Testing biological actions of medicinal plants from northern Vietnam on zebrafish embryos and larvae: Developmental, behavioral, and putative therapeutical effects.

Evaluating the risks and benefits of using traditional medicinal plants is of utmost importance for a huge fraction of the human population, in particular in Northern Vietnam. Zebrafish are increasingly used as a simple vertebrate model for testing toxic and physiological effects of compounds, especially on development. Here, we tested 12 ethanolic extracts from popular medicinal plants collected in northern Vietnam for their effects on zebrafish survival and development during the first 4 days after fertilization. We characterized more in detail their effects on epiboly, hatching, growth, necrosis, body curvature, angiogenesis, skeletal development and mostly increased movement behavior. Finally, we confirm the effect on epiboly caused by the Mahonia bealei extract by staining the actin filaments and performing whole genome gene expression analysis. Further, we show that this extract also inhibits cell migration of mouse embryo fibroblasts. Finally, we analyzed the chemical composition of the Mahonia bealei extract and test the effects of its major components. In conclusion, we show that traditional medicinal plant extracts are able to affect zebrafish early life stage development to various degrees. In addition, we show that an extract causing delay in epiboly also inhibits mammalian cell migration, suggesting that this effect may serve as a preliminary test for identifying extracts that inhibit cancer metastasis.

Genetic potential for changes in breeding systems: Predicted and observed trait changes during artificial selection for male and female allocation in a gynodioecious species.

PREMISE: Evolution of separate sexes from hermaphroditism often proceeds through gynodioecy, but genetic constraints on this process are poorly understood. Genetic (co-)variances and between-sex genetic correlations were used to predict evolutionary responses of multiple reproductive traits in a sexually dimorphic gynodioecious species, and predictions were compared with observed responses to artificial selection. METHODS: Schiedea (Caryophyllaceae) is an endemic Hawaiian lineage with hermaphroditic, gynodioecious, subdioecious, and dioecious species. We measured genetic parameters of Schiedea salicaria and used them to predict evolutionary responses of 18 traits in hermaphrodites and females in response to artificial selection for increased male (stamen) biomass in hermaphrodites or increased female (carpel, capsule) biomass in females. Observed responses over two generations were compared with predictions in replicate lines of treatments and controls. RESULTS: In only two generations, both stamen biomass in hermaphrodites and female biomass in females responded markedly to direct selection, supporting a key assumption of models for evolution of dioecy. Other biomass traits, pollen and ovule numbers, and inflorescence characters important in wind pollination evolved indirectly in response to selection on sex allocation. Responses generally followed predictions from multivariate selection models, with some responses unexpectedly large due to increased genetic correlations as selection proceeded. CONCLUSIONS: Results illustrate the power of artificial selection and utility of multivariate selection models incorporating sex differences. They further indicate that pollen and ovule numbers and inflorescence architecture could evolve in response to selection on biomass allocation to male versus female function, producing complex changes in plant phenotype as separate sexes evolve.

Graphene Oxide and Graphene Oxide-TiO2 Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization, and Rhodamine B Photodegradation Investigation.

In this study, graphene oxide (GO) sheets were successfully synthesized using two routes: conventional Hummers' (HGO) and modified Hummers' (or Marcano's) (MGO) methods. GO sheets were then assembled with TiO2 nanoparticles to form nanocomposites (i.e., HGO-TO and MGO-TO). The properties of HGO and MGO and their nanocomposites with TiO2 were evaluated by Fouriertransform infrared (FTIR), Raman, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) adsorption, and diffuse reflectance (DRS) spectroscopies, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The specific surface area, pore volume, and pore size of MGO, determined by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) equation, were 565 m²g-1, 376 cm³ g-1, and 30 nm, respectively; all of these parameters decreased after MGO was combined with TiO2. In addition, compared with HGO, MGO possessed higher oxidation level and more stable bonding with TiO2 nanoparticles. The morphology of HGO and MGO, which were characterized by scanning electron (SEM) and transmission electron microscopies (TEM), together with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and elemental mapping technique, was determined to consist of TiO2 nanoparticle-assembled GO sheets. All GO-TiO2 nanocomposite samples exhibited a very high activity (˜100%) toward rhodamine B (RhB) dye photodegradation under natural sunlight exposure within 60 min. The obtained results for the GO-TiO2 nanocomposite showed the potential of its application in wastewater purification and other environmental aspects.

Factors associated with HIV viral load suppression on antiretroviral therapy in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on HIV viral suppression rates among men and women on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and factors associated with HIV RNA viral load (VL) suppression in Vietnam. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1255 adult patients on ART for at least 1 year across four provinces in Vietnam. Data collection included a standardised questionnaire, routine laboratory testing, and an HIV VL assay. Bivariate and logistic multivariate analyses were conducted to assess viral suppression rates and factors associated with unsuppressed HIV VL. RESULTS: The median age was 34.5 years and the median time on ART was 46 months. Gender was 66% male (n=828) and 34% female (n=427). HIV viral suppression below 1000 copies/mL was 93%. Viral suppression among woman was not significantly different than among men (93.7% vs 92.9%; P=0.59). On multivariate analysis, unsuppressed HIV VL was independently associated with lower CD4 cell count, social isolation, high stigma, not receiving a single-tablet daily regimen, multiple late appointments in past year, and immunological failure. CONCLUSION: On-treatment viral load suppression rates in Vietnam are high and already exceed the UNAIDS 90% target for viral suppression on ART. Gender does not impact viral suppression rates of patients on ART in Vietnam. Access to routine viral load testing should be improved, adherence monitoring and counselling streamlined, and ART regimens simplified to maintain viral suppression rates, as more people start ART. Psychological and social factors are also associated with unsuppressed HIV VL, necessitating treatment support interventions to address social isolation and stigma among people living with HIV in Vietnam.