 0.9 μmol/L. Using the bi-level control (n = 15), the within-batch coefficients of variations (CVs) were less than 3% for both analytes across the assay range. The between-batch CVs (n = 20 over three months), were 3.6% at 11 μmol/L and 2.1% at 88 μmol/L for HVA, 6.6% at 18.2 μmol/L and 2.6% at 90.6 μmol/L for VMA.<p></p> Vietnamese age related reference intervals were established for urinary HVA and VMA per creatinine. HVA for children < 6 months (n = 91) was 5.3–37.0 μmol/mmol; 6 months to < 1 year (n = 141) was 2.7–27.7 μmol/mmol; 1 to 5 years (n = 139) was 3.4–17.9 μmol/mmol; 6 to 10 years (n = 136) was 2.7–8.8 μmol/mmol; and 11 to 15 years (n = 127) was 1.1–9.4 μmol/mmol. VMA for children < 6 months was 1.8–12.2 μmol/mmol; 6 months to < 1 year was 1.5–9.3 μmol/mmol; 1 to 5 years was 1.9–7.8 μmol/mmol; 6 to 10 years was 1.6–5.1 μmol/mmol; and 11 to 15 years was < 0.9–6.3 μmol/mmol.<p></p> Conclusions<br> A robust testing method for simultaneous quantitation of urinary HVA and VMA by GCMS was developed. This method is accurate, precise and fit for its clinical purpose and suitable for developing countries. Age-related reference intervals of urinary HVA and VMA were established for Vietnamese children and the intervals declined progressively with increasing age for each analyte

The prevalence of uterine fundal pressure during the second stage of labour for women giving birth in health facilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Uterine fundal pressure involves a birth attendant pushing on the woman’s uterine fundus to assist vaginal birth. It is used in some clinical settings, though guidelines recommend against it. This systematic review aimed to determine the prevalence of uterine fundal pressure during the second stage of labour for women giving birth vaginally at health facilities. Methods The population of interest were women who experienced labour in a health facility and in whom vaginal birth was anticipated. The primary outcome was the use of fundal pressure during second stage of labour. MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Global Index Medicus databases were searched for eligible studies published from 1 January 2000 onwards. Meta-analysis was conducted to determine a pooled prevalence, with subgroup analyses to explore heterogeneity. Results Eighty data sets from 76 studies (n = 898,544 women) were included, reporting data from 22 countries. The prevalence of fundal pressure ranged from 0.6% to 69.2% between studies, with a pooled prevalence of 23.2% (95% CI 19.4–27.0, I2 = 99.97%). There were significant differences in prevalence between country income level (p < 0.001, prevalence highest in lower-middle income countries) and method of measuring use of fundal pressure (p = 0.001, prevalence highest in studies that measured fundal pressure based on women’s self-report). Conclusions The use of uterine fundal pressure on women during vaginal birth in health facilities is widespread. Efforts to prevent this potentially unnecessary and harmful practice are needed

Near breakdown voltage optical beam induced current (OBIC) on 4H-SiC bipolar diode

International audienc

Cinnamon Use in Type 2 Diabetes: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE Cinnamon has been studied in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for its glycemic-lowering effects, but studies have been small and show conflicting results. A prior meta-analysis did not show significant results, but several RCTs have been published since then. We conducted an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs evaluating cinnamon’s effect on glycemia and lipid levels. METHODS MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were searched through February 2012. Included RCTs evaluated cinnamon compared with control in patients with type 2 diabetes and reported at least one of the following: glycated hemoglobin (A1c), fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), or triglycerides. Weighted mean differences (with 95% confidence intervals) for endpoints were calculated using random-effects models. RESULTS In a meta-analysis of 10 RCTs (n = 543 patients), cinnamon doses of 120 mg/d to 6 g/d for 4 to 18 weeks reduced levels of fasting plasma glucose (−24.59 mg/dL; 95% CI, −40.52 to −8.67 mg/dL), total cholesterol (−15.60 mg/dL; 95% CI, −29.76 to −1.44 mg/dL), LDL-C (−9.42 mg/dL; 95% CI, −17.21 to −1.63 mg/dL), and triglycerides (−29.59 mg/dL; 95% CI, −48.27 to −10.91 mg/dL). Cinnamon also increased levels of HDL-C (1.66 mg/dL; 95% CI, 1.09 to 2.24 mg/dL). No significant effect on hemoglobin A1c levels (−0.16%; 95%, CI −0.39% to 0.02%) was seen. High degrees of heterogeneity were present for all analyses except HDL-C (I2 ranging from 66.5% to 94.72%). CONCLUSIONS The consumption of cinnamon is associated with a statistically significant decrease in levels of fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglyceride levels, and an increase in HDL-C levels; however, no significant effect on hemoglobin A1c was found. The high degree of heterogeneity may limit the ability to apply these results to patient care, because the preferred dose and duration of therapy are unclear