Simulated Microgravity Induces the Proliferative Inhibition and Morphological Changes in Porcine Granulosa Cells.

Astronauts are always faced with serious health problems during prolonged spaceflights. Previous studies have shown that weightlessness significantly affects the physiological function of female astronauts, including a change in reproductive hormones and ovarian cells, such as granulosa and theca cells. However, the effects of microgravity on these cells have not been well characterized, especially in granulosa cells. This study aimed to investigate the effects of simulated microgravity (SMG) on the proliferation and morphology of porcine granulosa cells (pGCs). pGC proliferation from the SMG group was inhibited, demonstrated by the reduced O.D. value and cell density in the WST-1 assay and cell number counting. SMG-induced pGCs exhibited an increased ratio of cells in the G0/G1 phase and a decreased ratio of cells in the S and G2/M phase. Western blot analysis indicated a down-regulation of cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (cdk4), and cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (cdk6), leading to the prevention of the G1-S transition and inducing the arrest phase. pGCs under the SMG condition showed an increase in nuclear area. This caused a reduction in nuclear shape value in pGCs under the SMG condition. SMG-induced pGCs exhibited different morphologies, including fibroblast-like shape, rhomboid shape, and pebble-like shape. These results revealed that SMG inhibited proliferation and induced morphological changes in pGCs.

Species Distribution and Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern of Candida Recovered from Intensive Care Unit Patients, Vietnam National Hospital of Burn (2017-2019).

INTRODUCTION: Candida species is the most common cause of invasive fungal infection. With the wide variation in species distribution and antifungal susceptibility of causative agents, local epidemiological profiles are needed to provide effective guidelines for the treatment of invasive candidiasis. OBJECTIVE: To find out the species distribution and antifungal susceptibilities of Candida strains isolated from patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) of Vietnam. METHODS: All patients in ICU of Vietnam National Hospital of Burn with Candida isolation reported from January 2017 to December 2019 were retrospectively studied. Species identification and antifungal susceptibility testing were performed using VITEK 2 Compact. The identification was reconfirmed by sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer regions when needed. RESULTS: A total of 186 yeasts belonging to ten species were collected. The most common agent was C. tropicalis (45.7%), followed by C. albicans (42.4%), and C. parapsilosis (7.53%). The isolated yeasts showed less susceptibility to fluconazole (resistant rate R 10.7%) than to micafungin, caspofungin, flucytosine and amphotericin B (R 0%, 0.6%, 2.3% and 3.4%, respectively, p < 0.05). C. albicans isolates were more susceptible to fluconazole (R 5.2%) than C. tropicalis (R 15.7%). Resistance to voriconazole was seen only among C. albicans (3.9%) and C. tropicalis isolates (9.9%). CONCLUSION: Non-albicans species (especially C. tropicalis) is the predominant species, and there is a significant proportion of isolates with reduced susceptibility to azole but not to echinocandin.

Impact of Pre-, Intra-and Post-Operative Parameters on In-Hospital Mortality in Patients Undergoing Emergency Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Scarce Single-Center Experience in Resource-Scare Setting.

BACKGROUND: In-hospital mortality after emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains an important issue that has needed considerable attention in recent years as the mortality rate is still high and prevention factors are not yet optimal. Our study presents the first largest cohort of emergency CABG from one large institution in Vietnam with the primary aim of comparing a large variety of pre-, intra-and post-operative parameters between in-hospital mortality patients and in-hospital survival patients and investigate risk factors of in-hospital mortality in patients undergoing emergency CABG. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective evaluation of prospectively collected data in patients undergoing emergency CABG at the Hanoi Heart Hospital (Hanoi, Vietnam) from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2019. Primary outcome variable was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 71 patients were included in final analysis. The mean age of the cohort was 68.68 years (± 9.28, range 38-86). The mean weight, height and body mass index were 54.35 kg (± 9.17, range 37-77), 158.96 (±7.64, range 145-179) and 21.48 kg/m2 (±3.08, range 13.59-30.08), respectively. In-hospital mortality rate was 9.86%. Preoperative risk factors for in-hospital mortality included diabetes, decreased ejection fraction (EF), EF below 30%, cardiogenic shock, elevated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), elevated NT-ProBNP, and Euroscore II. Without grafting with left internal thoracic artery, and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time were increased intraoperative factors for in-hospital mortality risk. In-hospital mortality's postoperative risk factors were found to be postextubation respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, ventricular fibrillation, dialysis-requiring acute renal failure, pneumonia, bacterial sepsis, gastrointestinal bleeding, and prolonged mechanical ventilation time. Significant predictors determining in-hospital mortality were known as prolonged CPB time in surgery and postoperative ventricular fibrillation. CONCLUSION: Our hospital mortality rate after emergency CABG was relatively high. An optimal preventive strategy in emergency CABG management should target significant factors combined with other previously identified risk factors to reduce in-hospital mortality.

A Rare Case of Fungal Burn Wound Infection Caused by Fusarium solani in Vietnam.

A patient with extensive burn injuries was admitted to the National Hospital of Burns in Hanoi, Vietnam, and diagnosed with fungal wound infection by histological examination of skin biopsy samples. Fusarium solani was isolated and identified by analysis of its morphological features and the sequence of the internal transcribed spacer region. The isolation showed in vitro resistant to fluconazole, voriconazole, itraconazole, amphotericin B, and caspofungin. Invasive fusariosis is difficult to treat due to its angioinvasive property and its lacking amenability to treatment with antifungal drugs. This infection is rare and has not been reported so far in Vietnam.