Systematic Surveillance of Rickettsial Diseases in 27 Hospitals from 26 Provinces throughout Vietnam.

In Vietnam, the public health burden of rickettsial infections continues to be underestimated due to knowledge gaps in the epidemiology of these diseases. We conducted a systematic study among 27 hospitals from 26 provinces in eight ecological regions throughout Vietnam to investigate the prevalence, distribution, and clinical characteristics of rickettsial diseases. We recruited 1834 patients in the study from April 2018 to October 2019.

Successful Treatment of Intralesional Bleomycin in Keloids of Vietnamese Population.

Background: Keloid is an overactive condition of the skin tissue to early lesions characterised by proliferation of fibroblasts, excessive collagen production in the lesion. Treatment of keloids is a big challenge because of the poor response rate and high risk of recurrence after treatment. We found that bleomycin offers promise in the treatment of keloids.

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.

Successful Treatment of Vitiligo Vietnamese Patients with Vitilinex® Herbal Bio-Actives in Combination with Phototherapy.

Background: Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary disease, that causes progressive loss of melanocytes, resulting in hypopigmented skin patches. Current treatments aim at stopping the disease progression and achieving repigmentation of the amelanotic areas. Corticosteroids, surgery, topical immunomodulators, total depigmentation of normal pigmented skin and phototherapy are current treatment options for vitiligo although phototherapy remains the treatment of choice.

Successful Treatment of Intralesional Triamcilonon Acetonide Injection in Keloid Patients.

Aim: Evaluation the effect of intralesional corticosteroid injection on keloid, at the National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology from 1/2009 to 12/2009.

Methods: A group of 65 patients with keloid were randomly assigned into three groups. In the studied group, 33 patients were intralesionally injected 7.

Efficacy of 10% Potassium Hydroxide Solution Versus 10% Salicylic Acid Ointment in Treatment of Molluscum Contagiosum - the Low - Cost Dermatologic Therapy in Vietnam.

Background: Molluscum contagiosum is a common viral disease primarily affecting children.

Aim: The objective is to compare the efficacy of 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution versus 10% salicylic pomade in the treatment of molluscum contagiosum.

Methods: Clinical trials on 70 patients were randomised into 2 groups: 39 patients treated with 10% KOH solution and 31 patients treated with 10% salicylic pomade.

Efficacy of BAFF in Monitoring Treatment Response in Early Vietnamese Systemic Sclerosis Patients.

Background: B-cell activating factor (BAFF) is considered to have a role in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Aim: We conducted a longitudinal study on early SSc patients to determine the change in BAFF serum level after treatment and its association with organ involvements.

Methods: A total of 46 patients (32 diffuse, 14 limited) were recruited, among which 35 patients (24 diffuse, 11 limited) completed 12-month follow-up.

The Efficacy of a Two-Fold Increase of H1-Antihistamine in the Treatment of Chronic Urticaria - the Vietnamese Experience.

Background: Chronic urticaria, a mast cell-driven condition, is common, debilitating and hard to treat. H1-antihistamines are the first line treatment of chronic urticaria, but often patients do not get satisfactory relief with the recommended dose. European guidelines recommend increased antihistamine doses up to four-fold.

Effectiveness, Safety and Tolerance of Methotrexate in Vietnamese Psoriatic Arthritis Patients.

Aim: To access the effectiveness, safety and tolerance of methotrexate (MTX) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treatment.

Methods: We recruit 37 patients, admitted at HCMC Hospital of Dermato-Venereology from 1/2016 to 3/2017, with MTX dosage ranging from 10 mg to 15 mg per week.

Results: Skin lesion response after 12 weeks improved PASI 50: 40.

Efficacy of Narrow - Band UVB Phototherapy versus PUVA Chemophototherapy for Psoriasis in Vietnamese Patients.

Background: Psoralen UVA (PUVA) and narrow-band UVB (NBUVB) chemophototherapy are treatment options for psoriasis.

Aim: To compare the effectiveness of NBUVB with PUVA in Vietnamese psoriasis patients.

Methods: We conducted a non-randomized trial on 60 patients with plaque-type psoriasis (30 NBUVB, 30 PUVA).

Efficacy of Oral Itraconazole in the Treatment of Seborrheic Dermatitis in Vietnamese Adults Patients.

Aim: This longitudinal study aims to evaluate the efficacy of oral itraconazole in the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis in Vietnamese patients.

Methods: Thirty patients were enrolled at National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology, Hanoi, Vietnam and were treated with oral itraconazole (200 mg daily in 14 days followed by 200 mg weekly in 4 weeks). The clinical severity was assessed by a four-parameter scoring system.

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.

Efficacy of Surgical Excision for Nevus Sebaceous - Vietnamese Experience.

Background: Nevus Sebaceous (NS) is hamartoma predominantly composed of sebaceous glands and is classified as a type of epidermal nevus. In most case, clinical manifestation of NS is typical, so histopathology examination is important only in atypical lesions for its risk of malignancy. Clinical symptoms are plaques or papules (100%), appearing in the head area (100%) with smooth surface (65.

Using Patch Testing to Improve Therapeutic Outcome in the Treatment of Hand Eczema in Vietnamese Patients.

Background: Hand eczema is a common chronic and relapsing skin disease with various clinical features. Hand eczema aetiology can be allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), irritant contact dermatitis (ICD), atopic dermatitis (AD) and unknown or combination causes. If the causative agents are not detected treatment of hand eczema will be a failure.

Efficacy and Safety of Methotrexate in Combination with Mini Pulse Doses of Methylprednisolone in Severe Alopecia Areata. The Vietnamese Experience.

Background: Treatment of severe alopecia areata remains very difficult, especially in alopecia areata totalis and alopecia areata universalis. Methotrexate is known to be effective in the treatment of severe and chronic autoimmune disorders.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness and safety of MTX in combination with mini pulse dose of methylprednisolone in the treatment of severe alopecia areata.

Clinical Aspects and Treatment of Pityriasis Lichenoides Et Varioliformis Acuta: A Retrospective Vietnamese Study.

Background: Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA) is an uncommon condition which presents acutely with papulo-vesicles that may develop necrotic, ulcerative, or hemorrhagic changes.

Aim: We studied clinical, and treatment characteristics of PLEVA hospitalised patients at our hospital from September 2009 to December 2014.

Methods: The records of 15 PLEVA patients were retrospectively reviewed.

Improving Treatment Outcome of Pemphigus Vulgaris on Vietnamese Patients by Using Desmoglein Elisa Test.

Background: Pemphigus Vulgaris (PV) is a chronic disease, is characterized by the presence of flacid bullous in skin and mucosa. There are 2 main autoantibodies against desmoglein3 (Dsg3) and desmoglein1 (Dsg1).

Aim: The aims of this study were to evaluate the before and after treatment outcome with corticosteroid, using Desmoglein ELISA test.

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.

Characterisation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates lacking IS6110 in Viet Nam.

Setting: The molecular diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in Viet Nam is often based on the detection of insertion sequence (IS) 6110 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, 8-11% of M. tuberculosis strains in South-East Asia do not contain this target and this undermines the validity of these molecular tests.

Epidemiology of isoniazid resistance mutations and their effect on tuberculosis treatment outcomes.

Isoniazid resistance is highly prevalent in Vietnam. We investigated the molecular and epidemiological characteristics and the association with first-line treatment outcomes of the main isoniazid resistance mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis in codon 315 of the katG and in the promoter region of the inhA gene. Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains with phenotypic resistance to isoniazid from consecutively diagnosed smear-positive tuberculosis patients in rural Vietnam were subjected to Genotype MTBDRplus testing to identify katG and inhA mutations.

Tuberculosis relapse in Vietnam is significantly associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing genotype infections.

Background: In Vietnam, the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing genotype is associated with multi-drug resistance and is emerging. A possible explanation for this genotype's success is an increased rate of relapse.

Methods: In a prospective cohort study, isolates from patients with smear-positive tuberculosis were subjected to drug susceptibility testing and to spoligotyping and variable number of tandem repeats typing before treatment and after recurrence of tuberculosis.

Clustering of Beijing genotype Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from the Mekong delta in Vietnam on the basis of variable number of tandem repeat versus restriction fragment length polymorphism typing.

Background: In comparison to restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) typing, variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) typing is easier to perform, faster and yields results in a simple, numerical format. Therefore, this technique has gained recognition as the new international gold standard in typing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, some reports indicated that VNTR typing may be less suitable for Beijing genotype isolates.

Increased transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing genotype strains associated with resistance to streptomycin: a population-based study.

Background: Studies have shown that the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing genotype is an emerging pathogen that is frequently associated with drug resistance. This suggests that drug resistant Beijing strains have a relatively high transmission fitness compared to other drug-resistant strains.

Methods And Findings: We studied the relative transmission fitness of the Beijing genotype in relation to anti-tuberculosis drug resistance in a population-based study of smear-positive tuberculosis patients prospectively recruited and studied over a 4-year period in rural Vietnam.