The aim of this study was to analyze all new pulmonary tuberculosis cases and to assess the frequency and consequences of associated diabetes mellitus. Although apparently distinct, these two diseases could be linked, as suspected since decades. The context is the persistent endemicity of tuberculosis and the recent emergence of diabetes, two major health events for developing countries. The study was conducted at National TB hospital in Hanoï, Vietnam, and retrospectively included tuberculosis patients, cases with diabetes and controls without diabetes, collected during a three-year period 2006-2008. Cases associated with HIV infection or other comorbidities potentially affecting mortality were excluded. Among 2867 new pulmonary TB cases, 254 (8.8%) had associated diabetes. Eighty-six cases and 86 matched controls were included. Among cases mean blood glucose at admission was 14.4 mmol/dl, and patients were mostly urban (50% cases vs 32.5% controls, p=0.03). Clinical symptoms were similar in both groups. However, chest X-Ray cavitary images were significantly more frequent among cases (38.3% vs 16.3%, p=0.002, OR=4.1), as did infiltrative images (78% vs 62%, p=0.017, OR=2.55) and positive sputum smears (67.4% vs 47.8%, p=0.014, OR=2.21). In Vietnam, DM is found in quasi 9% of patients with a new diagnosis of primary pulmonary TB. The diabetes-TB patients may have more severe radiologic findings and a higher smear positivity rate. We suggest that in addition to the systematic HIV screening, all new TB patients should also be screened for diabetes.

The non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve (NRILN) occurs at a frequency of about 0.5% and usually on the right side (1). The non-recurrent course of the nerve is associated with an atypical course of the right subclavian artery coming from the left aortic arch (lusorial artery) (2). In this case, the inferior laryngeal nerve (ILN) leaves the cervical part of the vagal nerve. During embryological development, the ILN embraces the fourth right aortic arch that will form the right subclavian artery. However, in case of atypical regression of the fourth right aortic arch, the ILN embraces the third right aortic arch and will leave the vagal nerve at the level of the carotid bifurcation taking a direct course to the larynx (3).Preoperatively, the atypical course of the ILN might be identified indirectly using a barium swallow test or an angiography (Figs. 1 and 2) revealing a lusorian artery (4). However, during thyroid surgery, intraoperative neurostimulation (IONS) permits identification of an NRILN very easily (Fig. 3) and, as a consequence, a lusorial artery can be found during transsternal lymph node dissection (Figs. 4 and 5). The intraoperative detection of an NRILN using IONS is more practicable and cheaper when compared with preoperative imaging procedures (5). Furthermore, identification of the NRILN using IONS may lead to a reduction of inferior laryngeal nerve palsy (5). References1. Proye CAG, Carnaille BM, Goroppoullos A 1991 Nonrecurrent and recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve: a surgical pitfall in cervical exploration. Am J Surg 162:495-496.

A double-blind, randomized, phase II clinical trial was conducted within a 14-week follow-up including 2 weeks of the non-drug run-in period, 8 weeks of medication, and 4 weeks of follow-up after discontinuation. The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Trang Phuc Linh Plus in irritable diarrhea syndrome patients. Group I took Trang Phuc Linh Plus 3 tablets/time x 2 times/day for 8 weeks; Group II took placebo 3 tablets/time x 2 times/day for 8 weeks. Patients will be re-examined, tested, and evaluated over the phone for symptom recurrence and adverse events (AEs). This study showed that the Trang Phuc Linh Plus tablets tended to improve symptoms in patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea, suggesting its safety and tolerability.

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Nivea là một thương hiệu toàn cầu của Đức, được thành lập vào năm 1882, chuyên về các dòng sản phẩm chăm sóc da và dưỡng thể. Do đó, quảng cáo sản phẩm của hãng phổ biến khắp thị trường các quốc gia trên thế giới. Trên cơ sở lí thuyết về mô hình phân tích diễn ngôn 3 chiều của Fairclough, chúng tôi tiến hành phân tích 10 quảng cáo Nivea tiếng Hán tại thị trường Trung Quốc được lấy từ trang web http://www.youtube.com gồm văn bản, thực hành diễn ngôn và thực tiễn xã hội. Kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy đặc điểm ngôn ngữ mà Nivea đã dùng trong quảng cáo có tác dụng lớn trong việc thu hút sự quan tâm của khán giả; các chiến lược diễn ngôn như tự đại diện, phóng đại, cung cấp bằng chứng khoa học, thiết lập mối quan hệ thân thiết với khách hàng... có vai trò quan trọng trong việc xây dựng niềm tin với khách hàng; cuộc sống hiện đại với tiết tấu nhanh, đặc trưng về giới, quan niệm vẻ đẹp phương Đông cũng ảnh hưởng trực tiếp tới việc xây dựng quảng cáo.