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There are over 6,000 different rare diseases estimated to impact 300 million people worldwide. As genetic testing becomes more common practice in the clinical setting, the number of rare disease diagnoses will continue to increase, resulting in the need for novel treatment options. Identifying treatments for these disorders is challenging due to a limited understanding of disease mechanisms, small cohort sizes, interindividual symptom variability, and little commercial incentive to develop new treatments. A promising avenue for treatment is drug repurposing, where FDA-approved drugs are repositioned as novel treatments. However, linking disease mechanisms to drug action can be extraordinarily difficult and requires a depth of knowledge across multiple fields, which is complicated by the rapid pace of biomedical knowledge discovery. To address these challenges, The Hugh Kaul Precision Medicine Institute developed an artificial intelligence tool, mediKanren, that leverages the mechanistic insight of genetic disorders to identify therapeutic options. Using knowledge graphs, mediKanren enables an efficient way to link all relevant literature and databases. This tool has allowed for a scalable process that has been used to help over 500 rare disease families. Here, we provide a description of our process, the advantages of mediKanren, and its impact on rare disease patients.

ObjectiveTo determine differences in diffusion metrics in key white matter (WM) tracts between women with chronic temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls.DesignCross sectional study compared diffusion metrics between groups and explored their associations with clinical variables in subjects with TMDs.MethodsIn a total of 33 subjects with TMDs and 33 healthy controls, we performed tractography to obtain diffusion metrics (fractional anisotropy [FA], mean diffusivity [MD], radial diffusivity [RD], and axial diffusivity [AD]) from the cingulum near the cingulate gyrus (CGC), the cingulum near the hippocampus (CGH), the fornix, the anterior limb of the internal capsule (ALIC), the posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC), and the uncinate fasciculus (UF). We compared diffusion metrics across groups and explored the relationships between diffusion metrics and clinical measures (pain chronicity and intensity, central sensitization, somatization, depression, orofacial behavior severity, jaw function limitations, disability, and interference due to pain) in subjects with TMDs.ResultsWe observed differences in diffusion metrics between groups, primarily in the right side of the brain, with the right CGC having lower FA and the right UF having lower FA and higher MD and RD in subjects with TMDs compared to healthy controls. No clinical measures were consistently associated with diffusion metrics in subjects with TMDs.ConclusionThe UF showed potential microstructural damage in subjects with TMDs, but further studies are needed to confirm any associations between diffusion changes and clinical measures.

A role for hereditary influences in the susceptibility for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is widely recognized. Cytotoxic lymphocytes are implicated in COPD pathogenesis, and functions of these leukocytes are modulated by interactions between their killer cell Ig-like receptors (KIR) and human leukocyte antigen–Class I (HLA–Class I) molecules on target cells. We hypothesized HLA–Class I and KIR inheritance affect risks for COPD. HLA–Class I alleles and KIR genotypes were defined by candidate gene analyses in multiple cohorts of patients with COPD (total n = 392) and control smokers with normal spirometry (total n = 342). Compared with controls, patients with COPD had overrepresentations of HLA-C*07 and activating KIR2DS1, with underrepresentations of HLA-C*12. Particular HLA-KIR permutations were synergistic; e.g., the presence of HLA-C*07 + KIR2DS1 + HLA-C12null versus HLAC*07null + KIR2DS1null + HLA-C12 was associated with COPD, especially among HLA-C1 allotype homozygotes. Cytotoxicity of COPD lymphocytes was more enhanced by KIR stimulation than those of controls and was correlated with lung function. These data show HLA-C and KIR polymorphisms strongly influence COPD susceptibility and highlight the importance of lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity in COPD pathogenesis. Findings here also indicate that HLA-KIR typing could stratify at-risk patients and raise possibilities that HLA-KIR axis modulation may have therapeutic potential.

Developing an accurate and interpretable model to predict an individual’s risk for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a critical step to efficiently triage testing and other scarce preventative resources. To aid in this effort, we have developed an interpretable risk calculator that utilized de-identified electronic health records (EHR) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Informatics for Integrating Biology and the Bedside (UAB-i2b2) COVID-19 repository under the U-BRITE framework. The generated risk scores are analogous to commonly used credit scores where higher scores indicate higher risks for COVID-19 infection. By design, these risk scores can easily be calculated in spreadsheets or even with pen and paper. To predict risk, we implemented a Credit Scorecard modeling approach on longitudinal EHR data from 7,262 patients enrolled in the UAB Health System who were evaluated and/or tested for COVID-19 between January and June 2020. In this cohort, 912 patients were positive for COVID-19. Our workflow considered the timing of symptoms and medical conditions and tested the effects by applying different variable selection techniques such as LASSO and Elastic-Net. Within the two weeks before a COVID-19 diagnosis, the most predictive features were respiratory symptoms such as cough, abnormalities of breathing, pain in the throat and chest as well as other chronic conditions including nicotine dependence and major depressive disorder. When extending the timeframe to include all medical conditions across all time, our models also uncovered several chronic conditions impacting the respiratory, cardiovascular, central nervous and urinary organ systems. The whole pipeline of data processing, risk modeling and web-based risk calculator can be applied to any EHR data following the OMOP common data format. The results can be employed to generate questionnaires to estimate COVID-19 risk for screening in building entries or to optimize hospital resources.

BackgroundNo medical treatment has proven efficacy for acute exacerbations of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE-IPF), and this syndrome has a very high mortality. Based on data indicating humoral autoimmune processes are involved in IPF pathogenesis, we treated AE-IPF patients with an autoantibody reduction regimen of therapeutic plasma exchange, rituximab, and intravenous immunoglobulin. This study aimed to identify clinical and autoantibody determinants associated with survival after autoantibody reduction in AE-IPF.MethodsTwenty-four(24) AE-IPF patients received the autoantibody reduction regimen. Plasma anti-epithelial autoantibody titers were determined by HEp-2 indirect immunofluorescence assays in 22 patients.ResultsMean age of the patients was 70 + 7 years old, and 70% were male. Beneficial clinical responses that occurred early during therapy were a favorable prognostic indicator: supplemental O2 flows needed to maintain resting SaO2>92% significantly decreased and/or walk distances increased among all 10 patients who survived for at least one year. Plasma anti-HEp-2 autoantibody titers were ~-three-fold greater in survivors compared to non-survivors (p1:160 were present in 75% of the evaluable one-year survivors, compared to 29% of non-survivors, and 10 of 12 patients (83%) with anti-HEP-2 titers ConclusionsAutoantibody reduction therapy is associated with rapid reduction of supplemental oxygen requirements and/or improved ability to ambulate in many AE-IPF patients. Facile anti-epithelial autoantibody assays may help identify those most likely to benefit from these treatments.

BackgroundThe processes that result in progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remain enigmatic. Moreover, the course of this disease can be highly variable and difficult to accurately predict. We hypothesized analyses of body mass index (BMI), a simple, routine clinical measure, may also have prognostic value in these patients, and might provide mechanistic insights. We investigated the associations of BMI changes with outcome, plasma adipokines, and adaptive immune activation among IPF patients.MethodsData were analyzed in an IPF discovery cohort (n = 131) from the University of Pittsburgh, and findings confirmed in patients from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (n = 148). Plasma adipokines were measured by ELISA and T-cell phenotypes determined by flow cytometry.ResultsTransplant-free one-year survivals in subjects with the greatest rates of BMI decrements, as percentages of initial BMI (>0.68%/month), were worse than among those with more stable BMI in both discovery (HR = 1.8, 95%CI = 1.1-3.2, p = 0.038) and replication cohorts (HR = 2.5, 95%CI = 1.2-5.2, p = 0.02), when adjusted for age, baseline BMI, and pulmonary function. BMI decrements >0.68%/month were also associated with greater mortality after later lung transplantations (HR = 4.6, 95%CI = 1.7-12.5, p = 0.003). Circulating leptin and adiponectin levels correlated with BMI, but neither adipokine was prognostic per se. BMI decrements were significantly associated with increased proportions of circulating end-differentiated (CD28null) CD4 T-cells (CD28%), a validated marker of repetitive T-cell activation and IPF prognoses.ConclusionsIPF patients with greatest BMI decrements had worse outcomes, and this effect persisted after lung transplantation. Weight loss in these patients is a harbinger of poor prognoses, and may reflect an underlying systemic process, such as adaptive immune activation.

Despite the prevalence and significant morbidity resulting from estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast adenocarcinomas, there are only a few models of this cancer subtype available for drug development and arguably none for studying etiology. Those models that do exist have questionable clinical relevance. Given our goal of developing luminal models, we focused on six cell lines derived by minimal mutagenesis from normal human breast cells, and asked if any could generate clinically relevant xenografts, which we then extensively characterized. Xenografts of one cell line, 184AA3, consistently formed ER+ adenocarcinomas that had a high proliferative rate and other features consistent with “luminal B” intrinsic subtype. Squamous and spindle cell/mesenchymal differentiation was absent, in stark contrast to other cell lines that we examined or others have reported. We explored intratumoral heterogeneity produced by 184AA3 by immunophenotyping xenograft tumors and cultured cells, and characterized marker expression by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. A CD44High subpopulation was discovered, yet their tumor forming ability was far less than CD44Low cells. Single cell cloning revealed the phenotypic plasticity of 184AA3, consistent with the intratumoral heterogeneity observed in xenografts. Characterization of ER expression in cultures revealed ER protein and signaling is intact, yet when estrogen was depleted in culture, and in vivo, it did not impact cell or tumor growth, analogous to therapeutically resistant ER+ cancers. This model is appropriate for studies of the etiology of ovarian hormone independent adenocarcinomas, for identification of therapeutic targets, predictive testing, and drug development.

This study investigates the effect of size and density of decorated Au nanoparticles on the enhancement in the Raman signals of organic molecules. The MoS2/Au SERS substrates with low cost and high sensitivity were prepared to detect Rhodamine 6G dye (R6G) at low concentration. The MoS2 thin films were grown directly on glass substrates (area 1 × 1 cm2) using chemical bath deposition. Then, the Au nanoparticles were decorated onto MoS2 thin films via chemical reduction method. The optical, structure and surface morphology properties of MoS2/Au SERS substrates were investigated by UV-Vis spectra, XRD patterns and FESEM images, respectively. The results confirmed that MoS2/Au SERS substrates with a good crystalline structure, uniform distribution and high density of Au NPs on the surface of MoS2 thin films were beneficial to the sensitivity of the SERS signal. The optimal MoS2/Au (80°C, 15 min) SERS substrate showed the average size of the Au NPs of 36 nm, nanogap between Au NPs of 13 nm and presence of porous MoS2 thin film, which combined the synergistic effect of the localized surface-plasmon resonance and charge transfer process for enhancing the SERS signal. The detection sensitivity of SERS substrate is related to (1) the nanogap between Au nanoparticles on the surface of MoS2 thin film (hot spots), (2) the charge transfer process between MoS2/Au interfaces and R6G and (3) the charge transfer process between MoS2 and R6G. The best SERS substrates detected R6G solution at a limit of detection of 10−14 M and an enhancement factor of 1.76 × 1013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Acute pancreatitis is one of the most common causes of acute abdominal pain requiring hospitalization worldwide. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) are novel inflammatory markers that have been investigated in various diseases associated with an inflammatory response, achieving many positive results. Evaluating the NLR, PLR, RDW, and their combination to predict acute pancreatitis severity can help clinicians have an appropriate initial treatment strategy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study enrolled 131 patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis at Gia Dinh Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, between December 2021 and August 2022. Patients with the following features were excluded from our study: age < 18 years old, time from symptom onset to admission of > 72 hours; patients with autoimmune disease, decompensated cirrhosis, active tuberculosis, heart failure (New York Heart Association class 4), end-stage renal failure, pregnancy, active severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, and chronic pancreatitis. RESULTS: There were 21 severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) cases (16%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting SAP was 0.82 for NLR, 0.72 for PLR, and 0.73 for RDW. When the cutoffs of 13.5 for NLR, 202.7 for PLR, and 13.1% for the RDW were used, the negative predictive values in predicting SAP were 93.1%, 91.9%, and 98.8%, respectively. This finding demonstrates the value of inflammatory markers in predicting SAP. The combination of these markers did not show an advantage in predicting SAP compared to the single markers. CONCLUSIONS: High NLR, PLR, and RDW are associated with SAP. These indices are good indicators for predicting SAP. In our study, the combination of inflammatory markers did not improve SAP prediction compared to the individual markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conserving and improving the quality of breeds is crucial for enhancing small ruminant production in Vietnam. To support this purpose, cryopreservation was offered as a promising method for semen preservation and maintaining genetic diversity. Moreover, many small-scale farmers in Mekong Delta rely on goats for both income and nutrition, making them an important part of farming activities. This study aimed to develop a sperm cryopreservation protocol and identify the optimal cryoprotectant for goat sperm in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. Semen samples were diluted with TCG-EggYolk freezing medium containing cryoprotectant agent (CPA) in a 1:1 ratio. The samples were then placed in 0.5 mL French straws, cooled to 15 °C and 5 °C, and subjected to nitrogen vapor before being immersed in liquid nitrogen at -196 °C. Experiment 1 utilized Glycerol as the CPA in concentrations of 0 %, 5 %, 8 %, and 11 %. Experiment 2 employed dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as the CPA with the same concentrations. Thawed samples were evaluated for sperm quality. Results indicated that in Experiment 1, increasing the Glycerol concentration improved the overall motility, viability, and membrane integrity of sperm. The best outcomes were achieved with 8 % Glycerol, resulting in progressive motility of 57.5 % (P

Abstract Objective. Globally, previous research has shown the negative influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. In fact, Vietnamese culture emphasizes traditional values, and family relationships have an important influence on well-being. However, fewer studies have examined the correlation between family relationships and mental health problems in crises. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the correlation between family relationships and mental health problems among adults during the COVID-19 lockdown in Vietnam. Material and methods. A sample of 640 adults aged from 18 to 52 (71.9% female) completed an online survey on mental health from August to September 2021. The survey measured depression, anxiety, stress, family relationships, and socio-demographic and epidemiological factors. Multiple linear regressions were conducted. Results. Prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and stress were 31.4%, 43.4%, and 25.2%, respectively. Multiple linear regression indicates that 12% to 14% of the variations in common mental health problems can be explained by the family relationship. In particular, family conflicts were significantly related to higher depression, anxiety, and stress (Beta from 0.14 to 0.16, p

Abstract Background Despite advancements in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), resistance and intolerance remain significant challenges. Leukemia stem cells (LSCs) and TKI-resistant cells rely on altered mitochondrial metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation. Targeting rewired energy metabolism and inducing non-apoptotic cell death, along with the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), can enhance therapeutic strategies and immunogenic therapies against CML and prevent the emergence of TKI-resistant cells and LSC persistence. Methods Transcriptomic analysis was conducted using datasets of CML patients' stem cells and healthy cells. DNA damage was evaluated by fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry. Cell death was assessed by trypan blue exclusion test, fluorescent microscopy, flow cytometry, colony formation assay, and in vivo Zebrafish xenografts. Energy metabolism was determined by measuring NAD+ and NADH levels, ATP production rate by Seahorse analyzer, and intracellular ATP content. Mitochondrial fitness was estimated by measurements of mitochondrial membrane potential, ROS, and calcium accumulation by flow cytometry, and morphology was visualized by TEM. Bioinformatic analysis, real-time qPCR, western blotting, chemical reaction prediction, and molecular docking were utilized to identify the drug target. The immunogenic potential was assessed by high mobility group box (HMGB)1 ELISA assay, luciferase-based extracellular ATP assay, ectopic calreticulin expression by flow cytometry, and validated by phagocytosis assay, and in vivo vaccination assay using syngeneic C57BL/6 mice. Results Transcriptomic analysis identified metabolic alterations and DNA repair deficiency signatures in CML patients. CML patients exhibited enrichment in immune system, DNA repair, and metabolic pathways. The gene signature associated with BRCA mutated tumors was enriched in CML datasets, suggesting a deficiency in double-strand break repair pathways. Additionally, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)1 was significantly upregulated in CML patients’ stem cells compared to healthy counterparts. Consistent with the CML patient DNA repair signature, treatment with the methylated indolequinone MAC681 induced DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, calcium homeostasis disruption, metabolic catastrophe, and necroptotic-like cell death. In parallel, MAC681 led to PARP1 degradation that was prevented by 3-aminobenzamide. MAC681-treated myeloid leukemia cells released DAMPs and demonstrated the potential to generate an immunogenic vaccine in C57BL/6 mice. MAC681 and asciminib exhibited synergistic effects in killing both imatinib-sensitive and -resistant CML, opening new therapeutic opportunities. Conclusions Overall, increasing the tumor mutational burden by PARP1 degradation and mitochondrial deregulation makes CML suitable for immunotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study evaluated the diagnostic efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for identifying acute appendicitis during pregnancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled a total of 46 pregnant patients with clinically suspected acute appendicitis who underwent 1.5 T MRI and received a final pathological diagnosis. We evaluated the imaging characteristics associated with patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis, including the appendix diameter, the appendix wall thickness, intra-appendiceal fluid collection, and peri-appendiceal fat infiltration. A bright appendix on T1-weighted 3-dimensional imaging was identified as a negative sign for appendicitis. RESULTS: Peri-appendiceal fat infiltration had the highest specificity of 97.1% for diagnosing acute appendicitis, whereas increasing appendiceal diameter had the highest sensitivity of 91.7%. The cut-off values for increasing appendiceal diameter and appendiceal wall thickness were 6.55 mm and 2.7 mm, respectively. Using these cutoff values, appendiceal diameter had a sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 91.7%, 91.2%, 78.4%, and 96.9%, respectively, whereas these values for appendiceal wall thickness were 75.0%, 91.2%, 75.0%, and 91.2%. The combination of increasing appendiceal diameter and appendiceal wall thickness resulted in an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve value of 0.958 with Se, Sp, PPV, and NPV values of 75.0%, 100.0%, 100.0%, and 91.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: All five MRI signs examined in this study had significant diagnostic value for detecting acute appendicitis during pregnancy, with p-values <0.01. The combined use of increasing appendiceal diameter and appendiceal wall thickness displayed the excellent ability to diagnose acute appendicitis in pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanotechnology in which silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have received more interest in fruits and vegetables (FaV) preservation due to their anti-microorganism properties. There are various approaches to synthesizing AgNPs, in which biological reduction, especially plant extraction containing bioactive compounds, is considered non-toxic, eco-friendly, and economically viable. AgNPs can be applied for FaV preservation by immersing or incorporating AgNPs into the edible coating or wrapper film. Depending on the type of coating and the kind of FaV, choosing the coating components is necessary to ensure the anti-microorganism ability and improve preservation efficiency. This review highlights green-synthesized AgNPs for preserving FaV. The study covered the materials employed in the green synthesis of AgNPs, their effectiveness against microorganisms, the influence of AgNPs on film structure, safety properties, and various preservation strategies. Using plant or bacterial-synthesized AgNPs in edible coatings offers a sustainable approach to enhance safety, edibility, environmental friendliness, and FaV quality during storage.

Soil respiration is a critical indicator of microbial activity, reflecting soil health and its ability to deliver essential ecosystem services and functions. Chamber-based measurements provide direct observations and are relatively simple to implement, making them a popular choice for soil respiration studies. However, current methods to quantify soil respiration are limited in their applicability by high costs, substrate requirements, accuracy concerns and substantial setup time. With an increasing emphasis on routine analysis of soil respiration, existing methods are insufficient to provide the temporal and spatial scale required to proliferate soil respiration data. This study assesses the potential of an affordable and commercially available Non-Dispersive Infrared (NDIR) CO2 detector, used in conjunction with an easy-to assemble closed chamber, to provide reliable and accessible soil respiration measurements. The CO2 detectors utilised in this study are cost-effective yet precise digital detectors, successfully validated against a laboratory reference sensor and the standard alkali trap method. Beyond that, the detector has effectively yielded consistent results across replicates and demonstrated sensitivity similar to standard methods. The proposed detector offers an alternative to traditional laboratory methods by removing the necessity to perform soil respiration analysis in a laboratory setting. The proliferation of soil respiration data would facilitate the increasing interest in accessible information on soil respiration from stakeholders, citizen scientists and decision makers.

It is critical to find an efficient method to separate methylene blue (MB) in wastewater before discharging them into environment. Adsorption using zeolites is the most commonly used one. To determine adsorption mechanism providing useful data to enhance adsorption capacity and practicability of scale-up, kinetic, isotherm and thermodynamic adsorption were evaluated and discussed intensely. Zeolite NaY was synthesized from rice husk ash with a one-stage process. Effects of pH, contact time, initial concentration, adsorbent dose, temperature, solvents and recyclic stability on MB adsorption and desorption were investigated in detail via alternating variable method. Optimal conditions for adsorption were at pH 8, 1 h, 50 mgMB/L, 303K. Adsorption kinetics and isotherms showed that the process fitted to pseudo-second-order, Freundlich and Temkin isotherm, indicating a spontaneous, exothermic and physical adsorption process with multilayer adsorption. Desorption process showed that EtOH:H2O (1:1) solvent at 323K was optimal for releasing MB and its thermodynamic studies revealed that this process was favorable with rising temperature. The maximum adsorption capacity was calculated as 49 mg/g and the adsorbent could maintain its adsorption performance after six cycles. Generally, this study provided a comprehensive approach of an efficient, cost-effective, and recyclable NaY for MB removal from water.

Abstract Rare diseases (RD) affect a small number of people compared to the general population and are mostly genetic in origin. The first clinical signs often appear at birth or in childhood, and patients endure high levels of pain and progressive loss of autonomy frequently associated with short life expectancy. Until recently, the low prevalence of RD and the gatekeeping delay in their diagnosis have long hampered research. The era of nucleic acid (NA)-based therapies has revolutionized the landscape of RD treatment and new hopes arise with the perspectives of disease-modifying drugs development as some NA-based therapies are now entering the clinical stage. Herein, we review NA-based drugs that were approved and are currently under investigation for the treatment of RD. We also discuss the recent structural improvements of NA-based therapeutics and delivery system, which overcome the main limitations in their market expansion and the current approaches that are developed to address the endosomal escape issue. We finally open the discussion on the ethical and societal issues that raise this new technology in terms of regulatory approval and sustainability of production.

To reduce the hazards brought by water hyacinth, many applications of water hyacinth have been studied and continuously expanded. The large biomass of water hyacinth is applied in many fields such as for wastewater treatment, wastewater purification, biological raw material sources, animal feed production, medicine, antioxidants, agriculture, and household appliances. This research investigates the desalination capacity of freshwater hyacinths, raw materials from water hyacinths, biochar, and activated carbon materials from water hyacinth stems. Results have shown that the suitable temperature for charring fresh water hyacinth is 420 °C. The activated carbon from the water hyacinth stems with a BET surface area of 200.4 ± 1.9 m²/g can be desalinated under the conditions of 0.4 g of activated carbon mass, 15 min of reaction time, 2.0 ppt of salt concentration, and at neutral pH. In contrast, raw materials from water hyacinths and biochar were unable to desalinate. This study evaluates the desalination ability of the activated carbon material of water hyacinth.

Abstract Flexible bronchoscopy has revolutionized respiratory disease diagnosis. It offers direct visualization and detection of airway abnormalities, including lung cancer lesions. Accurate identification of airway lesions during flexible bronchoscopy plays an important role in the lung cancer diagnosis. The application of artificial intelligence (AI) aims to support physicians in recognizing anatomical landmarks and lung cancer lesions within bronchoscopic imagery. This work described the development of BM-BronchoLC, a rich bronchoscopy dataset encompassing 106 lung cancer and 102 non-lung cancer patients. The dataset incorporates detailed localization and categorical annotations for both anatomical landmarks and lesions, meticulously conducted by senior doctors at Bach Mai Hospital, Vietnam. To assess the dataset’s quality, we evaluate two prevalent AI backbone models, namely UNet++ and ESFPNet, on the image segmentation and classification tasks with single-task and multi-task learning paradigms. We present BM-BronchoLC as a reference dataset in developing AI models to assist diagnostic accuracy for anatomical landmarks and lung cancer lesions in bronchoscopy data.

Introduction: Vitamin D3 plays a vital role in bone health, with low levels of vitamin D3 being related to skeletal fragility, fractures, and metabolic disorders such as diabetes. Metformin is known as an antihyperglycemic agent for regulating blood sugar. A correlation between diabetes mellitus and osteoporosis is attracting considerable interest, and research to find the prevention and treatment is gradually being studied. In this study, we investigated the effect of metformin and vitamin D3 on osteogenic differentiation of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) under high d-glucose concentrations and optimized by combining vitamin D3 and metformin in the process. Methods: ROS production of AT-MSCs under high d-glucose conditions was measured by DCFH-DA assay. The differentiated AT-MSCs were analyzed by Alizarin Red S staining and optical density measurement. The investigation involved the examination of osteogenic master genes' expressions using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) techniques. Results: Interestingly, the results have shown that human AT-MSCs will exhibit high ROS accumulation and low osteogenic differentiation capabilities, indicated by low calcium deposition, as well as low expression of indicative genes such as ALP, Runx-2 under high d-glucose conditions. The combination of vitamin D3 and metformin remarkedly accelerated the osteogenic differentiation of AT-MSCs under high d-glucose concentrations more effectively than the administration of either agent. Conclusions: This study partially explains an aspect of an in vitro model for pre-clinical drug screening for osteoporosis-related diabetic pathological mechanisms, which can be applied for further research on the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis in diabetic patients.

The title compound, C27H20N4O3S, crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P21/n, with Z = 4. The global shape of the molecule is determined by the orientation of the substituents on the central 4H-1,2,4-triazole ring. The nitrophenyl ring, phenyl ring, and naphthalene ring system are oriented at dihedral angles of 82.95 (17), 77.14 (18) and 89.46 (15)°, respectively, with respect to the triazole ring. The crystal packing features chain formation in the b-axis direction by S...O interactions. A Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the highest contributions to surface contacts arise from contacts in which H atoms are involved.

The emergence of multicancer early detection (MCED) tests holds promise for improving early cancer detection and public health outcomes. However, positive MCED test results require confirmation through recommended cancer diagnostic imaging modalities. To address these challenges, we have developed a consultation and work-up protocol for definitive diagnostic results post MCED testing, named SPOT-MAS. Developed through circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis and in line with professional guidelines and advisory board consensus, this protocol standardizes information to aid general practitioners in accessing, interpreting and managing SPOT-MAS results. Clinical effectiveness is demonstrated through a series of identified cancer cases. Our research indicates that the protocol could empower healthcare professionals to confidently interpret circulating tumor DNA test results for 5 common types of cancer, thereby facilitating the clinical integration of MCED tests.

Since the first School Safety Program launched by the Ministry of Education and Training in 2007, Vietnam has promoted various multi-sectoral activities to advance school safety nationwide. This study aims to identify the opportunities to advance school disaster safety by assessing policies and practices in Vietnam. A framework adapted from the ASEAN Comprehensive School Safety Framework and School Disaster Resilience Assessment is utilized to evaluate policy coverage and implementation level of school safety in Vietnam. The study systematically reviewed legal documents at national level, followed by questionnaire surveys conducted for primary schools in Da Nang City, which was selected as a pilot evaluation site owing to its vulnerability to natural disasters and extensive records of school safety practices. Results show that the most critical elements of school safety have been reflected in existing policy documents and regulations. However, the gap between policies and implementation remains due to the inadequacy of school safety viewpoint, designated roles and responsibilities, resources, and guidelines for supporting the school safety practices at the local level. The findings emphasize the importance of a national school safety framework that enables institutional and resource arrangements for better practices at the local level.

Lotus plants have emerged as a relatively new commodity in the food industry in Vietnam, with significant economic potential from its diverse applications in medicine, cosmetics, food, and decoration. Vertical coordination, involving strategic alignment and collaboration among different actors in the value chain, plays a critical role in supporting the small-grain grower-trader relationship. This study aimed to investigate the factors driving the adoption of vertical coordination mechanisms within lotus-grain value chains and to assess the impact of different coordination strategies applied by farmers on their well-being in central Vietnam. Employing a multinomial endogenous switching regression methodology, the study offers nuanced insights into the adoption patterns and impacts of various coordination strategies, controlling for both sample selection bias and unobservable factors. The results highlight the importance of trust, input management, and strategic decision-making in enhancing yield and revenue outcomes among smallholder farming households. Trust between farmers and traders significantly influences the adoption of such strategies in agricultural transactions. Higher trust levels correlate with an increased likelihood of adopting verbal, input, or written contracts. The positive impacts of input contracts on lotus grain yield and revenue, highlighting the importance of effective input management. These findings deepen our understanding of vertical coordination within lotus-grain value chains and assist stakeholders in making evidence-based decisions when selecting vertical coordination strategies for sustainable value chain management.

Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an abnormal glucose metabolism diagnosed during pregnancy that can have serious adverse consequences for mother and child. GDM is an exceptional health condition, as its management serves not only as treatment but also as prevention, reducing the risk of future diabetes in mother and child. Objectives This qualitative study aimed to explore how pregnant women experience and respond to GDM, focusing particularly on the role of the family environment in shaping women’s experiences. Methods The research was carried out in Vietnam’s Thái Bình province in April–May 2023. We conducted in-depth ethnographic interviews with 21 women with GDM, visiting them in their homes. Our theoretical starting point was phenomenological anthropology, and the data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Results At the centre of women’s experiences was the contrast between GDM as a biomedical and a social condition. Whereas GDM was biomedically diagnosed and managed in the healthcare system, it was often deemed insignificant or non-existent by family members. This made GDM a biomedically present but socially absent health condition. This paradox posed challenges to women’s GDM self-care, placing them in pioneering social positions. Conclusions The biomedical presence yet social absence of GDM turned women into pioneers at biomedical, digital, epidemiological, and family frontiers. This article calls for appreciation of pregnant women’s pioneering roles and for health systems action to involve women and families in the development of GDM policies and programmes at a time of sweeping global health changes.

AbstractThis study aims to analyze and evaluate the influence of electronic word of mouth (eWOM) and perceived value on green purchase intention in Vietnam, with the belief that it plays an intermediary role. The article uses the linear structural model (SEM) to analyze and test hypotheses by surveying 664 consumers in the big cities of Vietnam. The results have shown that eWOM, perceived value, and trust positively affect green purchase intention, in which case eWOM and perceived value make important contributions to the formation of consumer confidence. These findings help managers step up awareness campaigns, encouraging consumers to share useful eWOM information to improve people’s purchase intentions.

Ag-modified ZnO thin films on Zn-electroplated Cu substrate with different Ag-contents were prepared via a simple sol–gel spin-coating procedure followed by a thermal shock method with AgNO3, and then characterized by XRD, Raman, FTIR, FESEM, EDX, and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. Their photocatalytic performance was evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue. Due to the sol–gel spin-coating process, the film was successfully immobilized on mechanically robust Zn/Cu plates, making it promising for applications in harsh practical conditions and facilitating recovery. When our ZnO thin films were surface-modified with AgNO3 at 1 and 2 mol%, they exhibited the best photocatalytic activity under UVA light and visible light, respectively, which can be explained by the appearance of maze-like architecture on their surface with vertical ZnO walls, surface defects and metallic silver nanoparticles. However, when the Ag-content was increased to 3 mol%, the maze-like structure collapsed, leading to decreases in photocatalytic performance.

Background & Aim: Post the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an observable escalation in the propensity of nurses to resign from their positions, which exerts substantial pressure on healthcare systems worldwide. Perceived Organizational Support has been acknowledged as a pivotal factor in the retention of nursing personnel after the pandemic. This study aims to provide valuable insights into the intricate interplay between Perceived Organizational Support, Psychological Well-being, Organizational Commitment, and Nurses’ Intention to Stay in Vietnamese healthcare. Methods & Materials: This study adopted a cross-sectional quantitative design using a structured questionnaire to collect data from diverse professionals in Vietnam through an online platform. Data analysis was conducted using PLS-SEM on a robust dataset of 302 valid observations. A hybrid sampling method combining convenience and snowball techniques was employed. The questionnaire was disseminated via Google Forms during March and April 2024, allowing for an insightful examination of the research phenomena within Vietnam's unique sociocultural context. Results: The study showed a significant positive impact of Perceived Organizational Support on Psychological Well-being, Organizational Commitment, and Nurses’ Intention to Stay. Perceived Organizational Support directly affects Nurses’ Intention to Stay, and Psychological Well-being emerges as a strong determinant of Nurses’ Intention to Stay and a mediator between Perceived Organizational Support and Nurses’ Intention to Stay. Conclusion: Healthcare managers play a key role in promoting Nurses’ Intention to Stay by increasing Organizational Support, promoting Psychological Well-being, and enhancing Organizational Commitment. These strategies are critical to maintaining stability within the healthcare organization, addressing nursing turnover, and maintaining a resilient workforce.

With global trade development, emerging economies can absorb biomass energy production techniques and technologies from developed countries. However, several constraints still need to be improved in producing biomass energy in emerging economies. Therefore, this research aims to understand the critical motivating factors of biomass energy production that contribute to a circular economy via agricultural by-products in Vietnam's emerging economy. This study employs a qualitative analysis using information from the in-depth interviews of farmer households, agricultural by-product traders, and bioenergy producers in Vietnam. This study revealed the motivating factors as the main determinants in producing biomass energy: (1) digitalization, (2) technical and logistics, (3) social capital, (4) prices, and (5) government supports. This study also confirms that Vietnam has diverse biomass waste sources and a high potential for biomass energy production. To motivate biomass energy development, the government should support credit and loans for stakeholders in producing biomass energy. Moreover, the government should encourage and support energy producers to implement digital transformation to expand production scale and improve business operations. Insights from this study can help farmers, traders, and bioenergy producers by adapting their strategies within their local contexts.

Hydroelectric dams have a great influence on the safety of the downstream area. Therefore, deformation monitoring for assessing the safety of dam should be carried out regularly. In order to improve efficiency of the dam management, it is necessary to analyse the displacement values in space, over time to assess overally the displacement of dam. In this purpose, an attempt was conducted to analyse the subsidence of hydroelectric dams located in Hoa Binh, Vietnam using one of the most useful method – Kalman filter. Kalman filter is the unique method that can determine influence of external factors (particularly, elevation of water level in the reservoir) on dams, simultaneously forecast the displacement values of dam in the future. Moreover, Kalman filter allows to predict subsidence accurately in about 6 months that is longer prediction time than other static models. These are clearly presented and discussed in the article. The obtained results demonstrate the high applicability of Kalman filter method in analysing and forecasting the subsidence of the Hoa Binh hydroelectric dam.

E-payment is a key component of e-commerce, facilitating improved user efficiency and fostering the intent to use e-commerce in the digital realm and the international integration arena. This study investigates the joint impact of digital literacy on two similar but fundamentally different activities which are security control behavior and e-payment continuance intention. This research contributes to the growing field of literature in two ways. First, the study examines Digital Literacy, which distinguishes three broad dimensions - Tech Familiarity, Policy understanding, Awareness of institutional surveillance, and its association with Security control Behaviors and E-payment continuance intention. Second, the study tests the mediator effect of Security control Behaviors on the relationship between Digital Literacy and E-payment Intention. The data were collected by using both offline and online survey methods across the national scope, employing a quota sampling approach to encompass a wide range of consumer demographics. Structural equation modeling with the sample of Vietnamese respondents was applied to test the influence of digital literacy on customers’ security control behavior and intention to use e-payments. The results endorse that 1) digital literacy has an important impact on online security behavior; 2) digital literacy bridges a strong direct association with e-payment continuance Intention and indirect through online security behavior. This study suggests several theoretical and practical implications from the findings, as well as limitations and future directions.

Introduction: Moringa oleifera, Vernonia amygdalina, and Centella asiatica are herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine and are commonly used in Southeast Asian countries to treat a variety of diseases. The experimental evidence showed that M. oleifera leaves, V. amygdalina leaves, and C. asiatica had the effect of supporting their treatment of diabetes. This study investigated the anti-hyperglycemic effect of a novel herbal formula from M. oleifera leaf, V. amygdalina leaf, and C. asiatica aerial part extracts. Methods: The extract was examined for anti-hyperglycemic capacity in oral glucose tolerance test in normal mice. To confirm their role in a higher model, the extract was studied in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemic model. Plasma glucose concentration, body weight, organ weight, malondialdehyde, glutathione in liver and kidneys, and pancreatic histology were also evaluated. Besides, in vitro properties of the extract were tested including α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory, and antioxidant activities. Results: After 7-day of treatment, the extract showed strong anti-hyperglycemic activity in the STZ-induced hyperglycemic mice, plasma glucose levels were reduced by 48.75 % and 54.13 % in the group administered with 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of the extract, respectively, compared with the hyperglycemic control. The extract had the effect to protect the liver and kidneys against oxidation stress by enhancing glutathione levels in the liver and decreasing malondialdehyde levels in the liver and kidneys. The pancreatic β-cell protection was also observed by improving the size and number of pancreatic islets by the extract compared to the hyperglycemic control. The extract showed a significant α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities, and antioxidant activity through DPPH and ABTS quenching and reducing power abilities. Discussion: These results demonstrated remarkable potential of the combined extract of M. oleifera leaves, V. amygdalina leaves, and aerial part of C. asiatica in the management of diabetes.

Avocado (Persea americana Mill) is a popular tropical fruit that is rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds. Besides, as a climacteric fruit with strong respiratory, internal metabolic processes and external factors easily damage avocados. During avocado fruit storage, several factors are taken into consideration. These include alterations in skin and mesocarp color, browning degree, hardness level, weight loss, damage rate, and the organoleptic quality of the mesocarp. Therefore, strategies to improve the avocado shelf-life have received much attention. Post-harvest avocado treatments include cold temperature, chemical use, atmospheric adjustments, irradiation, antagonistic microorganisms, essential oil, edible coating, etc. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages for avocado preservation. Edible coatings (ECs) have emerged as a practical, cost-effective, and eco-friendly approach to extend the shelf life of avocado fruit. Combining the composition of ECs with additional ingredients such as natural antimicrobial agents, antagonistic microorganisms, film structure reinforcements, etc., and appropriate storage conditions would be a potential “green” approach to improve the quality of avocado fruits.