Search

Abstract This multicentre prospective cohort study aimed to compare the accuracy of the PAASH, WFNS, and Hunt and Hess (H&H) scales in predicting the outcomes of adult patients with aneurysmal SAH presented to three central hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam, from August 2019 to June 2021. Of 415 eligible patients, 32.0% had a 90-day poor outcome, defined as an mRS score of 4 (moderately severe disability) to 6 (death). The PAASH, WFNS and H&H scales all have good discriminatory abilities for predicting the 90-day poor outcome. There were significant differences in the 90-day mean mRS scores between grades I and II (p = 0.001) and grades II and III (p = 0.001) of the PAASH scale, between grades IV and V (p = 0.026) of the WFNS scale, and between grades IV and V (p

In Vietnam, due to the lack of facilities to detect respiratory viruses from patients’ specimens, there are only a few studies on the detection of viral pathogens causing pneumonia in children, especially respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenovirus (Adv). Here, we performed a cross-sectional descriptive prospective study on 138 children patients from 2 to 24 months old diagnosed with severe pneumonia hospitalized at the Respiratory Department of Children’s Hospital 1 from November 2021 to August 2022. The number of patients selected in this study was based on the formula n = ([Z(1 − α/2)]2 × P [1 − P])/d2, with α = 0.05, p = 0.5, and d = 9%, and the sampling technique was convenient sampling until the sample size was met. A rapid test was used to detect RSV and Adv from the nasopharyngeal swabs and was conducted immediately after the patient’s hospitalization. Laboratory tests were performed, medical history interviews were conducted, and nasotracheal aspirates were collected for multiplex real-time PCR (MPL-rPCR) to detect viral and bacterial pathogens. The results of the rapid test and the MPL-rPCR in the detection of both pathogens were the same at 31.9% (44/138) for RSV and 8.7% (7/138) for Adv, respectively. Using MPL-rPCR, the detection rate was 21% (29/138) for bacterial pathogens, 68.8% (95/138) for bacterial–viral co-infections, and 6.5% (9/138) for viral pathogens. The results showed few distinctive traits between RSV-associated and Adv-associated groups, and the Adv group children were more prone to bacterial infection than those in the RSV group. In addition, the Adv group experienced a longer duration of treatment and a higher frequency of re-hospitalizations compared to the RSV group. A total of 100% of Adv infections were co-infected with bacteria, while 81.82% of RSV co-infected with bacterial pathogens (p = 0.000009). This study might be one of the few conducted in Vietnam aimed at identifying viral pathogens causing severe pneumonia in children.

Materials exhibiting magnetoelectric effects have drawn great interest because of their intriguing physical phenomena and potential applications in electronic devices. The magnetoelectric (ME) coupling makes the materials promising for use in multifunctional devices with electric-field-tunable magnetism and magnetic-field-controlled ferroelectricity. Very recently, a strong ME effect has been found in the BaRFeO4 system (R is a rare-earth element), in which the ferroelectricity is driven by the onset of a long-range cycloidal antiferromagnetic order of Fe spins. However, previous studies have shown how complicated the synthesis procedure is to obtain single-phase samples of the materials. In this work, we present a simple and easy fabrication process to synthesise high-quality BaDyFeO4 using the conventional solid-state reaction method. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the synthesised sample were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and UV-Vis spectroscopy, respectively. The sample was formed from high-quality microparticles. The X-ray diffraction study reveals the single-phase nature of the sample adopting the Pnma orthorhombic structure without any impurity phases. The detailed structural parameters were refined with Rietveld refinement. The sample demonstrates a direct gap semiconducting behaviour. The experimental results of the structural and electronic properties of BaDyFeO4 are complemented by density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Assessing the quality of groundwater and upstream water in regions experiencing water scarcity during the dry season, such as the mountainous districts of Northern Vietnam, holds immense significance in the management, utilization, and preservation of natural water resources. In this study, we collected and analyzed 54 samples of groundwater and upstream streamwater within the Nam Mu river basin in Lai Chau province during the dry season. These samples underwent thorough analysis for physicochemical parameters, major ion concentrations, and trace elements. Some results revealed a close relationship between streamwater and groundwater, indicating a similar chemical composition. These waters could be classified based on geological formations, yielding two primary water types in the area. The first type, characterized by Ca ^2+ - Mg ^2+ - HCO _3 ^− is prevalent in Triassic terrigenous sediments. The second type is a mixed water type, ranging from Ca ^2+ - Mg ^2+ - Cl ^− to Ca ^2+ - Na ^+ - HCO _3 ^− , primarily distributed in Permian felsic volcanic formations. These distinct water types are primarily the result of interactions between water and rock, precipitation processes, and ion exchange phenomena. Geochemical simulation results demonstrated the supersaturation of aragonite, calcite, and dolomite minerals, leading to the precipitation of carbonate minerals. Concurrently, the simulation indicated a tendency to dissolve minerals such as fluorite, gypsum, halite, and sylvite. The assessment of water quality using the WQI indicates that, in accordance with QCVN 01-1:2018/BYT 2018 standards, the majority of groundwater and streamwater are suitable for domestic use. However, exceptions exist in certain sample locations where water quality exceeds permissible standards, primarily due to elevated levels of Fe, Mn, and NO _3 ^− concentration. Hence, it is important to implement water treatment processes for the water sourced from these specific locations before their utilization in daily activities to ensure the safety and well-being of the local population.

Objectives To investigate the impact of intracerebral haematoma (ICH) on the outcomes and the factors related to an ICH in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) in a low- and middle-income country.Design A multicentre prospective cohort study.Setting Three central hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam.Participants This study included all patients (≥18 years) presenting with aSAH to the three central hospitals within 4 days of ictus, from August 2019 to June 2021, and excluded patients for whom the admission Glasgow Coma Scale was unable to be scored or patients who became lost at 90 days of follow-up during the study.Outcome measures The primary outcome was ICH after aneurysm rupture, defined as ICH detected on an admission head CT scan. The secondary outcomes were 90-day poor outcomes and 90-day death.Results Of 415 patients, 217 (52.3%) were females, and the median age was 57.0 years (IQR: 48.0–67.0). ICH was present in 20.5% (85/415) of patients with aSAH. There was a significant difference in the 90-day poor outcomes (43.5% (37/85) and 29.1% (96/330); p=0.011) and 90-day mortality (36.5% (31/85) and 20.0% (66/330); p=0.001) between patients who had ICH and patients who did not have ICH. The multivariable regression analysis showed that systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mm Hg (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 2.674; 95% CI: 1.372 to 5.214; p=0.004), World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grades II (AOR: 3.683; 95% CI: 1.250 to 10.858; p=0.018) to V (AOR: 6.912; 95% CI: 2.553 to 18.709; p

Tackling childhood overweight and obesity is critical not only to improve the health and well-being of children and adolescents, but also for entire populations and future generations. This paper provides the latest evidence on the extent of, and risk factors for, childhood overweight and obesity in Vietnam. The landscape analysis tool developed by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO) was used. A search for peer-reviewed articles in English on online databases was undertaken. Peer-reviewed Vietnamese articles were also retrieved from a range of sources. The prevalence of overweight among children aged under 5 years increased from 5.6% in 2010 to 7.4% in 2019. For overweight and obesity among children aged 5 to 19 years, prevalence rose from 8.5% and 2.5% in 2010 to 19% and 8.1% in 2020, respectively. Maternal malnutrition, gestational diabetes during pregnancy, and inadequate infant and young child feeding practices are all risk factors for early childhood overweight. Unhealthy diets, insufficient physical activity, and lack of sleep are among the risk factors for overweight and obesity among school aged children and adolescents. The prevention of overweight and obesity among Vietnamese children requires a whole-of-government, cross-sectoral approach to addresses the obesogenic environment that is negatively influencing the nutrition of children.

BackgroundEvaluating the prognosis of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) who may be at risk of poor outcomes using grading systems is one way to make a better decision on treatment for these patients. This study aimed to compare the accuracy of the modified World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS), WFNS, and Hunt and Hess (H&H) Grading Scales in predicting the outcomes of patients with aSAH.MethodsFrom August 2019 to June 2021, we conducted a multicenter prospective cohort study on adult patients with aSAH in three central hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam. The primary outcome was the 90-day poor outcome, measured by a score of 4 (moderately severe disability) to 6 (death) on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). We calculated the areas under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve (AUROCs) to determine how well the grading scales could predict patient prognosis upon admission. We also used ROC curve analysis to find the best cut-off value for each scale. We compared AUROCs using Z-statistics and compared 90-day mean mRS scores among intergrades using the pairwise multiple-comparison test. Finally, we used logistic regression to identify factors associated with the 90-day poor outcome.ResultsOf 415 patients, 32% had a 90-day poor outcome. The modified WFNS (AUROC: 0.839 [95% confidence interval, CI: 0.795-0.883]; cut-off value≥2.50; PAUROCConclusionsIn this study, the modified WFNS, WFNS, and H&H scales all had good discriminatory abilities for the prognosis of patients with aSAH. Because of the better effect size in predicting poor outcomes, the modified WFNS scale seems preferable to the WFNS and H&H scales.

The study evaluates the surface water quality of the Bach Dang river basin. During the rainy season, the temperature, pH, EC, BOD _5 , COD, coliforms, ammonium and phosphate values were 27 °C–37 °C, 6.6–8.9, 300–2200 μ S cm ^−1 , 5–25 mg l ^−1 , 5–26 mg l ^−1 , 0–3000 MPN/100 mL, below 0.01 mg l ^−1 , and 0.02 mg l ^−1 , respective. During the rainy and dry seasons, Zn, Pb, Cr, As, Fe and Mn levels were below drinking water limits. In the rainy season, the water quality index varied from 76 to 91, signifying medium to excellent water quality. The most outstanding water quality sites were the QN12, QN18, and QN22. During the dry season, most areas had moderate to excellent (WQI values between 61 and 93), except for QN01, QN03, QN04, QN05, QN06, QN07, QN11, QN16, QN17, QN19, and QN23, where it dropped to moderate (61–73). The temperatures were greater and higher EC values in the southeast. The DO concentrations were higher in the northwest and southeast in both seasons. The southern and southeastern regions exhibited more excellent COD and BOD _5 values than the western, southwest, north, and northeast regions. The ammonium concentrations were higher in the southeast. During the dry season, the phosphate levels exceeded the permissible limit in the west, southeast, east, and northeast. Coliforms were below acceptable in both seasons, with greater levels in the northwest and northeast during the dry season. In addition, the Zn and Pb are favorably associated with the As, Mn, ammonium and phosphate in the rainy season. The COD positively correlated with the coliforms and BOD _5 . In the dry season, the pH inversely correlated with the Pb and Fe positively. The ammonium correlated negatively with the DO and positively with the phosphates. The pH negatively connected with the alkalinity, while the As positively correlated with the BOD _5 and COD.

BackgroundThe prevalence of risk factors for poor outcomes from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) varies widely and has not been fully elucidated to date in Vietnam. Understanding the risk and prognosis of aneurysmal SAH is important to reduce poor outcomes in Vietnam. The aim of this study, therefore, was to investigate the rate of poor outcome at 90 days of ictus and associated factors from aneurysmal SAH in the country.MethodsWe performed a multicenter prospective cohort study of patients (≥18 years) presenting with aneurysmal SAH to three central hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam, from August 2019 to August 2020. We collected data on the characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with aneurysmal SAH and compared these data between good (defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 0 to 3) and poor (mRS, 4-6) outcomes at 90 days of ictus. We assessed factors associated with poor outcomes using logistic regression analysis.ResultsOf 168 patients with aneurysmal SAH, 77/168 (45.8%) were men, and the median age was 57 years (IQR: 48-67). Up to 57/168 (33.9%) of these patients had poor outcomes at 90 days of ictus. Most patients underwent sudden-onset and severe headache (87.5%; 147/168) and were transferred from local to participating central hospitals (80.4%, 135/168), over half (57.1%, 92/161) of whom arrived in central hospitals after 24 hours of ictus, and the initial median World Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS) grading score was 2 (IQR: 1-4). Nearly half of the patients (47.0%; 79/168) were treated with endovascular coiling, 37.5% (63/168) were treated with surgical clipping, the remaining patients (15.5%; 26/168) did not receive aneurysm repair, and late rebleeding and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) occurred in 6.1% (10/164) and 10.4% (17/163) of patients, respectively. An initial WFNS grade of IV (odds ratio, OR: 15.285; 95% confidence interval, CI: 3.096-75.466) and a grade of V (OR: 162.965; 95% CI: 9.975-2662.318) were independently associated with poor outcomes. Additionally, both endovascular coiling (OR: 0.033; 95% CI: 0.005-0.235) and surgical clipping (OR: 0.046; 95% CI: 0.006-0.370) were inversely and independently associated with poor outcome. Late rebleeding (OR: 97.624; 95% CI: 5.653-1686.010) and DCI (OR: 15.209; 95% CI: 2.321-99.673) were also independently associated with poor outcome.ConclusionsImprovements are needed in the management of aneurysmal SAH in Vietnam, such as increasing the number of aneurysm repairs, performing earlier aneurysm treatment by surgical clipping or endovascular coiling, and improving both aneurysm repairs and neurocritical care.

Aims. To investigate H. pylori infection rate and evaluate a combined set of tests for H. pylori diagnosis in Vietnamese patients with acute peptic ulcer bleeding (PUD). Methods. Consecutive patients with acute PUB were enrolled prospectively. Rapid urease test (RUT) with 3 biopsies was carried out randomly. Patients without RUT or with negative RUT received urea breath test (UBT) and serological and urinary H. pylori antibody tests. H. pylori was considered positive if RUT or any noninvasive test was positive. Patients were divided into group A (RUT plus noninvasive tests) and group B (only noninvasive tests). Results. The overall H. pylori infection rate was 94.2% (161/171). Groups A and B had no differences in demographic characteristics, bleeding severity, endoscopic findings, and proton pump inhibitor use. H. pylori-positive rate in group A was significantly higher than that in group B (98.2% versus 86.7%, p=0.004). The positive rate of RUT was similar at each biopsy site but significantly increased if RUT results from 2 or 3 sites were combined (p

Textual data plays an important role in a number of applications such as image database indexing, document understanding, and image-based web searching. The target of automatic real-life text extracting in document images without character recognition module is to identify image regions that contain only text. These textual regions can then be either input of optical character recognition application or highlighted for user focusing. In this paper we propose a method which consists of three stages-preprocessing which improves contrast of grayscale image, multi-level thresholding for separating textual region from non-textual object such as graphics, pictures, and complex background, and heuristic filter, recursive filter for text localizing in textual region. In many of these applications, it is not necessary to identify all the text regions, therefore we emphasize on identifying important text region with relatively large size and high contrast. Experimental results on real-life dataset images demonstrate that the proposed method is effective in identifying textual region with various illuminations, size and font from various types of background.

We present results from a randomized field experiment in Da Nang in Central Vietnam. We assess the take-up and impacts of a microcredit program that aims to increase the adoption of climate resilient housing among low-income urban households. Households were randomly assigned offers of either a loan and technical assistance package or a cash transfer with a smaller loan and technical assistance. We find large and significant impacts on the resilience of the new or retrofitted houses due to being offered the more generous incentive package. Households that were offered the cash transfer and a smaller loan, are three times as likely to accept. The difference in uptake, and therefore impact, of the two packages shows that there is a need for a subsidy in addition to the technical assistance in order to reach near-poor households. Previous public spending on typhoon relief indicates that such a subsidy could be covered by re-allocating funds from typhoon repairs to damage prevention through resilient housing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Enteric fever, caused by Salmonella enterica serovars Typhi and Paratyphi A, is a major public health problem in low- and middle-income countries. Moderate sensitivity and scalability of current methods likely underestimate enteric fever burden. Determining the serological responses to organism-specific antigens may improve incidence measures. Methods Plasma samples were collected from blood culture-confirmed enteric fever patients, blood culture-negative febrile patients over the course of 3 months, and afebrile community controls. A panel of 17 Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi A antigens was purified and used to determine antigen-specific antibody responses by indirect ELISAs. Results The antigen-specific longitudinal antibody responses were comparable between enteric fever patients, patients with blood culture-negative febrile controls, and afebrile community controls for most antigens. However, we found that IgG responses against STY1479 (YncE), STY1886 (CdtB), STY1498 (HlyE), and the serovar-specific O2 and O9 antigens were greatly elevated over a 3-month follow up period in S. Typhi/ S. Paratyphi A patients compared to controls, suggesting seroconversion. Conclusions We identified a set of antigens as good candidates to demonstrate enteric fever exposure. These targets can be used in combination to develop more sensitive and scalable approaches to enteric fever surveillance and generate invaluable epidemiological data for informing vaccine policies. Clinical Trial Registration ISRCTN63006567. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe-toxicity is a critical and complicated constraint to rice growth that requires simple and quick screening methods for selection of tolerant rice to Fe-stress. This study revealed relative changes in the growth and recovery of rice responding to Fe-toxicity at germination and vegetative stages. Two rice cultivars were exposed to iron concentrations of 0, 50, 100, and 200 ppm at the germination stage and Fe-treatment of 50-100 and 100-200 ppm at the vegetative stage. Increasing Fe-toxicity reduced germination rates, seedling height, length and number of seedling roots. However, relative reduction to control in seedling height and root length at germination could be more dependable to check genotypes tolerant to Fe stress than other parameters. Growth characteristics measured at 6, 12, 18, and 24-day excess Fe indicated that plant height, number of tillers, and leaves were kept slightly relative increasing to control until 18-day and 12-day, respectively. In contrast, root length and root number decreased as soon as plants were exposed to Fe-stress. Relative decrease in growth to control increased with higher iron concentration and longer exposure time. Plants exhibited ability to recover after 24-day under stress with relative increase to the point before stress relieving from 3-12% for plant height, 1-11% for tiller number, and 7-19% for root number. There were significant differences between two cultivars for relative changes in growth and recovery parameters, suggesting a simple and efficient method, and suitable growth parameters for evaluating and selecting tolerant genotypes to Fe-stress at germination and vegetative stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]