Isolation and genetic characterization of waterfowl parvovirus in ducks in Northern Vietnam.

Background and Aim: Short beak and dwarfism syndrome (SBDS), a highly contagious disease, has been reported in duck farms in Vietnam since 2019. In this study, we evaluated the virulence and characterized the virus obtained from SBDS cases in North Vietnam. Materials and Methods: Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect waterfowl parvovirus in ducks, and the virus from positive samples was inoculated into 10-day-old duck-embryonated eggs to reproduce the disease in young ducklings to determine the virulence and subjected to phylogenetic analysis of non-structural (NS) and VP1 gene sequences. Results and Discussion: Goose parvovirus (GPV) was isolated from ducks associated with SDBS in Vietnam. The virus Han-GPV2001 is highly virulent when inoculated into 10-day-old duck embryos and 3-day-old ducklings. The mortality rate of duck embryos was 94.35% within 6 days of virus inoculation. Inoculating 3-day-old ducks with the virus stock with 104.03 EID50 through intramuscular and neck intravenous administration resulted in 80% and 66.67% of clinical signs of SDBS, respectively, were shown. Phylogenetic analysis based on the partial NS and VP1 gene sequences revealed that the viral isolate obtained in this study belonged to novel GPV (NGPV) and was closely related to previous Vietnamese and Chinese strains. Conclusion: A GPV strain, Han-GPV2001, has been successfully isolated and has virulence in duck-embryonated eggs as well as caused clinical signs of SBDS in ducks. Phylogenetic analyses of partial genes encoding NS and capsid proteins indicated that the obtained GPV isolate belongs to the NGPV group.

Non-Substituted Imidazolium-Based Electrolytes as Potential Alternatives to the Conventional Acidic Electrolytes of Polyaniline-Based Electrode Materials for Supercapacitors.

Although disubstituted imidazolium cation is sterically crowded, hundreds of ionic liquids based on this cation have been reported as electrolytes for energy storage devices. In contrast to disubstituted imidazolium, non-substituted imidazolium is uncrowded sterically and has not yet been investigated as an electrolyte, to the best of our knowledge. Hence, imidazolium hydrogen sulfate [Imi][HSO4], in mixture with water, was studied as an electrolyte for PANI-based electrode materials. For comparison, pyrrolidinium with hydrogen sulfate or p-toluene sulfonate ([Pyrr][HSO4] or [Pyrr][PTS]), in mixture with water, were also investigated as alternatives to the conventional electrolyte (i.e., aqueous H2SO4) for PANI electrodes. Walden plots of binary mixture ionic liquid-water weight ratios with the optimal ionic conductivity (i.e., [Imi][HSO4]/water 48/52 wt% (195.1 mS/cm), [Pyrr][HSO4]/water 41/59 wt% (186.6 mS/cm), and [Pyrr][PTS]/water 48/52 wt% (43.4 mS/cm) along with the electrochemical performances of PANI in these binary mixtures showed that [Pyrr][HSO4]aq or [Imi][HSO4]aq are convenient electrolytes for PANI/PIL, as opposed to [Pyrr][PTS]aq. Furthermore, replacing the conventional aqueous electrolyte H2SO4 with [Imi][HSO4] aq increased the specific capacitance of PANI/PIL from 249.8 to 268.5 F/g at 15 mV/s. Moreover, PANI/PIL electrodes displayed a quasi-ideal capacitive behavior in [Imi][HSO4]aq (the correction factor of CPE4 was 0.99). This primary study has shown that non-substituted imidazolium as an electrolyte could enhance the electrochemical performances of PANI electrodes and could be a good alternative to the conventional electrolyte.

Developmental outcomes of children born through ICSI versus conventional IVF (cIVF) in couples with non-male factor infertility.

STUDY QUESTION: In non-male factor infertile couples, are there any differences in the developmental outcomes between children born through ICSI and conventional IVF (cIVF)? SUMMARY ANSWER: In this preliminary study, ICSI and cIVF seem to have a comparable effect on developmental outcomes after 12 months in children born to non-male factor infertile couples. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: ICSI, an invasive technique, has raised concerns about potential developmental abnormalities in children. Limited data are available regarding the developmental outcomes of ICSI-conceived infants born to non-male factor infertile couples. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This prospective cohort study involved a follow-up of all children aged 12 months or older who were born from pregnancies resulting from either ICSI or cIVF as part of a previous randomized controlled trial (RCT) (NCT03428919). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: In the original RCT, 1064 women were randomly assigned to the ICSI or cIVF groups (532 women for each group). Follow-up was conducted with 155 couples (195 children) in the ICSI group and 141 couples (185 children) in the cIVF group. The Vietnamese version of the Ages & Stages Third Edition Questionnaires (ASQ-3) and the Development Red Flags questionnaires were completed by the participants. A total of 141 (90.1%) women (177 children) in the ICSI group and 113 (80.1%) women (145 children) in the cIVF group returned fully completed questionnaires. The primary outcomes were the developmental outcomes based on responses to the ASQ-3 and the Red Flags questionnaire. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The mean age of children at follow-up was 19.5 ± 5.0 months in the ICSI group and 19.3 ± 5.5 months in the cIVF group. The mean height and weight of children in both groups were similar. The overall proportion of children with any abnormal ASQ-3 score did not differ significantly between the ICSI and cIVF groups (16.9% vs 13.1%, P = 0.34). The proportion of children with Red Flag signs was also comparable between the two groups (6.2% vs 9.2%, P = 0.36, ICSI vs cIVF, respectively). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Despite a reasonably high follow-up response rate, there is a potential risk of sampling bias, and overall, the number of children with developmental abnormalities was very small. The study relied solely on questionnaires as screening tools, rather than incorporating additional behavioral observations or physical developmental tests; this may have affected the statistical power and the significance of between-group comparisons. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The current findings contribute to the existing evidence and support the comparative safety of ICSI and cIVF regarding early childhood development. However, more extensive and prolonged follow-up data for these children are needed to draw definitive conclusions. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): No external funding was received for this study, and no authors reported conflicting interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04866524 (clinicaltrials.gov).

IpaA reveals distinct modes of vinculin activation during Shigella invasion and cell-matrix adhesion.

Vinculin is a cytoskeletal linker strengthening cell adhesion. The Shigella IpaA invasion effector binds to vinculin to promote vinculin supra-activation associated with head-domain-mediated oligomerization. Our study investigates the impact of mutations of vinculin D1D2 subdomains' residues predicted to interact with IpaA VBS3. These mutations affected the rate of D1D2 trimer formation with distinct effects on monomer disappearance, consistent with structural modeling of a closed and open D1D2 conformer induced by IpaA. Notably, mutations targeting the closed D1D2 conformer significantly reduced Shigella invasion of host cells as opposed to mutations targeting the open D1D2 conformer and later stages of vinculin head-domain oligomerization. In contrast, all mutations affected the formation of focal adhesions (FAs), supporting the involvement of vinculin supra-activation in this process. Our findings suggest that IpaA-induced vinculin supra-activation primarily reinforces matrix adhesion in infected cells, rather than promoting bacterial invasion. Consistently, shear stress studies pointed to a key role for IpaA-induced vinculin supra-activation in accelerating and strengthening cell-matrix adhesion.

Evaluating lecturer performance in Vietnam: An application of fuzzy AHP and fuzzy TOPSIS methods.

Higher education is regarded as being of paramount importance in Vietnam and as being essential to raising the level of the country's labor force and promoting economic progress. Evaluation of lecturers is one of the institution's activities and a crucial component of managing human resources in higher education institutions. How to evaluate faculty members' overall performance using a range of criteria is one of the key evaluation-related challenges. This study presents a method that uses fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) to assess and rank the performance of lecturers. Specifically, the evaluation framework is developed by identifying criteria and sub-criteria based on a comprehensive review of existing literature. Following that, the fuzzy AHP approach is used to determine the weights of the criteria and sub-criteria using the pairwise comparisons. The Fuzzy TOPSIS approach is employed to assess and prioritize lecturers identified through expert evaluation. When applied in group decision-making, utilizing fuzzy AHP and fuzzy TOPSIS promotes agreement among decision-makers and diminishes uncertainty in decision-making processes. The utilization of the multiple criterion measurement approach can then be used to carry out the evaluation. The suggested framework is also demonstrated via a case study. The use of this framework can improve the evaluation's objectivity, accuracy, and scientific methodology. It is believed that this work will assist managers of higher education institutions improve their standards for educational quality.

Toxicity in Older Patients with Cancer Receiving Immunotherapy: An Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Checkpoint inhibition has emerged as an effective treatment strategy for a variety of cancers, including in older adults. However, older patients with cancer represent a heterogenous group as they can vary widely in frailty, cognition, and physical status. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the association between clinical frailty and immune-related treatment toxicity, hospitalization, and treatment discontinuation due to immune-related treatment toxicity in older patients treated with checkpoint inhibitors. METHODS: Patients aged 70 years and older treated with checkpoint inhibitors were selected from the TENT study, IMAGINE study, and "Tolerability and safety of immunotherapy study". Clinical frailty was assessed by the Geriatric-8 test score and World Health Organization (WHO) status. Outcomes were grades 3-5 toxicity, hospitalization, and treatment discontinuation due to toxicity during treatment. RESULTS: Of 99 patients included, 22% had comorbidities. While 33% of the patients were considered frail based on an abnormal Geriatric-8 test score of < 15, physical impairments were considered absent in 51% (WHO score of 0) and mild in 40% (WHO score of 1). Despite the limited sample size of the cohort, consistent trends were observed with patients with an abnormal Geriatric-8 test score of < 15 or a higher WHO score of 1 for having higher odds of toxicity [odds ratio (OR) 2.32 (95% CI 0.41-13.02); OR 1.33 (95% CI 0.45-4.17)], treatment discontinuation due to immune-related treatment toxicity [OR 2.25 (95% CI 0.61-8.31); OR 2.18 (95% CI 0.7-6.73)], and hospitalization due to immune-related treatment toxicity [OR 3.72 (95% CI 0.39-35.4); OR 1.31 (95% CI 0.35-4.9)]. Moreover, in a sub-analysis, we observed that the treatment discontinuation due to immune-related treatment toxicity occurred often in patients with grade 1-2 toxicity as well. CONCLUSIONS: Although not statistically significant, in older patients treated with immunotherapy in a real-life population with cancer, we observed consistent trends towards increased toxicity, hospitalization, and treatment discontinuation with increasing frailty. Larger studies are needed to confirm these exploratory results. Moreover, older patients with a lower toxicity grade 1-2 experienced early treatment discontinuation frequently, suggesting a lower tolerance of toxicity.

Transfer of natural radionuclides from soil to water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forssk) under flooded and unflooded conditions in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Transfer of natural radionuclides from soil to water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forssk) in Hanoi, Vietnam have been investigated using a low background gamma spectrometer with an HPGe detector (Model-GC5019). Twenty pairs of soil and water spinach samples in two environmental conditions, i.e., flooded and unflooded, were collected for measuring the activity concentrations and determining the soil-to-plant transfer factors (TFs) of natural radionuclides. For water spinach, stems and leaves were collected as the main parts for human consumption and livestock food. The TF of 40K is within the range of 0.32-2.49, which is greater than that of 228Ra (0.01-0.17) and 226Ra (0.01-0.13). The geometric means (geometric standard deviations) of the TFs are 1.17(1.89), 0.05(2.41) and 0.04(1.88) for flooded sites, and 0.89(1.73), 0.03(2.12) and 0.03(1.82) for unflooded sites, respectively. Comparing between the flooded and unflooded sites, the TFs are all greater at the flooded sites.

Surface-Displayed Mannanolytic and Chitinolytic Enzymes Using Peptidoglycan Binding LysM Domains.

Using Lactiplantibacillus plantarum as a food-grade carrier to create non-GMO whole-cell biocatalysts is gaining popularity. This work evaluates the immobilization yield of a chitosanase (CsnA, 30 kDa) from Bacillus subtilis and a mannanase (ManB, 40 kDa) from B. licheniformis on the surface of L. plantarum WCFS1 using either a single LysM domain derived from the extracellular transglycosylase Lp_3014 or a double LysM domain derived from the muropeptidase Lp_2162. ManB and CsnA were fused with the LysM domains of Lp_3014 or Lp_2162, produced in Escherichia coli and anchored to the cell surface of L. plantarum. The localization of the recombinant proteins on the bacterial cell surface was successfully confirmed by Western blot and flow cytometry analysis. The highest immobilization yields (44-48%) and activities of mannanase and chitosanase on the displaying cell surface (812 and 508 U/g of dry cell weight, respectively) were obtained when using the double LysM domain of Lp_2162 as an anchor. The presence of manno-oligosaccharides or chito-oligosaccharides in the reaction mixtures containing appropriate substrates and ManB or CsnA-displaying cells was determined by high-performance anion exchange chromatography. This study indicated that non-GMO Lactiplantibacillus chitosanase- and mannanase-displaying cells could be used to produce potentially prebiotic oligosaccharides.

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis of Androgen Resistance Syndrome Caused by Mutation on the AR Gene in Vietnam.

Background: Androgen resistance syndrome or androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS - Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome, OMIM 300068) is an X-linked recessive genetic syndrome causing disorders of sexual development in males. This disease is caused by mutations in the AR gene located on the X chromosome, which encodes the protein that structures the androgen receptor, with the role of receiving androgens. Mutation of the AR gene causes complete or partial loss of androgen receptor function, thereby androgen not being obtained and exerting its effect on target organs, resulting in abnormalities of the male reproductive system due to this organ system, differentiating towards feminization under the influence of estrogen. Disease prevention can be achieved by using pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, which enables couples carrying the mutation to have healthy offspring. Aim: To carry out preimplantation genetic diagnosis of androgen resistance syndrome. Methods: Sanger sequencing was used to detect the mutation in the blood samples of the couple, their son, and 01 embryo that were biopsied on the fifth day based on the findings of next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the affected son. We combined Sanger sequencing and linkage analysis using short tandem repeats (STR) to provide diagnostic results. Results: We performed preimplantation genetic diagnosis for AIS on an embryo from a couple who had previously had an affected son. Consequently, one healthy embryo was diagnosed without the variant NM_000044: c.796del (p.Asp266IlefsTer30). Conclusion: We report on a novel variant (NM_000044: c.796del (p.Asp266IlefsTer30)) in the AR gene discovered in Vietnam. The developed protocol was helpful for the preimplantation genetic diagnosis process to help families with the monogenic disease of AIS but wish to have healthy children.

Human-aided dispersal and population bottlenecks facilitate parasitism escape in the most invasive mosquito species.

During biological invasion process, species encounter new environments and partially escape some ecological constraints they faced in their native range, while they face new ones. The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus is one of the most iconic invasive species introduced in every inhabited continent due to international trade. It has also been shown to be infected by a prevalent yet disregarded microbial entomoparasite Ascogregarina taiwanensis. In this study, we aimed at deciphering the factors that shape the global dynamics of A. taiwanensis infection in natural A. albopictus populations. We showed that A. albopictus populations are highly colonized by several parasite genotypes but recently introduced ones are escaping it. We further performed experiments based on the invasion process to explain such pattern. To that end, we hypothesized that (i) mosquito passive dispersal (i.e. human-aided egg transportation) may affect the parasite infectiveness, (ii) founder effects (i.e. population establishment by a small number of mosquitoes) may influence the parasite dynamics, and (iii) unparasitized mosquitoes are more prompt to found new populations through active flight dispersal. The two first hypotheses were supported as we showed that parasite infection decreases over time when dry eggs are stored and that experimental increase in mosquitoes' density improves the parasite horizontal transmission to larvae. Surprisingly, parasitized mosquitoes tend to be more active than their unparasitized relatives. Finally, this study highlights the importance of global trade as a driver of biological invasion of the most invasive arthropod vector species.

The composition of chemicals and anti-osteogenic properties in the volatile extracts from Homalomena gigantea rhizome.

In this study, the anti-osteogenic properties of the volatile oil extracted from Homalomena gigantea rhizome using ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and methanol (MeOH) were examined. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed for the identification of volatile components. Following this, bioassays were performed to evaluate their effects on osteogenesis, encompassing parameters like cell viability, osteoblast differentiation, collagen synthesis and mineralization. The GC-MS analysis revealed 19 compounds in the EtOAc extract and 36 compounds in the MeOH extract. In the MeOH extract, major constituents included bis(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (13.83%), linalool (9.58%), palmitic acid (6.55%) and stearic acid (4.29%). The EtOAc extract contained bis(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (16.64%), palmitic acid (5.60%) and stearic acid (3.11%) as the predominant components. Both the EtOAc and MeOH extracts of H. gigantea exhibited promising potential for further investigation in anti-osteoporosis research. These findings contribute to the exploration of natural compounds with potential anti-osteoporotic properties, expanding our understanding of their therapeutic potential.

Application of short tandem repeats (STRs) in the preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of α-thalassemia.

OBJECTIVES: α-thalassemia is an autosomal recessive monogenic blood disorder, affecting up to 5% of the world's population. The occurrence rate of the disease in Vietnam varies up to up to 51.5%, with high rate of mutation carriers, of couples consisting of two carriers at risk of bearing a child with fetal Hb Bart, which can develop into hydrops fetalis syndrome, threatening the well-being of the mother and the child. Our study aims to facilitate birth of healthy/asymptomatic children of α-thalassemia carrier couples who received reproductive service at our centre during the period of 2019-2022. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 89 couples at risks of having α-thalassemia offsprings requested IVF procedures and PGD at Post Hospital during 2019-2022 were recruited for investigation. Couple and additional family members' peripheral blood samples of couples and additional family members were subjected to haemoglobin electrophoresis, DNA extraction for α-thalassemia gene mutation detection and STRs linkage analysis. Data were observed and analysed on GeneMarker software. RESULTS: 91 cycles of PGD for α-thalassemia were carried out for 89 couples. α-thalassemia large deletion (--SEA/αα) was the most common mutation identified in 88 couples, in which 4 cases also carried ß-thalassemia point mutations. Combining results of PGS and PGD, 278/424 amplified embryos were transferable (HBA-mutation free or carriers of single heterozygous HBA mutation, without chromosomal abnormality). 64/89 couples have been transferred with the embryos (prioritizing mutation free ones over carriers), resulting in the birth of 36 α-thalassemia disease-free children, 17 ongoing pregnancies, and 11 with miscarriages. CONCLUSION: Successful application of microsatellite-based method in PGD facilitated the birth of 36 healthy children and 17 ongoing pregnancies for 53/64 couples with embryo-transferred. All resulted clinical births displayed confirmation results in line with the PGD results, thus demonstrating the feasibility and credibility of the use of STR markers in PGD.

Triple burden of malnutrition among Vietnamese 0·5-11-year-old children in 2020-2021: results of SEANUTS II Vietnam.

OBJECTIVE: SEANUTS II Vietnam aims to obtain an in-depth understanding of the nutritional status and nutrient intake of children between 0.5-11.9 years old. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: A multistage cluster systematic random sampling method was implemented in different regions in Vietnam: North Mountainous, Central Highlands, Red River Delta, North Central and Coastal Area, Southeast and Mekong River Delta. PARTICIPANTS: 4001 children between 6 months and 11.9 years of age. RESULTS: Prevalence of stunting and underweight was higher in rural than in urban children, whereas overweight and obese rates were higher in urban areas. 12.0% of the children had anemia and especially children 0.5-1-year-old were affected (38.6%). Low serum retinol was found in 6.2% of children ≥ 4 years old. Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency was 31.1% while 60.8% had low serum zinc. For nutrient intake, overall, 80.1% of the children did not meet the estimated energy requirements. For calcium intake, ∼60% of the younger children did not meet the RNI while it was 92.6% in children >7 years old. For vitamin D intake, 95.0% of the children did not meet RNI. CONCLUSIONS: SEANUTS II Vietnam indicated that overnutrition was more prevalent than undernutrition in urban areas, while undernutrition was found more in rural areas. The high prevalence of low serum zinc, vitamin D insufficiency and the inadequate intakes of calcium and vitamin D are of concern. Nutrition strategies for Vietnamese children should consider three sides of malnutrition and focus on approaches for the prevention malnutrition.

In silico identification of compounds from Piper sarmentosum Roxb leaf fractionated extract inhibit interleukin-6 to prevent rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Medicinal herbs with a phytonutrient background has been applied globally as major alternatives to ameliorate the continuous increase in rheumatoid arthritis cases worldwide. We herein aimed to critically examine the bioactive components of the medicinal herb Piper sarmentosum Roxb leaf fractionated extract for its potential to inhibit the influx of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: The Schrödinger platform was employed as the main computational acumen for the screening of bioactive compounds identified and reference compounds subjected to molecular simulation (MDS) for analyzing the stability of docked complexes to assess fluctuations and conformational changes during protein-ligand interactions. Results: The values of the simulatory properties and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed the good stability of these phytochemicals in the active pocket of interleukin-6 (IL-6). Discussion: Our findings reveal new strategies in which these phytochemicals are potential inhibitory agents that can be modified and further evaluated to develop more effective agents for the management of rheumatoid arthritis, thereby providing a better understanding and useful model for the reproduction and/or discovery of new drugs for the management of rheumatoid arthritis and its complications.

Mimosa pudica L. extract ameliorates pulmonary fibrosis via modulation of MAPK signaling pathways and FOXO3 stabilization.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrosing pulmonary disorder that has a poor prognosis and high mortality. Although there has been extensive effort to introduce several new anti-fibrotic agents in the past decade, IPF remains an incurable disease. Mimosa pudica L., an indigenous Vietnamese plant, has been empirically used to treat respiratory disorders. Nevertheless, the therapeutic effects of M. pudica (MP) on lung fibrosis and the mechanisms underlying those effects remain unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study investigated the protective effect of a crude ethanol extract of the above-ground parts of MP against pulmonary fibrogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Inflammatory responses triggered by TNFα in structural lung cells were examined in normal human lung fibroblasts and A549 alveolar epithelial cells using Western blot analysis, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays, and immunocytochemistry. The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was examined via cell morphology observations, F-actin fluorescent staining, gene and protein expression measurements, and a wound-healing assay. Anti-fibrotic assays including collagen release, differentiation, and measurements of fibrosis-related gene and protein expression levels were performed on TGFß-stimulated human lung fibroblasts and lung fibroblasts derived from mice with fibrotic lungs. Finally, in vitro anti-fibrotic activities were validated using a mouse model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. RESULTS: MP alleviated the inflammatory responses of A549 alveolar epithelial cells and lung fibroblasts, as revealed by inhibition of TNFα-induced chemotactic cytokine and chemokine expression, along with inactivation of the MAPK and NFκB signalling pathways. MP also partially reversed the TGFß-promoted EMT via downregulation of mesenchymal markers in A549 cells. Importantly, MP decreased the expression levels of fibrosis-related genes/proteins including collagen I, fibronectin, and αSMA; moreover, it suppressed collagen secretion and prevented myofibroblast differentiation in lung fibroblasts. These effects were mediated by FOXO3 stabilization through suppression of TGFß-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation. MP consistently protected mice from the onset and progression of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. CONCLUSION: This study explored the multifaceted roles of MP in counteracting the pathobiological processes of lung fibrosis. The results suggest that further evaluation of MP could yield candidate therapies for IPF.

Helicobacter pylori cagA, vacA, and iceA genotypes and clinical outcomes: a cross-sectional study in central Vietnam.

Helicobacter pylori is the most common cause of gastroduodenal diseases. The concept that cagA-positive H. pylori is a risk factor for gastric cancer appears to be true only for H. pylori strains from Western countries. Other virulent genes may have a synergistic interaction with cagA during pathogenesis. This study aims to investigate H. pylori cagA, vacA, and iceA prevalence, genotypes, and their association to clinical outcomes in Vietnamese patients. The cagA status and vacA and iceA genotypes were determined using the PCR technique on DNA extracted from gastric biopsies of 141 patients with gastroduodenal diseases. After performing molecular analysis for cagA, vacA, and iceA genes, samples with mixed H. pylori strains, positivity, or negativity for both cagA and cagPAI-empty site, or unidentified genotypes were excluded. Finally, 107 samples were examined. The presence of the cagA, vacA, and iceA genes were detected in 77.6%, 100%, and 80.4% of cases, respectively. Notably, cagA( +) with EPIYA-ABD, vacA s1i1m1, vacA s1i1m2, iceA1, and iceA2 accounted for 73.8%, 44.9%, 33.6%, 48.6%, and 31.8% of cases, respectively. Four iceA2 subtypes (24-aa, 59-aa, 94-aa, and 129-aa variants) were found, with the 59-aa variant the most prevalent (70.6%). The cagA( +)/vacAs1i1m1/iceA1 and cagA( +)/vacAs1i1m2/iceA1 combinations were found in 26.2% and 25.1% of cases, respectively. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed, after adjusting for age and gender, with the gastritis group was used as a reference control. Statistically significant associations were found between the vacA s1i1m2 genotype, the iceA1 variant, and the cagA( +)/vacAs1i1m2/iceA1 combination and gastric cancer; the adjusted ORs were estimated as 18.02 (95% CI: 3.39-95.81), 4.09 (95% CI: 1.1-15.08), and 16.19 (95% CI: 3.42-76.66), respectively. Interestingly, for the first time, our study found that vacA s1i1m2, but not vacA s1i1m1, was a risk factor for gastric cancer. This study illustrates the genetic diversity of the H. pylori cagA, vacA, and iceA genes across geographical regions and contributes to understanding the importance of these genotypes for clinical outcomes.

Construction of a New Agrobacterium tumefaciens-Mediated Transformation System based on a Dual Auxotrophic Approach in Cordyceps militaris.

Cordyceps militaris is a significant edible fungus that produces a variety of bioactive compounds. We have previously established a uridine/uracil auxotrophic mutant and a corresponding Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) system for genetic characterization in C. militaris using pyrG as a screening marker. In this study, we constructed an ATMT system based on a dual pyrG and hisB auxotrophic mutant of C. militaris. Using the uridine/uracil auxotrophic mutant as the background and pyrG as a selection marker, the hisB gene encoding imidazole glycerophosphate dehydratase, required for histidine biosynthesis, was knocked out by homologous recombination to construct a histidine auxotrophic C. militaris mutant. Then, pyrG in the histidine auxotrophic mutant was deleted to construct a ΔpyrG ΔhisB dual auxotrophic mutant. Further, we established an ATMT transformation system based on the dual auxotrophic C. militaris by using GFP and DsRed as reporter genes. Finally, to demonstrate the application of this dual transformation system for studies of gene function, knock out and complementation of the photoreceptor gene CmWC-1 in the dual auxotrophic C. militaris were performed. The newly constructed ATMT system with histidine and uridine/uracil auxotrophic markers provides a promising tool for genetic modifications in the medicinal fungus C. militaris.

Stakeholder perspectives following implementation of Vietnam's first speech-language pathology degrees: recommendations for future curriculum development.

PURPOSE: To investigate perspectives of multiple stakeholders involved in development and delivery of Vietnam's first speech-language pathology degrees and derive recommendations for future degrees in Vietnam and other Majority World countries. METHODS: An exploratory-descriptive qualitative research design using focus groups and individual semi-structured interviews in the preferred language (English or Vietnamese) was used, with 70 participants from five stakeholder groups: project managers, students, academic educators, placement supervisors and interpreters. Transcriptions were analysed using thematic network analysis. RESULTS: Analysis identified five organising themes: (1) People enjoyed working with/learning from others; (2) Benefits from/to stakeholders; (3) The pandemic impacted program delivery and learning; (4) Practical challenges; (5) Preparation with flexibility required for success and sustainability. From the five organising themes, one synthesising global theme was developed, conveying that satisfying international collaborations require preparation, support, high quality interpreting, and management of challenges. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations highlight the need for preparation, collaboration, support to manage challenges, flexibility, recognition for placement supervisors and high-quality interpreting. The recommendations are of relevance to other organisations engaged in development of professional degrees in Majority World countries. Future research would benefit from a critical investigation of the diverse perspectives of stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of international curricula.

Many Majority World countries are seeking to develop university degrees to build a workforce of speech-language pathologists to provide services to people with communication and swallowing disabilitiesCollaborative relationships, flexibility, and delineation of roles and commitments are vital to partnership successConceptualisation of rehabilitation services in cross-cultural contexts must privilege the knowledge, experiences and preferences of local partnersLocal capacity building will support training programs and rehabilitation services that are sustainable and culturally relevant.

A Case Study: Electrically Assisted Stress Relief Annealing for Cold-Coiled Helical Automotive Springs.

This study experimentally investigated electrically assisted (EA) stress relief annealing for cold-coiled commercial automotive springs. In EA stress relief annealing, the temperature of a spring is rapidly increased to the annealing temperature (400 °C) and is held constant for a specified time using a pulsed electric current. Experimental findings show that the effectiveness of the EA stress relief annealing is superior to that of the conventional stress relief annealing, especially in terms of process time. The present study suggests that EA stress relief annealing, with properly selected process parameters, can effectively substitute for time-consuming conventional stress relief annealing using a furnace for cold-coiled automotive springs.