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The aim of this study was to corroborate the presence of CO 2 /H + -sensitive arterial chemoreceptors involved in producing air-breathing responses to aquatic hypercarbia in the facultative air-breathing clown knifefish (Chitala ornata) and to explore their possible location. Progressively increasing levels of CO 2 mixed with air were injected into the air-breathing organ (ABO) of one group of intact fish to elevate internal PCO 2 and decrease blood pH. Another group of fish in which the gills were totally denervated was exposed to aquatic hypercarbia (pH ~ 6) or arterial hypercapnia in aquatic normocarbia (by injection of acetazolamide to increase arterial PCO 2 and decrease blood pH). Air-breathing frequency, gill ventilation frequency, heart rate and arterial PCO 2 and pH were recorded during all treatments. The CO 2 injections into the ABO induced progressive increases in air-breathing frequency, but did not alter gill ventilation or heart rate. Exposure to both hypercarbia and acetazolamide post-denervation of the gills also produced significant air-breathing responses, but no changes in gill ventilation. While all treatments produced increases in arterial PCO 2 and decreases in blood pH, the modest changes in arterial PCO 2 /pH in the acetazolamide treatment produced the greatest increases in air-breathing frequency. These results strengthen the evidence that internal CO 2 /H + sensing is involved in the stimulation of air breathing in clown knifefish and suggest that it involves extra-branchial chemoreceptors possibly situated either centrally or in the air-breathing organ.

Objective: The study aims to explore the association between the adherence to dietary recommendations among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with their fasting blood glucose levels., Method: This is a cross-sectional anthropometric and dietary study conducted on 169 T2DM patients receiving outpatient treatment at the Central Nursing and Rehabilitation Hospital in Thanh Hoa provincial hospital in Vietnam in 2018., Results: The rate of patients who had good fasting glycemic control was still low (30.8%). Their diets were poor in energy and unbalanced; the contribution of carbohydrates to the total dietary intake was high (68.2%), and only 24.9% of patients consumed 4-6 meals/day. There was a statistically significant association between the dietary intake with carbohydrate dietary intake containing ≥60% carbohydrate and the number of meals per day (<4 meals) with their fasting blood glucose levels (OR = 4.964, p < 0.05 and OR = 16.508; p < 0.01, respectively)., Conclusions and Recommendations: Hospital staff are advised to combine treatment with dietary counseling to help patients controlling their weights and glycemic levels more efficient, thereby contributing to improving their treatment outcomes., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: All authors report no conflict of interest., (© 2019 the Author(s), licensee AIMS Press.)

Background: There are recently many studies about the anatomy of lower lateral cartilage (LLC). However, the microanatomic studies to identify the segments of most LLC at the nasal tip in Vietnamese are very rare., Aim: Investigate the macroanatomic and microanatomic characteristics of the LLC and the structures of the nasal tip., Methods: Descriptive study, 30 cadaver noses fixed by 10% formalin, 2 cadaver noses fixed by HE in 69 Institutes in Vietnam from December 2017 to April 2019., Results: The average length of the medial crus is 12.3 mm on the right and 13.2 mm on the left. The maximum intercrural distance is 10.7 mm. The average length of the dome is 3.7 mm and 3.9 mm on the right and left side separately, with 2 subunits are the domal and lobular segment. The average thickness of the tip points is 1.0 mm. The width of the interdomal and intercrural ligaments are 0.5-fold the height and 2-fold the thickness. The thickness of the interdomal fat pad is 3mm and about 0.5-fold the wide., Conclusion: The LLC has 3 parts: intermediate, medial and lateral crus. The microanatomic structures of tip consist of the interdomal ligaments, intercrural ligaments, SMAS and interdomal fat pad., (Copyright: © 2019 Tran Dang Khoa, Ho Nguyen Anh Tuan, Nguyen Duy Bac, Nguyen Thanh Van, Pham Dang Dieu, Nguyen Thi Phuong, Vu Thi Nga, Toi Chu Dinh.)

Background: In medical literature, there are few studies provided a precise and detailed description of the facial nerve rami and its branches., Aim: Identify several practical anatomic landmarks related to the facial nerve main trunk and its rami., Methods: A descriptive study, 30 cadavers in the anatomy department of UPNT from October 2012 to April 2015., Results: The average distance from the mandibular angle to the division of the facial nerve is 40.8 mm, and is 86.6% from range 36 - 50 mm. There is 86.7% case in which the facial nerve is in the lateral of the retromandibular vein, and there is a significant difference about both sides. Eighty percent of the case has the superior and inferior ramus in the lateral to the retromandibular vein. There are 2 cases in which the superior ramus makes the circle of the vein. Eighty percent of the facial nerve is in the lateral to the external carotid artery., Conclusion: The distance from the mandibular to the division of the facial nerve is longer. The relationship between the superior/inferior ramus and the retromandibular vein maybe not the same in both sides. In some cases, it makes the circle of the vein to cause some complication in the parotid gland surgery., (Copyright: © 2019 Tran Dang Khoa, Nguyen Duy Bac, Hoang Van Luong, Tran Ngoc Anh, Nguyen Thi Phuong, Vu Thi Nga, Toi Chu Dinh.)

Background: Maxillary Lefort I osteotomy, mandibular bilateral sagittal split ramus was frequently used in correcting skeletal class III malocclusion. There was a lack of research on class III malocclusion patients' quality of life (QoL) after bimaxillary osteotomy., Aim: Class I Intermaxillary relationship was achieved, aesthetic was significantly improved. Significant improvement in Class III skeletal patients' quality of life was acquired. The achievement of harmonious face would be beneficial to the facial aesthetics of patients, thus improving the quality of life., Methods: Harmonious face index is an effective criterion in assessing the surgery's outcome. In this study was conducted on 30 patients at Hanoi National Hospital of Odontostomatology, Viet Duc Hospital, and Hong Ngoc Hospital from April 2017 to April 2018, and it was a quasi-experimental study with self-comparison, 12 months follow up., Results: Orthognathic surgery effectively corrected malocclusion crossbite, dental compensation, and helped to improve facial aesthetics. 100% of patients had the quality of life improved, good quality of life consisted of 86.7%. In comparison with a harmonious facial index of Kinh ethnic in Vietnam, 70% of patients achieved skeletal harmony, 63.3% of patients achieved dental harmony, 80% achieved soft tissue harmony., Conclusions: Vietnamese harmonious facial index should be used in planning and pre-surgical simulation., (Copyright: © 2019 Nguyen Hoang Minh, Truong Manh Dung, Vo Truong Nhu Ngoc, Pham Hoang Tuan, Nguyen Hong Ha, Le Van Son, Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong, Hoang Thi Doi, Vo Van Thanh, Thien Chu Dinh, Nguyen Thi Phuong, Toi Chu Dinh.)

Background: Nowadays, there are few types of research held in Vietnam to investigate the anthropometric index of the nose as well as analysis the structure of nasal tip on ultrasound to identify the relationship between these parameters., Aim: To determine the relationship between the height and the width of the nasal tip and the structures constructed these areas by anthropometric and ultrasound measurement., Methods: A descriptive study in Thanh Van Hospital from December 2017 to April 2019., Results: There were 94 women (62.7%), and 56 men (37.3%) and the average age were 33.6 years old. The height and width of the nasal tip are 10.1 mm and 21.7 mm, respectively. Through the ultrasound, the thickness of the adipose tissues is 3 mm. The width of the interdomal fat pad is 6.5 mm and the distance between two tip point is 5.6 mm. There are the relationships between the distance of two tip points and the width of the tip (r = 0.341), and the width of the interdomal fat pad (r = 0.72). There is also the correlation between the width of the nasal tip with the distance of two tip points (r = 0.46) and the height of the tip with the thickness of the interdomal fat pad (r = 1.23)., Conclusion: The thickness of the interdomal fat affects the height of the tip, and the distance of two tip points influences the width of the tip., (Copyright: © 2019 Tran Dang Khoa, Nguyen Thanh Van, Ho Nguyen Anh Tuan, Nguyen Duy Bac, Pham Dang Dieu, Nguyen Thi Phuong, Vu Thi Nga.)

Background: Our knowledge about characteristics of the thalamocortical tract (THT) according to the cerebral origin is still few of studies about this structure on Vietnamese., Aim: Here, we aim to characterise the morphology of the thalamocortical tract in the human brain using diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) at 3.0 tesla scanner., Methods: Fifty healthy subjects have enrolled in this study. Reconstructed images of the thalamocortical tract in the human brain were built using DTT at 3.0 tesla scanner., Results: The median length of the right thalamocortical tract was 130.64 mm, and the left THT was 123.14 mm, and an average of two sides was 126.34 mm. The difference between the two sides was statically significance (p < 0.001). The median fibre number of the right THT was 401.50, and the left THT was 315.00, and an average of two sides was 365.50. There was a diverse branch of THT: two branches (5%); three branches (25%); four branches (42%); five branches (16%); six branches (12%); in which branched contralateral for the right was 50%, and for the left was 50%., Conclusion: Using the DTI and 3D image reconstruction techniques allow to build the image of sensory THT intuitively and accurately, which helps to identify the morphological characteristic of the thalamocortical tract of healthy people without invasive effects., (Copyright: © 2019 Lam Khanh, Nguyen Duy Bac, Pham Thanh Nguyen, Tran Viet Tien, Vo Truong Nhu Ngoc, Thien Chu-Dinh, Nguyen Thi Phuon.)

Aquaculture systems are highly complex, dynamic and interconnected systems influenced by environmental, biological, cultural, socio-economic and human behavioural factors. Intensification of aquaculture production is likely to drive indiscriminate use of antibiotics to treat or prevent disease and increase productivity, often to compensate for management and husbandry deficiencies. Surveillance or monitoring of antibiotic usage (ABU) and antibiotic resistance (ABR) is often lacking or absent. Consequently, there are knowledge gaps for the risk of ABR emergence and human exposure to ABR in these systems and the wider environment. The aim of this study was to use a systems-thinking approach to map two aquaculture systems in Vietnam - striped catfish and white-leg shrimp - to identify hotspots for emergence and selection of resistance, and human exposure to antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. System mapping was conducted by stakeholders at an interdisciplinary workshop in Hanoi, Vietnam during January 2018, and the maps generated were refined until consensus. Thereafter, literature was reviewed to complement and cross-reference information and to validate the final maps. The maps and component interactions with the environment revealed the grow-out phase, where juveniles are cultured to harvest size, to be a key hotspot for emergence of ABR in both systems due to direct and indirect ABU, exposure to water contaminated with antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and duration of this stage. The pathways for human exposure to antibiotics and ABR were characterised as: occupational (on-farm and at different handling points along the value chain), through consumption (bacterial contamination and residues) and by environmental routes. By using systems thinking and mapping by stakeholders to identify hotspots we demonstrate the applicability of an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to characterising ABU in aquaculture. This work provides a foundation to quantify risks at different points, understand interactions between components, and identify stakeholders who can lead and implement change., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Many medicinal plants have been shown to possess biological effects, including immuno-modulatory activities on human and other mammals. However, studies about the potential mechanisms of plant extracts on the humoral and tissular immunities in fish have received less attention. This study aimed to screen the immunestimulating properties of 20 ethanol plant extracts on striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus leukocytes. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and head kidney leukocytes (HKLs) of striped catfish (50 ± 5 g per fish) were stimulated at 10 and 100 μg of each plant extract per mL of cell culture medium. Several humoral immune parameters (lysozyme, complement and total immunoglobulin) were examined at 24-h post stimulation (hps). Furthermore, the responses of four cytokine genes, namely il1β, ifrγ 2a and b, and mhc class II were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hps. The results showed that lysozyme, complement as well as total immunoglobulin levels in both PBMCs and HKLs were regulated by some of the plant extracts tested in a concentration-dependent manner; some plant extracts induced the highest immune responses at the low dose (10 μg mL -1 ) while others were more efficient at high dose (100 μg mL -1 ). Among the extracts, five extracts including garlic Allium sativum L. (As), neem Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Ai), asthma-plant Euphorbia hirta L. (Eh), bhumi amla Phyllanthus amarus Schum. et Thonn (Pa), and ginger Zingiber officinale Rosc (Zo) induced significant changes in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine (il1β), antiviral cytokines (ifrγ 2a and b) and adaptive immune cytokine (mhc class II) in striped catfish cells. Pa always modulated the strongest expression of the four cytokines in PBMCs and HKLs over the whole experimental period (p < 0.05), whereas Zo did not stimulate the mhc class II expression in striped catfish leukocytes throughout experimental periods. These in vitro results demonstrated that some plant extracts could differently modulate great potential immune response in fish, supporting their applications in further in vivo experiments., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of different oxidation degrees and volume ratios of components on the physical properties and biocompatibility of an in situ cross-linking chitosan-hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel for skin wound healing applications. Carboxymethyl groups (-CH 2 COOH) were introduced to the polymer chain of chitosan, producing N,O - Carboxymethyl Chitosan (NOCC). Hyaluronic acid was oxidized to obtain aldehyde hyaluronic acid (AHA) with three oxidation degrees (AHA40, AHA50 and AHA60). The gelation was induced by forming Schiff base linkage between aldehyde groups of AHA and amino groups of NOCC. Then, the polysaccharide derivatives were combined at three NOCC:AHA volume ratios (3:7, 5:5 and 7:3) to form composite hydrogels without using any additional cross-linker. FT-IR analysis, surface morphology observation and wettability test, in vitro degradation test and rheological analysis were carried out to characterize the hydrogels. Additionally, in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo wound healing evaluations were also conducted to study the biocompatibility of the composite. Our findings showed that when increasing the volume of NOCC, the homogeneity and hydrophobicity of the resulting hydrogels were also improved and their pore walls became thicker, leading to slower degradation rate. On the other hand, when raising the oxidation degree of AHA, the hydrophilicity of the gels decreased and less time was required to form the gel matrix. Besides, the obtained in vitro and in vivo results indicated that lower oxidation degree of AHA supports cell proliferation, cell attachment and wound healing process better. It is also concluded that NOCC-AHA40 5:5 hydrogel is most suitable for skin wound healing applications since it possesses superior morphology with high uniformity, favorable pore size and suitable density along with appropriate wettability. The NOCC-AHA gel matrix is expected to be used as a delivery system for other factors and employed as an effective bio-glue in further tissue engineering applications., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A feeding trial was performed to compare the effects of five ethanol herbal extracts (bhumi amla, Phyllanthus amarus Schum and Thonn [Pa]; guava, Psidium guajava L. [Pg]; sensitive plant, Mimosa pudica L. [Mp]; neem, Azadirachta indica A. Juss [Ai] and asthma plant, Euphorbia hirta L. [Eh]) on the immune response and disease resistance against Edwardsiella ictaluri infection of striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus). Fish were fed diets supplemented with two doses of each plant extract (0% [basal diet], 0.4% Eh [Eh0.4], 2.0% Eh [Eh2.0], 0.2% Pa [Pa0.2], 1.0% Pa [Pa1.0], 0.2% Pg [Pg0.2], 1.0% Pg [Pg1.0], 0.4% Mp [Mp0.4], 2.0% Mp [Mp2.0], 0.4% Ai [Ai0.4], 2.0% Ai [Ai2.0]) for 8 weeks. Results showed that hematological parameters (total red blood cells, white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils) of fish fed extract-based diets were significantly higher than in those fed the control diet (p < 0.05) after 4 and 8 weeks. Plasma lysozyme activity increased in fish whose diets contained both doses of Eh (p < 0.05) in week 4 (W4), whereas lysozyme activity increased in fish fed 0.2% Pa and Pg, and 2.0% Ai and Eh (p < 0.05) in week 8 (W8). The lysozyme levels in skin mucus did not significantly differ between treatments (p > 0.05) in W4 and after the bacterial challenge test. At the end of the feeding trial, levels of ACH50 significantly increased in most of extract groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Total immunoglobulin increased considerably in both the plasma and skin mucus of fish fed extract-supplemented diets after 8 weeks. In addition, dietary supplementation with Pg, Mp, Pa0.2, Eh2.0, and Ai0.4 for 8 weeks considerably reduced the cumulative mortality against E. ictaluri infection in striped catfish. The results suggest that plant extracts possibly modulate the striped catfish immune response in a time and dose dependent manner. Specifically, diets enriched with extracts of P. guajava at 0.2 and 1.0%, or M. pudica at 2.0% for 8 weeks, have great potential for improving striped catfish health by enhancing the immune system and reducing mortality against bacterial challenges., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Childhood obesity prevalence is shooting up at a phenomenal rate worldwide, leading to long-term devastating consequences. A great number of studies have investigated factors contributing to the increase in BMI of children and adolescents. School-based, home-based and clinic-based solutions have been suggested as possible viable strategies, among which school-based interventions is believed to produce a noticeable effect on a massive scale. However, the question of whether school interventions, especially school education exert significant impact on childhood obesity or not, is left with mixing results. This article aims to holistically review the relationship between school education and childhood obesity. Various factors are covered, including health education, nutrition education, school nutrition, physical education, teachers' awareness, teaching practice and school stress, In all, school education is not the answer to childhood obesity but just part of it. More attempts from other stakeholders (parents, community, policy makers, researchers, etc.) should be made in order to solve this complicated puzzle., (Copyright © 2019 Diabetes India. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Elevated concentrations of nitrite develop occasionally in various aquatic habitats and aquaculture facilities, providing a potential danger for freshwater fish that take up nitrite via the gill chloride uptake mechanism. We studied the uptake, effects and metabolism of nitrite in blood, heart and skeletal muscle at two temperatures in striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, a facultative air-breathing fish that is heavily cultivated in Southeast Asia. Exposure to 0.8 mM ambient nitrite increased blood [nitrite] and [methaemoglobin] (metHb) to high values at day 1, but values subsequently decreased towards controls at day 7. Blood [nitrite] and metHb content were unexpectedly higher at 27 °C (∼1.2 mM; 69% at day 1) than at 33 °C (∼0.9 mM; 55%), reflecting a lower nitrite uptake at the highest temperature, possibly via an increased reliance on air-breathing relative to water-breathing with temperature increase. A large fraction of the nitrite taken up was effectively eliminated by being detoxified to nitrate. Further, erythrocyte metHb reductase activity was increased during nitrite exposure, efficiently reducing metHb to functional haemoglobin. The uptake of nitrite into white skeletal musculature (main part of the fish) was much lower than into heart tissue. While heart [nitrite] was close to blood plasma levels, muscle [nitrite] peaked at ∼0.2 mM at day 1 and subsequently declined to ∼0.05 mM at day 7, which is below levels reported in various commercial cured meat products. Nitrite was partly metabolized to iron-nitrosyl, S-nitroso and N-nitroso compounds. The increase in nitros(yl)ated compounds was marginal in skeletal muscle and more pronounced in heart tissue., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Acidic freshwater habitats disrupt ion-homeostasis in fishes, yet the often acidic waters of the Mekong host the second highest diversity of freshwater fish in the world. To investigate how five Mekong fish species tolerate water acidity, we measured: time to loss of equilibrium (LOE) at sustained (4 days) low pH (3.5) and net ion flux in acute low pH (3.5 and 3) in Chitala ornata, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, Osphronemus goramy, Trichogaster pectoralis, and Monopterus albus. Our sustained low pH exposures revealed that C. ornata was least tolerant, P. hypophthalmus and M. albus were moderately tolerant, and O. goramy and T. pectoralis were highly tolerant to low pH. In general, net ion loss in acute low pH exposures was greatest in species with the shortest time to LOE in the sustained low pH exposure. We also explored how low water [Ca 2+ ] (relative to current Mekong levels) affected ion flux at low water pH in the least tolerant C. ornata and highly tolerant T. pectoralis. In C. ornata, low water Ca 2+ (56 ± 1 μmol L -1 ) increased net ion loss relative to high Ca 2+ (342 ± 3 μmol L -1 ) water while no effect was observed in T. pectoralis. Finally, we find that T. pectoralis is among the most acid-tolerant fish species examined to date., (Crown Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The swamp eel ( Monopterus albus ) uses its buccal cavity to air breathe, while the gills are strongly reduced. It burrows into mud during the dry season, is highly tolerant of air exposure, and experiences severe hypoxia both in its natural habitat and in aquaculture. To study the ability of M. albus to compensate for respiratory acidosis, we implanted catheters to sample both arterial blood and urine during hypercapnia (4% CO 2 ) in either water or air, or during whole-animal air exposure. These hypercapnic challenges caused an immediate reduction in arterial pH, followed by progressive compensation through a marked elevation of plasma HCO 3 - over the course of 72 h. There was no appreciable rise in urinary acid excretion in fish exposed to hypercapnia in water, although urine pH was reduced and ammonia excretion did increase. In the air-exposed fish, however, hypercapnia was attended by a large elevation of ammonia in the urine and a large rise in titratable acid excretion. The time course of the increased renal acid excretion overlapped with the time period required to elevate plasma HCO 3 - , and we estimate that the renal compensation contributed significantly to whole-body acid-base compensation., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing or financial interests., (© 2019. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) decorated CNTs are promising materials for photocatalytics and biosensors. However, the synthesis of AuNPs chemically linked to the walls of MWCNTs is challenging and toxic products such as thionylchloride (SOCl 2 ) or [1-ethyl-3(dimethyl-amino) propyl] carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDAC) need to be used. This work reports a new approach to prepare gold nanoparticles decorated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by using cysteaminium chloride via the formation of a Zwitterionic acide-base bond. The grafting process consists of 3 mains steps: oxidation, thiolation and decoration of AuNPs on the surface of MWCNTs. The completion of each step has been verified out by both spectroscopic (Raman, UV-Vis, FT-IR) and Scanning Electron Miscroscopy (SEM). The chemical bonding states of synthesized products have been proven by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

We report the polyprotein coding sequence of the newly defined Ind2001e sublineage of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotype O, isolated from a bovine epithelial tissue sample collected in 2017 in Kon Tum Province, Vietnam. This discovery updates FMDV diversity in Vietnam, has implications for FMDV epidemiology, and influences future vaccine selections.

In 2018, senecavirus A was detected for the first time in Vietnam. This report contains the first complete genome of a senecavirus A isolate collected from pigs in Kon Tum Province, Vietnam. This novel incursion has substantial implications for regional control of vesicular transboundary diseases.

Preferentially regulating intracellular pH (pH i ) confers exceptional CO 2 tolerance on fish, but is often associated with reductions in extracellular pH (pH e ) compensation. It is unknown whether these reductions are due to intrinsically lower capacities for pH e compensation, hypercarbia-induced reductions in water pH or other factors. To test how water pH affects capacities and strategies for pH compensation, we exposed the CO 2 -tolerant fish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus to 3 kPa P CO 2  for 20 h at an ecologically relevant water pH of 4.5 or 5.8. Brain, heart and liver pH i was preferentially regulated in both treatments. However, blood pH e compensation was severely reduced at water pH 4.5 but not 5.8. This suggests that low water pH limits acute pH e but not pH i compensation in fishes preferentially regulating pH i Hypercarbia-induced reductions in water pH might therefore underlie the unexplained reductions to pH e compensation in fishes preferentially regulating pH i , and may increase selection for preferential pH i regulation., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing or financial interests., (© 2018. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)

The three genes encoding small non‑coding microRNA (miR)34a, MIR34b and MIR34c act as tumor‑suppressor genes. Their aberrant expressions regulated by DNA methylation have been frequently found in various types of cancer. In the present study, the DNA promoter methylation profiles of the MIR34 gene family were analyzed using the methylation specific polymerase chain reaction in order to clarify their association with breast and lung cancer, non‑cancerous or normal adjacent tissues. The methylation frequency of MIR34a was significantly higher in breast cancer (49.37%) compared with normal adjacent tissues (30.38%). The methylation frequency of MIR34b/c was 59.49 and 62.03% in breast cancer and normal adjacent tissues, respectively. MIR34a methylation showed a significant concordance with that of MIR34b/c only in breast cancer tissue. MIR34a methylation was significantly associated with cancer and the invasive ductal carcinoma type of breast cancer (P=0.015 and P=0.02, respectively). Methylation frequency of MIR34a and MIR34b/c was 48.42 and 56.84% in lung cancer, and 47.22 and 51.39% in pulmonary diseases, respectively. No significant association was observed between the methylation status of MIR34a and MIR34b/c, and the clinicopathological features of lung cancer or with those of non‑cancerous pulmonary diseases. Promoter methylation of MIR34a and MIR34b/c occurs frequently and concomitantly in breast and lung cancer, as well as in pulmonary diseases tissues, but not in breast normal tissues adjacent to tumor. These results of the present study emphasize the involvement of MIR34 methylation in human diseases, including cancer. Furthermore, MIR34a methylation may be a promising marker for a subtype of breast cancer.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), caused by FMD virus (FMDV; Aphthovirus, Picornaviridae ), is a highly contagious and economically important disease of cloven-hoofed domestic livestock and wildlife species worldwide. Subsequent to the clinical phase of FMD, a large proportion of FMDV-infected ruminants become persistently infected carriers, defined by detection of FMDV in oropharyngeal fluid (OPF) samples 28 days or more post-infection. The goal of this prospective study was to characterize the FMD carrier state in cattle subsequent to natural infection under typical husbandry practices in Vietnam. Ten persistently infected cattle on eight farms in the Long An province in southern Vietnam were monitored by monthly screening of serum and oropharyngeal fluid samples for 12 months. To assess transmission from FMDV carriers, 16 naïve cattle were intentionally brought into direct contact with the persistently infected animals for 6 months, and were monitored by clinical and laboratory methods. The restricted mean duration of the FMD carrier state was 27.7 months, and the rate of decrease of the proportion of carrier animals was 0.03 per month. There was no evidence of transmission to naïve animals throughout the study period. Additionally, there was no detection of FMDV infection or seroconversion in three calves born to carrier animals during the study. The force of infection for carrier-to-contact transmission was 0 per month, with upper 95% confidence limit of 0.064 per month. Phylogenetic analysis of viral protein 1 (VP1) coding sequences obtained from carriers indicated that all viruses recovered in this study belonged to the O/ME-SA/PanAsia lineage, and grouped phylogenetically with temporally and geographically related viruses. Analysis of within-host evolution of FMDV, based upon full-length open reading frame sequences recovered from consecutive samples from one animal, indicated that most of the non-synonymous changes occurred in L pro , VP2, and VP3 protein coding regions. This study suggests that the duration of FMDV persistent infection in cattle may be longer than previously recognized, but the risk of transmission is low. Additional novel insights are provided into within-host viral evolution under natural conditions in an endemic setting.

The aim of the present study was to determine the roles of externally versus internally oriented CO 2 /H + -sensitive chemoreceptors in promoting cardiorespiratory responses to environmental hypercarbia in the facultative air-breathing fish, Chitala ornata (the clown knifefish). Fish were exposed to environmental acidosis (pH ~ 6.0) or hypercarbia (≈ 30 torr PCO 2 ) that produced changes in water pH equal to the pH levels of the acidotic water to distinguish the relative roles of CO 2 versus H + . We also injected acetazolamide to elevate arterial levels of PCO 2 and [H + ] in fish in normocarbic water to distinguish between internal and external stimuli. We measured changes in gill ventilation frequency, air breathing frequency, heart rate and arterial blood pressure in response to each treatment as well as the changes produced in arterial PCO 2 and pH. Exposure to normocarbic water of pH 6.0 for 1 h did not produce significant changes in any measured variable. Exposure to hypercarbic water dramatically increased air breathing frequency, but had no effect on gill ventilation. Hypercarbia also produced a modest bradycardia and fall in arterial blood pressure. Injection of acetazolamide produced similar effects. Both hypercarbia and acetazolamide led to increases in arterial PCO 2 and falls in arterial pH although the changes in arterial PCO 2 /pH were more modest following acetazolamide injection as were the increases in air breathing frequency. The acetazolamide results suggest that the stimulation of air breathing was due, at least in part, to stimulation of internally oriented CO 2 /H + chemoreceptors monitoring blood gas changes.

Silica/polypyrrole nanocomposites without dopant (SiO2/PPy) and with oxalate dopant (SiO2/PPyOx) were synthesized using polymerization of pyrrole in the presence of nano SiO2. Synthesized SiO2/PPy and SiO2/PPyOx were characterized by FTIR, SEM, TEM and EDX and their electrical conductivities were determined by CV method through the two-point-electrode without electrolyte. The corrosion protection performance of polyvinylbutyral (PVB) coatings containing SiO2/PPyOx was evaluated and compared with that of pure PVB coatings and of PVB coatings containing SiO2/PPy by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and adhesion measurement. The results show that electrical conductivities of SiO2/PPy and SiO2/PPyOx were 0.181 and 0.109 S/cm, respectively. The ratio of PPy on SiO2 in SiO2/PPy and SiO2/PPyOx composites was 0.77/1 and the ratio of oxalate on PPy in SiO2/PPyOx composite was 1.24/1. SiO2/PPy and SiO2/PPyOx improved corrosion resistance and adhesion of PVB coatings. The presence of oxalate in SiO2/PPyOx significantly enhanced the effect of SiO2/PPy on the protection performance of PVB coatings.

Vertebrates reduce arterial blood pH (pHa) when body temperature increases. In water breathers, this response occurs primarily by reducing plasma HCO 3 - levels with small changes in the partial pressure of CO 2 ( P CO 2 ). In contrast, air breathers mediate the decrease in pHa by increasing arterial P CO 2  ( P a CO 2 ) at constant plasma HCO 3 - by reducing lung ventilation relative to metabolic CO 2 production. Much less is known about bimodal breathers, which utilize both water and air. Here, we characterized the influence of temperature on arterial acid-base balance and intracellular pH (pH i ) in the bimodal-breathing swamp eel, Monopterus albus This teleost uses the buccopharyngeal cavity for gas exchange and has very reduced gills. When exposed to ecologically relevant temperatures (20, 25, 30 and 35°C) for 24 and 48 h, pHa decreased by -0.025 pH units (U) °C -1 in association with an increase in P a CO 2 , but without changes in plasma [HCO 3 - ]. pH i was also reduced with increased temperature. The slope of pH i of liver and muscle was -0.014 and -0.019 U °C -1 , while the heart muscle showed a smaller reduction (-0.008 U °C -1 ). When exposed to hypercapnia (7 or 14 mmHg) at either 25 or 35°C, M. albus elevated plasma [HCO 3 - ] and therefore seemed to defend the new pHa set-point, demonstrating an adjusted control of acid-base balance with temperature. Overall, the effects of temperature on acid-base balance in M. albus resemble those in air-breathing amniotes, and we discuss the possibility that this pattern of acid-base balance results from a progressive transition in CO 2 excretion from water to air as temperature rises., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing or financial interests., (© 2018. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)

Nitrite and carbon dioxide are common environmental contaminants in the intensive aquaculture ponds used to farm clown knifefish (Chitala ornata) in the Mekong delta, Vietnam. Here we tested the hypothesis that hypercapnia reduces nitrite uptake across the gills, because pH regulation will reduce chloride uptake and hence nitrite uptake as the two ions compete for the same transport route via the branchial HCO 3 - /Cl - exchanger. Fish fitted with arterial catheters were exposed to normocapnic/normoxic water (control), nitrite (1 mM), hypercapnia (21 mmHg CO 2 ), or combined hypercapnia (acclimated hypercapnia) and nitrite for 96 h. Blood was sampled to measure acid-base status, haemoglobin derivatives and plasma ions. Plasma nitrite increased for 48 h, but levels stayed below the exposure concentration, and subsequently decreased as a result of nitrite detoxification to nitrate. The total uptake of nitrite (evaluated as [NO 2 - ] + [NO 3 - ]) was significantly decreased in hypercapnia, in accordance with the hypothesis. Methemoglobin and nitrosylhemoglobin levels were similarly lower during hypercapnic compared to normocapnic nitrite exposure. The respiratory acidosis induced by hypercapnia was half-compensated by bicarbonate accumulation in 96 h, which was mainly chloride-mediated (i.e. reduced Cl - influx via the branchial HCO 3 - /Cl - exchanger). Plasma osmolality and main ions (Na + , Cl - ) were significantly decreased by hypercapnia and by nitrite exposure, consistent with inhibition of active transport. We conclude that hypercapnia induces a long-lasting, and mainly chloride-mediated acid-base regulation that reduces the uptake of nitrite across the gills., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for allergen sensitisation among patients with chronic respiratory disease (CRD) in southern Viet Nam., Design: An environmental questionnaire and skin prick tests for airborne and food allergens were administered to patients with CRD, defined as individuals with respiratory symptoms and lung function defects., Results: Of 610 CRD patients, 56% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 31% were asthma patients; 80% were males. The most frequent sensitisers were dust mites (Dermatophagoides farinae 22%, Blomia tropicalis 19%, D. pteronyssinus 18%) and cockroach droppings (13%). Among study participants, 37% were from rural settings and 36% from urban areas, whereas 27% had migrated from rural to urban areas. Compared with people from rural areas, being born in an urban area was a risk factor for sensitisation to mites (OR 1.56, 95%CI 1.11-2.20, P < 0.02). In multivariate analysis, place of birth remained a risk factor for mite sensitisation. Compared with the native urban population, the risk of mite sensitisation was not significantly different among patients born in rural areas and those migrating to urban areas., Conclusion: Dust mites and cockroach droppings were the most frequent allergens among people with CRD in the south of Viet Nam. Compared with the urban population, being native to a rural area was protective against mite sensitisation, but this effect ceased to be significant after migration from rural to urban areas.

It has been argued that tropical ectotherms are more vulnerable to the projected temperature increases than their temperate relatives, because they already live closer to their upper temperature limit. Here we examine the effects of a temperature increase in environmental temperature to 6°C above the present day median temperature (27°C) in the freshwater air-breathing fish Chitala ornata, on aspects of its respiratory physiology in both normoxia and in hypoxia. We found no evidence of respiratory impairment with elevated temperature. The standard metabolic rate (SMR) and routine metabolic rate (RMR) in the two temperatures in normoxia and hypoxia increased with Q 10 values between 2.3 and 2.9, while the specific dynamic action (SDA) and its coefficient increased from 7.8 to 14.7% in 27°C and 33°C, respectively. In addition, Chitala ornata exhibited significantly improved growth at the elevated temperature in both hypoxic and normoxic water. While projected temperature increases may negatively impact other essential aspects in this animal's environment, we see no evidence of a negative impact on this species itself., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In order to determine the distribution and enable the elimination of quinalphos, a popular active pesticide compound used in the Mekong Delta, an experiment was set up in a rice-fish integration system in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Fish was stocked into the field when the rice was two-months old. Quinalphos was applied twice in doses of 42.5 g per 1000 m 2 . Water, fish and sediment samples were collected at time intervals and analyzed by a Gas Chromatography Electron Capture Detector system. The results show that quinalphos residues in fish muscles were much higher than those of the water and the bioconcentration factor (logBCF) was above 2 for the fish. The half-life of first and second quinalphos applications were 12.2 and 11.1 days for sediment, 2.5 and 1.1 days for silver barb, 1.9 and 1.3 days for common carp, and 1.1 and 1.0 days for water, respectively.

A novel TiO 2 @MgO-Fe 2 O 3 core-shell structure has been synthesized via a hydrolysis and co-precipitation method followed by calcination at 500 °C and has proven to be an efficient photocatalyst. The obtained TiO 2 @MgO-Fe 2 O 3 core-shell was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and UV-Vis diffused reflectance techniques. Its photocatalytic activity toward 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was investigated in aqueous solutions with and without visible light irradiation in the presence and absence of hydrogen peroxide. It was revealed that a strong electronic coupling exists between two components within the TiO 2 @MgO-Fe 2 O 3 core-shell structure. The present findings clearly highlight that TiO 2 @MgO-Fe 2 O 3 exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation in the presence of H 2 O 2 . More than 83% degradation of 2,4-D was observed within 240 min, at an initial concentration of 100 mg L -1 with 0.5 g of catalyst per liter. Moreover, the material showed high chemical stability after four consecutive experiments with no significant difference in the rate of photocatalytic degradation. Therefore, the results reported herein offer a green, low cost and highly efficient photocatalyst for environmental remediation., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Several foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) carrier cattle were identified in Vietnam by the recovery of infectious virus from oropharyngeal fluid. This report contains the first near-complete genome sequences of seven viruses from sequential samples from one carrier animal collected over the course of 1 year. The characterization of within-host viral evolution has implications for FMDV control strategies.

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET) production via cytochrome P450 (CYP) epoxygenases closely correlates with the progression of breast cancer. However, its role in the development of chemoresistant breast cancers has yet to be elucidated. Here, we found that CYP3A4 expression and its epoxy-product, 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (11,12-EET) was enhanced in tamoxifen (TAM)-resistant MCF-7 (TAMR-MCF-7) breast cancer cells compared to control MCF-7 cells. Treatment of TAMR-MCF-7 cells with ketoconazole and azamulin (selective CYP3A4 inhibitors) or 14,15-epoxyeicosa-5(Z)-enoic acid (14,15-EEZE, an EET antagonist) inhibited cellular proliferation and recovered the sensitivity to 4-hydroxytamoxifen. Chick chorioallantoic membrane and trans-well migration analyses revealed that the enhanced angiogenic, tumorigenic, and migration intensities of TAMR-MCF-7 cells were also significantly suppressed by ketoconazole and 14,15-EEZE. We previously reported that Pin1, a peptidyl prolyl isomerase, is a crucial regulator for higher angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition characteristics of TAMR-MCF-7 cells. EET inhibition suppressed E2F1-dependent Pin1 gene transcription, and Pin1 silencing also blocked cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and migration of TAMR-MCF-7 cells. Our findings suggest that the CYP3A4-mediated EET pathway represents a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST All authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Objective: To understand the prevalence of pneumonia risk factors and perceived barriers to risk factor reduction among Vietnamese infants., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of mothers in the postnatal wards of Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children in central Vietnam from 10 February 2017 to 24 February 2017., Results: Of 286 mothers surveyed, 259 (91%) initiated breast feeding and 207 (72%) intended to continue exclusive breast feeding for 6 months. No mother smoked cigarettes, but 42% of fathers did. Mothers' decision not to smoke was motivated by concerns for their own health and that of their baby. Households rarely used wood or coal for cooking (6%). Mothers indicated near universal (99%) uptake of the National Expanded Program of Immunization vaccinations. Few (64; 22%) mothers knew about the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; 56/64 (88%) indicated that they would purchase it for their infants. Family members rarely influenced mothers' decisions about breast feeding or vaccination, except in two instances where fathers were concerned about vaccine-related adverse effects., Conclusion: Modifiable pneumonia risk factors were uncommon among newborn babies in central Vietnam, apart from paternal cigarette smoke exposure. Successful local implementation of the WHO Essential Newborn Care package as well as high levels of maternal education and decision autonomy was observed., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

In recent years, foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotype O, topotype Middle East-South Asia (ME-SA), lineage Ind-2001d has spread from the Indian subcontinent to the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia. In the current report, we describe the first detection of this lineage in Vietnam in May, 2015 in Đắk Nông province. Three subsequent outbreaks caused by genetically related viruses occurred between May-October, 2015 after which the virus was not detected in clinical outbreaks for at least 15 subsequent months. The observed outbreaks affected (in chronological order): cattle in Đắk Nông province, pigs in Đắk Lắk province and Đắk Nông province, and cattle in Ninh Thuận province. The clinical syndromes associated with these outbreaks were consistent with typical FMD in the affected species. Overall attack rate on affected premises was 0.85 in pigs and 0.93 in cattle over the course of the outbreak. Amongst 378 pigs at risk on affected premises, 85 pigs died during the outbreaks; there were no deaths among cattle. The manner in which FMDV/O/ME-SA/Ind-2001d was introduced into Vietnam remains undetermined; however, movement of live cattle is the suspected route. This incursion has substantial implications for epidemiology and control of FMD in Southeast Asia.

The clown knifefish is a facultative air breather, which is widely farmed in freshwater ponds in Vietnam. Here we report a very high nitrite tolerance (96h LC 50 of 7.82mM) in this species and examine the effects of 1mM (LC 5 ) and 2.5mM (LC 10 ) ambient nitrite on haemoglobin (Hb) derivatives, electrolyte levels, acid-base status, and total body water content during 7days of exposure. Furthermore, we tested the hypothesis that erythrocyte methaemoglobin (metHb) reductase activity is upregulated by nitrite exposure. Plasma nitrite levels increased for 2-3days but stayed below environmental levels and fell towards control values during the last half of the exposure period. Plasma nitrate, in contrast, rose continuously, reflecting detoxification of nitrite to nitrate. MetHb generated from the reaction between nitrite and erythrocyte Hb reached 38% at day 2, but then decreased to 17% by the end of experiment. The first order rate constant for metHb reduction by erythrocyte metHb reductase increased from 0.01 in controls to 0.046min -1 after 6days of nitrite exposure, showing up-regulation of this enzyme. While such upregulation has been suggested in nitrite-exposed fish species, this study provides the first experimental evidence., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is endemic in Vietnam, a country that plays an important role in livestock trade within Southeast Asia. The large populations of FMDV-susceptible species in Vietnam are important components of food production and of the national livelihood. In this study, we investigated the phylogeny of FMDV O/PanAsia in Vietnam, reconstructing the virus' ancestral host species (pig, cattle or buffalo), clinical stage (subclinical carrier or clinically affected) and geographical location. Phylogenetic divergence time estimation and character state reconstruction analyses suggest that movement of viruses between species differ. While inferred transmissions from cattle to buffalo and pigs and from pigs to cattle are well supported, transmission from buffalo to other species, and from pigs to buffalo may be less frequent. Geographical movements of FMDV O/PanAsia virus appears to occur in all directions within the country, with the South Central Coast and the Northeast regions playing a more important role in FMDV O/PanAsia spread. Genetic selection of variants with changes at specific sites within FMDV VP1 coding region was different depending on host groups analyzed. The overall ratio of non-synonymous to synonymous nucleotide changes was greater in pigs compared to cattle and buffalo, whereas a higher number of individual amino acid sites under positive selection were detected in persistently infected, subclinical animals compared to viruses collected from clinically diseased animals. These results provide novel insights to understand FMDV evolution and its association with viral spread within endemic countries. These findings may support animal health organizations in their endeavor to design animal disease control strategies in response to outbreaks.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become a serious problem worldwide, caused in part by the excessive use and discharge of antibiotics into the environment. Ampicillin (ABPC) is a widely used antibiotic. However, this chemical rapidly decomposes in water containing divalent cations like Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ , thus, detection of ABPC in environmental water is difficult. This study was carried out to evaluate the presence of 2-hydroxy-3-phenylpyrazine (HPP), one of the degradation products of ABPC and β-lactam antibiotics with an ABPC substructure, in environmental water. An analytical method for HPP monitoring in environmental water was developed using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The analyte was extracted from water samples and enriched using a solid-phase extraction cartridge. The quantification limit was 1 ng L -1 . The HPP recovery rates from spiked water samples of 25 and 125 ng L -1 were 84.1 and 86.1%, respectively. The method was then used to determine HPP residue levels in 98 environmental water samples from rivers, household ponds, and aquacultural ponds in Vietnam. HPP residues were detected in 60 samples. The HPP detection rates in rivers and household ponds were 42 and 79%, respectively. HPP was not detected in aquacultural ponds. HPP residue concentrations in the samples ranged from 1.3 to 413.3 ng L -1 . The residue levels in rivers flowing through city centres were higher than levels in other sampling locations. The findings of this study suggest that HPP is a promising marker for assessing the discharge of ABPC and β-lactam antibiotics with an ABPC substructure into the environment around sampling sites., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Twelve steroids, including five new compounds 1-5, were isolated and structurally elucidated from a methanol extract of the Vietnamese soft coral Sinularia conferta. Their cytotoxic effects against three human cancer cell lines, lung carcinoma (A-549), cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa), and pancreatic epithelioid carcinoma (PANC-1), were evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. Among isolated compounds, 10 exhibited potent cytotoxic effects on all three tested cell lines with IC 50 values of 3.64±0.18, 19.34±0.42, and 1.78±0.69 µM, respectively.

The environmental pathways for the dissemination of antibiotic resistance have recently received increased attention. Aquatic environments act as reservoirs or sources of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, antimicrobial residues, and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Therefore, it is imperative to identify the role of polluted water in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial residues, ARGs, and microbiota in the freshwater systems of the Mekong Delta. We selected 12 freshwater sites from aquacultures and rivers in Can Tho, Vietnam and analyzed them for 45 antimicrobial residues and 8 ARGs by LC/MS/MS and real-time PCR, respectively. A 16S rDNA-based metagenomic analysis was conducted to characterize the water microbiota. Residues of sulfamethoxazole (10/12) and sulfadimidine (7/12) were widely detected, together with the sulfa-resistance genes sul1 (11/12) and sul2 (9/12). Additionally, sulfamethoxazole residues and the β-lactamase-resistance gene bla CTX-M-1 were detected in eight freshwater systems (8/12), suggesting that these freshwater systems may have been polluted by human activity. The metagenomic analysis showed that all the tested freshwater systems contained the phyla Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, representing 64% of the total microbiota. Moreover, the Cai Rang River site (Ri-E), which is located at the merge point of wastewaters from backyard-based aquacultures, contained the genera Polynucleobacter, Variovorax, and Limnohabitans, representing more than 78.4% of the total microbiota. Bacterial diversity analysis showed that the Ri-E exhibited the lowest diversity compared with other regions. Principal coordinate analysis showed that the differences among water microbiotas in backyard-based aquacultures could be explained by the farmers' aquaculture techniques. In conclusion, this study demonstrated a collapse of bacterial diversity at the merge point of wastewaters from backyard-based aquacultures in the Mekong Delta., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Fine particles obtained from the physical refining of organic cold pressed vegetable oils which are normally discarded as a process waste can be utilized as cosmetic and food ingredients. This paper demonstrated the use of the fine particles from rice bran (Thai Jasmine and Riceberry varieties), sunflower and sesame oils as the ingredient in body mask and as dietary fiber. It was found that the fine particles from rice brans exhibited better antioxidant properties than those of sunflower and sesame. The mixed fine particles were added to body mask formula. The addition of the fine particles affected the physical properties and stability of the body mask especially viscosity and pH. Total dietary fiber recovered from the fine particles ranged from 17.91-23.83 g/100g dry sample. Dietary fiber from Riceberry exhibited the best antioxidant properties as evidenced by DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power.

Background: Blood cultures are commonly employed to identify bacterial pathogens causing sepsis. PCR assays to diagnose septicemia require extraction of bacterial DNA from blood samples and thus, delay the initiation of appropriate antimicrobial treatment. The presence of abundant human DNA may hamper the sensitivity of PCR in the detection of bacteria., Methods: We used serial dilutions of E. Coli spiked pseudo-blood-sepsis samples to develop a simple method that combines the use of a polar detergent solvent and adjustment of the basic pH to remove human DNA. A 16S rRNA gene-based screening algorithm was established to differentiate Gram-positive and Gram-negative groups of bacteria and the family of Enterobacteriaceae. A stringent validation with appropriate controls was implemented. The method of human DNA removal was then applied on 194 sepsis blood samples and 44 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples by real-time PCR., Results: This uncomplicated and straightforward approach allows to remove up to 98 % of human DNA from peripheral blood of septic patients. The inhibitory effect of human DNA is efficiently prevented and the detection limit of real-time PCR is increased to 10 E. Coli CFUs/ml. This sensitivity is 10 times higher compared to conventional real-time PCR assays. The classical blood culture detected 58/194 (30 %) of sepsis and 9/44 (21 %) of CSF samples. Out of the 194 blood samples tested, the conventional real-time PCR targeting 13 common sepsis causing pathogens correctly detected the bacterial DNA in 16/194 (8 %) only and 14/44 (32 %) in cerebrospinal fluid samples. Our newly established approach was able to provide correct diagnoses in 78 (40 %) of the 194 blood samples and in 14 (32 %) of the CSF samples. The combination of both blood cultures and our technique raised the rate of sepsis diagnoses to 112/194 (58 %). Of the total group tested positive, 46 (24 %) cases showed overlap with the classical methodology., Conclusion: We report a simple optimized in-house protocol for removal of human DNA from blood sepsis samples as a pre-analytical tool to prepare DNA for subsequent PCR assays. With the detection increase of our in-house DNA removal approach, subsequent PCR assays can reach detection limits of 10 E. coli CFUs/ml and significantly improve the diagnostic rate in blood sepsis cases.

Introduction: Dengue is a viral disease that spreads rapidly in the tropic and subtropic regions of the world and causes 22,000 deaths annually. In 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a new classification of dengue infections, which divided them into three categories: dengue without warning sign (D), dengue with warning sign (DWS), and severe dengue (SD). However, researchers have been using different criteria to define persistent vomiting; therefore, we aimed to evaluate the ability of the number of vomiting times in early prediction of SD development among D/DWS patients., Method: A hospital-based cohort study was conducted in Ben Tre-south of Vietnam. We enrolled confirmed dengue patients with D and DWS at admission. The final classification was determined on the discharged day for every patient based on the classification of WHO 2009 without using vomiting symptom, using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to evaluate the ability of the number of vomiting times in early prediction of SD development among D/DWS patients., Result: The prevalence of vomiting symptom was higher in SD group than D/DWS group (92 versus 46 %, p = 0.006), and the median of the number of vomiting times was higher in SD group than D/DWS group (2.5 versus 0, p = 0.001). To distinguish SD from D/DWS, the ROC curve of the number of vomiting episodes showed that the area under the curve was 0.77; with the cut point of two, the sensitivity and specificity were 92 and 52 %, respectively., Discussion: The number of vomiting times could be a good clinical sign which can early predict SD from the group of D/DWS. We suggest the definition of persistent vomiting should be vomiting two times or more per day.

We previously showed that S-adenosylmethionine-mediated hypermethylation of the PTEN promoter was important for the growth of tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 (TAMR-MCF-7) cancer cells. Here, we found that the basal expression level of methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (MAT2A), a critical enzyme for the biosynthesis of S-adenosylmethionine, was up-regulated in TAMR-MCF-7 cells compared with control MCF-7 cells. Moreover, the basal expression level of MAT2A in T47D cells, a TAM-resistant estrogen receptor-positive cell line was higher compared to MCF-7 cells. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that MAT2A expression in TAM-resistant human breast cancer tissues was higher than that in TAM-responsive cases. The promoter region of human MAT2A contains binding sites for nuclear factor-κB, activator protein-1 (AP-1), and NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and the activities of these three transcription factors were enhanced in TAMR-MCF-7 cells. Both the protein expression and transcriptional activity of MAT2A in TAMR-MCF-7 cells were potently suppressed by NF-κB inhibition but not by c-Jun/AP-1 or Nrf2 knock-down. Interestingly, the expression levels of microRNA (miR)-146a and -146b were diminished in TAMR-MCF-7 cells, and miR-146b transduction decreased NF-κB-mediated MAT2A expression. miR-146b restored PTEN expression via the suppression of PTEN promoter methylation in TAMR-MCF-7 cells. Additionally, miR-146b overexpression inhibited cell proliferation and reversed chemoresistance to 4-hydroxytamoxifen in TAMR-MCF-7 cells.

Setting: The programmatic management of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in Viet Nam has been rapidly scaled up since 2009., Objectives: To document the annual numbers of patients enrolled for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment during 2010-2014 and to determine characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients initiating treatment during 2010-2012., Design: A retrospective cohort study using national reports and data from the national electronic data system for drug-resistant TB., Results: The number of patients enrolled annually for MDR-TB treatment increased from 97 in 2010 to 1522 in 2014. The majority of patients were middle-aged men who had pulmonary disease and had failed a retreatment regimen; 77% had received ⩾2 courses of TB treatment. Favourable outcomes (cured and treatment completed) were attained in 73% of patients. Unfavourable outcomes included loss to follow-up (12.5%), death (8%) and failure (6.3%). Having had ⩾2 previous treatment courses and being human immunodeficiency virus-positive were associated with unfavourable outcomes., Conclusion: Increasing numbers of patients are being treated for MDR-TB each year with good treatment outcomes under national programme management in Viet Nam. However, there is a need to increase case detection-currently at 30% of the estimated 5100 MDR-TB cases per year, reduce adverse outcomes and improve monitoring and evaluation.

Background: The burden of dengue continues to increase globally, with an estimated 100 million clinically apparent infections occurring each year. Although most dengue infections are asymptomatic, patients can present with a wide spectrum of clinical symptoms ranging from mild febrile illness through to severe manifestations of bleeding, organ impairment, and hypovolaemic shock due to a systemic vascular leak syndrome. Clinical diagnosis of dengue and identification of which patients are likely to develop severe disease remain challenging. This study aims to improve diagnosis and clinical management through approaches designed a) to differentiate between dengue and other common febrile illness within 72 h of fever onset, and b) among patients with dengue to identify markers that are predictive of the likelihood of evolving to a more severe disease course., Method/design: This is a prospective multi-centre observational study aiming to enrol 7-8000 participants aged ≥ 5 years presenting with a febrile illness consistent with dengue to outpatient health facilities in 8 countries across Asia and Latin America. Patients presenting within 72 h of fever onset who do not exhibit signs of severe disease are eligible for the study. A broad range of clinical and laboratory parameters are assessed daily for up to 6 days during the acute illness, and also at a follow up visit 1 week later., Discussion: Data from this large cohort of patients, enrolled early with undifferentiated fever, will be used to develop a practical diagnostic algorithm and a robust clinical case definition for dengue. Additionally, among patients with confirmed dengue we aim to identify simple clinical and laboratory parameters associated with progression to a more severe disease course. We will also investigate early virological and serological correlates of severe disease, and examine genetic associations in this large heterogeneous cohort. In addition the results will be used to assess the new World Health Organization classification scheme for dengue in practice, and to update the guidelines for "Integrated Management of Childhood Illness" used in dengue-endemic countries., Trial Registration: NCT01550016. Registration Date: March 7, 2012.

Background: Despite recent sequencing efforts, local genetic resources remain underexploited, even though they carry alleles that can bring agronomic benefits. Taking advantage of the recent genotyping with 22,000 single-nucleotide polymorphism markers of a core collection of 180 Vietnamese rice varieties originating from provinces from North to South Vietnam and from different agrosystems characterized by contrasted water regimes, we have performed a genome-wide association study for different root parameters. Roots contribute to water stress avoidance and are a still underexploited target for breeding purpose due to the difficulty to observe them., Results: The panel of 180 rice varieties was phenotyped under greenhouse conditions for several root traits in an experimental design with 3 replicates. The phenotyping system consisted of long plastic bags that were filled with sand and supplemented with fertilizer. Root length, root mass in different layers, root thickness, and the number of crown roots, as well as several derived root parameters and shoot traits, were recorded. The results were submitted to association mapping using a mixed model involving structure and kinship to enable the identification of significant associations. The analyses were conducted successively on the whole panel and on its indica (115 accessions) and japonica (64 accessions) subcomponents. The two associations with the highest significance were for root thickness on chromosome 2 and for crown root number on chromosome 11. No common associations were detected between the indica and japonica subpanels, probably because of the polymorphism repartition between the subspecies. Based on orthology with Arabidopsis, the possible candidate genes underlying the quantitative trait loci are reviewed., Conclusions: Some of the major quantitative trait loci we detected through this genome-wide association study contain promising candidate genes encoding regulatory elements of known key regulators of root formation and development.

Background: Over the last 15 years, hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) has emerged as a major public health burden across the Asia-Pacific region. A small proportion of HFMD patients, typically those infected with enterovirus 71 (EV71), develop brainstem encephalitis with autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysregulation and may progress rapidly to cardiopulmonary failure and death. Although milrinone has been reported to control hypertension and support myocardial function in two small studies, in practice, a number of children still deteriorate despite this treatment. Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) is a cheap, safe, and readily available medication that is effective in managing tetanus-associated ANS dysregulation and has shown promise when used empirically in EV71-confirmed severe HFMD cases., Methods/design: We describe the protocol for a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of intravenous MgSO4 in Vietnamese children diagnosed clinically with HFMD plus ANS dysregulation with systemic hypertension. A loading dose of MgSO4 or identical placebo is given over 20 min followed by a maintenance infusion for 72 h according to response, aiming for Mg levels two to three times the normal level in the treatment arm. The primary endpoint is a composite of disease progression within 72 h defined as follows: development of pre-specified blood pressure criteria necessitating the addition of milrinone, the need for ventilation, shock, or death. Secondary endpoints comprise these parameters singly, plus other clinical endpoints including the following: requirement for other inotropic agents; duration of hospitalization; presence of neurological sequelae at discharge in survivors; and neurodevelopmental status assessed 6 months after discharge. The number and severity of adverse events observed in the two treatment arms will also be compared. Based on preliminary data from a case series, and allowing for some losses, 190 patients (95 in each arm) will allow detection of a 50 % reduction in disease progression with 90 % power at a two-sided 5 % significance level., Discussion: Given the large numbers of HFMD cases currently being seen in hospitals in Asia, if MgSO4 is shown to be effective in controlling ANS dysregulation and preventing severe HFMD complications, this finding would be important to pediatric care throughout the region., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01940250 (Registered 22 August 2013).

Background: Severe dengue with severe plasma leakage (SD-SPL) is the most frequent of dengue severe form. Plasma biomarkers for early predictive diagnosis of SD-SPL are required in the primary clinics for the prevention of dengue death., Methodology: Among 63 confirmed dengue pediatric patients recruited, hospital based longitudinal study detected six SD-SPL and ten dengue with warning sign (DWS). To identify the specific proteins increased or decreased in the SD-SPL plasma obtained 6-48 hours before the shock compared with the DWS, the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) technology was performed using four patients each group. Validation was undertaken in 6 SD-SPL and 10 DWS patients., Principal Findings: Nineteen plasma proteins exhibited significantly different relative concentrations (p<0.05), with five over-expressed and fourteen under-expressed in SD-SPL compared with DWS. The individual protein was classified to either blood coagulation, vascular regulation, cellular transport-related processes or immune response. The immunoblot quantification showed angiotensinogen and antithrombin III significantly increased in SD-SPL whole plasma of early stage compared with DWS subjects. Even using this small number of samples, antithrombin III predicted SD-SPL before shock occurrence with accuracy., Conclusion: Proteins identified here may serve as candidate predictive markers to diagnose SD-SPL for timely clinical management. Since the number of subjects are small, so further studies are needed to confirm all these biomarkers.

Introduction: Achieving a fair and equitable distribution of health in the population while progressing toward universal health coverage (UHC) is a key focus of health policy in Vietnam. This paper describes health barriers experienced by women (and children by inference) in Vietnam, and measures how UHC, with reference to maternal health services and child mortality rates, is affected by selected social determinants of health (SDH), termed 'barriers'., Methods: Our study uses a cross-sectional design with data from the 2011 Vietnam Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey. The study sample includes 11,663 women, aged 15-49 years. Weighted frequency statistics are cross-tabulated with socioeconomic characteristics of the population to describe the extent and distribution of health barriers experienced by disadvantaged women and children in Vietnam. A subset of women who had a live birth in the preceding two years (n=1,383) was studied to assess the impact of barriers to UHC and health. Six multiple logistic regressions were run using three dependent variables in the previous two years: 1) antenatal care, 2) skilled birth attendants, and 3) child death in the previous 15 years. Independent predictor variables were: 1) low education (incomplete secondary education), 2) lack of access to one of four basic amenities. In a second set of regressions, a constructed composite barrier index replaced these variables. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used to report regression results., Results: In Vietnam, about 54% of women aged 15-49 years in 2011, had low education or lacked access to one of four basic amenities. About 38% of poor rural women from ethnic minorities experienced both barriers, compared with less than 1% of rich urban women from the ethnic majority. Incomplete secondary education or lack of one of four basic amenities was a factor significantly associated with lower access to skilled birth attendants (OR=0.28, 95% CI: 0.14-0.55; OR=0.19, 95% CI: 0.05-0.80) and a higher risk of having had a child death in the previous two years (OR=1.71, 95% CI: 1.28-2.30; OR=1.59, 95% CI: 1.20-2.10)., Conclusions: Our study shows the need for accelerating education and infrastructure investments for ethnic minority communities living in rural areas so as to be able to contribute to equity-oriented progress toward UHC.

Recent studies suggest that projected rises of aquatic CO2 levels cause acid-base regulatory responses in fishes that lead to altered GABAergic neurotransmission and disrupted behaviour, threatening fitness and population survival. It is thought that changes in Cl(-) and HCO3 (-) gradients across neural membranes interfere with the function of GABA-gated anion channels (GABAA receptors). So far, such alterations have been revealed experimentally by exposing species living in low-CO2 environments, like many oceanic habitats, to high levels of CO2 (hypercapnia). To examine the generality of this phenomenon, we set out to study the opposite situation, hypothesizing that fishes living in typically hypercapnic environments also display behavioural alterations if exposed to low CO2 levels. This would indicate that ion regulation in the fish brain is fine-tuned to the prevailing CO2 conditions. We quantified pH regulatory variables and behavioural responses of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, a fish native to the hypercapnic Mekong River, acclimated to high-CO2 (3.1 kPa) or low-CO2 (0.04 kPa) water. We found that brain and blood pH was actively regulated and that the low-CO2 fish displayed significantly higher activity levels, which were reduced after treatment with gabazine, a GABAA receptor blocker. This indicates an involvement of the GABAA receptor and altered Cl(-) and HCO3 (-) ion gradients. Indeed, Goldman calculations suggest that low levels of environmental CO2 may cause significant changes in neural ion gradients in P. hypophthalmus. Taken together, the results suggest that brain ion regulation in fishes is fine-tuned to the prevailing ambient CO2 conditions and is prone to disruption if these conditions change., (© 2016. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)

In this study, the performance of poly(layered double hydroxides) [poly(LDHs)] beads as an adsorbent for arsenate removal from aqueous solution was investigated. The poly(LDHs) beads were prepared by immobilizing LDHs into spherical alginate/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-glutaraldehyde beads (spherical polymer beads). Batch adsorption studies were conducted to assess the effect of contact time, solution pH, initial arsenate concentrations and co-existing anions on arsenate removal performance. The potential reuse of these poly(LDHs) beads was also investigated. Approximately 79.1 to 91.2% of arsenic was removed from an arsenate solution (50 mg As L(-1)) by poly(LDHs). The adsorption data were well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetics model and the Langmuir isotherm model, and the adsorption capacities of these poly(LDHs) beads at pH 8 were from 1.64 to 1.73 mg As g(-1), as calculated from the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The adsorption ability of the poly(LDHs) beads decreased by approximately 5-6% after 5 adsorption-desorption cycles. Phosphates markedly decreased arsenate removal. The effect of co-existing anions on the adsorption capacity declined in the following order: HPO4 (2-) >> HCO3 (-) > SO4 (2-) > Cl(-). A fixed-bed column study was conducted with real-life arsenic-containing water. The breakthrough time was found to be from 7 to 10 h. Under optimized conditions, the poly(LDHs) removed more than 82% of total arsenic. The results obtained in this study will be useful for further extending the adsorbents to the field scale or for designing pilot plants in future studies. From the viewpoint of environmental friendliness, the poly(LDHs) beads are a potential cost-effective adsorbent for arsenate removal in water treatment.