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Robert F Melendez,1,2 Thao Huong Nguyen,1,2 Angelica Isabella Solis,1 Danielle Ortiz,2 Cody Moezzi,2 Brad Hall3 1Juliette Eye Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA; 2University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Albuquerque, NM, USA; 3Sengi, Penniac, NB, CanadaCorrespondence: Robert F Melendez, Juliette Eye Institute, 8801 Horizon Blvd., Suite 130, Albuquerque, NM, 87113, USA, Tel +1 505-355-2020, Email robertmelendez@mac.comPurpose: To evaluate the refractive and visual acuity outcomes when using trifocal toric intraocular lenses (IOLs), femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery (FLACS), swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) biometry, digital image tracking (DT) and intraoperative aberrometry (IA).Methods: This prospective, single-arm, observational study of refractive and visual outcomes included 40 eyes of 34 subjects. Preoperative biometry was performed with the Argos, FLACS and digital marking with LenSx, and IA and DT with ORA. Eyes were implanted with the Clareon PanOptix toric IOL. Study outcome measures included absolute prediction error, residual refractive astigmatism, and monocular uncorrected and distance corrected visual acuity at distance (UDVA, CDVA), intermediate (UIVA, DCIVA; 60cm), and near (UNVA, DCNVA; 40cm).Results: Mean absolute prediction error (spherical equivalent) was 0.43 ± 0.36 D, and the percentage of eyes with absolute prediction error ≤ 0.5 D was 72.5% (29/40 eyes). Mean residual astigmatism was 0.36 ± 0.65 D, and the percentage of eyes with residual astigmatism ≤ 0.5 D was 80% (32/40 eyes). Monocular UDVA, UIVA, and UNVA was 20/25 or better in 75%, 64%, and 87% of eyes respectively. Monocular CDVA, DCIVA, and DCNVA was 20/25 or better in 95%, 64%, and 87% of eyes respectively.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that trifocal toric implantation with SS-OCT, FLACS, DT, and IA can provide excellent refractive and visual outcomes.Plain Language Summary: When the natural lens inside the eye becomes opaque (develops a cataract), it can be surgically replaced with a clear artificial intraocular lens (IOL). There are many different technologies available to the cataract surgeon in order to maximize postoperative visual outcomes with implanted IOLs. These include, modern biometers, femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS), trifocal IOLs, toric IOLs, image-guided digital tracking (DT), and intraoperative aberrometry (IA). Individually, good refractive outcomes have been reported with these technologies. However, there is minimal data on outcomes using a combination of all of them. The purpose of this study was to determine the refractive and visual acuity outcomes when using modern biometers, toric IOLs, FLACS, DT, IA, and trifocal IOLs. The results of this study suggest that trifocal toric implantation with modern biometry, FLACS, DT, and IA can provide excellent refractive and visual outcomes.Keywords: Clareon PanOptix, Argos, intraoperative aberrometry, FLACS

Xuan-Hai Do,1 Mai Thi Le,2,3 Thu Huyen Nguyen,2 Thanh Thien Le,2 Xuan-Hung Nguyen,2,4 Thanh Binh Mai,5 Thi My Nhung Hoang,3 Uyen Thi Trang Than2 1Department of Practical and Experimental Surgery, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 2Center of Applied Sciences, Regenerative Medicine and Advance Technologies, Vinmec Healthcare System, Hanoi, Vietnam; 3Faculty of Biology, VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 4College of Health Sciences, VinUniversity, Hanoi, Vietnam; 5Department of Gastroenterology, 108 Military Central Hospital, Hanoi, VietnamCorrespondence: Uyen Thi Trang Than, 458 Minh Khai, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi, Vietnam, Tel +84 85662355, Email v.uyenttt@vinmec.comPurpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a prevalent type of liver cancer, is mainly diagnosed in the advanced stage, leading to a high mortality rate. Recent advances have identified peripheral cytokines as a potential tool to predict disease outcomes and inform therapeutic decisions. Hence, in this study, we aim to build a predictive model for HCC based on serum levels of different cytokines.Patients and Methods: We used immunoassay to quantify the concentrations of IL-27, MIP-1β, Perforin, sCD137, sFas, and TNF-α in the serum of 38 HCC patients and 15 healthy controls. Logistic regression was then used to construct classification models detecting HCC based on these cytokines. A nomogram of the best-performing model was generated to visualize HCC prediction.Results: sFas and MIP-1β were found to be significantly higher in HCC patients compared to controls. Predictive models based on cytokine levels combining sFas, sCD137, and IL-27 performed the best in distinguishing HCC patients from healthy controls. This model has a bias-corrected area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of 0.948, a sensitivity of 92.11%, a specificity of 93.33%, and an accuracy of 0.925.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that serum cytokines have the potential to be utilized in HCC screening to improve detection rates.Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, cytokines, serum, biomarkers

Oxidative stress has become a very challenging issue to animal production due to its disturbance to animal growth. Under heat stress conditions, the ability of poultry animals to combat oxidation stress is reduced; oxidative stress minimizes the concentration of globulins in plasma, thus lowering poultry"s immune status. Many researches have been conducted to solve this problem, and one of the safest solutions is the use of Polyphenols. Polyphenols are widely known as exogenous antioxidants which act as one of the cell"s first lines of defence. Th us, the findings on the intracellular antioxidant activity of polyphenol as a plant-based feed supplement, has greatly helped improve poultry antioxidant activity due to the beneficial eff ects of polyphenols in preventing damage from oxidative stress and removing excessively produced free radicals. Th is review aims to synthesize information regarding the antioxidant activity of polyphenols and their infl uence on poultry antioxidant status.

Thinh H Nguyen,1,* Truc T Thai,2,* Phuong TT Pham,2 Tam NM Bui,1 Han HT Bui,3 Bac Hoang Nguyen1 1Training and Scientific Research Department, University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 2Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 3Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Truc T ThaiFaculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, 217 Hong Bang Street, Ward 11, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamTel +84 908 381 266Email thaithanhtruc@ump.edu.vnPurpose: Continuing medical education (CME) is a compulsory requirement for every health professional. However, to date, little is known about the effectiveness of CME in Vietnam. This study assessed CME programs based on attendees’ perception and evaluation.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during a five-month period in all 62 CME courses at a university hospital. A self-report, anonymous questionnaire was distributed to the participants during the course and was collected at the end of the course. The questionnaire included questions about demographic characteristics, experiences during the course and participants’ perception and evaluation as measured by the 19-item Program Evaluation Instrument (PEI). A higher score on the PEI indicates a higher level of positive reaction toward CME programs.Results: Among 1312 participants in the analysis, the majority were females (58.1%) with a mean age of 34.5 (SD = 10.6) years. Almost all participants had good, positive perceptions toward CME. However, about 5% of participants reported CME a waste of time. Participants reported a high score on the PEI (95.0± 8.9) and all four dimensions including program objectives (20.7± 2.2), learner’s objectives (18.8± 2.3), teacher’s behavior (25.7± 2.7) and program satisfaction (29.7± 3.4). While there was no association between demographic characteristics and PEI score, attendance rate during the courses and perceptions toward CME were positively associated with PEI score.Conclusion: CME programs receive positive reaction and evaluation from healthcare professionals and are helpful in providing and updating knowledge, attitude and practice in Vietnam. However, further studies are needed in other settings and specialties to fully understand the effectiveness of CME in Vietnam.Keywords: effectiveness, perception, evaluation, continuing medical education, health professional, Vietnam

Truc Thanh Thai,1 Thinh Huu Nguyen,2 Phuong Thu Thi Pham,3 Han Hy Thi Bui,4 Tam Ngoc Minh Bui2 1Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 2Training and Scientific Research Department, University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 3Hospital for Rehabilitation - Occupational Diseases at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 4Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Hanoi, VietnamCorrespondence: Truc Thanh ThaiFaculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamTel +84 908 381 266Email thaithanhtruc@ump.edu.vnTam Ngoc Minh BuiTraining and Scientific Research Department, University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, VietnamTel +84 906 951 668Email tam.bnm@umc.edu.vnPurpose: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are a crucial resource in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic but are vulnerable to both SARS-CoV-2 infection and negative psychological consequences. This study evaluated HCWs’ emotions, stressor experiences and coping strategies during the pandemic.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs at the University Medical Center in Ho Chi Minh City. The questionnaire was adapted from the MERS-CoV Staff Questionnaire to measure HCWs’ emotions, stressor experiences and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.Results: Among the 1423 participants eligible in the data analysis, the majority were female (71.1%) with a mean age of 34.2 (standard deviation 7.8) years. While most participants reported that they did their job because of their professionalism and duty as HCWs (87.4%), a high number reported feeling nervous and scared (86.0%). Most participants reported worry about transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to their families or friends (76.6%) and concern that a small mistake or lapse in concentration could infect themselves and others (76.7%). The most common coping strategies were following strict personal protective measures (95.3%), avoiding going out (92.5%) and reading about SARS-CoV-2 (92.3%). Females who had a higher educational level and less than 5-years work experience and those who worked at clinical departments and subclinical departments were more vulnerable.Conclusion: This study indicates an urgent need for psychological support for HCWs, especially for those at high risk of having stress. Interventions and support should utilize psychological resources and approaches effectively to adapt to the new situation during the COVID-19 pandemic.Keywords: stressor experience, coping strategy, motivational factors, health care worker, COVID-19

Hoang Bac Nguyen,1,2 Thi Hong Minh Nguyen,1 Thi Thanh Tam Tran,1 Thi Hong Nhan Vo,1 Van Hung Tran,1 Thi Nam Phuong Do,1 Quang Binh Truong,1,2 Thi Hiep Nguyen,3,4 Loan Khanh Ly3,4 1University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam; 2University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam; 3Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Department, School of Biomedical Engineering, International University, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam; 4Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, VietnamCorrespondence: Thi Hong Minh Nguyen Email minh.nth@umc.edu.vnAim: This study measured the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 prevention and examined associated factors among patients at a national tertiary general hospital in Vietnam.Methods: Adult patients admitted to University Medical Center during research period were recruited in a cross-sectional study, which employed a convenience sampling method with a 4-component questionnaire in order to examine the patients’ consciousness towards COVID-19 spreading prevention based on four aspects: demographic characteristics (10 items), knowledge (14 items), attitudes (6 items), and practices (7 items).Results: The study involved 2769 respondents (18– 90 years) with the mean age of 38.05± 13.91 years. About two thirds of the respondents obtained diploma degree or higher (63.4%) and shared their living space with others (64.4%). The majority of patients settled in urban area (74.9%). All participants stayed informed about COVID-19, with the most commonly used channels like television (75.2%), the Internet (72.2%) and phone (69.8%). The vast majority showed sufficient knowledge (93.7%) and positive attitudes (76.3%). Just over half of participants remained good practiced of COVID-19 prevention (57.7%). On average, the factors of younger age, higher educational level, frequency and department of admission, and the number of COVID-19 informative channels were significantly associated with sufficient knowledge, positive attitudes, and good practices regarding preventive action against COVID-19 spreading. The optimistic attitude and having more undergoing chronic diseases were associated with the likelihood of well-practiced COVID-19 preventive measures (OR 3.63, 95% CI 1.54– 8.55, p=0.003 and OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.78– 0.98, p=0.02, respectively).Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that the likelihood of good preventive practices in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic was influenced by attitudes and several sociodemographic factors. More drastic interventions for the prevention of COVID-19 should be widely furnished and equipped in hospitals, through various routes to maximize the efficiency and adherence to prevention practices.Keywords: knowledge, attitudes, practices, COVID-19 prevention, patients, Vietnam

Anh Trung Nguyen,1,2 Anh Kim Dang,3 Huong Thi Thu Nguyen,1,2,4 Thanh Xuan Nguyen,1,2 Tam Ngoc Nguyen,1,2 Thu Thi Hoai Nguyen,1,2 Thang Pham,1,2 Anh Lan Nguyen,1,2 Thuy Thi Ngoc Nguyen,1 Hien Nguyen Thi,5,6 Trang Ha Nguyen,5,6 Son Hoang Nguyen,7 Bach Xuan Tran,3,8 Carl Latkin,8 Roger CM Ho,9,10 Cyrus SH Ho,11 Huyen Thi Thanh Vu1,2 1Department of Geriatrics, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam; 2Scientific Research Department, National Geriatric Hospital, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam; 3Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam; 4Dinh Tien Hoang Institute of Medicine, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam; 5Institute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, 550000, Vietnam; 6Faculty of Nursing, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, 550000, Vietnam; 7Center of Excellence in Health Services and System Research, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh, 700000, Vietnam; 8Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA; 9Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119228, Singapore; 10Institute for Health Innovation and Technology (iHealthtech), National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119228, Singapore; 11Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, 119228, SingaporeCorrespondence: Anh Trung NguyenGeriatrics Department, Hanoi Medical University, No 1 Ton That Tung, Dong Da, Hanoi, 100000, VietnamTel +84 903480774Email trunganhvlk@gmail.comBackground: Nurses play a pivotal role in pain management. Knowing more about nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding pain is important as we develop multidisciplinary pain services. Therefore, this study aimed to assess knowledge and attitudes regarding pain management among nurses in a geriatric hospital and its associated factors.Subjects and Methods: A survey was conducted of nurses worked at the National Geriatric Hospital over a 3-month period. The Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain (KASRP) was utilized to assess nurses’ knowledge and attitudes toward pain management. Four domains were defined based on KASRP, included cancer-related pain, pain assessment, pharmacology and substance abuse and physical dependence. Knowledge and attitudes regarding pain were classified as poor, fair, or good (≤ 50%, 50% - 75%, or ≥ 75% of the KASRP score). Multivariate Tobit regression models were applied to identify factors associated with the knowledge and attitudes regarding pain management.Results: Of 154 participants completed the survey, 72.2% (111 participants) had poor knowledge and attitudes regarding pain management. The participants had a correct mean score of 45.2% (SD = 2.2). Nurses’ knowledge of pain assessment was poor, with the proportion of correct answers to nine questions ranging from 2.6% to 50%. 44.8% of nurses reported never or rarely using pain assessment tools. Nurses who had previous training regarding pain at medical universities had significantly higher scores of knowledge and attitudes compared to those without training. Nurses who often use pain assessment tools had a significantly higher level of knowledge and attitudes than those who never or rarely use them.Conclusion: This study highlights significant deficits of knowledge and negative attitudes regarding pain management among nurses. The subject of pain management should be applied and enhanced in the nursing undergraduate curriculum. Nurses’ active participation in pain management should be encouraged by healthcare providers for older patients.Keywords: knowledge, attitude, nurse, pain management, older people

Hoang-Hiep Phan,1 Thai-Hoang Nguyen,1,2 Hoang-Long Vo,3 Ngoc-Thanh Le,2,4 Ngoc-Luong Tran1 1High-Tech Medical Treatment, National Hospital of Endocrinology, Hanoi, Vietnam; 2School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 3Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 4Cardiovascular Center, E Hospital, Hanoi, 100000, VietnamCorrespondence: Hoang-Long Vo Email vohoanglonghmu@gmail.comBackground: This study aims to describe our new experience with single-port totally endoscopic thyroidectomy via the axillary approach in patients with unilateral thyroid benign tumors. In parallel with that, we also discuss here the challenges and novelty highlights we have confronted and solved and the details of our operative technique.Methods: Between August 2018 and May 2020, the study involved 54 patients who underwent a single-port single-incision endoscopic thyroidectomy via the axillary approach for benign thyroid tumor at the National Hospital of Endocrinology (Hanoi, Vietnam). Surgical patient indications were in working age, goiter classification of grade 1 or grade 2, the thyroid with mononuclear or multinucleated, lesion diameter of less than 4 cm, unilateral thyroid benign lesion and no previous history of neck surgery or irradiation.Results: No mortality was observed. Morbidities included transient voice change in 8 patients, swallowing disorders in 2 patients, transient skin paresthesia in 2 patients and wound hematoma in 2 patients. Mean amount of postoperative drainage was 70.2 mL, mean duration of postoperative drainage was 2.7 days, and mean postoperative hospital day was 6.6 days. Mean total operation time was 66.0 minutes and mean blood loss was 13.3 mL. Regarding medium-term follow-up outcomes following surgery, we recorded the hypothyroidism in 3 patients (5.6%) and the hypocalcemia in 1 case (1.8%). Most patients felt normal neck movement and sensation (79.6%), 3 patients were painful (5.6%) and 8 those were numb (14.8%). We saw the soft incision scar in 35 patients (64.8%), convex scar in 14 patients (25.9%), and hard scar in 5 patients (9.3%).Conclusion: Single-port endoscopic thyroidectomy via axillary approach is a safe and feasible treatment option for removing benign thyroid tumor, delivering favorable surgical outcomes with ideal cosmetic effect and reduction in injury to the anterior neck tissue.Keywords: endoscopic thyroidectomy, endoscopic surgery, thyroidectomy, single-incision surgery, one-port surgery

Hien A Tran,1–4 Khanh L Ly,4 Kate E Fox,5 Phong A Tran,1–3 Thi-Hiep Nguyen4 1Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia; 2Interface Science and Materials Engineering Group, School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, QUT, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; 3Centre in Regenerative Medicine, QUT, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; 4Department of Biomedical Engineering, International University, Vietnam National University- Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam; 5School of Engineering, Centre for Additive Manufacturing, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, AustraliaCorrespondence: Phong A TranQueensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland 4001, AustraliaTel +61 7 3138 6452Email phong.tran@qut.edu.auThi-Hiep NguyenDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, International University, Vietnam National University- Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), Ho Chi Minh City 70000, VietnamTel +84 2837 244 270Email nthiep@hcmiu.edu.vnPurpose: The aim of this study is to develop a new coating for wound dressings that is comprised of antimicrobial silver (Ag) and antioxidant flavonoid quercetin (Q).Methods: Dip-coating was used to apply the coating on cotton gauge as a model dressing. Ag was immobilised using polydopamine as a priming and catalytic layer followed by coating of quercetin that was incorporated in a functionalized polydimethylsiloxane. The coating was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and release assay. The antimicrobial activity of quercetin and Ag was tested against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). A surgical wound model on mice was used to evaluate the effects of the coated dressing on wound healing rates and tissue histology.Results: Ag and quercetin showed enhanced antimicrobial activity against S. aureus when used in combination. Ag and quercetin were successfully immobilized onto the fibre of the dressing using the dip-coating process. The coating released Ag and quercetin over 8 days and showed strong antioxidant activity. In the wound healing model, complete wound closure was achieved in 12 days in the group receiving coated dressing and was associated with an enhancement in tissue remodelling and neo-angiogenesis and the reduction in tissue inflammation.Conclusion: These new antimicrobial-antioxidant coatings may be promising in the development of advanced wound care therapies.Keywords: quercetin, Ag, antioxidant, antibacterial, wound healing

Linh Vu Phuong Dang,1 Viet Hung Pham,2 Duc Minh Nguyen,3 Thanh Thi Dinh,1 Thu Hoai Nguyen,4 Thanh Hai Le,5 Van Lam Nguyen,6 Thi Phuong Vu7,8 1Public Health Laboratory, Hanoi University of Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam; 2Department of Microbiology, Vietnam National Hospital of Pediatrics, Hanoi, Vietnam; 3Department of Geriatrics, National Hospital of Acupuncture, Hanoi, Vietnam; 4Department of Training and Direction Activity, National Geriatric Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam; 5Department of Emergency, Vietnam National Hospital of Pediatrics, Hanoi, Vietnam; 6Department of Infectious Disease, Vietnam National Hospital of Pediatrics, Hanoi, Vietnam; 7Department of Biochemistry, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 8Department of Biochemistry, Dinh Tien Hoang Institute of Medicine, Hanoi, Vietnam Background: HIV-infected children suffer from higher levels of treatment failure compared to adults. Immunoactivation, including humoral immunoactivation reflected by increased immunoglobulin levels, is believed to occur early during HIV infection. Therefore, we wanted investigate alteration in immunoglobulin levels in association with treatment response in HIV-infected children. Methods: A nested case–control study was conducted using clinical data collected from 68 HIV-infected children enrolled at the National Hospital of Pediatrics, Vietnam. Results: The results showed that immunoglobulin levels, CD4 T-cell counts, CD4 T-cell percentage, and HIV load were significantly higher in the treatment-failure group than the treatment-success group at treatment initiation. IgG and IgA levels were negatively correlated with CD4 T-cell counts (P=0.049 and P

Bach Xuan Tran,1,2 Phung Tat Quoc Than,3 Tien Thuy Ngoc Doan,1 Huong Lan Thi Nguyen,4 Hue Thi Mai,1 Trang Huyen Thi Nguyen,4 Huong Thi Le,1 Carl A Latkin,2 Melvyn WB Zhang,5 Roger CM Ho6 1Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 2Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; 3Department of Health Sciences, College of Health and Human Development, California State University, Northridge CA, USA; 4Institute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam; 5Biomedical Global Institute of Healthcare Research & Technology (BIGHEART), National University of Singapore, Singapore; 6Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore Background: Despite its effectiveness in preventing human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, the rate of uptake of the HPV vaccine is low in Vietnam. This study aimed to investigate barriers related to knowledge–attitude–practice (KAP) about the HPV vaccine and willingness to pay (WTP) for the vaccine among those using services in an urban vaccination clinic in Hanoi, Vietnam. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a vaccination clinic of the Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health in Hanoi, Vietnam, from March to April 2016. KAP on the HPV vaccine was collected using a structured questionnaire. Double-bounded dichotomous-choice questions with open-ended questions were used to examine the WTP of respondents. Interval regression and stepwise logistic models were used to identify factors associated with WTP and the average amount that people would be willing to pay for the vaccine. Results: Of 492 vaccination service users, 67.9%, 94.6%, and 12.3% of respondents were aware of the best age for HPV vaccination, its benefits, and the target group for vaccination, respectively. While the majority believed that the HPV vaccine was safe (92.8%) and effective (90.8%), and desired to be vaccinated (71.1%), only 31.8% of users were vaccinated. Most of the respondents were willing to pay for the HPV vaccine (86.6%), and willing to pay an average amount of US$49.3. Those aged 20–29 years and earning more than 22 million VND/month (very rich) were more likely to pay for the HPV vaccine than people aged

Adjunctive dexamethasone reduces mortality from tuberculous meningitis (TBM) but not disability, which is associated with brain infarction. We hypothesised that aspirin prevents TBM-related brain infarction through its anti-thrombotic, anti-inflammatory, and pro-resolution properties. We conducted a randomised controlled trial in HIV-uninfected adults with TBM of daily aspirin 81 mg or 1000 mg, or placebo, added to the first 60 days of anti-tuberculosis drugs and dexamethasone (NCT02237365). The primary safety endpoint was gastro-intestinal or cerebral bleeding by 60 days; the primary efficacy endpoint was new brain infarction confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging or death by 60 days. Secondary endpoints included 8-month survival and neuro-disability; the number of grade 3 and 4 and serious adverse events; and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) inflammatory lipid mediator profiles. 41 participants were randomised to placebo, 39 to aspirin 81 mg/day, and 40 to aspirin 1000 mg/day between October 2014 and May 2016. TBM was proven microbiologically in 92/120 (76.7%) and baseline brain imaging revealed ≥1 infarct in 40/114 (35.1%) participants. The primary safety outcome occurred in 5/36 (13.9%) given placebo, and in 8/35 (22.9%) and 8/40 (20.0%) given 81 mg and 1000 mg aspirin, respectively (p=0.59). The primary efficacy outcome occurred in 11/38 (28.9%) given placebo, 8/36 (22.2%) given aspirin 81 mg, and 6/38 (15.8%) given 1000 mg aspirin (p=0.40). Planned subgroup analysis showed a significant interaction between aspirin treatment effect and diagnostic category (Pheterogeneity = 0.01) and suggested a potential reduction in new infarcts and deaths by day 60 in the aspirin treated participants with microbiologically confirmed TBM (11/32 (34.4%) events in placebo vs. 4/27 (14.8%) in aspirin 81 mg vs. 3/28 (10.7%) in aspirin 1000 mg; p=0.06). CSF analysis demonstrated aspirin dose-dependent inhibition of thromboxane A2 and upregulation of pro-resolving CSF protectins. The addition of aspirin to dexamethasone may improve outcomes from TBM and warrants investigation in a large phase 3 trial.

Thoai D Ngo,1,2 Caroline Free,1 Hoan T Le,3 Phil Edwards,1 Kiet HT Pham,4 Yen BT Nguyen,4 Thang H Nguyen5 1Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 2Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation Team, Health System Department, Marie Stopes International, London, UK; 3Department of Environmental Health, Hanoi Medical University, 4Department of Health Economics, Hanoi Medical University, 5Research and Metrics Team, Marie Stopes International Vietnam, Hanoi, Vietnam Objective: To explore the perspectives of abortion service users regarding termination methods and abortion service delivery in Vietnam. Materials and methods: Structured exit interviews were conducted between August and November 2011 with women who underwent termination of pregnancy at 62 public health facilities in Hanoi, Khanh Hoa, and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. All women presenting for termination during the study period were recruited to participate in the study. Following their abortion, women were asked about their perspectives on abortion service delivery and attributes of medical abortion (MA) versus manual vacuum aspiration (MVA). Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the association between current method uptake and each attribute. Results: A total of 1,233 women were included in the survey: 541 (43.9%) from Hanoi, 163 (13.2%) from Khanh Hoa, and 529 (42.9%) from Ho Chi Minh: 23.1% underwent MA; 78.9% reported that women should be given a choice between MA and MVA; and 77.6% thought that abortion services were accessible. Among the 48% who responded, 30.1% thought that MA should be made available at primary/secondary health care facilities. Among women who had previously undergone both methods, women who reported that MA "feels more natural" (like a menstrual regulation/period) were more likely to choose MA for their current abortion (odds ratio 2.15, 95% confidence interval 1.26–3.69). Conclusion: MA uptake is significantly lower than MVA uptake. Further insights to women's perceptions of MA in Vietnam could help improve abortion service delivery in the country. Keywords: Vietnam, medical abortion, misoprostol, mifepristone, manual vacuum aspiration, health service delivery

Thoai D Ngo,1,2 Caroline Free,1 Hoan T Le,3 Phil Edwards,1 Kiet HT Pham,4 Yen BT Nguyen,4 Thang H Nguyen5 1Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK; 2Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Team, Health System Department, Marie Stopes International, London, UK; 3Department of Environmental Health, 4Department of Health Economics, Hanoi Medical University, 5Research and Metrics Team, Marie Stopes International Vietnam, Hanoi, Vietnam Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate attributes of public service providers associated with the provision of medical abortion in Vietnam. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study via interviewer-administered questionnaire among abortion providers from public health facilities in Hanoi, Khanh Hoa, and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam between August 2011 and January 2012. We recruited abortion providers at all levels of Vietnam's public health service delivery system. Participants were questioned about their medical abortion provision practices and perspectives regarding abortion methods. Results: A total of 905 providers from 62 health facilities were included, comprising 525 (58.0%) from Hanoi, 122 (13.5%) from Khanh Hoa, and 258 (28.5%) from Ho Chi Minh City. The majority of providers were female (96.7%), aged ≥25 years (94%), married (84.4%), and had at least one child (89%); 68.9% of providers offered only manual vacuum aspiration and 31.1% performed both medical abortion and manual vacuum aspiration. Those performing both methods included physicians (74.5%), midwives (21.7%), and nurses (3.9%). Unadjusted analyses showed that female providers (odds ratio 0.1; 95% confidence interval 0.01–0.30) and providers in rural settings (odds ratio 0.3; 95% confidence interval 0.08–0.79) were less likely to provide medical abortion than their counterparts. Obstetricians and gynecologists were more likely to provide medical abortion than providers with nursing/midwifery training (odds ratio 22.2; 95% confidence interval 3.81–129.41). The most frequently cited advantages of medical abortion for providers were that no surgical skills are required (61.7%) and client satisfaction is better (61.0%). Conclusion: Provision of medical abortion in Vietnam is lower than provision of manual vacuum aspiration. While the majority of abortion providers are female midwives in Vietnam, medical abortion provision is concentrated in urban settings among physicians. Individuals providing medical abortion found that the method yields high client satisfaction. Keywords: Vietnam, medical abortion, misoprostol, mifepristone, health service delivery, surgical abortion

Min Hae Park,1 Thang Huu Nguyen,2 Anh Thi Ngoc Dang,2 Thoai Dinh Ngo1 1Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Team, Health System Department, Marie Stopes International, London, UK; 2Research and Metrics Team, Marie Stopes International Vietnam, Ha Noi, Vietnam Objective: To describe medical abortion (MA) practices among private providers in Vietnam. Methods: The study subjects were women (n = 258) undergoing early MA through 12 private providers in Hanoi during February-June 2012. The women were interviewed on the day of their procedure and were followed up by telephone 14 days after mifepristone administration. Results: Of the 258 women in the study, 97% used a regimen of mifepristone plus misoprostol; 80% were instructed to administer misoprostol at home. MA resulted in a complete termination in 90.8% of cases. All women were provided with information on potential complications and were instructed to return for a follow-up visit. We successfully followed up 77.5% (n = 200) of participants by telephone, while nearly two-thirds of women returned to the clinic for a follow-up visit. At follow up, 39.5% of women reported having used a Help line service, while 7% had sought help from a health provider. A high unmet need for postabortion family planning was identified. Conclusion: Follow up of women, postabortion care, and the provision of family planning have been identified as important areas to address for strengthening MA services in the private sector in Vietnam. Keywords: misoprostol, mifepristone, abortion, mhealth, Vietnam

Min Hae Park1,2, Thang Huu Nguyen3, Thoai Dinh Ngo1,21Research and Metrics Team, Health System Department, Marie Stopes International; 2Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK; 3Research and Metrics Team, Marie Stopes International Vietnam, Ha Noi, VietnamAbstract: This study describes the dynamics of intrauterine device (IUD) use in Vietnam and implications for family planning services. A retrospective study was conducted among women who received IUD services in 2006–2009 at six commune health stations in three provinces. Women were interviewed about IUD use and switching behaviors. Of 1316 participants, 12.1% had discontinued IUD use at 12 months after insertion, 19.4% at 24 months, and 26.9% at 36 months. The highest rates of discontinuation were among older women and farmers/manual workers. Among 434 women who had an IUD removed, 49% cited health concerns as the main reason. Following removal, 70% switched to another contraceptive method (n = 306); of these, 15% switched to withdrawal, and 12% waited >2 months before adopting a new method. Dissatisfaction with IUD services was associated with high rates of discontinuation. Early discontinuation, delays in adopting new methods, and switching to withdrawal may contribute to unintended pregnancy among commune health station users in Vietnam.Keywords: intrauterine device, contraceptive discontinuation, dissatisfaction

Process-oriented child monitoring (POM) deals with systematic monitoring of the observed learning needs of children in early childhood education by teachers. Between 2017 and 2021, a teacher professional development trajectory was implemented using POM in ethnically diverse preschools in Central Vietnam. These preschools typically consist of disadvantaged children at risk of barriers to classroom activity engagement. This study evaluates the effectiveness of POM using a pre- and posttest research design with a treatment and control group. Participants (N = 339) in the study were assigned to the treatment or control group using a clustered-randomized sampling approach. Whereas Kinh children rarely occur in the school population, the analysis focuses on ethnic minorities only in both treatment and control groups. Results indicate that POM is promising in increasing holistic child development. Five-year-old girls show most progression in cognitive functioning and socio-emotional development, while boys at this age indicate advances in socio-emotional development and health behaviors. Further evidence indicates that changes in teaching children from poor households play out much faster for child development, as opposed to what is observed among wealthier households.

We studied a community cluster of 25 mpox cases in Vietnam caused by emerging monkeypox virus sublineage C.1 and imported into Vietnam through 2 independent events; 1 major cluster carried a novel APOBEC3-like mutation. Three patients died; all had advanced HIV co-infection. Viral evolution and its potential consequences should be closely monitored.

Context: Perilla frutescens and its dried extract have been employed in food and pharmaceutical manufacturing due to the plant's biological activities, which include antibacterial, anti-allergic, anticancer, antiviral, antioxidant, and antidepressant properties. Despite numerous studies on preparing dry extracts from various medicinal herbs, no research has been conducted to optimize spray-drying conditions specifically for P. frutescens. Aims: To optimize the spray-drying parameters using BCPharSoft software and evaluate the quality of P. frutescens dry extract. Methods: D-optimal design based on four independent variables carrier type (Glucidex, Glucidex: Arabic gum 9:1, Glucidex: Arabic gum 8:2), carrier mass (10, 15, and 20 g), inlet air temperature (160, and 180℃) and flow rate (12, and 14 rpm/min) was applied to investigate the cause-effect relations and optimized preparation process. The drying performance, moisture content, total phenol, and total flavonoid content were investigated as four dependent variables. Results: All independent variables had significant effects on the dependent variables. The optimal parameters of the preparation process included using carrier Glucidex: Arabic gum at a ratio of 9:1, carrier mass of 19 g, inlet air temperature of 161°C, and flow rate of 12 rpm/min. The drying performance, moisture content, total phenol, and flavonoid content of the optimized P. frutescens dry extract were found to be 10.42%, 4.80%, and 90.57 mg GA/g, and 53.55 mg QE/g, respectively. Conclusions: Dried P. frutescens extract has been efficiently produced using the spray-drying technique, establishing a foundation for future manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and functional foods derived from P. frutescens.

Background and Aim: Rabies is a zoonotic disease that persists endemic in numerous countries worldwide. In Vietnam, the main sources of rabies are dogs and cats, and they caused 76 human deaths annually by 2017–2021. Long An province has recently experienced an increasing burden of rabies, with seven fatal cases reported in the past 5 years. Various rabies control measures have been implemented in this province, including mass vaccination of the animal population, post-vaccination monitoring, diagnostic testing of suspected rabid dogs, dog bite investigation, animal management, pre-exposure treatment, post-exposure treatment (PET), and awareness programs. This study aimed to estimate the cost of rabies control measures for animals and humans in Long An province in 2022. Materials and Methods: An economic model was developed to estimate the costs of rabies control under two scenarios, with and without external financial support from the private sector. Inputs for the model included data from published literature, publicly available reports on rabies, government data, expert opinions, and a pilot study conducted in Vietnam. Results: The total annual costs of rabies control, with or without external support, were estimated to be VND 62.62 and 62.77 billion (equivalent to USD 2.67 and 2.68 million), respectively. The highest proportion of costs was related to PET in humans (84.50% and 84.30%), followed by the cost of mass vaccination paid by animal owners (14.28% and 13.90%). Most of the expenses were paid by the private sector (98.87% and 98.98%) rather than the public sector (1.14% and 1.20%). Conclusion: This study described a transparent and reproducible method for estimating the economic costs of rabies control at the provincial level. The economic model developed showed that control of rabies by mass vaccination is more cost-effective than using PET to prevent human death. The model can be applied to future economic analyses of rabies control in other provinces of Vietnam and other rabies-endemic countries.

Yersinochloa nianheana sp. nov. from Vietnam is described and illustrated. It is found in southern Vietnam, where it occurs at an elevation of 1400–1500 m in Voi Mountain, Duc Trong District, Lam Dong Province. This new species is distinguished from a similar species, Yersinochloa dalatensis, by culm nodes with a thick swollen patella, culm leaf blades erect, auricles conspicuous, margins bearing long hairs, palea dorsal view showing rachilla extension and rudimentary floret at the apex and lodicules purple gradually towards the top. Besides that, the species is distinguished from Yersinochloa nghiana by the leaf blades without being swollen at the base, the prophyllate bud 2-keeled, lodicules purple at ½ upper parts and unbifid at the base.

Background and objectives: The demand for skin care is a major concern, not only for women but also for men. Mulberry (Morus alba L.) is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine, as well as for beauty and skin whitening.In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of Morus alba L. root bark extract on the enzyme tyrosinase. Methods: Mulberry root bark was extracted with ethanol (70%) at room temperature for 24 hours (repeated three times). The total ethanol extract was then suspended in water and successively partitioned with n-hexane, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. Tyrosinase enzyme inhibitory activity was determined spectrophotometrically at 475 nm. Additionally, we conducted virtual screening of 60 compounds from mulberry roots to evaluate their inhibitory effects on tyrosinase enzyme. Results: Our results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the highest tyrosinase enzyme inhibitory effect, with an IC50 value of 12.68 ± 1.64 µg/mL, compared to kojic acid, the positive control (IC50 13.94 ± 0.30 µg/mL). Virtual screening identified 11 compounds with lower binding energies than twopositive control compounds (kojic acid and arbutin). These compounds were evaluated for drug-like properties and predicted pharmacokinetic-toxicological properties. Finally, two compounds, alfafuran and mulberroside C, which demonstrated the ability to inhibit the tyrosinase enzyme, were introduced. Conclusion:Our results indicated that the ethyl acetate fraction of Morus alba root bark extract has strong inhibitory effects on the tyrosinase enzyme.

This study clarifies the impact of the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) on the export activities of enterprises that produce six main affected industrial products: iron and steel, cement, fertilizer, aluminium, electricity, and hydrogen. Secondary data is included in descriptive statistics, thereby analyzing the context, current situation and economic-technical impact on the export activities of each item, especially the 05 items that Vietnam exports to the EU market. From there, the article proposes recommendations and strategies to respond to the opportunities and challenges brought by CBAM. Research results show that CBAM puts pressure on export businesses at an early stage. However, in the long term, this policy will help businesses increase competitiveness and create surplus value with reduced costs.

Recognizing emotions on human faces has always received attention and attraction from researchers. Along with the development of artificial intelligence, facial emotion recognition cameras are increasingly being introduced into various fields such as healthcare, education, and commerce. Thanks to the effective support of cameras integrated with artificial intelligence technology, the above fields are growing strongly. Therefore, this study will present an effective and simple facial emotion recognition model based on deep learning technology. Facial emotion recognition is performed automatically and accurately, thereby shortening implementation time and increasing work efficiency. In this study, the VGG-Face model is trained using the FER-2013 data set and applied to evaluate customer service quality. The input data are videos of human faces to perform emotion recognition and 7 different facial expressions have been performed recognition. Experimental results have shown the effectiveness of the model.

Abstract Background The Arg64 allele of the rs4994 (Trp64Arg) variant in the β3-adrenergic receptor (ADRB3) gene is involved in the control of energy balance by altering lipolysis and thermogenesis in adipocytes, ultimately contributing to the development of obesity. The objective of our study was to investigate the association between the rs4994 variant of the ADRB3 gene and obesity in Hanoi preschool-age children, adjusting for their eating behaviors. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed involving 708 children with normal weight and 304 children with obesity aged 3–5 years from 36 kindergartens in Hanoi, Vietnam. Cheek mucosa cell samples were used for DNA extraction, and genotyping at the ADRB3-rs4994 locus was performed using the polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism method (PCR–RFLP). Eating behaviors were assessed using the Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ). Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the association between the rs4994 variant and obesity, adjusting for confounding factors such as age, sex, residence, birth weight, and eating behaviors. Results The frequency of the C allele in the group with obesity was 16.4%, which was higher than in the control group (11.7%, P = 0.003). Children with the CC genotype exhibited significantly greater weight and weight-for-age Z-score compared to those with the TT and TC genotypes (P = 0.004 and 0.03, respectively). Following univariate and multivariate analyses adjusted for age, sex, residence, birth weight, and eating behaviors, a significant association between the rs4994 variant and obesity was observed (P

This study assessed the applicability of medium molecular weight chitosan solution at different concentrations (0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2% w/v) in houndfish preservation. Furthermore, by comparing chitosan-coated fish and the uncoated ones (i.e., treated with distilled water [DW] and 1% acetic acid [AA] solution), the study determined the effectiveness of the chitosan coating on the preservation of on-skin houndfish during ice storage for 20 days. The quality of chitosan-coated houndfish was investigated by periodical analysis for microbiological (total viable count), chemical (pH, water holding capacity, total volatile basic nitrogen of refrigerated houndfish, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TCA-soluble peptide, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis), physical parameters (hardness, and color), and sensory properties. According to the findings, the methods of using 1.5% and 2% chitosan solutions showed better preservation results than others. These methods were found to be the most effective coatings for maintaining the quality of houndfish compared to the treatments involving DW and 1% AA solution.

Abstract The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare systems within low-middle income countries (LMICs) has emerged as a central focus for various initiatives aiming to improve healthcare access and delivery quality. In contrast to high-income countries (HICs), which often possess the resources and infrastructure to adopt innovative healthcare technologies, LMICs confront resource limitations such as insufficient funding, outdated infrastructure, limited digital data, and a shortage of technical expertise. Consequently, many algorithms initially trained on data from non-LMIC settings are now being employed in LMIC contexts. However, the effectiveness of these systems in LMICs can be compromised when the unique local contexts and requirements are not adequately considered. In this study, we evaluate the feasibility of utilizing models developed in the United Kingdom (a HIC) within hospitals in Vietnam (a LMIC). Consequently, we present and discuss practical methodologies aimed at improving model performance, emphasizing the critical importance of tailoring solutions to the distinct healthcare systems found in LMICs. Our findings emphasize the necessity for collaborative initiatives and solutions that are sensitive to the local context in order to effectively tackle the healthcare challenges that are unique to these regions.

Intravenous misplacement of the nephrostomy catheter following percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is severe and extremely rare, and little information is available about this complication. Because the patient's prognosis may be poor, sufficient attention should be paid to early identification and treatment of this complication. We report a case with intravenous misplacement of nephrostomy catheter and severe bleeding from the catheter after PCNL was transferred to our hospital. The patient was successfully managed using a two-step intervention. First, the patient underwent embolization of the pseudoaneurysms in renal parenchyma, then underwent catheter withdrawal under digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and control bleeding by pushing the absorbable hemostatic material (Surgicel) into the tunneled renal drainage. There were no severe complications. Withdrawal could be performed by open surgery or under the supervision of imaging modalities. Some reports showed that minimally invasive management was safer and less invasive than open surgery.

Isolated colon injuries following blunt abdominal trauma have been reported at a rate of 0.1%-0.5%, with isolated sigmoid colon injuries involved in only 34.8% of single colon injuries. Surgical treatment options include recto-colonic anastomosis, resection with or without recto-colonic anastomosis, and colostomy. We report the case of a 39-year-old male patient diagnosed with isolated sigmoid colon rupture after a traffic accident, identified using contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography. The patient underwent emergency surgery, during which the Hartmann procedure was performed. This included excision of the sigmoid colon at both ends of the hiatus, creation of a proximal colostomy, closure of the distal end, and repair of the sigmoid disruption segment. Seven days after surgery, the patient's clinical symptoms were stable, and he was discharged.

Breast cancer is cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts and is a severe health issue that affects many people around the world, especially since it is the most deadly cancer in women. By finding it early and using new treatments, patients can overcome this challenge and get back to a healthier life. This study proposed a procedure to fine-tune the Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) model with data preprocessing and augmentation in classifying mammogram images called the Hybrid Mammogram Classification and Detection Pipeline (HMCaD). After using CNN for classification because it brings higher confidence in classifying tasks, the YOLOv8 has been applied for localization subtask to detect abnormal positions with predicted bounding boxes. The database is provided by the Mammographic Image Analysis Society (MIAS) and is protected by the United Kingdom. It comprises 330 samples, including 79 benign, 54 malignant, and 207 normal images. As a result, the classification in our model based on the custom EfficientNetB3 model and seam carving technique received a great validation accuracy, test accuracy, and F1 score throughout three scenarios at 96.73%, 97.59%, and 97.58%, respectively. Furthermore, the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve also has a surprise result of 0.96 (i.e. [Formula: see text]). Moreover, YOLOv8 for detecting abnormal positions in our study achieved 83.22% in Intersection over Union (IoU). This led to the research reaching good results in classifying and detecting breast cancer by considering several performance metrics.

This study introduces a highly efficient and straightforward method for synthesizing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) within a glucosamine/alginate (GluN/Alg) nanocomposite via an ionotropic gelation mechanism in aqueous environment. The resulting nanocomposite, AuNPs@GluN/Alg, underwent thorough characterization using UV–vis, EDX, FTIR, SEM, TEM, SAED, and XRD analyses. The spherical AuNPs exhibited uniform size with an average diameter of 10.0 nm. The nanocomposites facilitated the recyclable reduction of organic dyes, including 2-nitrophenol, 4-nitrophenol, and methyl orange, employing NaBH4 as the reducing agent. Kinetic studies further underscored the potential of this nanocomposite as a versatile catalyst with promising applications across various industrial sectors.

Abstract Many mammal species have declining populations, but the consequences of small population size on the genomic makeup of species remain largely unknown. We investigated the evolutionary history, genetic load and adaptive potential of the Cat Ba langur (Trachypithecus poliocephalus), a primate species endemic to Vietnam’s famous Ha Long Bay and with less than 100 living individuals one of the most threatened primates in the world. Using high-coverage whole genome data of four wild individuals, we revealed the Cat Ba langur as sister species to its conspecifics of the northern limestone langur clade and found no evidence for extensive secondary gene flow after their initial separation. Compared to other primates and mammals, the Cat Ba langur showed low levels of genetic diversity, long runs of homozygosity, high levels of inbreeding and an excess of deleterious mutations in homozygous state. On the other hand, genetic diversity has been maintained in protein-coding genes and on the gene-rich human chromosome 19 ortholog, suggesting that the Cat Ba langur retained most of its adaptive potential. The Cat Ba langur also exhibits several unique non-synonymous variants that are related to calcium and sodium metabolism, which may have improved adaptation to high calcium intake and saltwater consumption.

Purpose: Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) represents the persistent absence of sperm in ejaculate without obstruction, stemming from diverse disease processes. This survey explores global practices in NOA diagnosis, comparing them with guidelines and offering expert recommendations. Materials and Methods:Materials and Methods: A 56-item questionnaire survey on NOA diagnosis and management was conducted globally from July to September 2022. This paper focuses on part 1, evaluating NOA diagnosis. Data from 367 participants across 49 coun-tries were analyzed descriptively, with a Delphi process used for expert recommendations. Results:Results: Of 336 eligible responses, most participants were experienced attending physicians (70.93%). To diagnose azoosper-mia definitively, 81.7% requested two semen samples. Commonly ordered hormone tests included serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (97.0%), total testosterone (92.9%), and luteinizing hormone (86.9%). Genetic testing was requested by 66.6%, with karyotype analysis (86.2%) and Y chromosome microdeletions (88.3%) prevalent. Diagnostic testicular biopsy, distinguishing obstructive azoospermia (OA) from NOA, was not performed by 45.1%, while 34.6% did it selectively. Differ-entiation relied on physical examination (76.1%), serum hormone profiles (69.6%), and semen tests (68.1%). Expectations of finding sperm surgically were higher in men with normal FSH, larger testes, and a history of sperm in ejaculate. Conclusions:Conclusions: This expert survey, encompassing 367 participants from 49 countries, unveils congruence with recommended guidelines in NOA diagnosis. However, noteworthy disparities in practices suggest a need for evidence-based, international consensus guidelines to standardize NOA evaluation, addressing existing gaps in professional recommendations.

This study focuses on utilization of a zero-valent metal (zero-valent iron, zero-valent aluminum, and nanoscale zero-valent copper) in conjunction with H2O2 conducted to treat real dye wastewater. Box - Behnken methodology was applied to describe effects of five independent factors involved in optimization of advanced oxidation system, which was type of zero-valent metals, dosage of zero-valent metals, pH, time and dosage of H2O2, for treating dye wastewater. Correlation coefficients for model, shown by the value R2, were 0.9996 for removing color and 0.9708 for reducing COD. Mass of nZVC equaled 1.09 g/L, [H2O2] equaled 5.39 mg/L were found to be the optimal reaction conditions when the pH was equal to 3.71. After 120 minutes of optimal settings, there was a reduction of 87.3% in COD and 98.72% in color of dye wastewater after heterogeneous treatments (nZVC/H2O2). The reusability of nZVC for degrading dye wastewater has been tested in four cycles and showed up to 70% COD removal. Ecotoxicological testing indicated that the raw textile effluent was extremely toxic to Chlorella sp. and V. fischeri. Even while wastewater after treatment collected definitely had a lower toxicity level with both V. Fischeri and Chlorella sp. This research findings highlight the nZVC/H2O2 process as a feasible and effective method for real dye wastewater treatment and detoxification, positioning it as a valuable alternative oxidation process for treating organic contaminants.

This study aims to determine the prevalence of Campylobacter and its antibiotic susceptibility at slaughterhouses and live poultry markets in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. A total of 177 samples, including 112 fecal samples, 28 cecal samples, and 37 rectal swab samples were collected. Thirty-nine samples tested positive for Campylobacter spp. by culture method, accounting for 22%. Isolation rates of Campylobacter in rectal swab samples were highest at 29.7% (11/37), followed by cecal samples at 25% (7/28) and fecal dropping samples at 18.8% (21/112). Species identification was performed by multiplex PCR and the result showed that the prevalence of Campylobacter coli (12.4%) was higher than Campylobacter jejuni (3.4%). Antibiotic susceptibility test showed that all isolated Campylobacter were susceptible to imipenem and meropenem (100%). Most Campylobacter were resistant to tetracycline (96.4%), ciprofloxacin (92.9%), nalidixic acid (89.3%), and ampicillin (67.9%). This study highlights the high contamination of Campylobacter and its antibiotic resistance in poultry in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam.

This article studies the reality of developing party members among students at universities and colleges in Dong Nai province. Reality shows that the Provincial Party Committee has always directed the development of Party members among students and has recorded positive results with effective implementation methods and models. However, developing party members among students also has limitations that need to be overcome; the rate of party members among students in Dong Nai currently needs to be more modest than the potential. The article proposes solutions to promote party development among university and college students in Dong Nai province.

A smart university is a modern form of higher education based on applying advanced technology to develop services to improve efficiency and create a creative, practical, sustainable, and responsive working environment that interests stakeholders. The concepts and terminologies of smart, sustainable universities and some current approaches to this model are revealed in this article. The results showed that a smart, sustainable model with 35 indicators is suitable for the context of Vinh University. The findings can be used as a scientific and fundamental background for further research on the implementation situation and the importance of indicators in developing Vinh University into a smart, sustainable university.

With the rise of educational technology, the trend of online learning is gradually becoming popular. Quiz submissions are a crucial assessment activity on Learning Management Systems (LMS). This study investigates the factors influencing student quiz submissions in online learning environments. An Apriori Algorithm-Based Association Rule Analysis to assess the impact of various learning activities on student quiz submissions has been used in this article with actual online learning datasets. Our data mining results reveal that announcements and conferences have a significant positive influence on quiz submissions. In contrast, activities like page lectures, discussions, and reflective assignments may not substantially impact student submission behavior. The results of this research can be used to recommend teachers to organize appropriate learning activities on LMS to promote students’ quiz submission.

This paper focuses on the research and development of a medical device designed to monitor and supervise intravenous infusion for patients by leveraging Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. The proposed device is expected to have the following fundamental functionalities: setting the volume of the solution to be infused; setting the drip rate in drops per minute; calculating and displaying the remaining volume of the solution; calculating and displaying the remaining infusion time; and Alerting doctors and patients at different time intervals. The advantages of the designed product include low system design cost based on the current price of components; simple and comprehensible programming language with high scalability; experimental results indicating stable and accurate system operation with low power consumption; and ease of operation, use, maintenance, and servicing. Furthermore, the research results have practical applicability in hospitals or medical facilities and can be used as a practice model for Biomedical Engineering students at educational institutions, where there is a significant lack of practical training products in this field.

This paper used the UK Agency for International Development sustainable livelihood framework to measure small-scale in-land fishing household’s livelihood by sustainable livelihood capital index in the vulnerable context of aquatic natural resource depletion in the wetland forest of Ca Mau province, Vietnam. Findings indicated that fishing households’ livelihood capital is unsustainable and inadequate. The result took note of the beneficial physical capital while underlining the human, natural, financial, and social capital’s limitations in achieving livelihood sustainability. The limitations were found to be a low score of composite index of sustainable livelihood capital (less than an average score of 0.5) whereas the outstanding score of physical capital was found. Providing training in the adoption of new livelihood models, learning livelihood diversification, access to formal credit, and appropriate coverage of social safety-net programs might help mitigate the unsustainable livelihood of inland fishing households.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the severe COVID-19 pandemic on neonates and develop strategies to improve their outcomes. Methods: We conducted an observational cross-sectional study at Children's Hospital 1 (CH1) from July 25, 2021, to May 31, 2022. All neonates who had fever or respiratory symptoms or were born from mothers with COVID-19 and had a positive RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 result would be included. We classified neonates with COVID-19 into 2 groups: mild/moderate and severe for analysis. Differences between groups were analyzed using Fisher's exact test/Chi-square test for categorical variables and Student's t-test/Wilcoxon Rank Sum test for continuous variables. Results: This study included 88 newborns who had positive RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 results. The severity COVID-19 rate among neonatal cases was found to be 13.6% (12/88), with a corresponding mortality rate of 1.1% (1/88). All severe cases showed lung abnormalities as evident on chest X-ray images. In addition to respiratory symptoms, a higher incidence of gastrointestinal manifestations, such as vomiting and diarrhea, was observed in the severe group, indicating a compelling association. The administration of anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory drugs in the study group resulted in a satisfactory outcome with no significant complications. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on the well-being of neonates. The management of COVID-19 in this population presents significant challenges.

The worldwide need for environmental preservation and robust economic development has garnered significant interest from scholars and politicians. This study examines the influence of green finance and environmental protection tax on Vietnam’s financial sustainability and the transition towards a green economyas an emerging economy. The study obtained data from the Central Bank of Vietnam and World Bank Indicators covering 2012 to 2022. The authors used the Ordinary Least Squares approach to examine the associations between the variables. The analysis and examination of the data used Stata 19 software. The findings show a favourable correlation between green finance and environmental tax on sustainable development goalswith all control variables. These results have prompted authorities to focus on green finance and environmental issues in the progress towards the country’s green economy and sustainable development.

The soft soil of Long Phu thermal power plant in Soc Trang province of southern Vietnam was treated by the PVD incorporating surcharge and vacuum preloading method. To evaluate the effectiveness of this method, experimental in-situ research combined with laboratory tests were performed on soft soil before and after treatment. Laboratory tests included particle size analysis, physical properties test, consolidation compression tests, undrained unconsolidated compression (UU) and undrained consolidated (CU) triaxial tests. The insitu tests included static penetration tests, static penetration tests with measurement of pore water pressure (piezocone penetration tests), vane shear tests, and standard penetration tests. Based on experimental results, this article evaluated the changes in the physical and mechanical properties of soft soil. The experimental results indicated that the soil after improvement increases shear strength and decreases compression. The relationship between the physico-mechanical properties of soft soil and improved soil was established. It has shown the success of the improvement of soft soil by PVD’ incorporating surcharge and vacuum preloading in Vietnam.

Chatbots have become interesting for many users as technology becomes more and more advanced. The need for information exchange among people through computer systems is increasing daily, raising the preference for using chatbots in most countries. Since Vietnam is such a developing country with a variety of ethnic groups, it requires much attention to the proliferation of social networks and the expansion of the cooperative economy. Regarding social networks, the inappropriate use of words in everyday life has become a significant issue. There are mixed reviews of praise and criticism on social networks; and we try to reduce the negative language use and improve the quality of using social networks language. We aim to meet users’ needs on social networks, promote economic development, and address social issues more effectively. To achieve these goals, in this paper we propose a deep learning technique using ontology knowledge mining to collect and process comments on social networks. This approach aims to enhance the user experience and facilitate the exchange of information among people by mining opinions in comments. Experimental results demonstrate that our method outperforms the conventional approach.