Untargeted Phylogenetic Group III of Multi-drug-Resistant Bacillus cereus Isolated Using Fraser Medium from Retail Chickens in Ho Chi Minh City.

The prevalence of food-borne bacteria in developing countries is less well understood than in developed countries. The ISO11290-1 isolation method is commonly used to study Listeria contamination in chicken; however, all isolates are identified as untargeted Bacillus cereus. This study aimed to determine the classification, antibiotic susceptibility, and virulence genes of B. cereus isolated from retail chickens in Vietnam. Bacterial isolation using the ISO11290-1 method yielded 12 strains of B. cereus from seven out of 60 chickens. For determining bacterial diversity, panC and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analyses were performed. PanC analysis showed that all seven strains belong to the phylogenetic group III, to which the highest risk of foodborne illnesses was associated. MLST analysis showed that most strains contained a ST205 complex; further, all strains were found to be resistant to ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, and tetracycline. Virulence genes were also investigated. ces, a cereulide-related gene, was detected in 50% of the isolated strains, followed by cytK, nheA, and hblA enterotoxins in 41.7%, 16.7%, and 25% of the strains, respectively. In conclusion, B. cereus may be erroneously detected when attempting to detect Listeria in food using the ISO11290-1 method. Further study of the prevalence of B. cereus in Vietnamese food is needed to improve food safety.

Prevalence, Serovar, and Antimicrobial Resistance of Nontyphoidal Salmonella in Vegetable, Fruit, and Water Samples in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

In this study, we investigated the prevalence, serovar distribution, and antimicrobial resistance pattern of Salmonella isolates from vegetable, fruit, and water samples in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Salmonella was detected in 75% (30/40), 57.1% (12/21), 17.5% (28/160), and 2.5% (1/40) of river water, irrigation water, vegetable, and ice water samples, respectively. However, no Salmonella was isolated from 160 fruit and 40 tap water samples examined. A total of 102 isolates obtained from 71 samples belonged to 34 different serovars, of which Salmonella Rissen was the most prevalent, followed by Salmonella London, Salmonella Hvittingfoss, and Salmonella Weltevreden. Certain Salmonella serovars such as Newport, Rissen, and Weltevreden were isolated from both vegetable and water samples. Antimicrobial resistance was most commonly observed against tetracycline (35.3%), followed by chloramphenicol (34.3%), ampicillin (31.4%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (23.5%), and nalidixic acid (10.8%). Of 102 isolates analyzed, 52 (51%) showed resistance to at least 1 antimicrobial class whereas 27 (26.5%) showed multidrug resistant (MDR) phenotype, being resistant to at least three different classes of antimicrobials. Determination of the presence and type of ß-lactamase genes showed the cooccurrence of blaTEM-1 and blaCMY-2 in one Salmonella Agona isolate from a river water sample. Taken together, these data indicated that both environmental water and vegetables were contaminated with Salmonella, including MDR strains, and that environmental water used in irrigation might have been the source of Salmonella contamination in the vegetables.

A mesoscale connectome of the mouse brain.

Comprehensive knowledge of the brain's wiring diagram is fundamental for understanding how the nervous system processes information at both local and global scales. However, with the singular exception of the C. elegans microscale connectome, there are no complete connectivity data sets in other species. Here we report a brain-wide, cellular-level, mesoscale connectome for the mouse. The Allen Mouse Brain Connectivity Atlas uses enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-expressing adeno-associated viral vectors to trace axonal projections from defined regions and cell types, and high-throughput serial two-photon tomography to image the EGFP-labelled axons throughout the brain. This systematic and standardized approach allows spatial registration of individual experiments into a common three dimensional (3D) reference space, resulting in a whole-brain connectivity matrix. A computational model yields insights into connectional strength distribution, symmetry and other network properties. Virtual tractography illustrates 3D topography among interconnected regions. Cortico-thalamic pathway analysis demonstrates segregation and integration of parallel pathways. The Allen Mouse Brain Connectivity Atlas is a freely available, foundational resource for structural and functional investigations into the neural circuits that support behavioural and cognitive processes in health and disease.

An anatomically comprehensive atlas of the adult human brain transcriptome.

Neuroanatomically precise, genome-wide maps of transcript distributions are critical resources to complement genomic sequence data and to correlate functional and genetic brain architecture. Here we describe the generation and analysis of a transcriptional atlas of the adult human brain, comprising extensive histological analysis and comprehensive microarray profiling of ∼900 neuroanatomically precise subdivisions in two individuals. Transcriptional regulation varies enormously by anatomical location, with different regions and their constituent cell types displaying robust molecular signatures that are highly conserved between individuals. Analysis of differential gene expression and gene co-expression relationships demonstrates that brain-wide variation strongly reflects the distributions of major cell classes such as neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and microglia. Local neighbourhood relationships between fine anatomical subdivisions are associated with discrete neuronal subtypes and genes involved with synaptic transmission. The neocortex displays a relatively homogeneous transcriptional pattern, but with distinct features associated selectively with primary sensorimotor cortices and with enriched frontal lobe expression. Notably, the spatial topography of the neocortex is strongly reflected in its molecular topography-the closer two cortical regions, the more similar their transcriptomes. This freely accessible online data resource forms a high-resolution transcriptional baseline for neurogenetic studies of normal and abnormal human brain function.

Detection of antibiotics in chicken eggs obtained from supermarkets in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The residual levels of antibiotics in Vietnamese eggs were monitored from 2014 to 2015. A total of 111 egg packages, distributed by 11 different companies, were collected from supermarkets in Ho Chi Minh City and the levels of 28 antibiotics were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) screening method. Sixteen samples tested positive for antibiotics; a total of eight compounds (enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, sulfadimethoxine, sulfamethazine, sulfamonomethoxine, tilmicosin and trimethoprim) were detected. Enrofloxacin was detected in eight samples, with two samples exhibiting concentrations exceeding 1,000 µg kg-1. Tilmicosin was detected in three samples at a range of 49-568 µg kg-1. We observed that two of the 11 companies frequently sold antibiotic-contaminated eggs (detection rates of 56 and 60%), suggesting that a number of companies do not regulate the use of antibiotics in egg-laying hens. Our findings indicate that livestock farmers require instruction regarding antibiotic use and that continual antibiotic monitoring is essential in Vietnam.

Exploration and visualization of connectivity in the adult mouse brain.

The Allen Mouse Brain Connectivity Atlas is a mesoscale whole brain axonal projection atlas of the C57Bl/6J mouse brain. All data were aligned to a common template in 3D space to generate a comprehensive and quantitative database of inter-areal and cell-type-specific projections. A suite of computational tools were developed to search and visualize the projection labeling experiments, available at http://connectivity.brain-map.org. We present three use cases illustrating how these publicly-available tools can be used to perform analyses of long range brain region connectivity. The use cases make extensive use of advanced visualization tools integrated with the atlas including projection density histograms, 3D computed anterograde and retrograde projection paths, and multi-specimen projection composites. These tools offer convenient access to detailed axonal projection information in the adult mouse brain and the ability to perform data analysis and visualization of projection fields and neuroanatomy in an integrated manner.

Neuroinformatics of the Allen Mouse Brain Connectivity Atlas.

The Allen Mouse Brain Connectivity Atlas is a mesoscale whole brain axonal projection atlas of the C57Bl/6J mouse brain. Anatomical trajectories throughout the brain were mapped into a common 3D space using a standardized platform to generate a comprehensive and quantitative database of inter-areal and cell-type-specific projections. This connectivity atlas has several desirable features, including brain-wide coverage, validated and versatile experimental techniques, a single standardized data format, a quantifiable and integrated neuroinformatics resource, and an open-access public online database (http://connectivity.brain-map.org/). Meaningful informatics data quantification and comparison is key to effective use and interpretation of connectome data. This relies on successful definition of a high fidelity atlas template and framework, mapping precision of raw data sets into the 3D reference framework, accurate signal detection and quantitative connection strength algorithms, and effective presentation in an integrated online application. Here we describe key informatics pipeline steps in the creation of the Allen Mouse Brain Connectivity Atlas and include basic application use cases.

Allen Brain Atlas: an integrated spatio-temporal portal for exploring the central nervous system.

The Allen Brain Atlas (http://www.brain-map.org) provides a unique online public resource integrating extensive gene expression data, connectivity data and neuroanatomical information with powerful search and viewing tools for the adult and developing brain in mouse, human and non-human primate. Here, we review the resources available at the Allen Brain Atlas, describing each product and data type [such as in situ hybridization (ISH) and supporting histology, microarray, RNA sequencing, reference atlases, projection mapping and magnetic resonance imaging]. In addition, standardized and unique features in the web applications are described that enable users to search and mine the various data sets. Features include both simple and sophisticated methods for gene searches, colorimetric and fluorescent ISH image viewers, graphical displays of ISH, microarray and RNA sequencing data, Brain Explorer software for 3D navigation of anatomy and gene expression, and an interactive reference atlas viewer. In addition, cross data set searches enable users to query multiple Allen Brain Atlas data sets simultaneously. All of the Allen Brain Atlas resources can be accessed through the Allen Brain Atlas data portal.

Mental Health Among Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Vietnam.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to characterize mental health issues among Vietnamese healthcare workers (HCWs) and to identify related factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 990 HCWs in 2021. Their mental health status was measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale. RESULTS: In total, 49.9%, 52.3%, and 29.8% of respondents were found to have depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. The multivariable linear regression model revealed that factors associated with increased anxiety scores included depression scores (ß, 0.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39 to 0.51) and stress scores (ß, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.41 to 0.52). Factors associated with increased depression scores included being frontline HCWs (ß, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.10 to 1.10), stress scores (ß, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.45 to 0.56), and anxiety scores (ß, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.47), while working experience was associated with reduced depression scores (ß, -0.08; 95% CI, -0.16 to -0.01). Factors associated with increased stress scores included working experience (ß, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.00 to 0.16), personal protective equipment interference with daily activities (ß, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.07 to 1.00), depression scores (ß, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.48 to 0.59), and anxiety scores (ß, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.39 to 0.50), while age was associated with reduced stress scores (ß, -0.12; 95% CI, -0.20 to -0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Specific interventions are necessary to enhance and promote the mental health of HCWs so they can successfully cope with the circumstances of the pandemic.

Genome-wide atlas of gene expression in the adult mouse brain.

Molecular approaches to understanding the functional circuitry of the nervous system promise new insights into the relationship between genes, brain and behaviour. The cellular diversity of the brain necessitates a cellular resolution approach towards understanding the functional genomics of the nervous system. We describe here an anatomically comprehensive digital atlas containing the expression patterns of approximately 20,000 genes in the adult mouse brain. Data were generated using automated high-throughput procedures for in situ hybridization and data acquisition, and are publicly accessible online. Newly developed image-based informatics tools allow global genome-scale structural analysis and cross-correlation, as well as identification of regionally enriched genes. Unbiased fine-resolution analysis has identified highly specific cellular markers as well as extensive evidence of cellular heterogeneity not evident in classical neuroanatomical atlases. This highly standardized atlas provides an open, primary data resource for a wide variety of further studies concerning brain organization and function.

Household Food Insecurity Negatively Impacts Diet Diversity in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Healthy, diverse diets are vital for life. In low/middle-income countries, however, the focus is more on food quantity rather than diet quality. This study assessed household diet diversity (HDD) in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta and its associations with household food insecurity (HFI) and household food availability (HFA) controlling for socioeconomic factors. Primary food-preparers in 552 randomly selected households in two rural provinces were interviewed about socioeconomic factors, HDD, HFI, and HFA. More than 80% of households predominantly consumed energy-dense foods, whereas less than 20% consumed nutrient-dense foods. Lower HDD was associated with HFI, lower HFA, for the Khmer ethnic minority, and low livelihood capitals (landlessness, low expenditure, debt) and low utensil scores. The study highlighted the need to provide improved food and nutrition policies that increase availability and access to diverse and healthy foods as well as reduce poverty and increase incomes for at-risk rural and ethnic minority groups.

Sleep Quality and Poor Sleep-related Factors Among Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Vietnam.

OBJECTIVES: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased the workload of healthcare workers (HCWs), impacting their health. This study aimed to assess sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and identify factors associated with poor sleep among HCWs in Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 1000 frontline HCWs were recruited from various healthcare facilities in Vietnam between October 2021 and November 2021. Data were collected using a 3-part self-administered questionnaire, which covered demographics, sleep quality, and factors related to poor sleep. Poor sleep quality was defined as a total PSQI score of 5 or higher. RESULTS: Participants' mean age was 33.20±6.81 years (range, 20.0-61.0), and 63.0% were women. The median work experience was 8.54±6.30 years. Approximately 6.3% had chronic comorbidities, such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus. About 59.5% were directly responsible for patient care and treatment, while 7.1% worked in tracing and sampling. A total of 73.8% reported poor sleep quality. Multivariate logistic regression revealed significant associations between poor sleep quality and the presence of chronic comorbidities (odds ratio [OR], 2.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17 to 5.24), being a frontline HCW directly involved in patient care and treatment (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.16 to 2.16), increased working hours (OR, 1.84; 95% CI,1.37 to 2.48), and a higher frequency of encountering critically ill and dying patients (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.95). CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of poor sleep among HCWs in Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic was similar to that in other countries. Working conditions should be adjusted to improve sleep quality among this population.

Household water and food insecurity negatively impacts self-reported physical and mental health in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta.

INTRODUCTION: Household food insecurity and inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) contribute to ill health. However, the interactions between household food insecurity, WASH and health have been rarely assessed concurrently. This study investigated compounded impacts of household food insecurity and WASH on self-reported physical and mental health of adults in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional survey interviewed 552 households in one northern and one southern province of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. The survey incorporated previously validated tools such as the Short Form 12-item Health Survey, Household Food Insecurity Assessment Scale, and the Access and Behavioural Outcome Indicators for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene. Physical and mental health were quantified using the physical health composite score (PCS) and mental health composite score (MCS), respectively. These measures were the dependent variables of interest for this study. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed that household food insecurity and using <50 litres of water per person per day (pppd) were independently associated with lower PCS (p<0.05), after adjusting for socio-economic confounders. Household food insecurity and lack of food availability, using <50 litres of water pppd, and the use of untreated drinking water were associated with lower MCS (p<0.05), with water usage being an effect modifier of the relationship between household food insecurity and MCS. The results indicate that being food insecure and having limited potable quality water had a compounding effect on MCS, compared to being individually either food insecure or having limited water. CONCLUSION: This study is one of only a few that have established a link between potable water availability, food insecurity and poorer physical and mental health. The results also indicate a need to validate national data with fine-scale investigations in less populous regions to evaluate national initiatives with local populations that may be at higher risk. Adopting joint dual-action policies for interventions that simultaneously address water and food insecurity should result in larger improvements in health, particularly mental health, compared to targeting either food or water insecurity in isolation.

An outbreak of type B botulism in southern Viet Nam, 2020.

Objective: To investigate the cause of a botulism outbreak in several provinces in Viet Nam in 2020. Methods: An initial investigation was conducted to confirm the outbreak and to form hypotheses about the potential causes, followed by a case-control assessment of the plausible causative food item. Collected food samples were tested to identify the pathogen, and mouse bioassays were performed. Control measures were introduced to stop the outbreak and to prevent similar events in the future. Results: Twelve people in six southern provinces of Viet Nam were identified as having symptoms of botulism, of whom 11 were in critical condition requiring breathing support. A history of foods eaten in the 4 days before illness onset indicated that all the cases had eaten a tinned vegetarian pâté, and a case-control assessment showed that this was significantly associated with the outbreak, with an odds ratio of 35.2 (95% confidence interval: 3.4-¥). Clostridium botulinum type B was detected in three of eight pâté samples collected from the houses of cases. In the mouse bioassay for the toxicity of the pâté samples, all the mice died with clinical symptoms of botulism. Discussion: A tinned vegetarian pâté was the plausible cause of a botulism outbreak in Viet Nam in 2020. Revision of food safety regulations to improve quality control of tinned foods to prevent future outbreaks is recommended.

Air pollution and risk of respiratory and cardiovascular hospitalizations in a large city of the Mekong Delta Region.

It is important to explore air pollution and health effects in developing cities for early prevention rather than waiting for conditions to deteriorate as in the current megacities. This study aims to investigate the short-term health effects of air pollution in a large city in the Mekong Delta Region (MDR) of Vietnam. Air pollution data from January 2015 to December 2018 were collected from the Environmental Monitoring Centre of Can Tho City. The data of respiratory and cardiovascular disease (CVD) admissions in 18 hospitals and medical centers were collected. A time-series regression analysis was conducted using distributed lag models to examine the relationship between the air pollutants and hospitalizations including the delayed effect up to 7 days. The research findings reveal that a 10 µg increase in PM10 was associated with an increase of 2.5% in the risk of respiratory admission for all people and 2.2% in the risk of CVD admission for the elderly on the same day. The analysis stratified by age and sex indicates that PM10 resulted in a higher risk of respiratory admission among children (0-5 years old) and males compared with other groups. PM10 and NO2 were significantly associated with CVD admission among the elderly at lag 4 and 6 days. The effects of other air pollutants (SO2, O3) were not observed in this study. As development continues in this region, there is an urgent need for intervention measures to minimize the health impacts associated with the expected increases in air pollution in the MDR.

Health Science Students' Use of Social Media for Educational Purposes: A Sample from a Medical University in Hanoi, Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: Using social media (SM) for educational purposes might improve academic performance. AIM: This paper aims to describe health science students' use of SM for educational purposes and its association with their academic performance. METHODS: Two hundred ninety-seven undergraduate health science students completed a self-administered questionnaire comprising 4 sections related to social media. RESULTS: Almost all students (99.7%) reported using SM for learning, most (90.9%) of them daily. The most preferred type of SM learning was Facebook. Most students thought that using SM for learning is convenient and useful. They suggested there should be 1 Facebook account for each subject, that every classmate could access to obtain knowledge from lecturers and to interact between students and lecturers. The logistic regression model showed that the more time students practiced following the advice on posted information, the more likely they were to achieve a GPA at distinction level or above (OR = 4.2; OR = 5.4, and OR = 9.4, respectively with times of practicing). Conversely, the students who used SM for learning less than once a month were less likely to obtain a GPA at distinction level (OR = 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: Almost all health science students used SM to support learning and use of SM for learning was associated with higher academic performance.

A large-scale standardized physiological survey reveals functional organization of the mouse visual cortex.

To understand how the brain processes sensory information to guide behavior, we must know how stimulus representations are transformed throughout the visual cortex. Here we report an open, large-scale physiological survey of activity in the awake mouse visual cortex: the Allen Brain Observatory Visual Coding dataset. This publicly available dataset includes the cortical activity of nearly 60,000 neurons from six visual areas, four layers, and 12 transgenic mouse lines in a total of 243 adult mice, in response to a systematic set of visual stimuli. We classify neurons on the basis of joint reliabilities to multiple stimuli and validate this functional classification with models of visual responses. While most classes are characterized by responses to specific subsets of the stimuli, the largest class is not reliably responsive to any of the stimuli and becomes progressively larger in higher visual areas. These classes reveal a functional organization wherein putative dorsal areas show specialization for visual motion signals.

The presence of colistin resistance gene mcr-1 and -3 in ESBL producing Escherichia coli isolated from food in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Colistin is indicated for the treatment of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacterial infections. However, the spread of colistin-resistant bacteria harbouring an mcr gene has become a serious concern. This study investigated local foods in Vietnam for contamination with colistin-resistant bacteria. A total of 261 extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)- and AmpC-producing Escherichia coli isolates from 330 meat and seafood products were analysed for colistin susceptibility and the presence of mcr genes. Approximately, 24% (62/261) of ESBL- or AmpC-producing E. coli isolates showed colistin resistance; 97% (60/62) of colistin-resistant isolates harboured mcr-1, whereas 3% (2/62) harboured mcr-3. As the result of plasmid analysis of two strains, both plasmids harbouring mcr-3 revealed that plasmid replicon type was IncFII. Sequencing analysis indicated that an insertion sequence was present near mcr-3, suggesting that IncFII plasmids harbouring mcr-3 could be transferred to other bacterial species by horizontal transfer of the plasmid or transfer with some insertion sequence. In conclusion, ESBL-producing E. coli and AmpC-producing E. coli have acquired colistin resistance because 24% of such isolates show colistin resistance and 3% of the colistin-resistant strains harbour mcr-3. We reported the present of the mcr-3-carrying ESBL-producing E. coli isolated from pork in Vietnam.

Neuroinformatics for genome-wide 3D gene expression mapping in the mouse brain.

Large scale gene expression studies in the mammalian brain offer the promise of understanding the topology, networks and ultimately the function of its complex anatomy, opening previously unexplored avenues in neuroscience. High-throughput methods permit genome-wide searches to discover genes that are uniquely expressed in brain circuits and regions that control behavior. Previous gene expression mapping studies in model organisms have employed situ hybridization (ISH), a technique that uses labeled nucleic acid probes to bind to specific mRNA transcripts in tissue sections. A key requirement for this effort is the development of fast and robust algorithms for anatomically mapping and quantifying gene expression for ISH. We describe a neuroinformatics pipeline for automatically mapping expression profiles of ISH data and its use to produce the first genomic scale 3-D mapping of gene expression in a mammalian brain. The pipeline is fully automated and adaptable to other organisms and tissues. Our automated study of over 20,000 genes indicates that at least 78.8 percent are expressed at some level in the adult C56BL/6J mouse brain. In addition to providing a platform for genomic scale search, high-resolution images and visualization tools for expression analysis are available at the Allen Brain Atlas web site (http://www.brain-map.org).

Prevalence of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and residual antimicrobials in the environment in Vietnam.

Emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, including extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli, have become serious problems worldwide. Recent studies conducted in Vietnam revealed that ESBL-producing E. coli are widely distributed in food animals and people. CTX-M-9 and CTX-M-1 are the most prevalent ß-lactamases among the identified ESBLs. Furthermore, most of the ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were multi-drug resistant. Residual antimicrobials such as sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, sulfadimidine, cephalexin, and sulfadiazine were also detected at a high level in both animal meats and environmental water collected from several cities, including Ho Chi Minh city and Can Tho city. These recent studies indicated that improper use of antimicrobials in animal-originated food production might contribute to the emergence and high prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli in Vietnam. Although clonal ESBL-producing E. coli was not identified, CTX-M-55 gene-carrying plasmids with similar sizes (105-139 kb) have been commonly detected in the ESBL-producing E. coli strains isolated from various food animals and human beings. This finding strongly suggests that horizontal transfer of the CTX-M plasmid among various E. coli strains played a critical role in the emergence and high prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli in Vietnam.