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OBJECTIVE: Spondylolisthesis is one of the common causes of spinal pain. There is currently a lack of studies on the correlation between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and clinical symptoms of patients with spondylolisthesis. This study is aimed to find the correlation between clinical symptoms of L4/L5, L5/S1 lumbar spondylolisthesis, and imaging parameters on MRI. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study on 100 patients who were diagnosed with lumbar spondylolisthesis at the L4/L5, L5/S1 levels from August 2022 to February 2023. Parameters on MRI are measured the cross-sectional area of the dural sac (DSA), the cross-sectional area of the spinal canal (SCA), the ligamentum flavum cross-sectional area (LFA), and ligamentum flavum thickness (LFT), anterior-posterior diameter (APD), sliding distance (SD) at the spondylolisthesis level. Clinical symptoms were investigated according to the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for grading of pain and the subjective disability was assessed by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between SD, APD, SCA, DSA, LFA, and LFT between the mild and moderate pain VAS and severe pain VAS groups. No correlation was found between VAS and SD, APD, SCA, DSA, LFA, and LFT. There is a negative correlation between ODI and APD, SCA, and DSA. The statistically significant difference in APD, SCA, and DSA indexes in the two groups with mild/moderate disability (ODI =40%) and the group with severe disability (ODI >40%). CONCLUSIONS: A higher DSA and SCA, APD are associated with lower ODI. Decreased APD, SCA, and DSA are all suggestive of decreased spinal function. However, the MRI findings did not correlate with the patient's clinical pain level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is an uncommon malignant tumor, ranking third in prevalence within the soft tissue sarcomas group. The vast majority of synovial sarcomas are present in the extremities, with only 15% developing in the retroperitoneal space. Retroperitoneal synovial sarcoma (RSS) is an infrequent case of SS, with only about 20 cases reported in the literature. Diagnosing RSS before treatment remains challenging because of its nonspecific clinical symptoms. The disease is often detected at a later stage, leading to additional damage to other organs as well as complicated and ineffective treatment. Consequently, the 5-year survival rate is only 20%-29%. This report introduces a case of RSS in a 19-year-old male patient with imaging characteristics on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR).

Posterior interosseous nerve syndrome (PINs) is a rare nerve compression syndrome that affects the deep branch of the radial nerve in the supinator muscle region. In this article, we aimed to report a case of a 58-year-old male who had clinical symptoms, electromyographic, ultrasound, and MRI features suggestive of PINs due to compressing the arcade of Frohse. He subsequently underwent surgical correlation at our hospital, and the clinical symptoms were improved significantly.

Basal ganglia germinomas (BGGs) are rare lesions. Because of the atypical features of early-stage clinical symptoms and imaging characteristics, BGGs are easily misdiagnosed with non-tumorous conditions. This article presented cases of 2 young male patients who came to the hospital due to right arm weakness. Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) images in the first case revealed a lobulated mixed component mass on the left basal ganglia. The solid part showed restricted diffusion on diffusion-weighted imaging, heterogeneous strong enhancement, and no signal of calcification or bleeding. The second case in the left putamen showed hypointensity on T2*, mild enhancement, and atrophy of the ipsilateral cerebral peduncle, increased choline, and decreased n-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) on spectroscopy. Follow-up MRI after 6 months showed a mass increase in size and hypointensity part on T2*. BGGs have been confirmed on biopsy in both cases. With isolated chemotherapy application, there is no sign of remission in the first patient. The second patient was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and MRI images after treatment showed a complete response.

High-flow priapism is a rare condition in the form of priapism unrelated to sexual stimulation. The disease causes a decline in quality of life and has the risk of causing long-term erectile dysfunction if not treated promptly. We report a case of a 48-year-old male patient with prolonged high-flow erection after trauma who received endovascular intervention with n-butyl-2 cyanoacrylate biological glue. Results after 40 days of intervention and use of sildenafil 25 mg/day, the patient has an erection and has normal sexual activity. Cavernous arteriovenous fistula causing priapism with high flow is a rare condition. Computed tomography helps supplement information about feeding vessels as well as accompanying injuries for comprehensive assessment before treatment. Currently, there are many treatment methods, but transcatheter arterial embolization is modality of choice for achieve clinical efficacy and can safely and flexibly reduce the risk of secondary erectile dysfunction.

In median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS), the median arcuate ligament compresses the celiac trunk and surrounding nerves leading to chronic functional abdominal pain and vague gastrointestinal symptoms. MALS can be effectively treated by dividing the arcuate ligament through open surgery or laparoscopy. This is a rare vascular condition and mostly encountered in adult patients. We hereby report a case of a pediatric patient diagnosed with MALS and treated successfully by laparoscopic approach. An 11-year-old girl presented with severe abdominal cramps for 3 months, accompanied by nonbilious vomiting. Computed tomography (CT) angiography demonstrated clear images of celiac trunk compression suggesting MALS. Laparoscopic surgery to cut the ligament and decompress the celiac artery was performed. The patient was discharged on day 7 postoperative with no recurrence of symptoms after 12 months of follow-up. This report suggested the diagnostic value of CT scan, and the safety and the feasibility of laparoscopic surgical techniques to treat MALS in children.

Accidental fish bone ingestion is a common manifestation at emergency departments. In most cases, ingested foreign bodies usually pass uneventfully through the gastrointestinal tract and complications only present in less than 5% of all patients. In this report, we present the first documented case of pulmonary artery injury due to a fish bone in a 63-year-old male patient hospitalized with hemoptysis after accidentally swallowing a fish bone 30 days ago. This patient subsequently had surgery and endoscopy to safely remove the foreign body and then recovered well on a follow-up examination. For cases of fish bone ingestion, contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography is one of the most essential tools to assess vascular problems and associated mediastinal infections-risk factors for life-threatening and long-term recurrent inflammation. Reconstructing planes along the foreign body axis and changing windows when analyzing CT scans is necessary to avoid missing lesions and dilemmas.

Osteoarticular tuberculosis is less common than pulmonary tuberculosis and is often overlooked in the differential diagnosis of people with joint disease. In this article, we present a case of a 71-year-old female patient admitted to the hospital because of pain and limited movement of her right shoulder for a year. The patient had diabetes for 10 years, and no history of tuberculosis or previous history of tuberculosis exposure. Blood test results showed inflammatory condition and positive IGRA test. X-ray, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging images revealed osteolytic and sclerotic lesions of the humeral head, diffuse thickening of the synovial membrane, and loose bodies in the joint and bursa. The clinical diagnosis was tuberculous inflammatory osteoarthritis of the right shoulder. The patient underwent arthroscopy surgery to remove loose bodies and the inflamed portion of the synovium and send them to the pathology department. Histopathological examination of the loose bodies and synovial membrane revealed features suggestive of tuberculosis of the shoulder joint. Afterward, the patient was treated with antituberculosis drugs according to the guideline and rehabilitation exercises. After 3 months of treatment, the clinical symptoms were reduced, the pain rating was decreased and the range of motion was increased.

The study investigates the impact of intra-organization communication on the mental well-being of employees through satisfying their basic psychological needs, which include: the need for autonomy, the need for competence, and the need for relatedness. Data was collected from 294 employees working in the service sector. The Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the research hypotheses, and the results indicated that intra-organization communication has the strongest impact on satisfying employees’ need for relatedness, followed need for autonomy, and lastly, the need for competence. Meanwhile, to enhance the mental well-being of employees, addressing the need for competence should be prioritized first, followed by the need for autonomy, and finally, the need for relatedness.

Duodenal adenocarcinoma is very rare. Its clinical picture is nonspecific and the diagnosis is often accidental. The factors that affect survival are difficult to determine because the number of patients is not high. The common site of duodenal tumors and surgical removal are also debatable. The treatment guidelines published so far have mostly been evaluated in retrospective studies conducted over a 20-year period with relatively small sample sizes. The author presents a case of duodenal adenocarcinoma in a 62-year-old male patient with a clinical manifestation of melena. Duodeno-cephalo-pancreatectomy was the surgical option.

The aim of this study is to assess how different extraction temperatures affect the in vitro antioxidant potential of polysaccharides derived from the leaves of Myxopyrum smilacifolium. The findings indicated that, the polysaccharides exhibit the highest antioxidant activity when extracted at a temperature of 90°C. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the presence of characteristic absorption groups typically found in polysaccharide structures in the PS-T90 sample. The average molecular weight of the extracted polysaccharides was approximately 9.30×105 Da. The total antioxidant capacity of PS-T90 was determined to be 0.2646 ± 0.0007 mg GA/g or 0.1725 ± 0.0007 mg AS/g. Additionally, the IC50 values for the polysaccharides against 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radicals were measured to be 1.04 mg/mL and 3.37 mg/mL, respectively. These exceptional bioactive properties suggest the potential of PS-T90 as a valuable resource for antioxidant development.

Hiện nay, phương pháp von-ampe hòa tan anot xung vi phân (DP-ASV) sử dụng điện cực biến tính được cho là có độ chọn lọc, độ nhạy cao và giá thành rẻ. Trong nghiên cứu này, điện cực glassy carbon được biến tính bằng graphene oxide dạng khử kết hợp với màng bismuth in situ (BiFE/ErGO-GCE) để xác định đồng thời Cd(II) và Pb(II) trong môi trường nước. Một số thông số đã được nghiên cứu: lượng vật liệu graphene oxide, nồng độ của Bi(III) và thông số của phương pháp DP-ASV. Giới hạn phát hiện của Cd(II) và Pb(II) được xác định là 1,50 ppb và 1,39 ppb. Thêm vào đó, điện cực biến tính BiFE/ErGO-GCE cũng được áp dụng xác định đồng thời Cd(II) và Pb(II) trong hai mẫu nước sông Hương và An Cựu. Kết quả được so sánh với phương pháp khối phổ plasma cảm ứng cho kết quả có ý nghĩa.

Synovial sarcoma is a malignant mesenchymal neoplasm that is frequently misdiagnosed due to its slow growth and small size. This tumor presents as a nonspecific heterogeneous mass on cross-sectional imaging. Biopsy and histopathological assessments are required to differentiate synovial sarcoma from other sarcoma subtypes and to define the tumor grade. This article presents the case of a 17-year-old male patient with perineal synovial sarcoma.

Acinic cell carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignant tumor of the salivary glands that accounts for 6%-10% of all salivary gland malignancies. It has a propensity to considerably recur, metastasize to the lung or cervical lymph nodes. In addition, ACC can potentially be fatal. The parotid gland is where ACC most frequently begins. The purpose of this paper was to describe an unusual case of parotid gland ACC in a 58-year-old Vietnamese adult female. Before surgery, a fine-needle aspiration biopsy revealed the existence of tumor cells with acinar differentiation. Following that, she underwent successful surgery without complications. The existence of ACC was verified by the postoperative final histologic results.

Uterine carcinosarcoma, which is categorized as high-grade endometrial cancer, is an uncommon kind of malignant gynecological neoplasms. Clinically, this tumor frequently affects menopausal women and the main symptom is abnormally postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. Surgery continues to be the main treatment for carcinosarcoma. In this study, we wanted to discuss 2 cases of uterine carcinosarcoma in 2 women who were in menopause and who had been evaluated by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging.

Of 0.5% all epithelial salivary gland malignancies are oncocytic cancers, a rare kind of parotid gland cancer. Clinical signs include discomfort and swelling in the cheek region, and the facial nerve is occasionally affected, leading to unilateral facial paralysis. Currently, surgery is the preferred choice of therapy. In this paper, we aimed to provide a case of an 84-year-old male who had an oncocytic carcinoma in the right parotid gland. A heterogeneous, poorly defined hypoechogenic lesion with minor vascular proliferation was seen by Doppler ultrasonography in the superficial lobe of the right parotid gland. On a computed tomography (CT) with contrast agent, an ill-defined mass filling the right parotid gland was evident. With the aid of the CT results of a heterogeneous enhancing mass with poorly defined boundary and expansion of adjacent lymph nodes, it may be able to differentiate between malignant lesions and benign parotid tumors.

Although invasive ductal carcinoma accounts for 75% of all primary breast cancers diagnosed, there are other, more uncommon kinds, including invasive cribriform carcinoma (ICC). Invasive cribriform carcinoma has 2 subtypes: pure and mixed. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging are the best imaging methods for assessing the characteristics of breast ICC (MRI). Our goal in this article was to report a rare instance of breast ICC in a 38-year-old Vietnamese woman. During a clinical examination, a spherical mass in the left breast without ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes was seen. On ultrasonography, the lesion was classified as BI-RADS 4C. The lesion was with an apparent diffusion coefficient value of 0.46 × 10−3 mm2/s. Lesion showed a quick initial increase on dynamic T1-weighted imaging with contrast enhancement, followed by a wash-out in the delayed phase. The final histopathological findings confirmed the presence of ICC.

Of 6%-8%, cerebral tumors are intracranial schwannomas, also known as neurinomas, which frequently arise from the nerve sheath. Eighth cranial nerve (CN VIII), also known as the vestibulocochlear nerve, is the site of genesis of the majority of schwannomas, which account for 80%-90% of cerebellopontine angle tumors. In this paper, we intended to describe an uncommon cystic vestibular schwannoma with multiple fluid-fluid levels. Surgical excision was performed using the translabyrinthine approach. The report highlights schwannomas’ adherence to and invasion of adjacent anatomical structures. We discuss a number of differential diagnoses, the pathophysiology of fluid-fluid levels, and the imaging features of cystic vestibular schwannomas.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a slowly progressing malignant tumor of the salivary glands that mostly affects minor salivary glands. ACC of parotid gland is exceptionally rare. In this article, we aimed to provide a case report of parotid gland ACC in a 55-year-old female that was misdiagnosed as benign mixed tumor. The patient was successfully treated by surgery without any complications. We recommend that ACC of parotid gland should be considered in differential diagnosis of benign mixed tumor since there still existed overlapped imaging characteristics.

Although breast vascular tumors are exceedingly rare, the benign group's most common tumor, the hemangioma, is frequently found in lumpectomy or mastectomy tissues during histological analyses. The 3 types of hemangiomas are capillary, cavernous, and venous. The most typical kind of hemangioma is cavernous. Cavernous hemangiomas are benign blood vessel tumors that arise from established blood vessels. The best imaging technique for examining the makeup of breast vessels is magnetic resonance imaging. In this article, we purposed to describe an exceptionally uncommon case of giant breast cavernous hemangioma.

Parapharyngeal space (PPS) lipomas are incredibly uncommon. Prestyloid or poststyloid compartments are the only locations for PPS lipomas. Liposarcoma is a crucial differential to rule out. In order to treat PPS lipomas, the required radiological tests, including magnetic resonance imaging, a biopsy of the lesion if that is available, and lipoma removal surgery are all necessary. We intended to describe a unique giant PPS lipoma that affects both prestyloid and poststyloid compartments

Manganese (IV) oxide/electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (MnO2/ErGO) composite was synthesized in an oxidation-reduction process followed by electrochemical reduction. The obtained materials were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray mapping (EDX mapping). The electrochemical reduction of a manganese dioxide/GO film pre-cast on a glassy carbon electrode to rGO was performed by using the chronoamperometric method for preparing the MnO2/ErGO modified electrode. The obtained modified electrode was employed to simultaneously determine chloramphenicol (CAP) and tinidazole (TNZ) with linear sweep adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry (LS-AdCSV). The effect of experimental parameters, e.g., potential and time of accumulation, pH of the buffered solutions, and the potential sweep rate on the response, was examined. Under the optimal conditions, the modified electrode shows a wide linear response for the concentration of CAP and TNZ in the range of 0.1–20 μM with a detection limit of 0.58 and 0.33 μM. The practicability of the developed sensor was explored by detecting CAP and TNZ individually or simultaneously in honey, eye drops, and tablet samples with satisfactory results.

A peculiar subtype of glioblastoma multiforme is gliosarcoma. According to histological analysis, it possesses a biphasic shape that clearly distinguishes between glial and sarcomatous tissue. A gliosarcoma is often seen in the supratentorial region. Here, we describe a rare instance of giant left intraventricular gliosarcoma that manifested in a 1-year-old male. Advanced brain scan using magnetic resonance imaging identified a supratentorial tumor with radiological characteristics comparable to choroid plexus carcinoma. Histopathology determined that the tumor was a gliosarcoma. Despite its rarity, gliosarcoma should be taken into consideration when determining the differential diagnosis of intraventricular tumors in children who exhibit radiological signs of choroid plexus carcinoma.

Pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) is among the rarest malignant tumors diagnosed in children. PPBs can be histopathologically classified into 3 types: cystic tumor (type I), mixed cystic and solid tumor (type II), and pure solid tumor (type III). We describe a case of type III PPB that was detected in a prenatal fetus, confirmed using histopathological methods. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case describing a type III PPB detected in a fetus. Prenatal ultrasonography is an excellent tool for detecting pulmonary lesions during the diagnostic phase, and the possibility of PPB should be considered when solid tumors are detected. Early detection can allow for the performance of full resection, leading to a better prognosis for this cancerous tumor.

Abstract Background Medulloblastoma is well known as the most common malignant brain tumor identified in children, frequently found at an intra-axial location in the posterior cranial fossa. Extra-axial medulloblastoma is uncommon and often misdiagnosed. We believe that a thorough understanding of atypical medulloblastoma cases is important in daily practice. Case presentation We present the unique case of a 39-year-old woman of Asian descent who suffered from headaches and right-sided hearing impairment. A right extra-axial medulloblastoma with an extremely low apparent diffusion coefficient of 0.404 × 10−3 mm2/second was detected on magnetic resonance imaging. The initial diagnosis suggested schwannoma or hemangioblastoma. However, the postoperative histopathologic findings indicated medulloblastoma (World Health Organization grade IV). Pre- and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging revealed no drop metastasis, but adjuvant radiation therapy was still required as a standard treatment therapy Conclusions Extra-axial medulloblastoma is an uncommon tumor that is often mistaken for other cerebellopontine angle neoplasms. We describe a rare example of extra-axial medulloblastoma, characterized by a low apparent diffusion coefficient. When evaluating an atypical cerebellopontine angle neoplasm, the apparent diffusion coefficient should be considered a relevant indicator.

Autonomous vehicles have a fundamental part to play in future transportation. In order to work, such vehicles need a way of determining their exact location. To date, two techniques have proved applicable: geolocation using GPS and 3D mapping. In the latter case, the creation of the 3D map is an essential step in preparing the software. This manuscript presents a novel method for creating a high-definition 3D map using a Velodyne sensor. The primary objective is to achieve deeper understanding of the map creation algorithm and to lay the groundwork for future autonomous vehicle architecture. In this manuscript, two high-definition mapping algorithms are applied: the graph simultaneous localization and mapping algorithm and the normal distributions transform algorithm. The results of both displayed different strengths and weaknesses upon creating a high-definition 3D map, which may help other researchers to select the best algorithm in future.

Intra-abdominal solitary fibrous tumor (SFT), also known as hemangiopericytoma, is rare, especially for those with a mesenteric location, and only a few cases have been reported. Distinguishing a hemangiopericytoma from other intra-abdominal benign or malignant tumors can be difficult, as they have similar presentations on both computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. In the present study, the records for a 31-year-old Vietnamese woman who underwent abdominal surgery for greater omental tumor resection and received histopathological results revealing SFT are retrospectively reviewed. The case is discussed and similar reported cases are reviewed. Due to the aggressive behavior and high rate of postoperative recurrence associated with SFT, a thorough understanding of the radiologic and histopathological features of the disease is necessary to achieve an appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Gliosarcoma (GS) is an uncommon central nervous system tumor with several characteristics of a malignant neoplasm and poor prognosis. The majority of GS reports describe a predilection for the cerebral hemispheres, and cases of intraventricular GS are extremely rare, with only a few reported. In addition, intraventricular GS has not been associated with any unique radiographic or clinical features, which can result in misdiagnosis as other intraventricular tumor types. In this report, we present the case of a 32-year-old woman with GS in the trigone of the lateral ventricle and provide a retrospective review of similar, previously reported cases.

Pancreaticopleural fistula is an extremely rare complication of pancreatic duct injury. The reported treatments include conservative approaches, such as pleural drainage, and interventional approaches, such as sphincter stenting via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and surgery. However, no specific consensus treatment has been defined. We present 2 cases of pediatric patients with pancreaticopleural fistulas due to pancreatic trauma and pancreatitis that were successfully treated surgically. The most prominent symptom in both cases was dyspnea caused by pleural effusion. Thoracoabdominal computed tomography scans showed large pleural effusions and visible fistulas from the pancreatic duct to the thoracic cavity through the esophageal hiatus and aortic hiatus. Following unsuccessful conservative treatment using pleural drainage, the 2 patients underwent surgical fistulo-jejunostomy and cystojejunostomy. Both patients were stable and were discharged on postoperative days 10 and 12. Conservative treatment for pancreaticopleural fistula often fails, and a surgical approach, such as fistulo-jejunostomy and cystojejunostomy, can serve as an efficacious management strategy when conservative treatment fails.

Curculigo orchioides Gaertn. is used in traditional medicine in Vietnam. Its antioxidant potential was evaluated through DPPH radical scavenging and the total antioxidant capacity method. The data resulted from DPPH radical scavenging activity indicate that Curculigo orchioides display high activity with a low IC50 value (22.78μg/mL), approximately 1.5 times less than that of curcumin (34.34 μg/mL). The total antioxidant capacity of the extract is equivalent to 132.48 ± 1.48 mg GA/g or 264.45 ± 2.34 μmol AS/g. The composition of Curculigo orchioides, including the total phenolic, total flavonoid, polysaccharides, and triterpenoid saponins, was examined by using the colorimetric method with reagents, and their quantity is equivalent to 196.24 ± 1.45 mg GAE/g, 78.49 ± 1.78 mg QE/g, 4.34 ± 0.08 %, 47.60 ± 0.24 mg Rb1/g (Rb1: Gypenoside III), respectively. Specifically, the total triterpenoid saponins content of Curculigo orchioides has been reported for the first time.

Introduction: When Viet Nam launched the Expanded Programme on Immunization in 1981, it covered six vaccines, including measles. Subsequently, Viet Nam experienced a marked reduction in measles infections. A nationwide measles epidemic occurred in April 2014 and an investigation found that 86% of affected children aged 9 months to 10 years were not fully vaccinated; therefore, understanding the reasons for not vaccinating could improve vaccination coverage. Method: We performed a cross-sectional study to determine vaccination coverage and reasons for non-vaccination among children aged 9 months to 10 years in six districts in Ho Chi Minh City with the highest number of measles cases in 2014. Measles vaccination status of the youngest child in each household was determined and reasons for non-vaccination were investigated. A χ2 test and multiple logistic regression were used to identify independent predictors of full vaccination. Results: In total, 207 children were enrolled during the study period in 2014. Full measles vaccination coverage was 55% in these households, and 73% of parents were aware of the importance of measles vaccination to protect their children. We found that the father’s education level (under high school versus high school and above) and the site where the survey was conducted were significantly associated with vaccination status. Conclusion: The vaccination coverage was lower than the coverage reported by district preventive medicine centres of the seven study wards. Lack of the second vaccination was a key obstacle to eliminating the vaccination gap. A catch-up mass vaccination campaign or health promotion of measles vaccination directed towards parents should be considered to improve vaccination coverage.

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the effects of extraction temperatures on in vitro antioxidant potential of polysaccharides from the Ophiocordyceps sobolifera. The antioxidant capacity of Ophiocordyceps sobolifera polysaccharides was evaluated using 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) as a radical scavenger and the total antioxidant capacity methods. The results show that the highest antioxidant activity of the polysaccharides could be attained at the extraction temperature of 80°C. The total antioxidant capacity of olysaccharides from Ophiocordyceps sobolifera is from 0.1183 ± 0.0011 to 0.1454 ± 0.0021 mg GA/g or from 0.1105 ± 0.0004 to 0.1215 ± 0.0006 μmol AS/g. The polysaccharides have the most potent antioxidant activity with the lowest half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value ranging from 0.97 mg/mL to 1.06 mg/mL.

High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector (HPLC- DAD) has been reported to quantify isolated compounds. This work was designed, therefore, to develop an HPLC-DAD system to determine luteolin in the extract solutions from Helicteres hirsuta. Luteolin was analyzed on an RP-C18 column using a mobile phase including acetonitrile – 0.1% phosphoric acid (v/v) = 1:1 (v/v) with a detecting wavelength of 347 nm, a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min, and a volume of an injected sample of 10 μL. The HPLC system was carried out at ambient temperature. The method shows linearity for luteolin in the range 0.02–1 mg/mL, and the recovery of luteolin is 94.07 ± 0.64 %. This is the first time, the contents of luteolin in methanol extracts from the plant parts of H. hirsuta (including branch, fruit, and aerial parts) were determined with a value of 49.06 ± 0.46, 56.61 ± 0.62 and 91.15 ± .42 µg/g, respectively.

In this study, the Aluminium Nitride/Gallium Nitride (AlN/GaN) layers and Aluminium Nitride/Aluminium Gallium Nitride/Gallium Nitride (AlN/AlGaN/GaN) layer heterostructures were successfully created using technique known as plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on silicon substrate. Gallium (7 N) and Aluminium (6 N5) of high purity were used to grow GaN, AlN and AlGaN respectively. The structural and optical properties of the prepared AlN/GaN and AlN/AlGaN/GaN layer heterostructures were investigated by means of atomic force microscope (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and Raman spectroscopy. AFM measurement demonstrated that the root mean square of surface roughness for AlN/GaN and AlN/AlGaN/GaN heterostructures are 3.677 nm and 10.333 nm respectively. XRD data indicated that the samples have typical diffraction pattern of hexagonal structure. Raman spectra revealed all four Raman-active modes present inside both samples. PL spectra data showed the yellow luminescence which corresponds to the deep energy levels due to imperfections of AlN did not appear. Thus, PL observation indicated that the thin film of AlN/GaN and AlN/AlGaN/GaN layers have good optical quality and looks promising for various target applications in optoelectronics, photovoltaic and radiofrequency applications. Keywords: Aluminium Nitride, Aluminium Gallium Nitride, Gallium Nitride, Thin film, MBE, Silicon

We aim to estimate and compare the costs of operative and transcatheter closure for patients with secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) in Vietnam. This was a retrospective cross-sectional study based on medical records of congenital heart diseases (CHD) patients in Da Nang Hospital, Vietnam from 2010 through 2015. All costs in this study were calculated according to a provider's perspective. All pricing data were converted into USD at the 2015 exchange rate. A total of 258 patients with secundum ASD were recruited in the study, including 35 patients treated by operative closure and 223 patients treated by transcatheter closure. The total treatment costs of the transcatheter closure group (US $3,107.9) were higher than those of the operative closure group (US $2,080.5). The cost of the procedure and medical supplies accounted for 67.3% of the total treatment cost in the operative closure group, while the cost of occlusion devices accounted for 62.2% of the total cost in the transcatheter closure group. Given the advantages of the transcatheter closure procedure, reducing occlusion device costs may increase the proportion of patients treated with this technique.

Nghiên cứu được thực hiện nhằm khảo sát sự lưu hành và sự đề kháng kháng sinh của vi khuẩn Salmonella trên gà và môi trường chăn nuôi tại một số nông hộ ở tỉnh Vĩnh Long. Tổng cộng có 322 mẫu (127 mẫu phân gà và 195 mẫu môi trường) đã được thu thập từ ba nông hộ ở tỉnh Vĩnh Long để phân lập và kiểm tra sự đề kháng kháng sinh bằng phương pháp khuếch tán trên đĩa thạch. Kết quả cho thấy có 20 mẫu (6,21%) dương tính với vi khuẩn Salmonella. Salmonella dương tính được phân lập từ mẫu phân (9,45%) cao hơn so với từ mẫu môi trường (4,10%). Salmonella được phân lập từ gà tiêu chảy phân trắng (8/44 mẫu, 18,18%) cao hơn gà khỏe (4/83, 4,82%); chủ yếu trên gà 1-2 tuần tuổi (17,31%, 9/52 mẫu). Vi khuẩn hiện diện trên nền chuồng là 10,71% cao hơn mẫu nước uống (1,96%) và thức ăn (1,14%). Kết quả kiểm tra sự đề kháng của vi khuẩn với 14 loại kháng sinh cho thấy, các chủng vi khuẩn này đã đề kháng từ 2 – 10 loại kháng sinh. Vi khuẩn Salmonella đã đề kháng cao với ampicillin (100%), chloramphenicol (95%), cefuroxime, streptomycin, tetracycline (90%), doxycycline (85%) và kháng trung bình với trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (60%). Các chủng vi khuẩn này vẫn còn nhạy cảm cao với các kháng sinh amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, amikacin, levofloxacin, ofloxacin (100%), ceftazidime (95%) và colistin (75%). Cả 20 chủng đã đa kháng với 11 kiểu hình đa kháng khác nhau, rất đa dạng và phức tạp.

This study aimed to assess the trends and associated factors of comprehensive knowledge about HIV among women in Vietnam using the dataset of the Vietnam Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICSs) in 2000, 2006, 2011, and 2014. The outcome variable was comprehensive knowledge about HIV, defined as the ability to correctly answer three knowledge questions and to reject the three most common misconceptions about HIV prevention. We found that comprehensive knowledge about HIV increased from 26.1% in 2000 to 44.1% in 2011, but it decreased slightly between 2011 and 2014, from 44.1% to 42.4%. Increased comprehensive knowledge about HIV was associated with women who had higher education and those in the fourth and fifth quintiles of household wealth in all four rounds of the MICS. Comprehensive knowledge about HIV among women was also associated with those who had ever been tested for HIV and those with knowledge of where to be tested for HIV. Women in the urban areas were more likely to have higher levels of comprehensive knowledge about HIV as compared to the women in the rural areas in 2000, 2006, and 2011 but not in 2014. Comprehensive knowledge about HIV among women in Vietnam increased from 2000 to 2014, but it was still relatively low.

Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a non-physiologic communication between the two atria, allowing the shunt between systemic and pulmonary circulation. Data about ASD prevalence among congenital heart disease patients (CHD) in Vietnam are still scarce. We aim to assess the trends in the prevalence of ASD patients and associated factors among CHD patients. This was a cross-sectional study, with data collected from medical records from 1220 CHD patients in Da Nang hospital from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2015. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate the prevalence of ASD among CHD patients. Comparative statistical methods were used to compare groups and logistic regression to access associated factors with ASD. The overall prevalence of ASD among CHD patients was 18.5% between 2010 and 2015. The prevalence varied between periods, ranging between 15% and 31.9% during the period. The prevalence of ASD women among CHD (25.9%) was significantly higher than for men (16.0%). The prevalence of ASD increased gradually when the age group increased. The factors associated with increased ASD prevalence were being a female and being in an older age group. The findings suggest that targeted policy should provide more-specific health-care services of ASD for women and older patients.

Tobacco is legally permitted for adults, easily available, and the prevalence of smoking is high. Tobacco use is the largest preventable risk factor for human disease. To reduce smoking, many countries have introduced public policy to restrict the distribution of tobacco. The aim of this study was to analyse tobacco smoking and nicotine dependence in Central Vietnamese men around Hue and Da Nang cities. Nicotine dependence was measured using the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) score. The cohort contained total of 1822 Central Vietnamese men from Hue and Da Nang: 1453 smokers and 369 non-smokers. Individuals completed a questionnaire and factors such as smoking initiation, quitting behaviour, and success in quitting were also recorded. In the smoking group, the average amount of time in which the individual had smoked was 26.4 years. Average FTND value was 4.02, median was 4, the first quartile was 2, and the third quartile was 6. In all, 431 smokers (30%) had an FTND score of 6 or higher; an FTND score of this value is considered to equate to an individual having high nicotine dependence. Therefore, it could be noted that high nicotine dependence is very common in Central Vietnam. High nicotine dependence was significantly correlated with years of smoking. The longer the smoking period, the higher the FTND score. A high FTND score correlated with the individual being less likely to successfully quit smoking. The results of the questionnaire demonstrate that even when there is no restriction in public policy concerning the distribution of tobacco, individuals still wish to quit smoking. This study identified a high prevalence of severe nicotine dependence in Central Vietnamese men and the majority smokers wished to quit smoking. Consequently, the results of this study highlight the acute need for a specific programme to aid smokers in Central Vietnam to quit smoking., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interests:The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Strain gauges are used in various applications such as wearable strain gauges and strain gauges in airplanes or structural health monitoring. Sensitivity of the strain gauge required varies, depending on the application of the strain gauge. This paper reports a tunable strain gauge based on a two-dimensional percolative network of silver nanowires. By varying the surface coverage of the nanowire network and the waviness of the nanowires in the network, the sensitivity of the strain gauge can be controlled. Hence, a tunable strain gauge can be engineered, based on demands of the application. A few applications are demonstrated. The strain gauge can be adhered to the human neck to detect throat movements and a glove integrated with such a strain gauge can detect the bending of the forefinger. Other classes of two-dimensional percolative networks of one-dimensional materials are also expected to exhibit similar tunable properties.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of morbidity and mortality in Malaysia. There is evidence of high traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) use among population with cardiovascular risk and there have been anecdotal reports about substitution of conventional medicines with TCM. We investigated the prevalence of TCM use, treatment preference and substitution of conventional medicines in study population with cardiovascular risk factors in Pahang, Malaysia., Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using an interviewer-administered questionnaire in five districts of Pahang. A total of 1250 households were chosen through proportionate and systematic sampling. Respondents aged 18 years and above were selected., Results: The study population with cardiovascular risk factors who used TCM was higher than the general population (31.7% versus 25.9%). There were no clear preferences in using TCM by gender, age groups, educational level and income even though other bumiputeras showed a slight inclination towards TCM use. Among the study population with cardiovascular risk factors who consumed TCM, 20-30% of them were using TCM as a substitute for their conventional medications. Respondents from the younger age group (18-40 years) (57.1%), highest educational level (43.2%), other bumiputeras (38.4%) and highest income group (31.4%) preferred the combination of both conventional and traditional medicine., Conclusion: TCM use among population with cardiovascular risk factors is high. The high preference for combination therapy of TCM and conventional medications among young adults and the use of TCM to substitute conventional medications show that much research is needed to provide proven TCM therapies to avoid self-mismanagement of cardiovascular risk in Malaysia.

We studied the natural killer (NK) receptor repertoire by flow cytometry for 78 patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and correlated the expression with their biological and clinical characteristics. CD3-CD56+ NK cells constituted a median of 11.68% of the lymphocyte subset. The NK receptors including the killer immunoglobulin-like receptors, natural cytotoxicity receptors and C-type lectin receptors were comparable amongst the various French-American-British (FAB) subtypes and amongst patients in the better, intermediate and poor risk categories. Neither was there any difference in NK receptor repertoire between patients who achieved a remission with induction chemotherapy and those who were chemorefractory, indicating the absence of a prognostic impact of NK receptor repertoire at the time of diagnosis of AML. Compared with NK cells from 16 healthy donors, most of the NK receptors were expressed at a significantly lower level, suggesting a defective NK cell population as a cause or result of AML.