Adsorptive removal of phosphate from aqueous solutions using low-cost modified biochar-packed column: Effect of operational parameters and kinetic study.

Adsorption in the continuous mode plays a significant role in wastewater treatment. In this study, Mimosa pigra-derived biochar modified with 2 M AlCl3 salt was used to pack a lab-scale column to eliminate PO43- from aqueous solutions. The influence of the operational factors, such as inlet PO43- concentration (25-100 mg/L), flow rate (6-18 mL/min), and biochar bed height (1.5-4.5 cm), on the breakthrough curve was evaluated. The kinetic models of Adam-Bohart and Yoon-Nelson were utilized to analyze the experimental results. The best conditions were determined to be the influent PO43- strength of 50 mg/L, injection speed of 6 mL/min, and column height of 4.5 cm. These results can be applied in the design of large-scale columns for the sequestration of PO43- from wastewater.

Video assisted thoracoscopy or laparoscopy for enucleation of esophageal leiomyoma: A seven-year single center experience of 75 cases.

OBJECTIVE: Leiomyoma is the most common benign tumor of the esophagus. Extra mucosal enucleation is the standard treatment. Herein we evaluated the feasibility and the outcomes of Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) using video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) or laparoscopic surgery (VALS) for esophageal leiomyoma enucleation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of patients who were treated via VATS or VALS for esophageal leiomyoma enucleation in "Hanoi Viet Duc Hospital" from 2010 to 2017 by the same operator. The operative approach, tumor size, complications and outcomes after surgery were recorded. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients were included. Mean age was 41.9 (range 20-68) years. The male/female sex ratio was 2.1:1. Fifty-five patients had clinical symptoms (73.3%). Tumors were identified in the upper third (12%), middle third (51%), and lower third (37%) of the esophagus. Mean tumor size was 3.7 (range 2-11) cm. VALS enucleation was performed in 23 patients who had leiomyoma located near the cardia (gastroesophageal junction or abdominal esophagus). The remaining 52 patients underwent right (n=42) or left VATS (n=10). Five patients (6.7%) sustained esophageal mucosa injury during dissection, repaired by MIS without late morbidity. A mini-incision (2 mini-laparotomies and 1 thoracotomy) was required in three patients (4%) due to large tumor size or mucosal injury. The mean operative time was 105min in VATS and 174min in VALS. No major perioperative surgical or medical complications were reported. The mean duration of hospital stay was 7.2 (range 5-12) days. CONCLUSIONS: MIS enucleation of esophageal leiomyoma is technically safe and associated with a high therapeutic success rate with low medico-surgical morbidity. VATS could be applied for almost all esophageal leiomyoma tumors; however, the VALS approach was preferred for tumors located near the gastroesophageal junction in order to create an anti-reflux valve after enucleation.

Dietary soluble non-starch polysaccharide level and xylanase influence the gastrointestinal environment and nutrient utilisation in laying hens.

1. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of dietary soluble non-starch polysaccharide (sNSP) level and xylanase supplementation on productive performance, viscosity and pH along the gastrointestinal tract in laying hens. Excreta moisture content, ileal and caecal microbiota and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) composition and apparent total tract nutrient utilisation were measured.2. Hyline Brown laying hens (n = 144) were housed individually at 25 weeks of age and allocated to one of the four wheat-based dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, consisting of two levels of sNSP (High 13.40 g/kg or Low 11.22 g/kg), with or without xylanase (0 or 12,000 BXU/kg). Birds were fed the dietary treatments for 56 d.3. Increasing dietary sNSP increased jejunum viscosity, degradability of total NSP, total tract flow of insoluble arabinose, and succinic acid concentration in the caeca (P < 0.05). Feeding high sNSP decreased excreta moisture content, total tract energy retention and free oligosaccharide, total tract flow of soluble and insoluble galactose and insoluble rhamnose and fucose, and ileal acetic and lactic acid concentrations (P < 0.05), and tended to reduce egg production (P = 0.058).4. Supplementation with xylanase resulted in reduced jejunum and ileum viscosity, caecal pH, excreta moisture, flow of soluble arabinose and glucose and insoluble arabinose and xylose, caecal concentration of Lactobacillus sp. and isobutyric and succinic acid, and ileal concentration of Bacillus sp. and total anaerobic bacteria (P < 0.05). Xylanase application also increased energy retention and insoluble and total NSP degradation, and caecal abundance of Bifidobacteria sp. and valeric acid (P < 0.05).5. These results reiterated the ability of xylanase to improve nutrient digestibility and reduce excreta moisture content in laying hens, and highlighted the importance of considering dietary sNSP level in laying hen diets.

Call for planning policy and biotechnology solutions for food waste management and valorization in Vietnam.

Food waste (FW) is more harmful than previously imagined. A large amount of Vietnam's FW ends up in landfills, only 20 % of which are sanitary. This causes significant environmental problems such as greenhouse gas emissions, high carbon footprint, leachate, and landfill-related conflicts. The FW from Vietnam's urban areas is 0.29 kg⸳p-1⸳d-1, accounting for 31.7 % of total waste. 38.81 % of families discharge FW which, along with municipal waste, corresponds to 4,429.21 ton⸳d-1 for the entire country. For FW collection, under transportation and treatment heads, 80,416.95 $⸳d-1 and 74,605.57 $⸳d-1 were spent, respectively. An analysis of Vietnam's national strategy for the integrated management of solid waste indicates that the amount of attention and concern currently given to FW issues is not adequate to address them. To resolve FW issues, Vietnam needs to be more proactive regarding solutions and efforts, in addition to implementing strict regulations. These include the setting of national goals under the priority of national strategy, strict regulations, stakeholder engagement, FW recycling to animal feed, biorefinery, and awareness-raising campaigns.

Isolation of phage-display library-derived scFv antibody specific to Listeria monocytogenes by a novel immobilized method.

AIMS: To select Listeria monocytogenes-specific single-chain fragment variable (scFv) antibodies from a phage-display library by a novel simple and cost-effective immobilization method. METHODS AND RESULTS: Light expanded clay aggregate (LECA) was used as biomass support matrix for biopanning of a phage-display library to select L. monocytogenes-specific scFv antibody. Four rounds of positive selection against LECA-immobilized L. monocytogenes and an additional subtractive panning against Listeria innocua were performed. The phage clones selected using this panning scheme and LECA-based immobilization method exhibited the ability to bind L. monocytogenes without cross-reactivity toward 10 other non-L. monocytogenes bacteria. One of the selected phage clones was able to specifically recognize three major pathogenic serotypes (1/2a, 1/2b and 4b) of L. monocytogenes and 11 tested L. monocytogenes strains isolated from foods. CONCLUSIONS: The LECA-based immobilization method is applicable for isolating species-specific anti-L. monocytogenes scFv antibodies by phage display. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The isolated scFv antibody has potential use in development of immunoassay-based methods for rapid detection of L. monocytogenes in food and environmental samples. In addition, the LECA immobilization method described here could feasibly be employed to isolate specific monoclonal antibodies against any given species of pathogenic bacteria from phage-display libraries.

Betel quid chewing, oral cancer and other oral mucosal diseases in Vietnam: a review.

BACKGROUND: Betel quid chewing (BQC) in Vietnam is still prevalent, however, no detailed information about its association with oral cancer and pre-cancer are available in the English literature. Respective online searches (PubMed, Medline) were negative. METHODS: Relevant publications in Vietnamese were collected by the authors and translated. Visits to cancer centres and institutes of odontology (Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi) were made and seminars with respective scientists were held. Field excursions to local markets and interviews with betel quid vendors and individual BQ chewers gave further insights. RESULTS: Generally, BQC is on the decline in Vietnam. 6.7% of the female population still seems to indulge in this habit. In an earlier study, a prevalence of 0.06% of oral cancer was reported. In a study of 1084 cases of oral cancer, the male:female ratio was 1.05:1 (1997). The age group between 60 and 75 years is most often affected by oral cancer. In BQ chewing women, the buccal mucosa (27.9%), tongue (23.1%) and lips (22.4%) are most often affected. Verrucous carcinoma is seen in the age group 70-79 years with women most often being affected (male:female ratio 1:3.4). The most important risk factor for oral cancer in women is BQC compared with men where smoking, alcohol drinking or combined smoking and drinking habits are the most common risk factors. Oral leukoplakia in BQ chewers is observed in 3.8%, oral submucous fibrosis in 13%. CONCLUSIONS: BQC in Vietnam is on the decline. Association between BQC and oral cancer in elderly women is still of importance. Eventually, the BQC habit will vanish and only play a role in socio-ritual contexts.

A study of edema disease in pigs in Vietnam with particular reference to the use of autovaccine for the prevention of disease.

Edema disease caused by Escherichia coli is one of the most common diseases in postweaning piglets throughout Vietnam. Verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC) was isolated from 197 of 261 samples (75.5%). All isolates were confirmed by basic biochemical tests and carbohydrate fermentation characteristics. Of these, 70.1% of isolates are hemolytic, 45% isolates belonged to serotypes O149:K91, possessed the VT2e gene, and was the most predominant VTEC pathotype associated with edema disease in pigs. Serogroup O139 accounted for 30% of the isolates, followed by serogroup O138 and O141 (25%). In addition to VT2e gene, the ST (72.7%) and LT (52.7%) genes were also recognized. A total of 10 representative isolates were subjected to toxigenicity testing by intraperitoneal injection in mice and experimental infection in pigs. It was shown that 100% of the mice were killed 17-24 h post injection (p.i.). All pigs experimentally infected with challenge strains and developed typical symptoms of edema disease 36-72 h p.i. A multivalent killed whole-cells vaccine containing aluminum hydroxide was prepared from 5 VTEC strains. The vaccine was 100% safe when administered by the intramuscular route into the pigs. A field trial for over 100,000 pigs (21-90 days old) showed that vaccinated pigs were protected against edema disease at a level of 90% compared to 100% of pigs from unvaccinated groups.

Antimicrobial resistance phenotypes of ETEC isolates from piglets with diarrhea in North Vietnam.

Both disk diffusion and broth micro-dilution assays were employed to determine the level of resistance in Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) isolates (n = 170) obtained from preweaning piglet colibacillosis from the two different pig production systems (commercial piggeries and small holder farmers) in Vietnam. Overall, tetracycline, streptomycin, amoxicillin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and chloramphenicol showed markedly higher rates of resistance. Both apramycin and ceftiofur are active against all ETEC isolates. These antimicrobials could be recommended as the drugs of choice for the treatment of E. coli infections in young pigs in North Vietnam. Resistance to third-generation cephalosporin (ceftiofur, ceftazidime, and cefoxitin) was not observed in Vietnamese ETEC isolates. Multiple resistances to greater than three antimicrobials were widely distributed (approximately 79.4%).