Vinblastine loaded on graphene quantum dots and its anticancer applications.

AIMS: The aim of our work is to load Vinblastine drugs loaded on graphene quantum dots to improve its cytotoxicity on cancer cells and reduce it on the normal cell in the composites. Moreover, the GQDs-Vin composite significantly inhibited tumour growth in animals. METHODS: GQDs-Vin composites were prepared by homogenisation of GQDs and Vin solutions. The loading of Vin on GQDs in the composites was characterised by FTIR, PL, UV-vis spectra, and TEM. The cytotoxicity of GQDs, Vin, and GQDs-Vin composites was investigated on the Hela, HGC-27, A549, MCF-7, CCF-STTG1 cells and Vero by in vitro and in vivo methods. The difference in cellular structure and organelles in mice's livers in comparison between the control group and GQDs-Vin (1:5) groups was characterised by TEM. RESULTS: The diameter of the nanoparticles of GQDs-Vin composites in weight ratios 1:1, 1:3 and 1:5 w/w of 50-70 nm, 100-150 nm and ∼500nm, respectively, is larger than that of GQDs of 10-50nm. The in vitro results showed that GQDs not only improved the cytotoxicity of Vin to cancer cells but also decreased its cytotoxicity towards normal cells in the composites. The GQDs-Vin (1:5) composite exhibited a stronger tumour inhibition effect than Vin alone. The morphology of mice's livers showed the absence GQDs-Vin nanoparticles in the mice livers suggesting the lack of storage and the leakage from the liver without any toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the improved cytotoxicity of GQDs-Vin composite on cancer cells, its reduced cytotoxicity on normal cells and the significant inhibition on tumour growth of GQDs-Vin composite compared with Vin and GQDs alone may indicate a synergistic effect of Vin and GQDs in their composites for anticancer application.

Mental health among Vietnamese urban late adolescents: The association of parenting styles.

The aim of this study was to explore the correlation between parental styles and mental problems among Vietnamese high school students. In total, 16.4 percent of 757 eligible participants reported mental difficulties. Findings showed that being female and in grade 12 were risk factors to mental problems while living in Hue city was likely as a protective factor. The father's warmth reduced the risk of having mental problems among adolescents, while an overprotective mother increased the risk. There was no correlation between authoritarianism of both mother and father and mental difficulties. These results suggest that a parenting program for parents might reduce the risk of mental problems among Vietnamese youth.

Expanding HIV testing efforts in concentrated epidemic settings: a population-based survey from rural Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: To improve HIV prevention and care programs, it is important to understand the uptake of HIV testing and to identify population segments in need of increased HIV testing. This is particularly crucial in countries with concentrated HIV epidemics, where HIV prevalence continues to rise in the general population. This study analyzes determinants of HIV testing in a rural Vietnamese population in order to identify potential access barriers and areas for promoting HIV testing services. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional survey of 1874 randomly sampled adults was linked to pregnancy, migration and economic cohort data from a demographic surveillance site (DSS). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine which factors were associated with having tested for HIV. RESULTS: The age-adjusted prevalence of ever-testing for HIV was 7.6%; however 79% of those who reported feeling at-risk of contracting HIV had never tested. In multivariate analysis, younger age (aOR 1.85, 95% CI 1.14-3.01), higher economic status (aOR 3.4, 95% CI 2.21-5.22), and semi-urban residence (aOR 2.37, 95% CI 1.53-3.66) were associated with having been tested for HIV. HIV testing rates did not differ between women of reproductive age who had recently been pregnant and those who had not. CONCLUSIONS: We found low testing uptake (6%) among pregnant women despite an existing prevention of mother-to-child HIV testing policy, and lower-than-expected testing among persons who felt that they were at-risk of HIV. Poverty and residence in a more geographically remote location were associated with less HIV testing. In addition to current HIV testing strategies focusing on high-risk groups, we recommend targeting HIV testing in concentrated HIV epidemic settings to focus on a scaled-up provision of antenatal testing. Additional recommendations include removing financial and geographic access barriers to client-initiated testing, and encouraging provider-initiated testing of those who believe that they are at-risk of HIV.