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Tuan Quoc Le,1 Khanh Minh Thanh,1 Tien Van Tran,2 Dao Thi Bich Nguyen,3 Le Thi Nguyen,4 Diep Thao Pham,5 Lan Thi Phuong Dam,6 Minh Thị Hoang,6 Thuan Quang Huynh6 1Department of Physiology-Pathophysiology-Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 2Department of Nephrology, Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Rehabilitation - Professional Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 3Tam Duc Heart Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 4Nephrology Department, University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 5Biochemistry Department, Viet Duc Hospital, Ha Noi, Vietnam; 6Biochemistry Department, 103 Military Medical Hospital, Vietnam Military Medical University (VMMU), Ha Noi City, VietnamCorrespondence: Thuan Quang Huynh, Biochemistry Department, 103 Military Medical Hospital, Vietnam Military Medical University (VMMU), No. 160, Phung Hung Street, Phuc La Ward, Ha Dong District, Hanoi City, Vietnam, Tel +84904175342, Email huynhquangthuan@vmmu.edu.vnPurpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlations between the glycation gap (GG) and renal complications such as urinary albumin–creatinine ratio (UACR) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 104 individuals (52 males and 52 females), aged 36– 93 years old. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), HbA1c, and serum fructosamine were measured simultaneously. GG was calculated as the difference between the measured and fructosamine-based predicted HbA1c levels (FHbA1c).Results: There was a moderately positive correlation between HbA1c and fructosamine concentration (r = 0.488; p < 0.001). GG was positively correlated with UACR (r = 0.3275; p = 0.0007), negatively correlated with eGFR (r = − 0.3400; p = 0.0004). HbA1c was positively correlated with UACR (r = 0.2437; p = 0.0127) but not correlated with eGFR (r = − 0.444; p = 0.6542). Fructosamine has a positive correlation with eGFR (r = 0.2426; p = 0.0131) but not with UACR (r = − 0.1021; p = 0.3025).Conclusion: GG was positively correlated with UACR and inversely correlated with eGFR in type 2 Diabetes mellitus patients. This suggests that GG is a valuable index for predicting kidney complications due to diabetes.Keywords: type 2 diabetes, HbA1c, fructosamine, glycated gap, glomerular filtration rate, urinary albumin-creatinine ratio

Steven Truong,1,&ast; Nam Quang Tran,2,3,&ast; Phat Tung Ma,2,3 Chi Khanh Hoang,3 Bao Hoang Le,3 Thang Dinh,3 Luong Tran,3 Thang Viet Tran,2,3 Linh Hoang Gia Le,4 Hoang Anh Vu,4 Thao Phuong Mai,5 Minh Duc Do4 1Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; 2Department of Endocrinology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 3Department of Endocrinology, University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 4Center for Molecular Biomedicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 5Department of Physiology-Pathophysiology-Immunology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Minh Duc DoCenter for Molecular Biomedicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, 217 Hong Bang, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam, Tel +84 932999989, Email ducminh@ump.edu.vnPurpose: Genetic factors play an important role in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, few genetic association studies related to these disorders have been performed with Vietnamese subjects. In this study, the potential associations of ADIPOQ single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with T2DM and MetS in a Kinh Vietnamese population were investigated.Patients and Methods: A study with 768 subjects was conducted to examine the associations of four ADIPOQ SNPs (rs266729, rs1501299, rs3774261, and rs822393) primarily with T2DM and secondarily with MetS. The TaqMan SNP genotyping assay was used to determine genotypes from subjects’ DNA samples.Results: After statistical adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index, the ADIPOQ SNP rs266729 was found to be associated with increased risk of T2DM under multiple inheritance models: codominant (OR = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.16– 4.58), recessive (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.11– 4.26), and log-additive (OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.02– 1.70). However, rs1501299, rs3774261, and rs822393 were not associated with risk for T2DM. Additionally, rs266729, rs3774261, and rs822393 were statistically associated with MetS, while rs1501299 was not. Haplotype analysis showed a strong linkage disequilibrium between the SNP pairs rs266729/rs822393 and rs1501299/rs3774261, and the haplotype rs266729(G)/rs822393(T) was not statistically associated with MetS.Conclusion: The results show that rs266729 is a lead candidate SNP associated with increased risk of developing T2DM and MetS in a Kinh Vietnamese population, while rs3774261 is associated with MetS only. Further functional characterization is needed to uncover the mechanism underlying the potential genotype–phenotype associations.Keywords: genetic association, Kinh Vietnamese, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus

Truong S, Tran NQ, Ma PT, et al. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2022;15:307–319. The authors have advised that the funding statement on page 316 is incorrect. The text “This work was supported by the MIT UROP Program’s Peter J. Eloranta Research Fellowship and the National Foundation for Science & Technology Development (NAFOSTED), grant number 108.01-2019.319. We thank Christine Mendonca and the Joslin Diabetes Center DRC Core for their assistance in genotyping samples” should read “This research is funded by Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) under grant number 108.01-2019.319 and the MIT UROP Program’s Peter J. Eloranta Research Fellowship. We thank Christine Mendonca and the Joslin Diabetes Center DRC Core for their assistance in genotyping samples”. Read the original article

This study aims to evaluate the factor structure and criterion validity of the English Language Acculturation Stress (ELAS) scale in a community-based sample of elderly Russian immigrants. The sample consists of 300 Russian immigrants with an equal number of females and males, from 59 to 93 years of age (Mean = 73.26, SD = 7.271). The majority of the respondents were married (72%) at the time the interviews were conducted. On average, the respondents have lived in the U.S. for about 7 years (SD = 3.00). We performed both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to ascertain the factor structure or conceptual dimensions of the 11-item ELAS scale. The findings revealed that this 11-item scale encompasses three dimensions: Basic English skills, survival English skills, and social involvement English skills. Correlation analyses of the scale with depression, physical health status, and length of residence suggest that the ELAS has good criterion validity and potential as a screening instrument of language acculturation stress for elderly Russian immigrants. Implications for research and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is based on the double jeopardy hypothesis that elderly people who have poor physical function and who provide childcare for their families are more likely to experience a greater sense of psychological distress than those with poor physical function who have no childcare responsibilities. We used a sample of 2160 elderly (age 65 or over) Latinos (including Puerto Ricans and those of Mexican, Cuban, or other Latin American origin or descent) from the National Survey of Hispanic Elderly People to test this hypothesis. Regression analysis was used, and the findings confirm that after controlling for age, gender, marital status, and education, the joint effect of physical function and childcare on psychological distress remains statistically significant. We further performed a sub-group analysis, also using regression analysis, to clarify the effect of poor physical function on psychological distress in the sample of those who did provide and those who did not provide childcare. The findings clearly indicate that poor physical functioning has a greater effect on psychological distress in the group who provided childcare than in the group that did not. Implications for intergenerational practice and further research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the moderating effects of community services on psychological distress among Latino elders. This study explores the use of senior centers as an intervention strategy to moderate the harmful impact of stress on psychological distress. The study was conducted using data from the 1988 National Survey of Hispanic Elderly People (N = 2,299). To examine the direct and moderating effects of the use of senior centers on the relationship between stress and psychological distress we applied multiple regression analysis to an initial model, a direct effect model, and a moderating model. The results indicated that, under stressful life situations, respondents who used senior centers experienced lower levels of psychological distress than those who did not. Implications of the findings for senior centers and for further research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored patterns and reasons for health and social service use among Chinese immigrant elders. Interviews were conducted with 27 Chinese immigrant elders, 11 adult care giving children, and 12 health and social service providers. Content analysis of these data indicated that participants across groups agreed that Chinese elders underutilize services because of problems related to language, transportation, cost, long waits for appointments, and because of cultural norms/values related to need for care, preference for self-over professional care, fear, and distrust of western biomedicine, and the obligation to refrain from using formal services. These problems are complicated by geographical dispersion and dialect differences in the local Chinese immigrant community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to explore the unique effects of various chronic illnesses on depression in a sample of Chinese immigrant elders. Methods: The data were collected in the Greater Boston area at various social service agencies, social, and religious institutions. A self-administered sample of 177 Chinese-speaking immigrant elders was included in the study. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to measure depressive symptoms in the study. Regression analysis was performed for three measures of depression: 7-selected CES-D scale, its subscale somatic symptoms, and depressive symptoms. Results: Chronic illnesses have various effects on the selected CES-D score, and its subscales under the total sample and the samples of male and female respondents. Conclusions: The findings suggest that medical, psychological, and social work treatments or interventions for depression should take the impact of chronic illnesses into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the role of acculturation as a potential mediator or moderator for premigration traumatic experiences (PTE) and depression. The mediator effect refers to an effect in which acculturation mediates the negative impact of PTE on depression. On the other hand, the moderator effect signifies an interaction effect in which acculturation buffers the impact of PTE on depression. In other words, the negative impact of PTE on depression is hypothesized to vary according to different levels of acculturation. These two competing hypotheses were tested in a community-based sample of 261 adult Vietnamese Americans aged 25 and over. The sample consisted of 48%0 males and 64% of the sample were married. The average length of residence in the U.S. was 7 years. Multiple regression analyses did not support the mediator effect of acculturation, but did support its moderator effect as a buffer of PTE. Specifically, PTE had a much stronger effect on depression among those with lower levels of acculturation than those with higher levels of acculturation. Implications for future research and clinical practices are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the relationship between living arrangements, depression, and health status in a community-based sample of 300 elderly Russian-speaking immigrants. Data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire survey method. The questionnaire was designed to investigate various aspects of health, mental health, health services utilization, and health behaviors. A team of bilingual professionals was involved in the construction and translation of the survey instrument. The sample consists of 150 females and 150 males. The respondents' average age was 73.2 years. The regression analysis reveals that elderly Russian-speaking immigrants who live alone are more likely to experience a higher level of depression than those living with others. This relationship remains statistically significant after controlling for age, education, income, ability to speak English, years residing in the United States, gender, and health status. Since health status appears to influence depression, we performed further regression analyses and found that living arrangements had no statistically significant relationship with health status. Health status serves as an intermediate variable between the block of demographic variables and depression. Implications for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congruency between interviewer and interviewee ratings on psychosocial and health indicators is critical to the quality of clinical research data. This article examines the congruency between interviewers' ratings and respondents' self-reported self-esteem, depression, and health status. Data used in this article came from the nationwide survey Americans' Changing Lives, Wave I, 1986, which had a usable sample of 3,586 adult respondents age 25 and older. Multiple regression analysis was applied to the data, and the results revealed that interviewers' ratings were fairly congruent with respondents' self-reported self-esteem, depression, and health status. However, the congruency between interviewer ratings and respondent self-reports of health conditions was greater than the congruency for self-esteem and depression ratings, and the congruency for depression was greater than that for self-esteem. Implications for social work assessment are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employed data from a prior national survey of elderly Hispanics to examine the relationship between poverty and functionally impaired status, i.e., impairment in activities of daily living (IADL). The sample for this study consists of 1,685 Hispanics age 65 and older, representing four ethnic groups: Mexicans, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and other Hispanics. Ethnic comparisons based on personal characteristics, poverty status and IADL found there were differences among the groups analyzed in terms of marital status, language, religion, age, education, poverty, and IADL. Logistic regression findings revealed that elderly Hispanics who were married, bilingual, and had higher educational achievement were more likely to live above the poverty level than were their counterparts. Findings from an ordinary least squares regression analysis revealed that poor elderly Hispanics had more IADL problems; that men had more IADL problems than women; that IADL problems tended to increase with age; that more educated people had fewer IADL problems; that Cubans had fewer IADL problems than other Hispanics; and that Puerto Ricans had more IADL problems than all other Hispanics. Implications for social work practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public policy and epidemiological studies have not adequately addressed age and gender differences on important health dimensions among African Americans. The purpose of this study was to examine gender and health among five age groups of African Americans. A sample of 1,174 respondents age 24 to 85 was selected from the 1986 Americans' Changing Lives (ACL) Study. Regression analysis was performed using a hierarchical model to examine age and gender on five dimensions of health: functional health, chronic conditions, satisfaction with health, self-ratings of health, and activities of daily living (ADL) limitations controlling for age, education, income, and marital status among five age groups of African Americans. Results revealed that in the 24-39 age group, men had fewer chronic conditions and less ADL limitations, yet rated their health poorer than their female counterparts. In the 75 and over age group men had better functional health yet were less satisfied with their health than women. Control variables were significantly related to objective and subjective dimensions of health especially among the younger age groups. Overall, gender differences persist mainly among the youngest and oldest age groups despite variations in the above demographic variables. Implications for social work practice and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined factors associated with the utilization of community-based social and health services among foreign born elderly Hispanic Americans. The data came from a nationwide probability sample of Hispanic Americans age 65 and older including 296 Mexico-born Mexican Americans, 571 Cuba-born Cuban Americans, and 247 respondents from other Hispanic countries. Being a Cuba-born Cuban American, living alone, having poorer self-rated health and living below poverty level were positively related with the utilization of community-based social services. Cuban Americans with more limitations in activities of daily living (ADL) used more community-based health services. Among Mexico-born Mexican Americans, those who lived alone used more social as well as health services while those who were married used more social services. Those with greater limitations in ADL used more health services. Among other foreign born Hispanic Americans, going to church, living alone and living below poverty status, were positively correlated with the utilization of social services. Respondents with better English language ability were less likely to use community based health services. Elderly men and people who rated their health as poorer or had more ADL limitations were more likely to use these services. Implications of these findings for health and social services are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationship between chronic stress and psychological distress among poor and nonpoor elderly Hispanics belonging to three major ethnic groups: Cubans, Mexicans, and Puerto Ricans. The study used data from a nationwide probability sample of 1,239 Hispanics age 65 and older. The results show that poverty status and ethnicity influence the relationships between chronic stress and psychological distress. For example, financial stress had a significant relationship with psychological distress for the nonpoor Cubans, but not for the other two ethnic groups. Social stress was associated with psychological distress in all the three ethnic groups, but the association was strongest among poor Puerto Ricans. Family/personal stress was associated with more psychological distress among poor and nonpoor Cuban, poor Mexicans and nonpoor Puerto Ricans. Poverty and ethnicity also influenced the relationships between gender, marital status and health status and psychological distress. Implications of the study findings for future research and social work practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study used data from a nationwide probability sample of 1,855 Hispanics age 65 and older, representing three major ethnic groups, Cubans (n = 714), Mexicans (n = 773), and Puerto Ricans (n = 368), to examine ethnic and gender differences in ten selected perceived needs for social services. The findings revealed variations in social service needs between and within ethnic and gender groups. Generally, the Cuban elderly reported a lower rate of needs than both Mexican and Puerto Rican elderly. More similarities in needs were found between Mexican and Puerto Rican elderly. Men and women in these three samples of the Hispanic elderly also had different patterns of social service needs. When education was controlled for, the results revealed that ethnic differences were more likely to appear among less educated respondents. Implications of these findings for social work practice and research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activities related to land use and land cover (LULC) conversion have been the primary factor driving changes to mangrove distribution over recent decades. In order to quantify the anthropogenic influences associated with LULC changes on mangroves in the Vietnamese Southern Coast (VSC), we investigated the variations and trends in mangrove distribution between 1988 and 2023. We used a time-series of Landsat spectral indices from Google Earth Engine and applied hot spot analysis and machine learning algorithms to analyse mangrove variations and LULC classification, respectively. Our findings revealed that over the past 36 years, approximately half of the mangrove area has been lost due to LULC conversions. The most significant losses in mangrove cover occurred during the 1998-2011 period, with a decline of 46.79% in total area (an average of 3.6% per annum). The rate of mangrove deforestation more than halved to 17.49% (1.5% per annum) in the period between from 2011 to 2023. We attribute the reduction in mangrove loss to conservation efforts and natural regeneration processes. The emerging hot spot analysis indicated that the most significant restoration of new mangrove areas occurred between 1988 and 1998, totalling 1795 ha (1.4%), while the highest rate of mangrove deforestation was observed between 1998 and 2011, amounting to 2249 ha (2.0%). The primary causes of these variations in mangrove distribution were the conversion of mangrove areas to shrimp farming (38.91%), followed by other agricultural land use (5.82%) and the expansion of impervious surfaces (3.34%). In contrast, a result of enhanced conservation efforts and natural regeneration was associated with a 17.91% of mangrove area gain in the 2011-2023 period. Despite the regeneration potential of mangroves, our study highlighted the ongoing need to manage and protect mangrove forests to facilitate their expansion in the VSC. The analytical approach adopted in this study is applicable to other coastal areas when assessing changes in mangroves and land use practices., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Tetracyclines, a widely used class of antibiotics, and synthetic plastic products are both prevalent in the environment. When released into water bodies, these pollutants can pose significant risks due to their daily influx into aquatic ecosystems. Microplastics can adsorb tetracyclines, acting as a transport vector that enhances their impact on aquatic species. Understanding the co-exposure effects of microplastics and tetracyclines is crucial. This review comprehensively examines the occurrence and distribution of microplastics and tetracyclines across various environmental contexts. The interactions between these two contaminants are primarily driven by electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic effects, hydrogen bonding, π-π interactions, and others. Factors such as the presence of heavy metals, ions, and dissolved organic matter can influence the adsorption and desorption of tetracyclines onto microplastics. The stability of microplastic-tetracycline complexes is highly dependent on pH conditions. The combined pollution tetracyclines and microplastics leads to negative impacts on marine species. Future research should focus on understanding the adsorption behavior of tetracyclines on microplastics and developing effective treatment techniques for these contaminants in aquatic environments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Three new species of Polycarpaea from Vietnam, Polycarpaea vanphongensis V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh, Polycarpaea chungana V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh, Polycarpaea phuquocensis V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh are described and illustrated based on evidence of molecular sequence data from two markers (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and rps16) and combined morphological characteristics. Polycarpaea vanphongensis is closely related to Polycarpaea gaudichaudi Gagnep., Polycarpaea arenaria (Lour.) Gagnep., Polycarpaea phuquocensis V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh but differs by its stem glabrous, leaf ovate to elliptic, glabrous, ovary oblong ovoid, base obtuse, apex attenuate, capsule oblong void, 3.8 mm long. Polycarpaea phuquocensis V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh differs from the three species mentioned above by its stem being densely villous, leaf spathulate, ciliate, ovary ovoid, base acute, apex obtuse, capsule ovoid, 1.2 mm long. Polycarpaea chungana V.T. Tran, H.T. Truong & N.V. Binh is most similar to Polycarpaea lignosa Gagnep., but differs in having leaf oblong or linear, sparse ciliate, sepal and petal apex deeply concaved or slightly bifid, ovary ovoid, ovoid, 0.8-1.0 mm long. Furthermore, the achievements of analysis using molecular data on the systematic positions of 7 other species are results that have not been in previous molecular analyses., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Hoang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

The worldwide demand for antibiotics has experienced a notable surge, propelled by the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and advancements in the global healthcare sector. A prominent challenge confronting humanity is the unregulated release of antibiotic-laden wastewater into the environment, posing significant threats to public health. The adoption of affordable carbon-based adsorbents emerges as a promising strategy for mitigating the contamination of antibiotic wastewater. Here, we report the synthesis of novel porous carbons (MPC) through a direct pyrolysis of MIL-53-NH 2 (Al) and tannic acid (TANA) under N 2 atmosphere at 800 °C for 4 h. The effect of TANA amount ratios (0%-20%, wt wt -1 ) on porous carbon structure and adsorption performance was investigated. Results showed that TANA modification resulted in decreased surface area (1,600 m 2  g -1 -949 m 2  g -1 ) and pore volume (2.3 cm 3  g -1 -1.7 cm 3  g -1 ), but supplied hydroxyl functional groups. Adsorption kinetic, intraparticle diffusion, and isotherm were examined, indicating the best fit of Elovich and Langmuir models. 10%-TANA-MPC obtained an ultrahigh adsorption capacity of 564.4 mg g -1 , which was approximately 2.1 times higher than that of unmodified porous carbon. 10%-TANA-MPC could be easily recycled up to 5 times, and after reuse, this adsorbent still remained highly stable in morphology and surface area. The contribution of H bonding, pore-filling, electrostatic and π-π interactions to chloramphenicol adsorption was clarified. It is recommended that TANA-modified MIL-53-NH 2 (Al)-derived porous carbons act as a potential adsorbent for removal of pollutants effectively., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Academic stress is associated with mental health disorders, notably depression and anxiety among students. Mitigating stress can decrease the incidence of mental health disorders and improve student well-being. This study explored factors influencing academic stress among secondary school students in Vietnam., Materials and Methods: A three-year longitudinal study was conducted using a self-reported questionnaire with 611 students from four secondary schools in Hue City, Vietnam. Academic stress was evaluated using the Educational Stress Scale for Adolescents (ESSA). Family factors, including the number of siblings and parental educational levels; lifestyle factors, including physical activity and sleep; and academic factors, including grade point average and attending extra classes were evaluated. Linear regression models were used to analyze the associations between the ESSA scores at follow-up and family, lifestyle, and academic factors at baseline., Results: A total of 341 students completed both the baseline and follow-up surveys and answered the questions required for this analysis. The mean ESSA score of 341 students increased from 46.4 ± 7.6 (mean ± SD) to 53.5 ± 10.8, from 2018 to 2021. The multivariate model revealed that the number of siblings, higher father's educational attainment level, female gender, lower academic scores, and attending extra classes were associated with overall academic stress. In contrast, no associations were observed between the variables of lifestyle, parental concentration, and parental acceptance and overall academic stress., Conclusion: The findings highlight the impact of family factors and study workload on academic stress, emphasizing the need for proper care from family and school to reduce or prevent student academic stress and provide them with a comfortable and healthy learning environment., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (©2024 The Japanese Association of Rural Medicine.)

Conventional methods for the synthesis of nanoparticles often involve toxic chemicals, exacerbating environmental issues in the context of climate change and water scarcity. Green synthesis using plant extracts offers a sustainable and viable alternative for CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticle production, but understanding the mechanisms and applications of this method is challenging. Here, we review the synthesis and applications of CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles using plant extracts with emphasis on biomedical activity and water treatment. Plant extract-mediated CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles exhibit high surface area, small particle size, unique morphology, sufficient band gap energy, and high saturation magnetization. These nanoparticles demonstrate strong antimicrobial and anticancer activities, highlighting their potential in biomedical treatments. Green CoFe 2 O 4 are effective in removing organic dyes, heavy metals, and pharmaceuticals from water, promoting cleaner water resources. Challenges such as scalability and reproducibility still remain, but ongoing research aims to optimize synthesis protocols and explore new applications. This work underscores the importance of sustainable nanotechnology in addressing environmental challenges., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Abstract: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common disorder in clinical practice. It is necessary to rule out physical causes to diagnose this condition. However, the diagnosis is challenging particularly in resource-limited areas. The aim of this consensus is to update international and regional guidelines on the management of FD. The consensus panel included 32 experts from major Vietnamese universities and institutes. This consensus study was conducted using the Delphi method. The grade of recommendation and level of evidence were assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evalua-tion system. The consensus level was defined as ≥80% for agreement on the proposed statements. The expert panel approved 14 statements after two rounds of voting, which were related to two sections: (1) diagnostic tests for FD and (2) treatment of FD. This consensus is expected to help physicians in identifying and managing FD appropriately in daily clinical practice and to contribute FD data to Asian regions.

Global water pollution by various pollutants is becoming an urgent problem. The conversion of durian fruit waste into adsorbents can help to mitigate this issue. Transforming durian waste into adsorbents can reduce pollution risk from waste discharged directly into the environment, while also effectively eliminating existing contaminants. Here, this work explores the potential of durian fruit waste and supplies insights into the synthesis and application of durian fruit waste-derived adsorbents such as biosorbents, modified-biosorbents, biochars, activated carbons, and composites. Several factors affecting the adsorption process of pollutants and the mechanism how pollutants can be adsorbed onto durian fruit waste-derived adsorbents are elucidated. This review also analyzes some aspects of limitations and prospects of biosorbents derived from durian fruit waste. It is anticipated that the promising properties and applications of durian fruit waste-derived adsorbents open up a new field for water waste treatment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Currently, plastic waste and antibiotic wastewater are two of the most critical environmental problems, calling for urgent measures to take. A waste-to-wealth strategy for the conversion of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles into value-added materials such as carbon composite is highly recommended to clean wastewater contaminated by antibiotics. Inspired by this idea, we develop a novel PET-AC-ZFO composite by incorporating PET plastic-derived KOH-activated carbon (AC) with ZnFe 2 O 4 (ZFO) particles for adsorptive removal of tetracycline (TTC). PET-derived carbon (PET-C), KOH-activated PET-derived carbon (PET-AC), and PET-AC-ZFO were characterized using physicochemical analyses. Central composite design (CCD) was used to obtain a quadratic model by TTC concentration (K), adsorbent dosage (L), and pH (M). PET-AC-ZFO possessed micropores (d ≈ 2 nm) and exceptionally high surface area of 1110 m 2  g -1 . Nearly 90% TTC could be removed by PET-AC-ZFO composite. Bangham kinetic and Langmuir isotherm were two most fitted models. Theoretical maximum TTC adsorption capacity was 45.1 mg g -1 . This study suggested the role of hydrogen bonds, pore-filling interactions, and π-π interactions as the main interactions of the adsorption process. Thus, a strategy for conversion of PET bottles into PET-AC-ZFO can contribute to both plastic recycling and antibiotic wastewater mitigation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Human hyaluronidase 1 (HYAL1) and PH20 play vital roles in degrading hyaluronic acids through the substrate-assisted double displacement mechanism. While HYAL1, a lysosomal enzyme, functions optimally under acidic conditions, PH20, a sperm surface hyaluronidase, displays a broader pH range, from acidic to neutral. Our objective was to extend HYAL1's pH range towards neutral pH by introducing repulsive charge-charge interactions involving the catalytic Glu131, increasing its pKa as the proton donor. Substituting individual acidic residues in the β3-loop (S77D), β3'-β3″ hairpin (T86D and P87E), and at Ala132 (A132D and A132E) enabled HYAL1 to demonstrate enzyme activity at pH 7, with the mutants S77D, P87E, and A132E showing the highest activity in the substrate gel assay. However, double and triple substitutions, including S77D/T86D/A132E as found in the PH20 configuration, did not result in enhanced activity compared to single substitutions. Conversely, PH20 mutants with non-acidic substitutions, such as D94S in the β3-loop and D103T in the β3'-β3″ hairpin, significantly reduced activity within the pH range of 4 to 7. However, the PH20 mutant E149A, reciprocally substituted compared to A132E in HYAL1, exhibited activity similar to PH20 wild-type (WT) at pH 7. In a turbidimetric assay, HYAL1 mutants with single acidic substitutions exhibited activity similar to that of PH20 WT at pH 7. These results suggest that substituting acidic residues near Glu131 results in HYAL1 activity at neutral pH through electrostatic repulsion. This study highlights the significance of charge-charge interactions in both HYAL1 and PH20 in regulating the pH-dependent activity of hyaluronidases., Competing Interests: M.G.C. is an employee of and holds shares in Odysgen Inc. A patent application titled "NEUTRAL pH-ACTIVE VARIANTS OF HYALURONIDASE HYAL1" has been submitted in Korea and through the PCT system by Odysgen Inc., based on the findings of this study (International publication number: WO2024005502A1). This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials, (Copyright: © 2024 Nguyen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Chemical syntheses of nanoparticles that release toxic substances into the environment rarely meet the strict requirements of green chemistry principles. Instead, green synthesis of nanoparticles using plant extracts brings a safe, rapid, and effective process, contributing to solving environmental pollution problems. Here, we report the green synthesis of multifunctional ZnO nanoparticles (ZnONPs) using aqueous extracts of E. prostrata leaves and P. longum fruits. The XRD results affirmed the existence of hexagonal crystalline ZnONPs with particle sizes of 17-30 nm. The optical analysis revealed bandgap energies of 3.10 eV and 3.16 eV for ZnONPs biosynthesized using E. prostrata and P. longum extracts, respectively. The synthesized ZnONPs showed potential antioxidant activity through DPPH and ABTS methods. Among the antibacterial outcomes against pathogenic bacterial strains ( S. aureus , B. cereus , E. coli , and S. typhimurium ), ZnONPs exhibited the highest zone of inhibition (18.5 mm) for S. aureus . Moreover, both ZnONPs biosynthesized using E. prostrata and P. longum extracts served as strong photocatalysts in the degradation of crystal violet with degradation efficiencies of 95.64% and 99.90%, respectively. Therefore, biosynthesized ZnONPs hold significant promise as antioxidants, antibacterial agents, and photocatalysts., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Clean water is an integral part of industries, agricultural activities and human life, but water contamination by toxic dyes, heavy metals, and oil spills is increasingly serious in the world. Aerogels with unique properties such as highly porous and extremely low density, tunable surface modification, excellent reusability, and thermal stability can contribute to addressing these issues. Thanks to high purity, biocompatibility and biodegradability, bacterial cellulose can be an ideal precursor source to produce aerogels. Here, we review the modification, regeneration, and applications of bacterial cellulose-based aerogels for water treatment. The modification of bacterial cellulose-based aerogels undergoes coating of hydrophobic agents, carbonization, and incorporation with other materials, e.g., ZIF-67, graphene oxide, nanoparticles, polyaniline. We emphasized features of modified aerogels on porosity, hydrophobicity, density, surface chemistry, and regeneration. Although major limits are relevant to the use of toxic coating agents, difficulty in bacterial culture, and production cost, the bacterial cellulose aerogels can obtain high performance for water treatment, particularly, catastrophic oil spills., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Improving the catalytic activity and durability of platinum-based alloy catalysts remains a formidable challenge in the context of renewable energy electrolysis applications. Herein, a facile and rapid photochemical deposition strategy for the synthesis of gold single atoms (Au SAs) anchored on N-doped carbon is presented. These Au SAs serve as a charge redistribution support for Pt-Ni alloy nanoparticles (PtNi NPs /Au SA -NDC), creating an extended electron-donating interface with Pt-Ni alloy sites. Consequently, the PtNi NPs /Au SA -NDC hybrid catalyst manifests exceptional catalytic performance and durability in both the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under acidic conditions. Specifically, in ORR, it exhibits a half-wave potential (0.92 V vs RHE), with a mass activity 20.4 times superior to Pt/C at 0.9 V. In HER, PtNi NPs /Au SA -NDC demonstrates a notably reduced overpotential of 19.1 mV vs RHE at 10 mA cm -2 and a mass activity 38 times higher than Pt/C (at 0.25 mV). Furthermore, this hybrid catalyst displays outstanding durability, with only an 8.0 mV decay observed for ORR and a 6.9 mV decay for HER after 10 000 cycles. Theoretical calculations provide insight into the mechanism, demonstrating that isolated Au sites effectively modulate the electronic structure of Pt-Ni alloy sites, facilitating intermediate adsorption and enhancing reaction kinetics., (© 2024 The Authors. Small published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

While durian shell is often discharged into landfills, this waste can be a potential and zero-cost raw material to synthesize carbon-based adsorbents with purposes of saving costs and minimizing environmental contamination. Indole (IDO) is one of serious organic pollutants that influence aquatic species and human health; hence, the necessity for IDO removal is worth considering. Here, we synthesized a magnetic composite, denoted as MFOAC, based on activated carbon (AC) derived from durian shell waste incorporated with MnFe 2 O 4 (MFO) to adsorb IDO in water. MFOAC showed a microporous structure, along with a high surface area and pore volume, at 518.9 m 2 /g, and 0.106 cm 3 /g, respectively. Optimization of factors affecting the IDO removal of MFOAC were implemented by Box-Behnken design and response surface methodology. Adsorption kinetics and isotherms suggested a suitable model for MFOAC to remove IDO. MFOAC was recyclable with 3 cycles. Main interactions involving in the IDO adsorption mechanism onto MFOAC were clarified, including pore filling, n-π interaction, π-π interaction, Yoshida H-bonding, H-bonding., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A genome-wide association study (GWAS) is a powerful tool in investigating genetic contribution, which is a crucial factor in the development of complex multifactorial diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a major healthcare burden in the Western Pacific region; however, there is limited availability of genetic-associated data for type 2 diabetes in Southeast Asia, especially among the Kinh Vietnamese population. This lack of information exacerbates global healthcare disparities. In this study, 997 Kinh Vietnamese individuals (503 with type 2 diabetes and 494 controls) were prospectively recruited and their clinical and paraclinical information was recorded. DNA samples were collected and whole genome genotyping was performed. Standard quality control and genetic imputation using the 1000 Genomes database were executed. A polygenic risk score for type 2 diabetes was generated in different models using East Asian, European, and mix ancestry GWAS summary statistics as training datasets. After quality control and genetic imputation, 107 polymorphisms reached suggestive statistical significance for GWAS (≤5 × 10 -6 ) and rs11079784 was one of the potential markers strongly associated with type 2 diabetes in the studied population. The best polygenic risk score model predicting type 2 diabetes mellitus had AUC = 0.70 (95% confidence interval = 0.62-0.77) based on a mix of ancestral GWAS summary statistics. These data show promising results for genetic association with a polygenic risk score estimation in the Kinh Vietnamese population; the results also highlight the essential role of population diversity in a GWAS of type 2 diabetes mellitus., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Flowers are often discarded after cultural and religious events, making it worthwhile to explore the utilization of this floral waste for material production. Floral extracts contain a diverse array of phytochemicals such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and reducing sugars, which play a significant role in the formation and influencing the properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles. In this review, we delve into the importance of floral extract, methodology, mechanism, and influencing factors in the production of ZnO nanoparticles. Additionally, the role of green ZnO nanoparticles as an adsorbent and photocatalyst for water treatment is discussed. These floral extract-mediated ZnO nanoparticles exhibit advantages in agricultural and biomedical applications, including promoting seed germination and demonstrating antibacterial, anticancer, and antifungal properties. Cost analysis reveals that while various expenses are associated with ZnO production, scaling up processes can help reduce these costs. This review underscores the potential of floral waste extract for the synthesis of green ZnO nanoparticles, thereby contributing to waste-to-wealth strategies and adhering to green chemistry principles., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)