Evaluate the Efficacy of Myeloablative Conditioning Regimens for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Acute Myelogenous Leukemia at BTH, Vietnam.

Background: Busulfan plus cyclophosphamide (Bu/Cy) is considered one of the classical myeloablative conditioning regimens. However, its toxicity can significantly increase mortality rates. To reduce both acute and long-term complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), newer conditioning regimens are being investigated. The purposes of this study were to assess the efficacy and safety of busulfan plus cyclophosphamide (Bu/Cy) and busulfan plus fludarabine (Bu/Flu) conditioning regimen for allogeneic HSCT (allo-HSCT) in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Materials and Methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective analysis of AML, both adults and children, who underwent either Bu/Cy or Bu/Flu conditioning regimen for allo-HSCT and received peripheral blood stem cell transplants from HLA-matched donors. Results: From 2005 - 2019, 49 AML patients receiving Bu/Cy and 21 receiving Bu/Flu were identified, meeting inclusion criteria. The two groups showed no significant differences in age, gender, disease status pre-transplant, the median time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment. Bu/Flu patients had a shorter duration of neutropenia (median 7 days vs 10 days, p = 0.001) and shorter duration of thrombocytopenia (median 10 days vs 15 days, p = 0.016) than Bu/Cy.  No difference was observed in disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) between the two groups. Both univariate and multivariate analyses showed that age, disease status pre-transplant, and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) are related to worse DFS and OS. Conclusion : With similar efficacy to Bu/Cy but faster neutrophil and platelet recovery time, Bu/Flu is suitable as a pre-HSCT conditioning regimen for patients with AML.

11-Azaartemisinin derivatives bearing halogenated aromatic moieties: Potent anticancer agents with high tumor selectivity.

While artemisinin and its derivatives, including 11-azaartemisinin-based compounds, have shown promising anticancer activity, the integration of halogens into aromatic structures can amplify drug potency, metabolic stability, and selectivity. Herein, we present the synthesis of new novel 11-azaartemisinin derivatives bearing halogenated aromatic moieties connected via 1,2,3-triazole bridges and evaluate their anticancer activities against three human tumor cell lines: epidermoid carcinoma (KB), hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), and human lung adenocarcinoma (A549). Among the synthesized compounds, six of them (8c-h) displayed good to excellent antiproliferative activity in the low micromolar range across all three human cancer cell lines. In general, the m-bromide (8c) and m-iodide (8d) compounds exhibited superior anticancer activities compared to their o- and p-analogs, as well as the m-chloride and m-fluoride compounds. The most promising m-Br compound (8c) displayed 50 % inhibition of KB, HepG2, and A549 cell growth at concentrations of 7.7, 42.5, and 15.5 µM, respectively. Notably, the m-Br compound (8c) exhibited approximately 32-, 6-, and 16-fold lower activity in normal cells (Hek293) compared to KB, HepG2, and A549 tumor cells, respectively, indicating a significant tumor-selectivity.

Real-world Efficacy and Safety of Low-Dose Abiraterone With Food and Standard-Dose Abiraterone in De Novo Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The standard treatment for de novo metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) involves androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) combined with next-generation hormonal agents and/or docetaxel. While the standard dose (STD) of abiraterone is 1,000 mg administered while fasting, recent evidence suggests that a low dose (LOW) of 250 mg taken with a low-fat meal may achieve comparable pharmacokinetic outcomes. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the failure-free survival (FFS) and safety of LOW and STD in de novo high-risk mHSPC patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of males with de novo high-risk mHSPC treated with ADT plus abiraterone (250 mg with a low-fat meal or 1000 mg fasting) at the Vietnam National Cancer Hospital from January 2019 to May 2024. The primary endpoint was FFS, assessed using Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: The study included 183 patients, with 91 in the LOW group and 92 in the STD group. The rates of patients who achieved undetectable PSA (PSA < 0.2 ng/ml) were 52.7% in the LOW group and 47.8% in the STD group. The median time to undetectable PSA was 6.9 months in the LOW group and 6.4 months in the STD group. The median overall FFS was 28.1 months (95% CI: 21.1 to 35.0) in the LOW group and 25.4 months (95% CI: 15.5 to 35.3) in the STD group (P = .286). Multivariate analysis indicated that visceral metastases and detectable PSA (PSA ≥ 0.2 ng/ml) were significant negative predictors of FFS in both groups. The incidence of grade 3 and grade 4 adverse events was similar between the LOW group and the STD group. CONCLUSIONS: The LOW group and STD group showed effectiveness and safety in de novo high-risk mHSPC. The use of low-dose abiraterone in de novo mHSPC can significantly reduce treatment costs.

Improving organic and nutrient removal efficiencies in seafood processing wastewater using anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) integrates with anoxic/oxic (AO) processes.

Wastewater from seafood processing is a significant source of pollution, containing many harmful organic and inorganic compounds such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nitrogen and phosphorus. This study investigated the enhancement of organic and nutrient removal efficiencies in seafood processing wastewater by integrating an Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor (AnMBR) with an anoxic/oxic (AO) processes. A pilot-scale system was constructed with a capacity of 0.5 m3/day directly at the factory operated continuously, featuring an AnMBR process with a 24-hour hydraulic retention time (HRT) and an AO process with HRT values and internal recycle changes. The AnMBR system exhibited consistent and high-performance biochemical oxygen demand (COD) elimination, approximately 80 ± 5 %. However, this system demonstrated low-efficiency removal of total nitrogen (TN) at about 20 ± 5 %, and total phosphorus (TP) 15 ± 5 %, under organic loading rates (OLR) of 0.6 to 1.3 kg-COD/(L·d). The AO process was then continually employed to improve the treatment efficacy (at HRT, 5 h in the anoxic phase, and 8.3 h in the oxic phase, at a recycling rate of 300 %) resulting in the final post-treatment concentrations of COD 27-41 mg/L (removal 98.3 ± 0.3 %), TN 12-25 mg/L (90 ± 2 %), and TP 18 ± 2 mg/L (35 ± 5 %). The performance of the integrated AnMBR-AO system met the established Vietnamese discharge standards for seafood processing wastewater, as outlined in QCVN 11-MT: 2015/BTNMT.

Class II Correction and Crowding Treatment Using In-House Direct Printed Clear Aligners: A Literature Review and Case Report.

Clear aligner therapy has significantly improved orthodontic treatment by offering patients a more aesthetically pleasing option compared to traditional braces. This literature review and case report specifically focus on the effectiveness of directly printed clear aligners in treating Class II malocclusions and crowding. Class II malocclusions are characterized by excessive overjet, which often results from skeletal or dental discrepancies between the upper and lower jaws. Crowding refers to the lack of space for teeth within the dental arch, leading to misalignment and potential functional issues. The review and case report highlight the increasing importance of directly printed clear aligners in modern orthodontics and provide clinicians with a valuable tool to effectively address complex malocclusions and crowding while also meeting patient needs for discretion and comfort. Further research is necessary to validate the long-term stability and outcomes of directly printed clear aligner therapy in various orthodontic cases. A detailed case report demonstrates the successful treatment of a patient with Class II malocclusion and mild crowding using directly printed clear aligners. Treatment outcomes include improvements in dental alignment, occlusion, and facial aesthetics, showcasing the effectiveness of this innovative approach.

TorsinA is essential for neuronal nuclear pore complex localization and maturation.

As lifelong interphase cells, neurons face an array of unique challenges. A key challenge is regulating nuclear pore complex (NPC) biogenesis and localization, the mechanisms of which are largely unknown. Here we identify neuronal maturation as a period of strongly upregulated NPC biogenesis. We demonstrate that the AAA+ protein torsinA, whose dysfunction causes the neurodevelopmental movement disorder DYT-TOR1A dystonia and co-ordinates NPC spatial organization without impacting total NPC density. We generated an endogenous Nup107-HaloTag mouse line to directly visualize NPC organization in developing neurons and find that torsinA is essential for proper NPC localization. In the absence of torsinA, the inner nuclear membrane buds excessively at sites of mislocalized nascent NPCs, and the formation of complete NPCs is delayed. Our work demonstrates that NPC spatial organization and number are independently determined and identifies NPC biogenesis as a process vulnerable to neurodevelopmental disease insults.

Massive, Retroperitoneal, Well-Differentiated Liposarcoma in Second-Trimester Pregnancy: A Report of a Rare Case.

Retroperitoneal liposarcoma during pregnancy is rare and poses significant diagnostic challenges, even for experienced specialists. We present a case report of a 27-year-old female patient, 15 weeks pregnant, who was admitted to the hospital due to a massive retroperitoneal liposarcoma. The patient underwent surgical resection of the tumor. Postoperative pathology confirmed a diagnosis of well-differentiated liposarcoma. Although liposarcoma during pregnancy is rare and challenging to diagnose, CT or MRI plays a crucial role in its detection. The recurrence rate depends on the pathological stage, histological grade, and ability to resect the tumor.

Strategies for Implementing GlobalConsent to Prevent Sexual Violence in University Men (SCALE): study protocol for a national implementation trial.

BACKGROUND: Globally, women 15-24 years are at heightened risk of sexual violence victimization, a risk factor for adverse mental, physical, and behavioral health outcomes. Sexual violence is common at universities and most often perpetrated by men, yet few evidence-based prevention strategies targeting men have been tested in low- and middle-income countries. GlobalConsent is a six-module, web-based educational program adapted from an efficacious U.S.-based program. Nine months post-treatment in a randomized trial in Vietnam, GlobalConsent reduced men's sexually violent behavior (odds ratio [OR] = 0.71, 95%CI 0.50-1.00) and increased prosocial intervening behavior (OR = 1.51, 1.00-2.28) relative to an attention-control. Evidence regarding optimal implementation strategies for scale up is needed. METHODS: We will randomize six medical universities in North, Central, and South Vietnam to deliver GlobalConsent using two different packages of implementation strategies that vary in intensity. Higher-intensity strategies will include greater (1) pre- and post-implementation engagement with university leaders and faculty and (2) greater pre-implementation outreach, follow-up, and incentives for students to promote engagement and completion of GlobalConsent. Higher intensity universities will receive additional training and support for their added activities. We will compare implementation drivers and outcomes, intervention effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness across the two implementation bundles. Our mixed-methods comparative interrupted time series design includes (1) qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys with university leaders and implementation teams to assess implementation barriers and facilitators; (2) repeated surveys with leaders and faculty, implementation teams, and male students to assess multilevel implementation drivers and outcomes; (3) repeated surveys with male students to assess behavioral outcomes (sexual violence and intervening behavior) and mediating variables (knowledge, attitudes, affect, and capacities); and (4) time diaries and cost tracking to assess cost-effectiveness of the two implementation-strategies bundles. DISCUSSION: This project is the first to assess packages of implementation strategies to deliver an efficacious web-based sexual violence prevention program for undergraduate men across all regions of Vietnam and synergizes with a violence-prevention training initiative (D43TW012188). This approach will produce rigorous evidence about how to disseminate GlobalConsent nationally, which holds promise to reduce gender-based health inequities linked to sexual violence as GlobalConsent is brought to scale. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT06443541. Retrospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov. Registered on June 05, 2024.

Spatial invasion of cooperative parasites.

In this paper we study invasion probabilities and invasion times of cooperative parasites spreading in spatially structured host populations. The spatial structure of the host population is given by a random geometric graph on [0,1]n, n∈N, with a Poisson(N)-distributed number of vertices and in which vertices are connected over an edge when they have a distance of at most rN with rN of order N(ß-1)/n for some 0<ß<1. At a host infection many parasites are generated and parasites move along edges to neighbouring hosts. We assume that parasites have to cooperate to infect hosts, in the sense that at least two parasites need to attack a host simultaneously. We find lower and upper bounds on the invasion probability of the parasites in terms of survival probabilities of branching processes with cooperation. Furthermore, we characterize the asymptotic invasion time. An important ingredient of the proofs is a comparison with infection dynamics of cooperative parasites in host populations structured according to a complete graph, i.e. in well-mixed host populations. For these infection processes we can show that invasion probabilities are asymptotically equal to survival probabilities of branching processes with cooperation. Furthermore, we build on proof techniques developed in Brouard and Pokalyuk (2022), where an analogous invasion process has been studied for host populations structured according to a configuration model. We substantiate our results with simulations.

Purification of Spherical Graphite as Anode for Li-Ion Battery: A Comparative Study on the Purifying Approaches.

Graphite is a versatile material used in various fields, particularly in the power source manufacturing industry. Nowadays, graphite holds a unique position in materials for anode electrodes in lithium-ion batteries. With a carbon content of over 99% being a requirement for graphite to serve as an electrode material, the graphite refinement process plays a pivotal role in the research and development of anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. This study used three different processes to purify spherical graphite through wet chemical methods. The spherical graphite after the purification processes was analysed for carbon content by using energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and was evaluated for structural and morphological characteristics through X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyses. The analyses results indicate that the three-step process via H2SO4-NaOH-HCl cleaning can elevate the carbon content from 90% to above 99.9% while still maintaining the graphite structure and spherical morphology, thus enhancing the surface area of the material for anode application. Furthermore, the spherical graphite was studied for electrochemical properties when used as an anode for Li-ion batteries using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) measurements. The results demonstrated that the purification process significantly improves the material's capacity with a specific capacity of 350 mAh/g compared to the 280 mAh/g capacity of the anode made of spherical graphite without purification.

Development of the Vietnamese Rape Myths Acceptance Scales: A Web-Based Survey of Young Adults.

Rape myths-false but widely held beliefs that serve to deny and justify sexual aggression-present a major barrier to reporting and prevention of sexual violence in Vietnam and globally. Based on a parent study aimed at reducing sexual violence at two universities in Hanoi, we developed and assessed a contextualized measure of rape myths among young people in Vietnam. Items from previously validated rape myth acceptance (RMA) scales and data from qualitative research informed the development of 50 items, which were administered to Vietnamese 18-24-year-olds (n = 2,756 total, n = 1,798 cisgender women) via an anonymous link in February 2021. We used factor analysis to explore and test factor structure and multi-group factor analysis to assess measurement equivalence across gender. We calculated item-level discrimination and difficulty parameters and visualized information curves using item response theory analysis, informing the development of a short form. Four hypothesized subconstructs identified in the qualitative data emerged as factors: (1) "He didn't mean to"; (2) "She asked for it"; (3) "It wasn't really rape"; and (4) "Rape is a deviant event." A fifth factor, "She didn't protect herself," included four items from formative data. Confirming formative findings and prior literature, cisgender women had lower RMA than cisgender men, particularly on items related to victim-blaming. The Vietnamese Rape Myths Acceptance Scales were internally consistent and equivalent between cisgender men and women, capturing elements specific to the Vietnamese context and providing a tool for campus climate surveys and evaluations of sexual violence prevention programs.

A robust and flexible baculovirus-insect cell system for AAV vector production with improved yield, capsid ratios and potency.

Manufacturing of adeno-associated viruses (AAV) for gene and cell therapy applications has increased significantly and spurred development of improved mammalian and insect cell-based production systems. We developed a baculovirus-based insect cell production system-the SGMO Helper-with a novel gene architecture and greater flexibility to modulate the expression level and content of individual Rep and Cap proteins. In addition, we incorporated modifications to the AAV6 capsid sequence that improves yield, capsid integrity, and potency. Production of recombinant AAV 6 (rAAV6) using the SGMO Helper had improved yields compared to the Bac-RepCap helper from the Kotin lab. SGMO Helper-derived rAAV6 is resistant to a previously described proteolytic cleavage unique to baculovirus-insect cell production systems and has improved capsid ratios and potency, in vitro and in vivo, compared with rAAV6 produced using Bac-RepCap. Next-generation sequencing sequence analysis demonstrated that the SGMO Helper is stable over six serial passages and rAAV6 capsids contain comparable amounts of non-vector genome DNA as rAAV6 produced using Bac-RepCap. AAV production using the SGMO Helper is scalable using bioreactors and has improved yield, capsid ratio, and in vitro potency. Our studies demonstrate that the SGMO Helper is an improved platform for AAV manufacturing to enable delivery of cutting-edge gene and cell therapies.

"Very" Very Late Stent Thrombosis: The Occurrence of Thrombosis 12.3 Years After Paclitaxel-Eluting Stent Implantation.

Very late stent thrombosis (VLST) refers to stent thrombosis occurring beyond one year after coronary intervention. "Very" very or extremely late stent thrombosis (VVLST), occurring after five years of drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation, is extremely rare. We report a case of a 60-year-old male patient with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) due to in-stent thrombosis 12.3 years after first-generation DES implantation; we also engage in a brief discussion of its pathogenesis and prevention.

The effects of chatbot characteristics and customer experience on satisfaction and continuance intention toward banking chatbots: Data from Vietnam.

The article depicts the dataset of a survey on the effects of chatbot characteristics on customer experience (including intrinsic and extrinsic values) and behavioural outcomes (including satisfaction and continuance intention) toward chatbots in the context of banking within Vietnam. The data were accumulated using a web-based questionnaire with a valid sample of 336 participants who have used banks' chatbots in Vietnam from July 2023 to September 2023. Participants were encouraged to share the survey link with different chatbot users via social media to seek potential respondents. Harman single factor was utilized to lessen the issue of common method bias. The formal data were evaluated by using SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 21.0. In addition to respondents' demographic profile, the results of explanatory factor analysis and confirmation factor analysis were presented in this work, which would alluded as a good reference for future studies.

Asymmetric effects of foreign direct investment and globalization on ecological footprint in Indonesia.

The sustainable development goal seems challenging for governments worldwide, including Indonesia, which has faced an ecological deficit due to rapid economic development and population growth since 1999. The study aims to probe the potential asymmetric effects of foreign direct investment and globalization on ecological footprint in Indonesia from 1971 to 2019, which was ignored by previous studies. By adopting the autoregressive distributed lags (ARDL) and nonlinear autoregressive distributed lags (NARDL) approaches, the results clearly reveal that (i) The positive shock of globalization has a positive and statistically significant impact on the ecological footprint; (ii) the impact of foreign direct investment on the ecological footprint is asymmetric in the long run. Accordingly, the study found that the influence of negative changes in foreign direct investment is larger than positive changes. Based on the findings, the study recommends that the Indonesian government carefully consider the long-term consequences of globalization on the environment and reasonable control of foreign direct investment inflows.

Yersiniabactin is a quorum-sensing autoinducer and siderophore in uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Siderophores are secreted ferric ion chelators used to obtain iron in nutrient-limited environmental niches, including human hosts. While all Escherichia coli express the enterobactin (Ent) siderophore system, isolates from patients with urinary tract infections additionally express the genetically distinct yersiniabactin (Ybt) siderophore system. To determine whether the Ent and Ybt systems are functionally redundant for iron uptake, we compared the growth of different isogenic siderophore biosynthetic mutants in the presence of transferrin, a human iron-binding protein. We observed that Ybt expression does not compensate for deficient Ent expression following low-density inoculation. Using transcriptional and product analysis, we found this non-redundancy to be attributable to a density-dependent transcriptional stimulation cycle in which Ybt functions as an autoinducer. These results distinguish the Ybt system as a combined quorum-sensing and siderophore system. These functions may reflect Ybt as a public good within bacterial communities or as an adaptation to confined, subcellular compartments in infected hosts. This combined functionality may contribute to the extraintestinal pathogenic potential of E. coli and related Enterobacterales.IMPORTANCEPatients with urinary tract infections are often infected with Escherichia coli strains carrying adaptations that increase their pathogenic potential. One of these adaptations is the accumulation of multiple siderophore systems, which scavenge iron for nutritional use. While iron uptake is important for bacterial growth, the increased metabolic costs of siderophore production could diminish bacterial fitness during infections. In a siderophore-dependent growth condition, we show that the virulence-associated yersiniabactin siderophore system in uropathogenic E. coli is not redundant with the ubiquitous E. coli enterobactin system. This arises not from differences in iron-scavenging activity but because yersiniabactin is preferentially expressed during bacterial crowding, leaving bacteria dependent upon enterobactin for growth at low cell density. Notably, this regulatory mode arises because yersiniabactin stimulates its own expression, acting as an autoinducer in a previously unappreciated quorum-sensing system. This unexpected result connects quorum-sensing with pathogenic potential in E. coli and related Enterobacterales.

Formation of a Controllable Diffusion Barrier Layer on the Surface of Polydimethylsiloxane Films by Infrared Laser Irradiation.

Developing a diffusion barrier layer on material interfaces has potential applications in various fields such as in packaging materials, pharmaceuticals, chemical filtration, microelectronics, and medical devices. Although numerous physical and chemical methods have been proposed to generate the diffusion barrier layer, the complexity of fabrication techniques and the high manufacturing costs limit their practical utility. Here, we propose an innovative approach to fabricate the diffusion barrier layer by irradiating poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) with a mid-infrared (λ = 10.6 µm) CO2 laser. This process directly creates a diffusion barrier layer on the PDMS surface by forming a heavily cross-linked network in the polymer matrix. The optimal irradiation conditions were investigated by modulating the defocusing distance, laser power, and number of scanning passes. The barrier thickness can reach up to 70 µm as observed by the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The attenuated total reflectance (ATR), electron dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses collectively confirmed the formation of the SiOx structure on the modified surface based on the decreased methyl group signal and the increased oxygen/silicon ratio. The diffusion test with the model drugs (rhodamine B and donepezil) demonstrated that the modified surface exhibits effective diffusion barrier properties and the rate of drug diffusion through the modified barrier layer can be controlled by the optimization of the irradiation parameters. This novel approach provides the possibility to develop a controllable diffusion barrier layer in a biocompatible polymer with prospective applications in the fields of pharmaceuticals, packing materials, and medical devices.

Effects of the Electrical Properties of SnO2 and C60 on the Carrier Transport Characteristics of p-i-n-Structured Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cells.

Recently, metal halide perovskite-based top cells have shown significant potential for use in inexpensive and high-performance tandem solar cells. In state-of-the-art p-i-n perovskite/Si tandem devices, atomic-layer-deposited SnO2 has been widely used as a buffer layer in the top cells because it enables conformal, pinhole-free, and highly transparent buffer layer formation. In this work, the effects of various electrical properties of SnO2 and C60 layers on the carrier transport characteristics and the performance of the final devices were investigated using a numerical simulation method, which was established based on real experimental data to increase the validity of the model. It was found that the band alignment at the SnO2/C60 interface does, indeed, have a significant impact on the electron transport. In addition, as a general design rule, it was suggested that at first, the conduction band offset (CBO) between C60 and SnO2 should be chosen so as not to be too negative. However, even in a case in which this CBO condition is not met, we would still have the means to improve the electron transport characteristics by increasing the doping density of at least one of the two layers of C60 and/or SnO2, which would enhance the built-in potential across the perovskite layer and the electron extraction at the C60/SnO2 interface.

Telemedicine in home-based care for COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has made devastating impacts on public health and global economy. While most people experience mild symptoms, it is highly transmissible and deadly in at-risk populations. Telemedicine has the potential to prevent hospitalization and provide remote care. METHODS: This retrospective study included 336 people with COVID-19, among which 141 (42%) and 195 (58%) were in Delta and Omicron dominant groups, respectively. Patients were confirmed to have COVID-19 by PCR or rapid test and were cared for via telemedicine. Severe cases were hospitalized for more intensive treatment.  RESULTS: The majority of individuals recovered at home (97.02%), while 2.98% required hospitalization. All hospital admissions were in Delta dominant group. No deaths were reported. Delta dominant group was more likely to develop loss of taste and smell, decreased appetite and need longer treatment time than those in Omicron dominant group. CONCLUSIONS: Telemedicine is a safe measure to provide at-home care for people with COVID-19 infections caused by both Delta and Omicron variants. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board Committee of University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City (IRB No: 22115-DHYD).

Preliminary Consequences of Blood Pressure Management and Blood Homocysteine Levels with Perindopril in Newly Diagnosed Hypertensive Patients in the Vietnamese Population.

Background: Perindopril is an ACE inhibitor that aids in both blood pressure regulation and homocysteine reduction. Objectives: Our study aimed to evaluate the results of controlling blood pressure and blood homocysteine levels by perindopril in patients with primary hypertension. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study with a longitudinal follow-up was conducted on 105 primary hypertensive patients treated with perindopril. Results: The results of our study showed that after 6 weeks of treatment with perindopril, the proportion of patients with the target blood pressure (BP) level accounted for 70.5%, the rate of grade 1 hypertension decreased from 61.0% to 25.7%, grade 2 blood pressure decreased from 17.1% to 3.8%, and there was no case of grade 3 hypertension. At the same time, we also found that the rate of BP control in the group of patients who controlled Hcy below a threshold of 15 µmol/L was significantly higher than in the other group (p < 0.05). Concerning the efficacy of decreasing homocysteine in blood, we discovered that after 6 weeks of treatment with perindopril, the proportion of patients with elevated homocysteine reduced considerably from 74.3% to 40% (p < 0.05). In addition, the homocysteine concentration was 4.33 mol/L lower after treatment than before treatment (95% CI: 3.69-4.97) (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Perindopril helps control blood pressure and reduces blood homocysteine levels in patients with primary hypertension.