The relationship of preterm and small for gestational age with child cognition during school-age years.

BACKGROUND: Children born preterm and/or small for gestational age (SGA) are at increased risk of poor cognitive outcomes, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). OBJECTIVES: This study examined the cognitive and academic deficits during the school age years in children born preterm or SGA compared to term adequate for gestational age (AGA) in rural Vietnam. METHOD: Children born to women in a preconception micronutrient supplementation trial in Vietnam were classified into three groups: preterm AGA (n =138), term SGA (n =169) and term AGA (n= 1134). Cognitive abilities were assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, measuring four domains (verbal comprehension -VCI, perceptual reasoning -PRI, working memory -WMI, and processing speed Index scores - PSI) and full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) at 6-7y and 10-11y. Academic achievement was assessed with math and language tests. ANOVA and multiple regression models were used to analyze differences in cognitive function and academic achievement at 6-7y and 10-11y by birth phenotypes. RESULTS: Compared to term AGA children, those born SGA had lower cognitive scores at both 6-7y (-2.3 VCI, -3.7 PRI, -2.1 PSI and -2.9 FSIQ) and 10-11y (-3.7 VCI, -3.5 PRI, -2.7 WMI, -1.9 PSI and -3.9 FSIQ). Children born SGA also had poorer academic achievement with lower language (5.3) and math (2.5) scores. Adjustments for maternal factors and home environment attenuated the associations, but the differences in VCI, PRI, FSIQ and language at 10-11y remained significant. There were no differences in cognitive function and academic achievement between children born preterm and AGA. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the enduring association of birth phenotype on cognitive functioning and academic achievement during the school years, despite adjustments for maternal education and family environment. Further research is needed to implement effective interventions to improve birth outcomes and optimize child health and development in LMICs. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.Gov as NCT01665378, URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01665378.

Association between quality of life and burden of cancer caregivers: An example in a low and middle income country.

OBJECTIVE: Limited knowledge on burden and quality of life (QoL) among cancer caregivers is available in low and middle income countries. This study aims to investigate the QoL, levels of burden, and their associations among Vietnamese cancer caregivers. METHODS: This study was conducted across three hospitals in Vietnam. 348 caregivers were recruited from January to June 2021. Data were collected by using socio-demographic questionnaires, the Zarit Burden Interview scale, and Caregiver Qol Cancer. The association between QoL and burden was analyzed by using multivariate linear regression. RESULTS: Older age (p = 0.03), employed (p = 0.01), and care more than 40 h (p = 0.007) were associated with a higher burden, respectively. QoL of financial concern had the lowest score (mean = 48.03, SD = 28.87), compared to the other subscale. Caregivers who had pre-existing health conditions, unstable work, spent more than 40 h per week, and took care dependent cancer patients were associated with a lower overall QoL score. Comparing to caregivers of no burden, those of mild burden had a lower QoL score by 10.70; while those of mild severe burden had the worse QoL (lower by 23.80 scores). CONCLUSIONS: Perceptional burden among caregivers is associated with QoL. Further policies are recommended to protect cancer caregivers, to alleviate the caregiving burden, and thus to improve the overall QoL.

Medication errors in emergency departments: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence and severity.

BACKGROUND: Medication errors significantly compromise patient safety in emergency departments. Although previous studies have investigated the prevalence of these errors in this setting, results have varied widely. AIM: The aim was to report pooled data on the prevalence and severity of medication errors in emergency departments, as well as the proportion of patients affected by these errors. METHOD: Systematic searches were conducted in Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library from database inception until June 2023. Studies provided numerical data on medication errors within emergency departments were eligible for inclusion. Random-effects meta-analysis was employed to pool the prevalence of medication errors, the proportion of patients experiencing these errors, and the error severity levels. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using the I2 statistic and Cochran's Q test. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis gave a pooled prevalence of medication errors in emergency departments of 22.6% (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 19.2-25.9%, I2 = 99.9%, p < 0.001). The estimated proportion of patients experiencing medication errors was 36.3% (95% CI 28.3-44.3%, I2 = 99.8%, p < 0.001). Of these errors, 42.6% (95% CI 5.0-80.1%) were potentially harmful but not life-threatening, while no-harm errors accounted for 57.3% (95% CI 14.1-100.0%). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of medication errors, particularly those potentially harmful, underscores potential safety issues in emergency departments. It is imperative to develop and implement effective interventions aimed at reducing medication errors and enhancing patient safety in this setting.

Effects of Standardized Patient Simulation and Mobile Applications on Nursing Students' Clinical Competence, Self-Efficacy, and Cultural Competence: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: Simulation-based education has emerged as an effective approach in nursing education worldwide. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a surgical nursing education program based on a simulation using standardized patients and mobile applications among nursing students. METHODS: A mixed-methods design with a quasi-experimental longitudinal approach and focus group interviews was employed. The data were collected from 130 third-year nursing students at three different time points who were equally divided into experimental and control groups. This study measured the level of clinical surgical nursing competence, self-efficacy in clinical performance, cultural competence, and satisfaction with simulation experience. Four focus group interviews were conducted using open-ended questions to explore the participants' perspectives on the course's efficacy and satisfaction. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences in clinical surgical nursing competence (F = 8.68, p < 0.001), self-efficacy in clinical performance (F = 13.56, p < 0.001), and cultural competence (F = 10.35, p < 0.001) across time between the intervention and control groups. Student satisfaction with the simulation-based training was high, particularly regarding debriefing and reflection, with an overall mean satisfaction level of 4.25 (0.40). Students' perspectives regarding integrated hybrid training are categorized into three themes: educational achievement, dynamic learning experiences, and satisfaction and suggestion. CONCLUSION: Simulation-based learning provides a dynamic and immersive educational experience that enables undergraduate nursing students to develop and refine essential clinical skills while also fostering confidence and cultural competence.

Field and laboratory investigation of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N6 and H5N8 in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam, 2020 to 2021.

BACKGROUND: Avian influenza (AI) is a contagious disease that causes illness and death in poultry and humans. High pathogenicity AI (HPAI) H5N6 outbreaks commonly occur in Quang Ninh province bordering China. In June 2021, the first HPAI H5N8 outbreak occurred at a Quang Ninh chicken farm. OBJECTIVES: This study examined the risk factors associated with HPAI H5N6 and H5N8 outbreaks in Quang Ninh. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was conducted in Quang Ninh from Nov 2021 to Jan 2022. The cases were households with susceptible poultry with two or more clinical signs and tested positive by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The controls were households in the same village as the cases but did not show clinical symptoms of the disease. Logistic regression models were constructed to assess the risk factors associated with HPAI outbreaks at the household level. RESULTS: There were 38 cases with H5N6 clade 2.3.4.4h viruses (n = 35) and H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses (n = 3). Compared to the 112 controls, raising poultry in uncovered or partially covered ponds (odds ratio [OR], 7.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.44-39.27), poultry traders visiting the farm (OR, 8.66; 95% CI, 2.7-27.69), farms with 50-2,000 birds (OR, 3.00; 95% CI, 1.06-8-51), and farms with ≥ 2,000 birds (OR, 11.35; 95% CI, 3.07-41.94) were significantly associated with HPAI outbreaks. CONCLUSIONS: Combining biosecurity measures, such as restricting visitor entry and vaccination in farms with more than 50 birds, can enhance the control and prevention of HPAI in Quang Ninh and its spread across borders.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Gobionotothen gibberifrons (Perciformes, Nototheniidae).

The humped rockcod, Gobionotothen gibberifrons, is an Antarctic fish of the genus Gobionotothen in the family Nototheniidae and order Perciformes. To date, little biological information has been recorded about the genus Gobionotothen. Here, we report the first complete mitogenome of the genus Gobionotothen. The mitochondrial genome of G. gibberifrons is 18,631 bp in length, comprising 13 protein-coding genes, 24 tRNA genes (trnP-UGG and trnT-UGU were duplicated), 2 rRNA genes, and non-coding control regions. The base composition was 53.74% for A + T and 46.26% for G + C. This new mitochondrial genome of G. gibberifrons provides basic information for further phylogenetic analysis, suggesting the necessity to exploit a variety of newly discovered mitogenome sequences to infer inconclusive evolutionary relationships in Antarctic fishes.

Growth patterns of preterm and small for gestational age children during the first 10 years of life.

Background: Preterm and small for gestational age (SGA) remain significant public health concerns worldwide. Yet limited evidence exists on their growth patterns during childhood from low-or middle-income countries. Objectives: We investigated the postnatal growth patterns of preterm and SGA compared to term appropriate for gestational age (AGA) children from birth to 10-11y, and examined the impact of birth status on child nutritional status during the school age years. Methods: Children born to women who participated in a double-blinded randomized controlled trial of preconception micronutrient supplementation in Vietnam were classified into three groups: preterm AGA (n = 130), full-term SGA (n = 165) and full-term AGA (n = 1,072). Anthropometric data (weight and height) were collected prospectively at birth, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 months and at 6-7 and 10-11y. We used ANOVA and multiple regression models to examine the differences in growth patterns from birth to 10-11y as well as child undernutrition and overnutrition by birth status. Results: Children who were born preterm exhibited rapid postnatal growth, but still had lower HAZ at 1y and 2y and showed catch up to the AGA group at 6y. Compared to those born AGA, SGA infants had higher risk of thinness (BMIZ < -2) at 2y and 6y (adjusted Odds Ratio, AOR [95% CI] 2.5 [1.0, 6.1] and 2.6 [1.4, 4.6], respectively); this risk reduced at 10-11y (1.6 [0.9, 2.8]). The risk of stunting (HAZ < -2) was also 2.4 [1.5, 3.8] and 2.3 times [1.2, 4.1] higher in SGA than AGA group at ages 2y and 6-7y, respectively, with no differences at 10y. Although preterm children had higher rates of thinness and stunting at 2y compared to AGA children, these differences were not statistically significant. No associations were found between preterm or SGA and overweight /obesity at age 10-11y. Conclusion: Children who were born term-SGA continued to demonstrate deficits in weight and height during childhood whereas those born preterm showed catch-up growth by age 6-7y. Additional efforts to reduce the burden of these conditions are needed, particularly during school-age and early adolescents when children are exposed to challenging environments and have higher demands for nutrition.

Effect of Honokiol on culture time and survival of Alzheimer's disease iPSC-derived neurons.

Introduction: Patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have been widely used as disease models to test new therapeutic strategies. Moreover, the regenerative potential of stem cells can be improved with the use of biologically active compounds. Our study was designed to explore the effect of honokiol, a small polyphenol molecule extracted from Magnolia officinalis, on the survival and culture time of iPSC-derived neurons from a sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) patient. This study aimed to generate iPSCs from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of an AD patient using episomal plasmids with a nucleofector system and differentiate them into neurons. These iPSC-derived neurons were used to investigate the effect of honokiol extracted from M. officinalis on their survival and long-term cultures. Methods: IPSCs were generated from PBMCs of an AD patient by introducing Oct-3/4, Sox2, Klf4, L-Myc, and Lin28 using NucleofectorTM Technology. Differentiation of neurons derived from iPSCs was carried out using inducers and recognized by biomarkers. The viability of iPSC-derived neurons with the addition of honokiol extracted from the bark of M. officinalis was determined by the MTT analytical kit. Results: IPSCs were generated by reprogramming AD patient-derived PBMCs and subsequently converted into neurons. The survival and growth of iPSC-derived neurons were significantly enhanced by adding honokiol in the experiment conditions. Conclusion: AD iPSC-derived neurons had a high viability rate when cultured in the presence of honokiol. These results have shown that AD iPSC-derived neurons can be an excellent model for screening neurotrophic agents and improving the conditions for long-term cultures of human iPSC-derived neurons. Honokiol proves to be a potential candidate for cellular therapeutics against neurodegenerative disorders.

Assessing the Impact of Genratest on Women With Recurrent Implantation Failure: A Single-Center Study.

Objective Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) is a significant challenge in assisted reproduction. Genratest has emerged as a potential tool to identify the displaced window of implantation (WOI). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of this test on the pregnancy outcomes of RIF patients. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 143 RIF patients who were categorized into two groups: the personalized embryo transfer (pET, n=69) group and standard embryo transfer (sET, n=74) group. The main measured outcomes were clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, miscarriage, and live birth rates. Results Genratest effectively diagnoses the displaced WOI in 90% of RIF patients. The pET group exhibited a higher rate of clinical pregnancy (n=36/69, 52.2%) compared to the sET group (n=35/74, 47.3%), but this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.679). Ongoing pregnancy rates were comparable between the pET (n=28/69, 40.6%) and the sET (n=30/74, 40.5%) groups (p=0.996). Live birth rates showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups (n=26/69, 37.7% versus n=22/74, 29.7%, p=0.407). Miscarriage rates were similar in both groups (n=9/69, 13% versus n=11/74, 14.9%, p=0.942). Conclusions pET based on the results of the Genratest did not show a significant improvement in pregnancy outcomes, including clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, live birth, or miscarriage rates. Further research is needed to identify the role of Genratest in RIF patients.

Correction: Assessing the Impact of Genratest on Women With Recurrent Implantation Failure: A Single-Center Study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.52256.].

Environmental influence on abundance and infection patterns of snail intermediate hosts of liver and intestinal flukes in North and Central Vietnam.

Liver and intestinal flukes (LIF) are important groups of foodborne zoonotic trematodes (FZTs) in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam. Their complex life cycles require specific freshwater snail species as the obligatory first intermediate hosts. In 2019, we conducted a longitudinal study in Yen Bai and Thanh Hoa provinces in North and Central Vietnam, respectively, to investigate the diversity of LIF and their infection prevalence in relation to snail host abundance and environmental factors. Using a combination of morphological and molecular identification techniques, we identified 10 LIF species infecting 11 snail host species. We observed significant seasonal variation in the mean abundance of several snail host species, with the majority of snails collected during the spring. We also detected seasonal changes in LIF species composition, with the highest species richness reported in the spring. Clonorchis sinensis and Fasciola gigantica, two medically important human liver flukes in Asia, were found only in the spring in Yen Bai. Our study revealed that not all snail host species have the same probability of becoming infected, and we recorded seasonal variations in the prevalence of LIF infection in different snail species in relation to water parameters.

Isolation and Characterization of Antimicrobial Peptides Isolated from Brevibacillus halotolerans 7WMA2 for the Activity Against Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens.

Multidrug resistance to pathogens has posed a severe threat to public health. The threat could be addressed by antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with broad-spectrum suppression. In this study, Brevibacillus halotolerans 7WMA2, isolated from marine sediment, produced AMPs against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The AMPs were precipitated by ammonium sulfate 30% (w/v) from culture broth and dialyzed by a 1 kDa membrane. Tryptone Soy Agar (TSA) was used for the cultivation and resulted in the largest bacteria-inhibiting zones under aerobic conditions at 25 °C, 48 h. An SDS-PAGE gel overlay test revealed that strain 7WMA2 could produce AMPs of 5-10 kDa and showed no degradation when held at 121 °C for 30 min at a wide pH 2-12 range. The AMPs did not cause toxicity to HeLa cells with concentrations up to 500 µg/mL while increasing the arbitrary unit up to eight times. The study showed that the AMPs produced were unique, with broad-spectrum antimicrobial ability.

The disproportionate burden of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) in diverse older adults diagnosed with cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Older adults living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) who are then diagnosed with cancer are an understudied population. While the role of cognitive impairment during and after cancer treatment have been well-studied, less is understood about patients who are living with ADRD and then develop cancer. The purpose of this study is to contribute evidence about our understanding of this vulnerable population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of a linked, representative family of databases of cancer registries and Medicare administrative claims that make up the SEER-Medicare database. Older adults ages 68 and older with a first primary cancer type: breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, oral, or prostate were eligible for inclusion (N = 337,932). Prevalence estimates of ADRD across cancer types and a 5% non-cancer comparison sample were compared by patient factors. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of patients who had an ADRD diagnosis anytime in the three years prior to their cancer diagnosis was 5.6%. Patients with ADRD were more likely to be female, older (over age 75), a racial/ethnic minority, single, with multiple chronic conditions, and a tumor diagnosed early (stage I) or were unstaged. Black patients with colorectal and oral cancer had the highest and second highest prevalence of ADRD compared to White patients (13.46% vs 7.95% and 12.64% vs 7.82% respectively, p < .0001). We observed the highest prevalence of ADRD among Black patients for breast (11.85%), cervical (11.98%), lung (8.41%), prostate (4.83), and the 5% sample (9.50%, p > .0001). DISCUSSION: The higher prevalence of ADRD among Black and Latine older adults with cancer not only aligns with the trend observed in our non-cancer comparison sample, but also, these findings demonstrate the compounded risk experienced by minoritized older adults over the life course. The greater than expected prevalence of patients with ADRD who go on to develop cancer demonstrates better assessment of cognition is urgently needed. Accurate identification of these vulnerable populations is critical to improve assessment, care coordination, and address inequities in screening and treatment planning.

Health-related quality of life in breast cancer patients in low-and-middle-income countries in Asia: a systematic review.

Introduction: Breast cancer remains one of the major cancers worldwide. In Asia, breast cancer is leading both incidence and mortality rates. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) studies play an important role in clinical treatment. This systematic review aimed to summarize the evidence of HRQoL and associated factors among patients with breast cancer in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia. Method: Performed according to PRISMA guidelines for systematic review, the studies were searched from three databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus) up to November 2020. The studies which met the predefined eligibility criteria were selected, extracted, and assessed the quality according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) tool. Results and Discussion: A total of 2,620 studies were searched on the three databases, of which 28 met the selection criteria, then, were included in the systematic review. The Global Health Status (GHS) score of breast cancer patients based on the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire ranged from 56.32 ± 25.42 to 72.48 ± 15.68. The overall HRQoL scores using the FACT-G and FACT-B instruments ranged from 60.78 ± 13.27 to 82.23 ± 12.55 and from 70.29 ± 13.33 to 108.48 ± 19.82, respectively. Factors affecting HRQoL of patients with breast cancer included age, education level, income, marital status, lifestyle, tumor stage, method, and treatment duration. Patient's income showed a consistent effect on HRQoL while the remaining factors reported inconsistent findings across the studies. In conclusion, the HRQoL of breast cancer patients in LMICs in Asia was low and affected by several sociodemographic factors which should be studied more in future research.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of optrA-Positive-Enterococcus faecalis in Different Reservoirs around Farms in Vietnam.

Linezolid is an antibiotic of last resort for the treatment of infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, including vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Enterococcus faecalis, a member of enterococci, is a significant pathogen in nosocomial infections. E. faecalis resistance to linezolid is frequently related to the presence of optrA, which is often co-carried with fex, phenicol exporter genes, and erm genes encoding macrolide resistance. Therefore, the common use of antibiotics in veterinary might promote the occurrence of optrA in livestock settings. This is a cross-sectional study aiming to investigate the prevalence of optrA positive E. faecalis (OPEfs) in 6 reservoirs in farms in Ha Nam province, Vietnam, and its associated factors and to explore genetic relationships of OPEfs isolates. Among 639 collected samples, the prevalence of OPEfs was highest in flies, 46.8% (51/109), followed by chickens 37.3% (72/193), dogs 33.3% (17/51), humans 18.7% (26/139), wastewater 16.4% (11/67) and pigs 11.3%, (14/80). The total feeding area and total livestock unit of the farm were associated with the presence of OPEfs in chickens, flies, and wastewater. Among 186 OPEfs strains, 86% were resistant to linezolid. The presence of optrA was also related to the resistant phenotype against linezolid and levofloxacin of E. faecalis isolates. Close genotypic relationships identified by Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis between OPEfs isolates recovered from flies and other reservoirs including chickens, pigs, dogs, and wastewater suggested the role of flies in the transmission of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. These results provided warnings of linezolid resistance although it is not used in livestock.

Rare T263P epidermal growth factor receptor extracellular domain mutation of advanced non-small cell lung cancer in a Vietnamese male patient.

T263P mutation is one of the rare EGFR mutations located on chromosome 7p11.2, which is a change in amino acid residue at position 263 of the epidermal growth factor receptor protein, where L-threonine has been replaced by L-proline. This missense mutation in the extracellular EGFR domain is not well-known in lung cancer. In this study, we first report a patient with advanced lung adenocarcinoma harbouring only a rare T263P EGFR mutation who benefited from first-line afatinib therapy in Vietnam. The patient achieved a partial response with a time-to-treatment failure of 5 months. The patient subsequently received several chemotherapy regimens as the disease progressed, with overall survival of 17 months. Non-small cell lung cancer with a rare T263P EGFR mutation responds to afatinib but has a poor prognosis. Further studies are needed to determine the efficacy of targeted therapies in this specific population.

Anxiety and associated factors among Vietnamese students during COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

Mental health care for students in general, particularly anxiety, is a significant problem that needs more attention, especially during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of anxiety and examine the associated factors among students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was conducted from August to September 2021 among 5730 students. An online survey was used to collect sociodemographic information, and the generalized anxiety disorder questionnaire (GAD-7) was used to assess anxiety symptoms among Vietnamese students. Results showed that the prevalence of anxiety among study participants was 16.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 15.3%-17.2%). Factors related to anxiety among students were gender, type of housemate, COVID-19 exposure/infection status, vaccination status, health status, academic performance, and social relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic. A significant number of students experienced anxiety during COVID-19, and this rate was related to several factors. Psychological interventions are required to support students during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and other health crises. Further studies are required to confirm our findings.

Therapeutic effects of a standardized-flavonoid Diospyros kaki L.f. leaf extract on transient focal cerebral ischemia-induced brain injury in mice.

This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective and therapeutic effects of Diospyros kaki L.f. leaves (DK) on transient focal cerebral ischemic injury and underlying mechanisms using a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of mice. The animals received the MCAO operation on day 0. The daily administrations of DK (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o) and edaravone (6 mg/kg, i.v), a reference drug with radical scavenging activity, were started 7 days before (pre-treatment) or immediately after the MCAO operation (post-treatment) and continued during the experimental period. Histochemical, biochemical, and neurological changes and cognitive performance were evaluated. MCAO caused cerebral infarction and neuronal cell loss in the cortex, striatum, and hippocampus in a manner accompanied by spatial cognitive deficits. These neurological and cognitive impairments caused by MCAO were significantly attenuated by pre- and post-ischemic treatments with DK and edaravone, suggesting that DK, like edaravone, has therapeutic potential for cerebral ischemia-induced brain damage. DK and edaravone suppressed MCAO-induced changes in biomarkers for apoptosis (TUNEL-positive cell number and cleaved caspase-3 protein expression) and oxidative stress (glutathione and malondialdehyde contents) in the brain. Interestingly, DK, but not edaravone, mitigated an increase in blood-brain permeability and down-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor protein expression caused by MCAO. Although the exact chemical constituents implicated in the effects of DK remain to be clarified, the present results indicate that DK exerts neuroprotective and therapeutic activity against transient focal cerebral ischemia-induced injury probably by suppressing oxidative stress, apoptotic process, and mechanisms impairing blood-brain barrier integrity in the brain.

Ultrasonic-Assisted Fabrication of MIL-100(Fe) Metal-Organic Frameworks as a Carrier for the Controlled Delivery of the Chloroquine Drug.

Metal-organic framework materials (MOFs) are materials with an ordered crystalline structure and high porosity that have been intensively investigated for many applications, such as gas adsorption, catalysis, sensors, drug delivery, and so on. Among them, the MOF-based drug delivery system has received increasing interest from scientists worldwide. This work presented the preparation of the MIL-100(Fe) metal-organic framework from the organic ligand of trimesic acid and iron ions with ultrasonic assistance. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy were employed to characterize the prepared MIL-100(Fe) material. MIL-100(Fe) materials synthesized by the ultrasonic method have uniform particle morphology ranging from 100 to 300 nm with a surface area of 1033 m2/g. The prepared MIL-100(Fe) was employed as a carrier for delivering chloroquine drug with a maximal loading capacity of 220 mg/g. The MIL-100(Fe)@chloroquine system was also characterized in detail. The delivery system's slow drug release was studied, showing that nearly 80% of chloroquine molecules were released after 7.5 h of immersing time in PBS and simulated gastric solutions and completely detached from the MIL-100(Fe)@chloroquine system only after approximately 80 h. This result shows the ability to control chloroquine drug release of the material, reducing the possibility of drug shock.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Trematomus newnesi (Perciformes, Nototheniidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of Trematomus newnesi was sequenced using an Illumina platform. The 18,602 bp mitogenome contains 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNAs, and 23 tRNAs (tRNAMet is duplicated). The eight stop codons are TAA, TAG, CTT, GTA, AAT, ACT, AGG, and TTA. Two start codons ATG and GTG are present. The GC content is 44.4% and AT content is 55.6%. A phylogenetic tree was generated using 13 species from three families. The results showed that T. newnesi is closely related to Pagothenia borchgrevinki in Nototheniidae. This study provides fundamental data for further genetic evolutionary studies on T. newnesi.