Edema and the lack of blood perfusion produce opposite effects on the magnetic resonance characteristics of acutely ischemic rat kidneys.

Both kidneys of 28 rats were studied with magnetic resonance imaging (0.35 tesla, double spin-echo technique with echo-delay times [TEs] of 28 and 56 ms and repetition times [TRs] of 0.5 and 2.0 seconds). Kidneys were studied before and up to 4 hours after ligation of the abdominal aorta above the origin of the left renal artery (20 rats) or after ligation of the left renal artery (eight rats). Any changes in the relaxation times of cortex and medulla and in the cortex-to-medulla contrast (CMC) were correlated to histologic data and renal water content. After the first hour following ligation of either the abdominal aorta or the left renal artery, the cortex of the left kidneys showed a 20% shortening of the mean T2 relaxation time (P less than .001), a 16% shortening of the mean T1 relaxation time (P less than .001), a 73% increase in mean CMC on T2-weighted images (P less than .001) and a 42% decrease in mean CMC on T1-weighted images (P less than .001). There were no significant changes either in relaxation times of the medulla of the left kidneys or in relaxation times and CMC of the right kidneys. During the next three hours, relaxation times of cortex and CMC remained unchanged in the rats with ligated abdominal aorta. In the rats with ligated renal artery, relaxation times of cortex and CMC returned to normal values.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Knowledge and provision practices regarding medical abortion among public providers in Hanoi, Khanh Hoa, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

OBJECTIVE: To assess public service providers' knowledge of medical abortion (MA) and practices, and perspectives on expanding the use of MA to primary and secondary health facilities in Vietnam. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted via an interviewer-administered questionnaire among abortion providers (n=905) from public health facilities between August 2011 and January 2012. RESULTS: Overall, 31.1% of providers performed both surgical and medical abortions; 68.9% offered only surgical abortion. Providers were knowledgeable about the regimen/dosage of mifepristone plus misoprostol regimen; however, knowledge scores were low for gestational age limits for MA, adverse effects of the combined drug regimen, and safety and effectiveness of MA compared with surgical abortion. Knowledge scores were significantly lower among providers in rural areas than among those in urban settings. A large proportion of providers (82.9%) thought that MA should be expanded to primary and secondary health facilities. Perceived barriers to MA expansion included lack of knowledge and training, qualified staff, adequate drug supplies, equipment, or facilities, guidelines and protocols on MA, and patient awareness. CONCLUSION: Provision of MA in Vietnam was found to be disproportionate to surgical abortion provision and to vary by region. Knowledge of MA was moderate, but poorer among providers in rural settings.

Risk factors for repeat abortion and implications for addressing unintended pregnancy in Vietnam.

OBJECTIVE: To determine predictors of repeat abortion in 3 provinces in Vietnam. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study between August and December 2011, women who underwent abortion were interviewed after the procedure in 62 public health facilities in Hanoi, Khanh Hoa, and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). Information on sociodemographic factors, contraceptive and reproductive history and intentions, and opinions and experience of abortion services was collected. The primary outcome was repeat (≥2) abortions. RESULTS: Overall, 1224 women were interviewed: 534 from Hanoi, 163 from Khanh Hoa, and 527 from HCMC. The mean age and parity of the respondents were 29 years and 1.8, respectively, and 79.6% were married. Approximately half of the respondents were not using contraception before pregnancy. The prevalence of repeat abortion was 31.7%. In multivariate models, significant predictors of repeat abortion included living in Hanoi, higher parity, age 35 years or older, and having 2 or more daughters (versus 1) or no sons (versus 1) after controlling for parity (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Repeat abortion remains high in Vietnam, fueled partly by inadequate contraceptive use. Son preference seems to be an important predictor of repeat abortion. Strengthening post-abortion contraceptive counseling and promoting long-acting contraceptive methods are essential to reduce repeat abortion.

Service users' attributes associated with the uptake of medical versus surgical abortion at public health facilities in Vietnam.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the attributes of service users associated with uptake of medical abortion (MA) versus manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) at public health facilities in Vietnam. METHODS: Structured exit interviews were conducted among women who underwent termination at 62 public health facilities in Hanoi, Khanh Hoa, and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) between August and December 2011. Data on sociodemographic, abortion-related, and service-related factors were compared between women who underwent MVA versus MA. RESULTS: Overall, 1233 women completed the study survey: 541 (43.9%) from Hanoi; 163 (13.2%) from Khanh Hoa; and 529 (42.9%) from HCMC. Almost one-quarter of women (23.1%) had chosen MA. After controlling for sociodemographic factors, women living in Khanh Hoa (odds ratio [OR], 13.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.3-33.8) and HCMC (OR, 5.8; 95% CI, 2.1-15.9) were more likely to have undergone MA than women in Hanoi. Older women were less likely to have undergone MA (P < 0.05), and those who had previously heard of MA were twice as likely to have undergone MA (P = 0.020). CONCLUSION: Uptake of MA was lower than that of MVA and varied by province. Women in Vietnam will make their own judgment about which method to choose if they have prior knowledge of both.