A bupropion modulatory site in the Gloeobacter violaceus ligand-gated ion channel.

Bupropion is an atypical antidepressant and smoking cessation drug that causes adverse effects such as insomnia, irritability, and anxiety. Bupropion inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake transporters and eukaryotic cation-conducting pentameric ligand-gated ion channels, such as nicotinic acetylcholine and serotonin type 3A receptors, at clinically relevant concentrations. Here, we demonstrate that bupropion also inhibits a prokaryotic homolog of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels, the Gloeobacter violaceus ligand-gated ion channel (GLIC). Using the GLIC as a model, we used molecular docking to predict binding sites for bupropion. Bupropion was found to bind to several sites within the transmembrane domain, with the predominant site being localized to the interface between transmembrane segments M1 and M3 of two adjacent subunits. Residues W213, T214, and W217 in the first transmembrane segment, M1, and F267 and I271 in the third transmembrane segment, M3, most frequently reside within a 4 Å distance from bupropion. We then used single amino acid substitutions at these positions and two-electrode voltage-clamp recordings to determine their impact on bupropion inhibitory effects. The substitution T214F alters bupropion potency by shifting the half-maximal inhibitory concentration to a 13-fold higher value compared to wild-type GLIC. Residue T214 is found within a previously identified binding pocket for neurosteroids and lipids in the GLIC. This intersubunit binding pocket is structurally conserved and almost identical to a binding pocket described for neurosteroids in γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors. Our data thus suggest that the T214 that lines a previously identified lipophilic binding pocket in GLIC and γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors is also a modulatory site for bupropion interaction with the GLIC.

Evaluation of activities and instrumental activities of daily living and correlated factors of traumatic brain injury patients in Vietnam.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is among the leading causes of death in Vietnam. Survivors of TBI suffer from functional and cognitive deficits. Understanding that Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are crucial in measuring the treatment and health-related quality of life among patients with TBI. This study aims to evaluate ADLs and IADLs among the TBI population in Vietnam and determine the correlated factors to these two indices. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 212 patients with TBI in Vietnam from February to September 2020. ADLs and IADLs scales were applied. Depression, quality of sleep, and social support scales were used. Multivariate Tobit regression was adopted to identify factors associated with ADLs and IADLs. Patients who received first aid had higher ADLs scores than those who had not, by a statistical difference with a p value = 0.04. The mean ADLs score was 5.4 (SD = 1.4). The mean score of IADLs was 7.3 (SD = 1.7). Female patients (Mean = 7.6, SD = 1.1) performed better in IADLs than male patients (Mean = 7.1, SD = 1.9). Both ADLs and IADLs were affected strongly by depression and Injury Severity scores (p < 0.01), whereas IADLs were significantly correlated to caregiver types and quality of sleep (p < 0.01). Family support was observed as a negatively correlated factor to IADLs. Findings from the study provided evidence for authorities to adjust the health strategies among patients with TBI. Proper prehospital care, a basic low-cost hospital care model, and mental health counseling services should be considered when developing health interventions in Vietnam.

Economic burden and financial vulnerability of injuries among the elderly in Vietnam.

Falls are a leading cause of death among elderly people. However, research on the cost of fall-related injuries is limited in Vietnam. We estimated treatment costs and associated factors among 405 elderly patients in Thai Binh hospitals. Costs were estimated through self-reported data on medical and non-medical expenses. Logistic regression and GLM were used to identify payment and affordability factors. Inpatient and outpatient care costs for fall-related injuries were US$98.06 and US$8.53, respectively. 11.85% of participants couldn't pay for treatment. Payment ability and cost decline were linked to family income, medical history, and hospital stay length. Elderly with fall-related injuries in Vietnam experienced high costs and severe health issues. Primary healthcare services and communication campaigns should be strengthened to reduce disease burden and develop effective fall injury prevention strategies.

Identification of a binding site for bupropion in Gloeobacter violaceus ligand-gated ion channel.

Bupropion is an atypical antidepressant and smoking cessation drug which causes adverse effects such as insomnia, irritability, and anxiety. Bupropion inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake transporters and eukaryotic cation-conducting pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs), such as nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) and serotonin type 3A (5-HT3A) receptors, at clinically relevant concentrations. However, the binding sites and binding mechanisms of bupropion are still elusive. To further understand the inhibition of pLGICs by bupropion, in this work, using a prokaryotic homologue of pLGICs as a model, we examined the inhibitory potency of bupropion in Gloeobacter violaceus ligand-gated ion channel (GLIC), a proton-gated ion channel. Bupropion inhibited proton-induced currents in GLIC with an inhibitory potency of 14.9 ± 2.0 µM, comparable to clinically attainable concentrations previously shown to also modulate eukaryotic pLGICs. Using single amino acid substitutions in GLIC and two-electrode voltage-clamp recordings, we further determined a binding site for bupropion in the lower third of the first transmembrane segment M1 at residue T214. The sidechain of M1 T214 together with additional residues of M1 and also of M3 of the adjacent subunit have previously been shown to contribute to binding of other lipophilic molecules like allopregnanolone and pregnanolone.

A global bibliometric analysis of intimate partner violence in the field of HIV/AIDS: implications for interventions and research development.

This study aimed to explore the research landscape of intimate partner violence (IPV)-harm-induced behavior in an intimate relationship and HIV/AIDS to determine lessons learnt and gaps that may be filled by future research. Publications related to IPV, and HIV/AIDS published from 1997 to 2019 were collected from Web of Science (WoS). STATA and VOSviewer software tools were used for bibliometric analysis. Content analysis, common topics, and the map of co-occurrence terms were structured by Latent Dirichlet allocation and VOSviewer software tool. 941 studies were included. Factors associated with domestic violence and interventions to reduce IPV were the two most common themes. Meanwhile, mental health illness among pregnant women affected by HIV and IPV, and HIV-risk among youth suffering from IPV have not received adequate attention. We suggest that more research focusing on adolescents and pregnant women affected by HIV and IPV. In addition, the development of collaborative networks between developed and developing countries should also be addressed.

Impacts of COVID-19 on career choices in health professionals and medical students.

BACKGROUNDS: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in not only significant mortalities in Vietnam but has had an impact on its economy. Previous studies have highlighted how the pandemic has had a marginal impact on Vietnamese healthcare workers working at the frontlines. To date, there have been several other studies examining the impact of COVID-19 on intentions to transition between jobs among healthcare professionals, but this has yet to be explored amongst Vietnamese healthcare workers. METHODS: To achieve the study's objectives an online cross-sectional study was conducted between September to November 2021. Snowball sampling methodology was adopted for the recruitment of participants. The questionnaire that was used for this study comprised of the following sections: (a) socio-demographic information; (b) impact of COVID-19 on work; (c) risk of exposure to COVID-19; (d) career choices/intentions to change job, and (e) motivation at work. RESULTS: There were 5727 completed the entire survey. 17.2% of the respondents have had increased job satisfaction, 26.4% reported increased motivation to work, and 40.9% reported decreased motivation to work. Whilst there were changes in the daily work intensity and the level of work-related stress, more than 60% of respondents we sampled did not intend to switch careers. Demographic variables like gender, whether one was a student or an existing healthcare worker, and income related to work motivation. The community's stigma was a negative factor that declined intrinsic motivation as well as decreased work retention. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is instrumental in identifying the impact of COVID-19 on career choices amongst Vietnamese healthcare workers. The factors identified have clear implications for policymaking.

Binding motif for RIC-3 chaperon protein in serotonin type 3A receptors.

Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 (5-HT3) receptors belong to the family of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs) that are therapeutic targets for psychiatric disorders and neurological diseases. Due to structural conservation and significant sequence similarities of pLGICs' extracellular and transmembrane domains, clinical trials for drug candidates targeting these two domains have been hampered by off-subunit modulation. With the present study, we explore the interaction interface of the 5-HT3A subunit intracellular domain (ICD) with the resistance to inhibitors of choline esterase (RIC-3) protein. Previously, we have shown that RIC-3 interacts with the L1-MX segment of the ICD fused to maltose-binding protein. In the present study, synthetic L1-MX-based peptides and Ala-scanning identify positions W347, R349, and L353 as critical for binding to RIC-3. Complementary studies using full-length 5-HT3A subunits confirm that the identified Ala substitutions reduce the RIC-3-mediated modulation of functional surface expression. Additionally, we find and characterize a duplication of the binding motif, DWLR…VLDR, present in both the MX-helix and the transition between the ICD MA-helix and transmembrane segment M4. Analogous Ala substitutions at W447, R449, and L454 disrupt MAM4-peptide RIC-3 interactions and reduce modulation of functional surface expression. In summary, we identify the binding motif for RIC-3 in 5-HT3A subunits at two locations in the ICD, one in the MX-helix and one at the MAM4-helix transition.

Association of Individual and Neighborhood Characteristics to Problematic Internet Use among Youths and Adolescents: Evidence from Vietnam.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to determine latent profiles from the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire Short Form-6 (PIUQ-SF-6) score of Vietnamese youths and adolescents, which supports the diagnosis of problematic internet use among a large sample size. Moreover, it also explored factors that affect each latent profile of the PIUQ-SF-6 score among participants. METHODS: A sample of 1477 Vietnamese people, aged 14 to 24, across five provinces participated in the study. Multinomial logistic regression determined factors related to the levels of the Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire Short Form-6 (PIUQ-SF-6) after using latent profile analysis. RESULTS: Participants were divided into three profiles, including those at low, moderate, and high risk of internet addiction. The high-risk latent profile was obtained for 23.1% of adolescents, and the remaining percentages were, respectively, 40.2% and 36.7% of adolescents belonging to the moderate and low-risk groups. Moreover, factors including age, living alone, high Kessler psychological distress scale, excessive time on the internet, living in central cities, and high neighborhood disorder scores were found to be related to moderate- and high-risk internet addiction profiles. CONCLUSIONS: Factors analyzed according to individual and social characteristics further explore the reasons underlying increasing internet addiction among Vietnamese youths and inform early interventions.

A Meta-Analysis of Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Group Psychoeducation for Treating Symptoms and Preventing Relapse in People Living with Bipolar Disorder.

Objectives: This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the treatment outcomes of patients treated with Group cognitive behavioural therapy (GCBT) or group psychoeducation (GPE) as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy. Methods: Systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CENTRAL from inception till 1 March 2022 was conducted. Randomized-controlled-trials (RCTs) comparing GCBT/GPE with controls (treatment-as-usual/individualized therapy) in adults with bipolar disorder were eligible. The outcomes were relapse rates of any depressive or manic episodes and control of depressive and manic symptoms post-intervention. Overall odds-ratio was used to evaluate the relapse rates. Standard Mean Differences were pooled using a random-effects model for the control of depressive and manic symptoms. Results: 25 articles were assessed full-text independently by two members, and 11 studies were included in this meta-analysis. 601 and 590 participants were randomized into group-therapy (GCBT/GPE) and control, respectively. GPE significantly reduces relapse rates at post-intervention with Odds ratio of 0.43 (95% CI = 0.28-to-0.62, p < 0.0001) (I² = 41%) compared to control, however, no significant results were found for GPE on control of depressive or manic symptoms. No significant results were found for GCBT in all outcomes. Conclusion: This meta-analysis provides some evidence that GPE could be an efficacious treatment as an adjunct to treatment-as-usual in reducing the relapse rates of patients with bipolar disorder.

Mental wellbeing among urban young adults in a developing country: A Latent Profile Analysis.

Introduction: This study aimed to explore the mental wellbeing profiles and their related factors among urban young adults in Vietnam. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Hanoi, which is the capital of Vietnam. There were 356 Vietnamese who completed the Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5) questionnaire. The Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was used to identify the subgroups of mental wellbeing through five items of the MHI-5 scale as the continuous variable. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine factors related to subgroups. Results: Three classes represented three levels of MHI-5 score, which included "Poor mental health," "Fair mental health," and "Good mental health," were, respectively, 14.3, 46.6, and 39.0%. Compared to a low household economy, participants with an average household economy had 2.11 and 4.79 times higher odds of being in a good mental health class relative to fair and poor mental health classes. Respondents with more than two acute symptoms had 3.85 times higher odds of being in a good mental health class relative to a poor mental health class, as compared to those without acute symptoms. Regarding the measurement of the Perceived Social Support Scale (MSPSS), people having support from their family had 1.80 and 2.23 times higher odds of being in classes of fair and good mental health relative to the poor mental health class; and participants having friend support also had 1.87 times higher odds of being in a good mental health class compared with the fair mental health class, as the MSPSS score increased by 1 unit. People with Rosenberg's self-esteem scale increased by 1 score, those who had 1.17, 1.26, and 1.47 times higher odds of being in a good compared to fair mental health class, fair compared to poor mental health class, and good compared to poor mental health class, respectively. Conclusion: Our findings were given to promote a new classification method for mental health screening among the general population. The current findings could be used as evidence to develop policies and plans that focus on encouraging early screening for mental health problems among the general young population in the future.

Global mapping of epidemic risk assessment toolkits: A scoping review for COVID-19 and future epidemics preparedness implications.

Preparedness and responses to infectious disease epidemics and pandemics require the understanding of communities' and multisectoral systems' characteristics with regards to diseases transmission and population's vulnerabilities. This study aimed to summarize measurement profiles of existing risk assessment toolkits to inform COVID-19 control at global and national levels. An online search in different databases and online sources was performed to identify all epidemic risk and vulnerability assessment instruments. Medline/PubMed, Web of Science databases, and websites of public health organizations were used for the searching process. Of 14 toolkits, levels of setting were mostly at the global or nation level. Components such as Governance and Legislation, Financing, Health Service Provision, and Human Resources are key domains in almost all toolkits. Some important issues for disease detection and surveillance, such as laboratory or capacity of the community for disease control, were not adequately addressed in several toolkits. Limited studies were found that validated the toolkits. Only five toolkits were used in COVID-19 studies. This study provides a summary of risk assessment toolkits to inform epidemic responses. We call for global and national efforts in developing more contextualized and responsive epidemic risk assessment scales incorporating specific-disease and -country factors to inform operational decisions making and strengthen countries' capacities in epidemic responses.

Prioritizing farm management interventions to improve climate change adaptation and mitigation outcomes-a case study for banana plantations.

Intervening into agricultural systems necessarily includes risks, uncertainties, and ultimately unknown outcomes. Decision analysis embraces uncertainty through an interdisciplinary approach that involves relevant stakeholders in evaluating complex decisions. We applied decision analysis approaches to prioritize 21 farm management interventions, which could be considered in certification schemes for banana production. We estimated their contribution to climate change adaptation and mitigation as well as ecological outcomes. We used a general model that estimated the impacts of each intervention on adaptation (benefits minus costs), mitigation (global warming potential), ecological parameters (e.g., biodiversity and water and soil quality), and farming aspects (e.g., yield, implementation costs and production risks). We used expert and documented knowledge and presented uncertainties in the form of 90% confidence intervals to feed the model and forecast the changes in system outcomes caused by each intervention compared to a baseline scenario without the measure. By iterating the model function 10,000 times, we obtained probability distributions for each of the outcomes and farm management interventions. Our results suggest that interventions associated with nutrient management (e.g., composting and nutrient management plan) positively affect climate change adaptation, mitigation, and ecological aspects. Measures with no direct yield benefits (e.g., plastic reduction) correlate negatively with adaptation but have positive impacts on ecology. Creating buffer zones and converting low-productivity farmland (incl. unused land) also have positive ecological and adaptation outcomes. Decision analysis can help in prioritizing farm management interventions, which may vary considerably in their relationship with the expected outcomes. Additional work may be required to elaborate a comprehensive assessment of the underlying aspects modulating the impacts of a given measure on the evaluated outcome. Our analysis provides insights on the most promising interventions for banana plantations and may help practitioners and researchers in focusing further studies. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13593-022-00809-0.

Cell-Free Expression of Proton-Coupled Folate Transporter in the Presence of Nanodiscs.

Proton coupled folate transporter (PCFT) is an integral membrane protein with 12 transmembrane segments localized to the plasma membrane. PCFT is the main route by which folate, vitamin B9, from dietary sources enters mammalian cells in the small intestine. Loss-of-function mutations in this membrane transport protein cause hereditary folate malabsorption, and upregulation of PCFT has been reported in cancer cells. Currently, a complete translocation mechanism of folate via PCFT is still missing. To reveal this mechanism via studies of structural architecture and structure-function relationships, soluble and stable PCFT in a phospholipid bilayer environment is needed. We therefore develop an approach to screen lipid environments in which PCFT is most soluble. Traditional in vitro expression and reconstitution into lipid bilayers of integral membrane proteins requires separate steps, which are costly and time-consuming. In this chapter, we describe a protocol for in vitro translation of PCFT into preformed lipid nanodiscs using a cell-free expression system, which helps to accelerate and reduce the cost of the sample preparation.

Parent-Child Relationship Quality and Internet Use in a Developing Country: Adolescents' Perspectives.

Objective: The goal of the study was to explore the relationship between parent-children relationships related to using the internet among kids and potentially associated factors. Materials and Methods: A sample of 1.216 Vietnamese students between the ages of 12 and 18 agreed to participate in the cross-sectional online survey. Data collected included socioeconomic characteristics and internet use status of participants, their perceived changes in relationship and communication between parents and children since using the internet, and parental control toward the child's internet use. An Ordered Logistic Regression was carried out to determine factors associated with parent-children relationship since using the internet. Results: The characteristics of the relationship between children and their parents since using the Internet were divided into three levels: deterioration (7.0%), stability (78.2%), and improvement (14.8%). The topics that children most often communicate with their parents include learning, housework, and future directions. Two-way interactive activities, such as supporting parents to use the Internet, have a positive impact on the parent-child relationship. Stubborn parental control, such as establishing rules about contact or allowing Internet access and setting up global positioning system (GPS) to track negatively affecting parent-child relationships. Conclusion: Findings indicated that changes in the quality of the parent-child relationship were self-assessed by participants regard to kids' internet use, especially in the COVID-19 epidemic context. Educational campaigns and programs to raise awareness of parents as to the dangers and negative influences that their children may encounter online, psychology of children's behaviors and effects of different responding strategies are recommended.

Ensuring Population Health in the Era of Aging in Vietnam: Policy Review and Factors Associated with Intentions of Childbearing before the Age of 30 among Youths.

Background: Delayed childbearing has become a concern among policymakers across the world. In Vietnam, population policies have been adjusted to cope with this issue. In 2020, Decision 588/QD-TTg was ratified to encourage people to marry and give birth before the age of 30. This study reviewed recent changes in Vietnam's population policies and assessed the intention of giving birth before 30 in young Vietnamese to provide insights into the potential effectiveness of the policy changes among young people. Methods: This study combined two approaches: a desk review and a survey of a group of youths. An online cross-sectional study was conducted on 116 respondents aged 16 to 30 in Vietnam from June to July 2020. The intention of childbearing before 30 and the importance and responsiveness of different social-environmental factors were asked using a structured questionnaire. We used multivariate logistic regression to identify associated factors of such intention. Results: The incentives set out by the Vietnamese government shared similarities with those of other countries. The plan of childbearing before the age of 30 among young adults in Vietnam was demonstrated to correlate with age, socioeconomic and biological characteristics, resources of the local health systems, as well as a clean and safe living environment. Conclusion: This study highlighted the recent crucial shift in Vietnam's population policy. However, the quantitative analysis suggested that measures relating to environmental factors should be incorporated under this policy, implying that further interventions need to be taken into account to cope with delayed childbearing.

Gaps of Knowledge about HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Industrial Workers in Northern Vietnam.

Industrial workers are a vulnerable population for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This cross-sectional study assessed the general knowledge about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV transmission risk among 289 industrial workers in Northern Vietnam. Results indicated that most workers could identify common routes of HIV transmissions and were aware of common STIs. However, insufficient knowledge about HIV transmission via anal sex practices, as well as common signs and symptoms of STIs were observed. Gender, marital status, education, locality status and health information sources were associated with the knowledge. This study reveals a gap of knowledge about HIV and other STIs, and suggested further tailored education interventions to improve the knowledge and promote sexual health-seeking behaviors in industrial workers.

Lean management for improving hospital waiting times-Case study of a Vietnamese public/general hospital emergency department.

INTRODUCTION: Emergency departments (EDs) at public hospitals in Vietnam typically face problems with overcrowding, as well as being populated by a wide variety of illnesses, resulting in increasing dissatisfaction from patients. To alleviate these problems, we used the increasingly popular value-stream mapping (VSM) and lean strategy approaches to (1) evaluate the current patient flow in EDs; (2) identify and eliminate the non-valued-added components; and (3) modify the existing process in order to improve waiting times. METHODS: Data from a total of 742 patients who presented at the ED of 108 Military Central Hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam, were collected. A VSM was developed where improvement possibilities were identified and attempts to eliminate non-value-added activities were made. A range of issues that were considered as a resource waste were highlighted, which led to a re-design process focusing on prioritizing blood tests and ultrasound procedures. On the administrative side, various measures were considered, including streamlining communication with medical departments, using QR codes for healthcare insurance payments, and efficient management of X-ray and CT scan online results. RESULTS: By implementing a lean approach, the following reductions in delay and waiting time were incurred: (1) pre-operative test results (for patients requiring medical procedures/operations) by 33.3% (from 134.4 to 89.4 min); (2) vascular interventions by 10.4% (from 54.6 to 48.9 min); and (3) admission to other hospital departments by 49.5% (from 118.3 to 59.8 min). Additionally, prior to the implementation of the lean strategy approach, only 22.9% of patients or their proxies (family members or friends), who responded to the survey, expressed satisfaction with the ED services. This percentage increased to 76.5% following the curtailment of non-value-added activities. Through statistical inferential test analyses, it can be confidently concluded that applying lean strategy and tools can improve patient flow in public/general hospital EDs and achieve better staff coordination within the various clinical and administrative hospital departments. To the authors' knowledge, such analysis in a Vietnamese hospital's ED context has not been previously undertaken.

Impact of nanodisc lipid composition on cell-free expression of proton-coupled folate transporter.

The Proton-Coupled Folate Transporter (PCFT) is a transmembrane transport protein that controls the absorption of dietary folates in the small intestine. PCFT also mediates uptake of chemotherapeutically used antifolates into tumor cells. PCFT has been identified within lipid rafts observed in phospholipid bilayers of plasma membranes, a micro environment that is altered in tumor cells. The present study aimed at investigating the impact of different lipids within Lipid-protein nanodiscs (LPNs), discoidal lipid structures stabilized by membrane scaffold proteins, to yield soluble PCFT expression in an E. coli lysate-based cell-free transcription/translation system. In the absence of detergents or lipids, we observed PCFT quantitatively as precipitate in this system. We then explored the ability of LPNs to support solubilized PCFT expression when present during in-vitro translation. LPNs consisted of either dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC), palmitoyl-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine (POPC), or dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol (DMPG). While POPC did not lead to soluble PCFT expression, both DMPG and DMPC supported PCFT translation directly into LPNs, the latter in a concentration dependent manner. The results obtained through this study provide insights into the lipid preferences of PCFT. Membrane-embedded or solubilized PCFT will enable further studies with diverse biophysical approaches to enhance the understanding of the structure and molecular mechanism of folate transport through PCFT.