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While a great deal has been published about the educational value of social networking sites (SNSs) for teachers, less has focused on teachers who are arguably more dependent on these virtual platforms for informal professional learning due to financial constraints and a lack of regular in-service professional development. Situating this study in Vietnam and focusing on teachers teaching English as a foreign language, we examined how these teachers have adapted SNSs, a tool typically used in leisure and social life, into online personal learning networks. The evidence was collected from 393 teachers' responses to an online survey. The results from descriptive and non-parametric inferential tests revealed three main findings: (1) Teachers engage in a variety of professional learning activities using SNSs with high frequency, regardless of their self-perceived levels of technology competence or teaching experience; (2) Teachers make use of online groups on SNSs for professional topics and their preferences of topics are not likely to be determined by their experience, except for the topics of classroom management techniques and knowledge about learners; (3) The most decisive factors these teachers associated with effective professional learning on SNSs include time availability, reliability of information and materials, personal information privacy and desire to learn. Teachers' perceptions about these factors are influenced by the frequency of their SNS use and professional work experience. The implications of these findings for teacher professional development in Vietnam, and other countries in similar economic circumstances, are also discussed.

The aim of this study is to identify factors associated with Vietnamese-Australian parents' language use and attitudes towards home language maintenance. Vietnamese-Australian parents (n = 151) with children aged under 18 completed a survey regarding demographic factors and factors conceptualised by Spolsky's language policy theory: language practices, language ideologies, and language management. Bivariate analyses and multiple regression models were conducted to explore associations between parents' language use and their attitudes towards home language maintenance and associated factors. "Parents' language use with their child" was significantly associated with their language practices (parents' language use in social situations). "Parents' language use in social situations" was significantly associated with language practices (parents' Vietnamese and English proficiency, parents' language use with their child), language management (frequency of attendance at community events), and one demographic factor (age). "Parents' attitudes towards home language maintenance" was significantly associated with language ideology factors (perceptions of cultural identity, belief in the importance of English language maintenance, belief that home language strengthens relative bonds and widens career options), and one demographic factor (income). The results can be used to assist families with Vietnamese heritage to maintain their home language by informing targeted approaches to supporting language maintenance at the community and family level.

Summary: Background: Approximately 20% of adults in Vietnam have hypertension, and management of this chronic condition remains challenging. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention in reducing blood pressure (BP) in adults with uncontrolled hypertension. Methods: This cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted in sixteen communities (8 intervention and 8 comparison) in a rural setting in Vietnam (2017–2022). Consenting adults (aged ≥ 18 years) with uncontrolled hypertension were enrolled. Sixteen communities were equally randomised to an intervention or comparison group stratified by district. Consenting adults were assigned to study groups by community. The comparison arm received training sessions about hypertension prevention and management for health workers, and patient education materials. The intervention arm received training sessions about hypertension prevention and management for health workers, and patient education materials and three enhancement components including a storytelling intervention, home BP self-monitoring, and expanded community health worker services. The primary outcome was the difference in changes in patient's levels of systolic BP between the study groups over a 12-month follow-up period. Patients and outcome assessors were masked. Findings: A total of 671 patients (340: intervention, 331: comparison) were enrolled in the trial. The mean age was 66 years and 45% were men. At the 12-month follow-up, the mean systolic BP declined by 18.4 mmHg in the intervention group and 3.7 mmHg in the comparison group (differential decline of 14.7 mmHg [95% CI: 11.8–17.6]). The intervention group also achieved better BP control and medication adherence than the comparison group. There were no serious adverse events related to study participation. Interpretation: The results of this trial demonstrate that a multicomponent intervention can effectively reduce elevated BP in individuals with uncontrolled hypertension in Vietnam. Trial registration: This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03590691. Funding: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Ha Nguyen Thi Thu,1 Hung Nguyen Van,2 Tuan Nguyen Minh,3 Kien Nguyen Trung,4 Thang Le Viet1 1Department of Selection, Preparation and Treatment, Organ Transplant Center, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi, Vietnam; 2Nephrology and Hemodialysis Department, Transport Hospital, Ha Noi, Vietnam; 3Nephrology, Urology and Hemodialysis Department, E Hospital, Ha Noi, Vietnam; 4Hematology and Blood Transfusion Center, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi, VietnamCorrespondence: Thang Le Viet, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, 261 Phung Hung, Ha Dong, Ha Noi, Vietnam, Tel +84982249968, Email lethangviet@yahoo.co.ukAim: To determine all-cause mortality rate and the predictive value of plasma ferritin and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) concentrations for mortality during the first 3 years of hemodialysis in patients with end-stage chronic renal disease (ESRD).Methods: We conducted a study on 174 ESRD patients (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate < 15 mL/min/1.73m2). The plasma TIBC level was quantified by the ELISA method in all patients at the time before hemodialysis. Based on TIBC concentration, patients were divided equally into 2 groups. Each group had 87 patients. Patients were initiated on hemodialysis, and patients who died from any cause during the first 3 years of hemodialysis were recorded.Results: The all-cause mortality rate of ESRD patients in the first 3 years of maintenance hemodialysis was 22.9%. Plasma high hs-CRP, high ferritin, and low TIBC concentrations were independent factors associated with all-cause mortality in the patients. Plasma ferritin (cut-off value = 454.2 ng/L) and TIBC (cut-off value = 39.84 μmol/L) were predictors of all-cause mortality, AUC is: 0.772; 0.723, p < 0.001.Conclusion: Plasma ferritin and TIBC were good predictors of all-cause mortality in ESRD patients during the first 3 years of hemodialysis.Keywords: end-stage chronic renal disease, plasma TIBC, plasma ferritin, mortality prediction, the first 3 years of maintenance hemodialysis

Purpose – This paper is a dedication to Professor Ngo Van Long who introduced the idea of Kant–Nash equilibrium. The author extends this analysis to the study of adult and child labor markets. Design/methodology/approach – This is a game theoretic analysis of the market for adult and child workers when some firms behave in the neoclassical Nashian way and some firms follow a Kantian social norm. Findings – The presence of Kantian firms in the output market in addition to Nashian lowers industry output and labor demand. This raises the possibility that Kantian behavior in the output market could lower wages sufficiently and increase the incidence of child labor. If firms engage in Kantian behavior in the labor market by not hiring child workers, adult wage rises but could lower child wage as children if they work can only work for Nashian firms. When labor demand is sufficiently high, more Kantians could raise adult wage above subsistence and eliminate child labor supply. Originality/value – This is the first paper to apply Kant–Nash equilibrium to the labor market. The result that Kantian behavior could have an unintended negative spillover effect in other markets is new. The paper keeps alive the ideas of Professor Long, which hopefully will stimulate further work and build on his ideas.

We establish an analogy between the Fokker–Planck equation describing evolutionary landscape dynamics and the Schrödinger equation which characterizes quantum mechanical particles, showing that a population with multiple genetic traits evolves analogously to a wavefunction under a multi-dimensional energy potential in imaginary time. Furthermore, we discover within this analogy that the stationary population distribution on the landscape corresponds exactly to the ground-state wavefunction. This mathematical equivalence grants entry to a wide range of analytical tools developed by the quantum mechanics community, such as the Rayleigh–Ritz variational method and the Rayleigh–Schrödinger perturbation theory, allowing us not only the conduct of reasonable quantitative assessments but also exploration of fundamental biological inquiries. We demonstrate the effectiveness of these tools by estimating the population success on landscapes where precise answers are elusive, and unveiling the ecological consequences of stress-induced mutagenesis—a prevalent evolutionary mechanism in pathogenic and neoplastic systems. We show that, even in an unchanging environment, a sharp mutational burst resulting from stress can always be advantageous, while a gradual increase only enhances population size when the number of relevant evolving traits is limited. Our interdisciplinary approach offers novel insights, opening up new avenues for deeper understanding and predictive capability regarding the complex dynamics of evolving populations.

Background: Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is the most prevalent and fastest-growing vector-borne disease globally, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe and, in some cases, fatal. Quang Nam province in Vietnam can serve as a model for dengue epidemiological study, as it is an endemic region for DHF with a tropical climate, which significantly constrains the health system. However, there are very few epidemiological and microbiological reports on Dengue virus (DENV) serotypes in this region due to the limited availability of advanced surveillance infrastructure. Aims of the study: This study aims to (1) assess the PCR positivity rates among hospitalized patients with clinical Dengue presentation; (2) identify the circulating DENV serotypes; and (3) assess the impact of secondary DENV infections on outbreak severity by detecting the presence of DENV-specific IgG antibodies in the plasma of DENV-infected patients. Materials and methods: Blood samples from patients clinically diagnosed with DHF and admitted to Quang Nam General Hospital (2020–2022) were analyzed. RNA extraction was performed using the NKDNA/RNAprep MAGBEAD kit, followed by Multiplex Reverse Transcription real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (MLP RT-rPCR) for DENV detection and serotype identification. Positive samples were further tested for DENV-specific IgG antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The PCR positivity rate among hospitalized patients was approximately 68% throughout the study period. A significant shift in DENV serotypes was observed, with DENV-2 initially dominant and later giving way to DENV-1. IgG was detected in nearly half of the MPL RT-rPCR-positive samples, indicating secondary DENV infections. Conclusions: Our study highlights persistent dengue prevalence and dynamic shifts in DENV serotypes in Quang Nam province, emphasizing the need for improved diagnostic strategies and timely sample collection. The significant serotype shifts and the presence of IgG in hospitalized patients suggest potential severe outcomes from recurrent DENV infections, possibly linked to antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) effect, underscoring the importance of advanced surveillance, vector control, vaccination campaigns, and public education to predict and prevent future DHF epidemics.

Purpose: The aim of this pilot feasibility study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the group VietSpeech SuperSpeech program targeting speech skills and home language maintenance via telepractice. Method: In Stage 1, using a case-control design, 30 Vietnamese-English-speaking children were assessed in English and Vietnamese, and parents completed questionnaires about speech and language competency and practices. During Stage 2, children were allocated to intervention (n = 14) or control (n = 16) conditions. COVID-19 restrictions resulted in changes including nonrandom allocation. Online group intervention targeting speech, home language maintenance, and multilingualism as a superpower was delivered 1 hr/week for 8 weeks. For Stage 3, assessments were undertaken approximately 10 weeks after the pre-intervention assessment. Results: Parents in the intervention group significantly increased encouragement of their children to speak Vietnamese. The intervention group significantly increased intelligibility in English. Growth of Vietnamese vocabulary was faster for the control group. There was a moderate effect of intervention for children's perception of being happy talking in Vietnamese and English. There was no significant mean change from pre- to post-intervention compared with the control group for measures of speech sound accuracy in Vietnamese or English, Vietnamese intelligibility, English vocabulary, or hours of Vietnamese spoken each week. Conclusions: This study presents preliminary evidence that this 8-hr online group program targeting speech skills and home language maintenance had some impact on Vietnamese-Australian children's speech and home language maintenance. Further research involving a randomized trial is warranted.

This study investigates the practices and perceptions of teachers using social networking sites (SNSs) for informal continuing professional learning in Vietnam. The paper describes one part of a larger exploratory sequential mixed-methods study and draws on data collected via four focus group interviews of 19 EFL teachers from five provinces of southern Vietnam. The study's findings reveal a variety of activities conducted on SNSs for professional learning purposes. These are categorised into four themes: (1) searching, acquiring and sharing resources; (2) offering and seeking academic assistance; (3) improving English proficiency; and (4) connecting and networking. The findings show that most teachers recognise the value of SNSs in terms of usefulness, diversity, flexibility, feeling connected, getting motivated for positive change and cost-effectiveness. This research adds meaningfully to the currently modest literature on how teachers with limited resources, particularly in developing countries, make use of available and affordable digital tools for their own continuing professional learning.

The ways in which educational practitioners represent themselves on social networking sites (SNSs) continue to provoke discussion and potential controversy. This study investigates how English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers in Vietnam manage their self-presentations within SNSs for professional learning purposes. Participants in this mixed methods study included 19 teachers in four focus-group interviews, and 393 respondents to an online survey. We applied teacher identity to interpreting teachers' self-presentation on virtual platforms. Our findings reveal that although participants frequently use SNSs for professional learning, they prefer a lurking presence and less visible interaction. It is also evident that self-presentation on SNSs is not simply 'represented' or 'reflected'. Rather, these teachers prefer their self-presentation to fit with how they are perceived in Vietnamese society. Teachers' self-presentation within SNSs is thus robustly mediated by culture. The study contributes to the ongoing interest in teachers' increasing use of SNSs in their professional lives.

Ky Le Minh,1 Phuc Nguyen Dinh,2 Nhat Doan Thi Hong,3 Huu Pham Van,4 Quang Nguyen Xuan,4 Hoa Nguyen Xuan,5 Uyen Nguyen Thi To2 1Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU), National Otorhinolaryngology Hospital of Vietnam, Hanoi, Vietnam; 2ENT Department, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 3ENT Department, Vinh Medical University, Nghe An, Vietnam; 4Department of Head and Neck Surgery, National Otorhinolaryngology Hospital of Vietnam, Hanoi, Vietnam; 5ENT Department, Vietnam University of Traditional Medicine, Hanoi, VietnamCorrespondence: Ky Le Minh, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU), National Otorhinolaryngology Hospital of Vietnam, 144 Xuan Thuy-Cau Giay District, Hanoi, Vietnam, Tel +84 4-37450188, Fax +84 4-37450146, Email leminhky.ent@gmail.comAim: Laryngeal cancer is a common form of head and neck cancer in Vietnam where the current treatment is surgery. Subtotal laryngectomy with epiglottic reconstruction, a conservative surgery, allows removal of anterior commissure including thyroid cartilage and paraglottic space and provides a maximum restoration of the anatomical structure of the larynx.Purpose: To evaluate the results, the safety and effectiveness of patients who were treated with subtotal laryngectomy with epiglottic reconstruction.Material and Method: From January 2012 to July 2017, 42 patients (41 male, 1 female, median age 55.6 years, range 38– 75 years) were diagnosed with glottic carcinomas at Vietnam National ENT Hospital, where they underwent a subtotal laryngectomy with epiglottic reconstruction.Results: Thirty-one patients (73.8%) had T2 glottic carcinoma, 4 (9.5%) T3 glottic carcinoma, and 12 (25.6%) had neck dissection. The arytenoid cartilage on the tumor-bearing side was resected in 11 patients (26.2%). Functional ipsilateral neck dissection was performed in 30 patients. Positive lymph node of stage T2 was 1/31 (3.2%). Postoperative histopathologic examination showed a tumour free of resection margin in 41 patients (97.6%). Only one post-operative complication occurred with bleeding 24 hours after surgery. There was no mortality. The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 97.6% and 85.7%, respectively. The rate of local control was 92.9%.Conclusion: Subtotal laryngectomy with epiglottic reconstruction was performed mostly for T2 and certain T3 glottic carcinomas when there is difficult to safely remove the tumour with transoral laser microsurgery. This surgery appears to be effective for the overall survival and has potential in clinical practice for treating moderate glottic carcinoma.Keywords: partial laryngectomy, subtotal laryngectomy, moderate glottic carcinoma, epiglottic reconstruction

Sang Nguyen Ngoc,1 Ha Nguyen Thai,1 Quang Vu Van,1 Lam Vu Tung,1 Rang Nguyen Ngoc,2 Hung Nguyen Van3 1Haiphong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hai Phong, Vietnam; 2An Giang Central General Hospital, An Giang, Vietnam; 3National Lung Hospital, Hanoi, VietnamCorrespondence: Sang Nguyen Ngoc Email nnsang@hpmu.edu.vnIntroduction: Spina Ventosa is a rare condition that is easy to misdiagnose as other diseases. We present a case of late-diagnosed Spina Ventosa, which had not only the osteoarticular tuberculosis symptoms but also some severe symptoms, including pleural effusion, ascites, and anemia. By intensive treatment, our patient recovered completely.Case Report: A 7-year-old boy was admitted with complaints of painless swelling of metacarpals, metatarsals, and phalanges of his hands and feet and a discharging sinus of the left toe. There was no family or past history of tuberculosis. His immunizations were up to date. General examination revealed that the child had pallor and was emaciated. No lymphadenopathy was detected. Investigations revealed hemoglobin: 74 g/l, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was 42 mm/hour. QuantiFERON-TB test was positive. The radiograph showed irregular swelling with sclerosis of the underlying bones. The right-hand x-ray showed cortical destruction, sclerosis, and cystic expansion or right second metacarpal. Chest x-ray indicated pleural effusion. Histopathological examination of specimen from the foot and lung and abdomen fluid confirmed tuberculosis. The child was treated with the first-line tuberculosis treatment regimen (Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Ethambutol, and Pyrazinamide) for two months, followed by Isoniazid, Rifampicin, and Pyrazinamide for a further four months. His lesions disappeared after six weeks of intensive treatment.Conclusion: A delay in diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis can lead to systemic manifestations in multiple organs. Despite the delay in diagnosis, this child had a good outcome due to being treated promptly and adequately after the presentation.Keywords: spina ventosa, osteo-articular tuberculosis, children

Background: Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is the most prevalent and fastest-growing vector-borne disease globally, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe and, in some cases, fatal. Quang Nam province in Vietnam can serve as a model for dengue epidemiological study, as it is an endemic region for DHF with a tropical climate, which significantly constrains the health system. However, there are very few epidemiological and microbiological reports on Dengue virus (DENV) serotypes in this region due to the limited availability of advanced surveillance infrastructure. Aims of the study: This study aims to (1) assess the PCR positivity rates among hospitalized patients with clinical Dengue presentation; (2) identify the circulating DENV serotypes; and (3) assess the impact of secondary DENV infections on outbreak severity by detecting the presence of DENV-specific IgG antibodies in the plasma of DENV-infected patients. Materials and methods: Blood samples from patients clinically diagnosed with DHF and admitted to Quang Nam General Hospital (2020–2022) were analyzed. RNA extraction was performed using the NKDNA/RNAprep MAGBEAD kit, followed by Multiplex Reverse Transcription real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (MLP RT-rPCR) for DENV detection and serotype identification. Positive samples were further tested for DENV-specific IgG antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The PCR positivity rate among hospitalized patients was approximately 68% throughout the study period. A significant shift in DENV serotypes was observed, with DENV-2 initially dominant and later giving way to DENV-1. IgG was detected in nearly half of the MPL RT-rPCR-positive samples, indicating secondary DENV infections. Conclusions: Our study highlights persistent dengue prevalence and dynamic shifts in DENV serotypes in Quang Nam province, emphasizing the need for improved diagnostic strategies and timely sample collection. The significant serotype shifts and the presence of IgG in hospitalized patients suggest potential severe outcomes from recurrent DENV infections, possibly linked to antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) effect, underscoring the importance of advanced surveillance, vector control, vaccination campaigns, and public education to predict and prevent future DHF epidemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]