Rural-urban differences in preferences for influenza vaccination among women of childbearing age: implications for local vaccination service implementation in Vietnam.

OBJECTIVES: Pregnant women and new mothers are among the most vulnerable to seasonal influenza; however, little is known about their preferences for flu vaccination. We examined the rural-urban differences in uptake, demand and willingness to pay (WTP) for influenza vaccination among women of childbearing age, to assess the feasibility of implementing locally produced vaccines in Vietnam. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in both urban and rural areas of Hanoi in 2018. Socio-demographic characteristics, history of vaccination, demand and WTP for influenza vaccines were obtained. A multivariate logistic regression model was employed to identify the associated factors. RESULTS: Of 750 participants, 29.9% had had flu shots in the current or previous flu season and 64.3% indicated demand for this vaccine. The median of the maximum amount of WTP for influenza vaccination services was US$ 8.5 (IQR: 8.5-17.0). Women living in rural areas had a significantly lower uptake and higher demand, and were willing to pay less than women in urban locations (21.1% vs. 36.6%; 69% vs. 60.2%; and US $8.5 vs. US $11.7, respectively). For urban participants, factors associated with higher demand and WTP for flu shots included having ANC in health facilities and having been vaccinated against influenza in the past; for rural women, these factors were having suffered from influenza and hearing about it. CONCLUSIONS: This study informs the feasibility of implementing locally produced influenza vaccines in Vietnam. Educational programs, along with counselling services and government subsidies, should be implemented to improve the coverage, demand and WTP for the vaccine.

OBJECTIFS: Les femmes enceintes et les nouvelles mères sont parmi les plus vulnérables à la grippe saisonnière; cependant, on en sait peu sur leurs préférences pour la vaccination contre la grippe. Nous avons examiné les différences entre les zones rurales et urbaines dans l'adoption, la demande et la volonté de payer pour la vaccination antigrippale chez les femmes en âge de procréer, afin d'évaluer la faisabilité de la mise en œuvre de vaccins produits localement au Vietnam. MÉTHODES: Une étude transversale a été réalisée dans les zones urbaines et rurales de Hanoi en 2018. Les caractéristiques sociodémographiques, les antécédents de vaccination, la demande et la volonté de payer pour les vaccins antigrippaux ont été obtenus. Un modèle de régression logistique multivariée a été utilisé pour identifier les facteurs associés. RÉSULTATS: Sur 750 participantes, 29,9% s'étaient fait vacciner contre la grippe au cours de la saison grippale actuelle ou précédente, 64,3% ont indiqué une demande pour ce vaccin. La médiane du montant maximal de la volonté de payer pour les services de vaccination contre la grippe était de 8,5 USD (IQR: 8,5 à 17,0). Les femmes vivant dans les zones rurales avaient une adoption nettement plus faible, une demande plus élevée et étaient prêtes à payer moins que les femmes des zones urbaines (21,1% contre 36,6%; 69% contre 60,2%; et 8,5 USD contre 11,7 USD, respectivement). Pour les participantes urbaines, les facteurs associés à une demande plus élevée et à la volonté de payer pour les vaccins contre la grippe comprenaient le fait d'avoir des soins prénatals dans les établissements de santé et d'avoir été vaccinés contre la grippe dans le passé; pour les femmes rurales, ces facteurs comprenaient, avoir souffert de la grippe et en avoir entendu parler. CONCLUSIONS: Cette étude informe sur la faisabilité de la mise en œuvre de vaccins antigrippaux produits localement au Vietnam. Des programmes éducatifs, ainsi que des services de conseil et des subventions gouvernementales devraient être mis en œuvre pour améliorer la couverture, la demande et la volonté de payer pour le vaccin.

Attitudes about and practices for skin cancer prevention among patients with dermatological issues in Hanoi, Vietnam: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Raising awareness and educating people regarding practices for skin cancer or melanoma prevention are critical in the context of the adversely increasing effects of global climate change. This study aimed to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding skin cancer prevention and to determine the associated factors to knowledge, attitudes, and practices among dermatological patients in Vietnam. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 590 dermatological patients between 18 and 82 years of age, who received an examination or treatment from the National Hospital of Dermatology in Hanoi, Vietnam, from September to December 2018. The respondents' attitudes on skin cancer and cancer prevention were assessed via face-to-face interviews with a structured questionnaire conducted by trained interviewers. RESULTS: Of the 590 respondents, the majority of people had correct responses to the question regarding skin cancer knowledge. Among the total participants, 39.8% thought that they were at risk of skin cancer, and 13.8% believed their occupation increased their skin cancer risk. The majority of respondents used hats (94.9%) and sunscreen skin coats (89.5%) and went into the shade (86.3%) when exposed to the sun. Women were less likely to be aware of their skin cancer risk but were more likely to practice prevention behaviors. CONCLUSION: Our results show that dermatological patients have acceptable knowledge towards skin cancer prevention, but still need to change their behavior to prevent the risk of skin cancer. This study highlights the importance of education to raise awareness regarding skin cancer in order to promote practice prevention strategies for skin cancer in Vietnam.

Arabidopsis E3 ubiquitin ligase PLANT U-BOX13 (PUB13) regulates chitin receptor LYSIN MOTIF RECEPTOR KINASE5 (LYK5) protein abundance.

Long-chain chitooligosaccharides are fungal microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) that are recognized by LYSIN MOTIF RECEPTOR KINASE5 (LYK5), inducing the formation of a complex with CHITIN ELICITOR RECEPTOR KINASE1 (CERK1). Formation of this complex leads to activation of the CERK1 intracellular kinase domain and induction of plant innate immunity in Arabidopsis. We found that addition of chitooctaose induced LYK5 protein accumulation as a result of de novo gene expression and the inhibition of LYK5 protein degradation. Screening the putative E3 ligases for interaction with LYK5 identified PLANT U-BOX13 (PUB13), which complexed with LYK5, but this complex dissociated upon addition of chitooctaose. Consistent with these results, LYK5 protein abundance was higher in pub13 mutants compared with the wild type without chitooctaose treatment, while similar abundance was detected with the addition of chitooctaose. The pub13 mutants showed hypersensitivity to chitooctaose-induced rapid responses, such as the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase phosphorylation, but exhibited normal responses to subsequent long-term chitooctaose treatment, such as gene expression and callose deposition. In addition, PUB13 could ubiquitinate the LYK5 kinase domain in vitro. Taken together, our results suggest an important regulatory function for the turnover of LYK5 mediated by the E3 ligase PUB13.

Divergent cytosine DNA methylation patterns in single-cell, soybean root hairs.

Chromatin modifications, such as cytosine methylation of DNA, play a significant role in mediating gene expression in plants, which affects growth, development, and cell differentiation. As root hairs are single-cell extensions of the root epidermis and the primary organs for water uptake and nutrients, we sought to use root hairs as a single-cell model system to measure the impact of environmental stress. We measured changes in cytosine DNA methylation in single-cell root hairs as compared with multicellular stripped roots, as well as in response to heat stress. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in each methylation context showed very distinct methylation patterns between cell types and in response to heat stress. Intriguingly, at normal temperature, root hairs were more hypermethylated than were stripped roots. However, in response to heat stress, both root hairs and stripped roots showed hypomethylation in each context, especially in the CHH context. Moreover, expression analysis of mRNA from similar tissues and treatments identified some associations between DMRs, genes and transposons. Taken together, the data indicate that changes in DNA methylation are directly or indirectly associated with expression of genes and transposons within the context of either specific tissues/cells or stress (heat).

Identification of Homogentisate Dioxygenase as a Target for Vitamin E Biofortification in Oilseeds.

Soybean (Glycine max) is a major plant source of protein and oil and produces important secondary metabolites beneficial for human health. As a tool for gene function discovery and improvement of this important crop, a mutant population was generated using fast neutron irradiation. Visual screening of mutagenized seeds identified a mutant line, designated MO12, which produced brown seeds as opposed to the yellow seeds produced by the unmodified Williams 82 parental cultivar. Using forward genetic methods combined with comparative genome hybridization analysis, we were able to establish that deletion of the GmHGO1 gene is the genetic basis of the brown seeded phenotype exhibited by the MO12 mutant line. GmHGO1 encodes a homogentisate dioxygenase (HGO), which catalyzes the committed enzymatic step in homogentisate catabolism. This report describes to our knowledge the first functional characterization of a plant HGO gene, defects of which are linked to the human genetic disease alkaptonuria. We show that reduced homogentisate catabolism in a soybean HGO mutant is an effective strategy for enhancing the production of lipid-soluble antioxidants such as vitamin E, as well as tolerance to herbicides that target pathways associated with homogentisate metabolism. Furthermore, this work demonstrates the utility of fast neutron mutagenesis in identifying novel genes that contribute to soybean agronomic traits.

A soybean acyl carrier protein, GmACP, is important for root nodule symbiosis.

Legumes (members of family Fabaceae) establish a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria (rhizobia) to overcome nitrogen source limitation. Single root hair epidermal cells serve as the entry point for bacteria to infect the host root, leading to development of a new organ, the nodule, which the bacteria colonize. In the present study, the putative role of a soybean acyl carrier protein (ACP), GmACP (Glyma18g47950), was examined in nodulation. ACP represent an essential cofactor protein in fatty acid biosynthesis. Phylogenetic analysis of plant ACP protein sequences showed that GmACP was classified in a legume-specific clade. Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that GmACP was expressed in all soybean tissues but showed higher transcript accumulation in nodule tissue. RNA interference-mediated gene silencing of GmACP resulted in a significant reduction in nodule numbers on soybean transgenic roots. Fluorescent protein-labeled GmACP was localized to plastids in planta, the site of de novo fatty acid biosynthesis in plants. Analysis of the fatty acid content of root tissue silenced for GmACP expression, as determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, showed an approximately 22% reduction, specifically in palmitic and stearic acid. Taken together, our data provide evidence that GmACP plays an important role in nodulation.

MDCT diagnosis of post-traumatic hepatic arterio-portal fistulas.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in diagnosing arterioportal fistulas (APF) in high-grade liver injury. A retrospective analysis of catheter-based hepatic angiograms performed for major penetrating and blunt liver injuries identified 11 patients with APFs. Using the trauma registry, two additional demographically matched groups with and without liver injury were formed. A randomized qualitative consensus review of 33 MDCTs was performed by three trauma radiologists for the following MDCT findings of APF: transient hepatic parenchymal attenuation differences (THPAD), early increased attenuation of a peripheral or central portal vein compared with the main portal vein, and the "double-barrel" or "rail tract" signs. THPAD was the most sensitive finding and also had a high specificity for diagnosing APF. Both the early increased attenuation of a peripheral or central portal vein compared with the main portal vein and the double-barrel or rail tract signs had a100% specificity and a sensitivity of 64% and 36%, respectively. Measurement of differences in attenuation values between the APF and the contralateral central portal vein was most sensitive and specific in diagnosing APF. Traumatic APF of the liver can be optimally diagnosed with arterial phase imaging of solid organ using MDCT.

Enzymatic activity of the soybean ecto-apyrase GS52 is essential for stimulation of nodulation.

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant growth. In the Rhizobium-legume symbiosis, root nodules are the sites of bacterial nitrogen fixation, in which atmospheric nitrogen is converted into a form that plants can utilize. While recent studies suggested an important role for the soybean (Glycine max) ecto-apyrase GS52 in rhizobial root hair infection and root nodule formation, precisely how this protein impacts the nodulation process remains undetermined. In this study, the biochemical characteristics of the GS52 enzyme were investigated. Computer modeling of the GS52 apyrase structure identified key amino acid residues important for catalytic activity, which were subsequently mutagenized. Although the GS52 enzyme exhibited broad substrate specificity, its activity on pyrimidine nucleotides and diphosphate nucleotides was significantly higher than on ATP. This result was corroborated by structural modeling of GS52, which predicted a low specificity for the adenine base within the substrate-binding pocket of the enzyme. The wild-type enzyme and its inactive mutant forms were expressed in soybean roots in order to evaluate the importance of GS52 enzymatic activity for nodulation. The results indicated a clear correlation between GS52 enzymatic activity and nodule number. Altogether, our study indicates that the catalytic activity of the GS52 apyrase, likely acting on extracellular nucleotides, is critical for rhizobial infection and nodulation.

The Fused Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase MsrAB Promotes Oxidative Stress Defense and Bacterial Virulence in Fusobacterium nucleatum.

Fusobacterium nucleatum, an anaerobic Gram-negative bacterium frequently found in the human oral cavity and some extra-oral sites, is implicated in several important diseases: periodontitis, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and colorectal cancer. To date, how this obligate anaerobe copes with oxidative stress and host immunity within multiple human tissues remains unknown. Here, we uncovered a critical role in this process of a multigene locus encoding a single, fused methionine sulfoxide reductase (MsrAB), a two-component signal transduction system (ModRS), and thioredoxin (Trx)- and cytochrome c (CcdA)-like proteins, which are induced when fusobacterial cells are exposed to hydrogen peroxide. Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed that the response regulator ModR regulates a large regulon that includes trx, ccdA, and many metabolic genes. Significantly, specific mutants of the msrAB locus, including msrAB, are sensitive to reactive oxygen species and defective in adherence/invasion of colorectal epithelial cells. Strikingly, the msrAB mutant is also defective in survival in macrophages, and it is severely attenuated in virulence in a mouse model of preterm birth, consistent with its failure to spread to the amniotic fluid and colonize the placenta. Clearly, the MsrAB system regulated by the two-component system ModRS represents a major oxidative stress defense pathway that protects fusobacteria against oxidative damage in immune cells and confers virulence by enabling attachment and invasion of multiple target tissues. IMPORTANCE F. nucleatum colonizes various human tissues, including oral cavity, placenta, and colon. How this obligate anaerobe withstands oxidative stress in host immune cells has not been described. We report here that F. nucleatum possesses a five-gene locus encoding a fused methionine sulfoxide reductase (MsrAB), a two-component signal transduction system (ModRS), and thioredoxin- and cytochrome c-like proteins. Regulated by ModRS, MsrAB is essential for resistance to reactive oxygen species, adherence/invasion of colorectal epithelial cells, and survival in macrophage. Unable to colonize placenta and spread to amniotic fluid, the msrAB mutant failed to induce preterm birth in a murine model.

Allelopathic Potential of Rice and Identification of Published Allelochemicals by Cloud-Based Metabolomics Platform.

The methanol extracts of nine popular cultivated Vietnamese rice cultivars (Oryza sativa L.cv. OM 2395, 5451, 6976, 380, 5930, 4498, 3536, N406, and 7347) were used to explore their allelopathic potential on barnyardgrass (Echinochola crus-galli L.). At 0.1 g mL-1, OM 5930, OM 4498, and OM 6976 correlatively possessed greatest phytotoxicity on barnyardgrass shoot (98.77%, 90.75%, and 87.17%) and root (99.39%, 92.83%, and 86.56%) growth. The following study aimed to detect previously-known allelochemicals in those rice using XCMS online cloud-based metabolomics platform. Twenty allelochemicals were semi-quantified and seven of them were detected predominantly and five was putatively confirmed in OM 5930 (mg/ 100g fresh rice) as salicylic acid (5.0076), vanillic acid (0.1246), p-coumaric acid (0.1590), 2,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid (0.1045), and cinnamic acid (3.3230). These compounds were active at concentrations greater than 0.5 mM and the average EC50 were 1.24 mM. The results indicated that OM 5930 may use as promising candidates in weed biological control for rice production.

The Use of Health Behavioral Theories in HIV/AIDS Research: A Bibliometric Analysis (Gap Research).

With emerging contextual factors and epidemiological transition of HIV/AIDS, the role and contributions of health behavior theories (HBT) are a compelling question after three decades of efforts to eradicate HIV. This study aims at exploring the global and historical evolution of literature and suggesting the most frequent research topics and research gaps in relation to the use of HBT in HIV/AIDS. A cross-sectional analysis of global HIV/AIDS bibliography was conducted through Web of Science (WoS) up to December 31, 2017. We utilized exploratory factor analysis to test the likelihood of research domains and landscape from the abstracts. A total of 29,997 papers in 153 HIV-related research areas were retrieved from the WoS database. This study suggests that HIV/AIDS research based on HBTs is increasing, and mainly focuses on elucidating traditional HIV driven factors and consonant with western perspectives most HBTs tend to be individually focused. Despite its important advancement, more research based on HBTs is essential to provide cultural background, social value, and contextualized factors where the HIV pandemic is dynamic; where new cases are transmitted from high-risk subgroups to the general population; and where epidemiological, social, and behavioral transitions change new infection routes, new perspectives for health service delivery especially non-medical services, and resource allocation.

ATF3 provides protection from Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes infections.

Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) is a stress-induced transcriptional regulator in eukaryote. The role of ATF3 in cancer has been well defined, but how ATF3 functions in bacterial infection is not well understood. Pneumococcal infection has been shown to induce ATF3 expression, which subsequently enhances cytokine production and provides protection from lethal Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, but the role of ATF3 in other Gram-positive (G(+)) infections remains unclear. Here, we report that infection with other G(+) bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes) and with G(-) bacteria (uropathogenic Escherichia coli) also significantly induced ATF3 expression. Moreover, the production of cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF]-α, interleukin [IL]-1ß, IL-6 and interferon [IFN]-γ) was enhanced by ATF3 in S. aureus and L. monocytogenes infection, but decreased in uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) infection. In addition, in S. aureus and L. monocytogenes infections, ATF3 WT mice cleared bacteria more efficiently and had higher survival rates than ATF3 knockout mice. However, in UPEC infection, no significant difference was found in survival rate. Taken together, these data suggest that ATF3 provides protection from S. aureus and L. monocytogenes infections; however, the role of ATF3 in UPEC infection is more complicated and should be further elucidated.

Soybean Roots Grown under Heat Stress Show Global Changes in Their Transcriptional and Proteomic Profiles.

Heat stress is likely to be a key factor in the negative impact of climate change on crop production. Heat stress significantly influences the functions of roots, which provide support, water, and nutrients to other plant organs. Likewise, roots play an important role in the establishment of symbiotic associations with different microorganisms. Despite the physiological relevance of roots, few studies have examined their response to heat stress. In this study, we performed genome-wide transcriptomic and proteomic analyses on isolated root hairs, which are a single, epidermal cell type, and compared their response to stripped roots. On average, we identified 1849 and 3091 genes differentially regulated in root hairs and stripped roots, respectively, in response to heat stress. Our gene regulatory module analysis identified 10 key modules that might control the majority of the transcriptional response to heat stress. We also conducted proteomic analysis on membrane fractions isolated from root hairs and compared these responses to stripped roots. These experiments identified a variety of proteins whose expression changed within 3 h of application of heat stress. Most of these proteins were predicted to play a significant role in thermo-tolerance, as well as in chromatin remodeling and post-transcriptional regulation. The data presented represent an in-depth analysis of the heat stress response of a single cell type in soybean.

Characterization of aortic microstructure with ultrasound: implications for mechanisms of aortic function and dissection.

Specific ultrasonic tissue characterization parameters were correlated with the three-dimensional architecture and material properties (density, compressibility, size, and orientation) of aortic elastic elements at the microscopic level. The medial layer of 10 samples of normal canine aorta were insonified in vitro utilizing acoustic microscopy from 30 to 44 MHz. The following quantitative indexes exhibited substantial anisotropic elastic behavior in radial (R), circumferential (C), and longitudinal (L) directions: backscatter coefficient (R:0.9 +/- 0.2; C:0.008 +/- 0.0008; LL:0.0077 +/- 0.0008 sr(-1) cm(-1)); frequency dependence of backscatter (R:3.3; C:1.4; L:1.5); attenuation coefficients 1(R:105 +/- 22; L:135 +/- 13; C:131 +/- 14 dB/cm). Thus, the ultrasonic indexes are anisotropic: equivalent in the C and L directions, but markedly different in the R direction. These data are indicative of an aortic microstructure that interacts with ultrasonic waves as thin sheet-like elastic layers instead of independent elastin fibers. This specific sheet-like organization of elastin microfibers may function to limit shear injury to concentric aortic lamellae and prevent aortic dissection. The marked anisotropic behavior of normal aortas suggests that ultrasound may be useful for nondestructive characterization of vascular integrity.

Extracellular ATP is a central signaling molecule in plant stress responses.

Because of their sessile nature, plants have developed a number of sophisticated signaling systems to adapt to environmental changes. Previous research has shown that extracellular ATP is an important signaling molecule used by plants and functions in a variety of processes, including growth, development, and stress responses. Recently, DORN1 was identified as the first plant purinoceptor, essential for the plant response to ATP. The identification of the receptor is a milestone for our overall understanding of various physiological events regulated by extracellular ATP. In this review, we will discuss the possible roles of DORN1 providing future direction for research into the role of extracellular ATP in plants.

The kinase LYK5 is a major chitin receptor in Arabidopsis and forms a chitin-induced complex with related kinase CERK1.

Chitin is a fungal microbe-associated molecular pattern recognized in Arabidopsis by a lysin motif receptor kinase (LYK), AtCERK1. Previous research suggested that AtCERK1 is the major chitin receptor and mediates chitin-induced signaling through homodimerization and phosphorylation. However, the reported chitin binding affinity of AtCERK1 is quite low, suggesting another receptor with high chitin binding affinity might be present. Here, we propose that AtLYK5 is the primary chitin receptor in Arabidopsis. Mutations in AtLYK5 resulted in a significant reduction in chitin response. However, AtLYK5 shares overlapping function with AtLYK4 and, therefore, Atlyk4/Atlyk5-2 double mutants show a complete loss of chitin response. AtLYK5 interacts with AtCERK1 in a chitin-dependent manner. Chitin binding to AtLYK5 is indispensable for chitin-induced AtCERK1 phosphorylation. AtLYK5 binds chitin at a much higher affinity than AtCERK1. The data suggest that AtLYK5 is the primary receptor for chitin, forming a chitin inducible complex with AtCERK1 to induce plant immunity.

Role of LysM receptors in chitin-triggered plant innate immunity.

Recent research findings clearly indicate that lysin motif (LysM)-containing cell surface receptors are involved in the recognition of specific oligosaccharide elicitors (chitin and peptidoglycan), which trigger an innate immunity response in plants. These receptors are either LysM-containing receptor-like kinases (LYKs) or LysM-containing receptor proteins (LYPs). In Arabidopsis, five LYKs (AtCERK1/AtLYK1 and AtLYK2-5) and three LYPs (AtLYP1-3) are likely expressed on the plasma membrane. In this review, we summarize recent research results on the role of these receptors in plant innate immunity, including the recent structural characterization of AtCERK1 and composition of the various receptor complexes in Arabidopsis.