Factors Affecting Successful Quality Assurance Implementation in Vietnamese Higher Education: A Qualitative Study

Quality assurance and accreditation was officially introduced into the higher education system in Vietnam over ten years ago. It is evident that quality assurance has resulted in positive impacts on university management, teaching, learning and research activities. This paper aims to explore factors that aid the successful implementation of higher education quality assurance and accreditation in Vietnam. Through semi-structured interviews with 32 participants, this study identified a number of factors that contributed to quality assurance processes, including awareness of the importance of quality assurance, better institutional manager leadership, support of university lecturers, staff, and students, and the vital responsibility of internal quality assurance staff. These confirm that internal stakeholders play an important role in undertaking quality assurance programmes and activities

Synthesis, crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 4-[3-(4-hy-droxy-phen-yl)-4,5-di-hydro-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-2-meth-oxy-phenol monohydrate.

In the title pyrazoline derivative, C16H16N2O3·H2O, the pyrazoline ring has an envelope conformation with the substituted sp 2 C atom on the flap. The pyrazoline ring makes angles of 86.73 (12) and 13.44 (12)° with the tris-ubstituted and disubstituted benzene rings, respectively. In the crystal structure, the mol-ecules are connected into chains running in the b-axis direction by O-H⋯N hydrogen bonding. Parallel chains inter-act through N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking of the tris-ubstituted phenyl rings. The major contribution to the surface contacts are H⋯H contacts (44.3%) as concluded from a Hirshfeld surface analysis

A novel diagnostic model for tuberculous meningitis using Bayesian latent class analysis

Background Diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is hampered by the lack of a gold standard. Current microbiological tests lack sensitivity and clinical diagnostic approaches are subjective. We therefore built a diagnostic model that can be used before microbiological test results are known. Methods We included 659 individuals aged ≥ 16 years with suspected brain infections from a prospective observational study conducted in Vietnam. We fitted a logistic regression diagnostic model for TBM status, with unknown values estimated via a latent class model on three mycobacterial tests: Ziehl–Neelsen smear, Mycobacterial culture, and GeneXpert. We additionally re-evaluated mycobacterial test performance, estimated individual mycobacillary burden, and quantified the reduction in TBM risk after confirmatory tests were negative. We also fitted a simplified model and developed a scoring table for early screening. All models were compared and validated internally. Results Participants with HIV, miliary TB, long symptom duration, and high cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lymphocyte count were more likely to have TBM. HIV and higher CSF protein were associated with higher mycobacillary burden. In the simplified model, HIV infection, clinical symptoms with long duration, and clinical or radiological evidence of extra-neural TB were associated with TBM At the cutpoints based on Youden’s Index, the sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing TBM for our full and simplified models were 86.0% and 79.0%, and 88.0% and 75.0% respectively. Conclusion Our diagnostic model shows reliable performance and can be developed as a decision assistant for clinicians to detect patients at high risk of TBM. Summary Diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis is hampered by the lack of gold standard. We developed a diagnostic model using latent class analysis, combining confirmatory test results and risk factors. Models were accurate, well-calibrated, and can support both clinical practice and research

Efficacy of Oral Isotretinoin in Combination with Desloratadine in the Treatment of Common Vulgaris Acne in Vietnamese Patients

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of oral isotretinoin used alone and in combination with desloratadine in the treatment of moderate acne vulgaris. METHODS: A comparative clinical trial was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of oral isotretinoin alone and in combination with desloratadine in the treatment of 62 moderate acne vulgaris patients. Patients were randomised into two groups with 31 patients in each group. Each studied group's patient took 20 mg isotretinoin and 5 mg desloratadine per day. In the control group, patients took only 20 mg isotretinoin per day. The treatment time was 16 weeks. The evaluation and follow-up were done at week 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 of the treatment. RESULTS: The studied group had a better curative rate than the control group (45.2% versus 22.6%). The average number of inflammatory lesions in the studied group was significantly lower than the control group (0.19 versus 0.94). The mean GAGS score of the studied group was significantly lower than the control group (3.71 versus 6.52). Acne outbreaks rate of the studied group was lower than the control group (in week 2: 22.6% versus 45.2% and in week 4: 16.1% versus 38.7%, respectively). The rate of itchy was lower in the studied group. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of moderate acne vulgaris, oral isotretinoin in combination with desloratadine is more effective and has fewer side effects than using isotretinoin alone

Efficacy of Oral Isotretinoin in Combination with Desloratadine in the Treatment of Common Vulgaris Acne in Vietnamese Patients

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of oral isotretinoin used alone and in combination with desloratadine in the treatment of moderate acne vulgaris. METHODS: A comparative clinical trial was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of oral isotretinoin alone and in combination with desloratadine in the treatment of 62 moderate acne vulgaris patients. Patients were randomised into two groups with 31 patients in each group. Each studied group's patient took 20 mg isotretinoin and 5 mg desloratadine per day. In the control group, patients took only 20 mg isotretinoin per day. The treatment time was 16 weeks. The evaluation and follow-up were done at week 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 of the treatment. RESULTS: The studied group had a better curative rate than the control group (45.2% versus 22.6%). The average number of inflammatory lesions in the studied group was significantly lower than the control group (0.19 versus 0.94). The mean GAGS score of the studied group was significantly lower than the control group (3.71 versus 6.52). Acne outbreaks rate of the studied group was lower than the control group (in week 2: 22.6% versus 45.2% and in week 4: 16.1% versus 38.7%, respectively). The rate of itchy was lower in the studied group. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of moderate acne vulgaris, oral isotretinoin in combination with desloratadine is more effective and has fewer side effects than using isotretinoin alone

The Emergence of Rotavirus G12 and the Prevalence of Enteric Viruses in Hospitalized Pediatric Diarrheal Patients in Southern Vietnam

Diarrhea is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in developing countries, and the majority of infections are of viral etiology. We aimed to compare the etiological prevalence of the major enteric viruses in an urban and a rural setting in southern Vietnam. We simultaneously screened fecal specimens from 362 children in Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Thap province that were hospitalized with acute diarrhea over a 1-month-long period for four viral gastrointestinal pathogens. Rotavirus was the most common pathogen identified, but there was a differential prevalence of rotavirus and norovirus between the urban and rural locations. Furthermore, rotavirus genotyping and phylogenetic analysis again differentiated the genotypes by the sampling location. Our data show a disproportional distribution of enteric viral pathogens in urban and rural locations, and we provide evidence of continual importation of new rotavirus strains into southern Vietnam and report the emergence of rotavirus genotype G12

Spatiotemporal evolution of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha and Delta variants during large nationwide outbreak of COVID-19, Vietnam, 2021

We analyzed 1,303 SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequences from Vietnam, and found the Alpha and Delta variants were responsible for a large nationwide outbreak of COVID-19 in 2021. The Delta variant was confined to the AY.57 lineage and caused >1.7 million infections and >32,000 deaths. Viral transmission was strongly affected by nonpharmaceutical interventions

The effectiveness of local surgical technique in treatment of axillary bromhidrosis

BACKGROUND: Up to now, surgical excision of apocrine glands still has been a method that yields high treatment results and low rate of odour recurrent for patients, but many people worry about some serious complications that have been observed postoperatively, such as hematoma and skin necrosis. These prolong wound healing, leading to unsightly scars in the axillary fossae. AIM: We conducted this research to investigate the effects and complications of our surgical technique for axillary bromhidrosis. METHODS: Forty-three patients with axillary bromhidrosis were treated. An elliptical incision was made at a central portion of the area marked, with both tips of the ellipse along the axillary crease. The elliptical skin with the subcutaneous tissue was removed en lock. The adjacent skin was undermined to the periphery of the hair-bearing area with straight scissors. The undermined subcutaneous tissue was removed with curved scissors, and the skin was defatted to become a full-thickness skin flap. Any suspected hemorrhagic spots were immediately coagulated electrosurgically. Appropriate drains were placed, and the treated area was covered with thick gauze to each axilla. Arm movement was strictly controlled in the first 3 days post-operatively. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients have been followed up and evaluated for 6 months. 56 out of 62 axillae (90.3%) showed good to excellent results for malodor elimination. All patients reported a reduction in axillary sweating. There were two axillae of skin necrosis and three axillae of hematoma, with one patient receiving an anticoagulant from a cardiologist after the first day of surgery, to treat heart valve disease. The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score decreased significantly, and the quality of life improved after the operation. CONCLUSION: Our technique is a simple surgical procedure and easy to perform helping to achieve results for high malodor elimination, with almost no serious complications. Patient’s life quality improved significantly after the operation

The Effectiveness of Oral Mini-Pulse Methylprednisolonein - the Treatment of Alopecia Areata in Vietnam

BACKGROUND: Systemic corticosteroid is used to treat alopecia areata, but it is associated with side effects. Mini-pulse therapy is thought to be effective but able to reduce side effects. AIM: The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of oral mini-pulse methylprednisolone in the treatment of alopecia areata. METHODS: Patients received methylprednisolone 16 mg orally for 2 consecutive days every week. RESULTS: After 3 months, among patients, 40% recovered well, and 55.6% recovered fairly. After 6 months, 82.2% recovered well, 17.8% recovered fairly. No adverse events were detected, and the recurrence rate was low (2.2%). CONCLUSION: Oral mini-pulse methylprednisolone therapy is an effective and safe therapeutic option for alopecia areata without side effects, and the time of the treatment is short