Lessons for Vietnam on the Use of Digital Technologies to Support Patient-Centered Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries in the Asia-Pacific Region: Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: A rapidly aging population, a shifting disease burden and the ongoing threat of infectious disease outbreaks pose major concerns for Vietnam's health care system. Health disparities are evident in many parts of the country, especially in rural areas, and the population faces inequitable access to patient-centered health care. Vietnam must therefore explore and implement advanced solutions to the provision of patient-centered care, with a view to reducing pressures on the health care system simultaneously. The use of digital health technologies (DHTs) may be one of these solutions. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify the application of DHTs to support the provision of patient-centered care in low- and middle-income countries in the Asia-Pacific region (APR) and to draw lessons for Vietnam. METHODS: A scoping review was undertaken. Systematic searches of 7 databases were conducted in January 2022 to identify publications on DHTs and patient-centered care in the APR. Thematic analysis was conducted, and DHTs were classified using the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence evidence standards framework for DHTs (tiers A, B, and C). Reporting was in line with the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. RESULTS: Of the 264 publications identified, 45 (17%) met the inclusion criteria. The majority of the DHTs were classified as tier C (15/33, 45%), followed by tier B (14/33, 42%) and tier A (4/33, 12%). At an individual level, DHTs increased accessibility of health care and health-related information, supported individuals in self-management, and led to improvements in clinical and quality-of-life outcomes. At a systems level, DHTs supported patient-centered outcomes by increasing efficiency, reducing strain on health care resources, and supporting patient-centered clinical practice. The most frequently reported enablers for the use of DHTs for patient-centered care included alignment of DHTs with users' individual needs, ease of use, availability of direct support from health care professionals, provision of technical support as well as user education and training, appropriate governance of privacy and security, and cross-sectorial collaboration. Common barriers included low user literacy and digital literacy, limited user access to DHT infrastructure, and a lack of policies and protocols to guide the implementation and use of DHTs. CONCLUSIONS: The use of DHTs is a viable option to increase equitable access to quality, patient-centered care across Vietnam and simultaneously reduce pressures on the health care system. Vietnam can take advantage of the lessons learned by other low- and middle-income countries in the APR when developing a national road map to digital health transformation. Recommendations that Vietnamese policy makers may consider include emphasizing stakeholder engagement, strengthening digital literacy, supporting the improvement of DHT infrastructure, increasing cross-sectorial collaboration, strengthening governance of cybersecurity, and leading the way in DHT uptake.

Ectopic expression of GmHP08 enhances resistance of transgenic Arabidopsis toward drought stress.

KEY MESSAGE: Ectopic expression of Glycine max two-component system member GmHP08 in Arabidopsis enhanced drought tolerance of transgenic plants, possibly via ABA-dependent pathways. Phosphorelay by two-component system (TCS) is a signal transduction mechanism which has been evolutionarily conserved in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Previous studies have provided lines of evidence on the involvement of TCS genes in plant perception and responses to environmental stimuli. In this research, drought-associated functions of GmHP08, a TCS member from soybean (Glycine max L.), were investigated via its ectopic expression in Arabidopsis system. Results from the drought survival assay showed that GmHP08-transgenic plants exhibited higher survival rates compared with their wild-type (WT) counterparts, indicating better drought resistance of the former group. Analyses revealed that the transgenic plants outperformed the WT in various regards, i.e. capability of water retention, prevention of hydrogen peroxide accumulation and enhancement of antioxidant enzymatic activities under water-deficit conditions. Additionally, the expression of stress-marker genes, especially antioxidant enzyme-encoding genes, in the transgenic plants were found greater than that of the WT plants. In contrary, the expression of SAG13 gene, one of the senescence-associated genes, and of several abscisic acid (ABA)-related genes was repressed. Data from this study also revealed that the ectopic expression lines at germination and early seedling development stages were hypersensitive to exogenous ABA treatment. Taken together, our results demonstrated that GmHP08 could play an important role in mediating plant response to drought, possibly via an ABA-dependent manner.

Relationship between weather conditions and admissions for ischemic stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage.

AIM: To assess impacts of different weather conditions on hospitalizations of patients with ischemic strokes and subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAH) in South Florida. METHODS: Diagnostic data of patients with spontaneous SAH and strokes were recorded between June 2010 and July 2013. Daily synchronous forecast charts were collected from the National Weather Service and the whole data were matched prospectively. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) was calculated. RESULTS: Increased incidence rate of ischemic stroke was consistent with the daily lowest and highest air pressure (IRR 1.03, P=0.128 and IRR 0.98, P=0.380, respectively), highest air temperature (IRR 0.99, P=0.375), and presence of hurricanes or storms (IRR 0.65, P=0.054). Increased incidence of SAH cases was consistent with daily lowest and highest air pressure (IRR 0.87, P<0.001 and IRR 1.08, P=0.019, respectively) and highest air temperature (IRR 0.98, P<0.001). Presence of hurricanes and/or tropical storms did not influence the frequency of SAH. We found no relationship between the presence of fronts and the admissions for ischemic stroke or SAH. CONCLUSION: Higher number of ischemic stroke and SAH cases can be expected with the daily lowest and highest air pressure, highest air temperature. Presence of hurricanes or tropical storms increased the risk of ischemic stroke but not the SAH. These findings can help to develop preventive health plans for cerebrovascular diseases.

Introducing a Competency Framework for Educational Researchers: The Case of Vietnam.

In this paper, based on the established Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF), we introduce a new framework, tailor-made specifically for Vietnamese educational researchers, namely, Vietnam's Framework for Educational Researchers (VFER). VFER is expected to serve as a tool for Vietnamese educational researchers to self-evaluate their skills and support them in developing their career qualities from junior to senior career ladders. The framework includes four domains with ten subdomains and 28 indicators. To date, VFER has been implemented in some Vietnamese universities of pedagogical education. We expect that other research fields will look to VFER as a reference to build their own research capacity framework.

Optimization of Multiplex-PCR Technique To Determine Azf Deletions in infertility Male Patients.

Background: To optimize the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (M-PCR) technique to diagnose microdeletions of azoospermia factors (AZF) on the Y chromosome and initially apply the technique to diagnose male patients with sperm density less than 5×106 million sperm/mL was assigned to do a test to check for AZF microdeletions on the Y chromosome. Methods: Based on the positive control samples which belong to male subjects who have had 2 healthy children without any assisted reproductive technologies, the M-PCR method was developed to detect simultaneously and accurately AZF microdeletions on 32 male patients with sperm densities below 5×106 million sperm/mL of semen at the Department of Biology and Medical Genetics - Vietnam Military Medical University. Results: Successful optimization of the M-PCR technique including 7 reactions arranged according to each AZFabc region using 24 STS/gene on the Y chromosome. Initial application to diagnose AZF deletion on 32 azoospermic and oligospermic men reveals that AZFa deletion accounts for 6.25% (2/32); deletion of all 3 regions AZFa,b,c with 18.75% (6/32 cases); The combined deletion rate of AZFb,c is highest, accounting for 56.24% (18/32 patients). Conclusion: Successfully optimized the M-PCR technique in identifying AZF microdeletions using 24 sequence tagged sites (STS)/gene for azoospermic and oligozoospermic men. The M-PCR technique has great potential in the application of AZF deletion diagnosis.

Swietemicrolides A-D, mexicanolide-type limonoids from the bark of Swietenia macrophylla with in vitro cytotoxic and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities.

Four new mexicanolide-type limonoids, swietemicrolides A-D (1-4), together with three known compounds (5-7) were isolated from an ethyl acetate extract of the bark of Swietenia microphylla. 1 and 2 had 1,8-hemiacetal systems whilst 3 and 4 shared hexacyclic skeletons consisting of three fused five-membered rings. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined using spectroscopic methods. The five limonoids (1-5) were tested in vitro for their cytotoxic effects against two human cancer cell lines (KB carcinoma and A549 lung cancer cells) and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. None of them showed significant cytotoxic activity, however, swietemicrolide C (3) exhibited strong effect towards α-glucosidase. Moreover, a possible biosynthetic pathway for compounds 1-4 was proposed to support a comprehensive understanding of the configurations of the new limonoids.

Patient With a Diffuse Large B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in the Right Heart Chamber That Caused Cardiogenic Shock Was Well-Responded to Corticosteroids and Chemotherapy.

Heart tumors are sporadic. Secondary heart tumors are 30 times more common than primary ones. Depending on the location and origin of the tumor, clinical pictures vary from asymptomatic to severe manifestations such as arrhythmia, heart failure, pericardial effusion, and cardiogenic shock. We report hereby a rare case who presented with faint clinical symptoms, rapidly progressing to right heart failure within a month. Echocardiography and computed tomography of the chest revealed a tumor in the right heart chamber of 72.0 × 43.0 mm, in addition to large mediastinal lymph and left supraclavicular lymph nodes, cardiogenic shock appeared 4 days after admission. Through examination, it was suspected that this was a cardiac lymphoma. The patient was treated with 2 mg methylprednisolone per kg body weight. Symptoms of cardiogenic shock improved significantly and disappeared after 6 hours of treatment. After supraclavicular lymph node biopsy and immunohistochemistry, the final result was diagnosed as diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma with large lymphoma in the right heart. The patient received chemotherapy with the R-CHOP regimen (Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine, and Prednisolone). Re-examination before the 5th chemotherapy cycle showed no signs of right heart failure, normal self-activity, and no dyspnea on exertion, and the tumor size in the heart on the echocardiogram was 23.8 × 19.1 mm. The report shows that a large right heart tumor with a clinical picture of cardiogenic shock in a patient with diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was well-responded to initial treatment with methylprednisolone at a dose of 2 mg/kg body weight and R-CHOP chemotherapy.

Facile Preparation Method of TiO2/Activated Carbon for Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue.

The development of nanocomposite photocatalysts with high photocatalytic activity, cost-effectiveness, a simple preparation process, and scalability for practical applications is of great interest. In this study, nanocomposites of TiO2 Degussa P25 nanoparticles/activated carbon (TiO2/AC) were prepared at various mass ratios of (4:1), (3:2), (2:3), and (1:4) by a facile process involving manual mechanical pounding, ultrasonic-assisted mixing in an ethanol solution, paper filtration, and mild thermal annealing. The characterization methods included XRD, SEM-EDS, Raman, FTIR, XPS, and UV-Vis spectroscopies. The effects of TiO2/AC mass ratios on the structural, morphological, and photocatalytic properties were systematically studied in comparison with bare TiO2 and bare AC. TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited dominant anatase and minor rutile phases and a crystallite size of approximately 21 nm, while AC had XRD peaks of graphite and carbon and a crystallite size of 49 nm. The composites exhibited tight decoration of TiO2 nanoparticles on micron-/submicron AC particles, and uniform TiO2/AC composites were obtained, as evidenced by the uniform distribution of Ti, O, and C in an EDS mapping. Moreover, Raman spectra show the typical vibration modes of anatase TiO2 (e.g., E1g(1), B1g(1), Eg(3)) and carbon materials with D and G bands. The TiO2/AC with (4:1), (3:2), and (2:3) possessed higher reaction rate constants (k) in photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) than that of either TiO2 or AC. Among the investigated materials, TiO2/AC = 4:1 achieved the highest photocatalytic activity with a high k of 55.2 × 10-3 min-1 and an MB removal efficiency of 96.6% after 30 min of treatment under UV-Vis irradiation (120 mW/cm2). The enhanced photocatalytic activity for TiO2/AC is due to the synergistic effect of the high adsorption capability of AC and the high photocatalytic activity of TiO2. Furthermore, TiO2/AC promotes the separation of photoexcited electron/hole (e-/h+) pairs to reduce their recombination rate and thus enhance photocatalytic activity. The optimal TiO2/AC composite with a mass ratio of 4/1 is suggested for treating industrial or household wastewater with organic pollutants.

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.].

Parental knowledge and practice on childhood caries prevention in northern Vietnam.

This study was conducted to describe the knowledge and practices on dental caries prevention among parents of preschool children in Vietnam and identify associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted in three preschools in Northern Vietnam in 2020. A total of 316 parents of preschool children were randomly recruited. Knowledge and practices regarding early dental caries prevention were asked by using a structured questionnaire. Multivariate Tobit regression was used to examine factors associated with knowledge and practice scores. Results showed four aspects of knowledge that had the lowest proportion of parents having correct responses included timing of complete primary tooth replacement (12.3%), benefits of undergoing regular dental examination (31.7%), technique for brushing a child's teeth (33.9%), and duration for brushing (36.7%). The knowledge of parents was moderately low at 6.3/12 (SD = 2.3). The practices of parents were moderately good with the mean practice score at 6.1/9 (SD = 2.0). The proportion of parents taking children for regular checkups (56.2%) and replacing toothbrush every 3 months (53.7%) were the lowest. Information source, occupation, education and perceived necessity of oral care were found to be associated with parents' knowledge and practices. To conclude, parents had moderate levels of knowledge and practices regarding early dental caries prevention in preschool children. Further studies and interventions should be performed to improve parental knowledge and practices that could enhance the oral health of children.

Sorafenib as first-line treatment for patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma: an outcome evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes following first-line treatment with sorafenib in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study enrolled patients with primary HCC that had been treated with sorafenib. Their data were collected from the hospital medical records database at three time-points: after three cycles, after six cycles and at the end of the sorafenib treatment regimen. The starting dose was 800 mg/day sorafenib but this could be reduced to 600 mg/day or 400 mg/day if patients developed adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: A total of 98 patients participated in the study. Of these, nine (9.2%) had a partial response, 47 patients (48.0%) had stable disease and 42 patients (42.9%) had progressive disease. The overall disease control rate was 57.1% (56 of 98 patients). Median progression-free survival for the overall cohort was 4.7 months. The most common AEs were hand-foot skin reaction (49 of 98 patients; 50.0%), fatigue (41 of 98 patients; 41.8%), appetite loss (39 of 98 patients; 39.8%) and hepatotoxicity/transaminitis (24 of 98 patients; 24.5%). The majority of the AEs were toxicity grades 1 and 2. CONCLUSION: Sorafenib as a first-line treatment for primary HCC patients provided survival benefits and the AEs were well tolerated by patients.

Corrigendum: First do no harm overlooked: Analysis of COVID-19 clinical guidance for maternal and newborn care from 101 countries shows breastfeeding widely undermined.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1049610.].

Cross-circulation thrombectomy for acute middle cerebral artery occlusion through a posterior communicating artery: a case report.

Background: Two concurrent instances of acute large vessel occlusion identified in two circulation systems is rare and associated with poor clinical outcomes. The complex vascular anatomy and chronic lesions involving extracranial or intracranial vessels may make classical anterograde approaches through parent vessels quite challenging. Besides, the effective treatment is required complicated and risky endovascular techniques. The cross-circulation approach, which consists of primary catheterization of the target artery from the contralateral side or the opposite cerebral circulation system, provides an alternative endovascular route when anterograde intervention is not feasible. This approach helps to save time, enhance the efficiency, and improve the clinical prognosis of the patient. However, cross-circulation approaches are also associated with potential risks, such as long procedure times (puncture to recanalization), hemorrhagic complications, and thromboembolic events in unaffected arterial territories. We report the rare clinical case resolved by applying a posterior-to-anterior mechanical thrombectomy technique with intermediate catheter assistance. Case Description: A 67-year-old woman presented with basilar artery and right middle cerebral artery occlusion and underwent simultaneous mechanical thrombectomy of both occluded intracranial arteries. Antegrade access to the right middle cerebral artery thrombus was prevented by the discovery of a chronic occlusion in the right carotid artery. Cross-circulation thrombectomy via the right posterior communicating artery was performed successfully. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that cross-circulation stroke treatment may be beneficial in cases with chronic occlusion or complex vascular anatomies.

Survival Outcome and Prognostic Factors Among Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Hospital-Based Study.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cancer with very high incidence and mortality and low survival rate in Vietnam and worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the survival outcome and its prognostic factors among HCC patients. Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study on patients newly diagnosed with HCC at Hanoi Oncology Hospital, Vietnam from January 2018 to December 2020. Overall survival (OS) was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Log-rank test and Cox regression were used to investigate the association among patients' OS and their diagnosis and treatment factors. Results: A total of 674 patients were included. The median OS was 10.0 months. The survival rates at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months were 57.3%, 46.6%, 34.8%, and 29.7%, respectively. The initial performance status (PS), Child-Pugh score, and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage at the time of diagnosis are prognostic factors of HCC OS. A total of 451 (66.8%) patients have died, most of them (375 equally 83.1%) died at home, and only 76 (16.9%) died at hospital. Hepatocellular carcinoma patients living in the rural area more likely died at home than those living in the urban area (85.9% vs 74.8%, P = .007). Conclusions: Hepatocellular carcinoma has a poor prognosis with low OS. Performance status, Child-Pugh score, and BCLC stage were the independent prognostic factors for the survival outcome of HCC patients. The fact that most HCC patients died at home suggested that home-based hospice care needs to be paid special attention.

Identification, Phytochemistry and Biological Activities of Paris polyphylla on Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Liver cancer is the common cause of cancer death. <i>Paris polyphylla</i> is used as a traditional folk medicine in Vietnam to treat pneumonia, mastitis, bruises and fractures but no study was available regarding its ability to treat liver cancer or slow its growth. In this study, <i>Paris polyphylla</i> samples were identified and evaluated cytotoxic activity against the liver cancer cells. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> <i>Paris polyphylla</i> species were collected from various areas in Yen Bai, Vietnam, which were identified by comparative morphological method and DNA barcoding for the <i>18S, matK</i> genes and <i>ITS</i> region. <i>Paris polyphylla</i> samples were dried until constant weight, ground into a fine powder and extracted in various solvents. The bioactivity of these extracts were done by the MTT assay. <b>Results:</b> The sequences of <i>18S, matK</i> genes and <i>ITS</i> region were high similarity to sequences of <i>P. polyphylla</i> in the National Center for Biotechnology Information. The N-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions were produced from the methanol extract of <i>P. polyphylla</i>. The TLC results showed that there was a significant difference in the component of n-hexane and ethyl acetate fraction. The N-hexane fraction contains mainly low-polarity and non-polarity substances. While ethyl acetate fraction consists mainly of polar substances. In addition, ethyl acetate fraction was shown the strongest cytotoxic activity on the cancer cell lines HepG2 and Huh7 with the evaluation of IC₅₀ = 115.11±2.77 µg mL¹ and IC₅₀ = 148.11±1.78 µg mL¹. <b>Conclusion:</b> The extract of <i>Paris polyphylla</i> demonstrated strong potential to inhibit the growth of the liver cancer cell line. The ethyl acetate fraction has the highest ability for cytotoxicity on the liver and cell line at a concentration of 200 µg mL¹ through MTT.

Chitosan membrane drafting silver-immobilized graphene oxide nanocomposite for banana preservation: Fabrication, physicochemical properties, bioactivities, and application.

In this study, silver-immobilized graphene oxide/chitosan (AGC/CTS) membranes were assembled by the solvent evaporation method, wherein Curcuma longa extract was used to synthesize silver-immobilized graphene oxide (AGC) nanocomposite. The characterization results showed that the AGC was successfully synthesized with AgNPs distributed quite evenly on GO sheets. The as-prepared AGC also exhibited high antibacterial activity and low cytotoxicity towards normal cell lines compared to human epithelial carcinoma cell lines. Besides, the fabrication of AGC/CTS membranes was additionally assessed with different AGC ratios and thicknesses. The results revealed the membrane containing 3 wt% of AGC with great hygroscopicity and elastic modulus of 27.03 ± 3.07 MPa. The samples also performed excellent bactericidal capability, along with good mechanical properties for banana preservation. Therewithal, the membrane-coated bananas were also elucidated to ripen at slower paces and less damage, with no appearance of patches of mold on the banana peel surface, eventually prolonging the shelf life of bananas up to 10 days as compared to the non-coated ones. The aforesaid results confirm the potential application of the AGC/CTS membrane as a safe and alternative fruit preservation agent in the food industry.

Promoting Respectful Maternity Care by Reducing Unnecessary Episiotomies: Experiences from Centers of Excellence for Breastfeeding in Vietnam.

(1) Background: Routine episiotomy is not recommended by international guidelines; however, it occurs at a high rate in Vietnam. (2) Methods: A process to reduce unnecessary episiotomies was developed and implemented as part of the Centers of Excellence for Breastfeeding initiative, which aims to deliver high-quality breastfeeding and early essential newborn care services within a supportive policy environment. The aim of this project report is to outline the steps undertaken to reduce episiotomies, the experience in pilot hospitals, and the process towards changing policy. (3) Results: During the 14 months following the change in episiotomy policy, pilot hospital records showed no infant death or injury. Monthly monitoring data from four pilot hospitals showed that the prevalence of episiotomy was substantially lower than the average in national hospitals in Vietnam. Facilitators to reducing the episiotomy rate include the incentive of Centers of Excellence for Breastfeeding designation and supportive hospital leadership. Challenges include the ambiguity of Vietnam's national guideline on episiotomy and lack of routine monitoring on the episiotomy rate and indications. (4) Discussion: Our experience suggests that through training and routine monitoring hospitals can apply a policy of selective episiotomy and reduce the practice, particularly among multiparous women, and improve breastfeeding rates.(5) Conclusions: Sharing our experience of implementing this process and offering four areas for action will hopefully contribute to expanded use of mother-friendly, evidence-based care as policy and routine practice in Vietnam and similar settings.

Recurrent head and neck arteriovenous malformations: A case report.

Head and neck arteriovenous malformations are rare, congenital, and high-flow vascular malformations characterized by abnormal communication between feeding arteries and draining veins without intervening capillaries. Arteriovenous malformations are considered the most dangerous type of vascular malformation because progressive symptoms and infiltration can result in potentially life-threatening consequences. Left untreated, arteriovenous malformations can cause significant cosmetic deformities, severe bleeding, and high-output cardiac failure associated with arteriovenous shunting. The effective treatment of arteriovenous malformations located in the head and neck region is quite challenging due to high rates of recurrence and potentially lethal complications. We describe a case presenting with large arteriovenous malformations in the face and neck. Despite attempting several treatments, including external carotid artery ligation and embolization with liquid embolic agents, the patient continued to experience recurrence and symptoms of bleeding and pain. After admission, reconstructive plastic surgery was performed, supplemented by percutaneous direct puncture embolization, using glue injected into the venous and transarterial embolization. The patient was discharged with clinical recovery. Digital subtraction angiography remains the gold standard for assessing symptomatic and aggressive arteriovenous malformations, both before and after treatment. The treatment of head and neck arteriovenous malformations often requires a multidisciplinary approach to achieve the best clinical results.

Pharmacological Activities and Safety of Ganoderma lucidum Spores: A Systematic Review.

Ganoderma lucidum is traditionally used to prevent and treat some diseases such as liver disorders, hypertension, insomnia, diabetes, and cancer. G. lucidum spore extracts are also reported to share similar bioactivities as extracts from its other parts. However, there is no systematic review that elucidates its pharmacological effect. Our aim is to comprehensively summarise current evidence of G. lucidum spore extracts to clarify its benefits to be applied in further studies. We searched five primary databases: PubMed, Virtual Health Library (VHL), Global Health Library (GHL), System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe (SIGLE), and Google Scholar on September 13, 2021. Articles were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. A manual search was applied to find more relevant articles. Ninety studies that reported the pharmacological effects and/or safety of G. lucidum spores were included in this review. The review found that G. lucidum spore extracts showed quite similar effects as other parts of this medicinal plant including anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant effects, and immunomodulation. G. lucidum sporoderm-broken extract demonstrated higher efficiency than unbroken spore extract. G. lucidum extracts also showed their effects on some genes responsible for the body's metabolism, which implied the benefits in metabolic diseases. The safety of G. lucidum should be investigated in depth as high doses of the extract could increase levels of cancer antigen (CA)72-4, despite no harmful effect shown on body organs. Generally, there is a lot of potential in the studies of compounds with pharmacological effects and new treatments. Sporoderm breaking technique could contribute to the production of extracts with more effective prevention and treatment of diseases. High doses of G. lucidum spore extract should be used with caution as there was a concern about the increase in CA.

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.