Characteristics of unexpected antibodies in patients with blood disorders: Evidence in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: In Vietnam, a lack of evidence about the unexpected antibodies hinders the capabilities to prepare the necessary resources and personnel for treating patients with blood disorders. This study aimed to measure the rates of different unexpected antibodies in patients having blood orders in Vietnam. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the National Institute of Hematology - Blood Transfusion, Vietnam on 5608 patients with blood disorders. Information was obtained from the medical records, blood transfusion forms, screening test forms. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of unexpected antibodies in patients with haematological disorders was 9.3%. The most prevalent occurrence was the presence of an atypical antibody type, accounting for 61% of patients. The co-occurrence of this atypical antibody type and other types of antibodies was also observed, with the respective occurrence rates of 23.9%, 10.1%, 3.8%, and 1.2% for the combination of two, three, four, and five unexpected antibody types. The presence of one type of unexpected antibody was predominant, namely anti-E, accounting for the highest proportion (32.9%), followed by anti-Mia (18.4%). Among the 125 patients, the most frequently observed combination of abnormal antibodies was anti-E with anti-c (14.3%) and anti-E with anti-Mia (3.4%). Among the cohort of 53 patients exhibiting three types of unexpected antibodies, the most prevalent combination observed was anti-c, anti-E, and anti-Mia (5.7%). CONCLUSION: This study revealed a prevalence rate of 9.3% in the presence of unexpected antibodies in patients with blood disorders. The occurrence of individual unexpected antibodies surpasses that of coordinated antibodies.

Successful thrombectomy of top-of-the-basilar artery occlusion - difficult to detect in clinical practice: A case report.

Top-of-the-basilar artery occlusion frequently causes infarction of the midbrain, thalamus, and portions of the temporal and occipital lobes as the vascular supply of these regions comes from the posterior communicating and posterior cerebral arterial tributaries of the basilar artery. Clinical signs include an array of visual, oculomotor, and behavioral abnormalities, usually without prominent motor dysfunction, which makes diagnosis challenging for those inexperienced with these sign. We describe a 59-year-old male presenting with acute ischemic stroke due to top-of-the-basilar artery occlusion. Despite attempting several paraclinical examinations relating the sudden coma with Glasgow Coma Scale of 6 points, the neuroimaging detected the large vessel occlusion that was difficult to recognize. After confirming top-of-the-basilar artery occlusion, the recanalization was realized immediately. The patient was discharged with good clinical recovery.

Undescribed chalcone and stilbene constituents from Lysimachia baviensis and their anti-inflammatory effect.

The chemical composition and anti-inflammatory activity of the endemic Lysimachia baviensis were investigated for the first time in this study. A phytochemical fractionation of the methanol extract of L. baviensis resulted in the isolation of a new stilbene (bavienside A, 1) and two new chalcone glycosides (baviensides B and C, 2 and 3). Their structures were elucidated via the interpretation of NMR and HRESIMS spectroscopic data. Compounds 1-3 strongly inhibited the production of nitric oxide in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells with the IC50 values of 6.23, 2.86 and 3.51 µM, respectively. The C-acetylstilbene and carbomethyl chalcone structures in compound 1 and 3 were found for the first time from natural source and could be important markers for chemotaxonomy of Lysimachia baviensis.

[Comparative characteristics of the amino acid composition of protein from traditional sources and entomoprotein: calculated data].

The growth of the world population leads to an increase in demand for food consumption. Along with the projected reduction in demand for meat products, a search is underway for a new type of food ("novel food"), one of the promising options for which are insects. In 2023 the European Commission has registered flour made from house cricket (Acheta domesticus) as a "novel food" for human consumption. Currently, the amino acid composition of both new types of food and the diet that includes them is not regulated. Accordingly, the potential amino acid imbalance in the diet when entomoprotein is included need to be further investigated. The aim of the study was to characterize the amino acid composition of a simulated diet using protein obtained from house cricket. Material and methods. To assess the balance of diets in terms of amino acid composition, a comparative analysis was made of the actual diet containing protein from traditional foods (scenario 1) and the diet with the likely replacement of beef, pork and poultry with a product containing A. domesticus protein (entomoprotein) (scenario 2). The volume of food consumption has been calculated based on the results of the assessment of a sample survey of household budgets. The study included foods with an established value of annual consumption, that was calculated as daily consumption. The content of essential amino acids in food sources of protein, as well as in the domestic cricket protein, was evaluated using the data from relevant sources. Dietary balance was assessed by calculating its digestibility using data on amino acid scoring, the utility of essential amino acids, the excess content of individual essential amino acids, and the comparable excess content of essential amino acids. Results. We determined the daily consumption volumes of basic foods, formed consumption scenarios, including with the potential use of a protein product based on entomoprotein. Comparative analysis of the amino acid composition of the diet showed significantly higher content (from 1.4 up to 2.9 times) of amino acids in the diet in scenario 2. The results of calculating the amino acid score and utility coefficient showed that a diet using entomoprotein could provide a better usage of amino acids for protein synthesis compared to the «traditional¼ diet, however, the digestibility of protein from the traditional diet is higher compared to entomoprotein (96.8 vs 89.1%). Conclusion. Despite the fact that the utility of essential amino acids in the scenario of replacing meat products with a product containing A. domesticus entomoprotein is higher, while the digestibility of protein is lower, the differences identified are insignificant.

Primary biosorption mechanism of lead (II) and cadmium (II) cations from aqueous solution by pomelo (Citrus maxima) fruit peels.

The present work investigates the primary adsorption mechanisms of lead (II) and cadmium (II) cations onto pomelo fruit peel (PFP) from aqueous solution. pH, adsorption time, ion strength, and initial metal cation concentrations, which are factors affecting the uptake of these cations, are investigated. Results show that pH and ion strengths strongly affect the removal of these cations from aqueous solution. Different isotherm adsorption models, such as Langmuir, Freundlich, and Sips, are utilized to fit the experimental data in order to determine the adsorption in nature. The Langmuir monolayer adsorption capacities are found to be 47.18 mg/g for lead (II) and 13.35 mg/g for cadmium (II). Kinetic and thermodynamic studies based on a combination of FT-IR and TG-DSC spectroscopies demonstrate that electrostatic attraction plays a primary adsorption mechanism of lead (II) and cadmium (II) cations onto pomelo fruit peel.

Deep red fluoride dots-in-nanoparticles for high color quality micro white light-emitting diodes.

In this study, a novel nanostructure of fluoride red emitting phosphor is synthesized via soft templates. K2SiF6:Mn4+ nanocrystals in the range of 3-5 nm diameter are found inside the porous K2SiF6:Mn4+ nanoparticle hosts, forming unique dots-in-nanoparticles (d-NPs) structures with controlled optical properties. The porous K2SiF6:Mn4+ d-NPs exhibit a sharp and deep red emission with an excellent quantum yield of ∼95.9%, and ultra-high color purity with the corresponding x and y in the CIE chromaticity coordinates are 0.7102 and 0.2870, respectively. Moreover, this nanophosphor possesses good thermal stability in range of 300 K-500 K, under light excitation of 455 nm. The K2SiF6:Mn4+ d-NPs are covered onto a surface of 100×100 µm2 blue-yellow InxGa1-xN nanowire light-emitting diode (LED) to make warm white LEDs (WLEDs). The fabricated WLEDs present an excellent color rendering index of ∼95.4 and a low correlated color temperature of ∼3649 K. Porous K2SiF6:Mn4+ d-NPs are suggested as a potential red component for high color quality micro WLED applications.

Validation of a Survival Score for Patients Receiving Radiosurgery or Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy for 1 to 3 Brain Metastases.

BACKGROUND/AIM: We developed a scoring system to predict 1-year survival after radiosurgery for 1-3 brain metastases. This study aimed to validate this system. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-six new patients were included in this validation study. Like in the original scoring-system, three factors (age, performance status, extra-cranial metastases) were used. For each factor, 1-year survival rates in % were divided by 10, and the three scoring-points were added for each patient. RESULTS: Patient's scores were 10, 11, 13, 14, 16 or 17 points with 1-year survival rates ranging between 31% and 80%. Two groups, 10-14 and 16-17 points were formed. In the 14-16 points group, 1-year survival was 47% (versus 33% in the preceding study, p=0.060). In the 16-17 points group, 1-year survival rates were 75% versus 77% (p=0.79). CONCLUSION: In the more favorable group, the scoring-system was very reproducible. In the less favorable group, the difference was larger, but also not signficant.

Rotating Gamma System Irradiation: A Promising Treatment for Low-grade Brainstem Gliomas.

AIM: To evaluate the role of rotating gamma system (RGS) radiosurgery for low-grade brainstem gliomas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven patients undergoing RGS radiosurgery at the Bach Mai Hospital Hanoi for low-grade brainstem glioma were included in this prospective interventional study. The median RGS dose was 12 Gy (range=8-16 Gy). Endpoints included response to RGS radiosurgery given as change in glioma size (maximum diameter), survival and adverse events. Follow-up was performed for 36 months. Three dose-groups (<13, 13-14 and >14 Gy) were compared for survival. RESULTS: Mean glioma size decreased from 1.87 cm before RGS irradiation to 1.15 cm at 36 months. Mean survival was 39.5 months. Mean survival after <13, 13-14 and >14 Gy were 22.7, 66.7 and 49 months, respectively (p<0.05). Adverse events, mainly reduced appetite, sleep disturbances, headache and edema, were not associated with RGS dose and were easily managed. CONCLUSION: RGS radiosurgery led to promising results with acceptable toxicity in patients with low-grade brainstem gliomas.

Anthropogenic influence on surface water quality of the Nhue and Day sub-river systems in Vietnam.

In order to investigate the temporal and spatial variations of 14 physical and chemical surface water parameters in the Nhue and Day sub-river systems of Vietnam, surface water samples were taken from 43 sampling sites during the dry and rainy seasons in 2007. The results were statistically examined by Mann-Whitney U-test and hierarchical cluster analysis. The results show that water quality of the Day River was significantly improved during the rainy season while this was not the case of the Nhue River. However, the river water did not meet the Vietnamese surface water quality standards for dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD(5)), chemical oxygen demand (COD), nutrients, total coliform, and fecal coliform. This implies that the health of local communities using untreated river water for drinking purposes as well as irrigation of vegetables may be at risk. Forty-three sampling sites were grouped into four main clusters on the basis of water quality characteristics with particular reference to geographic location and land use and revealed the contamination levels from anthropogenic sources.