Viral and bacterial microorganisms in Vietnamese children with severe and non-severe pneumonia.

To investigate potential respiratory pathogens in children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and risk factors for severe disease. This prospective study was conducted among 467 children at the Thai Binh Paediatric Hospital, Vietnam between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021. Clinical data and laboratory results were collected. Twenty-four respiratory microorganisms were tested from nasopharyngeal swabs using real-time PCR. Logistical regression was used to estimate a factor's adjusted odd ratios of the severity of disease. Mean age of patients = 15.4 ± 13.3 months, 63.0% were male. Over 97% of patients had a positive PCR result. 87% of patients were positive for multiple (up to eight) microorganisms. Rhinovirus (46%), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (24%), enterovirus (17%), and parainfluenza viruses-3 (13%) were the most frequent viruses. H. influenzae (61%), S. pneumoniae (45%) and M. catarrhalis (30%) were the most common bacteria. 128 (27%) cases were classified as severe pneumonia. Presence of smokers at home (aOR 2.11, 95% CI 1.27-3.52, P value = 0.004), CRP level ≥ 50 mg/dL (aOR 6.11, 95% CI 3.86-9.68, P value < 0.0001), RSV (aOR 1.78, 95% CI 1.07-2.96, P value = 0.03) and H. influenzae (aOR 1.66, 95% CI 1.03-2.67, P value = 0.04) PCR detection associated with a higher risk of severe pneumonia; ,. Causative agents of pneumonia in children are complex. Children positive with RSV and H. influenzae need to be closely monitored to prevent severe pneumonia.

Factors associated with mask-induced dermatosis and its impact on patients' quality of life.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on society, both physically and mentally. Mask use in public places has been made mandatory in many countries, as it is one of the most effective methods to prevent transmission of the virus. However, continuous mask usage has been associated with the emergence of various cutaneous diseases in the areas of contact with the mask. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of various cutaneous manifestations resulting from mask use on patients' quality of life through a questionnaire survey. This was a cross-sectional study conducted at a hospital from May to July 2022. Patients who had experienced skin symptoms related to mask use in the past or present were included in the study. Participants completed the questionnaire with informed consent. A total of 165 participants participated in the survey, with the most common complaint being itching (58.18%), followed by acne (52.73%). Itching was found to have the highest dermatology life quality index score. Patients with skin redness had a lower quality of life compared to those without it. Prolonged mask-wearing can result in skin diseases that can seriously impair patients' quality of life.

The anxiety and depression disorder in adults with atopic dermatitis: experience of a dermatology hospital.

The objectives of this study are to identify the proportion of atopic dermatitis adult patients having anxiety and depression disorder and to measure the relationship between anxiety and depression disorder and characteristics of atopic dermatitis. A cross-sectional study with convenience sampling was conducted. Diagnostic criteria for atopic dermatitis were based on modified Hanifin and Raijka criteria and the severity of anxiety-depression disorder was evaluated using the hospital anxiety and depression scale. In this study, 208 patients were enrolled. The percentage of patients with anxiety and subthreshold anxiety were 11.1% and 34.1%, respectively. 5.3% of patients had depression and 39.4% of patients suffered from subthreshold depression. The proportion of patients with mixed anxiety-depressive disorder was 1.44%. Patients with severe atopic dermatitis were more likely to endure anxiety but not depression. Allergies or autoimmune diseases and scoring atopic dermatitis C were two independent risk factors of depression whereas edema and excoriation were two independent risk factors related to anxiety in atopic dermatitis patients. These findings suggest that atopic dermatitis is associated with anxiety and depression. Allergies, autoimmune diseases, pruritus, and insomnia had a correlation with anxiety and depression disorder.

Consensus genetic map and QTLs for morphological and agronomical traits in mungbean using DArT markers.

Mungbean is an important but understudied food legume compared with other major grain crops. Genetic studies through development of high-through put markers, linkage map construction and QTL analysis can accelerate and improve the efficiency of mining for genes for breeding in this crop. This study used four mungbean F5 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from crosses of two wild types (ACC 1, ACC 87) and two cultivars (Berken, Kiloga) and DArT markers to construct individual and consensus linkage maps and to identify QTLs associated with 54 traits in mungbean. The number of polymorphic DArT markers identified among the four RIL populations varied from 1062 to 2013. The individual maps covered the lengths of 629.7-883.5 cM, comprising 672-981 DArT markers and 15-19 linkage groups (LG) with average distance between markers of 0.9-1.2 cM. The consensus map had the total length of 795.3 cM, comprising 1539 DArT markers and resolved 11 LGs with an average inter-marker distance of 0.65 cM. Sixty-two QTLs were identified for 39 traits across 10 LGs of the consensus map. Major QTLs were identified for two special traits, late flowering inherited from ACC 1 (6 QTLs, PVE of 11.2-29.9%) and perenniality inherited from ACC 87 (3 QTLs, PVE of 17.4-22.6%) in separate population analysis. Number of congruent QTLs across four mungbean populations and the consensus map was 18 for 13 traits. These results illustrated the high efficiency of DArT marker application in mungbean genetic dissection and suggested the future potential employment of identified QTLs for mungbean improvement.

Outbreak of central nervous system infections among children in Thai Binh, Viet Nam.

From July to October 2020, 99 cases of central nervous system (CNS) infections were identified in Thai Binh Pediatric Hospital, Viet Nam, representing a five-fold increase compared to the baseline incidence during the previous five years. Clinical data were retrospectively collected. Cerebrospinal fluid specimens (CSF) were secondarily tested for pathogens using viral culture and PCR assays. Patient median age was 5 years (0-12 years); 58.6% were male. Of these children, 83.8% had CSF white blood culture (WBC) counts of ≥ 10 cells/µL, including 58 of 99 (58.6%) with a WBC count ≥ 100 cells/µL. Overall, 72 (72.7%) patients had confirmed infections with a pathogen identified in the CSF, the majority of which (66) were enterovirus. Sequencing results suggested that the rise of incidence observed in 2020 was due to Echovirus 4 (n = 45), Echovirus 30 (n = 8), and Echovirus 6 (n = 1) circulation. A confirmed CNS infection was significantly associated with older age (≥5 years, OR = 3.64, p = 0.03) and with an increased WBC count in the CSF (OR = 6.38, p-value = 0.01 for WBCs from 10 to <100 and OR = 7.90, p-value = 0.002 for WBCs ≥100). Ninety-seven (97) of 99 (98.0%) children received empiric antimicrobial treatment, and 35 (35.3%) were treated with multiple antibiotics. Eighty-four (84) patients (84.9%) were discharged home, and 11 (11.1%) were transferred to the National Hospital because their condition had worsened. No deaths were recorded. Point-of-care tests, including real-time PCR assays to identify common pathogens, should be implemented for more accurate diagnosis and more appropriate antibiotic use.

Growth responses and differential expression of VrDREB2A gene at different growth stages of mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) under drought stress.

Mungbean is an important pulse crop and is predominantly cultivated across Asia. However, its production is hampered by climate change-induced drought stress. Drought affects various morpho-physiological processes associated with growth and molecular functions. This study analyzed growth responses and VrDREB2A gene expression in two mungbean cultivars, DX208 and Tam Thanh Hoa under water deficit at vegetative and flowering stages. Water use and growth characters were evaluated at four time-points (8, 12, 15 and 20-day drought) and 7-day recovery while yield components and yield were recorded after harvesting. Differential expression of VrDREB2A gene was analyzed at four time-points for leaf and root. Plants used up water more quickly at the flowering stage than vegetative stage. The data for plant height, leaf number, above-ground plant biomass and root weight indicated that drought stress significantly repressed mungbean growth, with a reduction relative to the control by 4.0-85%. Yield components and individual yield reduced significantly by 50-60%, with more reduction in drought imposed under the vegetative stage. VrDREB2A expression began to increase on a 12-day drought and was significant in stressed roots on a 20-day drought at the vegetative stage. In contrast, an increase in VrDREB2A expression occurred from 8-day and lasted until a 20-day drought in stressed leave and root at the flowering stage. Overall, the vegetative stage was more sensitive to drought than the flowering stage. A cultivar with less relative reduction in growth and yield related traits and higher VrDREB2A expression was more tolerant to drought. VrDREB2A functioned as an important transcriptional activator and can increase the drought stress tolerance of the mungbean. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-021-01089-w.

Protein function prediction with gene ontology: from traditional to deep learning models.

Protein function prediction is a crucial part of genome annotation. Prediction methods have recently witnessed rapid development, owing to the emergence of high-throughput sequencing technologies. Among the available databases for identifying protein function terms, Gene Ontology (GO) is an important resource that describes the functional properties of proteins. Researchers are employing various approaches to efficiently predict the GO terms. Meanwhile, deep learning, a fast-evolving discipline in data-driven approach, exhibits impressive potential with respect to assigning GO terms to amino acid sequences. Herein, we reviewed the currently available computational GO annotation methods for proteins, ranging from conventional to deep learning approach. Further, we selected some suitable predictors from among the reviewed tools and conducted a mini comparison of their performance using a worldwide challenge dataset. Finally, we discussed the remaining major challenges in the field, and emphasized the future directions for protein function prediction with GO.

Morbidity and Mortality Patterns in Children Admitted to Hospital in Thai Binh, Vietnam: A Five-year Descriptive Study with a Focus on Infectious Diseases.

The objective of this study was to describe the overall pattern of morbidity and mortality of children seen at the Thai Binh Paediatric Hospital in Vietnam, with a focus on infectious diseases. A retrospective review of hospitalisation records was conducted from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2019. Data were obtained from a total of 113,999 records. The median age of patients was 18 months, with 84.0% of patients aged <5 years. Infectious diseases accounted for 61.0% of all cases. The most prevalent diseases were lower respiratory tract infections (32.8%), followed by gastrointestinal infections (13.3%) and confirmed influenza (5.4%). Most infections were not microbiologically documented. A total of 81.4% patients received at least one antibiotic. Most patients (97.0%) were hospitalised for less than 15 days. Regarding outcomes, 87.8% patients were discharged home with a favourable outcome. Twelve percent were transferred to the Vietnam National Children's Hospital because their condition had worsened and 0.1% died. In total, infectious diseases accounted for 40.4% of deaths, followed by neonatal disorders (34.6%). Our data serves a basis for the identification of needs for diagnostic tools and for future evaluation of the effect of the targeted implementation of such facilities. Point-of-care tests, including real-time polymerase chain reaction assays to identify common pathogens should be implemented for more accurate diagnosis and more appropriate antibiotic use.

A 1H NMR based study of hemolymph metabonomics in different resistant silkworms, Bombyx mori (Lepidotera), after BmNPV inoculation.

Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is a primary silkworm pathogen, and the molecular mechanism of silkworm defense to BmNPV infection is still unclear. Herein, comparative metabolomics was adopted to analyze the variations in the hemolymph metabolites of different resistant silkworm strains following BmNPV inoculation using a 1H NMR method. Trehalose, as an instant source of energy, plays a crucial role in the response to pathogen infections in insects. The level of trehalose was persistently upregulated in the hemolymph of the resistant silkworm strain YeA following infection with BmNPV, compared to that of the susceptible strain YeB, indicating that trehalose metabolism plays a vital role in the response to BmNPV infection. The significant upregulation of TCA cycle relevant metabolites, including malate, fumarate, citrate, succinate, and α-ketoglutarate, was identified at 0 h, 12 h, 48 h, and 96 h post-infection in YeA hemolymph, whereas a significant upregulation in YeB hemolymph was only detected at an early stage of infection (0 h-24 h). The expression level of selected key metabolic enzymes, determined using RT-qPCR, validated the differences in trehalose and TCA cycle relevant metabolite levels. The variations in branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) pathway relevant metabolites in resistant silkworm strains following BmNPV infection showed a regular undulation at different times after infection. A significant accumulation of phenylalanine and tyrosine was observed in YeA following BmNPV infection compared to YeB. The glycolysis and gluconeogenesis pathways showed a relatively low activity in YeA following BmNPV infection. Moreover, the levels of other metabolites related to fat metabolism, transamination, energy metabolism, and glycometabolism, such as glycine, threonine, glutamine, and glutamate, were unstable in the two silkworm strains following BmNPV infection. Thus, our study provides an overview of the metabolic response of the silkworm in response to BmNPV infection, which lays the foundation for clarifying the mechanism of silkworm resistance to BmNPV infection.

Detection of polychlorinated biphenyls in transformer oils in Vietnam by multiphoton ionization mass spectrometry using a far-ultraviolet femtosecond laser as an ionization source.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in transformer and food oils were measured using gas chromatography combined with multiphoton ionization mass spectroscopy. An ultrashort laser pulse emitting in the far-ultraviolet region was utilized for efficient ionization of the analytes. Numerous signal peaks were clearly observed for a standard sample mixture of PCBs when the third and fourth harmonic emissions (267 and 200nm) of a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser (800nm) were employed. The signal intensities were found to be greater when measured at 200nm compared with those measured at 267nm, providing lower detection limits especially for highly chlorinated PCBs at shorter wavelengths. After simple pretreatment using disposable columns, PCB congeners were measured and found to be present in the transformer oils used in Vietnam.

Synthesis of capped TiO2 nanocrystals of controlled shape and their use with MEH-PPV to develop nanocomposite films for photovoltaic applications.

The present study presents the synthesis details of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) of different morphologies using oleic acid (OA) and oleyl amine (OM) as capping agents. Different shapes of NPs, such as nanospheres, nanorods, and nanorhombics, were achieved. In order to develop nanocomposite thin films for photovoltaic cells, these TiO2 NPs were carefully dispersed in 2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-p-phenylene vinylene (MEH-PPV) matrix. The properties of synthesized TiO2 NPs and MEH-PPV/TiO2 nanocomposites were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), UV-Visible spectroscopy, and Photoluminescence technique. Obtained results showed promising properties for photovoltaic devices, especially solar radiation absorption properties and charge transfer at the interface of the conjugated MEH-PPV matrix and TiO2 dispersed NPs.

Activated carbon/Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticle composite: fabrication, methyl orange removal and regeneration by hydrogen peroxide.

In the water treatment field, activated carbons (ACs) have wide applications in adsorptions. However, the applications are limited by difficulties encountered in separation and regeneration processes. Here, activated carbon/Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticle composites, which combine the adsorption features of powdered activated carbon (PAC) with the magnetic and excellent catalytic properties of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles, were fabricated by a modified impregnation method using HNO(3) as the carbon modifying agent. The obtained composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption isotherms and vibrating sample magnetometer. Their performance for methyl orange (MO) removal by adsorption was evaluated. The regeneration of the composite and PAC-HNO(3) (powdered activated carbon modified by HNO(3)) adsorbed MO by hydrogen peroxide was investigated. The composites had a high specific surface area and porosity and a superparamagnetic property that shows they can be manipulated by an external magnetic field. Adsorption experiments showed that the MO sorption process on the composites followed pseudo-second order kinetic model and the adsorption isotherm date could be simulated with both the Freundlich and Langmuir models. The regeneration indicated that the presence of the Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles is important for a achieving high regeneration efficiency by hydrogen peroxide.

Molecular epidemiology of rotavirus diarrhoea among children in Haiphong, Vietnam: the emergence of G3 rotavirus.

From September 2006- October 2007 hospital-based surveillance was conducted in Haiphong, Vietnam among children less than age 5 years hospitalized for diarrhoea to determine the distribution of G and P types and electropherotypes of rotavirus. Of note, the emergence of G3P[8] was identified and the strain was predominant among rotaviruses detected. More than 90% of G3P[8] electropherotyped strains shared an identical electropherotype, indicating they were of a single origin and their VP7 sequences were similar to those reported from Japan and China. This abrupt emergence of a novel G3 strains underscores the continued need for quality rotavirus surveillance.