Predictors of Neurological Disability at Hospital Discharge for Acyclovir-treated Pediatric Herpes Simplex Virus Encephalitis.

Background: Herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSE) is a rare but serious neurological infection that causes neurological dysfunction. Research is lacking on the clinical predictors of neurological outcomes and the optimal duration of therapy for pediatric HSE patients. In this study of pediatric HSE patients, we identified factors predicting neurological disability at hospital discharge and examined associations of acyclovir therapy duration with neurological outcomes.

Systematic fine-mapping of association with BMI and type 2 diabetes at the FTO locus by integrating results from multiple ethnic groups.

Background/objective: The 16q12.2 locus in the first intron of FTO has been robustly associated with body mass index (BMI) and type 2 diabetes in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). To improve the resolution of fine-scale mapping at FTO, we performed a systematic approach consisting of two parts.

Time trends in blood pressure, body mass index and smoking in the Vietnamese population: a meta-analysis from multiple cross-sectional surveys.

Introduction: Data for trends in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are needed to set priorities and evaluate intervention programmes in the community. We estimated time trends in blood pressure (BP), anthropometric variables and smoking in the Vietnamese population and highlighted the differences between men and women or between rural and urban areas.

Methods: A dataset of 23,563 adults aged 25-74 from 5 cross-sectional surveys undertaken within Vietnam from 2001 to 2009 by the Vietnam National Heart Institute was used to estimate mean BP, weight, waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), the prevalence of hypertension, adiposity or smoking, which were standardised to the national age structure of 2009.

Effectiveness of community-based comprehensive healthy lifestyle promotion on cardiovascular disease risk factors in a rural Vietnamese population: a quasi-experimental study.

Background: Health promotion is a key component for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study evaluated the impact of healthy lifestyle promotion campaigns on CVD risk factors (CVDRF) in the general population in the context of a community-based programme on hypertension management.

Methods: A quasi-experimental intervention study was carried out in two rural communes of Vietnam from 2006 to 2009.

Cardiovascular disease risk factor patterns and their implications for intervention strategies in Vietnam.

Background. Data on cardiovascular disease risk factors (CVDRFs) in Vietnam are limited. This study explores the prevalence of each CVDRF and how they cluster to evaluate CVDRF burdens and potential prevention strategies.

Implementing a hypertension management programme in a rural area: local approaches and experiences from Ba-Vi district, Vietnam.

Background: Costly efforts have been invested to control and prevent cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and their risk factors but the ideal solutions for low resource settings remain unclear. This paper aims at summarising our approaches to implementing a programme on hypertension management in a rural commune of Vietnam.

Methods: In a rural commune, a programme has been implemented since 2006 to manage hypertensive people at the commune health station and to deliver health education on CVD risk factors to the entire community.