Molecular characterization of lumpy skin disease virus in North Central Vietnam during 2021 and early 2022.

In October 2020, the first outbreaks of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in Lang Son Province, Vietnam were reported by our laboratory. The disease had rapidly spread to the South, and it was reported in 55 of 63 provinces and cities of Vietnam by the end of 2021. The most economic loss caused by this disease occurred in the north-central region in 2021 where approximately 46,788 LSD virus (LSDV) infected cattle and buffaloes have been reported and 8,976 animals have been culled. However, the information on this pathogen circulating in this region is missing. Here, we describe the molecular characterization of LSDV circulating in north-central Vietnam in 2021 and early 2022. In total, 155 LSDV samples were collected during this period and three of these samples from each province were further characterized by Sanger sequencing analysis based on three key maker genes (GPCR, RPO30, and p32). Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis based on GPCR, RPO30, and p32 genes indicated that LSDV strains circulating in north-central Vietnam are closely related to previously reported strains in Vietnam regions which bordered China and all LSDV strains were 100% identical. These results show the importance of continuous monitoring and characterization of circulating LSDV strains and are important for vaccine development for the control and eradication of LSD in Vietnam.

Graphene and metal-organic framework hybrids for high-performance sensors for lung cancer biomarker detection supported by machine learning augmentation.

Conventional diagnostic methods for lung cancer, based on breath analysis using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, have limitations for fast screening due to their limited availability, operational complexity, and high cost. As potential replacement, among several low-cost and portable methods, chemoresistive sensors for the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that represent biomarkers of lung cancer were explored as promising solutions, which unfortunately still face challenges. To address the key problems of these sensors, such as low sensitivity, high response time, and poor selectivity, this study presents the design of new chemoresistive sensors based on hybridised porous zeolitic imidazolate (ZIF-8) based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and laser-scribed graphene (LSG) structures, inspired by the architecture of the human lung. The sensing performance of the fabricated ZIF-8@LSG hybrid sensors was characterised using four dominant VOC biomarkers, including acetone, ethanol, methanol, and formaldehyde, which are identified as metabolomic signatures in lung cancer patients' exhaled breath. The results using simulated breath samples showed that the sensors exhibited excellent performance for a set of these biomarkers, including fast response (2-3 seconds), a wide detection range (0.8 ppm to 50 ppm), a low detection limit (0.8 ppm), and high selectivity, all obtained at room temperature. Intelligent machine learning (ML) recognition using the multilayer perceptron (MLP)-based classification algorithm was further employed to enhance the capability of these sensors, achieving an exceptional accuracy (approximately 96.5%) for the four targeted VOCs over the tested range (0.8-10 ppm). The developed hybridised nanomaterials, combined with the ML methodology, showcase robust identification of lung cancer biomarkers in simulated breath samples containing multiple biomarkers and a promising solution for their further improvements toward practical applications.

Assessment of the Effectiveness of Ultrasound-Guided Needle Aspiration of Lactating Breast Abscesses.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided needle aspiration in treating lactating breast abscesses. Methods: This study was conducted in Bach Mai Hospital, from 6/2020 to 7/2021. Lactating patients with breast abscesses underwent ultrasound-guided aspiration followed by antibiotics therapy. Results: There were 59 lactating patients with 82 breast abscesses. Most of the abscesses had heterogeneous echogenicity, no capsule, and a size smaller than 5cm. Bacterial culture results showed that 85.4% of cases were Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The number of aspirations was from 1 to 5. The cure rate was 91.5%, and 5.3% of these cases had a complication associated with galactocele after treatment. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided needle aspiration is a minimally invasive treatment option for lactating breast abscesses with a high complete cure rate and good cosmetic results.

Drought stress-responsive abscisic acid and salicylic acid crosstalk with the phenylpropanoid pathway in soybean seeds.

Crosstalk between hormones and secondary metabolites regulates the interactions between plants and stress. However, little is known about the effects of hormone crosstalk on the concentration of flavonoids in seeds. In this study, we identified abscisic acid (ABA) as a negative regulator of flavonoid accumulation in soybean seeds under drought-stress conditions. Alterations in flavonoid accumulation at several intensities of water stress, followed by a recovery period, were measured during the soybean seed-filling stage. Low soil moisture (SM 10%) significantly decreased the total flavonoid content in seeds. The decline in flavonoid content was proportional to the severity of drought stress and was dependent on the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and chalcone synthase (CHS), two key phenylpropanoid pathway enzymes. The expression of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase 1 (GmPAL1), chalcone isomerase 1A (GmCHI1A), and chalcone synthase 8 (GmCHS8) was associated with phenolic and flavonoid accumulation in soybean seeds of plants subjected to drought stress. Interestingly, the expression levels of GmCHS8 were highly correlated with flavonoid levels under drought stress and water recovery conditions. Cinnamic acid, which is a biosynthesis precursor shared by both phenylpropanoid metabolism and salicylic acid (SA) biosynthesis, decreased under drought stress conditions. Notably, exogenous ABA suppressed the expression of GmPAL1, which encodes the first rate-limiting enzyme in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway and affects downstream products such as SA and flavonoids. In conclusion, drought stress altered the phenylpropanoid-derived compounds, at least with regard to flavonoid and SA accumulation in seeds, which was regulated by antagonistic interactions with ABA.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Long COVID-19 Hospitalized Children in Vietnam.

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 205 pediatric patients, including 150 post-COVID-19 patients and 55 noninfected patients. The study identified 10 common respiratory symptoms in post-COVID-19 patients, with significant differences in clinical symptoms between the 2 groups. Post-COVID-19 pediatric patients had a lower lymphocyte count and a higher rate of pneumonia diagnosis, which can persist for up to 16 weeks after discharge. The study's findings can help monitor and manage the clinical burden of post-COVID-19 symptoms in the pediatric population.

Biological properties and diverse cytokine profiles followed by in vitro and in vivo infections with LSDV strain isolated in first outbreaks in Vietnam.

Preliminary information about LSD virus isolated from the first outbreaks in Vietnam has been reported by our laboratory. In the current study, LSDV strain, LSDV/Vietnam/Langson/HL01(HL01) was further analyzed to provide a better understanding of this viral pathogen. HL01 LSDV strain was propagated at MOI 0.01 in MDBK cells and then given to cattle at dose of 106.5 TCID50/ml (2ml/animal). The production of proinflammatory (IFN-γ, IL-1α, and TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (IL-6, IL-10, and TGF-ß1) cytokines were measured by real-time PCR, both In vitro and In vivo. The results demonstrated that HL01 strain caused the typical signs of LSD and LSDV In vitro and In vivo, respectively suggesting a virulent field LSDV strain. Additionally, different cytokine profiles were observed in these In vitro and In vivo studies. In MDBK cells, different cytokines profiles were observed in two phases: in the early phase, the expression levels of all examined cytokines were significantly increased at 6 h (p < 0.05). In the later phase, the peak levels of the cytokine secretion were recognized from 72 to 96 h, with the exception of IL-1α when compared to controls. In cattle, the expression levels of all six cytokines were significantly higher at day 7 following LSDV challenge (p < 0.05) when compared to controls, especially expression levels of TGF-ß1 and IL-10. These findings suggest the important roles of these cytokines in protection against LSDV infections. Additionally, the data from diverse cytokine profiles followed by this LSDV strain challenge provides key understanding of the underlying cellular immune mechanisms in the host against LSDV infection In vitro and In vivo.

Estimating the economic burden of respiratory syncytial virus infections in infants in Vietnam: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Little information is available on the costs of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Vietnam or other low- and middle-income countries. Our study estimated the costs of LRTIs associated with RSV infection among children in southern Vietnam. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study evaluating household and societal costs associated with LRTIs stratified by RSV status and severity among children under 2 years old who sought care at a major pediatric referral hospital in southern Vietnam. Enrollment periods were September 2019-December 2019, October 2020-June 2021 and October 2021-December 2021. RSV status was confirmed by a validated RT-PCR assay. RSV rapid detection antigen (RDA) test performance was also evaluated. Data on resource utilization, direct medical and non-medical costs, and indirect costs were collected from billing records and supplemented by patient-level questionnaires. All costs are reported in 2022 US dollars. RESULTS: 536 children were enrolled in the study, with a median age of 7 months (interquartile range [IQR] 3-12). This included 210 (39.2%) children from the outpatient department, 318 children (59.3%) from the inpatient respiratory department (RD), and 8 children (1.5%) from the intensive care unit (ICU). Nearly 20% (105/536) were RSV positive: 3.9 percent (21/536) from the outpatient department, 15.7% (84/536) from the RD, and none from the ICU. The median total cost associated with LRTI per patient was US$52 (IQR 32-86) for outpatients and US$184 (IQR 109-287) for RD inpatients. For RSV-associated LRTIs, the median total cost per infection episode per patient was US$52 (IQR 32-85) for outpatients and US$165 (IQR 95-249) for RD inpatients. Total out-of-pocket costs of one non-ICU admission of RSV-associated LRTI ranged from 32%-70% of the monthly minimum wage per person (US$160) in Ho Chi Minh City. The sensitivity and the specificity of RSV RDA test were 88.2% (95% CI 63.6-98.5%) and 100% (95% CI 93.3-100%), respectively. CONCLUSION: These are the first data reporting the substantial economic burden of RSV-associated illness in young children in Vietnam. This study informs policymakers in planning health care resources and highlights the urgency of RSV disease prevention.

Predictive Factors for Clinical Outcome After Direct Mechanical Thrombectomy for Anterior Circulation Large Vessel Occlusion Within 4.5 h.

Background: Recent trials including DIRECT-MT, DEVT, and SKIP have found that direct mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is equally effective as the combination of MT and intravenous thrombolysis. However, the results of the other trials, namely MR-CLEAN NO-IV and the SWIFT-DIRECT trial have failed to confirm the non-inferiority of direct MT vs. the combination therapy. Aim: We aimed to identify prognostic factors of direct MT for anterior circulation large vessel occlusion within 4.5 h. Materials and Methods: Data from January 2018 to January 2022 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Adult patients with confirmed anterior circulation large vessel occlusion within 4.5 h of onset with baseline NIHSS of ≥6 and baseline ASPECTS of ≥6 treated using direct MT within 6 h were recruited. Results: A total of 140 patients were enrolled in the study with a median age of 65.5 years [interquartile range (IQR), 59-76.5], median baseline NIHSS of 13.5 (IQR, 11-16), and median baseline ASPECTS of 8 (IQR, 7-8). Direct MT was feasible in all patients (100%). Successful reperfusion (mTICI 2b-3) was achieved in 124/140 patients (88.6%) with a low rate of complications (8/140, 5.7%). Any type of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and symptomatic ICH occurred in 44/140 (31.4%) and 5/140 (3.6%), respectively. Overall, a good outcome (mRS 0-2) was achieved in 93/140 (66.4%), and the mortality rate was 9.3% (13/140 patients). Using multivariate analysis, lower age [odds ratio (OR), 0.96; 95% CI, 0.92-1.00; P = 0.05], low baseline NIHSS (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.74-0.92; P = 0.00), and absence of ICH (OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.10-0.81; P = 0.02) were independently associated with favorable outcome. Independent predictors of mortality were baseline NIHSS (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.01-1.46; P = 0.04), successful reperfusion (OR, 0.02; 95% CI, 0.00-0.58; P = 0.02), and ICH (OR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02-0.75; P = 0.02). Further analysis showed that the median mRS at 90 days was significantly better in the MCA occlusion group compared to the ICA plus M1 occlusion group [1 (IQR 0-3) vs. 2 (IQR 1-4); P = 0.05]. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that direct thrombectomy may be an adequate clinical option for younger patients (≤70) experiencing proximal middle artery occlusion within 4.5 h and who have low baseline NIHSS (≤14).

Massively parallel sequencing uncovered disease-associated variant spectra of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, phenylketonuria and galactosemia in Vietnamese pregnant women.

BACKGROUND: Several inherited metabolic diseases are underreported in Vietnam, namely glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDd), phenylketonuria (PKU) and galactosemia (GAL). Whilst massively parallel sequencing (MPS) allows researchers to screen several loci simultaneously for pathogenic variants, no screening programme uses MPS to uncover the variant spectra of these diseases in the Vietnamese population. METHODS: Pregnant women (mean age of 32) from across Vietnam attending routine prenatal health checks agreed to participate and had their blood drawn. MPS was used to detect variants in their G6PD, PAH and GALT genes. RESULTS: Of 3259 women screened across Vietnam, 450 (13.8%) carried disease-associated variants for G6PD, PAH and GALT. The prevalence of carriers was 8.9% (291 of 3259) in G6PD and 4.6% (152 of 3259) in PKU, whilst GAL was low at 0.2% (7 of 3259). Two GALT variants, c.593 T > C and c.1034C > A, have rarely been reported. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need for routine carrier screening, where women give blood whilst receiving routine prenatal care, in Vietnam. The use of MPS is suitable for screening multiple variants, allowing for identifying rare pathogenic variants. The data from our study will inform policymakers in constructing cost-effective genetic metabolic carrier screening programmes.

Bioglue endovascular treatment of fusiform aneurysm rupture of the distal anterior temporal artery of the middle cerebral artery: a case report.

The treatment of a ruptured fusiform distal anterior temporal artery aneurysm is a challenge for the stroke physician, however surgical closure and coil endovascular intervention are options. A total blockage can result in memory problems as well as object-related questions. We'd like to provide the clinical example of a 56-year-old woman with many underlying medical illnesses who was admitted to the hospital with a grade 7/10 headache and a Glasgow score of 15, but no focal neurological deficits, and was diagnosed with a ruptured distal temporal artery aneurysm. The aneurysm is positioned in the distal region, making endovascular intervention difficult to perform. As a result, we used an endovascular approach to repair with bioglue. When a patient develops fusiform aneurysms of the distal temporal artery, our findings provide an additional therapy option.

Transvenous retrograde embolization of ruptured brain arteriovenous malformations: A case report and review of the literature.

Hemorrhagic stroke due to ruptured brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) is a common cause in young stroke patients. When the ruptured AVMs are in deep location, the choice of endovascular intervention with the arterial approach to AVM embolization is routine but in many cases, it is not feasible due to the inability to access because of the small and tortuous arterial branch, however, the intravenous approach also results in high complete obliteration rates but also carries a higher risk of stroke than the intra-arterial route. We describe a 36-year-old female patient diagnosed with intracranial and intraventricular hemorrhage who underwent complete transvenous embolization of the ruptured AVMs, and achieved near-complete clinical recovery after 1 month with the modified Rankin scale 1.

Evaluation of Inpatient Experience at Some Clinical Departments of Kien Giang General Hospital, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, 2020: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study.

Patient experience is being widely considered in evaluating the quality of health care services. This is a cross-sectional study with 860 inpatients hospitalized in 4 clinical departments (General Internal Medicine; Cardiology; General Surgery; Surgery, and Orthopedic Trauma) of the Kien Giang General Hospital, from April to June 2020. Data was collected through a two-part questionnaire used to evaluate the inpatient experience during hospital treatment, using the Likert scale 5 points. The patient's experience is classified into 3 aspects (environment-facilities, healthcare staff's care, treatment information). In total, 815 participants responded to the interview (94.8%). The rates of patients having a positive experience on the environment and facilities, the care of health workers, and treatment information are 31.7%, 85.9%, and 74.2%, respectively. The patient's positive overall experience rate is 65.5%. Factors related to the patient's overall experience are the department of treatment, residential area, age, and employment status (P < .05). Overall, the positive experience of inpatients at some clinical departments of Kien Giang General Hospital was a relatively low rate (65.5%). Specifically, healthcare staff's care is experienced at a high rate, this factor should be continuously promoted. Improving and upgrading factors in the aspects of the environment-facilities and the treatment information should be implemented if the hospital wants to improve its quality of healthcare services.

Covid-19 Preparedness and Response Capability: A Case Study of the Hanoi Primary Healthcare System.

This study examined the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) preparedness and response of the health system (HS) in Hanoi, Vietnam, and identified enabling factors and barriers. This cross-sectional, mixed-methods study was conducted in 4 urban and peri-urban districts that included some wards with COVID-19-positive cases and some without. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analytical frameworks were used. Overall, 10% of health facilities (HFs) failed to fully implement COVID-19 risk determination; 8.8% failed to fully implement stronger community partnerships with local stakeholders to support public health (PH) preparedness; 35% and 2.5% incompletely implemented and did not implement evaluation of PH emergency operations, respectively; 10% did not identify communication channels to issue public information, alerts, warnings, and notifications; 25% incompletely implemented identification, development of guidance, and standards for information; 72.5% had good preventive and treatment collaboration; and 10% did not fully implement procedures for laboratory testing and reporting results. Enablers included sufficient infrastructure and equipment, strong leadership, and good cross-public-sector collaboration with police and military forces. Barriers included workforce constraints, overburdened and inconsistent reporting systems, inappropriate financial mechanisms, ambiguous health governance, and lack of private-sector engagement. Nonetheless, the HS preparedness and response were satisfactory, although further coordinated efforts in evaluation, coordination, communication, and volunteering remain necessary.

Iminosugar C-Glycosides Work as Pharmacological Chaperones of NAGLU, a Glycosidase Involved in MPS IIIB Rare Disease*.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB is a devastating neurological disease caused by a lack of the lysosomal enzyme, α-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAGLU), leading to a toxic accumulation of heparan sulfate. Herein we explored a pharmacological chaperone approach to enhance the residual activity of NAGLU in patient fibroblasts. Capitalizing on the three-dimensional structures of two modest homoiminosugar-based NAGLU inhibitors in complex with bacterial homolog of NAGLU, CpGH89, we have synthesized a library of 17 iminosugar C-glycosides mimicking N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and bearing various pseudo-anomeric substituents of both α- and ß-configuration. Elaboration of the aglycon moiety results in low micromolar selective inhibitors of human recombinant NAGLU, but surprisingly it is the non-functionalized and wrongly configured ß-homoiminosugar that was proved to act as the most promising pharmacological chaperone, promoting a 2.4 fold activity enhancement of mutant NAGLU at its optimal concentration.

Low-Dose vs. Standard-Dose Intravenous Alteplase in Bridging Therapy Among Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke: Experience From a Stroke Center in Vietnam.

Background: To date, the role of bridging intravenous thrombolysis before mechanical thrombectomy (MTE) is controversial but still recommended in eligible patients. Different doses of intravenous alteplase have been used for treating patients with acute ischemic stroke from large-vessel occlusion (LVO-AIS) in Asia, largely due to variations in the risks for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and treatment affordability. Uncertainty exists over the potential benefits of treating low-dose alteplase, as opposed to standard-dose alteplase, prior to MTE among patients with LVO-AIS. Aim: The aim of the study was to compare outcomes of low- vs. standard-dose of bridging intravenous alteplase before MTE among LVO-AIS patients. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of LVO-AIS patients who were treated with either 0.6 mg/kg or 0.9 mg/kg alteplase prior to MTE at a stroke center in Northern Vietnam. Multivariable logistic regression models, accounting for potential confounding factors including comorbidities and clinical factors (e.g., stroke severity), were used to compare the outcomes between the two groups. Our primary outcome was functional independence at 90 days following stroke (modified Rankin score; mRS ≤ 2). Secondary outcomes included any ICH incidence, early neurological improvement, recanalization rate, and 90-day mortality. Results: We analyzed data of 107 patients receiving bridging therapy, including 73 with low-dose and 34 with standard-dose alteplase before MTE. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in functional independence at 90 days (adjusted OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.29-3.52) after accounting for potential confounding factors. Compared to the standard-dose group, patients with low-dose alteplase before MTE had similar rates of successful recanalization, early neurological improvement, 90-day mortality, and ICH complications. Conclusion: In the present study, patients with low-dose alteplase before MTE were found to achieve comparable clinical outcomes compared to those receiving standard-dose alteplase bridging with MTE. The findings suggest potential benefits of low-dose alteplase in bridging therapy for Asian populations, but this needs to be confirmed by further clinical trials.

Servelle-Martorell syndrome in an adult: A case report with findings on CT angiography.

Servelle-Martorell syndrome, also known as angio-osteohypotrophic syndrome, is a congenital venous malformation that rarely involves the arterial system. There are many different, mainly conservative, treatment methods. We present the case of a 28-year-old woman with a history of left arm and back lesions, which appeared at birth and had enlarged over time. She had been diagnosed with a vascular malformation but had not yet received treatment. She presented to our hospital with numbness in her left arm and was diagnosed with Servelle-Martorell syndrome based on computed tomography (CT) angiography. This case emphasizes that CT angiography is a useful modality for evaluating the extent of the venous malformations in patients with Servelle-Martorell syndrome.

Cost-Effectiveness of Population-Based Tobacco Control Interventions on the Health Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases in Vietnam.

This study sought to assess the cost-effectiveness of population-based tobacco control interventions, which included health promotion and education, smoke-free models, cessation programs, warning on package, marketing bans, and raising tax. Standardized activity-based costing ingredient approach was applied with the provider perspective to calculate interventions cost from 2013 to 2017. The potential health impacts of the aforementioned interventions were calculated through a Microsoft Excel-based modeling adapted from Higashi et al and Ngalesoni et al. All six population-based tobacco control interventions were highly cost-effective with ranges from 1405 VND (Vietnamese Dong) to 135 560 VND per DALY (disability-adjusted life year) averted. It was identified that raising cigarette taxes and applying health warnings on tobacco packages are the most favorable, cost-effective interventions. The results from this study provide a robust message that calls for increased attention and efforts in developing an appropriate policy agenda, which jointly integrates both political and community-based interventions, to maximize intervention impact on tobacco use.

Emerging carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae sequence type 16 causing multiple outbreaks in a tertiary hospital in southern Vietnam.

The emergence of carbapenem resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae represents a major global public health concern. Nosocomial outbreaks caused by multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae are commonly reported to result in high morbidity and mortality due to limited treatment options. Between October 2019 and January 2020, two concurrent high-mortality nosocomial outbreaks occurred in a referral hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. We performed genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of eight K. pneumoniae isolates from infected patients and two environmental isolates for outbreak investigation. We identified two outbreaks caused by two distinct lineages of the international sequence type (ST) 16 clone, which displayed extensive drug resistance, including resistance to carbapenem and colistin. Carbapenem-resistant ST16 outbreak strains clustered tightly with previously described ST16 K. pneumoniae from other hospitals in Vietnam, suggesting local persistence and transmission of this particular clone in this setting. We found environmental isolates from a hospital bed and blood pressure cuff that were genetically linked to an outbreak case cluster, confirming the potential of high-touch surfaces as sources for nosocomial spread of K. pneumoniae. Further, we found colistin resistance caused by disruption of the mgrB gene by an ISL3-like element, and carbapenem resistance mediated by a transferable IncF/blaOXA-181 plasmid carrying the ISL3-like element. Our study highlights the importance of coordinated efforts between clinical and molecular microbiologists and infection control teams to rapidly identify, investigate and contain nosocomial outbreaks. Routine surveillance with advanced sequencing technology should be implemented to strengthen hospital infection control and prevention measures.

Sodium sulfite (SoS) as decontamination strategy for Fusarium-toxin contaminated maize and its impact on immunological traits in pigs challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of sodium sulfite (SoS) treatment of maize and its impact on the porcine immune system in the presence of an LPS-induced systemic inflammation. Control maize (CON) and Fusarium-toxin contaminated maize (FUS) were wet-preserved (20% moisture) for 79 days with (+) or without (-) SoS and then included at 10% in a diet, resulting in four experimental groups: CON-, CON+, FUS-, and FUS+ with deoxynivalenol (DON) concentrations of 0.09, 0.05, 5.36, and 0.83 mg DON/kg feed, respectively. After 42-day feeding trial (weaned barrows, n = 20/group), ten pigs per group were challenged intraperitoneally with either 7.5 µg LPS/kg BW or placebo (0.9% NaCl), observed for 2 h, and then sacrificed. Blood, mesenteric lymph nodes, and spleen were collected for phenotyping of different T cell subsets, B cells, and monocytes. Phagocytic activity and intracellular formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were analyzed in both polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) using flow cytometry. Our results revealed that the impact of DON was more notable on CD3+CD4+CD8+ T cells in lymphoid tissues rather than in blood T cells. In contrast, SoS treatment of maize altered leukocyte subpopulations in blood, e.g., reduced the percentage and fluorescence signal of CD8high T cells. Interestingly, SoS treatment reduced the amount of free radicals in basal ROS-producing PMNs only in LPS-challenged animals, suggesting a decrease in basal cellular ROS production (pSoS*LPS = 0.022).

Intrahepatic lymphatic channel sclerotic embolization for treatment of postoperative lymphatic ascites: a report of 3 cases.

Postoperative hepatic lymphorrhea is extremely rare and there is no standard treatment for this condition. We report the cases of 3 men, 32-, 56-, and 37-year-old, with postoperative hepatic lymphorrhea, which was refractory to conservative treatment. Transhepatic lymphangiography allowed locating the lymphatic leak and treating it with hepatic lymphatic vessels injection of foam sclerotic agent. This technique seems efficient and safe.