Secondhand Smoke and Socio-Demographic Associated Factors: Results From the Vietnam Population-Based Provincial Global Adult Tobacco Survey in 2022.

Background: Secondhand smoke (SHS) has detrimental effects on community health, including coronary heart diseases, stroke, lung cancer etc. This manuscript exploited data from the Vietnam Population-based Provincial Global Adult Tobacco Survey (PGATS) in 2022 to update the prevalence of adult exposure to SHS and associated socio-demographic factors. Methods: With the sample size of 71,981 adults aged 15+ throughout 30 provinces and cities in Vietnam, data was collected using the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) questionnaire. Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression modelling were performed. Results: In the past 30 days, 44.4% (95% CI: 44.0%-44.9%) adults aged 15+ exposed to SHS at home while 23.1% (95% CI: 22.6%-23.6%) exposed to SHS at work. Female exposure to SHS in the past 30 days was higher at homes but lower at indoor workplaces. Participants aged 15-24 were likely to have higher odds of SHS exposure in the past 30 days to other age groups. Those living in the urban areas had 1.15 times higher odds (95% CI: 1.08-1.22) of exposure to SHS than those in the rural areas. Current smokers tended to have 2.2 times higher odds of exposure to SHS at the indoor workplaces compared to non-smokers (95% CI: 2.05-2.37). Conclusions: The prevalence of exposure to SHS at home was still relatively high amongst the adult population. While there was a significant reduction of SHS exposure at indoor workplaces, there was a higher prevalence of women being exposed to SHS at home. The Government of Vietnam should continue to strictly implement the smoke-free environment resolution at indoor workplaces and appropriate communication campaigns to protect people, especially women from SHS exposure at homes.

Sprouted rough rice as an alternative to corn for growth, health performance and meat quality of broilers.

Sprouted rough rice (SR) is not commly used for poultry diets but it could be a potential replacement ingredient to improve nutritional value of feed. This study aimed to evaluate the growth performance, carcass quality, blood lipids, hepatic enzymes, and fatty acid profiles of broiler meat when corn was replaced with sprouted rough rice in the feed. A completely randomized design was used with four groups and six replicate groups with 10 birds per replicate. The 4 treatment groups were 0, 15, 40 and 45 % sprouted-rice-replacement of corn. Growth performance and carcass quality were highest when corn was replaced with 45 % SR (p < 0.05). In particular, live weight and body weight gain increased linearly with increasing SR inclusion, whereas feed conversion ratio and feed intake linearly decreased with increasing SR (p < 0.05). Carcass, thigh, and breast weights showed the same trend of increase (p < 0.05). In addition, the pH of the thigh meat was significantly higher in diet with 45 % SR than in the other treatment groups. With increasing SR content, the weight of immune organs linearly increased, particularly the thymus and spleen (p < 0.05). Additionally, the fatty acids examined including saturated fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acid, transfat were mostly highest when 30 or 45 % of corn was replaced with SR and linearly increased from 0 to 45 % of SR. There were no significant differences of linear relationships with cooking loss, or blood lipid and hepatic enzyme profiles between treatments (p > 0.05). Replacing 45 % of corn in a broiler diet with SR could improve the growth and meat paramenters of broilers.

Factors affecting highly pathogenic avian influenza vaccination practices at poultry farms in Tra Vinh, Vietnam.

Background: The increased number of cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) as a zoonosis has raised concerns in terms of poultry and human health. Farmers' preventive practices are an effective way of reducing zoonosis. However, this practice may have been affected by many factors, including production behaviors, awareness, and farmers' perceptions of farmers toward zoonosis. Aim: This study was conducted on 166 poultry farms in Tra Vinh Province with 14,894 poultry heads to determine the socioeconomic profiles and production characteristics of poultry farms and analyze the effect of these factors on HPAI vaccination practices. Methods: Respondents were selected from lists provided by government officers. Descriptive statistics were used to describe all variables, and factors affecting HPAI vaccination practices were analyzed using binary regression analysis. Results: The results showed that most farmers raised poultry with other livestock using the free-range method, which is a semi-intensive system. The primary objectives of poultry farming are meat sales and augmenting household consumption, with farmers primarily raising chicks produced on their farms. The implementation of the vaccine was less than 50% on the surveyed farms, with a small number of farmers administering an HPAI booster dose. However, only 6% of the farmers confirmed that their livestock had been exposed to HPAI. In addition, HPAI vaccination and booster dose practices significantly increased when farmers had 4-6 family members and received HPAI prevention training. Moreover, increased poultry numbers have led to increased vaccination rates and the implementation of booster doses for poultry. The study also reported that the vaccination rate decreased when poultry was used for household consumption. Conclusion: Sociodemographic characteristics and production behaviors can affect the implementation of HPAI vaccination on small poultry farms.

Establishment of cancer cell line originating from a patient with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma.

Aim: Ovarian cancer is a serious malignancy with high prevalence and mortality. Methods: We isolated and characterized an ovarian high-grade serous cancer cell line (M4) from a tumor of a Vietnamese patient with ovarian carcinoma. Results: The M4 cancer cell line showed good proliferation and stability in culture. Morphologically, the M4 cells showed similar characteristics to tumor cells such as a polyhedral shape, large irregular nuclei, high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, high nuclear density and expressing cancer markers like CA125, p53 and Ki67 markers. Conclusion: We have successfully isolated and characterized the M4 cell line from a Vietnamese patient with ovarian carcinoma.

Effects of dietary ß-glucan and rice fermented on growth performance, fatty acids, and Newcastle disease immune response in turkey broilers.

Poultry production has been developing in Vietnam with challenges of disease. Thus, feed additive should be investigated not only growth but also health enhancement. Here, we aimed to determine the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae-fermented rice (FR) and ß-glucan on turkey's growth performance, carcass characteristics, immune and fatty acid (FA) profiles. A total of 180 turkey chicks aged 1-56 days were randomly assigned to five sextuplicate groups and the birds had ad libitum feed and water access throughout the experiment. The five treatment groups were given the same diet with different proportions of FR and ß-glucan. Broilers supplemented with 4% ß-glucan and 4% FR presented the highest and second-highest growth performance, respectively. The 4% ß-glucan and 4% FR treatments resulted in the highest carcass characteristic values without significantly affecting the breast or thigh meat pH or cooking loss. The 4% ß-glucan and 4% FR treatments maximally increased the Newcastle disease (ND) antibody titers at 28, 42 and 56 days, respectively as well as thymus organ index. The foregoing treatments did not significantly affect the blood profiles relative to the control. However, the 4% FR treatment lowered the blood cholesterol levels (p > 0.05). The total FA profiles did not significantly differ among treatments. Nevertheless, both the ß-glucan and FR treatments increased the MUFA levels compared to that of the control (p > 0.05). Hence, the dietary administration of 4% ß-glucan and FR to turkey broilers could effectively improve their growth performance and immunity.

Ought to The Changes Within the Immunophenotype of Solid Cell Nests (SCNs) and Follicular Cells in Hashimoto's Thyroiditis be Considered as Premalignant Lesions?

Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is more frequently reported in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), which may be associated with the presence of solid cell nests (SCNs) and focal PTC-like nuclear alterations in the thyroid gland. The point of this consideration was to assess the morphological and immunohistochemical features of SCNs and follicular epithelial changes in Vietnamese patients with HT. Materials and Methods: Hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemistry were performed on 20 samples of HT patients who underwent thyroidectomy and were diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis at Military Medical Hospital 103 from 6/2018 to 6/2019. The expression of five markers (P63, Calcitonin, TTF1, CK19 and HBME-1) in SCNs and follicular epithelial changes were evaluated. Results: Ninety per cent of samples had SCNs with an average of 10 SCNs per section. Only type 1 and type 4 SCNs were presented (85% and 55%, respectively) and all SCNs were composed of main cells (p63-positive). Fifteen of the 18 cases having SCNs possessed nuclear features of PTC. C-cell hyperplasia was found in one case with 20 clusters. All SCNs showed strong staining with CK19 and weak staining with HBME-1. Follicular epithelial changes were Hürthle cell metaplasia, PTC-like nuclear alterations, atypical solid nodules, papillary and glomerular-like forms (40%, 100%, 25% and 50%, respectively). Follicular cells of glomerular-like forms (new alteration) especially were positive with CK19 (2+ ~ 3+), HBME-1 (1+) and TTF1, while the components in these follicles were negative with CK19, HBME-1 and TTF1. Among PTC-like nuclear alterations, all the atypical solid nodules related to HT showed markers related to PTC and without SCNs. Conclusions: Increasing the number of SCNs, as well as PTC-like nuclear alterations of main cells in SCNs and follicular epithelial changes were co-expressed CK19 and HBME-1. Therefore, the need for HT management should be considered.

Fusarium biocontrol: antagonism and mycotoxin elimination by lactic acid bacteria.

Mycotoxins produced by Fusarium species are secondary metabolites with low molecular weight formed by filamentous fungi generally resistant to different environmental factors and, therefore, undergo slow degradation. Contamination by Fusarium mycotoxins in cereals and millets is the foremost quality challenge the food and feed industry faces across the globe. Several types of chemical preservatives are employed in the mitigation process of these mycotoxins, and they help in long-term storage; however, chemical preservatives can be used only to some extent, so the complete elimination of toxins from foods is still a herculean task. The growing demand for green-labeled food drives to evade the use of chemicals in the production processes is getting much demand. Thus, the biocontrol of food toxins is important in the developing food sector. Fusarium mycotoxins are world-spread contaminants naturally occurring in commodities, food, and feed. The major mycotoxins Fusarium species produce are deoxynivalenol, fumonisins, zearalenone, and T2/HT2 toxins. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), generally regarded as safe (GRAS), is a well-explored bacterial community in food preparations and preservation for ages. Recent research suggests that LAB are the best choice for extenuating Fusarium mycotoxins. Apart from Fusarium mycotoxins, this review focuses on the latest studies on the mechanisms of how LAB effectively detoxify and remove these mycotoxins through their various bioactive molecules and background information of these molecules.

Frequencies and Association of CYP3A5 Polymorphism With Tacrolimus Concentration Among Renal Transplant Recipients in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the frequencies and association of CYP3A5 polymorphism with tacrolimus concentration among renal transplant recipients in Vietnam. METHODS: Sixty-eight kidney transplant recipients were included in this study from the department of nephrology and dialysis, Military Hospital 103. Blood samples were collected for monitoring of tacrolimus levels and determination of CYP3A5 genetic polymorphism. RESULTS: A total of 68 patients studied. The CYP3A5*3*3, CYP3A5*1*3, and CYP3A5*1*1 genotypes were detected in 48 (70.6%), 16 (23.5%), and 4 (5.9%), respectively. Tacrolimus concentrations were much lower in CYP3A5 expressors than in CYP3A5 nonexpressors on the first day, month 1, 3, 6, and 12 (5.98 ± 1.05 vs 6.57 ± 1.03, P = .03; 5.79 ± 1.13 vs 6.82 ± 1.05, P < .001; 4.76 ± 1.48 vs 6.73 ± 1.09, P < .001; 4.29 ± 1.64 vs 6.46 ± 1.23, P < .001; 4.20 ± 1.36 vs 6.04 ± 1.26, P < .001), respectively. Notably, the concentration/dose ratio in the CYP3A5 expressors was lower than in CYP3A5 nonexpressors at time points of follow up (P < .001). However, there were no significant differences in the age, sex, HLA mismatch, type of donors, acute rejection, and creatinine levels at time points between group of CYP3A5 expressors and those of CYP3A5 nonexpressors. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this research indicated the significant association of CYP3A5 genetic polymorphism with daily dose and tacrolimus concentrations in renal transplant recipients. This study provided a closer step to individualize the dose of tacrolimus in renal transplant patients in Vietnam.

Perceptions and Use of Electronic Cigarettes Among Young Adults in Vietnam 2020.

Electronic cigarette use among adolescents has increased in the past decade. Little is known about the perception and use of e-cigarettes in Vietnam, especially among young people. This study examines the perceptions and use of electronic cigarettes among young adults in Vietnam. The study uses data from a survey of adult tobacco consumption among adults at the provincial level in 2020, which was funded and managed by the Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund-Ministry of Health. Data were collected from 34 provinces and cities throughout Vietnam and managed using REDCap software. The survey engaged 80,166 participants, of which 9478 were young adults aged 15-24 were selected and reported in this paper. The results show that, at the time of the survey, 2.4% of young Vietnamese adults were smoking e-cigarettes. Many survey participants cited more than one reason for smoking e-cigarettes. These reasons included preferring the taste of e-cigarettes (64.0%), disliking the odour of other cigarettes (46.2%), following the example of family members (44.9%), and believing e-cigarettes threatened fewer health risks (39.1%). Almost half of the e-cigarette users wanted to quit (48%). E-cigarette use was associated with males living in urban areas who are aware of the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms. The findings of this study provide evidential data that support public health policies aimed at reducing and ceasing e-cigarette use among young people.

Downregulation of Odd-Skipped Related 2, a Novel Regulator of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, Enables Efficient Somatic Cell Reprogramming.

Somatic cell reprogramming proceeds through a series of events to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The early stage of reprogramming of mouse embryonic fibroblasts is characterized by rapid cell proliferation and morphological changes, which are accompanied by downregulation of mesenchyme-associated genes. However, the functional relevance of their downregulation to reprogramming remains poorly defined. In this study, we have screened transcriptional regulators that are downregulated immediately upon reprogramming, presumably through direct targeting by reprogramming factors. To test if these transcriptional regulators impact reprogramming when expressed continuously, we generated an expression vector that harbors human cytomegalovirus upstream open reading frame 2 (uORF2), which reduces translation to minimize the detrimental effect of an expressed protein. Screening of transcriptional regulators with this expression vector revealed that downregulation of (odd-skipped related 2 [Osr2]) is crucial for efficient reprogramming. Using a cell-based model for epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), we show that Osr2 is a novel EMT regulator that acts through induction of transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) signaling. During reprogramming, Osr2 downregulation not only diminishes TGF-ß signaling but also allows activation of Wnt signaling, thus promoting mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) toward acquisition of pluripotency. Our results illuminate the functional significance of Osr2 downregulation in erasing the mesenchymal phenotype at an early stage of somatic cell reprogramming.

The prevalence of pre-treatment and acquired HIV drug resistance in Vietnam: a nationally representative survey, 2017-2018.

INTRODUCTION: Monitoring the population-level emergence and transmission of HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) is necessary for supporting public health programmes. This study provides a nationally representative prevalence estimate of HIVDR in people initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) and estimates of acquired HIVDR and viral load (VL) suppression in people who have received it for 12 or ≥48 months in Vietnam. METHODS: The study was conducted between September 2017 and March 2018 following World Health Organization guidance. Thirty ART clinics were randomly sampled using probability proportional to size sampling from a total of 367 ART clinics in the country. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: In total, 409 patients initiating ART were enrolled into the survey of pre-treatment HIVDR. The prevalence of any pre-treatment HIVDR was 5.8% (95% CI 3.4-9.5%), and the prevalence of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor resistance was 3.4% (95% CI 1.8-6.2%). Four hundred twenty-nine patients on ART for 12±3 months and 723 patients on ART for ≥48 months were enrolled into the surveys of acquired HIVDR. The prevalence of VL suppression (defined as <1000 copies/ml) in patients on ART for 12±3 and ≥48 months was 95.5% (95% CI 91.3-97.8%) and 96.1% (95% CI 93.2-97.8%), respectively. Among individuals with viral non-suppression, any HIVDR was detected in 11/14 (weighted prevalence 74.3%) of those on ART for 12±3 months and in 24/27 (weighted prevalence 88.5%) of those receiving ART for ≥48 months. CONCLUSIONS: This nationally representative study of HIVDR found high levels of VL suppression among those on ART for 12 and ≥48 months. Overall, high levels of VL suppression at both time points suggested good adherence among patients receiving ART and quality of treatment services in Vietnam. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Immunomodulatory, behavioral, and nutritional response of tryptophan application on poultry.

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid for all animals that was discovered through casein hydrolysis. The use of tryptophan as feed additives has been attracting the attention of many nutritionists because it cannot be synthesized enough in an animal's body. Tryptophan or precursor to the vitamin niacin in the diet is important, and its supplementation for poultry is determined to improve the amino acid balance and promote the poultry's growth performance through enhancing appetite, feed efficiency, and protein synthesis. Moreover, poultry in different growth phases, breeding, and conditions require various amounts of tryptophan. In addition, supplemented tryptophan also improves the immune response or the immunomodulatory activity of poultry to various diseases through the kynurenine pathway, especially diseases in the bursa. Furthermore, tryptophan also has a strong relationship with lysine (the ideal tryptophan/lysine ratio) in improving growth performance. However, tryptophan deficiency could affect the behavioral responses (e.g. pecking behavior and poultry stress) because tryptophan serves as a precursor for the neurotransmitter serotonin and the pineal hormone melatonin in the diet. This paper tried to summarize all information about applying tryptophan in the diets and illustrate the roles of tryptophan in the poultry industry.

Nutritional Intervention Improves Nutrition Outcomes in Stomach and Colon Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: Finding from a Quasi-Experiment in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: Evidence on the effects of nutritional interventions on gastrointestinal cancer patients receiving chemotherapy is not well documented. This study aims to assess the effects of nutritional intervention in patients diagnosed with stomach and colon cancer receiving chemotherapy in Vietnam. METHODS: A quasi-experiment with intervention and control groups for pre- and post-intervention was carried out in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in a university hospital in Vietnam. Patients in the intervention group were provided nutritional counseling, personalized specific dietary advice, and received oral nutrition supplements (ONSs) while patients in the control group only received nutrition counseling. RESULTS: The weight in the intervention and control group after 2 months increased significantly by 1.4 ± 2.6 kg and 0.4 ± 2.3 kg, respectively. Muscle mass increased by 1.2 ± 4.1 cm in the intervention group, while those in the control group decreased by 0.55 ± 2.77 cm. There was no statistical significance between two groups after intervention in terms of Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) and percentage of fat. The percentage of malnutrition based on the Scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) and Body Mass Index (BMI) declined after the intervention in both groups. According to the average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) using the propensity score matching and DiD method, participants receiving the intervention were more likely to have a higher score of weight (Coef = 0.84; 95%CI = 0.47; 2.16) and muscle mass (Coef = 1.08; 95%CI = 0.09; 2.06) between pre- and post-intervention. By contrast, the PG-SGA scores on treated participants were more likely to decrease after the intervention (Coef = -1.28; 95%CI = -4.39; -0.84). After matching, being female, living in rural areas, or having stomach cancer were still positively related to being moderately/severely malnourished by the PG-SGA, and these findings were statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The nutritional interventions had a positive effect on weight gain, muscle mass, and reduced malnutrition. Further studies with a longer follow-up duration are needed to confirm the effects of the intervention.

Impact of Central Quarantine Inside a Lockdown Hospital Due to COVID-19 Pandemic on Psychological Disorders among Health Care Staffs in Central Hospitals of Hanoi, Vietnam, 2020.

This study aims to examine the impact of undergoing a central quarantine due to the lockdown of Bach Mai hospital on the psychological disorders and identify associated factors with depression among hospital employees in central hospitals of Hanoi, Vietnam. Employing a cross-sectional design, the study collected data from staff working in the lockdown hospital and other central hospitals during 1 week after the lockdown happened. The sample size included 373 staff from 3 hospitals, the study time was. Depression was tested using PH-Q9 scale. Multivariate logistics regression was employed to test for the impact of central quarantine on depression and identify other significant related factors. The study confirmed a high burden of psychological issues that hospital employees were facing. Staff working in the lockdown hospital had 2.3 times higher odds of being perceived depression than others. Those who contact directly about 21 to 20 patients/day had 3.19-times higher odds of being perceived depression than others. Staff who being stigmatization associated with COVID-19 had 2.63 times higher odds of perceived depression than others. Reducing these associated factors to depression may help to reduce the psychological burden HEs have to cope with during the pandemic.

Online time, experience of cyber bullying and practices to cope with it among high school students in Hanoi.

This study is conducted to learn about experiences and practices to cope with cyberbullying among high school students in Hanoi and to explore the association between the average time of Internet used per day among high school students in Hanoi, Vietnam, and the risk of being cyberbullied. A total of 215 students aged 13-18 years completed an online survey using respondent-driven sampling method. The experience of being cyberbullied was examined using the modified Patchin and Hinduja's scale. The prevalence of experiencing at least one type of cyberbullying was 45.1%. The most common type of cyberbullying was being called by names/made fun of. The average daily time spent on Internet showed dose-response association with the risk of being cyberbullied. The prevalence of having experienced cyberbullying was 54% among subjects who used Internet >3 hours/day compared to 39% among those who used 1-3 hours and 30% among those who used <1 hour. In terms of practices to cope with this, most students chose to ignore it and not share information with their family or teacher. The most frequent method to overcome this problem was talking with friends (60.8%). Research shows that the prevalence of cyberbullying victimization in Hanoi was high, and student's practices to cope with this new form of bullying were not efficient. Online time had dose-response association with risk of cyberbullying. More attention is needed to increase level of society/school awareness to prevent cyberbullying in Hanoi.

Pain incidence, assessment, and management in Vietnam: a cross-sectional study of 12,136 respondents.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the rate and demographics of pain among Vietnamese people in 48 provinces and describe the impact of pain on individuals, levels of satisfaction with treatment results, and behavior of pain sufferers. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted in adults presenting to outpatient clinics throughout 48 provinces in Vietnam and were randomly selected for inclusion in this study. A physician trained to administer a questionnaire in a standardized fashion interviewed each patient and collected data regarding gender, age, career, acute and chronic pain, diagnoses, treatment, and satisfaction with treatment. RESULTS: There were 12,136 respondents (50.65% male and 49.35% female) from 48 of the 63 provinces in Vietnam. About 86.53% of respondents reported experiencing pain that affected their daily lives, with 24.10% complaining of acute pain and 62.43% having chronic pain. About 67.71% reported pain that affected job performance. Headache was the most common complaint in 35.43% of the respondents. Fewer than half (43.35%) of all patients with pain sought help from a doctor; only a quarter (27.50%) sought help within 1 month of experiencing that pain. A majority (61.98%) of patients who did seek help were satisfied with treatment results. The median cost of treatment was between 150 and 250 USD. CONCLUSION: Pain severe enough to impact patients' daily lives is common in Vietnam. Treatment costs are a significant economic burden and may help explain why only a minority of patients seek treatment. Access to lower cost, effective treatment for pain should be improved.

Blood Glucose Disorders and Access to Health Care Services Among Adults Aged 30 to 69 Years in Chi Linh, Hai Duong, Vietnam.

Planning for control of diabetes in Vietnam needs valid information about the burden of diseases in general population. This study employed a cross-sectional design among population aged 30 to 69 years to measure the burden of type 2 diabetes and gaps in access to health care to explore the negative effects of rapid economic growth and urbanization in Chi Linh in recent years. A total of 594 adults were interviewed and had their fasting blood glucose tested. Results indicated that the prevalence of impaired fasting glycaemia was 11.8% and of diabetes was 12.1%. Only 16.8% diabetes cases detected in this study were diagnosed before, indicating a high level of unmet needs for detecting/managing diabetes in Chi Linh population. Significant associated factors with abnormal blood glucose included age and body mass index level. Without effective intervention programs for diabetes control and management, its burden will continue raising in the coming years. Chi Linh need to strengthen the diagnostic/treatment services at primary health care levels to ensure that people at early stage of raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose can be detected and provided with proper management to avoid serious complications, and to reduce hospital overload at central level.

Enzymatic in situ formed hydrogel from gelatin-tyramine and chitosan-4-hydroxylphenyl acetamide for the co-delivery of human adipose-derived stem cells and platelet-derived growth factor towards vascularization.

An injectable, in situ forming hydrogel system capable of co-delivering human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSC) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) was investigated as a new system for tissue engineering, envisaged to support vascularization. The system consists of tyramine-conjugated gelatin and hydroxyphenyl acetamide chitosan derivative. Both are soluble and stable at physiologic conditions, which is a key factor for retaining viable cells and active growth factor. In situ gelation involved enzymatic crosslinking using horseradish peroxidase as a catalyst and hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. Gel formation occurred within 30-90 s by controlling the concentration of polymers. PDGF release showed adequate release kinetics within the intended period of time and hADSC showed good compatibility with the hydrogel formulation based on the in vitro assay and subcutaneous implantation into BALB/c-nu/nu nude female mice. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed viability of delivered hADSC. Histological analysis showed no immune reaction and confirmed blood vessel formation. The results implicate the hydrogel as a promising delivery vehicle or carrier of both cell and growth factor, which support vascularization for tissue engineering applications.

A Study of BMP-2-Loaded Bipotential Electrolytic Complex around a Biphasic Calcium Phosphate-Derived (BCP) Scaffold for Repair of Large Segmental Bone Defect.

A bipotential polyelectrolyte complex with biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) powder dispersion provides an excellent option for protein adsorption and cell attachment and can facilitate enhanced bone regeneration. Application of the bipotential polyelectrolyte complex embedded in a spongy scaffold for faster healing of large segmental bone defects (LSBD) can be a promising endeavor in tissue engineering application. In the present study, a hollow scaffold suitable for segmental long bone replacement was fabricated by the sponge replica method applying the microwave sintering process. The fabricated scaffold was coated with calcium alginate at the shell surface, and genipin-crosslinked chitosan with biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) dispersion was loaded at the central hollow core. The chitosan core was subsequently loaded with BMP-2. The electrolytic complex was characterized using SEM, porosity measurement, FTIR spectroscopy and BMP-2 release for 30 days. In vitro studies such as MTT, live/dead, cell proliferation and cell differentiation were performed. The scaffold was implanted into a 12 mm critical size defect of a rabbit radius. The efficacy of this complex is evaluated through an in vivo study, one and two month post implantation. BV/TV ratio for BMP-2 loaded sample was (42±1.76) higher compared with hollow BCP scaffold (32±0.225).

Methodology for the Global Youth Tobacco Use Survey (GYST), Vietnam, 2014.

Viet Nam is a country with the highest rate of adult male smokers in the world. In 2010, the percentage of adult male smokers was 47.4%. Each year in Viet Nam, there are 40,000 lives lost from tobacco-related diseases. The Global Tobacco Youth Survey is an international standardized survey that has been conducted in more than 140 countries. To provide evidence for tobacco control, Viet Nam already conducted two rounds of GYTS in 2003 and 2007. The GYTS in 2014 is the survey's third iteration. This paper aims to document key methodological details and socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents included in the 2014 GYTS in Viet Nam. This survey followed international protocol and was conducted in 13 provinces representative of 6 geographical regions. A total of 3,430 school children, aged 13 to 15 years used a standardized answer sheet to answer 76 questions about seven tobacco-related topics, including prevalence of tobacco use, environmental tobacco smoke, access and availability, media and advertisement, cessation, knowledge and attitudes, tobaccorelated school curriculum. This GYTS provides valid and reliable data for monitoring tobacco use among youth in Vietnam and is recommended to be regularly repeated.