Appearance of reassortant European avian-origin H1 influenza A viruses of swine in Vietnam

Three subtypes-H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2-of influenza A viruses of swine (IAVs-S) are currently endemic in swine worldwide, but there is considerable genotypic diversity among each subtype and limited geographical distribution. Through IAVs-S monitoring in Vietnam, two H1N2 influenza A viruses were isolated from healthy pigs in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, Southern Vietnam, on 2 December 2016. BLAST and phylogenetic analyses revealed that their HA and NA genes were derived from those of European avian-like H1N2 IAVs-S that contained avian-origin H1 and human-like N2 genes, and were particularly closely related to those of IAVs-S circulating in the Netherlands, Germany or Denmark. In addition, the internal genes of these Vietnamese isolates were derived from human A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses, suggesting that the Vietnamese H1N2 IAVs-S are reassortants between European H1N2 IAVs-S and human A(H1N1)pdm09v. The appearance of European avian-like H1N2 IAVs-S in Vietnam marks their first transmission outside Europe. Our results and statistical analyses of the number of live pigs imported into Vietnam suggest that the European avian-like H1N2 IAVs-S may have been introduced into Vietnam with their hosts through international trade. These findings highlight the importance of quarantining imported pigs to impede the introduction of new IAVs-S.

Vascular reconstruction of carotid artery invaded by extensive parotid gland carcinoma

A 63-year-old male with the left parotid gland carcinoma was operated with the reconstruction of the left carotid artery after the left radical neck dissection. The greater saphenous vein was used for the vein graft between the left common carotid artery and the medial cerebral artery. Postoperatively, a temporary loss of consciousness and a half body paresis of the contralateral side occurred, but they were recovered completely in 12 hours. Postoperative angiography showed a good blood flow in the reconstructed vessel.

Reconstruction of the carotid artery using a temporary shunt during an operation for advanced thyroid carcinoma--a case report

A case of a patient who required reconstruction of the carotid artery during a radical operation for advanced thyroid cancer is reported herein. The patient, a 64-year-old female who had had three previous operations for thyroid cancer, underwent a two-stage operation. In the first stage, the left cervical lymphnodes were dissected, but as a large metastatic node invading the left carotid artery could not be completely removed, some carcinoma tissue was left attached to the wall of the artery. The second stage involved a temporary shunt being set up between the common carotid artery and the internal carotid artery following heparinization, after which the invaded portion was resected, and the defect patched with a saphenous vein graft. Monitoring with a Doppler flow-meter and EEG were conducted throughout the operation. At present, cancer has recurred in the left submandibular and supraclavicular regions.