Chau Minh Tran

Background: There have not been many studies evaluating the results of Diacerein treatment in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and obesity, particularly comparing dosage levels of 50 and 100 mg/day. Methods: A randomized, single-blind, noncontrolled clinical trial was conducted at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Rehabilitation, Vietnam, from January 2023 to January 2024. Patients with odd-numbered records received Diacerein 50 mg/day, while those with even-numbered records received 100 mg/day. Primary outcomes included symptom and functional improvements, assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) scores at weeks 4 and 8. Results: A total of 256 patients (average age 58.3 ± 12.0 years; 59.4% female) were included, and 53.1% reported moderate pain, with average VAS and WOMAC scores of 64.7 ± 14.4 mm and 51.7 ± 11.4 points, respectively. Increased waist circumference, triglycerides (TG), and TG/high density of lipoprotein cholesterol ratio were identified as risk factors for severe knee OA, with respective odds ratio of 4.9 (1.6–14.7), 47 (12.5–176.1), and 22.5 (6.7–75.9). Diacerein significantly improved symptoms and joint function, with the 100-mg/day group showing faster and greater average reductions in VAS and WOMAC scores at weeks 4 and 8. The most notable reduction was 26.7 ± 11.3 for VAS and 20.7 ± 8.9 for WOMAC in week 4. Conclusion: Increased waist circumference, plasma TG, and TG/high density of lipoprotein cholesterol ratio raise the risk of severe knee OA. Diacerein treatment improves symptoms and joint function in patients with knee OA accompanied by obesity, with the 100-mg/day dose showing earlier and more effective improvement than the 50-mg/day dose.

Background/Objectives: Depression accompanying hypertension increases the burden of illness and negatively affects patients’ lives. However, depression among elderly with cardiovascular diseases in general and hypertension in specific has not been paid proper attention, especially in the context of Vietnam. Therefore, we expected to examine the prevalence, characteristics, and related factors of depression on elderly patients with hypertension. Methods: A cross-sectional study at the Department of Geriatrics, Can Tho Central General Hospital (from April 2020 to February 2022), involving 414 patients aged ≥60 years with hypertension. Depression was assessed using ICD-10 diagnostic criteria; related factors were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), KATZ12 index, and UCLA-LS3-J11 scale. Results: 31.4% of participants were found to have depression (mild 17.7%, moderate 9.7%, severe 4.0%). Common characteristics of depression included sleep disturbances, decreased energy, and low mood. Poor sleep quality, being female, lower socioeconomic status, higher hypertension grade, and increased loneliness were found to be significantly associated with depression. Conclusions: The high prevalence of depression among elderly hypertensive patients highlights the need for effective screening and intervention strategies. Addressing factors such as sleep quality, gender, socioeconomic challenges, and social isolation may help mitigate the burden of depression in this vulnerable population. This research should be expanded to elderly patients with hypertension in society, outpatients, and individuals with other chronic diseases. Developing a predictive model for depression in elderly patients, particularly those with chronic diseases, can improve early detection, treatment effectiveness, and overall care quality.

Background: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a common heart valve disease, causing many serious complications in several organ systems, especially the cardiovascular system. The 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) is a new technique for detecting potential cardiac dysfunction when only tissue function abnormalities are present. The study aimed to assess left ventricular (LV) systolic function early by STE in patients with primary MR through global LV deformity along the global longitudinal strain (GLS). Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was performed on 46 patients with moderate to severe primary MR as recommended by the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) 2017. Results: The prevalence of patients with GLS reduction with ejection fraction (EF) >60%, New York Heart Association (NYHA) I, and left ventricular internal diameter systolic (LVIDs) Conclusion: GLS index gives a significant sign in the early detection of cardiac function abnormalities before symptoms or other echocardiographic parameters in patients with MR.