"If they get out of drug rehab centers, they're on their own": Opportunities and challenges for people released from compulsory drug rehabilitation centers to communities in Vietnam.

INTRODUCTION: Compulsory drug rehabilitation is a major governmental response to illicit drug use in Vietnam and other countries in Asia. Long-term compulsory rehabilitation is associated with negative health, social and economic outcomes. The transition to community-based services for people released from compulsory drug rehabilitation has been problematic not only in Vietnam. This study utilized the WHO Health System Building Blocks Framework to examine the opportunities and challenges for people with substance use disorders (SUD) who are released from compulsory drug rehabilitation back into the community. METHODS: Between October 2021 and August 2022, we interviewed people with SUD who had recently returned from or were preparing to leave compulsory drug rehabilitation (n = 25), their family members (n = 20) and professionals working in the field of drug rehabilitation (n = 28) across three cities in Vietnam. Additionally, we conducted a review of policy documents to complement the interview data. RESULTS: The study identified opportunities and challenges within Vietnam's drug rehabilitation system concerning leadership and governance, financing, workforce, information systems and service delivery for people with SUD. Key opportunities include a legal framework that emphasizes community-based support for people with SUD, a government-funded national network of lay social workers, and ongoing efforts to connect people to community-based services. We found significant challenges caused by the lack of clear instructions for implementing supportive policies, inadequate funding for community-based services, persisting stigma from providers towards people with SUD and unavailability of community-based drug treatment other than methadone. CONCLUSION: Vietnam continues with compulsory drug rehabilitation yet endorses recovery-oriented policies to address substance use issues. Substantial challenges hinder the effective implementation of these policies. Our study recommends reinforcing existing policies and enhancing recovery-oriented community-based services by improving the quality of data collection, building capacity of lay social workers who facilitate linkages to services and expanding community-based drug treatment options.

Exploring the Phytochemical Diversity and Antioxidant Potential of the Vietnamese Smilax glabra Roxb: Insights from UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and Zebrafish Model Studies.

Research on natural products is growing due to their potential health benefits and medicinal properties. Despite regional variations in phytochemical composition and bioactivity, Smilax glabra Roxb (SGB) has attracted the interest of researchers. Scientists are particularly interested in the Vietnamese SGB variant, which is influenced by biological and environmental factors. Despite geographical differences in phytochemical makeup and bioactivities, SGB remains a fascinating subject in traditional herbal medicine. Using ultra-performance liquid chromatography and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS), the phytochemicals in Vietnamese SGB extracts were investigated. This study revealed a wide range of phytochemical compounds, including flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, alkaloids, organic acids, phenolics, and steroids. Furthermore, utilizing zebrafish as a model organism, we discovered that these extracts have the surprising ability to greatly improve the survival rate of zebrafish larvae exposed to oxidative stress caused by arsenite (NaAsO2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Notably, our discoveries suggest the occurrence of new antioxidative pathways in addition to the kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway, expanding the understanding of the antioxidant properties and potential therapeutic uses of these plants. To summarize, our research findings shed light on the phytochemical composition of Vietnamese SGB, revealing its potential as a natural antioxidant and encouraging further exploration of its underlying mechanisms for future innovative antioxidant therapies.

Patient-provider relationships: Opioid use disorder and HIV treatment in Vietnam.

Background: The provider-patient relationship has been implicated as a positive force in health outcomes. This study examined the provider-patient relationship in the setting of integrated, partially-integrated, and non-integrated opioid use disorder (OUD) and HIV care models in Vietnam. Objective: To examine the provider-patient relationship in the setting of integrated, partially integrated, and non-integrated OUD and HIV treatment in North Vietnam. Methods: Between 2013 and 2018, we conducted face-to-face qualitative interviews with 44 patients living with HIV and OUD and 43 providers in northern Vietnam. These were analyzed using a semantic, inductive approach to qualitative thematic analysis. Results: Several themes were identified. 1) Trust was important to the patient-provider relationship and sensitive to provider attitudes and competence. 2) Patients perceived greater provider competence and understanding of patient health problems in integrated treatment. 3) Patient-provider relationships were initially superficial but deepened over time, facilitated by continuity of care. Conclusions: Patient perceptions of competence and respect were important to feeling cared for. Providers felt empathy and competence came with more experience caring for patients with OUD and HIV.

Effect of NPK-SRFS on the Growth, Yield and Essential Oil Composition of Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.).

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Basil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L.), an aromatic herb, is considered one of the most important crops with essential oils as well as other bioactive compounds. Basil leaves have tremendous pharmaceutical benefits and are used for foods. Slow-release fertilizers have been developed to optimize the fertilization of crops. This work aims to discover the effect of NPK Slow-Release Fertilizer Coated by Starch (NPK-SRFS) at different rates on growth, yield and essential oil components of basil grown on the field in Northern Vietnam. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Basil seedlings, sown from seeds, were used as plant materials. NPK-SRFS was stocked in the Faculty of Chemistry, Hanoi Pedagogical University 2. The experiments were designed in a fully randomized block model, consisting of four treatments with different rates of NPK-SRFS. Each treatment had three replicates with an area of 8 m². Duncan's Multiple Range Test was being used for statistical analysis (p = 0.05). <b>Results:</b> All 3 NPK-SRFS treatments significantly increased the number of buds and leaves per plant compared to the control. However, NPK-SRFS at different rates affected diversely plant height and leaf area of the basil. F5.0 and F10 treatments accelerated chlorophyll content as well as Fv/Fm value in comparison with none NPK-SRFS treatment. The application of NPK-SRFS at different rates caused slightly different changes in basil essential oil composition, especially the content of Methyl Chavicol, the most abundant oxygenated monoterpene and α-trans-Bergamotene, the most abundant sesquiterpene hydrocarbon. <b>Conclusion:</b> The present study provides further insight into the influence of NPK-SRFS on the growth, yield and essential oil components of basil.

Essential Oils of Polyalthia suberosa Leaf and Twig and Their Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial Activities.

Essential oils from the leaf and twig of Polyalthia suberosa (Roxb.) Thwaites were analyzed using GC/MS/FID. A total of sixty-three constituents were namely identified accounting for 96.03 and 94.12 % in the hydrodistilled oils of the leaf and twig, respectively. Monoterpenes, monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenes, and sesquiterpenoids were characteristic derivatives of P. suberosa essential oils. Sesquiterpenes bicyclogermacrene (26.26 %) and (E)-caryophyllene (7.79 %), and monoterpene ß-pinene (12.71 %) were the major constituents of the leaf oil. Sesquiterpenes (E)-caryophyllene (17.17 %) and α-humulene (9.55 %), sesquiterpenoid caryophyllene oxide (9.41 %), and monoterpenes camphene (8.16 %) and tricyclene (6.35 %) were to be main components in the twig oil. The leaf oil indicated cytotoxic activity against three cancer cell lines HepG2, MCF7 and A549 with the IC50 values of 60.96-69.93 µg/mL, while the twig oil inhibited MCF7 with the IC50 value of 66.70 µg/mL. Additionally, the twig oil successfully suppressed the growth of the negative Gram bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, fungus Aspergillus niger, and yeast Candida albicans with the same MIC value of 50 µg/mL, whereas the leaf oil had the same result on the negative Gram bacterium Escherichia coli.

First investigation of the prevalence of parvoviruses in slaughterhouse pigs and genomic characterization of ungulate copiparvovirus 2 in Vietnam.

Ungulate protoparvovirus 1, also known as porcine parvovirus 1 (PPV1), is considered to be one of the major causes of reproductive failure in pig breeding herds. Other parvoviruses have also been identified in pigs, including ungulate tetraparvovirus 3, or PPV2, ungulate tetraparvovirus 2, or PPV3, and ungulate copiparvovirus 2, or PPV4, but their significance for pigs is unknown. In the present study, the prevalence of PPV1-4 was investigated using a total of 231 lung and serum samples collected from slaughterhouses in 13 provinces throughout Vietnam. The overall prevalence was 54.5% (126/231) for PPV1, 28.0% (65/231) for PPV2, 17.7% (41/231) for PPV3, and 7.8% (18/231) for PPV4. While PPV1 and PPV2 were found in 11 provinces, PPV4 was detected in only three provinces. Co-circulation of PPV1, PPV2 and PPV3 was frequently observed, with PPV1/PPV2 coinfection predominating, with 20.8% (48/231). All four PPVs were detected together in only one sample from Thua Thien Hue. Three nearly complete PPV4 genome sequences of 5,453 nt were determined and deposited in the GenBank database. Alignment and comparison of the three genome sequences showed 99.5-99.6% nucleotide sequence identity, and the deduced amino acid sequences of open reading frames 1-3 were 99.6-99.9% identical to each other, 98.9-99.3% identical to those of other Vietnamese strains and 99.4-99.7% identical to those of Chinese strains). Phylogenetic analysis further confirmed a close relationship between Vietnamese and Chinese PPV4 strains. These results are the first to report the prevalence of PPV1, PPV2, PPV3, and PPV4 and nearly complete genomic sequences of PPV4 in pigs from slaughterhouses in Vietnam.

Cembranoid diterpenes from the soft coral Lobophytum crassum and their anti-inflammatory activities.

Nine cembranoid diterpenes 1-9, including four new compounds, crassumols D-G (1-4), were isolated from the methanol extract of the Vietnamese soft coral Lobophytum crassum. Spectroscopic methods were used to elucidate the structures of these compounds. Compound 5 exhibited a potent inhibitory effect on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα)-induced nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) transcriptional activation in HepG2 cells and significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in a dose-dependent manner.

Cytotoxic and PPARs transcriptional activities of sterols from the Vietnamese soft coral Lobophytum laevigatum.

A new unusual sterol, named lobophytosterol (1), and five known metabolites (2-6) were isolated from the methanol extract of the soft coral Lobophytum laevigatum. Their chemical structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and comparison with those reported in the literature. The absolute stereochemistry of 1 was determined using a modified Mosher's method. Compounds 1-3 showed cytotoxic activity against HCT-116 cells with IC(50) values of 3.2, 6.9 and 18.1 µM, respectively. Compound 1 additionally displayed cytotoxic effects on A549 and HL-60 cells with IC(50) values of 4.5 and 5.6 µM, respectively. Treatment of these cells with compound 1 resulted in an induction of apoptosis evident by chromatin condensation in treated cells. Besides, compounds 2, 4, and 6 significantly upregulated PPARs transcriptional activity dose-dependently in Hep-G2 cells. Taken together, these data suggest that compound 1 might inhibit the growth of the cancer cells by the induction of apoptosis, and compounds 2, 4, and 6 might act as specific agonists for PPARα, PPARδ, and PPARγ and may therefore regulate cellular glucose, lipid, and cholesterol metabolism.

Cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory cembranoids from the Vietnamese soft coral Lobophytum laevigatum.

Four new cembranoids, namely laevigatol A-D (1-4), and six known metabolites (5-10), were isolated from the Vietnamese soft coral Lobophytum laevigatum. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses, and the absolute stereochemistry of 1 was determined using the modified Mosher's method. Compounds 5, and 7-10 exhibited cytotoxic activity against selected human cancer cell lines. Compounds 1, 2, 8, and 9 showed dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the TNFα-induced NF-κB transcriptional activity in Hep-G2 cells. Moreover, compounds 1, 2, 8, and 9 significantly inhibited the induction of COX-2 and iNOS mRNA dose-dependently, indicating that these compounds attenuated the synthesis of these transcripts at the transcriptional level.

Cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of diterpenes and sterols from the Vietnamese soft coral Lobophytum compactum.

Two new diterpenes, lobocompactols A (1) and B (2), and five known compounds (3-7) were isolated from the methanol extract of the soft coral Lobophytum compactum using combined chromatographic methods and identified based on NMR and MS data. Each compound was evaluated for cytotoxic activity against A549 (lung) and HL-60 (acute promyelocytic leukemia) human cancer cell lines. Among them, compound 5 exhibited strong cytotoxic activity against the A549 cell line with an IC(50) of 4.97 ± 0.06 µM. Compounds 3, 4, and 7 showed moderate activity with IC(50) values of 23.03 ± 0.76, 31.13 ± 0.08, and 36.45 ± 0.01 µM, respectively. The cytotoxicity of 5 on the A549 cells was comparable to that of the positive control, mitoxantrone (MX). All compounds exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against the HL-60 cell line, with IC(50) values ranging from 17.80 ± 1.43 to 59.06 ± 2.31 µM. Their antioxidant activity was also measured using oxygen radical absorbance capacity method, compounds 1 and 2 exhibiting moderate peroxyl radical scavenging activity of 1.4 and 1.3 µM Trolox equivalents, respectively, at a concentration of 5 µM.