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Mutations of the H3N2 vaccine strain during the egg-based vaccine manufacturing process partly explain the suboptimal effectiveness of traditional seasonal influenza vaccines. Cell-based influenza vaccines improve antigenic match and vaccine effectiveness by avoiding such egg-adaptation. This study evaluated the public health and economic impact of a cell-based quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIVc) in adults (18–64 years) compared to the standard egg-based quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIVe) in the US. The impact of QIVc over QIVe in public health and cost outcomes was estimated using a dynamic age-structured SEIR transmission model, which accounted for four circulating influenza strains [A/H1N1pdm9, A/H3N2, B(Victoria), and B(Yamagata)] and was calibrated on the 2013–2018 influenza seasons. The robustness of the results was assessed in univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Switching from QIVe to QIVc in 18- to 64-year-olds may prevent 5.7 million symptomatic cases, 1.8 million outpatient visits, 50,000 hospitalizations, and 5453 deaths annually. The switch could save 128,000 Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) and US $ 845 M in direct costs, resulting in cost-savings in a three-year time horizon analysis. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the cost-saving result. The analysis shows that QIVc is expected to prevent hospitalizations and deaths, and result in substantial savings in healthcare costs.

MF59®-adjuvanted trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (aIIV3) and high-dose trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (HD-IIV3) elicit an enhanced immune response in older adults compared to standard, quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV4). We sought to determine the relative vaccine effectiveness (rVE) of aIIV3 versus IIV4 and HD-IIV3 in preventing influenza-related medical encounters in this retrospective cohort study involving adults ≥65 years with ≥1 health condition during the 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 influenza seasons. Data were obtained from primary and specialty care electronic medical records linked with pharmacy and medical claims. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) were derived from an inverse probability of treatment-weighted sample adjusted for age, sex, race, ethnicity, geographic region, vaccination week, and health status. rVE was determined using the formula (% rVE = 1 − ORadjusted) × 100. Analysis sets included 1,755,420 individuals for the 2017–2018 season and 2,055,012 for the 2018–2019 season. Compared to IIV4, aIIV3 was 7.1% (95% confidence interval 3.3–10.8) and 20.4% (16.2–24.4) more effective at preventing influenza-related medical encounters in the 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 seasons, respectively. Comparable effectiveness was observed with HD-IIV3 across both seasons. Our results support improved effectiveness of aIIV3 vs IIV4 in a vulnerable population of older adults at high risk of influenza and its complications.

The presence of adipocytes within thyroid glands is a rare finding seen in thyrolipoma, diffuse lipomatosis, or thyroid teratoma. Although some cases present with multinodular goiter or autoimmune thyroiditis, the exact cause has not yet been elucidated. Among reported cases, thyrolipomas mainly occur in females and usually present as a solitary lesion. However, a few reported cases had coexisting papillary thyroid carcinomas. Herein, we present a 51-year-old female with synchronous thyrolipoma (2.0 × 1.5 × 1.3 cm) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (0.7 × 0.6 × 0.6 cm) within the same thyroid lobe. She had diabetes mellitus and hypertension and complained of anterior neck enlargement and discomfort for three months. Thyroid sonography showed multiple hypoechoic nodules, one of which was heterogeneous and ill-defined. Fine needle aspirate cytology for the ill-defined nodule was suspicious for papillary thyroid carcinoma. She subsequently received radical thyroidectomy and neck lymph node dissection. Histopathologically, one thyrolipoma and one papillary thyroid carcinoma were identified in the right lobe of the thyroid gland without metastases of lymph nodes, while other nodules were multinodular goiter. Notably, thyrolipoma may not be simply an incidental finding but might coexist with thyroid carcinomas. A brief review of the pertinent literature of prior reports is also provided.

Biologics have revolutionized the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in recent years. However, data from clinical trials and actual clinical practice have shown that biologics currently in use may constitute a risk factor for reactivation of tuberculosis (TB) in patients with latent TB infection. Therefore, screening for latent and active TB infection is mandatory before initiating biologic therapy in patients with RA. This prospective study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with RA receiving biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs at Bach Mai Hospital, Vietnam, between 2017 and 2022, and to identify factors affecting the occurrence of active and latent TB infection among these patients. Over a 12-month follow-up period, latent TB infection was confirmed in 20% of the total 180 included patients, while 3 (1.7%) patients developed active TB (one case of pulmonary, pleural, and gluteal TB each). History of TB risk factor exposure and lack of education were significantly associated with the occurrence of active and latent TB infection, with odds ratios (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) of 1.98 (1.78; 2.2) and 1.45 (1.31; 1.6), respectively. Follow-up duration and number of X-ray, computed tomography, bronchoscopy, and sputum acid-fast bacteria examinations were identified as factors that can aid in the early diagnosis of latent TB, with odds ratios (95% CIs) of 1.00 (1; 1.01), 1.02 (1; 1.05), 1.12 (1.11; 1.2), 1.11 (1.09; 1.2), and 1.13 (1.09; 1.17), respectively. Our study showed that, in countries with high TB burden like Vietnam, latent TB infection has high prevalence among patients with RA. We also provide useful information for the screening, monitoring, and treatment of latent and active TB infection in patients with RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine all-cause mortality rate and the predictive value of plasma ferritin and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) concentrations for mortality during the first 3 years of hemodialysis in patients with end-stage chronic renal disease (ESRD).Methods: We conducted a study on 174 ESRD patients (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate < 15 mL/min/1.73m2). The plasma TIBC level was quantified by the ELISA method in all patients at the time before hemodialysis. Based on TIBC concentration, patients were divided equally into 2 groups. Each group had 87 patients. Patients were initiated on hemodialysis, and patients who died from any cause during the first 3 years of hemodialysis were recorded.Results: The all-cause mortality rate of ESRD patients in the first 3 years of maintenance hemodialysis was 22.9%. Plasma high hs-CRP, high ferritin, and low TIBC concentrations were independent factors associated with all-cause mortality in the patients. Plasma ferritin (cut-off value = 454.2 ng/L) and TIBC (cut-off value = 39.84 μmol/L) were predictors of all-cause mortality, AUC is: 0.772; 0.723, p < 0.001.Conclusion: Plasma ferritin and TIBC were good predictors of all-cause mortality in ESRD patients during the first 3 years of hemodialysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the level of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Vietnamese adults and examine the relationship between social media use and vaccine hesitancy. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 26 to August 10, 2021, using an online survey of 702 Vietnamese adults. The Oxford COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy scale was used to measure vaccine hesitancy. A linear regression model was used to analyze the factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. RESULTS: Our study found that 15.1% of respondents were hesitant about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, with an average hesitancy score of 9.52±2.66. Students and the unemployed had higher levels of hesitancy (B=0.58; 95%CI=0.02 -1.15; p=0.043 and B=1.59; 95%CI=0.41-2.76, p=0.008, respectively. Hesitancy was also significantly associated with receiving positive information from social media (Facebook, Zalo) (B=-0.31; 95%CI=0.5 to -0.12; p=0.001) and trust in social media information (B=-0.45; 95%CI=-0.72 to -0.19; p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study highlight the need for targeted interventions to address vaccine hesitancy among Vietnamese people, particularly in the context of the shortage of vaccines and low public trust in 2021 and its practical evidence for future preparation in emerging pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four naphtolic glycosides (1–4), three anthraquinones (5–7), two stilbenes (8-9), one benzyl glycoside (10), and one flavonoid (11) were isolated from the roots of Fallopia multiflora. The new compounds were elucidated to be 6-hydroxymusizin 8-O-α-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 6-methoxy-3-methyl-1,6,8-trihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid 8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3). Compound 3 could be an important marker for chemotaxonomy of F. multiflora. Benzyl gentiobioside (10) was isolated for the first time from the family Polygonaceae.

W artykule został przedstawiony wpływ różnicy wysokości terenu na spektralne właściwości optycznego obrazu satelitarnego, pod kątem badania zmian pokrycia terenu. Praca zawiera dwie główne części: korekcję radiometryczną obrazu satelitarnego na terenach wysokogórskich oraz ocenę skutków i zmienności pokrycia terenu przed i po korekcji wpływu wysokości terenu na odbicie spektralne obrazu. Badanie zostało przeprowadzone w obszarach górskich Hoa Binh na podstawie analizy obrazów SPOT5 z lat 2007 i 2010. Wyniki wykazały, że odpowiednim modelem korekcji dla badanego terenu jest model Meyer’a. Wpływ korekcji radiometrycznej wynik klasyfikacji pokrycia terenu (wydzielono 7 klas) waha się od 15% do 400%. Zmiany pokrycia terenu przed i po korekcji wpływu wysokości terenu na odbicie spektralne wahają się od 5% do 100%.

Driven by health care reform and the advent of the private sector in the late 1980s, and by commitments made to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Vietnam is faced with a need to increase the regulation and training of its health care professionals. Previously, a diploma from an accredited health professional school was sufficient to practice for a lifetime. Legislation has recently been passed that will institute a licensing system, will require continuing medical education (CME) to maintain the license, and will probably place a large burden on the health professional schools and training institutes to provide CME. Supported by international nongovernmental organizations and foreign universities, the medical universities in Vietnam are responding and are preparing for their new and expanded role. (Contains 3 tables.)