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Meningoencephalitis is not a rare disease in children. However, eosinophilic meningitis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis is unusual in the pediatric population. We describe the case of a 12-year-old girl from the central area of Vietnam with eosinophilic meningitis due to A. cantonensis. The patient lived in a rural area, where farming is widespread, and presented with fever and headache. Laboratory results showed peripheral eosinophilia, a cerebrospinal fluid white blood cell count of 730/mm3 with 65% eosinophils. Cerebrospinal fluid ELISA was positive for A. cantonensis, and blood ELISA was positive for A. cantonensis. The presentation was consistent with a diagnosis of A. cantonensis eosinophilic meningitis. The patient recovered fully after administration of albendazole (200 mg/day for 2 weeks), as well as intravenous dexamethasone (0.6 mg/kg/day every 8 h) and mannitol (1.5 g/kg/day every 8 h) for the first 3 days, followed by 5 days of oral prednisolone (2 mg/kg/day).

Aggressive behavior is defined as an expression of animosity manifested in some way. Responses to aggression are most manifested in the form of physical, verbal, and relational manifestations. The existence of violent behavior in school-aged children is common throughout childhood and adolescence, particularly among boys. Student disobedience and hostility have increased in Vietnam's secondary schools, with an upsurge in instances directed explicitly at lesbian, homosexual, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students being the most prominent example. If they do not have support or assistance, many parents and teachers find it difficult to deal with their children's rage and violence during adolescence. Because of this, professional scientists, experts, and social workers are vital in offering aid to LGBT kids who other people's actions have victimized. According to the researchers, the findings of the study will be used to raise public awareness of anti-LGBT student antagonism as well as provide critical information for social workers and policymakers who engage with LGBT students in higher education.

Background: The feasibility and the safety of the thoraco-laparoscopic esophagectomy (TLE) was proved by several prominent academic institutions. This technique is technically challenging and requires advanced laparoscopic and thora-coscopic skills. With experience gained from open esophagectomy as well as laparoscopic surgery, thoraco-laparoscopic esophagectomy was introduced in our hospital in 2016. We report our experience in performing TLE. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective, nonrandomized, observational study in Hue central hospital, which is one of the biggest hospitals in Vietnam, from January 2016 to January 2021. This study included the esophageal cancers that were diagnosed by endoscopy and confirmed by pathology. Esophageal cancer with cT1b-3N0M0 using chest CT, ultrasound-endoscopy, abdominal CT was indicated for resection initially, while esophageal cancer with cT4N0M0 or T3N(+)M0 was indicated for resection after neoadjuvant therapy. The patients had the ASA I-III. All the data were analyzed statistically using SPSS software (SPSS, Inc, Chicago, IL). Results: We used the TLE technique to operate for 52 consecutive patients. All patients were in a semi-prone position. The male/female ratio was 47/5. The mean age was 57.3±6.3 years, and the mean BMI was 20.5±3.3 kg/m2. The preoperative location of the esophageal cancer was the upper one-third in two (3.8%), the middle one-third in 24 (46.1%), and the lower one-third in 26 (50.0%). The majority of our patients had cTNM stage II (30, 57.7%). Only seven patients (13.7%) had cTNM stage I, whereas 15 patients (31.4%) had cTNM stage III. Of the 45 patients (stage II and III) who needed the neoadjuvant therapy, 30 (57.7%) received short-courses, 15 (28.8%) received long-course of chemotherapy. For 24 patients (46.1%), the histopathology was squamous cell carcinoma. The remaining 28 patients (53.8%) had adenocarcinomas. The operative time was 311.2±45.9 minutes. We did not record either conversion or intraoperative events. The mortality and morbidity rates were 1.9% and 23%, respectively. The hospital stay was 15.6±7.2 days. The median follow-up time was 22±1.5 months, and the overall survival rate at one year was 84.7%. Conclusion: Thoraco-laparoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer with the patient in a semi-prone position is safe and effective, including the lower morbidity rate and the shorter operative time while preserving the long-term outcomes. © 2021, PJD Publications Ltd. All rights reserved.

Huyen Thi Thanh Vu,1,2 Hue Thi Mai,3 Huong Thi Thu Nguyen,1,2 Thu Thi Hoai Nguyen,1,2 Thanh Xuan Nguyen,1,2,4 Tam Ngoc Nguyen,1,2 Thang Pham,1,2 Lan Thi Mai Nguyen,1 Giang Thu Vu,5 Hai Quang Pham,6,7 Hai Thanh Phan,6,7 Bach Xuan Tran,3,8 Carl A Latkin,8 Cyrus SH Ho,9 Roger CM Ho,6,10,11 Anh Trung Nguyen1,2 1Department of Geriatrics, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 2Scientific Research Department, National Geriatric Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam; 3Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 4Dinh Tien Hoang Institute of Medicine, Hanoi, Vietnam; 5Center of Excellence in Evidence-Based Medicine, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 6Institute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam; 7Faculty of Medicine, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam; 8Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; 9Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore; 10Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; 11Institute for Health Innovation and Technology (iHealthtech), National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeCorrespondence: Huong Thi Thu NguyenScientific Research Department, National Geriatric Hospital, 1A Phuong Mai - Dong Da, Hanoi 100000, VietnamTel +84 973056334Email thuhuonglk@hmu.edu.vnPurpose: The high prevalence of chronic pain and difficulties in pain management in older people are challenging for healthcare providers globally. Patient satisfaction regarding pain management is one of the measures to assess efficacy of pain control as well as healthcare services. Thus, our study aimed to evaluate the older patients’ satisfaction with pain management and its associated factors in Vietnam.Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at National Geriatric Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam from May to October 2018. Face-to-face interviews were conducted on 495 older patients with chronic pain by using a structured questionnaire. The Pain Treatment Satisfaction Scale (PTSS) was used to assess the level of satisfaction with pain management. A Tobit regression model was used to estimate factors associated with satisfaction toward pain management.Results: The mean total satisfaction score was 1.77 (SD= 0.22). Older patients were most satisfied with the aspect of side effects of pain relief medication (mean=0.66, SD=0.56). On the contrary, they were most dissatisfied with information provided about pain and its treatment and efficacy of pain relief medication. Outpatients were less satisfied with information provided, the impact of current medication and pain management in general compared to inpatients. The regression model showed that patients with severe pain tended to be more dissatisfied with pain management than those with no pain.Conclusion: This study indicated that the general satisfaction with chronic pain management in older patients was quite good especially in the aspect of pain medication’s side effects. However, dissatisfactory factors remained, including information provided about pain and efficacy of current pain medication. Intensive training regarding pain in geriatric care, health education communication for older people, and improved quality of medical services should be performed to ensure the quality of pain management, especially in the older population.Keywords: chronic pain, elderly, pain management, satisfaction, Vietnam

Background: Laparoscopic cyst excision and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy is gaining popularity as a treatment for choledochal cyst in children. The aim of this study is to determine the feasible and safe of the laparoscopic excision with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy, and evaluate the short-term outcomes after treatment for children with choledochal cyst.Methods: A prospectively of 51 consecutive pediatric patients undergoing laparoscopic choledochal cyst excision and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy performed by one surgeon cysts at Hue Central Hospital from June 2012 to December 2017 was studied.Results: The mean operative time was 214.7±67.95 minutes (range, 100~360 minutes), including the time for intraoperative cholangiography. There were two children requiring blood transfusion. Time to first flatus was 40.35±28.55 hours in average. The mean time to drain removal was 2.89±1.02 days. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 9.31±3.43 days. 6 out of 51 cases having early complications, including 2 cases of pancreatitis and 4 cases of bile leakage. Most of cases (90.5%) were classified as good after 10 days to 3 months of follow-up.Conclusions: Laparoscopic choledochal cyst excision and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy was feasible and safe in children. The short-term outcomes were good in most cases.