High Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Seroprevalence and No Evidence of HEV Viraemia in Vietnamese Blood Donors.

The prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in the Vietnamese population remains underestimated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the seroprevalence of HEV IgG/IgM antibodies and the presence of HEV RNA in blood donors as a part of epidemiological surveillance for transfusion-transmitted viruses. Serum samples from blood donors (n = 553) were analysed for markers of past (anti-HEV IgG) and recent/ongoing (anti-HEV IgM) HEV infections. In addition, all serum samples were subsequently tested for HEV RNA positivity. The overall prevalence of anti-HEV IgG was 26.8% (n = 148/553), while the seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgM was 0.5% (n = 3/553). Anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence in male and female donors was similar (27.1% and 25.5%, respectively). A higher risk of hepatitis E exposure was observed with increasing age. None of the blood donors were HEV RNA positive, and there was no evidence of HEV viraemia. Although the absence of HEV viraemia in blood donors from Northern Vietnam is encouraging, further epidemiological surveillance in other geographical regions is warranted to rule out transfusion-transmitted HEV.

Synthesis of Multifunctional Eu(III) Complex Doped Fe3O4/Au Nanocomposite for Dual Photo-Magnetic Hyperthermia and Fluorescence Bioimaging.

In this paper, the luminescent complex Eu(3-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate)3 was integrated with Fe3O4 and gold (Au) nanoparticles to form a multifunctional nanocomposite, Fe3O4/Au/Eu(TTA)3 (FOASET NC), for dual magnetic-photothermal therapy and biomedical imaging. Upon functionalization with amine-NH2, the FOASET NC exhibits a small size of 60-70 nm and strong, sharp emission at λmax = 614 nm, enhanced by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of Au nanoparticles that provided an effective label for HT29 colorectal cancer cells by fluorescence microscopy imaging. In addition, a hyperthermia temperature (42-46 °C) was completely achieved by using these FOASET NCs in an aqueous solution with three heating modes for (i) Magnetic therapy (MT), (ii) Photothermal therapy (PT), and (iii) Dual magnetic-photothermal therapy (MPT). The heating efficiency was improved in the dual magnetic-photothermal heating mode.

Low Risk of Occult Hepatitis B Infection among Vietnamese Blood Donors.

Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is characterized by the presence of low levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and undetectable HBsAg in the blood. The prevalence of OBI in blood donors in Asia ranges from 0.013% (China) to 10.9% (Laos), with no data available from Vietnam so far. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of OBI among Vietnamese blood donors. A total of 623 (114 women and 509 men) HBsAg-negative blood donors were screened for anti-HBc and anti-HBs by ELISA assays. In addition, DNA from sera was isolated and nested PCR was performed for the HBV surface gene (S); a fragment of the S gene was then sequenced in positive samples. The results revealed that 39% (n = 242) of blood donors were positive for anti-HBc, and 70% (n = 434) were positive for anti-HBs, with 36% (n = 223) being positive for both anti-HBc and anti-HBs. In addition, 3% of blood donors (n = 19) were positive for anti-HBc only, and 34% (n = 211) had only anti-HBs as serological marker. A total of 27% (n = 170) were seronegative for any marker. Two of the blood donors (0.3%) were OBI-positive and sequencing revealed that HBV sequences belonged to HBV genotype B, which is the predominant genotype in Vietnam.

Association of PSORS1C3, CARD14 and TLR4 genotypes and haplotypes with psoriasis susceptibility.

Psoriasis is a common chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disease of the skin. PSORS1C3 is a non-protein coding gene, of which the RNA transcript is found in psoriatic patients. CARD14 is mainly expressed in epidermal keratinocytes. TLR4 is a transmembrane protein to recognize microbial antigens. Our study aimed to assess the relationship among PSORS1C3, CARD14 and TLR4 polymorphisms, inflammatory expression and psoriasis susceptibility. To the end, 71 patients with psoriasis and 46 healthy individuals with the well-characterized clinical profiles were enrolled. Gene polymorphisms were determined by Sanger DNA sequencing and secretion of cytokines by ELISA. As a result, genetic analysis of PSORS1C3 gene identified nine SNPs and three haplotype blocks. Sequencing of the CARD14 gene determined eight SNPs and one haplotype block. Sequencing of TLR4 gene identified nine SNPs, in which a SNP rs1018673641 was found to exert deleterious effect. The linkage disequilibrium analysis showed that seven variants in PSORS1C3 gene and three SNPs in CARD14 gene were in tightly linked. More importantly, a significant association between IL-6 level and rs1018673641 AT genotype in TLR4 gene was detected in psoriatic patients. In conclusion, the PSORS1C3, CARD14 and TLR4 polymorphisms and haplotypes may be correlated with risk of suffering psoriasis and the IL-6-mediated chronic inflammation in psoriasis could be partially regulated by the TLR4 functional variant.

Regulation of cell activation by A20 through STAT signaling in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the hematologic malignancy characterized by the aberrant proliferation of immature lymphoid cells. A20 is a deubiquitinase gene that inhibits functional activation of immune cells mediated through NF-κB/STAT pathways and frequently found inactivated in lymphoma. IL-6 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine secreted by immune cells under the pathogenic conditions and regulated by STAT signaling. Little is known about the role of A20 in regulating the function of ALL blasts and underlying molecular mechanisms. The present study, therefore, explored whether A20 expression contributes to IL-6 induced cell migration and activation of myeloid cells in ALL. To this end, blood samples of thirty-five adult ALL patients were examined. Gene expression profile was determined by quantitative RT-PCR, immunophenotype by flow cytometry, secretion of inflammatory cytokines by ELISA, and cell migration by a transwell migration assay. As a result, the expression of A20 was inactivated in ALL. Immunophenotypic analysis indicated that percent of CD11b+CD40+ expressing cells present in ALL was significantly reduced when transfected with PEM-T easy A20. Importantly, IL6-induced CXCL12-mediated migration of ALL blasts was dependent on the presence of A20. The inhibitory effects of A20 on activated myeloid cells and migration of ALL blasts were mediated through the STAT pathway upon IL-6 challenge. In addition, the CA-125 level was much higher in elderly females than either young female or male ALL patients or healthy donors. In conclusion, the inhibitory effects of A20 on activation of ALL blasts are expected to affect the immune response to treatment for adult ALL patients.

Stimulation of dendritic cell functional maturation by capsid protein from chikungunya virus.

OBJECTIVES: Chikungunya virus (ChikV) infection is characterized by persistent infection in joints and lymphoid organs. The ChikV Capsid protein plays an important role in regulating virus replication. In this study, we hypothesized that capsid protein may stimulate dendritic cell (DC) activation and maturation and trigger an inflammatory response in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were intraperitoneally injected with capsid protein and examined for changes in immunophenotype in lymph nodes (LNs). Next, DCs were treated with capsid protein or LPS and then expression of maturation markers, cytokine production, and ability to stimulate CD4+ T cells in allo-MLR were analyzed. RESULTS: Injection of mice with capsid protein led to recruitment of myeloid cells and increased activation of T lymphocytes in LNs. Importantly, treatment of DCs with capsid protein prolonged the activation of IKB-α and up-regulated the number of CD11c+CD86+DCs and release of TNF-α and IL-12p70 as well as reducing DC apoptosis, all effects were abolished in the presence of Bay 11-7082. In addition, IL-2 production was higher by CD4+ T cells stimulated with capsid-treated as compared with LPS-induced DCs. CONCLUSION: The observations revealed that capsid protein participates in the regulation of NF-κB signaling and maturation of DCs.

Correction to: Interleukin 6 is a better predictor of 5-year cardiovascular mortality than high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in hemodialysis patients using reused low-flux dialyzers.

The article "Interleukin 6 is a better predictor of 5-year cardiovascular mortality than high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in hemodialysis patients using reused low-fux dialyzers".

Interleukin 6 is a better predictor of 5-year cardiovascular mortality than high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in hemodialysis patients using reused low-flux dialyzers.

PURPOSE: In this study, we focused on the role of elevated serum interleukin 6 (IL-6) concentration in predicting 5-year cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients using low-flux dialyzer reuse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured serum IL-6 concentrations in 236 hemodialysis patients (138 males and 98 females) to predict 5-year cardiovascular mortality. We assessed the baseline demographics of all patients who had a mean age of 44 years and a median hemodialysis duration of 38.5 months. We divided all patients into two equal groups based on the serum IL-6 concentration: G1 (n = 118) with serum IL-6 concentration < 6.78 pg/L and G2 (n = 118) with serum IL-6 concentration ≥ 6.78 pg/L. RESULTS: After the 5-year follow-up, 45 patients died due to cardiovascular causes (19.1%). Lipid disorder, hemoglobin, serum albumin, ß2-M, and IL-6 concentration were independent risk factors for predicting cardiovascular mortality during the 60-month follow-up in hemodialysis patients. Based on the Kaplan-Meier analysis, we realized that patients with a higher interleukin 6 concentration (G2) had a significantly higher cardiovascular mortality rate than patients in G1 (log-rank test p < 0.001). Serum IL-6 concentration was a better predictor of 5-year cardiovascular mortality than high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in hemodialysis patients using low-flux dialyzer reuse (AUC = 0.818; p < 0.001; cut-off value: 8.055 pg/mL, Se = 77.8%, Sp = 78.5%). CONCLUSION: Serum IL-6 concentration was a better predictor of 5-year cardiovascular mortality than high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in maintenance hemodialysis patients using low-flux dialysis reuse.

Serum total iron-binding capacity and iron status in patients with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease: A cross-sectional study in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We performed this study to evaluate serum iron and ferritin concentrations, serum total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and proportion of overall iron deficiency among patients with non-dialysisdependent chronic kidney disease (ND-CKD). METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: A hospital-based cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 175 adult patients with stage 3-5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) by using 51 healthy age-sex-matched Vietnamese adults as the control group. We next examined the prevalence of anemia and determined the serum iron and ferritin concentrations and TIBC. Anemia in CKD was defined as hemoglobin levels <13 g/dL in men and <12 g/dL in women. Transferrin saturation (TSAT, %) was calculated as (serum iron x 100)/TIBC. Functional iron deficiency was defined as serum ferritin >100 ng/mL and TSAT <20%, and absolute iron deficiency was defined as serum ferritin <100 ng/mL and TSAT <20%. Overall iron deficiency was defined as the presence of either absolute or functional iron deficiency. RESULTS: Anemia prevalence in our study was approximately 88.6% with a mean hemoglobin concentration of 9.71±2.26 g/dL. The median serum TIBC was lower in the CKD group (50.4 µmol/L) than in the control group (66.0 µmol/L; p<0.001). The proportion of overall iron deficiency was 44.0%. TIBC had a diagnostic value for overall iron deficiency (area under the ROC curve=0.81; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Anemia and iron deficiency are common in Vietnamese patients with NDCKD. TIBC had diagnostic value for overall iron deficiency.

Regulation of p38MAPK-mediated dendritic cell functions by the deubiquitylase otubain 1.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen presenting cells (APCs) that represent the essential link between innate and acquired immunity. Otubain (OTUB) 1 is shown to deubiquitinate TRAFs to suppress virus-induced inflammatory response. MAPK, a downstream molecule of TRAFs, is involved in regulating LPS-induced immune reactions and its activation is sensitive to the presence of OTUB1. Little is known about contributions of OTUB1 to changes in biological properties of DCs. The present study, therefore, explored whether DC functions are influenced by OTUB1. To this end, DCs were isolated and cultured with GM-CSF to attain bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) and followed by treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the presence or absence of OTUB1 siRNA. Expression of markers of cellular maturation and proliferation were analyzed by flow cytometry, and secretion of inflammatory cytokines and ability to stimulate CD4+ T-cells in allogenic mixed leukocyte reaction (allo-MLR) by ELISA, cell migration by a transwell migration assay and phagocytic capacity by FITC-dextran uptake measurement. As a result, treatment of the cells with OTUB1 siRNA prolonged activation of p38MAPK, increased CD54 expression and IL-6 release and reduced FITC-dextran uptake. Moreover, cytokine release produced from CD4+ T-cells in allo-MLR was different. The enhanced level of IFN-γ, but not other cytokine production was observed in the presence of siRNA OTUB1. All the effects were completely abolished when the cells were exposed with p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580. In conclusion, OTUB1 prevents the prolonged activation of p38MAPK, which in turn compromises DC functions.