The prevalence of Pfk13 polymorphism in malaria patients treated with artemisinin-based therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Artemisinin (ART) combination therapy is the main treatment for malaria. Pfk13 mutations (or K13 mutations, Kelch 13) are associated with ART resistance. This study aims to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of K13 mutations with ART resistance in malaria-endemic countries. An electronic search of studies in 2018 and a manual search in 2020 were performed to identify relevant studies. The risk of bias was assessed using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) quality assessment tool for observational cohort and cross-sectional studies. Data analysis was performed using R 4.1.0. Heterogeneity was estimated using the statistic I2 and Cochran Q test. A total of 170 studies were included in our review. Of these, 55 studies investigated the prevalence of K13 mutations in Southeast Asia. The meta-analysis showed that Southeast Asia had the highest prevalence of K13 mutations, whereas Africa, South America, Oceania, and other Asian countries outside Southeast Asia had a low prevalence of K13 mutations. The C580Y mutation was the most common in Southeast Asia with 35.5% (95%CI: 25.4-46.4%), whereas the dominant mutation in Africa was K189T (22.8%, 95%CI: 7.6-43.2%). This study revealed the emergence of ART resistance associated with K13 mutations in Southeast Asia. The diversity of each type of K13 mutation in other regions was also reported.

Efficacy of Kinesio Taping Compared to Other Treatment Modalities in Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Kinesio taping is widely used in musculoskeletal conditions. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of kinesio taping in musculoskeletal disorders compared to other interventions. Twelve electronic databases were used for systemic search and data relevant to pain and disability were extracted. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42018087606). Meta-analysis was performed to compare the efficacy of kinesio taping to other modalities of musculoskeletal disorders. As a result, 36 studies were included in the quantitative analysis. Kinesio taping was found to provide an improvement of both pain and disability when applied to any region of the body. In the first five days of application, kinesio taping significantly reduced the pain in all body regions (SMD = -0.63, 95%CI: -0.87, -0.39). This was also noted after four-to-six weeks of application (SMD = -0.76, 95%CI: -1.07, -0.45). When kinesio taping was used for disability in low back pain patients, it significantly reduced the disability within five days of application (SMD = -0.70, 95%CI: -1.29, -0.11). Finally, kinesio taping has shown an improvement of the disability in all body regions after four-to-six weeks of application (SMD = -0.59, 95%CI: -0.96, -0.22). Our findings support kinesio taping as an adjuvant to other treatments for musculoskeletal disorders. Abbreviations KT = Kinesio taping; MSK = musculoskeletal; SD = standard deviation; CR = conventional rehabilitation; NDI = Neck Disability Index; NPS = Numerical Pain Scale; CTM = Cervical Thrust Manipulation; PIR = Post-isometric muscle relaxation; NPRS Numerical Pain Rating Scale; OA = osteoarthritis; ROM = Range of motion; VAS = visual analogue scale; VAS-W = visual analogue scale-worst pain; VAS-U = visual analogue scale-usual pain; VAS-R = visual analogue scale-resting pain; VAS-A = visual analogue scale-activity pain; VAS-N = visual analogue scale-night pain; NPDS = Neck Pain Disability Scale; QA = Quality assessment.

A global view of adherence to colonoscopy follow-up in cascade screening of colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To overview the colonoscopy adherence in cascade screening of colorectal cancer (CRC) and evaluate potential influence of the initial tests based on an ecological evaluation. METHODS: The performance of the initial screening tests and adherence to subsequent colonoscopy were extracted from relevant studies published up to 16 October 2020. The age-standardised incidence (ASRi) of CRC in populations in the year of screening was derived from the Cancer Statistics. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-six observational studies and 60 experimental studies were identified. Most studies applied cascade screening with faecal occult blood tests (FOBTs) as an initial test. The adherence to colonoscopy varied greatly across populations by continents, gross national income and type of initial tests, with a median (interquartile range) of 79.8% (63.1%-87.8%) in observational studies and 82.1% (66.7%-90.4%) in randomised trials. The adherence was positively correlated with the ASRi of CRC (r = 0.145, p = 0.023) and positive predictive value (PPV) of the initial tests (r = 0.206, p = 0.002) in observational studies and correlated with ASRi of CRC (r = 0.309, p = 0.002) and sensitivity of the initial tests (r = -0.704, p = 0.003) in experimental studies. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to colonoscopy varies greatly across populations and is related with performance of the initial tests, indicating the importance to select appropriate initial tests.

Cardiovascular Outcomes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW: To review cardiovascular outcomes (CVE) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that evolves over time. RECENT FINDINGS: Inception cohorts now report long-term data, and large population registries add to our knowledge. Mortality and cardiovascular morbidity remain high with a risk ratio of 2-3. SLE disease activity-related inflammation accounts for higher CVE incidence ratio in the first year following diagnosis with accelerated atherosclerosis contributing to CVE in about a quarter to a third of the patients later in the disease course. Immunomodulation and disease control are associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes. Validation of modified risk stratification tools and studies evaluating primary prevention with aspirin and hydroxychloroquine are reported. Increased awareness of high mortality associated with cardiac inflammation, improved outcomes with early disease control, aggressive management of risk factors, hypertension, obesity, and high cholesterol with modifying risk stratification will result in more favorable outcomes in SLE patients.

Exchange transfusion in the management of critical pertussis in young infants: a case series.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is proposed that severe leucocytosis mainly contributes to pulmonary hypertension by blocking pulmonary capillaries and restricting blood flow. Exchange transfusion (ET) in pertussis has been demonstrated as a safe and useful technique for depleting the leucocyte mass. We aim to discuss four cases of pertussis-induced respiratory distress and the effectiveness of ET in such a setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case series at the Infectious Disease Department of Children's Hospital 2 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and included four pertussis patients that were confirmed by PCR tests on respiratory secretions, presented with severe leucocytosis and respiratory distress and required mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: Among the included patients, three underwent a double volume ET for leucodepletion, two of whom were discharged after the procedure with proper vitals and laboratory test results. On the other hand, one patient died despite ET, performed late in the course of the disease. Exchange transfusion was not performed in the last patient who died as well. CONCLUSION: Early ET may be a useful and rapid life-saving treatment in children with critical pertussis and severe leucocytosis before cardiopulmonary complications appear.

The status and distribution of PCBs along the coast of Vietnam.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), well-known as an important scientific achievement, are now considered as one of the most persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that need to be strictly controlled and forbidden worldwide (the Stockholm convention on POPs). Vietnam is one of the countries that encounters with serious issues from PCB contamination. This study presented a comprehensive review on the status and contamination of PCBs along the coast of Vietnam. The contaminated PCBs data in the water, sediment and biological samples from 18 provinces along Vietnam coastline were collected from various sources. A comparison in PCBs contamination between Vietnam and other Asian countries was included. The status on PCBs contamination in Vietnam since participated as a party of the Stockholm convention on POPs in 2002 was also assessed. The results showed that Vietnam is facing serious PCBs contamination problems as it evidences the spread and accumulation of PCBs in the marine environment. The implementation of the Stockholm convention on POPs (PCBs in particular) has not yet demonstrated significant effect on the reduction in PCBs contamination in the environment. This information on PCBs contamination in Vietnam urges government to strengthen the mechanism, policy and legislation, the management capacity for PCBs as well as applying advanced and modern technologies in reducing, disposing and eliminating PCBs from the environment.

Specific global responses to N and Fe nutrition in toxic and non-toxic Microcystis aeruginosa.

The bloom-forming cyanobacteria species Microcystis aeruginosa includes toxic and non-toxic (microcystin-producing) strains. Certain stress conditions stimulate synthesis of microcystin (MCYST) and enhance the binding of the MCYST molecule to proteins. In this quantitative proteomic study, we compared the response of a wild-type toxic strain PCC 7806, an mcyH(-) knockout non-toxic strain, and a naturally occurring non-toxic strain, PCC 7005, after 8 days in low iron (Fe) and nitrogen (N) starvation in order to assess the benefit of MCYST synthesis in non-optimal conditions. Fe limitation increased MCYST synthesis and caused an accumulation of phycobilisome proteins and the ferric iron transporter FutA only in the toxic PCC 7806 but not the non-toxic strains. In N starvation, photosynthetic, C and N metabolism proteins were more abundant in the non-toxic strains, as were chaperones and proteases. Significant interaction between nutrient availability and toxicity existed for thioredoxin peroxidase and several thioredoxin-regulated proteins. We propose a competition of MCYST for binding sites in thioredoxin-regulated proteins during oxidative stress (low Fe) but not in growth-limiting conditions (low N). This then leads to differences in the regulation of C:N metabolism in toxic and non-toxic M. aeruginosa in nutrient-replete and nutrient-limited conditions.

Cone Beam CT Assessment of Mandibular Foramen and Mental Foramen Positions as Essential Anatomical Landmarks: A Retrospective Study in Vietnam.

INTRODUCTION: The mandibular foramen (MnF) and the mental foramen (MF) are essential anatomical landmarks that should be considered before any surgical procedures in the mandible. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of the MnF and MF in relation to adjacent anatomical structures, as well as age and gender differences, using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) projections. METHODS: The study was conducted from August 2023 to January 2024 at the Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Vietnam. In this retrospective study, 50 CBCT images of Vietnamese patients were randomly taken for various clinical purposes. Furthermore, relevant data, such as gender and age groups, were selected to evaluate the correlations, along with specific inclusion criteria. Patients within the age range of 18-69 with a symmetrical mandible were included. RESULTS: The distance of the MnF-MN was 29.6±5.0 mm (right) and 30.1±4.6 mm (left) in males and 25.0±4.2 mm (right) and 26.3±5.0 mm (left) in females. The distance of the MnF-posterior border of the ramus (P) was 16.2±3.6 mm (right) and 15.0±2.3 mm (left) in males. For females, it was 17.1±2.9 mm (right) and 13.8±1.7 mm (left). The distance of the MF-body mandible (MB) was 15.4±2.4 mm (right) and 15.6±2.0 mm (left) in males and 14.0±2.1 mm (right) and 14.3±1.6 mm (left) in females. The distance of the MF-mandibular midline (MM) was 27.0±2.6 mm (right) and 27.0±2.9 mm (left) in males and 25.3±2.0 mm (right) and 25.1±2.2 mm (left) in females. These distances showed statistically significant differences depending on gender (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: It can be said that CBCT provides comprehensive information about the MnF and the MF for dentists in research and clinical practice.

Safety and Immunogenicity of the Live Attenuated Varicella Vaccine in Vietnamese Children Aged 12 Months to 12 Years: An Open-Label, Single-Arm Bridging Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the SKYVaricella vaccine in healthy Vietnamese children aged 12 months to 12 years. METHODS: This open-label, single-arm study involved 201 children divided into two groups: 60 children aged 12 months to 5 years and 141 children aged 6 to 12 years. Safety was assessed through immediate reactions, solicited adverse events within 7 days, and unsolicited events up to Day 42. Immunogenicity was evaluated by seroconversion rates (SCR) and geometric mean titer (GMT) increments using fluorescent antibody-to-membrane antigen (FAMA) on the day of vaccination (D0) and 42 days after vaccination (D42). RESULTS: All participants completed the follow-up. Immediate adverse events included pain (8.0%), redness (8.0%), and swelling (20.9%) at the injection site. Within 7 days, pain (17.9%) and swelling (12.4%) were mild and self-resolving. Unsolicited adverse events were infrequent and mild. Both age groups achieved 100% SCR. GMT of varicella-zoster virus antibodies increased from 1.37 (SD 1.97) at D0 to 18.02 (SD 2.22) at D42, a 13.12-fold rise. No Grade 3 adverse events were observed. CONCLUSION: The SKYVaricella vaccine shows a robust immunogenic response and favorable safety profile in Vietnamese children aged 12 months to 12 years. These findings endorse its potential inclusion in pediatric vaccination programs as a reliable preventive option against varicella.

Understanding the barriers to integrating maternal and mental health at primary health care in Vietnam.

The prevalence of common perinatal mental disorders in Vietnam ranges from 16.9% to 39.9%, and substantial treatment gaps have been identified at all levels. This paper explores constraints to the integration of maternal and mental health services at the primary healthcare level and the implications for the health system's responsiveness to the needs and expectations of pregnant women with mental health conditions in Vietnam. As part of the RESPONSE project, a three-phase realist evaluation study, we present Phase 1 findings, which employed systematic and scoping literature reviews and qualitative data collection (focus groups and interviews) with key health system actors in Bac Giang province, Vietnam, to understand the barriers to maternal mental healthcare provision, utilization and integration strategies. A four-level framing of the barriers to integrating perinatal mental health services in Vietnam was used in reporting findings, which comprised individual, sociocultural, organizational and structural levels. At the sociocultural and structural levels, these barriers included cultural beliefs about the holistic notion of physical and mental health, stigma towards mental health, biomedical approach to healthcare services, absence of comprehensive mental health policy and a lack of mental health workforce. At the organizational level, there was an absence of clinical guidelines on the integration of mental health in routine antenatal visits, a shortage of staff and poor health facilities. Finally, at the provider level, a lack of knowledge and training on mental health was identified. The integration of mental health into routine antenatal visits at the primary care level has the potential help to reduce stigma towards mental health and improve health system responsiveness by providing services closer to the local level, offering prompt attention, better choice of services and better communication while ensuring privacy and confidentiality of services. This can improve the demand for mental health services and help reduce the delay of care-seeking.

Corrigendum: Effectiveness of perindopril/amlodipine fixed-dose combination in the treatment of hypertension: a systematic review.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1156655.].

Frequency of GLP-1 receptor agonists use in diabetic patients diagnosed with delayed gastric emptying and their demographic profile.

Advances in the management of diabetes mellitus have come a long way in the 21st century. One of the most important developments in diabetes management has been the discovery of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. The most common side effects of GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists are nausea and vomiting which have been attributed to delayed gastric emptying. While the effects of GLP-1R agonists on gastric emptying have prompted further research in this field, there are limited studies evaluating their effects on patients with pre-existing gastroparesis. Additionally, the frequency of GLP-1R agonist use among patients with gastroparesis has not been assessed in the past and this study aims to identify that percentage along with evaluating for possible iatrogenic gastroparesis. A retrospective review of all the gastric emptying studies performed at one academic medical center between January 2019 and January 2021 was performed. We found that although patients on GLP-1R agonists were more likely to have delayed gastric emptying, we could not establish a statistical significance. This could be due to the small sample size in the study. However, GLP-1R agonists use was associated with delayed gastric emptying in patients with diabetes for <10 years. Moreover, a significant proportion (24%) of patients with diabetes with delayed gastric emptying were on a GLP-1R agonist. Recently, semaglutide (GLP-1R agonist) gained Food and Drug Administration approval as a weight loss medication in both patients with and without diabetes. This should prompt further research to evaluate the safety profile of these medications in patients with and without pre-existing gastroparesis.

The role of nursing leadership in promoting evidence-based nursing practice.

Although the undermining of the nursing profession, time constraints, and the lack of inclusive teaching of evidence-based nursing (EBN) in the nursing school's curriculum have long been identified as being some of the main barriers to the adoption of evidence-based practice (EBP) by nurses, the specific role of nurse leaders in directly influencing and supporting evidence-based nursing is not well demonstrated. This opinion piece discusses potential factors that influence the implementation of EBP into clinical routine practice, as well as how nursing leadership styles can contribute to its promotion in contemporary healthcare settings.

A Review of the In Vitro Inhibition of α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase by Chalcone Derivatives.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease relating to steady hyperglycemia resulting from the impairment of the endocrine and non-endocrine systems. Many new drugs having varied targets were discovered to treat this disease, especially type 2 diabetes. Among those, α-glucosidase inhibitors showed their effects by preventing the digestion of carbohydrates through their inhibition against α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Recently, chalcones have attracted considerable attention as they have a simple structure, are easily synthesized as well as have a variety of derivatives. Some reports suggested that chalcone and its derivates could inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase. This narrative review provides a comprehensive evaluation of the inhibition of chalcone and its derivatives against α-amylase and α-glucosidase that were reviewed and reported in published scientific articles. Twenty-eight articles were reviewed after screening 207 articles found in four databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, VHL (Virtual Health Library), and GHL (Global Health Library). This review presented the inhibitory effects of varied chalcones, including chalcones with a basic structural framework, azachalcones, bis-chalcones, chalcone oximes, coumarin-chalcones, cyclohexane chalcones, dihydrochalcones, and flavanone-coupled chalcones. Many of these chalcones had significant inhibition against α-amylase as well as α-glucosidase that were comparable to or even stronger than standard inhibitors. This suggested that such compounds could be potential candidates for the discovery of new anti-diabetic remedies in the years to come.

Compound K: A systematic review of its anticancer properties and probable mechanisms.

Panax ginseng is a common natural product, which is well-known to have a wide range of pharmacological activities in cancer. Its metabolite, compound K (CK), has been reported to have anticancer activity. We aimed to systematically review the literature for evidence of anticancer effects of CK. We conducted a systematic search in eight databases. We included all in vitro and in vivo studies investigating the anticancer effects of CK with no restrictions. Quality assessment was applied by ToxRTool. Fifty-four articles were included in our study. The purity of CK in our included studies was at least 95%. The in vitro studies reported that CK had a potential anticancer activity on several cell lines including human lung cancer cell lines (A549, PC-9), nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line (Hk-1), liver cancer cell line (BEL 7402), and pediatric acute myeloid leukemia cell lines (Kasumi-1, MV4-11). The in vivo studies reported a significant decrease in tumor volume in mice treated with CK. CK is a potential supplementary treatment in cancer chemotherapies. The safety and further clinical trials of CK should be explored for future drug development.

Factors associated with successful publication for systematic review protocol registration: an analysis of 397 registered protocols.

BACKGROUND: Meta-analyses are on top of the evidence-based medicine pyramid, yet many of them are not completed after they are begun. Many factors impacting the publication of meta-analysis works have been discussed, and their association with publication likelihood has been investigated. These factors include the type of systematic review, journal metrics, h-index of the corresponding author, country of the corresponding author, funding sources, and duration of publication. In our current review, we aim to investigate these various factors and their impact on the likelihood of publication. A comprehensive review of 397 registered protocols retrieved from five databases was performed to investigate the different factors that might affect the likelihood of publication. These factors include the type of systematic review, journal metrics, h-index of the corresponding author, country of the corresponding author, funding sources, and duration of publication. RESULTS: We found that corresponding authors in developed countries and English-speaking countries had higher likelihoods of publication: 206/320 (p = 0.018) and 158/236 (p = 0.006), respectively. Factors affecting publications are the countries of corresponding author (p = 0.033), whether they are from developed countries (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.2-3.1, p = 0.016), from English-speaking countries (OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.2-2.7, p = 0.005), update status of the protocol (OR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.0-2.6, p = 0.033), and external funding (OR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1-2.7, p = 0.025). Multivariable regression retains three variables as significant predictors for the publication of a systematic review: whether it is the corresponding author from developed countries (p = 0.013), update status of the protocol (p = 0.014), and external funding (p = 0.047). CONCLUSION: Being on top of the evidence hierarchy, systematic review and meta-analysis are the keys to informed clinical decision-making. Updating protocol status and external funding are significant influences on their publications. More attentions should be paid to the methodological quality of this type of publication.

Effectiveness of perindopril/amlodipine fixed-dose combination in the treatment of hypertension: a systematic review.

Background: Uncontrolled blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Fixed-dose combination (FDC) therapy offers a promising approach to addressing this challenge by providing a convenient single-tablet solution that enhances the effectiveness of blood pressure control. In our systematic review, we assess the effectiveness of perindopril/amlodipine FDC in managing blood pressure. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search across four primary electronic databases, namely, PubMed, Virtual Health Library (VHL), Global Health Library (GHL), and Google Scholar, as of 8 February 2022. Additionally, we performed a manual search to find relevant articles. The quality of the selected articles was evaluated using the Study Quality Assessment Tools (SQAT) checklist from the National Institute of Health and the ROB2 tool from Cochrane. Results: Our systematic review included 17 eligible articles. The findings show that the use of perindopril/amlodipine FDC significantly lowers blood pressure and enhances the quality of blood pressure control. Compared to the comparison group, the perindopril/amlodipine combination tablet resulted in a higher rate of blood pressure response and normalization. Importantly, perindopril/amlodipine FDC contributes to improved patient adherence with minimal side effects. However, studies conducted to date have not provided assessments of the cost-effectiveness of perindopril/amlodipine FDC. Conclusion: In summary, our analysis confirms the effectiveness of perindopril/amlodipine FDC in lowering blood pressure, with combination therapy outperforming monotherapy and placebo. Although mild adverse reactions were observed in a small subset of participants, cost-effectiveness assessments for this treatment remain lacking in the literature.

COVID-19-Associated Superior Mesenteric Artery Thrombosis and Acute Intestinal Ischemia.

The prothrombotic nature of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been well-established since the start of the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Mesenteric artery thrombosis and acute mesenteric ischemia are, on their own, rare occurrences and often present with fatal gastrointestinal (GI) pathologies requiring quick identification and intervention by the clinician to improve clinical outcomes. SARS-CoV-2 infection can present with acute GI pathologies and warrants further investigation regarding anticoagulation therapy in COVID-19 positive patients. We report on a 64-year-old woman infected with SARS-CoV-2 who presented with superior mesenteric artery thrombosis and acute intestinal ischemia.

The efficacy and adverse effects of favipiravir on patients with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis of published clinical trials and observational studies.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and adverse events of favipiravir in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: Our protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020206305). Fourteen databases were searched until February 8th, 2021. An update search for new RCTs was done on March 2nd, 2022. Meta-analysis was done for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs. RESULTS: Overall, 157 studies (24 RCTs, 1 non-RCT, 21 observational studies, 2 case series, and 106 case reports) were included. On hospitalized patients, in comparison to standard of care, favipiravir showed a higher rate of viral clearance at day 5 (RR = 1.60, p = 0.02), defervescence at day 3-4 (RR = 1.99, p <0.01), chest radiological improvement (RR = 1.33, p <0.01), hospital discharge at day 10-11 (RR = 1.19, p <0.01), and shorter clinical improvement time (MD = -1.18, p = 0.05). Regarding adverse events, favipiravir groups had higher rates of hyperuricemia (RR = 9.42, p <0.01), increased alanine aminotransferase (RR = 1.35, p <0.01) but lower rates of nausea (RR = 0.42, p <0.01) and vomiting (R R= 0.19, p=0.02). There were no differences regarding mortality (RR=1.19, p=0.32), and increased aspartate aminotransferase (RR = 1.11, p = 0.25). On nonhospitalized patients, no significant differences were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Adding favipiravir to the standard of care provides better outcomes for hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Pregnant, lactating women, and patients with a history of hyperuricemia should avoid using favipiravir.